Fashion News: America's Next Top Model Promo Picture

Season 11 of Tyra Banks hit show, America's Next Top Model, returns early next month with this promotional picture being released. A little over the top, no?

Repose en paix Yves Saint Laurent

Legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent passed away on Sunday. The 71-year-old French designer who had been battling brain cancer, died in his home in Paris. Saint Laurent created his own label, YSL, in 1962 and is credited with creating numerous iconic fashion trends such as Le Smoking suit. You will be missed Yves, rest in peace.

Fashion News: Nicole Richie to Design Maternity Line

Fashionista Nicole Richie has a new project, designing a maternity clothing line. The style maven told WWD that the design house’s creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere is the main inspiration behind the fashion-forward line. “I wore so much Balenciaga during my pregnancy,” she reveals, including the brand’s motorcycle leggings and scarves. “My line will be about making women look and feel good at a really emotional time. It’s about showing your best self, not your tired, worn-down self,” the seemingly inexhaustible mom reveals.

Source: People

Fashion News: Richard Chai for Target

Target has just announced their twelfth GO International designer: Richard Chai.
The Korean-American designer is known for his minimalist sensibility, and his fashion résumé is endless — he's done everything from helping launch the Marc by Marc Jacobs line to interning for Oscar de la Renta and Dior. It should be exciting to see Chai's creations on Target shelves come August!

Fashion News: Whitney Port Launches Eve & A

Uber-Fashionista (and Rich Girl Favorite) Whitney Port of The Hills fame, is branching out and using her fashion expertise to start a fashion line. WWD reports that Whitney is launching her own line, to be called Eve & A, a collection that will consist of seventeen pieces, mostly partywear. The line premieres in LA this weekend, but I'm sure we'll see it on Whitney herself when The Hills comes back to life later this month.

Fashion News: Project Runway Finale + Interview with Christian

Rich Girl is a huge fan of Project Runway. In case you missed last nights finale, fierce designer Christian Siriano took the title. Here is more from his interview with People earlier today:

Congratulations on winning! Earlier, you won the audience award. Did you expect to win that title?

I was a little surprised. I knew I was up there just because my sassy commentary. Don’t get me wrong! I have lots of MySpace friends. I [thought] it was going to be me or Chris or Sweet P . . . I’m glad people don’t think I’m a sassy diva. I’m nice, and I love people. I just like to be sassy and funny. I know I made a lot of comments, but you know, every comment I made [about another designer], you heard it from the judges! So, I wasn’t worried.

A lot has been made of your age and you being the youngest Project Runway winner. Do you think that ever overshadows your work?

The fact that I am young is wonderful because a lot of young designers and people who watch the show are really supportive . . . I’m glad I can be a mentor for them. But in general, yes, my age comes up a lot. But as you can see on the show, age has nothing to do with it. Jillian’s 26 — and Sweet P’s 46 . . . Even though they’re successful, [it] doesn’t mean that I can’t be as successful even though I don’t have as much so-called experience. I don’t want people to think my age hinders me . . . [And] I forget how old I am sometimes. I’m kind of like, “Oh, I am still really young.”

It was a really authentic moment when you cried on the runway. Do you think it changed people’s perception of you?

I’m glad I got to show my emotions on the stage and in front of people because I’ve been sassy and really confident the whole season. I always say that Project Runway is my game; I can sew fast and be creative quickly. But Jillian and Rami had a long time to work [so for the first time, I was] Competing with people who had more time to do their work . . . I was exhausted. It was such a long day . . . [Standing there] I was confident. I thought my collection was really amazing and obviously the crowd loved it at the show . . . During the judging, the comments were amazing. I was so emotional because I was like, “Oh my god, what if I win? This is going to change my life.”

So, besides you, which of the other finalists deserved to win?

That’s easy. Jillian would have deserved to win just for the mere fact that she’s technically amazing and creative. I love her pieces. If I was a woman I would wear them. Don’t get me wrong, I might wear some of the jackets anyway . . . Rami’s successful. He has a business. He’s had it for years. He has dressed more celebrities than I can count on two hands, so I don’t really feel that [the title] was really that beneficial for him.

Victoria Beckham loved your collection. Have you two been in touch? Are you really going to design for her?

I’ll be seeing her next week, so I made her a few dresses. Hopefully she likes them, so we’ll see how it goes. I really don’t think I could have picked at this point a better judge and a better, fabulous person to dress and be in that moment with me. It was just perfect. After the filming, we chatted and she really said some amazing things. And it’s such an honor because she can wear any designer she wants.

Of course, you’re now $100,000 richer. What are you going to do with the money? And what’s next for you?

I’m definitely buying a bed. That will be the first purchase. But honestly I’m working very hard. I’m going to show next season at [Fashion Week] in the tents again. I have some sponsors . . . I really want to go more of a high fashion route. I want to be in high-end stores. I do want to do more wearable pieces that are more sellable and do something fun with another designer or another celebrity, but that will come maybe a little later — unless something comes up right away. Who knows? Maybe Victoria Beckham will ask me to work for her new label. You never know.