Macy’s to kick off 150th birthday celebration with a literal smash
Friday, June 20, 2008
(NEW YORK) Macy’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show has become a New York institution–and this year’s display will carry a special message. To kick off the retailer’s 150th birthday celebration, which will run from July through December, Macy’s will add a few extra jolts to the night sky. The barges floating in the East River will be graced with special arches proclaiming “150″–and they will commemmorate the occasion by unleashing a special 150-firework salute.

Macy’s slogan–”Inspiring oohs, ahhs and wows for 150 years”–likely forshadows the exclamations that will ensue as Macy’s rolls out six months of celebration. We’re sure this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will include archival balloons and icons of the past, and the holiday windows will tell another story entirely. Additionally, Alek Wek will be appearing in the anniversary advertising campaign. “We shot it in the warehouse where they store the floats,” the supermodel told The Daily. “I felt like a kid in a candy store!”

Source

Oscar de la Renta’s fall campaign to debut exclusively in July Vogue
Friday, June 06, 2008
(NEW YORK) Oscar de la Renta is unarguably classic–but he’s not afraid to take a calculated risk. His brand is upsetting its competition by running, for the first time ever, its fall campaign a month early in the July issue of Vogue.

On Thursday, Alex Bolen, president and chief executive officer of Oscar de la Renta, revealed to Fashion Week Daily that the iconic American fashion house decided to run its highly-anticipated fall ad campaign, shot by Craig McDean, in the July issue of Vogue, out in two weeks time. “We have delivered at least of 85 percent of our pre-fall collection, and within the next few weeks we will have delivered a major portion of the runway collection,” Bolen explained, adding that the company has had a longstanding relationship with Vogue and its editor in chief, Anna Wintour. “Our business is all about getting the early sales; our customer is all about newness. And if we can be there first, we will get those sales.”
(more…)

There will be a sequel to the wildly successful “Sex and the City” movie. After the film’s $57 million opening weekend, that’s one of the surest bets in the entertainment industry.

But – to muse a la Carrie Bradshaw– I have to wonder, can “Sex” be as good the second time around?

Not that this would stop the studio from rushing into a sequel, but if you’ve seen the film, you know there’s really nowhere for the stories of the “SATC” characters to go. (Pictured at right: Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall in the “SATC” movie.)

Satc And that’s the problem with the extension of entertainment franchises, which is rampant these days. Steps from the Times Square hotel I’m sitting in now, there’s ample evidence of this: “Legally Blonde” was a movie that became a Broadway show (and there will soon be a reality show based around that musical). John Waters’ “Hairspray” was a movie that became a musical that morphed into another movie.
(more…)

Francisco Costa takes home Womenswear Designer of the Year
Tuesday, June 03, 2008

(NEW YORK) Francisco Costa emerged triumphant at the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s 2008 fashion awards, taking home Womenswear Designer of the Year award. This is the Calvin Klein Collection designer’s second time winning the evening’s top honor in three years.

Presented at the New York Public Library Monday evening, first-time nominees Tom Ford and Tory Burch garnered wins for Menswear Designer of the Year and Accessory Designer of the Year, respectively.

Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy walked away with the Swarovski Award for Womenswear; Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders won the Swarovski Award for Menswear; and the Swarovski Award for Accessories went to Philip Crangi.

The night’s roundup of additional honorees included Dries Van Noten, who was honored with the International Award; Candy Pratts Price, who accepted the Eugenia Sheppard Award; Carolina Herrera, who was honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who received a special tribute from the board of directors.

UPDATE: While this did constitute Tom Ford’s first nomination for the Tom Ford label, he has already won four CFDA awards during his legendary tenure at Gucci and YSL. Many thanks to Richard Buckley for reminding us.
source

We are all built differently. Short, tall, chubby, skinny, wide hips, big thighs, skinny legs, no hips, large breasts, no breasts…I could go on. With this said, we all have experienced cringing in the dressing room wondering why that perfect pink bikini that looked oh-so-good on the mannequin doesn’t look the same on us. (Probably because it isn’t a real person). Here are some tips and suits that I have come up with that will hopefully solve your dillemma.

1. Small Breasts. Yes, I too am plagued with this issue. But not to worry! There are a ton of options out there. Not to mention, smaller chested ladies do not need as much support so you can wear triangle teeny tiny bikinis. Triangle tops help out because they cut right in and fake cleavage. You can also choose a padded or underwire top if you want that extra boost. Victoria’s Secret has some great tops/suits to try.

2. Wide Hips.Being plagued with this issue might make you want to stay away from bathing suits period. But if you do feel the need to get in the water, Nordtrom has some great suits that will flatter your figure.

(more…)

Plus! Burberry’s Christopher Bailey to stage New York showing
Friday, May 23, 2008
(NEW YORK) Given the endless slew of fashion shows, Stella McCartney has decided to simplify. On June 3, the London-based designer will hit the Big Apple to initiate a new format of showing one collection per season. McCartney will host a garden party at the Jefferson Market Garden in Greenwich Village to show her Spring 2009 collection, formerly billed as resort. McCartney will present her Summer 2009 designs in October during Paris Fashion Week, followed by Fall 2009 (pre-fall), with Winter 2009 back on the Paris catwalk.

Not to be outdone, fellow Brit Christopher Bailey will jet into town two days later to host a cocktail party and present his new Burberry collections at corporate headquarters. He’s sticking to the traditional categories, so expect “Spring/Summer 2009 menswear and womenswear pre-collections”–for now.
source

Beverly Center, CA

Girls Night Out
May 22, 2008
6pm - 8pm

Attention girls of Summer: surf on over to Y.E.S. for music, treats and summery drinks from Ocean Vodka. Peek into our fashion cabanas full of Summer style essentials.*
Spend 200.00 in Y.E.S. Contemporary Sportswear and get an exclusive Free People printed towel.** Spend 250.00 or more and get a 50.00 gift card towards your future Y.E.S. purchase. Valid from 05/23-06/08.

*Must be 21 for alcoholic cocktails. Guys welcome too.
**One per customer, while supplies last.

Stefano Pilati named International Designer of the Year by Japan Fashion Editor’s Club
Wednesday, May 21, 2008

(NEW YORK) Stefano Pilati is already the toast of fashion capitals far and wide. Now, the YSL creative director is readying for his Far East close-up. Pilati has been named International Designer of the Year by the Japan Fashion Editor’s Club, joining past recipients like Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Hedi Slimane, Kenzo Takada, Issey Miyake, and Yohji Yamamoto.

This is the designer’s first public honor in Japan.
The organization, known as the FEC, was established in 1952 with the goal of promoting fashion after World War II. According to the FEC, “it is committed to recognizing and honoring individuals who contribute significantly to the development of fashion in the country.”

Pilati, who was unanimously chosen as this year’s honoree, will fly to Tokyo next week to receive his award at the Conrad Tokyo Hotel on May 27. Following the event, which will host around 500 guests, YSL chief executive Valérie Hermann will host a private dinner at the hotel with Rinko Kikuchi for 40 VIP artists, sculptors, and architects, including Junya Ishigami, the in-demand young architect who recently designed the Yohji Yamamoto store in the Meatpacking District.

source

Gwyneth Paltrow confirmed for fall ad campaign
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

(NEW YORK) After Sienna Miller’s campaign last fall, Tod’s took a one-season break from the celebrity fray to mark a glorious return to star wattage for its upcoming fall campaign. On Monday, the Italian leather goods house announced that Gwyneth Paltrow will star in its upcoming print advertising.

Shot in Capri–one of Paltrow’s favorite destinations–under the direction of Mario Testino, the Oscar-winning actress plays out the luxurious, outdoorsy life of a beautiful Italian aristocrat from the heady days of the jet-set era.

The international campaign debuts in the U.S. in August and worldwide in September.

Paltrow, an actress who embodies relaxed elegance both on and off screen, instinctively understood what the pictures set out to achieve. “Italian style is very sexy, very womanly and what I love is that it seems to have so many different inspirations,” she said in a statement.
(more…)

For his resort line, Karl Lagerfeld took over the pool at The Raleigh hotel in Miami with looks inspired by Brian Jones and “Last Year at Marienbad.”

MIAMI — With a lifeguard perched above the Raleigh pool and double-C logoed life preservers and beach balls scattered throughout, the Chanel cruise extravaganza was ready to kick off on Thursday night.

Those expecting “Miami Vice” pastels or even a touch of “Golden Girls” were in for a surprise, though. Karl Lagerfeld set the mood with an all-black start that was more Paris and New York than some of the world’s sunnier locales. But then cruise is about so much more than just a vacation wardrobe, and few know that better than Lagerfeld himself.

Rather than home in on one specific theme, Lagerfeld went in a few directions for cruise, from sleek black tuxedos to wide jackets and bell-bottom pants, metallic punk blazers, HotPants, plastic floral embellishments, bows and bow ties galore and the new way of reinterpreting the Chanel logo — inside a heart on minidresses, pale tie-dyed T-shirts and handbags.
“It’s all about proportions, cuts, volumes,” he said, pre-show. “There is not one line that is taken all through the collection. For cruise, you don’t do that. There are many looks and an attitude.”
source