Last fall, there was uproar when a 15-year-old Croatian model walked the runway during Fashion Week, prompting the Council of Fashion Designers of America to ask its members to essentially card models to confirm that they are at least 16 years old. CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg even said, "Top modeling agencies—including DNA, Elite, Ford, IMG, Marilyn, New York Models, Next, One, Supreme, Trump, Wilhelmina, Women and Women Direct - have again pledged that they will not send out models under the age of 16 for shows." But now it turns out that Ford never promised it, so that's why they have two models under 16 participating in Fashion Week. more ›

In November, Marc Jacobs was featured in a South Park episode as shirtless action figure "Muscle Man Marc," so it's only fair that Jacobs repay the tribute and feature a nude Eric Cartman on a t-shirt created to benefit The Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group at New York University. more ›

This Thursday, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week returns to New York, as you probably know from the champagne-drunks that have been stumbling around in anticipation. Biannually, flocks of people more fashionable than you descend upon Manhattan and set up camp at Lincoln Center, all subject to the scrutiny of eagle-eyed Ann Wintour and disarmingly stylish teenage bloggers. Not everyone is invited inside the tents, but designers and the press alike are guaranteed to satisfy the appetites of the style curious. While Marc Jacobs—fashion week's perennial hot ticket—will reserve his unveiling for those fortunate enough to have been invited to the New York State Armory on Monday night, many others will offer a number of ways to feel like you're in the front row as they debut their fall collections. more ›

After students were caught smuggling in contraband items like cellphones into class, a Pennsylvania middle school has banned Uggs—or other "outdoor, open top boots." The Pottstown Mercury reports, 'In a letter sent home with students Wednesday, Principal Gail Cooper announced the ban, saying “we have been experiencing problems with some students wearing open top boots and carrying items in their boots that are prohibited in school.'" more ›

We just can't keep up with fashion, what with the chocolate and jewel-encrusted brassieres that seem to be all the rage these days. Still, these earrings that a reader found at Bejeweled in Greenpoint strike us as a fashion "nein." more ›

The Huxtable Family was really known for their style, all around—remember Theo's "designer" shirt? But a new Tumblr is focusing on the matriarch of the family: Clair Huxtable. It's called Clair Huxtable: Mom Style Icon, and features an ongoing Q&A about Clair's style, and photos from the show featuring her looks with some commentary ("accordion pleating across the back spilling over to create a bunchy fold over the perfectly tight sash-belt!"). From tunics to Tina Turner costumes, click forth and enjoy—even if it is just a rip-off of Clair's Closet. Hopefully they'll get to the "tacky barrette" one day: more ›

Who cares if 46.2 million Americans are in poverty? Pulitzer Prize-winning NY Times op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd lives the dream and goes to the Manolo Blahnik sample sale with Vogue contributing editor Andre Leon Talley for her column today. For real. more ›

Hey there, fashion-forward New Yorker! Did the Olsen twins sell out of their $39K alligator skin backpack before you had a chance to snag one? Don't worry about it—why not try one of these budget $700 iPad bags instead? more ›

That is not a typo. Blank-eyed robots serious fashion designers the Olsen twins have released a $39,000 alligator-skin backpack as part their line The Row, and according to Ashley, “It was the first thing that sold off the shelf." more ›

As women in Park Slope, Sunset Park and Bay Ridge remain on edge with two, possible more, sexual assault suspects on the loose, community members are trying to reassure women by starting volunteer efforts to escort women from the subway. On the other hand, the police are telling some women to stop asking for it by wearing skirts and shorts. more ›

Yesterday, the Internet was a-flutter checking out the neon-pink chicken wing necklace Nicki Minaj wore to a music fest over the weekend. We wondered if it was even real, and today, we got our answer, when the designer behind the piece dropped us a line. more ›

The Observer noticed this video from Jay-Z's fashion website, Life + Times, which features models lip-syncing his and Alicia Keys' 2009 hit, "Empire State of Mind," and noted, "We’re not sure exactly what this video is promoting (Fashion Week? Life + Times? New York? Pretty woman?) but that’s what it makes it perfect: if it’s selling us something, we can’t tell what it is." more ›

Gulnara Karimova, the fashion designer who just so happens to be the daughter of the tyrannical president of Uzbekistan, was none too pleased last week when her Fashion Week show was canceled over some human rights issues. Now, Karimova—aka "GooGooSha"—is apparently looking to take her show on the road, all the way to Cipriani. more ›

Six months after being fired from from Christian Dior over anti-Semitic remarks he made to fellow Parisian cafe patrons, John Galliano was found guilty of "'public insults' based on origin, religion, race or ethnicity after two incidents in February 2011 and last year." more ›

Real Housewife Kelly Bensimon has teamed up with designer Jen Mascali to observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11... with a tote bag. In her touching letter that accompanies the $240 product, Bensimon explains that she's "totally crazy for handbags." more ›

David Chang has worn many labels over the years: unapologetic meat-eater, egalitarian reservation overseer, aspiring storyteller, and now...model? Apparently, yes. more ›

Fashion Week is almost upon us, and with it comes the annual parade of ridiculous things, like full-body ruffle dresses and, Kanye on the catwalk. But this year, things could get ridiculous in a racially charged way: apparently, taping back model's eyelids to make them look Asian is all the rage. Did we learn nothing from Miley Cyrus? more ›

In the latest winner-less battle, Lady Gaga has taken up her allotted space in this month's V Magazine to target NY Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn... and right before Fashion Week. Previously, Horyn ran a questionable critique, and photo, of Christina Hendricks, which made it very clear she was not really a "for the people" kind of fashion person. And that, at the root of it, seems to be one of Gaga's issues—the critic is too critical, too predictably harsh, etc! Gaga writes: more ›

Recently a Brooklyn woman started a petition against a girl's shirt being sold at JC Penney that displays the message: "I'm Too Pretty To Do Homework (So My Brother Has To Do It For Me)." The shirt is aimed at girls ages 7 to 16 years old, in the year 2011, nearly 100 years after the 19th Amendment was ratified, and women were deemed smart enough to vote and get jobs and... stuff... wait, sorry, we just got distracted by a shiny thing. more ›

A day after Abercrombie & Fitch thrust their sweatpants into the public eye by jokingly asking The Situation not to wear their clothes, the retailer's stock hit a new low, falling a whopping nine percent (natch, it's doing worse today). But at least MTV was into it! more ›

Abercrombie & Fitch, the store that once made a padded bra for seven-year-olds, apparently has some standards for who they think should be representing the brand. And The Situation is just not cutting it, even if Abercrombie & Sitch seems like the perfect fit. more ›