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Footage from 2007 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Morton's in West Hollywood

MARCH 26, 2007

Madonna said she had "deep respect for Hillary Clinton as a woman" but thought Gore was a "great guy".

"I would publicly support him if he joins the race," Madonna said, adding she had been impressed by his stance on environmental issues.
Gore won an Oscar this year for his climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

Gore, who was vice-president to Bill Clinton, lost to George Bush in the 2000 election. The Democrat has not ruled out taking another crack at the White House.

Source: The New Zealand Herald

MARCH 25, 2007

M by Madonna at King of Prussia Mall, PA - US

MARCH 22, 2007

MADONNA OOAK DOLL H&M BY ARTIST CREATIONS !!!

From the creativity of the pluri award international OOAK artists team Alessandro Gatti & Giuseppe De Bellis by “Artist Creations” from Italy, ( 1st prize in the Barbie Bazaar Makeover Artist Award 2006, Best of Show in the Fashion Doll Makeovers Contest 2003, 1st prize in the Paris Fashion Dolls Festival 2006) born this fabulous reconstruction of the so celebrate Queen of Pop Madonna in occasion of the sale, around the Europe of the fashion line designed by her for H & M. The sophisticate model, completely hand made, in original white silk fabric, black lycra fabric, black taffettà fabric and black ecological skin, present a outfit in tree pieces: one shirt with bubble sleeves and white button in perfect doll size, one so narrow skirt, and one waist-band adorned with little metal hooks in perfect couture style. The face with a full facial makeover ,hand made with higth quality acrylic colours, and the elaborate hairstyle, make the image even more precious. Complete: the original necktie, watch, and matching shoes.

Formerly doll: Barbie Doll
The auction include:
Dressed doll
Doll stand
Certificate of autenticity
Scketc of the dress
Original box (hand made)

YOU CAN GET THIS ONE OF THE KIND DOLL ON EBAY

Source: artistcreations.it

MARCH 22, 2007

MADONNA was TOP of the day at today's RTL exclusive show! They said M by MADONNA's opening today was a HUGE SUCCESS in Germany and showed scenes of H&M stores where people bought the collection like crazy, one woman spent more than 1.000 Euros for MADONNA's fashion!

I just got back from a shopping trip to H&M located in Philadelphia . There was no line outside the store before 10am. Apart from the most beautiful poster, of M, the one where she has her leg on the table, all they had was, one banner and a 6-8 8.5" x 10" photos. I was very disappointed in the Philly promotion because they were missing half of the M collection. They did not have any of the accessories, only sunglasses and one kind of scarf. They did not have the black and white kimono that Madonna wears in the actual advertisement. They did not have the black trench coat only a white one. I wanted to buy some belts or a handbag, but they did not have that either. I purchased 2 pairs of sunglasses, 2 scarves, a dress, the one that M was wearing at her party in London in black. I am thinking about buying the leather jacket if they have it in NYC. I'm happy that I bought the goodies I did but was disappointed they didn't have M by Madonna bags. What is that all about?! I wish they would have the whole collection in every store not just NYC. The H&M stuff was stylish and lucky me a very cute boy even gave me 3 more hangers. Well, I guess I have to make a special trip to NYC in high hopes H&M of NYC will still have desirables left by Tuesday. I'll post the photos tonight ... if any of you would like to share your shopping experience on welovemadonna.com that would be great ... just email me

Showed up at the NYC H&M on 51st and 5th Ave like 45 min. before it opened. I was happy to fill out a raffle for the first 250 customers (drawing is at 6pm today, wish me LUCK!!!). The clothes are H&M quality, but really cute, I like the trench that's not leather the best. Some of the dresses were cute. The sequence was falling off that one dress though.
They were playing M tunes and there were a bunch of people, they also had another truck on the size of the building that kept replinishing their stock. I am returning tonight to see if I can get this belt that I thought was cute.

I walked out with all the scarves, except for the ivory colored M one...still need that. I also got the sunglasses. The store had everything, bags, shoes, belts, jackets, shirts, dresseses, etc. It's the biggest H&M in NYC so I am assuming had the most stock.

Unfortunately, I can't wear any of these items, but will keep it safe.

I hope I win the trench but I never really win these things. It sucks, 'cause all these people around me raffling were like "i don't want it signed by Madonna", I wish I could steal theirs.

Hi to LaurenIcon, it was great meeting you today, glad I recognized you from the pics on here. Glad, we got to chat on a subway ride too.

Good Luck everyone.

Thank you to Quest79 from NYC

I wait 15 minutes before the door was open and it was very cold and raining.

It was a huge run and I can tell you, that shopping is no fun anymore; it´s hard work

Well the clothes looks really nice, but to be honest, most of them look cheap and I don´t like the material from H&M. So, I didn´t buy that much.
We had a chance to win 3 of the signed trenchcoat one hour after opening. The first winner was really happy:-)But the second and third winner were gone and so there have to pull another winner and that goes three or four times ohmy.gif Well, I didn´t won :-(
here are a few pics from Cologne:-) I hope you like it.

Thank you to Gaby from Cologne

After 30 mins queuing in the cold to be let in the store.....we were in Danita and I( I was helping her getting stuff). To be honest with you guys most of the stuff is looking nice on Madonna and in the ads....but in person, they look cheap, and the material....

The things I liked most are the leather jacket and the trenchcoat. The dress Madonna was wearing for the launch party in London, they have it in white, black and chocolate; the silk kimono dress is in balck/white, black and pink......They have some more accessories than they show on their website - some more scarfs, shoes and bags....

And the staff was quite rude and didn't give us M bags, we had to beg them for one....and they didn't tell us that the sunglasses were coming with cases.....thankfully we saw one of the girls give them and we asked for ours! So for all of you who is going to buy a pair, don't forget to ask for your case!!!

Danita bought for her the trenchcoat, 2 dresses, 2 pairs of sunglasses and few scarfs....and I bought only 2 pairs of sunglasses....not sure that I will wear them, but it is noce to have them.....
And we had champange and canapes...was nice and of course Madonna music...

Thank you to Stanchev from London

SHOPPERS TO LAND MADONNA-SIGNED COATS

Fifteen lucky shoppers will walk away with new H+M trenchcoats signed by MADONNA in Los Angeles and New York today (22MAR07) - just for standing in line. The trendy Swedish fashion chain is raffling off 10 white coats at its 5th Avenue store in New York and five at the Beverly Center store in Los Angeles to kick off the US launch of Madonna's new M by Madonna line. The first 250 people in line at the shops by 10 am (local time)will be eligible to enter the contest. H+M's Hong Kong store attempted a similar gimmick two weeks ago, and more than 500 people showed up.

Source: contactmusic.com

Thank you to Nicomad and Coad of the madonna-ciccone.forumactif.com forum for the photos from Paris H&M store

M by Madonna Debuts at H&M - NEW YORK - US

New York - Shoppers lined up on 5th Avenue early Thursday morning, March 22 for the launch of M by Madonna, the latest capsule collection from Swedish fashion retailer H&M.

The collection, the second and last collection by Madonna offered by H&M, is a 30 piece selection of body conscious basics with a narrow silhouette, mostly in black, white or khaki, that include trench coats in nylon or leather, skinny black pants, cropped jackets, graphic print dresses, bodysuits and wrap sweaters.

Along with the clothing line, M by Madonna also features a range of accessories, including a corset belt, patent leather stacked heels and a jewel box purse in silver or black leather.

"Madonna went through her closet and picked out a few staples that she felt should be in every closet," said Jennifer Uglialoro, a spokesperson for H&M. "It's very glamorous, and timeless."

The collection was designed in conjunction with H&M's head of design, Margereta Von Denbosch, and Madonna also directed the commercial, a first for the pop superstar.

Ruth Wong of North Vancouver, Canada, arrived at 10am to be among the first shoppers hoping to take snag some of the Madonna merchandise.
"It's our third day here, and we heard about the opening, so we thought, okay, we'll line up and see what this is all about," said Wong.

And what did she think about pop stars as designers?

"Well, it works, because obviously it brings people out," she said. "We all want a little piece of them."

Compared to the launches of H&M's previous limited edition collections with designers - Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf - the scene at the 51st Street flagship was relatively calm. While plenty of people carried around armfuls of clothing, no fights broke out and the merchandise was kept well stocked. Among the most popular items were "M" logo print scarves and corset belts. Priced under $50, they were the fashion equivalent of a concert t-shirt.

Jeff Weidman, a New York City resident originally from Ohio and self-professed Madonna fan, explained that he was there picking up things for his friends back home, as there are not any H&M stores in Ohio.

"Also," Weidman continued, "Madonna has a great sense of style, so I wanted to come and see her clothes and support her."

Especially for the worldwide launch, H&M will raffle off 90 trench coats signed by Madonna, 15 of which will be given away in the U.S.

Source: Fashion Wire Daily via Yahoo! News by Renata Espinosa

Madonna's H&M apparel line gets mild welcome in N.Y. - NEW YORK - US

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Madonna on Thursday joined the parade of celebrities with their own fashion lines, but the material girl who used to shock audiences with her outrageous outfits kept to a mainstream tune.
Madonna's much-anticipated clothing line, "M by Madonna," went on sale at the low-priced Swedish retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB's stores around the world on Thursday.

Excited shoppers in New York, where Madonna began her career, queued up about 30 minutes before the H&M store on Manhattan's ritzy Fifth Avenue opened, in order to be among the first to see the diva's collection. Within two hours some items, including belts and small purses, had sold out, said one sales associate.

Another hot seller was a white, double-breasted trench coat, which Madonna, who co-designed the line for the Swedish company, wears in the campaign's advertisements.

"That white, silky coat is gorgeous, I think my daughter, who is 19, would love it," said Mary Taylor, a public relations executive, who was among the curious.

But many shoppers were not as enthusiastic about the range of styles, expecting a clothing line designed by the singer, actress and author to be more adventurous.

Madonna, who has been a taste-maker for more than two decades, has shocked audiences throughout her career with daring styles that have included lacy bras and crucifixes and a Jean-Paul Gaultier-designed cone bustier.

"I was expecting the clothes to be a little more fashion-forward I have to say, because she is such an icon and I heard it was based on her own closet," said Daniela Maron, a fashion publicist combing the Fifth Ave. store's racks for a cream-colored sequined mini dress donned by a mannequin.

That dress, one of the standout pieces in the mostly solid, monochromatic collection, sold out early, according to a sales associate.

"A lot of people came in, but as for buying, it's been half-and-half," said Juan Tinch, an H&M sales associate. "There have been a lot of purchases but also a lot of returns."

H&M's LIMITED LINES

Hennes & Mauritz, among the first retailers to bring trendy fashions to main street wallets, has had home-runs with its exclusive, limited lines by heavy-hitters Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld and cult label Viktor & Rolf.

The Viktor & Rolf and McCartney launches were "totally chaotic," Tinch said. "This has been a little more calm and collected."

Lisa Sandberg, a U.S. spokeswoman for Hennes & Mauritz, whose chairman, Stefan Persson, is the 17th-richest person in the world, said the difference was because the collection is in all H&M stores with womenswear, instead of just a few.

"What this means is that although it's a one-off collection, more H&M customers will have the opportunity to find M by Madonna in their local H&M store and should also be able to purchase a piece without being the first shopper on line," Sandberg said in an e-mail.

But for Sara Axelsson, a New York-based lawyer who went to see Madonna's line, the collection was not unique enough to justify a purchase.

"The Stella McCartney line was much more different than the usual H&M stuff," Axelsson said.

Other clothing lines designed by fashionable celebrities, who are not themselves designers, include

Sarah Jessica Parker's line at Steve & Barry's and model Kate Moss's line with the U.K. retailer Topshop.

"Obviously (celebrities) help enormously, whether it be if they're fronting a product or have worn it, but of course it takes away from the cachet level," said Maron, the publicist, about the trend of low-priced retailers selling collections designed by icons.

"But I'm definitely buying something, even if I never wear it," Maron said. "Just to have it. Anything for Madonna."

Source: Reuters via Yahoo! News by Martinne Geller

M by Madonna hits European stores - EUROPE

A new clothing line designed by Madonna for Swedish cheap-chic retailer H&M sold out in minutes in Stockholm, but the launch of the collection failed to spark mad rushes in other European cities.

The 'M by Madonna' garments disappeared off the racks in a flash in Stockholm, where hundreds of shoppers had lined up outside H&M stores to be the first to get their hands on the collection, consisting of about 30 items of clothing and 10 accessories, launched around the world on Thursday.

But in the rest of Europe, there were no stampede scenes as seen in recent years when designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Viktor&Rolf launched lines bearing their name for H&M.

In Paris, about 80 people lined up patiently outside the chain's store on Boulevard Haussmann before the opening. Once the doors opened the shoppers perused calmly through the racks.

In Madrid, home of H&M's Spanish rival Zara, the store was no busier than usual and the section selling Madonna's items was practically empty.
The same was true in the Finnish capital Helsinki.

In Stockholm as in Berlin, there were no chaotic scenes but the collection appeared to be a huge success and H&M said it was pleased by shoppers' positive reactions.

'The clothes were bought very quickly,' company spokesman Jenni Tapper-Hoel told AFP, adding that stores across Sweden already needed to restock by midday.

At the large Hamngatan store in central Stockholm, the clothes flew off the racks in minutes.

'The collection is magnificent. Fantastic. Very trendy. It's very Madonna,' Rosy Doad, a 23-year-old makeup artist who was among the first inside the store, told AFP.

'The line is very sophisticated, a kind of business casual, for a very powerful woman, like Madonna. It's very feminine and a little extravagant,' 19-year-old musician Alex Eisenstein said.

At H and M's flagship store in London's Oxford Street, a quarter of the ground floor was dedicated to the singer's collection.

The shop was busy, with a mostly younger, female crowd checking out the black, white and cream-toned items.

'I'm a huge Madonna fan,' said TJ Pursell, 40, an estate agent from southwest London.

'I wanted to come and see what it was like. I think she's great, I think her fashion's fantastic and I wanted to see if her collection was the same,' she told AFP.

The 'M by Madonna' line reflects the pop star's image: feminine, classical and sexy. Kimono dresses, skintight pants, pencil skirts, tight-fitting blouses, as well as accessories including wide belts, purses and high-heeled shoes.

The star chose neutral tones of black, white and cream, and luxury materials silk, fine wool and cashmere.

Cropped pants sold for 398 kronor (43 euros, 57 dollars), a dress for 498 kronor (55 euros, 72 dollars) and a blouse for 598 kronor (64 euros, 86 dollars).

A sneak preview of Madonna's collection was unveiled in Hong Kong on March 10, when a selection of items went on sale at the opening of the H&M's first store in China.

Founded in 1947, H&M has 1,345 stores in 24 countries.

Source: AFP Via Yahoo! News

Fans hit H&M for Madonna collection - UK

Madonna fans hit H&M stores for the launch of the Material Girl's new fashion collection.

About 50 shoppers poured into the chain's Oxford Street store when it opened to the sound of La Isla Bonita track.

They grabbed armfuls of the M by Madonna collection, which is priced from ?9 to ?.99.

Leather trench coats, kimono dresses and sequinned shift dresses were among the most popular items - cream silk pedal pushers and matching cropped jackets seemed less so.

was among the first shoppers at the tills. Wearing a Madonna Confessions top, the 25-year-old from Peckham, London, said: "I have just bought basically the whole range. We have been everywhere for her and I have been a fan for years. I am going to wear it all. I like the bags, the sequinned dress, the trench coat and the kimono dresses that she models. I have spent over ?00."

Queuing at the check-outs with an armful of Madonna items, Magda Grabowik, 32, from Balham in London, said: "I have bought the white coat, leather jacket and dresses. I am spending maybe ? or a bit more, I don't know. I am a Madonna fan but the reason I am buying the clothes is that they are very nice and feminine and the prices are very reasonable."
One of the first people queuing outside the Oxford Street store this morning was Shadley May, 39, from South London.

The forklift driver waited in the rain for more than an hour to snap up a dress for his fiancee. After making the purchase, he said: "She is going to be ecstatic. She told me to give her a call and make sure I had got it in size 10."

Inside the store, David Conway, 39, from Dagenham, Essex, said: "I have two pairs of sunglasses, a trench coat and a leotard. Some of it is for me because I am a huge fan of Madonna, I am just going to keep it. Apart from the sunglasses - I might wear them."

Madonna teamed up with H&M design team Margareta van den Bosch to create the collection. The range went on sale across the UK today. Previous collections for H&M by the designers Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf sparked a rush of buyers to the chain.

Source: The Press Association

H&Madonna fashion collection is launched - UK

Madonna's new fashion collection hit the shelves today at high street chain H&M.

The M by Madonna range includes clothing and accessories priced from £7.99 to £149.99 and is the result of a collaboration with H&M design chief Margareta van den Bosch.

Customers rush for first pick of Madonna's capsule collection for high street giants H&M

The collection tries to offer something for everyone: from evening tops to lumber jackets, tailored blazers and shirts to kimono dresses. All the pieces have a discreet "M" motif on linings, zippers and buttons and the colours are mostly neutrals.

Shoppers rush to get in line for the launch of Madonna's fashion collection

The stand-out piece is a cashmere cardigan with silk-covered buttons. The accessories, such as square-toed patent heels, clutch bags, skinny belts and sunglasses, are very strong.

The dresses are less successful. All seem to be cut in an unflattering empire-line shape. The problem is not so much Madonna's designs but the fabric quality.

The viscose jersey used for many garments tags the skin and threatens electric shocks, and the leather goods are plastic-looking - which is disappointing as the collection is priced about 25 per cent above the retailer's regular collection.

Nonetheless H&M is banking on the hope that fans will overlook quality for the chance to buy a Madonna original.

Previous collections for the chain by designers Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf sparked a rush of buyers - and many sold on eBay for more than their original price.

Yasmin Le Bon is to front a £10 million advertising campaign for clothing giant Next. The model has been hired to aid a turnaround at the company, which saw shop sales fall 7.7 per cent in the past year.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Slow Start To Launch Of New Madonna Range - UK

She has been the driving force of pop for decades, but Madonna's latest foray into the fashion world was nearly a washout this morning.

By the time the doors to Oxford Street's H&M's flagship store opened at 9am this morning, just 25 fans were waiting to enter the singer's material world.

But once the launch got underway, a scrum of shoppers flooded in to snap up clothing from the singer's range.

Shoppers gave the collection a mixed reception and while there was strong demand for the "well made" sunglasses and printed dresses, most of Slow Start To Launch Of New Madonna Rangethe very high-heeled shoes appeared to be left on the shelf.

First in the queue was Lofty, 38, a self-employed video editor from south London. He said: "I've been here since 6.20am and I thought I was at the wrong place. There was no one around. I've been drinking a lot of coffee and smoking a lot of cigarettes to keep myself warm.

"I didn't necessarily want to be the first person through the doors and I'm really embarrassed because the person behind me only turned up at 8am.
"I saw the collection on TV and then looked on the internet to see what I wanted to get. I'm going to buy a necker scarf and a pair of sunglasses. They both have M on very prominently. I also want to buy a dress to flog on eBay.

"Although there aren't many people in the queue I think her range will be popular. People will buy it for the Madonna name rather than fashion.
"I've got £80 in cash out to spend rather than taking my credit card so I don't get too carried away, although I think the prices are very reasonable. The sunglasses cost £19.99 and the dress is £34.99."
At 8.30am, just four people were in line, but as 9am approached, excitement grew with the appearance of models showing off some of the predominantly white, beige and black range. But TV cameras, photographers and journalists threatened to outnumber the two dozen shoppers.

As the clock struck 9am the waiting shoppers swarmed in with steely gazes and headed down to the basement to the sound of La Isla Bonita, blaring throughout the store.

As staff in "M by Madonna" t-shirts watched by the sidelines, shoppers snatched dresses from their pegs and grasped for handbags, coats and sunglasses emblazoned with large M symbols.

Within a minute several were laden with armfuls of clothes and the first customer was already at the til.

The man, who did not want to be named, said: "I bought a pair of sunglasses, a leotard for my friend and a scarf. I've got quite a bit of the range because I am a big Madonna fan. I thought she might turn up, but unfortunately it doesn't look like she will."

His friend, Gavin Eyers, 27, a student from Greenwich, south east London, added: "I think people will want to wear the clothes because they will want to show off the fact that they've got something from the Madonna range.

"I'm looking for anything I can get away with wearing."

A steady stream of eager fans continued to flood in after the doors were open and within five minutes frantic staff were dashing between the Madonna section and storeroom with armfuls of clothes to fill up the diminishing stock.

Lauren Kamasz, 26, a HR manager, said she should be at work in east London, but had come in to see the clothes.

Holding a handful of clothes at the til, she said: "I should be at work in Canary Wharf at the moment, I'm trying to work out what I'm going to do with the bags when I get to work.

"I've bought two pairs of sunglasses, two scarves, a leather bag and four dresses, but I wasn't really planning to buy anything. They all looked really good quality, I tried them on and they fitted really well. But i did have to say no to a few things.

"I really like Madonna and the style seems to fit with her own sense of fashion and there also seems to be a Versace and Gucci influence."
Computing student Kinue Niizu, 33, from central London, said he was buying for friends back in Japan.

She said: "My friends are big fans of Madonna and they've told me to spend £1,000 on the clothes. Although I'm not buying anything for myself because I'm not impressed by much. It's not my style.

"My friends only want it because it's designed by Madonna and they don't have H&M in Japan. I bought my husband along so he can carry the clothes while I carry on shopping."

By 9.30am the crowds were beginning to die down, but H&M claimed the launch had been successful despite the fact that Stella McCartney's collection sold out within 20 minutes in November 2005.

Spokeswoman Chloe Bowers said: "It's great. It's going really well and the demand is what we expected. The Stella McCartney collection was only in selected stores and was much more limited. This collection is much bigger than previous collections. It's gone to 114 stores nationwide and is being sold in 28 countries.

"We've got more stock coming in through the day. It's still very early, but the sunglasses and all the printed dresses seem to be very popular."
Margareta van den Bosch, H&M's head of design, added: "M by Madonna is all about fashion that people can really love and wear season after season.

Source: Life Style Extra - UK

M by Madonna Comes to DC - USA

Rewind gives you the lowdown on events that have already taken place. Thursday morning, After Hours braved H&M to see Madonna's new collection.

Curious about Madonna’s H&M line debuting at the stores today, but couldn’t get out of work to go check it out yourself? Well, no worries—After Hours was there. I arrived at the H&M on 10th and F Streets NW, 45 minute’s before the store’s opening expecting a line at least half-way around the block. But the reality was that I was literally the second person there. As time went on, a few more people lined up and chatted with me, but by the time the store’s doors opened a bit before 10, there were still only six or seven people waiting to enter.

That number may not bode well for the sales of the M by Madonna line in DC, considering that other designers like Stella McCartney and Victor & Rolf, who have also done H&M lines, caused total chaos and bedlam when they debuted. A woman who joined me in line recalled the opening of the Viktor & Rolf line last fall, saying that there were huge crowds, plenty of elbows being thrown, and clothes flying off the shelves before she could get her hands on any.

In comparison, the Madonna experience at H&M was completely tame. The collection is rather small, and features a few dresses, leather jackets, pants and blouses—plus a cream trench coat that seemed to be the object of most people’s desire. I found one dress I liked so much—a well-draped silk rayon piece that Madonna wore to the launch party for her line—that I bought it in both gray and black. There were accessories as well, including a large pair of wraparound sunglasses emblazoned with sideways Ms on the side, wide patent leather belts, totes, and shoes.
Thinking about heading to snap up some of your own M by Madonna items this evening? A sales associate this morning said she thought there’d still be items left through the day–but several afternoon calls placed to the Metro Center H&M went unanswered, so perhaps untold and unexpected hoards descended on the store and turned it into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and the salesclerks are cowering behind the cash registers? Who knows! If you dropped by or plan on it, leave a comment about your experience.

Source: washingtonian.com by Catherine Andrews Share

A few hardcore shoppers braved the chilly, wintry conditions at London’s Oxford Street store

Madonna’s eagerly anticipated H&M clothing range was met with a rather meagre gathering upon its availability for the general public early this morning.

A few hardcore shoppers braved the chilly, wintry conditions at London’s Oxford Street store, but both the singer and the Swedish store will hope this turnout isn’t a sign of things to come.

The 48-year-old lived up to her material girl image by launching her own collection ‘M by Madonna’, teaming up with the company’s design chief Margareta Van Den Bosch.

Having been a style icon for nearly three decades, Madonna worked closely with the H&M designer to create a varied range fit for any female wardrobe that includes everything from tailored jackets and Kimono dresses to handbags and sunglasses.

Ms Van Den Bosch recently praised Madonna’s sense of style and felt she displayed considerable talent as a designer. “Madonna has an impressive feel for fashion and trends. She was extraordinarily style conscious, passionate and involved in even the smallest details."
The M for Madonna collection will eventually appear in 28 countries, a collection that the singer herself modelled in H&M’s recent advertising campaigns.

“I've made no secret of my love of fashion over the years. Working with Margareta and H&M was an exciting and new creative challenge for me. I'm really happy with the results and look forward to wearing 'M by Madonna' along with the rest of the world,” the singer added.

With a price range from £7.99 to £149.99, the collection is said to reflect Madonna’s timeless, unique and always glamorous style. H&M wished to utilise the lasting fashion influence that Madonna offers, offering her the chance to create a modern spin on her own wardrobe.

Madonna’s latest range is her second collaboration with the clothes designer. Last Spring H&M supplied the singer’s touring company with clothing, which became the catalyst for the heavily criticised ‘Madonna tracksuit’ range last year. It’s believed that the ‘M for Madonna’ range is on this occasion more chic than chav.

Madonna’s latest area of interest adds to an impressive list of life achievements. Rarely away from the world media’s lens, the multi-Grammy award winner, has also masqueraded as a children’s book author, human rights activist and actress. Her recent adoption episode brought both her and her husband Guy Richie, unprecedented press attention.

H&M had previously successfully collaborated with fashion giants Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf, so successful that mass stampedes occurred upon their respective range release.

Source: functionpix.com by Nick Dines

Next up in the wave of celebrity designers: Madonna - UK

London — Let's say you wake up, put on your Jessica Simpson Roxi platform sandals, zip up your JLo by Jennifer Lopez cropped velour jumpsuit and top it all off with your Bird Banner and Crest hoodie, designed by Gwen Stefani. But there's still something missing to make the outfit complete, isn't there? Perhaps it's Dom DeLuise's Sunset Dreams caftan? Cher's Super-Sequin panty girdle? No, you think, what this outfit requires is an affordable black turban, preferably designed by someone who once promised to dress you up in her love.

Today is your lucky day, my friend, because a turban is exactly what you'll find at H&M as it launches its new fashion line, M by Madonna. If you can Mike Tyson your way to the front of the line, that is, and beat down all the other fashion-hungry young ladies hoping to land a mock-croc belt or silver stiletto that will soon treble their value on eBay. The line, a collaboration with H&M's design chief Margareta van den Bosch, is lacking in cone-bra bustiers, but is rich in pencil skirts, slinky black dresses and classic coats. Everyone involved insists the singer is present in every thread. "It wasn't new for me to be on the floor with pins," Madonna told fashion journalist Suzy Menkes.

Madonna is only the latest in the wave of celebrity dressmakers, with more to follow. Kate Moss's much-anticipated line for the British retailer Topshop debuts in May. (Let's hope she throws in a washcloth for her boyfriend.) The mouthy young singer Lily Allen is working on designs for Britain's New Look, and even the queen of underpants-over-tights, Sienna Miller, is reported to be planning a collection. Can Dom DeLuise really be far behind? The line forms to the right.

Source: Globe and Mail - Toronto, Canada / Photo: Chris Jackson

MARCH 21, 2007

Will you be one of the 10 lucky winners? The first 250 customers in line at H&M 640 5th Ave in New York City tomorrow, Thursday, March 22nd - the day the "M by Madonna" collection goes on sale - can enter to win a trenchcoat autographed by Madonna! No purchase necessary.

People from Los Angeles will be happy to learn that H&M has just decided to to give away 5 autographed Madonna trench coats at the Beverly Center location in Los Angeles.
Special thanks to H&M for the update!

People from Los Angeles will be happy to learn that H&M has just decided to to give away 5 autographed Madonna trench coats at the Beverly Center location in Los Angeles.

Thanks to H&M US

The M by Madonna collection will be in H&M stores of France tomorrow morning as well and there will be 10 trench coats signed by Madonna (limited edition) for customers of the Parisian stores on Boulevard Haussmann (5 trench coats) and Les Halles (5 trench coats).

H&M Boulevard Haussmann 54 bd Haussmann, Paris 75009 -5 trenchcoats
H&M Forum des Halles Porte Lescot, Niveaux-1, -2, -3 Paris 75001

Thanks to H&M France.

News is in from Sweden that the first 10 visitors to the H&M store at Hamngatan 22, Stockholm, will get a Madonna-signed trenchcoat.

Thanks to H&M Sweden

Madonna fans in Germany will have a chance to win one of three trenchcoats signed by Madonna tomorrow Thursday, March 22, the day the "M by Madonna" collection goes on sale.

The first 100 customers showing up in a selected store in four major cities in Germany wil have a chance to enter the competiton. In every of the following 4 stores there will be 3 winners... so all in all 12 signed trench coats will be raffled.

These stores are:
Berlin: H&M Kurfürstendamm 237 (opening at 10.00 am)
Hamburg: H&M Spitalerstr. 12 (opening at 9.30 am)
Munich: H&M Kaufingerstr. 18 (opening at 9.00 am)
Cologne: H&M Schildergasse 98-100 (opening at 10.00 am)

Thanks to H&M Germany

MARCH 20, 2007

MARCH 19, 2007

LONDON: Madonna, petite in a white jersey 1940s dress of her own design, has a confession, but it is not about the range of black, white and neutral clothes that she has designed for the Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M.

Madonna's secret is that she has been working for two years on the archive of her performance and personal clothes, which are stashed away in California and are currently being classified.

"I'm thinking of doing a 25-year retrospective — multimedia, with video and photographs of me by Mario Testino, Herb Ritts, Steven Klein and Steven Meisel," said Madonna, who also wants to "celebrate all the designers" like Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix who have created exceptional pieces for her. Madonna, 48, was launching her "M by Madonna" line in the cool-but- cozy Artesian bar, designed by Tom Collins, at London's Langham hotel. The H&M collection goes on sale Thursday and is already worn by the pop diva herself, on vast billboards across town. As fashion spectaculars go, this was a discreet affair, with the sophomore designer knotting the belt of a trench coat and tweaking its collar as she unveiled this first line of ready-to-wear pieces — following the track suit she created for H&M last year.

"I didn't want to do a gigantic line of clothes and I wanted to keep the color palette simple," said Madonna of the black, white and neutral range. "I did the track suit because that is what I want to work out. These are clothes I want to wear and wish to keep on. I have a group of girls who work for me I call 'Semtex girls' (read 'explosive') who are hard-working but who like to have fun. There is nothing in this collection about the stage, theater and drama."

Price is the key to the 26-piece line of slim dresses, cropped jackets and pants, with a bunch of accessories (including a wide patent leather corset belt). Madonna's little white jersey dress, with a girlish raised waist and softly puffed sleeves (inspired from a find in her closet), sells for $59.90. A leather jacket is top-of-the-range at $198, but you can buy a "very Madonna" belted blazer for $69.90 and for $10 more, a denim zippered top. Jeans, at $59, are way below premium prices.

Accessories do not include Madonna's favorite French beret, but there is a turban hat, as well as bold hide-behind sunglasses and handbags. The corset belt, in mock crocodile, sells for $34.90. The "M" collection will be in all H&M stores in 28 countries carrying women's clothes.

Looking at the lineup of nice but unremarkable clothes (which, of course, look much more fab in the ad campaign, when it is Madonna's well-honed body filling out a curvy white shirt and pencil skirt), it is hard to imagine why such an icon of pop culture wants to reach out to her adoring public with clothes as well as music.

The singer, who says "it wasn't new for me to be on the floor with pins," says that she was involved in the design, had fittings done on herself and believes that "it is not a job to take lightly." Margareta van den Bosch, H&M's head of design, said that Madonna "showed me part of her wardrobe" as the basis of the taste and style, and that the star was very much involved in the project. Madonna said that she was inspired from her closet by "a certain kind of pencil skirt," "bits of details" and vintage clothes that she has collected since she appeared in the 1985 movie "Desperately Seeking Susan." "I wanted it to be unique and simple at the same time," said Madonna, while admitting that it was tougher than she had expected, after years of involvement in her stage wardrobe, to "design clothes anyone can wear." "My day job includes fashion — but I am not sure I'd want to design clothes," she says. "I have a new-found respect for designers."

Source: International Herald Tribune - France by Suzy Menkes

MARCH 16, 2007

NEW YORK - After Kabbalah, New York is embracing a new Jewish trend: Kosher food. In recent months the kosher restaurant Prime Grill, with its Hollywood and Manhattan branches, has become the restaurant of choice for top celebrities who want to dine on gourmet kosher food.

Stars and producers, Jews and non-Jews alike, charge the restaurant, eating a glatt-kosher dinner and dancing to Israeli music after dinner.

The trend began in the intersection of Kabbalah and health. Several cases of food poisoning in the US in recent months caused growing
numbers of people to look for healthier, cleaner options. Kosher food emerged as that option, as it is seen as safer and cleaner because of the tight inspection on preparation.

The realization that kosher food is healthier corresponded with the Kabbalah studies of many celebrities, and their subsequent decision to adopt Jewish customs. The only thing stopping Hollywood starts from fulfilling their craving for kosher food was a kosher gourmet restaurant nearby. This is where Prime Grill comes in.

From Madonna to Donald Trump
Four months ago the chain’s second branch opened in upscale Beverly Hills, and became a recreational center for the stars. As expected, the first one to mark the restaurant was Esther-Madonna. She discovered the original New York restaurant seven years ago, Joey Allaham (31), the owner of the restaurant chain, tells Yedioth Ahronoth.

“She dines at one of the restaurants every time she visits the United States. Madonna likes dining late at night. She often has a romantic dinner with her husband, Guy Ritchie, and we keep the kitchen open especially for her.”

Madonna does not come only for romantic dinners. The two restaurants play Israeli music and Madonna, it turns out, has a hard time containing her enthusiasm. She dances when she hears Sarit Hadad songs, says Allaham. Sacha Baron Cohen ('Borat') is also a regular customer, who dances to Kobi Peretz and Eyal Golan, and says the food and music remind him of Tel Aviv.

The list of celebrity customers is very long. Last week Paris Hilton celebrated her 26th birthday at Prime Grill Beverly hills. Comedian Baron Cohen celebrated his Oscar nomination there, and Donald Trump is also considered a fan of the restaurant, frequently dining in both the New York and Beverly Hills restaurants. Another regular is U2 frontman Bono, who likes the sushi imported from Japan.

According to Allaham, the kosher Beverly Hills restaurant attracts Jewish directors and producers in Hollywood who were unable to enjoy gourmet kosher food before.

Steven Spielberg is a frequent diner who brings many guests there. In the past, he could not have eaten at a kosher restaurant even if he wanted to, because most kosher restaurants in the area serve falafel or shawarma.

So what do the stars like to eat?
Madonna likes basmati rice and lamb chops. Sacha Baron Cohen eats plenty of meat, mostly ribs and steak, because he does not eat non-kosher meat, and so every visit to the restaurant is a celebration, according to Allaham.

Paris Hilton and Bono are in love with the sushi. Donald Trump’s favorite dish is miso-sake salmon.

Source: Israel Culture by Yaniv Halily

Fans of Madonna sartorial tastes are in for a treat, as two of the planet's most stylish ladies launch their own clothing lines. The Material Girl has teamed up with High Street chain H&M to produce a collection of affordable day and eveningwear, as well as accessories, inspired by her own wardrobe.

The mum-of-three arrived for the "My by Madonna" line launch party at London's Langham hotel modelling one of her own designs from the range - a stunning low-cut white jersey dress. Among the big name guests from the fashion world joining her to celebrate the launch were Stella McCartney and Matthew Williamson.

Items in the range, which include monochrome separates, shirt dresses and trench coats, will hit H&M stores nationwide on March 22. "Madonna has a remarkable feel for fashion and trends," says H&M's chief designer Margareta van den Bosch. "She was involved in even the smallest details of the design."

Madonna is renowned for her style transformations and fearless attitude to fashion.

Source: hellomagazine.com

WEARING a sleek white jersey dress from her own collection, Madonna arrived at the Langham Hotel for the London launch of her M by Madonna line for H&M.

"This is a collection of outfits I would love to wear," she told WWD. "I wanted something casual but naughty, sensible but sexy. That's me. That's how I am. I wanted the collection to be for a working girl."

Launching on March 22 across 26 countries, M by Madonna is the singer's second collection for the high street chain, but features a more edgy, chic vibe than the tracksuits she produced last season, which were modelled by her own tour dancers in the advertising campaign.

"The clothes I've designed are bits and pieces inspired by the outfits in my own wardrobe, like kimonos or my favorite Seventies vintage dress with the butterfly sleeves. I bought it in New York 10 years ago, and have worn it down to threads."

Other ideas for the collection came from the world around her.

"I go out a lot, I read and go to the movies, and I always try to see and interpret what's around me. I'm a curious person," she said.

The capsule collection includes pencil skirts, empire-line dresses in monochrome prints, tailored jackets, city shorts, a beige belted trenchcoat, cropped leather jackets and a killer white sequined minidress. (March 16 2007, AM)

Source: Vogue.com

MARCH 15, 2007

THE Vatican has condemned Madonna, MTV has banned her and the media has vilified her. But we can learn a lot from this superstar on how to be an engaging manager.

Having sold more than 200 million albums, Madonna is the highest-earning female recording artist. Her 2006 Confessions Tour was the most successful concert tour by a female artist.

More than two decades since she began, Madonna is still topping the charts, with her most recent album, Confessions on a Dancefloor, making it to the top in 41 countries.

Granted, it is difficult for an individual manager to achieve such inspirational success.

But what about your organisation? Broadcast your achievements, promote your history, and communicate your goals. Employees are more engaged when they work for a company of which they are proud. If they are talking to their friends and family about their inspiring workplace, it will make it easier to attract quality candidates.

A study by consultancy RightCoutts revealed the unsurprising news that highly engaged workplaces are better at attracting job seekers. Why? Because success breeds success.

Madonna's mother died of cancer when Madonna was just five. She later was in an at times abusive marriage with Sean Penn, and the criticism she has received for her work has not deterred her. She has survived each setback and emerged victorious.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

Source: by James Adonis

THE Madonna zip-front tracksuits sold at H&M last year may have disappointed some fans, for in all their polyester shininess, they didn’t look like something She would wear. A cheerleading squad at a Florida retirement home, maybe, but not Her.

“I didn’t read the reviews,” Madonna said on the phone the other day. “I don’t care what people say. I like them.” Next week Madonna gets a do-over as a celebrity designer. Blouses, wrap dresses, printed halter tops, corset belts and a turban — all designed by Madonna! — go on sale in H&M’s 1,300 stores on March 22. And, She wants you to know, real effort went into these clothes, like maybe She does care, just a little, about what people say. “Did they come and see my show?” She asked, still on the subject of the mixed reviews. “If they’d seen my show, they would cut me some slack about how simple my tracksuit was. I like the simplicity of it and live in my tracksuits.”

But one cannot live in tracksuits alone. The new collection, called M by Madonna, has an unexpected vibe that could be described as landed-gentry Madonna goes office-casual Madonna.

The degree of workplace appropriateness depends on whether one chooses to accessorize with pearls or a riding crop. Madonna, who chooses both, was inspired by the dynamic young women who work with Her, a group She calls the Semtex Girls, because, you know, they are like the explosive. Naughty!

“They are the kind of clothes that mean business and fun all at the same time,” Madonna said. “I thought about what I like to wear every day.”

Still, there will be Madonna fans (um, me) looking for something more emblematic of the many, many Hers. Like that bodysuit ($19.90) that speaks of “Confessions on a Dance Floor”; or the double-breasted pantsuit (jacket, $99.90; pants, $59.90), circa “Express Yourself”; or a long white dress ($69.90) that could have been a castoff from “Vogue” days. But no.

“I didn’t really think about anything in connection to the stages of my career or the evolution of my persona,” She said.

Not even the $34.90 corset belts?

“Well, what part of my career didn’t I have a corset in?”

Source: New York Times - New York, USA by Eric Wilson

NEW YORK (March 14, 2007) -- She started off with tracksuits and now Madonna has designed an entire collection for affordable fashion retailer H&M.

Madonna created a predominantly white and black 30 piece collection "M By Madonna" with the store's design team.

"They went through her wardrobe and she picked out staples they wanted in the collection," said Jennifer Uglialoro H&M Fashion Spokesperson.

Clearly Madonna is serious about fashion. In her new promo spot for her line she wants to teach everyone how to dress. In fact, she uses a whip to enforce her style in the commercial.

For Madonna's take charge spring style, her trench is absolutely essential. She also has unbelievable accessories.

	For Madonna's take charge spring style, her trench is absolutely essential. She also has unbelievable accessories.
	"The sunglasses are $34.90 and we've seen Madonna wear these all around town," Uglialoro said.
	Madonna commands attention with a narrow silhouette – a classic button down shirt, pencil skirt and a big corset belt. "The hottest thing right now, that's 34.90," Uglialoro says of the piece. As for the outfit? "You can have this whole look for under $200," she notes.
	"My favorite personally," Madonna says in the spot. "I went through a whole Geisha phase."
	Try the $70 exotic kimono Madonna cherishes and be different with a turban.

Source: Access Hollywood

She may be getting long in the tooth, but Madonna's still pretty damn fit and certainly knows how to put on a show.

This CD/DVD set covers all of the audio and visual angles on Madonna's Confessions Tour.

The live 13-track CD features a mixed bag of older tracks (Like A Virgin, Erotica, Lucky Star) to more recent hits (Confessions, Music Inferno, Hung Up).

But it's the DVD that's the more attractive part of the package. Besides the fact that you get to see the concert, the set list runs to 21 with all the songs featured on the CD plus Live To Tell, Get Together, Ray of Light, Forbidden Love, Drowned World/Substitute For Love, and La Isla Bonita.
With the obligatory dancers and choreography, huge screens and prop incorporation (like a crucifixion sequence that may offend some, regardless of its socially contextualised intent), Madonna has to pull out all the stops to stay ahead of the youngsters snapping at her heels.

Mrs Ritchie is obviously more pop than rock, so I don't know how most will take to her strapped with a Gibson Les Paul playing three notes to I Love New York .

Extras: Behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage and a photo gallery.

Source: Tonight & Independent Online (Pty) Ltd by Paul Blom

MARCH 13, 2007

Photos: Westing / Cunningham

At tonight's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in New York, revelry and reverence will attend the class of five acts entering a storied sanctum that claims such undeniable greats as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, The Beatles and Fats Domino.

Future Rock Hall takes a look, and the candidates are a mixed bag: Madonna, Sonic Youth, the Beastie Boys, Metallica, Sting, Tears for Fears, Culture Club, Janet Jackson, Dokken, Ice-T, Men at Work and Twisted Sister could all get nominated. In two years, The Smiths and Run DMC could make the cut."

Source: USA TODAY by Edna Gundersen

The Material Girl is back with a new line of clothing and a saucy new ad.
Nobody wields a riding crop like MADONNA, and in a new TV ad for her upcoming H&M clothing collection, the Material One makes good use of the whip as a sort of 'Devil Wears Prada'-esque style queen burdened with making over a young and impressionable fashion ingenue.

Too bad American audiences won't get to see Madge's latest video sensation. The tongue-in-cheek ad for "M by Madonna," the pop star's second collaboration with affordable Swedish chain H&M, is airing only in Europe.

Madonna's previous effort, a line of tracksuits, performed well for the chain. The new pieces, hitting stores March 22nd, include catsuits, trench coats, heels and more pieces from the fashion icon, ranging in price from $19.90 for a skinny patent leather belt to $69.90 for a kimono-style dress or $129 for a doctor's bag.

The tailored pieces are mostly monochromatic, with lots of mix and matchable separates such as black V-neck sweaters, pencil skirts and trousers. Leather jackets ($198) and crisp button-down tops ($24.90) round out the collection. Sure to be a hit are the oversized sunglasses in white and black for $34.90.

Source: etonline.com

MARCH 12, 2007

	Buy It Now price: US $379.00 This is a beautiful hand-made sequence mini cocktail/evening dress designed by Madonna. This time Madonna teamed up with H&M to produce this long waited "M by Madonna" collection. The collection was first exclusively released in Hong Kong on 8th March while in other countries it will be scheduled to release on 22nd March. This dress is particularly beautiful and was sold out in minutes. I was lucky enough to get hold of it! So don't wait till late March, you can be the very first to own this dress. Size 34 which would be equvalient to US2. Measurements when lying flat: shoulder to shoulder 14", armpit to armpit 17", body length 32". Brand new with tag,original "M by Madonna" hanger and dust bag.
	Promotional M by Madonna 100% silk scarve Attendees of the invite-only world premiere of the H&M - M by Madonna collection on Thursday night in Hong Kong all received these great promotion scarves featuring the M by Madonna - M logo. Now you can get it already on Ebay

Source: Ebay.com

MARCH 10, 2007

M by MadonnaIt was too much of an opportunity for Asia's shopping paradise to miss: the grand opening Saturday of Hong Kong's first branch of a major worldwide clothing chain.|

And in their hundreds they came - many of them teenagers - queuing for hours to be the first in this fashion-conscious city to get their hands on the colourful garments sold at Swedish chain H&M's debut store in China.
More than 1,000 people gathered outside the downtown shop waiting for the 11:00am opening.

Many of them were lured by the promise of a limited number of trench coats personally signed by singer Madonna, one of the chain's celebrity designers, and 500 pairs of sunglasses.

Some had camped out for more than 24 hours.

"I suppose it is a bit crazy, but I love this chain," said 22-year old office worker Sandy Chiu. "I'm also a big fan of Madonna."

Overnight they had either slept on the pavement or fought to stay awake. "I ate lots of snacks and played my portable video game all night to keep myself awake," said student Cami Ip, 20, who had begun her long wait at 11:00am Friday. When opening time finally came, the crowds poured into the store to cheers by staff.

As an added incentive, H&M brought forward by two weeks the launch of its M collection, designed by Madonna, in time for the Hong Kong opening.

H&M's flagship store will be the first of four to open in the southern Chinese city this year, said Nils Vinge, head of investor relations.

"We don't usually witness scenes like this at a store opening," he said. "We are very bullish about the Hong Kong retail sector."

Source: AFP via France24.com.

"I didn't hear anything from her, but it wouldn't surprise me," said Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, who noted that her family is growing. "Hopefully, I'll have a new neighbor. I'd be very happy."

March 10, 2007 -- Madonna hits the street on the Upper East Side yesterday during her house-hunting tour. Among the homes that she toured with brokers were these opulent town houses.

The Material Mom is said to have her eye on this 14,700- square-foot East 62nd Street mansion, which features grand entertaining rooms with double-height ceilings, and marble floors, staircases and fireplaces.
Madonna wants to make New York her playground again!

With handlers and brokers in tow, the Material Mom toured