The Cut

7/18/08

Dress Code

7/18/08

5:50 PM

Fall Trend: Women’s Necklines Rise, Men’s Fall

Let's all just embrace chest hair now.Photo: Courtesy of American Apparel

If you're the kind of girl who likes to flaunt her cleavage, we have some bad news for you: Cleavage is out for fall. The runways were devoid of plunging lines. Even Dolce & Gabbana showed high necks with ties or scarves. Why the sudden return to modesty? The Guardian reports:

Dr. Valerie Steele, director of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, believes that this new prim mood is a reaction to an overdose of trashy looks. "We've had years of thong underpants flashing above everything, and too much cleavage. I think it's just a very natural pendulum swing," she says.

And of course, this wouldn't be a fashion-trend story if the recession didn't have something to do with it! Steele says designers are trying to make their pieces look more couture during hard economic times. Customers want their expensive clothes to actually look expensive, rather than, you know, cheap.

Ironically — yet unsurprisingly — while women's necklines have risen, men's necklines have plunged! Yes, those deep Vs American Apparel made so popular aren't going anywhere. We've said it once but we'll say it again: Men are the new women. Have fun, boys.

Prim and proper [The Guardian]

More: Dress Code »american apparel, dolce & gabbana, economy, trends

Model Tracker

7/18/08

5:15 PM

Ali Michael Is Back on Top

Ali in Anna Sui, left, and Lanvin.Photo: Courtesy of Anna Sui, Lanvin

Just months after appearing on the the Today show to speak out on eating disorders in modeling, Ali Michael is back in fashion. Despite gaining a whopping five pounds last season, and thus not being booked for many shows, her career isn't stalling one bit. No, the lucky (and, let's say it, sane) girl has a lucrative fragrance contract with Lanvin's Jeanne Lanvin perfume, was re-signed as the face of Sportmax, and just got picked as the face of Anna Sui's fall campaign. We always say we hope fashion changes and learns, but maybe it actually has. But mostly, we're just glad we can gain five pounds now and feel okay about it. —James Lim

More: Model Tracker »ali michael, anna sui, eating disorders, lanvin, sportmax

Beauty Marks

7/18/08

4:35 PM

Karl Lagerfeld’s New Genderless ‘Kapsule’ Fragrance

You didn't take him for a punner, did you?Photo: Getty Images

FRAGRANCE
• Karl Lagerfeld will release a trio of fragrances this November called Kapsule (har). Karl said the scents are genderless because "there is no gender in perfumes anymore." Genius. [WWD]

MAKEUP
• Jennifer Aniston spends $20,000 a month on her beauty routine, by this blogger's calculations. [Styledash]

• Kate Moss is venturing into makeup! She told Vogue she's working on a second perfume and makeup for Coty, Inc. Because smelling like her isn't enough. [Fashionista]

• Sephora will launch on10 this holiday season, a line with Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Snow White, Cinderella, and Alice on lip balms. Flavors include Tootsie Roll, 7Up, and Wrigley's. [WWD]

• Speaking of Sephora, Happy Birthday! Our makeup wonderland/best friend turns 10 today. [Racked]

SKIN
• A list of the ten most disturbing spa treatments includes snake massages, fanny facials, and six other ones we're not lining up for. But the chocolate-fondue wrap (No. 6) doesn't sound half-bad. [Divine Caroline via Consumerist]

More: Beauty Marks »fragrance, jennifer aniston, karl lagerfeld, kate moss, makeup, skin

Run Through

7/18/08

4:10 PM

We Want Your Tales of Love in the City

Photo: Getty Images

Readers, a call to arms! Well, not exactly — perhaps more a call to your ring fingers, or the ring fingers of someone you know. For an upcoming issue of the magazine, we're looking for people who got engaged in iconic New York City places: think Yankee Stadium, the top of the Empire State Building, a rowboat in Central Park, on the Brooklyn Bridge. We're looking for the classic clichés and the unusual ones, too (did he get down on bended knee on the Staten Island Ferry? How about on the L train?). If you've got a proposal story that involves something inherently New York, we want to hear it.

Also! We're looking for older couples who got married in New York City, are still together, and still living in the city. By "older," we mean in your fifties and up (the older, the better). The magazine would like to interview and photograph these die-hards because, seriously, bravo.

If you fit the bill, please do email weddings@nymag.com ASAP; deadline is August 7th. We can't wait to be swept off our feet by you all!

More: Run Through »love, new york city, romance

Run Through

7/18/08

3:45 PM

L’Oréal Slapped With Lawsuit

We assume this product isn't part of the lawsuit.Photo: Courtesy of L'Oreal

It's been a tough week over at the L'Oréal headquarters. Yesterday, the cosmetics company got slapped with a lawsuit claiming it knowingly sold products with potentially carcinogenic chemicals and false advertising in South America and Europe. And yesterday, WWD released statistics about the company's tumbling sales outlook.

First, let's get all Law & Order on the lawsuit: Shockingly, the suit comes from one of their own! The whistle-blower, Jerome Chevallier, is the former regulatory affairs director for the company (emphasis on former). Chevallier claims he was fired after complaining about his suspicions to higher-ups. And no wonder — his assertions are huge, to say the least. L'Oréal denied the allegations to ABC News, saying, "It is our policy that we do not comment on ongoing litigation, but the company intends to vigorously defend itself in this lawsuit."

More: Run Through »earnings, l'oreal, lawsuit, legal issues, makeup

Cult of Personality

7/18/08

3:00 PM

When it Comes to Babies, Tom Ford Is No Movie Star

Tom Ford.Photo: WireImage

Remember how Tom Ford told Fantastic Man magazine he wanted a kid? Now he tells Fashion Week Daily he regrets it!

“What I learned from Fantastic Man–and from saying that–is that I will never say anything about it again. I would love to be a father; I’ve often commented about it. I don’t know whether I will. As we say in the fashion industry, I don’t have anything in the works at the moment. When I do have a child, I will simply announce it, and then that will be that. No one will see the child and the child won’t be photographed. It’s a private thing.”

Okay, Tom. We wish you luck with that because, though it's an admirable idea, we have no idea how you'll manage to do it in today's day and age (ahem, Brangie). Especially since no one wants to see Michael Jackson and the Blanket, Part II, The Sequel.

We’ll Never See Tom Ford’s Child?! [FWD]

More: Cult of Personality »angelina jolie, babies, brad pitt, tom ford

Run Through

7/18/08

2:20 PM

Guess Who Mr. I ♥ Models Anthony Weiner’s Getting Money From?

Anthony Weiner.Photo: Getty Images

A while ago we told you about Rep. Anthony Weiner's bill that would make it easier for foreign models to get visas to work in this country. The story sort of died down, but today the New York Post brings it back with a twist! Weiner is running for mayor and released his campaign filing yesterday. Guess what constituency gave him a fair amount of contributions? Members of the modeling biz! The Post reports he collected at least $7,125 from 14 people associated with the industry between January 12 and July 11. Cory Bautista of NY Models in Los Angeles wrote Weiner the largest check of them all, for $1,500.

Weiner's raised $1.4 million over the past six months, more dough by far than any of the other Democratic candidates. One of his supporters told the Post, "The $7,000 he took from the modeling industry doesn't even represent one percent of his contributions." True, but it sure is fun to fuss over this kind of stuff anyway.

MODELING $$ BOOST FOR WEINER [NYP]

More: Run Through »anthony weiner, campaign contributions, models

Model Tracker

7/18/08

1:45 PM

Ali Stephens Is Too Good-Looking in Her New Chanel Video

Ali Stephens is kicking off her third season of modeling in a big way — shilling mascara for Chanel. Chanel! We've been telling you this girl is one to watch for awhile now. The 17-year-old Salt Lake City native has walked dozens of runway shows, from Balenciaga to Calvin Klein, appeared on the cover of Korean W, and stars in the Calvin Klein Jeans campaign. Chanel just released this video of Ali "performing black magic that will transform her eyes" and practicing her entrancing "deep black gaze." And, well, what can we say? She looks really freaking gorgeous. We can't believe this is the same 17-year-old girl we raced in East River Park just weeks ago. We nearly busted out a paper fan when we watched it and even considered bolting out the door to go buy the product. Press play to be enthralled.

Ali Stephens for Chanel [wannabe socialite]
Related: Video: We Race Ali Stephens! Literally!

More: Model Tracker »advertising, ali stephens, beauty, chanel, makeup, models

Run Through

7/18/08

1:00 PM

Isabel Marant Fights a Knockoff and Wins in France

A black dress from Isabel Marant's fall 08 collection.
Back off, Naf Naf.Photo: imaxtree

In America, when Forever 21 knocks off Marc Jacobs, there's not really anything Marc Jacobs can do about it but shrug his shoulders and keep on keeping on. But if that happened in France, Marc Jacobs might be able to get Forever 21 in trouble in court. Such is the case with French fast-fashion chain Naf Naf. Isabel Marant took Naf Naf to court in Paris for ripping off a black dress from its fall 2006 collection. The court ruled that Naf Naf (gosh that name is fun) and its oh-so-appropriately-named supplier, Paris Paris, have to pay Isabel Marant $120,000 in damages for commercializing the design.

The French really must have a soft spot for high fashion. While the CFDA has been struggling to impose penalties on fast-fashion plagiarizers here for years, this marks yet another copyright win for high fashion in France. Just a few weeks ago, a French judge ruled that eBay must pay LVMH 40 million euros for selling counterfeit merchandise.

In Brief: Penalty For Copying [WWD]

More: Run Through »copyright, france, isabel marant, knockoffs, lawsuits, paris

First Looks

7/18/08

12:03 PM

Exclusive: Proenza Schouler Sunglasses Revealed!

You lookin' at me?Photo courtesy of PR Consulting

To end the week, a very special treat — brand new Proenza Schouler shades! These sunglasses are so fresh, they don’t even have a price tag yet. This is the first glimpse of the shades; they’re not being presented to insiders until August market week. Though it's as yet unknown which stores will be stocking these little lovelies, we can tell you that they’ll be hitting the streets around October/November. So mark your calendars now. —Kendall Herbst

More: First Looks »eyewear, jack mccollough, lazaro hernandez, proenza schouler, sunglasses

Model Tracker

7/18/08

11:45 AM

‘America’s Next Top Model’ Runner-Up, Anya, Signs With Elite

Anya Rozova.Photo: Courtesy of Elite

Anya Rozova, who went by Anya Kop on the last season of America's Next Top Model, signed with Elite Model Management on Friday. She may have come in second on the show, behind Whitney Thompson, but she's scored a spot on the agency's development board. Booker Jose Covarrubias says the agency asked for her after the show ended. And she came to them with brown hair (her natural shade — she dyed it back from her ANTM blond, which she found too hard to maintain).

Covarrubias told us Rozova's already done "some editorials" but was unable to give specifics. "She's getting great response," he added. Does this mean we might see her at Fashion Week? "Right now she's building her book. We're treating her as any other model. For Fashion Week we have no plans other than — she's based in New York, she's going to go out and see everyone."

Each season Elite plucks non-winners from the ANTM cast. Rozova's former housemate and competitor, Katarzyna Dolinska, was signed "the second she lost." "Last season was a great batch," Covarrubias added. "Whitney's kicking butt, Anya's kicking butt, Katarzyna's kicking butt. We're doing really well with the three girls we ended up with." Wow, ANTM girls actually modeling. Who would've thunk?

ANYA ROZOVA [Elite]
KATARZYNA DOLINSKA [Elite]
WHITNEY THOMPSON [Elite]

More: Model Tracker »america's next top model, anya kop, anya rozova, elite, katarzyna dolinska, models, whitney thompson

Run Through

7/18/08

10:50 AM

Weinstein and Zucker’s Diva Battle for ‘Project Runway’

Zucker and Weinstein, long before yesterday.Photo: Getty Images

We thought the catfights on America's Next Top Model were good, but that granola-bar incident has nothing on Jeff Zucker and Harvey Weinstein's battle over Project Runway. The NBC president and producer testified in a daylong hearing yesterday about whether NBC has a shot at keeping the show on Bravo. According to Zucker, in a meeting held January 15, he and Weinstein verbally agreed that should another network make an offer on Project Runway, NBC would have the right to match the offer and keep the show. Weinstein argued he understood he was free to shop it around at his leisure. So it's a battle of he said, he said, with some e-mails in between that could offer proof for one or the other.

It's not clear what exactly happened in that January 15 meeting. But it is clear Zucker and Weinstein are far from besties. Three notable diva moments emerged in yesterday's testimonies:

Weinstein would rather "cut off his arm" than give NBC first refusal. »

More: Run Through »bravo, harvey weinstein, jeff zucker, lifetime, los angeles, nbc, project runway, reality tv

Loose Threads

7/18/08

9:50 AM

YSL Retrospective Skips New York; Jay Manuel Gets Sued

Bar Refaeli for Hurley.Photo: Courtesy of Hurley

• San Francisco's DeYoung is the only U.S. museum to host a 40-year retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent's work. The exhibit opens in November and will include 120 accessorized outfits. [Fashionista]

• Tom Ford plans to open a store in Las Vegas eventually, possibly in a new $9 billion shopping center where Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Company, de Grisogono, H.Stern, Marni, and Rolex, among others, are opening stores. [WWD]

• Jay Manuel is being sued by talent agency Thruline Entertainment, who say as his manager they should have gotten a 10 percent cut of his $405,000 America's Next Top Model salary. [TMZ]

• C'N'C Costume National cast its fall '08 campaign on MySpace. [Fashion Week Daily]

• Bar Refaeli stars in fall campaigns for Hurley International and True Religion. [WWD]

• Salma Hayek and French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, CEO of PPR (which owns Gucci), have called off their engagement. [Perez Hilton]

Nina Garcia rakes in the dough. »

More: Loose Threads »advertising, america's next top model, costume national, francois-henri pinault, jay manuel, kate moss, las vegas, lauren conrad, models, myspace, nina garcia, rag&bone, salma hayek, san francisco, shoes, store opening, tom ford, yves saint laurent

Fashion Calendar

7/18/08

9:00 AM

Sales: Steals on Gucci, Prada, and Alexander McQueen

STARTING TODAY
• Rag Nation's closing their Park Avenue South showroom on July 30, and they're slashing prices in the meantime. A Gucci men's leather jacket is $500 (originally $1,000). Dresses from Moschino, Alexander McQueen, and Prada are $45 to $125. Through 7/21. 200 Park Ave. S., at 17th St., Ste. 1608 (212-941-5472); Fri., Sat., Mon. (11–7), Sun. (1–7).

• Men's shirts, blazers, jackets and sweater at Seize Sur Vingt are on sale. Through 7/31. 267 Elizabeth St., nr. Prince St. (212-343-0007); Mon.–Sat. (11–7), Sun. (11–6).

• Dulcinée's vintage dresses, tops, skirts, shoes, and accessories are 20 to 30 percent off. 127 Stanton St., nr. Essex St. (212-253-2534); Mon.–Sat. (1–7), Sun. (1–5).

Blumarine, Chanel, and free nail polish. »

More: Fashion Calendar »sales, shopping

7/17/08

Dress Code

7/17/08

6:20 PM

Madonna Dresses Her Age. Is That So Wrong?

Oh no. Silk shorts.Photo: Getty Images

Let's talk about Madonna and leave A-Rod out of it, shall we? Eric Wilson of the New York Times laments Madge's fashion choices as of late:

For a performer who has spent 25 years shocking audiences into submission, through her lyrics, actions and attire, Madonna’s latest stylistic reinvention — timed to the start of a new tour next month — is mostly shocking for not having teeth.

He thinks the satin shorts outfit pictured here is boring. Her "American Gladiator" look on the cover of her new album doesn't excite him. He's also not a fan of her white matte face powder and extended eyeliner. He emphasizes that Madonna just hasn't nailed down a look for this album by quoting folks who run Madonna fan sites. Jay Engel, 29, who runs Absolutemadonna.com said, "Maybe she’s uncomfortable and trying to figure out who she is at 50. I hate to say it, but I wouldn’t say she feels very comfortable right now.”

Edited by Amy Odell

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