Friday, August 31, 2012

Margaret Thatcher power suits go under the hammer

LONDON (Reuters) - Seven suits worn by Britain's first female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher before she took up office will go on sale for up to 1,500 pounds each on Monday.

A bright turquoise ensemble she wore on the day she was elected leader of the Conservative Party in February 1975 and a striking yellow dress and jacket are included in the sale by Christie's in London.

Other outfits include a gold and silver cocktail ensemble and a dark greatcoat with distinctive red lapel stitching.

'When you see the pieces in the flesh, the first thing that comes to mind is how powerful they are and how much they stand out,' said a Christie's spokeswoman.

'It definitely shows that she was a woman in politics and she was making a name for herself and what she wore was a very important part of that.'

Thatcher, 87, was Prime Minister between 1979 and 1990 - the 'iron lady' as a Soviet journalist once called her for her uncompromising stance against foes both foreign and domestic.

Only a limited number of her personal items have ever been sold and her suits could fetch more than their 1,500 pound price tag after an exhibition showing the auction items have already attracted much interest, the spokeswoman added.

A black handbag Thatcher was carrying in a picture with former U.S. President Ronald Reagan sold for 25,000 pounds in a charity auction last year.

(Reporting by Limei Hoang and Karolin Schaps; editing by Steve Addison)



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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Correction: Watch: Edie Campbell in video inspired by Chanel imagery

[Corrects title, header, and description of video as inspired by Chanel] British model Edie Campbell is the star of a new Cyrille de Vignemont-directed video that takes as its theme a passion for the look Chanel.

The film, produced for Obsession iPad edition, sees Campbell take on two different characters -- one who is all boyish waistcoats and loose-fit trousers and another classically feminine persona with sequined pieces and a pouty red lip.

Directed by contemporary artist de Vignemont, the short video uses symbolic imagery including multiple mirrors and has an androgynous aesthetic.

According to his website, the film was inspired by a quote from Coco Chanel herself: 'Conceived as a mirror piece, the film illustrates Coco Chanel's famous sentence 'Luxury is something beautiful inside and out' and plays on the star model's identities: girl or boy, eternal or modern, but always marked by Chanel Obsession.'

Watch the video here: http://vimeo.com/46812363

[Note: a previous version of this story published August 7 suggested that the video was an ad and part of a Chanel campaign. The producers of the video used recurring themes associated with Chanel but the video is not produced by the brand.]



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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Ditch the baggy suit, fashion experts advise Ryan

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Paul Ryan is preparing for the biggest speech of his career on Wednesday, when he will accept the Republican vice presidential nomination in front of a television audience of tens of millions of voters.

Style experts hope he'll find some time to do some clothes shopping as well.

Ryan's budget-cutting plan has made him one of the most polarizing figures in U.S. politics, but many of those who know fashion agree on one thing: The man needs serious help with his wardrobe.

When Mitt Romney added Ryan to the Republican ticket this month, fashion experts panned the 42-year-old Wisconsin congressman's duck-billed loafers, floppy shirt collars and baggy suits.

GQ, the men's magazine, called Ryan's boxy black suit a 'suburban dad special,' while Esquire compared it to a trash bag. Women's Wear Daily called his choice of square-toed shoes 'one of the most grievous mistakes a man can make.'

Ryan looks 'like a boy wearing his father's suit,' said Jesse Thorn, editor of the menswear blog Put This On.

Ryan probably won't need the support of fashionistas to win the vice presidency on November 6, but some clothing experts wonder whether voters might conclude that a man who wears suits that seem to be a couple of sizes too large isn't ready to be one heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

'If the suit's too big for him, it seems like the job is too big for him,' said Laurie Graham, a Los Angeles image consultant who works with business clients.

Ryan also gets low marks for wearing his suit without a tie, an increasingly popular look among political candidates striving for the approachable look.

'To me it looks like they had to run out of the house because it was on fire,' said David Hodgkins, owner of David Wood Clothiers in Portland, Maine. 'It's incomplete, it's like a shoe without shoelaces.'

HOTTEST VEEP CANDIDATE EVER?

Ryan's appearance could be a reflection of his monk-like focus on fiscal policy. A wonk's wonk, Ryan is known for sleeping in his Capitol Hill office and staying up late studying budget tables, rather than hitting Washington's party scene.

'I wonder if there was some point in his life when he was 15 or 20 pounds heavier, and went into a Men's Wearhouse, had himself measured and wrote it down for posterity,' Thorn said.

Ryan's poorly fitting suits threaten to obscure looks that routinely are described as boyishly handsome and a body that has been toned by the vigorous P90X fitness regimen.

TMZ, a gossip website, wrote that Ryan might be 'the hottest vice presidential candidate ever.' The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress, named him one of the 50 most attractive people in politics in 2008.

'Forget the budget: Paul Ryan is hot!' wrote Politico, another publication for Washington insiders.

WARDROBE MALFUNCTIONS

Unlike female politicians whose clothing and hairstyle choices are dissected endlessly, male politicians typically enjoy less scrutiny and face fewer fashion risks.

For decades, the choice of lawmakers and officials has been a dark suit with a white shirt and red or blue solid tie to convey an aura of power and authority. President Ronald Reagan's brown suits were a rare exception, but they helped to bolster his image as a western outsider with few ties to Washington.

Clothing, however, occasionally can trip up male politicians.

Vice President Al Gore was mocked during the 2000 presidential campaign for heeding the advice of a consultant who told him to wear earth tones. And President Barack Obama drew snickers when he was photographed in high-waisted 'dad jeans' a few years ago.

President George H.W. Bush only deepened his blue-blooded reputation when he argued that he wasn't a 'Brooks Brothers Republican' because he wore J. Press suits - another brand favored by old-money New Englanders.

For political candidates, a sudden fashion transformation doesn't always work out.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin traded in her turtlenecks and fleece vests for designer outfits after she was chosen as Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate in 2008. But the $150,000 cost of the makeover led to uncomfortable questions for the campaign, particularly when it became clear that the Republican Party had paid for the clothes.

For Ryan, it won't be too difficult to up his sartorial game when he takes the podium at the Republican convention in Tampa on Wednesday night, fashion experts say.

Black cap-toe shoes, a dark, slim-fitting suit from a maker such as Brooks Brothers or Southwick, a white shirt and a solid or striped tie would convey confidence and authority, menswear experts said. Most importantly, it would not distract from the message Ryan hopes to convey to voters.

'It's his job to look responsible,' Thorn said. 'His priority should be to look like he has his act together.'

(Editing by David Lindsey and Leslie Adler)



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Monday, August 27, 2012

Qatar to launch own luxury brand before the end of the year

Qatar Luxury Group, owned by Qatar Foundation, is reportedly gearing up to launch its first luxury fashion and accessories brand, announced the HuffPost on August 26.

The launch of the brand QELA will be boosted by the opening of numerous luxe boutiques around the world, starting with Doha, Qatar's capital city by the end of the year, and likely followed by other shops in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Milan, London and Tokyo.

'Since its inception, the goal for our group is to create a fashion brand in Qatar, with the next step being international expansion. We are currently working on the collection,' explains Caroline Guillon, marketing director of the Qatar Luxury Group, to the Huffington Post.

The QELA brand will encompass high-end clothing and accessories.



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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Woman in wedding dress plunges into waterfall

RAWDON, Quebec (AP) - A bride-to-be fell to her death while getting her wedding pictures taken, tumbling down from a cliff into a waterfall while she was wearing her wedding dress, police said Friday.

Sgt. Ronald McInnis of the Quebec provincial police said her body was recovered about four hours after she slipped from a rock and fell into Dorwin Falls in Rawdon, north of Montreal. She had chosen the site as the backdrop for her wedding pictures.

McInnis said family members and her fiance were on location Friday evening. McInnis said two witnesses had to be hospitalized and treated for shock.

The woman was on the verge of getting married 'within days,' police said.

McInnis described the site as being quite elevated and rocky, with water 'violently' rushing below.



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Friday, August 24, 2012

Disgraced Galliano stripped of France's top honour

Disgraced British designer John Galliano has been stripped of the Legion d'Honneur, the top French medal he was awarded in 2009 for services to haute couture.

Galliano, 51, will no longer have the right to wear the medal following its withdrawal under a decree signed by President Francois Hollande which was published in France's official journal on Thursday.

The former artistic director of fashion house Dior was convicted last year of hurling anti-Semitic insults at patrons of a Paris bar.

Galliano blamed the outburst on drink and drug problems and went into rehab for two months. He has since kept a low profile, but recent unconfirmed reports suggest he is considering moving to Los Angeles.

Dior have replaced him with Belgian designer Raf Simons.



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Thursday, August 23, 2012

'Gatsby' to feature Prada-designed outfits

Prada and Miu Miu have designed outfits for the upcoming movie The Great Gatsby.

Baz Luhrmann's dazzling silver screen adaptation, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire, is creating a new buzz and this time, it is fashion-related. According to an interview of Miuccia Prada published in the September issue of Vogue, 40 dresses from past Prada and Miu Miu collections will be adapted for the movie.

While Gatsby's couture will be inspired by the elegant 1920s, Prada Spring/Summer 2012 menswear collection represents a very seductive first approach of this era's fashion interpretation.

This second collaboration between Miuccia Prada and Baz Lurhmann promises to be spectacular. For Romeo + Juliet, in 1996, the director asked the Italian designer to create one of Leonardo DiCaprio's unusual outfits.

Carey Mulligan's outfits will also be styled with Tiffany & Co's sparkly creations.

Baz Lurhmann's adaptation of the famous novel published by Francis Scott Fitzgerald in 1925 will hit cinemas in July 2013.



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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Apps agenda: Darwin Festival, BBC Proms, Stockholm Fashion Week, Gamescom

A roundup of the essential apps needed for keeping up-to-date with major events in art, music and more for August 13-19.

Arts
Darwin Festival (August 9-26, various venues in Darwin, Australia)
Darwin's annual multi-arts festival embraces the state's creative culture with an 18-day-long event that encompasses outdoor concerts, music, dance, theater, comedy, cabaret, film and visual arts. The festival takes place during the Top End's balmy dry season and celebrates the region's unique indigenous and multicultural population.
iOS app

Fashion
Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs exhibition (March 6 - September 16, Paris, France)
The Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs exhibition at the city's museum of Arts Décoratifs will celebrate the fashion house's namesake and its current creative director by comparing and analyzing their achievements during very different time periods. More information about the exhibition can be found via the official iOS app for the Arts Décoratifs below.
iOS app

Stockholm Fashion Week (August 13-19, Stockholm, Sweden)
While August is traditionally a calm month in the realm of fashion, this isn't the case for Scandinavian countries, with Stockholm Fashion Week and Oslo Fashion Week taking place concurrently. On the lineup for the former are top Swedish designers including Heart of Lovikka, Kay Senchai and Aniv von Borche -- who has already charmed fashion capitals including Milan and New York.
iOS app

Home
163rd New York International Gift Fair (August 18-23, New York, United States)
This, the 163rd second edition of the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), continues to showcase everything from kitchenware to home furnishings and pet products. As with the winter edition (January 28-February 2) the summer edition of the NYIGF features numerous awards such as Bloggers Choice awards and Eco Choice awards.
iOS app Android app

Music
The BBC Proms (July 13 - September 8, London, England)
Over eight weeks, the Proms welcomes an international lineup of leading orchestras, conductors, and soloists from around the world. Every concert is broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and online, and many of them will be televised on the BBC channels. Within the United Kingdom The BBC Proms can be followed on the radio via the BBC iPlayer app below.
iOS app Android app

Summer Sonic (August 18-19, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan)
Major acts Rihanna, Green Day, and New Order take the stage alongside Calvin Harris, Sigur Ros, Franz Ferdinand, Tears for Fears, Crystal Castles, SUBTRKT, Garbage, The Cardigans, Ke$ha and Jamiroquai at this year's Summer Sonic fest.
iOS app Android app

Tech
4th Gamescom (August 15-19, Cologne, Germany)
The world's largest trade and public video games expo took no time at all to establish itself, branching off from the old Leipzig Games Convention in 2009 and offering hands-on time with new games and games devices.
iOS app Android app



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Young jewelry designers to exhibit at Tendence's Talents program

Recycled materials turned into geometrical and retro-styled creations are among the elements to be showcased by the young designers selected to participate at this year's Talents program at the Tendence fair, August 24-28.

For the 11th edition of the Talents Program, 40 young designers will present their creations at the Tableware and Furniture section while 19 others will exhibit their jewelry at the Giving section of the fair.

Tendence, one of the biggest international consumer goods fair, organizes Talents to give young designers the chance to present their creations to an international audience of industry experts and potential customers.

Sonja Ackermann from Frankfurt, recent graduate of Offenbach University of Art and Design, will be presenting her homemade pieces of jewelry created with materials such as vinyl, cable connectors and platinum.

Brazilians Ayumi and Flávio Hobo will present their collection designed for the I Want my Hobo brand, which uses materials such as fabric, pearls and recycled plastic.

From Sweden, Elin Sigrén will be presenting the Sägen jewelry collection, which combines porcelain with graphic retro-patterns from the 1950s and 1960s with silver.

Former architect and designer Alice Bo-Wen Chang from Taiwan will be presenting the Bodyspace/bodyscape series focusing on two- and three-dimensional geometrical shapes. All of the artist's jewelry is made in silver combined with other metals such as gold.

The Soap Bubble collection to be exhibited by jewelry designer Vivian Meller includes pendants, rings and earrings that come in the shape of a ring and can be use to make soap bubbles.

http://tendence.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/besucher/willkommen/erleben.html



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Monday, August 20, 2012

Hugo BOSS presents BOSS Black campaign

High-end brand Hugo Boss has released a video, shot in Napa Valley, California, as part of its new BOSS Black campaign.

In the video, Swedish model Alex Lundqvist and American model Hilary Rhonda present the Fall/Winter 2012 collection, featuring graphic prints on shirts and ties in a dark color palette of purple, grey and brown hues.

Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjiLgpmBmc8



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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Coca-Cola and Will.i.am to launch eco-friendly brand

Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am is teaming up with The Coca-Cola Company to launch a brand of eco-friendly clothing and accessories in a bid to promote recycling, reports FashionMag.com.

Dubbed 'Ekocycle,' the initiative will feature garments and accessories made form recycled materials.

According to FashionMag.com, the brand is expected to launch an exclusive series of headphones with Beats by Dre in the fall and present a collection of eco-friendly caps with New Era in 2013.



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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A look at the Spice Girls' updated styles at the Olympics

The Olympics closing ceremony reunited famed girl group the Spice Girls, who inspired many fashion trends among teens and young women in the 90s, including towering platform shoes. MTV Style has revealed details on the band's outfit choices and provided a look at the fashion statements made at their comeback show.

Victoria Beckham stayed true to her 'Posh' aspirations in a Giles Deacon mini that revealed her legs. The British designer updated her classic look 'with tiers of ruffles and a giant high-low train that flapped behind her in the wind.'

Geri Halliwell, famous for accessorizing the Union Jack in her heyday, strutted about in a shiny red strapless dress by Suzanne Neville that still featured a British flag -- albeit less prominently than in the past -- and 'finished off her outfit with gold accents: glittery ankle boots and a sparkling tiara.'

'Baby Spice' Emma Bunton turned back the clock in a pink Maggie Cooke dress, updated for a more mature look with 'glittery structured shoulders and a low-dipping neckline.'

Eighteen years after the Spice Girls took the world by storm, Melanie B wore a 'glittery gold and skintight' catsuit designed by Zuhair Murad and left her 'signature wild hair' flowing.

Mel C, aka 'Sporty Spice,' burned calories on the stage in a white tracksuit, hopping about in silver platform sneaker wedges.

Back in 1996, the British all-female band put itself on the map with the debut single 'Wannabe' and introduced the whole world to the concept of 'Girl Power,' which doubled as the name for the group's first international tour. The Spice Girls parted ways in 2001 and were briefly reunited in 2007.

Cosmo editor Helen Gurley Brown dies at 90

Helen Gurley Brown, the saucy Cosmopolitan editor who delivered thousands of sex tips to single women and more than a few curious men, died Monday. She was 90.

Gurley Brown's influence spread across 64 international editions of the low-brow, glossy magazine, aimed primarily at women in their early 20s, but also attracting the keen interest of anyone else searching for 77 'mind-blowing' sex positions, or other gems of Cosmo wisdom.

She died after a brief hospitalization at New York Presbyterian Hospital, the Hearst media corporation said.

'Widely heralded as a legend, Gurley Brown's impact on popular culture and society reached around the globe, first with her 1962 bestseller, 'Sex and the Single Girl,' and then for the more than three decades she put her personal stamp on Cosmopolitan,' Hearst said.

'Under her reign, Cosmopolitan became the bible of 'single girls' worldwide and remains the magazine of 'fun, fearless, females' to this day.'

Cosmo, as the magazine often calls itself, stands apart from other women's publications with its devotion to sex tip lists and perky relationship advice, in addition to the usual make-up discussions and fashion updates.

Gurley Brown took over the then conservative magazine in 1965 and set about delivering her message of 'Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.'

By the 1980s the magazine had grown to 300 pages, a third of that expensive advertising. It now appears in 35 languages across more than 100 countries.

In 2006, she explained the impact of her book 'Sex and the Single Girl,' saying that it had changed the balance in the bedroom.

'Before I wrote my book, the thought was that sex was for men and women only caved in to please men,' she said. 'But I wrote what I knew to be true -- that sex is pleasurable for both women and men.'

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg described her as a 'quintessential New Yorker: never afraid to speak her mind and always full of advice. She pushed boundaries and often broke them, clearing the way for younger women to follow.'



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Friday, August 10, 2012

Video: Behind the scenes with Lady Gaga and US Vogue

American Vogue unveiled a behind the scenes video from Lady Gaga's September issue cover shoot August 10, with the songstress performing the song 'Hair' as she plays with her huge backcombed tresses in the clip.

The pop star took to Twitter August 9 to unveil her eagerly awaited Mert and Marcus-shot front cover for the US fashion bible.

A behind the scenes clip followed -- with the songstress seen dancing around in a fishtail Marc Jacobs gown while posing for the camera.

So far reaction to Gaga's Vogue cover has been positive, with some fans remarking on Gaga's similarity to American drag queen RuPaul in the moody full-length image.

Publications often look to put the biggest stars on the covers of their September issue; other already revealed covers for September 2012 including Karlie Kloss on the covers of both Vogue Japan and British Vogue, Keira Knightley for the September issue of Harper's Bazaar UK, Katy Perry for US Elle and Cindy Crawford for Tatler UK.

Look behind the scenes with Gaga and US Vogue here: http://youtu.be/mb7hrym4VkU



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Vogue breaks own record with 916-page September issue

The US edition of fashion magazine Vogue said Thursday its upcoming September issue will be its biggest ever, surpassing the previous record-setter made famous in a documentary film.

With pop diva Lady Gaga on the cover, the 916-page door stopper, scheduled to hit newsstands in the United States on August 21, will mark the influential Conde Nast title's 120th anniversary.

'It is our biggest issue ever,' a Vogue spokeswoman told AFP, although the fact is not trumpeted on a cover that promises '916 pages of spectacular fall fashion for all.'

The September 2007 issue, with '840 pages of fearless fashion ... Our Biggest Issue Ever,' was the focal point of director R.J. Cutler's 2009 fly-on-the-wall film documentary 'The September Issue.'

It was the biggest magazine ever published, weighing nearly five pounds (2.27 kilograms), and the last Vogue to come out before the collapse of Lehman Brothers prompted the worst US economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Packed with hundreds of pages of advertising, Vogue's September issue is consistently its biggest and most lucrative, coming out in time for the spring-summer pret-a-porter shows in New York, Milan and Paris.



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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Lady Gaga fronts 'Vogue' September issue

Lady Gaga took to Twitter August 9 to unveil her eagerly awaited front cover for the September issue of US Vogue.

'Im so excited to post the SEPT ISSUE OF VOGUE in 30 min! Photographed by MERT & MARCUS,' tweeted the songstress, before posting a picture of her stunning front cover.

Sporting huge backcombed hair, the songstress is clad in a hot pink fishtail gown by Marc Jacobs, with styling by Grace Coddington.

The moody full-length image is a stark contrast to the typical close-ups of smiling celebrities that often make the front cover, and it appears to have gone down well with Gaga's 28 million-plus followers.

'My water just broke,' wrote one fan, while another remarked a similarity to American drag queen RuPaul.

Vogue has long been amorous with pop stars, with Madonna famously fronting the cover in 1989 and British soul sensation Adele making the grade back in March this year.

Publications regularly look to put the biggest stars on the covers of their September issue; other already revealed covers for September 2012 including Karlie Kloss on the covers of both Vogue Japan and British Vogue, Keira Knightley for the September issue of Harper's Bazaar UK and Victoria Beckham for US Glamour.

Learn more about Gaga's Vogue cover here: http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/dream-girl-lady-gaga/#1





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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Luxury heads east: India set for 'LVMH clone'

With Lakmé Fashion Week finishing up this week in Mumbai, all eyes are on India's fashion industry and reports that an Indian luxury house loosely based on LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) are in the works have added to excitement.

According to a recent report in The Economic Times, private equity firm L Capital is in talks with leading Indian designers to create an Indian luxury house in the mould of Paris-based luxury goods company LVMH.

Designers linked to the project include Rohit Bal and Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who are both cited among the country's biggest creative talents.

'In time, the structure will attract other younger designers and L Capital will integrate them into the platform by taking majority stakes,' a source was quoted as saying by The Economic Times.

In the same way that LVMH handles top luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Givenchy and Dior, an LVMH-type company in India should help the projection of Indian fashion on an international scale.

Looking good has always been an integral part of Indian culture, and since the launch of Lakmé Fashion Week in 1999, the country's clothing industry has gone from strength to strength -- for the 13th edition Mumbai welcomed some 86 designers from across the country to present their Winter/Festive 2012 collections.

A host of celebrities have also been putting Indian fashion on the map, with Lady Gaga championing milliner Little Shilpa and the likes of Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry sashaying the red carpet in Manish Arora.

At the recent Lakmé Fashion Week designers including Jatin Varma, Neeta Lulla and Krishna Mehta proved there's a lot more to get excited about -- embracing classic saris and tribal prints to update styles for a modern woman.

In a recent interview with Relaxnews leading designer Aki Narula cited Kallol Datta and Nimish Shah as two of his favorite rising creators and praised the range of designers the country has to offer.

'Each one has their own and different aesthetic and sense of creativity,' said Narula.













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Watch: Behind the scenes with Solange Knowles

US retailer Madewell has revealed a behind-the-scenes insight into its Fall 2012 campaign shoot starring fashion icon Solange Knowles.

As the little sister label of J. Crew, Madewell is known for teaming up with quirky it-girls and Knowles follows in the footsteps of the likes of Alexa Chung in modeling for the brand.

The younger sister of R&B diva Beyoncé, Solange has made her mark in the Brooklyn hipster scene, where she is best known as a DJ.

Despite having chart success in 2008, the 26-year-old has left pop stardom to her sibling and can be regularly seen on the front row during fashion week season.

The fashionista's previous modeling gigs include a campaign for beauty brand Rimmel London in 2011 and being named band ambassador for Armani Jeans in 2008.

See Knowles presenting colorful prints and fun hats for Madewell here: http://youtu.be/eJoA97Cotfg



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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Hedi Slimane discusses YSL rebranding

Hedi Slimane has spoken out about the mixed reaction his Yves Saint Laurent rebranding received, describing the controversy as 'interesting.'

Back in June Slimane made the headlines when it was announced he would rename Yves Saint Laurent's ready-to-wear line as Saint Laurent Paris, and first images of the rebranding recently appeared on the label's official Facebook page.

Reactions to the box -- which had 'Saint Laurent' written on it with Paris appearing in smaller type beneath -- were mixed, with some commentators lamenting the loss of the word Yves and others anticipating something more elaborate.

Slimane's new name and branding is a nod to the label's founder and namesake's move into ready-to-wear in 1966 with the collection Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.

'It is interesting to see how much reaction this retro branding has created,' Slimane has been quoted as saying in Vanity Fair.

'Clearly, this period of the history of the house was not well-known, which I trust was a surprise for Pierre Bergé' [Saint Laurent's long-term partner].

'I went back to 1966 -- just before the events of 1968 [when 11 million workers revolted against the conservative politics of then-President Charles de Gaulle -- the biggest general strike in history], but the awakening of youth was in the air, and Yves Saint Laurent wanted to dissociate himself from the clientele of haute couture and embrace this new generation.'

Slimane will make his first big statement to the international press this September during Paris Fashion Week when he showcases his debut Spring 2013 womenswear designs for the iconic French fashion house.



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Watch: Edie Campbell in new Chanel video

British model Edie Campbell is the star of a new Cyrille de Vignemont-directed Chanel video for Fall 2012.

Called 'Obsession,' the film sees Campbell take on two different characters -- one who is all boyish waistcoats and loose-fit trousers and another classically feminine persona with sequined pieces and a pouty red lip.

Directed by contemporary artist de Vignemont, the short ad uses symbolic imagery including multiple mirrors and has an androgynous aesthetic.

According to his website, the film was inspired by a quote from Coco Chanel herself: 'Conceived as a mirror piece, the film illustrates Coco Chanel's famous sentence 'Luxury is something beautiful inside and out' and plays on the star model's identities: girl or boy, eternal or modern, but always marked by Chanel Obsession.'

Watch the video here: http://vimeo.com/46812363



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Monday, August 6, 2012

Valentino set for major haute couture expo

A new exhibition focusing on Valentino's haute couture designs will open at London's Somerset House this November, it was announced last week, with famous creations including the vintage gown worn by Julia Roberts as she accepted her 2001 Oscar to appear in the collection.

Over 130 gowns spanning the Italian creator's career will feature, with outfits worn by style icons such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren to be showcased.

Entitled Valentino: Master of Couture, the exhibit will run for three months and will be divided into three sections: the designer's history, catwalk creations and the workings of the Valentino atelier.

'Each of these designs has a beautiful story,' said Valentino in a statement.

'The atelier crafted each so diligently by hand, taking hours, sometimes days to complete. The details are incredibly intricate. Though outside the runway shows and events, the dresses have rarely been seen. To be able to showcase these designs at Somerset House, where they can be seen in great detail by the public, is very unique.'

The event will have some crossover with another important fashion exhibition in the UK capital -- Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 at London's Victoria & Albert museum -- which opened in May and runs until January 2013. It presents ballgowns, red carpet evening dresses and catwalk showstoppers designed by British fashion designers such as Jenny Packham and Alexander McQueen.

Valentino: Master of Couture will run November 29 - March 3, 2013 at Somerset House.

For more details visit: http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/valentino



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Need support? New app offers bra shopping help

With reports that 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size, US lingerie company Natori has introduced its updated iPhone and iPad application for bra shopping called The Natori Bra App.

Available for free via the iTunes Store, the app lets users find bras that suit their silhouette and lifestyle.

'Customers always ask me how to find the perfect bra, so I wanted to create this app for to make it easier for women to feel comfortable and look their best,' chief executive officer of Natori Co. Josie Natori was quoted as saying in WWD August 3.

'A well-fitted, supportive bra can make you look slimmer and also make your clothes fit better. Eight out of 10 women wear bras that don't fit but now finding the right bra doesn't have to be such an ordeal.'

Users of the app complete a questionnaire related to activity, attitude and bra size. They are then recommended two to three bra options and are asked to click on the 'Find Your Fit' calculator to determine their correct bra size.

Suggested bras can be bought via iPhone or iPad through a link to Natori.com, or consumers can receive results via e-mail so they can make a purchase at a later date.

Other bra-related apps include the Bra-Fitter by TLS, which allows users to publish their bra photos and sizes on Facebook. Meanwhile, sites such as becheeky.com allow women to calculate their bra size according to country and then shop for lingerie.

The Natori Bra App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/natori-find-your-perfect-bra/id434731838?mt=8



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Friday, August 3, 2012

From toilets to weddings: UK study shows unexpected places women shop online

A new UK study has highlighted the impact of social media on shopping habits, revealing that women are becoming increasingly fluid in where they spend online -- with some even taking to their phones during weddings and toilet visits.

The study by online retailer Very.co.uk showed increased usage of smartphones and tablets has not only given women the chance to shop whenever and wherever they feel, but has also meant they turn to social media to ask friends what they should purchase.

The company interviewed 1,000 women with 37 percent admitting to shopping while in bed and another 37 percent confessing to making purchases online when they should be working.

Thirty-three percent have been shopping online during their commute, while 18 percent said they had made purchases while using the toilet and a shocking 3 percent have slyly bought items online while at a friend's wedding.

Meanwhile, over a quarter of women aged under 25 admitted that they had used social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to get feedback from pals when deciding to make a purchase.

'The rise of smartphones and tablet computers means that there are no longer boundaries to shopping and women are never far from being able to get their fashion fix,' Very.co.uk style director Rebecca Elderfield was quoted as saying in The Daily Mail August 2.

'Women can get inspiration for the latest looks as well as the seal of approval from dozens of friends in a matter of seconds, meaning the way we select, buy and chat about fashion has changed dramatically.'

The popularity of outfit sharing is highlighted by the fashion industry's love affair with Instagram, while interactive photo-sharing app Trendabl launched earlier this year, allowing users to take a picture or upload an image from their library and post it to the Trendabl network with appropriate tags and then choose to post it to Tumblr, Facebook and/or Twitter.

Other fashion ventures tapping into the desire for style sharing include website and mobile app Fashism allowing users to receive community feedback on their outfits, and Pose, letting users upload their outfit successes and gain inspiration from fellow fashionistas.



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PPR, Yoox eye sales boost with online venture

PARIS/MILAN (Reuters) - French luxury and retail group PPR and Italian online fashion retailer Yoox have created a joint venture to sell some of PPR's leather bags to a growing online community as sales in crisis-hit southern Europe lose their sparkle.

The venture, 51 percent owned by PPR and 49 percent by Yoox, will sell PPR's Bottega Veneta, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Sergio Rossi brands through a global digital platform, the companies said in a statement on Friday.

The online fashion industry has seen rapid growth in recent years as shoppers turn to their smartphones to snap up leather bags and fashion accessories. Online reach helps cushion retailers from weaker demand in southern European markets where economic concerns are scaring customers away from stores.

But a fast-changing consumer mood and a social media boom have made it more challenging for fashion houses to manage e-commerce alone.

Shares in both companies rose on the deal, outperforming a more muted market. By 0800 GMT, Yoox's shares were up 4.2 percent, while PPR was up 1.2 percent.

The deal will strengthen PPR's presence in over 100 countries, while Yoox will be rewarded on a revenue-share basis.

'Assuming that the online business might represent some 1-3 percent of the brands' revenues, this should add 20-50 million euros of revenues to the existing Yoox business,' Mediobanca analyst Chiara Rotelli said in a note.

'We expect the share price to react positively to this news,' she said, keeping a 'neutral' rating on the Yoox stock, with a target price of 9.22 euros per share.

The online stores of Sergio Rossi and Bottega Veneta, known for high-end leather shoes and bags, will be launched first, by the end of 2012, the statement said. PPR may later decide to include other brands in the joint-venture.

After seven years of operations, PPR and Yoox will have the right to exercise call and put options respectively for the Yoox stake in the joint-venture.

Yoox is due to announce its first-half results on Friday. Analysts expect growth to continue in the period.

Mediobanca expects consolidated revenues of 78.4 million euros for Yoox in the second quarter and 169.3 million euros in the first half.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon and Antonella Ciancio; Editing by Helen Massy-Beresford)



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Thursday, August 2, 2012

'Glee' going high fashion with Anna Wintour

American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour will be lending her fashion credentials to US television show Glee, with the program's co-creator Ryan Murphy taking to Twitter to reveal Wintour's role for the upcoming season four.

It was recently reported by Access Hollywood that Sarah Jessica Parker is set to play the online editor of US Vogue in the forthcoming series -- which debuts on US screens in September.

Now, Murphy has revealed Parker's good friend Wintour will be getting involved too, by lending her styling expertise.

'Guess who's helping us with Sarah Jessica Parker's costumes on GLEE? The amazing Anna Wintour!' he tweeted.

Wintour and Parker are regularly seen on the front row together during fashion week season, and have also worked together a great deal as keen supporters of US President Barack Obama's ongoing re-election campaign.

With Wintour having the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs on speed dial, fashion fans now have the perfect excuse to tune into the high school glee club-based show which famously launched the careers of stars including Dianna Agron and Lea Michele.



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Watch: Fantasy chess games for Prada

Chess has gotten a lot more stylish thanks to the new Prada Fall/Winter 2012 video campaign starring supermodels including Magdalena Frackowiak and Anne Vyalitsyna.

The abstract video is a continuation of Miuccia Prada's 'virtual princess' theme from her Fall 2012 show, with acclaimed fashion photographer Steven Meisel shooting the campaign as a fantasy game of chess.

Other top models including Vanessa Axente, Madison Headrick, Elza Luijendijk and Iselin Steiro also appear in the ad, which showcases the Italian label's geometric prints and sleek trouser suits.

Prada is famed for its highly creative fashion films, having scooped accolades such as Best Online Video at the Fashion 2.0 Awards back in February this year for its colorful Spring 2011 campaign featuring Arizona Muse and Mariacarla Boscono.

Watch the new Prada campaign at http://youtu.be/aumsEbfWnjk.



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London confirms next menswear edition, Tom Ford confirms presence

After the success of the inaugural London Collections: Men event back in June, the British Fashion Council has confirmed dates for London's second menswear showcase, while Tom Ford has revealed he's taking his menswear to the British capital.

The BFC announced in a release July 31 that London Collections: Men, Britain's answer to the Paris and Milan menswear fashion weeks, will be back next year January 7-9.

'The inaugural men's week was far more successful than any of us anticipated, and we have been overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm for the project from designers, retailers, buyers and the press,' explained Dylan Jones, chair of London Collections: Men.

'LC: M has already contributed to the changing perception of menswear in this country, and our plans for the next week in January, and beyond, will hopefully build on this.'

And it looks as though London is already attracting some of the biggest names in menswear, with The Telegraph reporting that Tom Ford will show his menswear collection in London for the first time in January -- presenting his Fall/Winter 2013 range as part of the London Collections: Men schedule.

'I am very pleased to be showing my menswear collection in London next January. London has a vibrancy that is inspiring and much of what I create for men takes its inspiration from traditional British menswear,' Ford told the publication. 'My clothes are designed with an international customer in mind, and London is one of the most international cities on the planet.'



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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Victoria Beckham turns guest editor for Glamour

Singer-turned-designer Victoria Beckham can now add fashion journalist to her list of credentials, as she has become US Glamour's first-ever guest editor for its September issue.

The British celebrity appears on the September 2012 cover wearing a tiara in a bubble bath, and in the accompanying interview she talks about her work, marriage and experience of guest editing -- notably coming up with her 'fashion don'ts' for the publication.

'It's been exciting for me to see my ideas come to life, from type colors to photo selection to casting,' explained the star.

'I even made my own list of Glamour fashion Don'ts to keep out of the issue: boat shoes (unless of course you're designer Alber Elbaz or on a boat!), Bermuda shorts, nose rings, Crocs, and American tan tights (that's nude pantyhose to you).'

The star also discusses her famous pout, arguing that her signature look has developed in correlation with the rise of her eponymous clothing line.

'I actually used to smile a lot in pictures. I think I only stopped smiling when I got into fashion. [Laughs.] Fashion stole my smile! I've created this person. And I'm not saying that's not me, but I wouldn't say that's the whole me.... It's an armor that goes up,' she mused.

Known as the most significant edition of any fashion magazine, publications regularly look to put the biggest stars on the covers of their September issue -- with other already revealed covers for September 2012 including Karlie Kloss on the covers of both Vogue Japan and British Vogue, and Keira Knightley for the September issue of Harper's Bazaar UK.



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Britain's Duchess tops Vanity Fair international best-dressed list

Catherine Middleton has topped Vanity Fair's annual international best-dressed list, while more unusual appearances in the top ten come from the likes of 83-year-old photographer Bill Cunningham and 80-year-old reporter Morley Safer.

Showcasing the 'international cream of 2012's fashionable crop,' the full list appears in the September 2012 Vanity Fair Style Issue.

Praised by the fashion world for championing British labels such as Jenny Packham and Alexander McQueen as well as high street retailers including Zara and LK Bennett, it comes as no suprise that Britain's Duchess of Cambridge took the top spot.

The magazine's 73rd list also includes actresses Jessica Chastain and Léa Seydoux in second and fourth place respectively, while royals including Britain's Prince Harry and Monaco's Charlotte Casiraghi also made the compilation.

An array of fashion industry insiders also made the list, such as Carlos Souza, worldwide brand ambassador for Valentino, and Erika Bearman, senior vice president of global communications at Oscar de la Renta. The latter is better known for her Twitter handle OscarPRGirl, and took to the social network to tease that making her debut appearance on the compilation made her feel 'royal'.

To read more about this year's best dressed list vist; http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2012/09/the-2012-international-best-dressed-list#slide=1

Here are the trendsetters that made the top ten on the 73rd Vanity Fair international best dressed list:

Catherine Middleton, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge
Jessica Chastain, US actress
Bill Cunningham, US fashion photographer
Léa Seydoux, French actress
Jay-Z, US rapper
Colin and Livia Firth, British actor and his Italian producer wife
Tom Brady, American football quarterback
Alicia Keys, US singer
Fan Bingbing, Chinese actress
Morley Safer, Canadian reporter



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