Kate Moss Opens Topshop in Soho

After countless delays, the first Topshop on American soil opened this morning in Soho. Fashionistas who had waited months upon months for the higher-end UK version of H&M to come to New York camped outside of the new storefront on Broadway between Broome and Grand this morning in order to catch a glimpse of Kate Moss and get their hands on some of Topshop’s renowned clothes and shoes.

The fashion icon and supermodel, Kate Moss, appeared around 11 a.m. to open the Soho store with British billionaire businessman Sir Phillip Green, but she didn’t cut any ribbon as expected. Instead, she stood atop a white box sporting a floor-length green dress from her own line for Topshop that sells for $250.

Apparently Kate’s brief but glamorous appearance was a success. The crowds of shoppers, who had waited in line for several hours just to get in the store, made a beeline for Kate Moss’s section when the doors opened. In fact, her line has been so popular that there was a limit of five pieces from the Kate Moss line per customer.

Judging by the frenzy at the Soho Topshop today, I’d say resist the temptation and steer clear of it for at least a week or so. Otherwise, experienced shoppers only. And please proceed with caution— those fanatical fashionistas can get quite feisty.

Lauren Conrad's Clothing Line in Peril

Good news! Not only is the train wreck that is the pseudo-reality TV show The Hills currently finishing its final season, but its faux fashionista starlet’s clothing line is also going on an indefinite hiatus! Lauren Conrad, who MTV cameras followed to classes at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising where she gossiped more than anything else, launched her line, the Lauren Conrad Collection, in the fall of 2007.

Known for its dull and hackneyed designs, the Lauren Conrad Collection debuted to poor reviews from the fashion community as well as poor sales. Perhaps Conrad didn’t consider that her tween fan base, the only demographic with any desire to buy her terribly clichéd LA designs, wouldn’t be able to afford her outrageously overpriced garments (ahem, the two-tiered dress from L.C.'s collection that she is wearing in the above photo was originally priced at $250). The materials were cheap, miss L.C., and your name can’t be worth that much.

In light of the current financial crisis, sales have been especially low, prompting stores like Kitson and Bloomingdale’s to cancel their orders for spring and summer deliveries from the Lauren Conrad Collection. As a result, L.C. has stopped producing further seasons of her line.

However, embarrassed by the recent news of her collection’s failure, Conrad has defended herself on her MySpace blog:

“A lot of people were under the impression that my line was being discontinued or had been dropped. This isn't the case at all. The truth is I was the one who asked to take a couple seasons off. I have learned so much in the past year and I want to apply that to the improvement of my clothing line. I also wanted to make some changes in production so I would be able to lower the price point.”

Well, lowering the price is an obvious necessity at this point. Let’s just hope she can also improve the quality and aesthetics of her designs!

Madonna Launching Clothing Line for Ed Hardy

The ultimate "Material Girl" and overall superstar, Madonna has tried just about everything under the sun in her enduring career.  Throughout the decades she has spent in the spotlight, her style has not just evolved but has also been entirely reinvented countless times.  Just as much as she is known for being a provocateur, she is also known for being one of the world's premier fashionistas.

Most recently, the 50-year-old Louis Vuitton spokesmodel is launching yet another clothing line, this time with Ed Hardy.  Known for its tattoo prints, Ed Hardy's collaboration with Madonna was initiated when the brand's owner, Christian Audigier, spotted Madonna wearing Ed Hardy clothing.

Christian Audigier, who is also currently designing an outfit for Michael Jackson's comeback our, clearly knew how to approach a diva.  He held a private runway show for Madonna and offered her a six-figure deal (although she hardly needs it).

Predictably, Madonna has designed T-shirts with Ed Hardy's signature tattoo prints as well as diamante-encrusted bodices.  With a sharp contrast between the two, the T-shirts will probably be just casual enough for Madonna to wear to her crazy yoga workouts, while the jeweled bodices will only be suitable for pop stars like herself and burgeoning imitator Britney Spears (yes, the costumes for her Circus tour do look awfully familiar).

I've always found Ed Hardy clothing awfully tacky but I can't help but be curious about what Madonna will come up with.  At this point in her career, it's clear Madonna is always infallible no matter what she ventures into and she can afford to do whatever she pleases.

All I can say is good luck to Christian Audigier who has to balance two of the biggest pop divas of all time, Madonna AND Michael Jackson, at the same time!