The Vogue Asia Standard of Beauty: White Blonde Girls

Vogue India features "poor" people on the street to model such as items as

a Louis Vuitton baby bib and has an old man holding a Burbery umbrella.

Vogue India has just come out this past year and the magazine is still

making editorial judgements as to how one should market luxury goods in

a country with a wide socioeconomic divide. Vogue China launched,in 2005,

has not had the same problems because most of the poor live in more rural

areas. Both issues have had a public relations problems with their debut

covers because they have Australian model,Gemma Ward, in the center of both

issues. The objection is that even though both magazines have Indian and

Chinese models, the attention is given to the Caucasian model and not the more

ethnic, less Anglo look. The Indians are more sensitive to this, having been

under British colonial rule and the feeling lighter skinned Indians are

considered more beautiful. Vogue appears to have pictured Western beauty

standards in a different cultural market.

Another War in Israel?

Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Israeli model,Bar Raefeli, is taking American

culture on the road. She is on a Bravo TV show called American Ironic Iconic

and is pictured traveling across the states with a male co-host. Bar Raefeli

says growing up in Israel she was exposed to American trends. This is Raefeli's

peaceful job, but controversy broke out when Israel appointed her to be

its representative at an upcoming tourism event in London. Some stated Raefeli

is not a good spokesperson because she took off for America in order to avoid

serving in the Israeli army. Oy Vey.

Risque Fashion Power

No one blinked at the Marc Jacobs fashion show when a model wore a sheer

black top with a revealig nipple ring, the Chris Benz show had see-through

camisoles, and at Derek Lam's a girl's breasts were visible. Calvin Klein,

the all "American" designer showed a transparent raincoat with only a

thong underneath. In the 2008 political year, the fashion world is making

a political statement. As a society we are at war about wich way to go.

We have become desensitized to images of sex , so some designers even went

for the bondage look. Deigner's intention to provoke social reaction, like

that of four decades ago, might have done better putting lipstick on a

pig. Palin's lipstick Hillary's pants, and Cindy McCain's $300,000

outfit are up for your vote with the rest of the collections.

Gossip Girl Grins

The Cw's Gossip Girl Taylor Mumson has now become a signed on model.

Mumson contracted a deal with IMG model management. All of the celebrity

magazines feature her along with Blake Lively, Leighton Meister, and

the rest of the cast. The gossip has now spread to the fashion magazines,

another actress turns to modeling.

Bond number 9 perfume gets artistic

Bond number 9 NY perfume is using Andy Warhol as a new design in their

collection. They honor the painter by putting iconic Warhol art

on a black bottle. The company usually comes up with names based

on New York districts, but now they are trying the design world.

Ellen Dances for Cover Girl

Ellen Degeneres is signing a contract with Cover Girl and it is considered

a different marketing approach from their traditional campaigns. In the

past, models like Christie Brinkley represented C.G. for over 20 years.

Ellen represents a new trend to use a popular role model instead of a

traditional role model. They have used Queen Latifah and some latina/more

ethnic looks. Diane Keaton and Andie MacDowell are "older" models selling

cream and hair dye. Even Christie Brinkley was brought back in her older

age.

Make the Mark

A new makeup product has been developed which lets women connect

their lip gloss to their mascara, and then their eye pencil etc...

This is a convenient way to organize your makeup bag. The ads feature

products linked together and the tagline says meet your mark. More

information is at meetmark.com

Jane the publicity shy in the Lauder family

Jane Lauder, one of Estee Lauder's grandaughters and daughter Ronald Lauder is

leaving her position as marketing leader of he Prescriptive line.

She is going to try her hands at Kohl's Department Store with cosmetic

lines named Flirt and American Beauty. Estee Lauder has acquired many companies,

but this is a new type of venture for their company and they want the new market.

L'oreal owns Maybelline and Kiehls and Proctor and Gamble has

the market on Cover Girl and Oil of Olay. Jane Lauder as opposed to her sister,

Aerin Lauder Zinterhoff, is frequently seen at events which are pictured in

fashion magazines. She also is head of creative marketing at Estee Lauder. Jane

Lauder got married fairly recently in Palm Beach, Florida to business leader

Kevin Warsh, a Harvard Law School graduate who has worked on governmental economic

policy. Jane did not want to be photographed or even show off her wedding dress.

The Lauder family says; "We are not a family business, but a famly in business.

Jane Lauder Warsh is one of the more quiet family members.

Ralph Lauren Sees Spots

Ralph Lauren's fall collection has brought leopards to the forefront.

They have mixed black with leopard bags, belts, shoes, hats, and tops.

It is the look that hits one on the spot.

Seduced by Calvin

Calvin Klein has designed a new bra collection, Seductive Comfort, a

luxurious and modern style. The bra is said to combine feminity and

and fashion with impeccable function. Seductive Comfort is designed

for the comfort of a curvaceous woman. For more information and sizes,

visit cku.com. The ads show Eva Mendes wearing a pretty brown lace

trim.

Hilton Hotel's Next Gen Flops

Hotel heiress Nicky Hilton and Robert Falor planned "Nicky O. Hotels", but

despite the famous name the business is not getting off to a good start. Mr.

Falor, a real estate developer wanted to have more than a $1 billion worth

of property around Miami and Chicago. He had newspapers calling him the "condo-

hotel king", but is today almost bankrupt. Two hotels in the trendy South Beach

area were to be marketed under Nicky Hilton's name. Robert Falor pretended

to own property that was not his, mismanaged finances, and used business funds

for personal luxury cars and a jet. Rande Gerber, husband of Cindy Crawford,

was going to work with Maxim magazine to open one of his bars in Mr. Falor's

Royal Palm Hotel in Miami, but this will not occur. The main reason the hotels

failed is because they were priced wrong. Another blunder happenned between

Robert Falor and Nicky Hilton where he sued her for not promoting the hotels

as promised. She was going to use David Letterman, People Magazine, and

designer Roberto Cavalli to promote the hotels and this did not occur. Mr.

Falor and Ms. Hilton settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. It looks

like Nicky Hilton will leave the hotel legacy to the "older" generation.

Marc Bouwer Bows of Fashion Week

Marc Bouwer wil not be showing his collection at NYC's fashion week.

He is going to show his cloths online because it wil reach a wide

audience and the internet is a great way to see the show. A designer

can spend anywhere from 200,000 to $1 millon to be a part of Fashion

Week. Foreign brands such as Gucci and Hermes are doing well because

of the euro's value, but retailers, designers, and consumers are cutting

back. Retail sales acoording to the American Asociation of Apparel and

Footwear, were up in 2007. In 2007, the fashion industry made $350 billion

in sales. This year the shopping sprees are slowing down.

Worth the Weight in Gold?

Waif model, Kate Moss, has been made into a gold statue weighing 110 pounds.

This is the creation of British sculptor, Marc Quinn, and initially the

piece was going to be auctioned at $2.8 million. Plans have changed and the

artwork entitled, Siren, will be diplayed at the British Museum. He has

done another white painted bronze of Moss named Sphinx. The display will

demonstrate Quinn's unique take on Moss, modeling, and pop culture.

Dara Torres Swimwear Model

Olympic swimmer Dara Torres modeled at Fashion Week for Charles

Nolan's spring collection at the designer's Chelsea studio. She

just won three silver medals in Beijing and is a twelve time

Olympic medalist. She made her catwalk debut wearing a blue and

white stripped tank top and navy swim shorts, while carrying

her two yer old daughter, Tessa. She seems to think it is harder

to compete against 16 year old athletes than modeling. She is an

inspirational 41 year old who does not sin easily.

Fashion Says to Think Pink

Fashion desingers are using the pink ribbon on clothing and accesories

to draw interest for October's breast cancer awarenes month. AK Anne

Klein has come out with a limited-edition bracelet to support The

Breast Cancer Research foundation, an organization which helps to

prevent and find a cure for this illness. She joins Ralph Lauren's

Pink Pony breast cancer drive and Evelyn Lauder, founder of the

Susan G. Komen Foundation, in bringing fashion retailers and the

medical world together. She designed a Tory Tote ($195). It's a hot pink

bag with a metallic silver trim. All online sales of this bag go to

benefit the Light One Little Candle Foundation. Rebecca Minkoff joined

with Bag Trends to have a Kiss and Make-Up Clutch($115); profits also go

to the Komen Foundation. Juicy Couture has a "Key to the Cure T-Shirt

($35) and proceeds go to the Entertainment Industry Foundation Women's

Cancer Research Fund . Juicy Couture has a Breast Cancer Heart Charm

($38). Fashion has made a strong RX with breast cancer support.