Magazines Vie for ‘Project Runway’ Spot; DVF Makes Walk of FameFive magazines are bidding on the season-six ‘Project Runway’ sponsorship spot, Diane Von Furstenberg will be added to the Fashion Walk of Fame, and Victoria Beckham says TomKat are “normal.”
Back of the House
New York ‘Times’ to Wonder How Bloggers Stay AliveWhen we received a voice mail last week from Kim Severson of the New York Times, saying that she wanted to interview us, our natural response was one of delight. Was the topic to be hamburgers or our upcoming book on same? Or perhaps the larger topic of meat? Or perhaps the ongoing efforts of Grub Street? It was with giddy fingers that we dialed Severson’s number only to find out that the lady was writing an article on how fat and unhealthy food bloggers are, and to ask us, in so many words, why we were still alive. Apparently, bloggers aren’t the trenchermen they once were: Off the Broiler’s Jason Perlow recently had some serious health problems, and even Steven “the Fat Guy” Shaw of eGullet has gotten on the austerity program. But, as we told Severson, the day we start eating salad she’s welcome to our place at the table. Grub Street may cost us the vitality of our once-springy carcass, but by God the work will go on!
Adriana Lima Has Really Big … EyesFASHION
• Victoria’s Secret is featuring Adriana Lima in its Super Bowl ads because of her “spectacular eyes.” Right, her eyes. [WWD]
• Diane Von Furstenberg has launched her first line of shoes. [FWD]
• John Bartlett is joining Tim Gunn at Liz Claiborne. He’ll be designing a men’s sportswear line. [Investor’s Business Daily]
company town
Some Lawyers Are SadLAW
• Know a troubled lawyer? If you work in the law, you probably do — some estimates put the ratio of depressed attorneys at 20 percent — and a few new Websites are trying help them out. [Law Blog/WSJ, WSJ]
• How not to get out of your marijuana arrest: When the judge lets you off easy, pull out a driver’s license covered in pot. [New York Law Journal]
• So just how lame was Cadwalader’s Wild Wild West holiday party last night? Wildly. [Above the Law]
company town
Liz Claiborne, 78FASHION
• Sportswear pioneer Liz Claiborne died yesterday of abdominal cancer at age 78. [WWD]
• VH1 plans a new reality series called America the Ugly in which normal people get berated by the Wilhelmina executive from The Agency. [Flypaper]
• The new face of Versace is a 16-year-old boy. [French Vogue via Fashionista]
show and talk
Fashion Studio: Narciso Rodriguez
Designer Narciso Rodriguez partnered with Liz Claiborne last month, and New York fashion director Harriet Mays Powell visited his studio recently to discuss the new venture. Rodriguez, who has maintained a minimalist aesthetic for over a decade, first became averse to trends while working in Paris. “There was so much creativity on the runway, but no clothing,” Rodriguez recalls. “When you can dress people, then you’ve done your job.”
Fashion Studio: Narciso Rodriguez [NYM]