FIRST LOOK: Leighton Meester's Vera Wang "Lovestruck" campaign

Leighton Meester wearing a couture Vera Wang gown in an advertisement for the designer's new fragrance, "Lovestruck." Photographed by Carter Smith, with Trey Laird serving as creative director for both the print and television advertisements. "Lovestruck" will be available in August.

Leighton Meester to be the face of Vera Wang's new fragrance

Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester has just been signed as the new face of Vera Wang's next fragrance.

Wang chose Meester because she believed her "beauty, talent and spirit will inspire all the young women that I hope will enjoy this passionate, new young fragrance."

The fragrance will be available in department stores next summer.

Over the weekend, photographer Carter Smith shot the campaign from a balcony in New York City. Meester, of course, was clad in a wine coloured Vera Wang gown.

Can't wait to see the end result!

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Fashion's Night Out commercial

Here is the promo for Fashion's Night Out featuring Anna Wintour, Vera Wang, Ashley Olsen, Coco Rocha, Sarah Jessica Parker, Daria Werbowy, Diddy, Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel Roy, Diane von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang, and many more. All of these big names in the fashion industry are sporting the official Fashion's Night Out t-shirt, and encouraging everyone to shop on Thursday, September 10th. 

The public service announcement was filmed by director Douglas Keeve and will be all over network TV, taxis, and online. 

For more information on Fashion's Night Out, click here. 

Betsey Johnson wants to retire

Designer Betsey Johnson has expressed that she wants to retire after her September show.

“I should be retired," said the designer at the launch party for By Invitation Only. "I’m basically screwing up because I’m not retired."

Johnson told The Cut blog that she wants to travel, and that she and her partner, Chantal Bacon, have been working on a succession plan for a year.

"My partner and I, we both want to know what would it be like to get up in the morning and go, ‘What do I do today?’” Johnson said.

So who will be taking over the brand?

Eric Sartori, who has previously designed for Vera Wang, Hervé Léger, and Azzedine Alaïa.

“He is the one,” she says. “He’s much better than I am. He just has to Betsey-fy himself."

But Johnson doesn't plan on giving up on the brand completely.

"I’ll be a megaconsultant. I’ll go in. I want to be like Ralph [Lauren]. Like, I always imagined the perfect life is like Ralph, where he goes in, and his wonderful expert crews show him work, and he goes, 'Love it, love it, love it, um, we’ll just put that aside for the moment, love it, love it, hmmm.' You know what I mean?" she said. "And be that — be the inspiration, the light at the end of the tunnel, the fairy godmother that comes down."

Vera Wang uncertain about competing on Dancing with the Stars

A couple weeks ago, there were rumours that designer Vera Wang was to compete on the newest season of Dancing with the Stars.

The Cut blog caught up with Wang at the CFDA Awards, and asked her if the rumours were true.

"We haven't decided. They haven't and I haven't," she said.

When The Cut asked if the show approached Wang, she answered, "They approach a lot of people, not just me."

I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Vera Wang to be on Dancing with the Stars

Designer Vera Wang is adding something else to her resume: Dancing with the Stars.

The former figure skater-turned-Vogue editor-turned-wedding gown guru will be sixty when the season starts next September and has reportedly signed on to compete in the show's ninth season.

A rep for Wang did not comment, and ABC also declined to comment on casting.

Wang has designed otufits for ice queens Nancy Kerrigan and Michelle Kwan, so it'll be interesting to see what kinds of designs she will come up with for herself if she does end up competing.

The new season of Dancing with the Stars will premiere on September 21st.

Barbie's a fashionista

Image via vogue.com

For Barbie's 50th birthday, she's getting the ultimate fashion makeover from 50 big-named designers.

Mattel Inc. is planning on marketing Barbie as a fashion brand, complete with a runway show that will be part of New York Fashion Week

The 50 designers will produce life-sized outfits inspired by the doll based on a series of different celebrations. Vera Wang will create a life-size wedding gown which includes a Barbie wearing the mini version and Jeremy Scott will create a capsule collection inspired by her.

In Shanghai, a House of Barbie will be opening, and a new range of beauty products, with names such as "All Doll'd Up" will be out in 2009.

Mattel is also embarking on a three-year partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America from next February, as well as sponser New York's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

"For many young girls, [Barbie is] their first association with fashion and dressing up and changing clothes," said Fern Mallis, senior vice president at IMG Fashion in New York.

Now, if only I could be a little girl again...and dress her up in Alexander Wang and Chanel...