OH HEIDI!

Heidi Klum wows crowd at Victoria's Secret show

NEW YORK — Heidi Klum and her post-baby body led the parade at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, which returned to New York with some fresh faces after four years on the road.
The lingerie retailer inducted five more women into its "Angel" ranks — a designation reserved for top models — in front of a packed house Thursday night at the Lexington Avenue Armory. They are Emanuela de Paula, Chanel Iman, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lindsay Ellingson and Candice Swanepoel.
But Klum, who gave birth to a daughter five weeks ago, was the audience favorite in her purple corset covered with a half gown with poufs of tulle. She emerged from the huge, castlelike set to applause.
Musical guest The Black Eyed Peas — especially Fergie, its only female member, who wore a black, jeweled bodysuit — was another crowd-pleaser. She came out later in a green corset gown.
Of course, fashion really is secondary here. Victoria's Secret always puts on an elaborate production (this time with a choir, acrobatic dancers and a giant polka-dot dog balloon) and fuels hype about its models. An online model search started earlier this month and is now down to two contestants, one of whom will be chosen by the public to appear in the televised version of the fashion show that CBS will air Dec. 1.
"I could watch this online, but it's a fun scene," said Russell Simmons from his front row seat. "This show is always fun and a great production."
"It's always a spectacular," agreed costume designer Patricia Field. "Victoria's Secret does that extra thing I like."
Klum, who normally wears the most elaborate outfits, only appeared once so it was former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girl Marissa Miller who had the honor of wearing a $3 million, diamond-encrusted bra.
Splashy jewels, it seemed, were one of the themes of the show with many models dripping in diamonds, crystals and other bling — while others wore faux fur stoles over their bras and panties. Thigh-high boots were the other must-have accessory.
Outfits fell into one of four themes: Star Trooper with breast plates and body armor; Pink Planet, which had a hippie vibe; the ethereal Enchanted Forest; and Romantic Journey that featured a lot of lace.
Compared to previous years, the overall collection didn't seem as skimpy, although Miranda Kerr wore an itsy-bitsy black thong get-up that might have to be edited out of the TV show.

(Source: Associated Press)

A LIFETIME OF TUTUS: BETSEY JOHNSON

New York – A mélange of statuary, portraiture, pumpkins, a mountain of cheese, mothers dressed in tutus and daughters dressed in tulle - the gossip girls of yesterday and today - converged at an eclectic black tie function for Betsey Johnson at the National Arts Club on Tuesday night, Oct. 13.
Johnson was given the Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement by the National Arts Club, which also unveiled a painted portrait of the designer that will hang in the company of other portraits like Joyce Carol Oates and Carolina Herrera.
"I think she's a true American original, and you can't say that of too many people," said Marylou Luther, editor of the International Fashion Syndicate. "To me, she's the first American designer to have fun with fashion, and she made it enjoyable."
Though the club, founded in 1898 by New York Times literary and art critic Charles de Kay, has an official dress code prohibiting things like capri pants and spandex, that didn't stop Johnson from breaking all the rules by wearing one of her trademark whimsical ensembles - shiny blue capri stretch pants, a short pink tutu, a pale blue t-shirt printed with a Warhol Marilyn Monroe image and her long bleach blonde bob. She bounded into the squished room of dinner tables and formal place settings with a giggle, pausing to preen and curtsy for photographers.
Johnson was at the forefront of sixties youthquake fashion, opening her first store, Betsey Bunki Nini, in New York in 1969. "She was the very first American designer to have her own store," said Luther.
Johnson got her start in fashion as a guest editor at Mademoiselle, where Luther first met her. When Johnson began designing for Paraphernalia in the sixties, she was the ultimate downtown 'it' girl: Married to John Cale of The Velvet Underground, she ran with the Andy Warhol crowd and used Edie Sedgwick as her model. She was the poster child for her brand as an active participant in the rock and roll party lifestyle that her clothes were synonymous with.
"The most interesting decade in fashion for change - really big change - was the sixties," said Luther. "It was the first time mothers started dressing like their daughters. Betsey was really at the forefront of that change."
To showcase Johnson's 40 years in fashion, a mini display was set up in the National Arts Club featuring a representative dress from the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and 2000's. Though it ranges from an innocent-looking red velvet and white collar number from the '60s to a punky sequined pink leopard print dress from the most recent decade, one thing all her clothes have in common is the emphasis on short and sassy.
"You might think of her as prom dresses and ruffles," said Luther, "but there was always kind of a naughty overtone that made her even more interesting."
Longtime business partner Chantal Bacon was also on hand to speak about working with Johnson, and Johnson's daughter and collaborator Lulu also came to cheer her mother on. But the biggest homage to Johnson's success was the abundance of women at the dinner dutifully outfitted in vintage Betsey Johnson.
Luther recalled the epic opening of her boutique on Melrose in Los Angeles, one of the first designers to set up shop there.
"I could not believe her fans!" said Luther. "They were around several blocks, waiting to get in to the store, and I thought, this is really amazing! I've been to the openings for stores like Sonia Rykiel, Claude Montana and even Yves Saint Laurent when he came to Los Angeles, and no one attracted as many people. I think her fans are possibly the most loyal in the world!"

HAUTE DOG

It's a doggie, dog world. Haven't we always heard that? Well guess what? It most certainly now is a doggie, yet fashionable world we live in.

Statement jewelry is one of the biggest trends in '09! Diamond Dog New York combines two of my best friend's- DIAMONDS and DOGS! Designer and CEO, Suzanne Mates was inspired by the love of her life "Ellie", her dachshund, and her other passion- FASHION! Like the posh pooches that catwalk on 5th avenue, any true fashionista will be struttin' in style with a diamond doggie charm necklace in white gold.

DDNY's couture collection is a must have for any jewelry connoisseur or dog lover. The collection features paws-itively perfect charms, rings, earrings, and chains set in 18 kt white gold and matte yellow gold. Encrusted with micro-pave, white, brown, and black diamonds, hand-cut black Onyx and Sparkling Pink, Blue, and Yellow Sapphires, make DDNY a fine jewelry line that is recognized by the elite socialites of New York and Los Angeles.

My favorite pieces:

1. “THE ELLIE”
18k matte yellow gold, pave’ white
diamonds & hand-cut black onyx.
Shown on 18k DDNY solid cable chain.

2. DOG & X-BONES RING
18k matte yellow gold, pave’ white
diamonds, hand-cut black onyx & pink sapphire tongue.

3. PAW CUFF LINKS COLLECTION

18k matte yellow gold, pave’ white diamonds, & paw of hand-cut black onyx.

***To get this gorgeous jewelry on your celebrity clients or on your sexy self, visit the website- http://www.diamonddognewyork.com/!