Fashion PR division of Pierce Mattie Public Relations, A Fashion Public Relations. Fashion publicity, promotion marketing firm

February 2nd:

The Tent: The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection 11:00am, BCBG Max Azria 3:00pm
The Salon: John Bartlett 10:00am, Marc Bouwer 5:00pm
The Promenade: Perry Ellis 1:00pm, Nicole Miller 7:00pm, Akiko Ogawa 6:00pm
W Hotel 594 Lexington Ave.: Yeolee
Roseland Ballroom: Baby Phat 8:00pm
Altman Building: Grey Ant 9:00pm

February 3rd:

The Tent: Lacoste 11:00am, Alexandre Herchcovitch 3:00pm
The Salon: Chris Han 10:00am, Alice Roi 1:00pm, Abaete 6:00pm, Venexiana 9:00pm
The Promenade: Maticevski 12:00pm, Atil Kutoglu 2:00pm, Sass & Bide 7:00pm
Showroom: Buckler 4:00pm, Cabbeen 8:00pm
Altman Building 135 W 18th St: Gustavo Arrango 5:00pm
Bumble & Bumble: Karen Walker 1:00pm
NYC Bar Association: James Coviello 2:00pm
Prince George Ballroom: ThreeAsFour 5:00pm

February 4th:

The Tent: Diane von Furstenberg 4:00pm, Naeem Khan 6:00pm, Matthew Williamson 8:00pm
The Salon: Lela Rose 10:00am, Twinkle by Wenlan 1:00pm, Terexov 9:00pm
The Promenade: Tadashi 11:00am, Tracy Reese 2:00pm, Tuleh 7:00pm
Showroom: Erin Fetherston 3:00pm
711 Greenwich Street: DKNY 12:00pm
Cunard Building 25 Broadway: Z Zegna 5:00pm
Exit Art: United Bamboo 3:00pm
Sony Music Studios: Luella Bartley 5:00pm
Waterfront Building: 3.1 Phillip Lim 6:00pm

Global warming has been on the minds of all of us for some time, it’s an issue we can’t get away from, although some still continue to debate it. Diesel, the hot Italian fashion brand, has decided to bring the global warming message to the forefront through their new ad campaign, “Global Warming Ready.”

The images are thought provoking, whether it be water half way up the skyscrapers in NYC or the beach vacation on Mount Rushmore, this ad campaign is sure to start a buzz. While Diesel says that the ad campaign is subtle, I think it’s very much in your face…and not in a bad way at all. The Diesel website hosts a global warming video that explains global warming and how it will affect our planet. At the end of the video a slideshow begins to play of the ad campaign, although it is somewhat slow, it is definitely worth it and gives you time to really look at each picture. They also offer you tips on 10 things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, provide a direct link to StopGlobalWarming.org and encourage Diesel fans to watch Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.” The ads get you thinking, almost to the point that you forget about the great Diesel fashion in the ads.

This campaign comes at a time when many beauty and fashion companies are either going green or collaborating with green charities and organizations to promote awareness of what we are doing to our planet, such as Lancome collaborating with Carbonfund.org.

What do you think of Diesel’s ad campaign? Is it exploitive or do you think it will get more people talking (and doing something) about global warming?

Runway Fashion Videos: By Coutorture

Diane Von Furstenberg Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Runway Video Montage


Matthew Williamson Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Fashion Week Video Montage


Naeem Khan Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Runway Video Montage

Tuleh Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Fashion Runway Montage Video

Erin Featherston Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Runway Montage Video


Alexander Wang Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Runway Video and Designer Interview


James Coviello Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Runway and Designer Interview


Backstage and Makeup at James Coviello Fall 2007

Lacoste Fall/Winter 2007/ 2008 Runway Video

Lacoste History: René LACOSTE was born in France on 2nd July 1904 and died on 12th October 1996. Go Directly to 2007/2008 Lacoste Runway Show.

The Lacoste Website

The true story of the "Crocodile" begins in 1927. René LACOSTE liked to recount how his nickname became an emblem recognized throughout the world.

"I was nicknamed "the Alligator" by the American press, after I made a bet with the Captain of the French Davis Cup Team concerning a suitcase made from alligator skin. He promised to buy it for me if I won a very important match for our team.The public must have been fond of this nickname which conveyed the tenacity I displayed on the tennis courts, never letting go of my prey!"

So my friend Robert GEORGE drew a 'crocodile' which I then had embroidered on the blazer I wore on the courts.

An attentive spectator at René LACOSTE's Davis Cup matches was the winner of the BRITISH Womens golf title, Mademoiselle Simone THION de la CHAUME, who soon became his wife and constant support.

In 1933, René LACOSTE and André GILLIER, the owner and President of the largest French knitwear manufacturing firm of that time, set up a company to manufacture the logo-embroidered shirt. The champion had designed this for his own use on the tennis court, as well as a number of other shirts for tennis, golf and sailing - as can be seen in the first catalogue, produced in 1933.

To the best of our knowledge, this was the first time that a brand name appeared on the outside of an article of clothing - an idea which has since become extremely successful.

This shirt revolutionized mens sportswear and replaced the woven fabric, long-sleeved, starched classic shirts.The first LACOSTE shirt was white, slightly shorter than its counterparts, had a ribbed collar, short sleeves with ribbed bands and was made of a light knitted fabric called "Jersey petit piquéIt continues to offer the same quality, comfort and solidity on which it built its name and which constitute its uniqueness.

Wow, we tried to find fashion designer John Barltlett's homepage but had no luck. However, we do have the recent runway show footage and some still for your viewing via Coutorture.com.

With his thick brush of hair, round glasses, and toothy grin, Cincinnati-born Bartlett looks like he could be his own model. A Harvard sociology major who studied at the London School of Economics, Bartlett came out before he went to college, and his clothes often tease the uptight norms of menswear. Although the early part of his career was hectic and his press mostly positive, he hit a troubled patch around 2000, when his backers dropped out and his collections were not as well received. He closed his business in 2002 and spent a year traveling in Asia and studying Buddhism. After returning to New York, he began working his way back into the fashion business, starting with a small menswear line (shown at the Harvard Club). In 2005, he was named creative director at Ghurka, the upscale American accessories line and given the task of establishing that venerable brand’s identity in the lucrative, competitive handbag market.

New York Magazine has wonderful coverage of the fashion shows.

It's -20 below zero and I am looking forward to warmer weather and the fashion that goes with it. To help you forget all about this deep freeze, here is a look at Diane von Furstenberg's Spring 2007 Collection that is available at Neiman Marcus.

H&M, who began their relationship with organic cotton in 2003, is ready to promote their new organic clothing collection next month. In the past, H&M’s organic cotton had focused mainly on their baby and children’s clothing line, but now it is being expanded into their women’s, maternity, denim and girl’s lines. Some say this is just a sign of the times.

Fashion and beauty brands continue to go beyond their product image and branch out into aspects that are eco-friendly. As I noted with Lancome and Diesel, H&M becoming more earth-conscious will be just one of the many brands that come forward this year with a greener focus. Whether they’re doing it to exploit a fearful future we all face with Global Warming or because they are truly committed to evolving their brand with a more earth friendly approach, being gentler on the environment benefits us all.

H&M won’t make their organic cotton lines a price point issue for consumers. While the H&M organics will have a special hang tag to clearly identify the clothing from regular H&M lines, the prices will not be much different, which will hopefully encourage more purchases from these lines.

Which brand do you think is next in the environmentally friendly trend? Stay tuned here for more fashion updates!

Kevin Aviance, known for his talents as an entertainer, is also a shoe designer. He currently has a Winter Collection that includes stiletto boots, glamorous pumps and evening sandals. His Spring Collection is one with that is flirty, fun and not without losing the essence of “Kevin.”

The Kevin Aviance Spring Collection, which debuts next month and is available online and at select stores nationwide, has a sense of female-inspired spirit. "Alive" are bright strappy heels meant for a glamorous night out. Kevin describes the woman who would wear Alive as: A confident woman who is able to act and live as she chooses, without being subject to restrictions. Adj: Not forced to rely on another for support. “Christina” is a wedged heel platform shoe meant to “punish the red carpet” and has the look that says it should be your choice of footwear when heading out to the dance club. Kevin describes this part of the collection as “Artistic, Inc. to the max. Adj: The showing of initiative and a willingness to undertake new, often risky projects.” It’s amazing how you can actually feel these words when looking at the new Spring line.

As if promoting his fabulous shoes were not enough, Kevin is also launching his Anti-Violence Tour that kicks off this month in NYC. The tour is as a result of a hate crime that he suffered last June at the hands of four men when they beat him and broke his jawbone, robbed him and accosted him with anti-gay slurs. Unfortunately, passersby did nothing to help Aviance during the attack. The newest shoe collection, musical sound and tour are Aviance’s way to show that he has come out on top and is a beacon of hope to others.

If his shoes are not an inspiration—he sure is!

Everyone knows who Levi Strauss is and their trademark arches that are patented, no less. We also know that the love of denim has increased and birthed many new denim companies because of it. So would you be surprised to know that Levi’s never really took notice of this denim craze until it hit them in their (back stitched arched) pockets with a 40% decrease in sales since 1996? Once they realized they missed the boat and were no longer the King of denim, they took a long hard look at the competitors passing them by. The common thread of success? Levi’s believes it to be their trademark logo making it onto behinds of non-Levi’s wearing consumers across the globe.

Since 2001 Levi’s has sued more than 100 companies, making their lawsuits over trademark the most of any other clothing company in the United States. Surely trademark has specifications as to how not to replicate their logo, yet even companies who made their own unique design and deliberately placed it on an opposing pocket were sued by Levi’s. So was the case with Rock and Republic, who was sued in 2005 and settled out of court despite Rock and Republic’s chief executive Michael Ball never conceding that their brand did anything wrong. Rock and Republic also happens to be one of the country’s most fastest growing denim companies. Could the frivolous lawsuit be to take a competitor down or did Levi’s truly believe there was basis for their lawsuit?

After looking at some of the “arches” stitched onto competitor’s pockets that Levi Strauss sued, there seems to be a fine line between their trademark logo, as some do look very similar, and that of a denim company being a sore loser.

What do you think?

Stella McCartney well known for her fabulous collections, amazing collaborations and four year partnership with Adidas, will be launching yet another sportswear collection to the Adidas line. McCartney already has designed clothing under her name for Adidas for sportswear in the categories of Swimming, Gym, Running, Tennis, and now Gym Yoga.

As Yoga becomes more popular among mainstream fitness junkies, it’s only natural to add such a line, especially as her Adidas sportswear collections continue to increase in popularity. McCartney’s mission statement for her sportswear collections is: “This collection is for women who take their sport and their style seriously. Why should we have to compromise one for the other?” McCartney brings forward a sentiment that women have been feeling for a while and one that is beginning to materialize interest in designing more fashionable yet practical fitness clothing such as the case with Bebe Sport and also Reebok’s collaboration with Scarlett Johansson.

McCartney’s Gym Yoga Collection, as with all of her fashion house and Adidas collections, offer an innovative style with femininity. Her Spring/Summer Gym Yoga Collection premiers at stores later this month.

If you love Juicy Couture’s lifestyle brand of clothing and you happen to have the pitter patter of little feet ages 0-24 months crawling around your home, then you will be happy to know that Juicy Baby will be launching this Spring according to WWD. Juicy Couture, a Southern California brand, signed a deal with Tawil Associates to make, distribute and market Juicy Couture boys and girls apparel for newborns and infants, as well as layette clothes.

Juicy Couture is known for their pastel velour and terrycloth tracksuits and casual wear, as well as their expansion into handbags, shoes, jewelry, watches, fragrance, sunglasses and soon enough cosmetics and home products however, I wonder what they would call their cosmetics line as there is already a cosmetics company in Canada called Juicy Cosmetics.

Juicy Couture continues to increase in popularity not only here in the states, but globally as well. In April of 2006, they opened their first flagship location in Tokyo with plans to open many more stores throughout Japan. Juicy Baby is an expansion of their current lines that include men, kids, their regular Juicy line and Couture Couture.

You can find Juicy Baby at select Juicy store locations and at many of Juicy Couture’s wholesale accounts such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom’s.

Luxury brand Jimmy Choo, who was recently sold to TowerBrook Capital, is looking to move beyond their infamous footwear and leather good lines and expand into eyewear and fragrance. With new ownership, Tamara Mellon alongside her Creative Director Sandra Choi hope to make Jimmy Choo one of the most treasured luxury brands in the world.

According to WWD, Jimmy Choo will launch an eyewear collection by the end of the year and launch it’s first fragrance in 2008. Another brand expansion in the works is a runway collection of shoes that will start with the fall season. Jimmy Choo, a popular brand among fashionistas, it is also one sought after by many major celebrities.

The history of Jimmy Choo is quite interesting and it’s two acquisitions valued in the millions over the last two years show the investment and growth of the brand under Tamara Mellon’s direction. Now that TowerBrook Capital has acquired the brand with 80% share holding and Mellon still involved at 20%, I think Jimmy Choo’s cult following will only gain momentum as Mellon continues to take the brand in an uphill direction.

Maryam, New York City- Today I am in New York working with a client and the media. With New York Fashion Week out of the way what else is a Fashion Public Relations Girl to do but pass along some trend info on what to look for this Spring. All these items are available at Neiman Marcus and other online shopping sites.

Looking for the top 10 next big thing for Spring? Here's a quick guide and some of the Designers who gives us the best this season:

Dresses: Nanette Lepore Print Shift Dress, Stella McCartney Ruffled Trapeze Dress, Cynthia Steffe Tunic Dress

Delicate Blouses: 3.1 Philip Lim Handkerchief Blouse, Jill Stuart Elizabeth Silk Blouse, Jovovich-Hawk Floral Print Blouse

Cropped Jackets: MARC by Marc Jacobs Cropped Jacket, Juicy Couture Cropped Pea Jacket, Valentino Red Lace Cropped Jacket

Flat Shoes: Chloe Candbury Canvas Flats, Marc Jacobs Stampede Leather Mouse Shoes, Jimmy Choo Jola Leather Flats

Something Silver: Gucci Silver Guccissima Leather Belt, Burberry Silver Patent Platform, Yves Saint Laurent Metallic Tote

Wide Belts: Michael Kors Waist Belt, Nicole Miller Ruched Ruffle Waist Belt, Avignon Soft Leather Belt

Patent Leather: Manolo Blahnik Strappy Patent Sandal, Miu Miu Patent Leather Flats, Calvin Klein Patent Leather Belt

Eyelet: Tracy Reese Eyelet Top, Nanette Lepore Ahoy There Eyelet Dress, BCBG Max Azria Eyelet Kimono Top

Above the knee hemlines: Lela Rose Belted Silk Halter Dress, Temperley London Folk Embroidered Dress , Miu Miu Oversized Above the Knee T-shirt Dress

Statement Rings: Roberto Cavalli Stone and Serpent Ring , Stephen Dweck Oval Carnelian Ring, Barse Oversized Turquoise Ring

Pinko, the young Italian trend-wear fashion brand for women, has announced Mariah Carey as the spokesmodel for their brand. Pinko was established in the late 80’s as a spin-off from CISCONF and has increased in popularity in the last 4 years. Mariah Carey says to have found the fashion brand while working in Italy and fell in love with their clothing. When she was approached by Pinko to be their spokesmodel, she gladly accepted.

Mariah Carey is almost unrecognizable on their website. I’m so used to seeing her in less than flattering clothing and pastel colored makeup that I was taken aback by how stunning and gorgeous she looks. When on the site descriptive words to illustrate the brand flash before your eyes: Glamour, Lifestyle, Irony, Sensuality and Seduction. All of these words can easily be related to Carey, as well.

Pinko has 410 retail stores in Italy, including 60 single brand shops, 100 corner stores, 250 multi-brand stores and 210 overseas sales points. While you can shop Pinko online, unfortunately the US in not included among the Countries that one can shop from. So for now, we can stand in awe of their very cool, very chic collection.

For me, the word exotic instantly conjures up images of luxurious belts, shoes, and handbags made from the finest python, cobra, stingray, and alligator skins money can buy. The word can also bring to mind images of foreign landscapes with a beautiful sunset is progress, or over tanned girls with brilliant green eyes wearing g-strings as they walk, balancing on six inch platforms! I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that if you are reading this post, you thought of the bags as well. Who can blame you? Exotic accessories seem to be EVERYWHERE. You can't swing a dead cat in New York or Paris without hitting a women carrying a dead animal!

What used to be reserved for a select few has found its way all over the fashion market. Companies from all categories are showing these "Luxury" items made of exotic skins. When we say exotic, we usually mean Alligator. Python is a close second. Like so many other trends in fashion, Americans look to European fashion designers for direction. In France or Italy an exotic Alligator bag has been the ultimate fashion accessory for decades. The strange thing is that by definition, Alligator bags are not, well, exotic in America. You see the most luxurious Alligator skins are from Louisiana. As in the state. In the United States. How foreign and exotic is that? If you are a women living in Paris, then mais oui - it is very exotic. If however you are a women living in Manhasset, NY or Palo Alto, CA then it seems your $20,000.00 bag is pretty, well, local - and usual. Ok, granted its southern which can seem exotic or Foreign to a New Yorker - but that is another story.

I know a woman who lives in northern California. She spent over $100,000.00 on a black Alligator bag from a very famous French fashion house. You know the one. It's bags are named for the actresses who first carried them. Anyway the lady in Norther Cali had hers custom ordered and then.. she pimped her bag!.. DIAMONDS all over the handle! What she doesn't realize is the concept is vulgar. Diamonds on gold are tasteful because diamonds are more luxurious than gold, but diamonds on Alligator is a moot point. It's like they cancel each other out. The worst part about it is now when the women in question goes shopping, all the sales people nudge each other and say, "Here comes the bag." They refer to her as "THE BAG!" how sad is that? So while everyone is buying any bag with a scale on it, just remember - its called an ACCESSORY! Take it easy. Wouldn't six figures be better spent on a great piece of art work? or at least on a 1/16 share of a private plane?

The designer brand superstore, Scoop, has opened a 10,000sqft megastore on Broadway that consists of a variety of categories to dress the family from head to toe. The store opened today while converting their previous space on Broadway into an outlet store called Scoop it Up.

The new home of Scoop is so large, that owner Stephani Greenfield will be adding categories to their current line up such as Scoop Home and expanding upon their beauty business, which will include skin care, candles and men’s fragrances. Scoop’s fashion brands include high end and low-end top designers such as Marc Jacobs, Lela Rose and Diane von Furstenberg. Price points meet all variations for these luxury lifestyle brands.

Scoop has a silent rivalry with Intermix, another lifestyle fashion store who is said to be upgrading their store to 5,000sqft. Now that Scoop is expanding into more than just clothing, such as handbags, shoes, jewelry and the expansions mentioned above, it will be interesting to see how Intermix will utilize and maximize their new space to compete with this megastore, which now appears to be a mega-competitor.

If you live in New York, Miami, L.A. or Chicago, then you've probably noticed more and more British accents as you go about your daily routine. With the British pound at the astronomical exchange rate of almost 2 to 1 to the US Dollar we've been holding a half off sale every day of the year!

The deals and steals going on in fashion are so tempting that British families are not only taking more vacation in the U.S, they are coming on long weekend shopping trips! Even if you factor in Airfare and Hotels, they are still finding bargains left and right. Remember, this is not like getting a discount at one store or in one category - its EVERYTHING. Restaurants - half price. Hotels - half price. Taxis - half price. I was in the Miami area a few weeks ago to pay a visit to what I think as one of the most luxurious shopping malls in the country. The Bal Harbour shops are an oasis in the middle of causeways, freeways, and no-ways that are so often part of the Florida experience. Once inside you are not in Florida anymore, you are in the state of Luxury!

Every major fashion designer in the world has shop there. The favorite lunchtime spot of the Madison avenue soial set - La Galoue even has an outpost there. There are palm trees surrounding Koi ponds that hold dozens are the most colorful koi you will ever see. On sunny days, you even find turtles sunning themselves on the rocks - all this while you contemplate that perfect shoe from Jimmy Choo or that dress in Magenta from Oscar de la Renta! It was on one of these perfect days that I strolled into one of boutiques that was having a Spring trunk show. The company is French and dominates the trunk show experience. I was in awe at the amount merchandise for sale, the amount of samples to pre-reserve, and just at the amount of people in the store - all excited to be previewing the new collection, all except one. I overheard a very pleasant sales associate being lectured by an unhappy British woman AKA Ms. London. She was telling the associate how she "never" saw anything like this in London. In London she informed the associate, the boutiques are always kept in impeccable order! The associate said she was sorry to hear that the customer was unhappy with the boutique and she explained that it was busier than usual due to the trunk show. Ms. London was not impressed and said she had been a model (must have been in the 50's!) and that things were NEVER This way. She pursed her lips for a bit and looked around and left. So Ms. London "Debbie downer" soured a moment of my perfect day.

I have spent alot of time in London myself and you know Ms. London was right. Boutiques on New Bond or Bruton Street or Brompton road are beautiful and they are luxurious - but they are not crowded! You see British women shop differently than Americans. British women are frugal. They typically go and browse for something once, twice, even three times before purchasing. The other major difference in London is that like it or not, there is still a definite class system in place. People who work in shops are treated as a lower class than the people shopping in such shops. There is distinct attitude towards sales associates and anyone that works in the service industry. The home of Big Ben can also be the place to find Big attitude by the ladies who shop for a living. The best example of the old school class mentality is found right in Harrods - the most famous department store in the U.K. - if not the world is owned by a non British citizen. Mohamed Al Fayed has been fighting to get citizenship for over a decade. Just log on to his website Alfayed.com to find out how he feels about the British establishment!

The Hot Hotness Of The Magazine Show February

The uber fabulous Kenneth Cole has signed a deal with Lanier Clothes to launch a men’s tailored clothing line in the US. While Kenneth Cole is famous for their handbags, accessories and most importantly (at least to me) footwear, Lanier Clothes is known for their innovative yet old-world style tailoring.

Lanier Clothes is also owned by parent company Oxford Industries who happens to be one of the largest apparel manufacturers in the world. Haven’t heard of Oxford Industries? You are most likely to have heard of the brands and private labels they craft: Nautica, Dockers, Geoffrey Beene, Oscar de la Renta among others. I happen to love Geoffrey Beene and found them to have the only jeans that understand my hips post-baby. They are the only brand of jeans I have worn since 1999, although their website shows no indication of women’s clothing, they do indeed have a women’s section in store. I can attest to the quality of Oxford Industries Geoffrey Beene brand. I still have those same pair of jeans, now 8 years old that have only slightly faded, but otherwise look brand new.

The deal between the two brands appears to be a match made in fashion heaven. What Kenneth Cole does for shoes, Lanier can deliver upon and extend into clothing. This is a great way for Kenneth Cole to expand upon their brand and keep up with the expectations and quality standards we all have come to know and love.

The new clothing line, which will consist of suits, suit separates, sport coats, trousers and rainwear, will be distributed under Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction and Unlisted, a Kenneth Cole Productions label in the fall of this year. You’ll be able to find it nationwide within tailored clothing departments at major retail department stores and select specialty stores.

Is that your Wang I smell? Once upon a time a line like that would have been met with a slap, punch, or sneer at best. Nowadays however, it is a perfectly acceptable question.

With every designer under the sun inking fragrance deals, you have to ask yourself - Do we need all these, and do they make scents? I understand how companies see fragrance as a way to gain exposure and grow the business, but careless marketing can also hurt the reputation of a brand.

After all, are we really supposed to believe that Vera Wang for Men is flying off the shelves? If a guy is wearing the scent I can guarantee it was a gift from his significant other , who is obviously wearing the pants in the family. Perhaps a little harsh, I know, and yes I realize for decades women, not men have been the main target for many of these men's grooming products. I also realize I'm more particular about my personal style and what I wear weather it be fashion or scent than most men, but give me a break!

The smell-fest is not limited to designers, now huge chain hotels, and clubs have signature perfumes. That's right, like staying at the Westin hotel? Want to smell like it everyday? now you can... Then there is the just announced, upcoming bungalow 8. The tagline might be : Remember when you drank and danced till you threw up at bungalow 8 last weekend? Now you can re-live the fun with a spritz! Lets not forget all the celebrities that have also jumped on the scent wagon. The Paris Hiltons, the Britneys, the Hilary Duffs. I just don't know what it is about these girls that would make you want to smell like them! I mean for Paris and Britney, the aroma that comes to my mind is cigarette butts and sweat! Perhaps I'm just too practical?

As I said some designer fragrances do what they intend to do - presents the image of the design house and elevates how you feel about the brand. Here are a few examples of both end of the spectrum.

Black Orchid by Tom Ford - Sexy, woody, I get it. needs no explanation

Stella in two by Stella McCartney - Floral and Spicy.. I get it.

Westin Hotel - floral? bed linens? I don't get it!

Bungalow 8 - does it matter? Who would wear this...I don't get it!

Donald Trump has a fragrance! Who would wear that? Is that the smell of desperation?  Who knows where it all ends. Whats next Martha Stewart Eau de toilette... to wear when you clean the toilet? I'm sure I'll smell you at the fragrance counter!!

Everyone has an opinion, you can count on that, and opinions on the designers and their fashion shows at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is no different. Here are videos from various designers from Fashion Week in NYC with reviews from fashion editors and fashion bloggers alike. Be sure to check out Chic.TV coverage of fashion week on You Tube, for all the videos check out Chic.tv website, it's some of the better quality fashion footage I've seen this year.

Oscar de la Renta Watch Video

WWD: De la Renta’s collection was, in a word, dazzling, and not only in its well-controlled embroideries. It shone as well in its security; its grounded, cross-generational appeal and its fabulous expression of sporty luxe.
Fashion Week Daily: Oscar de la Renta's latest collection was designed with dames in mind. It’s all the contradictions real women have been clamoring for since the babydoll dress came back into fashion. We say: vive de la Renta!
Godfrey Deeny, Fashion Wire Daily: Oscar de la Renta is twice the age of most of the 200 odd designers who will stage shows in New York this season, yet when it comes to the attitude of his classy fashion, it's probably fresher than any of them and more in step with the real world.
Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, WSJ Heard on the Runway: Designers may be collectively heralding a return to more polished dressing and tailored looks, but that’s probably not news to Oscar de la Renta, who has never veered far from his core mission of creating luxurious suits, ballgowns and accessories for the rich and famous.

Diane von Furstenberg Watch Video

WWD: Typically savvy fusion of the sensual and the sensible, but with a notable upgrade to the sophistication level, starting with the palette.
Fashion Week Daily: Though DVF's collection was decidedly dress-centric, that didn't equal a lack of variety. Even the black frocks, of which there were many, had an eye-pleasing uniqueness, and each one she sent one down the runway felt as fresh as the first time.
Nicole Phelps, Style.com: Her collection was singular in its focus on dresses. Many of the dresses came with matching coats, a nod toward the designer's sense of practicality, an asset that should serve her industry well in the coming months.
Godfrey Deeny, Fashion Wire Daily: Von Furstenberg’s fall 2007 collection was a swaggering tour through Iberian culture that inspired prolonged applause in Bryant Park. Though not exactly demure, it was ladylike, poised and entirely fitting for a stroll across St Peter's Square.
Rachel Michaela, Style Bites: The fall collection opened disappointingly with black on black. Sad, since DVF does color so well. At the worst moments (there was the linebacker-like jacket, then the metallic pewter monstrosity of a top and skirt, and at least one graphic dress nightmare) the models looked positively fat.


Doo. Ri Watch Video

WWD: The collection she presented on Tuesday wasn’t groundbreaking, but it showed hints of a step forward. The second half of the show, comprising variations on the jersey dress, often embellished with architectural crystal harnesses, felt a bit one-note and even lackluster.
Fashion Week Daily: Doo-Ri made a tentative foray into color, mixing a mellow, muted turquoise with burgundy and even a pop of lemon yellow. The collection seemed to find her in a transitional phase, gone were the cinched waists of seasons past, replaced by elongated torsos ending just above the hip.
Nicole Phelps, Style.com: The crystal cages and harnesses worn over her signature jersey dresses got a little complicated, and it would've been nice to see her work in colors other than bordeaux, emerald, and navy.
Suzy Menkes, International Herald Tribune: Doo-Ri Chung had a soft and graceful take on silk, draping it into a top over a bib of sequins and scooping up the sides of a jersey dress. The palette of wine, blue and peacock green made for a repetitive show, but its effect was youthful with a touch of romance.
Lauren Dimet, Second City Style: The bubble-hemmed jersey dresses and frocks began looking very repetitious, but the bordeaux and emerald printed Georgette dress with Swarovski crystal blew me away. She will do very well with this line. She is a crowd pleaser and so darn adorable and talented, you can't resist.

Carolina Herrera Watch Video

Fashion Week Daily: The designer seemed to be juggling a widening scope of references: a square, three quarter sleeve fur tunic worn over a straight plaid skirt paired with substantially spangled stockings for an almost grunge-like layered effect, adapted for the Park Avenue set; when the skirt's pattern showed up again in a bustier dress, the effect was nearer to Anglomania.
Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan WSJ Heard on the Runway: A polished collection featuring dresses made with perforated felt, coats with dramatic funnel-necked collars and tailored, slouchy jackets with wide lapels. Color-wise, she said her subdued palette of blue, “grape,” ash and bark was influenced by Edvard Munch’s somber portrait of Norwegian philosopher Hans Jaeger.
Nicole Phelps, Style.com: With dark menswear plaids and jacquards juxtaposed against the artistic detailing that has lately become a Herrera signature, the effect was altogether different from her confectionary-sweet spring outing.
Godfrey Deeny, Fashion Wire Daily: Herrera’s collection for fall 2007 oozed haute sophistication, from the remarkable jacquard coats to the stockings finished with jade.
Girlawhirl: Favorite new look are the pants, high waisted, slim through the hip and thigh and full through the rest of the leg to the ground where they flipped and flickered as the models walked.

Erin Fetherston Watch Video

WWD: Erin Fetherston showed froufrou dresses in fabrics that appeared a bit cheap, but her PYT friends are likely to find at least one star in the collection.
Fashion Week Daily: Erin Fetherston sent a sweet and lowdown little collection down her silver, star-spangled runway. For demurely divine, goddess-like evening gowns that closed the show, we'll be dreaming 'til they hit stores for sure.
Lindsay Sammon, Fashion Wire Daily: A memorable addition to this season’s collection was Fetherston’s use of the cape, shown with constellation and butterfly prints, and affixed to the back of dresses in a way that gave the garments lift and endless fluidity.
Meenal Mistry, Style.com: The collection occasionally ventured toward the less-sophisticated side of girlish with a couple of Lurex pieces, it was a solid effort that will keep the growing Fetherston fan base more than happy.
FabSugar: Erin Fetherston's designs are what little big girls dream about. Super feminine and girly, while remaining modern, here is a collection that wisks you away to a beautiful boudoir floating in space.

M by Madonna. As if this 48 year old mother of three needs to do one more thing to prove to the world just how talented she is, Madonna has officially added fashion designer to her stable of titles. While a career half as accomplished would satisfy most people, this head strong Leo is always striving for the unknown or more to the point - the unconquered, which deserves respect!

Of course Madonna is no stranger to fashion. While some celebrity labels warrant a head scratching, this collaboration was a no brain-er! Her fashion statements have garnered world wide attention for two decades. No women has done more to make us rethink gender roles. Much like icons before her such as Marlene Dietrich and Coco Chanel, Madonna is a creation of her own making. This month in London, British Elle presented her with a Style Icon award to formally acknowledge all she has done for the runway over the years.

Last year her Confessions tour was the highest grossing female concert tour - EVER. The tour was heavily influenced by images of horses and riding crops. The inspiration was born out of Madonna's riding accident earlier that year when she was thrown and broke her collar bone and several more in her hand. Steven Klein immortalized the concept in a breathtaking spread in W magazine. Her inspiration was undoubtedly Lola Montez - a dancer born in Ireland, who debuted herself in London in 1843 at the age of 25 as Lola Montez - "the Spanish dancer". Her personal life was legendary and to say she was ahead of her time is beyond an understatement. She died at the age of 42 penniless in the Hell's kitchen area of New York. Her look was unique and with "just one look from your eyes"... you can see why Madonna was inspired.

This was also the year she released the fifth in a series of hugely successful children's books. Then, out of nowhere she was thrust into an international political debate on adoption in third world countries when she chose an orphaned boy from Malawi to be her son. Its seems Madonna had crossed paths with the boy during a mission to donate funds to AIDS ravaged Africa. While its exhausting just reading about all she does, to Madonna all I just mentioned was just "last year". That's life in the fast lane when you have so much to do, give and help change.

It is amazing how a suburban childhood life in Michigan can really motivate a girl to shine! Sometimes greatness comes from the least expected places. Just think of those oysters sucking on sand year after year far from the warmth of the sun until one day, they spit out that breathtaking pearl that is forever .... beautiful!

If there is anything that the whole zero model debate has done for the fashion industry, it is to slap them in the face with reality. The majority of the female population, at least in the US, is a size 12-14. So would it hurt anyone to start using models that most of us can relate to? One store in Britain has decided to start listening to its customers…make that size 12 customers.

John Lewis, one of the UK’s leading department stores, has hired a 5’8” size 12 model, Lauren Moller (pictured above), to promote their new 2007 swimwear collection in their advertisements. After an in-store polling of their customers, they found that 80% of women size 12+ purchases their swimwear. Since their customers can’t relate to a waif model, they decided to forgo the norm and use a model that was representative of their customer base. Quite honestly, I think this move alone may help them sell more swimwear. Their customers will begin to feel a connectedness with the store once they can relate to the woman wearing the swimwear they came to buy. If it is representative of them, they will be more likely to make a purchase versus a model several sizes smaller wearing a swimsuit that the customer may feel is an unattainable fit for themself.

With yet another model dying from “complications of malnutrition,” which is just a fancy way of beating around the bush to avoid saying she was anorexic, I can’t see how we can continue to ignore the fact that the majority of women are not size zero, yet models in the fashion industry starve themselves to keep up an image that is not at all representative of most of us. Certainly I am not promoting representing an unhealthy lifestyle, but since size and weight are subjective in a sense without knowing a person’s height and bone structure, I guess I am just baffled why size (larger than zero) is made into such an issue in fashion. I hope many retailers follow John Lewis’s lead and I bet they will be laughing all the way to the bank.

The Academy Awards is sometimes considered one of the biggest nights of fashion for the year. It’s a time when a dress can make or break a star’s image and when a sometimes virtually unheard of designer can be launched into the stratosphere. There are Oscar nominees that we know will wow us with their sense of style and who we wait with baited breath to see walk down the Red Carpet, and then there are the ones we know will just crash and burn. Occasionally, there is the celebrity whose notorious history of poor fashion sense surprises us with a winner and then there is that one dress that, guaranteed, will have us talking for years to come.

One such dress that seems to pop up every time you mention the Oscar’s is the black-and-white vintage Valentino dress that Julia Robert’s wore in 2001. When I think of the Academy Awards, this dress always comes to mind. Back in the late 80’s, Cher’s sheer Bob Mackie dress was hailed as gaudy and outrageous, but now it’s being looked upon as fashion forward. Celebrity news shows and websites have already begun to buzz, pondering which designer will get the most mentions on the Red Carpet and who they feel will be the best dressed celebrity.

Jason Jobson, Dallas Texas: Last month I spent a FREEZING weekend up in Litchfield County, Connecticut. I was a guest of a friend who has one of those compounds with staff, stables and Style by the acre. The whole area is fabulously chic in an un-hampton’s way. You know the crowd, they don’t chase after the latest "it" bag. In fact, they have more bank than bags. What they do buy is horses. No, actually they have horses bred for them. There are rolling hills of undisturbed country and you usually don’t think about a neighbor unless you get in your car and drive over to see one. I have to say, it is one hell of a place to snuggle up and have a good night’s sleep. It’s also a dream of a place to find antiques and super chic collectibles. One place to spend a few hours browsing and buying is Michael Trapp antiques in West Cornwall…. The owner and shop keep is a most interesting fellow who has created a fantasy world of stone, fountains, and decorating finds – a bit Italian loggia meets Miss Havisham – Great Expectations.

My gracious host planned for us to have dinner at another friends house on Saturday night.  That’s what the Connecticut crowd does. They don’t throw on every piece of new clothing and line up for reservations at one of two hot spots in town to eat. They make plans and invite a small group of people to dinner at their home. Now I must throw in a disclaimer here. I grew up in a poor-cousin version of this Wasp’s nest known as Litchfield County. So it goes without saying that everything should be taken with a grain of salt. The somber serenity of rolling hills can cut like a knife day after day in the grey winter months. The bucolic aesthetic and lock-jaw attitude can be quite stepford like. It’s enough to send a boy running for a 3 day bender in the east village, desperate for a non homogenized experience! On the flip side, living in NYC can also send you running for a long walk on a country road in an L.L. Bean barn jacket and some knee high Wellies! So here I am – Range Rovering from town to town to have dinner with another group of refugees from Manhattan -all of us trying to forget the honking horns, and squealing garbage trucks that are too often embedded in the psyche of New Yorkers. Our dinner host had a cozy place decorated like a big white washed country lodge, with a great room filled with sofa’s and chairs all surrounding a humongous fireplace that crackled and roared with cool spurts of air from the flu. It was a perfect setting for a Winter Saturday night in the country.

The pleasant surprise of the evening was who was seated to my left at dinner -none other than the Queen of celebrity news and Hollywood chatter – Liz Smith. Yes, that Liz Smith, the syndicated columnist who has been reporting scoops on everyone from Liz Taylor & Richard Burton to Jude law & Sienna Miller.

 I was in awe of this legend who was as personable as could be. This is someone who could hide behind her own celebrity – after all she knows EVERYONE.  She had just had lunch the day before with Rupert Everett.  On the contrary, she was friendly and funny and held court all night with stories that had us all laughing and at times gasping! After all, there are things that she just cannot print. Things that are worth gold to a captive audience of New Yorkers who thought they were in the know. Two things struck me the most. First how incredible Ms. Smith looks for her age. She just celebrated her 84th birthday! I’m not one to throw around peoples age, but I saw her on that Michael Eisner show “Conversations” talking about it, so I know she is cool with it. Half the room was half her age, but no one had a quicker wit! The second thing I noticed was her clothes. She was wearing the most beautiful Periwinkle blue leather Jean jacket that you would find on a 40 year old,  and she rocked it! Paired back with a multicolored turtleneck and grey flannel trousers, the leather jacket was a shot of color that hit the spot. It was a great choice that drew her deeper blue eyes out and made them dance as she told story after story. I just had to ask her where she found this keepsake leather piece. I was thinking Armani, or Akris, - maybe Jill Sander… all wrong.

It turns out her entire outfit was all from the Carlisle collection. Doesn’t ring a bell? Well you know the collection, or at least you have seen it. It’s worn year after year by first ladies and Washington wives who have an eye for fashion but who might not have an oil heiress budget to keep them well heeled. It’s also the favorite of those I mentioned above who would rather buy a horse than a shearling from the latest runway show. The collection is only sold through appointments in representatives homes, so you won’t find it in any store. Which does add to the appeal. Fashionable clothes, well made, that don’t cost an arm and a leg, that won’t be seen coming and going all over Madison avenue!

This was the kind of weekend that makes living in New York so special. At any given moment, you have the chance to meet anyone! Liz Smith is an inspiration and a class act. I hope to run into her again, maybe next time in a warmer place!

As we are heading into the warmer months, the biggest complaint about wearing shoes is how uncomfortable they can be to wear when the temperature rises. Now a Chinese company called Guangzhou Tianfu Electronic Company has created several fashionable men's shoes that are meant to look great and feel great at the same time through temperature regulation.

Guangzhou Tianfu Electronic Co. is a professional high-tech enterprise, specializing in developing, manufacturing and marketing electrothermal series products. Their electronic shoe line known as CEO shoes has complementary-symmetry metal-oxide-semiconductor or CMOS chips, which controls temperature at a comfortable level. According to an article on Fibre2Fashion it, "Emits biological energy according to body temperature that helps in normal biological functions, improves endocrine balance, increases metabolism, stimulates cell activity."

Protecting the Keys to New Yorks Kingdom. Nothing sends a perfectly planned day crashing toward non-productivity—and expletives—like the loss of your keys. Rather than make a conscious effort to be more careful, embrace your absentmindedness and then safeguard against it with NewYourKey.

Launched by a pair of entrepreneurial ex-waiters, NewYourKey is the city's first 24-hour key storage and delivery system. The process works like so: Either give NYK a spare set of your keys or have them create a duplicate set in their "mobile key lab" (read: locksmith van). Your keys are then taken to a storage facility where they're kept in a freakishly secure, bio metrically sealed vault. The next time you lose that second set of spare keys your doorman hands over (because it's not a question of if, but when) call NYK and they will rush them to you at any time, day or night, whether you're stone-cold sober or "mildly" inebriated.

And just to ensure it pisses off every locksmith in town, NYK has made the service absurdly inexpensive. For a $30 annual fee, the company will hold two sets of keys for you (e.g., home and car) in its fingerprint-protected, futuristic key cave, with each bailout costing you a mere $20.

Which means you can move all that freed-up cash from your mistakes-due-to-drinking budget somewhere else—like into your drinking budget.

While celebrities are honoring their own at the Academy Awards on Sunday, there seems to be a controversial issue brewing and one that appears to be a contradiction when they honor Blood Diamond. As with at the Golden Globes, A-list celebrities walking the red carpet are given gorgeous diamonds to flaunt through the Raise Your Right Hand campaign. Raise Your Right Hand began when the diamond miners in southern Africa felt the pressure from the issues Blood Diamond brought to light. Fearing that the movie will jeopardize their industry, they decided to use some star power to promote their trade. We all know that diamonds play a major role in the fashion of the Oscar’s, but during a time when a movie such as Blood Diamond is the talk of the movie industry, I would think diamonds would be played down being substituted by other gems or even smaller sized diamonds that won’t steal the show, but simply compliment the dress.

Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist…at least it did in the invention of Insolia, shoe inserts that were invented to distribute weight evenly when wearing high heels. With the help of a MIT-trained Rocket Scientist, Dr. Howard Dananberg a podiatrist, invented Insolia to help those of us who love our heels but hate the pain.

Insolia insoles are plastic inserts that are barely noticeable to your feet, until you realize that you are no longer wincing in pain while running around the city in your 3-inch heels. They work by preventing your foot from sliding down to the front of your shoe, which puts all of your weight on the balls of your feet. Insolia’s inserts create a 50/50 weight distribution between the balls of your feet and your heel. The result enables better ankle stability and gives you the feeling of wearing flats. Even DKNY and Ipanema are in love with the idea and have begun creating their shoes with Insolia built into their design.

This is definitely a product I could’ve used while in the city last July wearing my 3-inch espadrilles walking through Manhattan and up and down those subway stairs. By the end of the day I was in so much pain that I was ready to walk barefoot through the city. As I am only days away from being back in Manhattan again, I purchased 1-inch heels as to not make the same mistake of unbelievable pain to my feet. Certainly a product such as Insolia is one that sounds perfect no matter where you live and can open the doors to many who so desperately want to wear those fabulous heels in style and not in pain.

Just kidding. I thought it was lame when Time magazine chose "You" as their person of the year last year. No offense to you, your great. We love you. I just thought it was a bit of a cop-out. The concept was that 2006 saw the public voice on the internet create change and brought people together via outlets like youtube and facebook. Really? For all the public gum flapping about the power of the people, I don't think much has changed. Too few people at the top of the pyramid still control most things for the poor schlubs at the foundation. Of course if 30 million people want to watch some fat kid lip-sych some Danish dance track in his bedroom, when they should be working - then power to the people!  To think we are causing any serious change to better our lives, I'm not so sure.   I know tonight is the 79th annual Oscar ceremony in Hollywood, and everyone is buzzing about who will take home the gold!  but I'm still stuck on this Time magazine article and how we are being led to believe we are in control of our destiny, when I just don't agree.
Case in point, our commander in chief. I can't even mention his name. He should get an award this season. Not an Oscar, but a Razzie! Worst performance in a leading role! I see that the votes are in and the Razzie is going to Sharon Stone for Basic Instinct Two- Risk Addiction. The movie was a big bomb.  However, I have to give kudos to Ms. Stone for having big enough Golden Globes to film an opening scene that has her drive herself to the brink of death via a sexed up sport coupe and the saliva lubricated finger of her passenger! Her own saliva I might add! I'm one jaded New Yorker and I sat in the movie theater with my mouth hanging open in shock.  (yes I actually paid to see the movie)
Come to think of it, the movie title could be the tag-line for this presidents entire second term! Basic Instinct 2 - Risk Addiction. The president can't help but make the worst decisions time and time again. It seems his bad basic instincts led us to war and now have us feeling powerless as a nation. Sadly, his risk addiction has not been satisfied. Reports are surfacing daily that suggest the next adrenaline rush for "The Decider" might be to set his sights on Iran as the new stage for his war games. 

What do you think?  Who should be taking home the Razzie this year?

• Best Picture - The Departed
  
• Best Director  - Martin Scorsese - The Departed
  
• Best Actor - Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland
  
• Best Actress  - Helen Mirren - The Queen
  
• Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
  
• Best Supporting Actress – Jennifer Hudson - Dream Girls
  
• Best Foreign Film - The Lives of Others

As always there is a best and worst dressed when it comes to the red carpet. Some gowns amazed me, while others I was amazed even came off the hanger in the closet. These are my picks for best and worst dressed with a few undecided’s thrown in for good measure.

Best:

Helen Mirren: Wow, she took my breath away. If she is not the signature for aging gracefully, I’m not sure who is. I absolutely adored her beaded gown by Christian Lacroix. It was elegant and tasteful and just made her look amazing.

Beyonce: Her Armani Prive' gown was exquisite. She certainly didn’t need to wear jewelry around her neck with her jeweled strap. The mint green color was amazing, as well.

Reese Witherspoon: Her Nina Ricci gown made her figure look amazing. It was the right fit, the perfect color and I loved the layering.

Worst:

Nicole Kidman: Nicole always looks gorgeous and while I thought her red gown by Balenciaga did look beautiful, I couldn’t help thinking the big red bow with long sash made her look like a present, like she was on a leash or even the back to one of those wind up dolls.

Cameron Diaz: It may not be the gown itself by Valentino, but the color. I just don’t think white is a color that brings out Diaz’s beauty. It also definitely did not highlight her figure. Also, the fact that she kept standing pigeon-toed on stage and on the Red Carpet took away from the look as well.

Sally Kirkland: Oh my. I was cringing and hoping she wouldn’t make a false move revealing what was underneath her sheer dress. Maybe she could’ve used her parachute to cover herself up better.

Undecided:

Jennifer Hudson: While her Oscar de la Renta gown was gorgeous, the silver bolero jacket should’ve been left on the hanger. I think the jacket completely takes away from the richness of the gown.

Penelope Cruz: The strapless Versace was gorgeous on top and was such a lovely color, although the bottom of her dress makes me think of Goose Down.

Other Reviews Found Here

Remember when I said I was predicting a strong come back for Gap? It definitely appears that a lot is going on company-wide to make this prediction true. Gap Inc. announced today that they were closing their Forth & Towne brand, meanwhile last Friday they hired Michael Cape as head of Old Navy marketing. Gap Inc. has stated that from here on out, their focus is bringing back to life their Gap and Old Navy brands.

Forth & Towne, Gap Inc.’s 18-month old brand is one I had never heard of until today. They have only 19 stores in 10 US cities spread among 6 states and I have never seen any print or commercial advertisements for the brand. Looking through the site today, I am surprised that this line of chic clothing hasn’t taken off in terms of fashion. It is definitely in the ranks of Banana Republic high-end style. However, you can’t make a brand succeed with a good marketing plan in place. Gap Inc. has decided to lose the brand stating that it had no “long term potential.” Without the ability to purchase online and that the brand was a relative unknown in the other 44 states would definitely give any brand an uphill challenge, especially at a time when Gap Inc. was failing in every corner of their business.

We all noticed Leonardo DiCaprio with his mother on his arm at the Oscar’s while many of us miss Gisele by his side (although Tom Brady is not complaining). How much do you know about this gorgeous supermodel that is in the Guinness World Book of Records for being the richest supermodel to date with an estimated value of $150 million? She may be stunning, but there is a lot more to this model than meets the eye.

Gisele began as a model with Elite Model Management, but like Naomi Campbell did recently, she jumped ship and joined the ranks of IMG. Modeling has been good to her bringing her a reported $7000 an hour and covering campaigns such as Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Chloe, Louis Vuitton and obviously the one we all know her best for: Victoria’s Secret. Combined, she has literally hundreds of campaigns, magazine covers, fashion shows and editorials to her resume.

Dipping her toes into acting, just this past year we saw her in Apple’s Mac advertisement, on The O.C. and in The Devil Wears Prada. Prior to The Devil Wears Prada, she was also in the movie Taxi in 2004. Gisele also has a shoe line with Grendene through the Ipanema brand called Ipanema Gisele Bundchen. She also owns a hotel in Brazil called Palladium Executive.

Can this fabulous model do anything more? She is impressive with what she has been able to accomplish (over 400 magazine covers) since she was discovered approximately 13 years ago…in a McDonald’s no less.