In: Giorgio Armani. We like Hilfiger, Hilfiger's hott; we believe it should be in everyone's stock portfolio. So it was interesting to hear of the Hilfiger is hiring a longtime Armani exec, and this, via Fashionweekdaily:
"If you thought the birthday party designer Tommy Hilfiger threw for his girlfriend Lizzie Somerby in Mustique over the holidays was the talk of the small West Indies island, think again.
"The VIP-heavy crowd woke up one morning to an inviting sun and clear blue waters�and one very assuming black yacht. Venturing onto the beach, vacationers�including Elizabeth Saltzman, Nina Garcia, Ahn Duong, and Tom Ford�were a bit perplexed to find a beefy bodyguard�complete with a tattooed back�standing guard on the warm sand.
"Even more head scratching were the dozen or so perfectly aligned black towels that were resting near the water. Who was the international man of mystery? None other than Giorgio Armani, of course. The designer (and his 150-foot yacht, Mari� which was conspicuously docked by the harbor) was spotted, in a black Speedo, walking around the tiny island, looking in what was described as 'perfect shape' and 'graceful,' according to eyewitnesses. In town for half a day, Armani and his svelte posse of a dozen or so handsome young men�all in the same black Speedos�traversed the town, greeting friends and wishing them happy holidays.
�'In an island where everyone is someone, he really proved he was the man,' said one Mustique regular."
Out: Mireille Breitwieser. The AP gives us this heartbreaking story that fills The Corsair with a simultaneous combination of righteous wraith and disdain for the crime-is-romantic view of an uncomfortable number young Europeans:
"The mother of a convicted art thief told a court Thursday how she used a hammer to destroy irreplaceable works of art and force them into trashbags upon learning of her son's arrest.
"Mireille Breitwieser testified on the opening day of the trial of her son, Stephane Breitwieser, 33, who is charged with stealing art from museums across Europe during a seven-year crime spree that stunned the art world.
"His most valuable haul was Lucas Cranach the Elder's 'Sybille, Princess of Cleves,' valued at up to $9 million and taken from a museum in Baden-Baden, Germany, in 1995, according to experts."
The Corsair weeps.
"The Art Loss Register in Britain says the masterpiece is among those believed to have been destroyed.
"Prosecutors said that upon learning of her son's arrest, she rushed into his bedroom and chopped up paintings. She allegedly forced treasures down the waste disposal or threw others into the Rhine-Rhone canal near the Swiss border. She also hid some religious works in a chapel, officials say.
"'I blew a fuse,' Mireille Breitwieser."
In: Political Bisexuality. Don't hate the playa, hate the game. As the case of Congressman Rodney Alexander (see immediately below, in the appropriately titled "Out") will make fairly clear, politicians play both sides. They switch hit . They can play for the other team. They are, in a word, (air quotes) "AC/DC," if you know what we mean. Machiavelli wrote the book, Il Principe, and the play, Mandragola (a dark work -- a comedy of all things -- brimming with pagan laughter and one-sided parlor games, a la , Fellini's Satyricon).
So, this week, as Gore Vidal brought up the distinct possibility that Abraham Lincoln may have "enjoyed arugula," the breakup of the exquisitely well groomed gay marriage rights crusader, the San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, and his "wife," the very hott Court TV talking-prettyface Kimberly Newsom (below), ought not to have come as a surprise, as the Page Sixxies, so ably relates:
"INSIDERS say the writing was on the wall for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and his comely Court TV analyst wife, Kimberly, after her bizarre speech to a New York gay group back in October. On Wednesday, the handsome bicoastal power couple announced they were filing for divorce after three years of marriage. As PAGE SIX reported at the time, Kimberly's speech at an Empire State Pride Agenda dinner brought down the house. Talking about her husband, she declared, 'Is he hot? Yeah. Is he hung? Yeah. Is he [bisexual]? Not unless you can give better [oral sex] than me.' Hindsight being 20/20, observers say they knew there was trouble right then."
Indeed.
Out: Congressman Rodney Alexander. As we said, politicians play both sides, but one must give fair warning before the switch. According to TheHill:
"House Republicans have filled out their top committee assignments, rewarding a former Democrat and protecting at least two vulnerable members.
"The open slots on Appropriations, Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means were finalized during a long meeting of the Republican Steering Committee that ended late last night.
"Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.), a former Democrat who sparked loud criticism when he switched parties right at that state�s August filing deadline, was named to the Appropriations Committee. There had been widespread speculation when Alexander made the switch that he had been promised a spot on the powerful committee."
The Corsair wrote, back in the day, about the Machiavellian-sleazy turn, at the last possible minute, thus effectively denying the Democrat party a shot at at least challenging him:
"Alexander's about-face came about in two days, but had really been in the works for two years.
"After announcing his new affiliation Friday afternoon, Alexander said he had been struggling with his conservative votes for his entire term � backing the Bush tax cuts as well as the war in Iraq � and noted they had brought him criticism from Democrats.
"'I just decided it would be best for me to switch parties, that I would be more effective in the 5th District in the state of Louisiana as a Republican,' he said.
"In March, Alexander found himself under such intense pressure that he had to publicly announce he would remain a Democrat. Yet, he skipped last month's National Convention in Boston.
"On Wednesday, Alexander registered at the start of qualifying for the 5th District race as a Democrat. Friday afternoon, the last day of qualifying for the Nov. 2 ballot, he made his switch, leaving Democrats no time to enter a strong candidate in the race."
In: Rob Thomas' Dog, Tyler. According to our favorite gossip-crime fighting duo, Rush and Molloy (3rd item), Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas' dog has had one hard-knock-life life, but seems to have lucked out with a compassionate owner:
"Cable TV's Animal Planet kicked off a week of canine-themed programming Wednesday night by throwing a party for pooches at Crobar. Along with a doggie fashion show and puppy hors d'oeuvres, there were some really hot bitches. Attempting to mount most of them was Matchbox 20 singer Rob Thomas' mutt, Tyler.
"Thomas was willing to give the dog some extra leash since, after all, he adopted him from a rescue agency.
"'He was sexually abused by a man in West Virginia,' Thomas told us. 'He almost died.'"
Out: Oprah Gives Gayle a Dance Floor. Poor Stedman has been MIA for months now -- how is he supposed to give motivational speeches! -- and now, according to The Dish, Oprah's "longtime companion" Gayle "Champagne" King, gets an expensive present:
"Talk show host Oprah Winfrey has given her best pal Gayle King an unforgettable birthday gift -- a customized dancefloor.
"The billionaire, who turned 50 last year, decided to splash out on the gift for her friend's home, after King too hit the landmark birthday late last month.
"Winfrey also threw King a huge party at upscale New York restaurant Daniel, where all the tables were draped with King's favorite Pucci-patterned fabric.
"Chris Rock, Patti LaBelle and Quincy Jones were among those who attended the December 28 bash."
A dancefloor ... doesn't that go under the carpet?
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