Celebrity Dish: Serving up the gossip you should know!

Fashion Week in New York City and the Winter Olympics are two pop culture events that bring excitement to the doldrums of February. But, sadly, they started on a sad note this year, with the death of fashion designer Alexander McQueen right as Fashion Week began and the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili not long before the opening ceremonies.

McQueen’s body was found last Thursday in his London home, where he reportedly committed suicide. His death came the day before his mother’s funeral. McQueen was said to be distraught after her death. Speculation also arose that a recent break-up may have been a factor.

One of his lines, McQ, was due to be shown at Fashion Week, but the show was canceled after his death was announced. But many models paid tribute to the designer, who was known for his scarves, using skulls in his pieces. Model Naomi Campbell held a fashion show fundraiser for Haiti, specifically paying tribute to McQueen and his innovative, provocative and sometimes controversial designs. Some of his designs were auctioned off for charity. So far, no word on whether his show at Fashion Week in Paris will continue. However, sales of McQueen’s items were up 1400 percent in the days following his death.

In a way, this also is a death, of sorts, for the Big Apple’s Fashion Week. This is the last time it will be held in the tents of Bryant Park, where it has taken place since 1993. The point of having Fashion Week in Bryant Park was its proximity to the fashion houses. But the fall shows will be moved to Lincoln Center. The move comes at a time when many say the Garment District, from 34th to 40th Streets between Broadway and Ninth Avenue, is in a state of decline. But as long as the designs are good, it won’t matter where the models strut down the runway.

The Winter Olympics began under its own cloud of tragedy. Kumaritashvili died during his second training last Friday. But the interesting thing was the debate it caused. Olympic officials said human error was to blame, while others said it was faulty track design that led to Kumaritashvili’s fatal injuries. As a result, the luge track was amended before Saturday’s competition.

Despite Kumaritashvili’s tragic death – a slight malfunction with the torch – the Olympics got underway with a festive ceremony, featuring an amazing rendition of Hallelujah by k.d. lang and performances by Nelly Furtado and Sarah McLachlan.

But now on to the more important question. What will figure skater Johnny Weir be wearing on the rink?

Krista Richmond is a journalist and pop culture enthusiast. Have a question, suggestion or hot gossip tip? Send them to her at krista@killerfilm.com.