Modi Had Insider Info On IPL Bids, Says I-T

The central Board Of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has sent a detailed report to the Finance Ministry listing alleged regulatory violations via a web of companies and commercial contracts involving the top brass of the Indian Premier League, including Commissioner Lalit Modi, and some team owners as well, says an Indian Express report.

The report, prepared by the CBDT’s investigation unit, points out how in most IPL commercial bids, the “customary” bank guarantee clause was waived.

Thus, parties could bid “through many fronts” and, as IPL Commissioner, Modi had “insider information” on all bidding processes, the CBDT report says.

Modi didn’t respond to calls or text messages.

IT investigators have claimed they are exploring how “entities controlled by Netlink Blue and their associates in UAE,” had, between 2007-2008, allegedly routed money into Voyages, Modi’s defunct TV channel.

Netlink Blue is owned by Akash Aurora who is considered close to Modi.

The inflows have been found to have been made without approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), the report says, since these were routed from companies other than Kuoni Travels and Voyages of USA which were the original party approved by the FIBP.

The CBDT report also lists the following for probe:

TV rights: These were earlier held by MSM (Multi Screen Media) or Sony TV and subsequently given to WSG (Worlds Sports Group). The second IPL contract was re-negotiated apparently in three hours and a facilitation fee of $ 80 million fixed ($26 million already paid) for WSG-Mauritius without payment of taxes.

Overseas TV rights: These were given to WSG/IMG (International Management Group) described by the IT Department as an “illiquid company” without any bidding/tendering.

Mobile/ live streaming/Internet rights: These were awarded originally to Live Current Media (LCM) which later floated Global Cricket Ventures-Mauritius — with Netlink Blue — and finally found their way to Elephant Capital controlled by Modi’s step son-in-law Gaurav Burman. Elephant Capital is listed on London’s AIM — Alternate Investment Market.

The IT department has found that while the original tender envisaged rights for five years, they were actually for a 10-year period and to be extended further.

Theatrical Rights: These were given first to Ever Lasting Sports-Dubai and then to Dar Capital/ Valuable Media and comprising around 12% of IPL revenue. The IT Department has described these entities as “unknown, without source of income, could be means of round tripping/laundering.”

Production Rights: The main IPL vendor is IMG/TWI and last year they won the contract for $9.5 million again without tendering. For the current year, a “limited tender” was issued and forensic examination conducted in the BCCI office revealed the tender was authored by a top IMG/TWI official himself. This led to re-tendering of the contract which was eventually awarded for $3.8 million.

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Indian Navy Commodore On Camera With Unknown Russian Woman

Delhi newspaper Headlines Today on Thursday published incriminating photographs of disgraced Indian Naval Commodore Sukhjinder Singh with a Russian woman.

As the Indian Navy gears up to decide the fate of Commodore Sukhjinder Singh — the officer who was caught in what appears to have been an elaborate honey trap in Russia — several troubling questions linger.

The questions, however, run the risk of being obscured by the scandalous episode that has embarrassed the service like nothing else in recent memory.

Through a high-level Board of Inquiry that is still in progress, the navy has quickly established that Commodore Singh, a married man, had an illicit sexual relationship with a yet unnamed Russian woman sometime in 2005- 07.

During this period he was posted as the head of the Indian observation group at Russia’s 1059 Military Station in Severodvinsk, a port city in the north- western part of the country.



Then a Captain (equivalent to a Colonel in the army), Singh was heading a 25- member team of Indian personnel overseeing the repair and refit of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya.

A CD with highly explicit photographs of Singh and the mysterious Russian woman reached the Naval Headquarters last month, immediately kicking off an inquiry.

Headlines Today has published these photographs, which were proof enough for naval investigators that these pictures were not part of a sting operation but taken with the full consent of the officer in question.

The identity of the woman in the photographs has not yet been revealed. But the fact that private photographs of her and the officer reached the navy unsolicited points to the certainty of it being a honey- trap.

Sources say Commodore Singh, who could face the harshest possible punishment for “immoral conduct” and “conduct unbecoming of an officer”, has testified to the BoI that the photographs were evidence of a “ personal indiscretion” that took place in a moment of “ very bad judgment”. He has, however, insisted that they did not impinge in any way on the price negotiations for the Russian aircraft carrier.

India recently acquiesced, after prolonged and sometimes unseemly negotiations, to cough up $ 2.33 billion for the warship instead of $ 974- million, as originally contracted in 2004.

The astonishing cost escalation sparked off a storm of criticism in Parliament and from the country’s top auditor.

Commodore Singh’s future in the navy may no longer be secure, but there are several questions still doing the rounds.

For starters, will the establishment use the episode to forever smother all uncomfortable questions about the controversial price negotiations for the warship?

Second, could the episode have been propped up to preclude any potential investigation, say by the CBI, into the intricacies of the give- and- take that resulted in the price explosion?

Finally, could this episode simply be a ploy to deflect all attention away from the possibility that there were political kickbacks at play in the deal?

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Man Hits Wife's Head With An Axe Over A Cup Of Tea

In Rajasthan’s Sikar district, a man asked for a cup of tea, but when his 25-year-old wife Pushpa refused to serve him, the man in a fit of rage, struck at his wife’s head with an axe.

The husband in a further fit of remorse, committed suicide by jumping into a well. Relatives said, the man was mentally unstable.



The axe went six inches deep inside the lady’s skull. Struck by the axe, Pushpa fell unconscious. She was rushed to a hospital by her neighbour Kamlesh.

Doctors in Jaipur performed a four-hour long surgery to prise out the axe from her skull. The woman is still in critical condition, said neuro-surgeon Dr H. Bagaria, who performed the surgery.



Doctors say, the woman, even if she survives, may not recover because the iron blade after breaking the skill hit a significant part of the brain. She may lose her sight and could be rendered paralytic, doctors said.

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3 Laptops With 8 Porn Videos, Rs 30 Lakh Cash Seized From Swami Nithyananda

Swami Nithyananda who was arrested with his disciples Sri Nithya Santanananda, and Gopal Shailesh Reddy in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday by a joint team of Karnataka and Himchal Police had three laptops containing eight porn videos, three video cameras, eight cellphones, 11 sim cards and a large amount of cash with him, police said.

Three laptops, Rs 30 lakh in cash $ 7,000 (Rs 3,11,885) and some travelers cheques were seized from the men, who were living in a rented house.

Swami Nithyananda who was sent on transit remand, was taken from Shimla on Thursday to Bangalore via Chandigarh and Delhi. The swami wqas staying in a house belonging to Delhi resident Manvendra Singh in Himachal Pradesh.

Nityananda hardly used to come out of the two-bedroomed house. His disciples used to bring essential articles from the market. They were using 11 sim cards on a rotational basis to avoid detection. Nityananda did not change his saffron robes while staying secretly in the house.

It was Nityananda’s passion for using cellphones that did him in. Karnataka police had intercepted one of his disciple’s cellphone, with whom he used to talk regularly. The police then zeroed in on Himachal’s Solan district. Two Karnataka officers of DSP rank came to Solan on April 19 and sought the local CID’s assistance.

Nityananda’s four discples used to get their sim cards re-charged almost daily by Rs 1,000 each.

Meanwhile, Mid Day reports, quoting ‘insiders’ that supporters of Nithyananda, who is confident of securing bail in court, themselves tipped off CID about his Himachal Pradesh hideout.

While police bask in media glare following the arrest of sex swami Nithyananda, insiders in the godman's camp claim the disgraced guru engineered the arrest on advice of his trusted followers.

"Nithyananda was not hiding from the police or the law, it was the public he feared. He has always been reasonably certain that the charges leveled against him are unlikely to stick in court. Now that the public anger has subsided somewhat, the swami tipped the cops. He expects to be granted bail in court," explained a source close to the Swami, reports Mid Day.

Nithyananda had been in hiding for a month since a video of his alleged romp with Tamil actress Ranjitha was broadcast by TV channels across the country.

While the district magistrate on Wednesday quashed Nithyananda's plea for anticipatory bail, the high court will hear a petition that seeks dropping of charges leveled against him.

On Wednesday, Ramnagar Magistrate court quashed Nithyananda's anticipatory bail plea. It is interesting to note that the swami's arrest comes at the heels of the high court's decision to admit a plea filed on his behalf that seeks dropping of charges levied against him.

Sources say that once the high court's admitted his plea, the swami became confident that it would not be difficult for him to secure bail. This is when his supporters are said to have tipped the cops about his Himachal Pradesh hideaway.

Incidentally, a court in Tamil nadu issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the self style god man in response to a complaint by K Selvamani, an RSS activist under Section 295 (a) of the Indian Penal Code.

In response, Sriperumbudur District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate S Gunasekhar issued directions to Rama Nagar police station in Karnataka, where the god man's Bidadi ashram is located, to execute the warrant irrespective of whether or not he was available at his address.

The swami is believed to have chosen arrest over surrender so he is in the cops' good books. "The godman hopes keeping the police in good humour because he hopes they will cooperate with him at a later stage," explained the source.

Yogappa, superintendent of police, CID (special enquiry), who is heading the investigative team in the case rubbished claims that the swami's associates tipped them.

"Why do you want to discount our efforts? We traced the swami's phone calls so we could locate his hideout.Once we were sure, a team of two deputy superintendents of police flew to Himachal Pradesh and arrested him."

HS Chandramouli, Nityananda's counsel, refused to comment on whether the swami's arrest was stage-managed. "Now that he has been arrested, we are left with no option but to file a bail application. I am certain he will be granted bail."

Swami Nityananda was brought to Bangalore on Thursday from Himachal Pradesh where he was arrested along with his four associates.

Nityananda and his close aide Nitya Bhaktananda alias Seelam Reddy were flown in to Bangalore on Thursday evening amid tight security and were whisked away to Ramanagaram Sessions court, where they are likely to be produced, police told PTI.

Over a month after he was reported absconding after a purported video footage of him in a compromising position with a Tamil actress was aired on local TV channels, Nityananda was arrested yesterday along with four others from the house of a Delhi-based businessman at Solan in Himachal Pradesh.

The 32-year-old 'godman' and Reddy were produced before a local court in Solan on Wednesday and transit warrant secured the same night.

Both Nityananda and his aide are wanted in connection with two cases, registered at Bidadi police station near Bangalore, where his ashram is located.

The Tamil Nadu police had registered various cases under IPC against Nityananda, including that of rape. The cases were later transferred to the Karnataka police.

Soon after his arrest, Nityananda's anticipatory bail application which was pending before the Ramanagaram Sessions Court was dismissed.

A criminal petition filed by Nityananda, praying for quashing of criminal cases against him in Karnataka High Court, is coming up for hearing on Friday .

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A Week Of Their Own, Shorts For The Girl Who Has Everything, And More…

Is New York’s combined men’s and women’s fashion week hurting menswear designers? The ones who’ve moved shop to Europe—where menswear is shown in June, rather than September—say yes. Will New York follow suit with its own dedicated men’s week? [WWD]

The latest addition to the White House Correspondents Dinner: Donatella Versace, who will sit with The Daily Beast. [WWD]

Naomi Campbell is refusing to testify at the trial of a Liberian warlord who allegedly gave her an enormous blood diamond during a stay at Nelson Mandela’s ranch in 1997. The super claims she never received an enormous diamond (proffered, the story goes, in the dead of night), but fellow guest Mia Farrow remembers differently. “You don’t forget when a girlfriend tells you she was given a huge diamond in the middle of the night.” [Page Six]

The Wall Street Journal clocks a new trend: leather shorts, the must-have for the girl who has everything. (Clever designers figured they’re the one item the girl who has everythingdoesn’t have.) The paper gives a fairly comprehensive rundown of the options, from Alice + Olivia to YSL (pictured) to Chrome Hearts’ $3,100 version. Which, for the record, Ikram can’t keep in stock. [WSJ]

And Malcolm McLaren was laid to rest in London today at a funeral attended by Dame Vivienne Westwood, Tracey Emin, Dinos Chapman, and McLaren’s partner, Young Kim. [Vogue U.K.]

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A Week Of Their Own, Shorts For The Girl Who Has Everything, And More…

Is New York’s combined men’s and women’s fashion week hurting menswear designers? The ones who’ve moved shop to Europe—where menswear is shown in June, rather than September—say yes. Will New York follow suit with its own dedicated men’s week? [WWD]

The latest addition to the White House Correspondents Dinner: Donatella Versace, who will sit with The Daily Beast. [WWD]

Naomi Campbell is refusing to testify at the trial of a Liberian warlord who allegedly gave her an enormous blood diamond during a stay at Nelson Mandela’s ranch in 1997. The super claims she never received an enormous diamond (proffered, the story goes, in the dead of night), but fellow guest Mia Farrow remembers differently. “You don’t forget when a girlfriend tells you she was given a huge diamond in the middle of the night.” [Page Six]

The Wall Street Journal clocks a new trend: leather shorts, the must-have for the girl who has everything. (Clever designers figured they’re the one item the girl who has everythingdoesn’t have.) The paper gives a fairly comprehensive rundown of the options, from Alice + Olivia to YSL (pictured) to Chrome Hearts’ $3,100 version. Which, for the record, Ikram can’t keep in stock. [WSJ]

And Malcolm McLaren was laid to rest in London today at a funeral attended by Dame Vivienne Westwood, Tracey Emin, Dinos Chapman, and McLaren’s partner, Young Kim. [Vogue U.K.]

Read more...

School’s In With J.Crew, Kate Spade, And FrĂ©dĂ©ric Fekkai

In the fashion business at the moment, there are few retailers who aren’t looking to learn a thing or two from J.Crew. And as luck would have it, CEO Mickey Drexler will be teaching this spring—in one of New York City’s public high schools, that is. As part of Teach for America Week, 20 city notables, including Drexler, hotelier Ian Schrager, hair guru FrĂ©dĂ©ric Fekkai, and designers Kate and Andy Spade, will head into NYC public school classrooms as guest teachers. At the TFA cocktail party Drexler co-hosted with Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (pictured, left) at J.Crew’s Fifth Avenue store last night, Schlossberg was quick to give credit where credit was due. “Mickey did all the work,” the attorney and author said. “He basically convinced everyone to sign on.”

“I was a terrible student,” Drexler admitted. “I went to Bronx Science, and the program was so rigorous. If I could go back, I’d do everything different.” That wasn’t the case for his co-host—”I was a pretty good student,” Schlossberg said with a smile, “I would do all my homework and everything.”—but it was for another teacher-to-be. “I was doing fine until I went to law school,” Fekkai told us. “I was there for two and a half years, and I had to quit.” He hits the classroom today. “I’m excited,” the stylist said. “I just hope the kids are, too.”

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Blasblog: The Lion Doesn’t Sleep

The Lion, the new restaurant on W. 9th Street, has already been stirring up some buzz. Some of it has been good, celebrating former Waverly Inn chef John DeLucie and his partner Mark Amadei; some of it has been less good, grumbling about the preferential treatment the press has been given (and the panting adoration the press has lavished on it in return). I’m not touching that last part! But why would I, when the stuff I really care about—the old-school gossip surrounding the joint—is so good? The former gay watering hole is where, a handful of decades ago, Barbra Streisand sang her first professional notes when she was still hustling New York City; Joel Schumacher was once a humble busboy. And now? Well, at a preview dinner last night, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were installed in a corner booth—much to my dismay, though, they were not Twittering. Hana Soukupova (whose husband curated the eatery’s artwork), Waris Ahluwalia, Dr. Lisa Airan, Helen Lee Schifter, Zani Gugelmann, and the Sykes Rellies were there, too, as were plenty of editors, co-owner (and Men’s Health ed in chief) Dave Zinczenko among them. Sure, there are kinks to work out—for one, the water hadn’t been hooked up in the men’s room, so one had to make do with Purell and baby wipes. But even that little problem had a chic solution: The owners hired Bungalow 8’s old bathroom attendant to flatter and distract the regulars. Come to think of it, she probably has some old-school gossip too.

Read more...

School’s In With J.Crew, Kate Spade, And FrĂ©dĂ©ric Fekkai

In the fashion business at the moment, there are few retailers who aren’t looking to learn a thing or two from J.Crew. And as luck would have it, CEO Mickey Drexler will be teaching this spring—in one of New York City’s public high schools, that is. As part of Teach for America Week, 20 city notables, including Drexler, hotelier Ian Schrager, hair guru FrĂ©dĂ©ric Fekkai, and designers Kate and Andy Spade, will head into NYC public school classrooms as guest teachers. At the TFA cocktail party Drexler co-hosted with Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (pictured, left) at J.Crew’s Fifth Avenue store last night, Schlossberg was quick to give credit where credit was due. “Mickey did all the work,” the attorney and author said. “He basically convinced everyone to sign on.”

“I was a terrible student,” Drexler admitted. “I went to Bronx Science, and the program was so rigorous. If I could go back, I’d do everything different.” That wasn’t the case for his co-host—”I was a pretty good student,” Schlossberg said with a smile, “I would do all my homework and everything.”—but it was for another teacher-to-be. “I was doing fine until I went to law school,” Fekkai told us. “I was there for two and a half years, and I had to quit.” He hits the classroom today. “I’m excited,” the stylist said. “I just hope the kids are, too.”

Read more...

Blasblog: The Lion Doesn’t Sleep

The Lion, the new restaurant on W. 9th Street, has already been stirring up some buzz. Some of it has been good, celebrating former Waverly Inn chef John DeLucie and his partner Mark Amadei; some of it has been less good, grumbling about the preferential treatment the press has been given (and the panting adoration the press has lavished on it in return). I’m not touching that last part! But why would I, when the stuff I really care about—the old-school gossip surrounding the joint—is so good? The former gay watering hole is where, a handful of decades ago, Barbra Streisand sang her first professional notes when she was still hustling New York City; Joel Schumacher was once a humble busboy. And now? Well, at a preview dinner last night, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were installed in a corner booth—much to my dismay, though, they were not Twittering. Hana Soukupova (whose husband curated the eatery’s artwork), Waris Ahluwalia, Dr. Lisa Airan, Helen Lee Schifter, Zani Gugelmann, and the Sykes Rellies were there, too, as were plenty of editors, co-owner (and Men’s Health ed in chief) Dave Zinczenko among them. Sure, there are kinks to work out—for one, the water hadn’t been hooked up in the men’s room, so one had to make do with Purell and baby wipes. But even that little problem had a chic solution: The owners hired Bungalow 8’s old bathroom attendant to flatter and distract the regulars. Come to think of it, she probably has some old-school gossip too.

Read more...

Fashion’s Night Out Stages Its First-Ever Runway Show

And you thought last year’s Fashion’s Night Out was a big production. This time around, in addition to all of the in-store activities; the designer, model, and celebrity appearances; and the spontaneous street parties on September 10, Vogue and SPEC Entertainment are producing an open-to-the-public fashion show. With 200-plus models, the September 7 extravaganza will be the biggest public fashion show New York (or at least the 1,500 guests that will fill the seats at Lincoln Center, pictured) has ever seen. The likes of Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman, Raquel Zimmermann, and Daria Werbowy will show off key Fall trends. Tickets will go on sale this summer through the Lincoln Center box office, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the New York City AIDS Fund. In the meantime, stores interested in participating in Fashion’s Night Out can register as of today

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Fashion’s Night Out Stages Its First-Ever Runway Show

And you thought last year’s Fashion’s Night Out was a big production. This time around, in addition to all of the in-store activities; the designer, model, and celebrity appearances; and the spontaneous street parties on September 10, Vogue and SPEC Entertainment are producing an open-to-the-public fashion show. With 200-plus models, the September 7 extravaganza will be the biggest public fashion show New York (or at least the 1,500 guests that will fill the seats at Lincoln Center, pictured) has ever seen. The likes of Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman, Raquel Zimmermann, and Daria Werbowy will show off key Fall trends. Tickets will go on sale this summer through the Lincoln Center box office, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the New York City AIDS Fund. In the meantime, stores interested in participating in Fashion’s Night Out can register as of today

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In Defense Of Block-Heads


Less? No, I think more is more. Lately I’ve been loving the assortment of color-blocked pieces I’ve been seeing at the market, from clothes to accessories and shoes. They’re anything but plain, but much easier to wear than you might expect. Three, four colors to a piece—no problem. Take this coat I saw yesterday from the new Italian line USAI. The label has 40 years of experience manufacturing military uniforms, and I’m excited for its entrance into the civilian market. With leather, shearling, bouclĂ©, and canvas panels, it’s got a lot going on, but the combination of neutrals means it will go with beige outfits as easily as navy or gray; I could see it with jeans as easily as with any of the great new Gap pants I saw this week. Same with this Celine multi-leather and python bag; I can wear it with whatever, which will save me from changing bags as many times as I usually do during the week. To finish it off, there’s Derek Lam’s bootie, available now. It’ll bring the sporty feel to the Theory silk shirtdress that I’ll be wearing nonstop this summer. These color-blocked pieces will add spice to any outfit. My only caveat: Don’t wear them all at once.

USAI shearling jacket, $1,750, available this Fall at Stanley Korshak, Dallas, (214) 871-3600; Celine multi-leather hobo bag, price on request, available this fall at Barneys New York, (212) 826-8900; Derek Lam buffalo leather Myrna shoe, $890, available at

Read more...

In Defense Of Block-Heads


Less? No, I think more is more. Lately I’ve been loving the assortment of color-blocked pieces I’ve been seeing at the market, from clothes to accessories and shoes. They’re anything but plain, but much easier to wear than you might expect. Three, four colors to a piece—no problem. Take this coat I saw yesterday from the new Italian line USAI. The label has 40 years of experience manufacturing military uniforms, and I’m excited for its entrance into the civilian market. With leather, shearling, bouclĂ©, and canvas panels, it’s got a lot going on, but the combination of neutrals means it will go with beige outfits as easily as navy or gray; I could see it with jeans as easily as with any of the great new Gap pants I saw this week. Same with this Celine multi-leather and python bag; I can wear it with whatever, which will save me from changing bags as many times as I usually do during the week. To finish it off, there’s Derek Lam’s bootie, available now. It’ll bring the sporty feel to the Theory silk shirtdress that I’ll be wearing nonstop this summer. These color-blocked pieces will add spice to any outfit. My only caveat: Don’t wear them all at once.

USAI shearling jacket, $1,750, available this Fall at Stanley Korshak, Dallas, (214) 871-3600; Celine multi-leather hobo bag, price on request, available this fall at Barneys New York, (212) 826-8900; Derek Lam buffalo leather Myrna shoe, $890, available at

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Looks Good To Us

There’s one major hazard to following the street-style bloggers: the almost terminal case of envy their chic subjects can induce. Enter Style.com to the rescue. Our new feature, Get the Look, breaks down the outfits of the best-dressed street-stylers (and celebrities, models, and girls-about-town) so you—repeat after us—get the look, too. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And with girls like these, heartily recommended.

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It’s All Greek To Them

A safe bet: What’s old is going to be new again. So don’t blame the design duo behind the new jewelry line Carol Marie, Jennifer Carol Kramer and Heather Marie White, for looking backwards—credit them, at least, with lookingfar backwards. Research for their fledgling line began in ancient Greece, which sets the tone for the collection. A Hellenistic “reef knot” gave rise to a garnet pendant, and the tour of the B.C. world didn’t end there. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Byzantium inspired piled, multi-chain necklaces, stackable bracelets, cross pendants, and, our favorite, chunky jeweled styles. Despite the ancient provenance, the pieces have a resolutely modern feel. Chalk it up to the designers’ experience in the contemporary market—they met in the accessory closet of W.

Carol Marie will be available this Fall at Pas de Deux, Henri Bendel, and Shopbop.

Read more...

Looks Good To Us

There’s one major hazard to following the street-style bloggers: the almost terminal case of envy their chic subjects can induce. Enter Style.com to the rescue. Our new feature, Get the Look, breaks down the outfits of the best-dressed street-stylers (and celebrities, models, and girls-about-town) so you—repeat after us—get the look, too. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And with girls like these, heartily recommended.

Read more...

It’s All Greek To Them

A safe bet: What’s old is going to be new again. So don’t blame the design duo behind the new jewelry line Carol Marie, Jennifer Carol Kramer and Heather Marie White, for looking backwards—credit them, at least, with lookingfar backwards. Research for their fledgling line began in ancient Greece, which sets the tone for the collection. A Hellenistic “reef knot” gave rise to a garnet pendant, and the tour of the B.C. world didn’t end there. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Byzantium inspired piled, multi-chain necklaces, stackable bracelets, cross pendants, and, our favorite, chunky jeweled styles. Despite the ancient provenance, the pieces have a resolutely modern feel. Chalk it up to the designers’ experience in the contemporary market—they met in the accessory closet of W.

Carol Marie will be available this Fall at Pas de Deux, Henri Bendel, and Shopbop.

Read more...

Yea, Nay, Or Eh? Mariska, Off The Beat

As Detective Olivia Benson, Law & Order: SVU’s tough-talking sex-crimes cop, Mariska Hargitay keeps a low-glamour profile. To serve and protect—not to dress up. Which makes it nice to see that the actress—who, by the way, comes from extremely glamorous stock; mom Jayne Mansfield was one of the fifties’ biggest screen sirens—can work a look with the best of her red-carpet compatriots. At last night’s Can-Do Awards in New York, Hargitay opted for a tribal-print Dries Van Noten. Her athletic figure stands up to the bold print, which might overwhelm a wispier frame, and she smartly keeps her accessories minimal, opting for a simple gold clutch and gold-accented heels. What do you think? Is Hargitay good as gold, or should she stick to her uniform blues?

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Chanel And Tribeca Make Winning Even Sweeter

Winning big at the Tribeca Film Festival is a laurel on its own. But no reason to stop there—not, at least, when you’ve got the power of Bobby De Niro and company behind you. At this year’s festival, as in years past, winners in each of the 11 categories will be awarded a work of visual art to commemorate the achievement. This year’s donating artists, selected by the festival, include Yoko Ono, Vik Muniz, Stephen Hannock, and Clifford Ross. “The festival is a vehicle for all of what can be good about New York,” said Ross, whose work, along with that of the other 10 participating artists, is now hanging at Chanel’s Soho store. (They’ll be on view through May 2.) “The joy for me in donating my work is in contributing to the life of the festival. It’s also such an exciting concept for an artist to give another artist his or her work—it’s artist-to-artist connectivity.” The festival, he went on, “born out of the rubble of 9/11…has in fact, contributed to the resuscitation of lower New York.” From Ross’ archival print of a surging wave to Ono’s constructed bronze box to Hannock’s mixed-media Study: Northern City Renaissance (Mass MoCA 379K) (pictured, and originally commissioned by Sting, no less), the work is well worth fighting over. Excellence is its own reward, but it doesn’t have to be the only one.

PLUS: Queen Noor, Christy Turlington Burns, Veronica Webb, and more come together forVanity Fair’s TFF bash.

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Yea, Nay, Or Eh? Mariska, Off The Beat

As Detective Olivia Benson, Law & Order: SVU’s tough-talking sex-crimes cop, Mariska Hargitay keeps a low-glamour profile. To serve and protect—not to dress up. Which makes it nice to see that the actress—who, by the way, comes from extremely glamorous stock; mom Jayne Mansfield was one of the fifties’ biggest screen sirens—can work a look with the best of her red-carpet compatriots. At last night’s Can-Do Awards in New York, Hargitay opted for a tribal-print Dries Van Noten. Her athletic figure stands up to the bold print, which might overwhelm a wispier frame, and she smartly keeps her accessories minimal, opting for a simple gold clutch and gold-accented heels. What do you think? Is Hargitay good as gold, or should she stick to her uniform blues?

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Chanel And Tribeca Make Winning Even Sweeter

Winning big at the Tribeca Film Festival is a laurel on its own. But no reason to stop there—not, at least, when you’ve got the power of Bobby De Niro and company behind you. At this year’s festival, as in years past, winners in each of the 11 categories will be awarded a work of visual art to commemorate the achievement. This year’s donating artists, selected by the festival, include Yoko Ono, Vik Muniz, Stephen Hannock, and Clifford Ross. “The festival is a vehicle for all of what can be good about New York,” said Ross, whose work, along with that of the other 10 participating artists, is now hanging at Chanel’s Soho store. (They’ll be on view through May 2.) “The joy for me in donating my work is in contributing to the life of the festival. It’s also such an exciting concept for an artist to give another artist his or her work—it’s artist-to-artist connectivity.” The festival, he went on, “born out of the rubble of 9/11…has in fact, contributed to the resuscitation of lower New York.” From Ross’ archival print of a surging wave to Ono’s constructed bronze box to Hannock’s mixed-media Study: Northern City Renaissance (Mass MoCA 379K) (pictured, and originally commissioned by Sting, no less), the work is well worth fighting over. Excellence is its own reward, but it doesn’t have to be the only one.

PLUS: Queen Noor, Christy Turlington Burns, Veronica Webb, and more come together forVanity Fair’s TFF bash.

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Erin For Juicy, Imitation Of Christ Rises, And More…

Juicy goes flouncy: The label has announced it will collaborate with Erin Fetherston (pictured) beginning this May. In our nouveau-sweats era, are we ready for a revamped velour track suit?

Her Parisian museum exhibition may be off, but there are still plenty of ways to get your dose of Kate Moss. The latest: Her new coffee-table book, Kate Moss by Mario Testino, goes on sale this summer for €350. That price should ensure it’s the tome of choice for third-home coffee tables of the rich and fabulous. [WWD]

Staking a claim for the chicest crooks around: the Chanel bandits, who sledge-hammered their way into the South Kensington, London, store and made off with a stash of bags. Not that we approve, of course, but we can’t say we’ve never been tempted. [Catwalk Queen]

Tara Subkoff talks meditation, recovery, and the revival of her much-adored Imitation of Christ line in Harper’s Bazaar. [HB]

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Erin For Juicy, Imitation Of Christ Rises, And More…

Juicy goes flouncy: The label has announced it will collaborate with Erin Fetherston (pictured) beginning this May. In our nouveau-sweats era, are we ready for a revamped velour track suit?

Her Parisian museum exhibition may be off, but there are still plenty of ways to get your dose of Kate Moss. The latest: Her new coffee-table book, Kate Moss by Mario Testino, goes on sale this summer for €350. That price should ensure it’s the tome of choice for third-home coffee tables of the rich and fabulous. [WWD]

Staking a claim for the chicest crooks around: the Chanel bandits, who sledge-hammered their way into the South Kensington, London, store and made off with a stash of bags. Not that we approve, of course, but we can’t say we’ve never been tempted. [Catwalk Queen]

Tara Subkoff talks meditation, recovery, and the revival of her much-adored Imitation of Christ line in Harper’s Bazaar. [HB]

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You Asked: How to Get Started With Strength Training?

Cardio is great for your heart and lungs, builds endurance, and burns major calories to reduce overall body fat, but it doesn't do much to sculpt your muscles or prevent injury. That's where strength training and flexibility training come into play, but how do you get started? A FitSugar reader asked this question on Facebook.

Dear Fit,
I have been running consistently since the new year (I actually am following through with a resolution!). I run about three times a week. I'm hoping to incorporate some weight training/resistance/yoga. I know you run and practice yoga. How do you break it down during the week?
— Looking to Tone Up

This is a great question as I'm sure many people want to get stronger, more sculpted muscles, but aren't sure how. To hear what I suggest read more.

First of all, nice work on keeping up with the running since January! Now that you're ready to start incorporating some strengthening and stretching moves into your routine, my best advice is to start off nice and easy. Eventually you should work up to two to three sessions per week, but adding in one session at first is a good way to start. Don't overdo it in the beginning and try to do 50 push-ups on your first day. Your muscles need time to adjust to the new demands you're placing on them, so start off with easy moves and fewer reps to avoid injury and post-workout pain known as DOMS. Being super sore makes many folks stop strength training.

Right now I do cardio about three to four times a week, and after each sweat session, I do strength training and stretching. It breaks down to 30 to 40 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes of strength training, and 15 minutes of stretching. I also take two yoga classes per week, usually on days that I don't do cardio. Some people prefer breaking up their cardio and strengthening sessions, so they alternate days. You can break it down in whatever way works for you.

There are several ways you can tone your muscles: with machines, dumbbells, resistance bands, kettlebells, medicine balls, exercise balls, or your own body weight. If you belong to a gym, have one of the employees show you how to safely use the equipment. Or if you're not into hitting the weight room, see if there's a strength training class offered at your gym. You might find it easier to have someone talk you through a toning routine. Plus it's a great way to learn new and effective moves. Last but not least, you can learn some moves from a fitness DVD. Good luck and happy training.

Read more...

You Asked: How to Get Started With Strength Training?

Cardio is great for your heart and lungs, builds endurance, and burns major calories to reduce overall body fat, but it doesn't do much to sculpt your muscles or prevent injury. That's where strength training and flexibility training come into play, but how do you get started? A FitSugar reader asked this question on Facebook.

Dear Fit,
I have been running consistently since the new year (I actually am following through with a resolution!). I run about three times a week. I'm hoping to incorporate some weight training/resistance/yoga. I know you run and practice yoga. How do you break it down during the week?
— Looking to Tone Up

This is a great question as I'm sure many people want to get stronger, more sculpted muscles, but aren't sure how. To hear what I suggest read more.

First of all, nice work on keeping up with the running since January! Now that you're ready to start incorporating some strengthening and stretching moves into your routine, my best advice is to start off nice and easy. Eventually you should work up to two to three sessions per week, but adding in one session at first is a good way to start. Don't overdo it in the beginning and try to do 50 push-ups on your first day. Your muscles need time to adjust to the new demands you're placing on them, so start off with easy moves and fewer reps to avoid injury and post-workout pain known as DOMS. Being super sore makes many folks stop strength training.

Right now I do cardio about three to four times a week, and after each sweat session, I do strength training and stretching. It breaks down to 30 to 40 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes of strength training, and 15 minutes of stretching. I also take two yoga classes per week, usually on days that I don't do cardio. Some people prefer breaking up their cardio and strengthening sessions, so they alternate days. You can break it down in whatever way works for you.

There are several ways you can tone your muscles: with machines, dumbbells, resistance bands, kettlebells, medicine balls, exercise balls, or your own body weight. If you belong to a gym, have one of the employees show you how to safely use the equipment. Or if you're not into hitting the weight room, see if there's a strength training class offered at your gym. You might find it easier to have someone talk you through a toning routine. Plus it's a great way to learn new and effective moves. Last but not least, you can learn some moves from a fitness DVD. Good luck and happy training.

Read more...

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