Melania Trump Wears Stella McCartney Coat to Turkey Pardoning Ceremony [InStyle]
If there’s a hidden message in Melania Trump’s First Lady wardrobe, her decision to wear a Stella McCartney coat to Tuesday’s Turkey Pardoning Ceremony at the White House was one in support of animals. McCartney is an outspoken animal rights activist (not to mention, vegetarian), and has pledged her commitment to cruelty-free products since the early days of her label, and does not use fur, leather, feathers or unethically sourced wool in any of her products. Earlier this year, Trump herself revealed that she would no longer wear fur. Leather, on the other hand, is not off the table. The First Lady paired her floral brocade coat with a leather skirt by her stylist/designer, Herve Pierre.
J. Crew to Close 39 Stores As Sales Continue to Slip [CNN Money]
Amidst continuously falling sales, J. Crew has announced that it will be closing 39 stores by the end of January — double the number that it had previously planned to close. Sales were down 12 percent in the most recent quarter, compared to 9 percent at the same time last year. Chief operating officer Mike Nicholson said that the store closures were part of the company’s plan to convert to a “digital first” operation.
Opening Ceremony to Host Dance-a-Thon Fundraiser for Democratic Candidates [Pret-a-Reporter Inbox]
Opening Ceremony is hosting a dance-a-thon titled “Dance Left” to raise funds for Swing Left, an organization that is working to help Democratic candidates take back the majority in the House in the 2018 midterm elections. Tickets for the event, which will take place on Dec. 2 at Spring Studios in NYC, are now available for $75 each; supporters who are unable to attend can also send donations. Mark Ronson will play DJ at the dance-a-thon, and hosts will include designers Carol Lim and Humberto Leon as well as their celeb pals Natasha Lyonne, Chloe Sevigny, Whoopi Goldberg, Fred Armisen and more. Each participant will also be entered into raffles throughout the evening.
Russell Westbrook’s Unisex Fashion Label Honor the Gift Is Now Available [Pret-a-Reporter Inbox]
Russell Westbrook, basketball phenom-turned-fashion icon, has launched his very own label. The brand, called Honor the Gift, just released its debut collection which includes unisex tees, pants, outerwear and accessories “inspired by 1990’s youth and a presence of danger.” Collection 001 is now available for purchase online and is priced from $24 (for socks) to $90 (for a hoodie).
