Style Fix

It’s not just rare, it’s probably the first time ever that the two media networks that I keep up with - animal issues and fashion - are in agreement.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 is currently up for discussion - commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, or the $300 billion Farm Bill. It was passed in the House yesterday and received more than two-thirds pro votes, which is what they will need to maintain the bill if President Bush were to veto it.

Now, I’m not up on laws and farm speak, but both fashionistas and animal/vegan advocates are showng support for this act that sets to defend farmers and the environment.

For the fashion side: Women’s Wear Daily says that this “could potentially help retailers and apparel brands save millions of dollars.”

For the veggie side: There are food safety and labeling issues addressed, with country of origin becoming a mandatory label. Nutritional programs would get more funding and support. There would be tax deductions for farmers using renewable energy sources. There are positive implications for organic food, rural preservation, and general conservation of resources, too.

To read more, the House Committee on Agriculture has put together a one-page factsheet about the bill as a whole. Plus, there is a page dedicated to the bill where you can read a factsheet on each section, follow the legislative proceedings, and read statements from involved people.

Um … Lucky Brand? Was the phallic innuendo intentional in this e-mail ad?

Click the ad shown here to head on over to the Lucky site and check out their new arrivals, which is what they were advertising here.

Speculators (a.k.a. gossips) can lay their guesses, rumors, and lies to rest today over Nina Garcia and her relationship with ELLE magazine.

It has just been announced that Madame Fashion Garcia has been named ELLE’s editor-at-large, and that she will continue representing the magazine at least through this season of Project Runway (which starts in July).

Nina has a contract for being the large editor at least through September 1, 2008.

Previously, she was the magazine’s fashion director for eight years.

Whitney - yes as in the full figure model - won this season of America’s Next Top Model.

From left to right in this photo is the order the final three dropped: Fatima was out before the final runway; Anya was the last to be eliminated, after walking in a Versace runway show. Whitney, of course, was never cut.

Congrats, Whitney!

Dear J.Crew:

I’m impressed with the number of concepts that you have added lately - wedding dresses, yoga gear - but I just have question:

Can you use this super cute, orange and white, doodled fabric to make me a dress? If not, could you just send me some of the fabric so that I can make myself one?

Thanks.

Who is posing for which company?

All of these celebrity names have recently been snagged up by one of these fashion-based companies. Can you match the starring face with the campaign?

The Players:

1. Lindsay Lohan

2. Tori Spelling and her 13-month-old son Liam

3. Audrey Tautou (in photo)

4. Vanessa Paradis

5. Josh Hartnett

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The Dealers:

A. Chanel

B. Fornarina

C. Emporio Armani

D. Skechers

E. Miu Miu

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Bonus game: Can you name which two players are French? How about which two dealers are handing out perfume-related deals?

Who dealt which players hand? Click the read more link directly below to find out!

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve never watched a single episode of MTV’s The Hills, and only one of its predecessor Laguna Beach. I do see the occasional scene on E!’s The Soup with Joel McHale, but that’s the extent of my viewing.

Maybe my lack of knowledge of the show’s going-ons is the reason I am so perplexed over its popularity. Do people really believe that it is real? Is it really interesting? And why, oh why do Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt (who doesn’t even have his own Wikipedia entry) continue to create such fake, posed photos?

Here, Heidi (donning an Hermes Kelly bag) and butt-buddy Spencer greet Mrs. Montag (toting Louis Vuitton) on Mother’s Day.

You cannot honestly tell me that this was not staged. I can hear it now …

“Now, everyone cheat out toward the camera just a bit more. Heidi can you switch your bag to the left arm so that I can see what label you are carrying? … and Spencer, we need you to hold this giant card - cheated toward the camera - so that it looks like you belong in this picture. Okay, say ‘cheese’!”

I’ve never been more jealous in my life. It’s not her gorgeous figure, soft yet stunning looks, or multiple money-making talents that cause me to envy Scarlett Johansson. I want to be Scarlett based on the things that happened to her last week/weekend.

1. Ryan Reyonlds - who was totally supposed to be my man one day - asked Scarlett to marry him.

2. My favorite fashion designer - Stella McCartney - is asking if she can design Scarlett a wedding dress.

Yup. Scarlett didn’t ask Stella; Stella is asking Scarlett.

Being a green celebrity, Scarlett is sure to have a green wedding. Stella, being a vegan and thus green herself, wants to get in on the wedding planning.

“I’m definitely doing her wedding dress,” McCartney told People magazine. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”

Oh to be Scarlett Johansson and have Ryan and Stella as friends!

It pisses me off to no avail when people bash a politician’s child for the mere fact that they are a politician’s child.

That said, look how gorgeous Jenna Bush was at her wedding this Saturday, May 10. Word is the dress is by Oscar de la Renta. Her hair, dress length, and flowers are perfect for an outdoor, early-spring wedding.

I know what you want. You want a custom designed Hermes Kelly bag for free, don’t you? I know I sure do: I know that I come nowhere close to having the funds to buy one. And I also know how you can get it.

On the Hermes Web site, you can choose from seven different designs or plain white to decorate yourself (or use as a sewing pattern!), click to open it as a PDF, print, and follow folding directions to create the end result shown here.

Okay, so it’s not you above-average Hermes Kelly, but it’s free! Plus, the designs are awesome: a pencil drawing of trees, a photograph of jelly candy sharks, and my fave - the Hermes sketched man (who appears all over the Web site) carrying five, red, smiley face balloons.

Try printing your favorite, and adding laminating paper to your folding process to make a waterproof version that would be perfect to take to the beach! You could also trace it onto fabric and sew it up along the seams. All is fair game, as long as you don’t try to sell anything you make from the pattern. Then you’d be in hot, illegal water.

P.S. Click here to head to Hermes site, then click on the picture of a white Kelly bag that says “I want it. I’ll have it!” (shown here) to be directed to the patterns.

P.P.S. Counterfeit Chic’s post “Bringing Home the Birkin” was where I first heard about this.

Yesterday, Beverley Hills hosted a women’s luncheon for Step Up Women’s Network 2008 Inspiration Awards. Step Up is “a national network of women dedicated to strengthening community resources for women and girls,” and on yesterday took time to award female celebrities who were inspirational and a positive role model for young women and teens.

Not only are these women keeping their heads on straight, they looked phenomenal at Thursday’s lunch! Here are the awards I would give out.

A Barney’s ad that hit my inbox today reminded me of a project that I did in college for Philosophy 101.

After a week-long battle of logic between myself and Mr. Philosophy Prof. over the rights of the unborn, I had no emotional energy left to make an ethical debate with my next assignment. Here’s what I did instead:

1. Black and brown do not match.

2. Grey is black mixed with white.

3. Khaki is brown mixed with white.

4. Therefore: grey and khaki do not match.

It took me a matter of seconds to prove my fashion philosophy. I got an “A;” although, Mr. Prof. told me that he expected more and was excited to hear what I had to say … until I brought fashion into it. Oh well, an “A” is an “A” … and hopefully the boy in the back row wearing a grey tee with khakis learned something.

First, in order to tell you this story, I have to confess something: I watched Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer tonight.

Now that I got past that, here’s how fashion relates …

As the Silver Surfer is flying away, Johnny is the only one that can follow him because Johnny can fly … but only whilst turning into a human torch, thus burning all his clothes.

Reed Richards: Johnny!

Johnny Storm: (touching his tux) But this is Dolce.

Maybe I’m punchy, but I laughed.

What do you get when you mix one part badass, twenty-something man with one part sarcastic, cupcake-loving boy?

Johnny Cupcakes, of course!

John “Johnny Cupcakes” Earle, the 25-year-old creative, business mind behind this clothing venture, can tell you flat out what makes his kookiness successful:

“I started this as a joke, from the trunk of my beat up 89′ Toyota Camry.” Mr. Cupcakes says on his Web site. “A college drop out — drug and alcohol-free lifestyle — turned down a lot of investors — Took countless risks — kept my shirts out of heaps of chain stores.”

I say it’s all about persistence and a gimmick - the gift cards come in ovens, the gift boxes are bakery-style boxes, the Web site is oven-themed, and new designs are labeled “freshly bakes.”

And now his tenacity, wit, perseverance, and self-belief is paying off. Johnny Cupcakes is opening a Melrose Avenue (Los Angeles) boutique next month, where he will sell his cult cupcake tee shirts and accessories.

So … let me get this straight: He’s my age, successful, cute, funny, smart, AND he doesn’t drink or do drugs? Is he single? Sign me up!

Those who don’t live in or near L.A., nor Boston where Johnny originated his calorie-free cupcake business, can buy and browse Johnny’s numerous designs - including a cupcake and crossbones, a boy writing “Johnny Cupcakes” graffiti with icing, ovens spewing cupcakes - online.

The worst part about not living in New York City: missing tons of great deals through momentary-notice designer sample sales.

The best part about the Internet: designers are now offering the same speedy, cheap sample sales!

Google “online sample sale” and you will get a plethora of different designers and sites, changing constantly.