Erin Fetherson Spring 2008 — “An Idea of Eccentric Glamor”:

Rock Band Cheap Trick Models for John Varvatos:

“We’re not Has-Beens, we’re Icons!”

Isabella Rossellini Stumps for Made In Italy Campaign:
“Isabella Rossellini stars in a new ad campaign called Made in Italy, an outreach to Americans to teach them about the quality and craftsmanship of Italian fashion beyond the big names of Prada, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana . . . ‘Italian fashion is about luxury, comfort and clean lines,’ says the model-actress. ‘It’s what America was longing for. French fashion is fanciful but not comfortable.’”

Designers Ponder the Needs of Consumers During Economic Turbulence:
“Designers are keenly aware that the fledgling economy probably will affect the fall season. Nanette Lepore says she’s concentrating on figure-flattering silhouettes. ‘I have to make things that women are going to want to wear a lot, what women are going to spend their money on, something, they’ll get a lot of use out of – and that is not a tenty thing they’ll wear three times.’”

A Hotel Room So Sweet You Can Eat It:
“Chocoholics beware! The Bryant Park Hotel in New York has a new room (the 2008 Godiva Decadence Suite) that is made entirely of chocolate . . . The mantle on the fireplace is made of chocolate, the table is made of chocolate . . . The sweet suite is a part of Godiva’s special ‘Ultimate Chocolate Fantasy’ contest for Valentine’s day.”

Paris Hilton to Unveil New Footwear Line at Macy’s:
“She will personally unveil her new line of Footwear on February 8, 2008 at the South Coast Plaza Macy’s from 3pm to 6pm . . . all the shoes will have a signature pink sole – light pink for spring and summer; hot pink for fall and winter . . . Each box is composed of recycled materials and has convenient handles built right in, thereby eliminating the need for shopping bags and reducing waste.”

Banana Republic Poised to Conquer London:
“Banana Republic’s greatest strength is the high quality of its fabrics, making the clothes look far more expensive than they are and, in one or two cases, like specific more expensive clothes: the one shoulder, purple silk evening dress smacked of similar gowns by the high fashion French brand Lanvin, while the orange wallets with thick black stitching with a giant gold buckle bore distinct similarities to those by Chloé.”

Madonna/Gucci Fundraiser Still in Question:
“If the charity Madonna is pushing Gucci to raise money for next week is actually registered anywhere in the United States, it’s still not showing up on any official Web sites . . . The event — called “A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF” — is being held on the lawn of the United Nations, although the real merchandise push will be to announce the opening of Gucci’s new flagship store on Fifth Avenue.”

Introducing Karl Lagerfeld, The Teddy Bear Version:
“When I think of Karl Lagerfeld the words ‘fuzzy’ and ‘wuzzy’ don’t exactly spring to mind. And yet that’s what the toy makers at Steiff, the famous German bear factory, are about to turn Karl into… a stuffed animal! The iconic designer will be immortalised in teddy form, complete with dark glasses, a dark suit, high collar and logo belt buckle. That won’t scare the kiddies much!”

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Seize Fake Bags/Designer Goods:
“The RCMP have seized more than $1 million in counterfeit goods, including false Gucci and Chanel handbags, bogus flatirons for hair, and iPods . . . In addition to 3,500 bogus Farouk flatirons, police recovered 1,000 counterfeit flatirons under the brand name GHD, a British company that does not sell irons in Canada. They also seized the counterfeit Chanel and Gucci handbags and the iPods.”