- The mogul currently known as Diddy is being sued over his Empress fragrance by the similarly titled Empress Hair Care Products. Because there are only so many classy, royal-themed names to go around. [Fashion Etc]

- David Beckham‘s commercial for his bodywear line with H&M will debut during the Super Bowl, giving you all at least one reason to tune in.

- Betty White celebrates her 90th birthday today and as befits a TV and entertainment legend, NBC put together a little special featuring other people who continue to openly mock death. [Washington Post]

- It’s showdown of the has-been starlets! Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox are reportedly vying for the made-for-TV role of a lifetime — on Lifetime —  as Elizabeth Taylor. [E!]

- L.L. Bean produced a Bootmobile that’s too big to fit the delicate foot of the Statue of Liberty. And good thing because I don’t want the symbol of this country in anything less than a stiletto, thank you. [Racked]

- The day before the birth of Blue Ivy Carter, over half of Papa Jay-Z‘s New York Rocawear employees were laid off for “economic reasons.”  Hey, someone’s got to pay for that $3500 lucite crib. [The Cut]

- Meanwhile, Momma Beyoncé‘s skin was apparently lightened for new promo pics for 4. Yawn. [Huff Po]

- Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs and others get the Squarepants treatment, courtesy of Dutch illustrator Mike Frederiqo. [Hint]

- The bro-ing of America continues as men become more and more in touch with their inner lady. The latest development,
“Brotox.” Women are even getting in on the action, gifting their dudes with the gift of immobile foreheads. [HuffPo]

- Dolce & Gabbana caused outrage — and protests — among Hong Kong citizens after passing a ban on photos of the store’s window displays. The ban, however, was not enforced for foreign shoppers or Chinese nationals. [WSJ]

- The Vatican continues sweet-talking the gays with Pope Benedict claiming gay marriage basically signals the downfall of humanity. Joke’s on him, that happened after season one of the Jersey Shore. [Towleroad]

- It may be time for Barbie to start picking better friends. Doll versions of Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian – called Dash dolls after their miniature Kardashian-inspired clothing — will befriend Mattel’s golden girl this year. In addition to wearing the trashy leopard print jumpsuits synonymous with the family’s Dash Boutiques, the dolls will “reflect the girls’ measurements.” Meaning the Khloe doll will be played by Ken. [MTV]

The Citizens Band is a magical musical group of wide-eyed bandits that I wish ruled the airwaves and the dance floors more than the pop racket we hear so much of. Their look may hearken back to Vaudevillian escapades and Weimar Republic wackiness but if you listen to their lyrics, it’s all very much of the moment politically and culturally. I sat down with two of the band’s founding members, Sarah Sophie Flicker and Mark McAdam, to hear how they got their start, how Karen Elson became involved and where in the world they find those KitKat Klub clothes.

When did the band start? 

Sarah Sophie Flicker: We started in 2004 in response to the second Bush administration. We tried out the idea of a band a while ago in Los Angeles and they weren’t very receptive of it.

Ha. The Kardashians aren’t very political I guess. Are you?

SSF: I like to think so. My husband and I have been a part of a political organization to campaign for Democrats in swing states for a while.

I am excited about what is happening now. People feel their voices can be heard. Unfortunately a lot of us are really disappointed with Obama’s run so we have to keep voting.

How did the first show come about?

SSF: I am also a filmmaker and Jeffrey Deitch asked me to screen one of my pieces at his old Williamsburg location. I knew they had high ceilings and an amazing space so we decided to give the band a shot.

Mark McAdam: But that was more of a variety show and it went on for three hours! Billy Corgan even got up and sang.

SSF: Deitch really fell in love with the band and we ended up on his artist roster. We had 3-4 shows at his gallery. I love artists’ collaborations. The more people you can pull in from different disciplines the better.

Lets talk the fashions. Where do you find your costumes?

 SSF: I grew up in the Bay area and used to go to The Wasteland vintage shop after ballet class and this girl Jorjee was working there. I always wanted to be her. I made her become my friend and she has an amazing esthetic. She grew up with Zaldy and Sophie LaMar and all those cool kids. She is now one of my closest friends and a main member of the band. She is also a super makeup artist.

Back then we would just get everything from showgirl outfits to lingerie and Victorian dresses. So I have always collected those things. Once Karen came into the mix we became obsessed with collecting more.

How did Karen Elson get involved?

SSF: She is one of my close friends and she has always been a singer but she was very shy. I remember at one of the first shows we had to drag Karen on stage and then we couldn’t get her off! It’s been amazing to watch her evolve as an artist. And she worked with a lot of us for her own album.

What is next for the band?

SSF: It’s a big political year for obvious reasons. We want to make a big show that makes apathy the enemy. Just with what is happening on the streets and the Occupations, I feel an electricity that I haven’t felt in my lifetime and it is something I am nostalgic for. I am excited about the focus and that the dialogue is changing. Our goal is to perform a lot, and also to do something beautiful and inspiring.

To read the rest, visit LOOKBOOKS.com!

North America : Canada

Jessica Stam

Coco Rocha

Shalom Harlow

Linda Evangelista

Link Love: Vogue.com

Photos: W

Photos via Fashion Gone Rogue

Vogue Italia‘s “Day and Night,” left; W‘s “Transformers,” right

The two shoots are not completely alike; after all W used 10 models including Linda Evangelista, Karen Elson and Jessica Stam, while Vogue Italia only used Zimmermann. And Karl Templer styled for Vogue Italia while Edward Enninful styled for W.

Still, the theme, and even some of the poses, of the two spreads are remarkably similar and they’re both in black and white, thus making the similarities even more apparent.

Sure this doesn’t seem like that big of a deal — fashion continually recycles itself, even if after only a month — but WWD, at least, thinks there might be repercussions:

“The fallout will be worth watching. If it damages W’s relationship with Meisel, [Stefano] Tonchi will lose out on a big-name photographer he’s craved for the magazine. If Tonchi doesn’t act, it will demonstrate the lengths a fashion magazine editor will go to appease a photographer who holds considerable influence in the industry.”

What’s Tonchi going to do, go to Condé Nast and issue a recall of all August Italian Vogues? Mesiel’s a brilliant photog — he just got a little lazy. It happens to the best of us. I got lazy when it came to the conclusion of this post…The End. [WWD]

Models Raquel Zimmermann, Karen Elson,  Lowell Tautchin, & Milo Spijkers dance in pairs to the Pitbull number, I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho.) The models have pretty smooth moves and the video even boasts a cameo by Alber Elbaz, creative director of Lanvin.

So what do you think of the video? Does it make you want to get up and bust a move.

There are faces and there’s Linda Fucking Evangelista.

Raquel Zimmermann and Karen Elson seriously get their dance on for photographer Steven Meisel in Lanvin’s Fall 2011 campaign. It’s almost silly how well this duo manages to show off Lanvin‘s new jewel-toned collection and keep straight faces the entire time, and we’re loving these new looks.

#1 Scissor Sisters

Costume changes! Near nakedness, sequins, glitter, a bronze body suit and a disco ball jacket. The gays know how to werq a show.

#2 Karen Elson

A skin colored a symmetrical dress with a flower in her hair (and black boots you can’t see) makes for the loveliest Thursday afternoon outfit. But I mean, she’s a model. If she didn’t look good, that’d be embarrassing… for us.

#3 Florence and the Machine

Seemingly bred from a different era, her timeless beauty is only upped by her sheer black wind whipping dress.

#4 Nicole Atkins

That geode is phenom! (See us obsessing over it last week) It’s by Nicole’s friend Jacuqeline Ehrler who creates custom leather for rockstars and fashion heads alike. She works under the name Queen of Hearts NYC. She’s got sweet style off stage too. Check this interview to see what else she was wearing this weekend.

#5 Arcade Fire

Win Butler fronts the headlining act in some sort of military tie dye. Put together yet wild, and a bit mind blowing, much like the entire performance.

- Grace Coddington‘s 70th birthday was a who’s who of fashion royalty, with a guest list including Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs, Naomi Campbell, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Annie Leibovitz,  Helmut Lang, André Leon Talley, Liya Kebede, Karen Elson, Stefano Pilati, Hamish Bowles, Karlie Kloss, Nicolas Ghesquière, Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier, Vera Wang, Edward Enninful, Riccardo Tisci, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez from Proenza Schouler and Laura and Kate Mulleavy from Rodarte. Twas clearly a magical night, as evidenced by this photo of Anna having what appears to be…a good time:

There but for the Grace of Coddington go I. [Styleite]

- Another image has “leaked” from Beyoncé‘s video shoot — either B has awful security or we’re just the pawns in her little chess game of pop supremacy…either way I couldn’t care less because she’s wearing Alexander McQueen. [Red Carpet Fashion Awards]

The eight ladies Murenu chose include Last of the Supermodels, Gisele Bundchen-Dicaprio-Brady, Carolyn Murphy, Karen Elson, Jamie Bochert and the perpetually naked Natasha Poly.

If you’re wondering what makes a muse, try this on for size. It took Gisesle twenty minutes to do this:

Why? Because when you’re a muse, the work is already done — you just show up.

See more from this a-musing (pun!) editorial at MDC.

The clothes are classic Tom Ford: a glittery mix of sophisticated sex appeal and high-voltage glamor. But who can look at the clothes when the women modeling them are just as stunning?

Julianne Moore, Natalia Vodianova, Carolyn Murphy, Lauren Hutton, Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman, Daphne Guinness, Rinko Kikuchi, Lakshmi Menon, Daria Werbowy, Rita Wilson, Stella Tennant, Lou Doillon, Amber Valletta, Liya Kebede, Du Juan, Anja Rubik, Abby Lee Kershaw, Edita Vilkeviciute, Joan Smalls, Liu Wen, Freja Beha Erichsen, Julia Reston-Roitfeld, Jac Jagaciak, and the Queen of World, Beyoncé all stomped and vamped their way down the runway, flanked by the Anna Wintours of the world to the tune of fellow hoofer Karen Elson‘s “Pretty Babies.”

Needless to say, it requires multiple viewings.

The beautiful Karen Elson is on the Jalouse August cover, wearing a dress from the Just Cavalli Fall 2010 collection and shoes by Sonia Rykiel, also from a fall 2010 collection.

LINK LOVE:Karen Elson on Jalouse August Cover in Just Cavalli

Model turned singer, Karen Elson is the new cover girl for French magazine, Jalouse.

LINK LOVE:Karen Elson covers Jalouse

Musicians and real-life couple Jack White & model Karen Elson star in in 'Frock & Roll' in the June 2010 issue of American Vogue, photographed by Annie Leibovitz and styled by Grace Coddington.

+ more Annie Leibovitz | Karen Elson | Music features

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LINK LOVE:Jack White & Karen Elson by Annie Leibovitz

LINK LOVE: Vogue

A friend referred me to David Alexander’s site, and on viewing his collections I fell in love with the fur, leather, mesh, studs, jewels, and all of my favorite things compiled into one fashion show. Once I began to speak with David, I found his quirky, enthusiastic and overly creative personality absolutely thrilling, and had to share it with you.

Here’s a little anecdote that got me hooked on David straight away:

So my friend Susan calls me and says ” your gonna be so mad at me.” and as I put down my Playstation controller and jogged over to my computer I see this email and I’m like…..who is that, and she goes “Well I dunno, but she is prolly never gonna buy another skirt from you or Curve again..” and Im like omg omg did i fudge up and the skirt zipper was broke because I do pride myself on an 100% usa made quality product…”She goes well I saw her in the skirt and I freaked out and ran over and I was lil drunk and I sort of shook her cause I was in the gold one and was like OMG OMG my friend made these arent they great”….So basically if you buy my clothes in NY and a crazy beautiful woman runs over to you its my friend Susan haha I cant be mad she is just all about my designs and gives me so much support.

I was also lucky enough to hear from David on a few questions that I asked:

FASHION INDIE:  How did you get your start in designing?

DAVID ALEXANDER: I started designing at 12 when I started drawing super hero costumes, and worked watched my grandma design wedding dresses for fun, then eventually went to FIDM and Parsons where I got my BA in Fine arts Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing. I have done freelance work for Juicy, DKNY, and Simon G.

FI: Your collection ‘Broken Princess and Her Secret Prince’ features a secret prince named David…any chance it’s named after you?

DA: Yah sort of I design clothing based on stories I come up so with every outfit I took all the women I know and work with and sort of designed around that, the princesses name was Alexis after my little sister.  I guess my ultimate ambitions of having a luxury line, a comic book, and an action cartoon television series haha.

FI: Can you tell us anything about your new line? I hear from a super secret source that it’s called Dahlia Dangeroux

DA: So far yes, it’s designed around inspiration from the Black Dahlia, and my non-fiction short movie ill be working on with an actress friend of mine….Im about 60% it will be called Dahlia Dangeroux or Fleeting Stars…but around the same concept, which is a young hollywood actress is kidnapped by mad man who is kidnaping the creme de la creme of Young Hollywood, and while knocked out in the drunk she dreams of all the movies, red carptes and wonderful things she could do if she survives…..and the unfolding of the story. it was inspried by a spoken word song called victim by the golden palminos. I know weird right? LOL im totally a nerdo

FI: I’ve noticed you shoot a lot with the fabulous Laura La Rue.  Has she, or any other models acted as your muse to your lines?

DA: I use people who i feel are truly beautiful inside and out, that brings out the best in a dress a confident sexy woman..Laura is also a red head like my mom and as an ode to her I always use red heads and brunettes …I also love love love Monica Bellucci she is a muse as well as Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li and my other friend Iwona Lis. one of my new muses is Karen Elson (YSL model) and Chanel Iman.

FI: You make everything from evening gowns to menswear..how on earth does your brain balance all of that?

DA: I have no clue I think my skull is full of clouds red bull, anime and video games. I always make these collections and when im done im like does is this stuff go together at all and then when people read the story there like ya…and im like…….( O_o…..ok) I guess i just do my own thing and so far its worked…

FI: What’s next? Red carpet looks, diffusion line, world takeover?

DA: (Hehehe :::Twiddling Fingers:::: World Domination All My clothes have secret tracking devices MWAHAHA)……. Um well winter is always BOOM BOOM glamour because it can be heavier but my winter is gonna be very high end couture with a few actual everyday..well what I call everyday dresses if it were up to me everyone would run around in evening gowns and furs trying to one up each other….But I just got signed on by SAGA FUR for the Royal Vision Team so I will be taking a trip in October to see all the techniques and amazing things they can do with it im thinking Chains Metal Spikes and Sable… Im def working on some casual items that are more affordable but they will still retain there runway glamour look and probably only kick the price down a good 40 or 60 bux but hey save where u  can save and where the same dress every day…I wear the same jeans….they just fit so well!

FI: Any advice for hopeful designers?

DA: YOU GOTTA WORK!….Um I dunno…ya know the world of fashion is tough and there are moments you can get very heavy hearted my advice is to if you wanna be a designer get tough skin and a shit load of 5hour energy because when you think you have made it or you have caught up you realize its 2 months from your next show and your scrambling from fabric shop to shop looking for your inspiration …..Haha I guess I have alot of advice to give like dont judge any other designers work unless there an asshole then rip up there dress, but if there cool compliment them because everyone has there own style and when u see someone and out and your like OMG what are they wearing well there wearing someone design which is more then I can say for some other people who spend all day judging…but I wont give up to much info its best to learn as you do the ups and downs create great great collections.

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If you aren’t sold on David Alexander yet, see more of his looks on Envy. Check out his site, and shop at the following locations:

“how do u kill a blonde u give her spike shoulder pads and ask her a question ( raising shoulders) she answers “I dunno”

St. John Spring 2010 Campaign

Photography:  Greg Kadel

Model: Karen Elson

Photography:  Steven Meisel

Styling:   Lori Goldstein

Models:  Agyness Deyn, Alla Kostromicheva, Aminata Niaria, Anna De Rijk, Anna Selezneva, Constance Jablonski, Daria Strokus, Freja Beha Erichsen, Frida Gustavsson, Gwen Loos, Hanne Gaby, Irina Kulikova, Iris Strubegger, Isabeli Fontana, Iselin Steiro, Monika Jagaciack, Jamie Bochert, Kamila Filipcikova, Karen Elson, Karlie Kloss, Kasia Struss, Kendra Spears, Lara Stone, Lily Donaldson, Liya Kebede, Magdalena Frackowiak, Mirte Maas, Natasha Poly, Patricia van der Vliet, Ranya Mordanova, Rianne ten Haken, Rose Cordero, Sasha Pivovarova, Sessilee Lopez, Sigrid Agren, Siri Tollerod, Snejana Onopka and Viktoriya Sasonkina

LINK LOVE: NY Mag via WWD

Christopher Bailey was named Designer of the Year and Burberry won Designer Brand of the Year. Georgia May Jagger was named Model of the Year. Karen Elson presented the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator to Grace Coddington.

LINK LOVE: Fashionista.com

Isabeli Fontana, Karen Elson and Clement star in this Roberto Cavalli campaign, complete with the mandatory inclusion of some sort of animal print.

SOURCE: The Fashion Spot

The redhead-playing-with-fire theme isn’t terribly original, but Karen Elson still looks, um, hot on the June/July 2009 issue of Numéro.

Issue #104, titled “Fever,” is kind of a stand-out photo for the spring/summer season, though, when imagery is usually a lot cleaner and lighter.

Karen Elson and Baptiste Giabiconi shot in a dark hotel room in Venice, by a photographer cited by ‘Modelina Blog’ as the Kaiser.  I love Elson’s short red, 50′s-esque curls, and all of that lace lingerie.

SOURCE: Modelina Blog

The above ads of the 2010 Chanel Resort campaign have surfaced, featuring Karen Elson and Baptiste Giabiconi.

SOURCE: fashiongonerogue

The Pipeline got an inside look at the Met’s Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion exhibit which is set to open TODAY!!! We are totally heading there this weekend to check this out. Kate Moss, Karen Elson, Stella Tennant, and the Supers all get there moment to shine.

LINKAGE: The Pipeline: Model as Muse: A Sneak Preview of the Met Exhibit Opening Tomorrow

Karen Elson laces up in this ad titled “Ulysses and the Call of the Sirens” after the Greek myth in which a trio of seductresses charm the hero by song. A perfect spring/summer collection with bright colors and fun patterns.

Don’t you wish you had her gorgeous long red hair?

LINKAGE: The Pipeline

Irina Lazareanu

Jack White with Karen Elson

From models turned actresses and vice versa, we now have models turned music artists. With the earlier news of model Irina Lazareanu’s (album debuting this Fall) and Nadja Auermann working on a music career, it is easier to grasp that former model Karen Elson (and wife of Jack White of The White Stripes) is also currently pursuing a music career. Also on her plate, the opening of her Nashville vintage boutique in which she plans to sell everything from Ossie Clarke to Valentino couture.

It is soo easy for these girls to do what they want once they have made a name for themselves in the biz, all about the people you know (or are dating, rumor has it that Irina and Pete Doherty are getting cozy). Her album is being produced by Patti Smith, in collaboration with Sean Lennon, and word is circulating that performance outfits will be courtesy of Mason Martin Margiela, Balenciaga, and Ann Demeulemeester, how convenient!