Your morning fashion and beauty report: Scarlett Johansson on her looks. Armani teams with Alicia Keys. Versace wins a counterfeiting case. Givenchy casts a transsexual model. And more Mother's Day gift ideas.

The stories clothes tell: With her mother slipping away to Alzheimer's, author/photographer Jeannette Montgomery Barron held onto the memories by creating a fashion diary. Just published,  "My Mother's Clothes" (Welcome Books) is a transporting read. [Wall Street Journal]

Not to be outdone by its rival across the river, the Brooklyn Museum on Friday launches its own sartorial exhibit, "American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection." [wwd, subscription required]

To illustrate the "masculine-feminine dichotomy," Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci has cast a transsexual model in the line's fall/winter photo campaign. [Huffington Post]

How important is good grooming? She has loads of talent, but Scarlett Johansson credits hair and makeup with making her a movie star. [People]

This could be a sweet gift for that special mom in your life: Top Chef host and new mother Padma Lakshmi has designed a limited-edition pair of gold and garnet earrings, on sale for $350 at Neiman Marcus, and 20% of the  proceeds will go to benefit the Endometriosis Foundation of America. Lakshmi co-founded the organization to raise awareness about the condition. [People]

Need more Mother's Day inspiration? Find out what Zac Posen, Vera Wang, Gisele Bundchen and 17 other designers and models would like to give and get. [Vogue]

Giorgio Armani is dressing Alicia Keys for her current European tour. [Telegraph]

Shoe designer Elisa Ferare, a Northern California native whose footwear was sold at Neiman Marcus, Maxfield and others, has died. [wwd]

Double whammy for Elizabeth Arden: The company is reporting third-quarter losses AND reportedly once employed the Times' Square bombing suspect. [wwd and wwd]

Check out Forever 21's beauty and the beach collection. [FabSugar]

Versace wins $20 million in Los Angeles counterfeiting case [British Vogue]

Ann Taylor's oh-so-cute vintage floral sheath dress sells out in two days, and is now going on EBay for $200 more than retail. [Stylelist]

-- Susan Denley

Photos, from top: Scarlett Johansson. Credit: Marvel Entertainment. Padma Lakshmi's limited edition earrings. Credit: Neiman Marcus