To be filed under: Bothered

H&B thinks THE SUEDE is THE EQUIVALENT of nails on a chalkboard. Drop the 3rd person. The royal 'we' is obviously where it's at.

Oh, and in related news, The Suede's winning dress sold out in less than a day on ebay. Hope you weren't counting on it for prom or the like...

Headline of The Day

Kudos AdAge - you win today's bestest headline of all the internets:


[AdAge]

Crossing our fingers: Tory Burch Seeks Investor

If you dear readers are anything like us, you love Tory Burch, but hate how her precious accessories are SO hard to come by! Well fear not lovelies. If the socialite/designer has her way, she'll soon have an infusion of $300 mil in exchange for a 30% stake in the company. And you know that that means - disitribution... so much distribution. Like, the Reva may finally take off!

Fierce or Not Fierce? Christian Siriano Launches at Bluefly

Project Runway enthusiasts: Season 4 winner Christian Siriano's first collection bows exclusively today at Bluefly. The 9 piece collection is very true to the designer's style with price points running from $96 - 590.

So, what do you think? Fierce or hot tranny mess?

Black metallic wool 'Dinner at 8' jacket, $480

Grey jersey 'Transylvania' crewneck, $96

Gold silk 'red carpet shift', $325
Black cotton sateen 'Park Ave' shirt dress, $305

Gold silk 'Heidi' pencil, $240

Pedal to the Medal at Victor & Rolf

Victor & Rolf are getting pumped up.

Diesel's Renzo Rosso has acquired a majority stake in the fashion brand. "We cannot do everything ourselves," Rolf Snoeren said. "This is all a question of having the right partner with the force, the power and the know-how to do it...What we noticed working with L'Oréal [their FlowerBomb licensee] is that a good business partner can bring opportunities that we ourselves could never realize," he said. "We want to achieve the same thing with the ready-to-wear."

WWD reports that Rosso's plans include bolstering the duo's ready-to-wear business, licensing eyewear and jewelry, and opening freestanding stores (they currently have but one). "To be a brand today, you need to produce all the products a person can wear every day," Rosso said. "It can be jewelry, watches, everything: bags, shoes and accessories in general...My idea is to build one of the most modern [fashion] groups for the future," said Rosso, who also acquired Maison Martin Margiela in 2002. "[V & R] are much more modern, close to the new young mentality," he explained. "I believe much more in the new luxury that is less expensive, more approachable for the new upcoming consumer."

Free of business pressures, the pair hopes the partnership will allow them to focus on design. "It's a new chapter to start building on the brand and to focus on creativity," said Snoeren.

[WWD]

Hearts on Fire

Just in time for The Dark Knight's box office killing, Paloma Picasso has come out with some serious Pow!-filled accessories of her own. Crown of Hearts, her new collection, features the two sterling and red enamel necklaces below, that while being tres Bam! in design are not so in price (just as we like it!).


From left $135 and $185 online and at Tiffany stores

Just asking: Maison Martin Margiela

We know that Maison Martin Margiela showcased these Star Trek worthy shades during his runway:

But did he really need to put black bars across the faces of the models who'd be showcasing his clothing on e-tailers?
When browsing his wares over at eLuxury, the poor model looks like a Glamour "Don't" and well, if the black bar fits...

Object of our Obsession: Prada Fall '08 accessories

Miuccia Prada has ruffled our feathers in the bestest of ways. To say we are obsessed with her latest bag collection would be the understatement of the year. Nearly every bag for the season (hello lacey lovelies!) is on our wish-list.

We might even pay retail!

CFDA Finalists Announced

The CFDA announced its 10 fashion fund finalists today. They are: Richard Chai, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, Irene Neuwirth, Albertus Q. Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus, Alejandro Ingelmo, Juan Carlos Obando, Swaim and Christina Hutson of Obedient Sons & Daughters, John Patrick of Organic, and Sophie Mayock and Lisa Buhai of Vena Cava.

Our money is on Vena Cava. What do you say?

Today in faces

Gucci has tapped Rihanna for the first series of ads for its UNICEF Collaboration and apparently Claudia Schiffer, as reported by Fashionista.com, has been signed by Dolce & Gabbana for its 2009 resort collection.

Patience is a Virtue

Dear Readers:
Do you remember a while back when I had myself a good costume bawl over an Erickson Beamon bauble at Scoop? If not, allow me to review. I dropped by looking for a fun piece to wear to a wedding, fell completely head over heels with a necklance, only to find it as $1,200 - for costume. I was devasted (to say the least!).

Until Friday that is, when I stopped into Scoop on a lark to find the necklace not only still there but marked down a 2nd time for a total of 75% to $299. Imagine my delight! I SCOOPed that baby up and have been prancing ever since.

Patience is a virtue fashettes!

XOXO,
H&B

Once Bitten, Now Bye

Steve & Barrys, the everything-for-under $20, has filed for bankruptcy. Defaulting on a $197 million asset-backed loan, the company was forced to petition for Chapter 11 in a Manhattan court on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old cheapo chain was home to Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line as well as lines by Venus Williams and Amanda Bynes.

"High costs of materials and fuel prices have increased our cost of goods and cost of operating. At the same time, our customers are not in a position to pay higher prices, impacting our operating margins," said founders and co-CEOs, Steve Shore and Barry Prevor in a statement.

Are You In? Project Runway Casting Call

Think you've got what it takes to be in? Or better yet, gunning for Tim Gunn? Project Runway is hosting casting calls in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas, and the deadline has just been extended (dearth of talent? what?) to July 16 for those outside NY.

Applicants must submit:

• A personal video (steering clear of 'fierce!' It's like so Season 4)
• A "virtual portfolio"
• A completed application questionnaire, available here

Visit projectrunway.com for more info - and make it work people!

Marc Jacobs Sale-apalooza

It's ON! MJ's annual shoe sale - 70% off all shoes at the Bleeker Street and San Fran locales. Get 'em while the gettings good!

And we're back

Dahlings:

H&B here - you know, your faithful fash friend who until this week posted daily without oft missing a beat? Riiiiight. So sorry for the abrupt departure grasshoppers. H&B's been on hols - you know how these last minute jaunts crop up. OK, so our last mintute jaunt has been planned for months and when it comes down to it we were really just frantically packing and waxing and manicuring and and and... Anyway, I never signed off and I hope you didn't fret your dear H&B fell off the deep end. Just off the blogosphere for a spell.

The good news is we're back, refreshed, bright eyed and bushy-tailed. Stay tuned. Lotsa good stuff heading your way.

XOXO,
H&B

ps - don't I look tan! And don't even tell me you don't lie out in formal wear! I don't believe it!