Photo: Jimmy Choo

Forget Jimmy Choo’s collaboration with H&M. If you’ve been waiting for a Jimmy Choo shoe collection so diverse that it suits a working girl’s work and nightlife needs, you’re in luck.

Jimmy Choo has launched its special Spring 2010 collection, Choo 24:7 just time to keep Choo 24:7 bookmarked and women waiting for the first sign of Spring’s green. The collection has a personal flair courtesy of Tamara Mellon, President of Jimmy Choo, reflective of a diverse selection of heel heights, colors and material, that takes a woman from the workplace to a girls night out in the city 24 hours, 7 days a week.

This part is a PSA for the guys. Girls, skip to the next line. If you’re clueless about a present for your girlfriend, wife, sister, mother, platonic female friend, Jimmy Choo enthusiast come Valentines Day, something from Choo 24:7 is a sure bet. Trust me.

The retail sector since the housing crash has seen its share of see-sawing but as the folks at Charles Schwab attest with their latest commercial, “Without Investors There is No Industry, Economy, Jobs, Growth.” Swing the propaganda over to the Fashion industry, and it’s hard to rebuke the facts. Christian LaCroix, Saks 5th Ave and their brush with bankruptcy, and Chanel have experienced their fair share of scares this past year.

Add Barneys to the list of distressed retailers.

Billionaire Ron Burkle’s investment firm Yucaipa Cos. has offered $50 million, that would allow Yucaipa Cos. to attain a 80% controlling stake in Barneys New York buttressed by last year’s significant purchase of Barneys’ debt via Citigroup Inc. for 60 cents on the dollar.

But, Barneys’ worries are far from over after financing companies dealing with Barneys’ shipments cut ties that provided shipment from designers to manufacturers. How does one alleviate the animosity? With more money.

In long term equilibrium, firms earn zero economic profit because of the free entry into the industry. In other words, eventually Barneys will cease to exist. How long the department store chain can survive remains to be seen.

Brittany Murphy was rushed to Cedars Sinai Medical Center today and was pronounced dead on arrival at the young age of 32 after a purported cardiac arrest. We all fell in love with her in Clueless and even 8-Mile (admit it) but another celebrity death at such a young age has to unseat us from our high horses and make us come to grips with our own mortality. It’s an unsettling year for celebrities.

-Alber Elbaz at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Gala

Model Daul Kim was found dead in her Paris apartment this morning from an apparent suicide, her agents at Next confirmed. Her agents released the following statement. “She was a top model and a great friend to all of us at Next. Please respect her family’s privacy at this time of sadness. We will all miss her very much.”

Her final blogpost was entitled “Say hi to forever.” She was 20-years-old.

On Friday, Forever 21 will be welcoming a new magazine department in their retail empire, following in the footsteps of its competitor, H&M. According to Nitrolicious, “Each issue will include two to three features, a fashion gallery of looks with styling tips, coverage of trends available at Forever 21, street style, makeup and beauty tutorials, a lifestyle section including the latest in books/art/music, coverage of noteworthy Forever 21 collaborations, and an interview with a notable VIP.”

Check out the exclusive on the first issue of Forever 21 above.

Photo: Purple-diary.com

On a more highbrow note, Chanel has plans to diversify on the Forever 21 and H&M front. Chanel’s magazine, 31 Rue Cambon, (above) takes its title from the location of its first Chanel boutique in Paris.

According to Olivier Zahm, “This is the first issue of 31 Rue Cambon, the first Chanel magazine which I have art directed and designed for Karl Lagerfeld, to be distributed worldwide in all the Chanel stores.”

As though the power and picture perfect couple needs more on their schedule on top of six children, paparazzi, acting, and philanthropy, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, under wraps until yesterday, are officially designers of high-end jewelry in collaboration with Asprey.

The couple will debut a limited edition collection of gold and silvery jewelry named “The Protector.” Why “The Protector”? According to Jolie, she has a special place in her heart for snakes. This time, there is a logical reason behind her fascination. When she was pregnant with her first biological daughter, Shiloh, the actress was given a snake ring – the symbol of protection for her family.

Proceeds from the collection will benefit the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, founded by Jolie. The charity’s funds will provide schooling for children who were victims of war, conflict and natural disasters.

The Asprey collection begins at $525. [WWD]

2. Save Luella! [Fashionista]

3. Emanuel Ungaro has dug his own grave. The label was just dropped by Neiman Marcus and Net-A-Porter. Outside of his own stores and Vivaldi, the label cannot be found. By this rate Ungaro will turn into a novelty item. [Style.com]

4. Rumor has it Ashley Simpson may be on Vogue. But, that’s not why she appears in retail news. She’s aiming high with preppy-punk designs brought to you by the ex-Melrose Place actress – sign of a girl with too much time on her hands. [Hollyscoop]

5. Despite losses in Q1 and Q2, Bulgari sees $10 million Q3 profits. Oh joy! [WWD]

6. Zero+Maria Cornejo will debut a full menswear collection for the spring. [Racked]

7. It’s time to rack up the flights to Finland. Trade in your Finnair airline frequent-flier miles for plastic surgery. Your eyes aren’t decieving you. We said plastic surgery. [Allure]

If you have $1195 – $1795 on hand and Christmas spirit to boot, YSL will be offering customers in New York and Los Angeles the chance to customize their very own Roady, with professionals aiding in the assembly of each bag. What services will YSL offer? Monogrammed initials, a personal message (if you’re in the mood for giving), a choice among 29 (exotic animal skin) handles of limited quantity and an assortment of colors.

Run to your nearest YSL boutique between November 19 and December 1st before supplies run out.

NY Address:
855 Madison Avenue
1.212.988.3821

3 East 57th Street
# 1.212.980.2970

LA Address:
326 North Rodeo Drive
#1.310.271.4110