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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Michelle Obama rocks Jason Wu at Inaugural Gala



Will the choice of Mrs. Obamas gown "woo" her fashion critics with her choice of Jason Wus' gown for the inaugural gala?. Right now, the opinion is divided. Tim Gunn told CNN he had hoped to see something with more jewel tones.
Michelle Obama celebrated her husband Barack Obama's Inauguration in a cream colored, one shoulder fitted bodice Jason Wu gown.


Michelle Obama made a bold choice for the inauguration of her husband with a a pale gold dress and matching coat by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo that divided commentators.

But she turned up the glamour later in the day as she and her husband strutted their stuff at not one, but ten, inauguration balls.



Michelle Obama has long been a fan of designer Jason Wu, since she wore his #17 from his Spring 2009 collection for her interview with Barbara Walters.
The $3,510 raw silk dress with hand-embroidered rosettes is part of a line of elegant evening gowns and ladylike dresses selling in the $1,000 to $6,000 range. The dress features hand-embroidered florets with French knots that took 100 hours of labor in a New York studio. Wu told the Wall Street Journal's Heard on the Runway that Mrs. Obama paid for the dress. It bears noting that Wu's fashionable and feminine Spring 2009 line features more than a couple of ball gowns which could be perfect for an Inauguration gala but apparently Wu isn't focusing on that, telling the WSJ that it's "a long shot."


Jason continues to receive accolades including Fashion Group International's Rising Star Award for Women's Ready-to-Wear in January 2008 and in July 2008 he was named one of the finalists in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

Michelle Obama chooses Isabel Toledo for inauguration



Now, we can all relax. The First Lady chose Isabel Toledo for the inauguration, now lets see what the evening wear is. We love the green Jimmy Choo "Glacier" pumps.

The designer had no idea she would pick their outfit as they shared with WWD.

"We're levitating - we really are," Ruben Toledo said minutes after watching Michelle Obama on CNN in an ensemble by his wife Isabel. The husband-wife team tuned in surrounded by their staff in their Broadway showroom.

The soon-to-be First Lady did not tip her hand in any way. "We had no idea. We hoped she would wear something because she has bought Isabel's clothes before. We never know what's going to happen," he said.

"It's just another shock, but a great shock."

. [Michelle and Barack Obama started their new life by leaving Blair House, the official presidential guest house, and heading to church]

[Sasha and Malia Obama]

[Michelle Obama holds the Lincoln Bible as her husband officially takes office]

[Outgoing President and First Lady, George and Laura Bush, greeted new First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama on the North Portico of the White House.]

The Obamas and the Bidens wave goodbye to the Bushes.[Waving goodbye to the outgoing President and former first Lady, George and Laura Bush]

Monday, January 19, 2009

Mrs. O arrives in Washington in Narciso, again!

Mrs O. and President Elect Obama on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on January 18, 2009. Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Now once the real issues facing America have been resolved - Who is designing his wife Michelle's inauguration gown? Who will be attending to her hairdo? What kind of puppy will the first family get, then President Obama can get to the actual business of running the country.

If all accounts of the designer of this dress are to be believed, then Narciso Rodriguez and the first lady may have had another chance to silence fashion critics , who lambasted the choice of the First Ladys Grant Park outfit.

Every fashion choice she makes will face merciless public scrutiny and we think she looks great in everything she wears including this absolutely gorgeous outfit. We particularly like the coats' great inner lining detail in black. Mrs. Obamas color choice falls right into the tans and earthy tones that look so great and sophisticated on mostly everyone, plus she adds a little sass in the sparkly details on the top.

How to dress skinny without Spanx



No, it's not Spanx. Spend New Years in a pair of Spanx and you'll come to the conclusion that control garments have a crucial role to play in our lives but most definitely not on a daily basis.

If all your weight is in the breasts, ( repeat- I am blessed to have such an asset, don't look upon it as a negative ) Needless to say- get a fantastic bra and show them off with good judgement. Wear a neckline with a little dip that says...Look, I'm not fat, it's all in the boobs. Never buy a turtle or round neck top. Ever! and no ponchos, never. The Rachel Pally T Back Tank is perfect in that it has a wide support 3" mesh T strap , and has a classy dip in the neckline.


If your weight is in the hips, (you sassy bella -find a tailor and make the waistline fit perfectly ). Wear pants that fall away at the curve of the bottom. That gives your back and legs a longer leaner line. Remember, for you, it's all about proportion. Anything that hugs and curves onto your hips right now must be followed by a top that fits like a glove. (See Beyonce above).

Watch the belt thing, it can give the appearance of trying too hard, especially when you have a small waistline. The look you are going for is definitely not Vegas showgirl.

If your weight is in the waist, you are all about creating an illusion. Fitted garments, fitted shirts are your friend, right now, not blouses...yet. Anything that hugs and curves into your butt right now must be followed by a top that falls a few inches below the curve of that butt. Get it???

So, leggings and tunics, wide pants and fitted jackets - kind of the opposite all the time. It's about drawing away attention from an otherwise perfect body.

Rich & Skinny Speedy Denim Jacket
Fitted blazers must follow you everywhere (casual and not casual) - you cannot, cannot wear anything shapeless otherwise it mirrors what you are trying to avoid. Denim jackets like the appropriately named Rich & Skinny Speedy Denim Jacket are perfect for this body type because they mirror the shape of the body, so no one can tell if the jacket is boxy or you are.

Just remember to wear with a longer top to create that waistline. If you wear low rise jeans, good cut for no waisters, pair with a great belt, with a 4inch monster buckle. The trick is to wear a fitted blazer unbuttoned, so that the buckle shows.

For all body types:


  • High heels are your friend, repeat, your best friend, so are belts. Belts???...yes, gorgeous belts with four inch buckles. High heels, all the way - because they make you more aware of what you are doing. You don't slouch and you dont drag your feet. You have to strut in them.

  • Fitted garments are our best friend.

  • Go easy on the necklaces. Avoid looking like a Florida matron by wearing one statement piece and not several.

  • Pants that fall away at the curve of the bottom. That gives your back and legs a longer leaner line. Remember, you are creating an illusion. Which means you can wear skinny jeans but a garment like a longer tunic must be worn on top. Try for skinny jeans in a very dark rinse and wear with dark shoes. If you can do boots, dark boots and dark shoes elongate the line causing the legs to flow mercilessly.

  • Don't force any color changes at any crucial point, which means don't break up the line. If you are wearing a white, gold, green (colored top) shirt, have the jacket match the pants and the pants match the boots.

  • Belts are our friends even for the waist challenged of us. People will notice your belt and subsequently leave you alone.

  • Avoid pencil skirts for now. Movement is important, so if you must wear a skirt, find one that gently flares away about mid thigh so that it creates a mini hourglass effect below. If in doubt, picture how all the stars that wore fishtail gowns at the Golden Globes looked stunning regardless of what they were wearing?

  • Dont pile on the fabrics as much as you might be tempted to. Be wary of the scarves and don't ever tie anything! that resembles a fabric around your waist..as in a sweater?. You are not fooling anyone, you just look like you are trying to hide a fat butt. For scarves, wear thin scarves, no bulk.


Now put the fork down and hit the gym.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Fashion recycles Barbie, Stephen Sprouse and Supermodels...

In just the same week, fashion heralds (again!) the Stephen Sprouse grafitti bags (and oh yes, there is a waitlist for the bags), Barbies 50th anniversary and now former supermodel Tatjana Patitz, is attempting a comeback?.



The German-born model, who featured on the iconic 1990 Vogue cover deemed to be the watershed moment in the supermodel era alongside Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford, has revealed that she "wouldn't say no" to stepping back into the fashion limelight now that her only child, Jonah, is getting older.

The industry has changed a lot since she left, she adds.

"There's a sea of girls. It's almost like a fast-food market - a girl does well for a few seasons, then she's forgotten. Before, it would take you a few seasons to get going and it was more possible to have longevity."

Which girls???

BARBIE NEWS:



In Barbie news, coinciding with the 50th anniversary plans that will see Barbie have her very own catwalk show in New York, the plastic beauty will sponsor shows of Ilincic and Scutt in the UK; and to say thank you both designers have created a special outfit, just for her.
"I couldn't wait to dress Barbie," says queen of romance Ilincic. "She's such an iconic model and the perfect front row show guest."

Seriously, we hope the above is said tongue in cheek but even more so, we hope is the bottom quote from Richard Dickson, general manager and senior vice president of Barbie:
"There has never been a better time for Barbie to reinforce her high fashion credentials and with Danielle Scutt and Roksanda Ilincic, alongside our global fashion celebrations, she is ready to embrace her 50th year in style."

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Victoria Beckham looking stunning in Armani lingerie ad debut



Victoria Beckham looks absolutely sensational in a series of photos for Armani. The pictures of Ms. Beckham, will grace billboards and magazines and are from her first shoot in a three-year multi-million dollar deal. Armani himself praised Victoria, herself a designer, as 'a style icon, a dynamic lady whose influence and recognition will add great excitement to the continued international growth of our Emporio Armani women's underwear business.'

For a mom of three, who has often complained about her body saying;

'There are loads of things I don't like about my body', she said. 'I've got so much saggy skin on my stomach.'

All we can say is... Well done, and we won't say anything about airbrushing and lighting. (Daily Mail)

Vogue Feb. Cover Girl is Gossip Girl Blake Lively



Check out Blake Lively on the cover of Vogue in a Marc Jacobs dress and bracelet. This outfit would have been a better choice than the Nina Ricci gown she had on at the Golden Globes.

Lively's mother, a former model, inspired the ingenue's interest in clothes. Of the show, she says;

"The fashion is unbelievable. You can watch our show on mute and be entertained,"

Lively often jokingly refers to her California fashion pedigree as "sweatpants and UGGs," but actually, she has always had an interest in clothes, inspired by her mother, a former model from Georgia, who sews and used to take Lively as a child to boutiques and vintage stores and tailor adult clothes to fit her.
"She just did that because she was so creative and because she didn't want me to be dressed in big T-shirts cinched with a plastic clip like all the rest of the kids."

Ironically, it was fashion that gave Lively a taste of how cruel girls can be. When she entered a private school in Los Angeles in second grade, for the first and only time in her life she did not fit in. "It was the only school where people were just downright mean to me," she recalls. "They would make fun of my clothes because I dressed differently than the other kids." Somehow we don't think they're laughing anymore.

The end result of the photo shoot....Simply Gorgeous!!

Read the entire interview on Vogue.com

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Prince Harry said What?...Beckhams gowns dissed, for older ladies?

With his brother creating headlines of a responsible sort, ANDthe Press hoping Prince William would propose to his girlfriend, it was Prince Harry who ended up stealing the entire show.

On Monday, after racist comments he made in a 2006 home video surfaced in Sunday’s News of the World, the press whipped him in the news. In the video, filmed when Harry was at officer training school at Sandhurst, the prince refers to a Pakistani pal as “a little Paki friend, Ahmed” and tells another fellow soldier he resembles a “raghead.” He also pokes fun at his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, mimicking a telephone call in which he sends love to her corgis.

The Royal Family could only issue a lame apology that "raghead" is the term used used for Pakistanis and that Prince Harry has a Pakistani friend named Ahmed.

The conservative Daily Mail accused the prince of “incredible crassness,” while The Telegraph, another right-wing title, said the prince was showing “an unfortunate propensity” for finding himself in hot water due to inappropriate remarks or activities. Guess who takes after Mommy?

VOGUE LOOKING TO MAKE MONEY ANYWAY THAT IT CAN:

Vogue has opened its archive and selected 10 images that have been put on display in the lobby of 4 Times Square — and are available to buy. Editors selected photos that span nearly 70 years, including Arnaud de Rosnay’s photograph of Cher in 1967 wearing Sonny Bono’s aviator sunglasses, Justin de Villeneuve’s shot of Twiggy in 1970 and an image of model Tatjana Patitz, taken in 1988 by longtime Vogue photographer Patrick Demarchelier. The images can be viewed until Feb. 16 and prices start at $2,500. (WWD)

POSH FROCKS DISSED BY CHERYL COLE:

Definitely not something Victoria Beckham wants to hear. Chery Cole said of her friends line, describing it as for "older women".

Her Girls Aloud bandmate Kimberley Walsh interjected, saying: "She means older than us! Not, you know..." "Yeah, it's not like stuff we would wear," Cole continued. (Yahoo UK)

Monday, January 12, 2009

Golden Globes Fashion Round Up...the LBD in short supply!

Strapless gowns, Assymetric dresses and lots of colour. To some of the stars like Jennifer Lopez and Glen Close, the Golden Globes was a themed evening as Lopez dazzled in a gilt Marchesa number. The LBD however, was definitely in short supply which made Kate Winslet stand out in her Yves St Laurent gown. The jewellers of the evening were Lorraine Schwartz and Fred Leighton.


Only a handful of actresses took the black route and include Renée Zellweger in Carolina Herrera and Evan Rachel Wood.



Christina Applegate in Roberto Cavalli and Lorraine Schwartz jewels.



Eva Mendes always brings her A game wherever she goes. Stunning in Dior Taffetta and a Van Cleef & Arpels tourqouise necklace, we like her. A lot!!!


Gossip Girls' Blake Lively looking anything but lively and extremely uncomfortable in Nina Ricci.


Cameron Diaz in Chanel. We are seriously divided on this dress. Was it deliberately made so it would like like a horrible bridesmaids dress or is it genius? You be the judge.


Thank goodness Beyonce did not show up as Sasha but if this is dress a tad snug, Beyonce certainly pulls it off. She pairs herElie Saab couture gown with a 200 carat Lorraine Schwartz platinum and diamond necklace.


In Oscar de la Renta, Fred Leighton jewels and Jimmy Choo heels, America Ferrera is not taking style lessons from Ugly Betty for sure.


Looking better than fine wine, how does she do it?. In Dior chiffon and there to support her daughter no less.


Eva is back! Eva Longoria seems to have put her fashion lapses behind her in a gorgeous Reem Acra gown. Splendid!


Sombody is most definitely having fun doing her best Marilyn Monroe impersonation. Drew Barrymore channels Monroe in Gallianos Dior Haute Couture.

For more photos go to People.com

Friday, January 9, 2009

"Vertigo" - Making a case for comfortable designer shoes!

Shoe shopping recently, the height of the heels was enough to send a girl into back spasms or give you nose bleeds. Who the heck is making these shoes and who the heck are they making them for? (All the heels shown in this post are between 3 and 4 inches).

If Christian Louboutin Yoyospina pumps don't do anything for you and Leopard shoes are not your thing, and frankly we are shocked that they are not!, read on.

Christian Louboutin Gigi Kid slingbacks look fairly tame but when you calculate the cost per wear and how many times you will actually wear them, they start looking like a really good buy.

If your shoe Rx calls for a little more comfortable, yet more statement making and a lot more showy, the Christian Louboutin Bebe Fusee slingbacks will most likely fill that prescription.

Then, a little Ferragamo caramel beauty whispered nearby with a normal 3 inch heel and the rest is history (we are now sole mates).

Needless to say, the sale rack was full of all the YSL beauties, the Louboutins, the Jimmy Choos all at half off and nobody was buying. We bet these Givenchy Silver strap sandal's would not stay on the shelves very long.


So as much as these vertiginous babies are gorgeous in print, their reality is exactly not our reality. Even models are falling off these shoes. Let's leave them to Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna and Victoria Beckham as we remember they all have chauffeurs. Not that we would ever turn down a chauffeur even while wearing a flat shoe!.

We did find one pair of Jimmy Choos (Jimmy Choo Pleasant patent pumps-nice name too) that will take you from the Office to a cocktail and you probably wouldn't mind slipping them right on the next day. Now that's what you want from a shoe, isn't it?.



Flat shoes have their place and their time as do high high heels but there's got to be a safe meeting point at which we can wear comfortable, drop dead sexy shoes and if we don't have large bunions, seriously why not?.

Once the designers figure this out, maybe there won't be endless stacks of gorgeous shoes on the sale racks. While we are on this topic, can someone tell the designers to please add cushion insoles to the shoes, even if they think their shoes are not meant to be comfortable.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

How to be a Supermodel...The reality of ABC'S True Beauty.. American Apparel Legal Soap Opera continues

WANNA BE A SUPE?:

Wanna be a Supe?...Read Julian Short's new book, A Model For Living: The Aspiring Supermodel's Self Help Guide.

Even if a modelling career isn't for you, the tips for handling rejection, boosting self esteem, managing relationships and developing assertiveness are certainly something that can be applied off the catwalk.

"This is a great book - it offers positive advice about dealing with difficult and every day situations," says Nineties uber-model and Storm girl Lorraine Pascale. "As a model, this would have been an invaluable guide for me when I was starting out and meeting different people, travelling, and being away from home and family. It also offers practical advice for maintaining a healthy self esteem and learning to be confident, and this is really important for today's young models - and women in general."

THE REALITY OF TRUE BEAUTY:

ist ejected contestant[Hadiyyalah - 1st ejected contestant rated herself a 20 out of 10 ]

Did you catch the season premiere of True Beauty. The new Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks collaboration? If you did, are you wondering how many of your brain cells were lost in watching this show which we are sure is going to be a hit. If you did, you are not alone.

The only thing that had true beauty on the show were the cars and oh yes... Vanesssa Minillo. Cute girl. The "Hall of Beauty", the silly asinine little contests - if you opened someone elses file or didn't help the guy loaded down with coffee cups instantly showed you were not a true beauty.

Take these people to a kindergarten class, a hospital, a soup kitchen or an old peoples home if you want to see true character. You start to wonder if the choices of the true test of ones character reflects the shallowness of the producers themselves.

The woman who was sent packing at the end of Monday's first episode, Hadiyyah-lah, (an Omarosa in training) was less than pleased to be labeled a hopeless bitch with an imperfect jawline.

The most scary part of the show is that they were all so serious. The guy who was told he was as perfect as Brad Pitt actually looked and acted like he had won the Nobel Prize or something of great importance. Yikes! or Maybe he was thinking of the $100,000 cash prize and a spot in People Magazines 100 most beautiful people.

MARKS & SPENCERS GET POOR MARKS IN RETAIL:

First Woolworths, now M&S. MARKS & SPENCER is to cut 1,230 jobs and close 27 stores after its UK sales fell 3.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to December.

During the M&S third quarter media conference call this morning, M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose admitted that the head office job cuts would be across the board.

He said: "We need to be careful about duplication of roles. No one will be immune."

The trading figures, revealed in M&S' third quarter trading statement, are a huge blow to the retailer which, under the leadership of Sir Stuart Rose, has enjoyed a period of phenomenal profitability personified by its band of supermodel faces - among them Twiggy, Elizabeth Jagger (Drapers)

AMERICAN APPARELS' LEGAL SOAP OPERA:

First it was employee discrimination, wrongful termination, Sexual harassment- all cases pending.

Now, The Los Angeles-based company finds itself embroiled in yet another legal battle with its former head of European operations after being hit by a lawsuit, filed by Bernhard-Axel Ingo Brake, who alleges he was fired after complaining about the company’s employment practices in Europe.

Brake --who joined the company in 2002 when it was still a fairly small company and privately held -- is further alleging that he is owed more than $1 million in bonuses and commissions that were verbally promised to him by founder and chief executive officer of Los Angeles-based American Apparel Inc. Dov Charney.

In a counter law suit, American Apparel is charging that Brake hired his mistress for a high-level job managing the company’s Switzerland business despite, American Apparel is alleging, the fact that she did not fulfill the duties of that position. In addition, the company alleges Brake hired his daughter to work in a company store -- violating American Apparel nepotism rules -- and paid her unwarranted bonuses, in an effort to enrich himself. (WWD)

COSMO ANNOUNCES CHINESE FASHION DESIGNER OF 2008:

The winner is OmniaLuo, Chairwoman and Chief Designer the "2008 Chinese Fashion Designer of the Year." Ms. Luo received this prestigious award at the Chinese version of the publication's December 11th "2008 Women of the Year" ceremony.

Sponsored by the Proctor & Gamble brand "Olay", this high profile event highlighted the achievements of Chinese female leaders across sports, entertainment, design, literature and more.