New York Magazine

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Retailers Seem Afraid to Talk About Bedbugs
7/20/10 at 4:30 PM

After a small bedbug infestation in the Victoria's Secret on Lexington Avenue was made public last week, more shoppers are looking for reassurance. Stores that want to sell us things should be able to ensure their stores are bedbug-free — right? WWD tried to investigate what kinds of preventative measures retailers are taking against the vermin. Lord & Taylor said they haven't found any bugs but have increased the frequency of exterminations to once a week. Bergdorf Goodman said they are "currently in the process of formulating a plan." But other stores contacted by WWD, including Saks, Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren, Gap, and J.Crew declined to comment.

Naturally, fashion companies — especially the most luxurious ones — don't want to be associated with something gross like bedbugs. No one wants to even call to mind the image of bringing home a pet bedbug in a brand new $12,000 fur-trimmed handbag. But some shoppers are freaked out. Some shoppers are afraid to go into the wild world of carpeted stores full of wooden shelves and knit sweaters and so many things made of fabric and other bedbug-friendly materials. Is it so hard to reassure us that a bedbug-prevention plan will be in place? Can the industry institute some sort of "no bedbug zone" sticker policy for stores that have preventative bedbug measures firmly established? The Council of Fashion Designers of America said bedbugs have "not come up as a concern from our membership," but that it is "ready to actively engage if the situation warrants it and is open to direction and advice from those who are experienced in this area."

Experts told us that the recent cases of bedbugs in retail establishments aren't a new phenomenon — they just haven't been making news until now. But now that everyone's talking about bedbugs, fashion companies should be, too.

Does This Bug You, Too? [WWD]

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Lara Stone Appears in French Playboy

The June/July issue of French Playboy includes images of Lara Stone that were taken last year by Greg Lotus. However, the spread, no pun intended, in the magazine includes unseen images from the series. Frockwriter points out that the body jewelry by Jenny Mercian that Stone wears in the shots are the same pieces Selita Ebanks wore in the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The crystal butt-cuppers are dazzling, but equally entrancing is the retouching done to Stone, who accomplishes the remarkable feat of having no armpits!

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Meet the New Guy: Francisco Lachowski Was Shot by Karl Lagerfeld Wearing Nothing But Undies

With the face of a baby, body of an athlete, and voice of a much younger (and sexier) Barry White, Brazilian model Francisco Lachowski is well-suited for stardom. The 19-year-old got his start when he won the Ford Men's Supermodel of the World contest in 2008. Shortly thereafter, he debuted as an exclusive at the fall 2009 Dior Homme show in Paris; he later appeared in nothing but undies for a Karl Lagerfeld–shot ad for the brand. This year alone he's walked for Gucci, rag & bone, Dolce & Gabbana, and John Galliano; worked with photographer Walter Pfeiffer for a spread in the spring issue of Vogue Hommes International; and appeared as the "It" boy in DKNY's new fall prints. Click ahead to read a brief Q&A with Lachowski, and then visit his new model profile to see loads of on- and off-the-runway pics.

You won the Ford Men's Supermodel of the World contest in 2008. What was the competition like?
There were many, many guys in the competition. I felt confident, [but] there were also three or four other finalists that felt confident too. I was very surprised to win. My first thought was, This is just the beginning; the hard work is coming.

You're successful both on the runway and in print. Do you prefer one over the other?
When I first started, I preferred the runway work over the print. It was more exciting [because] it was live and there was energy from the audience. Now I prefer print; I have more fun with it. Runway is very fast and over quickly. With print, you work all day. It is more challenging and you have to work much harder. I also enjoy the freedom I feel with print shoots. I get to give something to the camera and create a great picture that lasts forever.

You were 17 when you shot Dior Homme's fall 2009 campaign with Karl Lagerfeld, in which you were photographed in nothing but skivvies. Were you uncomfortable at all?
No, I was very comfortable on set shooting Dior Homme. Karl Lagerfeld was amazing to work with. The crew was so respectful about my comfort level. I was very excited: It was my first campaign and I wanted to do a good job. The only thing I am uncomfortable with was my legs.

Speaking of, how do you maintain that physique?
Luckily, the lifestyle of my country, Brazil, is very healthy. Growing up, I was always doing sports: surfing, skateboarding, tennis, soccer, diving with my father ... I love water sports. When I was 16, I was so skinny. I went to the gym all day for three months and did weight machines. My entire body changed. My mother told me to stop because I became too strong. Now, with modeling, I don’t really get to work out. I continue to play sports and do mostly cardio. I am lucky: My body has good muscle memory.

What's your diet like? Do male models diet as often as female models?
Again, the Brazilian diet is extremely healthy. Before modeling, I ate a lot of beans, rice, fish, and meat. Not a lot of vegetables, though. My parents told me to eat more salads and fruit to get the vitamins. When I started modeling, I was on the road and ate mostly McDonald’s and frozen foods. Now I can cook and eat healthy. I make a great Stroganoff. Female models diet more than men. If anything, men watch their carbs.

Tell us something about modeling most people don't know.
If you want to be a good model, you have to work hard. It takes time to learn how to model, feel confident, and make good pictures.

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The Summer of Freja

If this summer belongs to one model, it's 22-year-old Danish bad girl Freja Beha Erichson. Though she signed with IMG six years ago and has been landing big gigs steadily since, her slew of summer covers only recently catapulted her to a new level of more mainstream fame. The coveted spots include the spring/summer 2010 covers of i-D and Numéro Homme along with the August covers of French and British Vogues. On top of that, Freja appears in an impressive list of fall campaigns that broke this summer, including Max Mara, Valentino, Chanel, and Tom Ford Eyewear. She will also lend her face to Balenciaga's fall 2010 ads, images of which haven't yet leaked.

Now ranked No. 2 on models.com, Freja's career trajectory isn't unlike that of Lara Stone, who is now No.1 on models.com and worked for years to define herself before exploding into being one of the industry's most coveted faces. But while Lara became the face of curvy models, Freja, with her lanky frame, isn't the face of any one thing in particular. She's just, well, Freja.

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Streets Are Closing Down in Greenwich Village So Barack Obama Can Dine at Anna Wintour’s House Tonight
7/28/10 at 2:20 PM

Tonight, Anna Wintour will have Barack Obama over for dinner at her Sullivan Street townhouse to raise money for the Democratic National Committee. Guests will reportedly include fashion liberals like Calvin Klein and Donna Karan, and other important folk with deep enough pockets to pay for a seat, each of which is rumored to cost $30,000.

If you're around the Village today, you may see the preparations taking place. The Huffington Post caught police erecting barriers around Sullivan and MacDougal Streets (MacDougal and Sullivan residents share gardens in the back). Bleecker and Thompson Streets were also littered with barricades, and residents in the area were told they'd need photo I.D.s and proof of residence to cross them to get into their homes this evening.

Just after eleven this morning, trucks full of supplies for the evening were seen parked outside of Wintour's house. From them, helpers were seen unloading big wooden boxes of white flowers and extra air-conditioning units. Of course fanciness is nothing without temperature control, but who do you think is the sweater: Anna or Barack? Or maybe furry Bo? Was he invited for foie gras bones?

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Victoria Davydova Confirmed for Russian Vogue
7/28/10 at 1:50 PM

Photo: Victor Boyko/WireImage

Well that round of speculation didn't last long. Condé Nast has confirmed that Victoria Davydova, editor of Russian Tatler, will take over as editor of Russian Vogue, following Aliona Doletskaya's resignation. Davydova's appointment is effective immediately. She goes by Vika — so if you see her at Fashion Week, you know just how to say hello like you're old friends.

Confirmed: Victoria Davydova is the New EIC of Vogue Russia [Daily Front Row]

Crying or Very sad

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Fellow Victoria’s Secret Model Says Miranda Kerr Is Pregnant
7/28/10 at 09:30 AM

Today Us Weekly reports that Miranda Kerr is with Orlando Bloom's child! The 27-year-old Victoria's Secret model is reportedly trying to play it like Gisele by not really ever officially announcing it, a source tells the magazine, but:

"She's telling all her friends, mostly other models, about it."

And if anyone has loose lips, apparently, it's models — like the one who gave that quote.

"She poses in lingerie," says the friend of Kerr, who has modeled for Victoria's Secret since 2007. "It will be obvious soon enough."

Well, that gives us some clues as to who's blabbing, or maybe just gloating since Miranda will take maternity leave, freeing up some VS spotlight for other cellulite-free people. If she is three months pregnant, as reports say, she'll be about in her last trimester when the next VS show rolls around. Fellow VS model Doutzen Kroes, who is also pregnant, won't make that one, either. Maybe, rather than hire new flawless-looking women, it's time for the brand to roll out a maternity line and finally, finally show the world that human thing they have shunned for so very long: a belly.

Exclusive: Miranda Kerr, Orlando Bloom Expecting First Child [Us]

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Lorenzo Martone Reportedly on the Rebound With Lance Bass
7/27/10 at 3:10 PM

Photo: Patrick McMullan

After tweeting Friday that he's been broken up with Marc Jacobs for two months, rumors are going around that Lorenzo Martone is now dating Lance Bass. They met in 2008, according to the Daily News, and hung out together at a party on June 3 — when Martone and Jacobs would have been broken up — with Jacobs and Ricky Martin. Someone also told the paper a woman saw Martone at another party later that night making out with her boyfriend. Awkward! [NYDN]

Posts: 33056 Location: Congo

ugh wtf??? Why does Lance get everybody?? Mad

Come to me Lorenzo! Crying or Very sad

And

@ Aliona leaving VR. It won't be the same, Russian Tatler is groce. Crying or Very sad

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diorelle wrote:

ugh wtf??? ?? Mad

Come to me Lance! Crying or Very sad