Luxury News from InsideLux – The Daily Luxury News Authority

Fashion designers draw inspiration from nature, world events, people, or anything ugly they can twist into something beautiful with an emotional impact.  Rodarte and M.A.C. teamed up to produce a ghostly line of clothing and cosmetics inspired by the overworked women in the factories of Juarez, Mexico.

Most people when asked about Juarez wouldn’t be aware of the city’s criminal make-up, crime rate or political oppressions. Though facing on-going criticism, the Rodarte designers Laura and Kate Mulleavy say the factory women in Juarez inspired their new line with the unfortunate sleepy early morning commutes. Top fashion executives initially raved about the line, calling it spiritual and romantic. As more information surfaced about a systematic killing spree against these women factory workers, critics questioned the morality of the line and alliance with M.A.C. Women began disappearing and bodies began turning up tortured and mutilated, leaving a 2005 calculation at a shocking 800 death count. Capitalizing on deadly corruption may be interpreted as morally wrong with distributing and selling $4,000 dresses and $20 nail polishes, but with the lack of world awareness on the tragedy, the city of Juarez can only benefit from the brightening light shed on the population by the young American designers whether it was intended or not. Building scrutiny from people like Jessica Wakeman of the Frisky has forced Rodarte and M.A.C. to issue a statement apologizing for offending any of their consumers and fans and assuring that some profits will go directly to Juarez.

Inspiration can come from any place, any person or any thing. A photographer could document a village under pillage for sheer ascetically pleasing artwork, share it with the world and do some good for the said village. The designers of Rodarte and collaboration with M.A.C. cosmetics are not making money off unpleasantries associated with the factories of Juarez, but taking a morose anthropological stance and turning it into art while raising attention on the troubled city in hopes to uncover a solution.

Portugal and Real Madrid football star Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his son’s name as-, wait for it Cristiano. The mini me version of Ronaldo was born on June 17th reportedly through a surrogate mother. The player will bring up the child as a single parent

Following her classy behavior at Shea stadium a few weeks ago, Lady Gaga has been declared the fourth most powerful celebrity on Forbes’ top 100 list. She is by far the most shocking of the top 5, with Oprah being number one (surprise, surprise), Beyonce second, James Cameron third, and Tiger Woods fifth.

Between musical success and advertisement income, the newcomer to the list raked in about $62 million. However, this is about half of what Tiger made, at fifth place. What gives?

Forbes says the ranking is based on:  income over the past 12 months, web references, magazine covers, press clippings and broadcast mentions. Guess Gaga had a lot of those, with her extravagant outfits and catchy pop tunes.

Jerry Seinfeld came in at #37… Just saying.

Madonna sought out the help of her 13-year old daughter, Lourdes Leon, to make her next move in the world of fashion. Rather than designing for herself, she translates her style into a high-maintenance Junior’s collection appropriately named “Material Girl”. From the looks of the first sketches, Madonna and her design team are dressing 13-year-old girls who believe they have skipped youth and woken up the fully developed 21-year-old club-frequenter they see on The Hills reality show. Low-cut printed tops and skirts cut “up to there” are engineered to accentuate and give the wearer a sexy and shapely appearance. The pre-teen Material Girl shoppers are surely not going to be leaving for the first day of school looking “like a virgin.”

Broadway’s Fashion District turns into a “Sidewalk Catwalk” on Thursday as several mannequins from top designers are revealed in a free exhibit. Among them will be Naeem Khan, Donna Karan, Norma Kamali, Tommy Hilfiger, Diane Von Furstenberg, Nanette Lepore, Betsey Johnson plus many more. Macy’s at 34^th street will display six mannequins in its world famous store windows while 26 others take Broadway between 35^th and 41^st streets. The area was chosen because of its centralization of the Fashion District and the amount tourists and offices in that span of Manhattan. The display will be up only until September 3^rd.

June 10^th – June 12^th, Profiles, a Hollywood auction house sold the second of Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic dresses.

Made famous by her sexy subway scene in Happy Birthday Mr. President, the white halter dress comes in first as it previously sold at Christie’s for $1.2 million. Possibly reflecting the recession, the second most recognizable dress took a huge leap down, selling at $313,000. The fuchsia strapless gown debuted in the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ hit number “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”.

Among other historic relics sold at Profiles were Mary Poppins’ ‘bottomless bag’, Star Wars and Wizard of Oz props, Edward’s Scissorhands and some clothing previously belonging to Elvis Presley.

The MOCCA art gallery in Cannes features a young photographer in the “Beau Sebastian Scott Photo Exhibition”. Growing up in an artistic family, Beau was surrounded by the art world at a young age. His father, Eric Scott, a realist painter, transferred his knowledge of the arts to his son, allowing Beau to discover his passion for photography. His captivating work enthralls art enthusiasts with his raw talent of finding normal, mundane, or even things deemed as ugly and capturing them in a way that transforms the subject into beautiful and interesting photographic pieces.

TDP Luxury Solutions joins with British fashion brand Aquascutum in a new golf apparel line debuting at the US Open. Adam Scott, an international golf sensation, will spearhead the campaign as the line’s ambassador.  Known for his natural off the course charm, Scott comments on the new partnership saying, “I am excited to be working with such an internationally recognized brand as Aquascutum. The brand new collection offers a unique approach to golf apparel combining performance with an exceptional style. I am proud to be Aquascutum’s brand ambassador and I look forward to introducing the new product line at the U.S. Open.”

Both men’s and women’s wear will be included in the new line, featuring the innovation and luxury style of Aquascutum and adding weather resistant materials to support a strong game even in the roughest of weather. Colors range from red, black, and grey to pink, green and blue pastels.

French couturier Christian Lacroix gets a second life as part of France’s national heritage; the owners of the label had confirmed a donation of 11 outfits for the country’s Decorative Arts Museum.

The French culture ministry Frederic Mitterrand announced a further 3,000 haute couture models from collections dating from the creation of the label in 1987 to its demise in 2009 would be lent to national museums when necessary.

The chief executive of the Christian Lacroix Company, Nicolas Topiol confirmed that the company “has always agreed to loan creations when asked.” The 3,000 models in its hands are currently in storage in a warehouse equipped with the appropriate facilities to insure the exclusive designs against the wear and tear of time.

Lacroix lost his house when a French court last December approved drastic cutbacks for the label, which lost nearly all its staff and its main clothes designing activities.

Starting June 17^th, the lines of communication between Boris Becker, three time Wimbledon winner, will be hindered as Ralph Lauren launches his online interactive Legends Clinic for tennis. Live feeds, streaming in real time on tennis enthusiasts’ computer screens, will star professional tennis players answering fan questions as well as demonstrating techniques. Ralph Lauren being the official outfitter of Wimbledon is hoping to bridge the gap between fans and athletes, creating a more personal relationship via his marquee Polo Ralph Lauren brand and the world wide web.