Posted by v on May 29, 2008
Another one bites the dust. Is no one immune to this mess in retail? Drooling over Judith Leiber handbags has always been a wonderful pastime and obviously that won’t stop with this majority sale.
Pegasus Capital Advisors has sold a majority stake in luxury American accessories brand Leiber to Schottenstein Stores Corp., which owns a majority of Filene’s Basement and DSW Shoe Warehouse and is the largest shareholder of American Eagle Outfitters.
While the acquisition could raise questions about whether Schottenstein would bring Leiber to a more mass level, Gleason insisted that the brand will maintain its status as an American luxury brand.
“What’s unique about the Leiber brand is that it’s at the highest level of luxury,” Gleason said. “The great thing about Schottenstein is that they are enamored with the luxury business and think Leiber is a jewel. We intend to keep it at the highest level and support the group that’s here. The majority of people in the company have been with the company, and we feel very strongly that we’ll keep it at that level. Obviously that’s our direction. These businesses are a separate entity and we think there is a tremendous opportunity to expand.”
Leiber, which until a couple of years ago was named Judith Leiber, after its namesake founder, is known for its crystal studded evening bags and day bags with exotic skins. The 45-year-old firm also has lines of fine jewelry, fur, footwear, eyewear and fragrance.
Maybe, maybe we can finally afford one handbag.
Posted in Beauty, Business, Designers, Entertainment, Fashion, Fashion News, Fashion Trends, Hollywood | Tagged: Fashion, Fashion News, Handbags, high fashion, Judith Leiber, luxury, retail | No Comments »
Posted by v on May 29, 2008
Sex and the City: the Movie finally opened yesterday. Does someone die? Does Carrie get married? Who cares? The real topic for discussion is just how repulsive Sarah Jessica Parker is looking these days
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In yesterday’s Daily Telegraph, a film critic decreed that Parker “looks like a skeletal transvestite”. Maxim in the US recently named her “the unsexiest woman in the world”, Ouch! while Piers Morgan, that great arbiter of beauty, called her “ghastly … I’ve seen better looking winos underneath the arches at Charing Cross” and now, in the wake of the relentless promotion and media blitz for the movie Sex and the City, all the world seems to want to talk about is how horrible she looks.
Anybody drinking out of the cup of jealousy here? Most of the comments relate directly to her age ” Oh, shes 43 and looks every inch her age” So???? Remember that episode in SATC where she makes the cover of New York Magazine with a cigarette in her mouth. Yeah!
The Daily Mail sniped about Parker’s “wrinkled and bunioned 43-year-old feet”, and that wearing a miniskirt at such a shockingly decrepit age “oozes desperation”.
Aside from the more obvious issue of how this woman changed the face of fashion in New York, possibly America and how she is a never been derailed child star, very intelligent lady, no scandalous affairs, has a seemingly solid marriage, has her feet planted firmly on the ground and has never been to rehab, never tried to sing and never made political statements that offended anyone.
One journalist complained that the problem with Sex and the City is that it never “dealt honestly with what really holds [women] back: their bitchy internecine competition”. So true, so true. Well, that and the fact that if a woman doesn’t look like Barbie, she will be considered laughably second-rate. On the other hand, if she looked like Barbie, she would be still be considered laughably second-rate.
Her crime to us was how someone who pays $700 for shoes can actually attempt to convince us that wearing $10 dresses is really cool.
Your major crime, SJP is that you actually truly seem happily successful. Enjoy!
Posted in Beauty, Chic over 40, Entertainment, Fashion, Fashion Do's and Dont's, Fashion News, Fashion Trends, Hollywood, How not to look old, News | Tagged: Fashion, Sarah Jessica Parker, SATC | 1 Comment »
Posted by v on May 29, 2008
Roberto Cavalli hit London on a whirlwind this week, starting with a Sunday Times Style lecture that took place Tuesday night at the London College of Fashion, followed Wednesday night with an address at the Oxford Union, Oxford University’s debating society.
And Cavalli began his British road trip by sounding a note of caution to London’s famously out-there design students. “London designers are crazy, there’s too much crazy crazy,”
Cavalli, who was clad in a Roberto Cavalli at H&M jacket, told students at the London College of Fashion. “When I wanted inspiration I’d often come to London, but the problem with London is you don’t know how to make clothes.” (WWD)
But nothing makes him despair quite like undesirables wearing his clothes: “It happens a lot with women of a certain nationality - I’m sure you can imagine which - and you just want to say ‘Give it back!’?referring to British women who apparently lack the va va voom necessary for wearing Cavalli.
“The English - oh my God,” he moans, in a voice so low it crackles. “I shouldn’t say this because I live part of the time in London, but they are on a par with the Swiss stylistically.” Not even the Queen escapes his disdain. “I don’t find her very sexy - with her funny hats and bags…”
“I’m very much against all these celebrities doing diffusion lines. Do I suddenly get up in the morning and say that I am going to start a singing career, with the horrible voice that I have? That’s what these girls do when they show the world how horrible their fashion ranges are. Money is the most corrosive aspect of life today because it means that all attention to detail is forgotten. Kate Moss’s collection was badly made, stupid and bland; you see things like that everywhere. You can’t just buy things for the label - it’s ridiculous.”
Somebody has to say it! and on Madonna :
Lounging on the deck in a semi-transparent black shirt and blue jeans, inscrutable in his dark glasses “She is not nice with anyone: she doesn’t know how to be nice.”Mrs Beckham, on the other hand, is showered with praise. “Sadly, now that she’s in LA, it’s difficult to see one another,”"We talk all the time on the phone, though. She is such a fantastic woman.”
On women, we knew we liked him for a reason:
Cavalli says the word “woman” with quasi-religious verve; his love of the fairer sex is all-encompassing. “I love women in all their different incarnations. My friends are practically all women. They are much more intelligent than men.”(Telegraph uk)
We love you too.
Posted in Beauty, Chic over 40, Designers, Entertainment, Fashion, Fashion Do's and Dont's, Fashion News, Fashion Trends, Hollywood, How not to look old, News | Tagged: Fashion, Fashion News, Roberto Cavalli, STYLE | No Comments »
Posted by v on May 29, 2008
LONDON - The British Crown Prosecution Service today charged Naomi Campbell with six offenses linked to an alleged outburst last month on a flight from Heathrow Airport.
The supermodel, whose charges could carry a maximum six-month jail sentence and fines, will be brought to trial at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court here on June 20. She learnt of the charges this morning after answering bail at a Heathrow Police Station in West London.

Naomi campbell leaving a West London Police Station
Campbell was charged with three counts of assaulting a policeman, one count of disorderly conduct and two counts of using threatening behavior and abusive words to cabin crew. A dispute purportedly arose over lost luggage on a British Airways flight, from which Campbell was forcibly removed.
“Miss Campbell is bitterly disappointed that the prosecutors have advised her she is to be prosecuted for various offenses,” stated Campbell’s lawyer, Simon Nicholls. “She respects the decision and hopes this matter will be dealt with expeditiously.”
Now this is where you point and laugh! Ha! ha! You thought it was over? Ha! ha! The maximum sentence for Campbell’s alleged assault carries a six-month jail penalty and/or a fine of up to £5,000, or $9,850 at current exchange. The other counts each carry fines of up to £1,000, or $1,970. (WWD)
Next time Naomi, back away gently. It works! Love the suit.
Posted in Beauty, Entertainment, Fashion, Fashion News, Fashion Trends, Hollywood, News | Tagged: British Airways, Fashion, Naomi Campbell, Naomi Campbell charged with assualt over BA, News | No Comments »
Posted by v on May 29, 2008
Talk abut biting the hand that feeds you. China is Diors’ largest market and Sharon Stone just killed the goose that laid the golden egg. Sharon Stone may have apologized for her controversial remarks on China’s massive earthquake but it’s not stopping the actress from getting her own dose of bad karma.
“In the course of the interview I made inappropriate remarks and for any harm created towards the Chinese people I am extremely sad and apologize,” Stone said. The actress said she was willing to take part in the relief effort and to ” wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people”.

Sure you are sad and deeply apologetic! Oh, we are sure you are, but not for the Chinese people but for your self-absorbed self. Now, no one is talking about the money you raised for AIDS.
Toni Belloni, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s group managing director, delicately fielded a question on the Stone controversy at a Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit in Tokyo on Thursday morning, stating that the company may be forced to disassociate itself with the actress.
“I think that it was an unfortunate comment from her,” he said, adding that he thinks highly of Stone. ”She has a tradition, and I know her well, for being an incredibly available person.”
We are sure she is available , its not like she is making blockbuster movies. On Monday, before announcing that it was pulling Stone’s ads, Dior China issued an apology. “Dior is one of the international brands that entered China early and has won consumers’ respect and loyalty,” the company said in its statement. “We absolutely won’t support any comments that hurt Chinese people’s feelings.” Dior also expressed sympathy for earthquake victims and pledged to help with rebuilding efforts. The company did not say whether its affiliation with Stone had hurt its business in China.
Unlike you, Sharon, Louis Vuitton knows where its bread is buttered.
Posted in Entertainment, Fashion, Fashion Do's and Dont's, Fashion News, Fashion Trends, Hollywood, News | Tagged: China, Dior, earthquake, Fashion, Fashion News, Sharon Stone | 2 Comments »