http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/ en Copyright 2008 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:30:27 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Heather Thomas, an actress who starred in 1980s TV hit The Fall Guy and is now married to Hollywood super-lawyer Skip Brittenham, set out to paint the world of the Bel Air wife in her frothy novel Trophies. Thomas has said that many of the stories in her book, which revels in the backbiting and social-climbing of the L.A. charity and political fundraising scene, were true but refused to name names. Now that the book has been published she's created this video, which reenacts a chapter of the book with dolls. With voices by Thomas (she plays one of the main characters, Pepper) and her friends, the video also features a cameo by Phyllis Diller and perhaps most puzzling, narration from Gore Vidal. So, how did she get the esteemed political essayist to narrate a promotional YouTube video that shows plastic dolls having sex and comparing vaginal weights? Thomas told me that it came naturally; while she was attending a party for The Nation that Vidal was hosting at his L.A. home, she simply asked him. "He's Gore Vidal, but he's also a funster," Thomas says. "It'll sell some books," she adds hopefully. "And sell a movie!" http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/23/gore-vidal-a-funster.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/23/gore-vidal-a-funster.htm Celebrities Books Gore Vidal Los Angeles Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:30:27 -0500 http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/22/the-yoga-report.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/22/the-yoga-report.htm Beauty yoga Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:50:13 -0500 http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/22/sacco-a-pingpong-no-show.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/22/sacco-a-pingpong-no-show.htm Society Amy Sacco Lydia Hearst SoHo House Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:43:56 -0500 The unveiling of the new season's collections at London's Dover Street Market last weekend attracted quite a crowd for early on a Saturday morning. Groovy parents, stylish kids in tow, rubbed shoulders with fashion students eager to check out the reworked boutique spaces--they change drastically twice a year--at Rei Kawakubo's sprawling six-floor, multi-brand store. From Alber Elbaz's faux red-carpet scene (featuring Lanvin-clad mannequins posing behind a velvet rope, all clutching plush Yorkshire terriers) to Hussein Chalayan's spare space (which showcases pieces hanging from a rope knotted between spindly tree trunks), the displays did not disappoint. Punk artist Jamie Reid, who designed album covers for the Sex Pistols, has even plastered the store's windows with slogans such as "lies, lies, lies," and "God save our yobs" (Brit slang for ruffians). One of the most intriguing vignettes is in the basement, where Paris-based artist Katerina Jebb is selling vintage clothing--all in varying shades of white--among a series of strange objects. The display's centerpiece includes an eerie, worn-out child mannequin draped in Christian Lacroix jewelry; a prototype of a NASA-designed air purifier and an adult-size dummy wearing a Lacroix haute couture gown. http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/21/dover-streets-new-duds.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/21/dover-streets-new-duds.htm Fashion Shopping Dover Street London fashion vintage Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:02:33 -0500 Longchamp's 60th anniversary party attracted two generations of celebs--forty-something hotties and twenty-something drama queens. Julianne Moore, Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon and a handful of the Gossip Girl cast sat sequestered in a makeshift VIP section of the balcony to avoid the crowd's crush. It was too much for Sarandon's tiny pup Rigby ("As in Eleanor," she clarified), who was quaking in the actress' oversized gold handbag. Sarandon's daughter, Eva Amurri, perched next to her, showing off her trendy lavender nail polish. "My new thing is I want to have bright colors on my nails all summer, because whenever I look at my hands it makes me happier," she said. Nearby, Diane Kruger, sporting wide-legged pants and a midriff baring top, sipped champagne and told me she'd just returned from filming her new flick, Run for Your Life, in Santa Fe. When I asked her whether anything amusing happened on set, she paused to think, then said, "You know, it's a really intense movie about organ tourism--so honestly, not so fun. Lots of crying." The Gossip Girl posse, on the other hand, represented by Leighton Meester, Jessica Szohr and Nicole Fiscella, said they've been having a blast filming the second season around New York (they're currently on the third episode). Though no catfights broke out, it did seem like they were partly still in character: Meester, who plays icy Upper East Side princess Blair Waldorf, was decked out in Cartier jewels, a BCBG Max Azria dress and raved about her Dior spectator pumps, "my favorite thing in my closet." Szohr, who plays down-to-earth Brooklynite Vanessa Abrams, confessed: "To be totally honest, I'm in Forever 21 and these are Steve Madden."While they play arch enemies on Gossip Girl, Meester and Abrams claim they are real-life pals. When Meester plugged her rock/pop album slated to come out at the end of this year, Abrams chimed in: "Ridiculously rad, is what it is. I'm like, hurry up, get it done already so I can listen to it!" http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/17/gossip-girls-do-longchamp.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/17/gossip-girls-do-longchamp.htm Celebrities Parties Gossip Girl Julianne Moore Leighton Meester Susan Sarandon Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:35:39 -0500 http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/15/intermixing-it-up.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/15/intermixing-it-up.htm Fashion Parties Jamie-Lynn Sigler Lauren Conrad Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:48:47 -0500 Cynthia Rowley's interns must really have a good sense of humor. Back in February, when we posted our design director Eddie Leida's graphic doodlings his friend Cynthia Rowley thought his image of two kissing hearts (or lips, or... derrieres), would make a hilarious t-shirt for the most notorious ass-kissers of all, her summer interns. Eddie agreed and an artistic collaboration was hatched. Now it's summer and Cynthia's offices are filled with 12 interns throughout her design, sales, public relations and production departments. We recently sent photographer Lee Clower over to the Cynthia Rowley offices to catch them in the midst of their daily routines--from organizing boxes of shoes to hauling bags of clothes around the city--all wearing the Leida-designed tees. So are the interns really brown nosers? As Jen, a design intern studying fashion at FIT, says diplomatically, "You want to make a good impression." After all, she adds, "two of the head designers used to be interns." (See more fun photos after the jump.)Photographs by Lee Clower http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/09/read-their-lips.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/09/read-their-lips.htm Art & Design Fashion Cynthia Rowley Eddie Leida interns tee shirt Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:16:06 -0500 http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/09/jennifer-convertible.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/09/jennifer-convertible.htm Fashion Beija-Flor denim Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:37:43 -0500 Crayola-bright colors have been a nail polish staple for the last few months, but there is one shade in particular that's capturing the attention of W staffers: Essie's Bermuda Shorts. The vibrant purple strikes the perfect balance between summer fun and spirited sophistication, and offers a preview of the range of violet shades heading our way this fall (you'll see them in our September issue). So though I no longer own any actual Bermuda shorts, I'll be sporting the color they inspired all summer long--or at least until the end of July.W staffers' feet, clockwise from top: Elisa Lipsky-Karasz, Jamie Rosen, Danielle Stein and Jenny ComitaToes photo by Alexandra Marvar http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/08/purple-passion.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/08/purple-passion.htm Beauty Shopping Nails W Staffers Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:49:35 -0500 http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/02/miss-piggy.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/02/miss-piggy.htm Beauty Evolence aging fillers Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:44:39 -0500 When I realized I'd worn a t-shirt every day last week, it hardly came as a surprise. Not only do I live next door to an American Apparel, but it seemed as if New York fall runways were especially tuned in to this girl's love for cotton. (Thank you, Alexander Wang and Yigal Azrouel.)But for anyone who doesn't want to drop major cash on a Rick Owens or Lanvin tee, consider the following:LnA: I've been wearing LnA T-shirts for about a year now and have huge respect for April Leight and Lauren Alexander, the brains behind this line. After making the beloved boyfriend tee a women's staple - and receiving widespread acclaim in the process - they now offer a rainbow of cotton leggings (check out the gold zips at the bottom -- middle school nostalgiaat its best), cardigans, baseball tees, even menswear. Now if they only added t-shirt dresses to the lineup, hint hint.Ogle: Another collection I'm excited about is two-year old Ogle, brought to us by Avril Ozen, she of the printed separates line Language. More weekend than workplace, Ogle has a sporty sensibility and uses a pleasing variety of fabrics like organic cotton and bamboo wool. My pick is the short-sleeve sweatshirt with zips, made from the softest French terry.Too casual you say? Paired with a cute pair of high-waist pants or a fitted skirt, a t-shirt feels work-appropriate without veering into secretary territory. http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/02/tees-please.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/02/tees-please.htm Fashion LnA Ogle fashion tee shirts Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:10:28 -0500 Above (left to right): Chanel, Givenchy, LacroixThe couture shows are underway in Paris. Check out WWD's coverage of the presentations.Chanel: An enormous set of nonfunctioning organ pipes constructed in the rotunda of the grand Palais set the mood for Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel collection on Tuesday morning. From where his guests sat, it made for an expensive curiosity, one clarified as the models started walking.... [continues] Givenchy: What's most interesting about Riccardo Tisci's approach to couture is that he rejects the haute genre's traditional ladyfied ways in favor of a next-generation sportswear approach. It was a bold stance to take when he arrived at Givenchy, one he has developed with distinction into something that now seems worthy of the couture mantle.... [continues]Christian Lacroix: "Don't say that you adore me, don't, unless you love me" came the plaintive request from the soundtrack. Which begs the question, what's not to love?... [continues]Maison Martin Margiela: Finding variations on his beloved recycling theme must be an amusing pastime for Martin Margiela. The secretive Belgian's latest collection of so-called "artisanal" pieces of handmade garments was long on fun and games... [continues]Above (left to right): Doir, Armani, Mabille.Christian Dior: John Galliano built a beautiful Christian Dior fall couture collection around the house's iconic Bar jacket. He even brought an element of its shape into one of his tours de force... [continues] Giorgio Armani Privé: Beautiful. A capsule of the designer at his best, which is to say signature, chic and very current. Remember when Armani... [continues]Alexis Mabille: In his program notes Alexis Mabille claimed to be dressing a gaggle of fun-loving, unconventional characters who populate an artsy alternative school. He does in fact offer an alternative take on haute couture... [continues]Photos: Giovanni Giannoni http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/01/couture-report.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/07/01/couture-report.htm Fashion Fashion Week Alexis Mabille Chanel Christian Dior Couture Giorgio Armani Givenchy John Galliano Prive Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:32:47 -0500 From the glass shops and evil-eye bead stands to the carpet boutiques, Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (think extremely ornate mall) offers plenty of goods to take home to family, friends, and of course, ourselves. Carving out a few precious minutes from a shoot last week, my colleague Shiona Turini and I snuck off to spend some dough. Here's a sampler of our shopping tour in Turkey:First-stop: Meters away from the bazaar entrance. Tunics and satchels, some made from old woven fabrics, others from popular prints a la Burberry, hang from the outdoor stands, tempting buyers to spend before even stepping inside. Purchased tunics for the moms, bags for the sisters. Regret not buying these tie-dye scarves.Second stop: Inside the bazaar, after a number of left turns. Gorgeous lamps! Wait, those are hookahs...But inside a glass shop, we find lovely actual lamps to hang from our ceilings. Sweet. Even sweeter, the Turkish delights tasted at candy stores--good for roommates and coworkers. Quick stop for Turkish coffee before keeling over from over-stimulus. http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/06/27/how-bazaar-how-bazaar.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/06/27/how-bazaar-how-bazaar.htm Shopping Travel Grand Bazaar Istanbul shopping Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:30:00 -0500 http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/06/26/dubai-heat.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/06/26/dubai-heat.htm Celebrities Openings Demi Moore Donald Trump Dubai Heidi Klum Ivanka Trump Naomi Watts hotels Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:45:19 -0500 Today for lunch, I convinced a friend to stroll with me up to Rockefeller Center, where we checked out the new installation by Chris Burden: a 65-foot skyscraper made of approximately one million stainless steel pieces modeled after Erector set parts. Having read Kevin West's profile on Burden in the May issue, I had been curious to see the project, which had been somewhat hard for me to envision. While the six-story replica of 30 Rockefeller Center is dwarfed by the real 30 Rock, which stands adjacent, it's way more of a sight to behold, the sun glaring off those million miniature steel bolts and beams.I asked a security guard--he gave his name as Mr. Johnson--watching over the base of the sculpture, what he thought of the piece, standing next to it all day. At first, he just shrugged at the giant toy model. But then, he squinted up at it and said, "You know, it is a really amazing idea, having a million small pieces and putting them together to make this." We agree.The exhibition is in place until July 19th. Installation photo by Alexandra Marvar; Portrait by Malerie Marder for W http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/06/26/30-rock.htm http://www.wmagazine.com/w/blogs/editorsblog/2008/06/26/30-rock.htm Art & Design Chris Burden public art Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:12:42 -0500