Interbike Fashion Show 'Ready to Ride'

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (BRAIN)—Interbike\'s third installment of its fashion show, newly named “Ready to Ride,” will showcase a broader spectrum of cycling fashion and have two presentations during Interbike 2010, held at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, September 22 – 24, 2010.

“The casual cycling apparel category has continued to grow along with the growth in transportation, urban and utility cycling,\" said Rich Kelly, Interbike marketing manager. \"With many influences and trends coming from outside of the mainstream bike industry, the fashion show aims to showcase the latest styles, brands and apparel to the industry. The success of our fashion show has drawn fashion designers and apparel and bike companies to Interbike whose influence reaches beyond bike shops, and we want this year’s fashion show to convey that.”

Ready-to-Ride will feature stylish clothing, bikes and accessories for a broad audience of cyclists that suit high-fashion to recreation styles and urban to family needs. Interbike is once again partnering with Momentum Magazine to curate the selections for the show.

Due to popular demand, there will be two installments of Ready to Ride on Wednesday, September 22 and Thursday, September 23 at 3:30 p.m. on the main show floor in the Urban Lounge.

Those designers and brands interested contributing their products to Ready-to-Ride should complete the product submission form at www.interbike.com/submitfashion2010 and send it with a lo-res photo to Mia Kohout at mia@momentumplanet.com by September 3, 2010.

Department stores ramp up for fall with trendier, fast fashion' choices

When Georgia Dixon's mom suggested they go to Macy's for school clothes, the 16-year-old didn't see the point.

"Usually when I think of Macy's, I think of where my mother goes to shop," said Georgia, whose family lives part-time in Coconut Grove, Fla. "I would never go to shop here."

But Georgia and her mom, Anna Dixon, were amazed Wednesday when they stumbled on the new Material Girl collection - designed by Madonna and her daughter Lourdes - at Macy's.

For Macy's it's a way to attract new customers like Georgia Dixon and take customers from specialty stores.

It's also part of a broader move by Macy's, JCPenney and other department store chains to jumpstart sluggish apparel sales by countering the stereotype of the conservative department store.

"The consumer is telling us that she is interested in staying on top of the latest fashion trends," said Martine Reardon, executive vice president of marketing for Macy's. "She wants more newness on a more frequent basis than she has seen in the past."

These "fast-fashion" brands hope to attract new customers with a rapidly rotating inventory that changes in a matter of weeks, unlike months for typical department store apparel. It's a strategy that has been the mainstay of specialty stores like H&M, Forever 21 and Zara.

JCPenney is borrowing a page from that model more closely by teaming up with the Spanish specialty retailer Mango, already a worldwide fast-fashion player, to launch an exclusive contemporary line MNG by Mango.

"Department stores need to bring in names that draw younger consumers," said Cynthia Cohen of Strategic Mindshare, a national retail consultant based in Miami. "Fast fashion is a reason to buy versus shopping in your closet."

Georgia and Anna Dixon found plenty of reasons to buy Wednesday afternoon at Macy's in Dadeland, Fla., loading up on a dozen or more outfits. It was a question of deciding what NOT to buy.

The Material Girl line incorporates the sense of eclectic style that has always been the pop singer's trademark.

It's perfect for Georgia because she can mix and match her own style with key pieces like a black tulle mini-skirt, a rose printed tank dress and red plaid tuxedo jacket. She found it every bit as hip as her favorite shopping haunts: Forever 21 and Topshop in England, where she goes to school.

Mom couldn't get over the prices, between $12 and $40 for most pieces. She also liked the fact that the outfits were designed to fit teenage girls and not look like they were dressing up in something way too old for them.

"These are fabulous," Anna Dixon said. "They are the right size for the girls that want to wear these clothes. You can make outfits and you can afford it."

In addition to this month's launch of Material Girl, Macy's has focused on designing its own fast-fashion brands with celebrity endorsements from Kimora Lee Simmons and Jessica Simpson. The core customer is between 16 and 22, although the lines have been attracting interest from women up to 40 and beyond.

Music and Fashion: Looking for Viral Synergy

Dan Black is staring down the barrel of the camera wearing thick black eye makeup and a skinny, pale plum suit, while singing along to a recording of his song "Yours." Other cameramen circle, while a manager, a publicist, the hair-and-makeup guy and a stylist watch carefully. As he reaches the chorus — "I don't wanna be yours no more" — he begins to artfully remove the jacket. Suddenly everything stops.
The publicist, Abe Gurko, who just called a halt to the proceedings, wants to make sure everyone knows that the last shot of the video can't be of the singer in the T-shirt. "The T-shirt's styled," he says, meaning it was provided by this shoot's stylist. "It's not one of the designer's."
Such forethought is key in a shoot like this, which is not a commercial nor an artwork nor a fashion shoot nor a music video, but a hybrid of all four — an exercise in content creation that is designed to summon up that most elusive of things: a digital video that will go viral.
(See YouTube's 50 best videos.)
Black, a taller, skinnier, more refined Billy Joe Armstrong look-alike, is remaking a video for one of his songs while wearing clothes made by Paul LaFontaine, who was head designer at such places as BCBG and Claiborne. HMX, one the biggest menswear companies in the U.S., is launching LaFontaine's eponymous line as part of a new test division; his first collection, which will be out this fall, is also backed by SKNL, an Indian textile and clothing company.
This video is a way of promoting both the crooner and the clothier. As fashion and popular-music newcomers struggle to find a way to break through to an audience in an increasingly fragmented media market, they are finding that together they are more than the sum of their parts, especially on the Internet. The two disciplines have had a symbiotic relationship for decades — Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier helped define each other, as did Vivienne Westwood and Johnny Rotten. As recently as this spring, Burberry used young British rocker George Craig in a fashion shoot and played his song over the accompanying behind-the-scenes video. But the union is not usually commercially consummated when brands are this young. Both Black and LaFontaine are babies — even embryonic — in the brand world.

Miss Universe 2010 Fashion show: Dar Be Dar Fashion Show is sexy bikinis and heels

August 23, 2010 -- Miss Universe 2010 was crowned tonight and Miss Mexico 2010, Jimena Navarrete, took home the flowers, crown and the title. However, the entire week had the 83 ladies at the competition in Las Vegas at different events. One such event was Dar Be Dar Fashion Show.

This was a runway for the fashion and the Miss Universe contestants wore pieces that fit their bodies perfectly. From the bikini's (which appears to be worn by almost all the contestants) to the cameras, everyone seemed to be enjoying the show.

All of the pieces worn by Miss Universe contestants were absolutely stunning. Don't take my word for it! Watch the video below and Congrats to the new Miss Universe 2010!

Strikeforce's Miesha Tate: 135-pound division has 'hundreds of girls'

The four women fighting this week in Strikeforce's tournament are just the tip of the iceberg in the 135-pound division, as far as Miesha Tate is concerned.

"I think we have at least 200 solid fighters," says Tate, No. 10 among 135-pounders in the Unified Women's MMA Rankings. "That may not be a lot, but it's definitely enough to have a really solid, competitive division, especially as more of them are coming."

Tate has a chance to keep herself ahead of the wave for the moment. She's part of a one-night tournament scheduled Friday for Strikeforce Challengers (11 p.m. ET, Showtime) in Phoenix, with the winner guaranteed a shot at the 135-pound title.

Joining Tate will be No. 6 Hitomi Akano, Finnish fighter Maiju Kujala and No. 2-ranked 125-pounder Carina Damm, who is moving up in weight for the event.

Fighting Stances spoke to Tate last week about the tournament and women's fighting in general. Excerpts from the conversation:

Q: What did you think when you first heard that Strikeforce was doing a tournament?

Tate: I was like, "Are those still legal?" That was my first reaction, because I know a lot of states have outlawed them, and they're like, "It is (legal) in Arizona." And I was like, "OK, well, cool. Can I be in it?"

I told them all along, if they had planned on doing something like that, I definitely wanted to be a part of it.

Carina Damm hasn't fought in the U.S. since she tested positive for steroids in 2008. What was your reaction when you heard she was included?

I really didn't see it coming at all. I was like, "Really? Carina Damm? Doesn't she fight at 125?" I guess she's made the jump to 135. As long as she tests clean this time, I'm OK with it.

How familiar are you with Maiju Kujala?

I watched a couple of her fights. She seems really strong, a very strong girl. She seems to like to punch into the clinch and try (for a) takedown, but she doesn't have very good positioning on the ground. Her striking seems to be (used) just to try get it to the ground.

Cover Girls in Their 40s! Vogue, Elle Put Age (Read: Newstand) Before Beauty

Doree Shafrir writes for The Hollywood Reporter that three of the most prominent fashion magazines have selected women in their 40s to appear on their September covers. This will help them sell at the grocery store and the airport! Vogue has Halle Berry, 43; Harper's Bazaar has Jennifer Aniston, 41; and Elle has Julia Roberts, 42.

Ms. Shafrir did the math. Putting 40-year-old women on the cover is not the norm.

The average age of Vogue cover models in the past year is 34.5; Harper's Bazaar, 32.5; Elle, 31.6; InStyle, 34.2; and W, 34.9. Harper's had the biggest range, putting 17-year-old Miley Cyrus on its February cover and 47-year-old Demi Moore out front in April.

Laura Brown, a features director for Bazaar, told Ms. Shafrir that most readers are in their 30s, and they look up to characters like Ms. Aniston (she used the word "aspirational"). Ms. Brown also explained that she thinks women in their 40s are more fashionable. "One of the things about getting older is you do grow into your sense of self. You don't look victim-y anymore," she said.

Anna Holmes, the founding editor of Jezebel, chimed in: "Bazaar editor wins the day for dumbest quote."

Teen girls make friends, learn fashion tips

Seven girls gathered Tuesday afternoon in an open room on the second floor of the Carolyn E. Wylie Center in Riverside. They were all teens with a similar problem -- they don't have many friends and needed some tips on interacting with other teen girls.
The group was participating in the second meeting of the Wylie Center's pilot program "Capable Girls Group," which began its first four-week session last Tuesday.
The social group for girls between 13 and 17 provides a safe, structured environment for youths with developmental delays to expand their friendship network and learn normal teen activities such as fashion, makeup, dance and situational etiquette.
The girls participating in Tuesday's activities came from Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Lisa Dryan, director of mental health for the Wylie Center, organized the program, in which her 13-year-old daughter Cecilia has been participating.
"I wanted my daughter to be in something and nothing existed," Dryan said. "That's one of the wonderful things about Wylie: I can think like a parent and create a program like this one."

A Gossip Girl’s High & Low Fashion Appeal

Taylor Momsen has been making fashion headlines for a few seasons now thanks to the Gossip Girl's controversial style. (Think: no pants.) But it seems bona fide fashion heavyweights are looking to the teen spirit for inspiration, too. Not only has Momsen found herself in the good graces of Madonna, she's also apparently piqued the fancy of John Galliano.
"Momsen was hand-picked by Madonna to be the face and muse of Material Girl, the juniors label that will launch at 200 Macy’s stores next week," says Women's Wear Daily. The line was in large part designed and inspired by Madonna's own spawn, Lourdes, but it's Momsen that will act as its spokesperson. "The role entails doing the launch of the line on Aug. 3 at Herald Square. And I’ll be tweeting and talking about the line. We did a photo shoot for the first pieces of the collection. It’s a really great line. It’s really cool," Momsen told WWD.
Also included in the partnership: being photographed and styled by the original Material Girl herself. The appearance in Madge’s ads won’t be Momsen’s only major campaign this year. Galliano has cast her as the face of his namesake fragrance, to be released this fall. She also racked up an endorsement gig with New Look in London. Maybe Momsen’s personal style choices might not have been so regrettable after all.

Girls learn fashion modeling, more in FSK Mall program

Aug. 05--Most little girls dream of walking the runway in the latest fashions. But it takes more than just putting on pretty clothes and strolling in front of a crowd.
At the Francis Scott Key Mall, 37 "tweens" ages 9 to 12 and 22 teens ages 13 to 17 are going through a week-long fashion camp. Two former models who have a consulting and training firm teach the girls how to walk, talk and dress.

Vicki Tamburo and Tracy Gargon of Dress to Impress LLC are working with the girls on healthy eating, manners, self confidence and other life skills. At 1 p.m. Saturday at Center Court at the mall, the 59 models will show the latest fashions and accessories from mall shops.
"For years we did a Style Squad once a month," said Christina Steinbrenner, group marketing director for the mall.
In that program, teens could come to the mall, be trained in modeling and see the latest fashions. "It was hard for everyone to set the time and everything once a month, so we decided on the week-long camp," she said. "We also added the younger girls, previously it was just teens."
So far, the program has brought rave reviews from parents and store owners. The girls have learned manners, confidence and respect, which has impressed the parents and shopkeepers. They get a T-shirt and a backpack for taking part.

"Vicki and Tracy get to know every girl by name," Steinbrenner said. "They pick out the clothes the girls will wear. Sometimes the girls will say they wouldn't have chosen those particular clothes, but once they put them on and practice for the show, they change their minds."

Steinbrenner said the fashion camp is so popular, dozens of girls had to be turned away. The cap is set at 60 participants. Camp participants will do another fashion show next spring and could be asked to volunteer for Halloween and Christmas events at the mall, such as the arrival of Santa Claus.
"They are our mall ambassadors," Steinbrenner said of the girls. "They are the next generation of shoppers."

Forget glamour girls, nude is in

Forget the glamour girls, this year’s hottest models have to look good nude.
Well, without masses of makeup, that is.
Last night the Perth Fashion Festival’s Runway Model of the Year, Photographic Model of the Year and Hot New Talent finalists were announced, and a beautiful bunch have been picked.
“Nude make-up is big for spring summer 2010 so girls with a face that shows a ‘nude’ look well is the thing, as opposed to glamour girls,” Perth Fashion Festival stylist Marcia Ball said of this season's look.

Ball’s favourite Perth model of the season is brunette bombshell Nicole Harrison (nominated for best photographic model), with last year’s Hot New Talent winner Millicent Lambert also a “big ticket model for WA at the moment”.

“I recently did a shoot for Vogue Brazil, it was potentially for the cover of their June edition, and they said they looked at all the models nationally to shoot it in the Pinnacles,” Ball said.

“The fashion director Giovanni Frasson said out of everyone to choose for the cover face they had as top two, Laura Gorun from Priscillas, who got the gig, and Millicent from Vivien’s.

“Millicent is obviously resonating with the internationals.”

But it was not only girls who made the finals this year, with two male models making the cut.

Anthony Harden from Scene Models said taller models were more in demand this year.

“In regards to the standard of models this year I think has definitely taken a swing towards the taller girls and boys, who are great both in front of the camera as well as on the runway,” he said.

“Height is definitely a key factor.”

The winner, voted for by fashion industry professionals, will be announced at the Perth Fashion Festival’s grand finale event, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz WA Fashion Awards on September 15.

Girls at Comic-Con Find Marketers Ready for Them

FOR years, the stereotypical Comic-Con International attendees were male comic book fans who gathered every year in San Diego to dress as their favorite superheroes and debate esoteric topics like which Green Lantern is the best ring slinger and whether Darth Vader wears socks.
But as comic book fans grew up, married and raised children, a new fan base emerged: their daughters, who have grown up in a world ruled by Supergirl, Princess Leia and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

And marketers, including publishers, toy manufacturers and Hollywood’s entertainment giants, used Comic-Con 2010 last month to promote products for girls and to build anticipation for new ones.

Mattel, for example, used Comic-Con to promote several toy lines for girls, offering an exclusive set of its Polly Pocket dolls dressed as superheroes.

Mattel also promoted a new franchise, Monster High, which features dolls, books, clothing and accessories for girls, as well as animated webisodes that highlight the high school experiences of the awkward yet fashionable teenage offspring of legendary monsters.

While Polly Pocket has been popular among preteenagers for years, Monster High is a fledgling brand for Mattel. The franchise received a robust introduction in June, wider than usual for a toy line not based on a movie or television series.

Dolls, plush toys and electronics are already in stores, and a clothing line is available exclusively at Justice, a retailer of preteenage brands. The first of a series of books, written by Lisi Harrison, a best-selling author for young adults, is scheduled to be published Sept. 1, and Universal Pictures has acquired the film rights to create a live-action movie musical.

To broaden the franchise, Mattel is planning to focus on Internet and television marketing. Monster High has its own Web site and a fan page on Facebook, and a TV commercial that introduces the characters to viewers began running last week. And Friday — notably, the 13th — the ghouls of Monster High will haunt YouTube with the debut of a Monster High music video directed by Nigel Dick, who has directed videos for Paul McCartney and Britney Spears, among others.

Material girl at macys

Madonna is one of the few people that almost every person knows regardless of age, where they live or what language they speak. There are many reasons why Madonna has become so iconic, one of them being her style and fashion sense. Whether on stage, on the red carpet or just at the grocery store, Madonna gives observers something to talk about when it come to what she is wearing. It is no wonder that now many eagerly await the grand deput of the new line, Material Girl, in Chicago. Material Girl is the product of the collaboration among Madonna, her daughter Lola, and Iconix Brand Group's in-house fashion department. Found exclusively at Macy's, Material Girl redefines teenage girls' fashion.
The date to set on your agenda for the big unveiling is August 3rd. The place to be: Macy's on State Street (111 N. Street). The events of the day will take place on the second floor in the Junior's department, starting at 10:00 a.m. Be early for the chance to be one of the first 200 customers that receive a $10 Macy's giftcard and free bandeau top from the new line. If you are very lucky you may be one of the four people to win a t-shirt autographed by Madonnna. There is no need to despair if you are not one of those first 200 or one of the other four, there is much more going on to celebrate the launch of Material Girl that day. At 5:30 p.m. there will be a dance party, with a DJ, open to all customers. You will be free to enjoy fashion, music and refreshments!!! Also, with every $50 Material Girl purchase, you receive a free gift.
So what can you expect from Material Girl? The line promises to be revolutionary and unlike the norms of teenage fashion. With various items included in the line (clothes, bags, shoes, and jewelry), prices range from $12.00-$40.00. In Fall 2010, the line will primarily focus on different prints and embellishments. This season, it is very much about oxymorons and opposites, breaking the ideas of what should or should not go together. Take something girly like a tulled skirt and pair it with heavy boots. Material Girl is about being original and fashionable just like Madonna, her daughter and the face of the line, Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen. The line has some similarities to what Momsen's character wears on the show.
Surely, Material Girl will not dissapoint. Coming from Madonna, Material Girl is without a doubt to be amazing and the object of evey fashionista's desire.

'Gossip Girl's Refined Fashion Outlook

It looks like Gossip Girl is continuing to take its fashion cues directly from the fashion runways. Leighton Meester and Clemence Poesy were both spotted filming in New York in très chic outfits. Fashion is making a marked return to ladylike dressing, and the costume designers on the show have taken note.

Leighton wore a printed full-skirted Reem Acra dress from Spring 2010 which highlighted her slim waist, while Clemence mixed prints with a silky box-print blouse and flower-printed flouncy skirt. Both girls looked wonderfully feminine and put together.

These photos are just another reminder of why we'll be tuning in to see the fab fashion on Gossip Girl this fall! Now, the next question is whether the cute dog in the shot is going to be making a cameo as well!

Lea Michele: Sheer Sexy Lace!

Lea Michele flaunts her sexy curves in a lace American Apparel bodysuit in this new photo shoot for celeb hairdresser Mark Townsend’s online destination MARKTBeauty.

The 23-year-old actress, who is back in L.A. shooting the new season of Glee, reveals that she has a total of nine tattoos, her favorite being the two notes on her shoulder, snippets from Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

“I love tattoos because they tell stories and they’re reminders to me of things I love and that are important to me,” Lea admits.

Sexy Pamela Anderson shows up for 'Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff

August 2, 2010 -- The Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff had to be one of those functions where the bombshell Pamela Anderson had to attend. Working together years ago, David and Pamela have maintained their friendship and a roasting was definitely part of the fun last night in Los Angeles.
Taking to the event in a long black dress, Pamela Anderson look absolutely stunning. Leaving nothing to hid, the actress did several swift turns on the red carpet and wowed everyone while the photographers snapped their photos. Yes, this actress definitely was the sexist dressed actress of the evening
In addition to the red carpet, Pamela Anderson was also on stage talking about her friend in a loving manner. Of course it is a roast, so as loving as one could be in this situation. It was a night of fun and laughs. You can see the taped show on Comedy Central on August 15 at 10pm Eastern.

'Mad Men' designer to create sexy lingerie

New York (ANI): The costume designer for dramatic television series ‘Mad Men’ is teaming up with lingerie firm Maidenform to create a line of sexy undergarments. Jane Bryant, the designer, wants to “help enlighten and guide women on the importance of intimate apparel as the foundation for creating personal style”, the New York Daily News reported.
The line of intimates joins a line of dresses and skirts and nail polish that has gotten the designer’s seal of approval. She has teamed up with the polish brand Nailtini to create vintage-inspired shades, available in the fall as CVS and Duane Reade. Bryant will also be pitching “Mod”, her line of “Mad Men” inspired clothes and accessories on QVC in the fall.

Lindsay Lohan Posed in Sexy Striped Bikini 1 Week Before Jail

UsMagazine : One week before her jail sentence, Lindsay Lohan was feeling okay enough to pose in a sexy, black-and-white striped bikini for a sexy Maxim magazine cover shoot.

The 24-year-old actress shared her state of mind with the men's magazine, too.

"I am feeling strong," she said about her imminent jail sentence for violating her probation. "I've experienced a lot in my life," she added, heaping praise on her mother Dina Lohan.