Chin Up

Precious tends to be right up my alley, hence when it comes to the home, I am especially drawn to Italian houseware-co. Alessi.

Newly added to their "SO CUTE" roster is the Mr. & Mrs. Chin Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, designed by Stefano Giovannoni with Rumiko Takeda, in collaboration with the National Palace Museum of Taiwan. How'd that happen you ask? The collaboration grew out of the museum's desire to broaden its horizons and understand more of western culture, and at the same time promote Chinese history in the West. Stefano Giovannoni created the Chin family as a "mascot" for the new Museum.

Mr. and Mrs. Chin, the Salt and pepper set, come in a specially lithographed box and are available at Fitzsu for $48. Enter DCFITZSU to save 25% at checkout (courtesy of DailyCandy)

Everything's Coming Up Irises

What: Iris Shoe Boutique
Where: Manhattan's Meatpacking District (827 Washington St.)
Why: How do we count the ways? A trip to this new shoe boutique is a heck of a lot closer (and cheaper) than a flight to Europe but really still quite exciting. There you'll find Marc Jacobs, Victor & Rolf, Chloe and John Galliano to name drop, and, most importantly you'll be fleur-ed by the selection: forget one to two selected styles per designer - Iris stocks the ENTIRE line of each label - that's every single look the designer created. Isn't nature beautiful?

Was YOUR Saturday Super?

Sweet Charity.

Christy Turlington, Mandy Moore, Sara Jessica Parker, Jerry & Jessica Seinfeld, The View's Barbara Walters and Elizabeth Hassleback, Molly Sims, ex-Soprano's Lorraine Bracco and Edie Falco, Petra Nemcova and just about everyone else descended upon Nova'a Ark Project in Water Mill this weekend for the 10th anniversary of Super Saturday.

Helping to raise over $2 million for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the event is THE shopping event of the year, featuring steeply discounted designer wears (think 30-50% off) from the likes of 200+ designers including Abaete, Milly, Gucci, Botkier, Moschino, Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Tam, Trina Turk, Nieves Lavi, Gussto, Generra, Carolina Herrera, etc. etc.

Hosted by Donna Karan (a personal underwriter of the event), Charla Lawhon and the rest of InStyle with special guest Kelly Ripa, the event drew over 1,500 fashettes, designers, celebs, and editors.

Christy Turlington

Barbara Walters

Molly Sims reads to the younger set in Target's reading room

Petra Nemcova

Essie Manicure Station

Get Intimate with Stella McCartney

Anyone familiar with Stella McCartney's ephemeral creations will be none too surprised to hear that she is foraying into lingerie. Through a licensing agreement with intimate apparel company Bendon, McCartney will launch an intimate apparel line in Spring '08, reports WWD. "This is a natural progression for me. Lingerie is an obsession of mine. I have been inspired by it for many, many years. Ever since my degree collection at Saint Martins, I have always used it in my work," said the designer.

The pieces, which will hit stores in January, will be sold at Stella McCartney stores and at Bendon units in Australia and New Zealand as well as Selfridges, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew and La Rinascente. Price points range from $71 for panties to $447 for chemises.

[WWD]

Petite H&B

H&B wants you to know if she ever spawned, this would be precisely how she'd dress her one-off:

Burberry Fur Trim Trench, $502, Neiman Marcus

Bill Blass Gets Som

It's official.

Peter Som has been named creative director for women's wear at Bill Blass, filling Michael Vollbracht's shoes. "To me, Bill Blass really represents one of the great American design houses," said Som. "He had such a clear idea of his vision of streamlined luxury and ready-to-wear. His designs to me represent a woman who is strong, confident yet not afraid to show that she still has a feminine side...I think there is no doubt that I will be twice as busy in the upcoming year, but I welcome the challenge as it will only help me to continue to refine and perfect my craft," he said. "I will probably be drinking a lot more coffee in 2008."

A former Blass-protege, Som worked for the brand in the 90s assisting Mr. Blass and even accepting a CFDA award on his behalf when the designer was unable to attend. "Peter worked here as a young man, and I worked with him and knew him very well," said Michael Groveman, ceo of Bill Blass Ltd. "We spoke to a number of people, and he was the strongest candidate. We think he brings a lot to the table."

Som's first collection is expected to be pre-fall 2008.

[WWD]

Sale on buy...

FABiola Bersaca this baby's haute!

Who: Nieves Lavi

What: Square-neck silk dress

Where: Shopbop.com

When: NOW if not sooner

Why: Because with a travel pouch included it's the perfect dress in which to frock around the clock.

Double Why: It's been marked down from $374 to $187. Now, Go! Go! GO!

Calling a Spade a ???

It's arrividerci Kate & Andy.

The husband-wife team Kate and Andy Spade are walking away from their eponymous company following the end of the service agreement they reached when acquired by Liz Claiborne last November. They will leave their posts - designer and ceo respectively, by the end of next week.

"This is a hard decision, and I feel very emotional about it," said Kate. "But the emotions would be more about melancholy if I thought we weren't doing the right thing. We are with the right partners — we wouldn't make this decision otherwise. This an opportunity for employees, the fabulous teams we have in place, to take the baton and run away with it."

Both will stay on as members of the brand's board, which will also be comprised of Claiborne ceo William L. McComb, exec. vp of Claiborne's direct-to-consumer division Jill Granoff and some soon to be named Kate Spade execs including a new ceo and head designer.

WWD reports, "Their exit comes at a pivotal time for the company, just as Claiborne has put the accessories brand on a course for fast growth. "This has been something I've struggled with for the last six or seven months, but this isn't a situation where we are losing the founders," McComb said in an interview. "They so embody what the brand ideal is, and they have created very scalable DNA. I am very comfortable we can build right on top of what they have been very successful at."

Citing personal reasons for stepping aside (including spending time with their 2-year-old daughter), "Andy Spade said he and his wife fully endorse the direction Claiborne is taking their brand, and that they will 'be as involved as we need to be' going forward. 'It's our name, and we will be haunting them forever to make it right,' he said. "It's our turn to take a break, though. We've been working straight for 13 years now."

As for that direction, Claiborne has growth on the mind. It intends on opening a whopping 80 new Kate Spade boutiques over the next three years.

[WWD]

It's Lanvin, Dolly!

The designer doll category is gearing up for an all out celebrity death match. Every designer who's anyone already has a Barbie and/or a Visionaire Russian doll. And now, according to WWD, "Alber Elbaz is giving the concept of collectable [sic] fashion a new twist. The Lanvin designer has teamed up with the Taiwanese craftsman Franz to create a series of miniature porcelain dolls wearing signature looks from his collection. The hand-painted, stiletto-wearing figurines, starting with this fall-winter season, will each be produced in a limited series of 800 and cost 250 euros, or $345, a pop."

LV's High Profile Interns

Move over high prof designers. This holiday season, two graphic design students will be taken to task in designing Louis Vuitton's global holiday windows. As part of a contest held at London's prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (grads include Stella McCartney, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen), graphic design students were asked to draw inspiration from the luxury giant's history and image. "This year, we decided to give emerging talents the chance to freely express themselves and their vision of the brand," said Yves Carcelle, chairman and chief executive of Louis Vuitton. And emerge they will. The winners, 21-year-old Christopher Lawson from Ireland and 26-year-old Marcos Villalba from Spain will have their design - an abstract landscape of Vuitton's historic Asnieres workshop - prominently featured in 370 store fronts during the busiest shopping time of the year.

[WWD]

To LaLohan: A Long Distance Request & Dedication

Wednesday's Item du Jour pays tribute to a certain troubled celebutante (from H&B's home town), who managed to get collared for driving under the influence of alcohol and coke (which was discovered after a body search - nice job Lindz!) mere days after leaving rehab. We know what you're thinking today's item's a rehab anklet but as that has proven ineffective, we're upping the ante and breaking out the big guns. That's right, H&B is going all Nancy Reagan on your @$$! Maybe this will keep you out of trouble!

Nancy Reagan Just Say No Baby Tee, $22, New Manhattan Products

And we will all go down together

Next to fall?
After yanking the plug on Jane, rumors are rife that Condé Nast isn't done killing magazines in its stable. One insider said, "Teen Vogue could be the next to fold. Their ad pages are down and people are freaking out. A bunch of editorial staffers have recently jumped ship, including [editor-in-chief] Amy Astley's assistant, and many more are looking for new jobs." A rep for Condé Nast said, "Not true. Teen Vogue makes money." [Page Six]

Friends with Benefit(s)

It's out with the old and in with the new at Benefit, where they're clearing house on loads of cosmetics that sadly are never to appear again. Check out their website to save up to 75% before they are going, going, gone.

CFDA Nominees Announced

WWD has announced the 10 CFDA nominees. They are: Phillip Lim of 3.1 Phillip Lim; Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders; Erin Fetherston of Fetherston Design Group (who will likely become much better known after her one-off line launches year-end at Target); Nunthirat Koi Suwannagate of Koi; Rogan Gregory of Rogan; Gabriel Asfour, Angela Donhauser and Adi Gil of Threeasfour; Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava; Victoria Bartlett of VPL; Michael Bastian, and Philip Crangi of Philip Crangi Jewelry.

"The winner, to be revealed at the 7th on Sale kickoff gala on Nov. 15, will receive a monetary award of $200,000. The two runners-up will receive $50,000 each. The three recipients will be assigned a mentor and receive a year's worth of managerial guidance and support from a top industry executive." [WWD]

Armani Calling

It's the golden age of collaboration and no designer will be left behind. Today in match-ups we're talking cell phones. To date we've seen the DVF, Betsey Johnson and Versus Samsungs, Prada LG, Dolce & Gabbana Razr, Versace Nokia and the Juicy Sidekick. Now, shaky word from Korea (The Korea Herald, actually) says that (drumroll please), Armani is in talks with Samsung to come out with not only an Armani cell phone but a line of TVs too. The line would bow first in Europe in October and then in the US. You know, if it's true and all.

Curious as a cat...

Just how exactly is this conversation to go?

Person 1: You smell amazing, what are you wearing?
Person 2: Oh! Thanks! It's Pussy Deluxe.
Person 1: Pardon?



"I remember the first time our directors, who are in their 60s, heard the name. But it's the opposite of vulgarity," said Thomas Seeger-Helbach, director of marketing and new business for Maurer + Wirtz, of the brand's latest fragrance. "It's about sex appeal with a wink. It's young, positive and what young, self-confident women like." Oh. Of course. In an attempt to reenter the premium fragrance market, it's introducing a 5-product line of Pussy Delux fragrances as part of a licensing deal with the eponymous irreverent lingerie and fashion company. Meow?

[WWD]

Shoes News

Get ready for it...DVF Shoes is set to launch this Spring. WWD reports that Diane von Furstenberg has inked a licensing deal with footwear manufacturer and distributor Schwartz & Benjamin to create the collection. "I wanted to create shoes for the woman on-the-go and always on her feet," von Furstenberg said.

Being Awesome is SO Haute

The Budget Fashionista named H&B "Awesome Blog of the Week." Gosh, we're blushing. It's like being first pick for dodge-ball! You like us, you really like us...

Chic of the Week

Meet today's crush:


I stumbled across the above beauties over the weekend while perusing Forzieri and it was lust at first sight. Made by Italian-handbag designer Ghibli for Fall '07, the bag on the left is the true object of my affection (which makes sense since it is also the one most out of my reach!). Fashioned in black Indian python and embellished with gold studs, the bag screams luxe. Unfortunately, so does its price ($1,274). Slightly less fab but far less wallet-detrimental is Ghibli's black and brown studded bag on the right which has the season's mandatory gold grommets and zippers ($385). Both totes come with dustbags and are available at Forzieri.

Wintour de France

Top fash eds are thinking outside their well-designed boxes these days. Fresh on the heels of Glenda Bailey's Simpson's spread in Bazaar, we've caught word that French Vogue star Carine Roitfeld has a rather cheeky spread in the mag this month herself. Shot by Mario Testino and featuring model Snejana Onopka, the 10-page spread entitled "L'icone" features what appears to be a very young looking Anna Wintour at various Fashion Weeks. Clad in fur with the American Vogue EIC's signature bob and black frames, Onopka bears a striking resemblence to Wintour with double and triple takes certainly in order.

Pantene's All Swank

Key to the Cure has Renee Zellweger and now Pantene, in partnership with EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund, has Hillary Swank to face its Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign. The charity is dedicated to donating hair for wigs at no cost to cancer victims, something Swank will do as part of her ambassador role. The actress will grow, cut and donate her own hair to be made into a wig for cancer patients. Additionally, she will appear in print public service ads in October (Breast Cancer Awareness month) beauty and lifestyle mags to raise awareness for the cause.

Says Swank, "I have lost multiple family members to cancer and witnessed their struggle firsthand. I've never heard of anything quite like Pantene Beautiful Lengths, and I'm proud to be asked to promote the goals of such a unique and heartfelt program. It's an honor to be associated with Pantene's campaign, and I just hope that my contribution will help to inspire others to get involved in whatever way they can." The program aims to raise one million inches of hair this year -- hair has to be at least 8 inches long to be donated.

Swank succeeds Diane Lane as the cause's ambassador.

For more info, visit Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Come What May

Coty Prestige has tapped "Big Fish" Ewan McGregor as the face of its new Davidoff men's scent, set to launch early next year. "Ewan McGregor is a natural choice to represent Davidoff's new male fragrance," said Francoise Mariez, senior VP of international European marketing licenses of Coty Prestige. "Not only is he one of the most talented actors of his generation, but he also has a charisma and an authenticity that will be very important for the new Davidoff fragrance."

[WWD]

Door Prize Please

Doing Lines

In case you were wondering, there is a full square block of people wrapping around Union Sq. waiting for the I Am Not... For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what could merit standing in the rain at 8am (See? That's JUST how over it I am!). But, a mere five minutes later I got the answer in the Dining section of the Times (if only life was always so easy!)

"IF you are reading this anytime after dawn on Wednesday, you are probably too late to make a fashion statement and simultaneously keep the world safe from plastic bags."

Riiiiiiiiiight! Today is July 17th. Aka the day that even Whole Food's lines reach biblical proportions. Shouldn't we be over this bag by now, people? Look at what has become of you: "A stampede of would-be purchasers in Taiwan in June sent 30 people to the hospital and required the riot police. A similar outpouring in Hong Kong caused no injuries, but the police closed down the shopping mall." For shame! Not haute. Just bothered. Need further proof? 200 of the "exclusive" bags are now for sale on ebay for around $300. Tsk!

Dollars and Scents

What does Saks smell like? Sugar and spice and everything nice. Natch, that's what Saks is made of!

Bond No. 9, the high end fragrancier (I'm so TMing that) known for its perfumes named after New York neighborhoods is zeroing in on a most specific landmark for its latest scent-sation: Saks Fifth Avenue to be precise. Available in both his and hers, the fragrances will debut in September at 54 Saks stores as well as Bond's four NY outposts.

"This is a first for Saks to have a collaboration with a designer fragrance house and a perfumer," said Deborah Walters, senior VP and general merchandise manager of cosmetics and fragrances at Saks. "This will allow our customers across the country to experience the quintessential Saks Fifth Avenue scent." So just what is that scent? For men, an oceanic top note and gourmand base and for women, gardenia.

Housed in Bond's signature flacons, the bottles are emblazoned with the store's iconic, black-and-white logo, which will retail for $125 for 1.7 oz. and $185 for 3.4 oz. This being Saks, there of course will be 500 limited edition Swarovski encrusted bottles of the women's fragrance, complete with over 1,000 crystals. These will sell for $500.

[WWD]

An Open Letter to Paul Mitchell

Dear Paul (can I call you that?):

I have been a devoted user of your Extra Body Sculpting Foam since the dawn of time. As a curl girl, I quickly learned to stick with what works - and your mousse works. So despite the advent of 18 trillion products for curls like me, I stuck with it. But lately, I've got a bone to pick with you Paul. Why oh why did you change the bottle design? Sure it's a bit sleeker and heck, I'll be the first to cop to being excited at first glance. However, it is impossible to get out. Impossible! I have asked my trainer to incorporate some hand calisthenics into my work out (even though you'd think with the amount of typing I do my fingers would be in top form). But in the event that it's not enough I am implore you, go back to the old design. You know, before I get Carpal Tunnel.

Thanks and stay classy,

H&B

Last call

Tory and Chloe and Milly. Oh my! Neiman's Last Call is sounding its urgent bell. Enter NMSHIP for free shipping!

The Simpsons Take Fashion Week

H&B hasn't received her August Bazaar yet, but the folks over at Fashionista were tipped off about a spread that is so fash fun, so unexpected, so brilliantly bizarre, that we just had to re-run it here. Bazaar EIC Glenda Bailey commissioned The Simpsons layout artist, Julius Preite, to send the Simpsons to Paris with Bart's fave supermodel Linda Evangelista (mais oui). A far cry from Springfield, the trip obviously required some serious makeovers, and we must say, dem Simpsons clean up nicely (fall RTW will do that for ya!). Karl Lagerfeld, Victor & Rolf, Donatella, Albert Elbaz, Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Jabobs make cameos looking very haute in 2D! Here's hoping the next stop is Bryant Park...

Target GO!

It's here! It's here! Libertine's Go international has started to roll out at Target. We've preordered some faves including the lace bolero (we lament the shrug just won't die), $26.99 and the Admiral Blue trench (a must-have item for this fall), $39.99. Some items are in stock now while others can be pre-ordered and will ship in 2-6 weeks.

H&B says, "Get 'em while their haute."

Jeffrey NY: Fancy that!

If you live in New York, you must, must, must high-tail it over to Jeffrey's for one of the best shoe sales we've seen in the history of ever. All shoes are 60% off (there's a great selection -- in sizes -- of Brian Atwood, Gucci, Prada, Marni, Chloe, Manolos, Choos, Loubs, etc.) and they are in great shape. The staff is super accommodating and most importantly, it's not a grab-fest. You won't feel a sea of arms encapsulating you as you try to check out the merchandise. It's a civilized sale. Fancy that! The bag selection is sorely lacking (well, sale bags that is - their fall selection is brill!) but there's a decent amount of RTW 60% off as well. We picked up a pair of Marni platforms that catipult us 6 inches into the air. Very haute. And very high (both the heel and our spirit!).

Get Well Soon Yves Saint Laurent!

Saint Laurent Hospitalized [WWD]

Louis Vuitton Fashions iPhone Case

If you are burdened by cash (ouch, it's so heavy), and you've aready dropped $600 on a cell, Louis Vuitton has created a line of carrying cases that makes the iPhone look reasonable. Come July 16, the cases - available in monogram, Epi and Taiga styles -will launch exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store. Retailing from $250 for the monogram to $1,120 for an alligator version, the line will launch nationwide in October.

[The Daily]

The Sui Life

Oh Anna! The quirky designer commissioned 16 designers to make limited edition t-shirts for her that personify her fun, off-beat spirit. Designers include Chooch (Dean Landry), who actually created the popular well-known "Anna caricature," Tsuwaki, Frank Kozik, Glenn Barr, Hiroshi Tanabe, Jeffrey Fulvimari (who illustrated Madonna's "English Roses"), James Ima, Karen Kilimnik, Melora Creager, Michael Economy, Michelle Kim, Masayuki Ogisu, Naho Ogawa, Sara Schwartz, Le Roy "King of Art" and Kalani Lee.

[Nylon]

Haute Off The Presses

Miu Miu's baaaaack. The Soho store reopens [WWD]
A Window into Anna Sui [New York]
Smells like a Monique Lhuillier fragrance deal [The Daily]
Estee Lauder expands its empire - this time buying high end haircare line Ojon [WWD]
A LOT of checks: Burberry sales soar for first quarter [FWD]
New Branches: Tory Burch has new stores opening in Chicago and Bal Harbour, Florida [WWD]

CFDA Inducts 30 Newbies

Diane von Furstenberg is a proud fashion mama. At yesterday's board meeting, the Council accepted 30 new designers (out of a record number of applicants) across the categories of women' s wear, men's wear, women's and men's, and accessories. The new members are:

Women's wear: Laura Poretzky for Abaeté, Tory Burch, Richard Chai, Rachel Roy, Phillip Lim for 3.1 Phillip Lim, Marchesa's Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, Victoria Bartlett of VPL, Lela Rose, Andreas Melbostad for Phi, Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Michelle Smith for Milly, Paul Sinclaire for Tevrow+Chase, Wenlan Chia for Twinkle by Wenlan, Mary Ping, and Jean Yu of Jean Yu design Studio

Men's wear: Keanan Duffy for Slinky Vagabond and Henry Jacobson

Women's and men's wear: Pina Ferlisi for Generra, Michael Ball of Rock & Republic, David Neville and Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone, Adam Lippes for adam­pluseve and James Perse

Accessories: Monika Botkier of Botkier handbags, Jessie Randall for Loeffler Randall, Mimi So, Michael Spirito for Exhibitionist and Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry.

New inductees will be honered at an invitation-only party at the DVF Studio on July 30.

[WWD]