Is Beyonce's New Fragrance 'Heat' A Hot Mess?

Faithful EyeSeeStyle readers may recall that, three months ago, this spot cast a sideways glance at Beyonce's legal struggles over the rights to her Sasha Fierce stage personna. It threatened the payout she stood to reach from Coty, which planned a planetary perfume launch with her name affixed to it.
Apparently, Abercrombie & Fitch (the chain that's sold its own scent, called "Fierce", for years) had a stronger hand in the court battle. Coty and Beyonce have skirted the issue entirely, WWD.com reports, and plan an early 2010 campaign for "Heat" by Beyonce, instead.
WWD's report says as much as $300 million is at stake on this venture, and quotes Beyonce gushing: "I always asked myself, ‘If I could have my own scent, what would it be?’ ... I wanted to make sure that it was something I would love forever.”
To boost sales, Beyonce's butchered/recorded a remake of the Peggy Lee classic serenade, "Fever".
Smells like desperation to me.

Will you turn your nose up at Beyonce's scent as well?

Chef Luna's Back in Atlanta with 'Uninspired' food

You can only keep a secret for so long.
Chef Paul Luna called me some time around Halloween to alert me that he had something up his monogrammed smock sleeve. Finally, EyeSeeStyle feels free to spread the news that he's back after a multi-year hiatus from the Atlanta dining scene with a new downtown restaurant that revels in a "hush-hush" personna.
Luna, who rose to fame, acclaim and (ahem) notoriety with his original Loca Luna tapas emporium in Midtown is back in town with an equally provocative concept: small plates, made to order if necessary, made from the daily ingredients he discerns as freshest and worth the reasonable price.
I'll leave it to the dining critics who follow up on this dispatch and evaluate the food.
Here's what struck me most about the menu I swiped off the vintage writing desk in the entryway: you can order the ENTIRE lunch (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) menu for $20!
Since this is an insider dispatch, I won't bog you down with the savory details now.
Leave a comment if you want descriptions of the food or details about the eccentric decor (with rotating art and fixtures for sale.)
Meanwhile, soak in the performance (below) that Luna's new Lunacy Black Market bistro brings to mind...


Lunacy Black Market, 231 Mitchell St., SW, Mon.-Sat., 11 a-10 p

Could Atlanta's Smash-n-Grab Woes Get Worse?

Remember how hostile things got at the gas stations a couple years back, when fuel was in short supply and way over-priced?
Well, get set for a similar scenario on December 2, when the Barneys Co-Op shop at Phipps Plaza puts a signed, limited edition set of Alexander Wang's sturdy, studded "Rocco" duffles on sale. The frenzied festivities are scheduled to last two hours (6-8 p.m.). But the 10 bags available for ($850) purchase will probably be gone quicker than the first round of free cocktails. New York Magazine recently wished anyone on Manhattan's mile-long waiting list for a Rocco "Good Luck".
To ensure your place in line for the chance to snag Wang's must-have bag, call: 404-688-1466.


Photo: Stylefile

New Gold club flavor re-heats Atlanta nights

Yes, if you must know: there is still a "pole" placed smack dab in the middle of the Buckhead party space once known as The Gold Club.
But it's strictly there out of structural necessity, a co-owner of the new Gold Room stressed during an exclusive walk-through with EyeSeeStyle.

Above,'Prefered' seating at the notorious address now known as The Gold Room

"We wanted to take it out, but the architect said, 'No', because it holds the roof up," Jonathan Clay said just prior to his first nightclub venture's public opening.
"But you can tell it's not the same place. The stage is gone."
The pole in question is covered in postage stamp-sized bits of gold tile; and it's surrounded by a quartet of plush sofa sets with built-in drawers for women to stow their purses and tables with sunken inserts where tequila bottles custom designed by Corzo for the Gold Room sit and chill.
After a string of "friends and family" events to test out the staff (Halloween night, the Kravitz concert's after-party) the Gold Room opens to the public on December 3.


EyeSeeStyle Gets Beneath Gold Room's Surface

At the new Gold Room there are no specific "dance floor" boundaries, but from the towering LCD displays to the shock wave sound system to the strategically placed "power" booths, this place glitters with "get up and boogie" potential. Among the many distinctive details: fat (not "phat") gold chains dripping down a wall in The Lounge upstairs; and a VIP voyeur's delight of glassed-in corner chamber that's visible from every point in the 7,000-square-foot space and surveys the entire scene unfolding below as well.
Rather than starting off with a price structures for prime seating and easy entry that, "turns 'em upside down and shakes the money ou", Clay said door and booth fees will be dictated by demand.
Some things never change.


AND NOW, A MUCH-NEEDED MUSICAL INTERLUDE...

YOUTUBE

Phipps Plaza Seals Deal With Vince Luxury Brand

Hope really does spring eternal.
The Atlanta shopping mecca Phipps Plaza and the L.A.-based luxury sportswear label, Vince, show no doubt that the stagnant U.S. economy will recover and that the mall will eventually be mobbed again with shoppers seeking signs of renewal to show off.
They’ve sealed a deal to open a signature boutique in April 2010 for the brand that started small eight years ago and is quickly expanding into fashion capitols nationwide. Vince caters to the crowd willing to pay premium prices ($125 - $295) for logo-free staples like hoodies, cardigans, jeans and sweatpants.

Typical fall '09 looks (above) from Vince



(Left) The signature Vince store on Melrose in L.A.

The look’s been described by Vince co-founder Rea Laccone as “a classic modern twist”. Coast to coast, better shops (Nordstrom, Fred Segal, Barney’s Co-Op, Selfridges) have touted Vince as a brand (for men as well as trend-conscious, rich women) with irresistible, second-skin appeal.

“We’ve watched the demand for the brand grow increasingly over the years,” said Phipps Mall Manager, Dewayne Herbert. Vince takes a minimalist approach to marketing that’s in keeping with it’s retro-modern approach to style. Its successful launch next spring at Phipps could help pre-determine how soft the landing from all this tumult in the markets will truly.
Above: Vince co-founders Rea Laccone and Christopher La Police

If Vince’s current collection is any indication, prepare for impact.
Click here to learn more about the Vince brand. Click here for more Phipps Plaza info.

Ho-Ho-Holy Moly! W Hotel Wraps Up Xmas Early

In the mood to play “Dirty Santa”?
Want to find out how popular that “Scrooge” character who’s breaking box office records truly is?
Then go ahead, with your bad self, and show up at someone’s doorstep with the naughtiest gift of all this Christmas.
Namely: nothing.
And then blame yourself, from that day forward, for the proverbial lumps of coal that karma hurls upside your head.
If you’re smart, you’ll take the easy way out.
(And, no, we don’t mean that gangsta George Bailey route _ jumping off a bridge on Christmas eve. It’s a wonderful life, after all, even if you’re universally despised.)
Let someone else do the shopping for you. ("Pole Dancer" cuff links from The Store at the W Midtown Hotel)

. The Store in the lobby of the W Midtown hotel works wonders with its new array of “Global Glam” items “inspired by
> luxe locales from South Beach to Santiago”.
Gift items range from $10 (for a set of 52 playing cards that teach you how to cuss in six languages) to $375 for a “vegan” travel bag with enough pockets to tote all your techie necessities safely through customs.
Opulent gift items for women ($57-$300) include cashmere pillows, metallic mini-skirts and emerald earrings. ("Gangsta Rap Coloring Book" from The Store at the W Midtown Hotel)

Walk-in shoppers are welcome. And The Store at the W offers that added convenience of in-room delivery to visiting guests.
The Store may only be the size of a service elevator shaft. But it guarantees good things in small packages. (Silver-plated "Spin the Bottle" set from The Store at the W Midtown Hotel)

Newfound "fate" in Atlanta's bebe stores

Newfound "fate" in Atlanta's bebe stores

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Banana Republic Uncovers Atlanta's Own 'Mad Men'

Evil shows itself in many forms. Demons don’t always have grave-stricken faces or wear ghoulish rags.
So what better cad to dress yourself as this Halloween than the lead character of the AMC Channel’s “Mad Men”?
That Don Draper shows more of his devilish side with each episode. And his disarming weapon of choice is that sharp-edged square of cotton in his crisp grey suit’s breast pocket.
For its Thursday, October 29 “Mad for the Sixties” bash at Atlantic Station’s Ten Pin Alley emporium, Banana Republic presents the opportunity to “come dressed in your best early ‘60s ‘Mad Men’ fashion: Sinatra-style skinny ties and sharp suits for guys & Jackie O. dresses for the ladies!”
Proceeds ($75 per person) from open bar, billiards and bowling event will benefit Prevent Child Abuse of Georgia (www.pcageorgia.org). The festivities will include costume contests, and the sponsor’s web site offers tips on how to dress for the occasion (www.bananarepublic.com).
For details and ticket info, call: 404-870-6589.

Cavalia in Atlanta: Do Horses Wear Hair Weaves?

Someone had to ask the delicate question...
After all, gazing at the long and lustrous manes of the 60 exotic horses who star in the
Cavalia extravaganza incites the same skepticism as focusing on that hairline of Tyra Banks' flat screen-sized forehead does.
It can't look that haute and healthy and be real. Can it.? Publicity photos for the show running at Atlanta's Atlantic Station through November 15, in particular, make the manes look too good to be true.
But the only (human) performer in the show with true ties to Atlanta insists that those flowing locks the horses flaunt onstage are "all natural".
"Do (the horses) wear extensions? No," Dacula native, Jesse Lee Cooper, said while stroking the nose of grey-maned stallion, Hades, after an abbreviated (45-minute) preview staged for the local media Monday.
"Do we (performers) wear them? Oh, yes.)
The show's trick riders, trainers and a crew of 20 handlers wash and style and crimp, cut and blow dry the horses' hair themselves. And human performers adapt hairstyles that relate to the beauty of the 12 breeds showcased.
Cooper, 31, joined the six-year-old, globe-trotting production in 2007; after years training in the art of "natural horsemanship".
He knows which horses are more vain than others, and which are prone to pull a Kanye West (bucking all boundaries of excess) onstage.
(Nothing like being thrown from the saddle to get the message: "I'm not doing that tonight", he said. "They're 500-pound animals. You can't make them do what they don't want to.")
And, you can't make this stuff up...
While giving his "wonder" horse, Hades, a prideful pat, Cooper off-handedly divulged a possible reason why the herd's had no "bad hair" days.
"I don't know if I should say, but do you wanna what we're using in the stables right now?". Cooper coughed: "It's Tresame!"

More Frightening Atlanta 'Housewives' News!

They're creepy and they're kooky. Mysterious and spooky. They're altogether ... oops! Got ahead of ourselves there.
First we need to get to the scary prospect of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" staging a Halloween costume party together next Friday night.
Then we'll pay brief homage to Vic Mizzy, composer of theme song to "The Addams Family" who passed away in New York just days away from his 93rd Night of Fright.
Here's the low-down on what we highly suspect to be a made-for-TV event...
ALL of the cast members are expected to be there. This, presumably, includes the stylist-interloper Dwight Eubanks, who could pull off a fairly convincing Dracula just rolling out of bed. There's a $500 prize promised to go to the guest in the best costume. The Gateway center in suburban McDonough, where the event's taking place, can accomodate a crowd of 3,000. A "tag team" of Audio Junkeez DJs will perform. Tickets are $30-$75, with a $10 discount if you buy in advance.
Got the picture?

Good, now smile in memory of Mr. Mizzy, who created many of TV's "Golden Era" theme songs including "Green Acres".
This Halloween, we'd planned to have "Thriller" piping constantly on the porch as trick-or-treaters dropped by. But now we're having second thoughts about that, as well as what costumes to wear to the after parties.
For more "Real Housewives...Halloween Costume Ball" info: visit http://ajcostumeball-efbevent.eventbrite.com
GRAB BAG: West Midtown neighbors, Ken Barber Clothing and 5 Seasons Brewery, are joining forces on Sunday (October 25, 5-7 p.m., 1000 Marietta Street, $10 per person) to stage a Masquerade Fashion Show and cocktail party to benefit breast cancer charities; and the Whiskey Park bar at the W Midtown Hotel is hosting a Dames & Demons bash on Halloween night (9 p.m.-2 p.m., 188 14th Street) with "Zombie Strippers", costume contests and wicked drink specials.

Adidas Smells More of Rose's Marketing Potential

Pardon the South African golfer, Justin Rose, if he’s not updating his personal blog as often as usual.
His latest dispatch reads: “I’m currently in the Algarve playing the Portugal Masters”.
After rising from 114th place in the 2008 FedEx points standings to 85 in ’09, Rose is still criss-crossing the globe in hopes of surpassing the $1,047,854 in prize money he earned last year. At press time, PGAtour.com listed Rose’s ’09 earnings as $918,718. By the time he turns 30 next July, the fifth-year pro’s play will have carried him over the $10 million mark.
And that’s not including endorsements.
Apparently, Adidas thinks Rose’s future is so bright that he’s gotta wear shades. They’re shades.
This week the brand announced that it’s releasing its first collection of golf-specific sunglasses _ called “retego” _ which Rose helped design.
The eyewear can be customized to suit special vision needs, and comes standard with a lens tint intended to enhance the contrast between the ball, the turf and the target.
They weigh a feathery one-ounce, and carry a hefty ($140-&190) price tag.
We presume Rose get around, eventually, to mentioning them on his blog.

'Chittlin' Circuit' Makes A Big Atlanta Comeback

They say the third time's the charm.
If that's the case, then installment three of chef Todd Mussman's glorified "cooking with swine" series should truly be one to savor. When a guy runs an intown butcher shop called "Muss & Turners", what he carves up better be good.
"Guests will witness a whole pig being broken down into tasty, identifiable parts followed by some wood-fired samples," according to the invite.
In addition, at "Primal 3": "There will copious amounts of food (sliders & snacks from Grindhouse Killer Burgers on Sweet Auburn), wine (and cheeses selected by the Taste Network) and (Sweetwater) brew."
For three straight Wednesdays (6-9 p.m.) at the Grindhouse (209 Edgewood Ave.) , Mussman will turn locally grown succulents on the spit while spitting how and why roast flesh tastes best. Paying guests for the limited-seating affairs are welcome to "brown bag" their own wine as long as they call ahead (404-522-344).

Chef Mussman / AtlantaFineDiningThe scheduled roster of roasts: Wednesday, October 21st - Local 103# Heritage Pig; Wednesday, October 28th - Gum Creek Katahdin Lamb; Wednesday, November 11th – Gum Creek 103# Heritage Pig.
Pork on the barrel: $30 per standing room placement; $35 per VIP seat.

Learn more at http://www.artofthebutcher.com, or email brady@tastenetwork.com.
All this fancy talk about proper pork preparation brought a funny scene to mind. Let us know if you get a chuckle out of it as well...

For Atlanta Men, Pink is the New Power Color

If the rough-and-tumble stars of the NFL can rock pink accessories on game day without anyone questioning their manliness, what's to stop Monday Morning Quarterbacks like you from following suit?
This fall,the National Football League is doing its part to raise breast cancer awareness and charitable donations by encouraging players to wear apparel in the symbolic shade of the fight. That explains all those gregarious pink shoes, gloves, towels, belts and even penalty flags appearing on the gridiron lately.
The upcoming Real Men Wear Pink party Wednesday night (7-10 p.m) at the W Hotel-Perimeter offers one of many opportunities for regular guys to follow suit.
Besides swilling Hennessy and Belvedere cocktails, can soak in the artwork of Monica Tookes as well as the sound stylings of DJ Salah.
For guys who find their wardrobes sorely lacking in pink accessories, signature bow ties will be available for purchase on the spot ($20 each), with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
"I have no fear, whatsoever, about wearing pink," said the 40-something Atlanta financier, D.E. Edmond. "A particular color does not define who I am.
"Everyone should be aware of this epidemic. Breast cancer affects us all, directly or indirectly."
Go to Facebook to see who else is invited and/or attending.
W Perimeter
111 Perimeter Center West
Atlanta, GA 30346
Please RSVP at: realmenwearpinkatl@gmail.com

Menswear Titans Barnstorm Atlanta

There's something about Marty.
The CEO of Joseph Abboud menswear, Marty Staff, couldn't try harder to put a new acquaintance at ease. Oddly, though, his propensity to lumber in and out of "the moment" can put you on edge.
He barged, unwittingly, into the recent EyeSeeStyle taping of an interview with menswear expert Tom Julian, who recently penned the "Nordstrom Guide to Men's Style" (Chronicle Books). Marty must have assumed we were just chatting there in the Phipps Plaza foyer. Julian and I just laughed about the ruined footage.
That's Marty.

Above: A fall Joseph Abboud menswear look

But minutes later he invited me to a party he was staging Wednesday night _ at the most exclusive restaurant in town _ in appreciation for his labels' most faithful local clients and salesmen. The food, drinks and service at Bacchanalia was superb. And the 100 or so guests dove into the limited quantity bolts of fabric offered "for suggestion" as enthusiastically as they did the platters of citrus foie gras, quail fritters, oysters and caviar crisps.
(EyeSeeStyle taped Julian's entire trend tutorial on behalf of the Abboud label after the first round of cocktails in an oakey private room. But since Marty kept drifting in and out of the demonstration _ interjecting some levity, invoking his dominance _ the clip ran eight minutes too long to upload on YouTube.)


EyeSeeStyle interviews "Guide to Style" author

You may not have a chance encounter with Marty any time soon. But his thumbprint's everywhere: from a juggernaut of new "JOE" styles now on JCPenney racks, to his licensing agreement with the NFL to outfit the coaches for their off-field appearances, to his new deal with the NBA to clothe the league's rising stars.
Marty (left) mentioned that he's an avid participant on Twitter. But he only tells select friends how he's listed.
Go figure.


Photos: Aquino/Abboud

Beyonce in a Legal Battle for Her Own Name

I’d truly meant to spare you all the news that broke Monday about Beyonce finally inking her first signature fragrance deal. My reasoning: it’s gonna be made by Coty, no one above voting age would dare wear it; and it’ll probably stank like Lady GaGa after a spinning class.
But the news just got juicier, so it merits sharing.
According to a breaking WWD.com report, a lawsuit’s just been filed against Beyonce that seeks to restrict her from following through with the perfume license that was expected to add another $3 to $10 million to her bank account over the next three years.
Abercrombie & Fitch, of all people, marched into U.S. District Court Tuesday seeking to force Beyonce from capitalizing on her “Sasha Fierce” alter ego. This sets up as an intriguing court battle.
Reportedly, A&F trademarked the “Fierce” fragrance name back in 2003, but Beyonce started trying to trademark a “Sasha Fierce” as a fragrance (without a manufacturer or retail deal in place) just last year. In spite of “cease and desist”. warnings from A&F’s lawyers to back off, Beyonce went on with the process
The announcement of Bey’s new perfume deal just threw gas on the fire, apparently.
Take-away Lesson: Trademark your contrived, new, concert-ticket-selling stage name before you foist it on the numb-skull masses.

'Real Housewives' star selling underwear

Go ahead, call me Ishmael.
I just couldn’t resist taking a hasty ‘fishing’ expedition once word reached me about the pending Fashion Week debut of Dwight Eubanks’ new underwear line.
Eubanks owns the venerable Purple Door Salons in Atlanta and deserves to have his mugshot placed next to the definition of “lavish” in any dictionary. The TV-viewing public knows him best as the chap who virtually hijacked Season 1 of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta” franchise.
“Who is this girl (Sheree) who had a fashion show with no fashions?”
If that’s not Bartlett’s material, what is?
Anyway, Eubanks (left, with Atlanta socialite Tracie Howard) has an ax to grind with the sorry state of men’s underwear. And he reckons he’ll start correcting it with the launch of his new “Tool Box” label on September 14 at the M2 Ultra Lounge in lower Manhattan.
Partial proceeds from the $40-$100 collection, which will include pajamas and smoking jackets at retail outlets to be determined, will benefit AIDS charities.
“I’m going for the kill,” Eubanks said, after being asked how far he’s willing to reach for more than the fame “Real Housewives…” has already afforded him..
He calls “Tool Box” one man’s humble answer to the saggy, baggy jeans trend popularized by urban youth.
“They’re not going to stop wearing their pants that way. So they might as well show (underwear) that looks good.”
And he demurely coughed _ three times, at suggestive two second intervals _ when asked if the underwear brand launch was part of a master plan to land a reality series of his own.
“If that was what this is all about, then it would have to include everything about me: the parties I throw, the circles I travel in, the hair, the makeup, all that. But I wouldn’t rule it out.”

Top 10 Fashion Colors for 2010 Announced

Think twice, ladies, before you start weeding out items in your current spring/summer wardrobes. According to the leading indicator of color trends for 2010, some things you already have may get a second life.
Just as New York Fashion Week is getting underway, the Pantone Color Institute has revealed the Top 10 shades chosen by designers in Manhattan for their ready-to-wear collections.
According to a WWD.com report, roughly 13 percent of all designers staging previews showed a preference for the same three pastel shades registered by Pantone: turquoise, aurora (yellow) and violet.
(At left, the Spring/Summer 2010 pantsuit from Helmut Lang.)

On the lower edge of unanimity, about 7 percent of designers preferred: dried herb (olive), pink and (bright) blue.
Pantone’s executive director, Leatrice Eiseman, told WWD the color choices were a sign of “cautious optimism”.
They lead this Eye to expect that white and brown will be the key accessory colors.
That remains to be seen as the week unfolds. Check back soon for EyeSeeStyle’s Fashion Week updates.

Photo: WWD.com

Ebony Fashion Fair Fizzles Out

Say farewell to those outdated runway productions known as the Ebony Fashion Fair. After 50 years of striving to rise above the “chittlin’ circuit” of traveling trend previews, Ebony has admitted defeat against the rising tide of dire economics.
United Press International reports that the show won’t go on. According to UPI, Johnson Publishing CEO Linda Johnson Rice released a Labor Day weekend statement, saying: “In the coming months, we will develop a new business model to ensure that the show is a mutually beneficial endeavor.”
She also alluded to “challenges” in enticing corporate sponsors.
Man, oh man: can this mean that the demise of Jet and Ebony magazines can’t be far behind?
For decades, the Ebony Fashion Fair has served as a major fund-raising vehicle, and the Miami Herald has already quoted an area philanthropist who calls the news “devastating”.
But is it really?



Did the “stomp-pop-and-twirl” cavalcade stand any chance of survival in this “Real Housewives…” world we’ve adopted?
Does anyone out there think the Ebony Fashion Fair will be missed?
POST A COMMENT (BELOW) TO SHARE YOUR OPINION!
Photos: Flickr

New Couple Alert!: Ne-Yo and Lil Kim?

Oops! My bad.
When this photo of the grinning R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo first hit my desktop, I mistook his “date” at the Glamorama event in Chicago for the felonious female rapper who’s had as much cosmetic work as Joan Rivers.
Or, so it seems.
After closer inspection, that was the iconic muppet Miss Piggy posing on the red carpet with the Atlanta-based hitmaker; throwing more gas on the fire of speculation about his tastes in women.
According to a breaking WWD.com report Tuesday night, Ne-Yo and P-Wiggy were VIP guests at an “anything goes” fashion event that featured a “men’s version of a wet underwear contest”.
Ne-Yo reportedly declare while onstat that he might have stripped down to his skivvies too, but: “They didn’t want me to make the other models look bad.”
Discuss…

GQ Mocks the 'Morehouse Mystique'

If you take offense at the way Gentlemen’s Quarterly depicts Morehouse in its September issue, blame it on what GQ calls the “Fonzworth Bentley” effect.
The magazine skewers some of the nation’s most revered institutions, with Morehouse appearing prominently on the list of schools GQ admits to holding some prejudice against.
In its note to readers regarding the list’s “methodology”, GQ writes: “First we think about people who annoy us…Then we write down what colleges they went to…”.
GQ’s inflammatory remarks about what it takes to be a Morehouse Man these days includes such lifestyle essentials as: “Yellow V-neck sweater with orange-and-blue bow tie”, and “box-seat double date to Coldplay”.
Out of 25 schools ranked as ‘least manly’(in polite terms*), GQ ranked Morehouse 20th. And it was the sole HBCU listed.
Any thoughts?....

ESPN's Erin Andrews ditching Atlanta digs

“The City Too Busy to Hate” may not have ESPN’s sexy sideline reporter, Erin Andrews, to “click around” much longer.
Andrews, the blonde bombshell who became famous for getting the tough answers from college football coaches and players before, during and after games in a rather racy pictorial in this September’s issue of Gentlemen’s Quarterly. Fittingly, the actual on Andrews is brief: deferring instead to photos of the former University of Florida dance team member in a locker room. Yes, that inner sanctum of testerone overload where cameras, and females, aren’t normally allowed.
The GQ article alludes that late-summer “peephole” incident that unlawfully spread Andrews’ bare body all over the internet. And in the article she speaks candidly about her desire to move away from current residence in Atlanta for the bright lights of the Big Apple.
Ideally, Andrews says, “I’ll get there ASAP and start playing.”
Will Andrews be missed around these parts? Or have we seen enough of her already?

GQ's Got the Nerve to call UGA 'Redneck U.'!

In its September issue, Gentlemen’s Quarterly takes aim at the University of Georgia in a back-to-school parody that lists “America’s 25 Douchiest Colleges”. The state school in Athens _ far better known for its party atmosphere and football prowess than its academics _ is portrayed by GQ as a hangout for gun-toting rednecks with a sketchy fascination with a certain breed of dog.
The magazine skewers some of the nation’s most revered institutions, with UGA appearing midway down the list of schools GQ admits to holding some prejudice against.
In its note to readers regarding the list’s “methodology”, GQ writes: “First we think about people who annoy us…Then we write down what colleges they went to…”.
In a scathing critique laced with expletives, GQ paints UGA (No. 13) as a haven for drunken woodsmen who don’t know an iPhone app from a shotgun hole in their hunting blinds.
GQ reserved most of its scorn for colleges, like Duke, that lace the eastern seaboard. The magazine brazenly advises their alumni to “cancel your subscription!”
The only school on UGA’s regular-season football schedule that also made GQ's “douche” list is Arizona State (No. 14, September 26). But BCS Championship contenders like Southern Cal (No. 16), Ohio State (No. 19) and Texas (No. 24) also merited mention.

Photo: Flickr

Favre's NFL comeback tied to endorsements

Pity the poor Minnesota Vikings football fans who believe that quarterback Brett Favre came out of retirement again purely for the sake of chasing a second career Super Bowl title.
As it turns out, Favre’s latest comeback may have been spurred, in part, by his aim to keep his endorsement deal with the low-end denim brand, Wrangler, secure.
Granted, the terms of Favre’s new two-year contract with the Vikings virtually guarantees him $6 million dollars whether he ever appears in a single game or not. Still, news is surfacing that Favre has a series of commercial deals in place that are tied to his prominence in the National Football League.
According to a WWD.com report, Wrangler will soon launch a massive Five Star Jeans advertising campaign based around Favre. In 2008, the report says, Wrangler invested nearly $35 million on TV, print and radio ads with Favre as its premiere poster boy.
In other news that makes Favre’s comeback appear that much more calculated, the New York Post recently reported that the interception-prone signal caller has filmed a series of TV commercials for Sears in which he pokes fun at his own propensity to switch canoes at midstream.
“In the ad,” reportedly, “Favre considers buying a Samsung TV on sale at Sears, but flip-flops when making a final decision.”
Talk about type-casting. But with the skills Favre’s demonstrated for pimping the system, who’s gullible enough to think that $20 jeans from Wal-Mart, or marked-down electronics truly suit his tastes?

A 'Housewives" Work Is Never Done

NeNe Leakes of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta” already has a new book in stores. Can a signature fragrance _ say, Eau de Drama Queen _ be far behind?
Perhaps not.
A German firm that specializes in celebrity scents has just announced the launch of a full set of fragrances based around the ABC series, “Desperate Housewives”. According to a WWD.com report, LR Health & Beauty systems endeavored to match each of its $49 “Desperate…” perfumes to the lead characters’ personalities.

Thus, “Bree has notes of apple, white jasmine and amber; Susan features orange flower, cedar and sandalwood; Lynette blends citrus, cardamom and musk, and Gabrielle (Eva Longoria Parker, left) is a mix of raspberry, rose petals and patchouli. “
LRH&B recently worked with R&B princess Leona Lewis to create an eco-conscious/PETA-friendly new signature scent. It’s also maker of fragrances for Heidi Klum, Christina Aguilera and Carmen Electra.
Quite the pedigree.
And speaking of mutts…
NeNe Leakes’ new memoir from Touchstone Books is titled, “Never Make the Same Mistake Twice”. From that, should we infer that appearing on the first season of “Real…” was a good idea?
Evidently, if anyone can sniff out a fast-money opportunity, it’s the admitted former stripper, NeNe.

Has Tom Cruise's Wife Found Her Exit Strategy?

You knew it wouldn’t last.
The Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes match-up was a sham all along.
Or, so lots of people thought, and many media outlets insinuated.
It’s been assumed in some corners that the leading man of more blockbuster movies than we can count has been crushing poor Katie under his manicured thumb for several child-producing years; allowing her to work in equal measure to her adherence to his Scientologist peccadilloes.
Well, now, words gotten out that Ms. Holmes (*interesting that she didn’t take his “name”, no?) has found stimulation outside the home. She’s reportedly pairing with the obscure designer Jeanne Yang to launch a fashion line called Holmes & Yang that will reach a select number of boutiques by Autumn 2009. A children’s line that fixates on the styles worn by the Cruise and Holmes’ daughter Suri is planned as well.
Sounds like Katie’s desperate for a distraction from the day-to-day; her forays into acting and spokes modeling aside.
Why bother with the fickle rag trade when all the best labels on the planet lob clothes your way anyway? Is Tom losing his grip on the arrangement with Katie? Or is Ms. Holmes setting herself up for a fall?
*Katie Cruise wouldn’t have been a bad “stage” name, though, would it?

Esquire Singles Atlantan Man Out

Cross your fingers, Atlanta.
Some time next month on NBC’s “Today Show” one of your very own could be announced as the Best Dressed Real Man in America, as determined by Esquire magazine.
After culling through thousands of entrants in the online contest, Esquire chose Atlanta real estate broker Santino Lattimore as one of five finalists. The 2009 grand prize winner receives a package that includes $15,000 in cash and a $10,000 Kenneth Cole wardrobe.
Oddly, Lattimore has no definable presence on Facebook. But we get an early glimpse of him and the other four finalists in the September issue of Esquire on newsstands now.
Lattimore, 34, is the sole finalist not pictured wearing a shirt and tie. His competitors are a quartest of dandies from Philly, New York (2) and Coralville, Iowa (of all places).
In print and in his online profiles, Lattimore makes the argument for wearing scarves, rather than neckties, to work. Decide the merits of that for yourself.
Voting, incidentally, is already closed.
And, for some reason, Lattimore’s clothes are the only one portrayed by Esquire in the four-page spread that look better on a “How to Buy It” mannequin than on the man himself.
Like I said, cross your fingers.
Photo: Esquire

Ne-Yo Takes Frank Sinatra's Name In Vain

So, this is what the retail world’s been lowered to: Macy’s, a titan among department stores, has hired the effervescent singer/songwriter Ne-Yo to act as the endorsing savior of its top-tier, private label menswear.
The Grammy-winning performer of such R&B hits as “Miss Independent”, "So Sick" and “Hate that I Love You” likened himself to the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra, during the announcement of his new marketing deal with the Macy’s Alfani Red line. The suits and accessories ($49-$325 at projected retail) are distinguished by their red thread stitching around buttons, collars and pockets. They'll start appearing in select Macy's locations, like Atlanta's Lenox Square, early this fall.
Ne-Yo told WWD.com at a Manhattan press conference that his current onstage look embodies “the whole Rat Pack”. Details of how much he got paid to say that, or model in a series of photos and videos wasn’t disclosed.
Never mind that Ol’ Blues, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Joey Bishop or Peter Lawford, rarely (IF EVER!) wore clothes off the rack. This is a sales ploy; go with it.
As Ne-Yo, a part-time Atlantan, put it to WWD: “I like to think my style is about an effortless cool both on stage and off. Style is not just about what you’re wearing; it’s also how you wear it and the confidence you exude.”
Okay. So let’s all watch how well the aura Ne-Yo exudes contributes to Macy’s bottom line.
Maybe it’s best that, at least, Ne-Yo didn’t latch onto to that sloppy gravy train of musicians who attempted to be “designers”. This Macy’s experiment with him will help determine whether “celebrity” endorsements are worth the risk at all.
Hell, didn’t some candy maker just kick Chris Brown to the curb?

Photo: Macy's/WWD

Vanity Fair forces a choice: Jackson or Farrah?

Somebody hit Vanity Fair’s editor-in-chief up on Twitter for me and remind him that the recession’s not over yet.
Hello, Graydon Carter! Now’s really not the time to force devoted readers to choose between the TWO covers you plan to print for the September issue. Given what a letdown your August cover story on the actor “Heath Ledger’s Final Days”, it’s a wonder whether Vanity Fair can turn around a tribute on either one of the true super stars (Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson) who died in July, let alone both.
For nostalgia’s sake, if not strictly out of habit, we VF fans will reward your advertisers by reading one or the other. But that whole “either-or” situation doesn’t sit well. In fatter times, we might have bought both. But, surely, not now.

So tell us, Mr. Carter: which of the $4.95 versions of the same monthly issue shoud we choose? Will one of the accompanying cover stories be more substantial and revelatory than the other? Is this gambit strictly undertaken for “collector” sales values?
And, after so many crucial weeks in the media cycle have passed, was it worth forcing the cast of AMC’s “Man Men” off of the September cover in favor of two tragic figures whose time had come and gone?
Farrah suffered to long before our eyes, and Michael died too painfully while we turned away from him. So which final portrayal, courtesy of Vanity Fair, is the casual fan’s best investment?

photos: Vanity Fair

Simpson flashes undies after Romo breakup

Dallas football fans won’t have Jessica Simpson to kick around any more, now that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has booted the blonde bombshell to the curb.
Still, might Romo have visions of Jessica dancing in his head this fall once ads promoting his ex’s new lingerie line go public? If Simpson models the goods that officially debuted at a New York trade show this week, will opposing NFL teams tauntingly flash the images broadly on their scoreboards when Romo comes to play?
Simpson didn’t say much of anything profound or revelatory in the exclusive interview WWD.com conducted with her prior to the Jessica Simpson Lingerie launch. But one can only imagine how breathlessly she must have cooed to the interviewer, “I love lingerie. What girl doesn’t? My lingerie reflects the way I’m feeling when I wake up and helps me set the tone for my day,” or “What you wear underneath your clothes helps define the outfit”,
That will surely ring well from the PA system to Romo’s ears, right?
And isn’t it an odd coincidence that the lingerie launch coincided with the start of the Cowboys’ preseason camp?
So far the Simpson camp has guarded the undergarment deal as skillfully as an All-Pro left tackle; actual photos of Simpson’s lingerie simply can’t be found yet.
But the suspense to see them will build. And Romo may turn out to be the one really exposed.

Photo: flickr

Atlanta Magazine blitzes Falcons QB Ryan

Once the public gets a whiff of Atlanta Magazine’s August cover story on the Falcons’ second-year signal caller, Matt Ryan’s gonna have some serious s’plainin’ to do.
Why? Because the 14-page feature on the 6-foot-5 product of Boston College and a privileged suburban Philly upbringinging shed precious little light on what makes “Matty Ice” tick.
If he succeeds in leading the Falcons back to the playoffs (as many analysts expect) this season, the media will pressure Ryan to expose almost as much of himself as Erin Andrews did unwittingly in that criminally-obtained voyeur video. But, for now, the Ryan camp keeps mum.
Atlanta Magazine’s cover story on Ryan proves how fortified the wall between him and the truth-seeking press has been erected by the team, his family, and even an ex-girlfriend who got kicked to the curb once he turned pro.
It’s impervious.
The article barely succeeds in coaxing 100 noteworthy words out of Ryan, and insights from his inner circle are equally scarce.
To its credit, Atlanta Magazine conducted dozens of interviews for the story, and admits that the cover photo was re-touched by a graphic artist.
What it doesn’t do, however, is justify its adamant anointing of Ryan as Atlanta sports’ savior; or its derision of former Falcons QB as merely “an escape artist”.
The article comes closet to peeling away Ryan’s shield when it details the songs he performs (after rehearsing) in karaoke. The rest is still up to Ryan to reveal, in due time.

New 'lay-away' plan for premiere ATL event

Organizers of the annual Jeffrey-Fashion Cares runway extravaganza won’t let a sour economy ruin the sweet time they’ve had raising millions for AIDS and breast cancer charities for the past 17 years.
This year’s event chairs, Sacha Taylor and Lila Hertz, are breaking new ground by launching an installment payment plan for tickets, which they hope will keep Atlanta’s premiere fashion show as inclusive as possible.
"We feel it is important to offer our support and understanding to the many Atlantans who have shown unwavering support to Fashion Cares and our beneficiaries over the years,” the chairs said in a released statement. “We are thrilled to offer creative options to our attendees so they can continue to participate in such an important charitable effort.

(Jason Wu, Resort 2010)
Those who choose to pay for their Fashion Cares tickets can do so anonymously. To learn more about payment options, simply send an e-mail to accounting@jeffreyfashioncares.com.
Ticket prices to the August 31 gala vary widely. Guests can attend at “Patron” levels ranging from $1,500 to $25,000. Individual tickets,_ which entitle guests to a pre-show cocktail reception, a runway preview of Jason Wu’s 2010 resort collection, silent and live auctions and a lavish after-party _ are $500 each.
Bringing in Wu as this year’s featured designer should the charitable event founded by retail visionary Jeffrey Kalinsky reach its goal of exceeded the $800,000 raised in 2008. Wu instantly became an international star after designing the gown that Michelle Obama wore to President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Jeffrey-Fashion Cares moves this year to a new event venue: 55 Allen Plaza downtown. For more event details: call 404-745-0293 or visit www.jeffreyfashioncares.com.


Photo: Fashion Cares/Style.com

Gisele Bundchen's Days Are Numbered!

Once you go “hack”, can you ever go back?
A computer-generated “humanoid” walked the runway in the finale of Japanese designer Yumi Katsura’s couture bridal fashion show this week in Osaka.
The robot’s strut on the catwalk may signal the ultimate demise of supermodels, who are notoriously unwilling to roll out of bed unless thousands of dollars await them in the fitting room.
Even though Katsura stridently rides the cutting edge of design, the most popular wedding gown magazines trumpet her looks and she claims to have battalions of satisfied brides on her web site. Katsura claims credit for designing: the gymnast Nadia Comaneci’s wedding dress; the memorable gown actress Kathleen Turner wore in the md-1980’s film “Jewel of the Nile” and a vestiment worn by Pope John Paul II.
Katsura collaborated with a national team of scientists to make her runway wonder _ a robot dubbed HRP-4C _ come to life. Due to delays in translation, full details of the press conference staged with the (ahem) model on the podium with Katsura are still forthcoming.
But it’s a safe bet that HRP-4C didn’t storm out on reporters, seek solace in a meal of cigarettes and sparkling water, or slap anyone upside the head with a cell phone.
(Left: A chain-strapped bridal gown from Katsura's Spring/Summer '09 couture show)

Images: Yahoo.com, prphotos.com

Gordon Biersch Brewery's Calling All Babes!

There’s an age-old debate over the proper way for women to drink beer, if they do at all: out of glass, or out of a bottle?
An expert on the subject, whose business thrives on his female patrons, tried Thursday to lay the argument to rest. In his opinion, the correct way helps a woman look like she’s enjoying herself, and not just drinking.

Gordon Biersch CEO Dan Gordon (top left) tasting with friends

“Out of glass, absolutely,” Dan Gordon said while staff and contractors hurriedly put the finishing touches on the 27th Gordon Biersch in his national chain. Complimentary food and drink tastings are seemingly going on non-stop, but the new Gordon Biersch in Buckhead (3242 Peachtree Road, NE) doesn’t officially open until Monday, July 13.
“Beer in a glass lets you enjoy both the aroma and the taste,” said the gregarious Gordon, a SoCal native went to Germany as a youth to earn his Master’s degree in brewery engineering.
Though beer is primarily marketed toward male customers, Gordon maintains that women have the greatest propensity to enjoy it.
A Gordon Biersch beer sampler (left)
“Women typically make the best beer-tasters. Their palates are more youthful, cleaner, more sensitive. They can pick up on the nuances of good beer better than men can.”
The fairer sex feels freer to relax and order a beer, Gordon said, as long as the environment has a classy air.
“There’s no peanut shells on the floor here,” he huffed. “This place was designed to be modern, airy and open.”

Custom-crafted light fixtures hanging from the vaulted ceilings cast new Buckhead location in a warm, golden glow. The “beer signage” gracing the walls is actually a series of vintage Art Deco framed prints. The pool tables posted near the main bar are covered stylishly in slate grey felt.
“The days when women felt hesitant to order a beer are gone,” Gordon said. “They’ve evolved to the point where they know exactly what they want (out of all the brewery’s in-house varieties). And if they’re not sure, we offer them a sampler to guage their tastes.”
Donated proceeds from the Gordon Biersch Buckhead grand opening will benefit the Shepherd Center for children's spinal ailments. For more info: call 404-264-0253

Girls Night Out! at the W Hotel Buckhead

When guests got their invitations to the Girls Night Out! Party at the W Hotel Buckhead, many adopted the mindset that they should dress as if they would be modeling in the affairs Betsey Johnson fashion show.
Styles ranged from slinky to borderline kinky. Bold splashes of color in some outfits were balanced by the get-ups cast in black. Short, flowing dresses and off-the-shoulder tops worn over shiny leggings were the night’s most notable looks.
A bottomless supply of Martini & Rossi’s blush champagne helped keep the mood bright. And if in any rare instance anyone felt the least bit bored, they needed only to cast their eyes downward and soak in the staggering array of sky-high summer heels strutted in the crowd of 300.