What Is Victoria's Secret? Hmm, It Might Be Juicy...
Juicy Couture, of Liz Claiborne Inc., has filed a lawsuit against Victoria's Secret, of Limited Brands Inc. for allegedly being copy-cats in their marketing tactics.
"Pink has applied slogans across the seat of pants which famously originated with Juicy Couture and identifies its brand,'' the company said in the complaint. "Pink stores incorporate many elements of Juicy Couture's stores including oriental rugs and Victorian-style furniture.''
Also mentioned in the complaint is the packaging used by Victoria's Secret that resembles that of Juicy Couture: shaped like lollipops, bonbons and ice-cream cones.
Juicy Couture is seeking money damages and profit from the alleged copying, as well as a court order barring Victoria's Secret from using the candy packaging.
Looks like the Secret is exposed. I knew it would be Juicy!~
You be the judge! Below are images from both lines. Copy-cat or coincidence?
Victoria's Secret "Sweet" packaging and promotions:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa hosts an eco-conscious opening gala for market week.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks onstage during the 8th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards
Kicking off the fall 2008 trade shows—the let’s-do-business follow-up to L.A. Fashion Week—will be an installation of eco-conscious couture exhibited at a March 13 invitation-only gathering hosted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Dubbed FutureFashion L.A., the event is the brainchild of the founders of the exclusive bicoastal trade show Designers & Agents.
Each of 15 designers, including such forward-thinking Angelenos as Magda Berliner, Trina Turk, Rozae Nichols, Hazel Brown and Deborah Lindquist, has been invited to create a garment from eco-conscious fabrics donated by cosponsor Earth Pledge, a nonprofit devoted to promoting sustainable development. For the evening, the designers’ creations will be displayed on the grounds of the mayor’s official residence, the Getty House in Windsor Square near Hancock Park. “This is the crowning event of market week,” says Barbara Kramer, co-founder of Designers & Agents. She and co-founder Ed Mandelbaum worked with the Council of Fashion Designers of America to plan the event (also cosponsored by the Los Angeles Times’ Image section). The top-tier group of fashion designers, stylists, retailers, editors, tastemakers and Hollywood celebrities who will attend represents “the new guard of fashion power in Los Angeles,” Kramer says.
I don't know what the weather is like where all of you live, but here in Los Angeles the days are longer and the weather is definitely warming up. I actually put the top down for the first time this weekend! When I was making my plans to move out here from the east coast (8 years ago already!), I imagined myself driving around in the beautiful Los Angeles weather, in a hot convertible with the top down and the music blaring. Me, scarf over my hair, wearing huge shades, reincarnating some old Hollywood starlet. **sigh** I confess: I do that now, when the weather is like this, and some small part of me understands the meaning of success. It's defined only by you, and for me, when I realize I have actively manifested my fantasies into my realities, that's what feels like success. Among other things... Anyway, I digress.
I am now, admittedly, starting to freak out a little bit about the idea of swimsuit season. I am P.A.L.E. right now. I used to go to tanning salon's around this time of year to start "building my color" for the season. However, it's time to realize that not only does tanning majorly age your skin with sun damage, it puts you at risk for skin cancer. At home tanners have a bad rep, but I dont really have much experience using them. So over the course of Spring, I am going to start testing out at home tanners (on small area's of my body: I dont want to walk around for weeks looking like an Oompa Loompa!), and I also plan to try out something I have actually wanted to try for a while: airbrush tanning. That's when they actually airbrush your body by hand with sunless tanner, and can layer the solution until you get your perfect shade. I have also heard of places that do this, and can actually "contour" your body, by shading area's in a way strategic to hiding your flaws and flaunting your best "ass"ets (*giggle*, sorry... I had to).
Not only that, but it's time to TONE! And if I can get up off MY princess tush to make it that much better for those bottoms, so can you! I have recently started doing yoga (for the strength and stretching, in addition to toning), and tae bo (for cardio, to burn calories). Hopefully, I will be able to keep it up through the Spring, and I am hoping if I promise all of you that I will keep you posted on my progress, it will keep me motivated!
Also coming up for Spring here at Couture Cult, will be something new and fun! I don't want to tell you too much about it, but I am *very* excited! I'm working on a webisode of the same kind of content as I write about here on the site! I cant wait to get the first one up, but I am working VERY hard on it and want to make sure it's just PERFECT before I share it!
I am proud to say that I have officially completed my SPRING CLEANING! My house is sparkling from corner to corner! I find that when the season's change, thats the perfect time to do a a rotation of the clothes in your closet. Move your cashmere, cords, and coats to the back, and put your cottons and lightweight layering pieces towards the front. This is also a great time to go through your wardrobe. I suggest making a few piles. Try things on and make sure they fit properly. Create a pile to take to the tailor for hemming or mending, a pile for things that should be dry cleaned, another for the items you wont wear anymore but can probably resell, and another pile for things you will donate. This will make room for all the new Spring trends you are going to want to mix into your wardrobe as bright colors and new cuts start to make their way into the stores! Even better, taking your clothes to a resale store will give you some extra cash to help pay for that way hot but too expensive luxury piece that you've been eyeing. No matter what your budget is, it's always great to have those pieces to mix in with your more budget friendly ones. Try to get one thing each season. Look for a really great and timeless "piece" that will be worth the investment by staying useful to you as the years go by. And hey, if that's not in your budget, you can always do some shopping in the resale store you brought your clothes to. Sometimes, they offer you more money for what you brought in if you are willing to accept store credit.
Miss Moss's first ever Vogue cover. Shot by Corinne Day, March 1993.
I find it amusing that on her first cover, the headline right next to her face it says "Sex, drugs, and science: their future together". A premonition?
Apartment dweller with a green thumb? Want to bring some nature to your office? This table graden at kikkerland.com is the perfect solution! At $27.00, it's truly a steal.
From the website: There is something special about watching things grow, and l've always liked the idea of a portable garden. Adding tiny details like old bricks and decorative urns brings the hint of reality to a tranquil illusion and brings the viewer down to its scale.
Project Runway: Christian Siriano Season 4 Winner!
My favorite tidbits from his Bravo interview, after his win:
Did you just know that Victoria Beckham would like your collection? In the back of my head, I’m not going lie, I was like, “Victoria’s the judge. This is me.” She’s who I design for! She’s English, she’s from Europe, she’s very very into high fashion, and some of her favorite designers are McQueen and Chanel and Lagerfeld, you know? I knew there was no way she was not going to like what I did. It was amazing because she’s someone I would actually want to try to dress. I actually think I said when we first started and Bravo asked us all who we’d want to dress, I’m pretty sure I said Victoria Beckham. Well, and I said Britney, but actually I said I wanted to save Britney! My new goal in life is to come up with my new reality show called Project Britney where I transform her and I save her life and make her the most fabulous person ever! She needs a gay! She has no gays! Have you ever noticed that? She has no gay boys helping her! She only has straight people and, no offense, but straighties don’t know how to fix the divas! It’s so weird! I’ve never seen any gay stylists working her.
What did you think of Rami and Jillian’s collections? Both collections were amazing! Jillian’s technical abilities are perfect, but taste issues? And Rami’s was fabulous!
OK – let’s address the critics. What do you say to someone who thinks you ripped off Alexander McQueen? Luckily I haven’t heard a lot of negative responses to my collection so far. I haven’t really heard that it looks like Alexander McQueen. I, of course, have my references, but nobody is re-inventing themselves every time. With every designer you could reference like, “Oh wow, that looks very Dior,” but it’s McQueen. You could say McQueen looks very Dior or Dior looks very McQueen this season, you know? Trust me, I’ve worked there. McQueen would pick up Vivienne Westwood dresses and be like, “This pocket is really cool, let’s do it.” Designers reference other designers all the time, you just might not see that. And you know what? If somebody wants to compare me to Alexander Mcqueen, I’m not worried. That’s fine with me, people!
Project Runway: Victoria Beckham To Be Guest Judge For Finale!
"For me, there's one very clear designer that is the winner, in my eye," she told OK!. "There's one designer, that every single piece I saw come down this runway, I would wear myself."
Already? Yes. Already. March means SPRING is on its way, and at least here in Los Angeles, that means it's time to start the nightmare of shopping for a swimsuit! Ugh! This is where shopping online comes in handy! Order it, try it on at home, and just return it if it isn't right for you. Check this one out:
This Sun-thru™ one piece is sexy and functional, and better yet, it wont leave you with tan lines! It wont leave you with empty pockets, either, at only $60!
"If you look at the girls, they are not beautiful like models were 20 years ago. The girls are thin, they have strange faces. … At first, you look at them and you’re not sure if they’re beautiful or disgusting."
~ Jimmy Pihet (Of the Federation Française de la Couture)
Writing this is very unexpected, I have to admit. Rihanna is only 20 years old, and it usually takes a celebrity a good amount of trial and error, and personal exploration and experimentation before they are able to really put together their own signature style. But Rihanna has been impressing me a lot lately.
She's been making front row appearances at Chanel and Sonia Rykiel, to name a few, at Paris Fashion Week. And her outfits have been just perfect!
Here she is at Sonia Rykiel. I love this look so much. The colors are beautiful, and perfect for the season. The bright blue of her coat, and the yellow of the bag really stands out. And the outfit underneath: to die for! The pants are cut so beautifully, and I love how its modern and simple but still interesting. I've also always been really drawn to monochromatic outfits, for some reason. It makes the details of the design really stand out, instead of the colors.
And here she is again at Chanel. This look is perfect for her to wear to Chanel, its very age appropriate without being immature.
Another favorite look of hers, is this one from the Jack Gallery, where she bought seven Todd Goldman paintings last week. This looks like something I would wear out on the weekends. I love the black, white, hot pink color combination. Its girly and punk at the same time. The attitude of her haircut only brings out the vamp of the outfit. The leggings, I am jealous of, and want a pair just like them! And the shoes coordinate perfectly as well, I love the use of patent leather there. Who doesnt want to steal that jacket?
I have now raised my expectations. Someone should give Miley Cyrus the direct number to Rihanna's stylist!
I feel like purple is so unexpected when I see it. It certainly takes something to pull it off. You either look regal or like fright-night. Rhianna is definately regal.
Unique Shoe Designs By Briton Antonio Berardi And Viktor & Rolf
Briton Antonio Berardi designed these, well, interesting shoes. He said, "When you walk, it is almost on tiptoe. You look really dainty." Well apparently Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman and Victoria Beckham all agree. They all already have a pair!
I like unique shoe designs, though functionality is hugely important. I mean, you WALK in shoes. I dont know about tip-toeing around all night long (thought I imagine it would do a lot to work those calf muscles!). Definitely wouldnt wear these for a night drinking and dancing. More like tip-toe from the car to a seat, and back.
These, by Viktor & Rolf are also unique, however much more wearable. From the Fall 2008 collection, these are so "Like A Virgin", and I simply LOVE them!
I have never been too taken with Paris Hilton. But I really love this photo-shoot of her for 944 Magazine. So maybe its not her Im loving, maybe its just whoever styled the shoot. Either way, something is working... Check out the slideshow to see the images!
Ashley & Mary-Kate Olsen Have "Influence", And Prove It With A New Book On Fashion
Their official press release:
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen — Business Women, Designers and Global Style Icons – to Pen a New Book, INFLUENCE, for Penguin Young Readers Group
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen will pen a new book, Influence (the working title) for Razorbill, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, it was announced today. Influence will be published Fall 2008.
Influence introduces readers to respected artists, seasoned designers and others who have influenced Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen over the past decade. The book will feature influential figures including; Christian Louboutin, Lauren Hutton, Bob Colacello, Terry Richardson, Jack Pierson and Robert Lee Morris. A coffee table book, Influence includes exclusive photographs of Ashley and Mary-Kate from world renowned photographer Rankin, and a wide variety of other never-before-seen materials and interviews from Mary-Kate and Ashley’s personal collections. This unique book is edited by fashion and arts writer Derek Blasberg and designed by eminent book designer Rodrigo Corral.
Ashley Olsen said of the project, “Mary-Kate and I have filled Influence with the most interesting, challenging, creative people we know—the ones who helped pave the way for us and our generation.”
Mary-Kate Olsen said of the project: “Our collaboration with Penguin on Influence is exciting because we are bringing something unique to the market. Ashley and I interviewed the people who have inspired us, with the hope that they will inspire and teach others.”
They still look like little girls to me. Hard to believe they're business women, designers, global style icons. But I can't deny their influence and popularity!
Anne Hathaway, Miley Cyrus, Helen Mirren, Katherine Heigl, and Heidi Klum all wore red to the Oscars, deciding to beat the red carpet at its own game.
Heidi Klum's dress by Galliano is by far my favorite. She will be auctioning the dress off online at MyCokeRewards.com. Proceeds will help build awareness for women’s heart disease on behalf of the Red Dress Campaign for Heart Truth.
Katherine Heigl was absolutely stunning, and I love the shoulder of this Escada dress. I have always been drawn to circles in design, and she looks surprisingly sophisticated. She is starting to remind me of a young Charlize Theron, and I'd love to see how she can pull off a more serious role on the big screen.
Spoiled Stripper Wins Oscar, But Not My Affections
Juno was an awesome movie, and I am happy that Diablo Cody won her Oscar.
That being said, what's up with her being such an ingrate when it comes to the one of a kind million dollar shoes Stuart Weitzman was so generous as to make for her? And that HE claims she assisted him in designing? A stripper writes one script, and suddenly she has an Oscar and thinks: I wont WHORE OUT his MILLION DOLLAR SHOES?!?!?
Project Runway: Season 4, Episode 11: "The Art of Fashion"
My excitement for this season of Project Runway began to wane somewhere around the episode where they made "couture" from Hershey's candy wrappers and such. It was just too blatant an advertising scheme for me to take seriously. However now that we are nearing the Bryant Park episode, I am starting to make sure I tune in.
This weeks episode, Sweet P was (finally) sent home. Dont get me wrong, she makes some very wearable clothing, but she is NOT a couture designer, as her strange satin dress revealed, looking completely without concept on the runway amidst much more detailed, expert work by Jillian and Christian.
It was hard to take Christian seriously, at first. His youth was obvious, his sense of humor blatant. And though that may be fun and attractive in ones personal life and friends, in a competition it came off as immature. But his designs have proven to be anything BUT immature. He has real skill and a unique eye. I have high expectations for his final line.
Jillian has carved herself a special little place in my heart as well, being consistent and creative with an experts attention to detail. Her black and gold number from this week was so hot, I want to BUY it and wear it out immediately.
Rami almost got voted off, and I swear my heart raced until they said that he too could stay. I still believe he has the potential to win, but Im just not sure anymore if he is my favorite after seeing the range of some of these other designers. He seems to be stubbornly holding onto his right to "grecian draping". But the judges are right: we all want to see MORE from him. To win, he has to prove he is more than just a niche designer.
Chris... well, I like him, he's sweet and humble. But Im not sure what to make of him as a designer. I seem to either love or hate his stuff. I guess it all comes down to the final collections.
Designer Eva, hand makes these adorable pin-up inspired bows that can be worn in your hair or even clipped onto your clothes! You can even share them with your daughter, the clips being the kind least likely to pull. Available in plain colored satin, or cute patterns like skulls, lipstick kisses, hearts, anchors... I absolutely LOVE these!
Eva was kind enough to send me samples of her product, and I can attest to both their quality and functionality, and their fashionability and uniqueness.
You can find her designs either HERE (her myspace page) or HERE (her website)!
Something else thats amazing about Little Lily Designs, is her "Pin-up Angels" line of camo-patterned bows. At $8 a piece, all proceeds go towards care packages being sent to our troops overseas! How generous!
the metallic jacket is awesome. you shouldn't be afraid to rock it. definitely attention-grabbing though. i like this version which is slightly more toned-down because it's more of a bronze-y tone...
ALANA JOY Los Angeles, CA alanajoy.tumblr.com
I work in the fashion industry in Los Angeles. This blog is a place for me to talk about all things fashion and beauty related, hopefully touching on the real art, emotion, and sometimes humor of the industry as a whole.
Angel, at
March 13, 2008 3:47 AM
fashonista, at
March 3, 2008 11:14 PM
