BlackBook Magazine

A story that couldn't possibly be true, although we hope it is true (but probably not): the rumor that Target may sign Alexander McQueen as their next Go International Designer. The popular, inexpensive collection has in the past snagged big names like Luella Bartley, Alice Temperley, Proenza Schouler, and Erin Fetherston. And although they have a deal with Sigerson Morrison in the pipeline, there's never been someone so high profile as McQueen. Neither side would comment on the rumor, though McQueen has been wetting his feet in the discount market recently. In 2006, he started his own lower-priced diffusion line McQ, and he designs footwear for Puma.

Armed with a decent punk pedigree, Joe Corre has opened the doors of Terrorist, his new East London menswear shop. Corre, the son of Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and punk/new wave designer Vivienne Westwood, says he's simply building on the family tradition of combining fashion with attitude. But Terrorist? Little severe, perhaps? "It's just a word that's used to describe the enemy," Corre says. The clothes are designed by Simon Armitage (AKA "Barnzley") and range from day-glo camouflage jackets to T-shirts bearing the images of Geronimo and Napoleon. The shop is, well, bizarre. Among the threads are an Inuit bow and arrow, chainmail suit, stuffed boar, books, and even a prosthetic leg previously worn by a member of the Hell's Angels. "We have a Hell's Angel's leg here. They're terrorists right?" Right.

Looks like Miss Kate Moss is one step closer to getting that jet, as Topshop -- home of Kate's fashion line -- may be expanding to China. Topshop boss Sir Phillip Green is rumored to have rented space in the Shanghai Superbrand Mall while eyeing other locations in Beijing and Hong Kong. With China's boom economy and Asia's known love for Western culture, this will be big money for Topshop and Ms. Moss as well. Says a source, "For the Chinese teenager with an eye on Western fashions, Kate Moss is pretty much the coolest person on the planet. Philip Green knows that only too well." Industry flacks guestimate that Moss could make "£15million to £25million" for helping tap such a huge market. Not quite enough to buy a new G650 -- they're $59.5 million -- but getting there.

The sordid sartorial scandal continues! Pineapple Express actor James Franco told a reporter that the shark-and-kitty T-shirt he sports in the stoner flick was designed by the film's director David Gordon Green, and not a concept ripped-off from the Brooklyn T-shirt company WOWCH. "What? That's ridiculous," Franco. "We completely created that shirt and that shark. David wanted me to wear a purple Monterey Bay T-shirt with a whale on it. I said I wasn't into the whale shirt, so he came up with his own design, which was the shark." Plagiarism is a publicity goldmine, turns out.

It's safe to say Michael Kors is a huge TV fan. When he's not sitting in a judge's chair for the juggernaut that is Project Runway, he's watching Mad Men -- the breakout show and its early-1960s setting was an inspiration for Kors' fall 2008 collection. He even hosted a viewing party for the new season premiere. And it turns out Kors is also into Gossip Girl.

Are beards back in style? The frontman for the Police says yes, indeed. Not only are beards back in style, but Sting claims his own facial growth has increased his sexual allure. For a man who once gleefully overshared about his marathon tantric sex sessions, further sexing might seem superfluous. Nevertheless, Sting will finish his Police reunion tour tonight at New York's Madison Square Garden still sporting the scruff. Will he shave after the tour? No way! "The ladies love it," he told reporters. More importantly, his wife is a fan of the graybeard as well. Looks like Sting's going for a trim Short Boxed Beard, but he could always segue into an Old Dutch or, with discipline, a French Fork.

Or at least, the fashion design business. Jovovich reveals rather cryptically in Lucky that her fashion line Jovovich-Hawk is over. Quoth Milla, "It's like, when one door closes ... I'm in a time of rediscovery, from my career to my personal style." Milla started the vintage-inspired high fashion line with model friend Carmen Hawk in 2003. Their stated design mission was "feel good, look great, feel bad, look great." Jovovich isn't even wearing her own eponymous line on Lucky's cover (as she did for their July 2006 issue), which can't be a good sign. Though Jovovich-Hawk still touts their spring 2009 collection online, no word on if Hawk will continue the business.

I'm shocked! Apparently the extravagantly planned mergers & acquisitions deal -- er, I mean wedding -- between Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo is off the table. According to Page Six, the pair were planning to marry at Hilfiger's swanky Mustique digs this Friday and follow up with a larger celebration for friends at The Plaza in October. Not anymore!

Sharp-eyed editors at Gawker may have uncovered a sordid sartorial scandal of epic proportions that involves the wardrobe department who worked on Pineapple Express. Turns out the grimy shark-and-kitten T-shirt design James Franco wears through the movie was originally designed Brooklyn T-shirt maker WOWCH and sold at Urban Outfitters a few years back. Did they get credit? Nope! In fact, in an interview, Franco gives credit to some random T-shirt maker. Now, WOWCH is calling bullshit .

Lauren Conrad might never win an Emmy, but at least she'll get to design the dresses worn by the girls who hand the Emmys to the people that do win them! E! Online is reporting that Lauren Conrad and Beyonce's fashion lines will be worn by the models handing out the awards during the Emmy ceremony. Conrad has taken a lot of flack for her fashion line recently. Last month, her collection was dumped by boutique/celeb-magnet Kitson, and was more recently accused of not designing her own collection. Gasp. Conrad is also expected to present an award that night, as long there aren't any dogs in sight.