Georgia Pipeline for Fake Handbags Cut Off

If you’re the sort of style hound who scours Atlanta’s strip malls and downtown streets for peddlers who pawn counterfeit handbags, watches and shoes off on the masses, lean times are ahead.
News agencies now report that U.S. Customs agents seized shiploads of fake goods _ including Louis Vuitton and Coach replicas _ on Chinese vessels docked in New Jersey.
The Feds estimate that the goods captured have a street value of $10 million. According to the Associated Press, “The cargo was destined for locations in New York, South Carolina and Georgia.”
Todd Kahn, a senior VP at Coach gave the Feds involved in the never-ending fight against faux luxury goods a verbal pat on the back, saying: “We are grateful for the work that Customs and Border Protection is doing to protect our borders as well as stopping illegal products from entering.”
In other words, the supply chain may be snapping.
Somehow, the counterfeit sting (which included “handbags from Coach, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana, as well as Gucci shoes and belts and Nike Air Jordan and Nike Air Force One sneakers”, according to wwd.com) was sniffed out in six different cargo holds. They were packed in crates that falsely claimed to contain, among other things, toys and home furnishings.
In a statement to the press, New York Customs director Robert E. Perez said: “Stemming the flow of importer counterfeit and pirated goods remains a high priority for the agency.”
How long can it be then, before, law enforcement starts spying around corners for those who think it’s a victim-less crime to buy fake goods on the cheap? Alas, the fashion police never sleeps.

Complex Magazine Spoofs Michael Jackson

There’s no way the editors of Complex magazine could have known that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, would suffer a sudden death when they sent their June/July cover story on comic actor Jonah Hill to print.
But the photo feature on Hill _ including poses that rehash Jackson’s most iconic oddities _ couldn’t feel more eerie; unless Joe Jackson was looming somewhere in the room. The snapshots, taken by Chris McPherson many weeks ago, show Hill cuddling with a stuffed chimpanzee, dangling a toy toddler over a balcony and pouring something resembling wine into cola cans for tots in high chairs.
The message is poignantly mixed. The images seem like mockery now. But the very first quote from Hill in the cover article reads: “I’ve been obsessed with Michael Jackson, even the Jackson 5, since I was six or seven. The whole sound, the vibe, everything.”
Like the rest of us, Hill and his Complex collaborators assumed that Jackson would be poised to dive into his 50-date “farewell” string of London concerts next month. Not pushing up daisies.
What an odd and unintended tribute.

Atlanta's "Top Chef" Richard Blais gets cold feat

There wasn’t a dry ice cube left in the Variety Playhouse once Atlanta’s favorite “Top Chef”, Richard Blais, got done demonstrating how he continues to curry favor with frozen food.
Blais commandeered the grungy Little Five Points concert venue and filmed a four-course demo where liquid nitrogen, not fire, fueled the dining experience. Talk about your slow cooking: Blais’ live culinary art exhibit focused on eats prepared at as low as minus-357 degrees.
“Liquid Helium is the only thing colder,” Blais blared as he risked frost burn while dipping his hands into pots that turned beet juice into bright red “pearls” for an oyster appetizer.
He accented his “Mr. Freeze” act with tequila lollipops to help wash down chips fried in duck fat.























A chef who got his start in fast food, Blais paid unabashed homage to his latest Atlanta restaurant with minced “Filet O’ Flip” burgers with foamy tarter sauce as the third course.
For his finale, Blais brought “Good Day Atlanta” co-host Suchita Vadlamani up on stage to help make BLT’s made mainly of pork belly cooked for days at room temperature..
The interactive nature of Blais’ production before a near-capacity crowd hinted that there’s another TV project in his future. Meanwhile, Blais divulged, he’s engaged in efforts to expand his Flip food franchise into Birmingham, Ala., Nashville, Tenn., Washington, D.C., and beyond.

"View" co-host rents her belly as billboard

After suffering much public backlash over her ultra-conservative comments during the 2008 Presidential campaign, Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s got her “hustle” back.
Hasselbeck, co-host of “The View” and wife of former New York Giants quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, has inked a contract with Reebok to be the spokesmodel for its new line of NFL-inspired maternity jerseys.
Due to deliver her third child in August (well before the NFL season even starts), Hasselbeck will appear in ad campaigns that depict her with words like “Kicker” and “First-round draft pick” plastered across her belly and breasts.
The shirts should retail in the $30-$40 price range.

Reebok says women represent the biggest growth segment of its business, and that women make up as much as 40 percent of NFL viewership.
Never one to fumble an opportunity for self-promotion, Hasselbeck said in an interview with EntertainmentTonight that she’ll try to take her social networking efforts to extremes during this pregnancy.
"I'll be tweeting, probably, right through birth," she mused to ET.
Alas, Hasselbeck still hasn’t learned the concept of too much information.

EyeSeeStyle now featured on Technorati

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J-Lo's Fashion Label Fizzles Out!

Those ladies out there who still swear by the Jennifer Lopez designs in their wardrobes may want to start stocking up on the label.
According to WWD.com, J-Lo announced Tuesday that her Sweetface fashion label will no longer be sold in the U.S. once the current cycle’s done. A prepared statement, in words we can’t believe “Jenny On The Block” actually uttered, this was the explanation: “(W)e have decided to put the Sweetface line on hiatus while we prepare to reintroduce the brand in the near future with new messaging points and an entirely new fashion point of view,”.
Translated into simple English: “No one was buying it!
Lopez launched her fashion brand to much fanfare in 2001 (click for video). Yours truly, in fact, had a (second row) seat at the lavish Sweetface debut during New York Fashion Week. The label’s prospects seemed so bright back then that chunky crystals covered the black carpet of the Swarovski-sponsored show.
Since then, La Lopez has had to juggle her music career, her acting aspirations, motherhood and matrimony along with her design enterprise. The latter languished into oblivion, though J-Lo has reportedly licensed Sweetface out for sales overseas and her accessories deals with Macy’s and Victoria’s Secret (along with her fragrance contracts) remain intact.
J-Lo’s official web site makes no mention of the news. Ironically, the biggest update surrounding Lopez’ multi-faceted career may be the report that she’ll soon star in a romantic comedy about a woman who seeks to jump-start her life by having a test tube baby. It’s titled: “The Back-Up Plan”.
Would you agree that she needs one?
CLICK THE COMMENT BOX BELOW!

Will Usher Come Out Smelling Like A Rose?

Rumors are swirling about how nasty the divorce proceedings between Atlanta-based R&B singer Usher Raymond IV and his former fashion stylist, Tameka Foster, could get. It was reported this week in fact that the multi-platinum performer has legally requested all evidence of wiretaps and/or surveillance that might have been acquired during the brief marriage that produced two children.
Unless he’s got a really solid pre-nuptual agreement, there may be another new bone of contention in the Usher vs. Tameka division of property battle. The crooner made a splashy announcement this week that he’s launching a premium-priced ($50-$65) fragrance that will reach stores this fall and is expected to generate at least $30 million in first-year sales.
During an interview with a WWD.com New York correspondent, Usher likened his new scent, VIP, to a precursor for sexual conquest. To add to VIP’s prestige value, its packaged to resemble a bottle of cognac.
“I really feel like VIP represents the growth I’ve had in the last two years,” Usher told WWD. “The man that wears this fragrance, hopefully, will go out in the world empowered by what he’s wearing.”
For his own sake, Usher ought to hope that any proceeds from the scent’s sales are off limits to his estranged wife.

Jimmy Choo Shoes The Masses Can Afford!

Prepare yourselves now for the shoe fiend feeding frenzy that’s sure to take place at metro Atlanta’s four H&M stores during the holiday shopping season.
The world wide press is positively panting with today’s news that the Swedish chain of designer knock-off stores has reached an agreement to sell stilettos, handbags, clothes and accessories by the original fetishists’ best friend, Jimmy Choo.
The Jimmy Choo goods _ for both men and women _ will reportedly arrive in 200 stores by November 14. In previous collaborations with top-notch designers like Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Roberto Cavalli, limited-edition items have sold out entirely within minutes of the doors swinging open.
The Jimmy Choo brand of shoes _ which gained household name status soon after a partnership was forged with British fashion maven Tamara Mellon a decade ago _ normally sells for a reported $500 or more per pair. The collection of Choo goods for H&M is expected to start at $50 and max out at $200.
And, as if the brand didn’t have enough “Sex and the City” street cred already, First Lady Michelle Obama wore Jimmy Choo shoes at her husband’s Presidential Inauguration.

Bare Facts: W Hotel's Playboy Pajama Party

Blame it, if you will, on the Le Tournament Vert absinthe cocktails that starting pouring as soon as EyeSeeStyle arrived at Friday night's "Playboy Pajama Party" at the W Midtown Hotel, featuring a gracious personal appearance by 2009 Playmate of the Year Ida Ljungqvist.
For various reasons, memory of all the details fails...


As it turned out, Ida was as coy and accomodating as she'd sounded over the phone in an exclusive EyeSeeStyle interview.
She dutifully signed autographs and greeted the short number of gents granted VIP introductions to her with the ease and glee of someone picking through puppies at an animal shelter. More than anything, she bared her patience for panting admirers. And, in a stark departure from the "diva" attitude expected of someone of her stature (shorter, thicker and more approachable than she appears in pictorials), Ida asked for nothing more than frequent refills of ice water.

The presence of local playas like Collective Soul frontman Dean Roland, SneakSunday's CEO Paul Broft, FOX 5 reporter Justin Gray and an assortment of well-placed businessmen kept the affair from taking on a cheesy aura.
Fashion designer Mychael Knight, radio star Jenn Hobby, celebrity photographer Ben Rose, nightlife guru Pablo Henderson, boxer Preston Haliburton and Noble Investment's Steve Nichols were also spotted in the W's dimly lit Crystal Lounge.





Somehow, the Atlanta ladies who dared to show up at the W's Whiskey Park bar knowing that there'd be an assortment of Playboy Bunnies in attendance conspired to dress in near unanimity.Short, frilly, semi-sheer babydoll dresses carried the night, albeit with a few astonishingly skimpy exceptions.


Perhaps there's some reality TV show in Ida's future that might reveal a less flattering side. But at least during the W's Pajama Party she struck all the right poses.

Photos: The Midnight Socialite

Atlanta Denim Fiends Get A Nudie Show!

Does this latest cry for attention from Calvin Klein Jeans offend you?
If so, join the online screeching that seems to be gaining volume now that there's a billboard towering over Manhattan's SoHo district that depicts the sort of amorous "artistic license" that folks in the fly-over states assume that neighborhood's known for.
And if the latest entreaty from the Virginia-Highland's Bill Hallman boutique reaches your inbox, treat it as "Safe for Work". It may say it's an invitation to a "Nudie Show" Thursday evening, but it's merely an opportunity to go and watch skinny models meander around in designer jeans that are dyed and stitched dark and tight so that the wearers' true "fit" shows through over time.
As Nudie's web site proclaims: "(We're) naked truth about denim. Denim has the ability to age beautifully – formed by its user into a second skin, naked and personal. The longer it lives the more character it gets. The indigo is a living colour that fades and gives the denim its character. The more you wear your jeans the more beautiful they get. Jeans are more than just a piece of clothing."
The Calvin Klein Jeans motto has always seemed more succinct: SEX SELLS!
Which message appeals most to you?

Kid's Fashion Takes Center Stage

The times seem ripe to shift fashion’s focus away from what the most cunning cougars of the world are wearing and onto great garb for precious little girls.
Witness the bold step Karen Anne Briggs is taking by opening a new children’s boutique in Atlanta’s chic Virginia Highland enclave; placing an emphasis on clothes made from salvaged antique fabrics.
Take note, as well, of the recent Women’s Wear Daily report that the critically-acclaimed British designer Stella McCartney (Paul’s daughter) has inked a deal with Gap Inc. to produce a limited edition set of clothes for kids and babies in time for the winter holidays.
McCartney heads up a multi-billion dollar empire anchored by her remarkable ready-to-wear collections. Briggs is slowly gaining renown as a designer devoted to recycling fabrics thought to have outlived their intended use.
The staunch ecologist and animal rights activist, McCartney (left), issued a statement to announce the Gap deal that read, in part: “I believe that this one-off collaboration will be a great way for customers to be able to participate in the Stella McCartney brand. I believe that kids’ clothing should be more accessibly priced, which is particularly important at the moment, given the current climate.”
Thrift is what inspired the Green Pomegranate shop that Briggs will cut the ribbon on with a cocktail party on Tuesday, June 16 (5:30-8:30 p.m., 1002 Virginia Avenue). As a child, Briggs grew accustomed to wearing hand-made dresses fashioned from swatches of throw-away linen, cotton and silk.
Toys, books and accessories mix among the clothes made of materials as varied as antique handkerchiefs and table clothes at Briggs’ Green Pomegranate boutique. And heaven only know how McCartney will scale down her whimsical, assertive mindset to suit the pint-sized set.
Both of these ventures lend hope that the struggling rag trade has room to grow.
To rsvp for the Green Pomegranate grand opening bash, contact Kitsy Rose PR at 404-347-0292.

(Stella McCartney runway photos: Style.com)

What Atlanta's Best-Dressed Men Drive...

I’m not even going to get into describing this “floatation device” called the McLaren SLR 722s Roadster until I actually get up close and personal with it June 11th when Mercedes Benz of Buckhead, The Atlantan magazine and the Sebastian’s Closet men’s store combine to give it a lavish local unveiling.
Only 25 of these British-made beauties were made available for sale in the U.S., and McLaren stopped making them after No. 150. My chances of ever getting behind the glove leather wheel of one again are slim and none. And, hey, where’d Slim go?
But scarcity and exclusivity aren’t necessarily bad things.
I was reminded of that during two detailed and demonstrative meetings with Frank Heath, the new owner of the revered Buckhead menswear destination, Sebastian’s Closet. Heath huffed often about how tough times have been for luxury clothiers lately.
Still, he smiles while recounting how he’d bought the shoppe on a virtual whim after making a fortune off family restaurants and shopping at Sebastian’s so frequently. And he’s sticking to his initial approach of offering guys styles “they won’t necessarily find in any other store.”
“The main premise is: guys can get another blue suit anywhere, but what can we offer our guests that sets them apart?”
Well, color, for one thing. For spring and summer, Sebastian’s is saturated with it. Overall, the store beams a message of lightness and brightness.
You’ll see in the runway show that accompanies the McLaren machine’s Atlanta unveiling that Heath specializes in coaxing limited edition sportswear pieces and strategically selected suits out of vendors like Dunhill, Belvest, Pal Zileri, a. testo and Ravazollo. From the buffalo hide duffle bags to the cashmere dinner jackets, this updated version of Sebastian’s is merchandised with the guy who takes frequent work-play excursions in mind.
“Ours is more like a sniper’s approach, versus a hunter who goes out and sprays buckshot all around,” Heath said. “Every day, our clients vote with their dollars. And what they want is a look that’s casual, but elegant. Clothes they can wear every where.”

Getting Cozy with a Playmate: Part 2

(As promised, here’s the second installment of EyeSeeStyle’s exclusive interview with 2009 Playboy Playmate of the Year, Ida Ljungqvist. Ljungqvist, a 27-year-old native of Tanzania will host a June 12 Pajama Party at the W Hotel Midtown-Atlanta along with a tempting assortment of her Playmate pals. See below for information on special room rates, in case you want to make it a real sleepover occasion…)
ESS: Here’s a softball question for you. What’s your sign?
Ida: I’m a Libra. But you know, I read those horoscopes sometimes and they never seem to get me right.
ESS: And what’s your favorite food?
Ida: I recently turned vegetarian. So I’ve been eating a lot of pasta and salads mainly. Now it’s veggie lasagna as opposed to what I used to order. Anything Italian or Mediterranean is good. And lots of greens.
ESS: What about your favorite cocktail?
Ida: Now that it’s summer and warm, I like to have a little margarita with, of course, Patron (tequila). That, or a mojito.
ESS: What’s your idea of the ‘perfect’ date?
Ida: Doing something interactive so you can see what they’re working with. Like playing mini golf, or going horseback riding, or taking a walk on the Santa Monica pier. It’s very important for me to see a person in action. You want to see how they really are in different situations.

ESS: Where would you most like to live?
Ida: I don’t have a final destination. I have to move around. Eventually, when I get older, whatever that means, I’d like to go back to Africa. (Ida’s half Tanzanian and half Scandinavian.) It’s so peaceful and beautiful there. That’s why I love traveling and checking out all the states. To help me decide. Don’t tell anybody, but I just found out New Jersey is a state.
ESS: What words do you live by?
Ida: Just be happy. Happiness is a choice.
ESS: What clothes are you most comfortable wearing?
Ida: I like a nice bikini, or wearing nothing but a sarong. The winters in L.A. are too cold to me. Minimal clothing is best.
ESS: Who are your favorite designers?
Ida: David and Phillipe Blonde. I discovered them and they discovered me. They designed all the outfits for Britney Spears’ new videos. All their designs have huge personalities and you instantly feel beautiful in them. Plus, they’re both beautiful people inside and out.
ESS: Boxers or briefs?
Ida: (Big laugh) Briefs actually. I want to see everything!
ESS: Should a man ever buy lingerie for a woman?
Ida: Absolutely! Yes! If you’re ever in doubt what to buy, get her a little teddy with matching booty shorts, or a tank top set. Something comfortable. It doesn’t have to be a straight-up thong. Think about silky nightgowns or a satin panty set. You don’t have to go directly off the deep end. I personally like walking around the house in sexy little outfits. But not every woman does.
ESS: What’s the surest way to a woman’s heart?
Ida: Love her. Love and appreciate her. My father’s amazing at getting women to do anything he wants because he always says thank you and mentions specifically what it is he appreciates. That means a lot to women. They need to hear you say ‘Thank you’.
ESS: What’s Hugh Hefner like as a boss?
Ida: He’s such a quality person. Just a gentleman through and through. He loves women and he treats us so well. He’s so romantic. It’s hard to describe.
ESS: Here’s the crucial question: What should guys wear to a Playboy pajama party?
Ida: Oh, gosh! We’re all gonna be 18 and over, right? And we’re not actually going to bed together. We’re just gonna be in the club having fun! So definitely wear pajamas, as long as they’re clean. This is the chance for the girls from Playboy to meet our fans and party with them. Let your personality show through. We’ll take it from there.

Getting Cozy With A Playmate: Part 1

Spent some "quality time" with Playboy's 2009 Playmate of the Year, Ida Ljungqvist, this morning. We were both in our loungewear, and she'd just risen from bed.
Ljungqvist, 27, was so warm, open and engaging that it totally slipped my mind to ask her the obligatory question: 'What's it feel like to be the first woman of African descent to be picked as the POY?'
Never mind the fact that she was waking up and calling from Los Angeles, while yours truly was (sigh) in the Atlanta office. The question-and-answered session that ensued sure felt intimate. Ida (pronounced EE-duh) has a giggly way of putting you at ease. And in this exclusive interview with EyeSeeStyle, Ida offers guys soft assurance that their tastes in lingerie are (mostly) normal...
That's good to hear since Ida and a bunch of her Playmate pals are hosting a "sleep-over" June 12 at the W Hotel Midtown. And no one wants to be accused of oggling to obnoxiously.
ESS: So, it’s 7:15 out there in L.A. I just have to ask, ‘What are you wearing?’
Ida: Just a t-shirt. And some booty shorts.
ESS: Ahem. Have you ever visited Atlanta?
Ida: Yes. I have some friends in the music industry there. So I had the chance to pass by for a few days a few summers ago.
ESS: Has your life changed much since you gained the Playmate of the Year title?
Ida: Absolutely. My life’s changed completely. I go to the best parties. And, for some reason, all these people want to interview me and talk to me now.
ESS: What are the perks that come with being Playmate of the Year?
Ida: The parties. The really good tables in the restaurants. Traveling everywhere. Meeting different people. It’s not boring at all. I’ll put it that way. I can’t tell you how many different celebrities I’ve met through the Mansion parties.


Ida, with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner

ESS: What’s the toughest part of your new job?
Ida: It’s definitely the travel: all that time you spend in airports. But I want to do everything. They’re such great opportunities. And you never know who you might be letting down if you don’t show up some place. You don’t want to say, ‘No’, because you never know who that affects, or where it might lead. I will probably need to take a week off at some point, but not now.
ESS: Where do you hope to take your career from here?
Ida: One of the things I learned from taking the chance and posing for Playboy is that you can make a plan and things still may not seem like they’re going the way you want. So you can’t strictly go by your plan. I’ve been asked to take a couple of acting roles, but for now I’m focused on representing the company and doing appearances. I’ll definitely take a chance on acting if the right part comes along.
ESS: Would you ever star on a reality show?
Ida: You know, it’s funny you should ask. That’s the running joke with me and my girlfriends. I kinda started dating again after a long time not dating. My friends say we should do a reality show based on me dating different people and seeing who I liked. But I don’t know if I’d do it. The dating scene is touch-and-go as it is. But if I did do a reality show ever, it might be something along those lines.
ESS: Now that you’re Playmate of the Year, do men approach you differently?
Ida: Just the opposite: it’s gotten worse. It used to be that I didn’t get approached much at all. I was just working in a clothes store for women and too busy doing my own thing I guess. Now, I’m actually out there. THANK YOU, HEF! And I get to date a little more. But I simply don’t believe it’s that hard to walk up and ask for somebody’s number. What is that? Maybe I’m meeting more confident people now.
ESS: Is there a special man in your life now?
Ida: No.


The June 2009 issue of Playboy
ESS: What sort of men are you attracted to?
Ida: I have decided I would like to be with somebody who enjoys life, who’s got a positive outlook, is well-traveled and cultured. Oops, did you mean on a physical level? I’d like someone tall. Great smile. Nice looking Loves his mom. That works for me.

(Wait…WAIT! There’s more. Return to EyeSeeStyle soon for Part 2 of our exclusive interview with Playboy Playmate of the Year Ida Ljungqvist and more details about the June 12 “Pajama Party” she’s hosting at the W Hotel Midtown-Atlanta. In Cozying Up...Part 2, Ida offers men advice on shopping for lingerie and dressing for bed!)

Fashion Biz Desperately Tries to Go Green

Thanks to strong socio-economic pressures, the forces that rule fashion are running out of excuses to sing Kermit’s theme song.
(Designer Jason Wu, left)
Turns out, it’s easy being green. You just have to try.
Even the 100-year-old beauty behometh L’Oreal is changing course away from environmentally wasteful or potentially harmful products.
L’Oreal CEO Jean-Paul Agon asserted in a recent WWD.com interview that, “Green is the future.”

Brands worldwide are rushing to follow suit. So, if the jeans you buy look and feel slightly different going forward, it may be because mighty Cotton, Inc. is launching a global “From Blue to Green” initiative to reform the way the fabric is cultivated, processed, manufactured and recycled.
















This month marks the debut of the “New Vintage” collection by the inventive Yves Saint Laurent design chief, Stefano Pilati. Reportedly, Pilati had the environment in mind when he decided to produce a limited edition set of core pieces made from fabrics that had languished in YSL’s storage bank.
(Yves Saint Laurent, c. 1960)























Perhaps as some sort of self-validation, the dictators of style have determined that rich shades of green will be the new “must-have” color in women’s wardrobes next fall. Of course, radical color changes have always been the last refuge of designers hoping to make cash registers ring.

The pressure to appear eco-conscious has grown so strong that even the major fur coat firms in Canada have come up with a “Fur is Green” initiative to stress how nature benefits from their practices.








Oh, yeah! About the featured photo above. That’s Jason Wu, most famous for designing First Lady Michelle Obama’s Inaugural ball gown.
Wu thought it wise to wear one of his flowing, emerald chiffon gowns for a portrait in the coveted CFDA Journal. Top-tier talents that dictate the look of fashion’s annual answer to the Oscars collaborated on the iconic shots taken of Wu, as well as other leading CFDA Award nominees for the collectible book.
My only problem with the way Wu looks: Michelle could have worn it better.
Photos: wwd.com, flickr