Arnault, who in the past has gobbled up luxury fashion houses Pac-Man-style, has eased his megalomaniacal machinations as of late since the multi-billion dollar takeover of Bulgari last year. Europe’s richest man, however, hasn’t invested in a small fashion brand since LVMH bought a 40% stake in Edun, the eco-conscious label founded by Bono and wife Ali Hewson, in 2009.

So why Simoens? Why now?

“They [LVMH] do believe in him, and want to finance him,” a source told WWD. It seems Bernard Arnault wants to keep the fresh-faced fashion foal within claw’s reach should another head designer fall ever so publicly from grace. Arnault is famous for plucking young talent to revitalize staid, old houses, and with a stable of brands that includes Givenchy, Céline, Fendi and Vuitton, for Simoens, a deal with Bernard and co. makes dollars and sense. [WWD, sub req'd]

When Angela set sail for the great wide world with her surfer husband Jim, she reached an epiphany upon meeting a group of artisans of Bali. Her pen hit the sketchbook, and she soon began working with local craftspeople and their traditional techniques to make bags and accessories. Named after her grandmother, Cleobella, the company still works with those artisans in Bali. And she gives back to CARE that fights global poverty through employment.

Ali Hewson and her hubby Bono founded Edun in 2005, committed to developing trade with Africa that would fuel a global fashion brand. By working with the Wildlife Conservation Society and Invisible Children, Edun set up the Conservaton Cotton Initiative Uganda, which allows Edun to affect change at the start of the supply chain. This means fair jobs throughout. With LVMH now behind the brand, it’s full scale luxury with a socially responsible core.

Sustainable since 2002, life and business partners Karen Stewart and Howard Brown make lusciously wearable good-for-the-earth goods. Their practices “promote a symbiotic and harmonious relationship between business, community and nature,” such as sourcing and producing Mongolian Cashmere from tribes in the steppe of Outer Mongolia.

While garment Carrie Parry produces is sewn locally in NYC, much of her fabric comes with care from much further away. Always sourcing fabrics with the environment and humankind in mind, Carrie Parry buys her silks from the Panchachuli Women Weavers in the Indian Himalayas. Over 800 women 32 villages run this hand-weaving facility, all of whom are shareholders. The cooperative is changing the socio-economic dynamics of the local community, giving women opportunities based on a traditional skill.

the Phillipines. Roberta Chiarella buys the beads and handcrafts the earrings here in NYC. Local artisans win all around.

Joe Komodo (self-named after the dragon that attacked him on his travels) dragged some friends to Bali and started a fashion business, you know, “rather than getting a proper job.“ He, too, discovered the artisans of Bali and set up sustainable shop there in 1988.

*I really have nothing against the Irish…I don’t like anyone.

A paltry $75K saphire, peridot and diamond bluet clip at Tiffany's 1. Accessorize. Sometimes subtlety goes a long way. But it never really goes long enough, so if you choose to wear a simple green pin or earrings, make them as fabulous as possible. After all, thousands of leprachauns died to make this holiday possible...that is what St. Patty's is all about right? The St. Patrick's Day Massacre of 17-whatever?

Louis Vuitton Mens SS 2011 2. Layer. March is a notoriously tricky month to dress for because it's torn between two seasons. It'll be 60 degrees one day and will snow the next -- this kooky global warming. So a good trick is layering. Bundle up for the cold morning, shed a few layers for the afternoon sun and reapply after sundown. For St. Patrick, stagger your green for when you stagger out of the nearest tavern or pub.

Shala Monroque in Harper's Bazaar 3. Mix Shades. There are as many shades of green as there are voices floating around in Charlie Sheen's head: emerald, chartreuse, turquoise, forest, hunter, neon, lime, jungle, kelly, mint...and in listing them it's clear that they all have the gayest names possible. So why not mix a little kelly with a little spring bud and top it off with a shock of marijauana. That's not technically a shade of green, but it's my favorite kind, nonetheless.

Prada's SS 2011 Ad f/ Mariacarla Boscono 4. Patterns. The more green you incorporate into your look, the more inventive you have to get. And thus, the more fun! Throw different patterns together: prints and polka dots, stripes and stars, this and that, etc. It's totally easy to O.D. on too many patterns, however, so in these situations it's best to follow Coco Chanel's simple rule: remove one item before leaving the house. And since it's St. Patty's, that item can easily be your panties. Just sayin'...makes things a lot easier come nightfall.

Scarlett O'Hara Going Green with the Wind 5. Go Big or Go Home. You know how I said how tricky it was to pull off head to toe green? Well when in doubt, fair people of Ireland (and I really mean fair --  it's like the Irish are literally allergic to the sun), look to national heroine Scarlett O'Hara. She needed to make a statement so she just took down some old curtains and sewed them into a gown (or rather, had her maid take down some old curtains and sew them into a gown). Sure, the gown bordered on bad taste but isn't that what the holidays are all about? Getting drunk, embarrassing yourself, your friends, your family and then laughing it all off so no one suspects your rampant alcohol problem? So, wear those goofy green beer glasses and those goofy green top hats and those goofy green athletic jerseys --  let your d-bag flag fly! Bad taste is a look that the Irish have been pulling off  -- and pulling off better than anyone -- for centuries. Celebrate it.

The new ad, shot by Annie Liebovitz and debuting this Wednesday, is part of Vuitton’s “Core Values” campaign. Starting in 2007, “Core Values” attempts to reach a broader audience while emphasizing the luxury brand’s travel roots.

Other celebrities that have showed their values for Louis V include Sean Connery, Keith Richards, Bono and Catherine Deneuve. Jolie’s ad will run for at least 18 months and will include an interview online at louisvuittonjourneys.com/cambodia in which she will talk about Cambodia, the plight of the Third World, blah, blah, blah — I get it, you’re better than all of us.

Meanwhile, it looks like LV basically shelled out a reported $10 million just to hang out with Angelina Jolie on a wooden boat in the middle of nowhere. An “undisclosed portion” of which, naturally, went to charity. [WWD]

1. Accessorize. Sometimes subtlety goes a long way. But it never really goes long enough, so if you choose to wear a simple green pin or earrings, make them as fabulous as possible. After all, thousands of leprachauns died to make this holiday possible…that is what St. Patty’s is all about right? The St. Patrick’s Day Massacre of 17-whatever?

A paltry $75K saphire, peridot and diamond bluet clip at Tiffany's

2. Layer. March is a notoriously tricky month to dress for because it’s torn between two seasons. It’ll be 60 degrees one day and will snow the next — this kooky global warming. So a good trick is layering. Bundle up for the cold morning, shed a few layers for the afternoon sun and reapply after sundown. For St. Patrick, stagger your green for when you stagger out of the nearest tavern or pub.

Louis Vuitton Mens SS 2011 / Photo: GQ

3. Mix Shades. There are as many shades of green as there are voices floating around in Charlie Sheen‘s head: emerald, chartreuse, turquoise, forest, hunter, neon, lime, jungle, kelly, mint…and in listing them it’s clear that they all have the gayest names possible. So why not mix a little kelly with a little spring bud and top it off with a shock of marijauana. That’s not technically a shade of green, but it’s my favorite kind, nonetheless.

Shala Monroque in Harper's Bazaar

4. Patterns. The more green you incorporate into your look, the more inventive you have to get. And thus, the more fun! Throw different patterns together: prints and polka dots, stripes and stars, this and that, etc. It’s totally easy to O.D. on too many patterns, however, so in these situations it’s best to follow Coco Chanel‘s simple rule: remove one item before leaving the house. And since it’s St. Patty’s, that item can easily be your panties. Just sayin’…makes things a lot easier come nightfall.

Prada's SS 2011 Ad f/ Mariacarla Boscono

5. Go Big or Go Home. You know how I said how tricky it was to pull off head to toe green? Well when in doubt, fair people of Ireland (and I really mean fair —  it’s like the Irish are literally allergic to the sun), look to national heroine Scarlett O’Hara. She needed to make a statement so she just took down some old curtains and sewed them into a gown (or rather, had her maid take down some old curtains and sew them into a gown). Sure, the gown bordered on bad taste but isn’t that what the holidays are all about? Getting drunk, embarrassing yourself, your friends, your family and then laughing it all off so no one suspects your rampant alcohol problem? So, wear those goofy green beer glasses and those goofy green top hats and those goofy green athletic jerseys —  let your d-bag flag fly! Bad taste is a look that the Irish have been pulling off  – and pulling off better than anyone — for centuries. Celebrate it.

Scarlett O'Hara Going Green with the Wind

*I really have nothing against the Irish…I don’t like anyone.

A paltry $75K saphire, peridot and diamond bluet clip at Tiffany's

Louis Vuitton Mens SS 2011 / Photo: GQ

Prada's SS 2011 Ad f/ Mariacarla Boscono

Gao’s gorgeous face will grace LV’s campaigns after LVMH posted a 26% jump in sales during the first 9 months of 2010, in comparison to the previous year. According to reports, Chinese men were largely responsible for this growth as they spent more money on luxury goods than their female counterparts.

Louis Vuitton no doubt hopes that Asian men will positively respond to someone who reflects their culture representing the brand, but Chris Kyme, founder of a Hong Kong creative ad agency, thinks it might have the opposite effect:

“If your target audience in Louis Vuitton is for Chinese guys, I’m not sure this would appeal to men. It seems like it would appeal more to women. Chinese guys want to feel reassured and congratulated on their success rather than be shown a pretty model with their product.”

Kyme believes that Louis Vuitton ads that featured celebrities like Keith Richards and Bono “are better suited (*cough* racist *cough*) to the brand and its demographic.”

Well pu pu platter on you, Chris Kyme. I don’t know about Chinese guys but this ad sure appeals to me and I’m glad to see some more diversity in advertising.

Besides, Godfrey Gao is a celebrity. You clearly need to catch up on your I Want to Become a Hard Persimmon.

Link Love: Wall Street Journal

Sean works with Tim Howard Management where he styles for some of the biggest, top-tier luxury campaigns coming out today. He collaborates with noted photographers like Annie Leibovitz, Alexi Lubomirski, Dusan Reljin and Doug English, to name a few.

After hearing Sean’s schedule and upcoming projects, I felt very fortunate to meet him at West Village’s Sant Ambroeuse Café for a short interview. For about 15 minutes we sipped coffee, as I shot off questions on a warm and sunny Thursday morning. Here’s a snippet of our chat:

You’ve styled everyone from famous Rappers and Sports Icons to Top Models and Bono. Who were some of the most fun people to work with?

“I love Harry Connick. I met him on a job, and we became really good friends. I guess the Bono trip to Africa with Louis Vuitton was sort of a career high. I’ve worked with a lot of celebrities, but there’s some that you get there and you think wow. And Robert Redford, I did him for Vanity Fair’s Green Issue. All of a sudden I was in his kitchen, and I was completely stunned.”

What got you started in styling? Did you roll out of the womb with fashion sense, or did you learn it along the way?

“I think I always liked clothes. I had a very chic father and aunt, and I often traveled with my aunt. I was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and I grew up in Massachusetts; I went to Newport in the summers. There were a lot of people to be inspired by. I’m very traditional I think, and that brought me to where I am in my taste.”

What’s it like working with Tim Howard Management?

“Tim is amazing. Outside of modeling, Tim is one of the first people I met in the business, and we’ve had a great working and personal relationship ever since.”

What advice would you have for young, aspiring stylists who want to be where you’re at someday, working at a high professional level?

“I’m really big on training. I’m really big on working for an editor who you respect and whose work you like. It’s a lot more than just putting a dress on a model. Everyone thinks fashion is very glamorous, and it is to a certain extent, but I think it’s a lot of hard work.”

“When I was working under Camilla Nickerson, all the young girls at Vogue were always there late nights packing bags. It’s not just front row shows. I think they have to be prepared to learn and listen and really work hard. I never turned down a job, and I have huge work ethic. I think with most people in my field it’s a lot of work. They’re always on a plane. My advice would be get a master’s degree in business.”

We’ve seen your contributions in Men’s Vogue China. Fashion-wise, where do you think Asia is right now?

“I think they’re almost ahead of us. Right now Asia is so exciting, especially China. When I go to the shows, sometimes I feel completely underdressed because all the Asian editors are so spot on.”

In one of your latest projects you paid homage to the amazing Steven Meisel. How were you able to capture his spirit in your styling?

“I really had the idea for that story 14 years ago when I worked on set with Steven Meisel.  This season was so big about coats, and I shot with Dusan Reljin to capture the feeling. I had just shot Sean O’Pry for something else, and I thought he definitely looked very Steven. Ben Skervin did the hair, and it was perfect. Everything just kind of came together. He sent me a thank-you note, Mr. Meisel. He loved that story.

You’ve styled for celebrities like Kanye, P Diddy and Sean Connery. What can we find in your own closet?

“You’ll find about 25 to 30 white shirts. You’ll find too many pairs of black pants, navy blue sweaters, gray sweaters, a gray flannel suit from Prada, a blue flannel suit from Prada and a Valentino tuxedo. I get a lot of items, but I give them away. That’s what I always have in my closet. You’ll also find John Lobb shoes and Pierre Hardy shoes.”

Can you share a few secrets on what some of your favorite stores to pick up your styling pieces are?

“When I do advertising, I live by, swear by and am loyal to Barneys. Laura Mannix at Barneys is the queen of all of New York stylists. If you’re not in with Laura you can’t do your job.”

Being really, truly one of the world’s foremost stylists LookBooks is curious… what are some of your own commandments of style?

“I think you should be stylish, but you shouldn’t look overly-styled. My commandment would be classic – keep it classic.”

For more on Sean Spellman’s work, see his THM profile here.

Recently we posted a video of Lady Gaga’s and her  flame bra, now Bono is wearing a leather jacket complete with 240 lasers. Apparently, a sequin glove a la Michael Jackson is no longer enough to grab headlines. Designer Moritz Waldemeyer claims the lasers were completely safe for the audience to view, but we’re not convinced. What will they come up with next?

SOURCE: Gizmodo

Snapped at a show in London recently, Bono hit the stage with guyliner in place of his trademark shades.

Photo from Jezebel.

Lot 78′s new Spring collection can be summed up simply by saying, it’s wearable. The denim and outerwear is well crafted, and is something that any man could wear. I will say there is some “wow” factor that is missing and that wannabe Bono model has got to go with those yellow glasses.

Thanks Selectism