What is the world coming to?

Just read this morning that the once dank Bowery home of CBGB has been turned into a designer boutique that sells $130 tee shirts. Not likely that a struggling muscian or fan of punk rock would be able to afford such a thing. Or with this recession anyone else for that matter.

Fashion designer John Varvatos’ menswear boutique has opened in the same spot where bands like the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads and Blondie helped spark a punk rebellion. The store echoes its past with aging graffiti, black walls, and flyers from the 1970s are preserved behind glass on one wall. The stage has been replaced by a tailoring shop encased with gold Alice Cooper records.

Nice touch

“I wanted to combine music, fashion, memorabilia and really make it like a cultural space,” Varvatos told "The New York Post" today.

He promised emerging artists will be welcomed there, and said he will host a fundraiser for young musicians next month. OK so we'll give him some credit there.

Robert Hollander, an East Village resident and activist, said the transformation of CBGB into an upscale boutique is a symptom of pervasive commercialism in what was once a gritty, browbeaten neighborhood.

“It’s kind of ironic because they’ve made this gesture to preserve a little bit of history but the reason CBGBs is gone is because places like this have opened up in the neighborhood,” Hollander told amNew York.

We hear ya...it is similar to what they are trying to do in Lowell...sort of.

CBGB closed in October 2006 after the owner, Hilly Kristal, lost a rent fight against the building’s landlord. Kristal died in August.

Oh My!

We went behind the scenes at the brand new Nordstrom in Burlington. Check out a sneak peak of the new spring fashion lines from Vince, St. John, Nanette Lepore and Diane Von Furstenberg.

Click here to watch!

New York City may be the fashion capital of the Western world, but Los Angeles is gaining on its heels.

L.A. Fashion week is a star studded event. This time instead of the celebrities in the front row, they’re behind the scenes running the show.

The less famous of the Hilton sisters, only because she never made a porno, Nicky showed of her high-end Nicholai line. It was a family affair with her parents, Kathy and Rick; and big sis Paris along with her flavor of the month Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden — lined the runway.

The latest designs from the younger Hilton girl included trench coats, knit tops, houndstooth accents and lots of leather trim. Nicky debuted the more-expensive Nicholai line at New York Fashion Week last year. She launched her first clothing line — the casual Chick by Nicky Hilton — in 2004.

Another famous for just being famous celeb that now has a fashion line is Lauren Conrad. MTV’s reality soap opera star of The Hills made her designer debut without the TV crew in tow.
L.C., as her friends and frienemies call her, told the AP that she did not want the cameras at the fashion show.

“I kinda like that it’s separate,” she said “It’s not something that I really want to be part of a reality television show. It’s a career I want beyond my 15 minutes.”

Conrad’s debut featured 30 different looks from her fall 2008 line. Flowy wraps and strapless dresses were accented with touches like leather gloves and berets. Conrad said the oh-la-la designs were inspired by her recent trip to Paris, which will be documented on “The Hills” when it returns March 24.

Fellow “Hillers” Whitney Port, Audrina Patridge, Lauren “Lo” Bosworth and Brody Jenner lined the front row of Stage One at Smashbox Studios. On-screen adversaries Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, however, were nowhere to be seen. The remaining recognizable faces in the audience were like a who’s who of Laguna Beach alumni.

Kristin Cavallari, who infamously feuded with Conrad on their sun-kissed “Hills” predecessor, was perched next to Jenner pal Frankie Delgado. Meanwhile, Dieter Schmitz and Stephen Colletti, the boy Conrad and Cavallari clashed over in high school, sat on the other side of the catwalk.

Sigh, does high school drama ever end?

Items from The Lauren Conrad Collection are sold exclusively in the area at First Date Boutique, 28 Chestnut St. in Andover.

We learned this morning that Lauren Conrad's, or better known as LC from MTV's "The Hill's", new clothing line will be sold exclusively at First Date Boutique in Andover.

Owner Keri Barrett was anticipating a shipment today of The Lauren
Conrad Collection.

The flirty boutique that opened in September has the potential to become the next Jasmine Sola without the controversy. It has the all the East Coast class mixed with the West Coast flare.

Check them out online at shopfirstdate.com.

Or head out to 28 Chestnut St., Andover.

Japanese makeup artist and celeb fav, Shu Uemura, died at 79 of pneumonia in Tokyo. He is survived by a wife and son.

Someday we believe Bono will save the world.

The global warrior and lead singer of rock legends, U2, has desinged a T-shirt with his wife, Ali Hewson, as part of the Hard Rock Cafe's Signature Series. The T-shirt benefits African cotton farmers as part of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Conservation Cotton Initiative. This institution helps lift African farmers out of poverty by providing education on proper land management, organic cotton growing techniques and wildlife conservation.

The shirts are printed on an edun Live T Shirt made from 100% African cotton and features an image by Bono – a fish soaring through the moon and stars, with the words “fish can fly . . .”, and Bono’s signature. The men's version is shown above and the women's is white with blue detailing.

Each shirt is only $26 and can be purchased here at www.hardrockcom.

The Frosting endorses Bono for President in 2008!

Think of it like a major trunk sale! I have inside information that Jessica Lynn Boutique on Route 40 in Groton will be closing up shop on December 31. The hippiest store surburbia has ever seen, is going to reopen closer to Boston.

The owner has slashed prices by 25 to 60%!!!!!!! Time to finally splurge on those Citizens for Humanity Jeans you always wanted.

Jessica Lynn, the Mill Run Plaza, 493 Main St., Suite F, Groton.
Click here to check out the inventory!

Everyone loves a DISCOUNT!!!!!!

Today's print Lowell Sun featured an article about Truejeans.com. This web site eliminates the dressing room and finds the perfect pair of jeans to fit your body type.

Lowell Sun readers who log on and purchase a pair of jeans can get 15% off now thru Dec. 31, 2007 by entering THESUN in the promotional code area.

Check it out! True Jeans