The BAM Hour: Barry on Passover and Easter

This week the President discusses the multitude of problems and opportunities before the world through the prism of Passover and Easter: “These are two very different holidays with their own very different traditions. But it seems fitting that we mark them both during the same week. For in a larger sense, they are both moments […]

The Gaye Watkins Report

Our “About Town” Journalist Gaye Watkins is seen above holding Megan Mylan’s academy award. Mylan, whose name was mispronounced three times during the reading of the nominees and the announcement of her victory (we can relate, man) won this year for best short film…”Smile Pinki.”

Don’t Need No Ticket to Get On Board …Gaye Watkins Reports.

The Smile Train is celebrating 10 years of 500,000 free surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates around the world. Founders Brian Mullaney, Bill Wang and Host
Norah O’ Donnell (MSNBC) were on hand to start the evening on St. Patrick’s Day. Supporters Colin Powell, Candice Bergen, Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), and Christopher Meloni (Law and Order SVU) told a packed house of patrons in the Frederick P. Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center their feelings for the doctors, staff and children who make up Smile Train. Colin Powell spoke of the generous doctors who perform these surgeries and how we all must remember to help each other regardless of our circumstances in this uncertain economic time. Jokingly he added to the patrons not to worry the Dow will rise above 12,000. Jane Kaczmareck spoke of how her favorite event invitations are Smile Train events. She emotionally described her amazement and gratitude of the organization.

Christopher Meloni and Candice Bergen kept things moving along with their stories of visiting families and children in Haiti and India who were having the surgeries and observed during the operations. If you were a donor this past tuesday night it was truly your night. A Filet Mignon dinner, and a one hour concert by Ronan Tynan the Irish Tenor.

4 Open Bars, mini cheesecake lollipops which were my favorite, mini ice cream cones, live Jazz band till midnight and don’t go without having your picture taken with Producer/Director Megan Mylan who won for best documentary short “Smile Pinki” at the Academy Awards this year. Wow, they’re right, those Oscars really are heavy. Just wish I got a chance to thank The Academy, and god, and my family, but I think the other folks waiting to take a picture with Oscar just wouldn’t have stood for that. The Smile Train believes they provide the same services that similar charities do for one tenth the price. One reason for this is they offer training and supplies to doctors and their staff who live in these countries.

They believe in creating self sufficient communities and their biggest hope is to eradicate the overwhelming need for cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries in the world. Without these surgeries some infants cannot feed and are malnourished, Others are shunned in their communities and do not go to school. You cant help but tear up over some of these stories. What a nice thing to know that there really are angels everywhere.

Broderick Gets a Boost

Matthew Borderick blended in perfectly with the two tone brown decor at 1 Oak, temporary Tribeca Film Festival Home of the Boost Mobile Lounge as he celebrated his new film “Finding Amanda” which premiered last night in Tribeca. Broderick is seen here chatting up Amanda, actress Brittney Snow.

Playing Exclusives Game: Results Can Be Win-Win But Brands Face Pitfalls

Image: Tommy Hilfiger is becoming exclusive to Macy’s.

Putting all your eggs in one basket ? or, in apparel, your entire collection in one retailer ? is a high-stakes game that is being played more and more.

As stores rush to differentiate themselves, particularly in this difficult economy, they’re increasingly looking for product no one else has. But as often as both parties describe exclusives as a win-win, it just as often results in one side losing.

Vendors must take heed of the dangers to committing exclusively to a single store ? take the fate of O Oscar, which lasted only three seasons at Macy’s before being closed, or Liz Claiborne, which saw its space at Macy’s shrink after it created Liz & Co. for J.C. Penney.

But the rewards can be great. Macy’s Inc. chairman, chief executive officer and president Terry Lundgren pointed to Tommy Hilfiger, which will become exclusive to the retailer come August, as “a home run idea” and “the best example now” of the growing exclusive business at the largest department store in the U.S. This is a far cry from the role Hilfiger had played at Macy’s in the last few years, when the line’s space had been consistently shrinking.

“When the product is exclusive to us ? which makes it one of the most important products we carry in the store because it’s only in our stores ? we want to make sure we can do everything we can do to find success,” Lundgren said. “If we are the only customer, we have a responsibility to make sure this brand is highly successful, so we will want to give it primary space and location, and make sure the advertising is prominent.”

More than 35 percent of the $26.3 billion in sales Macy’s did last year is in brands that are exclusive to Macy’s or in limited distribution, including its private label INC line, Martha Stewart Collection, Donald Trump’s line and diffusion lines such as T Tahari.

Macy’s is not alone. Half of J.C. Penney Co. Inc.’s sales come from its private label offerings, including the new American Living launch by Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.’s Global Brand Concepts, plus exclusive diffusion lines such as Nicole by Nicole Miller, Liz & Co. and the upcoming Fabulosity by Kimora Lee Simmons. Its competitor, Kohl’s Corp., has been bulking up its exclusive offerings as well with Simply Vera Vera Wang, Dana Buchman, Abbey Dawn (a new collaboration with Avril Lavigne) and Fila Sport, in addition to its Ralph Lauren diffusion line, Chaps.

Four Fashion Headlines: March 19, 2008

Calling Amy

Could Amy Winehouse, who couldn’t make it to the Grammy Awards last month due to visa issues, be crossing the pond for the Costume Institute gala on May 5? The Mirror of London reported on Monday that Winehouse has been offered 500,000 pounds ? or about $1 million ? to perform at the benefit and, according to the tabloid, gala host Giorgio Armani asked co-chairs George Clooney and Julia Roberts to sign her on. Winehouse’s London rep declined comment, but a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Museum of Art said, “Amy Winehouse is one of a number of artists who have been considered for the entertainment portion for the Costume Institute gala. It’s incorrect that she was offered payment. It’s a benefit, so no one is being paid.”

Despite Stock Market’s Jump, Few Mega M&A Deals Seen in ’08

Retail rode Wall Street’s roller coaster on Tuesday as the Federal Reserve Board’s interest rate cut sent the market zooming. But daily thrill rides aside, the lack of credit could dry up any major deals in the industry for the foreseeable future.

Print Dresses, Colored Trenches Top Spring Sales

Retailers may be worried about the economy and Wall Street’s woes, but the arrival of spring fashions should offer some hope.

In the Trenches: The GLAMWIRE Trench Coat Report

Reed Krakoff and Phillip Lim are out to reinvent the trenchcoat. The two met through the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. In 2007 Lim won the CFDA Swarovski women’s wear award for his two-year-old contemporary label, 3.1 Phillip Lim. Krakoff is vice president of the CFDA. “He’s not only amazingly talented, but has a great personality,” said Krakoff. “He really understands great American design and the trench is an iconic piece of American outerwear.” The two concocted a long belted suede trench that will retail for $1,798 and a short leather one that will sell for $1,298. Outerwear is a growing category for Coach, which has also partnered with designers such as Lutz & Patmos for knits and Eugenia Kim for hats. “It’s part of our moving forward and staying fresh,” added Krakoff of the burgeoning categories. “We’re starting to add more clothing.” The coats will be available in Coach stores starting in August.

Other headliners today: Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Channel, Louis Vuitton, Clavin Klein, Calvin Klein, prada, Hermes, Dior, Tod’s, In Full bloom, Lisa Perry,David Yurman, General Petreus, Dolce And Gabbana. Hilfiger,Cole Haan, Genevieve Collection. Burberry,Donna KAran, Kate Moss, Botetga Veneta, Miu Miu, Lord & Taylor AND Richie From Totally Cool Magazine

The GLAMWIRE One Minute Interview: John Basedow <BR> BONUS: Episode 4 of John Basedow TV, with special additional commentary work by a Mystery Correspndent on Screen #3

John Basedow and Maggie Fine have many fans in Australia. And here are a few : Yitz Davidson, Makio, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Lisa Ho, Martin Grant, Carla Zampatti, Easton Pearson, Michelle Jank. Nicola Finetti,Conrad Martens, Charles Darwin, John Glover, Glover was one of the precursors of an Australian style of painting, Tasmania, landscapepainter, TheHeidelbergSchool, […]

Dept728 Heats Up Chi Town

Dept728’s spring collection features reversible swimwear for men and women. The bond-girl style swimsuit is available in two color combinations and is fully adjustable. The suit is one size and fits dress sizes 2-12. To shop, click here. Related articles by Zemanta Fab Sale Round-Up: Gilt Groupe, the Mini Social and More! (celebritybabies.people.com) Giulio Swimwear […]

Luxurious Luminizer Tip #1

Luminizer: Venus Magic Pearls, a fabulously luxury starting at around 15 Euros. Americans seeking to learn the exchange rate in a visceral, high impact and probably inflated manner, click here. Related articles by Zemanta Problem sequence with Lumineers? (realself.com) Lumineers are not what you want if you want natural (realself.com) Lumineers before and after photos […]