Archive: May, 2008

Lindensmith/McMullan/Sipa

Good news for the paparazzi waiting outside Hollywood haunt The Ivy: last night Chanel opened a two-story concept boutique right next door, upping Robertson Boulevard’s star quotient even more. Fashionistas, like Gossip Girl’s Michelle Trachtenberg and Leighton Meester, Angie Harmon and January Jones, came decked out in the label’s duds from head to toe. Or as Emma Roberts put it: “Everything except my underwear is Chanel!” The shop’s cutting-edge architecture was accented with oversized accessories, like an enormous shoe at the entrance, and towering mannequins. “Why do they have to be that tall? That’s just mean!” Harmon joked to PEOPLE. And while we might not all be able to afford the gowns dressing Chanel’s mannequins, we can still get our hands on a little of the action. To celebrate the new store Chanel created the Robertson Boulevard Nail Color Collection of four L.A.-inspired, pop-art-hued polishes, $25 each, that are available exclusively at the new boutique starting today or by clicking over to chanel.com.

–Reporting by Jenny Sundel

AP

When it comes to winning, Maria Sharapova is one tennis pro who does it in style. And what better way to hit the courts looking fashionable than in her very own 1920s-inspired Nike dress and Tiffany & Co jewelry. The Paris Dress by Nike was designed in collaboration with Maria and features chalk-white satin ribbons, a double-layered pleated skirt and an elegant Tiffany & Co. pearl button closure in the back. The tennis champ has also partnered with the jewelry company and will wear a special line of earrings for major tennis events over the next two years. The collection of earrings, Tiffany for Maria Sharapova, will be sold at Tiffany & Co. stores around the world. Of the Elsa Peretti designed styles, Maria says, “[they] feel as beautiful as they look and I am thrilled to wear them.” Click here to purchase her $1,150 Tiffany & Co. earrings for yourself. Or Click here to check out more Nike designs inspired by Maria.

Donald Bowers/Getty I

Sex and the City turned high-end shoe labels like Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik into household words. But not every Sex fan can afford to buy pumps that can come with a four-digit sticker price. Famed SATC stylist Patricia Field saw a need for budget-friendly and fashionable shoes and took on the challenge last winter with her first collection of footwear for Payless. And the day after the gals of Sex and the City walked the red carpet at New York’s Radio City Music Hall during the New York City premiere Field took the opportunity to host a fete for her latest Payless shoe designs at her groovy apartment/studio with no sticker-shock in sight. Her blue Payless Empress Sandals with diamante studs go for $25, while her ballet flats are selling for just $20 and the demure Heiress Pump is $35. “I love some Louboutins and some Manolos,” said Field. “But personally, it kills me to spend that kind of money on a shoe. I’m much happier getting a shoe for less money that looks gorgeous.” But can the quality level of Field’s designs for Payless compare? “Payless makes a really nice quality,” the designer tells PEOPLE. “If they made junk, I wouldn’t want to do it, but look at this stitching — it’s gorgeous. This is as good as Manolo.” Check out the entire line now at Payless.com.

Chris Pizzello/Landov; Koichi Kamoshida/Getty

Two iconic singers known for their high heels and micro hemlines, but when it comes to throwing out the first pitch in style, who strikes out? Victoria Beckham memorably stepped up to the pitcher’s mound at Dodgers Stadium last summer in short-shorts and Dries Van Noten wedge sneakers. And this week, Mariah Carey just may have one-upped her in platform heels, denim cut-offs and a tummy-baring satin jacket. While both women clearly spent more time picking their shoes than working on their curveball, we have to pick a winner in this instance — isn’t that what sports is all about? Tell us: Whose baseball style do you like better? Posh or Mariah?

Sara Jaye Weiss/Startraks

He may be more accustomed to slapping pucks around the ice, but it looks like New York Rangers star Sean Avery is set to trade in his skates for something a little more stylish. The hockey player — and former boyfriend of Elisha Cuthbert — will be taking up residence at Vogue for a sought-after internship with the magazine. And while his new role may be a little surprising, he treats his love of the fashion world with the same aggression he shows in the rink. Avery even got up the courage to write a personal letter to editor Anna Wintour requesting the intern position with the magazine. And it looks like his his persistence paid off. A Vogue spokesperson confirms to PEOPLE that Avery got the job, and will “work with senior editors on various projects, help research photo shoots, features on individuals, and non-fashion-related features.” But what about the typical intern grunt work made famous in The Devil Wears Prada? Sounds like even a famous hockey star can’t escape that side of the job. The rep confirms that Avery will work on all aspects of the magazine — including running errands. But Avery may have already scored one of the perks that every intern dreams of — he’s rumored to be attending the next fashion week with editor-at-large Hamish Bowles. We can’t wait to see him in the front row.

Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Following in the footsteps of Lauren Conrad, Rachel Bilson and so many more celebs, LL Cool J is the latest star to try his hand at designing clothing. The rapper has teamed up with Sears to create a collection of casualwear for juniors, young men’s, girls’ and boys’ labeled LL Cool J for Sears, reports Women’s Wear Daily. The new line will be housed in mini-stores within the department store and is being created to serve an urban consumer the retailer hasn’t been addressing. This isn’t the rapper’s first dabble into fashion– along with his own men’s apparel brand, Todd Smith, he has also been the face of brands like Kangol and Fubu. But what makes his able to design a female line? The rapper tells WWD that “I have a wife and three daughters, so I know what women are looking for when they shop for clothes.” With his new LL Cool J for Sears’s junior line, LL will be concerned about the fit and fabrics for most. ” I know that if she comes in, puts it on and it doesn’t fit, she won’t come back. Clothes have to make a woman feel good, relaxed and sexy.” The collection will retail on the higher end of its mix in juniors — from $22 for a graphic T-shirt to $50 for a pair of jeans. LL Cool J’s collection will hit 450 of Sears’ 900 stores in September. Tell us: Will you buy LL Cool J’s line for Sears?

Tonya Wise/London Ent/Splash News

Anyone can buy a dress off the rack, but when Michelle Williams began to ready for her first trip down the red carpet since Heath Ledger’s death, only something special would do. The actress was radiant in a Chanel Haute Couture lace dress made in 1926 pulled from the house’s archives. Her stylist Cher Coulter tells PEOPLE that they started by “digging through archives to find something memorable and demure.We were honestly inspired by her hair.” And when the dress arrived in New York, “it felt so precious and special and perfect for Michelle. It echoed her effortless sense of style, always keeping things original and elegant.” Her feathered Manolo Blahnik sandals came from Jeffrey New York — Coulter describes them as “soft and pretty and the perfect color for the dress.” And as for Michelle, she “fell in love with it straight away.” We have too! Click here to see all the glamorous stars at Cannes.

–Reporting by Courtney Rubin