In addition to featuring a Who's Who — including The Who — of British music (Annie Lennox, Ray Davies, the Spice Girls, George Michael, Madness, Blur), the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games paid tribute to British fashion brands.

The models hitting the Union Jack-shaped stage: Kate Moss (above) and Naomi Campbell in Alexander McQueen, Lily Donaldson wearing Vivienne Westwood, Stella Tennant in Christopher Kane, model/singer Karen Elson in Burberry, Lily Cole sporting Erdem, Georgia May Jagger (the offspring of fashion/music royalty Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall) wearing Victoria Beckham (a double brandcameo for the Spice Girl turned designer), Jourdan Dunn (Jonathan Saunders with headwear by milliner Stephen Jones) and David Gandy wearing Paul Smith.

The soundtrack: David Bowie's Fashion, of course. Bowie couldn't be included in the musical portion from the ceremony as he hasn't performed live since 2006.Continue reading...

Books-A-Million wants to acquire 14 old Borders stores.

Google CEO faces unexpected challenges.

Harley-Davidson rides into Russian spotlight carrying Vladimir Putin.

Heinz looks to capture cost-conscious shoppers.

Innkeepers USA sues Cerberus.

Lady Gaga is accused of ripping off Annie Lennox.

LG Display cuts spending on flat-screen manufacturing.

News Corp. loses contract over hacking scandal.Continue reading...

The Google homepage today, you may have noted, features a "Google Doodle" logo in honor of International Women's Day. Click on it to connect to Google's special website marking IWD's centenary of raising awareness about the state of women's rights.

Google and IWD organizers are backing International Women for Women's Join Women on the Bridge campaign, supported by actress Geena Davis (see her PSA, above). Other brands are also doing their part.Continue reading...

Where Reese Witherspoon's International Women's Day campaign for Avon is earnest, some celeb Brit wits address the same issue — domestic violence, plus and a host of other issues holding back women's equality — with dark wit.

The PSA above, running in cinemas and on British TV, depicts actor Daniel Craig, in his guise as James Bond, putting himself, literally, in a woman's shoes.Continue reading...

Stars and brands are aligning to promote World AIDS Day. In addition to Lady Gaga and other celebrities' "digital death" social media log-off (above) spearheaded by Alicia Keys, Annie Lennox was named London's "HIV Ambassador" and released a PSA for World AIDS Day.  

Bono kicked off the (RED) campaign to virtually and physically "turn the world red" today (the message: an HIV-free generation of babies by 2015) with a kick-off event in Sydney, and a reminder that brands including Nike, Starbucks, Gap, American Express and Armani create and sell products exclusively for (RED) year-round.Continue reading...