Life & Style | Japan official to Kardashian West: Kimono belongs to Japan

Japan’s trade minister says the kimono belongs to Japan — not to Kim Kardashian West’s shapeware brand.

West announced the line, Kimono Solutionwear, last week. But some Japanese critics on social media said the name, which the reality TV star, makeup mogul and budding lawyer trademarked, is an inappropriate take on centuries-old kimono clothing.

West tweeted that she’ll launch her brand under a new name following careful thought and consideration.

Japan’s trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, said yesterday that the kimono is part of Japan’s cultural pride and is highly recognized globally, including in the U.S., as “a Japanese thing.”

He said he’ll dispatch senior officials to Washington next week to urge U.S. trademark officials to “appropriately” handle the case.

Academy welcomes 842 new members, half of them women

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences invited 842 members from 59 countries to the Oscars organization and, for the first time, reached gender parity in its new class of inductees.

Half of the new invitees to the film academy are women. In 10 of the 17 branches — including the directing, writing and producing branches — more women than men were invited. This year’s class of new members also includes 29% people of color.

To aid in the swift overhaul of the academy, the group last year invited a record 928 members. While smaller, this year’s class still ranks as one of the academy’s largest in its 92-year history.

New invitees include Lady Gaga, Sterling K. Brown, Claire Foy, Letitia Wright, Tom Holland and Adele. Newly invited directors include “Crazy Rich Asians” filmmaker Jon Chu, “The Babadook” director Jennifer Kent and the filmmaking duo of Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

If most accept their invites, the film academy will number more than 9,000 members.

Next year’s Oscars will be held on Feb. 9, earlier than usual.

Look like a princess: Diana’s workout sweatshirt for sale

The baggy Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt Princess Diana wore to discourage media interest in her exercise routine is for sale.

Boston-based RR Auction says the dark blue cotton- polyester sweatshirt that was a gift from airline founder Richard Branson is expected to get more than USD5,000 during the online auction.

The garment features the airline’s ‘flying lady’ logo with the words “Fly Atlantic” in white.

It is being sold by Jenni Rivett, Diana’s longtime personal trainer. Diana gave Rivett several sweatshirts months before her August 1997 death.

In a letter that comes with the shirt, Rivett writes that Diana thought there were more pressing issues in the world to worry about, so wearing `the same thing to every session would be “a good way to stop the media frenzy.”