Hellz Bellz X Vans Release Event NYC

We dropped in to the Hellz Bellz X Vans release event in NYC at Home Studios this past Tuesday and the party was hella out-of-control. They were at capacity before we even got up to the room and we weren’t even late, y’all! Please enjoy some flix we took of the party-goers, including Kerin Rose, one of the bros of Dee and Ricky, Richie Rich (one of the great minds behind Heatherette), and more! We spoke with Miss Lawn of Hellz and Erica Young from Vans for an installment of M.I.S.S. TV, so please stay tuned for the footage while it gets chopped and screwed! Miss Lawn even gave us a clip of her Top Five favorite things right now! In the meantime, please focus on the gorgeousness that is Kerin Rose’s ass …….

Betsy Johnson Retiring Rumors

A few days ago, NY Mag published an interview with Betsey Johnson where the designer alluded to her possible retirement after her September runway show. Ah! What will we do without Betsey?? We know that Betsey is one tough cookie and a trooper – she’s beat breast cancer and continued to work on her eponymous line. So what gives – are the rumors true? And if they are, who will take her place?

The rumor mill has been working overtime on this one – People magazine checked in with the designer herself and she said, “I will never retire while I’ve still got my legs and my make-up box.” Haha, very Betsey. Her company had a more official statement:

With rich history and significant opportunities for future growth, Betsey Johnson wants her brand to live on forever. It is only wise that key management and talent is put in place to secure the continued health of the company for the future. Betsey Johnson will continue to provide creative inspiration and leadership as long as she is with us.

So it looks like Betsey is not leaving … for now, but who will take her place when she does? The first choice is always someone who has worked closely with the designer, in this instance, Eric Santori, the brand’s creative director, with experience designing for Vera Wang, Herve Leger and Azzedine Alaia. But what if they don’t stay within the company? What if they look for new blood? Who will they choose? Here’s my two cents…

When I heard that BJ was possibly retiring, the first person I thought of to take the healm of BJ was Richie Rich. Richie Rich’s penchant for fun, cute, girly design fits perfectly with the Betsey Johnson look. And, with Heatherette no longer taking up much of his time, this would be a great career move to keep him on the up and up.

If not Richie, then who? I thought of two more men – Jeremy Scott and Brian Lichtenberg (who at the M.I.S.S. HQ we call the young Jeremy Scott). Both designers don’t take themselves too seriously and have that “girls just wanna have fun” element to their designs. Would they do it? Jeremy may be too well known for his own designs and may not want to water down his image. Or, he could surprise us…after all, Uncle Karl designs for Chanel, Fendi and his own line – and he makes it all look very easy. This would be a great move for Brian Lichtenberg as he’s not as well known as Jeremy Scott and this would definitely put him on the fashion map.

All of this is just speculation, the last word is that BJ is not going anywhere (yay!). But, we know that she won’t be here forever so it’s a question that will need to be answered sooner or later. I just wonder if doing a cartwheel will be part of the job interview – I hope it is!

. . . but thankfully Richie Rich is still kicking! The last few months have been pretty busy for this glitter-loving, rollerskate-wearing ex-club kid. After losing financial backing for the now-defunct Heatherette, he split with collaborator Traver Rains to do his own thing with his namesake line.

On the eve of his first solo show he sat down with BlackBook to chat about the new line, his love for Marilyn Monroe, the challenges of keeping the clothes “amazing but affordable,” and the demise of Heatherette.

Peep the full article here.

Oh, and he lists a bunch of his favourite New York haunts if you’re keen to get your stalker on!

The former one-half of Heatherette and infamous NYC Club Kid, Richie Rich, will be debuting his solo Fall 09 collection soon. Said to be a collection of more wearable pieces, this line will be marketed to a junior audience with prices starting at $29.99. A smart move in these times. Although considered to be more “wearable” the collection will still be very “Richie Rich”. WWD reports:

…ruffled silk chiffon and silk charmeuse dresses, gaudy lip prints, Keith Haring-inspired graphics and season-defying swimsuits in what Rich calls a “happy palette” of hot pink, neon yellow and robin’s egg blue. (For the more subdued scenester, there are some head-to-toe black looks.) The show will also be the debut of sneakers Rich designed in collaboration with Vans, to be sold for holiday 2009.

Looking forward to what’s to come from the collection…especially the sneakers?!?! Could be interesting!

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Richie Rich keeps his eyes to the sky as he marches down his newly paved path!!! The Ex-Heatherette designer is flying solo, not only for his own fashion line, Rox and Riley, but straight into the Music Biz. Soaring full force, Rich will be dropping his first ever, compilation album, entitled Celebutante! Known as the ‘Club Kid’, he gathers artists to join in his scene including Scissor Sisters, Madonna, and Lil’ Mama . . . just to name a few. Keep a look out for the album that is expected to hit stores in September. But thats not all folks. Richie takes the name, Celebutante, and gives it to his new collection he’s designing, exclusively, for Hot Topic. That’s right! Anticipate it.

Now for his up and coming, shoe line, Rox and Riley, here’s a peak into the line’s launch party:

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