Archive for March 2011

Magazines

Is This For Real? Al-Qaeda Launches Women’s Glossy Dubbed ‘Jihad Cosmo’

Apparently, yes, this is for real. The Daily Mail is reporting that Al-Qaeda has launched a Cosmo-style lady mag called Al-Shamikha (the Majestic Woman) that “mixes beauty and fashion tips with advice on suicide bombings.” Because a girl’s got to get her face on before she engages in terrorism?

The 31-page glossy reportedly contains features like interviews with martyrs’ wives, advice for single gals on how to score a “mujahideen,” a beauty column that advises women to stay inside with their faces covered to ensure a clear complexion, and one piece cautions readers against “towelling too forcibly.”

Al-Qaeda’s rationale for their latest publication?

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Has Kate Middleton Got the Mrs. O Effect? A Breakdown of Her Impact on Fashion

When Kate Middleton wore that blue Issa dress during the press conference announcing her engagement to Prince William, she spurred a frenzy for the frock. The now-famous silk jersey wrap dress sold out in store and online within 24 hours, brought name recognition to a little known brand and designer (Daniella Helayel), and inspired countless knock offs–some of them decent, some of the very bad. Then the cream colored Reiss dress she wore in her Testino-shot engagement portraits, an old style from her closet, prompted Reiss to reissue the dress.

Early on, despite Middleton’s conservative style, we sensed a Mrs. O effect in the works. During the Obama campaign and during the First Lady’s first 100 days in the White House, the press followed Michelle Obama’s every style style move and so did consumers. The Harvard Business Review even published a report on the First Lady’s proven ability to move the market. So far, Kate Middleton seems to be making a similar impact. She shops her closet and mixes high street pieces with high end ones. Consumers are clamoring to buy what she wears.

Today the Daily Mail broke down every notable item Middleton has worn since her engagement announcement and traced its impact:

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Beauty

Get To Know The Folks Behind Indie Beauty Brand Malin+Goetz

I love indie beauty brands. Part of the reason is that not everyone is carrying it around with them (exclusivity counts for something), and finding a good indie line of products is sort of like unearthing a treasure at a flea market or something. The other part is that I like knowing I’m buying something unique from someone with a face and a story, rather than an impersonal, massive corporation.

Malin + Goetz has been around for about seven years, but it is still an independent brand, and is fairly selective about how it has grown its business and where it chooses to sell product. Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz, the chatty and lovely founders of the brand, have a small company of 30 employees and they’re happy with their size. While they’ve flirted with the big-time, like doing special products with LVMH, they’re wary about maintaining control in distribution.

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Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: Daphne Guinness Calls Victoria Beckham An “Ugly Pig”

By Leah Chernikoff Monday, Mar 14, 2011 / 9:20 AM

“[She is] an ugly pig!…Downbeat, miserable and awful. Of course she’s going to make money–she’s backed by Simon Fuller. I don’t have anyone! She annoys the shit out of me.”

–Daphne Guinness tells the UK’s Sunday Times Magazine how she really feels about Victoria Beckham. Read more »

Beauty

Kate Moss’ 90 Second Dior Addict Lipstick Commercial is Out

The beauty world is waiting with bated breath (really!) for the full ad campaign featuring Kate Moss for Dior Addict lipstick, which launches in April. Video teasers were released about a month ago, and a full version, directed by Jonas Ackerlund, seems to have leaked. Either that or Dior didn’t tell anyone about it. The 30 second TV spot has quietly circulated over the past week, but this is the 90 second long version. Take a look:

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The Best Shoes of Fall 2011

Shoes for fall 2011 came in all different shapes and sizes, from fur trimmed at Wang and Altuzarra to prim and pointy at Celine, Pucci, and Givenchy. The most innovate shoe, however, goes to Jil Sander, where the stirrup pants fit through a hole in the sole of the shoes. While in my dreams I own them all, the pair most likely to be on my feet come fall is Marc by Marc Jacobs’ shearling wedges, because there’s nothing quite as wonderful as a good looking shoe that’s comfortable, tooank” >Wang and Altuzarra to prim and pointy at Celine, Pucci, and Givenchy. The most innovate shoe, however, goes to Jil Sander, where the stirrup pants fit through a hole in the sole of the shoes. While in my dreams I own them all, the pair most likely to be on my feet come fall is Marc by Marc Jacobs’ shearling wedges, because there’s nothing quite as wonderful as a good looking shoe that’s comfortable too.

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Highlight

Highlight: Carolines Mode

This week’s image comes from Swedish blogger Caroline of Carolines Mode. In addition to posting photographs of her own chic outfits (and enviably impeccable hair), Caroline uploads photographs of the international fashion crowd and keeps her readers up to date on her recent clothing acquisitions, style inspiration and potential purchases. One of my favorite Scandinavian bloggers, she’s a great source of behind-the-scenes images.

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  • Sarah Leon
  • Friday, Mar 11, 2011 / 5:30 PM
  • 4 Comments
Fashion Careers

Mandy Coon Needs an Assistant/Office Manager Immediately!!

Mandy Coon, recent award winner of the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation, is looking to add an outstanding assistant/ office manager to her team. This is an incredibly exciting position that allows the candidate to experience many aspects of the industry, while having the opportunity to grow with a rapidly expanding company.

Responsibilities include:

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Entertainment

Lake Bell Wants Lyn Devon to be the Next GO International Designer

We queued up to chat with Lake Bell last night at Target’s GO International celebration because we thought she was HILAR in No Strings Attached. (A seriously good movie, despite what the guy on TaxiTV says.) We also wanted to grill the actress on her personal style, because unlike many of her peers, she actually has some.

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Best Dressed

Best Dressed Paris Fashion Week: Alexa in Valentino, Hailee in Miu Miu, Florence in Chanel and More

By Alaina Hernandez Friday, Mar 11, 2011 / 4:30 PM

Paris Fashion Week is always a wonderland for front row style. Alexa Chung scored again in Valentino, Florence Welch killed it in Chanel, Hailee Steinfeld wowed in Miu Miu, and Natalie Vodianova looked effortless in Stella McCartney.
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Magazines

The Dolce & Gabbana Dress Gisele Wears on Emmanuelle’s First Vogue Paris Cover Appears on Two Other International Vogue Covers

By Steff Yotka Friday, Mar 11, 2011 / 3:21 PM

The news just keeps pouring in about Vogue Paris’ April 2011 cover, the first under the tenure of new EIC Emmanuelle Alt.

Apparently the lace Dolce & Gabbana dress Gisele sports on Vogue Paris’ cover appears on the February and April covers of two other magazines. Even worse, the two other mags are editions of Vogue: Spain and Germany. Read more »

Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Rihanna Goes Under the Sea for Vogue; Kate Moss Gets Sloppy, and Bergdorf Gets Booed

Not-So-Glossy-Moss: Apparently the world’s most perfect woman got a little drunky at the YSL party. {NY Post}

Rihanna Goes All Little Mermaid On Us for Vogue: The pop star’s latest impersonation of Ariel is pretty epic. {Fashion Bomb Daily}

Social Media Professionals Can Be Mean: Racked NY interviewed Cannon Hodge, the social media manager at Bergdorf Goodman, and the commenters–many of whom are social media professionals–went apeshit. {Racked NY}

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