J Brand jeans launches line for curvy women

Hollywood cult favorite denim line -- J Brand -- thinks that size matters. Especially, when it comes to profits. The company announced that it will now smartly offer a fit for curvier gals with its Blue Label. Co-founder Susie Crippen tells WGSN.com , "We created Blue Label with a more generous cut around the leg, as well as a contoured waistband to hug the body's natural curves." Right now, on the J Brand website, the biggest size is a 32. (The average waist size for an American women is 36.5.)

The J Brand Blue Label will offer three styles: The Scarlett with a low-rise fit in a cigarette or boot cut, The Catherine in a mid-rise fit with a cigarette or boot cut, and The Monroe in a mid-rise that fits looser in the hips and thighs. Jeans hit Bloomingdale's exclusively in July and later roll out to other store. Expect to pay a full figure price too: $158 to $178.

photo: J Brand.

Must-have: Dr. Martens for summer

Super model Agyness Deyn is a cocktail of Boy George, Molly Ringwald and Kurt Cobain -- shaken, not stirred -- with an Olive Oyl garnish. Who's thirsty?
And apparently, she's determined to wear every color and style of Dr. Martens boots before she retires. A quick skip over to the website reveals that they're now selling a vintage reissue of the "1914" style -- a straight up, crap-kicker that should only be worn by people who know that Joe Strummer is dead.

But look closely and you'll see that the only real difference between the "vintage" -- upper right -- and non-vintage version -- below right -- is the price hike: the vintage sells for $50 more at $170. (Go with the $120 classic "1914" style and tell your friends that it's the vintage reissue.) 

But the Rage, not eager to suffer sweaty calves this summer in lace-up boots, prefers these utterly adorable wingtip brogues with a flowered accent, (below). The "3939" sells for just $100 and will gladly accompany a pair of shorts or a miniskirt to a picnic at the Hollywood Bowl or a polo match at Will Rogers State Park. The floral feminine touch contrasts perfectly with the lug sole and sheer bulk of the shoe.

Bollocks to whoever says that punk can't be pretty too.

Photos: DNA Models; Dr. Martens

Chanel woos teens, who are spending 20% less on clothes

Chanel continues its quest to woo the Clearasil set. The luxury company just signed on 18-year-old Emma Watson (Hermione of the "Harry Potter" movies) as its new face of the perfume, Coco Mademoiselle. Watson replaces Keira Knightley, 23, whose contract expires this summer.

Wonder if Chanel heard the news that teen spending on fashion is down 20% this year? Ouch.  Market research company Piper Jaffray reports that while adolescents devote 41% of their consumerism to fashion, it's still on the decline -- thanks to the economy. Plus, parents' annual spending on teen apparel is down to $833, compared with $1,487 in 2007.

Watson has been wearing frothy Chanel frocks to every event -- from "Harry Potter" premieres to TV appearances -- for the past year, so it's no surprise that she will front for the brand. Her two-year contract for Coco pays $6 million, so she can afford to splurge on a few Birkin bags and about 1,200 Playstations -- just like every other teen.

Will 12-year-old Abigail Breslin be the next face of Bottega Veneta?

Photo: Philippe Salaun, Emmawatsonofficial.com

How party girls erase dark circles and recession-proof style solutions

Fake a sensible life
If you danced last night away -- or downed enough martinis to drown a mongoose -- you can still fake a good night’s sleep. Actresses who party know to sweep pale pink or pearl highlighter across the brow bone just below the eyebrows. DuWops’ Browwow ($34; sephora.com) includes brow-defining powder and a creamy Champagne-hued highlighter in a nifty palette with a mirror for touch-ups.  The swath of highlighter gives you an instantaneous brow lift, which distracts from dark circles and other vestiges of a misspent Saturday night.

Chic streets
Louis Vuitton take on travel -- beyond steamer trunks and luggage -- with its new Soundwalks series, downloadable audio guides to cities for MP3 players and certain cellphones. There will be one available for Beijing, just in time for the Olympics. Go to Louisvuittonsoundwalk.com to find out more. Best of all? Priced at $18 each, the Soundwalk is the only Louis Vuitton that costs less than $20.

Crop top
Super pouter Agyness Deyn has started a hair revolution, with girls trading in their long locks for lawnmower coifs. Hilary Swank and Selma Blair have also adopted the androgynous look. Not game to go boy toy? Try one of the adorable headpieces or feather crowns by Little Doe ($25 to $450; littledoeislove.com) that she will custom design for you. These chic, dreamy accessories would be so refreshing on the red carpet -- just think about Cher's Bob Mackie headdress that she wore to the Oscars. But it will take a brave starlet to don a crown of feathers, and the Rage doesn't see anyone willing to take a fashion risk on the red carpet, alas.

“It” bag
When Drew Barrymore carries a bag around all month, it’s bound to get noticed. Her bohemian brown “Moon River” bag by Jack Rabbit ($450; thejackrabbitcollection.com) is the perfect earthy hobo bag for a refined hippie princess. The beading on the handle contrasts well with the gold accents, and imagine an "it" bag that won't rival your mortgage payment -- glorious!

Moccasin mania
Nicole Richie, Kate Moss and Mischa Barton are all living on the fringe this season, with variations on moccasin boots. Moss likes the knee high lace up style with a black mini, while Richie prefers to pair her ankle-high boots with tiny shorts. What’s great about this trend is that the boots are amazingly comfortable and cost less than $80 at minnetonkamoccasinshop.com. Tuck them into skinny jeans too.
 

The BFF jeans
Whoa –- weren’t Victoria Beckham and Naomi Campbell bitter enemies at one point? (Reportedly, Campbell once said to Beckham: “So why exactly do they call you Posh?”) Well, these two are now BFFs, as Beckham has designed a pair of jeans — that cost almost $500 and sell exclusively at Harrods — named after the leggy supermodel. But when will she design some denim for Katie Holmes?

Footwear wars?
Actresses have a fit if they wear a dress that has already been worn by another starlet. At some point, expect divas to demand an exclusive on their shoes too. Both Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan have been spotted in Balenciaga’s extremely ornate pink and white gladiator sandals; Gwyneth Paltrow and Christina Aguilera were recently spotted in Alexander McQueen’s “Languid” pumps.  Oh, the agony!

Photos: Sephora.com; littledoeislove.com, Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott for DNA Models; Jack Rabbit Collection; Minnetonka; Kirk McKoy for LAT.

Sunday, June 15: Free Physician's Formula organic make up

What: Physicians Formula, the first cosmetics company to get certified organic by Ecocert (the European FDA, in essence), will be handing out coupons and free make up from their Organic Wear line. The products are 100% free of all those icky synthetics and parabens -- find out more at organicwearmakeup.com.

Where: The Hollywood Farmer's Market, at Ivar and Selma -- between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards. Look for the woman wearing leaves from head to toe. Um, we're not kidding.

When: June 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Why: Why the hell not? Flirt with some farmers from up north and get some heirloom tomatoes too.

Kobe Bryant gets his nails done before big game

Kobe Bryant knows how to psych out the Celtics. Show up with the buffest fingernails and nary a stray cuticle in sight. Us magazine reports that the Laker had his dribbling digits and toes manicured in Boston in his hotel room between games 1 and 2. The technician says that Bryant was "really concerned about the appearance of his hands and feet." That detail tells us nothing. Did he hound her  to file down the ridges? Did he request rounded or square tips? Apparently, Kobe gets mani-pedis before most games.

(In this picture, he's saying: "Watch the nails!")

But Bryant isn't the only athlete in touch with his feminine side. New York Yankee Tony Womack and David Beckham get regular nail treatments and Houston Rocket Dikembe Mutombo even co-owns the Nseya Salon & Spa in Atlanta.

The Rage would love to see a French manicure on Bryant.

photo: Los Angeles Times.

Lame: Texting & Dating

The trend: Men asking women out on dates via text. According to a study by the Mobile Marketing Association, 44% of 13 to 34 year-olds use SMSing to flirt or date. A friend tells the Rage that guys never ask her out anymore--and this pal ain't 16 years old either. Apparently, dudes now avoid any iota of rejection and besides, it's easier to send a message like "Wanna have dinner on Fri at 8?" than pick up the darn phone.

The upside for men: There's no worry that a woman will cackle and shriek "Are you out of your freaking mind, geekwad?" or just "ummmmmm" in that awkward way that, in essence, means: no.

The downside for women: If a guy doesn't have enough Tabasco sauce in his blood to ask you out to a movie or coffee, he'll probably never muster up the gusto to propose--or even get to second base. Or, he's just a cad who can't be bothered to invest the time or energy to dial digits. Either way, this phenom only bodes well for the ever increasing divorce rate. The study also revealed that 10% of men (and women) have texted to break up. (In April, Carrie Underwood and Chace Crawford broke up via text.)

photo: BBC.

Sisterhood: Angelina and Beyonce more powerful than beaus

"Honey, I'm home" has a whole new meaning.  According to the Forbes "Celebrity 100" -- yet another fluffy list to generate press for the mag -- Angelina Jolie ranks #3 in power, while beau Brad Pitt trails at #10.  (The ranking is based on income and popularity, so Forbes tabulates Google metrics and media mentions to determine who's the boss. Brad pulled in $20 million, but Angelina banked just $14 million.) Also, Beyonce Knowles bested her husband Jay-Z -- she comes in at #4 and he's #7 on the list. But a single woman -- that would be Oprah, of course -- tops the chart.

photo: Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic

Strawberry Shortcake makeover: Yes or no?

Not sure about this revamp. It's hard to accept any tinkering with nostalgia. But then again, the new Strawberry Shortcake does look better with a blowout and shoes that don't resemble potatoes. That frilly pinafore and bloomers only added bulk too.
The NYT has the full story, including the ridiculous  term "fruit-foward" for her new look. The new SS has a cellphone, and she's ditched her cat Custard too. Just please don't let her land a reality show and make a sex tape.

Photos: TCFC

SATC inflation: the Eiffel Tower bag

What happens when a purse gets primo exposure in a movie such as "Sex and the City"? It gets uppity in price. Last September, the Rage posted here about the first glimpse of Sarah Jessica Parker's look in the movie. (Pictures were released by New Line.) At that time, the Eiffel Tower bag by local designer Timmy Woods sold for $338, and her Horsy bag sold for $350. Now, the Parisian monument bag sells for $450. What gives? The designer responded to an inquiry by saying: "All of my prices have gone up because everything costs more. I didn't raise the price on the Eiffel Tower bag because it was in the movie." Hmm. The price of the Horsy bag didn't go up, suspiciously. Timmy Woods has sold 1,500 of the Eiffels since the movie debuted. You should have bought yours when I first posted about it.

Photos: New Line; Timmywoods.com.