We hear CBS' 60 Minutes is preparing a profile on Anna Wintour. Though takedowns are the news magazine's claim to fame, we're betting the Vogue editor will emerged puffed up.
• Jason Wu's reaction to the news Michelle Obama was wearing his white chiffon gown to the inaugural balls? "I just dropped everything and jumped up and down and screamed." [MSNBC, WSJ]
• Simon Doonan was so overjoyed by Michelle's pick of Isabel Toledo yesterday that he "tore down the normal Barneys windows on Madison and put up celebratory Isabel Toledo window installations instead." [Fashionista]
• Best Wu-related fashion headline of the day: "Jason Who?" [NYO]
• Barack Obama may have worn a bullet-resistant suit to the inaugural parade yesterday, in case you were wondering. [NYM]
• Michelle donned a Tracy Feith dress to today's official prayer service. [WWD]
• The official Fashion Week lineup features 73 names, down from more than 80 in September. Also: Kelly Cutrone is discounting prices for designers. [WSJ]
• Sales at Coach are down and the chain's scaling back expansion plans. [AP]
• Are scrunchies making a comeback? [Pipeline]
Diane von Furstenberg was in Washington yesterday for the inauguration (who wasn't?) and says the experience gave her the "feeling that something major is happening." You think? Diane wasn't there alone, though. André Leon Talley served as her "chaperone," and she reports that ALT happens to be "a big star" with Obama fans. "People are constantly stopping him to pose for pictures... he complains a lot, but I am sure deep down he is happy." Just imagine how unhappy he'd have been if no one had noticed him at all! [DVF]
• Two people very happy this evening: Jason Wu, who designed Michelle Obama's one-shoulder white chiffon gown; and Isabel Toledo, of course, who was responsible for the lemongrass-yellow coat and matching dress that Michelle wore to the inauguration. [NYT, AP, WWD]
• As for Malia and Sasha's outfits—and Michelle's olive gloves—don't go searching for them at J. Crew just yet. The pieces won't be available to the general public until fall. [Reuters]
• Trousergate, fashion's latest catfight: Giorgio Armani has accused Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of copying his quited trousers; bitchy comments on both sides have followed. [Guardian]
• A first look at Alexander McQueen's new line for Target. [Nylon]
• News flash: There aren't that many blacks on the catwalks these days. [NYT]
• Profits are up at Burberry, but the company is still cutting staff. [WSJ]
• Aretha Franklin's inaugural hat can be yours for $179. [WWD]
Anna Wintour said she wishes the new documentary about her had ventured beyond the offices of Vogue. And no wonder, because it is there that the editor made her ruthless reputation.
• Kate Moss will celebrate her 35th birthday this weekend with a "four-day marathon of excess." The sight of a bunch of models standing around a giant pig on a spit at a hog roast? Priceless! [DM]
• She's no Michelle, but Oscar will be dressing Hillary for the inauguration. [People]
• Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and Calvin Klein Inc. have all cancelled their Fashion Week postshow parties, alas. [WWD]
• Following in the footsteps of Saks, Lord & Taylor is now laying off staff, too. [Fashionista]
• L'eau de Brooklyn will debut in March. [BS]
• Alexander McQueen and Puma are teaming up on a new line. [Pipeline]
• Goodbye, Bush: Celebrate Bush's exit with a discounted bikini wax. [Racked]
When even Simon Doonan, Barneys creative director and all-round style oracle, says that everyone needs to stop obsessing about Michelle Obama's fashion choices, we should probably pay attention. As he confides to NPR, he's "increasingly uncomfortable with this hysteria about what's she's going to wear and how she looks... you know, you want her to be known for something else: education, mental health, I don't know what else, but she has to be known for something other than looking great in a shift dress." Not that Doonan's own sartorial advice can—nor ever should!—be withheld: For the new First Lady, who has "that great physicality," he counsels simplicity. "When you start adding couture ruffles and fooffles and bows, you could get into trouble." We're sure Michelle is adding "no fooffles" to her pledges immediately.
• Karl Lagerfeld on the recession: "Bling is over. Red carpety covered with rhinestones is out. I call it 'the new modesty.' " Of course, said recession isn't affecting Karl personally, who says he has "no budget" and that "throwing money out the window brings money back in through the front door." [NYT]
• Saks is laying off 9% of its workforce. [WWD]
• A clip from The September Issue, the new Vogue documentary, is online. [Fashionista]
• Roberto Cavalli is selling a stake in his company. [FWD]
• The Forever 21 that turned into a Century 21 is a Forever 21 again. [Racked]
• Designers are scrambling to dress inauguration-goers, not that most residents of Washington seem to be terribly interested. [NYT]
If one of your co-workers suddenly shows up to work dressed like a complete slut, there may be a good explanation for it: She may just be hoping to hang on to her job. In a poll involving 3,000 women, 27 percent of the respondents said they'd be willing to wear a "slightly risky outfit" to work if it meant they'd get a bonus or promotion. [Daily Mail]
A couple of weeks ago, the Post's Keith Kelly reported that execs at Condé Nast were growing increasingly concerned about the company's bloated Web budget. Well, it looks like they've figured out one way to trim costs: recycle content from other publications! Last fall, The Daily published a chart of famous fashion figures ideally suited to top jobs in the new administration. Today, Style.com published... a chart of famous fashion figures ideally suited to top jobs in the new administration. It's very nice to see that both The Daily and Style.com agree that Donna Karan should be Secretary of Health of Human Resources. She really would be a perfect fit. (We've always thought mandatory Kabbalah classes in public schools is just what this country needs right now.) The idea of Donatella Versace as Secretary of Defense (The Daily), or Karl Lagerfeld as Secretary of Transportation (Style.com)? Fortunately, both are foreign citizens, so you don't have to worry about those scenarios just yet.
Anna Wintour has given filmmaker R.J. Cutler an extraordinary gift: Not only did she allow his cameras into the Vogue offices and her family, the editor also revealed her (remaining) human side.
• Valentino didn't lose money in a giant Ponzi scheme. He did, however, just lose $39 million to the government of Italy. [NYM]
• Neiman Marcus is laying off 375 staffers. [WWD]
• That giant Forever 21 in Times Square? It's actually going to be a Century 21. [Reuters]
• Disney and Sephora have lots in common. [NYT]
• Liz Claiborne is expected to report big losses for the fourth quarter. Isaac to the rescue! [WSJ]
• Alas, no bar is planned for Topshop. [Racked]
• Annie Leibovitz was spotted at the Hay-Adams in DC yesterday, suggesting Michelle Obama could be on the cover of March's Vogue. [Politico, via]
It's a question we've pondered for ages: Who's the best competitive figure skater-turned-famous fashion designer, Vera Wang or Richie Rich? We may finally have an answer! Wang will be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame on January 23rd, although Richie can take some comfort in knowing the coveted honor is for Wang's "contribution to costume design," not because she, like, had better technique or anything. [WWD]
