Posts for May 2011

Tom Ford

New Visionaries Documentary Offers Unprecedented Look at Tom Ford's World

>> Coming to the Oprah Winfrey Network on June 24 at 10 pm EST: a new, hour-long documentary which gives an unprecedented look behind-the-scenes at Tom Ford's life.

>> Coming to the Oprah Winfrey Network on June 24 at 10 pm EST: a new, hour-long documentary which gives an unprecedented look behind-the-scenes at Tom Ford's life. "You know I've never let anyone film me like this before," Ford, who is famously savvy about controlling press access, tells the camera. Among the tidbits from the doc, dubbed Visionaries: Tom Ford? The designer takes between three and five baths a day and wears his shirt provocatively unbuttoned, sans tie, because, he explains: "Ties give me a headache. I can only wear them for a few hours and then I start to get a migraine." [Racked]

2011 Summer

Seven Simple (and Chic) Summer Dresses

>> When you don't feel like donning vibrant prints this Summer, seek solace in these seven simple dresses.
Shop Simple Summer Dresses

>> When you don't feel like donning vibrant prints this Summer, seek solace in these seven simple dresses. Whether it's a vintage-inspired denim dress or effortless coral shift, our picks will make for a chic standout – wherever you decide to go this season. Flip through the slideshow to see, and shop, our favorite pared-down options.

Hermes

LVMH Booed at Hermes Shareholder Meeting Yesterday

>> Yesterday, after Hermes once again publicly called for LVMH to sell half of its more than 20 percent stake in the brand, LVMH vice chairman Pierre Gode took the floor at the Hermes shareholder meeting to respond.

>> Yesterday, after Hermes once again publicly called for LVMH to sell half of its more than 20 percent stake in the brand, LVMH vice chairman Pierre Gode took the floor at the Hermes shareholder meeting to respond.

He asserted that LVMH is a legitimate shareholder, and that it is peaceful, but not passive. "Contrary to any impression given elsewhere, LVMH has never sought to destabilize the Hermes family nor the company’s staff nor suppliers. I challenge those who assert otherwise to produce a shred of evidence — for the avoidance of doubt, there is none,” Gode said.

He continued: “LVMH directors are rational and lucid people. From the outset we understood that there was no possibility of controlling Hermes because the family shareholders spoke for 70 percent of the company. That aside, it would make no sense for LVMH to destabilize Hermes as it would risk compromising the success of this great company. The more this company prospers, the happier we all are as shareholders."

When minority shareholders joined the meeting's debate, one accused LVMH of being “deceitful” and “hypocritical.” Gode replied in a heated exchange: “I cannot accept remarks which are purely slanderous and insulting, including those made at a general assembly.” He added, to boos from other shareholders: “I expect the board to police the proceedings. The least you could do, and this is what we do at LVMH, is to guarantee a certain level of courtesy in the debate."

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell Considering Legal Action After Called "Chocolate" In Cadbury Ad Campaign

>> Naomi Campbell is upset that candy company Cadbury used her name to promote its new Bliss chocolate bar, and has accused the company of racism.

>> Naomi Campbell is upset that candy company Cadbury used her name to promote its new Bliss chocolate bar, and has accused the company of racism. Campbell says that she is considering "every option available" after Cadbury refused to pull the ad campaign, which ran in British newspapers last week with the line: "Move over Naomi, there's a new diva in town." She added: "I am shocked. It's upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humor in this. It is insulting and hurtful."

Campbell's mother, Valerie Morris, supports her daughter's feelings: "I'm deeply upset by this racist advert. Do these people think they can insult black people and we just take it? This is the 21st century, not the 1950s. Shame on Cadbury."

A Cadbury spokesperson noted that the campaign is "no longer in circulation . . . we have no plans to repeat the campaign." He added that it was "a light-hearted take on the social pretensions of Cadbury Dairy Milk Bliss. Cadbury takes its responsibility very seriously indeed and we would never produce any marketing activity we felt might cause offence to any section of society."

Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang To Introduce Swimwear

>> Alexander Wang, who releases a few lingerie pieces each season, is taking the next logical step: swimwear.

>> Alexander Wang, who releases a few lingerie pieces each season, is taking the next logical step: swimwear. The designer — who first explored swim-inspired pieces in his Spring 2009 collection (pictured below) — will debut the offering, full of his trademark cutouts and athletic references, with the Resort 2012 Wang collection. [WWD]

Harper's Bazaar

Glenda Bailey Rumored To Be Leaving Harper's Bazaar

>> Speculation is rising that Glenda Bailey may be on her way out at Harper's Bazaar.

>> Speculation is rising that Glenda Bailey may be on her way out at Harper's Bazaar. Carol Smith, the former Elle publisher, officially starts tomorrow as Bazaar's new VP, publisher, and chief revenue officer, and WWD suggests that she "can’t be happy with the magazine’s current numbers and will want to turn the magazine around right off the bat."

Bazaar finished the first half of 2011 down 5.4 percent in ad pages, and circulation numbers so far this year are behind those of 2010. But one Bazaar source tells WWD: “Glenda rumors come all the time, it’s just like the boy who cries wolf. For the past two years, there have been Glenda rumors.”

Claudia Schiffer

Claudia Schiffer Addresses Husband Matthew Vaughn's Rumored Relationship with January Jones

>> In part fanned by her skinnier-than-usual appearance at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month, rumors have emerged surrounding the state of Claudia Schiffer's nine-year marriage to director Matthew Vaughn.

>> In part fanned by her skinnier-than-usual appearance at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month, rumors have emerged surrounding the state of Claudia Schiffer's nine-year marriage to director Matthew Vaughn. Some have suggested that Vaughn is the unnamed father of January Jones's baby, which she conceived while filming the Vaughn-directed X-Men: First Class. But Vaughn's lawyers have called the rumors an "absolute lie," and Schiffer's spokesperson has likewise called the claims "complete nonsense." [NY Post, Vogue UK]

Shopping

J Brand's Best Sellers This Season? Brightly-Colored Jeans

>> After producing last Summer's runaway favorite — the Houlihan skinny cargo pant — J Brand has an even bigger hit on its hands this year: the colored jean.

>> After producing last Summer's runaway favorite — the Houlihan skinny cargo pant — J Brand has an even bigger hit on its hands this year: the colored jean. Over 100,000 pairs of the brand's brightly-hued skinny jeans have been sold since March, according to J Brand founder Jeff Rudes, already outpacing the Houlihan.

Rudes says he was feeling color earlier this year, but after he saw a fuchsia Jil Sander men's suit on display at Jeffrey in early February, he ordered his team to speed up production, Cathy Horyn reports. “Most people don’t get that we’re interpreting fashion through a jean, including our competitors,” Rudes explained.

Rudes is banking on the continued popularity of the super-brights, with a spread of neon jeans done in collaboration with known neon-afficionado Christopher Kane set to be introduced this October, retailing at $250.

Shop the Look: Colored jeans from J Brand, Current/Elliott, and more, below.

 

Kate Moss

Mario Testino Reportedly Set to Photograph Kate Moss's Wedding

>> Just last week, Mario Testino named Kate Moss one of his top five favorite subjects to photograph — and it seems that the feeling is mutual.

>> Just last week, Mario Testino named Kate Moss one of his top five favorite subjects to photograph — and it seems that the feeling is mutual. Testino is reportedly set to be Moss's official wedding photographer for her nuptials July 2 — the photographer apparently told iPad-only newspaper The Daily that he wants to “capture the happiness that Kate is going through at the moment.” [Fashionista]