Are Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana two of Italy's top (alleged) tax cheats? Or is it all a big misunderstanding?

According to WWD, Italy's excise and revenue police have recommended that the two superstar designers be brought up on tax evasion and abuse of rights charges with fines of no less than €800M (that's $1.12B at current exchange rates). Wow!

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And the fashion verdict is in! Halston has tapped 31-year-old Austrian/Greek designer Marios Schwab as the iconic brand's new Creative Director, effective immediately. It was a highly anticiapted hiring and Halston execs picked the designer after being impressed by his Spring '09 collection in London.

Schwab, who launched his own line in 2005, will oversee the fashion house's ready-to-wear and accessories collections and work to modernize Halston, while continuing to run his own namesake line. He will relocate to New York City for the new high-profile position.

His first collection, Fall 2010 will debut in February, and as reported by The Cut, he will also spearhead the brand's Halston Heritage collection, which will feature reissues of ionic Halston pieces at today's recession-friendly prices ($55-$595). Apparently, Schwab was tapped not only for his sense of style, but for his knowledge of the Halston history. According to CEO Bonnie Takhar, Schwab's designer 'mantra' is an excellent match.

"After several meetings, both our board and I were confident of Marios' design sensibilities. His mantra was very Halston-appropriate in terms of what we think Halston should be. His knowledge of the Halston brand really impressed us."

Continue reading “Marios Schwab Takes the Reins at Halston”

The slug-fest between American Apparel and Woody Allen is over, as reported by The New York Times. After months of threats and name-calling, the legendary director agreed this morning, before the trial was to begin, to settle the $10 million lawsuit for a cool $5 million, sparing the controversial clothing company from what was sure to be a nasty, not to mention costly, court battle with the aging film icon.

Ironically, it wasn't one of American Apparel's racy ad campaigns that got them into trouble this time. The battle began last year when the company used an unauthorized image of Woody Allen dressed as a Hasidic Jew from his 1977 film "Annie Hall" on billboards. Next to "Rabbi Allen's" image appeared the words "the holy rebbe" written in Yiddish.

American Apparel picked the wrong celebrity to mess with. According to the lawsuit, Woody "does not endorse commercial products or services in the United States." Someone at the clothing company or its ad agency should probably have checked on that before running the campaign. Nevertheless, founder Dov Charney posted a statement on the company blog defending the use of the image as a matter of free speech.

Continue reading “American Apparel Settles Woody Allen Lawsuit”

Brooke Shields is having quite the month! Last week she reminded us that at 43, she's still so beautiful that she can inspire a headbutting altercation. Now she's capitalizing on her feisty good looks in a cougar-inspired photo shoot for Australia's Kurv Magazine. The six-foot-tall actress showed off her toned bod in PVC latex leggings and a cinched-to-there corset while engaged in sexy poses with younger model Chris Fawcett. The saucy black and white images were taken by photographer Tony Duran, who brought out Rene Russo's sexy side earlier this year.

This week, Kris Allen totally dodged a bullet on "American Idol." The "dark horse" contestant managed to come out of nowhere to prevent the seemingly inevitable face-off between Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert. With this turn of events, it comes down to Kris and Adam.

Sure, Kris is a great singer, but is that what really made the difference? We think Kris' come-from-behind win is a sign that America likes his style.

If we had to pinpoint exactly what gave Kris Allen the edge, we'd say it was his lucky jeans. Not Lucky Brand jeans, mind you -- we mean jeans that actually worked as a good luck charm.

Continue reading “Kris Allen's Lucky Pair of Jeans?”

Out of nowhere, it seems like everybody is obsessed with the Gosselins. Kate Gosselin from TLC's wildly successful Jon & Kate Plus 8 is rapidly approaching cultural icon status. And as it goes with most celebs du jour, her personal style, particularly her hair, is creating a lot of buzz (pun intended). At a signing for her new book Eight Little Faces, Kate showed up with a bold new style that's sure to get people talking -- but do we like it?

The cut reminds us of two things right off the bat: Victoria Beckham's hair circa 2007 and the kind of playfully rebellious, business in the front and party in the back attitude of a mullet (but a little more tasteful). We even think there's a little bit of Suze Orman in there.

Whatever it is, it's definitely on the opposite end of the spectrum from the wildly popular Palin hairdo. According to what Kate told Entertainment Weekly, her feisty new 'do is a major success:

Continue reading “Kate's Spikey Hair - A 'Do or Don't?”

Last Thursday, Adrien Brody rolled up to a screening of The Brothers Bloom (maybe he thought it was called The Brothers Blue) with an eye-catching new do. Problem was, it consisted of roughly a dozen blue-highlighted chunks poking out of his typically messy and understated hair.

Really, Adrien? Really? All he needed was a glow stick and a pacifier to complete his "I'm a rebellious teenager" look.We're really not quite sure what's going on with this shaggy mess (hopefully those blue streaks are just extensions), and we have absolutely no idea what Adrien is shooting for -- but it definitely got our attention. Not to mention, his experimentation brings up a pretty valid beauty question: is pink, blue, orange, purple, etc. hair dye fair game for anyone over the age of 25?

Maybe Adrien got the blue streaks for an upcoming role in a movie about people who follow jam bands? That would totally explain it. Otherwise, we say leave rainbow colored hair dye to those who don't look like they need it to cover their gray.

The NY Post is claiming that Adrien's new 'do is inspired by none other than "American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert, whose glam rock style is taking the nation by storm. Again, really, Adrien? Really?

Continue reading “Adrien Brody's Blue Hair Gets Rave Reviews”

After Monday's bizarre incident in which Kiefer Sutherland allegedly headbutted fashion designer Jack McCollough, of Proenza Schouler fame, in the nose, word has it that Kiefer has agreed to surrender to New York authorities and take what's coming to him. Although Sutherland's people haven't issued any official statement, People Magazine reports that Kiefer is due to surrender to police in Lower Manhattan sometime today.

According to the New York Daily News, Sutherland's only facing a desk appearance and minor misdemeanor assault charges from New York authorities, but heavier penalties may await him in LA, where the "24" star is currently serving a five-year probation term.

As a result of his second DUI conviction -- for which he served 48 days in jail -- he's on thin ice with Los Angeles authorities, and it's quite possible that they will throw the book at him. According to LA criminal defense attorney Steve Sitkoff:

"If Sutherland's found in violation of probation for battery, and if he was intoxicated at the time, he could very well be sentenced to another 48 days or more."

Continue reading “Kiefer Sutherland to Turn Himself in?”

Judging from the faces of Hollywood's leading ladies, it appears there's a new non-surgical procedure sweeping Tinseltown. Instead of accentuating cheekbones for a contoured result, celebs are opting for a plumper, rounder look. The Daily Mail's The New Cheeky Girls: Why are so many stars plumping to have the 'pillow face'? begs the question, is this puffy, more filled-out face the the new Holy Grail?

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The fashion industry is promoting guilt-free shopping today in honor of Earth Day. Designers really want you to reduce your eco-footprint by purchasing their various wares. (Aww, isn't that sweet?) Here's how:

• Target's first eco-friendly designer collaboration, Loomstate for Target, has hit stores just in time for you to pull together your edgy, organic-cotton look for Earth Day fetes.
  
  
• Looking to add to your monogrammed luggage set? If you shop online at Louis Vuitton today, the luxury retailer will donate 15% of all purchases on their US website to The Climate Project. FYI, The Climate Project is an organization founded by Al Gore, who also helped invent the internet. (How's that for synergy?)
  
  
• Pretty Little Thing NYC is selling a globe necklace to commemorate the planet's special day. The rest of the year, the globe revolves around you ... er, your neck. A portion of the proceeds from these babies are going to The Wilderness Society.
  
  
• Did you know Donna Karan is a total natural wellness hippie? Check out this video of Donna explaining some of the techniques and benefits of holistic medicine and her new project Urban Zen. BTW, she's designed a bunch of awesome tees that benefit charity, available exclusively at Tonic.
  
  
• Keds has revamped their classic kicks for Earth Day. Not only are their Green Label shoes made of organic cotton and recycled rubber, but for each pair sold, Keds plants a tree. Friday is Arbor Day people!
  
  
• Anthopologie hooked up with Edun (the brainchild of Bono's wife Ali Hewson) for a line of Bee Tees. These 100% organic tees will bring awareness to the alarming disappearance of honeybees. All while making you look fashionable and socially-conscious, of course.
  
  
• Don't throw out your old cosmetic containers. Origins has teamed up with Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford to launch a cosmetics recycling program. All Origins counters (even the ones inside department stores) will accept empty cosmetic containers from any brand.