“I figured a barbecue was a good way to celebrate the end of summer,” Charlotte Ronson explained at her blowout fête at the Chelsea Piers last night. Given the heat index, the event didn’t much feel like a last hurrah. What with the fried chicken, burgers, cotton candy, and ice cream on offer, the party, [...]

In Los Angeles for a little summer vacay, Chris Benz descended upon West Hollywood boutique Beckley last night for a trunk show featuring his Fall ‘09 collection. “I definitely see someone from L.A. gravitating toward some of the lighter silks in the line,” said Benz. But it’s not all work for the newly minted member [...]

There could—maybe, possibly, fingers crossed—be hope for Christian Lacroix. Bernard Krief Consultants may be bidding on the couture house. Like we said, fingers crossed. [WWD]
JCPenney comes to the Manhattan Mall. Prices are low, customer service is award-winning, and goods will be replenished around the clock. Take that, recession! But, are you willing to shop in [...]

The notion that Kate Moss sparks trends is hardly new—see pirate boots, cutoffs, vintage dresses on the red carpet, etc. And it seems the supermodel’s innate style is more compelling than ever for designers as well as consumers. Case in point: the Gloria Swanson-channeling look she dreamed up with Marc Jacobs to wear to the [...]

Fresh from his presentation, Chris Benz was the recipient of many a hug at his friendly post-show fête at Automatic Slims in the West Village on Monday night. Benz’s neighborhood bestie posse, including stylist Jessica Diehl and actress Eva Amurri, filed in to give major congrats to the designer. “We met two years ago at [...]

One-time Madonna flame A-Rod admits to using performance-enhancing drugs (even President Obama is disappointed), but now, he swears, he just does Kabbalah, which everyone knows is the gateway drug to Scientology. It’s a slippery slope, Alex. [New York Post]
Madonna, meanwhile, has found Jesus. Jesus Luz, that is, and by the looks of this Steven Klein [...]

What: Lulu Frost’s new collection of charm-centric jewelry for Urban Outfitters, called Secret Garden by Lulu Frost, which hits stores today.Why: Because a price range that starts at $18 and tops out at $48 is an utterly, er, charming way to get a bauble from the talented designer who helps Chris Benz and Alexander Wang [...]

I am on the wings of a terrific weekend spent in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the lovely Southern belles of Capitol, the taste-making boutique run by the beautiful Laura Poole. An assortment of New York characters flew south for the relaunch of the store and the debut of a floribunda vegetal wall installation by the [...]

When Matthew Siskin started designing Web sites for designer friends under the name designedmemory, it was a way to pay the rent so he could focus on his music career. That was back in 2002. Fast-forward six years and he’s responsible for some of the fashion industry’s most inspired online presences, including the Web sites [...]

Derek Lam, Thakoon Panichgul, Chris Benz, and other New York designers and fashion types are co-hosting a last-minute Obama fundraiser at Aurora Lopez Mejia’s Talavera Studio this Friday, October 10—and you’re invited. To get your name on the guest list, donate $100 or more at this Web site.
—Nicole Phelps