Page 2 / News, Trends, Gossip and Stuff To Do : News and Notes : Lewinsky Sells Her Own Line of Handbags on Net
It seems Monica Lewinsky is finally moving on with her life. Although she is still looking for that perfect job, in the meantime she will sell her own line of handbags over the Internet.
“What really excites me is that this has nothing to do with the president,” she said in October’s Marie Claire magazine.
The former White House intern is selling eight designs, ranging from $70 to $130.
Lewinsky said she took up knitting and sewing “as the only way to stay sane” when she was holed up in her Washington apartment, forbidden by prosecutors to talk to anyone by phone or e-mail. After she made her first handbag, all her friends wanted one.
Lewinsky recently moved to New York City, where she is renting an apartment in Greenwich Village.
Separately, Jenny Craig Inc. announced Lewinsky has joined its program to lose weight.
Bittersweet Reminder: Representatives for fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez were in town recently to give editors and celebs an up-close and personal view of the fall collection. Rodriguez has said the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was his muse, and it was a sad reminder of her tragic death to see her style resonating in his beaded sheath dresses.
As for the timing of the L.A. visit (right before the Emmys), publicist Tory Burch said, “We are just really starting to become interested in celebrity placement.” Rodriguez will open a store in Beverly Hills next year.
Fashion Mogul’s Auction Site: No one ever accused Georges Marciano, founder and former chief executive of Guess, of being a patsy. But four months ago, he paid $500 for a Lichtenstein print on an Internet auction site only to discover he had actually purchased a page torn out of an art book!
Now, Marciano is launching his own auction Web site, https://www.gmbid.com. The site’s inventory includes many of Marciano’s own authentic collectibles--art, jewelry, cars and a huge collection of movie posters. If you want to take a closer look at the goods, they are on display at a showroom in Beverly Hills.
Instant Gratification: Talk about a surf and shop combo, the Maga-log MXG, formerly Moxie Girl, is launching a Web site this fall (https://www.mxgtv.com) with two six-minute TV-like shows, “X-Girls” and “Fashion Junkies.” The concept is that if you like what a character is wearing, you can click on the item and purchase. Voila! Instant gratification.
Kiddie Designers: Sears is looking for a few kids with a passion for fashion. The department store has launched a cool new Web site (https://www.freezone.com/sears) that lets users accessorize a bedroom and dress a character in back-to-school clothes. A contest asks kids to offer predictions on the two coolest fashion trends for spring 2000. The winner will receive $1000 and a trip to New York City to be a Sears style advisor for a day. How’s that for market research?
Famous Sports Bra: Now you, too, can have the bra seen round the world. The sports bra Brandi Chastain wore when she took her shirt off after scoring the winning goal at the Women’s World Cup in July has arrived at NikeTown in Beverly Hills. It’s part of a new line of sports bras, Nike Inner Actives. Chastain, along with teammates Tisha Venturini and Tiffeny Milbrett, were three of 20 women athletes who served on the advisory board for the new line.
AIDS Benefit: Clothing boutique B Curious will host a fall/holiday fashion show and art auction to raise money to benefit AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles on Sept. 11 at the Arena in Hollywood.
Celebrity Clothes Auction: Charity organization the Entertainment Industry Foundation is holding an online auction with proceeds going to children’s charities and the American Red Cross. Clothing up for bidding includes a signed denim jacket from country music star Reba McEntire and a pair of Gucci high heels signed by Cindy Crawford. Log on to https://www.ebay.com/bidshelpkids. Ends Sept. 26.
E-mail Booth Moore at booth.moore@latimes.com.
