The following is a round-up of apparel and footwear news from the world’s local media.

A woman was found dead along the Santa Ana River trail on Tuesday. She had been living in one of the tents that line the riverbed. She was 18 and homeless.

While a cause of death hasn’t been confirmed, it is hard to believe her station in life didn’t play a role.

It is another reminder that more must be done to combat homelessness in our community, which is up almost 8 percent since the last count. But for many, especially on city councils across the county, it is someone else’s problem. It’s Santa Ana’s problem. It’s Anaheim’s problem. It’s the county’s problem.

For far too long, our society has dropped its social ills at government’s doorstep and, after nearly 53 years of the federal “war on poverty,” it has little to show for it. But government has a strange way of measuring success, where increases in the welfare rolls are seen as a success, rather than focusing on boosting the numbers of those who no longer need a handout.

In speaking with Supervisor Todd Spitzer, County Executive Officer Frank Kim, Director of Care Coordinator Susan Price and other representatives of the county health agencies recently, they are keenly aware of the issues.

At the recently opened Bridges at Kraemer Place homeless shelter in Anaheim, the county looks to prove us wrong. The name “Bridges” is important, because it is seen as a bridge between homelessness and self-sufficiency, a place where the individual reasons for homelessness can be identified and people can be connected with the proper services. It’s just one piece of a larger countywide strategy.

“We’re not perfect, but we’re out there every day,” Frank Kim told us. “We’re trying to make a difference.”

But, despite their best efforts, homelessness is a multifaceted problem, likely beyond the resources of even the county. Cities, too, must come together and share the burden. It also requires more than government directives. The private sector has long proven itself better at matching resources to needs than central planners, so it should be included as much as possible.

Todd Spitzer seems to understand that. “As an elected official, I’m asking people to come together to solve this problem,” he told us.

Homelessness isn’t a government problem. It’s a problem for all of us.

The pleasant surprise of the First 100 Days is over. The action was hectic, heated, often confused, but well within the bounds of normalcy. Policy (e.g., health care) was being hashed out, a Supreme Court nominee confirmed, foreign policy challenges (e.g. North Korea) addressed.

Donald Trump’s character — volatile, impulsive, often self-destructive — had not changed since the campaign. But it seemed as if the guardrails of our democracy — Congress, the courts, the states, the media, the Cabinet — were keeping things within bounds.

Then came the last 10 days. The country is now caught in the internal maelstrom that is the mind of Donald Trump. We are in the realm of the id. Chaos reigns. No guardrails can hold.

Normal activity disappears. North Korea’s launch of an alarming new missile and a problematic visit from the president of Turkey (locus of our most complicated and tortured allied relationship) barely evoke notice. Nothing can escape the black hole of a three-part presidential meltdown.

• First, the firing of James Comey. Trump, consumed by the perceived threat of the Russia probe to his legitimacy, executes a mindlessly impulsive dismissal of the FBI director. He then surrounds it with a bodyguard of lies — attributing the dismissal to a Justice Department recommendation — which his staff goes out and parrots. Only to be undermined and humiliated when the boss contradicts them within 48 hours.

Result? Layers of falsehoods giving the impression of an elaborate cover-up — in the absence of a crime. At least Nixon was trying to quash a third-rate burglary and associated felonies. Here we don’t even have a body, let alone a smoking gun. Trump insists there’s no there there, but acts as if the there is everywhere.

• Second, Trump’s divulging classified information to the Russians. A stupid, needless mistake. But despite the media hysteria, hardly an irreparable national security calamity.

The Israelis, whose asset might have been jeopardized, are no doubt upset, but the notion that this will cause a great rupture to their (and others’) intelligence relationship with the U.S. is nonsense. These kinds of things happen all the time. When the Obama administration spilled secrets of the anti-Iranian Stuxnet virus or blew the cover of a double agent in Yemen, there was none of the garment-rending that followed Trump’s disclosure.

Once again, however, the cover-up far exceeded the crime. Trump had three top officials come out and declare the disclosure story false. The next morning, Trump tweeted he was entirely within his rights to reveal what he revealed, thereby verifying the truth of the story. His national security adviser H.R. McMaster floundered his way through a news conference, trying to reconcile his initial denial with Trump’s subsequent contradiction. It was a sorry sight.

• Is it any wonder, therefore, that when the third crisis hit on Tuesday night — the Comey memo claiming that Trump tried to get him to call off the FBI investigation of Michael Flynn — Republicans hid under their beds rather than come out to defend the president?

Republicans are beginning to panic. One sign is the notion now circulating that, perhaps to fend off ultimate impeachment, Trump be dumped by way of 25th Amendment.

That’s the post-Kennedy assassination measure that provides for removing an incapacitated president on the decision of the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet.

This is the worst idea since Leno at 10 p.m. It perverts the very intent of the amendment. It was meant for a stroke, not stupidity; for Alzheimer’s, not narcissism. Otherwise, what it authorizes is a coup — willful overthrow by the leader’s own closest associates.

I thought we had progressed beyond the Tudors and the Stuarts. Moreover, this would be seen by millions as an establishment usurpation to get rid of a disruptive outsider. It would be the most destabilizing event in American political history — the gratuitous overthrow of an essential constant in American politics, namely the fixedness of the presidential term (save for high crimes and misdemeanors).

Trump’s behavior is deeply disturbing but hardly surprising. His mercurial nature is not the product of a post-inaugural adder sting at Mar-a-Lago. It’s been there all along. And the American electorate chose him nonetheless.

What to do? Strengthen the guardrails. Redouble oversight of this errant president. Follow the facts, especially the Comey memos. And let the chips fall where they may.

But no tricks, constitutional or otherwise.

Charles Krauthammer is a columnist for The Washington Post.

Cities and counties, weighed down by ever-mounting retirement costs, are barely keeping their heads above water. Now the state Legislature is considering an onerous bill that would ensure many of them drown.

Assembly Bill 1250, introduced by Assemblyman Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, would effectively prohibit most local governments from contracting out for key services. It’s a union-driven bid to force the hiring of more public employees, complete with their unaffordably high benefit costs.

Never mind that local governments are struggling to meet current obligations, or that public employee pension benefits have already saddled taxpayers in California with at least $374 billion of debt.

California’s public employee unions want more bloated government. They don’t care who has to pay for it. And they finance the campaigns of enough state legislators that they might succeed — unless taxpayers speak up.

Their self-serving bill would affect local governments that operate under general state laws rather than their own charters.

That includes 44 of the state’s 58 counties — such as Imperial, Kern, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura (Los Angeles Orange, San Bernardino and San Diego are charter counties) — and 361 of the 482 cities, including Fontana, Garden Grove, Moreno Valley, Oxnard, Rancho Cucamonga and Santa Clarita, but not charter cities like Anaheim, Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Santa Ana.

Labor’s brazen strategy is to make the price of contracting for services so difficult and costly that local governments have no alternative but to hire more workers or not provide essential services.

We’re talking about contracts for everything from engineering and legal services to garbage collection and financial advice. If a local government contracts with outside firms, it would become much more difficult and costly.

The bill mandates that the contracts save money — but then prohibits contracts that displace government workers or save money on compensation.

For years now, unions have claimed they’re entitled to rich pensions and other benefits because they are otherwise underpaid. Now they’re fearful that a private firm might undercut unaffordable public sector compensation packages, or provide services more efficiently.

Jones-Sawyer and Service Employees International Union, the sponsor of the bill, propose a labyrinth of disclosure rules and vague auditing and performance standards designed to drive up the cost and complexity of contracting for services.

To further discourage local governments, the bill would make them liable for the contracting firms’ labor violations. Contracting for services would become a legal quagmire for local governments.

Local government leaders should be free to find the best services for the best price. And they shouldn’t have to hire government workers for projects that are temporary or services best provided by the private sector.

Just as state lawmakers want the Trump administration to stop meddling in their affairs, they should leave local governments to run theirs.

For someone that has been around track and field as long as Servite coach Richard Gibbs has, it is not always easy to find a first.

The Friars have won their league title four times, including this season, taken CIF-SS individual titles, set numerous school records and earned two CIF-SS runner-up plaques during Gibbs’ 16 seasons at the helm.

With one big spot missing in its trophy case, Servite might finally get its first CIF-SS Division 3 team title in the CIF-SS Finals on Saturday at Cerritos College.

“We knew from the beginning, in January, if we did what we were capable of (we could win),” Gibbs said. “You stand around and look at them all, and know there’s an opportunity to just get the job done.”

With Gibbs nearing the end of his career – he quipped that his wife would want next year to be his last – it would be no surprise if the Friars had a little extra push to get this one done for their coach.

“It’s not about me,” Gibbs said. “I have very little ego. I want to win, but not for me. They’re motivated to do that.”

Servite is going to have to put up a major fight to get it done against Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, which has won 10 of the last 15 CIF-SS Division 3 titles with two runner-ups.

PrepCalTrack.com projected Servite with a one-point advantage going into last weekend’s prelims and Notre Dame with the one-point lead projected after the results of prelims.

“We’ve never won the big one,” Gibbs said. “It’d be a great achievement, but I don’t run. I just put them in the right direction.”

The biggest keys to the Friars success this season have been senior hurdlers Ian Ward and Kyle Sandoval. The two qualified in both hurdle races, with Sandoval taking the top spot. Ward also qualified with both relay teams.

“Two of the hardest workers and greatest work ethics I’ve ever seen,” Gibbs said. “It’s hard to describe how tenacious these two guys are.”

Servite has also gotten an influx in the sprints from the football team. Julius Irvin qualified third in the 200 meters, and Keith Taylor qualified first at prelims with the O.C. champion 400 relay.

“Julius Irvin doesn’t have to run for us,” Gibbs said. “He has 12 major (football) offers. Keith Taylor doesn’t have to run track. He has a chance to play (for Washington next season). He’s come out and done great for us.”

On the girls side, Santa Margarita’s girls have 16 entries for the finals. With qualifiers in every event but the 3,200 and the throws, many expect the Eagles to easily collect their third consecutive CIF-SS team title.

In Division 2, Mission Viejo will have a tough time repeating as the girls team champions. Diablos coach Chase Frazier believes the girls title is Westlake’s to lose.

“Last year, it was ours to lose,” Frazier said. “We had an athlete in every event. (Westlake has) got the points and the spread of athletes. They’re scoring a lot everywhere.”

However, Mission Viejo could still be in line for consecutive years with a team title. The Diablos have 12 boys entries spread around the finals to be in great position over sprints-strong San Gorgonio with seven entries and distance-heavy Claremont with six.

“We talk about it,” Frazier said. “Right now, we’re looking at if we show up and do what we can do, we can win it. We have the people in place.”

Junior Ryan Kennedy will be a big point-producer for Mission Viejo’s quest for its first boys team title in 19 years. Kennedy qualified in the 100, 200, long jump and as the lead leg of the 400 relay.

“The problem with him is a four event limit, because he could probably do seven or eight events,” Frazier said. “What we’re seeing now is how well-rounded of an athlete he is. Its great to see his progression and progressing at the right time.

“Late comer, but we’ll take it at any time.”

Senior Quinn Williams will also float the Diablos’ hopes in three events. Williams is the favorite for a repeat title in the 300 hurdles and will also run a strong 110 hurdles and 1,600 relay.

The other star of Division 2 is once again Canyon’s Rachel Baxter in pole vault.

Baxter comes in as the undisputed favorite after setting a Division 2 record in the prelims with a cleared height of 13 feet, 10 inches. The Virginia Tech-bound senior should claim her third consecutive CIF-SS title and always has eyes on breaking her own state record (14-3).

Division 2 also sports two triple-qualifiers. Northwood’s Kellie May qualified in the long jump, triple jump and 100 hurdles. Santa Ana Valley’s Malcolm Wesley qualified in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

Los Alamitos’ Jose Rubio is a triple-qualifier in Division 1 competing in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and long jump.

Sean Lee of Trabuco Hills is the top-ranked high jumper in the state and should take his third straight CIF-SS title.

Another talented linebacker from Orange County is headed to Arizona.

Los Alamitos’ Issaiah Johnson (6-3, 215) has committed to Arizona, the junior confirmed Thursday.

Johnson said in a direct message on Twitter that he felt the Wildcats were the “best fit” for him. Arizona recruited him to play inside linebacker, he added.

Last season, Johnson racked up 140 total tackles, including 80 solo, and added six sacks and an interception.

In February, Arizona signed Mission Viejo linebacker Colin Schooler, The Register’s defensive player of the year in 2016.

Please send football recruiting news to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter

Jennifer Lawrence’s newest film project isn’t a big studio release but a short film to accompany her pre-fall ad campaign for Dior, in which she was given the Maria Grazia Chiuri makeover in jeans, a We Should All Be Feminists T-shirt, choker, Dior logo slingbacks and a J’ADior bag. Brigitte Lacombe shot the campaign but Fabien Baron directed the video, titled “La Fille Américaine.” The slightly kitschy black-and-white video features Lawrence (“La Fille”) with her Dior bag (“Le Sac”), a flower (“La Fleur”), playing with a canary in a birdcage, sitting in a chair texting “Le Texto”, staring into the camera, applying lipstick, looking sad and looking happy. She sits at a table and pushes a vase with a single flower in it to the floor (“the argument”) and then plays with her blond hair. That’s pretty much the plot.

A behind-the-scenes video features interview footage of Lawrence expounding on the virtues of wearing clothes designed by a female designer. “It’s a great experience,” she says. And working with Brigitte Lacombe. “It’s exciting to work with a woman photographer because, frankly, there aren’t very many,” says Lawrence. There’s a theme afoot: “Whenever I think of a feminist, I think of a

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

RIDING THE WAVE: La Mer, in collaboration with non-profit organization Project 0, will kick off the La Mer Wave Walk on May 20. It’s the brand’s latest philanthropic initiative to support ocean conservation projects through a newly formed La Mer Blue Heart Oceans Fund. Fifty influencers, celebrities and artists — including Rita Ora, Chuck Close, Julian Schnabel, Cara Delevingne, Bruce Weber, Sienna Miller, Milla Eastwood, Peter Thomson and Vivienne Westwood — have created 50wave installations that will be placed in different locations throughout New York City as part of a public art trail.
“Of course the ocean is our muse. The original crème and the miracle broth was really created inspired by the healing powers of the ocean,” said Clyde Johnson, La Mer global ambassador, calling the Blue Art Trail an “evolution” of the Estée Lauder Cos.-owned brand’s Blue Heart Oceans Fund. “The fund will focus on supporting Marine Protected Areas, as well as strengthening our ongoing ocean conversation efforts around the world.”
Over the course of the weekend, the public is invited to visit — and bid on — Miller and Ora’s sculpture at the Oculus in the World Trade Center, Eastwood’s at Roosevelt Island and Delevingne and Thomson’s at the United Nations. Between

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…

Runway of Dreams Foundation, which develops and supports charitable initiatives focusing on a future of inclusion, acceptance and opportunity in the fashion industry for people with disabilities, will hold its second annual gala on June 8.
The event, which will be chaired by Gary Sheinbaum, Tommy Hilfiger chief executive officer of Americas, will be at Cipriani 25 Broadway from 6 until 10 p.m. The co-chairs are David Bassuk, managing director at AlixPartners, and Cathy Leonhardt, managing director at Peter J. Solomon Co.
The event celebrates members of the fashion industry and differently-abled community who are working to broaden the reach of inclusive fashion. Executives from the fashion and retail sectors will be in attendance, and it will be cohosted by E! News correspondent Jason Kennedy and fashion blogger Lauren Scruggs Kennedy.
The honorees for the evening will be Emanuel Chirico, ceo of PVH Corp., for his commitment to creating mainstream adaptive apparel at scale; Tobie Hatfield, Nike’s athletic innovation director, for his creation of the Nike FlyEase, designed for people of all abilities, and Kyle Maynard, an inspirational speaker and athlete, for his determined spirit and commitment to raising awareness for the community. The event will also feature a runway show with models of

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More…