Sofia Vergara's new clothing line debuts at Kmart

It was probably in no way a coincidence that the Sofia by Sofia Vergara line of women's sportswear, dresses, jackets, footwear and accessories debuted exclusively at Kmart stores and on its website on Monday, the morning after Vergara's sitcom notched four Emmy Awards, including a second consecutive win for best comedy series.

One of our compatriots in the Calendar section reported that Sofia Vergara's animal-print undergarments had become the topic of conversation backstage at the 2011 Emmy Awards on Sunday. The "Modern Family" actress was asked what she was wearing under her form-fitting gown, and the answer was tiger-print undergarments -- specifically ones from her new Kmart clothing line.

If you're on the fashion beat, this is hardly a strange or funny question -- how stars are sucked, cinched, strapped and wrapped into their award-show finery is a subject of endless fascination. (At one point in the evening host Jane Lynch volunteered that she had achieved her own look thanks to "triple Spanx.") But what was funny was the follow-up quip by Vergara's costar and on-screen husband Ed O'Neill that he too was wearing his Kmart underwear.

The anecdote made us realize (as soon as we could get the image of Ed O'Neill in animal-print underwear out of our mind) that we hadn't yet had a chance to check out the actress' clothing line, which had been announced  in January and scheduled to launch in the fall.

Cedric the Entertainer throws his hat in the ring with Who Ced?

Cedric the Entertainer has turned one of his sartorial signatures into a money-making venture by launching a line of high-end headwear called Who Ced? with business partner Gary Garner.

The line, which launched online in late July, includes knit beanies, herringbone and wool chenille baseball caps; tweed and pinstripe driving caps; newsboy and eight-panel golf caps; and brushed wool fedoras.  Prices range from $45 to $125, and most hats (save the ball caps) are lined in a proprietary shade of purple silk (called "purquois") and are emblazoned with some version of a double question mark logo. 

Since the comedian/actor/game-show host is clearly an unabashed fan of the question mark, All The Rage thought it only appropriate to pepper the pair with a few questions of our own.

All The Rage: Cedric, you’re almost always rocking a stylish chapeau. Where does your affinity for hats come from?

Cedric the Entertainer: “It comes from growing up in St. Louis, and being a Midwest guy. In the late ’70s and early ’80s I was most impressed by the guys ahead of me in high school. I graduated in ’82, so these were the guys who graduated in ’79 and ’80. When they became seniors, their whole look was to look like a man, so they’d wear cool clothes -- suits and hats. The hat thing was it. 

Fashion News: Madonna and Lourdes' Material Girl adds new stuff

Madonna and daughter Lourdes Leon's line, Material Girl, has added new beauty products full of fruity scents and dramatic nail polish. Lourdes, 14, pictured here at Vanity Fair's Oscar party, says she especially likes the vanilla body lotion. [People]

Newlywed model Kate Moss bought a new home in the London suburb of Highgate. It once belonged to poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and later to playwright J.B. Priestley. But neighbors are wary of her plans to modernize it by adding a gym, steam room and satellite dishes. [Telegraph]

Kitson plans to open some new stores in Southern California this fall, hitting Santa Barbara in September and Newport Beach's Fashion Island in October. [California Apparel News]

Lady Gaga's 19-year-old little sister Natali Germanotta is studying fashion design at the Parsons school in New York, and she is designing the costumes for a new off-Broadway show, "Simon Says," set to open this fall. [Telegraph]

Kourtney, Khloe and Kim all turned out for the launch party at the Colony for their new Kardashian Kollection earlier this week. The women's wear line is on sale at Sears. [PopSugarLA] 

Estee Lauder is revamping Smashbox, a year after acquiring the beauty brand. [WWD] (Subscription required.)  

Calvin Klein plans to center its Fashion's Night Out activities in New York around Lara Stone. [WWD]

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: Lourdes Leon pictured at Vanity Fair's most recent Oscar party. Credit: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

'Twilight's' Kellan Lutz launches Abbot + Main at Nordstrom

These days, there's nothing like a vampire to draw a crowd to a shopping event.

"Twilight" fans flocked to Nordstrom at the Grove on Thursday to see the inaugural 25-piece men's ready-to-wear collection from new line Abbot + Main -- and for a chance to see co-founder Kellan Lutz,  a.k.a. Emmett Cullen, brother of "Twilight's" Edward (played by Robert Pattinson).

Lutz is partnering in the endeavor with  Danny Guez, founder of premium denim line Dylan George.  Abbot + Main consists largely of T-shirts and hoodies and is based on re-creating the relaxed beachy feel of Venice. “I used to live on the corner of Abbot Kinney and Main,” Lutz said. “And I just love the feeling in Venice. That’s what I was trying to capture with Abbot + Main.”
 
In case you were wondering, Lutz is not just the face promoting Abbot + Main. “I am a part of every decision," he said.  "Nothing gets decided on unless it comes through me.  I put in a lot of input now like I did in the beginning.  We raided my closet to find out what type of shirts I usually wear and what kind of fabrics I like. Because I didn’t just want to be the face of the campaign, but have it be my brand.”  
 
When it comes to the Abbot + Main line, the devil is in the details. “We have delicate red stitching on the seams and some of  the graphic art we used comes from real photographs I took in Venice,” Lutz explained.  As for the feel, the T-shirts are soft as butter. “The material we use is amazing,” Lutz said. “That’s how I used to shop. I didn’t care who the designer was, I would just walk by racks" -- he motioned as if his hand were running over racks of clothing -- "and think, 'ooh that’s soft,' and then turn and look at it.”
 
“The input he has had has been phenomenal,” said Guez, who formerly worked with William Rast and People's Liberation.  “And as for our design team, besides the fact that they love looking at him, they love working with him and getting his input.” 
 
The design team members are not the only ones keen on looking at Lutz.  Fans had lined up for hours to meet with the star.  One trio said they had been there since 8 a.m., two hours before Nordstrom even opened. 

“It’s just really endearing to have 'Twilight' fans come support something outside of 'Twilight' that I am involved in so I have to thank them for that,” Lutz said.
 
Though the fall line is for men only, Guez and Lutz said that the spring 2012 collection for Abbot + Main will feature its first women’s line.
 
Priced between $44 and $178, Abbot + Main is available at Nordstrom stores or online at nordstrom.com.

-- Raha Lewis

Photos, from top: Kellan Lutz talks to the crowd who turned out for the Abbot + Main launch. Credit: Kohshin Finley.

Fans Karen Nannery, Evan Berman and Jamie Hartley brought along their own T-shirt. Credit: Raha Lewis

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Fashion News: Amy Winehouse's collection proceeds

The clothing collection Amy Winehouse was working on for Fred Perry will continue, despite her death. The fall 2011 and spring 2012 lines will be available in Fred Perry and other stores carrying the brand. Profits will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which her dad says will "help children and young people in her name." [The Cut]

Plans are going full throttle for "Project Runway All Stars," which is set to debut later this year. Contestants including Kathleen "Sweet P" Vaughn, Kenley Collins, Austin Scarlett, Gordana Gehlhausen and Mondo Guerra will compete for an exclusive designer's boutique at Neiman Marcus, a spread in Marie Claire, $100,000 cash and more. Model Angela Lindvall will host, with designers Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman serving as judges and Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles as mentor. [People]  

Dame Vivienne Westwood, at 70 still known as the "godmother of punk," let loose with her opinions on the Duchess of Cambridge (doesn't like her eye makeup and disapproves of her trying to look "ordinary"), Kate Moss (wears too much vintage -- but throws a good party) and John Galliano (he doesn't look haggard anymore). [Telegraph]

Model Petra Nemcova, formerly of "Dancing With the Stars," plans to wear a Marchesa wedding gown when she marries Jamie Belman next year. [People] 

British model Daisy Lowe is on the cover of September's "Playboy" and billed as the next big thing. [Telegraph]

Cameron Diaz (in an A.L.C. mini), Zoe Saldana (in a strapless Lanvin), Blake Lively (in a bright dress from Gucci) and Rachel Bilson (in a ruffly dress from Chloe's resort 2012 collection) all looked glamorous at Sunday's  Teen Choice Awards. [Telegraph]

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: Amy Winehouse. Credit: Stuart Wilson / Getty Images

Amare Stoudemire, Rachel Roy discuss upcoming collaboration

When Amare Stoudemire and Rachel Roy hit a Hollywood Hills basketball court for a little one-on-one last week, the New York Knick was dripping with sweat, talking trash and baring his teeth in intimidation.

The fashion designer, on the other hand, was the model of calm, cool collectedness, clad in sweat pants, a T-shirt and flip flops, breaking her poise only at the last minute to throw a well-placed elbow that sent Stoudemire player reeling off balance.

It was all for the benefit of a video crew that had decamped to Stoudemire’s rented house in the hills to film footage promoting the duo’s collaboration on a women's clothing collection. Some of that video is slated to appear on in-taxi video ads in New York City starting Sept. 8, when the fall and winter 2011 collection hits retail (which just happens to be the date of this year’s shop-stravaganza Fashion’s Night Out).

The professional basketball player is the most recent in a string of creative collaborators tapped by the

Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Madonna expands Material Girl. Ivanka Trump designs 'Snow Flower' bracelet. Beckham walks the walk of family pride.

 

Madonna, at right in photo, and daughter Lourdes, at left, are expanding their juniors fashion line, Material Girl, to include beauty products, lingerie, sleepwear, outerwear, party dresses and, of course, more denim. [People]

Soccer star David Beckham used his shoes as a vehicle to show off his fatherly pride during Sunday's L.A. Galaxy vs. Real Madrid match. His soccer cleats were emblazoned with the names of all four little Beckhams -- Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and new baby Harper -- in pink letters. [People] 

Ivanka Trump has a new bracelet out -- created before she gave birth to a baby girl over the weekend -- inspired by the movie "Snow Flower and Secret Fan." She collaborated with the movie’s producer, Wendi Deng Murdoch, to design a bracelet symbolizing friendship and sisterhood. It's available in black resin with white diamonds or white pearl resin with black diamonds, and is engraved with the Chinese character for friendship on the inside of the cuff. The pieces are available for $650 at Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry boutiques or on her website. [People]

Halston's big shake-up continues. Last week came news that celebrity-cum-creative-exec Sarah Jessica Parker, designer Marios Schwab and investor Harvey Weinstein were out. Now comes word that Tamara Mellon has also jumped ship. The label has been taken over by Hilco Consumer Capital. [The Cut]

And now rumors are swirling that Halston will tap BCBG Max Azria with a raid on their executives. [WWD] 

Donald Magnin, who helped build Joseph Magnin Co., the San Francisco-based women’s store, into one of the largest specialty stores in the country, died Wednesday of cancer at age 84. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Lazaro Hernandez, co-designer at Proenza Schouler, spoke before Congress last week in support of legislation aimed at helping guard against designer knockoffs by stronger copyright enforcement. “The fashion industry is already a tough business and it is getting tougher because of piracy,” Hernandez told lawmakers. [The Cut] 

Models Anja Rubik and Sasha Knezevic were married over the weekend  on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Rubik wore a short dress with a long train and cap sleeves designed by Peter Dundas for Pucci.  [Fashionologie]

--Susan Denley

Photo: Madonna, right, and daughter Lourdes, left, flank Taylor Momsen, the original celebrity "face" of their Material Girl line at an event last year. Momsen has since been replaced by Kelly Osbourne. Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press Photos

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Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony continue lines for Kohl's despite split. Vanessa Minnillo wears Lhuillier to wed Nick Lachey.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony may be splitting up, but Kohl's is continuing right along with its plans for forthcoming apparel and accessories lines from them. What had been billed as “the first celebrity couple to simultaneously design collections for one retailer” is now "two separate, distinctive collections," primed to be in stores in September. [WWD]

Designer Victoria Beckham and soccer star husband David posted the first pictures of new baby girl Harper on Facebook and Twitter -- acing out the paparazzi to give the world a first glimpse of the infant. [Telegraph]

Vanessa Minnillo wore a two-piece Monique Lhuillier dress to marry Nick Lachey in a small island ceremony Friday night. The ensemble featured an intricately embellished lace corset with rose and crystal detail, and a hand-tufted skirt made of silk faille. [People]

Net-a-Porter and Mr. Porter threw a party for Dolce & Gabbana in London to celebrate their new collaboration. Guests included Naomi Campbell, "X Factor" winner Alexandra Burke, model David Gandy, Peaches and Pixie Geldof and Solange Knowles. [Telegraph]

Gwen Stefani is partnering with Target to launch Harajuku Mini, an affordable version of her Japanese anime-inspired Harajuku Lovers clothing and accessories line for babies, children and tweens. [WWD] (subscription required) 

"Fashion Police's" Giuliana Rancic gave husband Bill a makeover to prep him for living full time in Los Angeles, where he recently moved from Chicago. So what did Bill need to look like an Angeleno? "First, I got him some aviators. Then, I had to tell him the spiky hair he favors was so four years ago. I got him to do a comb over like Cary Grant and wear some cool cargo pants, nice T-shirts and some Converse sneakers," she tells StyleList. Viewers can see the results Monday when the fourth season of their reality show, "Giuliana and Bill," debuts on E! [StyleList]

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Photo: Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez perform on the season finale of "American Idol" this year. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox

Rachel Zoe: Empire builder

Rachel Zoe is in an empire-building mode.

In just one decade, she's gone from no-name stylist to red carpet tastemaker -- earning $6,000 a day, with clients including Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes and Demi Moore -- to full-fledged celebritydom, with a Bravo reality show and a QVC line. Now, she's launching a fashion collection with  prices that range from $250 to $700 and a style that says "1970s."

"I wanted androgyny and the powerful woman look," Zoe says. "It’s very Jane Birkin-y and Anjelica Huston-y and Bianca Jagger-y, with a splash of sequins, a little Liza Minelli, thrown in." Booth Moore reports on all that is new in Zoe's life (and that includes a rather well-dressed baby boy named Skyler) -- plus an update on other celebrity stylists who have parlayed their status into clothing and accessories brands.

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-- Alice Short

Photo of Rachel Zoe: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times 

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Sheryl Crow's wardrobe malfunction at CMT Awards. Chloe Sevigny's high-school themed fashion show.

It seems to have been a week for wardrobe malfunctions. Lady Gaga's heavy skirt pulled down her top, leaving little to the imagination at Monday's Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. Khloe Kardashian exposed more than she meant to on Tuesday with an accidental "nipple slip" while appearing on "Fox and Friends" on Fox News. Then at Wednesday's CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Sheryl Crow had her "oops-it's-going-viral-on-the-Internet" moment when she accidentally flashed a view of her underwear under her short skirt. Hey, we think Sheryl deserves some credit for wearing underwear. Proper foundation garments could have saved Lady Gaga's dignity; Khloe Kardashian's too. Oh, right, dignity doesn't seem to be among those two ladies' attributes. Crow took her faux pas with a sense of humor. "I was wearing underwear because I'm good, clean, wholesome family fun," she said. [Us]

Helena Bonham-Carter -- she of the interesting (some might say wacky) red carpet style -- is starring in Marc Jacobs' fall ad campaigns. Bonham-Carter is known for wearing the unexpected -- mismatched shoes, a Union Jack garter and such. Jacobs is known for casting the unexpected, such as a then 13-year-old Dakota Fanning in one ad campaign. Sounds like a match made in fashion advertising heaven. [Telegraph]  

The first runway show for actress Chloë Sevigny's collaboration with Opening Ceremony took place in a high school gym, complete with rattling basketball hoops and ceiling fans and cinder block. The clothes had kind of a '90s vibe with a mix of babydoll dresses, pleated minis and crop tops. Why the sweaty gym as a setting? "I wanted you to come in and be transported back to the way you felt when you were a teenager," Sevigny said. [Cut]

Louis Vuitton has launched a website where aspiring artists can share their work, be inspired and learn more about the art world. Recreative was a year in the making, developed by young people working with the Hayward Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts, the South London Gallery, Tate Britain and the Whitechapel Gallery as part of the Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project. [Telegraph]

Gap, which has been struggling in the U.S., will try to revive itself by making stores here look more like those abroad. That's part of the strategy, at least. [WWD] (subscription required)

Lauren Conrad has moved beyond her reality show drama and into serious fashion design, working on her new clothing collection, Paper Crown. The collection has a decided L.A. vibe and Conrad says she was aiming for it to feel chic and "effortless." [PopSugar L.A.] 

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: Helena Bonham-Carter, at this year's Golden Globe Awards, displays her quirky style in a dress by Dame Vivienne Westwood and mismatched shoes. Credit: Jason Merritt / Getty Images