Paltrow's Big Plan, Michelle's Return to NYC
• Gwyneth Paltrow is planning to give up her contract with Estée Lauder so she can focus on her website Goop.com, per the ever-reliable Daily Mail. More troubling: The paper says her plan is to "become an Oprah Winfrey-like lifestyle guru." [DM]
• Michelle Obama returned to NYC today. She attended the reopening of a wing at the Met (where she wore a coat by Isaac Mizrahi coat and sat next to Ralph Lauren, Iman, and Anna Wintour). Then it was over to opening night at the American Ballet Theater. [WWD, NYT]
• An excerpt from Lauren Conrad's debut novel has been posted online, in case you feel up to tackling some heavy literature. [Teen Vogue]
• Valentino, diplomat of fashion: "I saw the pictures of the Metropolitan gala evening last week and I never saw something more ugly." [Guardian]
• Speaking of Valentino, Time Out's current issue tests out self-tanners. [TONY]
• Cathy Horyn was not impressed with Anna's 60 Minutes segment. [NYT]
• Pat Field on what she's planning for the future: "Maybe directing a movie or having a TV show. [I'd like to] move on from the styling thing." [WWD]
• Erin Fetherston is shooting a short film. She is not, however, planning to launch a line for QVC. Got that? Good. [FWD, Fashionista]
• Alexa Chung on sexy clothes, socks, and her leopard print obsession. [NYT]
• Henri Bendel will be focusing on accessories in the future, which means you can expect big bargains when all its clothing hits discount stores. [MAS]
• Macy's may be getting into the outlet business. [BNET]
• A tour around David LaChapelle's Hollywood Hills home. [Unbeige]