How many of us would earn more after we’ve departed?  Well, Forbes magazine’s annual list of top grossing dead celebrities has named famed fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, at the top.  He made an estimated $350 million dollars in the past year, most of which came from the sale of his estate at a Christie’s auction in February.  Saint Laurent passed away June 1, 2008 of brain cancer.  He was known for his expert tailoring, and secured his place in fashion history with the creation of the female tuxedo suit.  The late designer’s estate is managed by his long-time partner Pierre Berge.

Michael Jackson ranked third with $90 million, followed by Elvis Presley who came in with $55 million. Yves Saint Laurent is in very good company.

Fashion’s Finest Remember YSL  [Forbes.com] 

Yves Saint Laurent: The Richest Dead Celebrity  [The Fash Pack]

Forbes magazine: Yves Saint Laurent, not Michael Jackson, is top-earning dead celebrity  [Sun-Sentinel.com]  

Who says that good things can’t come from a down market?  The private event sale sites have been thriving in this economic environment, and have seen a great deal of activity this week.  So we have named them to this week’s Rollcall list. 

It is such a lucrative business that Saks Fifth Avenue recently held its own private sale by invitation only.  Today we learned that even the DailyCandy is joining the ranks of the members only sale events.  They are launching Swirl, an online sample sale site where they will sell designer clothes and accessories at up to 80 percent off.  If that wasn’t enough, Rue La La was purchased this week by GSI Commerce. 

These invitation/members-only sites are getting a boost during the recession, and hopefully the same goes for their bottom-line.  Sites like the Gilt Groupe acquire sample pieces from designers and place them online for sale at a fraction of the retail cost. 

There has been a great deal of activity this week with these private event sale sites, and the odds are good that we will see many more in the near future.  Take a look at the video below of Gilt Groupe co-founder, Alexandra Wilkis, as she described the private event sale business back in August. 

Private-Sale Sites Grow in a Struggling Economy [WSJ/Blog]

DailyCandy Joins the World of Online Sample Sales  [Racked]        

Michelle Obama graces the cover of Glamour magazine’s December issue in her own Jason Wu dress.  The December issue features Glamour’s “Women of the Year”, and it is out next week.    Within the article she talks mentorship, role models and dating.  You heard me correctly, the First Lady offers sound dating advice like:

“Cute’s good. But cute only lasts for so long, and then it’s, Who are you as a person? Don’t look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul…”

She also offers advice on personal style, and stresses that a woman should remain true to herself, even though others will have their own opinions.  A style icon in her own right, she is often compared to the iconic Jackie O.  We’ve seen Mrs. Obama’s sometimes eclectic style choices throughout her time as the First Lady, and there has also been no shortage of opinions as well.  Through it all she has been gracious, but faithful to her own personal style choices.

On the C.L.: Michelle Obama’s Inspiring Mission (Hail the Mentor in Chief!) Plus Her Answers to Your Questions [Glamour.com]

The marriage of the luxury market with mass retail has become common place lately, yet learning of a new collaboration is often met with excitement.  Jimmy Choo for H&M is one of those joint ventures being met with great anticipation, and rightly so.   Have you seen the collection?  They have many covetable pieces.  It includes accessories like shoes, sandals, bags and jewelry.  The dresses are sexy and sparkly too; can we say New Year’s Eve?  You don’t take my word for it,  here is a sneak preview of the collection.  All of these items will be in stores on November 14th.  Dress in layers because the odds are you’ll have a little wait outside on line, but it will be worth if you can walk away with that black one shoulder leather dress.

Sneak Peek! Jimmy Choo For H&M [FABSUGAR]

These lovely ladies worked their respective  red carpets in this Donna Karan gown.  All day today, the question has been ”who wore it better?”  However, my question is, what is Donna Karan’s secret to getting her gowns onto the red carpet?  The sequin halter is on trend this season, and that likely played a role in its selection.  Iman added extra sparkle with her bracelets, and Eva opted to let the dress shine by itself.  From all appearances, this dress is glamorous and sexy, and it brought out those attributes in these ladies.  Their faces revealed an inner confidence.  A good designer has to understand the contours of the body, as well as what looks good on a woman’s body.  It’s clear Donna Karan has a firm grasp of both these concepts.  The gown works for both because of the  silhouette and fit.  Even the burgundy color works for their skin tones, and this time of year.  Is it any wonder that it made the red carpet on two separate occassions?

Who Wore It Better? Donna Karan Sequin Halter Dress  [FABSUGAR]

The news from J. Crew has been very good on all fronts this year.  They recently presented their spring 2010 line, and it was well received.  J. Crew scored major points for their neutral color palette; the earthy tones are perfect for spring, plus they complement most skin tones.  The styling of the models combined a mixture of hard and soft pieces, and it worked.  Soft and feminine tops were paired the the harder edged fatigued jackets.

The company’s stock has also been doing very well this year.  J.Crew produces high quality merchandise, and the consumer responds favorably.  It also received a boost from First Lady Michelle Obama who has repeatedly dressed herself and her young daughters in J. Crew.  The stock price is soaring, and they are expecting a robust holiday season.  It goes to show that the preppy look never really goes out of style.

In Praise of J. Crew’s Spring Presentation [The Cut]

J. Crew Stock Soars on Forecast Boost  [TheStreet.com]

Photo By: Raquel Olivio

Nicole Richie is launching a new clothing line that will showcase her bohemian chic style.  The line is called Winter Kate, and will debut in spring 2010 in Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue to name a few. 

Ms. Richie is adding to her growing fashion empire which already includes an accessories line, and a maternity collection for A Pea in the Pod.  Richie has made our Rollcall list this week, but her debut on our list came last summer when she launched her maternity collection. 

Winter Kate is a 37-piece collection that will be a staple of tops, vests and bed jackets because that’s more aligned with Nicole Richie’s personal style.  Her line will also incude slips and maxi dresses, among other various dress styles. 

“Fashion should be accessible,” Richie said, and her prices reflect that strategy.  Her items are priced from $35 for a camisole to $110 for a long dress.  The leather pieces can go for as much as $598.  The mother of two, Harlow and Sparrow, has been very busy, and she shows no sign of slowing down.

Nicole Richie Launching Contemporary Line [WWD]

New York City has a reputation as being one of the major fashion capitals of the world, and the city is taking that reputation one step further.  It was announced this week that the CFDA and New York City will host a contest to find twelve young designers to occupy space within the garment district.  The collaboration will be done in the form of a new 10,000-square-foot fashion incubator located at 209 West 38th Street.  Renting space in this area would normally average $3,000 per month, but this program would reduce it to $1,500; a more manageable rate.  The overall goal of this project is to provide emerging designers with affordable rents, educational and industry support.  Mayor Bloomberg is showing a commitment to the fashion community, and to an industry that has its roots firmly planted here in the city.  Providing this opportunity is a sign to the fashion world that New York City is open for business, and will help to foster new talent.

An Incubator for Emerging Fashion Designers [City Room/NYT]

So we’ve talked about the clothing trends and accessories for fall, but what about beauty?  Our face is a canvass afterall.  There are two primary areas for us to work with, the eyes or the lips.  We know a lady should never do both, unless she’s a geisha or on the second leg of her world tour.  Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I would like to focus on the lips because bold lip color is the beauty trend for fall.  The lip colors come in various shades of reds and burgundies, just choose the right hue for your complexion.  These colors will definitely brighten your face and mood during the winter months of cold weather and overcast skies.  Take a look at the video below to get your fall beauty fix. 

The shoes for spring 2010 are definitely not your mother’s shoes.  Some are like sculptures you would find in a museum, while others are as delicate as the shoes worn by a ballerina.  The one thing they have in common is that they are incredibly sexy.  They are works of art crafted by some of the best artisans in the world, and they come in various inches.  Some of them are as high as eight inches, talk about elevation.  When a woman walks into a room with these shoes, she is making a statement.  I can’t help but feel that she is saying that she’s in charge.  Who would dare to challenge her?  It may be a challenge to walk in them, but their beauty is undeniable.  Besides, a little balancing act has never harmed anyone, especially when you get to prance around in these stunners.  If you want to see more, take a look here at all the other shoes you will be coveting for spring.

100 Favorite Shoes for Spring 2010 [Coutorture]