Looks like Kim Kardashian is making a few corporate enemies on her continuing rise to the top! The Sephora execs are pulling her scent from the shelves and cancelling her upcoming in-store appearances:
With the immense amount of success of both of her perfume’s, Kim and Lighthouse Beauty (her fragrance manufacturer) are looking to expand into retailers like Macy’s and Target. The fragrances are currently carried exclusively in Sephora, but with the success of the scents wouldn’t the next, smart step be to expand? Not if you ask Sephora! Apparently, Kim K. and Lighthouse planned to expand without offering Sephora a first right of refusal.
Question is, is Kim Kardashian wrong for expanding into larger markets? (Sephora is by no means as big, or bigger than Macy’s and Target!) or is Sephora wrong for taking this decision so personal and reacting in a way that affects business for both parties? Speak on it…
Tags: Kim Kardashian, Lighthouse Beauty, Sephora
Posted by Tara Decoda on Aug 20, 2010 in
Celebs,
Designer,
High-End,
Seriously? That's Strange Back when I was pursuing a career as a celebrity stylist, I found out one of fashion’s dirty little secrets: brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton (especially them) did not want certain celebs wearing their items! As a matter of fact, they would even demand and strong arms celebs to not wear their pieces! This case was made loud and clear back when T.I. had a hard time releasing his “Swing Ya’ Rag” video featuring Swizz Beatz, as Louis Vuitton and Gucci were adamant about NOT having their scarves swangin’ in “some rap video.” And that video never did get released. It looks like Snooki has come under the same wrath with Gucci:
Jersey Shore’s resident dwarf has been spotted on several occasions rocking her basic Gucci bag, with the Gucci monogram all over it. While most brands would try their hardest to keep the closet of a star of the biggest reality show out stacked, Gucci ain’t having it! They would rather Snooki NOT rock anything Gucci and they will do anything to make sure she doesn’t! Creative director of Barney’s, Simon Doonan, claims that no brand wants to co-brand with Snooki, so they send her their competitors bags to stop her from wearing theirs. Her Coach bag was pretty much sewn onto her arm last season, but apparently Coach wanted no parts of that, and sent her a Gucci. Read more…
Tags: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Simon Doonan, Snooki
By now, I’m sure you read about Essence hiring a white woman as their new Fashion Director, and it seems like not everyone has taken the news lightly. Michaela Angela Davis, who once held that position, especially didn’t take to the news. I gave my 2 cents on Twitter, and I have decided to elaborate here. So, here I go:
After meeting Michaela Angela Davis and speaking with her on several occasions, I have found that she is not only very well accomplished, but very open, intelligent, and a very down to earth woman who appeals to us young folk as our Mom’s cool friend, who we would much rather share our problems with because she “get’s it.” And in return, I get her. So when I read about her disappointment with Essence hiring a White fashion director, a publication she once worked for in the coveted position as Fashion Editor, I was a bit puzzled. Here is what she had to say about the hiring of Ellianna Placas, a former employee of O: The Oprah Magazine and US Weekly:
“It’s with a heavy heart I’ve learned Essence Magazine has engaged a white Fashion Director. I love Essence and I love fashion. I hate this news and this feeling. It hurts, literally. The fashion industry has historically been so hostile to black people–especially women. The 1 seat reserved for black women once held by Susan Taylor, Ionia Dunn-Lee, Harriette Cole(+ me) is now-I can’t. It’s a dark day for me. How do you feel?”
Then she went on to say: Read more…
Tags: Ellianna Placas, Essence, Michaela Angela Davis
Posted by Tara Decoda on Jul 15, 2010 in
Candids,
Celebs,
Seriously? That's Strange,
Shoes Looks like all that Louboutin rockin’ have caught up with Kim Kardashian’s fast pace life. The cutie-with-the-booty was spotted leaving Serena Williams‘ Pre-ESPY Party in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night with band-aids on the back of her feet:
She camouflaged it well with nude, flesh colored band-aids, but those darling paparazzi lights wasn’t going to let this one pass! Even though her feet were worn out, she didn’t let that take away the pep in her step, and had the bandages went unnoticed, no one would even be able to tell. At least her outfit was super cute: a royal blue silk blouse, Herve Leger pencil skirt and Christian Louboutin peep-toe pumps:
But of course, as you all know, I am a gal of solutions. You can check out FootSmart.com for plenty of insole options and foot protectant’s, since taking preventive measure has never hurt anyone. You can also try DSW Shoe Warehouse, which has plenty of half and whole insoles in stock. Ones to put on just the back of your foot, for just the ball of your foot, just the heel, and the top of your twinkle toes. These options are great for the girls that are not necessarily looking for whole foot protection, because honestly, we don’t always need it. Work it out then, girl!
Tags: Christian Louboutin, Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams
Posted by Tara Decoda on Jun 23, 2010 in
Candids,
Celebs,
Seriously? That's Strange … Or anywhere else for that matter! Lady Gaga has made a name for herself wearing the craziest things known to man and animal kind, and it backfired when she took a tumble at Heathrow Airport in London town recently:
Well, then. For some reason, I feel like her heels will only get higher.
Tags: Lady Gaga
Posted by Tara Decoda on Jun 1, 2010 in
Designers,
High-End,
Seriously? That's Strange That’s what they say, but Oscar de la Renta (who happens to be one of my faves) doesn’t think so. In a statement to WWD, he claimed that Max Mara Studio has blatantly ripped off looks from his Spring 2008 collection:
(Left: Oscar de la Renta Spring 2008 runway, Right: Max Mara Studio window display)
“The prints and these styles are my clothes from two seasons ago,” He then went on to say “This particular print is not a print that I bought, I gave the Italian house the artwork… This is horrible because Max Mara, you know, they should be more responsible.”
In an effort to defend their swagger jacking tendencies, a Max Mara Fashion Group spokesman said:
“The designers of the Max Mara Studio line chose the printed fabrics in total good faith. [In the Max Mara Studio collection] the prints are applied on different materials and fashioned in styles that are very different from the models designed by Oscar de la Renta. We will, however, speak to the mill that supplied the fabric, because we’re very sorry for what happened.”
Hmmm, something isn’t sounding right here. Aside from the fact that it is very obvious Max Mara jacked the prints and silhouettes from de la Renta, they are denying it. My thing is, as a designer, as anything, you always keep tabs on the competition. And with Oscar being one of the most original and coveted men in fashion (did you know he is one of the only designers who still sketches his own clothes?) wouldn’t you make sure you keep up with him? No? Okay…
Images via WWD
Tags: Max Mara Studio, Oscar de la Renta
Be careful not to twist your tongue on that one! Apparently, two Louis Vuitton ad’s have been banned in the UK by the ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) for “misleading the customer:”
The ad, which shows a woman stitching the handle of a Louis Vuitton bag, and the bag laid out on the table beside her supplies waiting to be completed, was found to be foogazy by ASA officials. Under the ad, had the text:
“The seamstress with linen thread and beeswax. A needle, linen thread, beeswax and infinite patience protect each over-stitch from humidity and the passage of time. One could say that a Louis Vuitton bag is a collection of details. But with so much attention lavished on every one, should we only call them details?”
The point the ASA made was that Louis Vuitton is a mass produced brand, and their bags, wallets, luggage, etc. are made by machines, not by people. And since the above ad, along with another ad of a woman making a wallet, doesn’t correctly reflect the making of a LV bag, they have been banned.
I don’t know who should get the side eye here; the ASA for “over reacting”, or Louis Vuitton for frontin’? And is it even that serious to ban the ad’s, because I can not count on one hand (or two for that matter!) how many misleading ad’s I see regularly! From photoshopping, to retouching, to false depictions of flexibility, to actors and singers pretending to drink milk (got milk, anybody?) The list goes on! I say, give me a freakin’ break with this! So what Louis lied, Vogue does it every month! I don’t see them trying to put British Vogue out of print… #IaintSayinButImSayin
Tags: Advertising Standards Agency, Hashtag, Louis Vuitton
Posted by Tara Decoda on May 25, 2010 in
Celebs,
Men Style,
Seriously? That's Strange
Apparently, it doesn’t matter if men with six-packs endorse a product, because consumers will buy it anyway. A new survey conducted by Queensland University, that more than 600 students in their late teens participated in, views ads for cologne, underwear, jeans, etc. found ads with normal body types just as effective as the ones with the six-packs. The findings suggest that cologne or denim brands, for example, can launch successful ad campaigns with more common male body types. The guys surveyed liked the ads with no models in them the best (go figure).
Some participants in the University of Queensland study ”may have attributed the models’ muscularity to vanity or homosexuality, characteristics which they may have found unpleasant or discomforting”, Ms Diedrichs wrote in the journal Body Image.
”The average-size male models [may have seemed] less concerned with their appearance.”
Read more…
Tags: Kanye West, Queensland University, Reggie Bush
Posted by Tara Decoda on May 24, 2010 in
Candids,
Celebs,
Designers,
Seriously? That's Strange Just when we went and denounced Balmain’s unnecessarily expensive, and insanely overpriced Spring 2010 collection, Kim Kardashian went and rocked their T-shirt and denim jacket, adding up to over $5,000:
While attending the Lakers vs. Suns game recently, she was spotted in their faded denim jacket ($4,435) and their slashed army shirt ($1,625)
Now we all know Kim K has crazy paper from her business dealings, appearances, product endorsements, and reality show, and she proved just how paid she was when she recently copped a $4.5 million mansion, but C’mon Son! Or… maybe Balmain paid her to wear it well and prove it’s worth? #kanyeshrug
Tags: Balmain, Hashtag, Kim Kardashian
Posted by Tara Decoda on Apr 26, 2010 in
Beauty News,
Celebs,
Seriously? That's Strange I mean, I just don’t understand what’s going on here. I understand the need to establish your brand, and venture into ventures outside of your “Amazin’” music, but at some point you have to realize…
… It ain’t for everybody. Rapper Trina has decided to venture into the profitable world of beauty. Her new cosmetics line is called “Be Amazing Inspired by Trina” and will include eyelashes and lipglosses. The Lipgloss “Amazin’” will be released in May, and will coincide with the release of her album, while the lashes will hit stores in the Summer time. The line will be personalized by Trina herself. Here is a sneak peak of what the glosses will look like: Read more…
Tags: Trina
