News

Three days after the announcement, you’re still talking about Dennis Freedman. With his storied background as creative director of W, Barneys New York’s new creative director is primed to usher in an era of art and luxury at the retailer. What will happen to the humor, the kitsch, the verve? Expect more of a focus on “taste” and “luxury,” loves.

New Yorkers for Children has found a new presenting sponsor for its Eight Annual Spring Dinner Dance – New Year’s in April: A Fool’s Fête in Soigne K, the new Madison Avenue boutique that celebrates contemporary Indian designers who are not widely sold in the United States. The April event draws the organization’s younger patrons, and is frequently underwritten by a marquee fashion house such as Akris, Swarovski, and Emanuel Ungaro. The April 12 event at the Mandarin Oriental will be chaired by Allison Aston, Marisa Brown, Alina Cho, Nicole Esposito, Lydia Fenet, Rory Hermelee,and Susan Shin. Soigné Kothari, owner of Soigne K, Clare McKeon and Natalia Echavarria will serve as co-chairs. Advance tickets to the event, which start at TK, will go on sale next week at NYFC’s website.

Glenda must be glowing! Terry Richardson’s racy photo of Sting and Trudy Styler from the February Harper’s Bazaar made the cover of Murdoch’s New York Post. What’s the big deal? Dunno. Use your comments!

Philanthropist and super, Natalia Vodianova, is set to run the Paris Half Marathon on March 6, in support of her charity, the Naked Heart Foundation. Founded in 2005 by Vodianova, the Naked Heart Foundation aims to create safe outdoor play facilities for urban children in cities across Russia. To date the charity has created over forty play parks in over 30 cities, attracting sponsorship partnerships with brands like Louis Vuitton and De Beers.

Attention, City-philes: Elle’s formidable PR director, Erin Kaplan, is exiting the magazine, effective tomorrow. On Tuesday, January 18, she begins her new position as senior director of PR at Teen Vogue.

Rebecca Minkoff’s Travel Tips

WHAT: Stark Waxing Studio at Sally Hershberger’s Face Place. WHY: You know when you go for a cut and color at Sally Hershberger, and after three hours in too-close proximity to a mirror, you realize you need an eyebrow wax (among other things)? Well, you’re in luck, because Los Angeles’ legendary Stark Waxing Studio has set up shop directly upstairs inside Sally Hershberger’s Face Place. And! As your very pain-sensitive Daily can attest, the process is extremely quick and gentle. That, alone, is priceless, but we’re taking it one step further. Mention The Daily when booking your January appointment, and receive 20% off your service. Thank us later!

Baby due for Benihana heir [NY Post] Devon Aoki announces her debut pregnancy; will the tot start modeling at the ripe age of 13, too?…Lucky’s Brandon Holley: Dressing for a Revolution [NY Times] Shopping mag editrix divulges her personal style past and finally bids adieu to the boho look…Fashion Theft [Vogue UK]Valentino and Bulgari both get swindled by an HSBC employee…Versace via Facebook: Men’s runway streams live Monday [LA Times] Social media following gets runway chic, as only the brand’s Facebook fans can access the online show…Exclusive: Sketches of Lindsay Lohan’s new 6126 Footwear Line! [People StyleWatch] LiLo did leggings, now she’s topping that minor mishap with shoes – and has been “ ultra-prepared, all the time,” according to her business partner…

Last night, Threads of Color kicked off its yearlong calendar with a Salute to America soiree, held at the Bernstein Display Showroom in midtown. Founded by Ionia Dunn Lee, a former ESSENCE fashion editor, stylist and current LIM College professor, the non-profit Threads of Color awards college scholarships to aspiring fashionistas (like last night’s winner, fashion merchandising student Fallon Davis) and celebrates diversity in the industry. Student models ambled around the patriotically themed space in designs by the likes of Carmen Marc Valvo, Tracy Reese and Tommy Hilfiger, the latter of whom will be given a lifetime achievement award at Threads of Color’s big runway show this September. For more information, visit threadsofcolor.org, and check out our gallery for more photos from the event!

Last night at the 45th Annual YMA FSF Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards dinner, Chic wanted to know just how well fashion insiders knew the event’s namesake, Geoffrey Beene. So, we asked: What did Mr. Beene study before fashion?