Pope Francis's Minimalism Inspires Fashion Brands: Since his appointment Pope Francis has preached humility and simplicity -- and now, the Italian fashion industry has followed suit. While the last pope, Benedict XVI, was a fan of red shoes (once rumored to be Prada) and adorned robes, Pope Francis has urged his priests to steer clear of material goods. And now, Italian luxury brands -- including Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana -- have apparently been inspired by his spiritual attitude. "Maybe there is a moment when we want to focus on other things in life and give fashion a different meaning to clothing," Fendi co-designer Silvia Venturini Fendi said. "Women are thinking and dressing more ethically. This pope is what we all needed." [Vogue UK]

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (and Terry Richardson) For Bulgari: 45-year-old former French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy returned to her modeling roots for Bulgari’s "Diva" campaign, which was photographed in Rome by Terry Richardson. "Bulgari is for me the symbol of passion and of this vivid and colorful Roman gaiety," Bruni-Sarkozy said. [The Telegraph]

New Zealand Designer Launches Competition To Marry Same-Sex Couple: In an effort to support the legalization of same-sex marriage in Australia, New Zealand designer Annah Stretton has launched a competition that will allow an Australian female couple to get married during her New Zealand Fashion Week show on September 7th. “This is a cause that I am incredibly passionate about,” Stretton said. “I have always been proud to call myself a New Zealander and even more so now that we do not discriminate against those who want to be married based on their gender.” Stretton has launched the competition in support of the new laws in her home country and to push the movement forward in neighboring country Australia. According to the competition's site, “The couple will each be dressed in designer gowns by Annah Stretton, receive return flights and accommodation from their nearest capital city, a wedding after party to be attended by 250 guests, an exclusive video and photography package.” Competition entries are open until July 30th. [Styleite]

Christian Louboutin and Charles Jourdan Settle Suit: Here we go again. Shoe designer Christian Louboutin's red soles are the signature of the brand's shoes. So when shoemaker Charles Jourdan and retailer DSW launched a line of red bottom kicks last month, Louboutin sued for infringement. Jourdan’s red bottom shoes — which Louboutin called “counterfeit” — were sold in DSW stores in Brooklyn and Manhattan. According to WWD, Louboutin’s lawyer, Harley Lewin, Louboutin, Jourdan, and DSW came to an “amicable resolution” on Monday. “We received excellent cooperation from the parties, Charles Jourdan and DSW,” Lewin said. This follows Louboutin’s lawsuit against Yves St. Laurent for similarly ripping off the red-sole statement in April 2011. In October 2012, courts ruled that YSL was able to create the shoe because they were red all over—Louboutin’s patented version only encompassed non-red shoes with contrasting red soles. [WWD]

Mariah Carey’s Dazzling Casts: Mariah Carey accessorized her dislocated shoulder during a charity concert on June 7th in New York City. The singer had three outfit changes and three blingy slings (adorned with studs, fur, and feathers, respectively) to match. Carey dislocated her shoulder while filming a music video last week. [The Cut]