fashionblog

Reliable sources have revealed that actress Lindsay Lohan will be expanding her fashion line despite the tough time she endured as the artistic advisor for a France-based fashion house.

The 23-year old actress stated through a social networking site that she’s going to create an entire line of clothes as well as accessories. The brand new line is scheduled for launching later this year. Lohan, known to have launched 6126 leggings collection two years ago, announced that the full collection of her 6126 line will be available soon.

Sources stated that there will be hundreds of items that will be up for sale and the prices of the items are reasonable and affordable to everyone.

Further expansion will be made in 2010 which would include a line of swimwear, cosmetics, handbags, jewelry and shoes.

Kristi Kaylor, an executive for 6126, said that there will be a new leggings line for release soon due to massive demand for these items.

Instead of just hosting the highly anticipated annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, supermodel Heidi Klum surprised everyone when she also took the runway with a sexy pair of lingerie. This is a surprising feat for Klum, who just gave birth to her fourth child named Lou Samuel last month.

Despite her conservative-looking lingerie compared to the other models, Klum still stood out with her purple corset covered with tulle and other fabric. The 36-year old model has been working hard with a personal trainer for the past month in order to lose her baby weight. Reports stated that she gained nearly 50 pounds during her pregnancy.

Klum was joined in the runway with supermodels like Alessandra Ambrosio, Doutzen Kroes, Marisa Miller, and the rest of the Victoria’s Secret standouts. Miller gained attention when she wore a $3 million diamond-encrusted Fantasy Bra.

French fashion designer Sophie Theallet was revealed to be the winner of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in New York early this week.

CFDA or Council of Fashion Designers of America and American Vogue gave away $200,000 worth of prizes to deserving designers and the winners will get to use the funds in developing their own collection that will be featured in an upcoming fashion show.

Theallet, currently based in New York, was endorsed by US First Lady Michelle Obama recently after the latter wore the former’s dresses on three instances during her trip to Europe earlier this year.

Runners-up Monique Pean and Patrick Ervell received $50,000 each for their efforts.

Last year’s winner Alexander Wang has had a successful year so far, gaining a wider audience. He also won the 2009 Swiss Textiles Award for using textiles in the most creative way in designing garments and underwear including lingerie.

In a bid to expand its business operations, Italian online fashion retailer Yoox has launched an initial public offering (IPO) option this week. This is in a bid to expand its business despite the ongoing global financial crisis.

According to reports, the company is offering up to a total of 55.5 percent stake and is setting the price of the shares between 3.60 to 4.50 euros per share. This values the company at around 226.8 million euros. The IPO is expected to be completed by November 30 this year.

There are currently four investment funds that currently own the 55 percent stake in the company. Yoox sells high-end brands such as Emporio Armani, Valentino, Diesel and Dolce&Gabbana.

The Italian company reported an increase in sales for the first nine months of this year with net profits going as high as 2.8 million euros. A positive trend compared to last year’s decline of 400,000 euros.

Fashion designer Emanuel Ungaro was reportedly displeased upon seeing the latest line of clothing from Ungaro, the fashion house featuring his name which was produced out of “artistic” advice of actress Lindsay Lohan. It’s been reported in the past that Lohan was hired as an “artistic adviser” for the giant fashion house.

Ungaro sold the fashion house in 2005 and has no contact with anyone from his former company since. However, during a festival in Lisbon, Portugal, he was asked about what he thought about the line by Lohan and he was blunt with his reply.

Ungaro said that the line which resulted from collaborating with Lohan was a “complete disaster.” He added that even though he’s furious about this, he couldn’t do anything at this point since he no longer owns the company.

Rumors have been circulating that Lohan’s stint with Ungaro was pro bono or for free.

Britain-based fashion label Luella has reportedly stopped trading after the company’s sudden closure last month due to the financial crisis.

According to reports, the company owned by British fashion designer Luella Bartley stopped trading after the producer of its ready to wear line which included clothing as well as undergarments such as lingerie stopped its operations and the company’s main investor stopped sending in the money. This development was reported by Reuters.

The fashion line has garnered popularity through the years since popular model Kate Moss and singer Lily Allen have been seen wearing the line in numerous occasions, thus boosting sales.

Bartley won the Designer of the Year award in the prestigious British Fashion Awards last year.

In a statement, Bartley said that she was extremely disappointed with the outcome of her 10-year old company but added that she has a lot of options open for the future and will announce her decision in the coming months.

Retailer J.C. Penney is reportedly launching an edgier junior’s fashion brand this week. This line came from celebrity designers Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, currently based in Manhattan, New York.

Penney recently opened a store in Manhattan and is attempting to attract the teenage market by coming up with trendy lines for the past couple of years. Officials from the retail store are optimistic that the teenagers who grew up following the career of the 23-year old twins will patronize the product. The Olsen twins have made a mark on television as former child movie and television stars.

The twins currently have apparel lines that are doing well in the market, Elizabeth and James and The Row. These products are mostly sold in high-end stores. The apparel deal the twins signed with retail giant WalMart ended in 2006.

The soft launch of the products will take place on November 6 but will make a full launch blast by February next year.

Singer Beyonce Knowles’ preference for high couture fashion seemed to not fit Malaysian standards as the multiplatinum artist has decided to cancel her planned concert in the Asian country for the second time. The singer has been criticized by conservative Muslims for her raunchy concert clothes.

A representative from organizer Marctensia Entertainment Sdn revealed that the decision came solely on the artist’s end and had nothing to do with “external reasons,” which he failed to explain further.

Last month, Malaysia’s opposition group Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) complained that the scheduled Beyonce “I am” World tour concert in the country should not push through due to Knowles’ “inappropriate style of dressing.”

PAS official Nasrudin Tantawi was quoted as saying that these kinds of performances with raunchy attires can “lead to unclean behavior.”

In 2007, Beyonce cancelled a scheduled appearance in Malaysia and instead opted to do the concert in neighboring Indonesia.

Clothing retailer John Lewis has reportedly launched a direct marketing campaign in a bid to launch his winter fashion line.

The said campaign has been spearheaded by Kitcatt Nohf Alexander Shaw, an integrated ad agency. The rollout is expected to take place later this month.

The direct marketing campaign involves direct mail to the customers’ houses. The package is made to look like a clutch batch with a strap line that states “Invigorate your fashion sense.” Inside the package are the upcoming winter and autumn fashion range.

Image photos were shot by none other than John Akehurst, photographer for Vogue magazine. Among the models featured in the catalog is Jacquetta Wheeler, a British supermodel.

John Lewis is also launching its own lifestyle magazine which caters to their target audience. As for the purchases of the products, consumers can go online or order at the nearest retail stores.

Anand Jon Alexander, the 35-year old Los Angeles-based fashion designer found guilty of sex-related crimes, received a maximum sentence of 59 years to life in prison. This decision was given by Superior Court Judge David Wesley on Monday.

Alexander was found guilty of 14 counts of crimes including rape. The ages of his victims range from 14 to 21.

According to reports, Alexander baited women online by promising them a career in modeling. He then invites them to his apartment for photo sessions only to take advantage of the situation and start sexually molesting them.

Prosecutors called for a maximum sentence for the fashion designer, who’s been featured in the past seasons of “America’s Next Top Model.”

Meanwhile, the fashion designer’s sister was found guilty of contempt after contacting one of the jurors and failing to report this incident to the court. The sentence will be known in the near future.