What do coffee spiked with lemon juice, a bowl of pho, french fries and double doses of Aspirin have in common? For those who drink with the valiance of a Cavalier, they might recognize these are hangover “cures” proposed by fellow dehydrated drinkers. The hot sauce (no pun intended) maker, Tabasco, has decided that it will partake charitably in giving back to the public after St. Patrick’s Day this year. Not as if adding flavor to our lives wasn’t enough already, Tabasco went all out and stationed a food truck named Tabasco Hangover Headquarters on March 18 dishing out special hangover nosh designed by Laurent Tourondel. Tourondel was the mastermind behind BLT (Bistro Laurent Tourondel) until March 1 when he announced a split from the group, and he also competed against Bobby Flay in Iron Chef America.

The special complimentary menu (yes, everything was free!) created by Tourondel included some new takes on traditional hangover food such as Huevos Fresco Breakfast Burrito, Hash ‘N Egg Slider, Spicy Sirloin Slider with Tabasco Horseradish Sauce and Double Smoked Bacon Pizzeta. To top it off, one can wash down all the delicious grease with the LT Virgin Bloody Mary. Check out the event photos and be on the look out for the hangover truck next year if you missed out on it this time around and nursed the St. Patrick’s Day aftermath slumming on a couch at home with a litter of Danasi.images via: Miami New Times and Uncrate

Vice magazine has embarked on some of the strangest journalistic missions—it has sent a crew to North Korea and managed to return with some of the most fascinating and rare video footage, and is especially known for its irreverence when it comes to exploring certain subjects. So when Vice sets out to interview Karl Lagerfeld, it comes as no surprise that the conversation is so much less about CHANEL’s Fall/Winter 2010 presentation and his work in taking on the House of Fendi, but angled from a different perspective where Lagerfeld is presented as a character study.

Bruce LaBruce, the architect of this interview managed to unveil the lesser-known side of Karl Lagerfeld through intense prepping and novel, probing questions. While the duo veered slightly far from fashion, they did converse about rather intimate aspects of Lagerfeld’s life and his views of the world. And according to the interview, his world is one where porn stars should be admired, gay marriage is too bourgeois, and quite paradoxically (yet fitting), fur is okay if you can afford it and should never be purchased as an investment.

Underneath the sunglasses, pulled back stark white pony tail, fingerless gloves and fitted suits that have contributed to Lagerfeld’s almost mythical existence, the man is a voracious reader, fluent in many languages and possesses a child-like unquenchable curiosity about the world.

Check out the interview which is published in Vice Magazine’s March issue, and definitely don’t miss out on LaBruce’s suggested diagnosis of Lagerfeld (that Lagerfeld perhaps has Asperger syndrome).

Japan’s HIDDEN CHAMPION dedicates a special book to New York City’s perennial downtown tastemaker and retailer, ALIFE. The new special publication named “I LOVE  ALIFE” spans 32 pages and documents everything HIDDEN CHAMPION loves about ALIFE. Aside from selected items from the label’s Spring/Summer 2010 catalog, this special issue also features a special recap of ALIFE’s Clayton Patterson Exhibition alongside a in-depth interview with the artist. Through the lens of HIDDEN CHAMPION, the magazine hopes to bring readers and ALIFE fans a fresh perspective and better understanding of the label. “I LOVE ALIFE” is extremely limited and only 3,000 copies are available around the world. The book is due to release this coming Monday on March 15 at select stores and retailers such as ALIFE Tokyo. via: HIDDEN CHAMPION

Created by the Shoe Master team, Sneaker Tokyo is back with a second volume featuring none other than fragment design’s Hiroshi Fujiwara. The book is a detailed look into Fujiwara’s sneaker archive that will no doubt win attention and envy of sneakerheads everywhere. Not just a connoisseur but also a designer and quintessential influencer in the sneaker industry, Fujiwara has indisputably impeccable taste in kicks. Sneaker Tokyo vol.2 “Hiroshi Fujiwara” compiles an archive of 200 pairs of sneakers that Fujiwara has chosen, created and worn, into one comprehensive read. Some of the models include 80s classics such as Nike Dunk, Air Jordan and adidas Superstars, and more recent creations such as Nike HTM, visvim and so forth. Aside from a delectable rundown of sneakers that tickle Fujiwara’s fancy, the 160 page tome also includes exclusive interviews with Nike CEO Mark Parker, visvim’s Hiroki Nakamura and a special in-depth interview with Fujiwara himself. Sneaker Tokyo vol.2 “Hiroshi Fujiwara” will be hitting stores in April and is fully bilingual in Japanese and English (so everyone can enjoy the write-ups and interviews aside from the pictures!). A collector’s item for sneaker lovers everywhere, check out preview of the magazine from Shoe Master and mark your calendars for the release! via: Shoe Master

Known for her daring experimental style and unapologetic attitude, Lady Gaga wears what she likes no matter how challenging (aesthetically and physically). The lady of pop blew up in 2009 with psychedelic dance beats that call for a decadent good time and mind-bending, dazzling outfits (remember her bird’s nest at 2009 MTV VMA and plastic bubble dress?). Lady Gaga is not only pushing the envelop but ripping through it by tapping two of fashion world’s most coveted houses, Armani and Prada, to create outfits for her overseas leg of the Monster Ball tour. Thus far, Giorgio Armani has conjured up four looks for the songstress including sparkly blue body suit with larger-than-life shoulders, mini-dress and a sweeping trench coat (of course, sky-high shoes and sunglasses are present at roll call). The designer had also previously dressed Lady Gaga up for Grammys, so the sartorial partnership is not an unfamiliar one.

As for Prada, the couture house had “whipped up an 18th century-inspired hoop dress made out of camel-colored cire (a shiny plastic jersey blend)”, according to WWD.

Knowing Lady Gaga, these looks are nothing short of dramatic and spotlight-stealing. Check out the sketches and stay tuned for the actual creations! via: WWD.

A victorious match, an alligator suitcase, a white pique cotton polo and 77 years later, LACOSTE has emerged a champion of casual sports chic ruling the courts, the runway (LACOSTE’s recent Fall 2010 presentation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week received stellar reviews) and real life. Founded by tennis legend Rene LACOSTE in 1933 with a revolutionary white pique polo shirt which changed the game of dressing for the games, LACOSTE has ushered in an era of sports style that made functional synonymous with style. To document the history and evolution of LACOSTE, ASSOULINE has just published LACOSTE: The Element Of Style. This hefty tome of savoir vivre and savoir faire is all about living, breathing and being. The book dressed in a clean monochrome sleeve with a small LACOSTE logo (a la the polo shirts) traces the contemporary relevance of LACOSTE and how his elegance, flair and creativity from the glorious Roaring Twenties lives on today. It tells the story of the labels various collections–the Club collection, the Sport collection– and design sensibility in detail. It relates personal anecdotes to the brand, and gives voice to a label which has transgressed through generations, countries and cultures. A documentation of everything LACOSTE in a comprehensive A-Z breakdown and a illumination of “democratic luxuriousness”, the book as introduced by Olivier Margot (Editor in Chief of L’Equipe) is a delightfully elegant read for those who enjoy a good heritage.

Following up with the tragic loss which hit the fashion industry last week, a British coroner has released post-mortem results of Alexander McQueen’s death. The irreverent British designer was found dead last Thursday in his apartment, on the morning of his McQ presentation due to show at New York Fashion Week. The reports of the post-mortem confirmed “asphyxia” and “hanging” as the cause of death, and has also revealed that the police found McQueen “hanging in his wardrobe”, and “are treating his death as non-suspicious”. While a full inquest into McQueen’s death will be heard on April 28, there is no doubt that the world is still mourning for this loss– and the growing monumental piles of tribute pouring in at McQueen stores is an elegiac attestation to this. via: WWD

The first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York should have started on a joyful, energetic note with anticipation for the new, the fresh and the creative. Sadly, the mood was dampened as early Thursday morning, the fashion world is greeted with a devastating loss of one of its brightest minds and most irreverent and beloved designer, Alexander McQueen. As the world mourns McQueen’s departure, tributes poured in and stacked up outside his store in London and New York. Flower bouquets, heart-felt notes, collages decorated the storefronts as fans shared their thoughts and fond memories of the designer.

Aside from personal notes, retailers and the British Fashion Council all have elegiac plans for the designer. For instance, Liberty plans to mount a window display in tribute to the designer, named “For McQueen and Country” while Barneys New York has put up a photo of McQueen in a shadow box window at its Madison Avenue location. While the British Fashion Council preps to create a tribute for McQueen at London Fashion Week, there has yet to be details on what the tribute will be. Meanwhile, postmortem on the designer is due to release on Monday and the cause of death should be confirmed by then. Stay tuned with us for more information to come, and if there is any time to celebrate the designer’s work, now is a good time to bust out that skull-print scarf! via: WWD

Later this afternoon, British designer Alexander McQueen’s contemporary line, McQ, is due to show at New York Fashion Week. Sadly, McQueen will not be able to see the line present on the runway as the esteemed designer was found dead this morning in his London apartment, with some sources citing the cause as suicide.

While Alexander McQueen had trained and entered the trade through the traditional classicism of Savile Row, McQueen garnered the attention of the fashion world with his irreverent and daringly controversial designs and lavish runway productions. Animal bones, skulls, crossbones and often taboo subjects frequented and were sent down the runway.

For the past few years, McQueen had been plagued with several deaths and personal losses, including the passing of Isabella Blow, a stylist who can be credited for McQueen’s rise to fame. And just at the beginning of the month, McQueen lost his mother whom he shared a close relationship with.

Even though the cause of his death remains undetermined for now, it is without a doubt that McQueen’s courageous and aggressive challenges towards sartorial tradition and his contribution towards injecting the fashion world with a fresh, uncompromising attitude will be deeply missed. via: NYTimes, image via: WWD

Tinker Hatfield is responsible, in part, for some of the most storied of all sneakers. Serving as the Vice President of the Special Projects and Design division of Nike, Hatfield has recently been a part of designing the Air Jordan 2010 model that was released this past week. But, his resume for Jordan Brand goes all the way back to the Air Jordan III (3), and he has been involved with the design of Air Jordans from that model until the Air Jordan XX (20). So you can attribute all the hype and drooling over models like the Air Jordan XI (11) and the Air Jordan IV to this man whose design inspiration revolutionized basketball sneakers. Footwear News sat down with Tinker and interviewed him about his career and his involvement with the design of the 2010 model.

In a world where boutique hotels have fast risen to hospitality stardom and changed the game of travel and lodging, it is becoming more and more difficult for any single stylish inns to stand out. Sure there are “good”, “nice” and “wonderful” boutique hotels, but finding one that isn’t just stocked with Ikea and the occasional Droog pieces and actually has character, is difficult to find. It is in this niche that Ace Hotel has not only established itself as a fresh and memorable hotelier, but also a tastemaker with foresight.

To prove this point, PSFK has put together a comprehensive list of all artist collaborations Ace Hotel has done to make their space locally relevant and unique. For instance, New York City’s Ace Hotel lobby features a large scale graffiti sticker mural created by Bronx-bred artist, Michael Anderson. Also, the New York branch features canvases created by Jeff Rogers and Chris Rubino. Heading south to the sunny Palm Springs, Michael Schmidt made a drapey macrame installation for the lobby and Nina Garduno from Freecity created custom sheets for some guest rooms. Other artists involved in sculpting the Ace Hotel look include Alma Allen, KAWS, Kenzo Minami and Obey’s Shepard Fairey. Check out the collaborations in its entirety online at PSFK and do keep Ace Hotel in mind next time you venture out of town and hope to crash in style.

Keep has branched out from their roots in eco-friendly footwear but doesn’t veer far from being socially conscious with a new humanitarian effort. This February, Keep contributes to human rights efforts in Burma through non-profit organization, Not On Our Watch. Not On Our Watch aims to raise awareness and resources to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to the vulnerable, marginalized and displaced in the world. The organization was founded by Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, David Pressman and Jerry Weintraub. For the organization’s efforts in Burma, Not On Our Watch aims to help advocate human rights efforts in a torn world where Burma’s ethnic tribes are inhumanely attacked, tortured, raped and executed.