Heidi Klum shows VW love at L.A. Auto Show

Supermodel, TV host, mother, wife and Volkswagen fan Heidi Klum added even more glamour to the L.A. Auto Show on Wednesday when she showed up to introduce the new VW Eos, making its world debut at the event. Klum was introduced by VW Group of America President Jonathan Browning, who said she knew a lot about style.

"I know a lot about style, you say? I know a lot about cars too," quipped Klum, adding she owns "a lot" of VW cars including a "beautiful bug" and "Tiguan."

Her take on the new convertible Eos? "I think it's very beautiful and very stylish.... I like cars that are not super big that you can move in and out of the city and do your shopping and go back home and look stylish at the same time. I love convertibles because I live in Los Angeles. That's why we live here -- to drive convertible cars, no?"

When Browning asked, "Sun roof or hood fully down?" Klum said, "It depends where I'm going and what kind of hairdo I have."

Klum was wearing a convertible-frirendly low chignon at the event.

-- Susan Carpenter

Photo: German top model Heidi Klum unveils the new Volkswagen EOS convertible during the press day of the LA Auto Show. Credit: Al Schaben / Los Angeles Times.

 

Heidi Klum and Ann Taylor deck the halls

 

Heidi Klum hosted a dinner at Pali House on Thursday night to celebrate her holiday ad campaign for Ann Taylor, the mall brand that is getting more chic every day. The centerpiece of the room was a tree trimmed with the retailer's sparkly gems, including pearl starbursts ($128), snowflake necklaces ($98), and snowcap stretch bracelets ($88).

Debra Messing, Maria Menounos, Rachel Zoe, Pippa Black and Michelle Alves joined in the fun, bedazzling themselves with sparklers from the tree. And in case you're wondering, that's the winter white tuxedo jacket ($218) and modern pant ($128) that Klum is wearing, both at anntaylor.com.

With all the pieces I've collected during the lifespan of the current statement-jewelry trend, I may just bling my own tree.

- -Booth Moore 

Photo: Heidi Klum at the Ann Taylor holiday dinner. Credit: Alex Wyman / Wireimage

Your morning fashion and beauty report: 'Project Runway' judges make 'toughest decision' ever. Now you have to decide on a Halloween costume.

"Project Runway" closed out its season Thursday night with judges making what host Heidi Klum called the "toughest decision in 'Project Runway' history." After much debate over the merits of the three remaining finalists -- Gretchen Jones, Mondo Guerra and Andy South -- judges named Jones as the top designer, saying the 28-year-old Oregonian's collection was the most "sellable" and the most on-trend. I'm pretty sure we'll be hearing more from all of them, though. [CBS] 

"What Not to Wear" returns Friday night for its eighth season on TLC. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a look. The basic philosophy, according to Los Angeles Times' television critic Robert Lloyd, is that there are no ugly women, only ugly clothes, and by changing your clothes you can change yourself. The episode begins at 9 p.m. PDT. [Los Angeles Times]

I love it when Halloween falls on a weekend. More time to get into the spirit; more opportunities to wear costumes. Some women I know plan to start Friday and change costumes daily (or maybe even twice a day) through Sunday. We know that one of this year's popular looks will be Snooki of "Jersey Shore." But what, you may be wondering, will Snooki wear? Reports are that it's -- drum roll -- a pickle costume. A short, tight, sexy pickle costume, of course, complete with a light-up, pickle-shaped scepter. [WWD]

Meanwhile, Ellen DeGeneres plans to start the weekend by going on-air Friday dressed as Snooki's trademark pouf -- that's right, she's going to be a big fluff of hair. [People]

If you're still looking for costume ideas, Heidi Klum has tons of them for couples and for kids. Some pretty creative stuff. She and husband Seal once decked themselves out as a snake-wrapped apple (Heidi) and blond-wigged Eve (Seal). [StyleList]   

For more Halloween inspiration, check out BellaSugar's 15 face-painting ideas.

Celeb designer of the day: Mariah Carey plans to launch her first "lifestyle" line on HSN Nov. 29. It will feature jewelry, footwear and fragrance. [WWD]

"Mad Men" costume designer Janie Bryant was guest of honor at a Maybelline-sponsored party in New York celebrating her new book, "The Fashion File: Advice, Tips and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of 'Mad Men.'" [StyleList]   

Big beauty retailer Sephora plans to open two stores in Mexico City, as well as one in Brazil. [WWD] (Subscription required.)  

-- Susan Denley

Photo: 'Project Runway' hosts Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum with this season's contestants. Credit: Lifetime

Want to wear a look from 'Project Runway'? Now you can

 
'Project Runway's' Season 8 comes to a close Thursday night. We don't know who is going to win, but we do know that on Friday morning, starting at 9 a.m. PDT, customers can sign on to SeenOn.com to buy one-of-a-kind, hand-stitched, Heidi-approved finale fashions. The 72-hour private sale is for members only and you can sign up for free at www.SeenOn.com/projectrunway 

SeenOn reps say in a news release that theirs is an exclusive offering, made in partnership with the Lifetime channel.

The show's finale airs at 9 p.m.

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Hosts Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum with 'Project Runway' designers. Credit: Lifetime

 

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Earthquake shakes Oklahoma, leads to T-shirts. In more normal news, Julianne Moore and Heidi Klum have new fashion deals.

Julianne Moore will be the face of Talbot's spring campaign, following super model Linda Evangelista, who fronted for fall. [People]

And Heidi Klum is repping Ann Taylor's holiday collection. [InStyle]

Seems like everyone really does want to be like California. There was an earthquake -- an earthquake!-- in Oklahoma -- in Oklahoma! -- on Wednesday, and already the T-shirts are out. Alternative radio station Radio OKC is selling "I survived the Oklahoma earthquake" tees for $17.95 (a portion of which goes to support the station). [Radio OKC] Though the magnitude 5.1 quake was felt in five states, it caused only minor damage and a few minor injuries. 

Rumors abound that L'Oreal is going to buy -- ding, dong -- Avon. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Meanwhile, Alexander Wang denies rumors of a Nike collaboration. [WWD] 

Consignment boutique Decadestwo is finally launching an e commerce site. [People]

Ralph Lauren is opening a women's flagship on New York's Madison Avenue on Thursday. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Paris-based Faith Connexion has opened a branch on Melrose in L.A. [Mondette] 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Julianne Moore. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Paris runways, Claudia Schiffer and the Olsen twins

Some of the biggest names in fashion will be showing their latest on the runways in Paris on Wednesday, when Fashion Week picks up speed. Booth Moore will be blogging about the good, the bad and the ugly for the rest of the week.

Claudia Schiffer is planning to launch her own cashmere line based in Germany. The model will work under the title "creative director," and the line will be for fall. The name of said venture? Claudia Schiffer, of course. [WWD]

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's fashion label, The Row, has announced a partnership with Microsoft's Bing search engine. Bing will host a "behind the scenes" video of the line's Fashion Week in Paris, which includes, yes, an interview with the twins. [San Francisco Chronicle]

Think it's easy being Heidi Klum? No, it's not! It takes a village to prepare and primp her for all her "Project Runway" appearances, and People magazine has an article and video devoted to that very fact. Read it and discover, among other things, that Heidi likes to tickle Tim Gunn. For real.

And finally, Sephora is launching an interactive space (which can be accessed at sephora.com or on its Facebook page) where viewers can get advice from friends and professionals on makeup, watch videos and (of course) buy products. And, to finish the experience, users can "upload a haul video." [Stylelist]

 -- Alice Short

Photo: Models at the Dries Van Noten runway show. Credit: Francois Guillot / AFP/Getty Images

 

 

Your morning fashion and beauty report: The Hokies' new look. Spring's new colors. Estee Lauder's new counters.

It's not often that the opening weekend of college football starts conversations about uniform fashions. But that happened in some quarters (ahem, my house) when the Virginia Tech Hokies took to the field Monday against the Boise Broncos. Both teams were wearing new 2010 Nike Pro Combat uniforms, but the Hokies' were strikingly dark, with matte-black helmets, and the overall look was avatar-bursting-from-video-monitor, ready to do battle. They won the game on looks (though came up a little short on points). [TechSideline.com] 

After a fall that will be characterized by neutrals and military colors, fashionistas can look forward to a splash of color come spring 2011. The Pantone Color Institute, which helps fashion designers and product manufacturers coordinate their palettes, is forecasting honeysuckle pink, regatta blue and beeswax yellow. [WWD]

Estée Lauder is trying to lure younger customers by revamping its makeup counters to make it easier to shop on your own, without the sometimes nagging attentions of a salesperson. For instance, price tags will no longer be hidden. [Wall Street Journal]

To celebrate his 40 years in fashion, designer Roberto Cavalli is preparing a 200-page coffee-table book and releasing a series of four videos. [FabSugar]

Marc Jacobs has opened an arty bookstore in NYC called -- get ready for it -- Bookmarc. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Celebrity collaboration of the day: "Project Runway's" Heidi Klum plans a line with New Balance. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

"America's Next Top Model" is partnering with Italian Vogue for its new season. [Los Angeles Times]

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Heidi Klum  Credit: Barbara Nitke / Bravo

'Project Runway' to become a Wii video game

"Project Runway" fans will soon be able to "make it work" themselves -- in the virtual realm. TV's top-rated fashion competition will be fodder for a new Nintendo Wii game, developed by Atari Inc. and slated for release next year, the Associated Press reports.

The game will be modeled after the reality show, with players competing as aspiring fashion designers charged with various sartorial tasks (making gowns out of mangled motherboards?). But wait -- there's more. Gamers will then be able to show off their fashion on a model sashaying down a catwalk, using the ever-unwieldy Wii Balance Board.

The gaming industry has targeted fashion followers for years -- creating all manner of fashion competitions and dress-up-doll games (females are the industry's final frontier, after all). But the "Project Runway" collaboration will by far be the splashiest fashion-themed diversion to hit the racks yet. Though I'm wondering how scintillating virtual sewing can be.
-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: "Project Runway's" Tim Gunn walks with Heidi Klum on the runway during New York Fashion Week in September 2008. Credit: Richard Drew / Associated Press

Related articles and pictures:

Surname Swap: Klum to Seal the deal

'Project Runway' alums: Where are they now?

Times fashion critic Booth Moore on 'Project Runway'

'Project Runway' finale under the tent -- and under wraps at the Fall 2009 New York Fashion Week

Photos: "Project Runway" show at Fall 2009 New York Fashion Week

Photo: Project Runway's Tim Gunn walks with Heidi Klum on the runway during New York Fashion Week in September 2008. Credit: Richard Drew / Associated Press

Surname Swap: Klum to Seal the deal

On Monday, after four years of marriage and two kids with singer Seal -- and reportedly just one day before checking into the hospital to prepare for number three -- "Project Runway" host and German-born über-model Heidi Klum has apparently filed court papers to kick "Klum" to the curb and settle down with "Samuel," the surname of her husband whose full name is Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel.

But if the newly minted Ms. Samuel hopes to hang out a cyber shingle under her made-over moniker (as she has done at heidiklum.com), she apparently hasn't locked up the equivalent domain name just yet.

Currently, clicking on heidisamuel.com takes you to the website of a very different Heidi Samuel -- this one a 2007 Republican candidate for Columbus, Ohio, City Council (she didn't win).

Contacted by phone this afternoon, that Heidi Samuel said that as someone who has run for public office in the past, she had found the vanity URL helpful, and had no immediate plans to abandon it.

She also told me that no one has yet offered to buy it out from under her. "I'd entertain the idea," she told me, "at the same time I'd find the idea entertaining."

Sounds like the perfect baby gift to me.

-- Adam Tschorn

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Photo: Heidi Klum and Seal at the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in September. Credit: Jay Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

'Project Runway' all-star lineup to be announced in US Weekly

Apparently we won't have to wait much longer to find out which stitch is which -- the contestant lineup for the  long-rumored all-star installment of "Project Runway" will be revealed in the pages of US Weekly magazine scheduled to hit the street Wednesday.