The Cut

5/16/08

Cult of Personality

5/16/08

5:45 PM

Rachel Zoe Launches a Clothing Line and We're Worried

Ahhhhhh!Photo: Getty Images

We all knew somewhere deep down inside this was coming: Stylist-cum-reality TV star Rachel Zoe has a clothing line in the works. Technically it's just a licensing deal so she might not have very much involvement in actually designing the products, but at the very least they'll have her name 'em. She's partnering with the Beanstalk Group Inc. (go ahead and write the joke yourself) "to develop a line of apparel, accessories, and undergarments under the Rachel Zoe brand," according to WWD. Now, we've endured clothing line launches by and subsequent branding of nearly every Hills cast member and famous person who appeals to 12-year-olds. Frankly, we're not sure how much more of this we can take! And after taking a refresher course in What Rachel Zoe Likes to Wear 101, we're worried we may not be able to handle what's to come, especially if the forthcoming line is truly inspired by Zoe's personal style. After the jump we've compiled a smattering of pictures of Zoe's recent party outfits to help you understand why we're trembling.

Look, if you dare. »

More: Cult of Personality »celebrities, rachel zoe, reality tv

Party Lines

5/16/08

4:50 PM

Olivia Palermo Fills Her Bedroom-Size Closet With $2 Dresses

Photo: Getty Images

Olivia Palermo isn't just a stylish girl from the block who sits front row at Fashion Week. She's also a college student, and a darn thrifty one at that. "Shockingly, whether it's a vintage store or the Salvation Army, you can find some fabulous pieces and just mix and match," she told us at the Operation Smile gala last night. The socialite finds the Salvation Army store in West Palm Beach a treasure trove: "I've found some really fabulous things, and people are really shocked." We can't say we are, considering we're talking about West Palm Beach. But moving on, what was her best find? "It was this black dress; the front was in checkers, orange and yellow and orange," she explained. "I thought I looked like a stop sign, but everyone seemed to love it." Like any budget shopper, Palermo doesn't hesitate to brag when she's got a steal: "I think it's kind of cool — it gives you a different side. So I was like, 'Yeah. $2.'"

Just because Palermo's threads cost less than your morning latte doesn't mean she goes through them like you do breakfast, however. "I keep everything, because with fashion, everything comes back around. So I like to bring it back and reuse it," she explained. It's no trouble because of her massive closet space, she added. Did she have as much as Mariah Carey, who most recently showed off her 3,000-square-foot closet on Oprah? "She's my next-door neighbor," Palermo said. "I have an entire walk-in closet room — an entire room." Lucky girl! But is it as big as Mariah's? "I don't know. It's a good size," she offered. But, like, could it be a bedroom if she put furniture in it? "Yes." Okay. That's the answer we were looking for. — Bennett Marcus

More: Party Lines »olivia palmero, vintage

Beauty Marks

5/16/08

4:15 PM

Marchesa Launches a Makeup Line; New Creams Contain Real Gold

Keren Craig and Georgina ChapmanPhoto: WireImage

MAKEUP
• Marchesa’s founders Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig teamed up with Stila to launch the Backstage Beauty makeup collection, inspired by their fall 2008 line. They also get their own $22 lipsticks — "Chapman" will be sheer red, while "Craig" will be nude. [WWD ]

• Chanel got a new 270-square-foot space in Bergdorf Goodman for its new makeup counter, which includes a makeup "play station." Um, Sephora? Are you watching your back? [WWD]

• The FDA is considering passing legislation that would change the voluntary system for inspecting imported cosmetics to a mandatory system. Because, you know, when things are “voluntary,” people volunteer not to do them. And the long arm of the law isn't having it anymore. [Cosmetics News]

The blowdry from London that lasts three months. »

More: Beauty Marks »beauty, bergdorf goodman, chanel, dsquared2, fragrance, georgina chapman, gisele bundchen, hair, keren craig, makeup, marchesa, stila

Model Tracker

5/16/08

3:30 PM

Meet the New Girl: Anna Kuchkina

Photo: Imaxtree

Anna Kuchkina, the Russian with razor-sharp cheekbones, received perhaps the biggest and best fashion honors a newbie can get: a Prada exclusive in 2006 (for both Prada and Miu Miu runways). While other girls follow up these Miuccia-bestowed blessings with international covers, Kuchkina remained under the radar, appearing in Italian Amica and modeling for Topshop. But she resurfaced this past February to walk the Yohji Yamamoto and John Galliano shows. And it seems Galliano has fallen for Kuchkina, booking her for his own line, Christian Dior's fall show, and Dior's resort show that just walked this week. Anna's finally ready for her spotlight. —James Lim

Model Profile: Anna Kuchkina

For more minute details on the runway's finest, check out our extensive Model Manual.

More: Model Tracker »anna kuchkina, christian dior, john galliano, model manual, prada

First Looks

5/16/08

2:50 PM

Video of the Chanel Cruise Collection Has Surfaced!

Photo: CBS

Ahoy, mates! Video of the Chanel cruise collection, which Karl Lagerfeld showed at the Raleigh Hotel in Miami last night, is surfacing on the Internet. Finally. (You can see the whole collection in pictures in our slideshow.) Until Chanel posts footage of the show on a lovely widget thing, we'll have to have to settle for this snippet from the local CBS news team in Miami. But don't discount it because of the cheesy eighties background music! There are some great shots of the models walking around the pool-rimming runway, and they even mention Anna Wintour and show a close-up of her head. At the very end, the Kaiser himself emerges in a crisp white jacket to lead his models off the runway. Did we mention the synchronized swimming?

So in short, no one fell in the pool.

WEB EXTRA: Chanel Cruise Show at Raleigh Hotel [CBS4 via Fashionologie]
Related: View a slideshow of the Chanel resort 2009 collection

More: First Looks »anna wintour, chanel, karl lagerfeld, resort collections 2008

Fashion Album

5/16/08

2:20 PM

‘V’ Magazine’s Naked-Model Spread

Photo: Courtesy of V

The latest issue of V magazine features a racy spread with some of IMG's up-and-coming and star models, photographed by Mario Sorrenti. Jessica Stam, Liya Kebede, Sasha Pivovarova, Miranda Kerr, Hana Soukupova, and Hilary Rhoda all appear nude. For European mags a pair of bare breasts is as unremarkable as a Kanye West wearing silly shades. But in American mags bare nips are like $200 Christian Louboutins popping up at the Barneys' sample sale — a truly rare occurrence. But V may as well be throwing 70 pairs of $200 Loubs at us, because they don't just show blurry nipples, they've got full-frontal, white-sheet-writhing madness. And, oddly enough, it doesn't come across as gratuitous. Maybe Americans are finally becoming okay with nudity and the trend will trickle up to bigger publications. Have a look for yourself after the jump (NSFW). And some clothed pics follow the nudies.

WARNING: These are NSFW! »

More: Fashion Album »hana soukupova, hilary rhoda, jessica stam, liya kebede, miranda kerr, models, sasha pivovarova, v magazine

Party Lines

5/16/08

1:30 PM

Iman Doesn't Want Black Models to Be a ‘Caricature’

Photo: Getty Images

Iman will probably appear on the cover of Italian Vogue's first all-black issue. But she has her reservations about its impact. "I still don't like us (black models) to be a caricature," she told us at the American Image Awards this week. "They'll think, 'Okay, we did it.' And then they're done with it, and we'll have to wait till next year." She added that in 2007 black models were "nonexistent" and she felt the fashion and beauty industries are out of touch. "When you see commercials and movies and every other form of art in terms of entertainment, you never have this conversation," she said. "So it is so outdated." She continued, "I can only say that one of the reasons is that models have never had unions, so there is no one to say, 'This isn't right.'" She's also eagerly rooting for Barack Obama to become our first black president. "I've been an American citizen for nearly 30 years, I've been an Obama supporter from day one! I met him two or three years ago at Oprah Winfrey's house, and I've been supporting him since then. In my lifetime this is happening."

Serious chat aside, we couldn't resist asking about Project Runway Canada, which Iman hosts and we hear is all the rage among our northern neighbors. She said the Canadian contestants were impressive designers, but not impressive business people. "I think in terms of the designers, the Americans are more aware of what the show will do for them and what they'll be able to leverage," she explained. "After all, it is a business. Canadians are not really aware of that." —Tre Borden

More: Party Lines »barack obama, iman, italian vogue, models, project runway canada

Run Through

5/16/08

12:40 PM

Sean Avery Is Doing Something Right As a ‘Vogue’ Intern

Anna's new pet.Photo: Getty Images

If you're a civilian intern at Vogue, your day-to-day tasks might include picking up clothes, dropping off clothes, making copies, and getting beverages from Starbucks. If you're a good-looking star hockey player named Sean Avery, your day-to-day tasks include working on all sections of the magazine from features to accessories, attending edit meetings, and possibly going to the couture shows with Anna Wintour, André Leon Talley, Hamish Bowles, and Sally Singer. And he's only been working there for a week! Also, if you're a civilian, you could very well be paying to perform those glamorous tasks if you take the gig for college credit. But not talented star hockey players like Sean Avery. He's even got last year's $2 million salary to kick around. At least he's only making minimum wage for lending his expertise to Condé Nast. Fair is fair, after all.

Memo Pad: REPORTING FOR DUTY [WWD]
Related: What Sean Avery Will Do As a ‘Vogue’ Intern

More: Run Through »andre leon talley, anna wintour, conde nast, hamish bowles, sean avery, sports, vogue

Loose Threads

5/16/08

11:55 AM

Jonathan Saunders Heads to Pollini; Preggers Angelina for ‘Vanity Fair’

Jonathan SaundersPhoto: Getty Images

• Jonathan Saunders is the new creative director of Pollini. His first collection for the Italian house will debut in Milan in September. [British Vogue]

• Patrick Demarchelier reportedly shot pregnant Angelina Jolie for the July cover of Vanity Fair. [NYP]

• The Marc Jacobs store employee arrested Monday for stealing $62,000 has been released from jail on bail. He's been charged with one account of grand larceny in the second degree. [WWD]

• Rumor has it Balmain has a men's line in the works designed by head womenswear designer Christophe Decarnin. [WWD]

• The CEO of Christian Dior Couture is jumping ship to Hugo Boss. The former Boss CEO left after disagreements with investors. [British Vogue]

• How is it that LVMH is scoring double-digit profits while it seems everyone else is in the hole? CEO and magic moneyman Bernard Arnault expects the cash to keep flowing. [WWD]

Aggy gets naked! »

More: Loose Threads »agyness deyn, auctions, balmain, cannes film festival, chanel, christian dior, daphne guinness, denise rich, economy, gordon brown, hugo boss, jerry hall, jonathan saunders, kanye west, karl lagerfeld, lvmh, marc jacobs, naomi campbell, patrick demarchelier, pollini

Fashion Yearbook

5/16/08

11:15 AM

Angelina Jolie, Long-Lost Stars, and a Panda Gussy Up for Cannes

Bar RefaeliPhoto: WireImage

The annual French hording of celebrities known as the Cannes Film Festival is well under way, and this year they've gathered quite the good-looking bunch. Really, for the most part everyone looks quite stunning. But don't think that makes the photos less entertaining to look at, as the festival is an opportunity for celebs to showcase their fabulous yachts and hanging-out-on-the-dock outfits. But casualwear comes next week; first up is the overwhelming glamour of the premieres (stars dress up far more than they would if they were here). Also, they put fake animals on the red carpet, as you'll see after the jump.

Let's commence outfit judging with Bar Refaeli. She looks great. What more can we say? Not going into the army has done wonders for her skin.

The return of Rachel Leigh Cook! »

More: Fashion Yearbook »angelina jolie, cannes film festival, eva longoria, julianne moore, natalie imbruglia, rachel leigh cook

Beauty Marks

5/16/08

10:10 AM

How to Get Tinsley Mortimer's Face in Just Fifteen Steps

Pink!Photo: Getty Images

You've probably always wondered, What do I have to do to make my face look just like Tinsley Mortimer's? Well, friends, this morning we bring you answers. Yesterday at Saks we learned it just takes 41 minutes, fourteen products, and fifteen steps to achieve her effortless nighttime look. Tinz herself was at the store shilling her brand-new Dior lip gloss, Tinsley Pink, proceeds from which benefit Operation Smile. We couldn't wait to learn how to get as pinked out as Tinz in the two-hour master class on the fifteen steps, but apparently there's more to Tinz than pink. Like yellow. "I love pink. I had a pink bedroom growing up, so it’s kinda stuck in my head. But I do wear other colors," she told us. "Now I’m into yellow. Yellow is the new pink. Well, at least for now." Befuddled, we turned to her sister, Dabney Mercer. "We’re into yellow now, sure, but Tinsley will always wear pink," she said. Whew!

Enough about color — we're here for the face paint! Tinsley's makeup artist, Ricky Wilson, said New York girls wear too much eyeliner and they should try playing with shadow, like — you guessed it! — Tinsley. " She likes a stronger eye, but something that’s also soft and smudged. She likes exaggerated eyeliner and loves tons and tons of lashes." Tinsley's a veritable fountain of youth now, but is she afraid of aging? "I’m not afraid of it. It’s something that happens," she said. Is Botox in her future? No! "I’d never do it," she added. But maybe it is! "Who knows? I’m not there yet."

At last it was time for us to get Tinsley's fifteen-step, fourteen-product look. The results and a step-by-step illustrated guide after the jump.

More: Beauty Marks »beauty, dior, makeup, tinsley mortimer

Fashion Calendar

5/16/08

9:00 AM

Weekend Sales: 70 Percent Off A.P.C and75 Percent Off Vivienne Tam

STARTING TODAY
• A.P.C. is cleaning shop and unloading overstock for 70 percent off. Through 5/18. 35 Grand St., nr. Kent Ave., Williamsburg (347-381-3193); Fri.–Sun.(noon–7).

• Bag your beachwear with the spring sample sale at Salon 9 Showroom. Swimwear from Zimmerman, Brette Sandler, Red Carter, and Birdie Jo are 65 to 80 percent off. Through 5/20. 241 W. 37th St., nr. Seventh Ave. (212-754-1400); Fri., Mon., and Tues. (11–8).

• The more shoes you buy, the greater the discount at Stuart Weitzman. Through 7/30. 625 Madison Ave., nr. 58th St. (212-750-2555), and 10 Columbus Cir., at 59th St. (212-823-9560); call for store hours.

ENDING TODAY
• Lela Rose’s feminine cocktail dresses, taffeta anoraks, and satin button dresses are 50 to 70 percent off. 224 W. 30th St., nr. Seventh Ave., thirteenth fl. (212-947-9204); 10–6.

Malo, Catherine Malandrino and Yigal Azrouel! »

More: Fashion Calendar »sales, shopping

5/15/08

Beauty Marks

5/15/08

6:10 PM

Tweens Spend $500 Million a Year on Beauty Products

The new Vincent Longo line.Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Longo

MAKEUP
• Fragrances and body sprays are the most popular beauty product among 8- to 12-year-old girls. That might sound a little young for beauty shopping, but this age group spends $500 million on beauty products each year. Thanks, Miley Cyrus! [WWD]

• Vincent Longo's summer collection is called Shimmer, Glimmer, and Shine and, like every other new makeup collection this season, it's all about bronze. This line includes a hydro stick, gloss, and liquid shadow and looks wearable. [Face Candy]

• If you curl your lashes with an eyelash curler before and after applying mascara, your eyelashes will fall out. So don’t do that. [BellaSugar]

FRAGRANCE
• Artists Yoon Lee created a limited-edition bottle for the DKNY Be Delicious scent. It’s $68 at Macy’s. [Teen Vogue]

• The signature fragrance from Agent Provocateur was so successful, the company is launching two follow-up body products with the same scent. These will also include Damiana, a natural aphrodisiac. No word on if they'll put out any new Internet movies featuring Kate Moss in her panties to promote them. [British Vogue]

More: Beauty Marks »beauty, fragrance, makeup

Fashion Album

5/15/08

5:35 PM

A Peek Inside Karl Lagerfeld's New Book

Photo: Courtesy of Pace/MacGill

Tomorrow is the launch party for Karl Lagerfeld's new book, Metamorphoses of an American. It "traces the physical and emotional development of Brad Kroenig … the world's most sought-after male model." The book consists entirely of photographs of Brad shot over the last five years by Karl himself. One of the images is above. But more important, next to it is the invitation to the soirée, which explicitly boasts, "Karl Lagerfeld will be present." Obviously, we'll be there, hyperventilating from being in such close proximity to him. We'll try to survive long enough to ask him some burning questions. In the meantime, we're trying to keep calm in a way Karl might: meditating on images of Brad. Won't you join us? After the jump, we have a selection of photographs from the book.

Marvel at his versatility! »

More: Fashion Album »brad kroenig, karl lagerfeld, metamorphoses of an american, parties

Run Through

5/15/08

4:15 PM

Express Sues Wal-Mart in the Latest Copyright Dispute

Photo: Getty Images

We couldn't let a week go by without a fashion copyright suit, could we? Today we learn Express is suing Wal-Mart because of its "Express for Less" ad campaign. Express says the campaign implies "a discount retailer with an overwhelming nationwide presence, is offering genuine Express-branded apparel of the same quality, but 'for less,' at a lower, 'unbeatable' price," WWD reports. Now, let's just imagine here that we one day walk into Wal-Mart to browse for, say, a shower radio. Let's say as we're digging through the bin next to the $5.99 DVDs with a refrigerated case full of steaks behind us, we see a sign that says "Express for Less." We would assume they mean we can get all of our shopping done quickly by buying our steak, shower radio, and bad movies in one place and that everything will be reasonably priced. We wouldn't think, "Jackpot! Now I don't have to go to the mall later to get that Express dress I had my eye on! And I don't have to pay full price for it!" Then again, maybe we don't fully understand the psyche of a Wal-Mart shopper.

Express Sues Wal-Mart Over Ad Campaign [WWD]

More: Run Through »copyright, express, walmart