Feast your eyes on Leonardo DiCaprio’s current girlfriend Bar Rafaeli. She’s an Israeli model seen here at the Selmark Lingerie 2008 Spring-Summer show. Leo dumped Gisele Bundchen to start dating Bar and, I don’t want to say it’s the greatest accomplishment in the history of man, but when compared to the invention of the wheel or the printing press, I just have to ask these two so-called "revolutionary ideas," where are the boobs?
WHEN: Tuesday, October 23rd
5:00 pm
WHERE: Macy's Herald Square
151 West 34th Street (Between Broadway and 7th Avenue)
New York, NY 10001
About M by Mariah Carey:
Mariah Carey, acclaimed singer and philanthropist, is launching her debut fragrance, M by Mariah Carey, in partnership with Elizabeth Arden. Created by Mariah with perfumers Carlos Benaim and Loc Dong of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Mariah's signature scent embodies the beauty, complexity and femininity for which Mariah Carey is so well known and loved. It is a harmonious union of velvety sensual notes and the textured floralcy of the Living Tahitian Tiare flower. M by Mariah Carey translates the beauty of Mariah Carey's musical notes into carefully chosen fragrance notes that embody her warmth, sensuality and glamour.
"For me, creating this scent was like creating a song - it takes many notes to compose a fragrance. It's like a beautiful melody" - Mariah CareyVaseline has recently released some awesome new products, my very favorite of which is their Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil.
I keep it by the tub, and use it on my wet body before I dry off. It leaves you totally smooth and very nice and moisturized without being greasy (after a very few minutes anyway). This new line of products from Vaseline have other ingredients besides their classic petroleum jelly, these are absolutely not just repackaged vaseline. They are not expensive, and totally worth a try.
I have the classic Vaseline all over my house. Tubs of it. Everywhere! There are a zillion uses for it, and did you know half of those zillion are beauty related! Here are 50 uses for Vaseline that are totally beauty related (and one very special one at the end that is not), so while you’re out trying the new and wonderful products, grab (another) tub of the classic Vaseline - I know you can put it to good use!
1. Put a coat on your eyelashes before you go to bed. Lots of people swear by this - and say it will make your lashes grow longer and thicker over time.
2. Put a coat of vaseline on your feet at night, cover them with socks and wake up to softer feet - every day!
3. Put vaseline on your elbows every day - they will stay soft!
4. Put Vaseline on your cuticles several times a day for softer and better looking cuticles every day.
5. Put Vaseline on chapped lips
6. Use Vaseline as lip gloss
7. Mix a little vaseline with a little Kool-Aid powder and make a colored and flavored lip gloss!
8. Melt vaseline and one chocolate chip in the microwave, mix and let resolidify for chocolate lip gloss!
9. Maintains perfume scent longer when applied at perfume points before spritzing the perfume.
10. Can be used as a moisturizer for acne sufferers (it is a misconception that it clogs pores)
11. Moisturizes severe dry skin
12. Use Vaseline on your knees to prevent that dry, ashy look
13. Mix with sea salts to make a scrub!
14. Applying Vaseline on your teeth prevents lips from sticking to teeth for celebrities and contestants in beauty pageants who smile a lot
15. Applied on teeth before applying lipstick prevents lipstick from sticking on them
16. Massage, baby!
17. Warmed up can be used as a night cream
18. Makeup remover
19. Protects skin exposed to adverse weather
20. Applied under eye shadow it can create a shiny effect
21. Applied on cheeks for a dewy look
22. Can be used to smooth and soothe skin after shaving
23. Used in manicures under cuticles
24. Gets rid of dry skin lines which can arise from washing
25. Lubricates ear lobes and helps to make earring insertion easy and painless
26. Keeps fingernails pliable and resilient
27. Use with your lipstick to create a cream blusher for your cheeks
28. Helps to ease off stuck on rings
29. Tames unruly eyebrows
30. Defines eyelashes and leaves them with a glossy and waterproof look
31. Conditions scalp pre-shampooing
32. Can help prevent chaffing
33. Aids with healing after cosmetic surgery procedures
34. Reduces scaling and itching associated with dandruff
35. Theraputic when applied to lesions caused by poison ivy
36. Can help improve condition of those with atopic eczema
37. Helps heal and protect new tattoos
38. Can protect against harmful hair dyeing, perming and straightening chemicals when used as a mask around the hairline
39. Use a tiny dab to put a quick shine on your shoes and bags
40. Smear a tiny bit on your hands and scrunch through your hair for a choppy look
41. Use just a touch on the ends of your hair to hide dry and split ends
42. Remove makeup stains from clothing
43. Rub Vaseline on the neck of your nail polish bottles and they won’t get stuck to the caps
44. Make your week old nail polish look new again - rub a small dab over the polish.
45. Use a touch of Vaseline mixed with powder eyeshadow pigment to make new colors, or a more solid eyeshadow that won’t get all over your face when you put it on.
46. Stretch your favorite lotion by mixing it with Vaseline.
47. Put Vaseline on your lips, leave it a few minutes, then scrub your lips with a toothbrush to exfoliate and leave them SO smooth
48. Remove false eyelash glue from your lash line
49. Apply a small amount on dry spots on your body before fake tanning lotions are applied, and prevent uneven tanning!
50. Generously apply Vaseline all over before taking flights to combat associated dryness
And just for fun, this one is totally not beauty related, but VERY timely - here is #51:
Once you carve your Halloween pumpkin, rub vaseline on the exposed edges. it keeps it from rotting or going dry.
Thanks to Arieanna for that awesome Halloween trick! Arieanna just so happens to have a contest going on at her blog Hilary News (about Hilary Duff) to win a Vaseline gift basket with all the new products in it - and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling them what makes you feel beautiful! Easy peasy. So hop on over there and do that, ok? Here, I’ll start you off - what makes me feel beautiful is a long relaxing bath with lots of luxurious scented goodies, and maybe a glass of wine and some candles. Scrumptious! Now go tell Arieanna what makes YOU feel beautiful!
It's Friday and I am feeling sexy so I thought I would show you some really stunning Royal Blue lingerie. I think both of these pieces are sexy and classy and will be sure to get your mans attention. I don't know about you girls but I think dressing up for your man is exciting and adds lots of sparkle to your evening.
“I'll buy you a diamond ring, my friend If it makes you feel alright” (The Beatles)
Lancome's Precious Carat, made of Swarovski crystals, features a transparent gloss with a bit of sparkle that can be worn alone or with lipstick for a jewel-like finish. This piece of bling retails for $40.00
Other holiday offerings:
Color Focus Quads: Two eye shadow quads in two enchanting color combinations: Black Tie Affair and The Night is Young. Both are packaged in exquisite limited-edition gold packaging.
Suggested Retail Price: $40.00
Potion of Love: Back by popular demand and just in time for mommy to kiss Santa Claus, this cult-favorite felt-tip lip stain adds long-lasting color for long-lasting lip-locks. Can be used alone or under lipstick, gloss…or mistletoe. Available in one limited-edition shade: Ruby Kisses.
Suggested Retail Price: $18.50
Juicy Tubes Gift Set
Eight festive Juicy Tubes in très cute mini-packaging. From holiday glamour to everyday wear, this dazzling palette of colors is perfect for Santa’s helpers.
Suggested Retail Price: $37.50
Makeup Artist Shimmer Eye Set
Bring joyeux to your yeuxs! Find holiday inspiration with this deluxe makeup artist kit. Shimmer and sparkle this season with all the tools artists – from novice to pro – need to create a soigné glow. The eye set, packaged in a sophisticated black quilted clutch, provides you with three dazzling loose eye powders, an eye shadow brush and a miniature Bi-Facil eye makeup remover.
Suggested Retail Price: $42.50
Makeup Artist Shimmer Lip Set
Who needs a Yule log? Turn up the heat this winter with Color Fever Gloss. This hydrating, highly-pigmented gloss features the patented Lip-Magnify™ applicator to create sumptuous lips with blazing color and sizzling luster. Your pouts will leave an impression on your champagne flutes and on your petit cheri, too. Suggested Retail Price: $42.50
Color Design Eye Palettes
What do a Chloé dress, Pierre Hardy heels and Lancôme Color Design Eye Palette have in common? They are all items a chic Parisienne would wear to a lavish holiday affair. The palette, clad in a quilted black satin fabric, holds six luxurious eye shadow shades. Available in two color combinations: Diamond Studs and Topaz Kisses. Suggested Retail Price: $45.00
Hypnôse Exclusive Gift Set
For the holiday season, slip into this luminous oriental fragrance that instantly captivates with passion flower, vanilla and vetiver notes. The bottle is a jewel carved in glass, evocative of a woman’s silhouette, with facets that shimmer in the light. This special gift set comes packaged in a luxurious black satin box.
Hypnôse 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum
Hypnôse 3.4 oz Body Lotion
Hypnôse 3.4 oz Shower Gel
Hypnôse .16 Mini Eau de Parfum Spray
Suggested Retail Price: $78.00
Trésor Exclusive Gift Set
Give the gift of romance. This holiday season, woo or be wooed with a sensual and emotional fragrance. Combining the elegance of rose, muguet and lilac with the sparkle of apricot blossom, heliotrope and iris, Trésor is sure to stir deep emotions.
Trésor 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
Trésor 3.4 oz Body Lotion
Trésor 3.4 oz Shower Gel
Trésor .16 oz Deluxe Mini Spray
Suggested Retail Price: $78.00
Holiday Luxe
Gucci Westman – Goyard Makeup Case
Lancôme has teamed up with Goyard, the prestige luggage-maker, to create an exquisite, hand-crafted makeup case. The creation of this makeup kit is the result of a collaboration between Goyard and Gucci Westman, celebrity makeup artist and Lancôme’s Artistic Director. The result is a custom train case with multiple removable compartments, a mirror and a white makeup bag in Goyard’s signature canvas print. The chic case is filled with 36 of Gucci’s makeup essentials and is available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman. Suggested Retail Price: $18,000 and a limited number will be available by special order.
Temple St. Clair
Twenty precious amulet necklaces, designed exclusively for Lancôme by Temple St. Clair, are available to razzle dazzle any one this season. 18K yellow gold rose motif cradles an exquisite egg shaped drop crystal orb studded with 32 diamonds, suspended from an 18k yellow gold chain. Arrives in a plush leather box with key for safekeeping. Completely dazzling with Mille et une Roses Eau de Parfum tucked inside for a gorgeous bouquet of the finest roses in the world and the warmth of amber, musk and vanilla. Available exclusively at the New York and Short Hills Lancôme Boutiques. Suggested Retail Price: $3,950.00
We’ve all heard and read the requisite season coat drill a thousand times; key shapes to hunt down and how to wear them etc but what will really make this autumn’s transition to winter smoother than ever is a classic, waist cinching belt. Forget fretting about saving up enough for your must-have winter coat, invest in a show-stopping belt instead which can transform last year’s jacket as well as a generous percentage of last years purchases. In the form of an instant wardrobe updater, belts will play a substantial role in the season’s key looks and literally, defining shapes. Take skirts. The most up-to-date style comes high waisted with a body-skimming shape woven in gorgeous textured material. However, if you can’t bear to part with your favourite skirt that ticks none of those boxes, there is a way to bring it to the forefront of autumn dressing. Here, a wide, patent belt will do perfectly, streamlining the silhouette and adding a few extra inches of height to the waistband. There is only one thing to watch out for, take care when selecting the width of your belt, it may be tempting to get carried away and buy a thick, almost corset-like belt but they have the tendency to make you bulge in the wrong places. Stick to no wider than three inches and it will hug in all the right places. For coats, a belt can be a great addition to the look but only if the material is rather light and not too starched and the coat is a good three-quarter in length. If this is the case, adding a belt will give a desired A-line effect to the coat that radiates elegance and style. From a different perspective, skinny belts can work just as well. For the evening, the popular babydoll dress has been slightly phased out this season but can be updated with a simple thin band around the waist in an edgy material. Similarly, smocks just don’t cut it in this season’s eveningwear but a bright skinny belt can bring life and style to a favoured summer smock. Skinny belts can also add elegant detail to an evening dress, a simple belt with an intricate gold clasp can be the focal point of the outfit. Daywear can also make use of skinny belts. A floral summer dress can be brought into this season seamlessly with an understated, patent skinny belt, coloured woolly tights and a pair of killer ankle boots.
Whichever way you choose to flaunt your waist this season, there’s so much choice when it comes to buying belts that, as with all good accessories, it can really make an outfit. |
I’m at a fashion crossroads. You know how in fashion magazines, they tell you that women within certain age groups should adopt trends differently? i.e., In your 20’s you should embrace the latest style craze with open arms; in your 30’s, a head nod or acknowledgement of sorts; and in your 40’s/50’s, an admiration from afar…perhaps a raised eyebrow and subtle smile if appropriate.
In my early-to-mid 20’s, I was a fashion trend sycophant: wild prints, form-fitting dresses, one-shouldered sparkly tops, 5 inch platform wedge heels, and Fendi baguettes were staples in my daily wardrobe. When suiting up, I was fun, flirty, and daring, and I didn’t really care about the consequences. I was like Lindsay Lohan, minus the stint in rehab. I felt young, powerful, and loved the idea of turning heads.
In my mid-to-late 20’s, I found myself toning it down a bit, mainly because I spent my time lounging at home with friends with a bottle of wine, instead of out at the latest N.Y.C. club with random friends-of-friends, bouncing around to J.T.’s latest song with martini in hand. I attribute that partly to my relationship status, no longer single, but in general, I was growing tired of the exhausting ritual of getting ready for a night out. Down with the hour-long primping session and finding the perfect outfit! Down with strapping myself into sky-high stilettos that always left me limping by the end of the night! I felt like I could still look good and have fun minus all of the early 20’s narcissism and fanfare.
Luckily, fashion seemed to have read my mind and there came laid-back, sort of “SoCal glam.” Skinny jeans, cute t-shirts and tanks, ballet flats and oversized bags became staples in my wardrobe and my blistered feet and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that I’m teetering on the cusp of being shooed into the “what to wear in your 30’s” bracket, I find myself feeling nostalgic and somewhat scared as I enter this next phase in my fashion life. Even though I haven’t quite done it in a while, am I ready to shelf the possibility of looking like a glittery, attention seeking “celebri-tart” on a night out in the city? Will I be judged or “tsk-tsk’d” for rockin’ a sequin mini shift or bubble dress? Should I be more careful of not over-doing it so that I can stay inside the lines of 30’s fashion reason? Is there really such a fine line between “Wow. You look fabulous!” and “Woah. Aren’t you, like, 30 or something?” I haven’t come up with concrete answers to those questions quite yet since I’m playing it by ear.
But no matter what, my general philosophy has become clear: For as long as I’m still getting “wow’d” and not “woah’d” by the masses, I’m going to keep dressing like I’m 29. Because even if I never muster up the nerve to strut down the street with that sequin shift dress I bought on a whim, no one can deprive me of that euphoric “fashion buzz” that you can only get by sifting through your cluttered, but trend-filled closet and feeling like anything’s possible!
Criticizing the fashion industry for promoting an unhealthy image of beauty is nothing new. How designers are responding to these allegations is however. In 2006, the authorities at Madrid Fashion Week barred models with a body mass index of less than 18 from walking down the runway. In the U.K the British Fashion Council recently established a new rule requiring all models to obtain declarations from doctors proving that their weight is healthy. While this rule won’t be put into practice until next year, some designers are already taking action.
This fashion week in Milan, Prada made a conscious effort to use curvier models and in Paris Karl Lagerfeld rejected three ultra-thin models from his show, saying that they looked unhealthy and unattractive. However, it’s less clear whether his stand against unhealthy models will have an impact outside the industry. The designers who create minuscule sample sizes and the size zero models who wear them are often blamed for promoting unrealistic standards of beauty. But while cultural pressures certainly have an impact on the number of women with eating disorders, the fashion industry is not the only factor.
The causes behind eating disorders are complex, and studies have demonstrated that a person’s upbringing, emotional health, and genetics may have an impact on eating habits. Likewise, ideas about weight within one’s community may also influence behavior. These factors aside, seeing more models of different shapes and sizes could only be positive. In this regard then, the events taking place in Europe is good news for models and non-models alike. Hopefully, the rest of the world will follow suit…
What better way to celebrate one’s birthday than with a few new Marni pieces? Yes, yesterday I officially reached the end of my wunderkind years. I am twenty four to be exact. And by and large I think I have done a fair bit in my time on this good earth. To celebrate I bought myself (well Phil bought me the pants, thanks baby!) some Marni! Yoox is having their big sale so a blazer and a pair of pants seemed like a perfect purchase.
I am making a real effort to do more with separates so I feel really good about these purchases. I feel like my Jil Sander pants in black and beige have been great for going to the office everyday (nice change from working out of sublet Brooklyn lofts) but I need more casual pants. And I don’t even own a decent blazer so something a little more mellow like this jacket is the perfect addition. The wrinkled cotton gabardine just feels so right for San Francisco. Plus wide leg pants!Ahhh, how I love Marni!
Rihanna leaving her hotel in New York City, October 10, 2007.
Left to right: Gathered Cuff Coat, $170, www.topshop.com; Cowl Neck Coat, $160, www.topshop.com; Plastic Island High Neck Coat, $338, www.shopintuition.com; Textured Volume Coat, $200, www.warehousefashion.co.uk
Left to right: Donegal Tweed Walking Coat by Guess, $168, www.nordstrom.com (comes in Plus Sizes); Wool A-line Coat, $149, www.victoriassecret.com; Funnel Neck Wool Coat, $59.60, www.alloy.com; Felt Bow Tie Jacket, $268, www.frenchconnection.com
Fall doesn’t just mean clearing out your closet to make way for chunky sweaters and knee-high boots, your skin goes through a seasonal transition as well. During the colder months I tend to find that my skin and hair becomes dryer and more fragile. Prepare skin for harsh temperatures by bathing with an oil based wash like Bath & Body Works’ Sugar Scrubs. They’re so good you don’t even need to moisturize afterwards. For midday moisture, slather on a sweet smelling body butters like Vaseline’s Cocoa Butter Body Butter, Carol’s Daughter’s Jamaican Punch Shea Souffle or the Mediterranean Almond, Pistachio & Milk Body Butter by Boots. Not only do they smell yummy, but they prevent “ash attacks.” For night time protection (especially if I’m going out and showing some skin) I LOVE Johnson & Johnson’s Oil Gel in Chamomile. This stuff keeps you silky smooth for days! Lastly, your face and hair will need extra love and care since they are the most exposed parts of your body. Try spending a bit more money here on products that contain herbal and plant extracts known as “Phytos.” Phytokarite Hair Treatment Mask with Shea Butter (for Ultra Dry Hair) is a great deep conditioner for natural or relaxed hair. Also try Artdeco’s Phyto Science Advanced Phyto Cream for your face. If you’re rolling in disposable income may I suggest Crème De La Mer’s products. Notoriously expansive, this product claims to be “the miracle” of all creams. I say send me a sample and let me be the judge!
Use face creams on your hands. Since your hands are always exposed they need as much love as your face. Anti-aging face creams are also great for your hands.
Left to right: Jamaican Punch Shea Souffle, $30, www.carolsdaughter.com; Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter, $7.99, www.drugstore.com; Aromatherapy Sugar Scrub Eucalyptus Spearmint, $20, www.bathandbodyworks.com; La Mer Creme De La Mer 1oz, $125, www.neimanmarcus.com
Left to right: Mediterranean Almond, Pistachio & Milk Body Butter, $10.99, www.cvs.com; Phyto's Phytokarite Hair Treatment Mask with Shea Butter for Ultra Dry Hair, $38, www.sephora.com; Artdeco’s Phyto Science Advanced Phyto Cream, $40, www.walgreens.com; Johnson's Baby Oil Gel with Chamomile, $3.99, www.walgreens.com
PUMA Shopping Events Exclusively for Women with Lucky Magazine
WHAT: This fall, sportlifestyle brand PUMA and Lucky, the magazine about shopping and style, team up to host a national series of shopping events designed just for women. So, grab your best girlfriends and get ready for the shopping spectacular at The PUMA Store in Union Square, featuring the new Evisu/PUMA Tattoo Denim line and other key collections from PUMA. Women can experience a night out on the town and walk away with a great PUMA gift bag filled with goodies from Mally Cosmetics, Simon & Schuster Books, music from Interscope Records, hair care from Garnier Nutritioniste, CDs from IndiePix, and other cool stuff from blurb.com, Microsoft Zune and Graphique de France.
Enjoy a total shopping experience to the sounds of DJ Seraphim Delush, complimentary cocktails from Peroni, Pink Vodka and Hob Nob Wines, and a taste of the local flavor. Receive true star treatment as you shop all of the latest styles chosen by Lucky Magazine while makeup pros from Mally Cosmetics help you accentuate your own unique style. Plus, a night this extraordinary calls for a snapshot of you and your friends in the photo booth!
Just for tonight, girls can take advantage of a 20% discount! First 100 guests receive a goody bag valued at $200 and one lucky winner will take home the Ultimate Goody Bag filled with extra perks and gifts including a $500 PUMA shopping spree.
Pre-registration at pumawomen.com.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 16, 7:00-9:00 pm
WHERE: PUMA, 33 Union Square West
Can anyone tell me why it is that when I find a great product, the store that offers it invariably decides to discontinue it? The Bath and Body Works had Pumpkin Body Butter that worked wonders on my ultra dry skin - yes, discontinued! Another favourite is The Body Shop's Grapeseed Body Butter; although it says on their online site that they are temporarily out of stock, I'm afraid that this wonderfully smoothing cream which is the best I've used so far is going to be discontinued also.
So, what to do? First, I've been looking for other formulations that also contain jojoba oil and shea butter as well as the grapeseed oil. There are a couple of possibilities that look interesting only one is in the U.K. and I hate to think what shipping could be for it since it comes in a heavy glass jar.
The other alternative is Ebay, and surprisingly enough I've found quite a few offerings. I got Pumpkin Butter at a reasonable price - not the $3.00 a jar it was selling for on the website when they were getting rid of it all, but a reasonable price with reasonable shipping. If you check Ebay, be sure that the seller has at least a 99% feedback rating (although this can differ depending on how many feedbacks he/she actually has), and that the ad for it says that it has been unopened. If it doesn't state this in the ad, be sure to send an e-mail to the seller to make sure that this is a new, unused product. Likely, it is, since many Ebay sellers will go to stores such as The Bath and Body Works and buy all the products that are being discontinued at rock-bottom prices, then offer them for sale on Ebay to people like me who can't live without them.
Happy Shopping!
Britney Spears actually did appear in court yesterday to personally request overnight visits with her children. She had skipped the morning hearing, but decided it was time to make an appearance when the judge initially refused to grant overnight visits. E! Online reports:
Spears spent an hour answering the judge's questions, before ducking down a back staircase and leaving the premises in her white Mercedes convertible. Gordon apparently had a change of heart after the meet-and-greet with Spears. Earlier Thursday, he dismissed both legal teams without adjusting the visitation terms. He said he wanted to allow attorneys more time to discuss any proposed modifications.Britney was granted one overnight visit a week, but under the watch of a court-appointed supervisor. Britney was hoping to have her mother serve as a monitor, but the judge wouldn’t allow it. He also didn’t see the children’s current visiting schedule as destructive, but found another source to be problematic – Britney:
"If a person's dealing with challenges, and those challenges, including substance issues and emotional issues...some of the behaviors that accompany those challenges can have a devastating impact," said Gordon, who has yet to get confirmation of Spears' passed drug tests. "It has disintegrated from there because of choices made by your client."
Britney Spears showed up in a court of law and the bailiff didn’t shoot her? What do I pay taxes for? If this judge really wanted to protect those kids, he would’ve put Britney on the witness stand and said, “My bailiff here would like to cross-examine you – with bullets!” Bam! Custody battle solved. Ironically, I proposed this same scenario at Harvard Law and they made me spend a week in a little room with this weird guy. He kept showing me ink blots that looked like Britney Spears vagina and Satan. I can never tell the two apart. That’s healthy, right?
There's a school of thought that would say that TV series Ally McBeal did for office wear what John Galliano once did for a fast-dating Dior - infused it with some spunk, some flair, and some seriously sexy models to kick a once-conceived 'boring' clothing sector into the cutting edge fashion world. And nobody wore corporate-chic better than Lucy Liu's ferociously foxy Ling Wu; who sported her trouser suits, sharp shirts and spiked stilettos with some serious edge, and a whole heap of attitude.
Lucy Liu had arrived, and when the series lent her an almost instantaneous style queen status, the actress didn't disappoint. With her quirky, freckled Asian looks, amazing hair and perfectly petite figure, it's hardly surprising that Liu can make almost anything look good. She is rarely if ever seen looking anything but sleek and glamorous, developing a trademark look of grooming and sophisticated elegance. She appears to have that rare, invaluable ability to combine old-school movie star glamour with cutting edge trends, and all the top designers can't get enough clothes on that back.
One of her more scene stealing numbers was the red and black one shoulder Versace gown she wore to the 72nd academy awards, which launched the actress on almost every best-dressed-at-the-Oscars list to be seen on. The beautiful fish tailed gown was beaded in a graphic swirl design, and was set off to perfection by red snakeskin sandals, and of course Liu's own sleek, jet-black locks.
But this style jackpot was by no means a one-off for the actress who first gained public attention (from the male public anyway) playing a dangerously sexy dominatrix in the movie "Payback". It's difficult to pinpoint the best-dressed moments of a woman who never seems to be anything but. Take for example her 2005 Milan Fashion Week outfit - simple yet stunning black, knee-length Versace; accessorised modestly with amazing Bulgari earrings and teetering peeptoe black heels. Just one more example of her simplicity-with-style fashion formula that never seems to let her down.
And of course, Liu takes her stylishness across the board, appearing in some of the 'coolest' movies being made. Who could forget her in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill", and she certainly hit the blockbuster mark in "Charlie's Angels" with friends Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore. When she made a cameo as herself in the style series of our time "Sex and the City", remember how she wore the then must-have "J'adore Dior" tank top - the storyline based around her reluctance to give up her Hermes birkin…..
Yes, Lucy Liu truly has made it as a Hollywood star - no mean feat among the masses of wannabe-starlets swarming LA. How did she do it? A combination of hard work, natural talent and stunning Asian looks - all beautifully packaged with focussed determination, natural flair and killer style that has and will always set Lucy Liu apart from the pack. We can but dream.
Imagine you’re a fashion designer at the apogee of an industry that, whichever way you slice it, is wasteful, sometimes cruel and aimed at planting the seeds of a desire that can never be slaked. Then suppose - crazy thought, this - that you have a conscience. What are you going to do about it?
If you’re Stella McCartney, you attempt mini-miracles: a deal with Gucci, one of the world’s premier leather brands, whereby they get to pump about £15 million into your label and you get to say you won’t work with animal skins. Then you get an itchy feeling about all the chemicals zipping around the average skincare range, so you launch your own organic line. And in an era of dedicated conspicuous consumption, you try to redefine luxury with clothes that don’t drip with bling, fur or obvious status symbols.
It’s easy to be cynical, as many have been, about Stella McCartney. She herself must have occasionally wondered whether being a vet or producing Animal Hospital wouldn’t have been more straightforward. But these days the detractors are fewer. As the bottles of McCartney’s scent, placed on the rows of seats at her show yesterday politely reminded, she is a British designer with an international reach. Having sustained hefty losses in the beginning, she’s on track to head a global business. The famous name didn’t hurt, but no one can say she didn’t put in the spadework. The H&M collaboration two years ago was a sell-out. The adidas partnership continues apace and she recently signed a deal with Bendon, the New Zealand company that produces Elle MacPherson’s lucrative line of underwear.
So that leaves the fashion collection, the flag-waver for her growing band of licences and therefore relevant and yet elitist. McCartney seems acutely aware of this gap: she wants lots of women to wear her designs. But short of personally subbing them, that’s not going to happen.
It’s this conflict that makes McCartney’s shows so interesting to watch, beyond the prettiness of the clothes themselves. And they are very pretty indeed. Next spring’s collection began with a series of floral chiffon dresses and (because this is McCartney and she likes to be a bit street) some jumpsuits, all of it confirming 2008 as the year of the flower. She hadn’t forgotten her tailoring roots, with double-breasted jackets and wide, flowy trousers.
But it was her just-around-the-knee, ivory chiffon dresses, with their ruffles in crumpled parachute silk, dipping, cutaway backs and loosely tied waists that made for some of the most desirable clothes so far.
Out they wafted, to the strains of Paul McCartney’s Blackbird. Ah, the simple life. Squint, and these gorgeous, floaty, kaftan/shift/smock hybrids could almost be something you picked up on holiday for a song. Closer study suggested they’ll be as cheap as a trip on NetJets. Subtle cream beading and quilting marks them out as stealth wealth purchases.
Giambattista Valli doesn’t do stealth wealth, but exquisitely constructed cocoons, with sharply delineated flounces and dramatically puffed sleeves, where every hour of painstaking craft is on show. These are trophy clothes for trophy bodies and ought to seem old-fashioned. But the scale of his strapless pouff dresses with their theatrical bows and pleats makes them modern, almost avant-garde. He would have been a natural to take over from Valentino. But perhaps he’s better off building his own brand.
On the subject of construction, one of McCartney’s clogs deconstructed in front of the audience, the sole detaching from the straps and depositing itself on the catwalk. Not the most effective way to wean the fashion pack off fur, crocodile and other forms of über-luxury. But you gotta love the girl for trying.
STRIKING the perfect pout wasn't the only thing on Australian supermodel Gemma Ward's mind as she paraded on the Paris catwalk last week.
The world's No. 1 high fashion stunner is also establishing herself as hot acting property, using her international modelling career to boost her profile for the big screen.
Sydney-based director Elissa Down, who gave the 19-year-old her first taste of acting in 2001 with short film Pink Pyjamas, says Ward oozes X-factor.
Down says when it came to casting a lead actress to star in her directorial feature film debut, The Black Balloon, Ward was top of her wish list.
"When I first saw Gemma all those years ago at just 13, you could tell she was going to make it," Downs said.
"She is a very natural actor and so engaging. Some people wondered about having a model (in The Black Balloon) and now they have seen her work they are like 'oh my god'. There is something personally pleasing about that for me. She is just so good."
The Perth-born performer appears alongside Toni Collette and Jack Thomson as Jackie in the coming-of-age drama, which will hit screens early next year.
Down wrote the part with Ward in mind.
"When we started writing we had Gemma in mind and then bless her cotton socks she went and got famous on us," she said. "But she was still interested."
The Black Balloon is Ward's third film, with her turn as a masked stranger opposite Liv Tyler in suspense thriller The Strangers set for release late next year.
As the world's 10th highest-earning model, Ward took home $3.4 million in the past year but has scaled back catwalk commitments as acting takes priority.
For the Paris fashion shows last week Ward walked only for the top houses such as Celine, Givenchy and Balmain.
At 19, her new womanly curves were also on show this week filling out the forms of a diaphanous gown at Valentino - a stark contrasts to past years when she was known for "doll like" girlie looks.
Remember when Mischa Barton used to look really great? You know, she wore nice clothes, that sort of thing? Well, hallelujah and call me Nancy - because those days have returned!
Mischa was out last night with Demi Moore - among others - at a party thrown by jewellers Van Cleef and Arpels to celebrate the start of New York Fashion Week. And after months, nay years, it seems, of looking Mushy - to paraphrase Perez Hilton - she looked fabulous in a swept-back, bouffant 'do, gorgeous make-up and an adorable red dress. In fact, the overall effect was very Cameron-Diaz-as-a-brunette. Only even better.
And as for her pal Demi - when did she start looking like someone's kid sister? Is it the hair? The tan? The smile? The, erm, 'work' (she's being doing to her body down at the gym, I mean)? Whatever it is, it's great, if slightly unnerving. Is there a picture of her somewhere in an attic in Beverly Hills?
The Osbournes are selling art, furniture and collectibles from their homes in Malibu, Beverly Hills and England. The auction, taking place on November 30th, 2007Is there such a thing as a model being too young or too thin?
Just this past week, a fifteen year old girl, Claire Quirk was dumped as the up and coming face of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week for being too young. Ironically her sixteenth birthday coincided with the Melbourne Fashion Week where she was scheduled to saunter the catwalk. The chair of the Melbourne City Council, Cr Fiona Snedden told theage.com, “as a parent, I have a fundamental issue about this. Fifteen is just too young. There needs to be a time when we stop and say, is it wrong to have models this young?”
Claire Quirk above
The British fashion industries panel recommended banning models under the age of sixteen from London fashion week. This report raised many questions such as how prevalent are eating disorders among models and should a minimum body mass index be introduced for London Fashion Week?
In Rome designer Raffaella Curiel barred fifteen models from her show for being too skinny, in order to comply with the fashion code, in wake of the death of a Brazilian model weighing in at 88 pounds with a height of 5-foot-8 inches. The code bans models under the age of sixteen as well as requires each model to present a health certificate. “I was forced to fire 15 models who were too skinny and for the others I still had to tighten the clothes,” reported Corriere della Sera daily. “I absolutely don’t want models who are too skinny,” she told RAI TV. “They are a bad example for young generations.”
Australian fashion council manager Zoe Edquist agrees with these restrictions, “children under the age of 16 – and they are children – are in a very adult industry. It is not an adult industry in the way pornography industry is adult, but it is a grown up environment.” Questions whether young teen aged girls were mature enough to cope with rejection, sexuality and alcohol in a responsible and healthy way were also raised.
Gisele Bundchen, a 26 year old supermodel, has strong beliefs that the fashion industry is not to blame, Gisele told Brazil's Globo: "I never suffered from this problem because I had a very strong family base. The parents are responsible, not fashion. Everybody knows the standard for models is to be thin, but you can't generalise and say that all models are anorexic."
Jenny McWhirter, an underground student at the University of Waterloo and part time model, decided to conduct an online survey to challenge the very common view that models are at an increased risk of developing eating disorders or having unhealthy relationships with food.
McWhirter interviewed 339 models for her study which focuses on self-esteem produced surprising results. It found 93 per cent of participants felt that modelling was a positive influence that enhanced their lives as opposed to a stressful or damaging experience. However a contradiction occurs when looking at the girls body mass index results which found that the majority of models taking part in the study would be considered underweight ( weighing in with a score of 17.4 ). The underweight girls claim that eating habits and exercise programmes do not seem to differ from those of the non-models ( weighing in with the score 22.7 ).
Dr Adrienne Key, clinical director at Priory Hospital eating disorder unit, had reported that almost 40 per cent of models may have eating disorders. A report from the Canadian Paediatric Society confirmed that eating disorders were prevalent among adolescent girls, being the third most common illness in this age group.
Analysing and interpreting the accuracy of Jennifer’s findings have raised additional questions. The undergraduates who participated in her survey may not be sufficient representatives of the entire young adult population, and their relationship with food, as her participants were sourced from a single University, consisting exclusively of undergraduates. The Hawthorne effect is also called into question as it undermines the internal validity of the survey i.e. subjects could respond in a certain way as they know they are being observed and receiving additional attention. McWhirter admits to the possibility that both models and non-models that have chosen not to participate in the study may have eating disorders. The reliability to the degree to which the scale yields consistent results are also questionable as this experiment has not been repeated by other researchers. In addition some may question Jennifer’s objectivity given that she is part of the same industry she is researching.
Alexander McQueen Alexander McQueen’s show was a tribute to the late fashion editor Isabella Blow, the woman responsible for catapulting McQueen from struggling designer to household name. Isabella met McQueen in the early nineties when purchasing his entire graduate collection for £5,000. Ironically enough McQueen made a fortune from his career in fashion, unlike Blow, the editor responsible for faming the McQueen brand. The show entitled La Dame Bleue was inspired by "extreme glamour – pure Isabella territory". McQueen pulled out all the stops; his garments held a contemporary form while remaining classic McQueen with the upward curving-shouldered silhouettes and hourglass figures in an east meets west infusion. Futuristic Jetson’s styled thigh skimming dresses in nude pallets were paired with red oversized cinches. Skirt suits were adorned in subdued snake skins and paired with tiny clutches. Layers of Chiffon were strung together forming light transparent dresses as plastic cummerbunds gave structure to the flowing garbs. Double breasted striped jackets accompanied short shorts and body suits. Golden embellishments adorned a star shaped top and an angular embroidered skirt. A fencing motif ran through headgear, and satin-silk pink and black pagoda-shouldered dresses. The kimono was a strong influence as the motif embraced wide cummerbunds and curved shoulder pads. Evening gowns were flamboyant; a pink lavender kimono inspired gown remained the main attraction along with a jet black peignoir featuring an exaggerated train. A golden textured gown with ruffled peaked shoulders closed the show in a truly glamorous manner. Chanel Karl Lagerfeld’s show opened exposing all garments denim; an array of trends shook the catwalk like a blizzard of overlapping motifs. Fifties, stripes and stars, transparent organza garments and satin silk oversized shirts perfect for sleepwear were reminiscent of previous Lagerfeld shows. Curled shoulders and androgynous garbs, the collection encompassed every motif. The show was entitled Nuits d'Été, an idea of a few of the themes displayed at Chanel. Denim swim suits opened the show; one tiny brief was paired with a sky blue shirt, and a matchbox ankle-purse, no doubt inspired by young Hollywood’s love of SCRAM. Polka dotted retro frocks and Americana stars and stripes followed farm-style playsuits, dungarees and sixties bows. The tattered one piece and ribbed shirt-dress remained among the theme of the free world. Classic Chanel began to peak through in glimpses of tailored mid-length suits and cropped resort jackets. A sporty line featured Jenna Ward in a pair of spandex tennis shorts and a multicoloured jumper, with racket in hand. A string of pattered vests, pullovers and dresses were adorned in a design of vibrant colours. An array of nautical loops adorned subdued jet black garments, filled with metallic threads and paired with laced stiletto boots. Translucent organza skirts accompanied star shaped blousons with cinched bows. Evening dresses followed an eclectic array of trends. Translucent gowns textured glittered frocks and stars embraced Lagerfeld’s third show. Cocktail dresses in a variety of hues and shades offered a classic silhouette to an amalgam of motifs. |
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Yves St Laurent “"I just started with three thoughts: blazers, sweatshirts, and a vaguely preppy idea," said Stefano Pilati, "and then it went into thinking about goddesses, [and] stars." Pilati opened the collection with his contemporary take on “post-modernist minimalism”. The garments featured strong masculine tailoring as dress suits and single breasted jackets embodied strong lines and dark shades of sailor blues and polar whites. A key shape for spring includes oversized star formed jackets cinched at the waist, matched with shortened tapered trousers exposing a hint of flesh. Dress suits remained conservative in neutral shades of arctic white, charcoal grey and sandy beige. Exaggerated tops and free flowing A-line skirts were cinched by feminine belts creating the desired star shaped silhouette, a recurrent theme amongst Pilati’s creative approach to tailoring. The star motif ran throughout the entire collection, conservative demure ensembles made way for a metallic “glam-rock” star cut top which took centre stage. The uppermost part of the garment was created by linking reflective plastic breast plates in a chain like manner, paired with a stiff turquoise below the knee skirt. The tailored blazer was cropped sleeveless creating a masculine vest, single sleeved sweatshirts and oversized jackets made way for star printed conservative dresses. Another star cut garment in the form of a pencil line skirt was created from reflective plastic breast plates. Russian model Natalia Vodianova appeared in the Yves St Laurent show after making headlines for participating in Paris Fashion week just three weeks after giving birth to her third child. The supermodel wore a classic jet black suit with blazer and waistcoat as part of Pilati’s evening wear. Other garments included satin-silk single sleeved gowns in opulent hues of berry mauve and shades of sandy beige and egg shell yellow. Stella McCartney “It’s a modern take on delicacy, but keeping the British sense of humour and a little bit of edge,” McCartney revealed before the show. The designer known for her vegetarianism and her environmental conscious lines embraced a contemporary collection of hippie chic. The models were wearing loose flowing frocks, floral printed playsuits and wooden healed clogs to a backdrop of organic vegetation. Keeping in line with the theme of conservation the green wall forming the backdrop is set to be donated to a low in-come housing district in Boulogne. Despite the clogs falling to pieces on the catwalk the models remained elegant in layered egg shell chiffon and silk-cotton lightweight fabrics. McCartney’s use of floral was far from shy, but worked beautifully in natural tones of see breeze blues and dusty beige. The collection kicked off with free flowing frocks and thigh skimming safari inspired jackets. Blue floral patterns encompassed oversized shirt dresses and play suits. Floral prints made way for sheer blue cinched dresses and oversized tuxedo styled shirt tops and tiny shorts, perfect for sleep wear. White flowing gowns and retro bathing suits with sea life prints reflected McCartney’s natural motif. Golden beige dresses and suits followed themes of colour blocking, only contrasted by crochet textures and satin silk fabrics. White fairy dresses were strung together using organza and tulle, as the layered and translucent frocks closed the show. |
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Mathew Williams Featuring Prince London fashion week brought several highlights including an unexpected performance by Prince. The American pop singer performed a surprise performance during the Mathew Williams showing. Prince, who had snuck into a front row seat, wearing a jet black suit and dark glasses in an attempt to remain incognito, broke into song as his dancers, The Twinz, danced on the catwalk in "Purple Rain" thigh skimmers cinched with silver belts, from the new Williamson spring/summer 2008 collection. Prince began singing from his seat before joining the two dancers for his performance on the catwalk. Fashion Fringe Fashion Fringe, an organisation aiming at ‘reviving and invigorating’ the UK's wealth of design talent, had an all too impressive judging panel including Tom Ford, Natalie Massenet and Colin McDowell. Design label Aminaka Wilmont received the prestigious trophy for their futuristic collection. Antoni And Alison Nicole Kidman made her appearance at London Fashion week in a film by Antoni Burakowski and Alison Roberts to mark the 20th Anniversary of their label, Antoni and Alison. The 10 min movie featured Kidman modelling their entire spring collection. Stella McCartney for Addidas Stella McCartney brought London Fashion Week to a close on Thursday with the first catwalk show of her sportswear collection, Stella McCartney for Addidas. Models were playing tennis, jogging, golfing or just basking in the lights of the west London fitness centre. The centre was transformed into a golfing wonderland. Her designs were suitable for every sporty occasion. Tennis dresses were fun and sporty; tops were tight and casual and swimsuits were cutaway. Stella’s second collection will show in two weeks at Paris Fashion Week.
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People in general seem to associate personality with hair colour. Dr Tony Cassidy and Georgina Harris, of the University of Coventry, asked 120 people consisting of 60 men and 60 women to look at photographs of a woman sporting four different coloured wigs of platinum blonde, neutral blonde, red and brunette. The group was asked to rate each model for intelligence, shyness, aggressiveness, popularity and temperament.
The brown haired model was rated as more shy while the natural looking blonde was thought to be more popular, and the platinum blonde was rated least intelligent (especially by men). Dr Cassidy recently told the BBC, “It seems that the stereotype of dumb blondes did exist, but only in terms of platinum blondes. It is important to understand that we do make judgements based on stereotypes, and if we make judgements that have important implications for the people we are judging, we need to be aware of this situation.”
The mystery still remains why the “dumb” label was only attributed to the platinum blonde and not the natural blonde, but Dr Cassidy does feel that the media is largely responsible for this platinum blonde stereotype. Stereotypes date back to thousands of years, archaeologists have found that the redheads of the Celtic lands were considered fierce and passionate, while blondes were held in higher esteem and thought of as pure and virtues. Marilyn Monroe singing “Happy Birthday Mr President” in her seductive and sexy voice remains a moment frozen in history that the new generation of platinum blondes aspire to. Pamela Anderson, Sophie Dahl and even the late Anna Nicole Smith have to a certain degree aspired to gaining such iconic status with the help of their blonde locks.
So why would seemly intelligent people buy into such a ridiculous stereotype? It all comes down to our fast paced life style and need to make quick judgements in a very short period of time. According to David W Johnson, from the University of Minnesota and author of Reaching Out “The world is simply too complicated to attend to every detail and therefore the perceiver relies on stereotypes to simplify social perception. By reducing the complexity of the social environment stereotypes make it more manageable.” As well as “help us make sense of who we are and what is happening” in the world.
Jewellery has always been prone to the fickle nature of fashion but the one piece that has remained a classic timepiece throughout is the watch.
What we choose to adorn our wrists with has always been a personal choice, a true expression of our style and a subtle declaration of our identity. With designers infringing their volatile fashion design on details such as necklaces and bangles, it wasn’t long before watches too were to fall victim.
Marc by Marc Jacobs, £76.
Traditionally, women decorated their wrists with exquisite, fine and delicate watches, leaving it to the men to boast their masculinity through cumbersome, substantial timepieces with all the newfangled gadgets a watch could accommodate. However, a new trend is emerging. It has been reported that sales of women buying men’s watches have soared over the last year, marking a depart from the classic women’s watch to a more modern twist on feminine jewellery. Celebrities have fuelled this veer from tradition, being seen sporting their boyfriend’s watch has evidently influenced sales of men’s watches, motivating the change in direction.
Bell and Ross, £4,500
Women’s watches originated in a simple, iconic design in traditional black or brown but have evolved over the years to accommodate all tastes. Injected with splashes of femininity, watches have been enhanced by iridescent faces, jewelled straps and diamond features
The wrist is the thinnest part of a woman, making purchasing a watch ever so simple; there is none of that emotional baggage that comes with the nightmarish changing room trauma of bikini buying.
Ironically, the recent trend for masculine watches is very practical, the face is more visible and the strap less intricate. It echoes the androgynous look that has been so celebrated in the last few seasons and verifies how the gap between men and women’s fashion is gradually diminishing. First came the success of the “boyfriend jean”, the ever-so-comfy jeans style that lent itself to those days where only comfort will do. Following that was the popular “boyfriend cardigan”. The generous grey wool of your mans cardigan sashayed down many catwalks last winter. The watch is simply an extension of this growing fascination with masculine trends for women.
Chanel, price upon request.
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Nixon,£70
Summer fashion may be supporting all things romantic and flimsy but as ever, fashion is full of contradiction and it’s the bulky, masculine watch that is adorning all trend-conscious wrists. Turn your feminine, delicate summer attire upside down by combining it with a robust, chunky watch to create a modernistic spin on the conventional feminine trinket.
