Trendy Buzz - TV Show Spotlight - 9 By Design

BRAVO has given us a boatload of shows to satisfy our Reality TV cravings, but 9 By Design has to be their most innovative serving yet. Bob and Courtney Novogratz plus their blossoming brood of 7 have to be the coolest family on the planet! It is actually quite entertaining watching this husband and wife duo flawlessly balance a chaotic home life and equally challenging business ventures. They are flippers, and that entails building incredible homes which they dwell in for a period of time and then put them on the market long enough to make a profit. For all you interior decorators at heart this will be a spectacle to behold. This designing team somehow makes living in New York with full amenities that some of us can only dream of seem within reach. But of course being worth millions can't hurt your chances. Their lifestyle is a combination of boho-chic and city-gypsy. Its the kind of stuff the 9 to 5 crowd daydream about while robotically tapping at their keyboards at work. Follow the Novogratz family on their new adventures every Tuesday at 1opm on BRAVO.

Things That Make You Go Whoa!

Wow! Toni Braxton needs to be pulled over and read her rights because she is obviously clueless when it comes to the laws of fashion. She is understandbly eager to be in the spotlight given the fact that her album is dropping next month. But she has to do a better job when it comes to striking a pose. This spandex lacy catsuit number is a major disaster. Keeping up with the times has to look better than this! On the other hand her haircut is FAB.

Earth Goddess

Looking good should always feel good, but it feels even better when we do it in a way that that gives back to mother nature. Eco-friendly fashion is being highlighted to celebrate Earth day and to also encourage those of you out there who are still convinced that being decked out in head to toe earthiness is a rigid choice that its your duty to be fashionably conscious. The Caraway Skirt/Dress ($172) from the Ecoskin line should be more than enough reason to make you a disciple of eco-conscious clothing. Its a gorgeous convertible knit that is as sustainable as it is sexy. Its available in an assortment of colors. Visit ecoskincollections.com for more inspiration. Looking for a nice all-purpose clutch to be your new running body this spring/summer season? Autonomie Project, a new Fair Trade fashion company will hook you up with their stylishly glam 100% organic cotton fully functional arm candy - the Organic Cotton Clutch ($40). This piece is completely hand made in Piura, Peru and the yarns are delectably soft due to the all natural process they go through which is devoid of all chemicals and dyes. The price alone makes this worth it. The Greenloop.com has more eye-catching accessories to wet your earthy palate. Be sure to check out the sunglasses from Kayu, particularly the 'RAWA' Bamboo Sunglasses ($180). This stunning eyewear is perfect for the diva in you! The oversized lenses are framed using bamboo. It is durable and stunningly elegant. It is also named after Rawa island, a tropical island in the South China Sea. Walking around the ciy can be drag if you are footies are crying out for air! But rocking the Braided Sky High from Swedish Hasbeens ($242) with its cutesy "school-girl" braided detail and wooden high heel will make you feel like you are walking on air. The natural grain leather is an important all natural feature and it is bound to be a tight fit at first but is guaranteed to loosen up as it starts molding to your feet. Swedish Hasbeens has a great informative and interactive website that features all their footwear in a range of styles and cotton candy colors. These are just a few options to help all you newbies make the transition to eco-fashion stylishly! Enjoy!

Trendy Buzz - Industry News

Bad news for all you James Bond fanatics! It looks like the long running franchise is finally running out of steam. MGM studio is literally bleeding money putting it in the desperate position of seeking a new owner. That unfortunately has put BOND 23 on hold indefinitely. Producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli both issued a joint statement, "Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on BOND 23 indefinitely". This sounds pretty serious! A SUPER HERO rescue is needed here! The Bond movies have made history by being the longest running film franchise ever so for it to end so abruptly will be beyond disappointing. It will also be devastating to be robbed of watching BOND hottie Daniel Craig strut his stuff while being at HIS MAJESTY'S beck and call. Hope something gives here!

Trendy Spring Fashion Report - Military Theme

Spring is a good time to make the most of "Jacket season" before it dissolves under the rays of the summer sun. Joining the Army guarantees you a life long supply of military wear but you don't have to go that far to enjoy those benefits. Military jackets are all the rage this season and so this is the perfect time to pledge your allegiance and apply this edgy theme to your wardrobe.
Topshop offer up a neutral colored army jacket that features a hood and cool studs displayed in front ($100). For something less expensive but just as chic, check out the Military Shine Jacket from Arden B ($39.99) This sleek number features the standard mock collar and tabover buttons. It would be perfect to wear over your basic tee paired with leggings or stretch denim jeans. Forever 21 has an even cheaper version ($24.80) and it boasts a nice army green shade with 5-rows of double breasted buttons for that extra oomph. Check out these and other army-inspired collections online at ArdenB.com, Forever21.com and Topshop.com

Trendy TV Buzz

For those of you out there craving a decent helping of quality television, HBO's new addition to the lineup, Treme will most likely be your new addiction. Set in the real life neighborhood of Treme in New Orleans, it captures everyday lives of the residents three months after Hurricane Katrina. The show is refreshingly honest and soulful and the magic of this fascinating city is effortlessly captured with the brilliant display of the two things New Orleans is known for - Music and Food. The acting is superb and so is the cast, which includes Wendall Pierce, himself a native of the city, Oscar nominee Melissa Leo, the always amazing Khandi Alexander and HBO alumn Kim Dickens. Its awesome to have a show set in one of the most culturally inclined cities in America. Its also a haunting reminder of how many lives were destroyed and disrupted and the dedicated resilience thats helping to put this unyielding city back together. Catch new episodes of Treme every Sunday night at 9pm on HBO.

Stacy Morrison leaves Redbook

The gig is up for Redbook's editor in chief Stacy Morrison. She is leaving the struggling pub with a departure date set for April 16, citing personal reasons. It is no secret that Redbook has had a rough time maintaining a sense of relevancy on the newstands with sales plummeting 30% last year. Cathie Black, Hearst magazines president confirmed Morrison's announcement and also the fact that the search for a new editor is currently underway.

Say "Cheese!"

Having your picture taken by an edgy charismatic photographer is every young model’s dream. But when that dream turns into reality it could turn into an unexpected twist of events. Terry Richardson, the famed American fashion photographer, is the main ingredient in a pot of controversy that involves sex, scandal and plenty of nudity. Richardson has built quite a name for himself over the years as the foremost photographer of his time. Lauded for his avant-garde techniques, he has shot adverts for top designers and made an impact in the editorial world with photo books like Terryworld and Kibosh both released in 2004. His photographs have always pushed the envelope with their graphic sexual implications and he has noted that they are also somewhat autobiographical.

So far it seemed that his powerful influence in the industry was his access card to anywhere and anything making him immune to the mundane and society’s version of the norm. But it looks like his luck has run out. Sordid stories of Richardson’s infamous photo sessions have been swirling since March with models describing in detail the exploitative process that comes with being one of Terry Richardson’s subjects. Rie Rasmussen, the Danish model-turned filmmaker started the onslaught of accusations against the photographer, when she publicly accused him of almost sexually abusing the young models he uses for his shoots. Apparently a revealing photo of Rasmussen was published in Richardson’s TerryWorld without her permission, which prompted the one time model to lash out. But then more models have started speaking out including Jamie Peck, who was 19 when she posed nude for Richardson. She talks about how Richardson also got naked during the session and encouraged her to “touch him sexually”. She explained further in her article for Jezebel that he basically used his power and charisma to coerce young girls into compromising positions because he knew they would oblige and he would get away with it.

At this point its hard to say how far this will all go or if Terry Richardson will be called to task for being an alleged sexual predator with a lens. But Richardson himself admitted his own fascination with the subject of sex and his realization that he was in a position where he was powerful enough to make young girls do whatever he asked. All he has to do is ask nicely. His only defensive so far is to claim that he wouldn’t ask any of his subjects to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. Judging from the person this is coming it is doubtful that it will bring any sense of relief to his future models or clients.