News

Jo Piazza, formerly senior digital editor at Current TV, has been named executive news director at In Touch and Life & Style…Steve Swartz, formerly chief operating officer at Hearst Corporation, has been named chief executive officer at the company…Robby Melvin, formerly owner of Salt Fine Catering, has been named test kitchen director at Southern Living…

Meet Robert Denning! He’s the co-founder of the buzzy, California-based sunglass brand Westward Leaning that’s brought tinted cover to bloggers like Susie Bubble and celebs like Natalie Portman, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Charlize Theron. How did Denning become so shady? We investigate! BY EDDIE ROCHE

WHAT: The Inaugural Collection of Les Marquis de Ladurée…WHY: The chicken or the egg, ever the perennial philosophical quandary? Ladurée has the answer, apparently. These irresistible chocolate eggs are for chocolate connoisseurs of all ages. Ladurée is an all-time fashion crowd pleaser, which makes these treats the perfect melt-in-your mouth Easter gift for the chic set. We only wish that elusive bunny had left us such delicacies when we were tots, but better late than never…AVAILABLE: $57.70, LesMarquisDeLaduree.com…

David LaChapelle has another lawsuit on his hands, according the New York Daily News. In December, LaChapelle sued former lover and agent, Fred Torres for $2.8 million claiming that he was owed the amount for unpaid proceeds from the sales of his works. Now Torres is biting back and suing LaChapelle for a whopping $75 million.

Despite a bout of negative press this week, Vera Wang has come up smelling like roses, or pink peonies, as it were. Today, Wang announced the launch of her 16th fragrance called Be Jeweled, sold exclusively at Kohl’s. The fruity floral parfum, created with the help of Givaudan’s Yann Vasnier, is concocted with sweet top notes of pomegranate, champagne, and red current, middle notes of pink honeysuckle, passion fruit extract, and pink peony, and a base of pink sugar crystals, cosmone musks, silvanone, and Australian sandalwood. Wilhelm Liden and Coty’s creative director, Jon Dinapoli, collaborated with Wang on the blingy bottle, featuring a gem-shaped body and a cap bedecked with candy-colored bijou. Beginning in April, the fragrance will be available in three sizes, ranging from 1 oz. to 2.5 oz, and retail at Kohl’s department stores and Kohl’s.com for $45 to $68. Smells like a winner!

(NEW YORK) Mary Katrantzou For Current/Elliott Revealed [Vogue UK]
The highly anticipated collaboration launches today on my-wardrobe.com

Is There a Fashion-Tech Bubble? [BoF]
BoF talks to leading investors to assess the tech bubble

Kenzo Designers Reveal How Their Sell-Out Sweatshirts Nearly Didn’t Happen [Telegraph UK]
Humberto Leon and Carol Lim reveal how they had to do battle to become a cult fashion trend

Surf’s Up For Tommy Hilfiger [Vogue Fr]
Tommy Hilfiger’s limited edition surfboards will hit stores in May

Help Us Find the Country’s Best Young Designers [Racked]
Racked searches for the next wave of up-and-coming designers

Big changes at the very top of the Hearst Tower food chain: Steve Swartz, the publishing company’s chief operating officer since 2011, has been named chief executive officer, succeeding longtime honcho Frank A. Bennack Jr. In the company’s 126-year history, Swartz is only the seventh CEO.

WHAT: Forget Me Not Flower Print Triangle Scarf…WHY: Who said scarves were only meant for winter? Forget about it! That’s simply foolish, darlings. This silk twill scarf is light enough to throw over your spring wardrobe, while the plush cerulean fringe from corner to corner adds ample whimsy and flair. And that blown-up pattern of blooms? Pretty yet subtle and subdued enough to feel unfussy. Talk about flower power…AVAILABLE: $475, Barneys.com…

Today, Gilt.com is launching a new platform for selling designer dresses called The Ultimate Dress Shop, which will permanently reside on the site. Each week, the dress shop will be tailored to a different theme and will launch with “work to cocktail” dresses. A portion of the proceeds from this week’s theme will be donated to Dress For Success, a program that helps provide appropriate work attire for low income women interviewing for or beginning new careers. Other upcoming themes include: light bright dresses, the maxi, perfect peplums, and color block.

Bibhu Mohapatra and the well-heeled team behind Rent the Runway, including co-founders Jenn Hyman and Jenny Fleiss and fashion director Lucy Sykes Rellie, rounded up a covey of eager eds and gathered at Junoon last night on West 24th Street. Pourquoi? To nosh on Indian delicacies, of course, and fete the New York-based designer’s Indo-Deco capsule collection for the fast-growing website, dedicated to loaning designer dresses and accessories to the masses. The six-piece capsule collection on display featured vibrant gowns and cocktail frocks fusing the traditional Indian colors and textiles of Mohapatra’s childhood with architectural silhouettes and details of the ’20s. “Indo-deco captures the subsequent energy of the modern Indian woman,” said the designer on his inspiration behind the poppy-colored lineup. Starting today, the full range will be available to rent for $200 to $400 at RenttheRunway.com for a span of four to eight days, along with 12 additional Bibhu Mohapatra designs that are part of his core collection.