Mischa Barton’s bag line

Mischa Barton has launched her handbag collection yesterday in the UK. I haven’t seen the whole collection, and correct me if I’m wrong, it doesn’t sound like she’s selling them in North America. “It’s a set of vintage-style leather handbags in earthy, typically bohemian colours, all priced Moss-level between 25 and 170 pounds. From next month, they’ll be dotted around as-yet-unnamed department stores.” Judging from the Mischa Barton Exclusive Launch On Line Embroidered Evening Bag (£20.00) on asos.com, I’m not holding my breath. It’s pretty frumpy-looking, not unlike Mischa herself (most the times she looks tres gorgeous) when she tried to bring back the high-waisted jeans.

(source: http://guardian.co.uk, http://uk.fashion.popsugar.com/1719128)

Estee Launder launches vibrating mascara

So beauty lovers all over the world are either elated or skeptical about Estee Lauder’s new battery-operated vibrating mascara, TurboLash All Effects Motion Mascara. I am the latter, especially it’s said to retail for $30. Apparently they think the way we’ve been swiping on the mascara isn’t the most optimal. But rest assured, I will most likely try it when it’s available at my local department store the Bay. Gotta satisfy my curiosity

Whitney has her own show

Well, people just can’t get enough of the Hills’ girls. According to NY Magazine, Whitney Port “is shooting her own spinoff show in which she “becomes bicoastal” while working for PR firm People’s Revolution. She also befriends Olivia Palermo.” Olivia Palermo, if you followed the saga on the now-defunct socialiterank.com last year, was the young aspiring New York socialite that gave the reigning “it” girl Tinsley Mortimer a run for her money, but got “chased” out of the town and moved to L.A. to supposedly pursue an acting career when she couldn’t take the ridicule and the shunning anymore (Of course she denied that). So if Whitney continues to be the level-headed girl that gets along with everybody, we can expect Olivia to stir the pot a bit since she’s prone to drama. I like her, she’s a gorgeous girl.

AA’s boss is a dirty bastard

Did you hear American Apparel’s founder and owner Dov Charney has been sued by his employee for sexual harassment, “an employee called Jeneleen Floyd who alleges that, in the course of a telling-off, he ordered her to pretend to masturbate in front of him. When she didn’t, he turned to her line manager and asked him to do it instead; then, in the very proper words of the lawsuit, filed last week, “as Mr Swenson complied with Defendant Charney’s instruction, Defendant Charney moved next to him and simulated an oral sex act with him”. Apparently it didn’t come as a surprise ’cause the guy has a long track record of lewd behavior at workplace. He even harasses the models during photo sessions. “He has been known to walk through his office in underwear, and conduct meetings in a thong (his defence - he designs underwear, so why not model it?); during the interview process for an article by Claudine Ko, for the now-defunct Jane magazine, he had oral sex with a female employee in front of Ko; he also masturbated several times.” WTF? That is sick.

Read more here

The fashion world is in mourning

Most of you probably have heard by now…”Yves Saint Laurent, who exploded on the fashion scene in 1958 as the boy-wonder successor to Christian Dior and endured as one of the best-known and most influential couturiers of the second half of the 20th century, died on Sunday at his apartment in Paris. He was 71.

His death was confirmed by Dominique Deroche, a spokeswoman for the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation.

During a career that ran from 1957 to 2002 he was largely responsible for changing the way modern women dress, putting them into pants both day and night, into peacoats and safari jackets, into “le smoking” (as the French call a man’s tuxedo jacket), and into leopard prints, trench coats and, for a time in the 1970s, peasant-inspired clothing in rich fabrics.”

(continue reading at NYtimes.com)

For those of you who are lucky enough to live in/close to Montreal or will be travelling to Montreal this summer, you must go to The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for the incredible Yves Saint Laurent Exhibition. “The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco have designed and developed, in partnership with the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent, the first retrospective spanning the forty years of creation of the Maison de haute couture Yves Saint Laurent. Presented from May 29 to September 28, 2008, the exhibition Yves Saint Laurent focusses on this virtuoso of haute couture, whose unique style blends references to the world of art with allusions to pop culture and social revolution. Structured around four themes, the exhibition develops the revolutionary nature of a body of work that has marked both the past and the present with a new definition of femininity and left a signature that transcends fashion. The display will include 145 accessorized creations belonging to the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent, as well as drawings and videos. After Montreal, the exhibition (which is the first co-production of these two museums) will be presented at the de Young Museum of San Francisco, from November 1, 2008, to March 1, 2009.” The exhibition cannot have come at a better time. Get to it if you can.

(photo sources: nytimes.com, mmfa.qc.ca)

Gap Design Editions

Gosh, word sure spread fast about the new CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund designer white shirts and jewelry huh? I went to my local Gap last night to check it out and they were already running low on stock. Well, overall I felt a little underwhelmed about the shirts (priced at $78 - $88) by Phillip Lim, Band of Outsiders, and Michael Bastian. This Cut-out dress by Three AsFour is cute. The jewlery by Philip Crangi is um…different, but they are not my style. What do you think? Weigh in on them.

Comme des Garçons for H&M

Comme des Garçons autumn/winter 07/08 (left) and spring/summer 2008 collections

The Japanese fashion brand, Comme des Garçons, one of the most avant garde in the world, founded by Rei Kawakubo, is to join forces with the high street chain, H&M. This collaboration has come as such a surprise to the fashin world. I think this one will be the most interesting one yet since all the designers and celebries of previous collaborations are definitely much more mainstream. Kawakubo will design a women’s and a men’s collection, as well as a capsule range of pieces for children. Also included will be an exclusive unisex fragrance and accessories. The collection will be launched in November. Can’t wait to see it.

(Source: telegraph.co.uk)

Botkier for Target

According NY Post, “Target is partnering with renowned accessories designer Monica Botkier to launch a limited-edition handbag collection, Botkier for Target. This collection is the fifth handbag launch in a series of limited-time-only accessories designers at Target. The Botkier for Target collection will be available at select Target stores nationwide and at Target.com July 21 through Sept. 14, 2008.” No photos yet. But I hope the bags will look like these fabulous creations.

Botkier ‘Gladiator’ Patent Leather Metal Tipped Tote $695 by pre-order.

Botkier Lita Clutch $350

Botkier Stevie Satchel $650

Botkier Stevie Hobo $675

Costello Tagliapietra - their meaty paws and delicate dresses

If you haven’t heard of a designer duo Robert Tagliapietra and Jeffrey Costello and their label Costello Tagliapietra, don’t be surprised. I didn’t either until I read about them in this article in NY Post. They don’t look like fashion designers, do they? It’s funny how we always have pre-conceived images in our minds how fashion designers should look when in truth that has no bearing in their ability to make beautiful clothes. Costello Tagliapietra’s dresses are truly exquisite and elegant, and they are made by two guys who look like lumberjacks. Even Costello says, “I still don’t understand how we do these delicate dresses with such meaty paws.” The writer of the article and various fashion insiders wonder why they aren’t more famous, after all they were disvered by Vogue, beloved by Madonna, displayed at the Met. The boys themselves don’t know why. However, I’m sure their huge success will soon arrive.

“Their current intern - coincidentally, they say - looks exactly like they do: a burly, bearded young man in jeans, a flannel shirt and suspenders, more rustic lumberjack than refined couturier.” Don’t you just love that?

(Source: nypost.com)

Nordstrom’s new ad campaign

This is Nordstrom’s new ad campaign, which will break in March issues of Elle, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. What do you think of these?

“The Seattle, Wash.-based retailer has evolved its iconic Ruben Toledo illustration-centric advertising campaign of years past to incorporate the lens work of acclaimed fashion photographer Ruven Afanador in brilliant three-dimensional form.

Toledo painted 20-by-30 foot walls to create a series of arresting, surrealistic, black-and-white sets that bear the Cuban artist’s signature whimsy and of-the-moment aesthetic that has made him the sought-after illustrator he is. The creative process on-set was so explosive, in fact, that at certain points, Toledo felt himself inspired to paint directly onto the models’ faces and bodies as Afanador captured the high-fashion spirit through his images.”

“It’s one thing to say that fashion and art go together and to show it by putting a model in an art gallery,” said Linda Finn, executive vice president of marketing at Nordstrom. “We knew we didn’t want to do that and we knew Ruben’s artwork needed to be more than just a backdrop. Instead, what Ruben and Ruven came up with truly fused art and photography. The art became the environment–transcending the very idea of a backdrop. The result truly exceeded our expectations.”"

Continue reading the article on fashionweekdaily.com.

I’d LOVE to be there in person!

So, I have the opportunity to go to Fashion Week, thanks to Sarah and Julie (thank you darlings!), to attend Project Runway designer Victorya Hong’s debut show on February 1st! Imagine my excitement when I got the invitation! But I can’t go *cries*. I know you are going to scold me for giving up such a great opportunity. I really really want to go, but living far away from NYC and having a day job has its downsides when it comes to going to Fashion Week in NYC. But I’ll have my eyes peeled for the show and will pass along the pictures for you guys.

By the way, did any of you buy her winning dress when it went on sale at Steve & Barry’s? I really hope so! You know we don’t have Steve & Barry’s here. Send me pictures of the dress if you bought it

Keira Knightley and Atonement - a perfect marriage

A UK poll by high street chain Superdrug has found Keira Knightley is Britons’ beauty icon for 2007. I’m sure the movie Atonement has something to do with it. Have all of you seen the movie? Isn’t it just a beautiful picture? Keira Knightley looks divine in it. Don’t you just love the emerald green dress she wore?

From the Press Association: this dress has been voted the best film costume of all time! It even beat out Marilyn Monroe’s white dress in The Seven Year Itch and Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in Breakfast At Tiffany’s! That’s something.

Watch Isaac

I can’t wait for this! Isaac Mizrahi’s going to be on his own website Watch Isaac in 2008 with daily episodes, talking to you about everything from making your ass look smaller to paying your mortgage. Don’t miss it. By the way, he doesn’t like sheer pantyhose and thinks they give women bologna legs. Totally!

Max & Chloe Shopping Party

A girl’s gotta have some bling and handbags. I wish I could be in NYC for the Max & Chloe Shopping Party on December 13! You girls in NYC should totally go! Fine jewelry from Sydney Evan, M2 Designs, Anna Corinna and Goldenbleu bags and selected fashion jewelry featured on Max & Chloe website. And they will serve champagne, cocktails and cupcakes!

Discounts of 30-60% off

RSVP ONLY. E-mail ashley@maxandchloe.com to RSVP

Thursday, December 13
5:00pm - 9:30pm

122 W 26th St
(btwn 6th an 7th Ave)
Suite #603
New York, NY

How can they be this clueless?

I’m sure by now you have heard about Fashion chain Zara pulls swastika bag. It’s pretty amazing that the company didn’t even do any research before the bag was distributed all over Europe and North America. How did the person who said “hey let’s put the swastika symbol on the bag” get past the design approval?!