Ty, Inc. likely hoped controversy would stoke sales of its Sasha and Malia dolls, preposterously claimed unrelated to the president's daughters. But the company overshot: you do not cross the First Lady.
• Kanye West's very colorful line of Louis Vuitton sneakers made its grand debut in Paris yesterday. [WWD, SW]
• Jason Wu talks about Tuesday night's inauguration ball excitement and what he was eating (a pepperoni and mushroom pizza from Domino's) just before Michelle appeared on stage. [NYT]
• Taiwan is understandably proud of their hometown hero. [WWD]
• Barneys could fetch $300-400 million if it sells, a far cry from the $942 million Istithmar paid for the retailer in 2007. [NYT]
• Been waiting to see Bruno hit the big screen? Wait a little longer. [FWD]
• Posh sucks her thumb on the February cover of Russian Vogue. [VogueUK]
• Sao Paulo Fashion Week ended today; leave it to the Brazilians to power through the grim times with smiles on their faces. [AFP]
Be sure to watch the video to the very end to enjoy what will undoubtedly become an instant classic.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner mixed well with the gay former mayor of New Jersey, while a Variety movie reviewer had a much harder time stomaching interaction with the real-life "Dude" from The Big Lebowski.
• 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]
File this under things you didn't wake up this morning needing to know. Julie Imperiali, Nicolas Sarkozy's personal trainer, says she was hired by Carla Bruni last year to help the French president shed weight and improve his sexual stamina. The workout plan focuses "on the perinea muscles at the bottom of the pelvis," a regimen that addresses "problems of premature ejaculation." Glad to hear Sarkozy is getting the therapy needed to keep Carla a very happy first lady. And at least Michelle now knows who to contact if Barack's new job starts interferring with his performance in the White House's master bedroom. [NYP]
The inaugural celebrations came in waves last night — Commander-in-Chief's Ball, Youth Ball, Neighborhood Ball, Southern States Ball, Western States, and on — but the new president stayed in high spirits.
Michelle Obama's hairstylist, Johnny Wright, has landed a deal to star in a reality show. The more interesting news? How his previous experience working with the First Lady is described. Wright handled Michelle's hair for the Democratic National Convention, but he was also responsible for styling her coif "for her upcoming appearance on the cover of Vogue magazine." Guess that confirms that! [Reuters]
• 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]
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.
• 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]
Have you been paying close attention to the people who have been named to key positions in Barack Obama's incoming administration? Here's one you might have missed: The man who Barack and Michelle tapped to give the White House a makeover. Meet Michael Smith, Newport Beach native and protégé of John Saladino, who describes his sensibility as "old-world European" meets "bright, light California." He also seems to be fond of bipartisanship. Previous clients include Steven Spielberg and Rupert Murdoch. [Domino]
• Can Michelle Obama single-handedly save America's fashion industry? Here's hoping! [NYT]
• Following the horrific holiday season, Macy's says it plans to close 11 stores in nine states. [AP]
• Communist chic is in. And just in time for the collapse of the capitalist system, too! [NYT]
• William Rast, the brand backed by Justin Timberlake, will make its Bryant Park debut next month. JT will not be performing, though. [WWD]
• Peter Som and backer Creative Design Studios have parted ways. Because of the split (and the economy), a Som show during Fashion Week is not in the cards. [WWD]
• Eight designers you need to know in 2009. [Refinery29]
• Obedient Sons & Daughters is closing its doors. [Style.com]
• New York magazine's fashion-centric biannual spinoff title, New York Look, has been discontinued. [WWD]
Good luck, Michelle Obama. It's not enough to be reminiscent of Jackie Kennedy; now you have to sell clothes like her, except in a huge recession.
So in light of the inevitable squeeze on cosmetic enhancement spending, how's everyone's favorite diminutive derm Patricia Wexler doing? Just fine, she tells Wowowow: Not only are her patients still coming in for treatments, they "feel it is critical to keep up appearances right now," although some are cheeky enough to ask for discounts, which, just so you know, will certainly not be granted. But, more importantly, Pat is thrilled about Obama's new presidency for the obvious reason: Democrats have more tasteful surgery!
