The naked and the dead at Paris couture

By JENNY BARCHFIELD,

Haute couture is all about dressing up — dressing way, way, up, in fact, in made-to-measure garments that cost as much as a new car. But Jean Paul Gaultier reversed the equation Wednesday, sending out burlesque star Dita Von Teese, who peeled off layer after wildly expensive layer till she was stripped literally to the bone.

The campy strip show — which ended with Von Teese in a buff-colored bustier with sequin-covered applique bones mapping out her skeleton — was a fit finale to a fall-winter 2010-11 collection largely about transparency and anatomy, with a dash of morbidness thrown in for good measure.

At Valentino, the garment's anatomy — the bone-work that give the gowns their shape — took center stage, with translucent hoop-skirts and an oblong birdcage made of tulle fitted over the bum-skimming minidresses.

Earlier in the week, Riccardo Tisci showed off the skill of the seamstresses at the house of Givenchy, delivering Mexican Day of the Dead-inspired lace and tulle bodysuits and gowns with appliques that mapped out the bones of the human body. In glimmering gold rhinestones and the finest Chantilly lace, his museum-quality concoctions were the world's most expensive Halloween skeleton costumes. Emerging French designer Julien Fournie's night of the living dead collection was also spot on the morbid, x-ray chic trend.

Other shows on Wednesday, the last day of Paris' ever-dwindling three-day-long couture calendar included emerging Lebanese talent Rabih Kayrouz, who marched to his own relaxed drum with a collection of cool summer staples that blended the line between couture and ready-to-wear.

On Aura Tout Vu's fish-themed collection was meant for the thin slice on the Venn diagram where the very wealthy and very funny demographics overlap. After all, it takes a pretty good sense of humor to pull off an impeccable beige sheath dress with sleeves ending in stuffed fish-face hand puppets.

French veteran Franck Sorbier's uplifting collection underscored the core values of couture — which is meant to be a celebration of creativity and technical savoir faire but has increasingly become a media blitz used by luxury conglomerates for promoting aspirational secondary products like cosmetics, perfumes and sunglasses. Coming after big-budget mega-productions like Tuesday's Chanel show, where models paraded beneath an enormous golden lion — in an homage to the founder's astrological sign — Sorbier's sincere and funny collection was a much-needed reminder of what couture should be about.

Paris' couture calendar officially concludes on Thursday, with fine jewelry presentations at Place Vendome jewelry houses like Boucheron, Chaumet and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Stephen Jones In Hollywood

By Dolly Jones Vogue

STEPHEN JONES is no stranger to a film set - he's worked on the hats for Coco Avant Chanel and Elizabeth - but now he's become an actor in his own right.

The Liverpool-born, London-based milliner has been recruited by Madonna to work on her latest film, W.E., based on the life of King Edward VIII (played by James D'Arcy), and Wallis Simpson (played by Andrea Riseborough).

"Madonna is directing it and she asked me to do the hats for it," he tells us. "And somehow I've ended up starring in it, too."

So, is he nervous? Is he busy learning his lines? "It's too early for me to really tell you anything in detail," he told us coyly. "But really I think I'm more alarmed than anything."

What we do know is that the film is currently shooting in London with Arianne Phillips in charge of costumes.

She's the best there is," says Stephen. "I saw Tom Ford the other day and he told me he couldn't have done A Single Man without her. Then I told her that he'd said that and she almost burst into tears."

YOU SHOULD SEE: Stephen Jones talk about life as a lorry driver...

Summer Leather

Clooney At Court

By Ella Alexander Vogue

GEORGE CLOONEY today testified in the fraud trial of fashion label GC Exclusive. The clothing company falsely used the actor's signature in its adverts.

"I am here because I believe in justice. I am here to speak because some people are trying to use my name to gain advantage not over me but of others," said Clooney, according to the Daily Mail.

Vincenzo Cannalire, Francesco Galdelli and Vanja Goggi, who created GC, reportedly conned buyers and suppliers into thinking Clooney had officially backed the label. The trio were accused of forgery, fraud and receiving stolen goods, as well as using Clooney's name to promote the clothing line. The defendants deny all claims.

Clooney gave evidence for two hours. The trial's judge, Pietro Caccialanza, had to call for order and halt proceedings as the furor from fans made it difficult to hear from other witnesses.

YOU SHOULD SEE: Which supermodel did George Clooney have a crush on?

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER AND LA PERLA:

It is with great pleasure that we are announcing a special agreement between the designer Jean Paul Gaultier and La Perla for the launch of an exclusive «Collection Créateur» of lingerie.

This collaboration unites the absolute femininity of La Perla and its unmistakable DNA and couture seduction and the distinct creative approach of Jean Paul Gaultier.


«Lingerie is part of my DNA and of my heritage.»
- Jean Paul Gaultier

The collection combines the two ingrained couture approaches: the «soutache» which is one of the great La Perla classics, a sophisticated technique for creating motifs in silk braid on tulle and the star-shaped backstitches on satin for garments that delineate those silhouettes so dear to the designer.

Each model is a celebration of the female body: from the waist cincher corset to the slip that follows the curves of the body, from the extra-high briefs that hug the hips to the bustier which highlights the neckline. There are also the bras and a body with the famous pointed cups recalling the costumes created by Gaultier for Madonna’s 1990 Blond Ambition tour.
Black and powder pink, two cult lingerie colours take precedence, but there are also accents of coral and bleu canard.

Leading the way, two special limited edition garments will be presented on 7th of July in Paris during the Jean Paul Gaultier Autumn/Winter 2010-2011 Haute Couture show: a backstitch satin bra with a shoulder-strap motif and glove-holding strings and a suspender belt with «protege fesses» strategically stitched to round off the silhouette in an irresistible way.


«La Perla is the pearl of the lingerie, with a long history and the best savoir faire.»
- Jean Paul Gaultier

Commenting on the collaboration, Jean Paul Gaultier said: «Lingerie is part of my DNA and of my heritage. It is now almost thirty years since I have designed my first corset dress, and in my latest prêt-à-porter collection I revisited the conical bras and corsets worn as outerwear. This collaboration was a natural and logical step especially since La Perla is the pearl of the lingerie, with a long history and the best savoir faire.»

Talking about this project, Alain Prost, La Perla’s C.E.O., said that «cooperating with Jean Paul Gaultier filled us with satisfaction from the very start. A perfect synergy immediately came to light between his vision and the values of luxury and elegance that have always been cornerstones in La Perla’s history.
I believe that we will be even more satisfied once the collection is available on the international market, as it is an explosive concentrate of luxury and femininity that is highly desirable. All this is the result of a strategic link between two of the most important countries in the fashion and luxury field, France and Italy. The designer Jean Paul Gaultier, an outstanding point of reference in Couture and La Perla, representing the excellence in lingerie worldwide.»

The creations of this capsule collection, the result of collaboration between Jean Paul Gaultier and La Perla will go on sale in November 2010 in La Perla boutiques around the world, in exclusive international department stores, in Jean Paul Gaultier boutiques and in a number of highly-selected fashion stores.

Frida Gustavsson, boema la Paris in campania Vagabond

Ioana Ulmeanu Tabu

Se poate sa iti placa sau sa nu iti placa pantofii Vagabond (sau poate ca nici nu ai auzit de compania producatoare, infiintata la sfarsitul anilor 60 si care astazi vinde peste 2 milioane de perechi de pantofi pe an in 30 de tari din toata lumea). Dar cu siguranta nu o sa iti displaca campania lor pentru vara lui 2010, fotografiata in Paris , si care o are drept imagine pe Frida Gustavsson.

Partying for a Cause at the "Inception" Premiere

Jenny Peters

Los Angeles – What made the huge Hollywood premiere of "Inception" on Tuesday, July 13, different from most? It wasn't that it was staged at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard; that's been the spot where movie premieres have happened since 1927. Nor was it having a huge movie star like Leonardo DiCaprio head across the street to the screaming crowd, signing autographs and posing for photos with adoring fans, for that's been done, too.

No, what set the "Inception" premiere apart was the charity component, for this event wasn't just about getting all the key players like writer-director Christopher Nolan and his actors, including Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Lukas Haas, Tom Berenger and Dileep Rao, together in one place. It was about staving off climate change, with ticket sales proceeds going to the Alliance for Climate Protection.

Al Gore, the chairman of that organization, and former vice president of the United States, told the filled-to-capacity audience in the theater: "Raising awareness of the climate crisis is our duty; it deserves everything we can do."

Those lucky enough to attend, including Kellan Lutz, Djimon Hounsou, Kimora Lee Simmons, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lee Pace and Danica McKellar, saw an eye-popping, mind-bending film that melds dreams with reality, then trooped down a closed-off Hollywood Boulevard to the surreal after party.

Entering a giant, luxuriously appointed tent through a mass of mirrors, the crowd was wowed from the start, and it only got better. After being serenaded by a lounge singer and served up tasty tidbits from Wolfgang Puck, partygoers including DiCaprio, Cotillard and Page were treated to a full-blown orchestral performance of the "Inception" soundtrack, led by composer Hans Zimmer and guitarist Johnny Marr, of The Smiths fame.

USA Likes Lady Gaga so does Facebook

10 Million likes on Facebook is a first for any living being. Lady Gaga doesCatching a Lady Gaga news before her fans is like running after a thunder. How about news about her fans then?
The coveted album The Remix will be released Stateside on August 3rd after a blooming success around the world selling over 500,000 albums and topping charts everywhere from Canada to Japan. The attraction being the possibility to re-listen fans’ beloved songs – Just Dance, Poker Face, Love Game, Paparazzi, Bad Romance, Telephone, and Alejandro – remixed by famous DJ’s and artists. More impressive numbers made by the little monsters: largest selling digital album ever 783,056 units of The Fame Monster, which together with The Fame sold 13 million albums worldwide, and the latest single “Alejandro” has been viewed 39 million times since June 8th, date of its release.
What can we say, Lady Gaga is the first living person who has an international army of little monsters who like her absolutely very much with 10 million likes on Facebook to show for it.
Text by Acelya Yonac

Facing the eighties in style

Yuri ahn Swide






Night colours turn into a celebration of the 80s, as seen on Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City 2, pink is not just about candy, nor is lace a romantic asset.Absolutely delicious non-transparencies playing with two colours that exhale secrecy and sophistication at the same time. Shoes, bags, background. Take black to the next step.The 80s were all about funky details. So what should we add now? A rosette seems appropriate, as are sequined trousers. Take center stage, an evening attire with a fun spirit, a bit coquette.

Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer 2011MensMilan

Madonna şi fiica ei, creatoare de modă

Erika Chivu Unica

La numai 13 ani, Lourdes Leon este deja partenera de afaceri a faimoasei sale mame, Madonna. Cele două vor lansa în luna august o colecţie de haine dedicată adolescentelor.

Colecţia, care se va vinde în magazinele Macy’s sub numele de „Material Girl”, este deja promovată de Madonna, dar şi de fiica ei, care a început şi un blog de fashion.

Lourdes se pricepe la modă mai bine decât Madonna

În ultimul timp, Madonna a avut grijă să-şi laude fiica, recunoscund chiar că Lourdes are gusturi mai bune în materie de haine. Tânăra este cel mai aprig critic al Madonnei. În ciuda caracterului său puternic, artista de 51 de ani cedează în faţa observaţiilor făcute de fiica sa şi recunoaşte că rar se întâmple să nu-i urmeze sfaturile.

Pe de altă parte, Madonna spune că şi-ar dori ca Lourdes să adopte un stil mai conservator, însă nu-şi face iluzii că i-ar putea impune o anumită vestimentaţie.

Fiica Madonnei adoră anii ‘80

Întreaga colecţie, care include haine, încălţăminte, genţi şi bijuterii, a fost realizată pe gustul tinerei, care a făcut o pasiune pentru anii ’80. De altfel, Lourdes Leon, la cei 13 ani ai săi este directorul de creaţie al colecţiei. Criticii de modă apreciază că Lola, cum îi spune familia, va fi unul dintre trendsetterii următorilor ani, aşa că nu se putea ca tânăra să lipsească din blogosfera fashion.

Noul ei blog de modă, menit să promoveze colecţia „Material Girl”, oferă şi o idee privind preferinţele fetei.

Lola spune că negrul este culoarea ei preferată fiindcă se potriveşte cu orice.
„Am o obsesie pentru pantalonii scurti stil anii ’80, stiţi, aia care îţi fac fundul cam mare, asortaţi cu un tricou grunge”, mai spune Lola despre stilul ei. De altfel, în materie de vestimentaţie o pasionează tot ce este legat de anii ’80. În ce priveşte încălţăminte, tânăra preferă pantofii Oxford, dar încă mai caută o pereche de sandale potrivite pentru această vară căci, spune ea, sandalele gladiator nu mai sunt la modă.

„Am 13 ani, iar în octombrie împlinesc 14 şi abia aştept pentru că în sfârşit voi avea voie să-mi vopsesc părul. MULŢUMESC, MAMĂ!!” mai spune Lourdes.

Stilul Lolei, un pic exagerat poate pentru femeile „serioase” este cu siguranţă pe placul adolescentelor şi al celor care vor să se simtă tinere la orice vârstă, deci critii estimează că noua colecţie va avea mare succes.

Beauty Insider: Beyoncé Shares Her Beauty Secrets

By April Long Elle

She’s as famous for her ever-changing looks as she is for being a workaholic singer, actress, and all-around superstar. Here, some of her secrets to staying fierce

The last rays of afternoon sun are streaming through the window of a Manhattan loft where Beyoncé Knowles sits resplendent in a sleeveless sapphire blue dress and stilettos sharper than ice picks. Despite an epically hectic past few months in which she’s scooped up six Grammy Awards; launched her spicy-sweet debut fragrance, Beyoncé Heat, with a late-night party inNew York (it has since broken sales records for celebrity scents); and wrapped up her yearlong “I Am…” tour, the superstar shows not a hint of wear and tear. “I’m running on adrenaline!” she says, her voice honeyed with a surprisingly strong Texas drawl. “I’m too happy to feel tired.”

As a 16-time Grammy winner, a Golden Globe–nominated actress, a House of Deréon fashion muse, a perfume-brand powerhouse, and the woman who got Jay-Z to put a ring on it, Beyoncé has racked up almost too many accomplishments to tally since first rising to fame with Destiny’s Child more than a decade ago. Whether elegantly serenading the Obamas on Inauguration Night while flashing gunmetal Minx nails, stomping across the stage as bouffant-hairdo-and-Thierry Mugler-sporting alter ego Sasha Fierce on her stadium-wowing megatours, or vamping it up in black lipstick alongside Lady Gaga in the recent “Telephone” video, she’s a bona fide beauty icon who always manages to balance knockout sex appeal with good-girl charm. It’s therefore something of a relief to discover that when the superbusy star finally does get some sleep, she’ll be slipping under the covers with Aquaphor smeared on her face. “I go to bed looking totally greasy,” Beyoncé says, laughing. “It’s not all glamour all the time.”

Are there similarities between music and perfume?
When I write songs, I want them to be sensual and sexy, so women can go out on the dance floor and feel free and strong—like they can say whatever they want to say, especially to the opposite sex. And that’s what I wanted Heat to do too. You feel more confident when you’re wearing a fragrance you love.

Any anti-fatigue beauty tricks?
I always keep a pair of Ray-Bans handy! And sometimes I put a little gold eye shadow in the inner corners of my eyes—it’s more subtle than white, but it still really makes you look more awake.

What do you use to give your body skin that velvety sheen?
I layer on bronzers for public appearances. I love L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze One Day gel, which you can just get at Walmart, and Scott Barnes Body Bling is also great.

You do your own makeup for performances. Why not use a makeup artist?
It’s a way of getting into the zone—it’s part of becoming Sasha Fierce. I’m able to sit down for an hour and play around with makeup, which I find really relaxing and fun. Before a tour, I have my makeup artist design a look for me—she draws it on paper to show me where to put everything.

How important is hair and makeup for getting into film roles?
Very. Especially playing Etta James in Cadillac Records—once I put on that blond wig and those thick eyebrows, I felt much more natural in her skin. That’s one of the things I love about makeup: You can change your whole attitude just by doing your eyeliner or lipstick differently.

What are some of your staple red-carpet tricks?
I use a makeup primer, and then I use a lot of powder to keep everything in place. I usually go for a waterproof mascara, or a strip of false lashes when I’m onstage, so I won’t get smudgy. And I love L’Oréal Paris Elnett hairspray—it holds like nothing else.

Your mom owned a hair salon when you were growing up. Did you try out a lot of styles?
Oh, yeah. I’m sure it was scary for her because I was always messing with my hair when I was a kid. One of the worst things I did was cut my ponytails off. I saw my mom doing extensions, so I thought she’d be able to put them back on. Thankfully I had separated my hair into quarters and I only cut off the front two ponytails. Afterward I had to have really thick bangs for a while.

Did it make you more fearless about experimenting as an adult?
Definitely. I’m still always doing something to my hair—cutting layers, or bleaching it, or taking it upon myself to copy fashionable hairstyles without knowing the necessary techniques. A couple of weeks ago, I cut my own bangs and put highlights in the front. When my stylist saw me, she was like, “What did you do?!” I did a pretty good job, but she still had to fix it. We’re always joking that I’m a frustrated hairdresser.

How often do you exercise?
I’ve never been all that consistent. If I’m onstage doing a performance for two and a half hours, I don’t really think I need to do anything else. So when I’m on tour, I let it slide. But I just started working out at the Tracy Anderson gym. It’s hard work!

Tracy Anderson is known for reshaping people’s bodies. Is that what you want?
Not really; I’m pretty happy. I want to get my arms a bit leaner, but other than that, it’s just maintenance.

Do you follow a specific diet?
Well, I don’t eat pasta every day. I’m not trying to lose or gain weight, but I do have to work out and watch what I eat. I’m not someone who can go crazy. I’ll usually have cereal for breakfast and a salad for lunch and a light dinner, and then on Sundays I’ll allow myself to have whatever I want.

You famously did the Master Cleanse for your role in Dreamgirls. Would you ever do it again?
Never. I did it to lose weight really fast, but it wasn’t fun. There are healthier ways to lose weight—I wouldn’t recommend it.

Entertainment Photos

Amber Armani Privé

By Godfrey Deeny

Paris – Leave it to Giorgio Armani to remind Paris of arguably the key reason for haute couture in the first place, creating hyper sophisticated fashion for the world's most stylish women.

For fall 2010, the Italian couturier sees women wearing classic movie fashion, the kind smart women like Katherine Hepburn or Lauren Bacall might wear, though with a soupcon of modernity injected through edgy detailing and modernist accessories.

"Elegance, with an amber tinted vision," explained Armani backstage, after this slick show staged on Tuesday, July 6, in a disused bank in Paris' Place Vendome and attended by modern thespian stars like Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy, Claudia Cardinale, Isabelle Huppert and Gemma Arterton.

His color scheme ran the length from biscuit and barks to caramel and chocolates, so carefully focused was this show, so amber hued the mood.

Opening with lots of day suits and coats, Armani riffed on his signature silhouettes and cuts - plunging necklines, asymmetrical fastenings, diagonal weaves and patterns. And that's were his skill as a tailor meant the clothes, while classic, were very of-the-moment. Embroidered edging, subtle leather piping and scarf collars in airy crepe all added to the sense of understated chic.

If Armani is any judge - and he remains Europe's best selling living designer with annual sales set to top two billion euros, or $2.4 billion, this year - then women will soon be wearing pencil skirts carefully draped so they twist around the thighs, and sharply shouldered jackets - heralding a return of the 1980s power look. Real and faux snake and reptile skins will be the material of choice for wedges, their heels composed of see-through Perspex.

Not that Armani is incapable of some savvy experimentation. There was a brilliant moment when he sent out a slinky column composed of faux cockles and mussels, a dress that looked like it had been left under a northern strand for a year, before emerging into a glistening sunlight.

Asked about the beachwear vision, Armani was in a joking mood. "Oh, we had a half-dozen ladies work a month sewing on the shells in overnight shifts," he said, before beginning interviews with a score of camera crews backstage.

Chanel Couture: The Lioness in Winter

By Godfrey Deeny

Paris – A giant golden lion, his burly head standing 45-feet above the audience in Paris' Grand Palais stood sentry over the latest thoroughly chic floral fantasy couture collection from Chanel, staged with customary aplomb in Paris Tuesday, July 6. And while the lion was mammoth, the collection's silhouette was lean and, especially for couture, short, with skirts trimmed four-inches above the knee.

The lion's huge paw perched on a seven-foot cream pearl, out of which strutted three score of ravishing looking models in this show - inspired by tapestries and the colors of strident Fauvist artists - for the house, whose founder, Coco Chanel, had the astrological sign of Leo.

"I had this image in my head of a proud lion, it was one of Coco's symbols, and I think it worked rather well. Huh?" said Chanel's couturier Karl Lagerfeld, beneath the mighty golden beast.

Out first on the round catwalk was Natasha Poly, who had already posed in the program photos by Lagerfeld left on each guest's seat. The Russian model slinked by in a blood orange bouclé wool suit, the jacket flared, the skirt short, the ensemble paired with sensational crinkled half-calf boots in a leather featuring the same color gold as the lion's.

Opening looks featured lots of bouclé ideas, like double-breasted jackets cut with angle tails, while on the wrists multiple bracelets, bangles, wristbands and chains - again in a faded gold. Giant encrustations on limbs were a powerful reminder of how haute couture can, and will, set trends.

Lagerfeld sent out his quotient of beige - the biggest color so far in this reined-in season - but then suddenly accelerated two gears with a duo of models in sizzling sexy coral mini dresses, trimmed and piped pearls, and worn elongated necklaces and chains.

The couturier then wowed with a whole floral section with tiny alpine flowers made of bugle beads on strict skirts and remarkable faded jacquards used in opulent cocktails. Carnations floated across sumptuous tapestry-style tops in micro sequins, exceptional examples of Chanel's famed atelier at full throttle and a material used in dramatic mini boots.

Medieval yet completely modern, artisanal yet high-tech, racy yet always chic, this was a first rate collection and show from Chanel - a brand that, when it comes to haute couture, is the reigning heavyweight champion for staging, showmanship and cool élan.

Trend Report: Stevie Nicks' Style

By Kate Lanphear Elle

Channel Fleetwood Mac’s songstress with Gothic prairie dresses, fur tails, and luxe gypsy accessories