Woody Allen settled American Apparel lawsuit for $5 million, but who won?

This was so not about the money.

Woody "the high rabbi" Allen's image on Billboards in LA and everywhere on the web, media coverage all over the world and people talking for the last 2 years — all for only 5 million bucks? American Apparel got a pretty good deal.

The billboards were tasteless and uninspired — pretty much in keeping with American Apparel's marketing aesthetic — but maybe they'll inspire the V-neck T-shirt and be-legginged set to see "Annie Hall."

See the billboard here: Curbed LA


Read more in the New York Times.

Just say no to buying things off the peg, make a Celia Birtwell bag

Celia Birtwell tells the Observer:

"When we were young we made all our own clothes - always so much more fun than just buying things off the peg. I can't wait to see you all carrying your bags around town - go on, be creative!"

This one is not for the novice crafters out there, stenciling is pretty much a craftastrophe waiting to happen, but it sure was nice of Ms. Birtwell to share this!


Want to give it a try? Read the step-by-step instructions.

King and Queen of Hearts

These lovely new stamps from the US Postal Service may be ordered here.

These make me wish I had more interesting mail to send these days. Hope the electric company digs retro illustration.

The Karl Lagerfeld Principle

Karl Lagerfeld gets it. He knows a very important secret about fashion and how to keep an iconic brand fresh: there is very little difference between young and old. Imagine your favorites from a KL Chanel collection, now imagine them being worn by first, your grandmother and then a subversive teenager. They just work, for both women. This is the magic of Karl Lagerfeld. His act of genius is not creating a collection for two dissimilar women—I maintain that the two have much in common, as I'll explain below—but in understanding their similarities.

What does a "women of a certain age" have in common with disaffected youth? Too much. For starters, no one can tell either of them "no," really, either you wouldn't think to, or it wouldn't matter if you did. Second, these two phases of life are, I think, the two times in a woman's life when she can most easily let herself be free. Without the constraints of a "real" job—neither the Orange Julius nor Junior League count as "real" for my purposes—or family she is free to be, and dress for, herself. Don't like shocking pink, or her careless mix of Mum's good, and bright plastic jewelry? Tough. She's got headphones, or is a wee bit hard of hearing. Furthermore, you're out of her will.

Monsieur could never let Chanel stagnate, his looks are ever-fresh because he understands the fashion-forward qualities of frumpy. A Chanel box coat might be one of those classic pieces that "every woman should own", but it is also one that looks best on the very young or old. Purple high heels, an enormous hat or over-the-top broach all tend to look silly on middle-aged career women.

This is perhaps also true of the iconic fragrance Chanel No. 5, which is as challenging to wear as it is venerable. (Could there be anything worse then smelling like your sweetheart's favorite aunt?) The magic of age can make No. 5 your obvious potion of choice provided you, and your beau, are old or young enough for the fragrance to stand on its own merits.

I can think of no better poster girls for this concept than the Olsen twins. I was tempted to do a little bit of creative Photoshop work on these images to age the girls, but I don't think it's necessary. Do you agree?

In their Jeans?

George Will shares an unpopular truth:

On any American street, or in any airport or mall, you see the same sad tableau: A 10-year-old boy is walking with his father, whose development was evidently arrested when he was that age, judging by his clothes. Father and son are dressed identically—running shoes, T-shirts. And jeans, always jeans.

That's dandy!

If you happen to be in France you must take in the "Dandyisms 1808-2008,
from Barbey d’Aurevilly to Christian Dior" exhibit at the Christian Dior museum in Granville.

If, instead, you find yourself elsewhere—surrounded by chaps stumbling around in cargo shorts, no doubt—read the Independent's report:Suit you, sir: The art of male attire.

Sassy, the Magazine With Sass!

"Feeling Alienated? Make it Work for You!" What a refreshing message to see on the cover of a teen magazine. When Teen and YM were pumping out the same "How to Make Boys Notice You" pre-feminist drivel that girls had been subjected to for years, Sassy had the editorial vision and grrl power to be real, to be smarter than high school.

This is what I love(d) about Sassy, the best thing to happen to the teen magazine, maybe to any magazine, ever. I often wish I could find the magical newsstand, where lost magazines live. "Hey look, there it is, next to Spy." Maybe I'd even discover that Sassy had grown up, just like me. That would be so like her.

Now, I'm not saying there are no current attempts to put out a "women's" magazine for smart people—we have Bust, Bitch, and *sigh* Jane, of course—but none of them come close to Sassy. The distinction between Sassy and some of the above-mentioned pubs is the difference between a "Feminist" magazine and one that is pro-girl. That, and I wonder if any magazine today has the editorial integrity, or the deep-pocket luxury, to put advertisers in their place. Sometimes I miss it so much I think I'm going to be sick.