After the TechCrunch Acquisition, Who’s Next?

It’s not uncommon to read about website acquisitions on TechCrunch, but on Tuesday, the popular tech blog was the subject of acquisition stories when they officially announced an acquisition by Aol. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but estimates put the purchase price somewhere between $25 million and $40 million for the TechCrunch network of blogs.

Now that they’re part of Aol (who are redefining themselves as a digital content company), which blogs and networks might be next on the acquisition list? Looking beyond tech, here are our best picks.

What is a Smoke Stick? More Importantly, is it Safe?: If Everyone Jumped

This week’s IEJ is brought to you via the star of the upcoming film Life As We Know It and former Grey’s Anatomy doc (and thorn in the side of the show’s producers) Katherine Heigl. The actress appeared on Monday’s “Late Show with David Letterman” touting an electronic cigarette called a “smoke stick.” Electronic cigarettes are apparently the latest trendy gadgets for smokers trying to quit.

Update: Did Fashion’s Night Out Boost Retail Sales in NYC?

Fashion’s Night Out 2010 was a huge success in New York City as far as boosting enthusiasm for fashion and attracting an energetic crowd, but Signature9 promised an update on whether the event fulfilled its original purpose – to bolster lagging retail sales.

Beyonce’s House of Deréon and Betsey Johnson Revive the Fashionable Faux Ink of the 90s

Last Thursday kicked off of the 6th edition of the London International Tattoo Convention, where up to 20,000 attendees gather to learn and share ideas and innovations in the tattoo market.

In this past week not one, but two fashion labels are following the trend that Chanel kicked off last year, and have included temporary tattoos as part of their upcoming collections.

Beth Ditto Weighs In On Fashion’s Warped Health Crusade

If there’s one word that’s become an antonym for fashion, it’s fat. For every Crystal Renn or Toccara Jones who proves that style isn’t limited to those in the single digit sizes, there’s a Julian MacDonald who declares their presence “a joke.”

In recent years, among rising obesity numbers in the US and several other countries, fashion has cloaked its fear of fat in faux concerns for the health of a nation. Beth Ditto, the plus size lead singer for The Gossip recently commented on the assumption that skinny equals healthy.

Why Fashion Critics Should Stop Hating on Burberry’s LFW Show

Critics were unimpressed with Burberry’s Spring 2011 collection, which debuted in London this week. The general consensus is that designer Christopher Bailey has turned out a cheap, passé, biker-chic look that was worsened by the extremely spiky heels that several models had to remove before the end of the show and led to one model’s tumble on the catwalk.

The fashion business being what it is (and by “what it is,” we mean obsessively terrified of the Internet and of the firm belief that if everyone ignores it, it will go away), the other general consensus is that Burberry produced a sub-par collection because the label was too focused on its online push and embrace of Internet business tools to create a high quality, inspired line.

Dear Jimmy Choo, We Never Saw it Coming: Your Affair With Ugg Has Broken Our Heart

Dearest Jimmy Choo,
We have had quite a love affair for years now, darling. Your commitment to creating only the highest quality shoes at equally high prices has brought on the admiration and worship you so deserve as the most iconic shoemaker in the world.But, dear Jimmy, we must say it’s time to go our separate ways. It’s not us. It’s you.

Take It Off: Desigual to Host Underwear Parties in NYC

Stop wondering right now; we have figured out why: This Thursday, September 23rd, the Spanish clothing brand Desigual is hosting an underwear party in the good ole US ‘o A. The first 100 people to line up clad only in their skivvies outside Desigual’s SoHo, New York City store will be allowed to choose any two items to take home for free.

If Everyone Jumped Roundup: KFC Wants Your Butt, KISS Nail Art Rocks and Naked Models at LFW

We’d like to take this week’s “If Everyone Jumped” column to update you, dear readers, on a few past IEJ topics.

First up: the taxi cab as marketing tool trend.

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