Rapper Kanye West has teamed up with his favorite designer Louis Vuitton to launch a men's footwear line.
The "Stronger" star has been nicknamed the "Louis Vuitton Don" for his love of the high-end brand, and has even namechecked it in songs like "Gold Digger."
And now West is designing a line of shoes, named Kanye for LV, for the fashion giant. The collection is due to be unveiled this autumn.
West has also revealed plans for a women's wear line later this year.
It seems the global credit crunch has nothing on Haute Couture fashion week in Paris.
Celebrities converged on the shows to throw their weight -- or for most, a lack of it -- behind their favorite designers.
Eva Mendes and Janet Jackson were front row at Dior.
John Galliano paid homage to the house's legacy and to Mr. Dior himself.
Galliano showed radical, architectural tailoring as he gave clothes a sophisticated yet vampish edge.
He accentuated dresses with waist-cinching corset belts.
Besides delving into the Dior archives, Galliano describes this season's muse.
"The great photographer Lisa Fonssagrives, who was in her own right a great artist and sculptor. And I think her energy and input in creating some of the most iconic fashion and imagery we have today was just incredible."
At the Armani show, daywear was characterised by Giorgio Armani's exquisite tailoring and androgynous looks.
Eveningwear gowns were given dramatic affect when Armani offset black velvet with diamonds, pearls, or Swarovski crystals.
Giorgio Armani's style could always be described as classic.
He says it's a formula that has worked for him for more over three decades.
Rappers Nas and Soulja Boy have just signed new sneaker deals.
Nas and sports brand Fila have just entered into a new one-year partnership, while Soulja Boy has signed a multi-year footwear and apparel contract with Yums Shoes.
Fila will back Nas' upcoming tour in support of his untitled album, as part of his deal. In return, the MC will wear Fila products and co-create an 1980s-inspired clothing line, according to Billboard.com.
He says, "My best friend Will and I loved Fila. It represented prestige and everything that was cool to us. When Will passed, we buried him in a black Fila sweat suit, so doing a deal with them has a lot of significance for me."
Meanwhile, Soulja Boy is to release his first shoe later this year - on the back of his new album and cartoon.
He will team up with graffiti artist and designer Tex to create the new sneaker.
Spurring this growth is increasing consumer awareness, direct-to-consumer marketing and advertising, as well as technological advances in non-surgical options.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
(UPI) -More than 55 million cosmetic surgery procedures will be performed in the United States by 2015 despite an uncertain economy, researchers estimate.
A study, published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, said that in 2015, the number of cosmetic procedures performed in 2005 would more than quadruple.
Spurring this growth is increasing consumer awareness, direct-to-consumer marketing and advertising, as well as technological advances in non-surgical options, the study said.
While today's economy reflects a slow-down in plastic surgery procedures, the specialty will weather the current decline in economic growth just as it has previous declines, such as the stock market correction after the 2001 Internet bubble, Dr. Richard D'Amico, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said in a statement. This prediction for 2015 is exciting.
The study authors analyzed annual ASPS National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery statistics from 1992 to 2005 as well as economic and non-economic variables to predict cosmetic surgery procedure volume.
In 2005, 34 percent of procedures performed by ASPS member surgeons were surgical procedures and 66 percent were non-surgical.
Italian designer Donatella Versace has dedicated her most recent runway collection to presidential candidate Barack Obama.
The 53-year-old debuted her spring-summer 2009 collection on Monday during Milan Fashion Week in Italy, and she paid tribute to the Democrat on the catwalk, calling him "the man of the moment".
Versace says her new line was inspired by and created for, "A relaxed man who doesn't need to flex muscles to show he has power."
Top earning model, Gisele Bundchen returned to the San Paolo, Brazil Runway after a 4-year absence.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Top model Gisele Bundchen closed Sao Paolo's fashion week on the runway.
According to a new ranking released by Forbes magazine in April, the Brazilian supermodel had estimated earnings of $35 million during the past year, making her the top earning top model.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell Says Racist Slur Sparked Air Rage
Campbell pleaded guilty to "air rage" but insists her anger was sparked from a racial slur.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways rejected claims of racism on Saturday after supermodel Naomi Campbell, who pleaded guilty to assault in a foul-mouthed "air rage" incident, said she was likened to a black "Golliwog" doll during the flight.
BA said it did not accept the accusation made by Campbell, who was convicted of assault on Friday and sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid community work, that someone on the flight called her a "Golliwog supermodel".
"British Airways does not accept any allegations of racism," the airline said in a statement. "We are proud of our diversity.
"We have strict policies concerning dignity at work and have long-standing training programs on diversity and inclusion."
Campbell, 38, told Sky News in an interview that her flash of air rage, in which she assaulted two police officers, swore repeatedly and screamed abuse at the captain of the Los Angeles-bound BA flight, was partly prompted by racist comments.
"I was called a racial name on that flight and that was part of my reaction," she said. "I was called a 'Golliwog supermodel' -- I don't think that's really fair, do you?"
Asked who had used the term, which refers to a black rag doll from children's literature, Campbell said: "Someone on the flight, not the passenger."
During Campbell's court case, prosecutors said Campbell ordered the airline captain to find her missing luggage and became violent when police tried to escort her off the aircraft.
The model pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers and to a public order offense. Neither she nor her lawyers mentioned racist comments during her court case.
As well as the community service sentence, Campbell was ordered to pay 200 pounds ($395) compensation to one of the police officers, 150 pounds to the captain and 2,300 pounds in fines.
In the Sky interview, Campbell apologized to London's Metropolitan Police force, but added: "As for British Airways, I just think they are disgusting."
Campbell is famous for her fiery temper and has been in trouble with the law before.
She spent five days mopping floors and cleaning toilets as part of a community service sentence in New York last year after throwing a mobile phone at her housekeeper during an argument over a pair of jeans. She was also ordered to attend anger management classes.
In a previous incident with a telephone in 1998, Campbell assaulted an assistant, Georgina Galanis.
The model agreed in 2000 to plead guilty to the assault in exchange for expressing remorse, paying Galanis an undisclosed amount of money and also attending anger management classes.
According to Victoria's Secret...The new line promises to be a one stop shop for all women. The two piece suits are made to accommodate all body types.
The popular chain also hopes to attract large numbers of women by selling the tops and bottoms separately and being able to help you find the perfect summer fit.
"It's good for getting back and forth to the shower and the beach but I wouldn't suggest anybody use it for long walks"
Friday, June 20, 2008
By Paul Westcott
Clear Channel Online
It's officially summer and most of us have put away the boots for some flip flops. But some of those sandals may be to blame for feet and even back problems.
"I wear flip-flops probably 300 days a year!"
"I've had mine for about four years."
"Pretty much for all my life -- it's that or I go barefoot."
Podiatrist Dr. Richard Green told WTHR-TV that flip-flops aren't necessarily good for your feet no matter how comfortable or desirable.
"It's good for getting back and forth to the shower and the beach but I wouldn't suggest anybody use it for long walks," he said.
Flip-flops can cause leg, knee, hip, and back pain because of their design. They cost between $2 to upwards of $80 a pair. However, price doesn't necessarily make it a better fit.
"It has no torque support, it's got no arch support, and although it is rubber and you would think it has good cushioning, it doesn't even have that good of a cushion," said Green.
A new study from the American College of Sports Medicine found flip-flop wearers tend to take smaller strides and alter the way they walk just to keep the sandals on.
Most of us take 10,000 to 20,000 steps a day, so you want to make each one as comfortable as possible.
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