- Marchesa is launching a lower priced contemporary line with prices ranging from $150 to $750. [Styleite]

- Now that her body is allegedly back, Mariah Carey has turned to legendary bod-con designer Azzedine Alaïa to design an exclusive wardrobe for Mimi’s upcoming events. But for Mariah, an event can mean anything from an awards show to a trip to the laundo. Either way, she’ll be doing it in style. [Vogue.it]

- The fact that Linda Evangelista commands $100,000 for a runway appearance may explain why she laments that “There’s not a lot of demand” for her these days. [ELLE]

- That’s certainly not the case at this year’s Met Ball, however, where Evangelista will be the guest of the star of the show, Miuccia Prada. [Modelinia]

- In other Costume Institute Gala news, Elsa Schiaparelli‘s eponymous label is being relaunched with Farida Khelfa as brand ambassador, though the designer won’t be revealed till October. *cough* John Galliano. [Refinery29]

- Perry Capital is now the majority owner of Barneys New York after agreeing to reduced the luxury department store’s debt from a staggering $590 million to a far more manageable $50 million.

- Tyra Banks and Drake went on a date to Disneyland wearing disguises, but when has a fake mustache ever worked outside of a Bugs Bunny cartoon? But honestly, it would probably be more effective if Drake wore it next time. [Global Grind]

- France will soon have a new First Lady as Carla Bruni-Sarkozy‘s incumbent husband lost to Valerie Trierweiler‘s socialist candidate boyfriend. [Huff Post]

- Kris Jenner, the “World’s Greatest Mom” (now that Dina Lohan is…where is she again?) has decided to countersue the makers of Frownies, the anti-aging skincare line for which Jenner was supposed to be the lift-free face, after they initially sued her for getting a facelift for her daughter’s publicity stunt wedding. [Huff Post]

1. The Big Lebowski (1998) Years before the Coen brothers got all serious and Cormac McCarthy on us, they created the greatest stoner in the history of cinema -- Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski: a white-Russian-swilling, bathrobe-in-the-middle-of-the-day-wearing, pin-striking, ass-kicking, Julianne-Moore-shtupping masterwork of a human being, man.

2. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) A trip for some late night munchies has some unexpected consequences but perhaps the most surprising thing about Harold & Kumar is just how smart and well-observed it is, painting one of the most true-to-life and accurate portraits of young stonerdom. That and the resurgence of The Actor Currently Known as NPH, Neil Patrick Harris.

3. Pineapple Express (2008) I saw this movie in theaters three times when it first came out. Meaning I paid to see this movie three times. And in the age of the illegal download that's saying something. Why did I go back so often? Two words: James Franco. Sure I loved the completely gratuitous violence, the stupid (but still side-splitting) jokes and of course Rosie Perez as a foul-mouthed pocket-sized cop, but Franco made the movie in a, yes, career-defining role as the kind-hearted but dim-witted dealer Saul. Of course, said career till then was mostly as Peter Parker's sidekick and one season as Daniel Desario, but I digress.

4. Friday (1995) In the vast Ice Cube film canon, the original Friday looms large. Thanks to his loudmouth stoner friend Smokey, played by professional loudmouth Chris Tucker, Ice Cube's Curtis faces certain doom unless he and Smokey can come up with $200 -- it is 1995, after all -- to pay back the drug dealer, Big Worm. A series of trials and tribulations contribute to Curtis' life, but in the end it turns out to be a good day. And he didn't even have to use his AK.

5. Rolling Kansas (2003) When their town runs dry, a group of friends embark on a road trip to a fabled, government-owned marijuana farm to find their fortune. Directed and co-written by Thomas Haden Church (of Wings and Sideways fame) and featuring a hilarious cameo by Rip Torn, this little indie gem is about as delightful as any great high.

6. Dazed & Confused (1993) What feats of thespian fortitude it took for noted bongo enthusiast Matthew McConaughey to portray stoner David Wooderson we'll never know. But it's all right, all right, all right, because even though we all get older, this movie stays the same: awesome.

7. How High (2001) Redman and Method Man proudly carried the torch that Ice Cube sparked and passed years earlier with one of the dumbest/most creative plots ever for a stoner movie: using his dead friend's ashes as weed fertilizer, Mef smokes the resulting bud with Red before taking their THCs, Testing for Higher Credentials-- see what I mean. All through the movie the two get fucked up and fuck up higher education, along the way giving Lisa Turtle something to do.

8. Half Baked (1998) From the minds of Chappelle's Show creators, Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, Half Baked was born. In order to bail one of their idiot friends out of jail, three other idiots sell weed stolen by Chappelle's Thurgood from his job as a janitor in a pharmaceutical lab. There are a lot of high hijinks, some of which have not aged well, but the best parts are Chappelle pulling double duty as pothead rapper Sir Smokes-a-Lot and cameos from marijuana magistrates like Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson.

9. Reefer Madness (1936) Back when marijuana -- the devil's leaf, wacky tobaccky, the dreaded reefer -- was perceived as the downfall of Western Civilization, Hollywood reacted in kind with this propaganda film meant to scare the youth of the day away from the the jazz, the hooch and the dangerous Mary Jane. Decades later, the hysteria is just plain hysterical as the lives of its thinly-drawn protagonists literally go to pot.

10. Smiley Face (2007) Following his dark, critically-acclaimed ode to male hustling, Mysterious Skin, Gregg Araki decided to lighten things up a little with Smiley Face, starring Scary Movie stalwart Anna Faris as a perpetually stoned actress whose life gets flushed down the toilet thanks to a series of increasingly worse misadventures after eating her roommate's pot brownies. The film is by no means perfect and kind of drifts along aimlessly -- it is a stoner film after all -- but it's at least worth watching for Farris' perfectly dazed performance.

Franco’s first of his “Episodes of an Untitled Film” will debut on February 15 on Seven’s YouTube channel with a new episode premiering every week. The aforementioned “Untitled Film” is actually titled The Death of Natalie Wood, an extended three-hour version of which will be played as part of “Rebel,” an art installation at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Inspired by Rebel without a Cause starring Wood and James Dean, “Rebel” also features work from Ed Ruscha, Paul McCarthy, Damon McCarthy, Aaron Young and Harmony Korine.

Franco’s interest cum obsession with James Dean is akin to Linday Lohan‘s obsession cum super-obsession with Marilyn Monroe, only to a more successful — and a more clothed — degree. You may remember that post-Freaks and Geeks Franco played Dean in a made-for-TV movie and later directed a biographical movie on Sal Mineo, Dean’s tragic sidekick in the 1955 classic. “Part of me wanted to fill it out and do a tribute to Natalie Wood, as well,” Franco said in reference to the untitled film’s title.

As for his collaboration with Seven, Franco had this to say about it: “The videos have a vintage feel to them. They feel like they are from a different era, which I think really fits with the new line that Seven had in the shoot — a lot of cool denim tops and jeans…The look of the film and the clothes feels very Seventies. We shot right on the beach and drove up the PCH [Pacific Coast Highway], so I guess you could say it’s a vintage 1970’s California dreamy feel. The movies that I cut together have a lot of weird double exposures and super- imposed images over other images, so it’s a real, I guess you could say, trip.”

The film features a cast of models/actors/artists/musicians I’ve never heard of — as well as a cameo by Franco himself — while Lily Donaldson takes center stage in the print campaign (above). And while he’s no stranger to modeling as the broodingly handsome face of Gucci for the past few seasons, Jimmy Francs is also in talks to move behind the camera to direct something for the Italian house. [WWD]

Check out a behind-the-scenes look at James Franco’s Seven for All Mankind film below:

Photos: Fucking Young! 

In the mag Franco (chosen as the man of the decade) gives a great interview about his work, his life as a celebrity and as a different persona, which he deliberately created.

VMAN 24 hits stores this Thursday.

There is a video on the Kickstarter page for MONA fundraising where James Franco and two other artists are describing their “works”. And this is the art. They describe their ideas, and the collector would purchase a card with a description and authentification. And hang it next to nothing.

“The Non-Visible Museum is an extravaganza of imagination, a museum that reminds us that we live in two worlds: the physical world of sight and the non-visible world of thought. Composed entirely of ideas, the Non-Visible Museum redefines the concept of what is real. Although the artworks themselves are not visible, the descriptions open our eyes to a parallel world built of images and words. This world is not visible, but it is real, perhaps more real, in many ways, than the world of matter, and it is also for sale.”

James Franco and the Praxis team Brainard and Delia Carey, along with curator of the PS122 Museum, Vallejo Gantner must have been on the Pineapple Express when they came up with this one…

Well it’s raised more than their goal of $5000, so it’s actually going to happen. Really nothing is going to happen, if you really think about it.

Franco is judging you right now, ladies. Sexily.

And the nominees are: director of photography Caroline Champetier for Of Gods and Men; Jessica Chastain, star of Terrence Malick‘s The Tree of Life; screenwriter Federica Pontremoli for Habemus Papam; Nansun Shi, the producer behind Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame; and producer/director of Attenberg, Athina Tsangari.

The winner will be chosen September 2 by Franco, Gucci creative director Frida Giannini and occasional actress Robin Wright formerly Penn. [WWD]

- James Franco, the poor man’s Renaissance man, shot Agyness Deyn, Natalia Bonifacci and Imogen Poots as eternal rebel, James Dean for Elle. [Elle]

- Jessica Simpson‘s come a long way from moderately successful/talented pop tart to…respected (?) businesswoman. Next step towards legitimacy? Mentoring aspiring designers on NBC‘s Fashion Star hosted by Elle MacPherson. Keep on trotting, lady. [Fashionista]

- Alber Elbaz debuted Lanvin‘s new kid’s line and it’s haute cute-ure. [Styleite]

- Mariah Carey may have — allegedly — given birth to twins recently, but Mimi is already back to work.  After all she now has three mouths to feed — though I think it’s cute that Nick Cannon pretends to work. Mariah’s “remixing” a trio of scents under the name Lollipop Splash Remix. A cameo by Puff Daddy and Ma$e is sure to follow. [WWD]

- Adorable teen/Oscar nominee/burgeoning style star Hailee Steinfeld is the new face of Miu Miu. [Just Jared]

- A rash of human hair robberies — not as in people snatching other people bald but rather thieves stealing extensions made of human hair — has resulted in thousands of dollars in losses and at least one death. [NYT]

- In response to Pippa Middleton‘s ass and its inability to quit, British plastic surgeons have seen a 60% spike in butt-lifting procedures. [StyleList]

- Aside from not being a particularly catchy title, Why Are Black Women Rated Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women, But Black Men Are Rated Better Looking Than Other Men? is a little on the controversial side. And a lot on the racist side. [Styleite]

- Remember when James Franco went to college and we all giggled to ourselves? Well, Franco’s got the last laugh now and it’s not just even because he was probably high. [Buzzfeed]

- The sight of Anna Wintour in Easy Breezy Tennis Casual was at first jarring. Then my mind was officially blown when I learned that she was in $158 J. Brand boot-cut jeans. Not because they were $158 J. Brand jeans, but a boot cut! I recently dug up a pair of flairs that I may or may not have stolen from a fifteen-year-old girl and of course proclaimed that the boot-cut was back. Anna Wintour is totes copying me, you guys. [The Cut]

- Bikini Man-Waxing is becoming a trend among — I’m guessing since it’s now becoming a trend — among straight men since the gays have been hairless since the early 90s. Boy Brazilians for everyone! [Refinery29]

- Three paparazzi photographers are taking Gisele‘s bodyguards to court after they allegedly fired shots at them two years ago during the super’s wedding to football-playing-guy Tom Brady. Sounds like Gisele needs to hire bodyguards with better aim. [Huff Po]

- Condé Nast got swindled into paying $8 million to someone who was apparently in Deliverance. [Styleite]

- James Franco has retired from Twitter, leaving a noticeable dearth of kitten pictures and tirades against Bruce Villanch. I’d be happy to take up the latter cause. [EW]

- According to American Apparel‘s Chairman Dov Charney, the company is doing just fiiiiiine, thank you: “We have a variety of options. We could do a private placement of stock. Or we could use the resources we have. We do $10 million a week in sales.” However, $10 mil a week in sales didn’t keep the company from an $86.3 million net loss in 2010. I guess sheer bodystockings aren’t as popular as they used to be. [WWD]

Photos: YVY Mag

Brad Pitt is king of versatile, and the man can pull off any look. Spanning styles from an entire century in Benjamin Button, sporting dingy second-hand finds in Fight Club, and shifting to chic in Meet Joe Black – Brad owns any look he dons. He teaches us to dominate the clothes we wear, instead of letting them upstage us.

Hollywood’s indie fashion expert, Johnny Depp has schooled masses of men in fedoras and Bohemian scarves.

George Clooney knows that to dress like a movie star, you shouldn’t try to dress like a movie star. Always understated, never overdone – Clooney reveals that simple sophistication is key to formalwear.

Matt Damon is a t-shirt and jeans kind of guy. Yet, he never looks like a fratty college guy. Fitted tee and dark tailored jeans, Damon maintains his manliness.

Master of modern prep, Chace Crawford demonstrates the art of urban cool.

Who doesn’t like James Franco? The guy looks like James Dean, freely offers goofball smiles, and wears well-tailored jackets like this one. A timeless leather jacket is the first step towards looking like a big screen superstar.

Josh Hartnett embraces the artsy actor inside. You can see Josh strutting the streets of NYC in easy trendy looks like this one. Josh never tries too hard. Neither should you.

Ryan Gosling knows a suit’s fit is really more important than the label. It’s not the money you spend on it; it’s how you wear it.

Robert Pattinson sports plenty of stylish looks. But let’s be honest. It’s the hair that separates this English actor from that other guy in Twilight. Never forget the hair.

Ryan Reynolds is another leading man with adaptable style. You could wrap a burlap sack around the man; he’d still look like a baller. In the end, it’s Reynolds’ never-waiving confidence that allows him to land Hollywood beauties like Scarlett Johansson. A confident gaze is the essential finishing-touch for any ensemble.

attends the Michael Clayton Premiere in Venice during Day 3 of the 64th Venice Film Festival on August 31, 2007 in Venice, Italy.

Photo: Refinery29

- Dov Charney has been accused of behavior even despicable by his loose, scumbaggy standards. What could that possibly be, you ask? How’s about subjecting a young girl to sex slavery for her 18th birthday (allegations AA denies). Happy Birthday — slip on this muzzle!…The Charlie Sheen Story. [Racked]

- “Artist” Richie Budd has encased a bunch of not completely unattractive frat boys behind Plexiglass in the exhibition, “Come on Guy” (one must assume) for the sake of art. And also for the sake of perverts who have been banned from every other peepshow in town. [Refinery 29]

- Kate Middleton to wear Alexander McQueen at wedding? Reportedly, the princess-bride-to-be consulted British Vogue‘s EIC, Alexandra Shulman over the momentous gown. All hail the McQueen! [The Cut]

- Matthew Morrison‘s album art was clearly dug up from a never released early-90s Richard Marxx project. Meanwhile, shelve this easy listening snoozefest and give me Amber Riley‘s record, ASAP. [Just Jared]

- Kanye West will not be attending Central Saint Martins after all, it seems. According to a CSM spokesperson: ”He isn’t coming to study the MA course but he did visit the college regarding a separate issue last week.” I hope that “separate issue” involves renaming the college Central Saint Kanyes. [Vogue.co.uk]

- Recession, resmession! Is there even a recession anymore/does anyone even care? Well Michael Kors certainly could give two shits. He’s opened his largest store in the world: a sprawling 7,000 square feet in Paris. [NYT]

- And at the Paris opening of his new store, Mary J. Blige “confirmed a year-old report that she will portray Nina Simone in an upcoming biopic” by covering a Simone classic. I’m officially starting my Oscar pool early this year. [NYT]

- Miss J. Alexander once famously said (on one of the 62 cycles of Top Model): “Fashion has no sympathy or empathy.” Well, if you’re John Galliano, that may not be absolutely true. [The Cut]

- Walking lab experiment James Franco has been tooling around with supermodel Agyness Deyn and has uploaded some of their kooky exploits on the Twitter. [Oh No They Didn't!]

Anne looked stunning and statuesque in a purple Armani Privé Spring 2011 Couture gown. I love the glamorous air she radiates in this dress that literally shines.

Fit: 5

Trendiness: 5

Appropriateness: 5

Styling: 5

Hair: 3

Makeup: 4

Pose: 4

Confidence: 5

Credit: Tom & Lorenzo

Anne wore her final look of the show to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party and brought all of the glamour with her. She looked stunning in a dazzling red Atelier Versace gown.

Fit: 5

Trendiness: 4

Appropriateness: 5

Styling: 5

Hair: 5

Makeup: 5

Pose: 3

Confidence: 4

For her absolutely smashing singing performance that should put her immediately on Broadway, Anne wore a custom Lanvin tuxedo with custom Swarovski crystal-encrusted Brian Atwood satin pumps. She looks like a classic beauty performing in an old Hollywood movie. Can’t get enough!

Fit: 5

Trendiness: 4

Appropriateness: 5

Styling: 4

Shoes: 5

Hair: 5

Makeup: 5

Pose: 5

Confidence: 5

Anne is truly a modern day movie star. She obviously stole the show even though I love James Franco and thought he looked smashing as well. Sigh.

Credit: Tom & Lorenzo

Credit: Tom & Lorenzo

Everyone stood up for Billy Crystal when he showed up on stage at the Oscars last night, as if there was a certain sense of relief: daddy’s home. Hosting the Oscars is basically a thankless job (see: Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien, Alec Baldwin/Steve Martin etc., etc.). It’s like walking a tightrope above a sea of sharks in couture gowns and Tom Ford tuxedos. Crystal was the go-to person for years and will probably be asked back next year.

Which isn’t to say that Anne Hathaway and James Franco didn’t do a decent job. The opening was hilarious and provided us with this little token of awesomeness, otherwise known as James Franco in a leotard:

They’re actors so they were best in a pre-taped skit, but then things took a quick dive, salvaged only by Anne Hathaway’s plucky charm and seven wardrobe changes (the best being the blue Armani Privé and the final Tom Ford, though in truth I would’ve preferred a few more looks; that first Givenchy Haute Couture seemed to last for. ever.)

Franco was high or just being James Franco, either way he was apparently too busy tweeting to commit fully to his hosting duties.  Though, honestly, it’s James Franco and I could care less what he does as long as he’s just around, perhaps lurking in a corner somewhere. And preferably in drag:

Photo: Huffington Post

It wasn’t Cher, but girl will throw a wig on at the drop of a hat.

The acceptance speeches were long-winded and boring, with the award for Most Pompous Grandstander going to Aaron Sorkin, natch. Luckily we had Best Supporting Actress Melissa Leo throwing the F-word around like it was going out of style. Combined with 900-year-old Kirk Douglas stealing the show and hobbling away with it, there was nothing really to hold interest past the first 45 minutes of the show.

The King’s Speech took home four awards, the four biggest awards at that: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and most deservedly, Best Actor for Colin Firth, who delivered an eloquent and clever speech like only the British can. I was pulling for dark horse, Black Swan, though The Social Network had blown its wad at the earlier awards shows.

Natalie Portman won Best Actress over multiple snubbee, Annette Bening and delivered another adorable speech. Christian Bale took home Best Supporting Actor and from the looks of him probably went back to living in a cardboard box. Though, forest beard or not, I’d still hit it.

Gwyneth Paltrow made an appearance on an Oscar stage for the first time in who gives a…performing “Coming Home” from Country Strong and Cee Lo‘s presence was certainly missed.

All in all, the show was a big snooze, but I’m seriously going to miss all the hooplah of awards season. There’s nothing to look forward to now until the Emmys in September! Oh, and I guess the VMAs if you’re into that kind of trash. Twas a good season though, full of great movies and a poorly produced Oscars telecast, but now we can all refer to that guy from Nine Inch Nails as “Academy Award winner Trent Reznor.”

- Aguilera’s alcoholism knows no boozy bounds. [Celebitchy]

- Kirsten Dunst steps in to fill Julianne Moore‘s nonexistent shoes at Bulgari. Dunst won’t have to suckle any cubs, however, as the lion is now fully grown. Cue the opening to “Circle of Life.” [Huff Po]

- OMG, even James Franco‘s design illustration for his Gucci tux at the Oscars is dreamy. And, let’s be real, probably stoned too. [Style.com]

- Rachel Zoe thought her water could “totally break” at the opening for the new Tom Ford store on Rodeo Drive last night. That baby’s first words would have been, “I. Die.” [NY Mag]

- Lady Gaga‘s perfume will contain samples of her blood and will smell like an “expensive hooker.” [Huff Po]

- Salvatore Ferragamo was a friend of Dorothy. The designer created Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers for The Wizard of Oz, and is one of many designers to have collaborated in film. From Coco Chanel to Rodarte, explore a brief history of fashion in film. [Style.com]

- Just when you thought the White House couldn’t get more fierce, there’s a new bitch in town. Jeremy Bernard is the brand new, openly gay White House Social Secretary. I can’t wait for him and Mo to get mani-peds together while dishing over Barack‘s approval rating. In the bedroom. Go head girl! [Gawker]

- Ladies at the Oscars this year are not fucking around with their heels The rule is go sky high or go home. [NY Mag]

Photo: Celebitchy/WENN

It’s a completely different thing, however, to deny us our favorite gender-bending, mindfucking, A-list boycrush heartthrob James Franco performing the song. And in Cher drag no less. This is the OSCARS, for Chaz Bono’s sake. The only people watching are the gays, the elderly and the Jews, and I think I can safely say that we are all very disappointed in you, Academy.

Franco tweeted on Monday: ”they pulled this from the oscar show. damn it,” including an audio clip of him “belting” out “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me Yet.” The alleged plan was to have Jimmy Francs cover the song then Cher to come out and show him how an Oscar-winning legend does it. But considering the Diane Warren-penned, Golden Globe-winning tune has been left out of the nominations, that is merely a pipe dream.

Producers apparently thought it “inappropriate” to devote so much time and attention to a song and movie that were not even nominated. Blah blah blah.

Well Cher, never known for her subtlety, took to her Twitter in a series of rants to give the world a piece of her mind:

“Ok this IS ME BEING A BABY ! MY HEART IS BROKEN ! I WAS UPSET AFTER WINNING THE GOLDEN GLOBE … Not to b nominated by the Academy, but the Music Voting process is different Than the acting directing etc etc … Process ALL ACTORS GET A CHANCE TO VOTE 4 ALL the actors , same with directors etc ! With Orig Song … There is Blue Ribbon Panel of a few people who decide ! Unlike ALL Actors Getting To Decide Who The ACTOR Nominees will b ! … James Franco was going to dress up in the “Welcome to Burlesque outfit & sing U Haven’t Seen the Last of me … I was OVER THE MOON ! cause even if I did get Snubbed by the music part of the Academy … How Cool was it to sing your song … To have YOUR SONG sung by James Fkn Franco in Your Outfit ! Well I guess his singing ( unlike his Acting Sucks ) … But he COULD HAVE LIP SYNCED ! oh well I’m all sour grapes ! It was GREAT THAT HE thought the Song was good enough to try ! … Gotta count our blessings where we find them ! Disappointment passes! But I’ll keep this Song alive.”

Later, these tweets were removed, along with Franco’s, leaving only speculation and hearsay. But it’s 2011 and whenever something happens, someone’s going to see it. Which leads me to believe that there is a vast Academy Awards conspiracy against…well, I haven’t figured out who or what it is against, but once I do….the whole crazy shitshow will come crumbling down like so many Saltine crackers.

Link Love: ET Online, E! Online

- Geez, they’ll let anyone teach at Columbia these days. James Franco will teach “Master Class: Editing James Franco… with James Franco.” I can’t wait til his students take to task re-editing Pineapple Express into a serious drama about drug addiction and gun violence. [Gawker]

- Halle Berry is ready to take her ex, Aussie hunk Gabriel Aubry, to court over custody of their daughter Nahla. How ready is she? So ready she dropped out of a Garry Marshall film. Remember him, the guy who did Pretty Woman and then nothing ever again? [Just Jared]

- Well, Berry’s loss is Katherine Heigl‘s gain. And everyone else’s loss. [Gawker]

- W claims that Kim’s “tearful” accusations of being “exploited” were unfounded as her editorial was meant to “document the career and power of Kim Kardashian as a work of art.”  All I have to say about that is the Mona Lisa never made a sex tape. [NY Mag]

- Speaking of sex tape, Indonesian singer Ariel was sentenced to 3 and 1/2 years for a sex tape that leaked with him and two women. I’d like to suggest we implement this rule here in the states. ASAP. [Gawker]

- J. Crew shareholder claim their $3 billion settlement is insufficient. In other news, Haiti is still happening. [NY Mag]

- Once upon a time, there was a prince named Lacroix who saved the beautiful princess from looking like a cheap starlet recovering from meth. And they all lived happily ever after. Until the prince declared bankruptcy and his atelier was closed. The End. [T Magazine]

Joining the other kids are, from left to right: Oscar nominee, Jennifer Lawrence looking like a wintry bone in her thigh-high-slit gown; Anthony Mackie has a nice seat between Lawrence and the scantily-clad Olivia Wilde in what looks like one of J. Lo‘s cast-offs from 10 years ago; other Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg cozies up to the bar to act as Mila’s arm rest while my future ex-husband Joseph Gordon-Levitt channels the ghosts of the Rat Pack; Eisenberg’s Social Network co-star and newly minted Spider-Man (luckily not the one in that Broadway disaster) Andrew Garfield straddles the bar next to his other Facebook friend, Rashida Jones, who, gorgeous in a leopard-print gown, is feeding, of all things, a baby leopard; rounding out the stellar line-up are hunky Tron-vict, Garrett Hedlund and dragon-tattooed girl, Noomi Rapace.

Norman Jean Roy captured the 15 actors over a two-day shoot in New York and Los Angeles. Video of the scene behind the shoot follows.

Photo: Vanity Fair

I’m not gonna lie, I’m actually looking forward to James and Anne. Hosting the Oscars is a thankless job; after all, you’re dealing with the biggest egos in the world in one room and kids and families watching at home around the world.

This ain’t gonna be Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes, kids.

On the bright side, both James and Anne were pretty good in their relative SNL hosting duties…and let’s face it, they’re both attractive enough to the point that whatever they say won’t really matter.

Look at ‘em, they’re just so cute when they try!

The King’s Speech stuttered its way to 12 nominations, while True Grit lassoed in 10. The Fighter came out swinging and took 8 nods, though not one for its leading man, Mark Wahlberg. The Social Network friened 8  nominations as well, but the hype from Black Swan might have stepped on the film’s toes, garnering only 5 nominations — which, by the way, does not include one for Best Costume Design…the Mulleavy sisters are maniacally cackling in their atelier right now.

Black Swan‘s supporting actresses, Mila Kunis and Barbara Hershey were also shut out. Instead, Amy Adams (The Fighter), Golden Globe winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter), Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech), Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom) and 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) will compete for that honor.

In a surprising twist, Mark Ruffalo earned a (well-deserved) nomination for The Kids Are All Right, which was nominated for three other awards including Best Actress Annette Bening (her fourth nomination and thankfully Hilary Swank is nowhere to be seen), Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

Ruffalo will compete against Golden Globe winner Christian Bale (The Fighter), Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech), John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone) and Jeremy Renner (The Town).

Host James Franco might have to pull double duty should he win Best Actor (he won’t, Colin Firth‘s all but claimed it and already has his name engraved on the statue). Nominated for 127 Hours, Daniel Desario will face (and arm) off against Firth (The King’s Speech), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), last year’s winner Jeff Bridges (True Grit) and surprise nominee, Javier Bardem (Biutiful), who apparently usurped Ryan Gosling for Blue Valentine.

The Best Actress category, however, held no surprises. Along with Annette Bening, Natalie Portman (Black Swan), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine), Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole) and Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) will have me on the edge of my seat in anticipation.

I’m so excited! Besides Fashion Week, there’s no other time of the year I love more than Oscar season! It’s the Super Bowl for the gays…besides the new Glee episode directly after the Super Bowl.

Link Love: Oscars

Other newsstand winners included GQ‘s triptych August cover featuring funnymen Tracy Morgan, Paul Rudd and Zach Galifinakis; Esquire‘s March cover with Leonardo Dicaprio boozing it up proved a hit  as did their September issue with possibly gay James Franco; and Details‘s March issue with Twilight‘s dreamy vamp Robert Pattinson sunk its teeth into the market.

Readers, however, avoided Pattinson’s co-star Taylor Lautner‘s July GQ cover, proving that tweenage girls aren’t very gentlemanly; not very many people were mad about Mad Men‘s Jon Hamm‘s Details cover in October; and Javier Bardem‘s cigarette was the only thing smoking about his February cover of Esquire.

Men’s Journal deigned to put  Mel Gibson on their cover and paid the price since very few people were willing to pay for it. Next time, Men’s Journal, strip down that raging anti-Semite and give him a smoky eye, maybe then he’ll sell a few more copies.

Link Love: WWD

“Maybe I’m just gay,” Franco told Entertainment Weekly. (But there’s more to the story than that.)

“There are lots of other reasons to be interested in gay characters than wanting myself to go out and have sex with guys,” said Franco. Like any top-tier thespian, Franco loves diving into complex roles. He adds, “I’ve played a gay man who’s living in the ’60s and ’70s, a gay man who we depicted in the ‘50s, and one being in the ‘20s. And those were all periods when to be gay, at least being gay in public, was much more difficult.”

I’m undecided on Franco’s gayness level. Perhaps he thinks homo-erotic roles will increase his Oscar potential — worked for Sean Penn!

More J-Franco pics…

Link Love: EW

The Critics’ Choice Awards are a minor affair since no one cares what critics have to say anyway. But it is one of the early forecasters for the Big Show, the Academy Awards. And if the list of nominees is any indication, shove the geezers out of the way because the kids are taking over the Oscars.

It’s already been announced that Anne Hathaway and James Franco will be hosting the ceremony in February. Franco is expected to be nominated for Best Actor for Danny Boyle‘s 127 Hours, which has received Critics’ Choice nominations, in addition for Franco’s performance, for Best Picture, Best  Adapted Screenplay and Best Director.

Franco faces stiff competition from Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine) and Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) in the Best Actor category, while Goslin’s co-star and current paramour, Michelle Williams will face off against Natalie Portman (Black Swan) and awards show veterans Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole) and my personal favorite, Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right) for Best Actress.

In addition to Best Actress, Black Swan‘s 11 other nominations include  Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress Mila Kunis (a long way from That 70s Show), Best Original Screenplay and Best Director for Daron Aronofsky.

With so many of Hollywood’s hot, young talent being showered with awards this season, the Oscars and other trophy ceremonies will certainly draw in a younger demographic and probably a substantial audience. And I will continue to question what I’m doing wrong in my life.

Full list of nominees:

LINK LOVE: The Hollywood Reporter

Watch the smooching here

When discussing his role in the 2002 flick Sonny on Bravo‘s Inside the Actor’s Studio, Franco revealed how he researched for the role. He shadowed an actual man-whore, even witnessing the dirty, sweaty sex that takes place in the back of a stripclub.

Because there’s no other kind of sex that takes place in the back of a stripclub.

“It went down.” he said. “Everything went down, as you see in the movies and hear about. The eerie thing is, it was like a movie, but it wasn’t a movie – it was the real thing, happening in front of me.”

Ah, that takes me back. I remember seeing an orgy on the dancefloor of 54 in 19-I-can’t-quite-recall. I tell you, you learn a lot about life after seeing Liza spread eagle between two shirtless hustlers while Andy Warhol spanks her with a Halston turtleneck he’s jerry-rigged into a cat o’ nine tails.

Good times.

LINK LOVE: Daily Mail

I’m expecting a handful of musical numbers shouldered by the plucky Hathaway while Franco, high from repeated backstage bong hits, instigates an impromptu threesome with Sir Helen Mirren and Dame Ian McKellan in the middle of his acceptance speech for 127 Days.

LINK LOVE: Deadline

Why is James Franco doing this? Well, why does James Franco do anything? He’s either perpetually stoned or VERY serious about his performance art (probably both).

“Three’s Company: The Drama,” according to the Sundance Institute, will be “a multi-media examination of the classic ’70s sitcom.” A sociocultural analysis of homophobia, misogyny, polyamorous relationships, the symbolism behind the Regal Beagle, and Suzanne Somers‘ boobs? WOW! Sounds like my failed college thesis!

Television has undoubtedly shaped our world: our increased exposure to dramatic entertainment, the shapes of our houses, the shape of the time in our day. In this piece James Franco hopes to pull television from the box and view it from ‘a slightly oblique perspective.’

Again, I’m pretty sure Franco’s “slightly oblique perspective” just means he got totally blazed in front of a Nick at Nite marathon.

Link Love: Celebritology

LINK LOVE: The Superficial

Homegirl couldn't shave the forearm/calf regions? Come on, tranny.

I officially love this man.

LINK LOVE: Terry’s Diary

Terry Richardson shot James Franco for the cover of 2nd issue of Candy Magazine, the first transsexual fashion magazine.

He really does make a lovely woman doesn’t he?

         

LINK:http://betseyj.com/2010/09/monday-im-in-love-33/

James Franco looks incredilby dapper on Esquire’s September issue. I couldn’t come up with a more dapper gentleman for this issue. I’m not a huge fan of Esquire but I think they suckered me into buying a copy. Damn you Franco!

LINK LOVE:James Franco Covers Esquire

How he got along with co-star Nicolas Cage: “He’s as fucking batshit crazy as I am.”

How people describe his vibe: “I sound like a nerdier Christian Slater. And I look like James Franco‘s drug-addict brother.”

Gucci presents its latest addition to the fragrance world with James Franco as its main man. Gucci By Gucci Sport is meant to immerse you in that “sporty state of mind”. The fragrance will be sold in early April. But in the mean time, Mr. Franco’s “masculine air”, according to creative director Frida Giannini, will keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

LINK LOVE: WWD

James Franco can’t pronounce Gucci. It’s only funny if you can’t either, so prepare to be pissed fellow fashion lovette.

James Franco looks like such a badass in this ad, which is a quick departure from his pot smoking role in Pineapple Express. Besides Franco, this commercial is super creepy and just bad.

If you haven’t seen Pineapple Express yet you’re an idiot. Fashion Indie will unite and say that it is by far one of the funniest movies we have seen in a long time. Funny man James Franco will be gracing the cover of GQ this month, and I think I may have to invest in this issue rather than read it at Barnes & Noble then leave.

Of course, the most puzzling thing about the issue is calling Franco the next James Dean. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s been referred to as the “prince of cool’s” second coming (he played Dean in a made for TV movie back in 01), but in this post-Ledger day wouldn’t it be safe to say that the man who made the Joker terrifying deserves the title? Weigh in indies.

Ledger or Franco?

Who’s the next James Dean…

Thank you JustJared for the preview!