Comme des Garçons Teams Up with H&M!

A look from CDG Homme's Fall/Winter 2008 Collection. Photo: Getty Images

In quite possibly the most exciting news of the morning—yeah, it's still early—H&M announced today that Comme des Garçons' Rei Kawakubo will guest design a limited edition collection that will debut in November. The Japanese designer, who is celebrated for constantly her experimental approach to fashion and challenging the hardwired rules (skirts for men, anyone?), will design a line for men, women and children—including accessories and a unisex fragrance.

Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Viktor & Rolf and Roberto Cavalli have all created lines for the cheap-chic retailer and their collections sold out in a matter of hours.

The line will launch in Japan to coincide with the opening of H&M's newest outpost in Tokyo before appearing in stores worldwide. I can hear the sound of stampeding fashion-crazed queens already.

Wong Kar Wai Does Fashion; Clooney's an April Fool; Fekkai On The Block; H&M's Newest Designer

Photo: Getty Images

Famed Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai is dabbling in the fashion business. To celebrate the release of My Blueberry Nights, the director is selling a limited edition line of t-shirts, posters and postcards at also-famed NYC boutique Opening Ceremony. [FWD]

George Clooney denies rumors that he is starting his own fashion line, claiming he has been the victim of an early April Fool's joke. We would have laughed louder if the rumor was actually true. [Vogue UK]

Frédéric Fekkai, the world's last straight hairdresser and king of his own beauty empire, will be bought by Procter & Gamble, which owns absolutely everything. [FWD]

H&M hands over the design reigns to Ann-Sofie Johansson who was named creative director for the company. The clothes will remain cheap, expendable and overly trend-obsessed. [WWD]

Justin is Madonna's Bitch; Yoko Devereaux's Latest Dish; Naomi does YSL; Chanel's Spaceship Lands in Hong Kong; H&M Opens New London Store; Kate Behind the Wheel

Photo: Getty Images

Madonna mined the Dolce & Gabbana archives to resurrect a 20+ year old corset and a fur-trimmed coat from the Italian designers' 1995 menswear collection. Meanwhile, on the ridiculous "electric youth"-style cover for her song with Justin Timberlake, 4 Minutes, her Madgesty wore head-to-toe Roberto Cavalli. Justin, however, was not so lucky with wardrobe. Let's just say that Madonna knows to make it clear who is the bitch in charge and who is just the bitch. [WWD]

Yoko Devereaux's creative director Andy Salzer dishes about living in his own Williamsburg shop, the similarities between Gucci and a zombie film, and how inspiration can be a slap in the face. [Supermarket]

Phone-hurling supermodel Naomi Campbell (who also made a cameo on Bravo's Make Me a Supermodel last week) has been tapped by Stefano Pilati as the face of YSL's fall ad campaign. Let's hope everone wore hard hats to the photo shoot. [WWD]

Chanel's mobile spaceship art exhibit designed by starchitect Zaha Hadid begins its world tour and lands in Hong Kong featuring art inspired by the brand's original quilted handbag. [IHT]

Because H&M didn't have quite as many stores as Starbucks in Europe, H&M shifts its strategy and plans to open a store in London dedicated solely to its youth-focused streetwear label Divided. [WWD]

The next time you find yourself hailing a cab in London, it just might be model Kate Moss behind the wheel. The supermodel has reportedly purchased an iconic black cab and enjoys motoring around town and carting her friends from party to party. And you thought NYC cab drivers were crazy. [Daily Mail UK]

H&M Launches Fashion Against AIDS

Rihanna in her t-shirt design for H&M. All photos: Courtesy of H&M

Cheap-chic retailer H&M rounded up a bevy of celebrities to join the fight against AIDS. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, the company will offer a line of celebrity-designed t-shirts, tanktops and hooded sweatshirts (and an ad campaign featuring the celebs sporting their designs). Twenty-five percent of proceeds will benefit HIV prevention projects around the world.

H&M and Designers Against AIDS hope to raise awareness of HIV among youth. According to estimates, 50 percent of new HIV infections occur within men and women between the ages of 15 and 24.

While H&M is fond of designer collaborations, this is the first time that the company is partnering with Designers Against AIDS and a roster of celebrities that includes Rihanna, Timbaland, Rufus Wainwright, Scissor Sisters, The Cardigans, Ziggy Marley, Jade Jagger, Good Charlotte, Chicks on Speed and My Chemical Romance.

From the looks of things, the t-shirts are as diverse as the mix of celebrities. Chances are you'll find a shirt you love.  Look for them at your nearest H&M in February 2008!

Rufus Wainwright in a shirt of his own design for H&M.

Lacroix does Evian; Starbucks/Apple Domination; Fighting Body Odor; Cavalli & H&M Madness!; Public Fashion Shows; Verizon's New LG Toys!; Project Runway Meets Fantasy Football

Photo: Getty Images

Christian Lacroix designed glass bottles for Evian. Get your ready-to-wear bottle for $6 and your "couture" bottle for untold sums. Personally, I prefer to drink my water than to wear it, but to each their own! [Fashionista]

Starbucks and Apple begin their joint quest for world domination as iTunes rolls out in Starbucks locations across the Universe. [Engadget]

Scent of a man! Do you really need to wear antiperspirant and deodorant each day? The NY Times explores the American obsession with battling B.O. and suggests that little man stank goes a long way. [NY Times]

Gift Bags, long lines, supermodel poses, designer cameos and cat fights over leopard prints! That sums up the scene at H&Ms across the world that revealed the Roberto Cavalli line to the world today. I would have been in line this morning, but I didn't want to get trampled to death. [Fashionista]

Are members of the general public the harshest fashion critics? What do you expect when you invite plebeians to attend fashion shows? [NY Times]

Verizon welcomes pre-orders for LG's latest Voyager and Venus clamshell and slider phones starting today! Because some people don't actually want an iPhone. [Engadget]

Project Runway goes interactive and takes a page from Fantasy Football. Pick your favorite designer during each show and see how they do when the judges hurl insults and shred them to pieces! Fun! [Fashionista]

Remainders & Reminders!

Photos: Courtesy of H&M

- Roberto Cavalli's collection for H&M hits select H&M stores tomorrow! The early bird gets the best duds! [Earlier: Plan of Attack: Roberto Cavalli for H&M]

- Housing Works' Fashion For Action Sale kicks off tomorrow with the VIP reception with Rashida Jones from The Office! [Earlier: Buy Clothes, Fight AIDS]

- LA shopping mecca, Kitson, kicks off its men's warehouse sale! Get 50 to 80 percent off everything through November. [Kitson]

Plan of Attack: Roberto Cavalli for H&M

Photos: Courtesy of H&M

Designer collaborations with low-cost retailers always create a running-of-the-bulls-style stampede to the store. But, we've got the inside scoop on Roberto Cavalli's line for H&M and we'll help you design your plan of attack for the November 8th shopping blitz.

H&M's website features photos of the full line from underwear to suits. Surprisingly enough, the men's line lacks the Cavalli's usual love for animal prints and bold colors—he reserved those embellishments for the women's items.

Here's what to buy, and what to leave behind for the hordes:

Trench Coat ($198): Buy - It's a fall staple and Cavalli's tailoring is sure to please.
Wool Suit ($299): Buy - A well-tailored Italian suit is tough to come by at this price
Jeans ($69.90): Buy - Cavalli is well known for his excellent fit.

Brown Leather Jacket ($249): Buy/Pass — I'm not a big fan of leather jackets but the motorcycle styling of this one is nice. At the price, don't expect super-high quality leather.

Waistcoat ($49.90): Pass - I'm not a fan of the vest trend.
Cardigan ($79.90): Pass - Looks too much like a bathrobe.
Black Button Down Shirt ($59.90): Pass - Only pass if it's sheer (it looks sheer in the photo), lest you look like something the 90s club scene coughed up.
T-shirts & Underwear: Pass.

 

A Sneak Peak at Roberto Cavalli's H&M Line

Roberto Cavalli's commercial for his upcoming collaboration with H&M has hit the YouTube airwaves! In the first sneak peak at the collection, it's clear that Cavalli stuck with his tried-and-true formula in design. In other words,  expect to see explosions of animal prints, silver and gold lamé, big sunglasses—and feathered headdresses? Oh, please let there be headdresses! My inner drag queen would squeal with joy.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to see much of the menswear in the commercial because of the speed of the montage that is reminiscent of having an acid flashback while wandering a fun house at a county fair. See more sneak peaks and behind the scenes photos at the H&M blog. I guess we'll all have to wait until November 8th to get the real scoop on the goods.

[Fashionista]