The Way We Were: Fashion’s Night Out In The U.S. Is No More

Fashion Night Out, Bergdorf Goodman NYC,  57th & 5th

Being Likeable on Facebook or trending big on Twitter doesn’t always equate to bucks at the cash register. Marketers weasel their way out of disappointing ROI analysis  by citing  ‘engagement’ as the upside of it all and trotting out the old saw that the way to talk to customers is so different now yada yada, yada. ‘Experiential’  is the fancy new buzz word stand in for the term  ‘special events’  and Fashion’s  Night Out has been  the big enchilada  event in New York since 2009.  The biggest block party in town concept spread to 500 U.S. cities and 30 overseas.

Four years later, FNO is no more, at least in the U.S.A. The reason for what is euphamistically called a  ‘hiatuis” ? It cost a lot of dough and no one made any. The big players didn’t need the P.R. and emerging brands didn’t get any. Yes, It was fun while it lasted,  but despite what your social media guru tells you, Steven Kolb is wrong. Retail success is measured by numbers and this Anna Wintour endorsed  big night on the town ultimately
did not add up.

Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of the CFDA, when asked if FNO was a big money maker, Kolb replied: “I don’t think the success of it was measured only by numbers or money, but was really about engagement.…Everyone feels we had a great four years. It brought a lot of attention to retail, to fashion’s important place in retail. Everyone feels really proud of what we accomplished, and excited to take those lessons and continuing them throughout the year.”

John Lautner’s Mushroom House For Bob Hope in Palm Springs: $50 Million

John Lautner was an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright.
He designed the Elrod Residence which is also in Palm Springs, California.

Who knew that old-school, Old Hollywood couple Bob and Delores Hope had a thing for modernist homes?  Hope made tons of dough buying California  real estate and this Lautner designed  six bedroom, 23, 366 sq. ft.  was one of three they owned in Palm Springs. Designed in 1973, it was completed in 1980 and described by the NYTimes  as having  ” three visor like arches and an undulating concrete roof, a hole at its center opening a courtyard to the sky

Exterior, Bob Hope House by John Lautner,
Palm Springs, $50 Million

“Noticeably absent from the listing photos are interior shots—as is often the case with properties as storied as this—but the Times offers details about what lurks within those glassy walls: a “boulder jutting into the living room,” which was part of Lautner’s original plan, plus traces of the Hopes’ design decisions, like “a Rousseau-like mural on the back wall of the bar,” that eventually caused the architect to bid sayonara (amicably, as it goes) to the project. (In aiming to make the interiors “more livable,” Dolores changed the layout so many times that Bob “used to say every time he went away he needed a road map to get back through his house,” of their daughters recalls.) Outside: putting greens, a tennis court, a pool, and a pond. “-Curbed LA

What $37 Million Buys In The South Of France: Villa in Cap D’Antibes

Antibes

Cap d’Antibes, France cote d’ Azur, $37,000,000

Bedrooms: 7

Full bathrooms: 7

Lot size: 12,916

Square feet: 8,611 sq ft

Year built: 1930

Soethby’s International

Gerard Depardieu has taken off for Moscow and the 13% flat Russian tax rate. With a 75% top tax rate proposed for the future, even national French treasures like Bardot are making noises about relocation. Look for more lush trophy spots in France to hit the market as more favorable tax havens beckon.

Anne Hathaway’s Morning After The Oscars Look Was Truly Miserable

There’s been  much ado about Hathaway’s  too boyish hair cut, panti-less paparazzi limo shot a few months ago and the unfortunate bust darts of her last-minute decision pink  Prada gown. Maison Valentino could not have been pleased as only hours before they had confirmed her choice of a Valentino gown  for the event. Ooops!  According to  British Vogue, the actress’ publicist issued an apology.

Fast forward to the morning after and a truly unfortunate sighting in Beverly Hills. Maybe it’s all as simple as the actress having horrible taste. She wouldn’t be the first major movie  star to lack the style gene. Think Liz Taylor or Merryl Streep or Jane Fonda and Oscar ceremonies in the pre-stylist days. Calling Rachel Zoe…

Anne and America’s New Sweetheart, Jennifer Lawrence,  Getting Hit On by Jack Nicholson (VIDEO):

From Vogue UK:

“Confusion first arose when Maison Valentino released a statement only hours before the red carpet began, confirming that they were to be dressing the actress in a couture gown – as well as Jennifer Aniston and Sally Field. However, when Hathaway arrived at the Dolby Theatre, it quickly became apparent that she was wearing a pale pink Prada column dress. She told press: “I didn’t know what I was wearing until two hours ago. I tried on a lot of dresses, but at the end of the day, I loved the simplicity of it.”

“It came to my attention late Saturday night that there would be a dress worn to the Oscars

Amanda Seyfried’s McQueen Oscar Gown That Was Too ‘Similar’ to Hathaway’s Planned Valentino

that is remarkably similar to the Valentino I had intended to wear, and so I decided it was best for all involved to change my plans,” said Hathaway. “Though I love the dress I did wear, it was a difficult last-minute decision as I had so looked forward to wearing Valentino in honour of the deep and meaningful relationship I have enjoyed with the house and with Valentino himself. I deeply regret any disappointment caused.”

Pope: Still O.K. To Wear White After Labor Day, But No Go On The Red Shoes

Vatican officials have announced that the Pope Emeritus Benedikt  can still wear white year round  once he’s unemployed,  but must fore go the red footwear. It is rumored that he’s taken with a pair of brown loafers given to him in Mexico,  so don’t expect to see His Holiness PEB  ordering any bespoke  red-soled Louboutins anytime soon.

No Magic of Macy’s For Martha On Centre Street: The Macy’s , JCP, Martha Stewart Trial Is On

Last week, loud tie and suit purveryor Donald Trump was having a notice–me hissy fit threatening a $25 million  lawsuit against  Dump Trump At Macy’s activist Angelo Carusone.

This week, Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren and Martha Stewart face off in court. At issue, is the exclusiveity of Martha’s deal with Macy’s to sell branded cookware, bedding and other Marthaesque  home stuff.

Somehow, JC Penney on its continuing road to customer confusion and declining sales, took a stake in Stewart’s company and planned to open Stewart boutiques in-store.

The future of all of it hinges on a  loophole in the agreement with Macy’s. “It’s a provision that allows Martha Stewart to sell goods in categories like bedding in Martha Stewart Living’s own stores.

According to Martha Stewart, because the Macy’s agreement doesn’t say the goods under dispute can be sold “only in “stand-alone” stores, the mini shops within J.C. Penney stores do not fall under the exclusive agreement.

Macy’s Inc., based in Cincinnati, disagrees. Lundgren argues that a typical definition of a store is that it has a parking lot or is part of a mall.”

Is it me or should Mr. Lundgren  please tell his lawyers that internet stores do count. (Macy’s is Whopper-sized and does not have a parking lot.)

He testified that he hung up on Stewart when she called to tell him she was no longer monogamously Macy’s. The two friends have not spoken since. JCP is a mess as we know, so the billions in play here legally are very significant to all parties.

I did check. Macy’s still sells Martha and the stuff is kind of wonderful.

Everyone’s favorite mean girl with mother issues is Martha’s daughter, Alexis who had a show a few seasons back,  making fun of Mom: “Whatever Martha”.

Merryl Should Wear Prada: Streep’s Red Carpet Hall of Shame

O.K.,somebody’s got to say it. Our greatest living screen actress has horrible taste in red carpet finery . A case could be made for her being above all that and  for artistic integrity being more important than the frivolity of fashion but she consistently brings out the Stacy London”What Not To Wear” gene in me.  There’s a little empresses’ new clothes thing going on with her,  because even the bitchiest fashion wags say nothing about some of these unflattering, overly draped get-ups. But she does look lovely in that black bustier number from a few seasons ago.

And a dishonorable mention to Jane Fonda, hardly Mellow Yellow in this electric Versace Party Like It’s 1999 wide-shouldered throwback. It’s pretty obvious which of the Old Guard won’t spring for Rachel Zoe or Brad.

Donovan Mellow Yellow 1966

Prince 1999

Long Blonde Hair And A See Thru Gown At 70? Streisand Dazzles At The Oscars

In a dress Donna Karan named “City Lights”,  Barbra Streisand played tribute to her late friend Marvin Hamlisch. She sang “The Way We Were” at the 2013 Oscars.

Streisand Accepting Her Oscar, 1969 for Funny Girl.
She tied with Kathryn Hepburn for The Lion In Winter.

Love the off-shoulder sexy neckline and the hint of legs showing through this fabulous gown. Though Babs still holds the honor for one of 10 most terrible Oscar looks ever. Credit (if you want to call it that ), goes to Arnold Scaasi. He recently closed his business after 55 years. Not a moment too soon, Arnie.

The Way We Were: Rembering Other Oscar Nites With Liz, Grace, Cary Grant And Bill Holden

Remembering Old Hollywood at its most beautiful, before the plastic surgeons Stepford-ized everyone into mediocre sameness and a star had to be born that way.

1939 Oscars Red Carpet

1954 Grace Kelly

1959 Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant

1969 Elizabeth Taylor Presents to Midnight Cowboy

Michael Kors Is Not Nuts; We Are, If We Buy This

Have you ever wondered just how far designers could push the no value for the money envelope?

The answer here, from someone who should know better–Michael Kors. His  shapeless, unflattering striped schmatta (there is not other word for it) in silk georgette is  $2295. Yup, your glasses are fine. Since little labor was required to “tailor” this sad ‘beauty’, how do they justify the price?  Because they can. Expect to see it 60% off  at clearance time.At Neiman Marcus,