Stamp of Approval

We may have Simpsons stamps, but over in France the mail just got a whole lot more fashionable. In celebration of Lanvin’s 120th anniversary, creative director Alber Elbaz has designed two stamps for La Poste, France's postal service. Doodled by Elbaz himself, the stamps will be part of a collection that also includes pencils, paper presses and notebooks.

Available at French post offices and online early next year.

Anna Wintour on Letterman

Anna Wintour, was on Letterman last evening to promote the upcoming documentary "The September Issue" as well as Fashion's Night Out. Quick witted and showing a slightly warmer side, she was willing to poke fun at herself despite a visible wince when the "Devil Wears Prada" was mentioned. Watch the full interview here.

That Bitch Has Everything

As if it wasn't bad enough that she has legs down to there, a nonexistent waist, a never-ending list of couturiers wanting to design for her and basically the best career ever (for someone with ADD anyway), Barbie now has Jonathan Adler on the pay roll.

Available come Fashion Week, the $50 doll comes with a night table, lamp and of course, 3 mini-vases.

Must be nice. Must be nice.

[Racked]

STEAMY! Leighton Meester & Ed Westwick Set Elle Afire

How do we love them, let us count thee ways!!!

[Elle]

Graff Burgled: $65 Million Stolen

We're just saying: If we, say, were the purveyors of a luxury boutique with a shop in London or Paris, here's what we're doing - closing up shop for awhile! What the heck is going on in those towns? Graff's New Bond Street location was raided on Thursday with $65 million worth of jewels seized in a heist that goes down in Britain's record books. The armed robbers made off with 43 items of jewelry including rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches before firing a shot on the street (no one was injured) and jumping into a getaway car.

This is only the latest in a series of jewelry heists across Europe, following in the wake of Cartier (July), Chopard (May) and Harry Winston (December), not to mention the slate of luxury robberies by the "Pink Panthers" a group of luxury burglers that have plagued London since 2003.

[WWD]

The Zoe Report Launches

Rachel Zoe's "The Zoe Report," a daily newsletter of the stylist's fashion and beauty finds launches today with a love letter to Brian Atwood's Lola Platforms Pumps:

"A striking leopard print, sexy elastic detailing and high platform—I DIE."

While we do miss Zoe-isms something awful, the newsletter is a bit dry. Nothing of course that a little Tay or Brad couldn't fix.

Read more here

Amazon.com Aquires Zappos.com

Amazon.com is set to acquire Zappos in a cash and stock deal valued at $927 million. The deal is expected to close in the fall with Zappos's s CEO Tony Hsieh staying on to run the company.

Stating the Obvious?

Project Runway's Leanne Marshall's Collection Hits Bluefly

Project Runway winner Leanne Marshall's long awaited collection bows today at Bluefly and as expected it is comPLEAT with her signature folds and flaps. The 9 piece, eco-friendly collection ranges in price from $98 for a tanktop to a $990 ball gown. Top pieces include:

$990

$248

$98

$275

Also, don't miss Kelly Cutrone's interview with the designer:

Collection available exclusively at Bluefly.com

Grr baby, very grrrrrr

Despite appearances, we are not a shoe blog, but lately, we clearly have shoes on the brain. Case in point? These meow-rrific Charlotte Olympia platforms we spotted at TheOutnet this morning.


Originally $825. Now, $412.50

Object of Our Obsession: Red, White & Shoe

Sure it's the 7th of July, but we're still crushing hardcore on Bruno Frisoni's star-wattage wedge. $558, brunofrisoni.com

H&M CHOOSes Jimmy Choo for Next Collaboration

Coming on the heels of Matthew Williamson's recent H&M success, is Jimmy Choo, the latest brand - and first accessories company - to be selected by Swiss retail giant H&M for a designer collaboration. Bowing November 14 in 200 stores across the world, the occasion marks another first - Jimmy Choo will extend its line for this collection to include women’s clothing to as well as accessories for men.

“We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it’s our first shoe designer collection (photo above shows 2 pieces of the line). It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers,” says Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M.

“We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and to be including some great pieces for men, too,” says Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo.

Superflat: Superfly?

Six years after introducing his first Louis Vuitton collection, Takashi Murikami is back with a duo of sequels: a new collection and a new anime.

In this newest video, Superflat First Love, a follow up to Superflat Monogram, Aya follows around a small panda (despite the fact that he swallows her whole) and winds up after a series of trippy jaunts in the studio of a 14-year-old Gaston Louis Vuitton (why this never happens to us, we will never understand). Love at first monogram? Check it out for yourself.

[via Fashionologie]

Vera Wang To Dance With the Stars

E! News reports that Vera Wang is the first celeb to be tapped for next season's 'Dancing with the Stars.' The 60-yr-old designer, a former ice skater, is sure to add some serious style.

End is Near for Eluxury eTailing

On the bright side? Nina Ricci, Proenza, Rag & Bone and 3.1 Phillip Lim at 60% off.

[via Racked]

Lick It Up Babies, Lick It Up!

Neon is already everywhere and the film industry is going Lady Gaga over 80s films (hello forthcoming remakes of 'Footloose' and 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'). So can rubber bracelets and Aquanet be that far behind?

All of this plastic fantastic culminates in a most exciting/taunting bit of news from Winona Ryder - according to an interview in the July issue of Empire magazine (we haven't heard of it either) a sequel is in the works for cult-classic 'Heathers.'

Now, we would never say that dear Winona is unreliable, but apparently, she's been singing this song for years and the director and writer deny it is happening. That said, this time she swears it's true:

"Whatever you hear there is a sequel in the works, I swear to God."

F@#% me gently with a chainsaw! Don't toy with us like this Winona. We're already teasing our hair in anticipation.

[via EW]

La Vie MH

Marion Cotillard, the Oscar-winning star of La Vie en Rose and the current face of Lady Dior, caused a paparazzi frenzy when she arrived at the Louis Vuitton tower on 57th Street earlier today (conveniently located above Dior) to show her support for the company's "Bike in Style" award ceremony.

Graciously stopping to take pictures in front of the store, the actress looked downright stunning, with her short and sleek and a trés feminine Dior suit.

The challenge charged FIT students with designing stylish, practical and affordable biking essentials--a poncho, a jacket and a travel bag for both men and women--in support of Mayor Bloomberg’s bicycling promotion initiatives.

Prototypes of winner Jessica Velasquez's designs will be unveiled this summer, in conjunction with the return of the City’s “Summer Streets,” program which closes to cars a 6.9-mile route from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park for people to run, bike or walk on three Saturday mornings in August.

Also present were LVMH Chairman Renaud Dutre, Donna Karan, Hillary Duff (on behalf of DKNY) and FIT's Dr. Valerie Steele.

Act Two: Marie Claire, The Nina Years

The changes that everyone's been expecting since Nina Garcia arrived at Marie Claire have apparently begun. According to Page Six, it's curtains for market director Kathryn Floyd and market editor Paula Knight and enter stage right for junior staffers Nina Sterghiou and Christine Kistner.

A rep for the magazine told Page Six, "Under Nina Garcia, a few organizational changes were made to the fashion department."

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

UPDATE: Mistrial declared.

The federal jury currently deliberating whether Forever 21 knowingly copied Trovata's designs has told the judge that it is deadlocked.

The suit covers seven Trovata pieces from fall '05 and early '06 including cardigans, hoodies, shirts and a jacket. While Forever 21 admits that the garments were similar, it denies wrongdoing saying they did not infringe upon the brand's intellectual property.

Top row: Forever 21 shirts. Bottom row: Trovata shirts

The case's outcome (if decided) could have wide implications for an industry in which cheap runway knockoffs often appear in fast fashion chains before they even hit the designer's boutiques. The jurors will return today to try to come to a decision and avoid a mistrial.

[WWD]

Ideeli's One-of-a-Kind

Oscar de la Renta has designed a one-of-a-kind frock for invitation-only (although invites are pretty easy to come by) site Ideeli.com.

Members (1st row and general alike) will have the opportunity to enter to win the floral silk faille bubble-hemmed dress, as well as a sketch of the design signed by de la Renta, for 30 days beginning June 1.

“We are very excited about this initiative with ideeli," says Alex Bolen, ceo of Oscar de la Renta. "We believe them to be an emerging leader in the growing field of online marketing and we look forward to great success with this promotion.”

Not a member? Go to ideeli.com and enter invitation code "friends".

Rachel Roy on Rachel Roy

One of H&B's ab-favorite designer's Rachel Roy, will be launching a diffusion line, Rachel Rachel Roy, for Macy's come Fall. "Iʼve always wanted to do a clothing line that had designer sensibilities, that really respected the art of design and the thought behind design," says the designer. In anticipation of the launch, the designer has posted a few walk-throughs of the line, filmed in her showroom, onto YouTube. Catch an installment here:

Pop It Like Its Hot

Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Chanel are all planning pop-up shops in the coming months. Good for luring new customers, building brand excitement and generating some extra sales, these pop-up shops are also a safe way to test the waters in new markets.

Hermés is heading to the Hamptons (East to be exact) for the four-month high season and supposedly has several other pop-ups in the works... Chanel will open a temporary boutique at Podium in Moscow later this month... And Louis Vuitton will also open in a temp space later this month is Tokyo.

[WWD]

Sale on Buy

Biggest sales of the season - so they say... Net-a-Porter (50% off Lanvin!) and Anthropologie are having sales, sales, sales. They're both online but you've got to be in it to win it!

12 of 60 Minutes with Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour sits down for her first long interview stateside this Sunday with Morley Safer of CBS's' 60 Minutes.' Discussing her famed sunglasses (her armor), her future at Vogue (she's staying) and of course fashion (she dictates it), the interview follows her to the spring fashion shows in Paris, Milan and New York.

As for the rumors about Wintour stepping down, she seems determined to lay them to rest. "This is a really interesting time to be in this position and I think it would be, in a way, irresponsible not to put my best foot forward and lead us into a different time," she tells Safer, who asks whether Wintour believes there are others eyeing her crown. "Probably several," she says.

The interview airs on CBS Sunday, May 17 at 7pm.

Agyness Deyn's Trés Uniqlo

Agyness Deyn has been tapped by Japanese retailer Uniqlo as the face of its summer sports campaign. The ads, which were shot in New York by Dan Jackson, go live in Japan today and here in the US and UK June 1.

“Agyness reflects a fresh, youthful and vibrant side of life, which was perfect for the campaign,” said Amy Howarth, head of PR and marketing at Uniqlo in the UK.

Also in the campaign is model Gabriel Aubry, better known as Mr. Halle Berry.

Look for the ads in mags and rags in the UK and US, and throughout London's Tube.

[WWD]

Big Day! We've Been Waiting Decades

It's a big day for fashion openings here in New York.

Decadestwo, the amazing LA-based designer consignment shop opens its pop-up shop in SoHo's Kiki de Montparnasse. Says Decadestwo co-owner Christos Garkinos "Our New York fans have been begging Decadestwo to come to the city since we were founded 10 years ago. Although we are fashionably late, it will be so more than worth it."

The D2 pop-up will feature designer duds by Chanel, Louis Vuittton, Chloé, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Gucci and many more from the closets celebrity consignors including Julianne Moore, Selma Blair, Rachel Zoe, Monet Mazur, Lisa Rinna and Garcelle Beauvais.

Schedule:
May, 14: Launch party
May 15: Appointment-only for existing east coast clients
May 16-17: Open to the public

Location: Kiki de Montparnasse, 79 Greene Street

Fitting Room Follies

Big day for video, fashettes. Chanel also released a new vid today, this one shot by The Czar himself. Called "Fitting Room Follies," the five-minute short features models Lara Stone and Baptiste Giacobini trying on clothes from Chanel's pre-fall collection in a dressing room, with Karl Lagerfeld's verbal cues clearly audible.

Wish we could upload the video or report more but the site has been pretty unresponsive all day. Keep trying though, we all suffer for fashion!

[WWD]

Keyleidoscope

Apparently, video is the new black. Fresh on the heels of Chanel No 5 & Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany has released a video of its own. Featuring its new key collection, Through the Keyhole is an animated video that draws you in through a hypnotizing keyleidoscope (we couldn't resist!). Pretty mesmerizing (think 'You love these keys. You love these keys!), we find ourselves staring and staring in a Dazed & Confused / rabbit hole sorta way. What do you think?

Attack of the Killer Frizz

Our fave beauty site, Total Beauty ranked the top 13 worst cities for your hair, a little list we like to call, 13 cities in which you won't find H&B. Here the hair raising results:

13. Eugene, OR
12. Albuquerque, NM
11. Cincinnati, OH
10. New Orleans, LA
9. Tucson, AZ
8. Houston, TX
7. Fresno, CA
6. Pensacola, FL
5. Phoenix, AZ
4. Las Vegas, NV
3. Pittsburgh, PA
2. Olympia, WA
1. Corpus Christi, TX

[Total Beauty]

It's Friday, I'm in Love

Swoon alert! Today's object of our obsession is a fanciful little clutch by Giuseppe Zanotti. With a little white dress, it's the perfect summer accessory.


Silk and patent leather. $769 at Zappos.com

Space Invaders: Et Tu Rihanna?

We are very happy to see Rihanna back on the scene, Monday at the Met gala, Wednesday at Derek Lam's SoHo boutique opening and last night, here at the DKMS Gala at Cipriana. However, please tell us this martian trend (See Leighton. See Molly.) is NOT here to stay. We hear Star Trek is opening to rave reviews and all (sidebar: really?) but this look has got to go.

Good Vibrations

Maybelline is shaking things up. After much hoopla around Estee Lauder and Lancome's vibrating mascaras, the mass market cosmetic co. is entering the arena with Pulse Perfection. While it's not the first to hit mass retailers, it is the first of the major drugstore cosmetic companies to do so.

The product won't hit shelves until July, however, for one day only - May 18 - the product will be available for preview exclusively at Maybelline.com/pulse. 10,000 Define-a-Lash Pulse will be available for $14.95.

“Innovation is critical and given the economic times we are leveraging the technology and excitement to give true beauty junkies a preview before it is available to the masses,” said Maybelline Marketing VP Serena Giovi.

Quote Unquote: The Fashion Show

"Isaac Mizrahi is the host and lead judge instead of Heidi Klum, which is a little like giving the Grace Kelly role in To Catch a Thief to Rosie O'Donnell."

-Alessandra Stanley on Bravo's 'The Fashion Show', NYT

Marni UES Store Opening: Hats Off?

Ali Lee and Vera Wang at the new Upper East Side Marni boutique opening on Tuesday night

Jack Bauer Beats up Jack McCollough

Put down the Jack, Jack.

Post-Met Costume Ball, Kiefer Sutherland allegedly head-butted designer Jack McCollough at an after-party at the Sub-Mercer in the name of defending Brooke Sheilds' honor. Claiming McCollough pushed Brooke and wouldn't apologize, the "24" actor took matters into his own, er, head, causing lacerations and quite a stir!


[TMZ]

Anna Sui Tapped by Target

Following on the success of Alexander McQueen's recent line, Anna Sui has been tapped by Target as the second participant in its Designer Collaborations series. Unlike Go International, Designer Collaborations features established designers instead of up-and-comers.

Says Sui, “I have always been a fan of designer partnerships with mass retailers. I think it is a great way to bring fashion to everyone. I love Go International and was intrigued with Target’s new take on designer partnerships. It’s a fresh approach. I was able to select a muse or source of creative inspiration to focus the collection around. It is an exciting challenge to try and interpret my aesthetic into a mass-produced product with a specific inspirational source as the focus.”

The line, which will hit stores September 13, draws inspiration from the four female characters of "Gossip Girl." And the teeny-bopper inside us could not be more excited. "Please let there be headbands! Please let there be headbands!"

[WWD]

And the Muses...

L to R: Iman in Donna Karan, Helena Christensen in Zac Posen, Shalom Harlow in vintage Bob Mackie, Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs, Claudia Schiffer in Atelier Versace, Cindy Crawford in Versace, Tyra Banks in Badgley Mischka

L to R: Angela Lindvall in Jil Sander, Amber Valletta, in vintage James Galanos, Agyness Deyn and Twiggy both in Burberry Prorsum, Alek Wek in Emanuel Ungaro, Karolina Kurkova in Richard Chai, Heidi Klum, in J. Mendel, Gisele Bündchen in Versace

L to R: Doutzen Kroes in 3.1 Phillip Lim, Lily Donaldson in Narciso Rodriguez, Natalia Vodianova in Fortuny, Jessica Stam in Rodarte, Daria Werbowy in Balmain, Magdalena Frackowiak in Thakoon, Coco Rocha in Isaac Mizrahi

Met Costume Gala: So last year

Ditto: Leighton & Molly!

Met Costume Gala: The Stars

Last night was fashion's premiere event - The Met Costume Gala. Co-chaired by Marc Jacobs, Kate Moss, Anna Wintour and Justin Timblerlake, this year's event, 'Model as Muse' had almost an even ratio of A-list celebs and supermodels, all dressed in their Monday best.

Couplets, clockwise from top left: Victoria Beckham in Marc Jacobs with Lorenzo Martone, Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior with John Galliano, Claire Danes in Armani Prive & Tiffany jewels with Hugh Dancy, Jessica Alba in Jason Wu and Van Cleef jewels with Jason Wu, Madonna in Louis Vuitton with bird, Rachel Bilson in Bally with Brian Atwood.

Clockwise from top left: Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs and Van Cleef jewels, Blake Lively in Versace, Diane Kruger in Chanel Haute Couture in jewelry with Joshua Jackson, Emmy Rossum in Carolina Herrera, Kate Bosworth in Stella McCartney, Jessica Biel in Versace Atelier with Justin Timberlake in bespoke William Rast.

Video Killed the Radio Star

Chanel N°5 today released 'Train de nui' (Night Train), a short film (aka fancy commercial) by Jean-Pierre Jeunet starring the precious Audrey Tautou and Travis Davenport. Tautou, one of our absolute favorites, will star as a young Coco in the upcoming biopic 'Coco Avant Chanel,' making her the perfect fresh face for the campaign.

The film captures the magic and sensuality of a midnight train en route from Nice to Istanbul. A sexy, young man is traveling alone when suddenly, he encounters a beautiful woman. Sparks! Strangers-in-the-night-excitement! Chanel! Oh how we love it when that happens!

Jeunet and Tautou have worked together before (he directed her in Amelie). Catch them in 'behind the scenes' footage at chaneln5.com or watch the film here.

SPREAD THE WORD CHICKENS

Believe it! We're baaaaaaack.

The Manifesto is Coming

YSL's Spring / Summer 2009 Manifesto is hitting the streets of New York, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, London & Hong Kong this Valentine's Day and as in the past, to mark the occasion, 2,000 limited edition free totes will be distributed in as of yet undisclosed locations.

Filling the totes will be both print and digital (hello USB!) copies of this 4th installation of the Manifesto, which features Claudia Schiffer in the Hollywood Hills. As if the anticipation wasn't bad enough, there is a countdown over at YSL.com letting you know just how long you have to wait for it to be available in your city.

Waiting in the McQueue?

Hope you RSVP'd in a timely fashion, kittens. The guest list is officially closed for tomorrow evening's Alexander McQueen for Target private shopping event. Are you on the list?