Is Emilia Jardine-Paterson Kate Middleton’s Secret Stylist?: Emilia Jardine-Paterson—interior designer, childhood friend of Middleton, and most recently, one of Prince George's godmothers—has reportedly been responsible for the Duchess's outfits over the last few months (including the ruffled Alexander McQueen coat dress she wore to the royal christening). "Emilia is trying to move Kate away from the Middleton neutral palate and push her towards color or pattern," a source told Grazia. "Emilia loves vintage and tries to get Kate to be a bit more quirky. When they were at school she used to tease Kate about her prim Jigsaw shirts and hated those fur gilets Kate wore.’ [Grazia]
The Wall Street Journal Launches Online Shopping Platform: WSJ's e-commerce site "The Shops"—featuring items curated by the paper's staff—has officially become a permanent fixture on the site's homepage. Zachary Martz,WSJ's retail developer, told WWD that they "are not accepting money from brands or retailers” and have thus far kept the online platform strictly independent from editorial and free of sponsored content. This is the publication's first foray into eCommerce after launching a shopable holiday gift guide last year. [WWD]
Miss USA Dressed as a Transformer for the Miss Universe Pageant: For the Miss Universe Pageant, which airs November 9, the reigning Miss USA, Erin Brady, dressed up for a preliminary event as a Transformer. Closely resembling the Autobot Optimus Prime, Brady's look was created by Martin Izquierdo, Victoria Secret's costumer. Brady posted several photos of her ensemble on Instagram and explained: "Nothing screams national costume like the first Miss USA transformer. Embracing powerful women in a transforming country that's made up of so much." [Fashionista]
Cate Blanchett Borrowed Her Hermès Bag for Blue Jasmine: Actress Cate Blanchett revealed that the Hermès "Kelly" bag her character carried in the Woody Allen film Blue Jasmine was borrowed from the brand's public relations rep. The costume designer for the film, Suzy Benzinger, had a limited budget of $35,000 to cover everyone’s wardrobe, including Blanchett's luxury-loving character. The "Kelly" handbag alone costs upwards of $23,000—and has a years-long waiting list—forcing Benzinger to get creative and borrow the handbag (which Blanchett had to throw on the ground seven times before they got the right take). Woody Allen tends to include Hermès bags in most of his films, but in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, he made it clear that he does not receive any special treatment or discounts. [The Telegraph]
Editor’s note: The second entry of the fashion cheat sheet has been updated for clarity.