STAR STRUCK: Gucci has signed Claire Danes as the new face for its fine jewelry ad campaign that will soon be shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. The ads will break worldwide in the fall. Further details were unavailable. "Claire Danes is a modern icon and one of the most interesting young actresses on the international scene. Claire's sensual, confident beauty and her passionate, independent and strong character embodies today's Gucci woman," said Gucci creative director Frida Giannini. Danes said, "Frida is a very inspiring and creative woman. Her vision is extraordinary and I am excited to be a part of it." The actress stars in Richard Linklater's upcoming film "Me and Orson Welles."

ODE TO LOUBOUTIN: Barneys New York creative director Simon Doonan has access to all the clothes and accessories that any fashion maven could imagine, but there's one thing the man can't have — Christian Louboutin stilettos. "Christian's shoes are like the circus coming into town," gushed Doonan, lamenting that he doesn't own a pair. "Louboutins are a total drug and there is no methadone." So it comes as little surprise that when Louboutin sent gouache sketches for the invitation to his personal appearances at Barneys, Doonan went gaga. He had the sketches blown up and will put them in the windows of the New York and Beverly Hills stores starting today. Louboutin will be on the fourth floor of the Madison Avenue flagship on the May 1 and in the Beverly Hills store on May 7.

FAMILY TIES: The Lauren clan likes to show their support for one another, and this Saturday will be no different. That's when Ralph, Ricky, David and Dylan are expected to attend the Tribeca Film Festival premiere party for "This Is Not a Robbery," the new Andrew Lauren-produced film about bank robber J.L. Hunter "Red" Rountree. The party, which will take place at Marion's Continental on the Bowery, will mark another big moment in Andrew Lauren's budding movie career. He also was an executive producer for "The Squid and the Whale," which won several awards and was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 2006.

START 'EM YOUNG: Liz Claiborne Inc. brought 200 pairs of fresh eyes into its New Jersey headquarters Thursday. But instead of consultants looking for cost savings, the six focus groups were made up of 8- to 12-year-olds enjoying Claiborne's Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day, which included a Juicy Couture presentation, a multibrand fashion show (complete with a pony), and two hours in subgroups creating a presentation on how to "Make the World a Better Place." Claiborne employees, including Dana Buchman, helped lead the kids on their projects, which included a car that runs on water and a "Planet Fest" fund-raising concert. The panel of judges (which, egalitarian style, didn't declare a winner) came straight from Claiborne's executive suite: chief executive William L. McComb, chief financial officer Andy Warren, vice president general counsel Nick Rubino (who rapped for the kids), vice president of corporate communications Jane Randel and vice president of human resources Bill Higley. "I'm very impressed," McComb said. "If you put us adults in a room for a couple of hours, we could never come up with this."