- Naomi Campbell‘s lawsuit with ex-agent Carol White is still rumbling. White, who claims Campbell stiffed her on royalties for a perfume called “Naomi Campbell Cat Deluxe With Kisses,” says she has evidence that Campbell‘s lawyer and manager perjured themselves. [WWD]
- “Chloë Sevigny gave me some pretty sexy black leather lingerie, and I trust anything she says, especially when it comes to fashion.” We can see this ending very badly for Ginnifer Goodwin. [WWD]
- Today is the first day of the haute couture shows in Paris. The Independent uses this occasion to look back on some of its favorite couture shows and collections, none of which as it happens is any older than 2000. [Independent]
- A Long Island businessman spent $175,000 building his wife a closet just like Carrie’s on Sex And The City! Unfortunately, from the Post‘s photo, it sort of looks like a few Ikea shelves stuck together. (Expedit, Låck, anyone?) [NYPost]
- Isabel and Ruben Toledo are interviewed on an upcoming episode of the new PBS show, The Artist Toolbox. [WWD]
- ANTM Cycle 15 winner Ann Ward‘s new agency polaroids have popped up online. Ward has also been shooting tests, like any newbie model. [COACD]
- The Costume Institute luncheon celebrating Pat Cleveland, Bethann Hardison, and the other black models who walked in the famous US/France international fashion competition in 1973 takes place today. NPR has a nice story looking back at the event, which took place at Versailles and featured the work of Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, and Anne Klein, among others. [NPR]
- Model Lily Cole, who studies art history at Cambridge, has won the role of Nina in a university production of The Seagull. [Vogue UK]
- More spring campaigns are out online: Stella McCartney booked Joan Smalls and Malgosia Bela for a whimsical, collage-based series of ads; Freja Beha Erichsen and Raquel Zimmerman pose for H&M; Patricia Van Der Vliet booked Sonia Rykiel; and Erin Wasson is the face of Elie Saab. [Fashionologie]
- Speaking of H&M, the Swedish chain, which was revealed last year by the New York Times to habitually destroy unworn, unsold clothing rather than donating it to, say, a charity, is using the leftover fabrics from its recent Lanvin for H&M collection to make new clothes. [Nitro:Licious]
- Raf Simons‘ main licensee, Futurenet Group, abruptly cut ties with the designer just before his latest men’s wear show was scheduled to take place in Paris. This doesn’t ostensibly affect Simons‘ position as creative director of Jil Sander, but it does call into question the future of the lines Simons designs under his own name. Apparently, even though Simons initially had to cancel buyer appointments, the fall men’s wear collection will go into production, thanks to a new partner. No word on why the sudden split. [IsaacLikes]
- Farida Khelfa‘s documentary for French television about Jean-Paul Gaultier features Khelfa‘s friend Carla Bruni-Sarkozy interviewing the designer about his AIDS activism. Gaultier lost his partner to the disease in 1990 (and Bruni‘s brother died of the disease in 2006). “My favorite piece of clothing is the condom, because it protects from the virus,” says Gaultier. [WWD]
- The trailer for Richard Press‘s documentary about pioneering street style photographer Bill Cunningham is out — and the movie looks fantastic. [Zeitgeist Films]
- Tod’s chairman Diego Della Valle is essentially donating $32.8 million to finance the restoration of the Colosseum in Rome. The project is expected to take two years. [Fashionologie]
- Courrèges, a label we had actually forgotten still existed, has been sold. [WWD]
- Huh. American Apparel has a new ad that doesn’t feature any pubic hair, ass crack, or other rote sexual objectification. Oh, right — it’s an ad for dude’s clothing. [Copyranter]
- Well, one of last week‘s Blind Items is answered: The editor who totaled the $250,000 Bentley was Kate Winick at something called Worth magazine. She’s going to mention the car in an upcoming issue, but not the crash, and surprise surprise, Bentley has been sooooo understanding. [WWD]
- J.C. Penney looks to be in for a shakeup now that two activist investors gained seats on the company’s board. Penney’s will be closing some stores and call centers, and will continue taking steps to exit the paper catalog business. [AP]