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Rebecca Minkoff Named Contributing Editor at InStyle

women Oct 18, 2012

Rebecca Minkoff's New Job, The Row's Innovative Award, and Prada's Next Location

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

by Justin Fenner

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

Rebecca Minkoff is now moonlighting as a contributing editor for InStyle. She'll write an advice column called Ask a Designer for the magazine over the next six months. [WWD]
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's label The Row has been named one of WSJ. Magazine's Innovators of the Year. "The twin designers display an eye for nearly monastic classicism that's redefining American luxury," the magazine says. [Fashionologie Inbox]
McDonald's is suing the city of Milan, claiming it was forced out of its location there to make way for a Prada store. [Vogue UK]
The massive $20 million class action suit between models and a variety of New York modeling agencies isn't the industry's only big court case. Ford has sued Women Model Management for "poaching" two of its rising stars, Alana Zimmer and Karolina Waz. [NY Post]
In other courtroom news, a lawsuit has exposed the "Aircraft Standards" to which the male stewards on Abercrombie CEO Michael Jeffries's private jet must adhere. The guys on Jeffries's flight staff must wear flip-flops, pop the collars of their polo shirts, and always respond to requests from the boss with "No problem." [Bloomberg]
A few British tabloids have reported that Ben Stiller offered Lady Gaga some $5 million to appear in the sequel to his seminal '90s modeling comedy Zoolander. [Fashionista]
Lovers of colorful staple pieces, rejoice! Uniqlo will debut its online store next week. [The Cut]

Models Sue New York Agencies for $20 Million

Ford Oct 18, 2012

Sketchy Deal: Inside New York's $20 Million Model Agency Lawsuit

Some of New York's top modeling agencies are named in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit that alleges they've used shady accounting practices to hold onto money they should have paid their models.

by Justin Fenner

Some of New York's top modeling agencies are named in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit that alleges they've used shady accounting practices to hold onto money they should have paid their models.

A group of models claiming that Ford, Wilhelmina, Elite, and Women, among others — as well as brands like L'Oréal, Aveda, and Revlon — have withheld hefty portions of their royalties. Louisa Raske, a model who appeared on the May/June 2005 cover of Brides, at left, is leading the class action suit and seeks $20 million in damages. Her 19-page summons claims that these agencies commonly work on the models' behalf without the models knowing it, and arrange deals "as if the modeling agencies had contacted the models and had the legal authority to execute the documents."

The suit goes on to say that "since the models are unaware of the extended/expanded usages for which the modeling agencies have negotiated and received payment on their behalf . . . the models never demand or receive payment, and at the very least, the modeling agencies are unjustly enriched by the models' funds."

Raske's suit also claims that in a similar case decided in 2005, some models were told they would "never again model in New York" if they sued their agencies. The models in that case won a $22 million settlement.

Representatives for Ford and Wilhelmina did not respond to requests for comment on this post. But Susan Scafidi, founder of the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University and a board member of the Model Alliance, told us that model payment has been an issue for quite some time.

"Models have repeatedly expressed concern about lack of transparency in agency accounting practices," Scafidi said in an email. "While some agencies are more conscientious and professional than others, a lawsuit was perhaps inevitable — though the scale of this one is quite dramatic."

A full list of the defendants in this case can be found below.

Modeling Agencies:

Next Management LLC
Wilhelmina Models Inc.
Wilhelmina International Ltd.
Ford Models Inc.
Elite Model Management — New York LLC
DNA Model Management LLC
IMG Models Inc.
Trump Model Management LLC
MC2 dba aka Karin Models of New York LLC
Major Model Management Inc.
Silent Models LLC
Fusion Model Management Inc.
Marilyn Model Management Inc.
1 Management LLC
Red Model Management Inc.
Request Model Management Inc.
Supreme Model Management LLC
VNY Model Management Inc.
Men Women NY Model Management Inc.
APM Models Inc.
Q Model Management dba aka New York Model Management Inc.
Click Model Management Inc.
S Model Management LLC
Elite Model Management Corporation
NYC Management Group Inc.

Advertising Agencies:

McCann-Erickson USA Inc.
McCann-Erickson Corporation
Ogilvy + Mather Partners Inc.
Publicis Inc.
JWT LLC
Laird + Partners New York LLC
Leo Burnett Company Inc.
Saatchi + Saatchi North America Inc.
Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners Inc.

Beauty Brands:

L'Oréal USA Inc.
Revlon Inc.
Garnier LLC
Coty Inc.
Aveda Corporation
Sephora USA Inc.
Maybelline LLC.

women Sep 05, 2012

Spring 2013 Catwalkers: The Show Packages, Revealed!

The frenzy of Spring 2013 Fashion Week has barely just begun, but for models, bookers, and casting agents, the flurry of the season has been going strong for weeks.

by Christina Perez

The frenzy of Spring 2013 Fashion Week has barely just begun, but for models, bookers, and casting agents, the flurry of the season has been going strong for weeks.

Nowhere is there more evidence of that than in the season's show packages. Those glorious sets of model cards that each agency meticulously selects and designs — often with the help of a talented artist or graphic illustrator — to showcase who among their roster of girls will be available to walk the shows. The packages go out weeks before the presentations start, and not only do they serve as a way to introduce new models, they also set the tone for the whole season.

So which among them are our favorites for Spring 2013? Well, there's the quirky take on patriotism from One Model Management, the brightly hued, bloom-filled offering from Trump, and a whimsically drawn selection from IMG — complete with video featuring the contributing artist, Danny Roberts — for starters.

A peek at all those — plus the packs from Marilyn, Fusion, and more — here in the slideshow.

View 386 Photos

Geek Shot Sep 27, 2011

Geek Shot: Legoland Gets a New Car

Ford rolled out its first Legoland Florida Edition Explorer SUV yesterday, which was built using 382,858 Lego bricks.

by POPSUGAR Tech

Ford rolled out its first Legoland Florida Edition Explorer SUV yesterday, which was built using 382,858 Lego bricks. The car is set to be on display at the soon-to-be-opened Legoland Florida theme park.

View 5 Photos

News Jun 08, 2010

Send Google Maps Directions Right to Your Car

Who needs a dedicated GPS system when you've got Google Maps?

by POPSUGAR Tech

Who needs a dedicated GPS system when you've got Google Maps? Ford just announced its plans to add Google Maps to the Sync system inside Ford vehicles. The update, called Send to Sync, will allow drivers to find directions on their home computers or smartphones and send them directly to their car. The technology is expected to be available by July 1 for 2010 and 2011 models equipped with Sync.

But Google Maps isn't the first geeky update for Ford. Find out what other tech is heading inside the cars when you read more.

WiFi Dec 21, 2009

Daily Tech: Ford Cars to Become WiFi Hot Spots

Ford cars to become WiFi hot spots — CNET Apple becomes SNL punchline over iPhone network coverage — Apple Insider Barnes & Noble compensates buyers for late Nook — Reuters FTC complaint says Facebook's privacy changes are deceptive — Ars Technica Replacing a broken Macbook screen on the cheap — Unplggd Maine to consider cancer warnings on cell phones — Crave Harlequin brings romance to the world of gaming — Popgadget

by POPSUGAR Tech

Ford cars to become WiFi hot spots — CNET
Apple becomes SNL punchline over iPhone network coverage — Apple Insider
Barnes & Noble compensates buyers for late Nook — Reuters
FTC complaint says Facebook's privacy changes are deceptive — Ars Technica
Replacing a broken Macbook screen on the cheap — Unplggd
Maine to consider cancer warnings on cell phones — Crave
Harlequin brings romance to the world of gaming — Popgadget

News Dec 10, 2008

Local Ford Dealer Blasts Americans Who Buy Toyotas

A South Carolina Ford dealer wants Americans to put the brakes on buying foreign cars, and he's using the radio to accelerate the spread of this message.

by LibertySugar

A South Carolina Ford dealer wants Americans to put the brakes on buying foreign cars, and he's using the radio to accelerate the spread of this message. In a controversial ad the local dealer chastises Toyota customers saying:

All you people that buy all your Toyotas and send that money to Japan, you know, when you don't have a job to make your Toyota car payment, don't come crying to me. All those cars are rice ready. They're not road ready.

Since he began running the ad, the Ford dealer said he's experienced a boom in business and positive feedback. But not everyone's excited about the controversial ad, claiming that it reeks of racist undertones. Besides, 60 percent of Toyotas sold in the US were in fact made in America, according to the Japanese company.

Even if the radio ad wasn't the most tasteful marketing pitch, do you think Americans have an obligation to buy American brands, or do the car companies have an obligation to produce something Americans want to buy?

Source

Eco Sep 19, 2008

A Car That Gets 65 Miles Per Gallon?! Not in the US

Picture this: a brand-new, five-seat compact car, complete with a navigation system, gas mileage up to 65 miles per gallon, and a $1,300 tax deduction with purchase.

by LibertySugar

Picture this: a brand-new, five-seat compact car, complete with a navigation system, gas mileage up to 65 miles per gallon, and a $1,300 tax deduction with purchase. Are you ready to buy? Well you'll have to move to Europe first!

High oil prices mean that Americans are hungry for more gas-efficient cars. But, the new Ford ECOnetic Fiesta,, which runs on diesel, will not be offered to the American driver. To find out why diesel is a deal breaker, read more

Humor Mar 19, 2008

Slogan. Write One.

So Ford Motors just spent several months (and I'm sure several million dollars) coming up with the following campaign slogan: "Ford.

by GiggleSugar

So Ford Motors just spent several months (and I'm sure several million dollars) coming up with the following campaign slogan: "Ford. Drive One." Hmmm. Is it just me, or is this ad a little, oh, I don't know. . . LAME?! So we had a little fun over here and came up with our own slogans for everyday activities. Won't you join the fun by adding your own in the comments section?