We talked mob money with writer Gay Talese at the screening of Gomorrah.

After months of speculation, we got to the bottom of Marquee's temporary summer shutdown.

We tallied gifts, drank absinthe, and chatted with godfather Michael Musto at nightlife heir Liam McMullan's 21st birthday party.

Russell Crowe got a little testy at the Body of Lies premiere--par for the course, we suppose.

We partied with Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Fern Mallis, Martha Stewart and Rory and Elie Tahari as the CFDA welcomed its newest members.

On Tuesday evening, the bi-level roof of Elie and Rory Tahari's enviable Prince Street apartment was turned into a rooftop lounge with couches, bottle service, and a DJ station for a Council of Fashion Designers of America party welcoming 28 new members.

"I think it's been 10 months since we've begun planning this!" said Mr. Tahari. “It's always great to welcome new members into the community. I tell them how lucky they are because they are young and have a lot of opportunities available to them in the industry." The new members were pinned with floral boutonnieres instead of name tags so that everyone would know who they were.

The party was scheduled from 7 to 9pm; everyone could, therefore, get home in time to at least catch a part of the presidential debate. (CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg must have been looking forward to the debate, since she arrived and left in what seemed like a matter of minutes.)  read more »

The fashion world has recently become fascinated with superheroes of the Batman, Spiderman, and Superman variety. This year the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art chose a superhero theme for its annual gala; Anna Wintour wore a silver Chanel extraterrestrial gown. Even socialite Denise Wohl, mother of Arden, started a comic book company, Intrinsic Comics, last year with former Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief James Shooter. 

Now designer Diane von Furstenberg is getting ready to launch her holiday collection inspired by Wonder Woman, perhaps hoping that superheroes will bring the same kind of sales to a clothing line as they did to feature films. She's even authored a comic book, “Be the Wonder Woman You Can Be, Featuring the Adventures of Diva, Viva & Fifa," illustrated by artist Konstantin Kakanias. The comic will feature inspirational stories about three women as they discover their "inner Wonder Woman," all while wearing DVF designs.   read more »

Yesterday, we issued some tardies to the designers who continue to struggle to begin their shows on time. (Even Diane von Furstenberg, the issuer of the original pleading letter asking designers to be punctual, got one!)

Since then we've learned that Carolina Herrera nearly lost her mind when Renee Zellweger showed up over 25 minutes late to her Monday morning show. And Monday's 1 p.m. Thakoon show was reportedly held up for 57 minutes due to Kanye West’s late arrival.   read more »

Over the summer, Council of Fashion Designers of America president Diane von Furstenberg sent letters to Fashion Week designers beseeching them to start their shows on time this fall, rather than offer the traditional wait of 40 to 45 minutes.

Ms. von Furstenberg’s edict—coupled with Marc Jacobs’ shocking, almost arrogantly prompt 20-minutes-late start last season, following criticism levied at his more-than-two-hours-tardy start a year ago—raised the possibility of a seismic shift in Fashion Week start times.

Alas, it hasn’t occurred. The Yigal Azrouel show in Chelsea on Friday, Sept. 5, was scheduled for noon, but the lights went down at 12:34. At Rag & Bone later that day, opening model Sasha Pivovarova stalked angrily down the catwalk at 4:36 p.  read more »

On June 17, Anna Wintour co-hosted a fund-raiser for Barack Obama with Andre Leon Talley, Calvin Klein and Michelle Obama followed by an $10,000-per-head dinner at Mr. Klein's home.

Now, with New York Fashion Week approaching, Ms. Wintour has roped in Sarah Jessica Parker to help with a second fund-raiser on Sept. 9 at Charles Nolan's West 27th Street studio, according to British Vogue.

In the spirit of Fashion Week, the fund-raiser will include a mini-fashion show, with designs donated by Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Proenza Schouler, and Narciso Rodriguez making their way down the runway.  read more »

Gotham magazine editor and socialite Cristina Greeven Cuomo is reportedly next in line to make an appearance on Gossip Girl. [P6]  

Jonathan Leitersdorf--real-estate investor and former owner of Noho's Sky Studios, an 11,000 square foot event space where the Seinfelds got married and several episodes of Sex and the City were shot--owns a 178-foot yacht that was just attacked by pirates off the coast of Corsica. The men were carrying "rifles and guns" and made off with $200,000 in cash, jewelry, and art work.  read more »

The Hills' Whitney Port will reportedly leave Kelly Cutrone's fashion PR and production company People's Revolution during the current season of The Hills; she may depart for Diane von Furstenberg as the label's in-house PR rep. And the cameras might follow. [The Cut, Fashionista]

Anna Sui has designed a T-shirt that says "Save the Garment District" with e-mails and names of New York officials on the back to raise awareness about the struggle of companies to stay in business in the neighborhood. [Vogue UK]

Patrick Robinson has brought khaki back to The Gap. [NY Times]

Gemma Ward is not retiring to pursue a full-time acting career as was  read more »

Justin Timberlake will perform twice during Fashion Week—once for the Fashion Rocks show, and once more at the Roseland Ballroom during a showing of his own collection. [WWD]

Zara has officially beat out The Gap as the world's largest fashion retailer. [Guardian]

A preview of Comme des Garcons's line for H&M, which will hit stores in November, is now available. [The Cut]

Meet the Ronsons dressed up as the Royal Tenenbaums. [Harper's Bazaar]

Diane von Furstenberg is the new celebrity columnist for travel magazine Departures. [Vogue UK]

Tiffany and Co. has filed an appeal in federal court of the court's ruling last month that eBay is not to be held accountable for trademark infrigement on the Tiffany brand.  read more »

New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez will reportedly donate at least $500,000 to Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi. [TMZ]
 read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/style/morning-memo-rod-donates-madonnas-charity-princess-gets-mad-blogger#comments Style Agyness Deyn Albert Hammond Jr. Alex Rodriguez Christie Brinkley Diane von Furstenberg Madonna Mena Suvari Peter Cook Princess Michael Kent Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:46:36 -0400 Caroline Bankoff 73110 at http://www.observer.com