the buzz log

Forget burning bras. Real change for women in Saudi Arabia will happen when women start selling the things.

Currently, if you are a woman in need of some intimate underthing in the Saudi Kingdom, your sales assistant will always be a man. No wonder women there are always wearing the wrong-sized foundation.

The constricting laws that allow only men as sales staff have created this awkward sales environment. Recently women decded they were done mentioning the details of their unmentionables to men. For the last few months, bra buyers have been boycotting male-run underwear stores until women are allowed to work them.

To show that women can too run a bra shop, 26 attended a first-of-its-kind sales training on bras. Victoria's Secret provided extra support by donating some of its wares.

Who knew that buying a bra from a woman could be such a revolutionary act.

Filed under: Fashion

Time was when a pair of Air Jordans put you at the head of the class. And those treads are a perennial fave in Search, ranking near the top of all sports footwear. But the shoe has moved to the other, more fashion-centric foot: The humble sneaker has gotten an extreme style makeover. But it will cost you.

First, Michelle Obama showed up outfitted in super high-end kicks from fashion designer Lanvin. The grey leather shoes with metallic pink toe caps and ribbon laces will set you back $540 to look dressed down yet done up. The steep price didn't slow the searches. The snazzy shoes caused a lookup frenzy for "michelle obama sneakers" and "lanvin sneakers."

The First Lady has stepped into a new trend. Soccer stud David Beckham is designing a line of menswear for Adidas, including fancy footwear in leather and cashmere, called Originals for Originals. Nike is still a player for the hot sneaker market with Kanye West's Nike Air design, the "Yeezy." The perforated leather sneaks, which go for about $300, caused lines at Footlocker the night before the launch of the latest color, and have gone for thousands on eBay.

Queries on "jordan sneakers," "gucci sneakers," and "kanye west sneakers" are racing ahead. Try to keep up.

Filed under: Fashion

Fashionistas, rejoice. Reality TV, which seems to be filled these days with singing hopefuls and supermodel wannabes, is finally serving up some style.

"Project Runway" fans will be relieved to know that the show is finally back "in," after a maddening hiatus during a network dispute between Bravo and its new home, Lifetime. The sixth season of the design competition will be set in L.A. We know, it won't be the same. But as Tim Gunn would say, "Make it work."

Bravo has filled its "Runway" programming gap with — what else — a fashion design competition. "The Fashion Show" will feature the wild-haired designer Issac Mizrahi as host. His outsize personality is enough to get us to watch at least one episode.

And finally, in a "how desperate are we for content" move, the Bravo network announced a new reality show set in, wait for it, a store. OK, a really high-end boutique in L.A., but still. The as-yet-untitled drama will center around Fred Segal Fun, the go-to boutique for the celebrity set. Viewers will be privy to rabid salespeople vying for sales from A-listers like Jennifer Anniston and Mandy Moore. At least the economy is working for someone.

Filed under: Reality TV, Fashion