American Idol Champ Makes a Breakaway to No. 1

Kelly Clarkson’s been dreaming of another moment like this.

American Idol’s first viewer-created champ makes a triumphant return to the top of the charts, appropriately enough in time to debut her monster hit, “My Life Would Suck Without You,”  on the show that made her famous as it hits the airwaves for another season of pitchy popstar wannabes.

Move over, Britney.  Kelly’s Clive Davis-approved single claimed the No. 1 slot and leaped into the history books for the biggest jump to number one in Billboard Hot 100 history.  Busting a move up 96 spots, the rock-pop tune beat the previous biggest mover, Britney’s recent 95-spot jump for “Womanizer.”  But Clarkson’s history-making ways don’t stop there. “My Life” also makes Clarkson the first Idol contestant to score a second solo No. 1. Pressure’s on Carrie Underwood!

After the Idol’s last album, My December, failed to strike a chord (at least in comparison to her 2004 smash, Breakaway), the scrapping of her tour due to lousy ticket sales and much-publicized feuds, including one with record boss Clive Davis and another with her managers, this is totally Kelly’s E=MC2 moment.  But, you know, without the Glitter bomb or TRL striptease.  How much kissing of Clive’s ring do you think Kelly had to do to get back into his good graces?

Like her new album, All I Ever Wanted, these 80s glam Marc heels by Marc Jacobs hit the perfect note to highlight Kelly’s playful pop side and return to chart-topping glory.

By ShoeMinx Idol Paige Muller

A Six-Figure Pay Day And They Still Can’t Get Her to Wear Pants

There are two things that immediately come to mind when you think of former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson.  And cover girl for a high-end designer like  Vivienne Westwood isn’t one of them.

The style-maker raised more than a few eyebrows when she named the buxom blonde as the star of her Spring 2009 ad campaign, but from a designer famously known for her irreverent sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll attitude, who better to helm the line than the infamous Playboy Playmate and ex Mrs. Tommy Lee?  Kinda genius when you think about it really.

The first tongue-in-cheek ads from the campaign have already leaked (accidentally on purpose, of course) and show the Barb Wire star at her boobs-out-to-there-pants-optional best, sporting pieces from all the Queen of Punk’s collections, including her DIY footwear that walked in London Fashion Week.  And despite the silicon on display, the ads aren’t as salacious as you would expect.  In fact, Pam is more covered up than she normally is in real life.

Says a London Daily Mail snitch, “. . . Vivienne loves the quirkiness of having Pam in one of her campaigns.”

After a meeting at last year’s London’s Fashion Week, Westwood courted Anderson for the high-profile placement after the actress-slash-model-slash-other-stuff stole the show in the designer’s gold lurex dress. Her strange mannequin companion probably helped, too.

“At a meeting backstage after [Westwood's show], Vivienne thought Pamela looked stunning in her clothes,” a label rep tells British Vogue. “When thinking of casting her next campaign, she immediately thought of Pamela and called her to ask if she would be interested. Pamela agreed on the spot.”  With her faux-reality show “Pam: Girl on the Loose” KO’d, she no doubt had some time on her hands.

The images, which were shot in and around Anderson’s Malibu trailer, also feature several nudes of Pamela which are planned to be released as a coffee-table book later this year. Been there, done that.  Copies of Madonna’s Sex book are probably available on Amazon.com.  No word if any of Pam’s full monty pics will be used in the ad campaign, but seriously, after 13 Playboy appearances and a starring role in a certain shaky-cam video, we’ve already seen whatcha working with.

Vivienne’s avant-garde tie-some-wood-to-your-foot-with-string footwear is more fantasy than sidewalk-ready, but these  L.A.M.B ‘Bellgrave’ boots by Gwen Stefani (who counts Viv as a design fave), offer hallmarks of the designing Brit’s signature style:  towering heels, buckles galore and a “tie me up, tie me down” bondage vibe.

By ShoeMinx Bikini Babe Paige Muller