-- Photos are starting to circulate of Taylor Swift's new ad campaign for Cover Girl's NatureLuxe line of cosmetics. In the photos, Taylor looks fresh and glowing and, of course, beautiful (though we thought she looked that way anyway, as witness the photo above). [People]

-- It's a huge week for Britain's Mulberry brand, which just this week opened a bright new flagship on London's New Bond Street, picked up a prestigious British Fashion Award for best designer brand and announced that profits are soaring. All this after being practically comatose a decade ago. [Telegraph]  

-- The Kardashians' line for Bebe launched this year, but its days might be numbered as Bebe "reassesses." [The Cut]

-- Donna Karan is adding a new casual element to her collection and it seems to match the mood of consumers today. [WWD] (subscription required)

-- At the world premiere of "The Tourist" in New York this week, star Johnny Depp was sporting a smoky eye, the same smoky eye women everywhere are trying to achieve this holiday season. I guess he still hasn't gotten over his Keith Richards-inspired Jack Sparrow look. [Telegraph]

-- Ports 1969, the New York-based label designed by Fiona Cibani, plans to introduce a men's collection for fall 2011. [WWD] (subscription required)

-- This year, two favorite beauty brands -- Max Factor and Shu Uemura [updated 12:35 p.m.Dec. 20, 2010]-- were pulled off U.S. shelves. But BellaSugar points out you can still buy them online. Love that Internet!

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Taylor Swift. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

[Updated: A prior version of this post incorrectly spelled Uemura and Uemara.]

 

About 200 invited shoppers crowded into Topshop's London flagship Monday night for the launch of what is being billed as model Kate Moss' "last official collection" for the retailer. The wardrobe group includes 109 styles -- including some of her past bestsellers and some limited-edition pieces -- and goes on sale at Topshops worldwide Tuesday. But wait. I'm confused. Topshop top guy Sir Philip Green says he and Moss will keep working together. He says the collection still works and that his business relationship with Moss is as strong as ever. But apparently they both need a break. [WWD]

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration on Tuesday plans to introduce six initiatives to bolster New York City's fashion industry, already one of the most vibrant in the world. [WWD] (Subscription required.) It makes me wonder what Los Angeles could do with similar municipal support. Our mayor told Los Angeles Times writer Adam Tschorn recently that the city is supportive of the industry -- as long as someone else takes the initiative.

Hannah MacGibbon won "Designer of the Year" at the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards. Among other recipients: Emma Thompson for acting, Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet for innovating, Annie Lennox for lifetime achievement and Manolo Blahnik for making it as a man in a woman's world! [The Telegraph]

Distancing herself from long-time character Hermione, "Harry Potter's" Emma Watson first cut her hair and now looks fresh and glamorous on the cover of December's British Vogue. [Vogue UK]

L.A. fashion journalist Monica Corcoran Harel collaborated with "Mad Men" costume designer Janie Bryant on the just-published "The Fashion File: Advice, Tips and Inspiration from the Fashion Designer of 'Mad Men.'" When she's not busy working, Harel likes to go to Lucques for steak frites or the Cube for pasta, shop at Veno Cada, or relax at Runyon Canyon, she tells Mondette.  

Plus-size model Crystal Renn (she's a size 10) has some ideas about how to get larger models onto runways --- like making sample clothes in size 8 instead of size 2. To show just how whack today's modeling scene is, 1980s supermodel Paulina Porizkova stood side by side with Renn at a panel at the Glamour Women of the Year conference Monday in New York. Porizkova says she is the same size today as she was when she modeled swimsuits several decades ago. If anything, she looked larger than Renn. "This is a plus-size model in 2010," she said, gesturing toward Renn. She pointed at herself and continued, "This is an average-size model in 1980. Times have changed." [The Cut]

Celeb deal of the day: Taylor Swift, who signed on as the face of Cover Girl about six months ago, now has a deal with Arden for fragrance. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Kate Moss. Credit: Stuart Ramson / Associated Press

 Taylor Swift shows her sexier side on April cover of Elle. [StyleList] 

Ohne Titel's Stephen Courter turns to film with launch of movie blog. [Vmag] [AnAisleSeat]

Rodarte melds fashion with space thriller in cool new video. [Nowness]

Your body in Wonderland? Here are some Alice-inspired tattoos. [BellaSugar]

Urban Outfitters to make wedding gowns. [The Cut]  

Backstage beauty: How to get that runway look. [Telegraph]

L.A.'s Vince creates denim capsule collection. [FabSugar]

Five outfits to rock spring break. [CollegeFashion]

Stylists tell all about Oscar night fashion bloopers. [StyleList]

Elizabeth Arden's 100th anniversary lipstick supports a beautiful cause. [BellaSugar]

Some labels (like Diesel) are ditching their designers. [WSJ]

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Taylor Swift. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

It may have been a controversial moment during last night’s MTV Video Music Awards, but despite being upstaged by Kanye West’s antics while accepting her “Best Female Video” award, it was impossible to ignore how radiant Taylor Swift looked in her glittering, one-shoulder Kaufman Franco gown.

At first I thought she looked too glam and sophisticated for an awards show that usually has pop stars donning pasties, lace veils and anything that screams “look at me!”, but it was nice to see Swift’s chic and understated style shine through a sea of hot messes and over-styled musicians.

What do you think?  Should Taylor Swift start wearing more in-your-face pop star duds or is she better off sticking to her subtle style?

— Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Taylor swift wear a Kaufman Franco gown to MTV’s 2009 Video Music Awards. Credit: Getty Images.