Ladies of the eveningwear

Everybody has their little secrets. Here's one of mine.

I read Women's Wear Daily.

Now you might be wondering, what in the world does that have to do with social enterprise?

A lot, actually.

Exhibit A: Today's page 10.

One story concerns the efforts of a couple leading industry trade associations (them's nonprofits, kids!) to impose new standards for models, a movement that grows out of concern for both the health of the models themselves and the negative cultural impact of portraying hyper-thinness as beauty.

The story below that also concerns standardization and nonprofit trade groups. This time the issue is environmental sustainability and the certification of organic products, one of many controversial issues that emerging as we move beyond trendy do-gooding slogans.

The story on page right, though, is perhaps the most interesting: a fashion line whose proceeds benefit a prostitutes' rights charity. Not only is the cause controversial, but it also chose a name that close resembles a mainstream label, which in turn triggered an intellectual property dispute.

Hey, it's a helluva lot more fun than Tax Notes Today.