Fashion and politics: stand by your party.

Would you buy this bag if you knew part of the money from the sale went to a political party? Designers Rachelle Copeland and Emily Ironi of Alexis Hudson think you would. They teamed up with Los Angeles artist Greg Miller to create the “Change” bag which embodies the creator’s vision of the future, i.e., having a healthy planet,  economy and society. But what does that even mean anyway? The bag costs $95 with 10% of the proceeds will go to support the Democratic campaign. I’m just curious- are the designers donating to a specific candidate or the DNC?? And the mission of designing bag is to use style and fashion in order to rally a new audience of voters. Last time I checked, 99.9% of the fashion industry and “it” bag carrying girls were already registered Democrats. Not that I’m the expert (when it comes to politics), but if you are going to make a political statement wouldn’t you do it in the form of an overt “statement” tee shirt the Marc Jacobs did it? P.S. designer Nili Lotan sent me a “war theme” scarf with machine guns on it. Does that mean I support our president if I wear it? Just sayin’…

 

The Marc Jacobs “Hillary” tee shirt

Fashion Week in Cleveland…

OK before everyone starts to freak about “yet another fashion week in a small city,” here me out.  I am in love with the little city of Cleveland. Last year I went for a weekend and it was fabulous.  The Indians were playing the gross Red Sox, the people were seriously lovely (even though their team lost), the food was great and I was actually a little sad to be coming back to New York.  With that said, I wasn’t really sure what they meant by “fashion week in Cleveland” when I came across this article on cleveland.com.  This piece outlined a talk given by Megan Spagnolo, costume curator at the Western Reserve Historical Society about the history of children’s clothes.  How cute, right?? Did you know the color “pink” was orginally meant for boys because red was seen as a masculine color? Did you also know boys and girls used to wear dresses? Why is Cleveland so damn wholesome?? Ooh I just want to give it a good squeeze!!

$%#%^&*! American Airlines!!!

I usually love flying American Airlines but today I’ve had it. I won’t go into the long story of why I hit a wall with them today, or how they kept me on the phone for 30 minutes talking nonsense, or how they totally mis- informed me about one of my tickets expiring, or how their annoying customer service doesn’t have a direct line for complains. I will say I know understand why the airline industry is coming a part at the seams. Argh!!

Fox Business – Retailers Exceed Expectations

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The Bowery: NYC’s new retail space.

(Perry Ferrel, John Varvatos and Slash)

(Joan Jett- she still looks and sounds AMAZING)

I’m sure you’ve been hearing the buzz. The Bowery, the street once known for the best place to score a $25 hooker and a bag of blow is now home to some of the coolest designer stores on the planet- and peeps aren’t so excited about it.  Just last month John Varvatos hosted an opening party at the old CBGBs- but here’s the thing- that’s actually their space now. For those die hard music fans, that bit of news was hard to swallow. I mean, how can the home of punk music and New York’s underground be a place where $400 cashmere sweaters are being sold?? Varvatos DID do a good job preserving the original facade, so I’m not so offended by it (in fact I love it),  but would love to hear you all think…

Out on a Sunday night.

Me with Shane Sigler at Harry Josh’s dance party on the top of Gramercy Park Hotel. While some celebs and fashion luminaries were resting up for the Met’s Costume Institute gala on Monday, a lot of them were dancing up a storm at Harry’s bash.

 

There is nothing better than hanging out with good friends while dancing to Marky Mark. Even if it is a school night…

 

It’s been crazy.

OK, I took a short term hiatus from the blog because it’s been really, really nuts lately. If you hit the magazine stand often you’ll know what I mean. I’ve been staffed on some pretty major stories for a totally awesome magazine that I can’t mention on this blog. BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t go to your favorite newsstand and search for my byline to figure out which magazine it is! C’mon! I know you want to spend hours of your day looking for my name everywhere!

In addition to the all the writing, the Fox Biz segments and generally trying to get my self together, I’ve been going out. A LOT. I forgot how fun spring is in the city…

Hollywood’s Riche$t Kids

THEY MAY NOT BE OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE, BUT THEY’RE MAKING MILLIONS AND SELLING OUT ARENAS. HOW THESE 15-AND-UNDER SUPERSTARS ARE CASHING IN AND LIVING IT UP.

TOOK HOME $17.5 MILLION FOR HER TOUR

Miley Cyrus

ACTRESS-SINGER, AGE 15

MILEY’S MILLIONS

She’s a one-kid industry: Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana is cable’s top kids’ series; she signed a seven-figure deal for a book about her family; her sold-out tour had Barack Obama scrambling for tickets; her concert movie grossed $65 million. Billy Ray’s girl earned roughly $17.5 million from the tour alone, but mom Tish, 40, swears all that cash isn’t going to Miley’s head: “A lot goes into her [investment fund], which she can’t get until she’s 18. At the end of the day, she doesn’t have much left.”

SPLURGES

She collects Electra bikes: “I like their old-school design, and they’re fun to ride.” Until she’s old enough to drive: She told Jay Leno in February, “I want a vintage Corvette.”

MILEY BY THE NUMBERS

$50 million ticket sales for her recent tour (Miley gets an estimated $1 million per week)

6.5 million albums sold

$1 billion projected fiscal year 2007-2008 sales of Hannah Montana merchandise (Miley gets an unknown percentage)

EARNED $12 MILLION IN 2007

Jonas Brothers

MUSICIANS

BORN TO ROCK

They’re the teen world’s hottest band-and according to estimates, 15-year-old Nick (right) and brothers Joe, 18 (center), and Kevin, 20 (left), earned about $12 million in 2007 from album sales of 1.2 million, touring with Miley Cyrus, merchandising and appearances.

NEXT UP

The Wyckoff, N.J., natives (managed by Dad Kevin) continue their own 140-date tour and star in a June 20 Disney Channel movie, Camp Rock-with tie-in products galore. A TV series, J.O.N.A.S., is in the works.

THEIR SPLURGES

The brothers bought new computers and a diamond-encrusted Chopard watch for their mom, Denise. They also give 10 percent of their earnings to Nick’s charity, Change for the Children Foundation. But there’s some left over: Snappy dresser Nick nabbed $1,550 John Lobb shoes (below).

$1,550 SHOES!

PRIME-TIME POWER

ANGUS T. JONES

AGE 14

With a salary of roughly $1.2 million per season on CBS’s Two and a Half Men, Jones is one of the richest half men in Hollywood. “It’s a slow build for kids in the industry,” says a casting agent. But the Austin, Texas, native, who’s tutored on-set, has likely seen pay increases, thanks to the show’s longevity.

MARK INDELICATO

AGE 13

The youngest costar of ABC’s Ugly Betty isn’t blowing through his estimated $460,000-per-season salary. The biggest indulgence for the Philly-born star, who does his schooling online? Kiehl’s and Clarins skin-care products, to avoid breakouts.

TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS

AGE 15

“I’m good for three things,” the Everybody Hates Chris star told PEOPLE when he was cast on the CW series in 2005 “Making fried-baloney sandwiches, picking out good movies and making money.” That’s for sure: The Yonkers, N.Y., native now has an estimated salary of $1.2 million per season.

WHO’S THE NEXT TWEEN QUEEN?

THESE DISNEY AND NICK STARS ARE ON THE ROAD TO RICHES

MIRANDA COSGROVE

AGE 14

STARS IN

Nickelodeon’s iCarly (average: 3.6 million viewers)

QUALIFICATIONS

The L.A. native sings on an iCarly album, out in June.

WHY SHE’LL RULE

“She has this amazing combination of laid-back cool and class,” says creator Dan Schneider.

SELENA GOMEZ

AGE 15

STARS IN

Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place (average: 3.8 million viewers)

QUALIFICATIONS

The Texan, a voice on Horton Hears a Who!, sings too.

WHY SHE’LL RULE

“Her innate talent and beauty leap off the screen,” says Disney Channel entertainment president Gary Marsh.

MOVIE MOGULS

MAKES $2 MILLION A MOVIE

Abigail Breslin

AGE 12

The Oscar nominee (Little Miss Sunshine) saw her asking price go up to an estimated $2 million when she shot current release Nim’s Island and the upcoming Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. In spite of her workload, the New Yorker remains a regular 12-year-old, splurging on tween books The Clique and-what else?-American Girl dolls and Jonas Brothers CDs.

THE BILLION-HEIRS

RICHEST MOGUL KIDS

THE GATESES

Microsoft founder Bill’s kids, Jennifer, 12, Rory, 8, and Phoebe, 5, are heirs to a reported $58 billion.

RICHEST CELEB KID

JETT LUCAS

The teen and his two big siblings will share in Star Wars creator George Lucas’s $3.9-billion empire.

RICHEST ROYAL KID?

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF HANOVER

The 8-year-old daughter of Monaco’s Princess Caroline and Ernst August is an heir to her parents’ $1.3 billion.

DAKOTA FANNING

AGE 14

Fanning’s star rose quickly after 2001′s I Am Sam. She has since starred with Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington-and shot up the earnings ladder. The Conyers, Ga., native now makes up to $4 million for big films. “She performs at the box office,” says a casting agent. “She can open movies.” She has also done ads for Gap and Marc Jacobs. Little sis Elle, 10, is right behind her, with upcoming films including Brad Pitt’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

ALLOWANCES WHO GETS WHAT

ABIGAIL BRESLIN: The mini-millionaire gets $11 a week.

MARK INDELICATO: The Ugly Betty star receives $50 a week; he spends it on computer games and clothes.

DAKOTA FANNING: $0 a week. As she told Barbara Walters, “My [parents] want me to [help] because I want to.”

THE GRADUATES

These stars are moving on from the teen world with nest eggs that would make most grown-ups jealous. But did they earn a cap and gown? Most of them went to high school-just not the conventional way.

MAGICAL MONEYMAKERS

DANIEL RADCLIFFE, 18

He’ll earn $50 million for the final Harry Potter films and star in Broadway’s Equus this fall.

EMMA WATSON, 18

Pulling down a reported $4 million per Potter, she wants to attend Cambridge University.

RUPERT GRINT, 19

Making a similar sum as Watson, he’ll choose more acting work over school.