Style Fix

Pop quiz: Name the two things that would make a weirder match than Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

If you said Ashley Judd and plus-size clothes you win!

Ashley Judd, who already has her own collection on sale at Goody’s Family Clothing (primarily in the southeastern states), is now introducing her Goody’s customers to something bigger and better.

Ashley Judd Plus is a line similar to her current organic wear, but for the plus-size woman … like her sister Wynonna Judd who has talked about how growing up she battled depression and weight issues related to the fact that Ashley was the “pretty, skinny one”?

As always, a portion of the sales from Ashley Judd’s collections - available exclusively at Goody’s - will benefit Goody’s Good Deeds for Good Schools program.

There’s more and more of the same concepts appearing in ads today. This Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2008/2009 advertising campaign staring male model Cole Mohr is more half-naked men, as with David Beckham for Armani, and more phallic placements (note the detailing on the front of the purse), as with Lucky Brand’s e-mail ad.

With the hubbub over the first ad campaign featuring an endowed-looking David Beckham in tighty-whities starting to die down, Armani goes in for round two.

The fashion master took the soccer master to Malibu Beach, California, and got him, once again, down to his skivvies. But now that Armani knows how the public reacts to a sexy, near-naked Becks, he didn’t just place this one in magazines and on billboards (though you will be able to find it there soon, as well) – it’s on the side of a Macy*s building in San Francisco.

Check out the photo here, from the unveiling of the mural on Wednesday, June 18. Now, prepare yourself to hear gossip shows and more talk about it non-stop for the next month or so.

I’ve always said that when I have the money to spend on designer goods, my first purchase will be a Kate Spade purse (in addition to some Stella McCartney clothes, of course).

If only I had done my taxes on time, I’d be indulging in the For Your Eyes Only online Kate Spade sale right now. But, alas, I have not yet received my governmental mad money and must continue to wait.

Check out the For Your Eyes Only sale where you can find purses, diaper bags, shoes, wallets, and even a few notebooks by summery designer Kate Spade. It’s a quick sale - lasting from today, June 17, through Friday, June 20 only. But with prices up to 60 percent below retail, it’s worth a expedient look.

Top Button, a virtual fashion meeting grounds, is nearly useless to those of us that don’t live in New York City, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Although there are a few online offers for free shipping codes, and a fashion-inspired blog, the site’s main bragging rights is that it announces dozens of sample sales each week - but only in these three cities.

Now, to keep up with the online market, sample sales are starting to move to the Internet, and Top Button is attempting to keep up. The community Web site has just launched The Top Secret - an exclusive (albeit incredibly slow) online place to gain access to bargains and steals that even Jane Smith in Arkansas can partake in.

Don’t worry about the site boasting an invite-only membership; for a limited time, register at Top Button, and you will receive access to The Top Secret. Or maybe if you ask real nice, I’ll invite you!

I love Kate Hudson. I love Stella McCartney. So when Kate caught my eye as the “Look of the Day” on In Style, wearing Stella’s designs to her runway show, I had a moment of pure elation.

Kate wearing Stella. It doesn’t get much better (unless, of course, it was Kate and me hanging out together, both wearing Stella, while attending the runway show).

I’m so very confused. I usually detest Balenciaga’s creations, but I usually love art-inspired prints and florals. So what, pray tell, do I think of this Balenciaga floral clutch?

One of the most recognizable names in fashion passed away late last night: Yves Saint-Laurent.

The French designer had been dealing with brain cancer for years, and died with friends around him, in his Moroccan home, around 11 p.m. June 1 (Paris, France time).

Yves Saint-Laurent left home and began working for Dior in 1953, when he was only 17. In 1957, when Dior passed away, a 21-year-old Yves was put in charge of saving the fashion house from financial downfall.

Saint-Laurent met hardships when he was drafted to fight in the Algerian War of Independence. The hazing by fellow soldiers was so intense that he had a nervous breakdown. As a result, he was released from Dior.

Perhaps a blessing in disguise, he immediately began his own company - YSL - and went on the become the first living fashion designer to be honored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1983.

Through YSL, Saint-Laurent brought many signature designs such as the beatnik look, safari jacket, tuxedos for women, and vintage silhouettes.

Unfortunately, it seems he was oft a troubled man, despite his raving fashion success. In 2002, Saint-Laurent retired and became increasingly reclusive. Most of his time, up until his death last night, was spent at home. His brain cancer had been kept secret, revealed only after an autopsy report confirmed it as the cause of death.

Funeral services have been planned for this Thursday, June 5, in Paris, France. The fashion world mourns the loss of Yves Saint-Laurent, a fashion prodigy, master, and legend.

Here, he is shown - with his French Bulldog - attending the Miro Exhibition at the Pompidou Center Museum, Paris, France on January 15, 2000.

Fashion logic is the reverse of high school mentality. Growing up you want to do what everyone else is doing; it’s cool if the masses say it’s cool. But when it comes to fashion - it’s only cool if it’s exclusive. That’s the logic behind the new, hot, online shopping destination Rue La La.

Rue La La sets up two to three day designer boutiques that feature premier brands at private sales of 30 to 80 percent off cost. And when most online sales are offering you last year’s goods, Rue La La brings you this season’s threads. The catch is that you either have to be invited by a current member, or wait out your time on the wannabe list. But once you get your invite, membership is free.

Will you make the fashion club cut? Put your name on the waiting list today!

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

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The Dealers:

A. Chanel

B. Fornarina

C. Emporio Armani

D. Skechers

E. Miu Miu

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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!

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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.

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.