YStyle Picks

New York minute

MANILA, Philippines - Regardless of whether or not you’re looking forward to a teen Carrie Bradshaw’s fictional life unfold on TV (along with the annoyingly repetitive promotional teasers on the ETC channel), there was a bit of a surprise during its pilot episode. Earlier this week, milliner and YStyle columnist Mich Dulce posted on her Facebook page, “Larissa Loughlin (left) wears #MichDulce #millinery on #TheCarrieDiaries pilot episode last night.” In The Carrie Diaries, Loughlin plays a “free-spirited, outgoing style editor at Interview magazine, who introduces” the 16-year-old Carrie (Anna Sophia Robb) to a “world she’s only dreamt of.”

Comeback kid

Uh-oh. Looks like Sasha Pivovarova’s career is in trouble. The Russian model’s career curiously skyrocketed after her doppelgänger, Australian former supermodel Gemma Ward, retired five years ago. Tons of explanations were offered for her early retirement: she wanted to pursue acting, she gained weight, she became severely depressed after her alleged beau Heath Ledger’s overdose in 2008. That all seems to be behind her because Aussie fashion blog Frockwriter.com wrote last week, “As confirmed by IMG Models Australia to frockwriter (sic) on Tuesday morning, Ward has signed with the agency.” According to the agency’s general manager Danielle Ragenard, “She’s an Australian girl and this is an important marker for her. And she’s looking at everything IMG can offer.” Looks like Ward was missed dearly. “Nobody looked like Gemma, she was a one-off,” W magazine’s fashion and style director Edward Enninful tweeted last month. “I wish Gemma Ward was still modeling! (sic)” Poor, poor Sasha.

Leveling up

After years of legal disputes between Harry Winston’s two sons, Ronald and Bruce, which negatively affected the company’s image and net worth, things seem to be looking up by way of an unlikely buyer: The Swatch Group. Already the world’s biggest watchmaker by sales, thanks to their iconic plastic watches, Swatch acquired the luxury diamond jewelry and timepiece retail business for $750 million and agreed to absorb the company’s $250 million debt, according to Forbes.com. The Swatch Group also owns luxury watch brand Omega. With the sale of its retail business, the Canadian Harry Winston Diamond Corp. will focus solely on the diamond mining and distribution business. “Harry Winston does brilliantly complement the prestige segment of the Group,” said Nayla Hayek, chairwoman of The Swatch Group Ltd. in a separate statement. “We are proud and happy to welcome Harry Winston to the Swatch Group family — diamonds are still a girl’s best friend.”

Coming up next

François-Henri Pinault’s multinational company PPR has official bought a 51 percent majority stake in Scottish designer Christopher Kane’s eponymous label. “Christopher Kane is already established as a luxury label and has a tremendous intrinsic growth potential,” said Pinault in a statement. “We thus have great ambitions for the brand and will enable it to benefit from our expertise and know-how while providing the space for it to further develop its own creative identity.” Kane recently parted ways with the Versace Group after working on Donatella’s Versus line for three years in order to focus on his own line. “Our long-term ambition for the company is obviously to grow it into a globally recognized brand,” Kane said. “We do not plan to make any immediate or major changes to the way that the business is currently managed. All growth will be gradual and organic.”

Socks with kicks

Keds recently unveiled its limited-edition collaboration with Stockholm-based Happy Socks. The team-up was inspired by Happy Socks’ whimsical style and Keds’ undeniably American spirit, featuring red, white and blue polka dots from heel to toe — creating a fresh and vibrant spin on the Keds classic Champion sneakers. Each pair of shoes will be coupled with an exclusive set of limited-edition striped Happy Socks in a custom Keds and Happy Socks designed box. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Happy Socks,” said Donnie Brooks, director of product for Keds. “Both brands embody a sense of fun, and that’s exactly the word that comes to mind when thinking about this collaboration.” From designing the shoes, to creating the perfect complementing socks down to the packaging — who says you can’t rock dots and stripes together?