Blondie singer Debbie Harry’s fearless femme fatale attitude and urban-chic fashion style can be seen in many of today’s hottest rockers, from Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O to Paramore’s Hayley Williams.

Now Harry’s aesthetic is back in the spotlight with an upcoming Blondie record and line of iconic Converse sneakers, both of which hit stores this spring.

Blondie exploded onto the new wave scene in the late ’70s with hits like “Call Me,” “One Way or Another,” and “Heart of Glass”; they sold 40 million albums and were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Their seamless mix of fashion and music made them unique among a New York City scene that featured bands like Talking Heads and the Ramones.

Harry’s street-smart mash-up of skinny jeans, thriftshop finds, neon colors, and vintage tees complemented her chopped blonde bob and cherry-red lips. And the guys wore slim suits, skinny ties, and Converse Chuck Taylor’s sneaks.

This last fact helps explain why Harry has been working with Converse to develop an iconic line of shoes featuring Blondie designs. “The shoes have been such a staple in rock ‘n roll and fashion for so long,” Harry tells SPIN.com. “It seems like a real genuine kind of relationship.”

The new Blondie sneakers incorporate album graphics, animal prints, and neon — and retail from $55 to $85 for both men and women. Check them out here.

Blondie has also been busy recording a new record, due later this spring.

“It sounds like a mature Blondie album,” Harry says. “We really wanted to have a combination of different elements — that’s sort of been a tradition with us.” Various songs incorporate reggae, pop, and rock — and the lyrics go deeper. “I think that this record will help people understand that one can write rock lyrics that go further into the realm of poetry and literature, that just don’t make simple statements,” guitarist Chris Stein wrote on the band’s blog.

Blondie will tour in support of the new record throughout the summer, and are booked to open for the Strokes at the Isle of Wight Festival in the UK June 11-13. You can order tickets here.

Of today’s musicians, Harry counts psychedelic rockers MGMT among her favorites. But it’s the creative (and sartorial) spirit of Lady Gaga that she really admires: “I think she’s waking up people, giving them a sense of fun and a sense of flamboyance and creativity. It makes people want to party.”

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All Premier League games this weekend will feature a special red-coloured version of the usual official Nike T90 Ascente ball. It’s all part of the Red charity campaign to fight AIDS in Africa. Serie A and La Liga will be joining the Premier League in the use of the Red ball during their weekend matches.

In addition, stars such as Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and Fernando Torres will be wearing special Nike Red laces to help raise awareness of the campaign. Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said, “[a] red ball and red laces are simple ideas, but sometimes those are the best – the hope is that the profile given through this and the money raised through ‘Lace Up, Save Lives’ will provide significant impetus and funding to the Global Fund’s activities to aid the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The Nike (Red) Limited Edition ball is available for sale, in the UK, and  in the US. All profits, according to Nike, will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.

When plaid flannels and ripped jeans have come back to the forefront of street wear fashion, why not launch a shoe named for those who first made the look popular in the 90’s?

Apparently that is the logic employed by some execs somewhere up the corporate chain at Converse: meet Converse’ s “Music Collection” series of Chuck Taylor All Star shoes.

The Music Collection All Stars include models of Chuck Taylor All Stars inspired by Kurt Cobain, Blondie, The Clash, and Metallica. The shoes feature graphics from the bands, song titles and lyrics. One of the Kurt Cobain models reads “Punk Rock Means Freedom.” Aside from the irony that this collection plausibly goes against everything that punk rock stands/stood for, the Kurt Cobain series is especially troubling.

Presumably, a member of the other music groups had some say in okaying the shoes designed that bear their names. However, Mr. Cobain most certainly was not available to weigh in on his signature model of Chuck Taylors.

This isn’t the first time that Converse has produced a Kurt Cobain product: The first sneaker was introduced in 2008, 14 years after his death. The deal was hatched with Primary Wave, a group that purchased a large portion of Cobain’s back catalog from Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love in 2006. The exploits of that transaction are said to be one of the biggest reasons that Cobain is ranked among one of the richest of dead celebrities.

According to Jeff Gordinier in his article “Here we are now,” that appeared in Details of March 2009:

You might say he’s the victim of posthumous gentrification: Memorializing Kurt has turned into its own industrious wing of the media business. In 2006, Forbes crowned Cobain No. 1 on its list of the most lucrative dead celebrities—higher than Elvis Presley and John Lennon

Devin Lasker, of Primary Wave, defended the decision to strike the Chuck Taylor deal with Converse saying “It wasn’t like it was, like, some artist who never wore Converse before.” As a matter of fact, Lasker is absolutely right.

Many photos show the former Nirvana frontman wearing Converse sneakers. Even photos of Cobain’s discovered corpse reveal that he was wearing Converse’s when he died.

The shoes that Cobain died in are the Converse One Stars, which Converse incidentally also created a Kurt Cobain model for:

Are Primary Wave and Converse expecting consumers to take this as some sort of posthumous endorsement? A lot of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain fans would most likely argue the contrary.

Despite all of the troubling moral and philosophical questions raised by this Converse marketing scheme, not everyone sees it as a blight on Cobain’s legacy. In Gordinier’s 2009 article, the writer spoke with Ben Gibbard,  of Death Cab for Cutie about Converse’s 2008 Cobain Chuck Taylors.

If they were making ‘Heart-Shaped Box’ into ‘Eight-Piece Box’ for, like, Kentucky Fried Chicken, yeah, that would offend me… But if it takes a Kurt Cobain Converse to remind people to go buy Nirvana records, that’s fine with me.

April 5th of 2010 will mark the 16th anniversary of Cobain’s self-inflicted death. What is your opinion of Converse using Cobain’s namesake in their “Music Collection?”

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Amputee Phil Moore — angered when employees at Sports Direct in Barnsley, England, refused to sell him a single Nike sneaker for half the cost of a pair — snatched a size-9 from the display stand and tried to make a run for it.

Looks like this crime got off on the wrong foot.

Amputee Phil Moore — angered when employees at Sports Direct in Barnsley, England, refused to sell him a single Nike sneaker for half the cost of a pair — snatched a size-9 from the display stand and tried to make a run for it.

He didn’t get far on his crutches.

“Everyone thinks it’s funny, and my friends have given me some real stick and still haven’t stopped laughing,” Moore, 48, told the London Daily Mail. “I don’t mind them having a giggle, but … amputees should be able to buy one shoe.

“If they had allowed me to do that, then I’d never have got arrested in the first place.”

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Nike Inc. is seeking to wrest control over 66 Internet domain names it says are hawking counterfeit goods.

The Washington County-based athletic footwear and apparel giant filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Virginia against the domain names, all of which are registered to entities in China.

The domain names were registered through VeriSign Inc. in Dulles, Va. Nike is seeking an injunction to have VeriSign transfer the names into Nike’s control.

Nike officials declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Officials with the nonprofit Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse, of which Nike is a member, said the case is an example of the rampant growth of cybersquatters, a practice it says can cause damage to a corporate brand.

“It’s pervasive. Anywhere from dozens to hundreds of domain names can be registered every day that infringe upon their marks,” said Phil Lodico, vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based coalition. “The sheer scale of it is like death by a million papercuts.”

The group estimates that cybersquatting costs brand owners $1 billion a year through diverted Internet traffic, the loss of consumer trust and expenses related to combating the issue.

Nike’s lawsuit does not seek any financial compensation, though the company argues that the domains — using names such as NikeShoesInc.com, NikeObama.com, and Nike-Brand.com — are being used to sell unlicensed or counterfeit products with the company’s trademarks.

“Through such actions, Nike is irreparably damaged through consumer confusion, dilution and tarnishment of its valuable trademarks,” the company said in court documents.

While legal actions against domain names by major consumer brands isn’t unusual, the Nike lawsuit stands out for sheer volume, said Andy Coombs, a Glendale, Calif., attorney serving as Nike’s outside counsel on the case.

Coombs couldn’t speak to Nike’s case in particular, but he said similar domain name disputes are often handled case-by-case through an online arbitration process called the Uniform Domain Name Resolution Policy.

But that same process could require companies like Nike to bring proceedings against every registrant one-by-one.

Coombs sent each party cease-and-desist letters on Nov. 25 on behalf of Nike, giving them 10 days to respond.

The lawsuit was filed only after receiving insufficient or no responses from the domain name owners, he said.

E-mails sent by the Business Journal to several of the allegedly fraudulent Web sites went unreturned.

Since the lawsuit was filed on Jan. 28, nobody has registered to defend the case.

Nike filed for relief under the federal Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act passed by Congress in 1999, a law Lodico said doesn’t provide an adequate deterrent for cybersquatters.

The law calls for penalties in the range of $1,000 to $100,000 per infraction. Lodico believes the penalties should be limited to the higher end of that spectrum.

“The purpose of a piece of legislation isn’t to have brand owners file lots of lawsuits,” Lodico said. “Wouldn’t it be better if there were a law on the books to deter the action from even happening?”

These are Black Smooth Timberlands customized with Fuschia Bandana print scarf.  These shoes are available in Men’s Sizes (6.5-15) and retail for about $250. The sides and back are covered with bandana scarf.

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Fuschia Bandana Scarf used to customize the Timberlands.

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Pro Club Heavyweight Black Zipper Hoodie customized with Dark Grey Bandana print scarf on outside of hood.

These hoodies are available in men’s sizes [S-5XL] and retail at about $125.

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White Heavyweight Short-sleeved Tee customized with Navy Paisley Bandana scarf. This shirt is available in Men’s sizes [S-7XL] and retails for about $30.

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Nike Air Force One Low Top White Shoes customized with Turquoise print bandana scarf. The tongues, checks, toes, and heels are covered.

These shoes are available in Big Kid’s (Women’s) and Men’s Sizes [4.5-15] and retail at about $185.

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Ralph Lauren Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

Ralph Lauren designed the outfits for the U.S. Olympians, shown here at the Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver.

The new collaboration between local behemoth Levi’s and the New York shopkeepers-cum-coolmakers at Opening Ceremony premiered Feb. 19, and the party at the Union Square Levi’s store certainly showed it. The collection, a Pantone-popping palette of corduroy pants, jackets, shirts and shorts, was on dizzying display on the first floor.

The fashion, design and architecture sets were on the scene, each denizen hoping to score a gift bag. I peeked inside that of pal and interior designer Sally Kuchar, who was sporting one of the jackets in a toothsome curry orange, to find a logo T, a set of postcards from trendy photog Ryan McGinley and (this was my favorite) a little black Kevlar-covered button from S.F. design firm CITIZEN:citizen. Head citizen Philip Wood led a guerrilla marketing campaign before the launch. If you spotted bicycles, parking meters and mannequins around town wrapped a la Jeanne-Claude et Christo in corduroy, that work was Wood’s.

I returned to the Levi’s shop a couple days later to further paw the merchandise. At $150, these slim, straight cords don’t come cheap. But they are made in the U.S.A. and the fit is one of the truer sartorial stovepipes since Honest Abe’s headwear.

I’ll warn you that the pants are unisex, and rode a little high on the waist for me. Perhaps they’re more flattering to the female form.

Cards slugger meets Lakers star prior to Thursday’s game

They’re both champions. They’re both MVPs. Heck, they’re both Nike pitchmen. Yet until Thursday night, Albert Pujols and Kobe Bryant had never met.

Now, in addition to everything else, they’re both members of a mutual admiration society.

Pujols, along with several Cardinals teammates, made the trip down to Miami on Thursday to watch the Lakers-Heat NBA game at AmericanAirlines Arena. Most of the teammates — a group that included diehard Lakers fan Brendan Ryan, Joe Mather, Yadier Molina and Ruben Gotay — got photos with Bryant, the Lakers’ superstar. But Pujols actually sat down and talked with him for a good long while prior to the tilt.

“I did talk with Kobe,” Pujols said. “I got there about 5:30, watching practice for about an hour and a half. It’s just amazing, his preparation. When he was done, he was generous enough to come and sit down with me and [my son] A.J., and start talking about preparation and success and a little bit of everything. We kind of exchanged information. He told me to keep in touch and he would like to keep talking.

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In a combine featuring more than 1,000 players, it was not easy picking the top seven overall prospects. The Sunshine State’s top performers and an out-of-state headliner stole the spotlight in Orlando. Based on both combine performance and college potential, here’s our look at the RISE 7 from Saturday’s Nike Combine in Orlando.

Andre Davis, Jefferson (Tampa, Fla.) – Wide Receiver

Davis decided to make the short drive up Interstate-4 and test in Orlando. He has long arms and is a fluid athlete. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder ran a 4.43 shuttle and had a 30-inch vertical jump. With his tall frame and vertical hops he creates a size disadvantage in one-on-one match-ups and red zone opportunities. He is one of the top receivers in the state and boasts offers from Miami, Florida State, Purdue, South Florida and Texas Tech amongst others.

Jabari Hunt-Days, Hillgrove (Powder Springs, Ga.) – Running Back/Linebacker
Hunt-Days is a well-built running back and linebacker. He showed great lateral agility with a 4.29 shuttle time along with the second best kneeling power ball throw of the day, 41-5 feet. The stocky 6-foot-2, 226-pound athlete posted a 104.31 SPARQ Rating. Toledo has offered and look for BCS schools to jump in the mix over the next few months.

J.J. Keels, Florida Air Academy (Melbourne, Fla.) – Running Back
There was not a better athlete on the field then Keels. We mentioned the all-around back in our preview article and he more than lived up to his top billing. The 5-9, 180-pounder recorded the top SPARQ Rating of 106.29 on the strength of his 4.51 40-yard dash and 38.2-inch vertical. Keels excels in the combine format, but he gets it done Friday nights too. Last fall, he eclipsed 1,800 yards rushing and accounted for 27 total touchdowns.

Tyler Moore, Countryside (Clearwater, Fla.) – Offensive Line
Moore impressed coaches with his 71.91 SPARQ Rating, the second best mark for an offensive lineman in attendance. Moore moves well at 6-5, 299 pounds. He demonstrated excellent quickness with a 4.75 shuttle. The Nebraska pledge will follow in his dad’s footsteps and play for the Huskers when he is expected to sign his intent for the Class of 2011.

Devondrick Nealy, Jefferson County (Monticello, Fla.) – Running Back
At 5-8, 173 pounds Nealy is a dynamic all-purpose back. He recorded a 4.76 40 and solid 4.62 shuttle in wet conditions. He displayed good straight-line speed and sudden burst quickness. The fleet-footed athlete reports offers from Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Duke, Stanford and Florida International.

Sam Smiley, Raines (Jacksonville, Fla.) – Quarterback
The dual-threat QB checked in at 5-11, 166-pounds and the speedster athlete ran a 4.6 40. Smiley also finished with a 4.40 shuttle and 33.4 vertical jump. He is taking over the starting job next fall following the transfer of Herman Tapley to First Coast. The multi-skilled prospect claims an early offer from Illinois.

Quayshun Smith, Godby (Tallahassee, Fla.) – Defensive Back
Smith had a stellar combine showing. He sizzled with a 4.39 40 and 4.00 shuttle time. The 5-8, 157-pounder has explosive athletic ability and a game-breaking skill set. Off the gridiron, he stars on the Cougars track team and is a standout in the triple jump. So far he lists an offer from Arkansas and is receiving interest from other BCS programs for track.

Over the next week, ESPN RISE will have several items pertaining to the NIKE Orlando Combine. For complete coverage of the event be sure to check ESPN RISE daily.

Nike subsidiary Cole Haan has agreed to eliminate exotic skins like lizard, snake and alligator from its product lines.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Thursday that Cole Haan is the first maker of high-end accessories and shoes to ban exotic skins. Cole Haan, which is based in New York and Yarmouth, Maine, defines exotic as including alligator, crocodile, lizard, snake and ostrich.

Nike spokesman Nate Tobecksen says products using those materials will be eliminated across the entire Nike line after the summer retail season.

PETA has successfully lobbied Nike and Cole Haan in the past. Cole Haan announced in 2008 that it would stop using fur in its product lines.

Wool black adjustable baseball cap customized with bandana print scarf on the front of the cap as well as the full bill.

This cap is unisex and adjustable so one size pretty much fits all and it retails for about $60.

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Nike Cortez Leather White & Grey customized with Dark Grey Bandana on the checks, toes, and tongues.

These shoes are available in Big Kid’s (Women’s) and Men’s Sizes [3.5-15] and retail at about $135.

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