Aaliyah in Tommy Hilfiger. Photo: Getty Images

Today, Universal announced that it will be partnering with Tommy Hilfiger to produce a line of “rock-’n'-roll-inspired clothing for high-end boutiques and department stores.” The record label was quick to clarify that they will not be partnering with Tommy Hilfiger the brand, but instead will be bringing in the designer (who no longer helms his namesake label) as a consultant on what the company hopes will be an easy and highly lucrative way to re-energize their business–a business that’s been slowly dying since the very first MP3 was shared illegally online almost a decade ago. Since then, record companies have been mostly subsisting on concert ticket sales and an array of merchandise–from Justin Bieber toothbrushes to re-issued Rolling Stones T-shirts.

Photo: FIT

FIT’s Fashion and Textile History Gallery opened its Sporting Life exhibit today- a retrospective of sportswear’s miraculous evolution over the past 150 years. Divided by athletic pastime rather than era, the exhibit displays rare examples of woolen swimsuits, riding habits, and bloomer ensembles beside their modern-day counterparts like Brazilian bikinis, jodhpurs, and Lance Armstrong-esque gear. There is also Manolo Blahnik’s uncanny interpretation of LL Bean’s duck shoes, Abercrombie & Fitch ice skates, and pieces from Jean Paul Gaultier’s long extinct diffusion line. Most of the items included are part of the Museum at FIT’s permanent collection, which of course is New York City’s largest closet on record.

Photo: Johnny Hates Jazz

Seoul-based journalist Michael Reyes is sharing his scoop on the best Korean designers this week. Designer Choi Ji Hyung is the embodiment of the refreshing wave of elusive young talent slowly seeping out of South Korea’s fashion community. The younger generation in South Korea is encouraged to propel itself into the international spotlight. Slowly an ambitious generation’s efforts are proving intriguing.

Photo: Retna

Whether you watched this season of American Idol or not, you can appreciate that this year’s winner, 17-year-old Scotty McCreery, has got a seriously amazing voice—and an adorable smile to boot. A record-breaking 122.4 million viewers cast votes in favor of the country-crooning season 10 winner, and we are not at all surprised! The North Carolina native has been strumming his guitar since the age of 10 hoping to one day follow in the footsteps of his idols, who include country superstars Josh Turner, Randy Travis, and George Strait.

Photo: Getty Images

Rachel Zoe landed in Dallas this week to present her newest designs to Neiman Marcus on their home turf. The designer/celebrity stylist obviously hit just the right note, because Neiman has signed on to debut Zoe’s line at every single one of its 41 doors across the US, plus NeimanMarcus.com and its subsidiary, Bergdorf Goodman, starting this summer. Though it’s unusual for a department store to go so whole hog with a brand new and pretty much untested label, it sounds like the cat’s been in the bag- Ken Downing, Neiman’s Senior Vice President and Fashion Director, has been serving as a sounding board for Zoe, encouraging her to embrace colors and prints and advising her on construction decisions like fabric weight.

And if Neiman Marcus isn’t in your usual shopping shuffle, take heart: Shopbop, Nordstrom, Saks, Intermix, Kirna Zabete and Selfridges have all picked up the fall line, meaning Zoe-bots can pick up the look just about anywhere, provided they’re comfortable with the star’s price range of $250 to $700. The clothes hit stores this July, perfectly coinciding with the debut of her newest season of the Rachel Zoe Project, featuring a brand new assistant and, we’re willing to bet, plenty of camera time on the new collection. WWD also reports that Zoe is “dying” to include jewelry for Fall 2012, and something tells us fans will be able to watch the whole thing unfold in prime time.

Photo: Getty

Whether you’re sick of her or can’t get enough, one thing is sure: If Kate Middleton wears something, virtually anything, it’s going to sell out. Case in point: the nude Reiss “Shola” dress, which sold out just moments after it was reported the Princess wore it to meet the Obamas on Tuesday. In fact, so many people were clamoring to get their hands on that particular dress that they crashed Reiss’ site — twice. A spokesperson for the clothing company told the Washington Post that their traffic increased a whopping 300 percent thanks to Middleton, a definite coup for the affordable, high street British brand — and a smart move for the Duchess of Cambridge herself. It’s a (sartorial) strategy that, three years ago, in 2008, Michelle Obama was putting to good use: The newly appointed First Lady made headlines–and sparked a shopping frenzy–after sporting J. Crew on several public occasions, including in an interview on the Tonight Show and on press trips abroad.

Photo: Retna

Who: Lucy Liu
What: Premiere of Kung Fu Panda 2 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in California
Wear: Marchesa strapless white dress, Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, a Roger Vivier Boite de Nuit white and red clutch, and Jimmy Choos peep-toe pumps

Taiwanese American beauty Lucy Liu graced the red carpet at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre for the premiere of Kung Fu Panda 2. Unlike the slithery look of Viper—the charming snake she voices over—Liu looked heavenly in a strapless white Marchesa frock with light ruffles. Her cascading locks (sans lotus flowers) and Jimmy Choos nude pumps makes her legs look miles long—perfect for a mighty warrior. Co-star Jack Black arrived on the red carpet with an air bound kick and arms in kung-fu stance. Liu would’ve done the same, but she held a white and red Roger Vivier clutch in hand too divine for damage.

Photo: Getty Images

Last night New York saw the return of Panic! at the Disco, a duo now after the band split back in 2009. Frontman Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith have evaded the limelight since then, but if you’re expecting the recently emerged pop-laced rock band to perform at half the power, you probably haven’t heard their new junior record Vices & Virtues, which just explodes with the stuff this infectiously upbeat Disco is made of and known for.

Armed with the kind of tracks that top charts (download ‘The Ballad of Mona Lisa’) and already sold-out shows, Urie and Smith are re-energized and ready to bring P!ATD back in new and improved ways. Before their show at Terminal 5, I sat down with the Ray-Ban and Converse-clad gentlemen (who have eschewed the circa-2005 eye makeup) to discuss their first album as a twosome, why just being a “big artist” won’t sell the tickets, size 48 Gucci outfits, and their off-duty dressing habits (includes onesies).

Erin Fetherston and May Andersen. Photo: Billy Farrell Agency

It’s been a huge week for the Whitney Museum of American Art. A slew of events led up to yesterday’s historical groundbreaking ceremony for the new Renzo Piano-designed location on Gansevoort right next to the Highline. Mayor Bloomberg stated at the celebration, “The Whitney started with the crazy idea that American art was significant.” Significant indeed!