As of right now we’re taking Justin Timberlake’s line William Rast seriously, without an ounce of sarcasm. Why? Because he’s not only showing his line at Roseland Ballroom during Fashion Week (just a few short weeks away!), but he’s also going to perform when the models walk down the runway wearing it. And, well, we want a good seat. We confess we were starting to get skeptical about the success of William Rast, which just expanded to a full line of sportswear, because it hasn’t really taken off since it was first presented in L.A. almost two years ago (not to mention it’s fronted by a celebrity, which increasingly is the kiss of death). And its new creative directors cooked up fancy promotional efforts for the newly expanded line, including a film to launch on the Internet starring Erin Wasson and Timberlake — but that’s still not online a month after it was supposed to be, and we were wondering if maybe something was awry at JT’s house.

FRAGRANCE

• Jessica Simpson’s first fragrance, Fancy, launches this week at major
department stores starting at $49 a bottle. As if you’re not already
convinced to buy it, do know that it’s made by Parlux, the same company
that does the Paris Hilton scent. [Cosmetic News]

• Donna Karan
is creating an eight-piece fragrance collection made up of scents past
and present, to be sold exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman. In November,
four Donna Karan candles will also be available exclusively Bergdorf
for $60 each. [WWD]

PLASTIC SURGERY
• New York surgeons report a rise in shoulder liposuction because women
want toned shoulders and blades that jut out like Keira Knightley’s or
Madonna’s. Nothing says “vivacious” and “come hither” like bones
jutting out of your back. [Daily Mail]

MAKEUP
• DueBa is a company in Korea that manufactures extra-wide versions of contact lenses so that when worn, eyes mimic the anime look. It cost $50 a pair to look like a cartoon, so Halloween, here we come! [BellaSugar]

HAIR
• Peaches Geldof claimed she passed out from hair-dye fumes last week.
Tabloids claim the passing out was actually drug-related, and a doctor
says it’s fairly uncommon for people to collapse from ammonia fumes
from hair dye. So … what now, Peaches?

After 39 years of working as an insurance professional, Bob Johnson of the Bob Johnson Project, decided it was time for a change. Upon retiring, he traded in his ties for t-shirts and has worked with a designer to create a t-shirt line with a positive message.

Caption: Women’s Long Sleeve T-shirt, Policy No. BJ-7496While the t-shirt business is very different from the insurance industry, Johnson was not able to easily abandon 39 years of insurance jargon; it is part of who he is. He refers to the positive visual messages portrayed on his t-shirts as “policies” and the t-shirts itself as “coverage.”

The t-shirts are designed in vintage style and currently, six creative designs are available. They include: circus, hula hoop, origami, weightlifter, horse and butterfly.

Positive messages vary based on the design. For example, the circus has a message of “there is no limit to what you can do”; the Hula Hoop communicates that “you don’t need to be young to be youthful”; and the Butterfly message inspires people to “take time to enjoy the little things in life.”

“All t-shirts are designed to fit and feel like an old favorite,” Denise Plumb, t-shirt designer said. “They have all been washed several times, are pre-shrunk, and manufactured from 100 percent organic cotton; they are super soft and much like a t-shirt that has been loved for many years.”

Bob Johnson t-shirts are manufactured in the U.S. and are for sale on the Bob Johnson Project web site. Plans are currently underway to expand into other retail outlets. In the spring, expansion also includes adding short-sleeve t-shirts, men’s and possibly children’s designs to the line. Currently, only long-sleeve, women’s t-shirts are available.

“I bought one of each,” Kathlyn Horan of Atlanta, Ga. Said. “I only hope that Bob creates one more so I can wear a different one each day of the week.”

According to Bob, “change is good and it’s never too late.” He hopes that his clients will be inspired by these new polices and coverage. Each t-shirt comes with its own policy number so customers are covered for life.

gus is pleased to introduce their premier line of higher end leather wallets and accessories designed exclusively for men and featuring beautifully hand-sewn craftsmanship as well as their unique “splitshot perforation” styling.

The introductory line includes a men’s passport folio, wallets, small and sleek card cases, and a brushed stainless steel money clip. Each of the pieces are hand-crafted from Italian, vegetable-tanned leather, with calfskin lining, hand-stitched corner trim, and their own “Splitshot” perforation process to give the items a very authentic and worn appearance.
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Last week, Fashion Week Daily reported Victoria Beckham wouldn’t show her new fancy dress collection at New York Fashion Week next month, as she had previously said she planned. Boo! Hiss! we screamed for all our office-cube neighbors to hear. But this afternoon Fashion Week Daily reported she will show after all. Yesss! Rather than a runway show, she’s just doing a private, appointment-only presentation for editors and buyers. But this actually could be better than a runway show, since it might afford a better chance for bloggers like us to get face time with Posh that’s more intimate than the usual backstage encounter with a famous designer in which we are bludgeoned by foreign camera crews and left on the floor disoriented and caked in dried blood and Champagne (it’s not a game, people!). But if that doesn’t happen, at least we know she’ll be in town. So, publicists, clear a seat in the front row now.

A breath of fresh air enters men’s fashion with the launch of Ryan Rowe, a new luxury men’s footwear brand available in March at Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and fine retail outlets nationwide. Ryan Rowe is on target with the current shift of men’s increased focus on style.

Caption: Ryan Rowe ‘Bentley’ classic driving moc”As men grow more style savvy, their attentions will branch out into all aspects of their appearance, including footwear. Until now, there has been a real shortage of creative and compelling offerings in the market,” says Ryan Ringholz, Ryan Rowe partner/creative director and an award winning designer whose ability to translate European sensibilities to mass market is most evident in his design experience with Puma, Diesel, Pony, New Balance, Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs/Nuala, Tretorn, and Dry-shoD.

The entire collection has been created with the versatility of being worn both for day or evening, dressing up or down, with jeans or a suit. Styles such as the Leighton, Bentley, and Tipton are exaggerations of classic driving moc, traditional English lace up and sneaker patterns, respectively.
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President Tuxedo, a regional company providing men’s formal wear, is expanding its “Bux for Tux - Giving Back to Education” school donation program throughout lower Michigan and south to Toledo in Ohio.
President Tuxedo”Bux for Tux,” donates up to $5, 5 to 10 percent of the cost of a typical tuxedo rental of $50 to $100 for a school prom, to schools throughout Michigan and south to Toledo, Ohio. Each school gets at least $2 per tux, and the amount goes up as the number of rentals increases.
It’s a simple program, according to President Tuxedo CEO Robert Gafa. “We partner with student or parent groups at each high school, providing all the information and materials they need to alert students to the program, and even go out to each school to measure students in order to have a tux ready when they come into the store.” Read the rest of this entry »

From a Backyard Barbecue to Easter Brunch, Relios Jewelry has got you covered when it comes to fresh and fun new spring jewelry! Reliosjewelry.com has added a special page dedicated solely to the very latest in Spring Fashion. The new section spells out what’s new and exciting this season with several different ready-made looks that literally take the guess work out of what to wear. Caption: Southwest Spirit - Dress for your National Park Vacation”It’s truly like the ultimate fitting room for spring jewelry,” says Lead Relios Designer Carolyn Pollack. “We (Reliosjewelry.com) feature several different spring wardrobe ensembles with jewelry to match, and also include a special color palette for each look, so that customers can easily mix and match, and put it all together.” Read the rest of this entry »

From a Backyard Barbecue to Easter Brunch, Relios Jewelry has got you covered when it comes to fresh and fun new spring jewelry! Reliosjewelry.com has added a special page dedicated solely to the very latest in Spring Fashion. The new section spells out what’s new and exciting this season with several different ready-made looks that literally take the guess work out of what to wear.
Caption: Southwest Spirit - Dress for your National Park Vacation”It’s truly like the ultimate fitting room for spring jewelry,” says Lead Relios Designer Carolyn Pollack. “We (Reliosjewelry.com) feature several different spring wardrobe ensembles with jewelry to match, and also include a special color palette for each look, so that customers can easily mix and match, and put it all together.”
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TJ’s Custom Jeans (Tailormade Jeanswear Ltd.), the global leader in made-to-measure jeans and chinos, has relocated their facilities to Parras, Mexico. The choice of move to Parras de la Fuenta (Parras of the fountain) is significant in that the town which is considered an oasis in the desert has 2 premium quality denim mills and boasts a 100 year old history of weaving denim fabric and sewing jeans. The move to Mexico will also position Tailormade Jeanswear closer to the majority of clients and enable a vast improvement in customer service and expansion of quality products offered.

TJ’s Custom JeansTailormade Jeanswear Ltd’s Managing Director Sam Meeks explains, “The TJ’s brand of denim jeans fills a void in everyday retail apparel offerings of jeans. Instead of being mass produced, the big difference is TJ’s are specifically made to the unique requirements of their hard to fit and special needs clients through mass customization technology.”
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