Elie Tahari

Those stories and more — here, in our daily news roundup.

• Amanda Brooks, we missed you. The former Barneys fashion director has resurfaced, sort of. She appears as one of the models in Bottega Veneta's new jewelry catalog, shot by Patrick Demarchelier. [The Cut]
  

• Waris Ahluwalia's entertaining "Love and Waris" column has also resurfaced. This edition's topics: the secret to spiritual happiness, improving one's memory, and disappointing birthday presents. [Style.com]
  

• Chris Brown may soon be the next It model. The singer has signed a contract with Wilhelmina International. [Fashionista]
  

• Karlie Kloss isn't the only one who has decided to change her hair. Lana Del Rey has debuted a banging new 'do. [Elle UK]
  

• Carmen Borgonovo, senior fashion editor at Harper's Bazaar, is the most recent editor to make the move to retail; Borgonovo has been named fashion director at My-Wardrobe.com. [Vogue UK]
  

• Speaking of editor moves, Kate Lanphear might be leaving Elle. [Fashionista]
  

• Moda Operandi will soon offer in-season pieces in addition to its popular trunk shows. [Fashionista]
  

• Louis Vuitton now does stationery. [WWD]
  

• Elie Tahari, who spent his childhood in orphanages, was honored by the Worldwide Orphan's Foundation. [Vogue UK]

Peplum is a huge Hollywood trend right now, and you can wear it many ways: casually glam like Ashley Madekwe did in LA, or professionally chic like actress America Ferrera's style in NYC. She paired a purple Elie Tahari peplum top — here are the black and aqua versions ($248) — with a black pencil skirt and purple suede Ash pumps. A simple gold bracelet and stud earrings completed her feminine and sleek look. Either invest in America's exact top in black or aqua, or get this similar ASOS peplum top ($38) to match with your pencil skirts for work.

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

• Good news: Roberto Cavalli is designing a collaboration for Target. Bad news: it's only going to be sold at Target Australia. Strange news: Target Australia is not affiliated with Target Corporation US at all — even though they share a red bullseye logo. [The Daily Telegraph]
  

• "She is a real woman . . . strong and happy," Diane von Furstenberg said of Arizona Muse, the face of her Fall 2012 campaign. "She's determined, she is talented, she is a hard worker and she knows what she wants. And that is so DVF." [WWD]
  

• Karl Lagerfeld was once a little boy. [Racked]
  

• Elie Tahari has added handbags and small leather goods to his diffusion line T Tahari. The bags are priced between $198 and $328 and will be sold at department stores like Nordstrom and Dillard's. "Whoever is going to manage to bring luxury to the consumer is going to have a great business," Tahari said. [WWD]
  

• Karolina Kurkova says lemon juice and steam are key to keeping her skin crystal clear. [Modelinia]
  

• As a child, Nicole Richie was obsessed with (and dressed herself like) the TV character Punky Brewster. "She was my style icon," the designer says. "I would leave the house with a white sock and a black sock and then a green shoe and a red shoe, and I thought I was killing it. I thought it was the coolest thing ever." [Teen Vogue]
  

• Anthropologie has launched an in-house line of lipstick, called Albeit. The first collection of Fall colors is expected in stores and on the retailer's website by late August. [Fashion Etc.]

Photo: Models walk in Roberto Cavalli's Fall 2012 show.

As we prepare ourselves — and our wardrobes — for New York Fashion Week, designers are in final preparations to present their Spring 2012 collections, and that final stretch can be wildly chaotic. We interrupted the madness long enough to get the skinny on designers' guilty pleasures, what they love and hate most about Fashion Week, current favorite songs, and more. First up: Elie Tahari, the man known for creating simultaneously modern and elegant confections worn by Hollywood hotties such as Leighton Meester and Emmy Rossum.

Guilty pleasures during Fashion Week: I try to take the morning for myself, because once I get to work it never stops . . .
Top songs in constant rotation: Sexy love songs and Alicia Keys's “Empire State of Mind”
Favorite thing about Fashion Week in September: I love the excitement, you can feel it all over the city and except for the occasional hurricane — the weather is usually amazing. In September it’s like starting all over . . . “back to school.”
Most hated thing about Fashion Week: I don’t like NYC traffic!

Check out another sketch from his Spring '12 collection, plus Elie's FNO plans, and how he's celebrating the end of Fashion Week.

Victoria Justice dazzled in an embellished Theia mini at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in LA. She paired her fierce frock with metallic Rock and Republic chain pumps, sparkling hoops, and an Elie Tahari clutch. Sleek strands, berry lipstick, and gold foil nail polish finished off Victoria's party style. Shop our editors' picks to re-create this stunning ensemble.

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