Ann Taylor extravaganza

New York — Ann Taylor kicks off its 50th-anniversary collection in a new multimedia campaign featuring 50 noteworthy women: Linda Evangelista, Twiggy, Beverly Johnson, Patti Hansen and her daughters, Alexandra and Theodora Richards, among them.

Annie Leibovitz photographed the “I Am Ann Taylor” campaign, which features figures from fashion’s past, present and future. The focus of the collection, which includes a version of the shirtdress that the retailer sold in 1954, is a return to sportswear classics.

Speaking of fashion

New York — Andre 3000 is the world’s best-dressed man, according to Esquire magazine.

“He’s a complete individual,” Nick Sullivan, Esquire’s fashion director, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “But that’s really the point.”

Andre 3000 is the usually over-the-top dressed half of hip-hip duo OutKast. Some of the 30-year-old’s fashion outings include: a lime green jacket at the 2004 Grammy Awards, candy apple red fur for the VH1 Big in 2003 ceremony and a pink-on-pink ensemble for the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.

Bloodsucking good role

Los Angeles — “Gandhi” Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley will play the vampire Kagan, the evil ruler of an army of bloodsuckers, in an upcoming film adaptation of the video game “BloodRayne.”

Set in 18th-century Romania, the movie chronicles the adventures of the title character, a half-vampire, half-human who has the superstrength of a monster but the emotions of a person.

The $47 million movie is set to begin filming in Romania later this month, according to a recent announcement by video game publisher Majesco, which released the game.

Country music countdown

Nashville, Tenn. — Nominees for the Country Music Assn.’s 38th annual awards will be announced Aug. 30 on CBS’ “The Early Show” in New York and Country Music Television’s “CMT Insider” in Nashville.

The announcement will be made live at 7:30 a.m. CDT on the two shows, CMA officials said Tuesday.

“The Early Show” co-anchor Hannah Storm will be joined by singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson in CBS studios to announce nominees in select categories.

“CMT Insider” host Katie Cook will be joined by singers Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich at the Grand Ole Opry House for the Nashville announcement, which will include nominees in all 12 awards categories.

CBS will broadcast the CMA awards live Nov. 9 from the Grand Ole Opry House.