Fashion Week is expected to have a total economic impact of $391 million on New York City. (Crain's)

Movado's earnings plunged 33.7 percent in the second quarter. The luxury watch maker said its 76-year-old chairman, Gedalio "Gerry" Grinberg, will retire next January. His son, Efraim Grinberg, will add the post to his current roles of president and CEO. (DNR)

Designer Mila Schön, who counted Jackie Kennedy, Farah Diba, and Ira von Furstenberg among her clients, has died at 91. (WWD)

Barney's has found a spot in New York's Meatpacking neighborhood. (WWD)

Men.style.com has a slideshow of Fashion Week invitations.

Jessica Simpson has no plans to return to acting.

The singer – who starred as Daisy Duke in movie “The Dukes of Hazzard” and has since appeared in films including “Blonde Ambition” and “Employee of the Month” – admits she has lost her appetite for the industry following the lack of interest in her latest movie ventures.

She said: “I’m not closing that chapter of my life by any means.”

“But I am all about the music right now. When it comes to acting, it’s got to feel right for me at this point in my life.”

“It’s got to just be a really incredible director and production with an awesome studio and great cast. But for me right now Jessica Simpson is music.”

Jessica – who will soon release her debut country album “Do You Know” – also revealed she began to lose confidence in her vocal talents following her shambolic performance of Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5.”

She added: “You know, what happened at Kennedy Center, I really thought I was done singing.”

“I was just at a place where I’d lost a lot of confidence and I didn’t even know who I was.”

“But Dolly totally took me under her wing and helped me up and over the cares of the world.”

“It went from the Kennedy Center to her being a part of this record and getting letters from her of encouragement.”

“She told me she’s never been more proud of anything in her whole life.”

“And I have it written down in her handwriting! I do owe a lot of my confidence to her.”

The 28-year-old star added she now wants to inspire other young singers.

She told E! News: “On stage, when I say, ‘Thank you for giving me a second chance,’ I feel like I’m having a comeback. I’m on solid ground again.”

“They can look to me for inspiration. I want to be a role model.”

Now, if you're like us, you probably thought Cory Kennedy would have gone away about a year ago. But like any good teenage, internet celeb wonder - she just keeps popping up, but the question is, will she pop up on a runway?

We all know Cory's good at getting her picture taken and the girl's definitely cute, so when you think about it, this is a half-way logical progression. We just wonder how she'll fare on the more editorial side of the camera - if Caroline owns jumping then we could definitely see Cory owning the awkward hipster slouch. Or maybe she'll just stick to the bleary eyed and knowing smirk combo she made famous on Cobrasnake.

To think - we might start seeing her in editorials?!

-- HAYLEY PHELAN

To find out what you really must stock your Fall wardrobe with this season, we podcasted from Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC with Michael Fink, Vice President & Women's Fashion Director of Saks and Avril Graham, Executive Fashion & Beauty Editor at Harper's Bazaar. Mastercard is sponsoring Bazaar's 30 Days of Fashion (which even includes yours truly!) - a treasure trove of daily giveaways, tips and treats throughout the month of September.   And Michael's insider dish and fall fashion must-haves are but a click away at Saks.com.  Check out the podcast to get the expert scoop and advice on fall fashion, where to splurge, where to scrimp...and why you need some "textile snobbiness" in your life this season.

Click Here for the FASHIONTRIBES FALL 2009 FASHION TRENDS WITH MICHAEL FINK & AVRIL GRAHAM.mp3

A TAILORED DRESS "There is a return to tailoring and sophistication this season. A tailored dress is the basepoint of every woman's wardrobe this season," explains Michael about fall's ladylike, Jackie Kennedy shift-dress silhouette. "The great thing about a tailored sheath dress is that it can give your wardrobe personality. It's the thing you can build around," agrees Avril. "You can buy an amazing shoe or bootie that is really the season's must-have accessory - whether the boot has studs, fringe, super high-heels, platforms, or a slightly pointed toe - and you'll know that it's going to work with that basic fabulous tailored sheath." (Try: Oscar de la Renta's tweed shift )

MASSIVE NECKLACES "Something we haven't seen for quite a while are these big, bold necklaces that came down all the runways. It's such an easy item to translate into any woman's wardrobe," says Michael. Get something really big, inventive, colored stones, crystals, big architectural pieces and that will just pep up anything you already have in the closet." Both agree that whether you're rocking vintage or something new, it's the single statement piece that will modernize everything in your closet - even a classic white shirt. "It's really a wonderful way to make a statement for day or evening. It's an easy asset for anyone." (Missoni stone-embellished necklace)

TOP-HANDLED BAG If your budget means you can only buy one thing this season, Avril advises replacing your slouchy-pouchy hobo with a ladylike top-handled bag in a yummy fall tone of aubergine, putty, camel, dark green, or chocolate. "Whether your budget is $55 or $55,000, pick a top-handled bag and know that you've got an on-trend must-have." And if you just can't break your black bag habit, then at least opt for one with some sex appeal - be it studs, lace, or visual interest. "But even with black, look for shine, a crackled finish, or some hardware that really lifts the black up," adds Michael, "so it's not just black anymore, it has some character to it." (Chloe Cyndi bag)

BANGIN' BOOTIES "Whether it's the shoe bootie, the scrunchy boot, a mid-calf, or an over-the-knee boot, we think the boot is the most important shoe of the season," says Michael. "We love them with high heels, stilettos, stacked heels, flat...we love them all. It's really about a boot wardrobe this season. And it looks fantastic with every single item in your closet." (Rupert Sanderson Kit Kat shoe-boot)

A SENSATIONAL SHIRT No longer just for secretaries or 80s working girl throwbacks, the bow-neck shirt is a pretty way to freshen up for fall - provided you proceed with a healthy dose of fashion-forward. "If you're wearing a bow shirt, it shouldn't be too conservative. You don't want to look like Margaret Thatcher," warns Avril. To avoid looking like you're running for office, try a feminine and pretty version with non-boho ruffles (a la Madonna), and look to designers like Thakoon and Phillip Lim who create some of the best versions, especially paired with an edgy boot or accessory. And don't forget the right attitude "It works best with a downtown edge because you don't want to look precious," notes Michael. "You want to look like get outta my way!"(Roberto Cavalli flower print blouse)

...AND FOR FASHIONABLE FELLAS Make friends with the pattern of the season for men. "Plaid anything," says Michael, "whether it's a plaid shirt, a plaid sportcoat, or a plaid suit. But keep it small and sophisticated, because you don't want to look a clown or you're out golfing."  Try wearing your new plaid shirt under a suit, which promises to "put you light years ahead of everyone in your office." Another fun is a vest. "A lot of young guys are wearing a vest as a jacket. But try a separate vest - you don't want to wear a matchy vest with your suit."  Lastly, bring your puffer to work. "That puffy vest that's normally reserved for weekends? Layer that over your suit on your way to work. It's right off the runway, it's really practical, and it's easy. It's kind of like you made a mistake, but it looks really good." (Try: a plaid cotton buttondown from Etro)

SHOES & LBD As his fave splurge, shoes are at the top of Michael's list. "There is so much inherent value in a well-made shoe. You're going to have it for quite a while, and even when you get tired of it, it goes in the back of the closet, but sure enough, it comes back. That's my favorite splurge of any season." And even though he is a self-described "freak" for color, he advises hunting down the perfect LBD. "If you need to invest in a little black dress, this is the season to do it. With the tailoring that's going on and all the classic silhouettes, this is the time to pick up your replacement little black dress. It's the perfect season for that, and available at any pricepoint."

TAILORED FIT With whatever tailored piece you add to your wardrobe, Avril advises thinking of it as an investment. "That tailored piece should look really, really good on. That's where to think about spending your money, to have that piece you know is going to be in your wardrobe 10 years hence. Your shoes will change, your bags will change, but if you've got something that's got that longevity, I think that's worth the splurge to make sure that it's cut just right, just perfectly." (3.1 Phillip Lim lace patch dress)

STATEMENT NECKLACES For finery on a budget, look no further than grandma's closet or perhaps a tag sale. "If you have to tweak a little on the budget, that's the place to do it. Look for vintage for your statement necklace to find something unique that no one else has. It's all about costume."

BABYDOLLS If it's too voluminous, it needs to go. "If you are still wearing babydoll tops or A-line dresses, put them in the back of the closet! Those need to go away for a while because we really are celebrating the natural shape of the body, curves and all, with a longer, leaner more tailored silhouette."

MAXI LENGTH DRESSES Fabulous in flowy fabrics, they don't work in a knit or heavy fabric...so please, just don't.

BIG PANTS While it's a great season for trousers, not all pants need apply. "No-no moments include a very flared pant, as well as a bootcut pant," says Avril, giving cigarette pants the green light, as well as, yes - pleats. "It hearkens back to the 80s, but it's actually kind of a yes, in particular the Yves Saint Laurent pant with a tiny peg and a slightly shorter length that skims the top of a bootie." And what of the unusually proportioned Marc Jacobs pant? In addition to getting the accessories exactly right and cut of the jacket (cropped, not long), if you're in a conservative profession, are curvy or perhaps height-challenged, give this trend a miss. "It doesn't hide, it emphasizes. You need the right figure to pull it off - it can look immensely chic if you're tall, but otherwise has a bit of a sloppy quality." (Marc Jacobs velvet jumpsuit)

FAB FLORALS, NOT PAINTERLY PRINTS "The painterly splashes we saw were very much the print of the season, but obviously that's a summer look, so put that back in the wardrobe," says Avril, and switch them out for a lighter, more natural floral a la Michael Kors. "Florals for winter turned out to be one of our favorites," agrees Michael, "but what makes them look relevant to the [colder] weather are a dark background with a more realistic print that's smaller in scale as compared with spring's florals which were totally oversized, exploded, and very two-dimensional." For the best result, look for high quality, home decor like fabrics with a romantic, rather than vintagey, feel - a quality he dubs textile snobby.

- Lesley Scott

(Oscar de la Renta runway photo via style.com)

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Jessica Simpson arrived on the scene a fresh faced, cute young, seemingly innocent girl who was often compared to Britney Spears.

But most of her singing career has been overshadowed by her personal life.

First it was her marriage to Nick Lachey and the Chicken of the Sea fiasco, then rumors of her infidelity on the set of Dukes of Hazard, then her divorce, then the steady stream of boyfriends, her sister’ surgeries, her controlling father, you name it.

Although she has never been known for her singing skills, she has pushed on - even after her terrible performance at the Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Dolly Parton where she freaked out and cried after forgetting the lyrics to 9-5.

So what does she have to say about all this?  Read on and find out.

During the Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Dolly Parton, you messed up singing “9 to 5,” but now Dolly not only wrote the title track of your album, she sings on it, too. Did you ever think you’d go from the Kennedy Center drama to being friends with Dolly?

You know, what happened at Kennedy Center, I really thought I was done singin’. I was just at a place where I’d lost a lot of confidence and I didn’t even know who I was. But Dolly totally took me under her wing and helped me up and over the cares of the world.

It went from the Kennedy Center to her being a part of this record and getting letters from her of encouragement. She told me she’s never been more proud of anything in her whole life. And I have it written down in her handwriting! I do owe a lot of my confidence to her.

During your recent concerts, you’ve been thanking your fans for giving you a second chance. Did you ever think your real fans left you?

Um, no, but sometimes I feel like I close myself off so much to the fans. But at my shows, it’s not just fans. It’s people that are skeptics, critics. It’s, you know, all different kinds of people interested to see what I would actually be doing on stage, and if I could carry my own, and if I could stand up there as a woman with something to say. Be up there with a sense of purpose, you know. So I think more than anything, when I say, “Thank you for giving me a second chance,” I feel like I’m having a comeback. I’m on solid ground again. They can look to me for inspiration. I wanna be a role model.

I have to admit I’ve been analyzing some of the songs, trying to figure out which song is about whom. Are you worried that people are going to overdissect everything, like this song is about this boyfriend, and this song is about this time and the ex-husband?

People are gonna dissect it, but I hope they give the album a chance first. I hope they listen to it, and my biggest hope for this record is that people aren’t listening to it and thinking about me and somebody else. That they can actually listen to it and relate to it…I think that it’s important for people to give it a listen without thinking about any of my relationships.

So you’ve done a song with Dolly. You do Shania Twain and Dusty Springfield in your shows. But who else you lookin’ to sing with? How about someone like fellow Southerner Miley Cyrus?

Miley’s adorable. She looks up to my sister so much. She’s so cute, yeah. You know, when it comes to duets, I really can’t top Dolly Parton. That’s always been a dream of mine. So I really don’t know who I’d duet with.

How about acting—want to do more?

Hopefully there’s more acting to come. I’m not closing that chapter of my life by any means. But I am all about the music right now…When it comes to acting, it’s gotta feel right for me at this point in my life. It’s gotta just be a really incredible director and production with an awesome studio and great cast…But for me right now it’s just Jessica Simpson is music.

September New Eras from Upper Playground New Era 59FIFTY are in stores now. In keeping with tradition, the September range includes sweet designs by the likes of Jeremy Fish and Denis Kennedy (as seen above) making it a must have collection to complete your fall look.

The hats retail at $45 each and are available either through Upper Playground stores or online.

Princess Diana's death - 31st August 1997

Woke up in the middle of the night, couldn't get back to sleep so I turned on the radio and listened to a Prom for about forty minutes, then during the interval they announced that Princess Diana had been injured in a car crash in Paris but had walked from the scene with only cuts to her legs [Conspiracy theory alert!]. About fifteen minutes later they interrupted to say she had died. Went downstairs and turned on the tv. Saw the first flowers being laid at the gates of Kensington Palace by two gay men. Looked along the darkened street and thought, am I the only person in the world who knows this?

Margaret Thatcher's Resignation - 22nd November 1990

In a queue at the greengrocer's where it was announced on the radio. People stayed silent, but broke into smiles.

Attack on the Twin Towers - 11 September 2001

At home. My sister rang me from Washington and told me a plane had hit the World Trade Centre and I should go and turn on the tv. Did, and saw the second plane go in. An American friend in London rang me hysterically crying after the Pentagon attack - her ex-boyfriend worked there and she had no way of finding out if he was ok. At the point at which the US closed its borders and declared itse;f in a state of war, I knew that the world had decisively changed. Looking at the sky, thinking, London is next.

England's World Cup Semi-Final against Germany - 4 July 1990

What?

President Kennedy's Assassination - 22 November 1963

Fashion is a powerful form of expression. We know this already and if you read this blog and others like it, chances are you don't need to be persuaded of the accuracy of this statement. Nowhere is this form of expression more on display than in the realm of modern politics. It makes a certain amount of sense. Politics after all is but another form of stagecraft and every good stage production requires the perfect costume design to compliment the script. We've therefore come to expect that the candidates and especially the candidates' wives will be scrutinized for their sartorial choices and commented on by scores of political and fashion pundits alike. So my question is this: If fashion is indeed a form of expression and politcs is stagecraft, what are the actors telling us? What message is filtering through to the audience?

During the primaries, it seemed to me that where sartorial expression was concerned, confusion reigned among fashion and political commentators alike as to what appropriate comparisons to draw. The constant comparisons between the sartorial choices of Hillary Clinton (at the time a candidate for the Democratic nomination) and Michelle Obama (the wife of the recently acclaimed Democratic nominee) were not only silly but inappropriate. I would have thought it obvious to even a political neophyte that the proper comparison should be either between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (or at this point Barack Obama and John McCain), both aspiring to be Commander-in Chief or between Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain, both aspiring to be First Lady. Even the venerable Gray Lady herself in articles that should have been dedicated exclusively to Clinton's policies and poll numbers couldn't help slipping in a comment here and there on Clinton's pantsuits. Funny how I never once came across similar comments relating to her opponent's ill-fitting suits and bland neckwear. I initially shrugged it off as silly drivel from talking heads with nothing more insightful to offer. But as the primaries progressed and the battle between the two Democratic frontrunners dragged on, I became convinced that what I had perceived initially to be confusion was in actual fact masking something altogether different: a deep-seated discomfort with strong women and the political roles to which they aspire. Even after the close of the Democratic National Convention that officially marked the end of the primary race, the erroneous comparisons between the now former candidate and the nominee's wife persist.

The obsession of both fashion and political commentators alike with Hillary Clinton's pantsuits reveals a great deal about the views of both aforementioned groups. Just Google "pantsuit" and you'll see what I mean. What a shame there was no equivalent obsession with her healthcare or education policies (but I digress). Pantsuits may not be very feminine (they are after all a riff on a man's suit) or sexy (unless you're Madonna and the pantsuit is by Gaultier) but have the advantage of being at once modest, comfortable and professional. While it may be perfectly alright to wear a fetching pencil skirt and stilettos to walk across the stage to stand and look adoringly at your husband (the candidate) while he delivers his umpteenth speech, it won't work for the candidate on the rough and tumble campaign trail. Have you ever toured a plant or factory in heels and a pencil skirt? I have. Trust me, it hurts. I also happen to believe that we don't want a potential Commander-in-Chief who is constrained by a tight skirt or teeters on stilettos. It sends the wrong message - hence Clinton's choice of sensible heels and pantsuits. Uber-feminine flowered dresses and the 1950's silhouette which are currently in vogue may be considered elegant for someone who aspires to be "Mom-in-Chief" as Michelle Obama likes to say but hardly constitutes appropriate attire for someone who aspires to dominate a tense meeting in the Situation Room. Shouldn't this be obvious to most reasonable individuals? Yet, Obama has been consistently praised for her attire and Clinton has drawn nothing but vitriol for hers. Are fashion and political commentators so obtuse that they can't distinguish between these women's respective roles on the campaign trail? If so, perhaps they should opt for another line of work. Or, is it that our society is so deeply sexist that despite the lip service we pay to the equality of women, we are fundamentally uncomfortable with a woman with political aspirations that reach beyond that of the dutiful, adoring spouse?

I have the growing conviction that in actual fact, fashion commentary during this election cycle is code for "knowing one's place" hence the near-universal praise for Obama's feminine frocks and traditional aspirations and incessant contempt for Clinton's pantsuits and her groundbreaking aspirations. This conviction was only reinforced after Obama presented herself at the opening of the Democratic National Convention as wife, mother and sister with no mention of her Ivy League law degree or career as an executive. Her speech full of demure platitudes and her overall campaign-orchestrated Stepford-style makeover is all the more ironic given that she has identical university degrees and arguably more executive experience than her husband, the nominee. She was after all his mentor when they first met at Sidley & Austin in Chicago. Her gradual transformation from Ivy League-trained professional juggling career and family to dutiful, fawning wife and mother aspiring to nothing more than the role of 'Mom-in-Chief' has been universally acclaimed. As a woman, I find this to be deeply disappointing not to mention deeply depressing. The perfect 1950's inspired frock to complement the 1950's identity?

While it seems like this presidential election has been going on forever, in reality the general election has only just begun and I'm afraid that the inane political/fashion punditry will only become more offensive as both parties' political machinery reaches full throttle. In fact, I'm bracing for Chris Matthews and Ann Coulter to chime in along with Andre Leon-Talley and Nina Garcia. My greatest fear however is that the election will become a warped contest between Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama, two strong, accomplished and talented women in their own right, willingly vying for the title of 'Perfect Stepford Wife'. It's enough to make me want to hide out in a remote area cut off from all media until November 5 with my copy of Simone de Beauvoir's Le deuxieme sexe and a good bottle of wine. Better yet, perhaps I'll move back to Paris. Behind the occasional demure Jackie Kennedy-inspired facade on display for state occasions, Carla Bruni has at least kept her career not to mention her identity intact. Who would have thought that an Italian supermodel turned pop singer with a colorful past and a propensity for racy lyrics would turn out to be a better role model (relatively speaking) for women? C'est ironique, non?

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Claudine Longet, 66, was a popular singer in the 1960’s and 1970’s when she shot and killed her lover, famed Olympic skier Spider Sabich at his Aspen, Colorado home on March 21, 1976.

The talented performer was an 18 year old dancer in the Folies Bergere revue at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas when she met the famous singer Andy Williams, who was twice her age at 32.  The couple married and had three children Noelle, Christian and Robert, who was named after their very good friend Bobby Kennedy, who died while making a presidential primary victory speech in California.  Williams and Longet separated in 1970 and divorced in 1975.

Claudine, who was beautiful, athletic, slender and petite, made her career breakthrough in 1966 while guest starring on NBC television adventure Run for Your Life.  She sang an English-French bilingual rendition of Meditation and was quickly signed by A&M records and subsequently recorded five albums.  Longet later signed with Williams label Barnaby Records and released two albums, We’ve Only Just Begun and Let’s Spend the Night Together.

Her career came to a screeching halt when she took the life of her lover.  The renowned playboy bachelor, Spider Sabich, suddenly found his carefree days dwindling when Longet and her three children moved into his Colorado home.

The shooting took place after Sabich had finished a shower and was in the process of getting dressed.  Some speculate that he was getting ready to go out for the evening without her.  He had reported to friends that he wanted to get her out of his home because she cramped his style.

Longet told a jury at her murder trial that the gun accidentally discharged when he was showing her how it worked.  Evidence in the case showed that Longet had cocaine in her system and that Sabich was actually bent over with his back to her when the shot was fired at no closer than 6 foot range.  She stuck with her story and was escorted to and from the trial on a daily basis by her ex-husband Andy Williams.  The singer remains her friend to this day.

Several pieces of crucial evidence were reportedly bungled by police investigators.  The jury acquitted her of felony manslaughter but convicted her of criminal negligence.  She paid a small fine and spent 30 days in jail.  She was allowed to serve the sentence in snatches over a considerable period of time.  Once the trial was over, she took off for a vacation with her defense attorney Ron Austin, who left his wife and children to do so.  The couple later married and are together to this day.

After the trial, the Sabich family initiated civil proceedings against Longet and ended up settling for a considerable amount of money.  The secret agreement stipulated that Longet cannot speak of or write about the murder or settlement.

Mick Jagger wrote a song about the murder in 1980 on his Emotional Rescue album.  The song, entitled Claudine, carried lyrics that painted a graphic picture of some of the more salacious aspects of the affair and killing.

Photo gallery below.

(more…)

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