Megan Fox and Rafael Nadal are smokin' hot in new Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans ads. They'll start showing up on billboards and such next month. [WWD]

Diesel's new "Diesel Island" advertising campaign will also launch in February. It will feature a mythical island populated by Diesel models and fans, brought to life via online games, viral videos and a Facebook application where consumers can interact with the island and its imaginary population. There will also be a fake Wikipedia entry that will be updated weekly as the island grows. “Think ‘Lost’ but with nicer clothes," says Riccardo Bellini, Diesel’s global vice president of branding and marketing. [WWD]

We've written about all the green (as in emerald green) gowns on the Golden Globes red carpet Sunday, but Colin Firth's wife Livia Giuggioli, shown here at an after-party, wore a different kind of green -- the eco-chic kind. Her silvery gray dress was made from hand-dyed indigo "peace" silk, also known as "vegan" silk, designed by Jeff Garner. [Telegraph]

Star stylist Rachel Zoe starts a new column on StyleList with some of her greatest shoe picks for the start of this year. [StyleList]

"Project Runway's" very busy Tim Gunn is writing another book and has added Weight Watchers Fashion Consultant to his resume. He talks about why he loves the red carpet, hates jeggings and called Anna Wintour out in his last tome.  [StyleList] 

Alexander Wang has his first-ever print ad appearing in March's Interview magazine. But the designer prefers to call it an "image piece." [WWD]

--Susan Denley 

Photo: Livia Giuggioli and Colin Firth after Sunday's Golden Globes. Credit: David McNew / AFP/Getty Images

Having dinner with Michael Kors is like having dinner with Auntie Mame. You know nobody is going to be at a loss for words or laughs.

Over hamburgers and vodkas a few nights before his spring runway show last September, he was full of quotable quotes.

On his spring collection: “It’s all about the anti-stiletto and the anti-tight dress. I can’t stand to see one more warrior” woman.

His favorite getaway: “We’ve gone to Big Sur three times in the last year and a half. For as much of a city boy as I am, nothing beats nature and luxury combined. We get no reception!”

And his dream designer collaboration: “I want a deal with In-N-Out Burger — to do a special sauce or a wrapper. I’m horseradish-obsessed!”

It’s shaping up to be quite a year for Kors, who is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his business. While the recession has caused many designers to scale back, Kors is in expansion mode. By the end of 2011, he expects to have 200 of his own boutiques worldwide, including his first in Paris, on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, in addition to the 1,000 department and specialty stores that already sell his clothing and accessories. And his company is on track to hit $1 billion in sales.

Then there's "Project Runway"...

To read more of my Kors profile running in Sunday's Image section, click here.

--Booth Moore

Photo: Fashion designer Michael Kors began his career at age 19 and launched his own line of clothing in 1981. Kors is based in New York. Credit: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times.

Admit it — you think Tim Gunn is a wise old sage. Yeah, so do we.

Which is why his recently released self-help book, "Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work," doesn't feel like it's coming out of left field — even though the "Project Runway" host is weighing in on life issues, not style conundrums.

But Gunn has always been a guy with good sense and courage enough to call out bad manners when he sees them (he recently lambasted a "Gossip Girl" star for her bad behavior on the "Runway" set and has publicly iced the White House-crashing Salahis, whom he called "sociopaths").

In his travel-sized new tome, the dapper creative director of Liz Claiborne let his classy flag fly by way of anecdotes from his professional life, which is steeped in academia.

Rule No. 1, of course, is "Make it work!" -- or "make the best of a bad situation." Rule 2? "The world owes you ... nothing," also the name of a chapter in which Gunn talks about the disturbing trend of college kids who can't function without their parents doting on them every minute. "Maybe it's because I became a public person late in life," wrote Gunn, "but I have never lost the belief that all my success could vanish just like that."

Other rules, including "Take the high road," "Never underestimate karma" and "Take risks! Playing it safe is never really safe," ultimately tell Gunn's personal story, including how he became involved with "Project Runway."

The show's producers were looking for a consultant, and they called him at Parsons the New School for  Design. "I will tell you that I had my snob hat on," Gunn wrote. "Fashion reality? ... That sounds disgusting."

But he met with the producers and discovered "there was integrity there." But Gunn's employer nearly fired him for getting involved in a TV show the first season. "Afterwards," said Gunn, "they were congratulating themselves for getting in on the ground floor."

What was that thing about karma again?

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: The book jacket for "Gunn's Golden Rules." Credit: Gallery Books

Kim Kardashian says that when she's at fashion shows -- as she often is --she's there as a buyer for her boutique as well as for herself. For those who can't get enough of the Kardashians, Kim and sister Kourtney have a new E! network show, "Kourtney and Kim Take New York," lined up to start in January. [WWD]

Heidi Klum and husband Seal are noted for their annual Halloween party and inventive costumes, and they didn't disappoint this weekend. Klum towered over her guests dressed as an 8-foot-tall fuchsia-haired, purple superhero. The height was thanks to 2-foot boot extensions. Seal wore a metallic muscle suit, portraying the Silver Surfer. [StyleList]

Maybe the party helped Klum forget the controversy still swirling around last week's season finale of "Project Runway," when a divided panel of judges picked Gretchen Jones as the winner over Andy South and fan-favorite Mondo Guerra. In an interview, Jones took the outcome in stride, but commenters throughout the blogosphere are not happy. [Zap2It]

Lanvin threw a blowout of a Halloween party over the weekend at its new Madison Avenue boutique. There were celebs (Janet Jackson, Anne Hathaway, Padma Lakshmi), 2,500 balloons and seasonal snacks (sour green candied apples, Limoncello popsickles). Artistic director Alber Elbaz was a pussycat in a crystal-encrusted mask, and scattered around the store were the "Lanvin Dolls," a group of drag queens dressed in Elbaz's designs. Scary. [WWD]

Also at the Lanvin soiree, Rachel Zoe was dressed as -- Rachel Zoe. No time for a costume. She said the swirling rumors that she's pregnant aren't true. Meanwhile, her former assistant, Brad Goreski, was hilarious, dressed as 14-year-old fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson. [The Cut]  

California girl Hailey Clausen was walking the runway in Los Angeles for martinMARTIN in spring 2009, and just 18 months later she was walking for Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Versace and Christian Dior in Paris. And she just shot a spread for Vogue Italia. Not bad for a 15-year-old. [Mondette]

If you're a fashion designer, you'd better look stylish ... and many of them do. FabSugar cites some of the most chic, including Rebecca Minkoff, Vanessa Bruno, Cynthia Rowley and Georgina Chapman.

What to do if your hairstylist ups the price? It happens, especially in salons with a tiered payment system, in which the more skilled/experienced/sought-after stylists command a higher price. If it happens to you, there are ways to cope -- taking advantage of free bang trims, for instance, or changing to a low-maintenance style, Or even just basking in the knowledge that your stylist was good enough to get promoted. [BellaSugar]

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Kim Kardashian attends Badgley Mischka's showing of its collection for spring 2010. Credit: Peter Kramer / Associated Press

"Project Runway" closed out its season Thursday night with judges making what host Heidi Klum called the "toughest decision in 'Project Runway' history." After much debate over the merits of the three remaining finalists -- Gretchen Jones, Mondo Guerra and Andy South -- judges named Jones as the top designer, saying the 28-year-old Oregonian's collection was the most "sellable" and the most on-trend. I'm pretty sure we'll be hearing more from all of them, though. [CBS] 

"What Not to Wear" returns Friday night for its eighth season on TLC. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a look. The basic philosophy, according to Los Angeles Times' television critic Robert Lloyd, is that there are no ugly women, only ugly clothes, and by changing your clothes you can change yourself. The episode begins at 9 p.m. PDT. [Los Angeles Times]

I love it when Halloween falls on a weekend. More time to get into the spirit; more opportunities to wear costumes. Some women I know plan to start Friday and change costumes daily (or maybe even twice a day) through Sunday. We know that one of this year's popular looks will be Snooki of "Jersey Shore." But what, you may be wondering, will Snooki wear? Reports are that it's -- drum roll -- a pickle costume. A short, tight, sexy pickle costume, of course, complete with a light-up, pickle-shaped scepter. [WWD]

Meanwhile, Ellen DeGeneres plans to start the weekend by going on-air Friday dressed as Snooki's trademark pouf -- that's right, she's going to be a big fluff of hair. [People]

If you're still looking for costume ideas, Heidi Klum has tons of them for couples and for kids. Some pretty creative stuff. She and husband Seal once decked themselves out as a snake-wrapped apple (Heidi) and blond-wigged Eve (Seal). [StyleList]   

For more Halloween inspiration, check out BellaSugar's 15 face-painting ideas.

Celeb designer of the day: Mariah Carey plans to launch her first "lifestyle" line on HSN Nov. 29. It will feature jewelry, footwear and fragrance. [WWD]

"Mad Men" costume designer Janie Bryant was guest of honor at a Maybelline-sponsored party in New York celebrating her new book, "The Fashion File: Advice, Tips and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of 'Mad Men.'" [StyleList]   

Big beauty retailer Sephora plans to open two stores in Mexico City, as well as one in Brazil. [WWD] (Subscription required.)  

-- Susan Denley

Photo: 'Project Runway' hosts Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum with this season's contestants. Credit: Lifetime

 
'Project Runway's' Season 8 comes to a close Thursday night. We don't know who is going to win, but we do know that on Friday morning, starting at 9 a.m. PDT, customers can sign on to SeenOn.com to buy one-of-a-kind, hand-stitched, Heidi-approved finale fashions. The 72-hour private sale is for members only and you can sign up for free at www.SeenOn.com/projectrunway 

SeenOn reps say in a news release that theirs is an exclusive offering, made in partnership with the Lifetime channel.

The show's finale airs at 9 p.m.

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Hosts Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum with 'Project Runway' designers. Credit: Lifetime

Some of the biggest names in fashion will be showing their latest on the runways in Paris on Wednesday, when Fashion Week picks up speed. Booth Moore will be blogging about the good, the bad and the ugly for the rest of the week.

Claudia Schiffer is planning to launch her own cashmere line based in Germany. The model will work under the title "creative director," and the line will be for fall. The name of said venture? Claudia Schiffer, of course. [WWD]

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's fashion label, The Row, has announced a partnership with Microsoft's Bing search engine. Bing will host a "behind the scenes" video of the line's Fashion Week in Paris, which includes, yes, an interview with the twins. [San Francisco Chronicle]

Think it's easy being Heidi Klum? No, it's not! It takes a village to prepare and primp her for all her "Project Runway" appearances, and People magazine has an article and video devoted to that very fact. Read it and discover, among other things, that Heidi likes to tickle Tim Gunn. For real.

And finally, Sephora is launching an interactive space (which can be accessed at sephora.com or on its Facebook page) where viewers can get advice from friends and professionals on makeup, watch videos and (of course) buy products. And, to finish the experience, users can "upload a haul video." [Stylelist]

 -- Alice Short

Photo: Models at the Dries Van Noten runway show. Credit: Francois Guillot / AFP/Getty Images

It's not often that the opening weekend of college football starts conversations about uniform fashions. But that happened in some quarters (ahem, my house) when the Virginia Tech Hokies took to the field Monday against the Boise Broncos. Both teams were wearing new 2010 Nike Pro Combat uniforms, but the Hokies' were strikingly dark, with matte-black helmets, and the overall look was avatar-bursting-from-video-monitor, ready to do battle. They won the game on looks (though came up a little short on points). [TechSideline.com] 

After a fall that will be characterized by neutrals and military colors, fashionistas can look forward to a splash of color come spring 2011. The Pantone Color Institute, which helps fashion designers and product manufacturers coordinate their palettes, is forecasting honeysuckle pink, regatta blue and beeswax yellow. [WWD]

Estée Lauder is trying to lure younger customers by revamping its makeup counters to make it easier to shop on your own, without the sometimes nagging attentions of a salesperson. For instance, price tags will no longer be hidden. [Wall Street Journal]

To celebrate his 40 years in fashion, designer Roberto Cavalli is preparing a 200-page coffee-table book and releasing a series of four videos. [FabSugar]

Marc Jacobs has opened an arty bookstore in NYC called -- get ready for it -- Bookmarc. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

Celebrity collaboration of the day: "Project Runway's" Heidi Klum plans a line with New Balance. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

"America's Next Top Model" is partnering with Italian Vogue for its new season. [Los Angeles Times]

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Heidi Klum  Credit: Barbara Nitke / Bravo

If you're casting around at the last minute for some fashion-focused fun on a Friday night, the folks at emerging talent incubator Project Ethos have alerted us to an evening of fashion, music and art they're presenting tonight at the Music Box at Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood.

Dubbed "Love Sick," and hosted by "Project Runway" alumnus Nick Verreos, it's set to kick off with red carpet arrivals at 8 p.m., a fashion show at 10 p.m., with DJ and music sets in between and a rooftop art exhibition for the duration. 

Emerging designers and labels slated to show their Fall 2010 collections include Janean Johnson (JaJo Couture), Ermelinda Manos, Roshena Chadha (Roshena Chadha Designs and hardKAUR), Nicholas Tarr Designs, Shant Der Ashodian (ARKA Clothing), Thyme Francis (Alma Lee Clothing), Anna Lynett, Katie Struve (Katorey Swim) and B. Vika (designed by Valerie Y. Mamane  and Ambika Sanjana).

"Love Sick," 6216 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles; 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets and additional information are available at the Project Ethos website.

-- Adam Tschorn

Mere hours before Seth Aaron Henderson was revealed as this season's "Project Runway" winner, the show's co-host, Tim Gunn, was greeting hoards of fans at the Kate Spade store in Pasadena.

Gunn, who pulls double duty as TV host and the chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne (the parent company of Kate Spade) was in town to drum up business for the brand by hosting a fashion presentation and audience Q&A session.

His Southern California stopover was part of a national tour of Kate Spade stores the fashion exec's been on, which has included major cities such as Dallas and Chicago.

Fans crammed into the small boutique on Colorado Boulevard for a chance to ask Gunn styling advice and introduce models dressed in sunny Kate Spade ensembles. And if you were behind the third row of smiling women, you were hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of the man who made "Make it work" a national catchphrase.

African Vibes magazine is celebrating African-born fashion designers at an event this Saturday, featuring past "Project Runway" finalist Korto Momolu, whose no-bull wit and woman-friendly designs made her one of my all-time favorites on the show. 

The event, which marks the fourth anniversary of the magazine, will include a "glam lounge" showcasing African and African American fashion, and a live fashion show, "I Wear African,” featuring looks from several African designers, including Cameroon's Maryanne E. Mokoko and Stephanie T. Mouapi of the Côté Minou label, Ethiopia's Mekdes Tefera Taye and Liberian-born Momolu of the Korto Momolu Collection.

Actress-filmmaker Tangi Miller (of "Felicity" fame) will host the event, scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the music venue Avalon Hollywood, 1735 Vine St. Tickets are $30 for general admission.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will go toward supporting the magazine’s “1,000 Africans for Haiti” initiative, which helps earthquake victims in Haiti.

Follow All the Rage on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: Designer Korto Momolu. Credit: Korto Momolu

On Thursday, Tim Gunn is greeting shoppers and doling out pointers to make your outfits pop with colorful Kate Spade accessories. Spend $100 at the event, and you can strike a pose with the "Project Runway" mentor for a pic to take home. New Kate Space spring bags include the Darien drawstring, $395, and the Flicker shopper, $225. Other accessory options encompass necklaces and the new Blow Baubles ring, $95. Complimentary bubbly poured for guests.

39 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-9460. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

-- Max Padilla

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Photo: Flicker shopper in watermelon, $225. Credit: Kate Spade New York