Daphne Guinness buys up Isabella Blow’s wardrobe, Tamara Mellon’s royal honours and Hello Kitty Docs | Hollywood yohana




Sanrio (who blessed the world with Hello Kitty & co.) has teamed up with Dr. Martens to celebrate the Japanese brand’s fiftieth. The line of signature eight-hole boots will be decked out with the best of Sanrio–a perfect consolation for kawaii (i.e. cuteness) fans who cried over the Takashi Murakami + Louis Vuitton price tags.
Rumours of a collaboration between Coach and (wait for it) JC Penney are circulating after Coach CEO mentioned it would be a possibility. The line won’t won’t technically be Coach–the  accessories will be sold under a different name. [WWD]
While we’re not sure if we’ve ever seen the Queen in her shoes, Jimmy Choo chief creative officer Tamara Mellon will receive an OBE.
Speaking of royalty, Daphne Guinness has privately bought the entire Isabella Blow wardrobe, which was set to go up for auction this fall. Guinness, who didn’t want the wardrobe to be scattered, said it should “remain as a monument.” 
Designer Leon Verres is turning his grudge against Anna Wintour into a T-shirt. He feels that Vogue is obsolete, and to make way for the new critics of fashion (i.e. bloggers), he has released a T-shirt with the words “F**k Vogue.” We’re not too sure this one will catch on.
Supermodel and style icon Agyness Deyn just launched her new online magazine, Naag, with her friend Fiona Byrne. Add creative director of a web-based fashion/lifestyle mag to her already impressive resume of modelling, acting and DJ’ing–is there anything this woman can’t do? ]


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Which coat do you love?

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as the weather cools down, it’s time to cuddle up in a cozy coat for fall. Does fur trim drive you wild or is a cute cape more your fancy? Tell us which coat you like best.


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Cinderella’s glass slipper gets a red sole upgrade! Check out our photos from the Louboutin Disney collab | Hollywood yohana



 Cinderella’s fabled glass slipper is getting a red-sole upgrade thanks to designer Christian Louboutin. In collaboration with Walt Disney Studios, Louboutin designed a whimsical, Cinderella-inspired shoe that was fittingly unveiled during couture week, currently taking place in Paris. The transparent, lacey stilettos are adorned with delicate crystal-embellished butterflies, and feature the iconic red sole the designer is renowned for. We can’t picture these pumps on everyone—and let’s face it, owning a pair of Louboutin’s is more fairytale than reality for most of us—but we think they’re the perfect ultra-girly footwear for the modern-day princess with deep pockets.


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Alexander McQueen retrospective to launch at the MET, Jason Wu does bridal and Karl Lagerfeld talks couture | Hollywood yohana



Next Spring’s Costume Institute Gala will open a retrospective of the work of the late Alexander McQueen, called “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
Jason Wu is expanding his label: The Manhattan-based designer will be launching a five-piece bridal capsule collection to be sold exclusively on Net-A-Porter. [Racked]
Stylist and former America’s Next Top Model judge Nolé Marin has been accused of sexual harrassment by male model Nicholas Hamman-Howe.
Karl Lagerfeld, who attended the International Herald Tribune’s 10th Annual Luxury Conference yesterday, on couture: “Buying couture is no worse than collecting expensive cars. People are rich enough to buy them. Others make a living from that. I have no fake guilt about couture.”
Iman sat down with Simon Doonan and dished about which designer she had “homicidal feelings towards.” “Geoffrey Beene! I loved his clothes but not him. Years ago, we were about to walk the runway and he pushed me. I said, “Don’t do that!” “You work for me!” he said, and I replied, “No, you’ve hired my services, dear. I don’t work for you,” and I left.”
Avant-garde designer Gareth Pugh has been named the guest womenswear designer for the Pitti Uomo and Pitti W fashion weeks in Florence, Italy.
RalphLauren.com will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with a 4D spectacular at the brand’s newly built retail mansion on Madison Avenue in New York.
Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani is not a fan of fashion reality television shows, despite the fact that her magazine is a sponsor of the current cycle of America’s Next Top Model“TV shows about fashion are generally boring and with so many websites on the subject, unnecessary,” she wrote on her blog. “Television is great. It makes you famous in a few seconds. It’s like fashion. However both together haven’t found the way to work.”


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What is up with Shailene Woodley wearing athletic toe shoes to a Golden Globes after-party? | Hollywood yohana




Last night’s dazzling starlets were sky high in Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin at the Golden Globes, but when it came to the after-parties, most swapped their skyscraper heels for more comfortable footwear so they could dance the night away.
The Descendants star Shailene Woodley was one of the many to do a quick switcheroo at the Warner Brothers and InStyle after-party, and she looked picture perfect from head to, well, ankle. Her feet? That’s a whole other story. The 20 year old certainly turned heads, thanks to a very bizarre footwear choice: a pair of athletic toe shoes.
A cross between running shoes, socks, and water shoes (you know, the kind you’re even reluctant to wear at the cottage?), Woodley’s decision to don a pair of Vibram FiveFingers shoes made us do a second, third, and fourth take.
We can’t help but wonder why she didn’t opt for a cute pair of sparkly flats or ballet slippers—both certainly would have been just as comfortable. We can’t even imagine what would inspire her to wear toe shoes to a red carpet event, especially given her status as a young, up-and-coming starlet.
THEY SAID:
Styleite: “We’re all about comfy footwear, but couldn’t she have gone for some cute Converse like Hailee Steinfeld? Or ballet flats? Or even flip-flops? Surely anything is better than the alternative. Regardless, we do appreciate her cool ‘tude, even if her shoes were anything but.”
Huffington Post: “The rubberized toes did look a little bizarre poking out beneath Shailene’s long, black dress, but at least she chose a coordinating color rather than a flashy neon. Plus, in a night full of safe dresses and only a few fashion faux pas, Shailene’s strange shoe pick was a pleasant little surprise.”
Telegraph: “But the resulting snaps will serve as a harsh lesson early on in a budding career: Every move you make, every fashion mistake, we’ll be watching you.”
WE SAID:
Caitlan Moneta, assistant fashion editor: “I’m pretty sure painful shoes are part of the starlet job description. Lesson learned: never underestimate the power of the paparazzi zoom lens.”


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jewellery designer Alexis Bittar | Hollywood yohana

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 It’s the kind of success story that’s made in Manhattan—only it all began in Brooklyn. Over the past 20 years, jewellery designer Alexis Bittar (alexisbittar.) has gone from being a street vendor in SoHo to a fixture on Michael Kors’ speed-dial. Bittar’s signature bright, bold Lucite designs have made him the candy man of the accessories world with a cult following of A-listers, including Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alicia Keys, Blake Lively, Rihanna and Madonna. But don’t think that this self-taught artist/ entrepreneur is moving on up to the Upper East Side. FASHION sat down with Bittar to find out how he stays true to his roots, what makes him feel creative and why costume jewellery is still living large.

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Why Katie Holmes might be ramping up her fashion career in the midst of her high-profile divorce | Hollywood yohana





Whatever your opinion of Katie Holmes might be, you have to give it to her: she doesn’t waste time moping after a breakup. While most of us would have maybe made it to our fourth Ben & Jerry’s bucket and gotten halfway through season six of Sex and the City (“The Post-it Always Sticks Twice!”), since announcing her impending divorce last week the soon-to-be-former Mrs. Tom Cruise has already taped an episode for Project Runway, landed herself on the cover of Elle and finalized plans for the debut of her Holmes & Yang line (with stylist partner Jeanne Yang) at New York Fashion Week this September.
In fact, it seems like now more than ever, Holmes is really kicking her fashion career into high gear. It kind of has us wondering: was this all a strategic move on Holmes’ part? After having played the role of demure, loyal wife to the charismatic Tom Cruise for five years, could it be that Holmes had plans to break out on her own all along?
If her upcoming August feature with Elle is anything to go off, she may have been planning the divorce shocker for a while. The New York Post managed to cull a couple quotes from the feature, including this particularly telling reflection:
“I definitely feel much more comfortable in my own skin,” Holmes apparently said. “I feel sexier. I think in my 20s, it’s like you’re trying too hard to figure everything out . . . I’m starting to come into my own. It’s like a new phase.”
A new phase that will evidently leave everyone’s favourite couch jumper in the dust. Holmes also hinted that Cruise’s star power may have been more of a hindrance rather than a help for her own career, saying, if anything “you work a little bit harder when you’re in such visible circumstances.”
Strategic timing or not, the fashion crowd is notoriously tough to please, so the real fashion test for the soon-to-be-singleton will be at NYFW this September. Until then, we can all keep ourselves entertained with round-the-clock TomKat updates (our personal favourite rumour so far: that Holmes had to audition to be Cruise’s wife).

THEY SAID…
Frankie Boyle, comedian: “Katie Holmes has revealed the reason for her split from Tom Cruise. Somebody finally paid the ransom.”
Charlotte Cowles, senior editor: “[…] If she has to deal with photographers living outside her apartment day and night, shouldn’t she at least get some clothing sales out of it?”
WE SAID…
Lesa Hannah, beauty director: “Obviously, if you’re simultaneously attempting to escape Xenu and kick start your lagging career, all of that needs to be planned out strategically, months in advance. Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter how lame any of her upcoming projects are, she has the media as well as the public’s attention. She should also strike while the iron is hot and get on that Dawson’s Creek reunion.”


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Splashes of colour at Oscar de la Renta | Hollywood yohana

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With all of the sombre dark colours on the fall runways, Mr. de la Renta decided to brighten things up on the Upper East Side. Cinnamon alpaca coats, magenta-printed silk chiffon dresses, pumpkin leather belts and emerald duchesse satin halter gowns injected some much needed colour into the noir trend that has been repeatedly played out on the runways during New York fashion week. Is Mr. de la Renta feeling optimistic about the new season?  Only time (and retail sales) will tell. Though one thing rings true season after season-de la Renta knows how to dress a woman and make her look and feel like a million dollars.

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3 things we learned about Kristen Stewart while at dinner with her in Paris (listen up, RPatz!) | Hollywood yohana




Last week we were in Paris to interview Kristen Stewart about being the face of Balenciaga’s new Florabotanica perfume, which launches this fall. Between attending a garden party—hosted by Stewart and the fashion house’s creative director Nicolas Ghesquière—and chatting one-on-one with the actress the next day about everything from fashion to fragrance, here are three things we learned about KStew.
She loves her Balenciaga leather jacket
In Vanity Fair’s July issue cover story, the writer noted she wore it at two of their meetings. At last week’s launch party she layered the jacket over a pale blue dress, which she also paired with black booties.
She drops a lot of F-bombs
We counted six in our interview and heard a few more at dinner the night before.
She hates getting real flowers
“I would much rather keep them in the garden. Things need to move. I just feel like flowers are dead. They smell great, but I’m not a huge fan,” she told us. Note to Robert Pattinson: if you want to make Kristen your real-life bride, send her a bouquet made of twisted metal flowers modelled after the wild and dangerous-looking blooms seen in Florabotanica’s fragrance ad campaign. “Imagine getting this big metal [arrangement]… that would be awesome. I would marry whoever sent me that.”
To read more from our interview with Kristen Stewart, stay tuned for FASHION’s October issue.


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Nicole Richie promotes clothes, thrills fans, at Holt Renfrew | Hollywood yohana




Holt Renfrew was all aflutter last week due to the arrival of L.A. socialite-turned-designer Nicole Richie (and our March cover girl). Though she was an hour late, the crowd of fans and photographers applauded enthusiastically when the petite starlet finally arrived at the Golden Square Mile location, dressed to impress in Beverly Hills boho-style dressed in a black brimmed hat, loose black vest, black opaque tights; black Louboutin shooties (yup, lots of black) and high-waisted, thigh-high blue denim cut-offs. Underneath it all she wore a vintage-inspired silk top from her recently launched clothing label Winter Kate, the raison d’être for her appearance. Richie was also there to debut a footwear range for  her popular accessories label House of Harlow 1960.
After posing with Winter Kate models at either side, Richie stood for a few solo shots and then sat down to give autographs. One fan, Kathryn Cousineau, a 17-year-old student from Ottawa admitted to me that she woke up at 1:30 a.m. that day to catch a bus to Montreal for the event. Barely breathing after an autograph and quick snapshot with the mini-mogul, Cousineau exclaimed, “She’s amazing. I love her clothes. And she’s a beautiful, amazing, awesome, huge role model.” (To which my colleague Ashley whispered in my ear, “Huge and Nicole Richie should not be in the same sentence.”)
Once the hype was over, I perused the Winter Kate racks. Currently Holts has less than a dozen of the 1960s-inspired pieces, mainly silk tunics ($235) in floral and paisley prints, plus one cropped leather jacket ($625), which I know would go with everything in my closet. Holts rep Victoria Destison promises that there’s more coming: “We’ll be receiving new items every week, including dresses.”
The House of Harlow 1960 shoes are also to be desired: faux croc, zebra print, open-toe wedges ($250); matching ballerina flats ($195); gladiators with beading ($188) and flat sandals with peacock feathers ($158). In the jewellery department, Nicole’s fans swept up much the new baubles, such as the limited edition Jacky O. shades ($158, only 150 pairs to be sold across Canada), a peacock assortment: a cuff ($225), a ring ($55) and a locket ($145); as well as gold-plated horseshoe trinkets and a sassy leather line. Ashley and I spent way too many minutes trying to figure out if the multi-chain item ($225) was a choker necklace or a headband. According to the saleswoman, who didn’t appear entirely certain herself, it’s the former.


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Fashion news: Karl’s new mag, Choo shenanigans in Shanghai and some rumours dispelled | Hollywood yohana

Photography by Peter Stigter 



The Daily Beast compiled a list of the 10 most valuable models. If the suspense is killing you, Gisele is number one, followed by Christy Turlington (7), Kate Moss (2) and the usual suspects. We’d argue that Daria (5) is hardly an “up-and-comer” though, so you can probably take this all with a grain of salt.
Karl Lagerfeld is launching a Chanel magazine called 31 Rue Cambon with Purple’s Olivier Zahm heading up art direction. [The Cut]

Adriana Lima and husband NBA player Marko Jaric welcomed a baby girl, Valentina Lima Jaric, on Sunday in New York City. [People]
The shenanigans ran high in Shanghai at the release of Jimmy Choo for H&M. While most re-sellers here waited until they got home to hawk their merch on eBay, the scene was far more chaotic in Shanghai where retailers set up shop on the street outside the flagship store. And the prices were no longer a steal, with most pop ups doubling the price of the hot commodity collaboration. [Racked]
Apparently Gemma Ward has not “quit” modelling. Rumours swirled after her spokesperson implied Ward will not return to work any time soon. Now Ward is setting the record straight, saying “I have not ‘quit modelling’ and my fans back home can expect to see me back at work modelling and acting in the new year.” The 22-year-old may be taking some time off to attend Yale, get involved in charity work and is just “enjoying being young,” according to her mother Claire Ward.
The news of a Lindsay Lohan/Pascal Mouawad collaboration that rocketed around the web yesterday was a mere rumour. Mouawad acknowledged that there was once a possibility for a jewellery line (perhaps that was pre-Ungaro?), but that it is “not happening.”


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Dsquared’s wish list includes a limo helicopter and an island | Hollywood yohana

Photography by Peter Stigter
Dean and Dan are on a roll. The Caten twins from Willowdale, Ont., (who famously moved to Milan in 1991) recently launched Dsquared eyewear, are starring in the Bravo reality series Launch My Line and have now been immortalized with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. This winter, their fragrances He Wood and She Wood will be joined by Velvet Forest Wood for women, and Rocky Mountain Wood for men. We caught up with them at The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto.
There’s a lot of plastic in your spring collection. What was the inspiration?
Dan: “Spring is a camping theme, with a mom taking her kid to the wilderness. She is a real drama queen with champagne and caviar. They get rained on so there is lots of playing with plastic, including jeans and T-shirts, and insects in plastic jewellery. Everything looks wet.”


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Chloë Sevigny fronts Miu Miu campaign for the second time. Which is your favourite? | Hollywood yohana



T he wait was worth it: after 16 years, Chloë Sevigny is reprising her role as Miu Miu’s girl-du-jour by gracing their latest fall campaign, shot by the Mert and Marcus team. True to Miu Miu’s Fall 2012 ready-to-wear collection, which was ‘70s-esque pantsuit-heavy, the Hit and Miss actress is decked out in a pair of printed pants, a checkered tie and platform heels.
Miu Miu said the campaign was intended to be “a gallery of portraits with a seductive, provocative attitude,” with hints of contrasts throughout. Sevigny’s sleekly mannish ensemble and slicked back coif definitely strike a masculine-feminine contrast with her exaggerated aqua eyeshadow and graceful pose. And that teacup is the perfect prop — we love how it gives the actress and all-around style icon an off-kilter femininity.
While we loved the stripped-down campaign of the then-22-year-old Sevigny shot by Juergen Teller in 1996, we think this more sophisticated look shows how Sevigny (who was already the epitome of girl-crush material in the ‘90s) has somehow evolved even more into her offbeat, inimitable style.

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