How to dress like ‘the Queen of Mean’

Chicago – Fur coats, designer gowns, plus dozens and dozens of pairs of Ferragamo shoes are headed to the auction block from real estate billionaire Leona Helmsley’s haute couture closets.

Collectors can even bid for the Chanel skirt suit that Helmsley wore when she began serving a sentence for tax evasion, the case that earned her the nickname “the Queen of Mean.”

Thousands of items belonging to the late socialite and hotel owner – nearly her entire wardrobe – will go on the block May 18 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.

The collection includes size 6 to 8 feathered ball gowns, dresses, shirts and suits by designers Bob Mackey, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior. The collection could fetch as much as $100,000.

The auction also will offer 250 pairs of Helmsley’s Ferragamo shoes – size 8.5 with their signature matching bows.

Helmsley, who died in August at age 87, ordered her property be sold and the proceeds donated to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked her the 369th richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion.

Christie’s plans to hold more than a dozen auctions to sell items from Helmsley’s homes in New York, Connecticut and Florida.

Avril Lavigne to design clothing line for Kohl’s

New York – Avril Lavigne, known for her pairing of frilly dresses and combat boots, will bring her style to the juniors department at Kohl’s department stores.

The edgy, pop-rock star’s clothing line “Abbey Dawn” was named after her childhood nickname.

“I actually am the designer,” she told Newsweek for editions on newsstands today. “I try everything on and approve it all.”

She joined a long line of celeb-turned-designers, including Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson.

Lavigne kicked off her 2008 world tour in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, earlier this month.

Hootie and Blowfish members going solo

Columbia, S.C. – When Hootie and the Blowfish play at a fundraiser to benefit the Animal Mission this week, the bandmates likely will compare notes on their recent solo efforts.

Guitarist Mark Bryan and lead singer Darius Rucker are working on their second solo efforts, while drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld is making his solo debut. Bassist Dean Felber doesn’t have any solo plans yet.

Bryan’s effort includes a punkish track “Glad to be Alive” that didn’t make the cut for the most recent Hootie effort – 2005’s “Looking for Lucky.”

Rucker, who released his first solo effort “Back to Then” in 2002, is going a little bit country for his second effort.

For his debut, drummer Sonefeld went more progressive with his “Snowman Melting” being released by independent label Aquarian Nation.

“It just feels so alive,” Sonefeld said. “It’s killing me not to have it ready yet.”