Athletes

From the wrong side of the law to the right side of his heart.

Olympic snowboarder Shaun White chopped off his famed long locks on Tuesday, donating several inches of his red hair to Locks of Love and documenting the process on camera.

“I’ve been thinking about this one for a while,” he says nervously in the video below. “But it’s for a good cause so I want to do it. Somebody needs it more than I do.”

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Rex USA

–When you’re a celebrity, you pretty much get paid to do everything — that includes sitting front row at Fashion Week. Rumor has it Rihanna raked in almost $100,000 for her appearance at the Chanel show last year [The Hollywood Reporter]

–Ryan Lochte was spotted dining with Vogue editors in New York City on Wednesday night. We wonder what they’re plotting! [Page Six]

–As predicted, Sarah Jessica Parker plays Lea Michele‘s fashion-fairy godmother on Glee [Huffington Post]

— After being available pretty much everywhere but here, Zara Home is launching in the States on Oct. 9 [ELLE]

–Even if you’re not that into politics, you’ll love this: Bliss is celebrating election season by giving away limited edition lotions inspired by Obama and Romney with any purchase over $50 [Bliss World]

• Athletes,
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• Lea Michele,
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Jen Lombardo

For six years, Michelle Kwan worked with fashion designer Vera Wang to create elegant and functional figure skating costumes.

“She knows me in terms of my lines,” Kwan tells PEOPLE, “and she knows my body really well.”

For those reasons and more, Kwan is keen on Wang to design her wedding dress following Kwan’s announcement of her engagement to U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Clay Pell.

“I did tell her the news,” says Kwan, who has been in New York City for Fashion Week. “She was like, ‘When is it?’”

Kwan says that throughout her skating career, Wang would have her try on gowns at costume fittings “just for size, for a visual on what’s happening for a spring or fall look,” the skater recalls. “She’d say, ‘This shape would look great on you, try this on!’ But I’d say, ‘Vera, I’m really excited to be getting married one day, but I don’t need to try on a wedding dress and if you’re not engaged, it’s supposed to be bad luck, right?’ But she was like, ‘Eh!’”

The commute from Washington, D.C., where Kwan is based, to New York City, where Wang is based, would work well for dress consultations, Kwan says. “I have a long relationship with Vera, so I hope she does it.”

A custom-made gown would go quite well with Kwan’s custom-made platinum engagement ring, too.

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Theo Wargo/Getty

Just a few days ago she was on the courts in Flushing, playing hard at the U.S. Open. But Wednesday, Venus Williams was in a decidedly different setting in Manhattan, having her hair and makeup done for the New York Fashion Week debut of her clothing line, EleVen (presented behind The Grey Goose Blue Door).

“It was crazy,” she told PEOPLE of the timing. “Back-to-back French Open, Wimbledon, Olympics, U.S. Open … four Majors right in a row. So I never really came up for air. I felt like I was just swimming — but it’s been a really nice swim.”

While competing this summer, Williams often wore outfits of her own design. So for Wednesday’s presentation, she opted to hire athletes (below), not traditional models, to display her wares. (Still, they got the VIP treatment, complete with hairstyling and makeup by Make Up For Ever.)

“It was important to show the clothes in the way I wanted to see them shown,” Williams explained. “It’s all about moving and it’s all about moving in style — looking good and feeling well. This whole concept really brings that to life.”

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• Athletes,
• Celebrity Designer,
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–Rihanna‘s British fashion show, Styled to Rock, isn’t doing as well in the ratings department as expected [Telegraph]

–It’s true: Ryan Lochte is going to design a fashion line. Will a blinged-out grill be included? [StyleBistro]

–Another day, another celeb fashion campaign: This time it’s Josh Brolin for Band of Outsiders [The Daily Beast]

–Check out Giuliana Rancic‘s first clothing line for HSN, G by Giuliana [InStyle]

–Crashing at a friend’s beach house for Labor Day weekend? Then we recommend reading Olivia Palermo‘s house guest etiquette tips [Olivia Palermo]

• Athletes,
• Celebrity Ad Campaigns,
• Celebrity Designer,
• Fashion,
• Olivia Palermo,
• Rihanna

Courtesy L’Oréal Paris

Her accomplishments are quite impressive: softball star, record-setting runner, Alexander McQueen muse, L’Oréal Paris spokeswoman. Add the fact that she had her legs amputated below the knees at just 1 year old, and you can easily say Aimee Mullins is an inspiration.

The model/athlete, named one of PEOPLE’s Most Beautiful in 1999, is one of two retired athletes leading the United States into the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremonies in London on Wednesday, serving as a Chef de Mission for the country.

“I’m very nervous,” she tells PEOPLE. “It’s a huge honor, and I’m flattered, but it’s going to be strange to be on the other side of the experience.”

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