THE ABCS - Fashion Weekly

September 

Issue # 22 

THE ABC S 

FALL MAKEUP TRENDS: 

WHAT’S HOT FOR THE NEW SEASON 

SWAP WITH LOVE: 

THE NEW WAY 

TO UPDATE 

YOUR WARDROBE!

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Farhan Zaidi (farhan@fashweekly.com) 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sakina Khawaja (sakina@fashweekly.com) 

EDITOR Lora Maghanoy (editor@fashweekly.com) 

WEB DEVELOPER Mohsin Khurshid (web@fashweekly.com) 

GRAPHICS AND LAYOUT Olga Siniakov (design@fashweekly.com) 

PHOTOGRAPHY FW Staff 

EDITORIAL Souzan Michael, Gemma Gadher, Vanessa Manno 

(editorial@fashweekly.com) 

PHOTOSHOOT FW Staff (pr@fashweekly.com)

09 

03 - 04 

05 - 06 

07 - 08 

09 - 14 

15 - 17 

18 - 20 

AT HOME 

Bathroom Chick: 

Tips and Tricks to Update 

your Bathroom this Season 

BEHIND THE WHEEL 

Recession? 

No Reason To Stop 

Being Fabulous 

CITY CHICK 

Swap, dont shop! 

INTERNATIONAL 

STYLE 

Fashion Finals: 

Everything you want to know 

about the Fashion World 

YOURE BODY, 

YOUR BEAUTY 

Fall’s best beauty trends 

CELEB BUZZ 

Celebrity gossip & the media 

FASHION WEEKLY. STYLE YOUR LIFE. 

Fashion Weekly (FW) founded in 2008 is the birth of a brand new concept 

that is unlike any other fashion publication to date. Offered on a weekly 

basis, we are consistently up-to-date on all the latest news in the fashion 

and lifestyle world. We focus on delivering the best coverage on the ‘tres 

magnifique’ trends worldwide as well as right here in our glamorous and 

eclectic city of Toronto. 

FW is your credible source for all things style related. We are dedicated 

to offering you, our readers, the very best in fashion, homes, health and 

beauty, travel and much more– making it easy for you to ‘style your 

life.’ 

Fashion Weekly covers a wide range of subject matter that is relevant to 

a wide demographic – reporting on stories that originate right here at 

home and around the world. With a group of dynamic and fresh minds 

at work, our staff guarantees to offer you a glimpse into the chic world of 

fashion and lifestyle every week and keep you wanting more every time! 

www.fashweekly.com

03 |AT HOME 04 |AT HOME 

Bathroom Chic: 

Tips and Tricks to Update your Bathroom this Season 

By: Souzan Michael, FW Writer 

Do you dream about a heavenly 

bathroom equipped with everything 

from trendy light fixtures to elegant 

flooring? With these tips, you can turn 

your bathroom into a stylish haven 

that will leave all your friends and 

guests green with envy. 

Use your space wisely: 

Don’t have a lot of room? Invest in a tall 

storage cabinet to use less floor space while 

maximizing your storage area. Perhaps the 

trendiest thing you can do in any room in 

your home this fall is make the most of what 

you have. With that being said, if you are 

fortunate enough to have tons of space to 

work with, take advantage of it and indulge 

in a bathroom that resembles a spa or a 

living room, complete with a television, 

exercise equipment, and even a fireplace. 

Depending on the size of your bathroom, 

sometimes less is not more. 

Select the right flooring: 

It’s no secret that durable and water-resistant 

tiles are needed for any bathroom. Marble, 

ceramic, and stone tiles are all great choices. 

The fun part is picking colours and styles to 

suit your personal taste. For a classic look, 

choose black and white square tiles. For 

a softer look, floral tiles in pastel colours 

like pink and baby blue are an option. 

Experiment with shapes, colours, and sizes 

to find the perfect floor for your bathroom. 

The double sink: 

Most hotels offer two sinks in the bathroom for added 

comfort and style, and now you can experience the same 

elegance at home! For those who have enough counter 

space to try out this trend, you will not be disappointed. 

With two separate sinks, expect less clutter and more 

importantly, less time spent waiting to get ready in the 

morning! Of course, you would also need to invest in 

‘His’ and ‘Hers” towels. 

Mirror images: 

Choosing the right mirror is 

a crucial part of renovating a 

bathroom. A unique framed 

mirror is memorable and adds 

warmth to any room. A make-up 

mirror is an obvious necessity 

in a bathroom and can be a great 

addition to your space (they’re 

also practical – many now come 

with heaters behind the mirror 

to ensure they never steam up!), 

but make sure a beautiful framed 

mirror is the main focus. A full 

length mirror is another great 

idea, as it keeps your bathroom 

looking bright by reflecting light 

around the room. 

Candles galore: 

By far the most relaxing time you 

spend in your bathroom is in the 

tub surrounded by candles after 

a long day at work. To reward 

yourself, fill your bathroom with 

candles in every shape and colour 

imaginable. Sometimes, you just 

can’t have too much of a good 

thing. 

Don’t underestimate the 

importance of a bathtub: 

A classic claw foot tub acts as a stylish accessory and adds a touch 

of glamour and luxury to any space. However, when deciding to 

replace your existing bathtub with a claw foot tub, keep in mind 

that a claw foot is harder to clean (they tend to be higher and you 

have to clean underneath them). But if you dream of a bathroom 

with a vintage feel, this tub is an absolute must. 

The sound of music: 

Last but certainly not least, you 

may want to look into installing 

surround sound in your bathroom. While this may seem like an over-indulgence, you won’t regret it when you 

settle into your tub and turn on some relaxing music. After all, if you’re going to have candles everywhere, a 

soothing soundtrack is the logical next step. 

With those tips, it’s time to start planning for the bathroom you’ve always dreamed of!

05 |BEHIND THE WHEEL 

$ 

R E C E S S I O N ? 

NO REASON TO STOP BEING FABULOUS 

$ 

$ 

FROM LUXURY CARS TO LUXURY 

FASHION HOUSES, HIGH-END BRANDS 

CONTINUE TO SURVIVE DESPITE THE SHAKY 

ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT. 

The world economy continues to struggle and consumer behaviours remain unsteady… yet Armani 

continues to launch an expensive new campaign with the Beckhams, and Mercedez-Benz decided to launch its 

2009 Mayback in the US with a price tag of about $330, 000. What exactly are these luxury retailers doing to stay 

afloat? Are these companies truly confident in the marketplace, or are they choosing to ignore the headlines and 

bank on the fact these business plans will produce real returns in the months ahead? 

One way that luxury brands are continuing to push ahead is by shrewdly tailoring their products, pricing, 

and appeals to reflect aspects of what might be called ‘the New Sobriety.’ For example, more and more luxury car 

brands, such as Lexus and BMW, are promoting their “certified pre-owned” vehicle programs which recondition 

used cars, put a warranty on them, and offer the same appeal of a brand spanking-new product to consumers who 

don’t mind paying several thousand dollars less to fulfill their vehicular dreams. Louis Vuitton has also been 

promoting “junior” leather goods and other items at Neiman Marcus department stores. 

By: Gemma Gadher, FW Writer 

06 |BEHIND THE WHEEL 

Other strategies that luxury brands are using include promoting luxury goods as wise investments instead 

of expenses, or using “available luxury” approaches as Louis Vuitton does by offering smaller (and therefore less 

expensive) items. Giving away products to corporate events, or being the “official” brand at large sporting and 

entertainment venues is another strategy being used – described as “targeted luxury.” Since luxury brands aren’t 

able to put out mass offers, they need to work harder using targeting tactics. 

Despite the above strategies, some luxury brands are going back to what they do best. The tried tested and 

true method of appealing to refined tastes and matching egos of the most upscale customers. Luxury watch brand 

Patek Phillipe has done this, and has seen sales increases in certain retailers. Mercedez-Benz and other “uberpremium” 

automobile companies have done the same thing. 

“When it comes down to it, 

a huge reason why 

luxury retailers continue 

to fare well is due to the big 

money consumers.” 

When it comes down to it, a huge reason why luxury retailers continue to fare well is due to the big money 

consumers. Consulting firm Prince & Associates has stated that consumers worth more than $10 million in assets 

planned to increase spending on luxury goods in 2009, while those with less would cut back. These $10M-plus 

consumers do not shop at shopping malls and are truly the people who keep the luxury industries afloat. While the 

population of the elite is small, luxury retailers do require fewer sales on products to remain profitable because of 

the large price tag on each one. 

Consumers not in this income level are resorting to indulging in smaller areas in their lives such as 

premium chocolate, which is growing at 5 times the rate of regular confectionary. I myself unfortunately am not 

part of this elite ten million dollar club. Like most consumers in my tax bracket I will be sticking to craigslist and 

eBay for my luxury purchases in the near future 

Where craftsmanship, passion and technology blend together... 

P R I N T W O R K S 

730 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4Y 2B7/ 416.920.4114

07 |CITY CHICK 08 |CITY CHICK 

Swap, 

DON T SHOP! 

ON AUGUST 15TH, 

HUNDREDS OF 

FASHIONISTAS ON A 

BUDGET HEADED OVER TO 

BELLEVUE AVE. IN TORONTO 

TO INDULGE IN THE 

ULTIMATE FANTASY: 

SHOPPING 

FOR FREE! 

…WELL KIND OF. 

By: Gemma Gadher, FW Writer 

This date marked the one year “Swap-tacular Swapiversary” clothing swap party where shoppers were 

able to bring in clothing they no longer wear, and pick up some items for themselves. This event was a great 

way to upgrade fall wardrobes and to help a great charity- all of the unclaimed clothing at the end of the day was 

donated to various charities in need. 

While in the past the event included clothing articles only, this time around people were able bring in 

accessories and shoes (I may have walked away with two new pairs). Miss Cora’s Kitchen provided delicious 

treats, and there were also plenty of door prizes courtesy of Fresh, Hempress, Earthly Paradise, Gardens & 

Botanicals and lots more. 

I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I arrived. Once I got there I was asked to put my (overflowing) 

bag of clothes into the back room when volunteers were sorting to place on the different tables. After that it was 

essentially a free-for-all of excited shoppers walking around, trying to find that special top, or brand new belt that 

would complete a new fall outfit. One of the most interesting elements to this event was the fact that they had a 

list of workshops available for anyone to attend. The schedule looked a little something like this: 

12:30pm 

1pm 

2pm 

2:30pm 

Shibori Fabric Dying with Christine of Hempress 

Here, we learned the traditional Japanese tie-dying art, using all-natural food-based dyes 

Alterations 101 with Angela 

Here we found out how to save money by doing our own basic mending and alterations- 

this one was my favourite! 

Top 10 Styling Tips for Men & Women with Carlton, 

a professional image consultant 

Lots of shoppers were able to discover new ways to bring life to existing wardrobes 

Make Your Own Moth Bag with Emily 

This one speaks for itself, and was definitely interesting! 

This was a fantastic event for either people who don’t want to spend a lot on a new wardrobe, or simply 

have too many clothes and would like to rotate a few items! To sign up for the mailing list to ensure you don’t 

miss the next one, send an email to swapdontshop@gmail.com.

09 |INTERNATIONAL STYLE 

Fashion Finals: 

Everything you want to know about 

the Fashion World By: Souzan Michael, FW Writer 

To mark the beginning of the fall season and 

for many of us, the beginning of another school 

year, I present you with the ABC’s of summer 

and fall fashion. 

Anna Wintour: 

Legendary Editor-in-Chief of Vogue allows 

cameras to follow her as she prepares for the 

September 2008 issue of the magazine. The 

documentary, opening August 28th in New York 

and September 11th in Los Angeles and other 

select cities, tells the story of 

Anna Wintour’s rise to success 

and gives audiences a behindthe-scenes 

look at the making 

of Vogue’s September issue. 

Betsey Johnson 

not retiring: 

Word on the street earlier this summer was that legendary 

designer Betsey Johnson is planning to retire after her 

September runway show. Thankfully, the rumours are not 

true. Johnson told People magazine “I will never retire 

while I’ve still got my legs and my make-up box.” 

cDFA/Vogue 

Fashion Fund finalists 

announced: 

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue 

have announced the ten finalists for the CDFA/Vogue 

Fashion Fund, who will compete for cash prizes and 

exclusive mentoring from industry insiders. The winner 

will be announced on November 16th. 

Diane Von 

Furstenberg: 

Have you ever wondered what world-famous designers 

are thinking after they put on a show or attend a glamorous 

event? Legendary designer Diane von Furstenberg has 

published a blog called “Diane’s Diary” and it is a mustread 

for anyone curious to know the inside scoop about 

the life of an A-list designer. Check it out at http://inside. 

dvf.com/dvf_magazine/category/dianesdiary/. 


Escada files 

for bankruptcy: 

Founded in 1978, the German luxury women’s 

brand filed for bankruptcy on August 13th, leaving 

2300 people jobless. The company produced 

women’s fashion and accessories predominantly 

in Russia and the US. 

Fashion’s 

Night Out 2009: 

In an effort to promote retail, customer loyalty, 

and most importantly, promote fashion, Vogue is 

organizing extravagant events in every fashion 

capital of the world. In New York City, Fashion’s 

Night Out will be held on September 10th. Vera 

Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, and Oscar de la 

Renta discussed the importance of this event. 

At a press conference, Wang stated, “It’s global, 

glamorous, and positive; it’s taking our industry 

efforts directly to the client, with a clear, united 

voice…to put it bluntly, if people don’t shop, 

people lose their jobs.”


Guild Hall launches 

“The Art of Fashion in 

the Hamptons”: 

The exhibition, celebrating fashion and art, is held 

on the East End of Long Island and features some 

of America’s most renowned designers, including 

Betsey Johnson, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein. 

“The exhibition uses both art and fashion to depict 

how for decades the Hamptons have attracted and 

nurtured artists, designers, society mavens, as well as 

ordinary folks, from the locals to weekend renters,” 

said Ruth Appelhof, executive director of Guild Hall. 

Hong Kong 

Fashion Week: 

This extraordinary showcase of designs for Spring/ 

Summer 2010 took place July 6th to 9th 2009 at 

the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre 

(HKCEC). 

Icon: 

Kate Moss lands her 28th British Vogue cover and 

will be featured on the cover of the September 2009 

issue of the magazine. Moss will also be featured on 

the September 2009 covers of Russian Vogue and W 

Magazine. 

Jimmy Choo 

for H&M: 

Swedish powerhouse H&M has had many impressive 

collaborations under its belt, including Stella 

McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli, Viktor 

& Rolf, and most recently, Matthew Williamson. 

This coming November, the clothing store can now 

add Jimmy Choo to that list. “We are privileged to 

be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated 

with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection 

appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and 

to be including some great pieces for men, too. Jimmy 

Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion 

forward, accessible and glamorous collection - the 

perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that 

night!” says Tamara Mellon, Founder and President of 

Jimmy Choo Ltd. The collection will be available in 

stores November 14th. 

Katonah 

Museum of Art: 

The New York City museum is showcasing an exhibit 

called “Dress Codes: Clothing as Metaphor”, which 

runs from July 12th to October 4th and according to the 

gallery description, the artists “use clothing to explore a 

variety of issues ranging from feminine concern, racial 

stereotyping, and immigration to globalization, current 

events, and the violence of war.” 

Lawsuit: 

For those who are familiar with Stella McCartney’s 

collections, the use of neutral colours is prominent in her 

line each season. Therefore, she has released a perfume 

called Nude. However, Ali Hewson, Bono’s wife and 

owner of the company Nude Skincare, is suing McCartney 

for compensation, citing copyright infringement. 

Mercedes-Benz 

Fashion Week Swim: 

This past July, Mercedes-Benz held their annual Fashion 

Week Swim in Miami with designers including Ed Hardy 

and True Religion. 

Naomi Sims 

dies at age 61: 

World renowned model and often referred to as the “first 

black supermodel”, Naomi Sims passed away on August 

1st of breast cancer. In 1968, Sims became the first black 

model to appear on the cover of a mainstream women’s 

magazine when she landed the cover of Ladies’ Home 

Journal. 


Obamas make 

best-dressed list: 

Coming as no surprise to anyone, Barack 

and Michelle Obama appear in Vanity Fair’s 

International Best Dressed List. 

Project Runway: 

Season 6 of Project Runway, hosted by supermodel 

Heidi Klum, is set to air on August 20th and this 

season’s 16 contestants have come far and wide 

(three of them hail all the way from Russia, Bosnia 

and the Republic of Georgia) to participate in 

the critically acclaimed reality show. Tune in to 

Lifetime Thursdays at 10pm for all of the fashion 

drama. 

Quitting for love: 

Agyness Deyn is rumoured to be quitting the 

modelling world and moving back to England with 

boyfriend Miles Kane of British band Last Shadow 

Puppets.


Recession-proofing your wardrobe: 

Go shopping! In your closet, that is. Cleaning out your closet will undoubtedly leave you astounded at the number 

of items you had forgotten about. Next, make a list of staple items you need and invest in those classic, timeless 

pieces. Add some personality with scarves, jewellery, and other accessories. You don’t need to spend a fortune to 

look like a million bucks. 

September issue woes: 

As we all know, the September issue of any fashion magazine is the most important issue of the 

year and therefore contains the most advertising that year. (The September 2007 issue of Vogue 

weighed over four pounds and was the largest issue of a magazine ever published). However, most 

major fashion magazines are down in their page count this year, as a clear sign of the struggles in 

the fashion magazine industry. Harper’s Bazaar is down 76 pages from last year, Elle lost 140 pages 

this year, W Magazine lost 216 pages, and Vogue is down an astonishing 256 pages. 

Trouble for Christian Lacroix: 

Sadly, French designer Christian Lacroix delivered his last haute couture show in Paris 

on July 7th and will likely be forced to end his 22-year long career in haute couture due 

to financial troubles. In fact, Lacroix was forced to enlist the help of his many friends 

and supporters who contributed money to make the 

show happen. A sad day for fashion-lovers around 

the world, the audience in attendance at Lacroix’s 

final show were left in tears as the runway show 

came to an end. Remaining hopeful, Lacroix stated 

backstage “I can’t think this is the end. It’s the 

beginning of something, I hope.” 

Unfortunate 

name choice: 

Stuart Weitzman’s new fall campaign features a 

pair of thigh-high stiletto black suede boots called 

“The Hiho.” Yes, you read that correctly. As if the 

boots themselves (gorgeous as they may be) aren’t 

going to bring upon endless inappropriate jokes, 

the name just screams Pretty Woman 


Valentino 

bans red: 

Just kidding. However, Valentino’s joint creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and 

Pier Paolo Piccioli bravely left the label’s signature colour out of the F/W 09/10 

runway show and opted for soft lace and sheer items in black, brown and beige. 

W Magazine: 

Talks to Miuccia Prada of Prada and Miu Miu in their September issue, while cover 

girl Kate Moss models the designer’s fall collection. In the magazine, she talks about 

models falling down in her Spring 2009 show, saying “I liked it; it made the show 

more interesting.” 

X Factor in talks with 

Kate Moss to join the 

judging panel: 

The rumour mill is reporting that supermodel Kate Moss is hoping to join the judging 

panel on the reality TV show. Reports claim that she will join “[e]ither Simon Cowell, 

Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh or Dannii Minogue for their ‘judges’ houses’ segments.” 

Yves Saint 

Laurent auction: 

Furniture and artwork from the Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé collection 

are expected to raise up to or $5.7 million in a charity auction this November. The 

proceeds will go towards HIV research and the fight against AIDS. This is the fashion 

house’s second auction. The first took place in February and raised $484.6 million. 

Zac Posen TV show: 

In a completely unexpected move, designer Zac Posen is rumoured to be producing 

his own scripted television show based around the equestrian world.

15 |YOUR BODY, YOUR BEAUTY 

FALL’S 

B E S T 

BEAUTY 

TRENDS 

By: Vanessa Manno, FW Writer 

WITH FALL JUST AROUND THE CORNER, IT’S TIME TO START 

UPDATING YOUR LOOK! 

WE SAT DOWN WITH A PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP ARTIST 

TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT FOR THE NEW SEASON AND 

WHAT PRODUCTS TO USE TO ACHIEVE IT! 

Makeup courtesy of: 

Jessica Professional Makeup Artist (647.882.5377) 

email: Jessica.pro.makeupartist@gmail.com 

Bold statements with minimal colors 


Hair and Make Up 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Face is going to be very flawless and polished, minimal colour and lots of sculpting 

The minimal color on the face allows for the bold lip to be the focal point 

For fall, berry, red and darker colors leading more towards black are in season – 

different shade variations of each color will suit any skin tone 

Smokey eye with dark liner – smoky eyes can be done with any color, the focus is 

very vampy, skip colors like pink and substitute with plums, grey and black (for 

evening) 

Gloss eye – (in stores for fall – comes out in Oct) and dramatic lip for day 

Unruly eyebrows, thicker shapes rather than a pencil thin brow line 

Grey, black and silver tones – within the black color family 

Face 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Moisturelush Cream (MAC) to 

moisturize the face before the application of 

makeup, this is so that the makeup will not 

flake 

Primer to lay down the foundation so that 

the flawless look is further achieved, try 

Cover FX Primer 

Laying a foundation diminishes sun spots, 

freckles and discoloration that our skin has 

seen from the summer sun – Studio Sculpt 

from MAC is a good choice 

Bronzer on the face and blended into the 

neck gives the flawless look 

“Tenderling” blush (MAC) to give a flushed 

look to the face


* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Eyes 

Black liner in Ebony from MAC that lines the entire top of the eye, smudged to start the smoky eye 

Grey on the entire eye (MAC Smoke & Diamonds) 

Black Tied (MAC) and Carbon (MAC) are both black shadows that really define the smoky eye 

effect – they contour and define the eye, “anything dark contours the eye, anything light highlights it” 

Fluidline eyeliner along the top lid and winged out in 

“Blacktrack” – winging out the eyeliner is in trend too 

Keep in mind: “There is nothing subtle looking about 

the eyes this season” 

Lips 

Red stain underneath the lip to keep your lips coloured if 

your lipstick fades – Secret Crush Lip Stain from MAC 

Lipstick: Most Popular (MAC), Desire (MAC), New 

York Apple (MAC) 

Gloss the lips with a lip gloss to give the red a shine 

FASHION CAMPS ● SEWING PARTIES 

● SEWING CLASSES ● 

CUSTOM SEWING ● FREE STUDIO TIME 

416.901.0758 

www.lovesewing.com 

It is not uncommon to the television, open a 

magazine or browse a favorite blog and become 

saturated with celebrity gossip: he is dating her, 

she is wearing this, and they are splitting up. The 

multitude of media dedicated to celebrity gossip 

supplies almost everyone with enough dirty details 

to divulge but there are a particular few who reign 

supreme. What differentiates the sources is their 

style of delivery- creating a sort of spectrum from 

credible to controversial. 

Celebrity 

18 |CELEB BUZZ 

GOSSIP 

& the 

Media: By: Vanessa Manno 

The Credible: Canadian celebrity news ETalk, 

airing on CTV, delivers the celebrity dish with 

dignity. ETalk Canada, “Your Number One Source 

for Everything Entertainment” is just as their slogan 

proclaims. Rather than attack celebrities for their 

shortcomings, and embarrassing moments, ETalk 

takes a higher road and does everything from 

movie reviews to interviews with distinguished 

actors and actresses such as Meryl Streep. Being 

a Canadian entertainment outlet, ETalk showcases 

the amazing achievements Canadian superstars are 

behind rather than repeat the infamous Hollywood 

hoopla. Etalk says, “As a Canadian entertainment 

news show, etalk is proud to share homegrown 

success stories with the rest of Canada. More than 

just reporting on the big stars in La-La Land, etalk 

showcases Canada’s own shining stars too - from


the struggling artists who eventually took 

Hollywood by storm, to the overnight sensations 

- etalk has them all covered.” Since 2001, Etalk 

has been doing everything Canadian: entertains 

Canadian fans, celebrates Canadian achievements 

and helps put Canada on the map in the world of 

entertainment. 

“TMZ often receives 

accurate facts from 

law enforcement 

officials or celebrities 

themselves to 

set gossip stories 

straight.” 

The Comfortable: Somewhere in between the 

credible and controversial lies TMZ.com, a wellknown 

celebrity gossip site. While the details of 

celebrities are often leaked onto the pages of this 

domain, the writers try to report with courtesy 

and respect. Though there are reports that some 

would find the information useless, such as 

Britney Spear’s shopping patterns, TMZ has 

often illuminated issues that deserve attention and 

urgency. Earlier this year, TMZ posted pictures 

of Rhianna after her attack by boyfriend and 

singer Chris Brown. Since the incident, TMZ has 

reported court updates and progress on the case. 

The gossip site posted the Rhianna updates in a 

tasteful and objective manner. And perhaps the 

biggest report of the year (so far) was the death of 

the Michael Jackson, and their site first reported 

it before any news channels could confirm the 

news. TMZ often receives accurate facts from law 

enforcement officials or celebrities themselves to 

set gossip stories straight. 

The Controversial: Perez Hilton, the self-proclaimed “Queen of All 

Media,” delivers the daily gossip on all of Hollywood as they happen 

but not without raising a few eyebrows from readers and celebrities 

alike. While surfing the website, it is not uncommon to come across 

discourteous doodles across the faces of celebrities or their private 

affairs told without restraint. In recent occasions, however, Hilton’s 

actions have not without backlash. After bashing the Black Eyed Pea’s 

new CD, drama arose when will.i.am from the successful musical 

group and Hilton ended up at the same after-party following the 2009 

Much Music Video Awards. Hilton used derogatory words towards the 

singer and twittered that the Black Eyed Pea’s manager was attacking 

him. After the incident, Hilton received little sympathy from the public 

for his indecent behaviour and language and was at the receiving end of 

ridicule from singer John Mayer and other celebrities. 

“When the horrible news 

that Jackson had passed 

away, Perez Hilton quickly 

deleted his post, but not 

before thousands of readers 

had already read it - the 

damage was done.” 


Hilton upset the public once again just before Michael Jackson’s death. Rather than hope Jackson would 

recover from his cardiac arrest, the blogger in true Perez Hilton fashion uploaded a picture of Michael Jackson, 

doodled with the title: “Heart attack or cold feet?” Perez’s post on Jackson included the statement, “Either he’s 

lying or making himself sick, but we are curious to see if he’s able to go on!!!! Get your money back ticket 

holders!!!!” When the horrible news that Jackson had passed away, Perez Hilton quickly deleted his post, but not 

before thousands of readers had already read it- the damage was done. Once again, Perez battled ridicule for his 

offensive actions, this time from Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy. His uncensored gossip columns have upset fans 

and disrespected celebrities, but in the end, it seems as though much damage has been done onto Perez himself as 

many have vowed to boycott his site. 

It is important to acknowledge the efforts of these gossip columnists for their ability to deliver a story 

with integrity and respect – or in the very least, their instantaneous reporting. With the readers’ accessibility to 

a number of media outlets it is important for us to look at the stories from a number of different perspectives 

to uncover the true story. With reputable television stations, online gossip writers and now even the celebrities 

twittering their experiences, as readers, we should take it upon ourselves to view the story from all angles.

THE ABCS - Fashion Weekly

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