Does Armani Make a Football Helmet?

2009 list also includes sports figures, politicians, royalty, entertainers, artists

(NEWSER) - Vanity Fair’s 2009 International Best-Dressed List is as glamorous as ever, but the magazine didn’t ignore the global pinch of the recession. A sampling of the honorees, along with their favorite recession-friendly bargain-hunting locale or item:

• Michelle Obama: J. Crew
• Barack Obama: Secret Service employees’ store
• Alicia Keys: Barneys warehouse sale
• Brad Pitt: Make It Right Foundation T-shirts

Fashion sinners won't burn in hell but may burn with shame

(NEWSER) - Forbes gives fashion-impaired guys a few much-needed tips. Here are 10 fashion sins to be avoided at all costs:

1. Pants that are too long or too short.
2. White socks with dress shoes.
3. Mixing patterns, especially from different color families.
4. Ties that are too long or too short.
5. Stained clothing.

'Jazzy' family embraces 'white' and 'chic' fashion codes, says columnist

(NEWSER) - French Elle's outrageous "compliments" for the Obama family's "jazzy" style have sparked a race row. Finally, Elle gushes , the First Family is following "white fashion" codes. "Chic" has at last become a "plausible option" for a community until now pegged to "streetwear," writes columnist Nathalie Dolivo. As if that wasn't a big enough foot in the mouth, Dolivo adds that the "black-geosie" can always add "ethnic" touches from their "roots," such as a "batik-printed turban," to keep it real. More»

Melissa McCarthy is the latest to make the leap

(NEWSER) - Melissa McCarthy is on top of the world, and now that she's won an Emmy and won over SNL viewers , what's next? The Bridesmaids star, who wanted to be a fashion designer before she ended up in comedy, is launching her own plus-size fashion line. "Trying to find stuff that's still fashion-forward in my size is damn near impossible," McCarthy, who designed her own dress for the Emmys, tells the Hollywood Reporter . "It's either for like a 98-year-old woman or a 14-year-old hooker, and there is nothing in the middle." More»

Rapper will campaign for the president, insiders say

(NEWSER) - With President Obama struggling to maintain his hold over young voters, whatever can he do to ramp up his 2012 campaign? Team up with Jay-Z, of course. The rapper and huge Obama fan will stump for the prez, and strategists think he’ll lend new spark to the “hope” movement, an insider tells the New York Post . “I can't believe you've finally heard the chatter about him replacing Larry Summers,” a deputy White House press secretary jokes, adding that "I don't think it'd surprise anyone that he would be involved again. But it's a little premature." More»