It's kind of like waking up in a strange man's bed with white powder all over your nose, but not really caring about your lost dignity because you managed to weasel your way into the Jane Hotel and hobnob with famous people. WWD reports that traffic to stores in Manhattan was up 50 percent thanks to the parties and celebrity appearances, even though the amount of revenue taken in wasn't up all that much.

Some consumers sought to connect, if not transact, with the designers making store appearances; others came to socialize and grab a drink, while a minority did actually shop. Several retailers told WWD that Fashion's Night Out, during which more than 700 stores stayed open until 11 p.m. and offered events, celebrities and designers, did lift the day's business. However, most emphasized the main purpose was to bring fun to the stores.

That's right. Since no one has any money anymore, stores are no longer for shopping, they are for getting drinks from Olsen twins, spotting Posh Spice, and watching André Leon Talley lounge around in his latest tent and host a game show. We can now close all the nightclubs, we have stores!

Our favorite quote is from Brooks Brothers bigwig Claudio Del Vecchio:

We do a lot of events, and we generally don't get a lot of business from them...The best thing about Fashion's Night Out is that a lot of people came out and are still looking at shopping in a positive way, even if they didn't shop.

Isn't that like discharging an anorexic from the hospital and saying, "well, she now has a positive view of food, even if she's still not eating." Everyone has a positive view of shopping. Who doesn't love shopping? We'd do it every day, if we could. The problem isn't that people don't like shopping, it's that they have no fucking money! No matter how many times you trot Oscar de la Renta out to sing with Barbara Walters, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker, we're still not going to be able to afford the socks at his store. Until everyone can do something about that, all Fashion's Night Out is going to be is just what the fashion world doesn't need—another excuse to get drunk.

Corcoran, whose track record in her two years as a real estate analyst for NBC is almost as horrendous as Jim Kramer's is as a financial analyst, is the subject of a Women's Wear Daily profile that revealed some somewhat surprising tidbits about Corcoran's penchant for potty-mouthery, something she claims has helped her get ahead in business.

"I got a complaint yesterday for using foul language in a speech I gave," Corcoran says. "I said, ‘holy s—t.' I mean, what other word can you use? There's no other word you can substitute for that. People loved my language. I usually get compliments on it. It makes them trust me. They say ‘She tells it like it is.'"

In fact, there are dozens of phrases one can substitute for holy s—t starting with "oh my gosh," but Corcoran avoids them when possible because they do not fit as readily within her media persona.

She tells dirty jokes, uses bad words, and makes vaguely inappropriate comments about your physical appearance less because she's a different kind of real estate broker than because she's selling you the idea of a different kind of real estate broker. By being ever so slightly inappropriate (more PG-13 than R rated) she says, "I'm your friend, not your salesperson." It's smart, another way to close the deal.

And naturally, Corcoran isn't shy about infusing her game with a little girly fliration.

"She was constantly telling her brokers how attractive they were," recalls a former Corcoran underling. "The first time I was in the office she felt my butt and said something like, ‘Welcome to the office.' Or she'd squeeze a guy's arm and say ‘You're so muscular.' She's not hitting on you, she's selling you. It usually works."

We suppose this all shouldn't be too surprising. After all, this is the same Barbara Corcoran who dropped her pants in the Central Park Boathouse to show off her ass to John Stossel and a group of her friends two years ago.

All told, we have to admit—We've kind of got a bit of a "Mrs. Robinson" crush on Barbara Corcoran. She'd probably destroy us though. Sigh.

For Barbara Corcoran, the Housing Crisis is a Glass Half Full [WWD]

Beckman, of course, would be the mastermind of the entire Fashion Rocks campaign, so what the hell is a fluff interview of him doing in a WWD-penned special supplement, posing as legit editorial copy? Staffers there are asking themselves the same thing. They feel that Mary Berner, who formerly led Fairchild and WWD before it was all absorbed into Conde Nast, would never have stood for such a thing.

On MediaPost yesterday, Ari Rosenberg decried the whole ongoing degeneration of the advertising/ editorial line. "Today's media-buying demand for a 'big idea' required to earn a media commitment, combined with a softer and more competitive environment, all driven by a sales force that has no idea who Henry Luce is, have publishers doing things not done before," he wrote.

Which leads to this:

The unfortunate forgot-you-were-dead San Antonio Express-News wasn't the only one screwing up this week.

*Newsday wants to make sure you know exactly where a man charged with stalking lives, so in Tuesday editions, they corrected his house number, which they got wrong the first time around. Happy hunting! [Newsday]

*The Los Angeles Times is no homewrecker: "A Critic's Notebook in Sunday's Arts & Music section said that the late pianist and composer Ervin Nyiregyházi probably had an affair with the wife of conductor Artur Rodzinski. He did not." Good to know! [LAT]

Renowned Editor of Interview Magazine Ingrid Sischy Resigns After 18 Years



NEW YORK, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Ingrid Sischy today announced her resignation as Editor-in-Chief of Interview Magazine. "I have had the honor of editing one of the most unique titles in magazine publishing and working with tremendously talented people in our industry. With Sandra Brant's decision to sell her interest in Brant Publications, it is only appropriate that I resign at this time. Sandy and I have worked together as a team, and that has been a huge part of the fun of it. While it is difficult to contemplate being away from this extraordinary experience, the time is right and Interview is firmly positioned for even greater success," Sischy commented.

Over Ms. Sischy's tenure she has built Interview into an internationally recognized title that covers the world of art, fashion, entertainment and pop culture. During her more than 18 year tenure as Editor-in-Chief the circulation of the magazine has grown significantly and has become a mainstay vehicle for marketers around the world who are interested in reaching a discerning, culturally aware audience.

"When I was first drafted as editor after Andy Warhol's death I thought I'd stay a few years, devote myself to helping the magazine find its post-Warhol life, and then get back to my writing. Although leaving the magazine and wonderful staff behind is difficult, it is the right decision and one that will allow the new owners to establish their own editorial stamp on the magazine. I am now more than ever, eager to get back to my writing and have several big projects in front of me that need my attention"

"Managing such an important part of Andy Warhol's legacy has been a huge responsibility and I am proud of what Sandy and my editorial team have accomplished in terms of content and growth. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope this great American magazine will continue to flourish," Sischy concluded.

"Ingrid has done a masterful job of making Interview successful. When she first arrived here after Andy's death the future of the magazine was in question and there was an enormous amount of anxiety. She not only moved us through that period but has taken the magazine to a level of success and recognition that is beyond anything we thought possible. Her leadership, thoughtfulness, journalistic expertise and editorial vision have been critical," Sandra Brant commented.

Ms. Sischy started her career at Artforum Magazine in 1979 and is a widely published author on a range of cultural subjects. She has contributed to a broad range of magazines, including The New York Times, and has been the fashion and photography critic for The New Yorker. In 1996 she was the Artistic Director of the first Florence Fashion Biennale, conceiving and organizing the exhibition which occupied 26 museums throughout Florence, Italy and its outskirts. Part of this exhibition was subsequently presented at the Guggenheim Museum. Sischy has been a contributing editor for Vanity Fair since 1997. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, she received an honorary PhD in the humanities from the Moore College of Art in 1987.

Arianna Huffington pens the accompanying story, in which she touts Hillary's "evolving styles (including her Oscar de la Renta pantsuits, which she pays for herself)." Maybe so, but wearing $12,369 on your person being photographed with ladies (sorry Senator!) wearing $12,000 between them (on left, CBS Newser Hannah Storm) while you go around being oh-so vague about how you're going to pay for that universal healthcare plan doesn't really fly right. Also in the spread—Michael Bloomberg! Who is totally not running for anything at all.

Anna Wintour as You've Never Seen Her [Portfolio]

Ironic [NYP]

For starters, all the "fake" stories that Us is refuting are stories that it has reported, with perhaps a slightly more conservative spin, in recent issues. Sure, Life&Style maybe went out on a limb by implying that Brad and Angelina were "living separate lives." But in this same issue of Us, Angelina is reported as having given Olivier Martinez a "lap dance." Just as hollow is Us's refutation of last week's Star Tom and Katie "Divorce!" cover: "Troubles? Yes. But divorce? Not in discussion... Pal Jenna Elfman told Us... 'they're together.'" Oh, okay, as long as Jenna Elfman says so!

Calling out OK! for predicting the demise of J. Lo's marriage prematurely was, of course, a safe bet. But the critique of In Touch's "Surprise Boob Jobs" cover is the story's most toothless, since the article in question didn't actually allege that anyone besides Heidi Montag had one, and that is just sort of like "duh!" Also, Us's rebuttal ("The Truth") begins,"A rep for Simpson, 26, denied that the D-cup singer got a lift or implants." Well, as everyone knows, publicists never lie. And neither does Us Weekly. —Emily

Taking Shots [WWD]

Great Eights Get Coveted Awards [Cindy]
Rosie Grosses Out Media Elite [Page Six]
Women of Honor [WWD]

Marc Jacobs In Rehab [WWD]

Paper Chase [WWD]

Meanwhile, One Scottsdale, the latest luxury mega-mall, celebrated Fashion Week far from its Arizona home—like any good tourist—with drinks at Amy Sacco's Bette. Amongst the crowd, co-hosts Tinsley Mortimer and Theodora Richards greeted friends like Annie Churchill and Claire Bernard (taking a night off from doing homework for her MFA at Columbia).

Earlier:Breaking: Creative Writing MFA Student Unconvinced Of Own Brilliance