JCrew Bridal Store

The 4,000 square foot J.Crew Bridal Store opened today on Madison Avenue in New York City.  The store, located at 769 Madison Avenue, is the chain’s first bridal store and features, in addition to wedding dresses and bridal party gear, a full array of outfits and accessories for a full range of wedding festivities.  Among these offerings is the new 769 collection of evening-wear for both him and her.  Dresses range in price from $250 to $3,500.

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J.Crew opens First Bridal Store

J.Crew Opens Bridal Boutique in New York City

Celebs Bare it All

It seems that once a year or so, a round of celebrities decide to wash their makeup off and allow national magazines to run ‘untouched’ (are they really?) pictures of them in their natural state. This spring, Jessica Simpson and Heidi Klum, among others, are the latest to jump on this ‘no makeup’ bandwagon. Jessica posed au naturel for the May issue of Marie Claire (and was featured makeup-less on the cover of the mag), and now Heidi (who, ironically, was pictured – with makeup – on the April Marie Claire cover) has chosen to grin and bare it for People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People issue.

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Jessica Simpson In Marie Claire: No Makeup, No Retouching?

Heidi Klum Poses Without Makeup

People’s Most Beautiful People: Heidi Klum Poses WITHOUT Makeup

Grace Kelly Exhibit in London

Grace Kelly has long been an icon of style, glamor, and elegance, and now her status as such is being celebrated in the Albert Museum’s “Grace Kelly: Style Icon” exhibit (London). On display are a number of Kelly’s most well-known dresses, which were created by an impressive list of designers (Balenciaga, Dior, and Yves St. Laurent among them). The exhibit separates Kelly’s fashionable history into three separate phases – The Actress, The Bride, and The Princess. Grace Kelly is also commemorated in this month’s issue of Vanity Fair, which includes a feature article about her life.

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‘Grace Kelly: Style Icon’ Exhibit Draws Royals, Joan Collins, Ringo Starr

Grace Kelly Fashion Exhibit Opens in London

Grace Kelly: Style Icon

H&M Organic Skincare

The latest of H&M’s exciting announcements comes in the form of a line of certified organic skincare products, each item of which is under $8.00. The line, to be launched next week, includes body lotions, scrubs, shower gels, lip balms, and adorable toiletry bags (mad.

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H&M Launches a Beauty Line

H&M Introduces Skincare and it’s Organic

H&M Launches Organic Skincare Line

Italian Vogue Website Features

Italian Vogue has launched a new English-reader-friendly website, which features several specialized sections: Vogue Black, Vogue Curvy, and Vogue Talents.  Each section covers stories and fashion related to its title – black women/designers, curvy women/designers, and more general talent/fashion.

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Italian Vogue Launches Vogue Black and Vogue Curvy

Vogue Italia Launches Curvy, Black, and Talents Sites

Vogue Italia Launches Vogue Curvy

Vogue Italia Launches Vogue Curvy: Currently Starring ‘Plus-Size’ Models

Alexander McQueen Dies

Fashion great, Alexander McQueen, was found dead in his London apartment yesterday morning (Feb. 11, 2010); he was 40 years old. McQueen was best known for his wildly ground-breaking designs, which were loved and frequently worn by Hollywood style icons Victoria Beckham and Lady Gaga. For now, his death is being ruled a suicide; many wonder if it was brought on by the emotional distress he endured over his mother’s recent death (Feb. 2, 2010). Alexander McQueen was a true fashion genius and icon, and he will certainly be missed by many.

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All About his Mother?

Alexander McQueen, Iconoclastic Fashion Designer, Dies at 40

McQueen Death Leaves Brand in Turmoil

Remembering Alexander McQueen

Vogue Editor Joins America’s Next Top Model

The CW announced on Monday that Andre Leon Talley, Vogue editor-at-large, has signed on to judge for the 14th season of America’s Next Top Model.  Talley will join Tyra Banks, Nigel Barker, and several guest judges throughout the season to decide which aspiring model will make it to become America’s next top model.  Talley will replace J. Alexander, who has judged on the show for several seasons; Alexander is returning to his original role on the show as a walking coach for the models.

Tyra Banks has been asking Talley, who has reportedly never watched a single episode of the show, to judge since 2002.

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‘Top Model’: Can Andre Leon Talley Fill Miss J’s Puffy Sleeves?

Andre Leon Talley to Judge America’s Next Top Model

Banks Recruits Vogue Editor for Top Model

Jessica Simpson Denim

Jessica Simpson is adding denim to her fashion line, which already includes shoes, accessories, and dresses. Simpson has also designed a variety of tops (blouses, vests, jackets) to accompany her jeans. Jessica Simpson collection jeans will be sold in 1,000 department stores nationwide, and online at jessicasimpsoncollection.com.

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Jessica Simpson Expanding Fashion Brand to Include Denim

Gilt Groupe Increases Exclusivity

Popular sample sale shopping site Gilt Groupe (gilt.com) has just introduced an element of extreme exclusivity in the form of its new offshoot, Gilt Noir.  Gilt Groupe is already a members-only site, albeit ‘membership’ is not difficult to attain (it involves signing up your email address on the website).

This new Gilt Noir is only available to the top 1% of Gilt Groupe shoppers, a clientele which includes the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and who spend a minimum of $10,000 on Gilt Groupe each year.  These select few shoppers will be able to shop from the Gilt Groupe ’boutiques’ fifteen minutes before they become available to regular Gilt Groupe members online.

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Exclusive Members-Only Site Gilt.com Launches More Exclusive Club

L.L. Bean & Land’s End Introduce Fashionable Style

Both L.L. Bean and Land’s End – typically recognized as brands for the unstylish and practical – are trying to amp up their images this fall.  The labels are introducing collections that are targeted towards the younger consumer, with tighter fitting tops, lower rise pants, and the like.

None of the new pieces are drastically different from the classic looks for the brands.  Rather, they are modern, updated versions of the classics for which L.L. Bean and Land’s End are known.

In another move aimed at attracting younger consumers, L.L. Bean and Land’s End have both introduced Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to their marketing campaigns.

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L.L. Bean and Lands’ End Go for Vogue