$$$“Bess: Finally, Wall Street can buy their clothes from someone who gets it. Someone who could arguably be even more arrogant and pompous. With a comprehensive line of $500 shirts in all the exact same style (Stripes of Pride) in 5 different colors (white colors and French cuffs, of course) I expect to see Lloyd and Vikram wearing Stripes of Pride exclusively in the upcoming season. Part of the story of the brand launch: The timing couldn’t be worse yet couldn’t be better. It was the moment. The moment to finally start. The moment to launch the most luxurious fashion brand in the world. My dream for years. Not cowardly looking for other ways. Of course not. The opposite. Attack. Using Wall Street. The two words. The words that say it all. The metaphor for everything that is right. Right about Capitalism. Right about Liberty. Right about Happiness. And right about Life. CLHL. Stripes of Pride. Celebrating capitalism. Promoting happiness and supporting freedom. Calling my brand WallStreet Kingdom. I’m not going to spoil the glory of the Flash intro for you, but gird your loins and crank the volume. It’s pretty intense.” [WSK] Continue reading »
Yup, pretty sure that’s what happened here. Broheim thinks it was predatory lending, lady friend blames Alan Greenspan’s policies. What? You don’t think that’s what could’ve sparked the increasingly physical argument captured above? If you have an alternative theory or any intel on the situation, please do share it with the group at this time.
The bank plans to hold off on announcing the wind-down while the 65 to 70 members of the global unit seek new jobs, the people said. Some traders and support staff may get roles within the firm. Earlier plans for most members of the Principal Strategies group, led by Hong Kong-based Morgan Sze, to leave together and form a hedge fund were shelved, people with knowledge of the matter said. Now Sze, 44, may set up a fund with a smaller team focused on Asia, they said. Employees in London and New York are considering different options, the people said. The team’s members in New York, led by Bob Howard, are in talks to join another asset-management firm, according to two people. [Bloomberg]
Have you ever found yourself watching Closing Bell on CNBC and cursing the fact that it’s only two hours? Wishing you could get more of Maria Bartiomo’s market moving insight? If you’re a Stern student, now you can. The noted business is sharing her wisdom this semester, in a seminar called “Global Markets and Normative Frameworks.” Continue reading »
“Tim was organized and low-key, although given to occasional bursts of profanity and odd fits of giggling,” claims Steve Rattner in his new autobiography, which he also writes that JPMorgan vice-Chairman Jimmy Lee is something of a “crybaby” and describes Sheila Bair as a “small, trim woman about my age with brown hair, brown eyes, and an unsmiling, sour demeanor.” [NYP via DI]
Ever find yourself at a bar like Turtle Bay in midtown, buying brightly colored shots that essentially have no alcohol in them and that most people past (the first semester of) their freshman year in college wouldn’t be caught dead drinking, and stop to ask your buddies a serious question which is, “You think our waitress wants a piece of this? She’s been throwing me vibes alllll night.”? You have Bryan Auld and Dominic D’Aleo to thank. The former JPM and Bear analysts co-founded Auld D’Leo in 2007, which “outsources the services of shot girls to bars in Manhattan” and that shot girl really does like you! Well, she’s actually taking pity on you/wants your money, but same diff/no diff. “For a lot of guys this could be the only time all night a girl comes up and talks to them,” said Giovanna Coluccio, one of 25 shot girls. In exchange for speaking with you, the ladies take home $300-$600 a night in tips (in addition to 25 cents per drink, which cost 15 cents to make and sell for $3 or $4). According to the co-founders, profit has increased 16% since 2007 and the ladies take business very seriously, following a list of “best practices” given to them on their first day of work.
“Personality is key. Physical looks alone will only get someone so far. Be as friendly, personable, upbeat as possible. Customers will feed off your energy.” These are the first rules in a list of best practices, or the shot-girl bible each girl memorizes before she picks up her tray. The list of 10 best practices of the trade was created by Mr. Auld. The entire stable of ladies meets weekly to discuss and tweak the curriculum of selling practices.Their product is recession proof. It’s all about micro-sales, selling something extremely cheap in mass volume. This is best practice number six: “Do not spend too much time with a patron or group of patrons. The foundation of our strategy relies on high-volume sale propositions. We must walk the fine line of being quantity salesman, while giving respect to those who purchase our items.” Among the other rules in the shot-girl bible: Never give up and always be the friendliest girl in the room. You’re not selling cheap liquor, you’re selling flirtation.
As is widely known, Wesley Snipes was found guilty of tax evasion a little while back, a charge which the actor believes to be bull shit. Because he would prefer not to go to prison for three years, Wes is attempting to appeal the verdict. Separately, Snipes was once a client of accused Ponzi schemer Kenneth Starr, who it came out several months ago had screwed a bunch of investors out of a bunch of money. These are two seemingly unrelated matters. And yet, today there is this:
The pole-dancer wife of accused Ponzi schemer Ken Starr claims private eyes for Wesley Snipes have been stalking her in a bid to find evidence to clear the actor of tax charges.
Moreover, Mr. Pandit seems uncomfortable as the leader of one of the nation’s biggest banks. He shuns most interviews, and he is prone to overreact to criticism no matter the source, be it The Wall Street Journal or a minor blog. Reports suggest Mr. Pandit is behind Mr. Mayo’s ban, a charge Citigroup denies. [WSJ]
A show of hands– how many of you think your male colleagues wear make-up? You were going to say “none,” right? Wrong, RuPaul. Statistically speaking, probably one-half to a third of your work pals are wearing some sort of lacquer right now, be it a little lip gloss or some bronzer and that doesn’t even include the transvesite beauts. Now that that’s out in the open you can finally stop being ashamed and start appreciating how this stuff is going to change your life. Like Jeffrey Lederer, the gentleman pictured here, checking himself out. What’s he thinking about? I don’t know, maybe about how at the age of 60+, he’s reeling in tail 20 years his junior, the kind of puss a man by the same first name can only dream of bagging. Chick thought he was 25, all thanks to his friends at MAC.
One argument that men’s cosmetics are going mainstream: some men are not even self-conscious about using them. Jeffrey Lederer, 63, a principal in several investment partnerships and a former Wall Street trader, openly applies Menaji products — including a Bronze Star facial bronzing gel, concealer and anti-shine powder — after his workouts at a private Manhattan club.
