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.