The luxury brand Mulberry revealed that its underlying sales had rocketed by nearly 80 per cent since the summer, as well-heeled shoppers snapped up its celebrity-endorsed handbags.
In a trading update, Mulberry said its booming sales meant its full-year profits for the year to 31 March would "significantly exceed" market expectations. The brand, which has 40 UK stores, including department store concessions, said its star performing handbags were the Bayswater, Lily and Alexa, which sells for up to £795 and was named after the TV presenter Alexa Chung.
For the 10 weeks to 2 October, Mulberry said like-for-like sales in its full-price stores surged by 79 per cent – up from 44 per cent growth for the previous 10-week period.
Godfrey Davis, the chief executive of Mulberry, said its sales growth in Asia, particularly in South Korea, was outstripping the UK. "The wholesale business in Asia is growing at more than 100 per cent per annum," he said. Over the 10 weeks, sales at Mulberry's shops in the UK jumped by 57 per cent, boosted by visitors from China to its London stores.
Mr Davis said: "We are naturally slightly conservative but business is really good for us."
Mulberry said that its margins had jumped, thanks to it completing a higher proportion of sales at full price. The luxury brand also had fewer mark-downs as the booming sales left it with low stock levels for the summer sale.
Following the update, analysts at Altium Securities upgraded their full-year pre-tax profit forecasts for Mulberry from £9.7m to £13m.
On its prospects for the festive trading period, Mr Davis said: "There is clearly strong demand from consumers for our products. But I don't know what the consumer mood will be at Christmas."
Shares in Mulberry rose by 27.5p, or 7 per cent, to 440.5p yesterday.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
September's hottest celebrity looks
After a relatively quiet summer on the 'shock frock' front, the past few weeks have seen celebrities vying for attention in all sorts of eye-popping get-ups at fashion events, film premieres and awards ceremonies. Here's our pick of the best and worst outfits...
And if you want to stay bang-on trend at mealtimes, too, why not join the slow cooker revolution? Yes, one-pot meals are back in fashion: simply add one of Schwartz's four mouthwatering Recipe Mixes for Slow Cookers and you're guaranteed a tastebud-tingling meal to remember. Price 99p; exclusive to Morrisons for four weeks from 4 October, then on-sale nationwide. Find out more at Schwartz online.
And if you want to stay bang-on trend at mealtimes, too, why not join the slow cooker revolution? Yes, one-pot meals are back in fashion: simply add one of Schwartz's four mouthwatering Recipe Mixes for Slow Cookers and you're guaranteed a tastebud-tingling meal to remember. Price 99p; exclusive to Morrisons for four weeks from 4 October, then on-sale nationwide. Find out more at Schwartz online.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
'I don't eat pasta anymore': Jersey Shore's Sammi reveals how she lost a stone
Jersey Shore star Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola has revealed she gave up every good 'guidette's' favourite dish - pasta - in an effort to lose weight.
And the reality TV star saw swift results thanks to her new no carb diet.
The 23-year-old lost a stone (15lbs), and slipped straight into a bikini to flaunt her transformed figure in a photoshoot for American magazine Life & Style.
Before and after: Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola showed off her slimmed down figure in Life & Style magazine
'I just changed my diet, and the next thing you know the pounds just came off,' Sammi tells the publication.
The brunette, who gained weight while partying to excess in Miami for the second season of the hit show, also began an intensive cardio routine. 'I miss it like crazy, but I don’t eat pasta anymore. I eat my vegetables and try to stay healthy.' The new series of Jersey Shore airs in the U.S. this Thursday on MTV.
Hit show: Sammi (third from right) visited the New York Stock Exchange earlier this week the rest of the Jersey Shore cast
From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
CHILLI IN KONTROL MAGAZINE + USHER AND CHRIS BROWN (PICS)
CHILLI is making 40 look like 25 in Kontrol Magazine. For the life of me I can’t see how the photographer managed to misrepresent this beauty. The angles are off, too distant but it still isn’t bad enough to conceal how gorgeous this flyGirl is. CHILLI’s former love USHER was out having a dance off with the redeemed CHRIS BROWN. See more pictures after the jump.
From: http://www.flystylelife.com/
Love the dress. Do you? I’m out about the shoes. Fly or not so fly?
Why at this angle? I have no idea.
What are your thoughts?
The CHRIS BROWN blog reported that USHER and CHRIS BROWN were at the SumFest in Jamaica together and had a dance off. Look at all the love. Awww.
From: http://www.flystylelife.com/
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Syrian Jazz Festival brightens Damascus nights
The happy sounds of jazz grew louder as my friend Rasha and I approached the Citadel of Damascus, a large medieval fortified palace and citadel in the old part of Syria’s capital, last week. I was in town on a quick visit and she had invited me to go see and hear some of the new young Syrian jazz bands that were playing that night.
I had arrived the day before in an unusual heat wave for the Syrian capital, 44 degrees Centigrade, with blasts of hot, dry air hitting my face as I walked to the airport bus from my plane after I had landed. This was weather that reminded me of Riyadh and not of a Levantine country.
Thankfully, the annual Jazz Lives in Syria Festival, which was in its 6th edition, was held outdoors at night in the lovely setting of the Citadel, its hefty limestone walls glowing yellow in the light of the spotlights. We soon reached the venue and were greeted by a large crowd of stylish Syrians and expatriates of all ages, some milling about and the majority sitting in front of a large stage where the various jazz groups were presenting themselves.
After buying some water and soft drinks to quench our thirst, we headed to the front row and sat down to watch Pressure Pot Band, a Syrian band that impressed us with their versatile blend of fusion jazz, that included references to Arabic, rock, funk and electronic music.
All the members of the band looked to be in their early twenties, headed by the chubby and charismatic Khaled Omran on bass guitar and vocals. Nareg Abjeean was on keyboards, Dani Shukri on drums, and Tarek Khuluki on electric guitar and vocals.
The audience loved Pressure Pot Band, erupting several times into appreciative applause and whoops of delight at certain riffs on the guitars. One of the band’s songs in Arabic, “Wein al Daght?” (“Where’s the Pressure?”), exemplified all of the pressures that young Syrians feel squeezed by today, from performing well in school to finding it very difficult to afford to get married and move out of their parents’ homes.
The group has a page on Facebook, and is reportedly working on recording their first CD.
Other local talent that enlivened the jazz festival was the Nota Band, a band of six young Syrian guys who specialize in fusing the sound of the Arabic Oud with jazz music; the first Latin music group in Syria called the Chilli Band; the Syrian Jazz Orchestra, and the Amr Hammour Trio.
The festival this year was held from July 8-13, and was free to the public. Sponsored by the Syrian Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Damascus, this celebration of jazz also included various foreign musicians such as the Barana Band from the Netherlands, Eivind Aarset of Norway, Lara Bello, a jazz singer from Spain, the MSV Brecht group from Germany, and the Swiss jazz pianist Marc Perrenoud.
The Damascus Jazz Festival does not limit itself to performances during that one week every summer. It holds workshops for local jazz musicians the whole year round, including ones for children refugees from Iraq and Palestine, which are generously funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
I was thoroughly surprised and elated at the quality and originality of the jazz music that I heard that night in Damascus. The riffing of Khaled Omran seemed to exemplify the worries and angst of young Arabs across the region, but also showed that funneled in the right direction, this angst can be turned into something creative and beautiful.
“This is much better than the Dubai Jazz Festival!” I told Rasha as we left. “I’m so glad that I came.”
This year’s festival is already over, but you should certainly put it on your calendar of things to do next summer if you want to experience the fresh and innovative jazz tunes of young Syrians.
From: http://arabnews.com/
La Dolce Vita! Kate Winslet Looks Like She’s Living The Beautiful Life After Her Split From Sam Mendes
A radiant Kate looks like she’s benefited by separating from hubby Sam – she seems to have turned back time as she films a commercial in Italy
Some say breaking up is hard to do, but Kate Winslet certainly doesn’t look like her March split from hubby of six years, director Sam Mendes, has taken a toll! In fact, the Oscar winner looks ages younger than her 34 years! The English actress proved that she’s fit, happy and moving on from the demise of her marriage as she shot a TV commercial for Swiss watch brand Longines in Rome July 21 with Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai and Taiwanese model Lin Chi-ling.
Kudos to you, Kate. You look great!
From: http://www.hollywoodlife.com/
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Stylelife's Vegas Celebration!
This past weekend at the Venetian in Las Vegas, the celebration of Style's birthday and the 1-year anniversary of Stylelife Academy was held at Tao Nightclub.
Before the party began, I had the pleasure of being invited to dinner with Style, Sin, Evolve, and the rest of the Stylelife family. Tao really went all out on this one with a huge table for us and dinner on the house! Though with the ridiculous amounts of food and drink headed our way it didn’t seem quite big enough.
It was an amazing experience getting to eat with some of the guys that are considered “The Greatest” pick up artists in the world. I kept my ears perked hoping these masters would let some of their ingenious tips slip out...and it absolutely paid off. Throughout dinner, Evolve and Sin shared an enlightening conversation of astrology. Their knowledge of this subject was more than just impressive; it was downright applicable to the world of dating and attraction. That night, simply couldn't wait to try some of the new openers and DHVs I gained from the masters.
But this night wasn’t really about studying pick up...it was about fun and celebration. Soon enough I found myself pow-wowing with Evolve, just catching up, drinking, and having some good times…
Also got to do a little bit of hanging with Style, which is always a pretty cool experience. And of course where there is Style…there is drop dead gorgeous women as well…and he was kind enough to make sure everyone was properly introduced to each other…
From the appetizers to the desert, everyone had a wonderful time. Our palettes were overjoyed with ecstasy! In the club, all the Stylelife students and guys from the mailing list present would swing by Neil’s big table to say hi... it was like we were all old friends…even the guys who I was meeting for the first time.
Indeed, the sense of community and brotherhood was strong that night, perhaps only slightly outdone by the mass number of extraordinary women dancing seductively in the club. As much as I enjoyed hanging out with the birthday boy, it was time to part ways and take my night their direction…
What I learned…Voodoo + Women of Tao = insanity.
The girls in Vegas all seem to have this “Vegas” attitude. It’s not defensive or rude…but it is more like “Let’s party - keep up or get out!”
So what did I decide to do? Simple…I flipped it around on them and partied even harder than they could. I basically ended up laughing hard and rocking out all night long and any girls who couldn’t laugh just as loud or rock out with just as much passion were left in the dust. Not to mention, when your wing is another Stylelife moderator such as Bolshevik, an unforgettable night is simply inevitable. I'm sure he'll share his stories with everyone in the near future.
Since I had met many different Stylelife guys, whenever I turned another corner there was always another friend to say hi and chill with…massive social proof, and zero shortage of good company.
And it’s a good thing, because that party never seemed to end…bumping into all my old buddies never seemed to get old.
I ran into Style a few times throughout the course of the night (and early morning I guess because I think I saw him around 2am). Not sure what ended up happening with him. Though at lunch the following day, he hinted at “some unspeakable adventures” from the party and post "Rules of The Game"…considering some of the crazy stuff he has spoken about in his books, I can’t even begin to imagine what in the world an unspeakable adventure is for him now a days. Some may say "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas." I say,
“What happens in Vegas goes on the Stylelife blog”
It's a saying I feel will catch on in the near future ;)
From: http://www.stylelife.com/
Entourage's Turtle and Brittny Gastineau- it's on!
Love is in the air for Entourage's Jerry Ferrara again. This time, Jamie-Lynn Sigler's ex-boyfriend has set his sights on a gorgeous Jamie look-alike, reality star Brittny Gastineau.
An eyewitness tells Life & Style the new couple went on a date to the Grove movie theaters in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 18, to catch a nighttime screening of the comedy Grown Ups.
"They were cute," the eyewitness, who spotted the twosome sharing popcorn and getting cozy in the dark, tells Life & Style.
It's not the first time Brittny has 'hooked up' with an Entourage cast member: At last week's 2010 ESPY Awards, Entourage star Emmanuelle Chriqui wore Brittny's Tres Glam jewelry on the red carpet.
From: http://www.lifeandstylemag.com/
An eyewitness tells Life & Style the new couple went on a date to the Grove movie theaters in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 18, to catch a nighttime screening of the comedy Grown Ups.
"They were cute," the eyewitness, who spotted the twosome sharing popcorn and getting cozy in the dark, tells Life & Style.
It's not the first time Brittny has 'hooked up' with an Entourage cast member: At last week's 2010 ESPY Awards, Entourage star Emmanuelle Chriqui wore Brittny's Tres Glam jewelry on the red carpet.
From: http://www.lifeandstylemag.com/
Monday, July 19, 2010
The September Issues: Lebron James Covers GQ and Halle Berry Covers Vogue?
Rumor has it that Lebron James and Halle Berry will cover the September issues of GQ and Vogue, respectively:
This will be Lebron's second time on the cover of GQ (his first was in February, 2009). This will also be the second time Halle will grace Vogue's cover (the first was in December, 2002).
September issues are typically one of the biggest and most important issues of the year for a magazine. Pegged for the return to work and school after summer vacation, they compile the best in pre-fall fashion, features and lifestyle stories. The September issue is so important that Vogue even created a film, 'The September Issue,' which documented the hard work it takes behind the scenes to produce the mammoth book.
Vogue hasn't placed a black woman on a September issue since Anna Wintour raised eyebrows by putting Naomi Campbell on the September 1989 cover.
There's not doubt that Lebron and Halle's covers are groundbreaking and historical.
Will you be purchasing them?
From: http://www.bvonstyle.com/
This will be Lebron's second time on the cover of GQ (his first was in February, 2009). This will also be the second time Halle will grace Vogue's cover (the first was in December, 2002).
September issues are typically one of the biggest and most important issues of the year for a magazine. Pegged for the return to work and school after summer vacation, they compile the best in pre-fall fashion, features and lifestyle stories. The September issue is so important that Vogue even created a film, 'The September Issue,' which documented the hard work it takes behind the scenes to produce the mammoth book.
Vogue hasn't placed a black woman on a September issue since Anna Wintour raised eyebrows by putting Naomi Campbell on the September 1989 cover.
There's not doubt that Lebron and Halle's covers are groundbreaking and historical.
Will you be purchasing them?
From: http://www.bvonstyle.com/
High Heels That Don’t Hurt
Whoever said “beauty is pain” wasn’t kidding; high heels hurt. As cute as those new pair of pumps are, you can’t always justify wearing them if you know your feet will be hurting in an hour. As a doctor of physical therapy, Dr. Geoffrey Alan Gray knows the sacrifice some women will make to wear their shoes.
“Years of treating numerous aching feet and making thousands of orthotics led me to the conclusion that women are simply not meant to wear high-heeled shoes,” Gray said in a press release. “But women also shouldn’t have to choose between wearing the stylish high-heel stilettos or wedges and having their feet suffer, or going for a less-fashionable, but more comfortable look.”
From File
Talus Heelbeds, black
Seeing a need in the market, Gray founded Santa Barbara-based Heeluxe, LLC, in 2009, designing fashionable inserts for high-heel shoes. Released last month, the Talus Heelbeds are a high-heel insert designed to shift body weight off the ball of the feet, relieving pressure that would cause pain in the heels, knees, and back.
“Talus Heelbeds work with natural heel movement to create support that will allow women everywhere to wear their heels all day and all night — without pain,” Gray stated.
The talus bone, the heelbed’s namesake, forms the lower part of the ankle joint and transmits the weight of the body to the foot. Pain is usually caused by forcing feet into a forward slanted position, which isn’t natural and shifts body weight to the ball and arch of the foot. According to Gray, this can cause damage to these areas of the foot. The heelbeds are designed to stop feet from sliding forward in the shoe, preventing pain, and angles the heel without the need for arch support.
The Talus Heelbeds are available at the Heeluxe Web site, and at several Northern California boutique stores. Currently offering the inserts in black and red, Gray hopes to eventually expand the line with additional patterns and colors.
“Years of treating numerous aching feet and making thousands of orthotics led me to the conclusion that women are simply not meant to wear high-heeled shoes,” Gray said in a press release. “But women also shouldn’t have to choose between wearing the stylish high-heel stilettos or wedges and having their feet suffer, or going for a less-fashionable, but more comfortable look.”
From File
Talus Heelbeds, black
Seeing a need in the market, Gray founded Santa Barbara-based Heeluxe, LLC, in 2009, designing fashionable inserts for high-heel shoes. Released last month, the Talus Heelbeds are a high-heel insert designed to shift body weight off the ball of the feet, relieving pressure that would cause pain in the heels, knees, and back.
“Talus Heelbeds work with natural heel movement to create support that will allow women everywhere to wear their heels all day and all night — without pain,” Gray stated.
The talus bone, the heelbed’s namesake, forms the lower part of the ankle joint and transmits the weight of the body to the foot. Pain is usually caused by forcing feet into a forward slanted position, which isn’t natural and shifts body weight to the ball and arch of the foot. According to Gray, this can cause damage to these areas of the foot. The heelbeds are designed to stop feet from sliding forward in the shoe, preventing pain, and angles the heel without the need for arch support.
The Talus Heelbeds are available at the Heeluxe Web site, and at several Northern California boutique stores. Currently offering the inserts in black and red, Gray hopes to eventually expand the line with additional patterns and colors.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Miami Fashion Week Swim 2011: Trina Turk - Runway Review
Three looks from Trina Turk's Swim & Spa 2011 collection. Photos: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images (3)
Five days of fashion shows featuring the best designers in swim and resort wear bring a bevy of celebrities, top editors, buyers, and countless parties to the Magic City.
StyleList will bring you the hottest looks in sizzling swimwear. So stay tuned.
Kicking off Miami Fashion Week Swim 2011 was Los Angeles-based designer Trina Turk, who made her debut appearance this year with the eponymous collection, Trina Turk Swim & Spa 2011.
DESIGNER: Trina Turk
INSPIRATION: The glitz and glamour of Acapulco, Mexico, in the '60s and '70s
WHO WAS THERE: Celebs like Bow Wow and Angela Simmons, Playboy model Hope Dworaczyk, and sibling socialites Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski
TOP LOOKS: Turk's signature bright and bold prints like the Tamarindo Beads (above left), Acapulco Gold, and Casablanca were on everything from plunging halter-top suits to bejeweled bikinis to men's briefs and flowy maxi dresses featuring gold hardware inspired by vintage baubles.
Liquid-gold jersey pants and asymmetrical tops reminiscent of disco days were worn as cover-ups and proved that metallics are a must for any season. Silk charmeuse frocks like "In the Mood" featured an explosion of citron, fuchsia, and turquoise hues.
ACCESSORIES: Gold found its way onto wedges, oversized cuffs, aviators, and all types of jewelry. The popular metal was spotted on pendants, bangles, and bib necklaces. Gigantic straw hats, some plain and others embellished with bows, were the headgear du jour as were fedoras adorned with ribbon and colorful silk head scarves. Totes and beach bags were also emblazoned with Turk's key prints.
WHAT WE THOUGHT: We loved the mismatching patterns of swimwear mixed with scarves and totes. The take on mesh was refreshing -- the see-through, oval-shaped white fabric found a way to be playful in lengthy caftans, pants, and one-shouldered tops. The splish-splash of color and tropical prints swirling on mini tunics and rompers made us wish for endless summers spent frolicking in the ocean and basking in the long hours of sunlight.
In other swimwear news, check out 40-year-old Heather Graham in a string bikini!
From: http://www.stylelist.com/
Ashley Greene Goes Vampire-Chic For Fall
For Ashley Greene, life seems to be imitating art. In a photo shoot for the August issue of Elle, the stunning star proves that even the world of Haute Couture has been bewitched by The Twilight Saga. Draped in goth-inspired fall fashions from the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Balmain, Gucci, Fendi, Alberta Ferretti, Alexander Wang and more, Greene is the ultimate vampire vixen. After playing Alice Cullen–the most fashion-savvy immortal–in the last three Twilight movies, Greene has become one of Hollywood’s most prominent rising style stars, donning labels like Dolce & Gabbana, L’Wren Scott, and Antonio Berardi on the red carpet. Check out a behind-the-scenes peek at Ashley Greene’s vampire-chic shoot below
From: http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com
From: http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com
'GQ' Reveals A Healthy, Happy, Hot Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan may have a heap of troubles in the US, but in Germany, she's smokin' hot! In an awkwardly—yet rather appropriately—timed release, GQ Germany has revealed Lilo as their scantily-clad August cover model. She frolicks on the beach in a series of dreamy muted pictures.
In one shot, Lindsay poses seductively with a guitar—and only a guitar—then channels a lingerie clad hunter in another. She looks healthy and happy, as if time had been turned back to 2004. Is this a sign for a positive recovery?
Good luck Lindsay!
From: http://www.zimbio.com
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
TOP TEN Mistakes Men Make When Picking Up Women
Pick Up Stylelife Tips By Neil Strauss
1. Don't wait to approach her until she's alone. Even if she likes you, her friends will soon drag her away.
2. Don't stare at her for more than three seconds before approaching. Hesitate, and you'll either creep her out or psyche yourself out.
3. Don't be afraid to approach her just because there are men in the group. Often, you'll discover that she's with family, friends, or co-workers.
4. Never open a conversation by apologizing. Phrases like “Excuse me… “ “Pardon me… “ and “I'm sorry, but… “ make you sound like a beggar.
5. Don't hit on her or give her a generic compliment. Instead, start a conversation with an entertaining anecdote or question, such as asking the group to suggest names for a three-legged cat or a store that sells 70's memorabilia. It may sound corny, but everyone loves to give their opinion.
6. Never, ever buy her a drink. You shouldn't have to pay for her attention.
7. Don't touch or grab her right away. If she touches you, say, with a smile, “Hey now, hands off the merchandise.”
8. Don't lean in or hover over her. Stand up straight and, if the music's too loud or she's seated, simply speak up.
9. Don't ask her what her name is, what she does for a living, or where she's from. She's bored of talking about the same things with every new guy she meets.
10. Don't focus all your attention on her when she's with other people. If you win her friends over, you'll win her.
Spring 2010 Fashion Week Presentation
New York Fashion Week (September 12, 2009) – Stacey Bendet once again brings her work to life with the launch of alice + olivia’s spring 2010 collection. This season the innovative designer will transform a raw gallery space in New York City’s meatpacking district into a live rock concert scene featuring a performance by French girl band Plastiscines and styled by Stacey’s longtime friends Anda and Masha.
Following the success of the past themed presentations “alice in wonderland”, “breakfast in bed”, “hippy queen” and Mick Rock photo gallery at alice + olivia’s Bryant Park Store, Stacey once again spins a stylish tale through the music of the Plastiscines, enlisting the band to perform and promote the playful mood of the collection. Both the band and the runway models, posing as adoring fans, will showcase the designers’ spring looks.
Stacey’s inspiration for her spring 2010 collection was “the power of the female”. She wanted to represent girls “predicating sexuality, cleverness and charm” by combining influence from all the women who influence her every day. Keeping her feminine side in mind, she set about to create a collection she describes as “playful with an edge”. The designer often credits her line as catering to every kind of woman; creating clothes that are meant to make a woman feel both sexy and sweet. After seeing the Plastiscines’ “Barcelona” video, Stacey decided that there was no better way to bring her spring collection to life than with a performance by the band. The band exudes a “candy punk vibe” that is in tune with alice + olivia’s cleverly unique style.
Chic structured dresses in pale pinks, purples and neutrals are mixed with the brand’s traditional black and white colors. Small floral prints, embellished tops and structured jackets with cut out details define the flirty and inventive collection. alice + olivia will also showcase their basics line featuring t-shirts and button-downs in soft, butter-like fabrics, linens and metallics. This season alice + olivia also unveils their latest collaboration with the jewelry line Erickson Beamon and their continued partnership with Payless, featuring fashion-forward footwear for spring.
Spring 2010 will also mark the launch of alice + olivia’s premiere high-end collection. The new line was created to add more diversity for their specialty stores and allow customers to have a more unique alice + olivia shopping experience. The collection consists of hand worked pieces that use luxurious materials and detailed craftsmanship. These edgy and inventive designs will be available as part of a limited edition collection.
As always, the imaginative and edgy collection will reflect Stacey’s lifestyle, as the ever busy designer continues to live bi-coastally and is mom to ten-month old daughter Eloise Breckenridge Eisner. Stacey views life and fashion as synonymous, and continues to find ways to creatively blend the two elements. With a chic spring collection brought to life by the Plasticines music, alice + olivia pushes the boundaries of art and fashion.
Monday, July 5, 2010
High-Fashion Photographers Declare Britney Spears to Be 'Hottest Woman' on Earth
LOS ANGELES
When it comes to the world of high-fashion and A-list celebrities, photography duo Markus Klinko and Indrani have snapped almost every fabulous face over the span of their careers.
But among all the stars they've worked with, from Jennifer Lopez to Naomi Campbell, the star they think is the hottest woman alive, just might surprise you.
Yup – it is Britney Spears, y’all.
“Britney would be the hottest woman I have ever photographed, she was super sexy. At the time, she was just unbelievable – so natural and so sweet,” Klinko gushed to Pop Tarts, referring to a large-scale, garden-themed shoot they did with the pop princess at the beginning of 2004. “Britney was just so personable and she had a lot of the ideas for the images. It was one of the loveliest experiences.”
While this was years before Brit married and divorced Kevin Federline, shaved her head and lost custody of her kids – it seems the seeds to that eventual breakdown were already starting to sprout.
“Britney was very vulnerable. She had a big entourage but they didn’t really pay attention to her – she felt like she was on her own,” added Indrani. “She worked day and night singing and dancing for a video she was working on, and she was working up to the minute that she left for our shoot. That was 11 at night and we worked until 3 in the morning. I was amazed, I just couldn’t understand how someone could keep up that pace.”
SLIDESHOW: Britney Spears Is One Hot Bikini Mama
And perhaps Spears was looking for a way out too – just a few days later, the then 22-year-old hit up Sin City and got hitched to her childhood pal, Jason Alexander, in what turned out to be a marriage that lasted just 55 hours.
But this certainly isn’t the only troubled Tinseltowner Klinko and Indrani have photographed. The professional partners (and formerly ‘personal’ partners) have captured Lindsay Lohan several times over the years, and most recently in a new campaign for her leggings line. Viewers can even see all the drama go down in an upcoming episode of the new Bravo docu-series “Double Exposure,” premiering on Tuesday at 10 p.m. EDT, which takes much more than just a simple snapshot of the trials and tribulations they deal with in their celebrity-driven business.
“Lindsay is extremely talented and very charismatic and I think she is very, very intelligent. Although some of her choices have maybe questionable in the past, I think that’s part of the process of becoming a great artist is going through a lot of challenges. You can’t become great without experiencing challenges,” Indrani said.
SLIDESHOW: 7 Reasons Why Lindsay Lohan Is the New Britney Spears
Just last month the 36-year-old photographer told the New York Post that she was in a romantic relationship with 23-year-old Lohan, a claim the actress later denied. And although Indrani played coy when it came to the current status of their “association,” she apparently still plays a prominent part in the tormented starlet’s life.
“I feel like we have a nice understanding of each other and I really like to be a positive influence in her life because when we work together it is very exciting and she’s really focused on her work and art,” Indrani added. “She really spends a lot of time studying the great artists of the past and the great films of the past. She’s very focused. I know the press is very interested in other aspects of her life but in my experience she’s really surprised me with her intelligence and knowledge of these things and just how sweet she can be.”
In addition to Lohan, the show also features shoots with the likes of Naomi Campbell, Brooklyn Decker, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. And the photographers were actually “surprised” with what Kardashian really looked like, sans all that typically thick makeup, mascara and hair spray.
SLIDESHOW: The Lovely and Talented Kim Kardashian
“Kim is another one that surprised us. Up to the point when we started shooting, no one had seen her without the heavy black makeup,” Indrani added. “It’s really important that we show her for who she really is. She is extremely beautiful without all the makeup and the hairstyling. She is gorgeous when she walks in and I think it was a surprise to her because people get used to the way they are presented. I think it was a challenge for Kim and she really enjoyed the results.”
When it comes to the world of high-fashion and A-list celebrities, photography duo Markus Klinko and Indrani have snapped almost every fabulous face over the span of their careers.
But among all the stars they've worked with, from Jennifer Lopez to Naomi Campbell, the star they think is the hottest woman alive, just might surprise you.
Yup – it is Britney Spears, y’all.
“Britney would be the hottest woman I have ever photographed, she was super sexy. At the time, she was just unbelievable – so natural and so sweet,” Klinko gushed to Pop Tarts, referring to a large-scale, garden-themed shoot they did with the pop princess at the beginning of 2004. “Britney was just so personable and she had a lot of the ideas for the images. It was one of the loveliest experiences.”
While this was years before Brit married and divorced Kevin Federline, shaved her head and lost custody of her kids – it seems the seeds to that eventual breakdown were already starting to sprout.
“Britney was very vulnerable. She had a big entourage but they didn’t really pay attention to her – she felt like she was on her own,” added Indrani. “She worked day and night singing and dancing for a video she was working on, and she was working up to the minute that she left for our shoot. That was 11 at night and we worked until 3 in the morning. I was amazed, I just couldn’t understand how someone could keep up that pace.”
SLIDESHOW: Britney Spears Is One Hot Bikini Mama
And perhaps Spears was looking for a way out too – just a few days later, the then 22-year-old hit up Sin City and got hitched to her childhood pal, Jason Alexander, in what turned out to be a marriage that lasted just 55 hours.
But this certainly isn’t the only troubled Tinseltowner Klinko and Indrani have photographed. The professional partners (and formerly ‘personal’ partners) have captured Lindsay Lohan several times over the years, and most recently in a new campaign for her leggings line. Viewers can even see all the drama go down in an upcoming episode of the new Bravo docu-series “Double Exposure,” premiering on Tuesday at 10 p.m. EDT, which takes much more than just a simple snapshot of the trials and tribulations they deal with in their celebrity-driven business.
“Lindsay is extremely talented and very charismatic and I think she is very, very intelligent. Although some of her choices have maybe questionable in the past, I think that’s part of the process of becoming a great artist is going through a lot of challenges. You can’t become great without experiencing challenges,” Indrani said.
SLIDESHOW: 7 Reasons Why Lindsay Lohan Is the New Britney Spears
Just last month the 36-year-old photographer told the New York Post that she was in a romantic relationship with 23-year-old Lohan, a claim the actress later denied. And although Indrani played coy when it came to the current status of their “association,” she apparently still plays a prominent part in the tormented starlet’s life.
“I feel like we have a nice understanding of each other and I really like to be a positive influence in her life because when we work together it is very exciting and she’s really focused on her work and art,” Indrani added. “She really spends a lot of time studying the great artists of the past and the great films of the past. She’s very focused. I know the press is very interested in other aspects of her life but in my experience she’s really surprised me with her intelligence and knowledge of these things and just how sweet she can be.”
In addition to Lohan, the show also features shoots with the likes of Naomi Campbell, Brooklyn Decker, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. And the photographers were actually “surprised” with what Kardashian really looked like, sans all that typically thick makeup, mascara and hair spray.
SLIDESHOW: The Lovely and Talented Kim Kardashian
“Kim is another one that surprised us. Up to the point when we started shooting, no one had seen her without the heavy black makeup,” Indrani added. “It’s really important that we show her for who she really is. She is extremely beautiful without all the makeup and the hairstyling. She is gorgeous when she walks in and I think it was a surprise to her because people get used to the way they are presented. I think it was a challenge for Kim and she really enjoyed the results.”
Fashion: Lady Gaga Chooses Iceland
Lady Gaga is good singer and it seems that Lady Gaga chooses an Icelandic to make her clothes.I like the songs of Lady Gaga very much.Lady Gaga wears the clothes of a designer emerging Icelandic. The new Cinderella princess who will become the trend is the 24 year old Icelandic designer Vera Thordardottir. The student graduated a few days ago in Fashion Design Institute Marangoni fashion school London churning out talent for the fashion world. Until Lady Gaga was in front of the line with other things than music.
And some days ago was approached by fans of the site of Lady Gaga, asking her about the new piece of his clothing line, worn by Miss Germanotta. “When I was contacted to request details on the fans’ outfit was absolutely stunned. I ran to the computer to click on the photos of Elton John’s Charity Party and it was all true: Lady Gaga had put my own creation. And I was crazy happiness, who would have ever imagined. ” I like Lady Gaga songs very much.
And the dream is actually treated, whereas the jacket designed by Vera has been worn by the singer during the “White Tie and Tiara ball, an event to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The garment is a jacket created using a very special fabric, made from silicon, silver thread and Swarovski crystals. Big fan of the famous Dutch designers Viktor and Rolf, the Thordardottir decided to create a collection whose concept was that of ice: the collection is called Boreal and in fact draws on influences winter and cold climates of Iceland. As the jacket worn by Lady Gaga, a dress-sculpture and artificial volumes exaggerated the Institute has undergone Nicholas Formichetti, stylist of pop star, with whom the young Vera had already been awarded with the prize in London Fashion Awareness Direct. Lady Gaga has a big succes with her songs.
In short, a very respectable debut for the young Icelandic: Lady Gaga reconfirms the best means of product-placement in the world, better than they do other testimonials. Celebrate it in his video console “Parrot” by Philip Stark, the Ukrainian vodka “Nemiroff” and many look to McQueen, not to mention the last video scandal “Alejandro” created by photographer Steven Klein. Probably the models of Young Thordardottir will be a must-have for next season, certainly for the fashion-addicted jacket Boreal is already a cult.
From: http://www.themorningnews.net/
And some days ago was approached by fans of the site of Lady Gaga, asking her about the new piece of his clothing line, worn by Miss Germanotta. “When I was contacted to request details on the fans’ outfit was absolutely stunned. I ran to the computer to click on the photos of Elton John’s Charity Party and it was all true: Lady Gaga had put my own creation. And I was crazy happiness, who would have ever imagined. ” I like Lady Gaga songs very much.
And the dream is actually treated, whereas the jacket designed by Vera has been worn by the singer during the “White Tie and Tiara ball, an event to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The garment is a jacket created using a very special fabric, made from silicon, silver thread and Swarovski crystals. Big fan of the famous Dutch designers Viktor and Rolf, the Thordardottir decided to create a collection whose concept was that of ice: the collection is called Boreal and in fact draws on influences winter and cold climates of Iceland. As the jacket worn by Lady Gaga, a dress-sculpture and artificial volumes exaggerated the Institute has undergone Nicholas Formichetti, stylist of pop star, with whom the young Vera had already been awarded with the prize in London Fashion Awareness Direct. Lady Gaga has a big succes with her songs.
In short, a very respectable debut for the young Icelandic: Lady Gaga reconfirms the best means of product-placement in the world, better than they do other testimonials. Celebrate it in his video console “Parrot” by Philip Stark, the Ukrainian vodka “Nemiroff” and many look to McQueen, not to mention the last video scandal “Alejandro” created by photographer Steven Klein. Probably the models of Young Thordardottir will be a must-have for next season, certainly for the fashion-addicted jacket Boreal is already a cult.
From: http://www.themorningnews.net/
Saturday, July 3, 2010
It’s A Stylist-Eat-Stylist World
The world of fashion styling is plenty competitive, but thanks to Theory, that competition is now pretty literal: The label pitted three top stylists (Annabel Tollman and Nylon’s J Errico and Dani Stahl) against one another in a to-the-finish style-off. Each styled three looks (a shorts look, a jersey look, and a men’s look) using Theory items, all of which are now on view at Theory’s Facebook page; vote for your favorite from now until July 9, and the one with the most votes will get a donation made in his or her name to the charity of his choice. (Tollman is playing for Oxfam America, Errico for the Hetrick-Martin Institute, and Stahl for the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons.) As an added incentive, cast your vote and you’ll be eligible to win one of three $750 gift cards. Go forth and vote, and may the best stylist win.
Above: Shorts looks (left to right) styled by J Errico, Annabel Tollman, and Dani Stahl.
From: http://www.style.com/
Above: Shorts looks (left to right) styled by J Errico, Annabel Tollman, and Dani Stahl.
From: http://www.style.com/
Julianne Moore on The Kids Are All Right
While doing promotional rounds for The Kids Are All Right, Julianne Moore gave us the scoop on her latest role, as one half of a lesbian couple whose life is upended when their teenage kids reach out to their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo). We learned at least four things about her:
— She and onscreen wife Annette Bening had easy chemistry. “Someone said ‘you have chemistry with Mark and Annette. And Stuart Blumberg, our co-writer, said ‘that’s because you’re pansexual.’ But you have chemistry with somebody because of a certain kind of luck—and I think desire too, to make a connection onscreen. With Annette, one thing we had going for us was that we’d both been in long-term relationships and we’re both parents. She has four kids, I have two, so this is not a paradigm that’s unfamiliar to us—it’s something that we’re living.”
— She prefers directors who take a step back. “With the really detailed ones, you’re like ‘well, you do it your way.’ I really do feel like it’s my responsibility to figure it out. I need to understand it myself so I can do my part of the job and be a conduit. Otherwise, they don’t want an actor, they want an avatar, a puppet. And the great thing about film is the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Everyone has something that they do well, hopefully, and I’m not going to operate a camera the way my friend Mitch can. You all have to operate with your strengths.”
— She helped recruit Bening to the film. “[Director] Lisa Cholodenko had a short list of people and said ‘What do you think about Annette Bening? Because she’s the one I really see in this.’ And I was like ‘That sounds great.’ And I didn’t know her, but I said I’d email her. So I did, because it’s a way to cut through—these things can take months. You send a script to an agent, somebody reads it, they pass it along…but you can get a response from a peer generally pretty quickly.”
— She’s happy to take on movies with marital themes. “When you start out in this business and you’re twenty-one years old you’re going to play a teenager or someone right out of college. Now I’m in my forties and I’m playing a lot of people who have dilemmas common to people in their forties, like being married for a really long time. Zadie Smith did this book on criticism, and she said that somebody had dismissed Steven Spielberg as being a family filmmaker as if family weren’t the major narrative in people's lives, and it’s a really great statement. There’s so much to mine in family and marriage and relationships. That’s all we do—aside from going to work.”
From: http://fashion.elle.com/
Monday, June 28, 2010
Drake Calls Out Ludacris For Borrowing His Signature Flow
Young Money 's Drake recently spoke on his rap flow and why artists like Ludacris have borrowed and misused it in their rhymes.While not trying to offend anyone, Drake expressed his issues with his popular flow and referenced Ludacris' line off "My Chick Bad.".
"Well, that flow has been killed by so many rappers. And, I never want to use that flow again in life. [Laughs] I wanted to take if off my album, because I was like, 'I shut 'em down. Onyx.' I hate the fact that that rhyme is still in there. To be honest, that flow, you can trace it back to like...I trace it back to Big Sean (artist on Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music). That's the first guy I heard utilize that flow throughout the duration of a verse. I'll give him that credit. I think Kanye got it from him. Me and Wayne found a dope way to do it. I don't want to sound cocky, but the best way its been used was on "Forever." Those lines just all individually make so much sense. They're all punchlines. Then a bunch of rappers started doing it and using the most terrible references in the world. I don't want to offend somebody...I hate that rappers picked that flow up. I wish they had left that for people that know how to use it. [They go like] "It's a parade! MACY'S!" (All Hip Hop)
Luda is heard using the flow off his Nicki Minaj guest featured single.
"Couple girlfriends and they all a lil' crazy/Comin' down the street like a parade, Macy's/I fill her up, balloons!/Test her and guns get drawn like cartoons/Doh, but I ain't talk 'bout Homer/Chick so bad the whole crew wanna bone her!" ("My Chick Bad")
G.O.O.D.'s Music Big Sean also took notice of Drake's comments.
"D*mn, Drake admitted that he used my #supadupa flow, n got it from me, I started a ryme scheme that changed raphttp://bit.ly/bd7rrF" (Big Sean's Twitter)
Aside from flows, Drake's Thank Me Later debut topped the charts this past week.
Young Money rapper Drake's Thank Me Later finally debuted on the charts this week landing at No. 1. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the rapper's long-awaited debut moved 447,300 units after seven days in stores. (SOHH Sales Wrap).
Listen to Ludacris' usage of the flow on "My Chick Bad" below:
From: http://www.hiphopdx.com/
"Well, that flow has been killed by so many rappers. And, I never want to use that flow again in life. [Laughs] I wanted to take if off my album, because I was like, 'I shut 'em down. Onyx.' I hate the fact that that rhyme is still in there. To be honest, that flow, you can trace it back to like...I trace it back to Big Sean (artist on Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music). That's the first guy I heard utilize that flow throughout the duration of a verse. I'll give him that credit. I think Kanye got it from him. Me and Wayne found a dope way to do it. I don't want to sound cocky, but the best way its been used was on "Forever." Those lines just all individually make so much sense. They're all punchlines. Then a bunch of rappers started doing it and using the most terrible references in the world. I don't want to offend somebody...I hate that rappers picked that flow up. I wish they had left that for people that know how to use it. [They go like] "It's a parade! MACY'S!" (All Hip Hop)
Luda is heard using the flow off his Nicki Minaj guest featured single.
"Couple girlfriends and they all a lil' crazy/Comin' down the street like a parade, Macy's/I fill her up, balloons!/Test her and guns get drawn like cartoons/Doh, but I ain't talk 'bout Homer/Chick so bad the whole crew wanna bone her!" ("My Chick Bad")
G.O.O.D.'s Music Big Sean also took notice of Drake's comments.
"D*mn, Drake admitted that he used my #supadupa flow, n got it from me, I started a ryme scheme that changed raphttp://bit.ly/bd7rrF" (Big Sean's Twitter)
Aside from flows, Drake's Thank Me Later debut topped the charts this past week.
Young Money rapper Drake's Thank Me Later finally debuted on the charts this week landing at No. 1. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the rapper's long-awaited debut moved 447,300 units after seven days in stores. (SOHH Sales Wrap).
Listen to Ludacris' usage of the flow on "My Chick Bad" below:
From: http://www.hiphopdx.com/
Lil Boosie, Other Gunmen Face Hearing Today
Rapper Lil Boosie is slated to appear in court today (June 28th) to face a hearing related to a first-degree murder charge.
Boosie, born Torrence Hatch, will attend the hearing along with several other men who are accused in a string of shootings.
A grand jury indicted Lil Boosie on a first-degree-murder charge on June 18th for his role in the October 2009 shooting death of Baton Rogue resident, 35-year-old Terry Boyd.
Lil Boosie, 27, has also been declared a suspect in at least two other murders, prosecutors recently confirmed.
As previously reported, Lil Boosie is being investigated in the murder of Chris “Nussie” Jackson, who was publicly feuding with Boosie until his murder in February of 2009.
Now, police are investigating if Lil Boosie and his alleged crew of killers were involved in the death of Darryl “Bleek” Milton.
Milton was a former employee of Lil Boosie’s record label, Bad Azz Entertainment, was found shot dead in his Cadillac on April 1st.
Five other people have been indicted in Milton’s killing already and East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III, said police are investigating Boosie’s possible ties to the slaying.
Milton is featured prominently in Lil Boosie’s video for “We Out Chea” and his death is acknowledged at the end of the video.
Lil Boosie is facing death by lethal injection if he is convicted of 1st-degree murder.
From: http://allhiphop.com/
Boosie, born Torrence Hatch, will attend the hearing along with several other men who are accused in a string of shootings.
A grand jury indicted Lil Boosie on a first-degree-murder charge on June 18th for his role in the October 2009 shooting death of Baton Rogue resident, 35-year-old Terry Boyd.
Lil Boosie, 27, has also been declared a suspect in at least two other murders, prosecutors recently confirmed.
As previously reported, Lil Boosie is being investigated in the murder of Chris “Nussie” Jackson, who was publicly feuding with Boosie until his murder in February of 2009.
Now, police are investigating if Lil Boosie and his alleged crew of killers were involved in the death of Darryl “Bleek” Milton.
Milton was a former employee of Lil Boosie’s record label, Bad Azz Entertainment, was found shot dead in his Cadillac on April 1st.
Five other people have been indicted in Milton’s killing already and East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III, said police are investigating Boosie’s possible ties to the slaying.
Milton is featured prominently in Lil Boosie’s video for “We Out Chea” and his death is acknowledged at the end of the video.
Lil Boosie is facing death by lethal injection if he is convicted of 1st-degree murder.
From: http://allhiphop.com/
JAY-Z AND EMINEM ADD MORE DATES IN NEW YORK, DETROIT
Jay-Z and Eminem have doubled up on performances for their upcoming 'Home And Home' tour, adding two additional dates for their September shows at Yankee Stadium in New York and Comerica Park in Detroit.
Just hours after the Thursday (June 24) pre-sale for their September 2 and September 13 dates in Detroit and New York, an extra show was added in each city. Now, the 'Renegade'-duo will perform in Detroit's Comerica Park on September 2 and 3, and Yankee Stadium in New York on September 13 and 14. Jay-Z is scheduled to open up for Eminem at the Detroit shows, while Em will return the favor for Jay's performances at Yankee Stadium. Tickets for both shows are currently on sale.
On Friday, June 25, fans can catch an early preview of the duo in action, during the the 'Late Show with David Letterman.' Jay-Z and Eminem performed a three song mini-concert on Monday (June 21) atop the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, and the footage is scheduled to air at 11:35PM on CBS.
From: http://www.theboombox.com/
Just hours after the Thursday (June 24) pre-sale for their September 2 and September 13 dates in Detroit and New York, an extra show was added in each city. Now, the 'Renegade'-duo will perform in Detroit's Comerica Park on September 2 and 3, and Yankee Stadium in New York on September 13 and 14. Jay-Z is scheduled to open up for Eminem at the Detroit shows, while Em will return the favor for Jay's performances at Yankee Stadium. Tickets for both shows are currently on sale.
On Friday, June 25, fans can catch an early preview of the duo in action, during the the 'Late Show with David Letterman.' Jay-Z and Eminem performed a three song mini-concert on Monday (June 21) atop the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, and the footage is scheduled to air at 11:35PM on CBS.
From: http://www.theboombox.com/
Saturday, June 26, 2010
'Twilight Eclipse' Premiere PICS: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner & A LOT Of Fans (PHOTOS)
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' premiere took over LA on Thursday night.
The film's stars were the main draw, and people had been camping out for days for a glimpse.
Below are photos of stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, and below the photos is an AP article on the 'Eclipse' premiere hysteria.
LOS ANGELES -- Monica Siegel and her two friends dropped a total of $2,500 and flew hundreds of miles to camp out for four days on a gritty patch of sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles. On Thursday, it was all worth it.
Siegel, 22, of Fennville, Mich., nabbed a spot near the red carpet to see - and swoon over - the heartthrob stars of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" as they arrived at the premiere of the latest installment in the blockbuster vampire series.
"It's been a big part of my life. I start caring about the characters a lot, and when they make the movies, you start caring about the actors that portray the characters," she said after frantically coloring a fan poster. "The love story is what drew me in."
For more story continues pls visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
Siegel, 22, of Fennville, Mich., nabbed a spot near the red carpet to see - and swoon over - the heartthrob stars of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" as they arrived at the premiere of the latest installment in the blockbuster vampire series.
"It's been a big part of my life. I start caring about the characters a lot, and when they make the movies, you start caring about the actors that portray the characters," she said after frantically coloring a fan poster. "The love story is what drew me in."
Is Splatter Paint The Tie-Dye Of Menswear?
Despite the rage for beachy tie-dyes that Proenza Schouler and co. inspired in women worldwide, men have been a little more hesitant to pick up the trend. But watching the Dries Van Noten show in Paris yesterday, we wondered if the Belgian bellwether wasn’t offering his own alternative. Van Noten showed ink-spattered tops and bleach-stained jeans that picked up the look of the tie-dye but infused it with a rougher, slightly more masculine edge. (In look, at least: As Tim Blanks reports, the blotches were hand-painted by couturiers in Lake Como.) Is the trend catching? Gaultier, too, showed paint spatter, on pants and knits that called to mind one of the roughest and most masculine of modern painters: Jackson Pollock.
From: http://www.style.com
Another Model Down: Viveka Babajee Commits Suicide
Bollywood actress and Indian model Viveka Babajee, 37, was found dead today, Thaindian News reports. She allegedly hanged herself from a ceiling fan in her suburban Mumbai apartment. According to The Calcutta Telegraph, the former Miss Mauritius titleholder and one-time face of Coca-Cola and Kama Sutra ads in India, suffered from severe depression.
Babajee's death adds to an ever-growing list of recent model suicides, loaning credence to what Jezebel contributor and ex-model Jenna Sauers posited last month: "Suicidal models are fashion's worst trend."
Indeed, in the past two years, a hauntingly high number of models have taken their own lives. There was 20-year-old Korean superstar Daul Kim, of course, who stalked down runways for Alexander McQueen and Chanel before hanging herself in her Paris apartment last November. French model NoƩmie Lenoir tried to kill herself in May; and last Friday, one day before the men's fashion shows kicked off, 22-year-old French model Tom Nicon plunged from his apartment in Milan, in what authorities suspect was a suicide. And that's to say nothing of the deaths of Russian Vogue cover model Ruslana Korshunova, Colombian model-turned-TV presenter Lina Marulanda, Canadaian bombshell Hayley Kohle, not to mention Alexander McQueen and Isabella Blow.
But are any of these suicides really connected, or just a tragic coincidence? Do they speak to the tremendous pressures of a looks-obsessed industry, or inadvertently glamorize the act as noble in some sick way?
Dr. Lanny Berman, executive director of the American Association of Suicidology in Washington D.C., says that in the month following Marilyn Monroe's fatal overdose, the numbers of young women dying in the same manner spiked. They were most likely victims of a “non-specific loss of hope,” he says, plagued by the idea that if someone so successful couldn’t make it, how could they?
But Dr. Berman is hesitant to judge the rash of fashion suicides in a similar light, saying that “if you then suggest that there is a cluster going on of imitative suicide, you then influence the problem." To prove that these are indeed copycat suicides, he adds, models would have to have shown undue interest in, or looked up to those peers who took their own lives — "otherwise the evidence is coincidental.”
Sauers thinks it's important to recognize the "extremely high-pressure environment" that models exist in. “When you’re successful, you’re sort of surrounded by people who have a financial interest in your career, who want you to be working hard all the time,” she says, further noting that agents “may not necessarily look very kindly on the notion of taking time off, even to deal with an obvious mental health problem.”
Preston Chaunsumlit, a freelance casting agent and close friend of the late Daul Kim says the model once told him she took 17 flights in three weeks. Four days before she died, she wrote on her blog, “Oh but how lonely it is. then and now.” Chaunsumlit, who met Daul in New York in 2007 at an Ohne Titel casting, and says he spoke with her almost daily, also wonders if his industry was somehow complicit. “I’m kind of responsible for these young people and one of them I am really close with is not here any more,” he says, “I asked other casting people, ‘Are we doing something weird? People are dying all around us.’”
Charlotte Ronson sees campaigns like the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s 2007 “Beauty is Health”, which asked designers to avoid using rail-thin models, as a step toward alleviating job-related stress. “There are pressures of any industry, but when it’s that transparent and it’s all about your exterior,” says Ronson, it “is effecting how you feel about yourself.”
Certain industries do have higher rates of suicide, says Dr. Berman, though he was not aware of any studies of its prevalence in fashion. “But even in industries where suicide rates are higher than others, it’s always going to be the most vulnerable,” he says. “You never want to leave the impression that this is something that healthy people do."
But Gaspard, Tom Nicon’s agent at Next, says the model seemed healthy enough. “Sometimes, you know, you have some kind of fragile kid,” he says, “but [Nicon] was the last person you would expect [to commit suicide].” Though Chaunsumlit says Kim griped to him about her day-to-day annoyances, it all sounded pretty normal — “growing-pains.” Neither Gaspard nor Chaunsumlit knew how either model truly suffered, until it was too late.
Now that Kim's gone, says Chaunsumlit, "it [just] feels like she is on a really busy, busy schedule. The difference is that I’m not going to see her in the magazines anymore."
From: http://nymag.com
From: http://nymag.com
Sidewalk Catwalk Initiative Unveiled
NEW YORK — An unorthodox fashion show is being staged on the streets of the Garment District.
It’s called Sidewalk Catwalk, and scores of designers, garment executives and business leaders strolled up Broadway Thursday morning to unveil the artistic, sometimes off-the-wall collection of 33 mannequins, each dressed by a designer. “This is all about bringing what’s inside the walls of the garment industry outside to the streets of New York,” said Terry Lundgren, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s Inc., which, along with LF USA, The New York Times and HP, sponsored the project in conjunction with the Fashion Center Business Improvement District and several designers.
The objective is to project the Garment District as a center of creativity, not just commercialism, even amid its shrinking manufacturing base, and to enliven the stretch between Herald Square and Times Square, which has been partially transformed into a pedestrian plaza with outdoor seating and restricted vehicle traffic. Catwalk Sidewalk will grace Broadway from 35th to 42nd Streets through Sept. 3.
“Sometimes this industry needs a good kick in the butt to get it going in the right direction,” said Elie Tahari, whose mannequin is futuristically dressed in aluminum and Plexiglas panels and pays homage to “Orpheus and Apollo,” a sculpture by Richard Lippold in Lincoln Center, where designers will show their spring collections in September. “The garment industry needs to reinvent itself, but there is more than hope for this. We have to be as creative as possible,” said Kenneth Cole, whose mannequin is covered by a “social messaging” sign reading, “Underneath it all, you’re naked.”
Yeohlee Teng created an homage to the architecture in the fashion district with a brick-and-mortar, wedding cake-shaped figure reflecting how the buildings at a certain level are inset to let the sunlight stream in. Rebecca Moses designed a waterproof felt skirt with a hoop to keep its shape, with a mesh blouse and a reptile skin sash. Fashion Institute of Technology students Ariel Penzer and Christopher Ciaccia tiled over their mannequin for a ceramic look.
On the ephemeral side, Betsey Johnson dressed her mannequin in flowers. Victor Alfaro dressed his in a parachute and goggles, and Diane von Furstenberg painted hers in one of her classic prints and signed it “Love is Life.”
The mannequins will withstand the elements. “They are steel reinforced, and very thick because they need to be really heavy. They’re also sprayed with a catalyzed acrylic coating,” explained Michael Evert, sculptor at Ralph Pucci International, which created the mannequins. They’re also mounted on steel plates and concrete bases. The mannequins and what’s on them are being auctioned to benefit Materials for the Arts.
From: www.wwd.com/
It’s called Sidewalk Catwalk, and scores of designers, garment executives and business leaders strolled up Broadway Thursday morning to unveil the artistic, sometimes off-the-wall collection of 33 mannequins, each dressed by a designer. “This is all about bringing what’s inside the walls of the garment industry outside to the streets of New York,” said Terry Lundgren, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s Inc., which, along with LF USA, The New York Times and HP, sponsored the project in conjunction with the Fashion Center Business Improvement District and several designers.
The objective is to project the Garment District as a center of creativity, not just commercialism, even amid its shrinking manufacturing base, and to enliven the stretch between Herald Square and Times Square, which has been partially transformed into a pedestrian plaza with outdoor seating and restricted vehicle traffic. Catwalk Sidewalk will grace Broadway from 35th to 42nd Streets through Sept. 3.
“Sometimes this industry needs a good kick in the butt to get it going in the right direction,” said Elie Tahari, whose mannequin is futuristically dressed in aluminum and Plexiglas panels and pays homage to “Orpheus and Apollo,” a sculpture by Richard Lippold in Lincoln Center, where designers will show their spring collections in September. “The garment industry needs to reinvent itself, but there is more than hope for this. We have to be as creative as possible,” said Kenneth Cole, whose mannequin is covered by a “social messaging” sign reading, “Underneath it all, you’re naked.”
Yeohlee Teng created an homage to the architecture in the fashion district with a brick-and-mortar, wedding cake-shaped figure reflecting how the buildings at a certain level are inset to let the sunlight stream in. Rebecca Moses designed a waterproof felt skirt with a hoop to keep its shape, with a mesh blouse and a reptile skin sash. Fashion Institute of Technology students Ariel Penzer and Christopher Ciaccia tiled over their mannequin for a ceramic look.
On the ephemeral side, Betsey Johnson dressed her mannequin in flowers. Victor Alfaro dressed his in a parachute and goggles, and Diane von Furstenberg painted hers in one of her classic prints and signed it “Love is Life.”
The mannequins will withstand the elements. “They are steel reinforced, and very thick because they need to be really heavy. They’re also sprayed with a catalyzed acrylic coating,” explained Michael Evert, sculptor at Ralph Pucci International, which created the mannequins. They’re also mounted on steel plates and concrete bases. The mannequins and what’s on them are being auctioned to benefit Materials for the Arts.
From: www.wwd.com/
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