Fashion News: Ricki Lake focuses on 'DWTS'; Milan Fashion Week ends

Ricki Lake is waiting until after her "Dancing With the Stars" gig to select a wedding dress for her upcoming nuptials with Christian Evans. Monday night's leader says she's too focused on the show. It's not a bad idea, because so many "DWTS" contestants seem to lose weight during the competition. In fact, she's lost 12 inches in three weeks. [People]

 
Giorgio Armani and Roberto Cavalli closed Milan Fashion Week with their spring-summer 2012 shows on Tuesday. Neither strayed far from his respective line's usual aesthetic, with Armani showing soft jackets with slightly pointy shoulders, well-cut trousers, sarongs and strapless, beaded evening dresses (above), and Cavalli showing empire-line, print chiffons (at right).  [Telegraph]

Photographer Bruce Weber worked with 28 children and numerous dogs for a new promotional film for outerwear specialist Moncler, "Don't Steal the Jacket." Moncler calls the film a mix of musicals, thrillers and adventure films.  [Telegraph]

Designer Tom Ford has taken to having "secret" runway shows with either no or very limited media representation, preferring to have the word about his collections spread organically, from smitten client to smitten client. But at his recent London Fashion Week showing of his spring-summer 2012 designs, he did invite a few critics. And some unfavorable reviews are starting to emerge. [The Cut]  

Gucci, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, opened the new Gucci Museo on Florence, Italy''s famed Piazza della Signoria on Monday. The three-story museum will showcase Gucci history and house contemporary art installations.  [WWD] 

-- Susan Denley

Upper photo: Armani's strapless beaded evening dresses at Milan Fashion Week. Credit: Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters

Lower photo: Cavalli showed empire waists and feminine touches at Milan Fashion Week. Credit: Antonio Calanni / Associated Press

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Roberto Cavalli designs a sexy exercise bike

Roberto Cavalli has managed to put his signature leopard print and heavily gilded stamp on an exercise bike. That’s right. The Roberto Cavalli for Cicolette collection features 6 styles of stationary bikes featuring a minimal shape consisting of a wheel, seat, handlebar (which look more like animal horns) and comes in a variety of flashy colors and metal combos that Lady Gaga can appreciate.  In fact, this bike is just about as wacky and over-the-top as Gaga's Hussein Chalayan egg. It would be no suprise to see her and her back up dancers spinning on the Cavalli bikes during her next performance.

There’s black carbon fiber with jaguar or zebra print or gold steel with jaguar print which while being a slightly ostentatious is a sleek alternative to planting a traditional, clunky stationary bike in your living room.

It’s sure to be a conversation piece when guests come over. Especially if you also have the exercise gear to go with it; Cavalli has an active wear range called Cavalli Gym hitting stores this month along with the bikes (think more leopard found on leggings and skin tight zip up jackets)

Roberto Cavalli for Ciclotte bikes are available exclusively in Roberto Cavalli boutiques. The Cavalli gym collection is in Roberto Cavalli boutiques and other select stores.

Melissa Magsaysay

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Milan Fashion Week: "That 70's Show" with Roberto Cavalli and Salvatore Ferragamo

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Photos:

Top - A mannequin with a Roberto Cavalli for Ciclotte bike/Roberto Cavalli

Right - A Roberto Cavalli for Ciclotte bike/Roberto Cavalli

Milan Fashion Week: "That '70s Show" with Roberto Cavalli and Salvatore Ferragamo

Men's Fashion Week in Milan is only half over, and I've definitely noticed a serious '70s vibe from the get-go.

First, there was the relaunch of the Jimmy Choo men's footwear collection that had a certain '70s Mayfair playboy flair (in an earlier post, I called it "one part James Bond and two parts Austin Powers"), then Roberto Cavalli closed out Day One in a groovy mood -- filling his runway with dudes in three-piece suits, all tight jackets, broad lapels, boldly patterned shirts with necks wrapped in foulards and draped in Native American-inspired jewelry.

Day Two gave us Salvatore Ferragamo (set to a blasting "Doors" soundtrack, including some of Jim Morrison's spoken-word poetry just to set the mood) with a soft parade of cashmere overcoats, suede trousers, supple leather jackets and felted hats.

The wide shoulders, double-breasted jackets and funky details like the leather lacing at the V-neck of a ribbed knit sweater completed the 40-year rewind illusion, and by the time the model hit the runway in a green beret, green turtleneck, beige double-breasted jacket and shearling coat, it felt for all the world like it could have been a faded photo negative of the style of outfit worn by the Black Panther Party of the day.

It'll be interesting to see whether the next two days of shows here in Milan find designers mining the "Me Decade" as deeply. 

-- Adam Tschorn, reporting from Milan, Italy

Photos: The '70s aesthetic was in evidence on the runways of Milan this week, including at Roberto Cavalli, left and second from left, and Salvatore Ferragamo, right and second from right. Credit: Jonas Gustavsson & Peter Stigter / For The Times

Your morning fashion and beauty report: 'Daring Diva' Rihanna, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Middleton among names on best-dressed lists

-- People magazine is looking back over the year and has picked its 10 most stylishly dressed celebs. Making the best-dressed list: Jennifer Aniston (dubbed the American Classic), Rihanna (the Daring Diva), Jessica Alba (the Mix Master), Lea Michele (the It Girl), Zoe Saldana (Red Carpet Queen), Gwen Stefani (Rocker Mom), Kate Middleton (Princess in Waiting), Rachel Bilson (Denim Darling), Olivia Palermo (Uptown Girl) and Diane Kruger (Runway Renegade). Cute categories, though Kate Middleton's says more about her state-of-being than fashion. What do you think? Are these ladies the right choices?  [People]

-- Across the pond, fashion watchers are reviewing British trendsetter Alexa Chung's best looks of the year. [Telegraph]

-- But Fashionista has gone all out, picking its 30 best dressed of the year. Yep, 30! (The list includes many of the ladies listed above.) It's been a very fashionable year, the editors say. [Fashionista]

Now back to the nitty-gritty: As the year wanes, lots of deals are being struck in the fashion world. 

-- The bankrupt denim purveyor Rock & Republic has been acquired  by VF Corp. for a reported $57 million.  [WWD] (subscription required)

-- Meanwhile Nordstrom has acquired a stake in children's retailer Peek...Aren't You Curious [WWD] and Chinese menswear powerhouse Trinity Ltd. has agreed to take over fashion house Cerruti. [WWD] (subscription required)

-- Everybody's diversifying. Designer Roberto Cavalli announced plans to open 15 clubs and five cafes in cities around the world [InStyle] while jeweler Boucheron has signed a fragrance licensing deal with Inter Parfums SA. [WWD] (subscription required)  

-- Prada announced plans to stage a fashion show in Beijing [WWD] and American Eagle is set to open stores in Japan [WWD], showing that the lure of markets in the East is growing ever more powerful. 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: 'Daring Diva' Rihanna looked every inch the part at this year's American Music Awards.  Credit: Mike Nelson / EPA

Your morning fashion and beauty report: Fashion's glitterati kick up their heels at Paris Fashion Week, while closer to home we wonder: Is Rachel Zoe expecting?

There's been lots of fashion-meets-baby news lately: such as Miranda Kerr showing how sexy pregnant can be in Milan and then strutting the Balenciaga runway in Paris. Such as Alicia Keys looking drop-dead glamorous in a dazzling Dolce & Gabbana gown as she showed off her baby bump at Thursday's Keep a Child Alive Black Ball in New York (she looks radiant in a People mag photo). Now comes word -- make that a rumor -- that celeb stylist Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman are expecting. If it's so, I think we can expect another fashion forward mama. And the era of dowdy pregnancies is officially over. [OK! Magazine]

Kelly Minogue sang "Happy Birthday" and Heidi Klum cut the cake at designer Roberto Cavalli's party in Paris marking his 40th anniversary in fashion. A galaxy of models, former models and other celebrities attended. [WWD]

Also among the Paris Fashion Week festivities: French Vogue threw a stunning masquerade ball, themed "Eyes Wide Shut," that drew throngs of fashion glitterati hidden behind elegant masks. [WWD]

It's Oct. 1, less than a month to Halloween! Fashionistas may want to start thinking now about how to pull off a costume that stands out from the pack. Check out spooky fashion spreads in magazines for inspiration. [FabSugar]

Confounded by trying to pick a good suit? Functional buttonholes, a quality lining and a sturdy middle layer of fabric are signs of good tailoring. [Wall Street Journal]

Celebrity hair watch: Hilary Duff's trademark blond is gone. The singer/actress is sporting newly darker locks. [People] 

Ines de la Fressange, the face of Chanel in the 1980s, will be back on the Chanel catwalk next week at the Paris shows. Karl Lagerfeld says he'll also use her in the spring-summer ad campaigns. "She is beyond stunning," he says. [WWD] 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Rachel Zoe of Bravo's "The Rachel Zoe Project." Credit: Kurt Iswarienko / Bravo

Milan Fashion Week: Roberto Cavalli channels Cher

 

Under the Peace Arch in Milan,  with a leafy greenhouse for a backdrop, Roberto Cavalli marked his 40th year in business by going back to his roots, as a designer who elevated leathers, animal prints, fringe and feathers to high fashion.

The show was a vision of rock 'n' roll goddesses, dressed in flared python pants clinging to the body with the help of row after row of delicate suede laces: luxurious crocodile jackets in snug-fitting shapes; airy animal print chiffon maxi dresses with intricate crochet string bodices, and boho bags dangling fringe, feather and horn talismans.

It was a boho luxe slice of the 1970s (hello, Cher!) that we hadn't yet seen this season, when the Me Decade inspired countless designers.

But this wasn't one of Cavalli's raucous runway productions. Instead, it was quietly nostalgic. And the neutral palette of beige, blush and gray kept the mood soft and romantic.

As it was at Dolce & Gabbana, this was a collection about the details -- an ode to Florentine handcraft. And these details weren't to be believed -- chiffon seamlessly worked with leather, and animal spots made from pale sequin embroideries.

Taylor Swift, Leona Lewis, Rachel Bilson and Heidi Klum were just a few of the celebrities who flocked to the front row to see Cavalli's wearable art. And no doubt many more will join him at Paris Fashion Week, when he hosts a black tie gala to celebrate.

-- Booth Moore

Roberto Cavalli spring-summer 2011 runway collection photo gallery

Photos: Looks from the Roberto Cavalli Spring-Summer 2011 runway collection shown during Milan Fashion Week. Credit: Jonas Gustavsson & Peter Stigter / For The Times.

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

Your morning fashion and beauty report: 1990s grunge fashion returns. Giorgio Armani and Lady Gaga. Betty White and Donatella Versace

Grab your flannel and meet me at Starbucks: The 1990s are back. [The Daily Beast]

Somewhat apropos, Jean Paul Gaultier -- who created Madonna's cone bra -- is delving into home furnishings. [WWD, subscription required]

Decades' Cameron Silver to launch denim label. [WWD, subscription required]

The average woman spends three years of her life shopping. [New York Post]

The best of spring's new style books. [WSJ]

HiStyley! checks out L.A. street style. [Mondette]

Giorgio Armani on dressing Lady Gaga. [Vogue UK]

Video: Dolce & Gabbana male models wrestle and dance. [The Frisky]

She really is having a moment: Betty White and Donatella Versace are now friends? [Huffington Post]

An old Parisian law banning women from wearing pants may finally be lifted. [Telegraph]

No, Roberto Cavalli is not firing his wife/creative director. [Styleite]

Can Patrick Robinson save Gap? [Fashionista]

Seven spring fashion essentials from Pucci's Peter Dundas. [Marie Claire]

Simon Fuller's Fashionair website to shutter. [Fashionista]

What are the most popular brands in L.A.? [Shop It To Me]

The 10 wildest looks from Australian Fashion Week. [FabSugar]

-- Whitney Friedlander

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Photo: Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring / Summer 2010 runway show. Credit: Peter Stigter and Jonas Gustavsson / For The Times

Fashion Diary: Milan Fashion Week gets real

Milan grows up and covers up. That was the takeaway from the fall/winter 2010 collections, which weren’t as much about in-your-face showmanship and trends as they were about the value of heritage and craft. Facing competition from the glut of inexpensive fast fashion available at places such as H&M and Zara, where knockoffs of runway styles hit the racks long before the originals that inspired them, designers are redefining luxury as something timeless and personal.

For many who showed during Milan Fashion Week, which ended Monday, that meant returning to what they became famous for in the first place, designing clothes that won’t go "in" and "out" in a season, and putting an emphasis on the human touch. This season, we saw larger-sized models at Prada, celebrity outcasts Lindsay Lohan and Courtney Love front row at Roberto Cavalli and the Internet inviting everyone to the party, with more shows than ever being streamed live. It was almost as if the fashion industry joined together in a chorus of "Kumbaya." Maybe during the upcoming Paris shows, Vogue’s Anna Wintour will serve milk and cookies.

Elisabetta Canalis (George Clooney's girlfriend) stars in Cavalli's spring 2010 underwear ads

Let’s be clear: As far as we know, George Clooney isn’t one to date anyone short of supermodel status.  His current girlfriend, the brunette bombshell and Italian TV host Elisabetta Canalis, has just wrapped shooting the campaign for Roberto Cavalli’s spring 2010 underwear collection.  And the leopard-print sets she sports give those Victoria’s Secret ads a run for their money.

After the jump, check out the behind-the-scenes film of Canalis getting cozy with a Louis XVI-style velvet sofa inside the London mansion where the shoot took place.