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Where rumors get started…
Joanna Mastroianni Didn’t Know Zelda Kaplan Died After Her Runway Show
Feb 24th
The death of 95-year-old style icon Zelda Kaplan during Joanna Mastroianni‘s runway show this fashion week was a shock to everyone — especially Mastroianni herself. The designer says she wasn’t even told that Kaplan had fainted until after she packed everything up to go home.
In an interview with New York Magazine, Mastroianni said she was leaving Lincoln Center long before she was notified that anything was wrong with Kaplan. The rush of everything going on during the show somehow prevented the news from getting to her ears.
Oh, I was beyond shocked. First of all, I had no idea what was going on backstage; I didn’t even find out about it until we were — not only was the show over, but we were out of Lincoln Center. I had no idea. And I was speaking with the director, Maysles, who did Grey Gardens, and I’m telling him how cool she is, and if he had a chance to speak with her he would enjoy speaking to her. So I promised him I would introduce him, officially, to Zelda, not knowing any of this. It was quite a shock. But I have to tell you, if a fashion girl ever decides to go, this is the way to go.
Indeed. You can read the rest of Mastroianni’s interview here.
[The Cut]
PHOTO: Ashton Kutcher In Bed With Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio
Feb 24th
Model-turned-actor Ashton Kutcher is back to modeling again, this time in his third campaign for Brazilian clothing brand Colcci.
Kutcher has been working with the brand since last summer when he walked the runway with Victoria’s Secret angel Alessandra Ambrosio during Sao Paolo Fashion Week. It’s a pretty good combo of tall, lean and pretty, and we’re glad that Colcci isn’t trying to fix what isn’t broken. Below a sneak peak at the brand’s spring campaign, which features Kutcher, Ambrosio and a comfy looking bed. Take a look and tell us what you think.
Raf Simons ‘Unlikely’ To Head To Dior
Feb 24th
We thought we were finally seeing some light at the end of the John Galliano replacement tunnel, but it turns out we might have been mistaken. Reports that Raf Simons is still in the running to take over the top job at Dior were amplified by his decision to leave Jil Sander this week, but sources say that a move to Dior might not be in the cards anymore.
Women’s Wear Daily reports that neither Simons nor the people who work at Jil Sander will comment on the designer’s next steps, though it has been confirmed that designer Jil Sander, who founded the brand in 1968, will return to replace him. Meanwhile, Simons is either being clandestine about what his next move will be, or he hasn’t fully figured it out yet.
As reported, the designer had been in discussions late last year with Christian Dior about becoming its sixth couturier and the successor to John Galliano. However, it is understood the parties failed to reach an agreement and it appears unlikely Simons will join the French firm.
Dior had no comment on Thursday, and the house has yet to reveal any plans regarding its creative leadership. The company is enjoying strong business momentum with its design teams under the creative leadership of Bill Gaytten, a longtime Galliano collaborator. Sources said Dior is mulling continuing with a team approach, possibly adding some young, up-and-coming talents.
So where does that leave Simons? WWD speculates that he might have his eye on Stefano Pilati‘s job at Yves Saint Laurent. Pilati’s contract ends next month, and Simons could be next in line to take over the French fashion house if that contract isn’t renewed. Still, it seems like every four months there’s another rumor about Pilati getting canned, and it never turns out to be true.
A slightly more likely scenario is that he will focus on developing his own eponymous label, which currently just has men’s clothing. Simons only started designing women’s clothing when he took over at Jil Sander in 2005, and it’s said that he’s keen to add it to his personal repertoire. Stylist Anna Dello Russo told Fashionista just this week that “maybe adding womens next to men” would be a good direction for him to go in.
The complication, however, is that Simons’ line doesn’t have financing for his label. Simons left Futurenet, the company that owned his label, last January, and although he’s presented menswear collections since then, he hasn’t been formally linked to another financier. Maybe leaving Jil Sander will free up time for him to look for the support he’d need to build his men’s line into a full collection? We’ll have to wait and see.
[WWD]
WATCH: Vogue‘s First Black Cover Girl Is Getting A TV Show
Feb 24th
What’s the perfect reward for having a career full of boundary-shattering achievements? A reality show, of course! And that’s exactly what Beverly Johnson, who in August 1974 was the first black model to appear on the cover of Vogue, is getting at the end of next month.
Starting March 31, Johnson will star in the new show Beverly’s Full House on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network. The show features her opening up her home to her daughter Anansa, son-in-law David and granddaughter Ava in what we think will be some kind of examination of the American family dynamic during a recession. Or something. From the show’s description:
Despite sometimes overstepping her boundaries and at times having her intentions misunderstood, she loves her family and is determined to right past wrongs. Along the way, viewers will witness the drama, good times and bad times as Beverly’s traditional/non-traditional family comes together, bound by love, and learns to make it all work.
See, you guys? A life spent in fashion really can prepare you to raise a family. There is hope for us yet! Check out the trailer for the show below and tell us what you think.
[OTND!]
Chris Brown Steals A Fan Cell Phone
Feb 24th
Continuing on his quest to be the biggest A-hole in history Chris Brown stole a fan’s cell phone and screamed at her.
Chris Brown faces new potential troubles with the law after allegedly snatching a woman’s iPhone as she tried to snap his picture outside a Miami Beach nightclub.
“B—-, you ain’t going to put that on no website,” the singer, 22, angrily told the fan as he reached through his Bentley window around 4 a.m. Sunday and took the phone from her hands, according to a police report.
His genius plan backfired because this story has blown up this morning. The best part is that if the investigators prove this charge to be true he could face 4 years in prison for violating his probation from beating up his BFF Rihanna.
Gerard Bulter In Rehab For Pills and Booze
Feb 24th
Gerard Butler has checked himself into rehab. TMZ reports that Gerry headed over to The Betty Ford Clinic to “head-off” a full blown addiction to pain pills. That might be the funniest line ever written by a PR person EVER. Trust that he is not at The Betty unless he is already in full-blown addiction. And I love how they are playing down the cocaine part and focusing mainly on how the grueling demands of work brought him in the real of pain pills.
Unlike most gossip bloggers..I love Gerard Butler. He is an old school man’s man. He drinks dark liquor straight up, chases skirts and will never settle down. He is a harder around the edges George Clooney. But to say that he is the kinda man that would go to rehab to head-off something is hilarious. He goes balls the walls with everything and that includes his drugs.
Butler’s problems were triggered by the physical demands of shooting “300″ in 2006. We’re told the actor began struggling with pain management, and the problem became exacerbated while filming “Of Men and Mavericks,” when Butler was badly hurt on December 18 during a surfing accident.
We’re told Butler realized he was relying too much on prescription drugs and decided to head off a full-blown addiction by entering Betty Ford three weeks ago. Sources tell TMZ … Butler also developed issues with cocaine, but the root problem appears to be the injuries and pain management.
Kathy Ireland Is The World’s Richest Model
Feb 24th
Eat that Gisele Bundchen!
In a new report released today Kathy Ireland was named as the world’s richest model. Kathy managed to turn her Sports Illustrated swimsuit domination of the 80′s into a $350 million empire. This includes business interests in designing and licensing products like furniture, rugs and flooring.
Kathy Ireland Worldwide has developed a $2 billion empire. BILLION people. Kathy Ireland. $2 Billion. Her net worth is much higher than Gisele Bundchen ($250 million), Heidi Klum ($200 million) and Cindy Crawford($100 million).
And the best part of this story is that Kathy’s business is worth more than the devil herself-Marth Stewart’s empire. And you know this news angers the Martha. She was a model back in the day too.
Here is a picture of Kathy getting her business on:
J.K. Rowling Releasing New Adult Fiction Novel
Feb 24th
And the readers of the world rejoiced.
J.K. Rowling announced today that she will be releasing a new book, her first since the final Harry Potter book in 2007. From the sounds of the press release she is possibly planning an entire new series of stories. Yeah! There is some concern that she might not be able to make the switch from Young Adult to Adult but I think that’s ridiculous. If she can managed to write seven books that hold the attention of some of the most literary minds alive I think she can write a few successful adult novel.
The author of mega-selling Harry Potter series has an agreement with Little, Brown in the United States and Britain to publish her first novels for grownups. The title, release date and details about the novel, long rumored, were not announced Thursday.
“Although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world,” Rowling said in a statement released by Little, Brown. “The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life.”
CAN YOU IMAGINE LINDSAY LOHAN PLAYING ELIZABETH TAYLOR?
Feb 24th
We were taken aback when we stumbled upon this photo of Lindsay Lohan at an Oscars art event yesterday in Beverly Hills. It was just announced that she will star as Elizabeth Taylor in “Liz and Dick” for the Lifetime channel. Good for her, but could she look any LESS like Liz Taylor? The lips and platinum hair remind us more of Victoria Gotti than Liz…
MADONNA AND LOURDES ARRIVE FOR OSCAR WEEKEND
Feb 23rd
Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News
Madonna and Lourdes arrived at LAX yesterday and the WORST thing happened. Their car wasn’t waiting by the gate! Despite the fact that they were surrounded by security, people stared and flashbulbs popped. Trapped! Madonna’s assistants made hasty calls and the car pulled up in a few minutes. Madonna and Lourdes are here for the Oscars, the Vanity Fair party, and maybe a few gifting suites…
