• Anna Wintour held a fund-raiser for New York’s Democratic senator Kirsten Gillibrand. [WWD]
• Nicola Formichetti revealed via Twitter that he will design costumes for an upcoming production of the pop-rock opera “Pop’pea,” which will run from May 29 to June 7 in Paris. [Twitter]
• Nicki Minaj covers Complex magazine’s tenth anniversary issue, and there are stripes on her tongue. [Complex]
• In the interview accompanying her new British Vogue cover, Sienna Miller says pregnancy has given her a sweet tooth: “All of a sudden, I’ve started to get cravings. These tarts, I could eat [them] all day long!” In other words, pregnancy has made her normal. [Vogue UK]
• El Museo del Barrio honors Narciso Rodriguez at its annual gala, this year on May 17. The Cuban designer will be celebrated for his career and his longtime support of the organization. [WWD]
• QVC signed a new deal to enter the market in China. [WWD]
• Dee Hilfiger launches a new handbag collection (“Deesigns”) on HSN today. [Catwalk Queen]
• Alexander McQueen will open a store on Savile Row in September, just down the street from the Abercrombie Kids store also set to open later this year. [WWD]
• Gap opened its first store in South Africa this week, in Johannesburg. Another store will open in Cape Town this month, followed by Pretoria, the country’s political capital, later in the year. [WSJ]
• The Affordable Footwear Act, which would eliminate about $800 million in import duties on certain types of footwear (mainly lower-priced styles including children’s and work shoes) gains a new supporter in the House of Representatives — bringing its co-sponsor total to 50. [WWD]
• Tommy Hilfiger on his CFDA lifetime achievement award: “I’m honored and grateful and appreciative. But I’m still in a little bit of shock. Maybe I think other people deserve it. Or maybe I think this is for when I’m 70. Don’t they give lifetime achievement awards to people who achieved a lifetime of success? I’m still working on it.” [WSJ]
