With so much noise being made in America over the lawsuits against Forever 21, the news of the lawsuit between Chloe and Topshop almost went by unnoticed. The court battle was over a 70s style See by Chloe Mini dungaree dress which Chloe was selling on Net-A-Porter.com for £157.45, while Topshop has a similar version for sale for just £35.

In the end, Topshop have removed more than 1,000 of their dungaree’s from their stores and have paid £12,000 compensation and legal costs to Chloé.

Shoosmiths, the legal firm acting for Chloé, part of the Richemont luxury goods group, emphasised Chloé’s determination to stifle counterfeit competition like they were with copies of their popular designer bags – the Paddington and Silverado.

Meanwhile Topshop owner, Sir Philip Green told the Times: “We paid them £12,000 without any admission over whether it was or it wasn’t [a copy]. We felt it was easier to do that and get on with the rest of our lives.”

Can you spot the difference between the two dungaree dresses?

[Via Times.co.uk]

If you haven’t already picked up a copy of the August issue of American Harper’s Bazaar, you had better get your skates on. The an eight-page Simpsons feature by Simpsons illustrator Julius Preite has the cartoon family (including Selma and Patty) going to Paris with a cartoon version of Linda Evangelista.

They attend see the sights of Paris, attend fashion shows, go shopping and visit couture houses where they meet the likes of Donatella Versace, Vicktor & Rolf, Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz, Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs.

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Frillr is reporting that super tan Marc Jacobs is jealous of costume king, John Galliano, reportedly trash-mouthing his rival during workouts at the David Barton Gym on West 23rd Street.

According to a Page Six spy, the American designer “Marc and his trainer always talk very loudly - it’s annoying. All he does is complain about Galliano - even after [Galliano's best friend and right-hand man] Stephen Robinson died in April. It was disgusting. He’s so jealous of John.”

What’s to be jealous about? They’re both creative directors at iconic French fashion houses, they both design ready-to-wear collections under their own names… and both one of them designs Haute Couture.

[Sourced from Frillr]

Dolce & Gabbana have long dresses the Italian football (soccer) teams in Italy for years, and now they’re looking overseas with an eye on the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the Chinese Football team.

The Daily reports that players and technical staff will wear their off-field ensembles from the summer 2007 European exhibition tour until the Olympic Games which start on August 8.

Specifically, team members will wear “Martini” line tailored suits composed of black light-wool pants and jackets; slim-fit white cotton shirts with black silk ties; and a series of more casual looks, including silver nylon bomber jackets, satin hooded sweaters, and t-shirts and jeans.

Designers have starting to get on the sporting wagon, with Giorgio Armani designing suits for Australia Rugby League team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

After campaigns staring Sarah Jessica Parker, and Claire Danes in the past few seasons, the American clothing giant the Gap will star the likes of John Mayer, Selma Blair, Lucy Liu, and Forest Whitaker.

Titled ‘Classics Redefined’ and photographed by Annie Leibovitz the black and white photographs see’s John Mayer looking rugged wearing a $39.50 sweater vest, and Selma Blair rocking up her ‘deep V’ sweater retailing at $44.50.

The entire list of celebrities staring in the campaign is: Selma Blair, Orlando Bloom, Ken Watanabe, Forest Whitaker, Lucy Liu, Liev Schreiber, Regina King, Davis Guggenheim, Twyla Tharp, Marcel Wanders and Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura of Puffy AmiYumi.

Anyone who’s seen me in my Seven for All Mankind (SFAM) Colette jeans has got to agree that the premium denim brand is making a comeback (the jeans do fabulous things for my legs and butt).

The WWD announced last week that SFAM was going to launch its first advertising campaign staring Estee Lauder face, Carolyn Murphy. Vogue.co.uk unveiled one of the images yesterday, shot by Patrick Demarchelier at the Roosevelt Hotel in LA.

“While Carolyn shines as an international supermodel her heart truly belongs to California, which speaks volumes about her connection to the brand,” a 7 For All Mankind spokeswoman tells Vogue.co.uk. “The campaign’s imagery is inspired by the powerful sophistication and American glamour felt throughout the autumn/winter 2007-8 collection.”

I can’t wait to see the other images of Carolyn and male model Tyson Ballou.

When designers are creating outfits for Barbie, Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz is taking it to a different level. Teaming up with Taiwanese craftsman Franz, the pair will create a series of miniature porcelain dolls wearing signature looks from the Lanvin Fall 2007/08 collection.

According to the WWD, the dolls will be hand-painted, stiletto-wearing figurines, will each be produced in a limited series of 800 and cost 250 euros, or $345, a pop.

I just hope they create one of Alber himself too. How adorable would he look as a porcelain doll?

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Before Nicholas Ghesquiere took the reins at Balenciaga and turned it into the edgy label that it is today, Spaniard Cristobal Balenciaga created pieces for aristocrats. His signature pieces were dramatic black coats and dresses that recalled Spanish fashions of the Elizabethan age, working with stuff fabrics to create a sculptural appearance. His sack dress designed in 1956 was quite popular with consumers and inspired other designers to copy the look, and is also credited with creating the empire line.

Take a look at this snippet from spring summer 1960 collection; it’s vintage Cristobal Balenciaga.

The images of Catherine McNeil for Versace’s Fall 2007/08 campaign has surfaced a week after Kate Moss’ images landed on the web. Sporting auburn locks, the Australian model and a platinum blonde Moss was phographed by Mario Testino.

What do you think of the campaign?

Check out the other images from the campaign a Supermodel.nl.

In other Versace news, the Italian fashion house is planning on opening a new boutique in the world’s tallest tower in Taipei’s Taipei 101 mall. This is just the first of a series of Versace store openings in Asia.

– Covering Australian fashion because we’re an Australian fashion blog