Source: Betty Confidential Credits: Bethany Bassler is a working actress, writer and director. She’s worked with celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Jamie Kennedy and Wanda Sykes. Working in this world of high-cost beauty inspired her to unearth fashions that everyone can afford. Check out her website – CelebrityDress4Less.com.
[ Emilie says : The fashion industry has been largely immune to the intellectual property insanity overtaking so many other areas of life, largely because it has generally accepted that all fashion is inspired both by the past and by current events including the ideas of other designers. Here is what happens when this is forgotten. By the way, Christian Louboutin is completely wrong in his claims. For why, see the next column. I knew this as soon as I read the articles about these cases, because Georgette Heyer, who was extremely knowledgeable about restoration period fashion mentioned the red heels of the Versailles court. Note that not only were red heels used in the past, but that Louboutin once acknowledged that his were inspired by "flashy cabaret girls." Proving once again that the US will allow people to trademark anything, and that the wrongheadedness of "Intellectual Property" can drive anyone to madness, even inspired shoe designers. Perhaps some flashy caberet girls should consider suing Louboutin if his suit prevails. ]
Paris-based designer Christian Louboutin, whose pumps have graced many fabulous and famous feet, sued fashion rival Yves Saint Laurent over the use of the colour red on shoe soles.
"Mr. Louboutin is the first designer to develop the idea of having red soles on women's shoes," said the trademark infringement lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday.
Since January, Louboutin said in the suit, he has asked luxury company Yves Saint Laurent America, a subsidiary of the Gucci Group, to stop selling red-soled shoes in the same select Manhattan stores as he does.
"Defendants' use of red footwear outsoles that are virtually identical to plaintiffs' Red Sole Mark is likely to cause and is causing confusion, mistake and deception among the relevant purchasing public," the suit said.
The suit asks for a U.S. judge to impose $1 million (610,426 pounds) in damages and order YSL to stop manufacturing similar designs.
The Gucci Group was not available for comment and the U.S. branch of Yves Saint Laurent declined comment on the lawsuit.
Since shortly after Louboutin founded his first boutique in 1991 in Paris, the suit said, all his shoes have had red-lacquered soles. They can fetch more than $1,000 a pair.
"The Red Sole has become synonymous with Christian Louboutin and high fashion," it said, adding that Louboutin had trademarked the design in the United States in 2008.
[ Emilie says : Katy writes one of the nicest fashion blogs, impecably researched and always exhibiting perfect taste and a wonderful sense and knowledge of art (but I wish she would provide the sources/credits for the images she uses), even if she seldom mentions current fashion.]
When Louis XIV came to the throne at the age of four in 1643, French kings had already begun the process of turning France into an absolutist state where the monarch was the absolute authority, his power coming from divine right. Throughout Louis' reign he continued transforming France, especially focusing on reigning in the aristocracy. Traditionally, the aristocracy held a great deal of power, and because France was such a vast territory they were not easily monitored. Aristocrats ruled over their lands like unofficial Kings, thus threatening the power of the actual monarch himself. Louis had several methods for dealing with the aristocracy, giving them privilege but not power. He moved the royal court to the palace at Versailles, and the aristocracy was constantly at court, vying for his royal favor and subsequently staying under his watchful eye.
A perfect example of this system of monitoring the aristocracy is red heels on shoes. Louis declared that only those in the royal favor were allowed the privilege of having red heels on their shoes, allowing everyone to show off when they were in favor. Red heels was like sitting at the popular kids table in school, only the very coolest kids could wear them.
Louis XIV, painted by Hyacinthe Rigaud in 1701. Suddenly, if you fell out of the royal favor, everyone would know. It's bad enough to be out of the royal favor, it's even worse when you have to advertise it to the world. It was the perfect method for controlling a once unruly upper class. Aristocrats behaved themselves and they didn't have to face the shame of not having red heels on their shoes.
Louis XIV and his family, c. 1715-1720 Notice Louis' grandson, dressed in red and standing to the right. While Louis and his son (standing to the left) are wearing red heels on their shoes, his grandson is not, signaling that he was out of favor around the time this picture was created.
The connection between red heels and the monarchy lasted well past Louis XIV. In 1780 a pamphlet attacking Marie Antoinette was released, entitled Portefeuille d'un talon rouge (the wallet of a red heel). Red heels had become just one more symbol of the absolutist system that was beginning to tear the country apart. Shoes by Christian Louboutin Here are some fierce Christian Louboutin shoes. All Louboutin shoes have the inside of the heels and the sole painted red, perhaps a nod to the flashy cabaret girls that originally inspired the designer. For me, I always connect these modern red heels with Louis XIV. After all, wearing a pair of Louboutin shoes expresses the same ideals as wearing red heels in the 17th and 18th centuries- wealth, privilege, and a place in the choicest of social circles.
2010-10-19 Anne Hathaway channels Audrey Hepburn in stunning new photoshoot... and opens up about her fraudster ex
Anne Hathaway channels Audrey Hepburn in stunning new photoshoot... and opens up about her fraudster ex
Glamour girl: Anne Hathaway gives a revealing interview to Vogue for their November issue
Classic: Hathaway resembled Audrey Hepburn with her elegant up do and glittering jewels
The way we wore: Hathaway resembled Hepburn's legendary 'Breakfast at Tiffany's look from the 1961 film
Dressed to impress: Hathaway posed in a series of glamorous outfits for the shoot in Paris
Black tie: Hathaway, in floor length white gown, gave a revealing interview in which she discussed her break up and new movie role with Jake Gyllenhaal
Cover star: Hathaway appears on the November issue of Vogue
With her dark hair pulled up in a glamorous up do, glittering jewellery and sweeping white gown, she looks every inch the classic movie star.
And Anne Hathaway is clearly doing her own take on Audrey Hepburn in these new series of photographs taken by celebrity snapper Mario Testino for the November issue of Vogue.
Showing the 27-year-old actress dramatically posing on a sweeping staircase, on a romantic dinner date, and leaving a vintage car, the actress describes the Parisian shoot as 'true glamour.'
And in an accompanying interview with the magazine, Hathaway shows she's keen to distance herself from the scandal which enveloped her back in 2008, when her former boyfriend Raffaello Follieri was imprisoned for fraud.
‘Gosh, I hate talking about the breakup, because I don’t want it to define me,' the 27-year-old actress says.
'But as is to be expected, there were a lot of lingering trust issues.’
In September, the Italian conman admitted bilking investors by claiming to have an inside track on Vatican property and was jailed for four and a half years.
But it seems Hathaway is at least able to joke about the split.
When asked about her personal ‘deal breakers’ regarding her choice of partner, she says: ‘Uh fraud?’
And having to deal with the breakup caused the actress some stress when it came to filming intense scenes in her forthcoming new movie Love and Other Drugs.
‘Look at where I was in my personal life,’ she says. ‘I was a wreck from start to finish.
'I think I cried every single day. I had to lean so much more heavily on everyone around me than I’m used to. I’m used to pulling my own weight. But I totally fell apart.'
The film, in which she plays a young woman diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, also sees her appear in nude scenes alongside co-star Jake Gyllenhaal.
‘I think that making a film about trust that required a great deal of trust — well, it was a challenge to get there,' she says.
She is now happily dating actor Adam Shulman, who she met through mutual friends.
'We hit it off immediately, but it took us a pretty long time to get together,' she tells the magazine.
'He thought that I had a boyfriend, and I thought that he had a girlfriend, so I thought that I’d better keep my distance because I didn’t want to be that girl.'
But once they realised that neither of them were attached, Hathaway says: 'Things sped up a bit—and I think I’ll leave it at that.'
2010-12-14 Alina is still far too good to be wasted on Putin
Source: Huffington Post Credits: Curtis M. Wong Dated: 2010-12-14
In 2004, Vladimir Putin -- then Russia's president -- was photographed alongside gymnast Alina Kabayeva at a Kremlin banquet in Moscow.
Kabaeva attends the senior event at European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Turin, Italy on June 6, 2008.
Kabaeva performs with a ribbon during Japan's Ion Cup rythmic gymnastics competition in November 2006.
In 2008, singer Iosif Kobzon and Kabaeva looked at souvenirs during the first in 2008 session of the parliament's lower chamber in Moscow.
Kabaeva performs in the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around final during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Kabaeva takes home the gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Kabaeva performs with a hoop at the gymnastics rhythmic individual all-around qualification the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Kabaeva finished the top score with a total 53.300 points after two events -- ball and hoop.
Kabaeva performs at the Artistic and Rythmic Gymnastics European Team Championships in Moscow in 2003.
In a move that is certain to set tongues wagging in the fashion world, Alina Kabayeva -- the reputed mistress of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin -- is set to grace the pages of Russian Vogue next month.
The 27-year-old former Olympic gymnast is seen on the cover of the magazine's January 2011 issue wearing a gold Balmain gown, StyleBistro is reporting. The issue is already shaking up readers, many of which have taken to online forums to vent their disapproval, particularly since the dress -- worth an estimated $33,000 -- had previously been photographed for other publications.
According to the Daily Mail, Kabayeva is best known in her native Russia for participating in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she took home a bronze medal, followed by a gold medal four years later in Athens. Putin reportedly requested an audience with the then-17-year-old Kabayeva upon her return from Sydney.
Though reps for both Kabayeva and Putin have denied the allegations of an affair, a St. Petersburg wedding planning firm claimed they had been contacted to plan the couple's wedding in 2008. Kabayeva gave birth to a son last year, though the father has never been publicly identified. Meanwhile, the 58-year-old Putin has been married to Lyudmila Shkrebneva since 1983 -- incidentally, the same year Kabayeva was born.
2011 The 17th Salon du Chocolat in Paris: models wear dresses made of chocolate
Source: The Telegraph Credits: Uncredited Dated: 2011 Refer Also:
The annual Salon du Chocolat in Paris is the world's biggest show dedicated to chocolate. Every year, fashion designers and chocolatiers from around the world collaborate to dress French models and celebrities.
[ Emilie says : Where fashion and chocolate cross - does the world get more perfect or the Universe more amazing? At least without "kal-el"? ]
Anca Radici wears a chocolate dress created by Jean Claude Jeanson
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Karine Ferri walks the catwalk in a creation by Christian Courcelles, Vincent Guerlais and Arnaud Larher...
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
...The creation worn by Karine Ferri falls apart on the catwalk
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Tiga, dressed by Caroline Chhu and Jean-Paul Hevin, seen from the back...
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
...and from the front
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Cindy Fabre dressed by Ben Brass and Puyricard
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Cindy Fabre dressed by Ben Brass and Puyricard
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Elsa Fayer, dressed by Alexandra Gerbault and Philippe Pacoet
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Philippe Roux dressed by Christophe Roussel
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Blandine Bellavoir dressed by Juliette Zakowetz and Aela Lehmann
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Delphine McCarty, dressed by Nicolas Fafiotte and Sebastien Bouillet
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Malika Menard dressed by Eva Rachline and Vincent Lechevallier
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Satya Oblet dressed by Manix Wong and Sadaharu Aoki
Picture: ALIX WILLIAM/SIPA / Rex Features
Burlesque artist Valentina Del Pearls, dressed by Leon Rose Magma and Patrice Chapon
Here comes the 'femiman' bride: Jean Paul Gaultier's male muse is the star of the Couture (and menswear) show
With a supermodel figure, full lips and high cheekbones, no one could argue that Jean Paul Gaultier's choice for the Couture show finale made a beautiful bride.
But it may come as a surprise to the audience that the French designer's new muse - a male model - also featured in his menswear show a week earlier.
Serbian-born Andrej Pejic is part of the new wave of 'femiman' models.
Boys will be girls: Male model Andrej Pejic was Jean Paul Gaultier's bride at yesterday's Couture show in Paris
James Blond: The model also starred in Gaultier's menswear show last week, inspired by James Bond
Displaying physical traits of both sexes, the androgynous mannequins make for versatile looks on the runway - and headline news off it.
Femiman: Andrej is part of the new wave of androgynous models having fashion moment
The 19-year-old, who fled war-torn Serbia to live in Australia, is also the face of Marc Jacobs and has appeared in numerous campaigns including French and Italian Vogue.
He was discovered by the Matthew Anderson, the director of Chadwick Models in Melbourne.
Anderson told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'His beauty was extraordinary. [ Emilie says : Indeed. ]
'He's also intelligent and it's amazing, really, that he's just so comfortable in his own skin.' [ Emilie says : With skin like that, somebody should figure out how to bottle it. I'm sure that his intelligence is almost as superfluous as Rocky's strength was to Janet. ]
And Andrej, who also stars in Gaultier's campaign where he shares a kiss with supermodel Karolina Kurkova, certainly enjoys playing dress up.
He told WWD: 'I may as well push it to the limits.
'I wouldn't dress this way if I didn't have fun with it.'
It is clear androgyny chic is having a fashion moment.
Transsexual model Leah T shot to fame after being discovered by Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci.
She went on to pose for Vogue and most recently was pictured on the cover of Love magazine locking lips with Kate Moss.
So it comes as no surprise that Jean Paul Gaultier, no stranger to controversy, has joined the trend.
Of his Bond-themed menswear show, he said: 'James Bond is an icon of masculinity, so much so that he’s become a sort of sex object — just like the Bond girls he’s seducing.'
Petric walked to the Bond theme tune 'Goldfinger' and clearly, sporting cascading waves and high heels, was more Bond girl than spy - or 'James Blond' - as he has been referred to by Gaultier himself.
It's in his kiss: Supermodel Karolina Kurkova and Petric lock lips for the new Gaultier campaign
Muse: Andrej and Gaultier share a moment on the catwalk
2011-03-26 George Lopez On Kirstie Alley On 'DWTS': Compares Actress To Pig
Source: Huffington Post Credits: Not Attributed Dated: 2011-03-23
[ Emilie says : Pigs have trotters, not hooves. So perhaps George Lopez meant to compare Kirstie Alley to one of Norman Thelwell's well fed ponies (alongside), but more likely he was just confused. And by the way, the Alley-pony can cha-cha. ]
George Lopez may or may not be a fan of Kirstie Alley's dancing, but he's made clear his feelings on her body.
On "Lopez Tonight" Tuesday night, Lopez reviewed the first episode of the new season of "Dancing with the Stars." Alley, who has famously struggled with her weight, danced a roundly praised cha-cha performance to Cee Lo Green's "Forget You." Without commenting on her technique, Lopez criticized her physique.
"She did a nice job, her little hooves tapping away," Lopez said, comparing Alley to a pig. "Before the show she went to the market, then she had roast beef, and this is her going all the way home," he continued before cutting to a video of a pig squealing, from a recent Geico commercial.
2011-08 Cosplay in Hong Kong
Source: The Telegraph Photocredits: AP/Kin Cheung Dated: 2011-08
Cosplay, manga and anime fans dress up at the 13th Ani-Com comic fair in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's annual comic fair has just finished, drawing record crowds of manga-crazed youngsters. Hundreds of excited teens camped out for days so they could be among the first inside the venue, turning elevated walkways leading into the city's convention centre into makeshift homes. "We are expecting a record crowd this year - higher than ever before," a spokeswoman said as the event opened on Friday. Last year's event drew a staggering 680,000 people. Many of those attending were dressed as their favourite characters from anime - the term for Japan's distinctive animation used in television series, films and video games.
The dream wire: Bra that provides the push of an underwire without the pain is unveiled
For years underwire has enjoyed the best supporting role in lingerie. But wearing an underwired bra is not always the most comfortable experience.
Some women find they can dig into their ribcage or pinch the bust.
The non-underwired types, however, just don’t offer the same uplift.
Look, no wires: The Dreamwire bra claims to be more comfy and could be a godsend for women everywhere
Brains: Michelle Mone, creator of Ultimo, decided to run with the Dreamwire bra after years of wearing painful underwired bras
Now UItimo claims to have come up with a third option. Its Dreamwire bra is said to provide all the lift of an underwire, with none of the discomfort.
The Glasgow-based firm, run by entrepreneur Michelle Mone, spent two years devising the bra which it claims is the most comfortable in the world.
Made from a single piece of sculpted foam, and covered in a light-weight synthetic material, the bra has virtually no stitching or joins, making it much less likely to rub the skin.
Inside the cup is a type of foam padding that incorporates a soft plastic underwire that gives extra support to the bust. This foam also helps cushion the skin from any digging from the wire.
Inside info: How the Dreamwire bra works
The Dreamwire, which will cost £24, is due to go on sale at the end of this month.
It has been trialled by 100 women over the past 14 months and is due to go on sale online and in Debenhams stores.
Michelle Mone, creator of Ultimo, was inspired to create the Dreamwire after years of wearing painful underwired bras. She tried and tested the Dreamwire herself and has never looked back.
She said: “I wear the Dreamwire every day – after you have worn it once you will never want to wear another bra, trust me.
'It has absolutely no gel yet it still creates the shape you want, with a comfort factor women have always dreamed of.'
A spokesman for the firm said the Dreamwire aimed to provide ‘pure comfort without losing any cleavage.’'
'It is an everyday bra designed for comfort but without sacrificing any support or shape,’’ the spokeswoman said.
'It can be worn for 24 hours a day, for work, exercise and sleep, without the woman feeling any discomfort.'
[ Emilie wonders : Why hasn't Colgate hired her yet? She already has "the perfect Colgate smile." You may groan now. For some reason, this story seems to invite puns - see the Daily Mail article title and ultimate line below. ]
May 10 - An 18-year-old school girl's face is considered scientifically perfect after winning a television competition for 'Britain's Most Natural Beauty'. Tara Cleary reports.
It might not launch a thousand ships, but this is the face that won the title "Britain's Most Natural Beauty". Eighteen-year-old Florence Colgate's face is considered almost flawless … it's perfectly symmetrical, with large eyes, full lips and high cheekbones. SOUNDBITE: Florence Colgate, saying (English): "I had to send in a picture wearing no make-up and from that I got called to say I got through into the top 5 out of 8000 people. It's just unbelievable. Honestly, I did not expect to get this far at all." The competition wasn't just about subjective beauty - it was settled with science. Researchers say the distances between facial features and the width and length of the face are deciding factors for perfection. And Colgate scored very close to the ideal. SOUNDBITE: Florence Colgate, saying (English): "I think I just look at my face and I see me, I don't really see, like science, it's just yeah." Colgate works part-time at a local fish and chips shop. But she says her new-found fame doesn't seem to have made her more popular with customers. SOUNDBITE: Florence Colgate, saying (English): "I haven't really noticed. Obviously you still get your regulars who come in every week. I don't know, it's a busy fish and chip shop anyway." Colgate plans to study business management at university, unless of course, a lucrative modeling contract shows its face.
Cod-damn gorgeous! The girl who works in a chip shop who has 'Britain's most beautiful face'
Leonardo Da Vinci spent a lifetime trying to paint one. Scientists and mathematicians have puzzled for centuries over what makes one, while cosmetic surgeons have amassed fortunes striving to create one.
And Florence Colgate? Well, she simply has one.
The 18-year-old student is blessed with what is described as the perfect face. It matches an international blueprint for the optimum ratio between eyes, mouth, forehead and chin, endowing her with flawless proportions.
In theory, that needn't necessarily cause her to appear anything more than symmetrical (in which department, incidentally, she is also faultless).
But the blue-eyed blonde's mathematical dimensions have just added up to success in a competition to find Britain's most naturally beautiful face.
Florence, who has a Saturday job in a seaside chip shop in between studying for her A-levels, beat 8,000 entrants to win the title. Contestants were judged without make-up and were barred entry if they had had plastic surgery or chemical enhancement.
Locals wryly suggested it was the sea air in the Dover Grammar schoolgirl's home town of Deal, Kent, which contributed to her success, or possibly a secret ingredient in Middle Street Fish Bar's chips.
But it is the scientific definition of beauty – not to mention a healthy portion of beauty genes from her mother – which gave Florence the crown.
A woman's face is said to be most attractive when the space between her pupils is just under half the width of her face from ear to ear. Florence scores a 44 per cent ratio. Experts also believe the relative distance between eyes and mouth should be just over a third of the measurement from hairline to chin. Florence's ratio is 32.8 per cent.
Singer Shania Twain and actresses Liz Hurley and Jessica Alba are ranked among perfectly formed celebrities. Samantha Brick, who caused an international debate after proclaiming women hate her because she is beautiful, is not.
Face value: The student at her Saturday day job; chip off the old block: as a baby with mum Lisa.
And to top it off, Florence's face is almost perfectly symmetrical, which is also scientifically linked with beauty.
The proportional beauty theory has been around ever since Da Vinci applied visionary thinking and mathematical genius to describing the perfect face more than half a millennium ago.
For Florence, it became reality when friends, family and chip shop customers persuaded her to enter a competition run by ITV's Lorraine programme to highlight natural beauty and encourage women to be proud of their natural look.
Florence, who normally wears light foundation and mascara and admits to using concealer and Vaseline, won a trip to a London model agency and will appear on billboards and posters in Superdrug stores across the country.
She says she would love to have a career in modelling (model Agyness Deyn once worked in a chip shop too) – but is currently studying business, geography and psychology and intends to do business management at university.
'Women should not have to feel that they have to wear make-up,' she said. 'I hope people will look at me and think they don't need to. I'm very happy with the way I look and I would never have any plastic surgery or Botox.'
Carmen Lefèvre, from the University of St Andrews perception laboratory in the School of Psychology, said beauty is strongly linked to symmetry. 'Florence has all the classic signs of beauty,' she added. 'She has large eyes, high cheekbones, full lips and a fair complexion. Symmetry appears to be a very important cue to attractiveness.
'Although we don't realise it in everyday interactions, in most people's faces the right and left half are actually quite different.'
Symmetry alone was not a substitute for beauty, she conceded. On the face of it, however, it seems to work perfectly for Florence.
Symmetry: Florence Colgate, 18, is blessed with the optimum proportions for beauty
Any Universe capable of containing Kate Perry and Zoey Deschanel simultaneously is not entirely imperfect
Zoey Deschanel & Kate Perry - The Universe liked Kate Perry so much that it cloned her :-) Imagecredits: Image received via unattributed email
I’m astounded at how much these two broads look alike. In case you don’t know who they are, Katy Perry is this girl. She is a 23 year old pop singer with the current top 40 hit entitled “I Kissed a Girl”. ZooeyDeschanel is this girl. She is a 28 year old actress who was in Elf and, most recently, The Happening.
STOP! DO NOT go look up pictures of them. Stick with the images contained in the links above, because otherwise you might come across the pictures in my post and ruin the whole game. And don’t click “see all photos” on Zooey’s IMDB page. Just use the pictures on the front page for reference.
We’re going to play a little game called “Katy or Zooey?” This may seem like a pretty dumb “Perez-Hilton”-esque post, but I am just taken aback by how much they physically resemble each other. You will be too.
Here’s how to play. Study the pair of pictures and determine which one is Katy and which one is Zooey. If you are struggling, just remember the clues you know thus far:
One’s an actress and one’s a musician
One’s 4 1/2 years older than the other one
I don’t know how those will help you at all. The Answer key is in the comments so you don’t accidentally scroll down and see them in the post.
The first three are warm-ups to get the blood pumping to your fusiform gyrus. Difficulty level increases at number 4.
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OK, got your answers? Are you sure? I have more than likely tricked you at least once. Did I alternate who is first on each pair? Did I make them all the same order? Did I put two pictures of the same girl together? Is this really all just one person?
Scroll down for answers.
The Official Answer Key:
1. A) Zooey B) Katy
2. A) Zooey B) Katy
3. A) Katy B) Zooey
4. A) Katy B) Zooey
5. A) Katy B) Zooey
6. A) Zooey B) Katy
7. A) Katy B) Zooey
8. A) Zooey B) Katy
Bandage Dress
Source: Huffington Post Credits: Uncredited Dated: 2010-07-08
Katy Perry looked terrific in an orange Herve Leger bandage dress at a 'Late Show' taping in New York..
Samantha Cameron pays the price of being Prime Minister's wife as she is upstaged by Victoria Beckham and Kelly Brook in daring split dresses at the British Fashion Awards
Fashion friends: Victoria Beckham makes sure she is the centre of attention in a dress from her Spring/Summer 2011 collection as she poses with Samantha Cameron at the British Fashion Awards
It's one of the most hotly-anticipated events of the year, with only the creme de la creme of the fashion industry attending.
So it's no wonder that Victoria Beckham, who was up for her first fashion award, was keen to stand out from the crowd at the British Fashion Awards held at London's Savoy Hotel.
The 36-year-old star wore a daring black dress from her Spring/Summer 2011 collection which featured a split up the front to show off her perfect legs, but had some competition from Kelly Brook, who also went for the trend of the moment in a pretty grey and black split dress by Suzie Turner.
But while both Victoria and Kelly dazzled on the red carpet, David Cameron's wife Samantha paid the price of being the Prime Minister's wife by covering up almost entirely in a full-length Osman Yousefzada gown.
While Sam Cam looked chic in the outfit, it left absolutely everything to the imagination, showing only a tiny hint of decolletage and her arms.
But the 39-year-old did manage to draw attention to her tiny waist in a black cinch belt - just three months after giving birth to daughter Florence.
However, Cameron's slightly questionable choice of outfit is unlikely to affect her status as one of the UK's most influential fashion icons, who was recently hired by the British Fashion Council as an adviser for London Fashion Week from next February.
She said at the time: 'London Fashion Week is extremely important to the fashion industry in the UK and I look forward to being fully involved from next season.
'We have so much young talent that needs to be supported and nurtured to ensure we are building brands and businesses for the future.'
But maybe SamCam should have opted for one of Victoria's more feminine designs, which have been modelled by celebrities from Madonna, to Nicole Scherzinger, to Katherine Jenkins all opting to wear her designs on the red carpet.
But there's no better model for the outfits than the designer herself, as she proved by posing for photographers outside the event.
Victoria was nominated for the Designer Brand Award, but faced stiff competition from Mulberry, Burberry and Pringle and ended up losing the prize to Mulberry.
It seemed black was the colour of the evening, with Cameron, Naomi Campbell, model Daisy Lowe and former Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff all opting to head to the dark side.
While Daisy Lowe wore a pretty black and gold number, Naomi, who won the Special Recognition Award, paid tribute to late designer Alexander McQueen in a black gown with sheer bottom, which she teamed with a shrug.
McQueen was honoured with the post-humous Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design award at the ceremony.
But there were some more colourful outfits from Claudia Schiffer, who wore an unusual Mary Katrantzou design, and Yasmin Le Bon, who went for a slightly Hawaiian-inspired design in a Christopher Kane printed number.
American actress Emma Roberts, niece of actress Julia, opted for a pretty black and blue Julien Macdonald dress with black opaque tights and Prada heels.
Meanwhile Alexa Chung, who won the British Fashion Council's prestigious British Style Award, wore a pale pink Chanel dress.
Explaining her outfit choice, she said: 'I love dressing like a five-year-old, so it really ticked that box for me!'
David Walliam's stunning wife Lara Stone wore a gorgeous white Calvin Klein dress with strappy black heels, and it seems she did enough to beat David Gandy and Rose Huntington-Whiteley to be named Model 2010.
After winning, Lara told Grazia: 'I'm very excited about my award. It's an honour to win Model Of The Year.'
But, possibly the most anticipated award of the evening, British Designer Of The Year, went to Céline creative director Phoebe Philo, who wore a black jumpsuit of her own design.
Upstaged: Victoria and Kelly Brook dazzled on the red carpet, but Samantha Cameron's outfit left EVERYTHING to the imagination in her full-length black gown
Stunning: Kelly wore a corseted Suzie Turner gown which highlighted her svelte and slim figure
Paying tribute: Naomi Campbell paid tribute to late designer Alexander McQueen in a black full-length gown
Colourful: Claudia Schiffer went for an unusual Mary Katrantzou design while Yasmin Le Bon opted for a fun Christopher Kane dress
Starlets: (Left to right) Emma Roberts in Julien Macdonald, Lara Stone in Calvin Klein and Alexa Chung in Chanel
Posing up: Kimberley Walsh and Lily Cole pose for photographers on the red carpet outside the awards
Heading to the dark side: (Left to right) Daisy Lowe, Kristina Rihanoff and Tania Bryer all wore black
Fun and flirty: Thandie Newton opted for an unusual blue and white Peter Pilotto dress, while Twiggy went for a full tutu skirt and black Per Una wrap jacket
Dressed in black: (Left to right) Host Claudia Winkleman, singer VV Brown and Céline creative director Phoebe Philo
BRITISH FASHION AWARDS 2010, FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion - Alexander McQueen
Demure white at the front... barely there at the back: Gwyneth Paltrow's VERY daring dress to film premiere
She is famous for her daring sense of style and svelte figure.
And Gwyneth Paltrow certainly showed off both as she arrived at a screening of her new film Country Strong, wearing a daring floor-length white dress by Emilio Pucci.
From the front the dress appeared demure, covering her shapely figure up entirely.
But when she turned it was a different story.
The backless dress gaped open and was slashed right down over her hips, held together only with bits of criss-crossing tie.
The slit then continued right down her leg, giving onlookers quite an eyeful as it was revealed that she was not wearing anything beneath the frock.
The 38-year-old actress teamed the white dress with some matching criss cross black shoes. (More at source ...)
Ghost style: Gwyneth Paltrow arrived in a white, floor length dress by Emilio Pucci to a special Los Angeles screening of Country Strong on Tuesday night
Hello boys! But when she turned around, the dress told a whole different story
From every angle: The actress did not leave much to the imagination at the Los Angeles event
Emma Watson at the Ritz Hotel. This is picture 154 of 1922.
Golshifteh Farahani. Beautiful, Brilliant, Talented, Respected, Exiled. The silly Persians are becoming almost as prudish and misogynistic as the Israelis.
[ Emilie says : If you don't know the gorgeous, multitalented pianist, linguist and actress Golshifteh Farahani (also contains lanolin)from many award winning films, you owe it to yourself to view some. ]
Iranian actress banned from homeland after naked magazine shoot
An Iranian actress has been told she is no longer welcome in her homeland after she posed naked in a French news magazine as a symbolic protest against strictures on women.
Golshifteh Farahani said the government has sent a communication telling her not to travel back to her homeland
Farahani appeared along Leonardo Di Caprio in the Hollywood film Body of Lies Photocredits: REX
Golshifteh Farahani in Venice, Italy, in September of last year., Franco Origlia / Getty Images
The nude photo of Golshifteh Farahani has been published by Madame Le Figaro magazine. The publication has attracted a wave of visitors to her Facebook page from Iran and the Middle East.
The Paris-based actress left Iran last year in protest against restrictive Islamic codes that the Iranian cinema industry has to follow under Ahmadinejad's conservative cultural policies.
Now she said the government has sent a communication telling her not to travel back to her homeland.
"I was told by a Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guide official that Iran does not need any actors or artists. You may offer your artistic services somewhere else", Farahani said.
Farahani appeared along Leonardo Di Caprio in the Hollywood film Body of Lies as a nurse who helps an injured American secret agent to recover to carry out his mission in a Muslim country.
The publication of the photo coincides with the Iranian film A Separation being awarded a Golden Globe as the Best Foreign Film of the Year and a government crackdown on the industry, which has seen the authorities shut the House of Cinema institute in Tehran.
Golshifteh has appeared in many of the films made by Asghar Farhadi, the director of A Separation, which has also been nominated for an Oscar this year.
In a few hours after the photo was published Farahani has received thousands of comments from her fans on her Facebook page, with some blaming her for "indecency" and many admiring her for "the courage to remove a taboo among the women in the Muslim countries".
"This is more discriminating to the women than the compulsory hijab. I am very much disappointed with Golshifteh, but she is free to do whatever she wants", a comment read. [ Emilie says : Stupid comments too. Iran really has gone sadly downhill. ]
Gwyneth Paltrow Demonstrating what chicken, beans and two hours of exercise can do for a 38 year old mother of two.
[ Emilie says : Some brutal comments about Gwyneth having the body of a 9 year old at this page. I commented:
chacun son goût
The French consider a breast that fills a champagne glass perfect, the Englishman prefers a breast which fills a beermug, while the American celebrates a breast which overflows a toilet bowl.
To me, Gwyneth is gorgeous. ]
Gwyneth Paltrow Goes Topless for Vanity Fair
Gwyneth Paltrow looks super sexy in the new Vanity Fair -- where she poses wearing nothing more than fishnets and some Louis Vuitton jewelry.
The 38-year-old mother of two reportedly did the revealing shot for the magazine'sjewelry calendar, which will be a supplement for the August issue -- which has Emma Stone on the cover.
While Gwyneth gets her bod thanks to Tracy Anderson, Emma Stone bashed Tracy's diet in the very same magazine -- saying "That diet, have you seen it?... It's like: Eat this diet, which is a palm-size piece of chicken and some beans, and work out two hours a day for the rest of your life."
Whatever Gwyneth's doing, it's working.
How to make sure you'll NEVER buy anything you won't wear
[ Emilie says : I try to buy ensembles for a particular purpose in compatible colours. So, for instance, I'll buy a pair of shoes, bag and hat to match a dress, and then try to find matching skirts, blouses, coats, cardigans and scarves. When in doubt, I buy black or white items. My purchases don't always work out as I'd like, but a combination of that and never having any money to spend on clothes seems to have saved me from most of the traps mentioned here. I'm not even sure I own anything for which I have paid $300, let alone £300, although much of my clothing - and acessories - are rather nice. That's largely because I buy (and sell) on eBay, trying to stay with the better labels, and for things I have to try on, I try to buy on remainder using on-line shopping vouchers whenever possible (thank-you Kohls). The only serious flaw identified here I have been known to suffer from (according to my husband), is that I sometimes hang onto clothes that I hope will fit the new slimmer me - that unfortunately keeps receding no matter how little I eat or how far I walk. This is a small investment in the hope that eventually things will improve, which is sometimes what keeps me going. ]
How to make sure you'll NEVER buy anything you won't wear
As it's revealed women have an average of 22 unworn items in their wardrobes, LIZ JONES gives her golden rules for savvy shopping
Do you have lots of clothes you’ve never worn lurking in the back of your wardrobe? A top you’d never be seen dead in? Do you feel guilty, every time your hand brushes that pair of skyscraper shoes that were a bargain in the sale but still have stickers on the sole?
A survey by shopping channel QVC has revealed that the average woman has 22 items she has never worn but refuses to throw away.
Rash buys are the main reason and jeans the most common item, while one in five hoards up to six pairs of shoes that will never hit the pavement. It turns out we have wasted £1.6 billion on unused items — an average £300 each.
Think before you buy: Liz Jones recommends considering when and where you will wear an item before parting with your cash
I have a black Jaeger cocktail dress that looked great modelled by Angela Lindvall, but will always be those crucial three inches too short.
I have Burberry over-the-knee boots I bought because it was snowing, but will never wear them again because they make the fat in my thighs ooze over the top.
I have a sheer Marc Jacobs top I’m too nervous to wear, a pair of over-long Prada trousers I’ve never bothered to have turned up, and a Dolce & Gabbana chunky sweater that is, perversely, too warm.
I have a white Miu Miu handbag that is still in its cloth bag because I’m terrified it will get smudged or rained on.
Having done a quick recce of my cupboards, I am just shy of the 22 average, but nevertheless it represents a lot of wasted money.
Honestly, I’m surprised at all this unworn booty because I’m a careful shopper. I always do my research and will pay many visits to my prospective purchase before handing over cash.
However, I admit I rarely try on things because I hate changing room mirrors and lighting. I always make the mistake of thinking that if a dress or military jacket looks wonderful in a magazine, it will look good on me.
So I have vowed never to make another sartorial mistake. You won’t either, if you follow my golden rules to buying only clothes you will wear and enjoy . . .
ALWAYS SHOP ALONE
Friends love it when you spend money: it gives them a vicarious thrill. But they will never be honest when asked for their opinion and, perhaps subconsciously, will want you to look bad. [ Emilie says : I break this rule all the time as I take my 7 year old shopping with me. She has a perfect sense of style and colour and her advice is always spot-on - and brutally honest with one small exception. Being smart, unlike my husband, she never tells me when clothing is too tight. I sometimes wish she would, but then the rest of me tells me that I prefer it this way. ]
Arm yourself with a list of what you need and the cash you plan to spend. Leave the credit cards at home because they will only encourage you to impulse buy.
TRY IT ON (WITH THE RIGHT SHOES)
We all know the sizing in fashion stores varies wildly, but we still think we can tell if a garment will fit just by holding it up against ourselves.
If you are buying trousers for the office or a long dress, take along the shoes you plan to wear. Get to know what style of jeans suits you, and stick to it. If you find a pair that fits you perfectly, buy two.
If you are buying vintage, it’s even more important you try it on because sizing and cut have changed drastically over the years. And remember that vintage fabric rarely has any ‘give’.
DO YOU HAVE ONE JUST LIKE IT AT HOME?
Shop smart: Always try clothes on rather than holding them up against yourself to see if they fit
This might sound obvious, but after buying a smart pair of black Prada pointy stilettos, I got home to discover I have an almost identical Marc Jacobs pair.
I never wear them because they are not funky enough, which is why I’d forgotten about them.
Before you go shopping for new shoes or a bag, do a quick inventory of what you already have.
BUY FOR THE BODY YOU HAVE NOW
Never, ever buy anything thinking that you will shrink to fit it. You won’t.
It is much better to wait until you have reached your diet goal, then treat yourself to a day of shopping.
DOES IT SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE?
Can you walk to work in stilettos? What this question will help you to avoid is buying an item that is too special or wildly inappropriate to wear.
I have a taupe YSL jacket, but I never wear it because it is too good for public transport, might get splashed during dinner (I’m a messy eater) and creases in the car.
WHEN WILL YOU WEAR IT?
You might like the khaki shorts, the sales assistant will exclaim that you look fabulous, but just imagine putting them on in the morning and then going to work. Will you ever have a red carpet occasion at which to wear that floor-length Osman dress?
Do you have a pussycat bow personality?
IS IT VALUE FOR MONEY?
If you can dress something up or down, you will double the opportunities to wear it.
Can it be washed rather than dry cleaned and is it a natural fabric that is well-finished and fully lined?
All these factors mean you will love it, therefore you will wear it.
WILL IT GO WITH THE REST OF YOUR WARDROBE?
You will make fewer mistakes if you adopt a signature style and stick with it. My wardrobe is full of trouser suits, cashmere tanks and pencil skirts in a palette of black, cream and brown.
If you suddenly shop out of character — a bright orange net prom by Lanvin, simply because it was the only item left in the H&M collection — you’ll regret it.
Don’t experiment, don’t be swayed by 50 per cent off and don’t be afraid to be a bit boring. You can always zing up an outfit with cheap accessories.
DON'T BUY ANYTHING THAT SCREAMS 'FASHION!'
You will wear the classics endlessly (a wrap camel coat, black Crombie, silk shirt dress), but those harem pants and that leopard print jumpsuit will look terribly silly next season.
A navy blazer will have infinite uses; a boxy linen swing jacket will fail to hide your bottom.
DOES IT NEED TO BE ALTERED?
If you are thinking of buying a jacket thinking it can be taken in or a dress with a missing button, don’t. You will never bother to get it fixed and it will languish in your wardrobe accusingly.
Trousers that are far too long drive me wild. Ask the store if they will take them up free of charge; if they say ‘No’, flounce off.
SLEEP ON IT
I always try to leave a purchase in the store, promising to pick it up the next day. This way, you will cool down, have time to mull over just how much money you are about to spend and think about all the questions on this page.
If a shop refuses to hold the item for 24 hours, walk away.
If you still want it enough to return the next day, brandishing cash, you are well on the road to buying something you will wear and love for ever.
Always check the store’s returns policy. I bought a £350 camisole in Marc Jacobs, felt nauseous as soon as I left the store, went straight back in to change it and was refused!
TAKE UNWORN CLOTHES TO A CHARITY SHOP
If you edit your wardrobe on a regular basis, you will give your clothes room to breathe, have a better idea of what you own and have to face up to your mistakes.
So if there is anything you haven’t worn for two years, take it to a charity shop. Someone, somewhere, will just love that poncho...
[ Emilie says : This might work for well off journalists, for the rest of us, ebay is a good way to dispose of designer items - and nobody needs to know how much you didn't pay for them. ]
3500 YR OLD ANCIENT LAPIS EGYPTIAN CAT MAU NECKLACE
Item Number: mau1
$75.00
These beads were assembled in the Victorian period from elements found in the archeological excavations of that period. They were widely publicized and wearing such jewelry was fashionable for the elite. Because they reassembled and in most cases incomplete, we are selling the individual elements so more collectors can enjoy them. We were inspired to do so by Robert Lius statement in Collectable Beads, that the average collector will be unable to own a single ancient bead. Each is certified authentic.C.2650-2134 BC. Blue Egyptian Cat Lapis Bead mounted with sterling silver as a necklace and includes a 18" Sterling silver necklace chain. The amulet itself (not including the loop or bottom mount)measures.55"(14mm) height . Form nearly identical to the later faience beads which replaced them. This would make a great gift for a cat lover or a interesting conversation piece.
Cats or the Egyptian word Mau were highly revered by the Egyptians and played an important role in Ancient Egyptian society as they were useful for limiting the vermin in crops and harvests. Through exposure cats became domesticated and learned to coexist with humans. They were worshiped by the Egyptians and given jewelry in ancient hieroglyphics.
3500 YR OLD ANCIENT LAPIS EGYPTIAN CAT MAU EARRINGS
Item Number: 117A
$130.00
These beads were assembled in the Victorian period from elements found in the archeological excavations of that period. They were widely publicized and wearing such jewelry was fashionable for the elite. Because they reassembled and in most cases incomplete, we are selling the individual elements so more collectors can enjoy them. We were inspired to do so by Robert Lius statement in Collectable Beads, that the average collector will be unable to own a single ancient bead. Each is certified authentic.C.2650-2134 BC. Blue Egyptian Cat Lapis Bead mounted with sterling silver as earrings. The amulets themselves measure (not including the loop or bottom mount)measures.45"(11.5mm) height . Form nearly identical to the later faience beads which replaced them. This would make a great gift for a cat lover or a interesting conversation piece.
Cats or the Egyptian word Mau were highly revered by the Egyptians and played an important role in Ancient Egyptian society as they were useful for limiting the vermin in crops and harvests. Through exposure cats became domesticated and learned to coexist with humans. They were worshiped by the Egyptians and given jewelry in ancient hieroglyphics.
[ Emilie grins : As Meshed Gears puts it, more than a mouthful's a waste... And then usually goes on to mention that: "To the Frenchman, the perfect breast fills a champagne glass. To the Englishman, the perfect breast fills a beer mug. And to the American, the perfect breast fills a toilet bowl." ]
Could small breasts make a comeback?
Rooney Mara, the girl who could revive the popularity of small breasts. PhotoCredits: Columbia TriStar
The larger boob became the norm around the turn of the century, and it shows no signs of deflating. Radical rack augmentation is now ubiquitous, and to hell with the consequences. So what if you knock yourself unconscious while running to catch the bus? So what if you can’t fit into any trendy clothes because your waist is a zero but your bazongas are the size and weight of cantaloupes? It’s worth it to be the focus of male attention. Right?
An aggressively burgeoning trend in restaurants—foodie insiders are already calling them breastaurants—is playing directly into this craze for mammoth mammaries. Examples include Seattle-based Chicka Latte,where the waitresses are dressed as firefighters, cheerleaders and racecar drivers,and The Tilted Kilt, which has more than fifty—count ‘em!—locations nationwide plus one in Canada. And then there’s thePink Taco… But let’s not get distracted by vagaurants. Let’s stick with the topic at hand:With their phalanxes of liberally endowed bikini-clad serving wenches, thesebreastablishments are poised to make even old-school Hooters appear tentative, restrained, and genteel, to mention nothing of causing my feminist counterculture sister to have a seizure.
Despite the worldwide embrace of enormous knockers, I remain convinced that the pendulous pendulum will, at some point, begin to swing in the other direction. Style is, after all, cyclical in nature. I know what you are thinking: Only a gay man could seriously posit the notion that big boobs might “go out of fashion.” However, being d’un certain age, I am old enough to remember when tiny titties roamed the Earth.
Wobbly screen. Let’s go back.
It’s the late 1960s. I am at the movie theater with a bunch of my straight school chums, none of whom are aware of my disinterest in women’s bits and all of whom are breast-obsessed. We are here to see Performance, a trendy, louche movie starring Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg, and Michele Breton as three drug-addled funsters who while away their bohemian Notting Hill lives in various sexual triangulations. There is no shortage of nudity. At one point Mick and his two playthings splash about in the bath. While I try desperately to catch a glimpse of Mick’s bottie, my pals focus on the chests of the two ladies. Later, at the pub, my dude pals kvelled enthusiastically about Pallenberg’s modest knockers. Special praise was reserved for Breton’s pert, little, no-brassiere-needed appendages. As far as my pals were concerned, boulder boobs were for barmaids and strippers. Cool girls like Twiggy, Ali McGraw, Mia Farrow, and the above-mentioned degenerates were all highly desirable, despite being small of tit.
Images of Mademoiselle Breton’s boobies came flooding back on a recent trip to the cinema. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is, as those of you have seen it will be painfully aware, intermittently enlivened with startling bursts of no-holds-barred sado-masochistic porn. Whenever the narrative starts flagging, off come the clothes, and here come Rooney Mara’s modest, well-shaped natural chests.
During the non-porn, fully clothed segments of the movie, I found myself speculating as to whether the ferociously compelling Miss Mara, with her uninflated mammaries, might possess the power to usher out the era of the porno-hooter? Can she put the natural knocker back up where it belongs? Might The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo repopularize the smaller breast, or Bristol, as it is known in the Cockney rhyming slang of my homeland? (Bristol City = tittie.)
My optimistic speculations fizzled—a bit like the elastic in a vintage Frederick’s of Hollywood brassiere—when a broadly read pal apprised me of the following fact: In The Girl Who Played With Fire, one of the subsequent volumes, Stieg Larsson’s heroine, Lisbeth Salander, avails herself of a boob job!
I realize that, as far as red-blooded heterosexuals are concerned, there is no issue here. Straight dudes are too busy enjoying the current era of the mega-boob to give a thought to any alternative. In this regard, they are most selfish. After all, lots of women lust after men with tight soccer-player buns, but how many of you pudgy straight guys would willingly undergo surgery to achieve this effect for your lady’s delectation?
At the end of the day, health concerns may well cut the cackle. The New York Times recently ran a story about the recall of thousands of dodgy, leaky implants. French health authorities have advised 30,000 women to explant those suspect implants ASAP. Similar warnings have followed in Germany and the Netherlands.
But let’s not end on such a downer. I much prefer a perky up-note. With that in mind, I give you my current fave breastaurant chain name: Twin Peaks. Feel free to one-up me in the comments with a well-monikered breastaurant from your neighborhood, or your own imagination.
But no doubt fans of Simpson's clothing and shoes and boots and handbags and jeans and coats and dresses and lingerie and jewelry and so much more are shopping up a storm of Christmas goodies for stuff to wear to their holiday parties this season.
And with some of the prices of some of those cute dresses, the 25% off coupon code will be a great price cut to help us look cute.
The dresses really are stylish -- I'm checking them out now to see the ones that are long enough for me.
And Jessica Simpson's handbags have me considering the possibility of carrying around a big tote like some women do. My $70-something Dooney and Burke purse I got from TJ Maxx has been holding up so well -- but perhaps it is time for an addition.
The site lists free standard shipping with dates to "receive December 24th, order by 11AM:"
December 17th for Standard Shipping December 21st for 3rd Day Air December 22nd for Next Day Air
Crossing over: Transsexual model Lea T. lands first commercial magazine cover
It's been a busy year for Lea T.
The transsexual featured on the runway for the first time and was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey.
And it looks as though the rising's star's hard work paid off - as she has landed her first mainstream magazine cover.
Leah T. strikes a pose on the cover of Elle Brazil, wearing Givenchy
Lea T., whose father is former footballer Toninho Cerezo, is the star of the Elle Brazil December issue - wearing Givenchy of course.
Debut: Lea T. walks the runway at Brazil Fashion Week in February
The 28-year-old model was discovered by the label's designer Riccardo Tisci.
She first appeared on the cover of Love magazine, a biannual published by Conde Nast, locking lips with Kate Moss - an image that propelled her to fame.
Speaking to Oprah in February, Lea broke down as she talked about the challenges she faced when she began the gender reassignment process in 2008.
She told Oprah: 'I was hoping I was gay. I was like, ok, I'm gay, because for my family it's less painful.
'I wish I could accept my body as a man. I would be a straight guy, having a girlfriend and a family, daughters, married, a normal life, but it's something in your brain.'
But she needn't have any regrets as her mannish look is proving popular in the industry.
Colleague Andrej Pejic has been equally as successful as a womenswear model - despite being a man.
Andrej told Vogue.co.uk: 'There are similarities between myself and Lea T, and we're placed in the same category, but our look is very different.
'Lea has been extremely brave in being very honest about her journey - but I don't really see myself as being here to challenge transgender stereotypes.'
*Deliberate use of E lle to balance Lea T - which has to be the most L337 name on the catwalks today :-)
Light up your life
Overwhelmingly awesome clothes from LumiGram of France.
Source: NY Times Credits: Eric Wilson Dated: 2010-09-29
Italian Renaissance on the Runway
From left: Giuseppe Cacace/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images, Antonio Calanni/Associated Press, Ettore Ferrari/ANSA, via European Pressphoto Agency LESS LEG From left, at Salvatore Ferragamo, Alberta Ferretti, Fendi and Etro, long was the new length — which retailers say will appeal to a broader audience
“WHO knew an anorak could make you gasp?” said Linda Fargo, the fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman, as she waited in a scrum of people Saturday evening outside the clogged entrance of the Circolo della Stampa, the Italian press club building, for the start of the Emilio Pucci show.
That would not happen for 45 more minutes, once Kylie Minogue arrived, but until then, just about all that anyone could talk about was the Jil Sander collection shown that afternoon. To the heart-racing score of “Psycho,” mixed with a few lines of Busta Rhymes, the designer Raf Simons had stunned audiences with his fearless color combinations and couturelike shapes for Sander, including the anorak to which Ms. Fargo referred. It was a translucent violet pullover that reached almost to the floor, but it was also split up the front to reveal trousers in shocking pink.
“It is a real litmus test when you see a collection, and it makes you want to instantly change what you are wearing right now,” Ms. Fargo said.
In one sense, that has been the story of the Milan collections, during which, whether by a sudden gasp or a story told more subtly, Italian designers have reasserted themselves in the fashion worldview. After conceding some creative ground to Paris and New York, and trying a shorter calendar last season, it was as if the designers here collectively decided it was time to stand up for themselves and show some good old-fashioned fashion. Who knew?
There were effectively six days of major shows this week, some of which were held in historic locations around the city, following the efforts of Mario Boselli, the president of the Camera Nazionale, the fashion industry trade group, and Letizia Moratti, the mayor of Milan, to forestall any further erosion of its prestige. Ms. Moratti, during a speech on Saturday, noted that the city’s leading position in European research could also contribute to innovations in fashion design.
Still, it was striking just how stylistically cohesive the designers were in their spring collections, which, with a few exceptions, promoted a new longer skirt length, intense color blocking and print combinations, stripes that suggested rugby jerseys or beach cabanas, a broader and rounder shoulder and yards and yards of fringe.
Image credits (from left): Catwalking.com; Luca Bruno/Associated Press; Giuseppe Abesu/Associated Press MIX IT UP (from left): Versus, Missoni and Aquilano Rimondi, among others, foreshadowed a spring trend for jarring print combinations.
“There’s a good spirit here,” said Ron Frasch, the president and chief merchandising officer of Saks Fifth Avenue, shortly after Roberto Cavalli’s 40th-anniversary collection was shown on Monday. That show was held under an enormous tent decorated with a plastic rain forest and a see-through ceiling that was attached to the neoclassical Arco della Pace, constructed in honor of Napoleon in the early 19th century to mark the entrance to the city (the arch, that is, not the tent). Mr. Cavalli’s dresses, trimmed with fringe, and with seashells dangling from the handbags, seemed themselves to be marvels in suspension engineering. You wondered how some of them even managed to remain attached to the models.
“Jil Sander was fantastic, but that was not the only show that we loved,” Mr. Frasch said. “There has been a great sense of color and proportion, which I like, and you can tell who all went to the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition in Paris, and who didn’t.” He was referring to the couture shapes, the long trouser suits and the trench dresses that appeared in many collections, which could have been influenced by the YSL retrospective that opened at the Petit Palais in March. “Everyone interpreted them in their own way,” he said.
At the Cavalli show, Tim Blanks, a Style.com critic, was among the editors who were entirely upbeat about the Milan season, a feeling he attributed to the widespread use of color and peculiar prints for spring.
There were several standout shows, starting with Miuccia Prada’s lively collection that included banana prints and monkeys climbing up the sides of dresses, and a new rounded shoulder that marked a strong departure from the shrunken-top shape that has all but dominated fashion for the last few seasons. On Friday, Etro, a house known for prints, foreshadowed a trend of jarring mixtures with bold florals combined with geometric patterns — a look that later turned up in acid tones on the runways of Versus; interwoven with rock lyrics at Missoni; and finally at Aquilano.Rimondi, where suits, long dresses and shirts were made of contrasting stripes of bright micro-floral prints. At Pucci, the designer Peter Dundas showed hippie-ish versions with blue-and-white bandanna prints.
“Who is a Pucci girl?” asked Agnès Boulard, a French television personality, thrusting a microphone in the face of Emmanuelle Alt, the fashion director of French Vogue.
“I’m a Pucci girl!” Ms. Alt replied.
Many retailers were encouraged as well, since, as Stephanie Solomon, the fashion director of Bloomingdale’s, said: “It means there’s a new reason to buy, after we’ve been looking at miniskirts for the last two years. This longer silhouette is something new, and it might be more commercial, since it accommodates a broader audience of women.”
To recapture a bit of its soul, Italian officials are also promoting an emerging generation of designers, some of whom showed together outside the Duomo. But buzz is slow to build here, to the point that designers like Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi of Aquilano.Rimondi (and Gianfranco Ferré) can work for years and still be considered “new.” Despite the enthusiasm for this season, it is still common to encounter a bit of posturing from editors and designers who remain concerned about Milan’s pace of adapting to the global production and consumption of fashion.
“The Italian mind-set cannot understand change that is not step by step,” Mr. Aquilano said, somewhat resignedly.
Francesco Scognamiglio has been working for the better part of a decade before enjoying more widespread acknowledgment, in part because of putting Lady Gaga in a plastic dress. For his latest collection, he worked in a few styles that were evocative of that look, plastic minis that were studded with pearls, but he also showed more traditional jackets and dresses with the strong shoulders of Neapolitan tailoring, some trimmed with contrasting black lace and shocking sheer insets at the breasts. “In Italy,” he said, “if you are not a big name, you have to wait for someone else from the outside to discover you.”
On Monday night, at the end of the collections, many of the designers gathered for a black tie gala to benefit amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.
“It seems like the whole city is coming back to life,” said Dean Caten, one of the designers of Dsquared, a label that had presented its collection only 12 hours before and was itself an optimistic show with cute clothes and bookworm glasses worn by models who looked like future Eliza Doolittles. “It took us half an hour to get here with the traffic.”
Photo Credit: Giuseppe Aresu/Associated Press OUT BOLD Stripes at Jil Sander.
Photo Credit: Ettore Ferrari/ANSA, Via European Pressphoto Agency Moschino
Source: The Telegraph Credits: Uncredited Dated: 2011-06
Breakthrough could make grey hair a thing of the past
One of the most obvious signs of ageing could be avoided after scientists claimed to have discovered the root cause of grey hair, paving the way for potential treatments.
Gentically manipulating certain proteins could stop hair turning grey Photocredit: AP"
Hair colour is determined by hair follicle stem cells working in conjunction with colour producing stem cells known as melanocytes.
But now scientists have identified the signalling protein that coordinates pigmentation in the two cell types, which is known as Wnt.
A lack of the protein in melanocyte stem cells leads to grey hair, according to a team of researchers from New York University Medical Centre, writing in journal Cell.
Professor Mayumi Ito said that genetically manipulating the Wnt signalling proteins could stop hair turning grey, and that her team had found a method to successfully restore hair colour in mice.
Prof Ito said: "We have known for decades that hair follicle stem cells and pigment-producing melanocyte cells collaborate to produce coloured hair, but the underlying reasons were unknown.
"We discovered Wnt signalling is essential for coordinated actions of these two stem cell lineages and critical for hair pigmentation."
It is hoped that the research could give insights into diseases involving melanocytes, including melanoma.
A toyboy suits you! Susan Sarandon looks radiant at the Marrakech International Film Festival
She has had a permanent smile on her face in recent weeks.
And Susan Sarandon's good mood appears to be down to her much-younger rumoured boyfriend Jonathan Bricklin.
The 64-year-old actress was radiating happiness as she walked the red carpet last night at the 10th Annual Marrakech International Film Festival in a stunning blue gown.
Glowing: Susan Sarandon looks gorgeous in a blue gown at the Marrakesh International Film Festival last night
The Lovely Bones star appeared to take inspiration from the Moroccan setting, in the flowing electric blue sheath with silver embellishment.
Sarandon was there to present her Thelma & Louise co-star Harvey Keitel with a special tribute award recognising his career.
She flew into the African country from Miami, where she attended the Art Basel event at the Delano Hotel with Jonathan.
Susan has been romantically linked with the 31-year-old, who is her co-investor in New York ping-pong bar SPiN, for over a year.
Spotlight: The actress lapped up the attention in Morrocco
Glowing: Susan Sarandon looks gorgeous on the red carpet
In December 2009 her spokesperson Teal Cannaday denied suggestions of a romance, saying: 'The rumours are absolutely untrue.
'Susan's relationship with Jonathan Bricklin is strictly a business one.'
But since then the pair have travelled together to Italy and Peru, and have been spotted partying in New York.
Earlier this week they arrived in Miami to attend the art convention together and stayed at the same hotel.
Honoured: Sarandon presented her Thelma & Louise co-star Harvey Keitel with tribute for his career
Family affair: The actor was accompanied by wife Daphna Kastner and their son Roman
Sarandon is also rumoured to have taken part in a top secret photo shoot with her Thelma & Louise co-star Geena Davis while in Miami.
Vanity Fair magazine will be commemorating the 1991 film's 20th Anniversary with a special tribute next year, according to the New York Post.
When asked about the dating speculation recently, Susan said: 'You have to have a sense of humour. There are lots of people in my life at the moment.'
She certainly seems refreshingly comfortable in her own skin - Susan stripped off for the Who Cares About Age? issue of V magazine with Jane Fonda and Sigourney Weaver.
Cougar town: Despite insisting their relationship is professional, Sarandon and Jonathan Bricklin looked very cosy in Miami this week
All smiles: The 31-year-old's near-constant presence is keeping the smile on Susan's face
In the accompanying interview, she said: ‘I wouldn’t want to be 20 now.
‘I know so much more and I’m more comfortable in my skin, saggy as it is,’ she added.
Sarandon portrayed the 'cougar' lover of Jude Law in the 2004 remake of Alfie, and she is 12 years older than Tim Robbins, who she split from last year after 23 years together.
Last month Susan said of that time: 'People were coming up to me in the street and saying "I cried and cried when I heard."
Split: Susan split from her partner Tim Robbins (pictured with their sons Miles and Jack and her daughter Eva Amurri) last year after 23 years
Well, I was sadder! I didn't think it would ever happen, either', she told The Telegraph.
But she remained philosophical about the break-up, adding: 'I've always liked the idea of choosing to be with somebody.
'I thought that if you didn't get married you wouldn't take each other for granted as easily.
'I don't know if after twenty-something years that was still true.'
The Fat Lady Has Sung
Elizabeth Taylor was undoubtedly once one of the world's most beautiful people. She helped many through her humanitarian work, not least of which was her championing of AIDS awareness. She could also be catty, witty and amusing - all of which serve to excuse a lot. All of this has been said all over the media and has been plastered across the Internet by people with more time and a better command of the art of the eulogy than me. Which is why I am not going to say any more, other than, "The fat lady has indubitably sung."
A goddess revealed: Intimate portrait of Liz Taylor at 24 seen for the first time
A goddess revealed: Intimate portrait of Liz Taylor at 24 seen for the first time
[ Emilie wonders : Shouldn't that be "seen by the public for the first time"? ]
Fabulous: Elizabeth Taylor aged 24 in the photograph she gave to third husband Michael Todd. The picture was taken by one of her closest friends, actor and photographer Roddy McDowall
Elizabeth Taylor with third husband Michael Todd and her sons Christopher and Michael
Old friends: Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor, years after her nude picture was taken
Sexual chemistry: Elizabeth Taylor with Paul Newman in 1958's Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
Elizabeth Taylor as a child star in 1940 (left) and with future husband Richard Burton in Cleopatra (right)
Hollywood great: Elizabeth Taylor in her 1950s prime
Countless photographs have paid homage to Liz Taylor’s fabulous figure. But none has been so revealing as this.
A private collector has released the only known picture of the star – then aged 24 – posing nude. It is understood to be the first time the photo has been shown publicly.
It was an engagement gift from Miss Taylor to producer Michael Todd, who was her third husband.
The picture was taken by one of her closest friends, actor and photographer Roddy McDowall. He persuaded her to pose naked by promising her it would be done tastefully.
She then gave it to Todd as a present after he proposed in 1956 – the pair married a few months later but the relationship was tragically short-lived.
Todd was killed 13 months after their wedding day when his private plane crashed during a storm over New Mexico.
A devastated Miss Taylor is believed to have given the nude photograph to her assistant and make-up artist Penny Taylor.
It was bought by private collector Jim Shaudis in 1980 and had been thought lost. But after her death from heart failure last week aged 79, he decided to show the image publicly for fans of the star.
Since her death there have been a string of revelations and allegations about Dame Elizabeth’s past.
Most recently it has been claimed that she was born at a ‘swingers’ party’ in a Cheshire village, rather than London, which is what is written on her birth certificate.
It was said that her father, the art dealer Francis Taylor, and his actress wife Sara regularly attended disreputable gatherings in the village and were said to be ‘the swingers of their day’.
It has also been claimed that she was the product of an affair and her real father was actually the millionaire Conservative MP Victor Cazalet, who became her godfather.
And in recently revealed love letters, a 17-year-old Elizabeth shared her dreams with her fiance before later agonising about returning an engagement ring when the relationship soured.
The handwritten letters are from 1949, when Taylor was engaged to William Pawley Jr, who was in his 20s and the son of a wealthy American businessman and ambassador.
Young love: One of Elizabeth Taylor's handwritten love letters to her fiance William Pawley in 1949
'I received your wire this morning about sending the ring and bracelet to New York,' Taylor wrote to Pawley in a letter dated September 20, 1949, when their relationship was ending.
'I have the ring on now. It is sparkling so beautifully in the sunshine. I suppose this will be the last time I have it on - for a while at least. Take good care of it, Darling, for my heart is embedded right there in the center of it.'
The actress was buried earlier this week on a quiet hill outside Los Angeles in a small private ceremony.
Brief romance: ElizabethTaylor, aged 17 in this picture, with fiance William Pawley - son of a wealthy American businessman and ambassador - in Miami, Florida in 1949
She spent the last six weeks of her life in hospital and died of heart failure.
One of her last Twitter messages read simply: ‘I’ll let you know when it is all over. Love you, Elizabeth.’
The star had been plagued by health problems all her life. She estimated she had almost died four times.
"Passion was a quality she never lost," CBS' Harley Carnes said today about Elizabeth Taylor.
No kidding. I got a glimpse of that in action.
I'd seen Ms. Taylor a few times at events in San Francisco where she'd been blown up like a monster truck tire and moved around in a wheelchair or balancing precariously on a cane. You could only imagine then, as she struggled with various ailments, the striking allure of her beauty, her weirdly violet eyes, her porcelain skin, soft voice and incendiary temper.
At a showing of "Cleopatra" many years earlier, my preteen self watched as Liz slowly raised herself and her cleavage out of the bath on screen--just a little on the other side of the propriety of the era--and realized for the first time the voluptuous power she had.
Skip to 2002. My previous life. Elton John was having his annual Oscar-time birthday bacchanalia at a private room in the Beverly Hills Hotel. There were probably 35 to 40 people at a long table. Jon Bon Jovi (very pleasant, low-key) was on my right. Ingrid Sischy (hilarious), editor of Interview magazine and Andy Warhol protege, was on my left.
Ms. Taylor was seated directly across from me, obviously in some discomfort from her endless, ongoing health problems. But she was nothing short of regal in her demeanor and bearing. She looked better than when I'd seen her here, much better. Only her occasional trips to the bathroom required an entourage of assistance.
Her white fluffy Maltese, Precious, sat in her lap.
She was deep in conversation for much of the dinner with teenage actress Thora Birch, then the saucer-eyed sensation of movies like "American Beauty." Birch had a serious goth look at the dinner that she clearly felt showed both her young nonchalance and hipness. But she was very much into this inter-generational mind meld.
It was a snapshot that said oceans about Hollywood, about acting, about the passage of time and about the willingness of a film star dowager on one end of the life cycle to counsel patiently a fledgling.
I couldn't hear what they were saying but I imagined lots of wise counsel being passed down, professional and maybe even personal nightmares that Ms. Taylor had suffered through that she was trying to help her successor avoid.
It was clearly the best and most interesting coupling in the room, although Courtney Love showed up at some point with incipient presidential candidate John Kerry, introducing him around the table. A sure sign that Kerry was doomed.
Suddenly, I noticed that Ms. Taylor had stopped in mid-sentence and was looking around the room in a panic. Her dog had jumped off her lap at some point and she'd just noticed.
In a voice that sounded like a raging fan at a Raiders' game, she screamed. It was a deep rumble and stunning roar that Richard Burton must have heard a few times and seemed impossible from someone who often spoke in little girl whispers:
"PRECIOUS! PRECIOUS! Where the F**K are you!!??
Chaos ensued until the rat-like dog was found. It wasn't curves emerging from a bathtub but it was passionate and it clearly was Elizabeth Taylor.
RIP.
The Hermits love and appreciate fur - on animals or as apparel - but also appreciate Olivia Munn and this rather clever PETA advertising. Clever because our brain is programmed to pay attention to nude bodies - and this is a body worth paying attention to
What a bare rabbit! Olivia Munn strips off completely nude for a new PETA campaign against fur
She recently stripped off for her upcoming movie The Babymakers to film some steamy scenes.
And once again actress Olivia Munn is baring all.
But this time it is the name of awareness.
The 31-year-old actress had posed completely nude with a fluffy bunny rabbit for the animal rights organizations infamous 'I'd rather go naked than wear fur campaign'.
This time it is to protest the cruelty of fur farms in China.
'Who needs fur to feel beautiful?' asks Olivia in the playful yet serious message.
The brunette beauty unveiled the new billboard in Los Angeles today.
With her locks in a bedhead style bob and barely any make-up on her complexion, Munn kneels in the sexy snap with her arms strategically covering her modesty. [ Emilie raises an eyebrow at the antiquated phrasing.] Sitting beside her is her fluffy co-star; a tan and white long-haired bunny, who stares curiously and cutely into the camera.
For the unveiling today, Munn was however considerably more covered-up.
The actress slipped into a black shirt and matching trousers for the special occasion in one of West Hollywood's busiest streets. For her new movie The Babymakers Olivia is seen stripping off for a steamy shower scene while her character is also seen trying to conceive in the front seat of a car and under a table at a party.
The film tells the story of a couple trying to have a child, but who run into problems when they realise the husband, played by Paul Schneider, has a low sperm count.
While it seems all is lost for the couple Schneider’s character reveals he sold his sperm years ago to raise money for an engagement ring for his wife.
The news he is a sperm donor leaves his wife and her family disgusted but it opened up the possibility that he may have some healthy sperm at the fertility clinic. [ Emilie wonders : Why disgusted?]
The husband then enlists the help of a criminal to help steal the last batch of his sperm back from the sperm bank.
While Olivia might have sex on the brain thanks to her latest role, she is certainly not shy about talking about fornication.
In a recent in interview with FHM, which saw her strip off to display her fabulous figure she opened up about sex.'When it comes to sex, I think anyone’s an idiot to say they’re an expert on it. I mean, I have sex, but it’s individual for each person,' Olivia divulged.
'You know, like, guys always have that one f***ing ‘move’, some stupid sh*t, like putting his thumb in your mouth. And it’s just like, “What are you doing? Who told you this was hot?'
'I’d love to date a comedian,' added the star.
The Babymakers will hit cinemas early 2013. [ Emilie notes : Apropos of something, I'm sure.]
Bare rabbit! Olivia Munn strips off and poses with a cute bunny rabbit for a new PETA campaign
Unveiling: The brunette beauty unveiled the new billboard in Los Angeles today
Covered up: The actress slipped on a black shirt and matching trousers for the special occasion in one of West Hollywood's busiest streets
Proud: Olivia proudly poses next to the naked version of herself
Peekaboo: Jessica's new campaign peeks behind a sheer sheet ready to show the world
Reiss Those of you fortunate enough to be blessed with curves will know how hard it is to find tailored pieces that actually fit in all the right places! This grown-up, belted dress will accentuate your shape, but is still modest enough to wear to the office. Price: £110 reiss.co.uk
Kew Forties fashion never really goes out of style, mainly because it is so flattering. This cap-sleeved dress from Kew is particularly Land Girls in mood, and would look brilliant worn with a chunky cardigan and hair pulled up into a loose bun. Price: £95 kew-online.com
Saltwater If florals aren't your thing, try this dress decorated with a delicate dragon fly print. The simple spaghetti straps and tie detail make it feminine without being too girlie. Price: £85 saltwater.net
Hussein Chalayan This cleverly constructed number is far from your average wrap dress, but the effect is the same. It narrows the waist, enhances the bust, and is flattering on the hips. The digital print gives it a kooky, tropical vibe too. Price: £660 brownsfashion.com
Liberty Capitalising on the fabulous prints in its archive, Liberty has invited several labels to use its heritage fabrics. This Cacharel maxi dress has a simple shape, and will see you through a week in Ibiza as well as a picnic in the park. Price: £200 liberty.co.uk
Jigsaw Hot climes demand cool clothes, but if the thought of stripping off gives you the fear, invest in a maxi dress. It will keep you cool, while you float around in sandals and big sunglasses. Price: £139 jigsawonline.com
New Look This is the perfect holiday sundress ? short, flirty and perfect for showing off a light tan. It's ideal for throwing on over a bikini for a day at the beach: accessorise with a straw hat. Vespa and Latin lover optional. Price: £25 newlook.co.uk
French Connection If you feel the cold, this Bretonstriped dress is the height of fashion, and will keep you and your delicate disposition warm while revealing a bit of tanned ankle. Price: £80 frenchconnection.com
Cos If you have a boyish figure, a Fifties-style dress can give you a few curves. This cotton frock is covered in a pretty floral print, making it young and fun. Perfect for a British summer holiday. Price: £55 cosstores.com
Topshop If the credit crunch means you can only treat yourself to one new dress this summer, this pansy print corset-style from Topshop should be it. The corset bodice gives support whilst the skirt gently puffs out into a tulip shape. Wear with a blazer and flats to give it a tougher edge. Price: £50 topshop.com
The glorious Gloria Stuart and an assortment of gorgeous flapper dresses, hair styles and dancing
Some nice music too. The first song until 1:32 is "I want to be bad" from Jack Hylton and his Orchesta, and from 1:32 to 3:10 is Glorianna played by Waring's Pennsylvanians. If it doesn't make you want to dance, you need a better hearing aid. Speaking of dancing, it is amazing what people did before life was ruined by television.
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