Anna Wintour

Target has announced two new collaborations: a handbag line with Felix Rey designers Lily Band and Sulaika Zarrouk to launch on March 29 and a shoe collection with footwear designer Trish Carroll, called Miss Trish of Capri for Target, for April 5. [WWD] 

When asked about her possible retirement, Anna Wintour asked a reporter from The Cut to leave her alone and please go away. [The Cut] 

Stylista contestant Kate: "What you see on television is a 100 percent accurate depiction of me and the entire cast." [Racked]   read more »

Avon has signed former Mademoiselle editor Mandi Norwood to write the Michelle Obama Style Guide for next spring. [P6]

There were rumors that Anna Wintour might leave Vogue for a "cultural" position in Barack Obama's administration, but Ms. Wintour's rep says it's totally not true. [MSNBC via Gawker]

Gwyneth Paltrow graciously approached PETA vice president Dan Matthews at the Fontainebleau Hotel opening in Miami and apologized for wearing fur in her ad for Tod's. [Us Weekly]  read more »

At around 1 o'clock Thursday morning, Morgan Entrekin decided it was time to extract himself from the dance floor at Socialista and head home. "I'm having an excellent time!" he said, half empty beer in hand. "I wish I were 20 years younger! I could dance all night."

The reason he couldn't: "I have a 3-year-old! I'm tired, man. I'm old."

Mr. Entrekin used to party. Hasn't in a while. Mostly focused now on running his publishing house, Grove/Atlantic, and hanging with the wife and their little boy.

He seems genuinely fulfilled, a fact he was forced to forget last night when his colleagues in the publishing industry turned to him to reinvigorate the annual dinner known as the National Book Awards and make it fun again.  read more »

On the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 12, Style.com’s executive fashion director, Candy Pratts Price, was standing in the bar of Bergdorf Goodman’s seventh-floor restaurant wearing a black Calvin Klein minidress and black bejeweled Edmundo Castillo ankle boots, surrounded by 200 of her nearest and dearest, there to celebrate her new book, American Fashion Accessories.

“I’m so happy that people came out,” said Ms. Pratts Price in her trademark throaty voice as dermatologist and socialite Lisa Airan waited expectantly to greet her. “It’s not all doom and gloom. We got what we wanted—a new regime!”

She was speaking of the president-elect, for whom she’d shilled in several of her popular animated stream-of-consciousness video-blogs, or CandyCasts.  read more »

At the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards at Splashlight Studios on Monday, Nov. 17, election fashion was still on everyone's mind. "She saw that dress and she liked it," said Narciso Rodriguez, who designed Michelle Obama's Election Night dress. "She saw it on the runway, she chose it, I guess from the runway..." He nodded slowly and mouthed "yes" when asked if he'd known in advance that she would wear it.

The young designers of Proenza Schouler approached Mr. Rodriguez. "Did you see Michelle Obama in his dress?" cried Lazaro Hernandez. "Really major!"

"They have a fabulous new bag line," deflected Mr.  read more »

Sources say Anna Wintour, whose contract with Vogue will expire soon, is "thinking of retiring. She feels she's done it all and had enough." [P6]

Damon Dash is claiming that a feud between rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West was caused by Jay-Z's refusal to "knight" Mr. West onstage with a "gleaming chain." [R&M]

At a party in Miami, Paris Hilton and Stavros Niachros were "all over each other," just for old time's sake. [Star]  read more »

Colin Firth on Tom Ford's directorial debut in A Single Man, in which he's starring: "If he turns his hand to this with the brilliance that he's turned his hand to everything else that he's ever done in his life, it'll be a masterpiece." [Vogue UK]

Anna Wintour would like to get Michelle Obama on the cover of Vogue. [WWD] 

Here's a preview of Thakoon Panichgul's resort-ready line for Target, slated to hit stores on Christmas. [Racked]   read more »

The bipartisan windows of Henri Bendel currently feature a group of five mannequins standing near red and blue polling booths, each representing a political party. Today, each mannequin has a question mark above its head, but tomorrow, these will be removed and all the girls will be placed in front of the winning booth. [WWD] 

Anna Wintour waited in line to vote in Soho today. [NY Mag] 

Several prominent Hindu activists are calling for a public apology from model Heidi Klum for dressing as a crass representation of the Hindu Goddess Kali for Halloween. [Vogue UK] 

Due to the troubled economy, Madison Avenue has been plagued by vacant storefronts.  read more »

Early last week, the survival of several Condé Nast titles was in doubt.

According to sources familiar with the situation, when Condé Nast executives walked into a weekly meeting last Monday, October 27th at their headquarters at 4 Times Square, it was not clear whether chairman Si Newhouse and C.E.O. Chuck Townsend would decide to scale back several titles, or to fold them entirely.

Two magazines, Portfolio and Men’s Vogue, were specifically in trouble. Both magazines are newer titles for the company—18-months- and 3-years-old respectively—and have had difficulty drawing instant results, particularly in an ad climate that Condé Nast executive director Tom Wallace told the Portfolio staff later was the worst he had ever seen.  read more »

As John Koblin reported yesterday, Condé Nast is implementing across the board budget cuts. Men's Vogue was forced to reformat itself down to a glorified supplement to its big sister publication; Portfolio is dramatically scaling back its Web site and limiting its run from 12 issues a year to 10.

Like the natty yet faceless figure in the opening credits to Mad Men, Condé Nast editors could be forgiven for feeling like their world is collapsing around them and their lives—not to mention their lifestyles—are in a state of free-fall.   read more »

A Condé Nast spokeswoman writes in an e-mail, "Men's Vogue will be absorbed into Vogue and published in the spring and fall, it was announced today by Charles H. Townsend, President and C.E.O of Condé Nast Publications. It will continue to be edited by Jay Fielden."

Earlier today, we reported that Condé Nast execs have been figuring out what to do with Men's Vogue at a time when the entire company is going through cutbacks. They were considering folding it, but decided to eliminate its staff and reduce its publishing schedule from 10 issues a year to two issues a year.

A source at Condé Nast said the only reason it exists in any form is "nothing more than for Anna to save face."

Call it the Five Percent Plan.

The Observer has learned that all Condé Nast publishers and editors have been told they have to cut their staffs by 5 percent and their budgets by 5 percent within weeks, according to five Condé Nast sources.

It will affect every title, including the company's most successful: The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired, Glamour and down the line.

The plan is not just a 5 percent overall spending reduction but rather two distinct 5 percent cuts for each title, guaranteeing that titles cannot meet the goal without cutting staff.

First, each book will have to cut 5 percent of its payroll.  read more »

Team Sarah Palin has reportedly spent $150,000 at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Barneys since early September to dress and accessorize the vice-presidential candidate for her public appearances. [Vogue UK]

Kate Moss often ducks into Topshop stores in disguise to see how her line for the store is selling. [Vogue UK] 

P. Diddy is buying Enyce from from Liz Claiborne, Inc. for $20 million. [The Cut via WWD]  read more »

Monday evening's Golden Heart Awards Dinner had all the charitable guests confessing their dark sides.

Crystal Stewart, a.k.a. Miss USA, can't wait to dress up as Cat Woman this Halloween. It's a role she's been plotting for years. "So watch out!" she said. She'll be trick or treating somewhere near her home in Midtown, which she shares with "Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA." They've all been loving New York. "At first I thought it was a little too free," says the Texas native, "but now I just have too much fun. I'm addicted."

Blaine Trump's son Christopher Hollister Trump-Retchin showed up because he likes "any opportunity to support my mom.  read more »

Christian Audigier is looking to sell his entire company--10 brands in all, including the tattoo-inspired line Ed Hardy line--for $700 million. [WWD]

Anna Wintour ventured out to Long Island last night to attend the debate at Hofstra University. [Yahoo via The Cut]

High-end New York retailers are struggling to figure out how to maintain their customers. [NY Times]  read more »

Now that New York Fashion Week is but a distant memory, the front rows of Paris Fashion Week—which ends Oct. 5—are crowded with editors, socialites and actresses. At the Balmain show, Derek Blasberg sat alongside Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson. French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld and her daughter Julia Restoin-Roitfeld attended the Christian Dior Spring 2009 show, and  Tinsley Mortimer made an appearance at Christian Lacroix. Even the ubiquitous Leigh Lezark is over there posing for photos! 

(Note to Ms. Lezark: Stick to that whole black-only thing; the hot pink tutu dress is a little much.)

Click above for a slideshow of who was where (and what they wore) during Paris Fashion Week.   read more »

Russian Vogue's Aliona Doletskaya was reportedly introduced as "the next editor of American Vogue" at an event in Moscow. A spokesman for the still-Anna Wintour-helmed operation responded: "These variations are nothing unusual for magazine publishing, and we have the greatest admiration for every editor in chief of all the international Vogues." [P6]

Like many of us, Charlize Theron does not understand the popularity of The Hills. "Why is it so big?" she asked a reporter. "It's about nothing!" [US Weekly]

Natalie Portman and musician Devendra Banhart have broken up. [People]

Richard Meier's 28-year-old son, Joseph, is claiming that the architect--who is "known for having an appreciative eye for beautiful women"--forced him into Mount Sinai Psychiatric Hospital when he discovered his famous father was gay.  read more »

Michael Lohan has written a scare quote-heavy email to gossipy X17 calling Samantha Ronson "dark, hideous and a disgusting representation of humanity." Mr. Lohan adds, "What's with this 'person?' Look at the way she 'dresses?'" [P6] 

Meanwhile, Ms. Lohan confirmed yeserday that she and Ronson have been together for "a very long time." [Us Weekly]

In other stage-parent news, Lynn Spears is jealous—er, indignant—that Sarah Palin "became celebrated" for her teen daughter's pregnancy, while her pregnant teen, Jamie Lynn, was "crucified." [US Weekly]  read more »

Gisele Bundchen is putting several pieces of jewelry—including a colored diamond ring estimated to bring in $15,000 to $20,000, and a diamond pendant necklace estimated to fetch up to $150,000—up for auction at Christie's. The jewelry is believed to be gift from her former boyfriend, Leonardo DiCaprio. [WWD]

Anna Wintour's Obama fundraiser that also featured Sarah Jessica Parker was disappointing, because 400 guests were packed in like "sardines." But! At least there is a video of Ms. Wintour speaking. [Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles via The Cut]  

Designer Giles Deacon sent a series of models in Pac Man helmets down the runway for his show yesterday. [Vogue UK]    read more »

On Friday, we wrote about a particularly unflattering post about Anna Wintour on The Huffington Post. At the time, we wondered why the post existed at all—it consisted entirely of a grotesquely blown-up photo of the 58-year-old Vogue editor at a fashion show—and why it was on the site's Media vertical. Many commenters to the post were equally baffled. (Jezebel and Gawker subsequently wrote about the Huffington Post's post as well.)

An email to Arianna Huffington about the post and where it fits in with some thoughts she shared in her recent book, On Becoming Fearless, was answered by the site's editor, Roy Sekoff:  read more »

Guests at the Ralph Lauren show Friday morning on Hudson Street may have felt like they were in the steamroom of a very expensive Uptown spa: Soothing World music, the stacked intimacy of just a few rows of seating, Moroccan-looking lamp hanging from the entrance to the runway, cream-colored cushions on the benches. Or maybe it was just the heat.

LeBron James, who hosted a charity event at the Polo Mansion earlier this week, sat beside David Lauren in the front row, joined by sleek-looking girlfriend Savannah Brinson. Mr. James occasionally shared a laugh with the younger Mr. Lauren as the khaki-licious collection breezed down the runway on turbaned models. (Mr. James sat in traditional jock-at-fashion-show posture with legs apart, leaning forward onto his knees, revealing purple socks).  read more »

Let it be known that the Huffington Post—you know, Arianna Huffington's news aggregator and blog network that optimistically values itself at $200 million—isn't above tearing out a page from Star or a traffic-driving trick from Perez Hilton.

In an un-bylined post on the site's Media vertical headlined Anna Wintour Up Close (PHOTOS), we are treated to a particularly unflattering Associated Press photo of the Vogue editor at Thursday's Tommy Hilfiger show. It's a pretty textbook example of what many feminist bloggers refer to as "body snarking."

The scoop? Ms. Wintour, who is 58 years old, looks like a middle aged woman—with wrinkles and everything.  read more »

Remember that turquoise Oscar de la Renta dress that Anna Wintour wore to the U.S. Open, and Tommy Hilfiger's engagement party, and the Sex and the City premiere?

Well, it's back! The lovely dress reappeared when Ms. Wintour sat in the front row of the Phillip Lim show on Wednesday and Mr. de la Renta's show right afterwards. And, we must say, the color really does bring out her eyes when they're not shielded by huge Chanel sunglasses!

Perhaps Ms. Wintour is making an environmental statement about so-called "disposable fashion" (in other words, the mounds of clothes from H&M and Forever 21 in our closets?). In any case, if she paid for the dress (unlikely), she's getting her money's worth, and if Mr. de la Renta gave her the dress (likely!), he has certainly gotten his money's worth.

 

 

"It's been fun," said laconic ex-New York Ranger Sean Avery last night, of his experience at Fashion Week. "Certainly, it's day four and I think I'm already expired. I'm so tired, I can't keep up." Mr. Avery, who famously interned at Vogue over the summer, was sitting front-row at Narciso Rodriguez's evening show in Chelsea wearing "a lot of Gucci," he said.

"I met Narciso on a shoot, and we just kind of have kept in contact a little bit, so I came out to see the clothes and enjoy the evening."

Mr. Avery will soon be leaving New York: He recently signed a four-year, $15.  read more »

Sean Avery's internship at Vogue is now the basis of a movie. [HR]

The fund-raiser for Barack Obama starring Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker at Charles Nolan's studio is tonight! [WWD] 

There are now 152 fashion weeks in the world. Is it even possible to attend all of them? [NY Times]

Natalie Portman sat front row at Derek Lam this morning. [WWD] 

If you can't wait for Topshop to open in Soho, you can log onto the website and order Kate Moss' collection in the U.S. starting today. [NY Daily News] 

PETA was back outside the tents today protesting Dennis Basso. [The Cut] 

We know Vogue editor Anna Wintour is a very big fan of Roger Federer, and we know she always shows up to his night matches, and his weekend matches. But apparently she doesn't want to miss his quarterfinals match, either--even if it is at 3 p.m. on the Thursday after Labor Day.

Vanity Fair has come out with its list of 100 most powerful influentials, most of which—since they've already been covered by various lists in Time (the Time 100), Forbes (celebs and richest Americans) and elsewhere—come as no surprise.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and Google boys Sergey Brin, Larry Page, and Eric Schmidt are all in the top 10, followed closely behind by David Geffen, Bill Clinton and billionaire Ronald Perelman.

But there do appear to be some changes from last year's list. Some powerful names have sunk or even disappeared to make room for names in fashion and entertainment.  read more »

Perhaps Anna Wintour has been so busy organizing fund-raisers that she has sort of dropped the ball on maintaining the image of the fashion editor whose closet is supposed to be the size of France and who would never disappoint her trembling fans by wearing the same dress twice. (At least not in the same country--same rules as cheating on your wife apply.)

But the woman who is supposed to be fashion perfection has worn the same turquoise Oscar de la Renta Resort '09 dress three times since May! And in public! Where paparazzi were lurking!

She debuted it at an after-party for the premiere of Sex and the City in May, and has since worn the belted dress, which falls a touch below the knee, to Tommy Hilfiger's engagement party in June with nude-colored heels.  read more »

On June 17, Anna Wintour co-hosted a fund-raiser for Barack Obama with Andre Leon Talley, Calvin Klein and Michelle Obama followed by an $10,000-per-head dinner at Mr. Klein's home.

Now, with New York Fashion Week approaching, Ms. Wintour has roped in Sarah Jessica Parker to help with a second fund-raiser on Sept. 9 at Charles Nolan's West 27th Street studio, according to British Vogue.

In the spirit of Fashion Week, the fund-raiser will include a mini-fashion show, with designs donated by Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Proenza Schouler, and Narciso Rodriguez making their way down the runway.  read more »

In this week's New Yorker, Ariel Levy writes about the transformation of Marc Jacobs from a "chubby Jewish guy" into what she describes as a "Superhero."

But even though Mr. Jacobs seems to be doing well these days, his famous obsessive streak (which has contributed to more than a few drug and booze binges) hasn't disappeared completely. 

"Marc gets enchanted with certain things at certain times," said Robert Duffy, the designer's business partner and best friend, told Ms. Levy.

There was Mr. Jacobs' interest in art that led him to borrow large sums of money. "He was buying art until I was like, 'Marc, stop! You've got to pay your taxes!" recalled Mr. Duffy.  read more »

Depending on which day you read the papers, rehabilitated Kirsten Dunst is chasing Into the Wild actor Emile Hirsch, or maybe Drew Barrymore's ex, Justin Long. [P6]

CNBC interviewed Tinsley Mortimer as the "socialite-turned-entrepreneur," who designs handbags, lip gloss and clothes. Apparently she's huge in Japan! [Park Avenue Peerage]

Anna Wintour has offered to "discuss her career, stories of former successful Vogue interns and give advice on how to do well in the business of journalism" with current Vogue interns. [The Cut]  read more »

New teasers are out for the upcoming season of Gossip Girl and from what we can tell, everyone is in the Hamptons, Serena seems to be dating a lifeguard, and Nate is running from someone's house in his boxers.

Vogue intern and New York Ranger, Sean Avery, says the magazine is "a real, tight-knit family," and he hasn't had to fetch a cup of Starbucks yet! [Intelligencer]

Drea De Matteo was overheard saying that one of NBC's better known spin-off disasters, Joey, ruined her career. [P6]  read more »

Marc Jacobs' friends tell Page Six that he's out of control with his boy-chasing and partying ways, afraid he'll "pull a Halston." [P6]

Donatella Versace wishes Hillary would give up the pants. [P6]  read more »