We’ve all suspected that Gemma Ward’s days on the runway and modeling for editorials in the biggest fashion magazines in the world could be numbered. What with her fledgling acting career which includes substantial roles in The Strangers with Liv Tyler and The Black Balloon where she was even given rave reviews for her acting skills.

Now street rag, Pedestrian, are reporting that an insider source says that Gemma will “officially retire” from the runway to pursue the lure of Hollywood.

While Gemma is pursuing her dreams, why announce an official departure from the modeling world when you can command between $10,000 to $20,000 for a 10 minute fashion show appearance and a lot more for a major advertising campaign?

Would you miss Gemma if she left the fashion world to become an actress?

Jane Mayle, to many metropolitan pretty young things, effortlessly characterizes whimsical and feminine chic. Since the former model started her business in 1999, everyone from celebrities to downtown schoolgirls have adorned themselves in her fey frocks and other emblems of nostalgia. But sadly, Mayle has announced that her clothing line will itself soon be a thing of the past.

According to WWD, an “out-of-control fashion system” has left Mayle feeling lost and uninspired and has ultimately led  to her decision to close her business. In November, her holiday/resort collection will hit stores. It will be her last. Shortly thereafter, Mayle will close its doors forever. 242 Elizabeth Street- well-known amongst NYC’s fashion tribes as one of Nolita’s hottest boutiques -officially closes in February. (On the bright side, we hope a monster clearance sale precedes!)

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Warning: this video may not be suitable for minors (or work).

We all know how Kate Moss begun modeling at the tender age of 15 and boy would she have seen and experienced some sights.

In this rare video interview by photographer David Bailey for his 1998 ‘Models Close Up’ documentary, she talks about appearing topless in editorials, the nudity backstage at fashion shows and being a trend setter - though not the good trends.

Like any seasoned model, Moss says you get use to it: “it’s your job, you have to take off your clothes and put more on.”

Known for being a trend setter, Moss talks about how she has been blamed for starting more than just a fashion trend. “I’ve been blamed for everything under the sun, anorexia, then smoking, then heroine… I just do what I want to do, I don’t think about being a role model or that sort of thing”

While it may be over 10 years old, it’s an intriguing interview, when you factor in the fact that Moss has rarely granted interviews over the years. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Moss is often seen but not heard.

Do you think that is a good or bad thing?

Anti-fur campaigners are on a rampage at the moment, first lashing out at Pope Benedict XVI and now Peta have slammed Gwyneth Paltrow for promoting Tod’s.

Paltrow is currently starring in the fall 2008/09 advertising campaign for Tod’s, an Italian leather goods company which has fur-lined boots, ostrich and snake skins in its products. Known for her holistic lifestyle, Peta have lashed out at the star’s choices and included her young daughter in their attacks.

“Gwyneth Paltrow won’t be the apple of her daughter’s eye if she continues to flaunt fur,” Peta said in reference to her daughter Apple. “It’s a terrible example to set for a young child, promoting an industry that electrocutes animals, snaps their necks and skins them alive.”

When the campaign was announced, Tod’s creative director, Derek Lam said: “Gwyneth effortlessly embodies the spirit of the all American woman with timeless elegance and modern flair - the perfect representation of the Tod’s woman.”

But Tony Wardle, associate director of the vegetarian charity Viva! had his own opinion about what is feminine. “There is nothing feminine about inserting an electrode into the anus of a terrified and struggling fox and then electrocuting it. Ms Paltrow is an actress – and seemingly a particularly stupid one at that.”

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Sears, the 120 year old family-oriented mid-range US department store, isn’t exactly synonymous with high fashion. Nonetheless, the chain has announced plans to launch a lifestyle exhibit on September 10th at New York City’s Bryant Park to coincide with - you guessed it -  Spring 2009 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. In an effort to boost the company’s fortunes and ameliorate their reputation as an outmoded nonentity in the apparel industry,  they come to Fashion Week with a new lifestyle philosophy and an ambitious business agenda: convince onlookers that Sears’ and fashion’s ideals co-exist.  In order to accomplish this, a new portfolio of brands that reflect the “attainable good life” will be showcased in the Sears FallForward Fashion Installation.

“Style and forward thinking design should be accessible,” said Richard Gerstein, Chief Marketing Officer at Sears. “By showcasing our extensive range of whole house brands in a disruptive setting, we believe we can pay a respectful tribute to fashion where it comes to life each season, and still offer an aspirational lifestyle that is inclusive.” In past seasons, Sears executives have worked to reestablish relevance with other industry professionals by offering appointment-only demonstrations of their commitment to bridging the gap between the luxurious and the affordable.

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No one knows how to “fashion” a comeback like Madonna.

Throughout the veteran music and cultural icon’s three-decade spanning career, she never lets any component of her visual or musical legacy go unchecked. When things go stale, she revamps them. If she doesn’t know how, she hires someone else to do it for her. Now faced with accusations of falling victim to a middle-aged style crisis, Madge has retaliated by recruiting the most elite names in high fashion to conceptualize and design the wardrobe for her upcoming Sticky And Sweet Tour, which will hit European and US shores just time in for the Spring 2009 Fashion Weeks. Will Madonna’s couture showmanship outperform the industry at their own game?

At her Madgesty’s behest, Miu Miu, Tom Ford, pal Stella McCartney, YSL, Roberto Cavalli, and Jeremy Scott all contributed bespoke clothing and accessories for the singer’s Hard Candy live trek. However, the “headliner” of the Sticky And Sweet fashion parade is without a doubt Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy Haute Couture, who was commissioned to provide two completely custom outfits for Madonna. Tisci jumped at the opportunity: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have been given the opportunity to offer the world of Givenchy Haute Couture to Madonna the Icon, the Artist, the Woman for whom I have so much respect and admiration”, he says.

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It has been a rather interesting few days of fashion related news, what with a Stella McCartney design being used in a fur ad and all. But that isn’t all of it…

• For the girl who loves Marc Jacobs, a blue Marc Jacobs condom was available on eBay recently. Complete with a personal note reminding the recipient to “remember safety first” from the designer himself. It had a buy it now price of $1.99 and sure enough, it was sold. I wonder if Marc is annoyed that his gift was flogged on eBay… [NY Mag]
• Kate Moss isn’t happy with her reported 50 million GBP deal to take her Topshop collection to China. According British tabloid, The Daily Mail, the supermodel wants to show off her skills behind the decks in Ibiza. Unfortunately for Moss, she was told to go away. [DailyMail]
• Speaking of Kate Moss, Roberto Cavalli has spoken his mind again, saying models like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell don’t have what it takes to “be a true star”. Then why did the designer cast Moss is various advertising campaigns for his brand over the years? [UK FabSugar]
• Meanwhile, the other Wilson brother, Luke, has teamed up with golfer, Johan Edfors o co-design a collection of golf wear for Puma. The collection reportedly caters to both extroverts and introverts – representing both men’s personal tastes. [LA Times]

Stella McCartney has often spoken out against the use of furs and animal products in fashion, with the designer leading the way with her own vegan fashion line.

Then, due to stylist error, a Stella McCartney bra was used in a Hockley Furs, advertising image where a model is wearing the Eve Giggling padded bra under a £6,450 full-length mink black and white ‘Atlas’ coat.

And Stella is said to be furious, even threatening legal action against Hockley.

‘Stella went absolutely ballistic when she saw it,’ a source at Ms McCartney’s store in Mayfair told The Mail on Sunday. ‘I have never seen her so angry. She hit the roof and said that she planned to sue. She allows her accessories to be lent to shoots all the time, but she would never ever allow anything of hers to go to a fashion house that deals exclusively with fur.

‘If Stella knew it was going to be used by Hockley there is no way she would have lent it. It was loaned to a stylist in good faith, but when Stella saw the picture she was furious. She said: “It goes against everything I stand for.” She didn’t see any proofs, she just saw the campaign. It’s a monumental cock-up. Stella is disgusted.’

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The Beijing 2008 Olympics have finally arrived! While most of the world united in marvel over the magnitude and wondrous display of Beijing’s Opening Ceremony, fashion fiends appraised the event with their own tenuous set of priorities. Our focus was specific and superficial: the clothes, duh! Athleticism and fashion are decidedly unrelated; the two realms are mutually exclusive and, for harmony’s sake, one shouldn’t attempt to judge the other. Nonetheless, fashion skeptics eagerly flexed their own muscles in response to Friday evening’s sartorial spectacle. The critical consensus? Olympians’ athletic skills may stir admiration and foster national pride, but their wardrobes often leave plenty to be desired.

Team Greece ushered in the first of many dubious ensembles when they stepped out in stark, awkwardly tailored white & black suits. Susannah Frankel of The Independent quipped: “to say they looked wide would be an understatement”. Japan sported jaunty separates that mirrored school uniforms, a design motif which enticed some and repelled others (on a personal note, I thought they looked chic and appropriate). Meanwhile, China’s own athletes flashed patriotically coordinated outfits that naysayers claim resembled “tomato-and-scrambled-egg uniforms”; the look has proven to be unpopular with the host country’s public. The Ukraine’s eye-wateringly turquoise and yellow color story faced similar complaints.

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