LupRocks Gossip

Top Ten Not So Funny April Fool's Jokes

I hope all of our beloved designers had a profitable and innovative first week of April thus far. For those of you that had a less than perfect week, and we know that some of you did, perhaps it was largely do to that really not funny April Fools prank that someone decided to pull. We collected stories this week from our closest friends in the industry, and we quickly learned that one person’s idea of a rich joke can actually end up costing you a friend, an intern, or even a quit a bundle of cash. While all these jokes were meant to generate laughs, most also generated tears or heightened blood pressure before the April Fool’s punch line was actually delivered.

The top ten not-so-funny punch lines of this years April Fool’s jokes:

1) “I lost that diamond ring we borrowed for the shoot. You have a purchase order, right?” – Assistant to Editor

2) “Will you marry me?” Boyfriend to what is now his Ex-Girlfriend

3) “By accident, I just deleted your ‘Bright Colors for Summer’ layout, so it won’t be going to print.” – The now unemployed Intern to Editor

4) “Gold prices finally went down to around $800, I think you should stock up.” – Designer to Designer

5) “My company is transferring me to San Francisco. Aren’t you happy for me?!” - Girlfriend to Boyfriend

6) “I hope you like my new boyfriend because we actually got married three weeks ago!” – Sister to Sister

7) “We just got an order for a hundred of the hand formed ___ ring! You better get to work, they will need the order by tomorrow.” Sales Rep to Designer

8) “Someone from Sax called. Something about canceling their order. You may want to call them back.” Receptionist to Designer.

9) “No, you don’t have anything in your teeth.” Friend to Friend with spinach in her teeth.

10) “You're fired!” Boss to Employee.

The Bold, the Bad, and the Beautiful!

This weekend was fashion packed! With fashion week saving the best for last, and the Grammy’s causing the glitterati to flock down the red carpet, we got a good preview of the jewelry and accessory trends looming on the horizon.

BOLD - Mercedes Bends Fashion Week ended in climactic success with the shows of two of our favorite boys Marc and Ralph. Marc Jacobs proved to us the same thing the Grammy’s confirmed later in the weekend – that big “notice me cuffs” are not going anywhere soon, while Ralph Lauren’s runway caused the audience to roar at the sight of tasteful leopard accessories.

BAD - After an exciting Fashion Friday – the thought of a Project Runway winner chosen after their tent show was enough to get our hearts beating - we kicked back to enjoy a lazy Saturday. Since we never like to completely turn our brains off (we are seriously addicted!) we decided to do a little research for you, and so we share this very interesting article on the rising prices of gold. Brace yourselves - this is not a happy report.

"GOLD PRICES now sit at all-time record highs..." Read more.

BEAUTIFUL - Back to the good gossip we all know we love. Sunday proved to be another award show where we were more inclined to oooh and ahh than to hit the keyboard fashin’ bashing. Actresses were surprisingly well dressed for the most part – except Cher, God that woman makes some...uh, interesting choices, and we saw a lot of cuff and statement bracelets, as well as the gorgeous pair of earrings that singer Alicia Keys wore to open the show. Go to FabSugar to vote for your favorite Alicia Keys look last night.

LupRocks gets a makeover!

We will spend the rest of this week gleefully bringing you coverage of New York Fashion Week, and then after that LupRocks Gossip is getting a full body make-over!  Read on to see the details of our transformation...

To wet your appetite for the fashion show coverage to follow, feast your eyes on these images from Oscar de la Renta’s show.  Let your opinions sink in and we'll share ours tomorrow.

 

Hello all!  For those of you that don’t know us yet, let me take this moment to give you the scoop on LupRocks HQ.  We are a girl group of Manhattanites transplanted from coast to coast.  We sit in our purple office, in close proximity by choice – we like to share our creative minds via osmosis.  We are chocoholics, and we are fashion crazed.  We live by organized chaos, taking upon ourselves different obsessions that combine to create one smoothly running office.  This cocktail of creative minds, fashion addictions, and selective neuroses has caused us to finally come up with the following new format for LupRocks Gossip.  We are happy to “meet” you, and we hope you enjoy all the juicy gossip to come!!

Monday’s we'll bring you the “Weekend Wrap-Up, ” including all of the weekend movies, TV shows, celebrities, or fashion shows that featured jewelry and accessories worth gossiping about.

Tuesday’s “Top Ten List” will feature different topics every week.  You won’t want to miss these!

Wednesday’s we'll feature a trend report.  Stay in the know about what is going on in the fashion world.

Thursday’s will be a Q&A session.  Email me your questions during the week, and we will combine the genius minds here at LupRocks HQ to give you experienced and knowledgeable answers.  Have a question about your press release?  Want to know what designer your favorite star was wearing?  Send questions to [email protected]. 

Friday’s we'll offer a “Weekend Sendoff.” We will fill you in on the movie of the week that will be on the to-do list of every major fashionista, we will give shout-outs and props to LupRocks designers who informed us of their successful placements, we will offer you some great reading material for the weekend with a featured blog or article, and finally we will dish out all the gossip we acquired over the week! 

For those of you who enjoy a good before and after – check out LupRocks.com archives!

 

Product Placement Paradise

While we devote endless hours of the day, (seriously, we never leave our desks) to helping you get your products placed in the best magazines and productions, we can’t help but feel frustrated when the product placement aspect of the fashion world falls below the radar.  So imagine our joy when flipping through the pages of Monday's WWD, the elite source for fashion reporting, we stumbled across a huge page featuring the ever important role of product placement. 

Sprawled across the enlarged pages of WWD are photos of our favorite a-listers in their favorite shades.  Whether it is Fendi, Michael Kors, or Calvin Klien, these designer’s shades protect the eyes of the stars wearing them while generating light at the same time.  “Getting a bump from famous faces and products placements is a marketer’s dream,” read the caption.  We are familiar with this dream, one which we have failed to awake from for the greater part of the past decade.  For those of you who feel the same way, please share with us by commenting on this post. Happiness loves company.  While we now feature the placements mentioned in WWD, you can also check out LupRocks Gossip archives to read about some of our recent placements!

No Sags at the SAG Awards!

Any real fashion addict knows that the best thing about any award show are the gorgeous vintage, couture, and custom made gowns that grace the red carpet.  We wait with baited breath for that one look that will leave us speechless, and the many looks that will bring the nasty bloggers out of hiding long enough to dish out a hard dose of fashion bashing. 

However at this year’s 75th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards the stream of hippy chic, bejeweled beauties, or flowing goddess gowns, left us jaw dropped.  No one that we saw deserved the “oh my god” or “what was she thinking?” that are synonyms with post show gossip. Furthermore, the rocks and jewels that accompanied the parade of good fashion were in shining taste.  So in true award show spirit here is the break down:

 

The nominees for best jeweled gowns on a female actor are:

Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical) in a crystal couture Badgley Mischka

Christina Applegate (Samantha Who) in a white and silver Elie Saab

Debra Messing in a gold beaded Oscar de la Renta sheath

Jenna Fisher (The Office) in a navy Colette Dinnigan gown

Becky Newton (Ugly Betty) in a tiered white sequined Elsie Katz gown

     

 

And the winner is… Jenna Fisher.  Her gorgeous navy beaded gown was a refreshing break from the gold, silver, and white gowns that are an easier look.  Fisher’s look from head to toe was absolutely breathtaking, and a shocking contrast from her more conservative and plain look as Pam.

The nominees for best Boho hippy chic dress are:

Kate Hudson in a flowy Balmain gown

Amanda Bines (Hairspray) in a blue Marchesa gown

Angelina Jolie in a flowing patterned vintage Hermes gown

 

And the winner is…Kate Hudson.  This nature child looked like herself in the perfectly busy patterned dress.  While others make the bo-ho look because of trends, Hudson portrayed herself in a more true spirit, and looked truly radiant. 

The nominees for best use of borrowed jewels are:

Kate Blanchet in stunning Fred Leighton jewels

Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) in Chopard diamonds

Eva Longoria in Verdura jewels

Kate Beckinsale in Van Cleef & Arpels vintage jewels

 

And the winner is… Kate Beckinsale.  This natural born beautie was further illuminated by the heaps of vintage rocks she adorned.  Only someone with her natural radiance could outshine the diamonds she wore.

Cashemere Mafia: A Fresh Show During a Strike Gone Stale

The writer’s strike, which began on Novemeber 5th, has started to really taken its toll on the TV obsessed. With very few new episodes of your favorite shows still remaining, and a strong refusal to cross over to the dark-side of reality TV, the new ABC dramedy Cashmere Mafia has hit the small screen at the perfect time. The show offers a dose of fresh scripts and a whole lot of fashion and drama worth gossiping about.

The plot: the lives of four New York girls, who are always dressed to the nines, all successful, and who all get together for lunch, amid their busy fabulous lives, to talk about the men and drama in their lives. Sound familiar? The Sex and the City wanna-be, as referred to by harsh critics, has three things that save it from the harsh criticism it may have deserve in the post SATC era.

1) Any fashion addict can’t help but salivate as cast members parade through episodes in threads that are truly to die for.

2) The authenticity of Patricia Fields (Sex and the City) costume design. With that type of perfection, who cares about the plot, we are hooked.

3) Daren Star (Sex and the City) knows how to deliver pure brain candy in its best form. Although Amy Larocca, NY Magazine, reviewed Star’s follow up series slightly more harshly, we aren’t such tough critics. Especially, during a strike when we are desperate.

Trend Report: Chanel Blue Satin Nail Polish

I would never dare insult or speak negatively about Chanel.  The fashion house, which has been a front player of haute couture for decades now, is a beacon for what luxury and designer clothing is really all about.  That said, I can’t help but feel the pangs of frustration as my mailbox and server fills with blogs and gossip about the new Chanel Blue Satin nail polish.  Blue nail polish was predicted to be a huge trend by taste-makers back in September when ads of OPI’s Russian Navy appeared in all the mags.  Yet, the many fashion bloggers only hit the keyboard when Chanel’s version of the trend hit the shelves. OPI undeservingly falling into the shadows of Chanel’s spotlight is giving me the blues.

For those of you that read my Dec 4 post, entitled “Seeing New Lights in Old Shades,” you would know that I was wearing OPI’s version of the punk turned glam blue polish trend long before all this buzz began.  You also would have heeded my fashion advice, and done so as well.  For those of you that did, pat yourself on the back.  You are months ahead of this headline breaking news.  Just today, Dara Fleisher’s always fun fashion newsletter, FashionJunkie Fix, featured the new shade, pointing out that “the deep cobalt hue…is already infiltrating the streets on Manhattan.”  Well, this Manhattan fashionista finds this news unexciting and stale. (No offense Dara – you know I think you rock!)  OPI deserves just as much, if not more, time in the spotlight, and this is my attempt to even that keel. 

Chanel does deserve major props for their chip resistant formula, and should continue to reap praise like this report from For The Love Of Beauty blogger Roxy.

www.opi.com

www.chanel.com

Accessories Trends of the Rich and Infamous!

You've just got to love those less-than-law abiding celebrities! Britney Spears related drama has reached a fever pitch this week, clogging our beloved blogosphere more than holiday indulgences have clogged our arteries. While we will spare you the regurgitation of the hot-off-the-press news from gossip blogs that we check at least once (ok maybe more than once) a day,   we will take this time to update you on the fashions of the rich and infamous.  This edition of the LupRocks blog offers the hottest trends in celebrity In-Court accessories.

Naomi Campbell on her second day of court in March 2007 for assault charges

Image from Getty Images
While her fashions for her court-ordered community service were more than questionable, we've gotta hand it to her for attempting to tone it down a bit during her trial.  Still, we've gotta say, we love the bracelets and the rectangular sunglasses add a nice, in-cognito touch.

Paris Hilton heading to trial in May 2007

Image from Getty Images
Praise be to Paris' stylist!  Dressed actually tastefully for once, Paris Hilton sports an homage to our favorite In-Court fashionista Winona Ryder, rocking a very similar navy headband that the movie star wore in her appearance.

Nicole Richie heading to her July 2007 hearing for DUI

image from dailyblabber
You can't have Paris without Nicole!  Here's a pregnant Nicole Richie ready to dominate the courtroom, clad in all black.  We're fans of her sky-high Christian Louboutin heels and her Oliver Peoples sunglasses.

Winona Ryder headed to her 2002 hearing for shoplifting charges

Image from Getty Images
The pioneer of in-court style herself, Winona was quite the trendmaker during her trial by consistently wearing designer duds, most specifically those from mega designer Marc Jacobs.  We think the sleek headband and coquettish pair of Marc Jacobs heels, proudly proclaim innocence.  Too bad the court didn't think so.

Vintage Jewelry: Bringing the past into the future

Of the many fashion blogs and daily newsletters that occupy our server and fill our mailboxes there is one that we hold near and dear for their always dependable and interesting trend spotting and reporting. We speak of course of WhoWhatWear Daily, or WWWD as it is called by real fashion gossip addicts– like us!

We loved a pre-holiday newsletter dedicated to WWWD Tips, and we’re specifically fond of the featured vintage earrings seen on Mary Kate Olsen. While WWWD reporters recommend for all of us to “Try A Vintage Touch,” most of us need that little extra help locating such said goodies. WWWD provided these options from Day-Lab, but we thought we would help you out with just a few more…Enjoy!

If you have the guts to pierce the fabric of your much anticipated holiday dress then you must do so with any of these vintage-inspired pins by Somos Creations.

For the perfect touch of gold we recommend any of the pieces by Ashley Morgan Designs.

With a drink in hand all night you will not want to be caught dead with bare fingers.  We recommend any of these vintage rings by Julie Erwin Jewels circa – who cares, they are so rad! (Don't make fun...if we are talking about vintage jewelry I reserve the right to use vintage slang!)

Don’t forget with New Years just around the corner you will need the perfect jewelry and accessories to go with that amazing LBD you have waiting in you closet for its big party debut. With the biggest night for taste makers fastly approaching we want to remind you of one of the golden rules: add a little glimmer and shine to swing into a bright New Year! To get great ideas for those perfect extras that take you from bleak to chic check out the many designers at LupRocks.com!

Uggs paired with Tights: When uggs become ugly...

I am well aware that Santa is making his list, checking it twice and all, so I truly hope he forgives me for the naughty gossip and reprimanding I am about to unload. It must be said: If I have to see one more girl walking around the style filled streets of New York wearing Uggs paired with fancy tights or fishnets, I am going to turn Carrie on them. No not the fabulous Carrie Bradshaw, the scary possessed Carrie who will send you to the depths of hell where your outfit came from. Fancy tights that add flare to your favorite LBD are a great trend, and are fast becoming one of my favorite accessories. However, when you put on a cute dress, struggle into tights, and then stick that cute outfit into a pair of Uggs, and then show up in my elevator at work or on the streets of the Upper West, you ruin my perfectly good day as a hip New York gal with your devastatingly wrong fashion choices. I understand that Uggs keep your toesees snuggled when facing the bitter cold that has finally befallen us, but realize it does so at the expense of your sense of style – although I guess that was minimal to begin with.

Listen it is not like I am totally against the ugly Uggs. I own a pair, but they serve as a large pair of pj slippers, and are paired with the casual clothes that I wear to the laundry room. So, when you read blogs on the celebrity approval for Uggs (like this,"I'm Not Obsessed," which I found while surveying Google for people with my shared frustration), understand that these celebrities, like the featured Reese Witherspoon, run on a different set of rules. Not to mention the fact that no one in all of Hollywood’s glam has paired them with tights. Shame on you.

P.S. Santa – This is not actually naughty when you consider that I may be saving girls from fashion no-no’s. You can reward my kindness by sending the Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume down my chimney. Oh, who am I kidding…I am New Yorker – just leave it with doorman.