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Beauty at the girl

2011-01-23T00:41:00.000-08:00

Wear the trend

2011-01-14T19:49:00.000-08:00

Pointy shoes, strings of pearls and structured skirts – it’s not a bad remake of a 50s film, it’s time to get back to the flirty fifties in style, with more variety than ever before. Call it the Mad Men frenzy - but fashion this season has gone into the past for some inspiration; with hemlines getting longer, dresses getting fluffier and bows getting bigger and prettier. Fashion forward your wardrobe by re-inventing this look to suit your personality and your body type.

Full Figure

Cinched waists and flattering hemlines makes this trend perfect for curvy girls, as for vertically challenged girls, adapt this trend with skirt suits or simply don on accessories that scream fifties like pearls, head pieces and no-nonsense bags.

While hardcore Audrey Hepburn, Betty Draper and the Mad Men fans can get away in pinched waists, pleated dresses and even, 50s curls and red lips, there are ways to tone it down to suit your subtle style. Wear a full skirt with a skinny belt or pointy shoes and a pussy bow blouse – the pick is entirely yours. Keep it simple, probably add one element to your outfit without overdoing the trend. Go floral, if you're the fun type.

The trend is easy to work into your existing wardrobe, just learn to team the right seperates with the right accessories. The best part? The trend can easily go from night to day depending on how you work with it.

A leather pencil skirt with a soft cardigan can take your from work, lunch through to dinner. For a night on the town, simply pin a sparkly brooch or throw on a gold jacket. This trend is all about clean cuts while still being flirty and feminine so play with textures, prints and accessories to take make this trend yours.
[12 Oct 2010]

Monsoon Makeover

2011-01-14T19:43:00.001-08:00

Invest in a spunky wardrobe this season and make the transition from summer to monsoon an effortless one.

With the scorching summer sun behind us, there’s nothing we want more than some showers of blessings or way. Monsoons are all about revamping your wardrobe, perking up your style with brighter, funkier colours and letting your inner child come out and play. So ladies, do away with the whites and cottons lying in your closet and bring in the neons and pinks to embrace the rains- fashionably.

Not a monsoon goes by without the bare essentials, the quintessential rain coat. Not the dreary, blue-black variety but the fun, bright-neon kind like this Sonya Vajifdar pre-rain jacket in fuchsia pink. With its leopard print inners there’s no excuse to brave the Indian rain without being in-vogue. Don’t want to take your favourite Louboutins or Jimmy Choos on a muddy ride? Invest in some sturdy rain boots. The Nova heart Burberry short rain boots set the mood for a monsoon romance with their classic checks and heart prints. And while we are at it, lets not forget the crucial rain accessory- an umbrella. Opt for the colourful, cheery variety to add some life into the grey skies that the season brings with the season’s fun accessory, the Paul Smith turquoise-hued umbrella.

Fall Fashion ripon

2011-01-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

Trend: Sequins
Party season is incomplete without the bling factor. Let the glamazon in you paint the town sparkly in this dress; pair it with big hair and slick make-up for a no-nonsense look.
Price: Rs. 5,788

Print dress by CK
Trend: Prints
Prints are a huge trend this season as seen on the catwalks of Gaurav Gupta; wear this edgy graphic print dress to accentuate your curves. Try to extend the look with killer heels and a chain-link quilted clutch for a nice brunch with the girls.
Price: Rs, 3,704

Anne Klein Tire Dress
Trend: Classic LBD
All of us have those days when we don’t feel like dressing up for a party.Instant solution: the classic LBD. This corset dress that falls a little shy of your ankles is a perfect addition to make you feel glamorous any night of the week. Add a statement necklace to spice up the look.
Price: Rs. 4,630

Striped Cowl winter top by Sutton-Studio
Trend: Nautical
The nautical trend is always a breather, seen more off the runways on celebrities like Agyness Deyn and Alexa Chung. Wear this cowl top to work with a boyfriend blazer and brogues to perf

I Make You Look Good

2011-01-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

Vogue’s Junior Fashion Editor, Archana Walavalkar takes you behind the scenes of Vogue India's most exciting shoots.
Vogue India arrives in Hollywood:

Supermodel Cindy Crawford, a big fan of ‘Fab’ India?
Being welcomed on set by Fashion Director Anaita Shroff Adajania.

Vogue India, October 2010

A private screening

Orissa-based Prince Dance Group performs for the Vogue team while photographer J.F. Campos captures the magic

Million Dollar Baby:

Prada, D&G, YSL, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and a baby thrown in for good measure.

Rear View

Don’t you love a bit of PDA? Especially when it’s Abhi-Ash.

Vogue at its Peak:

I bet Tenzing dint have his entourage present to take care of his flyaways

Sun, Sand and a fab tan

Cover girl Jacqueline Fernandez takes the plunge in the blissful swimming pool of her beach villa in the Maldives

Vogue India, June 2010

Diving in her Manolos

The underwater Lakshadweep shoot Polaroids

The Vogue team snorkels, holding the sari trail scouting for the right spot

A quick powder and lip touch up

Ready-set-go

To Wear, or Not to Wear? That is the Question.

2011-01-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

Above all, remember that the most important thing you can take anywhere is not a Gucci bag or French-cut jeans; it's an open mind" - Gail Rubin Bereny
I cannot work alone; I need people around. So when I was going through the Spring Summer 2010 trend report, I forced my best friend to stay on the line whilst I tried comprehending (and reading out-aloud to her) the main trends.
“Remember, pastels—the Valentino draped dress is a stunner—and the military look—Ritu Kumar (Label) has paid much attention to detail here—seems to be in this season. When you go shopping, look out for clothes that fall under this category.”

But moments later, I questioned myself why it’s a necessity for her to look for those clothes? What if she’s happy with a flowery looking skirt instead?

"Fashion is made to become unfashionable." - Coco Chanel

Chanel’s right. The military look is in full fledge this 2010 season but it’s bound to not even exist in 2011. Out go the green patched up shorts and the golden-buttoned blue jacket along with the willingness to enjoy that particular piece of clothing again. All because it’s “out of fashion now.” Well, that’s a strange concept since my best friend still loves the flowery looking skirt she handpicked, she wears it all the time (yes, even though the trend reports might say so otherwise).
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying go out there in the world and wear what makes you happy regardless of what other people say (even though that’s a great moral), but what I am saying is go out there and shop happily. Wear happily. Create fashion. Create trends. Don’t follow. Fashion isn’t about buying what other people suggest, but rather expressing your inner personality and putting who you are on display...for everyone to admire.
Today, it’s so easy for everyone to dress on par. The news talks about fashion, the magazines report it and the mass-people all blog about it. In this world of trend reports and opinionated people, it becomes even more important for everyone to remember what they really want to portray.
Don’t worry, the fashion magazines (like us, of course) will continue doing their job of talking about the prints, ruffles, and pastel shades that look the best with your skin tone; you should continue taking the expert advice. After all, some things just never change. Petite black dresses, fluffed-up ruffles, and nude shoes will be your best friends forever. For all the rest, just act like an artist: create a painting with the colors we prov

Waist-it-up

2011-01-14T19:34:00.001-08:00

My office is super stylish. High heels and beautifully manicured nails—some of us even wake up an hour earlier to blow dry our hair, but that’s a secret. And of course, lavishing clothes. One day, my colleague walked into the office in what looked like a white cotton jumpsuit. Unattractive much? Wrong, she looked fabulous. In fact, for that entire day, I thought she was the best dressed at the office—and that’s a pretty big deal around here, believe me. There was just one thing that transformed this “grandmother-oversized-white jumpsuit” into something that’s goes in-sync with Vogue: a belt.
Show-off your curves, hide your flaws, add color, or even try being thinner. Belts have evolved over the years and today they’re used for more than just holding up your jeans. Take a bloated, long, and boring t-shirt and strap on a chic looking belt…there’s your stylish outfit for the day. Even Giorgio Armani believes in belts; on the ramp this season, he takes a simplistic purple dress and transforms it into something that’s more along the lines of chic. All this just because of the large, intricate, and colorful belt. Who would’ve known?

There’s a few ways to wear a belt. For example, professional women wearing their black skirt and white blouse can mix and match with different types of belts. White belts with an intricate yet classy buckle or even playing with a little bit of color once in a while…it can change an entire outfit’s look.
There’s always room for creativity; a brown belt along with an all-black outfit or even a dressy shirt coupled with a belt to show-off your hips. Sonam Kapoor does a fantabulous job with showing her hips off. A puffy pair of pants and a flowery top goes a long way, but using that brown skinny belt completes the outfit.

So what are you waiting for? Before you go shopping for new outfits, recheck your closet. Who knows, maybe you’ll realize that old outfits can be revamped with something as simple as 40 inches of cloth.
By Karishma Galani

Vogue Weekly

2011-01-14T19:33:00.001-08:00

The Devil wears Prada, a film that promised to tell it like it is…offering insights into what goes on at a fashion magazine. Are they true or false..? Join me to find out for yourself!

Blue & Blah!!
Having lost yet another lovely weekend to manic Monday, the first day of the week is cruel for any kind of work. Getting in early, my first few moments are well spent. Relaxing in my chair and sipping a hot cup of coffee and warming up my brains. But it’s not long before the Voguette starts strutting in. The peace and serenity of the office is suddenly broken by the loud, clanking of the stilettos of the stars at Vogue.

It’s a temple of fashion worshippers, but the decibel level of clanking stilettos is much higher than temple bells, it’s almost like living next to the airport. As the decibel level peaks… you know that Vogue has officially started functioning.

It is an open office environment and yelling across the hall is imperative (telephone conversations are only for gossip). There’s leather and feather, fragrance and fur around me; and chatter centering on the latest shows, the recent opening of Zara and the sad demise of master McQueen. Folders and files steadily pile up on the desks, as the team monitor does her rounds. Work is happening faster than the bullet train at my end--the art desk that’s buried behind huge 17” Mac monsters!

Yes… we do eat!!

As forks and spoons with snacks and lunch boxes alight from the pantry… it’s clear that this is a Vogue that eats! ‘The boys’ as we call them run up and down like marching ants helping to keep everyone’s spirits high and happy, my favourite time of the day and probably the main ingredient to my happy world…!
There’s food all around you. Steamed but not boiled, baked but not fried.
“Oh I just had a quarter of a cube of cheese, no lunch for me…”
“Oh come-on!”
“No, I’ll be fat and then won’t be able to fit in my dress for the wedding next year! I think I’ll pass!!”

It’s a place where chocolate is a sin, cheese is crime and oily foods the outcast! Soymilk, green tea and salads are the different courses of meals. In total contrast to the rest of the office is the art department… It’s carb central. All the goodie stuff, even chocolates brought back from business or holiday trips only make it to the art desk! Kebabs, deserts, rolls, fried chicken and fish… the real action is all here!

Teatime on Tuesday
Time to catch up on deadlines, stories and yes… DEATHLY THREATS!! It’s the best time to get the daggers out… We gather in hushed voices in the conference room, wondering who is being guillotined today. “Why is it so late? How could you be so irresponsible? Make sure you don’t do it again! Can you give me an extended deadline, please? I promise I’ll do better then!

Fun Fridays!!
The same conference room turns into a wine and cheese central… There’s wine and cheese, beer and chips… Everyone indulges in chat, gossip and news. This side of the office mingles with that side…Vogue and GQ i.e.

And sometimes, there’s a birthday cake as well, sometimes a crazy party to celebrate something, like Christmas, or anniversary, a pool tournament even…really!

It’s almost like a farewell before the weekend. We are indeed a merry making family!

Branded- ‘Cinderella and her Choos’
Vintage is great, but last season is passé… it’s not too hard to believe that the girl who can kill you with her words is also a walking brand-store! The Leiber clutch, the Manolo boots and the stunning Stella dress…are some of the things that run in the Voguettes’ blood. The sharp tongue and the Chanel bag--two things that make Vogue what it is!! Afterall, before it’s in fashion, it’s in Vogue!

My awards for the week…

The zero degree award: to the voltas on my head that results in a brain freeze every now and then… but keeps our generators running…
The modern day fairytale award: to the fashion closet, where the Diors, Dolces, Armanis and Vuittons live happily ever after.
Mr Indespensible: ME! I’m told everyday that the girls wouldn’t eat what little they do if it weren’t for me! Glad to be of service!

By Mihir Shah

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Yes… we do eat!!
As forks and spoons with snacks and lunch boxes alight from the pantry… it’s clear that this is a Vogue that eats! ‘The boys’ as we call them run up and down like marching ants helping to keep everyone’s spirits high and happy, my favourite time of the day and probably the main ingredient to my happy world…!
There’s food all around you. Steamed but not boiled, baked but not fried.
“Oh I just had a quarter of a cube of cheese, no lunch for me…”
“Oh come-on!”
“No, I’ll be fat and then won’t be able to fit in my dress for the wedding next year! I think I’ll pass!!”

It’s a place where chocolate is a sin, cheese is crime and oily foods the outcast! Soymilk, green tea and salads are the different courses of meals. In total contrast to the rest of the office is the art department… It’s carb central. All the goodie stuff, even chocolates brought back from business or holiday trips only make it to the art desk! Kebabs, deserts, rolls, fried chicken and fish… the real action is all here!

Teatime on Tuesday
Time to catch up on deadlines, stories and yes… DEATHLY THREATS!! It’s the best time to get the daggers out… We gather in hushed voices in the conference room, wondering who is being guillotined today. “Why is it so late? How could you be so irresponsible? Make sure you don’t do it again! Can you give me an extended deadline, please? I promise I’ll do better then!

Fun Fridays!!
The same conference room turns into a wine and cheese central… There’s wine and cheese, beer and chips… Everyone indulges in chat, gossip and news. This side of the office mingles with that side…Vogue and GQ i.e.

And sometimes, there’s a birthday cake as well, sometimes a crazy party to celebrate something, like Christmas, or anniversary, a pool tournament even…really!

It’s almost like a farewell before the weekend. We are indeed a merry making family!

Branded- ‘Cinderella and her Choos’
Vintage is great, but last season is passé… it’s not too hard to believe that the girl who can kill you with her words is also a walking brand-store! The Leiber clutch, the Manolo boots and the stunning Stella dress…are some of the things that run in the Voguettes’ blood. The sharp tongue and the Chanel bag--two things that make Vogue what it is!! Afterall, before it’s in fashion, it’s in Vogue!

My awards for the week…

The zero degree award: to the voltas on my head that results in a brain freeze every now and then… but keeps our generators running…
The modern day fairytale award: to the fashion closet, where the Diors, Dolces, Armanis and Vuittons live happily ever after.
Mr Indespensible: ME! I’m told everyday that the girls wouldn’t eat what little they do if it weren’t for me! Glad to be of service!

A week in my life

2011-01-14T19:32:00.001-08:00

To cure your Monday morning blues, head to the appropriate desk to get the fix you need-whether it’s banishing your dark circles or getting your sugar rush.
Tuesday:

Nothing like walking in at 10 am and finding a pair of Louboutin’s waiting for me at my desk…

Wednesday:

Fellow Voguette adds a splash of color to a gloomy monsoon day.
Thursday:

I bet this doesn’t happen in your office!!
Friday:

Voguettes “hard at work”

Fashionably Beautiful of course!

2011-01-14T19:31:00.000-08:00

The first ever Vogue Beauty Awards finally took place last night amidst much fanfare! 4 months of rigorous planning and over a thousand products later, the entire beauty industry and our favourite women got together at the fabulously lit Rooftop at the Trident. The lovely pink tint set the mood for the evening - over tons of champagne and some seriously beautiful women the topic of discussion was obviously, beauty products!

The awards were hosted by our editor Priya Tanna (who looked lovely in a classic red sari by Pratima Bhatia, chandelier earrings and hair done up in a glamorous side part)).

The Beauty & Health Director Geeta Rao (in a chic Abraham & Thakore shift; glitzy Choos and sexy bed head tresses)

The Vogue ladies were present in their fashionable best and also put to test some of the autumn winter makeup collections for the beauty department – Fashion Director Anaita Shroff Adajania went for ladylike chic in a taupe dress by hot favourite Atsu and Chanel’s new stone grey eye shadow

Junior Fashion Editor Archana Walavalkar sizzled in a tiny hot pink Raakesh Agarwal number teamed with a molten gold eye; Fashion Features Editor Priyanka Khanna opted for a fashion-police proof LBD by All Saints ; a vintage snake cuff and her signature eyeliner; Junior Features Editor and resident watch expert Rishna Shah found her little silver dress in a tiny boutique in Geneva (where she attended the watch fairs!);

Fashion Coordinator Archana Thani in a delicious yellow mustard one shoulder and lastly me after frantic searching went for a dark chocolate Monisha Jaising embellished one shoulder dress paired with dramatic eyes (with a hint of khaki shadow as suggested by the Beauty Director! )

By Priyanka Kapadia

Fashionably Vogue

2011-01-14T19:30:00.000-08:00

Major Monday
Spotted: Junior fashion editor Archana Walavalkar strutting in fashionably late. Look like its going to be a great week ahead !
Why we cant get our eyes of her:
Her sexy olive tan
Her oversized gold rimmed vintage Ray bans
And that she carries her lunch and her 4 pm snack in an Hermes Birkin Bag.

Bummer ! Tuesday morning is wet and mucky
Spotted: Bride-to-be Daneesh ‘the body’ Davar hovering around the Vogue bridal rail.
Why we can’t get our hands off her:
That body . She’s a 10.
Love how she beats the monsoon with her no-fuss look . Don’t be fooled completely though -she’s come well equipped with a pair of pewter Pierre Hardy Stilletos.
Really dig that she’s not a ‘match-my-bag-to-my-shoes’ kind of gal.
Don't miss: That Jimmy Choo bag.

Hot Hot Hot- Wednesday
Spotted GQ Juniour Fashion Editor Antara Motiwala on-the-go
Why we can’t wipe the smile of our faces long after she’s left the room:
Her flaming red hair.That's hot Antara!
She has that sexy gap in between her teeth -She shares this exclusively with Madonna , Georgia Jagger and Lara Stone.
That she throws on her tweed Chanel jacket to stay warm in the freezing cold temperatures of the Conde Nast India office
Don't miss: Her Anya Hindmarch bag

Sneak Peak into Thursday
Oops! Just walked in on Vogue India’s Fashion Bookings Editor Suhana Sharma in the toilet .
Why she’s just our kind of girl:
Because she doesn’t forget to put the toilet seat back down!
We adore her androgynous style. Her Sabysachi maxi dress is a must have this season.
And that she has a body of 12 year old boy and has one of those at home too .

Playing dress up on Friday
We styled the new GQ intern Jessica to look fabulously fifties.
Why we’re mad about this look:
That super cute Puja Arya dress is so on trend . Accessorised perfectly with a bright purple bag and grey Manolo's.
We channel ‘mad men’ in our very own Conde Nast India office.
She seems to have mastered that look of ‘careless disdain’. Super model in the making?
By Nikhil Mansata

Bag the Lady: A week in the life of a Voguette

2011-01-14T19:28:00.000-08:00

There's a certain romance to working at a fashion magazine, Vogue in particular, that is hard to describe. The walls are lined with racks of luminous colors and myriad fabrics, all boasting labels that would give the most well stocked fashionista's wardrobe a severe complex. Chignon's are perfectly coiffed, and you would think that any one of your colleagues could easily have written the bible on how to walk, or rather glide, in skyscraper heels. They walk the walk, and talk the talk. The dresses are fun and flirty and the trousers are impeccably tailored. But the real stars of the show are the Voguette’s handbags that make their way across the office every morning, the most enviable eye candy. If they're not already in your closet, they're definitely on your lust list.
(Monday)
Keeping It Classic...

Bandana Tewari with a classic white Tod’s, just one from her enviable collection.
(Tuesday)
Trial Run...

An internship at Vogue comes with a dosage of fashion.
Ahilya Kaul flaunts her DKNY and Nikita Manilal masters effortless chic with her LV Monogram.
(Wednesday)
As Big As It Gets...

Kareena Laungani rocks an oversize Marc Jacobs while Karishma Sakhrani goes to town with the ultimate DKNY hold-all.
(Thursday)
Metal Mania...

Priyanka Kapadia brightens up the day with a fun metallic Marc by Marc Jacobs handbag.
(Friday)
Style Statement...

Anaita Shroff Adajania and Divia Thani Daswani up the fashion ante with must-have Tod’s and Dior handbags.
By Anusha Lalwani

6 Months = 1 Night at FNO

2011-01-14T04:28:00.000-08:00

Somewhere between the A/W shows in Paris, Editors from 16 Vogue countries met over a hush-hush breakfast and discussed the merits of repeating Fashions Night Out over countless cups of coffee and very little food. As each of us shared our thoughts, it became so clear that Fashion’s Night Out had grown much bigger than a one-off event. All of us agreed to agree that there would be an encore.
That was in March, and as I submit this blog, I am hours away from the main event. Tomorrow night, 6 months of meetings, planning, agreeing, disagreeing, partnering and hoping will culminate over a grand finale at the DLF Emporio Mall, from 6pm to midnight.
Thought this was the best time to share with you the inside stories on all that will be revealed tomorrow night.
Some decisions were easy to make: Manish and Rajesh were both on my wish-list to design the Vogue FNO T-shirts. Thankfully I didn’t have to choose as both matched my enthusiasm with theirs and partnered with us right away. The not so glamorous task of taking this idea and turning it into a stylish reality was entrusted to art editor Mihir Shah who spent many hours and after hours perfecting the production and design. Deliciously cool and unique, each one is a steal for Rs. 500. And when you remember that their sales proceeds will go to Habitat For Humanity ‘s Women’s India Builds initiative, it’s easy to reach out and buy a few. I should know. At last count I was 20 down!

Some decisions weren’t: That the evening would take the shape of a late night shopping experience was a given. That every partnering brand ( all 65 +) had to participate in the luxury lucky draw and sponsor a gift worth Rs. 50000 was mandatory. That DLF Emporio would play hosts for the evening was unarguable. What took weeks and weeks of discussions to get around to were the highlights for the evening. We were shopping for a few cool ideas, a few big draws that could make FNO bigger, better and busier than year 1.
It all started with a shoe: I recall gushing and wowing over the extra big shoe designed by Jonathan Saunders last year for London’s FNO. The dream was to create the extra long sari and I needed the support of a designer who’d be as creatively charged and excited over this as I was. The only name that came to my mind was Suneet Varma and when I saw his eyes light up and smile widen as I took him through the idea, I knew right away that this was going to be an extra special collaboration! Tomorrow, when you see this installation (which has been declared by Limca Book of Records as the world’s longest embroidered sari) know that it’s a labour of man-hours, resources and above all love!

A store was born: When fashion director Anaita popped up the idea of the pop up store over lunch, it sounded adorable. But impossible to execute. Between our day jobs (the magazine, lest you have forgotten), fashion weeks, twenty odd shoots, events, it looked like this would be nothing more than a cool idea. However, the fashion team took it upon them to get some of the finest contemporary designers into creating a line of limited edition goodies for sale, just for that night at our very own pop up store. Bags, mugs, stoles, tunics, shoes and t-shirts - I predict the Vogue Loves store is going to be one of the best ideas of the evening. Hope I can get to the Rahul Mishra tunic and Sanchita Ajjampur shoes before they are sold out!

Bag ladies: That was our working title till it was re-christened Vogue Steals. A call from features director Bandana and 70 plus of our celebrity lady friends generously donated gently used designer bags which I know, are going to fly off the racks for a fraction of their original price. A Gucci for 10,000? Proceeds going to charity? Looking good never felt this good!

And Tarun provides the icing: Taking on a fashion show in a mall, amidst thousands of manic shoppers featuring real girls in place of models is not a task for the faint-hearted. Which is why, it had to and could only be Tarun Tahiliani who could breathe this to life. He loved that there would be real girls, he was sold on doing this not once, but twice in the same evening using the entrance to his store as a ramp(8pm and 10pm). He, along with fashion editor Edward handpicked the girls from 150 plus entries (of which 20 were men!)and the show is going to be as much a surprise for me as it will be for you. Will the makeover be magical? Tomorrow will tell.

This is just the beginning: In addition to all the above experiences the best of Indian and international luxury brand are all geared to seduce the shopper in you. My advice: No use fighting the temptation. Whether you walk away with a tee or the seasons most coveted bag or just come in to get a glimpse of our September cover-girl Bipasha Basu and Jacqueline Fernandes make it a fun night out!I could go on but Delhi awaits. See you at FNO!

Exfoliate, Don’t rip your skin

2011-01-14T04:26:00.000-08:00

In Delhi at Dr Raj Kubba’s wonderfully serene and aesthetic clinic. I am having particularly bad skin day but I love Dr Kubba’s unfazed and gentle manner . I find myself put back on Clinique 3 step .I am a three step drop out but it’s nice to get back on it though with a few amendments of my own .The magic is in the salicylic acid that improves exfoliation of dead cells and cell turnover. I find the smell of the toner is stronger than I remember but I am assured it has only denatured alcohol which is not harmful. It does get my eyes watering though my skin seems fine.

The Clinique Counter at Dr Kubbas
I have a special fondness for the brand Clinique. It was started by a Vogue beauty director Carol Philips in collaboration with a dermatologist, Dr Norman Ohrentriech way back in 1960. It was then bought over by the Estee Lauder group but they haven’t altered the brand’s DNA and philosophy which has always been the belief that beautiful skin is not something you are born though that always helps with but something you can achieve. Later when Vogue launched in India I interviewed Dr. Norman’s son David now Chief Dermatologist at Clinique USA. It appeared in our launch issue so I do remember it quite clearly.
Back to my skin – it is looking better which means it was badly in need of exfoliation and a more disciplined cleansing routine .While microdermabrasion and glycolic peels are the answer to more dramatic exfoliation, the aftercare required is something I can never follow because of my crazy schedule ,crazier commute in Mumbai’s even crazier pollution and sun. Scrubs are a strict no no as well because exfoliation should not be abrasive . That’s why even in traditional remedies besan is always mixed with malai to soften its abrasiveness . Often when you have facials the rough washcloths used by most places are very damaging to skin so opt for water sprays or get up and splash your own face if possible.
Other brands you may want to check out for their gentle exfoliation : L’Occitane Immortelle facial mist , Kiehl’s Ultra facial toner , Lancome Exfoliante Clarte.

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AAAh Testino

2011-01-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

Geeta Rao with Mario Testino
In the world of photography especially fashion photography Mario Testino is a legend. But if you live at Vogue he is a cross between an uber legend, where everyone pores over his latest cover or fashion story with hushed admiration and an in house buddy, where his name tossed round with a familiarity that comes from the fact that each time you see a cover you like from the Conde Nast world...Vogue, Vanity fair, W or a campaign for D&G, or Prada or read a riveting quote on photography it is likely to be from Testino. A writer called his style ‘Luxury realism’ -his ability to fuse gloss and accessibility that makes his signature style.
When I met him ever so briefly in Paris at a Lancôme launch it was a memorable moment. He has shot Julia Roberts as the new face of Lancôme and a film with Penelope Cruz for their fragrance Tresor. He talks of women and beauty with a charming sense of celebration. He enjoys both clearly.
Naturally I had to get that groupie shot with him and he did find time to tell me he had heard a lot about Vogue India. Until he puts me on the next Vogue cover and until we have him in India to shoot, here are a few of my favourite Testino pictures.

Vogue UK cover with Kate Moss shot by Mario

Mario's popular Madonna's Ray of Light cover

Beauty SOS with Aaron de Mey

2011-01-14T04:24:00.000-08:00

Lovely to be in Paris and have the man behind the French coquettes collection share his tips on make up for Indian humidity and weather.

Here are his tips:
Don’t fight the climate work with it. Add a few drops of moisturizer to your foundation to make it lighter and more fluid
Use concealer after your moisturizer not before.
Use a light reflecting powder or foundation.
For the day you can go with pressed powder and skip foundation.
A trick I use is to only powder the sides of the nose and top of forehead to cut obvious shine but let the rest of the face bare.
If you are doing a smoky eye do your eye first and then do the foundation blending it well.
For a smoky eye use a flat brush to place the shadow on the eye lid but don’t take it above the crease of the brow bone. Buff the eye shadow well with a fluffy brush and then add mascara.
For big eyes use eye kohl outside the eye for a defined eye use it inside the eye. Once you draw it go over with a Q tip and blend up and outwards.
Always have a water spritz or spray handy to refresh your skin.

Beauty at the Taj

2011-01-14T04:23:00.000-08:00

‘Friends-of-the-bride’ is the theme of this months’ beauty shoot. Reams has been written about looks and fashion for brides but if you are the BFF ( Bride’s Best Friend) this season you know how much pressure you will face – at the sangeet, at the reception and at all the parties after the big day . We shot at the Dolphin suite in the old Taj and now I hear that President Obama and his wife may just be put up at the same suite. Go ahead take a peek.

                                              Corridors of the Taj

                                                     Jewellery on display

                                                 Our work table in Dolphin Suite

                                             Manasvi poses for her solo

                          Riddhi Burman, our talented photogrpaher waits for the next shot

                                      friends of the bride at the Dolphin Suite

Geeta Rao Answers Your Beauty Queries

2011-01-14T03:42:00.000-08:00

Is it good to use a day creme with SFP or a purely stand-alone sunblock?
- Deebba Ali,
Dear Deebba

I personally think two in one products are not as effective as standalone products but they are certainly more convenient.
But using a day cream or moisturizer with an SPF will work on a daily basis as long as you are not very exposed to the sun. If you are going out in the sun then I suggest you use a sunscreen over your moisturizer. Or go with a higher SPF as a stand alone. If you live in India avoid sunblock which tends to be heavier and can be greasy and save it for the beach or swimming. Many people like to use all their products with an SPF ie foundation, lipstick, blush etc but this will not substitute the use of an effective sunscreen.

Geeta Rao

Sun Kissed or Sun Drenched

2011-01-14T03:38:00.001-08:00

Bronzer might be the single most widely bought / used makeup product in the summers but its real magic is brought to light only in winters. Imagine pale dead skin transforming into a healthy complexion, tinged to spring-y perfection – the mighty bronzer can do all that.

And this.

Overdoing the bronzer can be disastrous – red carpet or not. Key is to dust the bronzer along the contours of your face instead of applying it all over. Start off with a light dusting along your hairline. Follow with drawing the infallible three on the side of your face – Start above your temple, pull into the hollow of your cheek and out onto your jaw line. Remember the three – this will be your secret weapon for everything from killer cheek bones, effortless contouring to the faux glow. Follow the three with a light dusting of the bronzer on the bridge of your nose. Now without dipping your brush into your bronzer, run it along your neck – you don’t want a pale neck on your gorgeous sun kissed face!

Eco Chic

2011-01-14T03:37:00.001-08:00

Sure, you always give up your seat to pregnant women, watch Captain Planet, recycle all your recyclables, turned vegan or eat all your greens. I'm not going to tell you what to do, except you, yes you by the computer, stop running the water while you brush your teeth! (tsk) but I will show you where to shop; Mika Organic.

Mika Machida’s eponymous line is the poster child for all that is good in fashionably organic (not to mention graphic design).

You may have seen some of her signature tops infiltrating the net for some time now, like her butterfly or elephant tops. Her work is different and the fact that she uses water based inks and certified organic cotton is just a bonus to her truly incomparable designs that meld environment with art. Remember, chic need not mean unsustainable; embrace organic fabrics.

By Ruhi Sheikh of Republic Of Chic

Shooting with Shruti

2011-01-14T03:36:00.000-08:00

Singer and actor Shruti Haasan is in our beauty section this month in our story ‘The lady and the vamp’ two party looks we like for this month. Shruti ‘s image was very stuck in a ‘rock chick ‘mode in my mind and I wasn’t sure she would be able to carry off the very elegant and polished glamour that we needed for one of the looks. But as I discovered she has an amazing quality of projection and was also very professional at the shoot. When she walked in I was riveted by the quality of her skin with translucent texture which always makes it easy for the makeup artist ( in this case Namrata Soni) and photographer (Jatin Kampani) to work their magic.

We tried two distinct looks – Party girl /Dolly Goth and elegant glamourista. There are no real party rules this reason and you can choose to go whichever way works best for you. But even if you go the mini Goth route remember to make the look contemporary by keeping it polished and not over the top. So do the smoky eye or the deep plum lip not both. Try a smoky eye in dark green, deep blue or grey for a variation on heavy black.

If you want to go the elegant classic route choose a bright lip with flawless skin. To get the skin mix a little highlighter into your tinted mosituriser –don’t use heavy foundation and see your skin glow. It will help your lipstick stand out as well. Try colours like deep coral, orange red and raspberry red to be on trend. Go very easy on eye makeup –I recommend a soft brown pencil and mascara -no hard liner. A hint of blush will balance the look - pat it into skin at the apples of the cheeks so it looks like a natural flush of colour. Just a note on the up do you see in the accompanying picture- this works better on a young girl like Shruti. If you are older go lower and looser as updos can be ageing

The Malaika factor

2011-01-14T03:35:00.001-08:00

It has been a year since we launched our new look My beautiful Life in the magazine - a longer format of the old one with a more detailed shoot and our first choice to kick it off was Malaika Arora Khan. There are things you want to know about Malaika – the secret of her absolutely fabulous body and her great skin and hair top the list. We shot her with Prabuddha Dasgupta and he wanted her in her natural element against the bright winter sun. It was an effortless shoot- Malaika is a natural in front of the camera and equally candid off camera when she chatted about her beauty rituals and work out regime. She is even better looking stripped off all make up in real life with her signature minimal moisturizer and hint of gloss.

Since then Malaika has been a judge at our Vogue beauty awards . She has had a successful run of judging reality shows on television and has had the cult song ‘Munni’ to her credit. Here are some excerpts from our interview:
No coffee please: Malaika does not drink tea or coffee and is a complete water addict. “I start my day with hot water, lime and honey and drink water through the day.When it comes to exercise nothing mild works for me.” She loves Pilates for the lean look and mixes it with power yoga, abs, circuits and core training. She will do anything that requires high intensity at the gym: kickboxing, interval training, kettle balls you name it and she can do it. It is her big fix. “Going to the gym is the most precious part of the day for me, she says and I aim to work out four to five times a week. “Mention the fact that this sounds like a boot camp workout and her voice perks up. “I am a boot camp sort of person. I like to push myself” she agrees.
Skin care: She will not travel without her Chandan stick and her small mortar and pestle to grind her own fresh sandalwood mask wherever she is .She is a fan of Dr Rohini Wadhwani’s Infusion treatments at Skin Essentials (Mumbai) and is a regular user but she also has a list of home recipes she can tick off like an expert. For example there is her signature egg white and almond oil face pack (“great for tightening the skin”) and a recipe for a mask she reels off for me like a pro: Grind together almond, almond oil, mash a banana into the mix. Add a pinch of saffron if you like. Apply to your face in smooth circular movements so the almond grains work as a scrub. Keep on for ten minutes and rinse off. See the difference.
Secret hair recipe: A mix of special Nilgiri oils (she gets all her oils from Ooty) with hibiscus flowers, methi seeds and saffron that she personally boils and uses every week. And she swears by her regular massages with her maalishwaali with some more Ooty oils (ok she is keeping the mix a secret) for some extra toning.

Julia Restoin Roitfield - the new face of Lancôme

2011-01-14T03:30:00.001-08:00

Joining a star-studded roster that includes Julia Roberts, Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet, Julia Restoin Roitfeldhas become the newest face of Lancôme. The 30-year-old daughter of ex-French Vogue Editor Carine Roitfeld has been announced the ambassdor for Lancôme’s Ultra Lavande SS11 collection, a disco inspired line designed by Lancôme’s Make-up Artistic Director Aaron de Mey.

Roitfeld, who has also appeared as the face of Tom Ford’s Black Orchid fragrance, stars in the Ultra Lavande SS11campaign shot by Mario Testino wearing the lavender and silver palette on her eyes, lips and fingernails.
"There is a very fresh, youthful, playful and joyous side to this collection, which I really like", says Roitfeld, whose delicate features make for a picture-perfect face of Lancôme.

How to get chiselled cheekbones

2011-01-14T03:29:00.000-08:00

Defined cheekbones are the most coveted facial trait of them all. Made famous by the likes of Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn, high cheekbones are both sexy, and youthful because of the slimming effect they have. And if you’re not naturally blessed, Lancôme’s senior make-up artist Stafford Braganza gives you the cheat sheet in three easy steps.

Contour: Start by sucking your cheeks in and apply blusher or bronzer one shade darker than your skin tone in to the hollow of your cheeks. The trick here is to dust the colour under and not over your cheekbones. Blend in an upward diagonal direction towards your temples.

Highlight: Apply a gold or copper highlighter high on the cheeks blending it in circular motions outwards towards your temples. A highlighter catches and reflects the light, giving the illusion of prominent cheekbones.

Colour and sculpt: Finish off by blending a light colour (peach or pink) directly over the apple of your cheeks, maintain the blending motion upwards towards your cheekbones. The key to achieving this look is to always, always blend properly.

Pic Credit: Getty Images for Kiera Knightley; Mehtab Maan for model shots

Swedish Blogger Designs For H&M

2011-01-14T03:28:00.000-08:00

From being commentators to creators – bloggers are taking the fashion world by storm. One such blogger going the extra step is Elin Kling, a Swedish fashion blogger who is set to create a capsule collection with H&M.

The collection consists of nine styles and two accessories will be available to buy only in Sweden from 3^rd February. The style will be minimalistic with a slight edge, which according to Klin is a reflection of her personal style.

Elin Kling started her fashion blog, Style by Kling, in 2007 and is the first blogger to collaborate with H&M. While, Jane Aldrige of Sea of Shoes blog is another blogger who has created a line of shoes for Urban Outfitters in the past, this is the first time a fashion blogger is creating an entire clothing collection for a high-street brand.

Shruti Thacker

Top 10 Runway to Red Carpet moments

2011-01-14T03:25:00.000-08:00

In a year filled with tonnes of red carpet worthy moments, it was no mean task to scour the best dressed celebrities. While some fashionistas strut down the red carpet in gorgeous couture gowns, others chose to redefine cocktail-chic in lust worthy dresses. An elegantly embellished black gown here, a sequined LBD there, we present you our top 10 stunning runway to red carpet moments this year.

Frieda in Oscar de la Renta: 2010 was the year of Freida Pinto. From being spotted in the front row for the Marc Jacobs show to dressing up in McQueen, Ms Pinto gave us quite a lot of drool worthy red carpet moments this year.

Aishwarya in Elie Saab: One look at this and you’ll know what we are talking about. The most beautiful women in the world gets it right with a gorgeous shoulder-embellished, black Elie Saab gown. From the make-up to the accessories, we just have two words – picture perfect.

Deepika in Salvatore Ferragamo: It’s not so hard to pull off a copper Lamé gown when you are Deepika Padukone. The beautiful, statuesque star not only pulls off the gown but also the colour with élan.

Priyanka in Gaurav Gupta: When it comes to red carpet appearances we believe nothing can be more sexy than a delicately draped sari. Take a cue from Ms Chopra here. She works the gold Gaurav Gupta sari, and how!

Sonam Kapoor: It’s not hard for Sonam to give us best dressed moments. When it comes to fashion she sure knows her Dior from her Chanel. Seen here looking pretty in a polka-dotted Vivienne Westwood, is the always chic Ms Kapoor.

SJP in Alexander McQueen: This one comes as a no surprise. SJP can make a rag look glam, so if anyone could pull this flamboyant McQueen gown, it had to be fashion’s first lady. Give it up for Carrie Bradshaw.

January in Atelier Versace: With all the Mad Men madness going around how could we not have one of the show's lovely ladies. Wowing us both on and off screen, Ms Jones in a royal blue Atelier Versace gown was quite a sight to behold.

Rihanna in Elie Saab: Changing colours like a fashion chameleon was music’s bad girl Rihanna. In tune with her eclectic style sense she was seen in a scarlet, peek-a-boo Elie Saab Couture gown, topped with some seriously red hair.

Blake in Prabal Gurung: When it comes to red carpet appearances, Blake Lively almost never ever gets it wrong. Spotted in everything from Marchesa to Versace to this Prabal Gurung dress, the lady gives us a peek into her enviable wardrobe.

Angelina in Emporio Armani: Give her an LBD or a Couture gown and you can always count on Ms Jolie to take it to the next level. Seen here in a strapless sequined Armani LBD, she dazzled on the red carpet.

A Taste of Mumbai's Nightlife

2011-01-14T03:23:00.001-08:00

DELHI: It was most definitely an uptown evening: every boldfaced model in Delhi [and a handful from Mumbai, too] in addition to actress Neetu Chandra slipped into designer Rocky S' collection and swanned about Quantum—a four-floor nightclub spread over an area of 18,000 sq ft and equipped with six bars and a body sonic dance floor.

Some of the models like Aanchal Kumar, Dipti Gujral, Shonal Rawat, Amanpreet Wahi, Montu Tomar and Donna Masih changed into clothes more appropriate for the party while others flaunted the finery throughout the evening. "This is just so beautiful," sighed one of the models of the confection that prevented her from wading too deep into the crowd so she preferred to remain with Rocky and the elite few in the V.I.P. Zone.
As for the guests, Kajal Banon was the apple of the shutterbugs' eye in a cocktail number and a mane of sleek curly hair and Ramneek Paintal was the epitome of chic while Teena Singh and Brandy Dallas hopped on a table and danced till the break of dawn to DJ Ribz' electronica. The rest of the action took place at the bar: models swapping backstage stories over a martini and Shefali Rao explaining to her posse why her strapless satin number made her feel desirable. "I'll always look back on this night and smile," smiled Rocky.

Fashion Central

2011-01-14T03:22:00.000-08:00

Five Eco-friendly Buys

Purchasing eco-friendly products can make a difference in our world. So Jasmeen Dugal scoured the market for sustainable and chic clothing, skincare and bath products to add a touch of green to your wardrobe.

Samant Chauhan
Samant Chauhan joined the green movement with his spring 2008 collection made using raw Bhagalpur silk, linen and cotton-linen blends; the golden yarns were made of silk wastes that he further hand-knitted for a spectacular effect. Today he has made 'non-violent silk'a way of life. 'Silkworms are killed while producing silk. This can be done away with easily. I want to condemn such an inhumane practice. The silk used for my collections have been hand woven and made from an eco-friendly process without the use of any dyes,' he said. If this isn't reason enough to vote for Samant Chauhan, his contemporary design aesthetic will do the needful.
Samant Chauhan, 421-A Shahpur Jat, Haus Khas, New Delhi. Tel: 41841509

'Grassroots' by Anita Dongre
Grassroots by Anita Dongre was the first organic line in the country. Inspired by the process of making vegetable dyes without wastage during a trip to Samanthwadi in Goa, Anita Dongre whipped up a chic collection of dresses, blouses, skirts and jackets in organic cotton—in just 30 days! Her price range begins at Rs. 4,000 upward but the designer explains, 'Organic cotton is a bit more expensive than conventional cotton as the yield per acre is lesser... but it has anti-bacterial properties and is cooler than cotton in warm climes.'
Grassroots, DLF Place, Saket, Delhi; Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai.

'Green'by Lecoanet Hemant
Once upon a time we knew a duo who made uptown-chic dresses for the young, spirited A-list. Of late, Lecoanet Hemant seems to have been trying on a different aesthetic hat: eco-friendly fashion. Their collection titled 'Green' has many stylish pieces, among them silk chiffon textured jackets, organic cut-out apron tops with panelled shorts, silk faille pleated dresses with a mesh neckline, and a mesh sequined skirt. The fabric line-up is organic i.e. cotton, poplin, khadi and handloom silk embellished with camouflage motifs of bamboo and frangipani leaves. Glimpses of the duo's original direction are present too such as chiffon plisse evening gowns—a reminder of what this industry darling can do.

Stella McCartney
Vegan fashion is synonymous with Stella McCartney. All of her clothes are animal-free, including a line of shoes that forego PVC-based plastics in favour of materials derived from plants. Examining her autumn 2010 collection, we like the sheer organza overlays draped on a one-shoulder iridescent paillette dress and a nude bustier embroidered with burgundy roses.
Stella McCartney, UB Mall, Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru

LUSH Natural Cosmetics
Lush believes in making bath, shower, hair and skincare products from organic fruits and vegetables. Go for conditioning soapCreamed Coconut and Almond Smoothie. You will smell of jasmine, vanilla, ylang ylang and labdanum natural essential oils, so there's no need to waste time spraying on perfume. [Rs. 830] or try the Brazened Honey Mask, which contains a blend of fruit juice, Ayurveda herbs and spices. With almonds to polish and moisturizing honey, this blend will leaves your skin vibrant and reinvigorated

Kitsch’s Tribute to Alexander McQueen

2011-01-14T03:19:00.000-08:00

Alexander McQueen’s untimely death shook the fashion world earlier this year and as a tribute to the British Designer, Kitsch held a fashion show and an after-party in his honour.

Priya and Charu Sachdev hosted the Kitsch Spring Summer 2011 fashion show at the capital’s Garden of Five Senses with five global brands. The mutli-designer store houses the late designer’s collection and will also include the Spring Summer 2011 under the creative direction of Sarah Burton who took after McQueen’s demise. “With the launch of his collection, we thought this to be the most appropriate time to pay him homage,” explained Charu Sachdev, Founder of Kitsch and CEO, TSG International Marketing Pvt Ltd.

The two entrepreneurial sisters welcomed Amol Vadhera, Amit & Divya Burman, Peter Punj, Tanisha Mohan, Mohit Burman, Niyamat Bakshi, Ayesha Thapar to name a few at the show and after party.

Wine 101 - Part 1: The Basics

2011-01-14T03:17:00.000-08:00

Wine experts have a bit of a reputation for being a snooty, unapproachable bunch, but Lindsay Groves, Head Sommelier at Oberoi Hotels is quite the opposite. The only female sommelier amongst the very select group working in India, Lindsay grew up in Ontario, Toronto where she also took a comprehensive diploma in Wine and Viticulture, before completing her training in Champagne, Bordeaux and South Africa. About eighteen months ago she came to Mumbai for the Taste festival and the allure of travel won her over once again. She moved to the city to take up her post as Head Sommelier for the prestigious Oberoi group and to discover what the Indian wine scene has to offer.

We've heard the rule that white wine should be served with fish or vegetarian food and red wine with meat- is that correct?
These are basic guidelines. When pairing food and wine, think about intensity. Is the food heavy or light? Based on that go with wine that matches accordingly. Similarly think about the weight of the food. If you're serving a crisp salad go for a crisp, white wine: like for like in direct relation. Food has five essential tastes: acidity, sweetness, bitterness, saltiness and umami. Wine has just two taste variables: acidity and sweetness. The trick in picking an appropriate wine is to think about how these qualities interact with one another and to balance the meal to create a more enjoyable whole.

Champagne is the classic party drink. Is it best straight up or with added extras?
I wouldn't take a bottle of Krug and start adding things. If you have a lovely wine, that's already well-balanced, then it's just going to get lost if you add things on top. But a Proseco or a Cava, or even entry level sparkling wines like Sula Brut are great value as a base if you want to try something fun!

Which wines go well with Indian food?
Indian food varies tremendously, even according to who's cooking it. Every meal is a new meal so you really have to pair according to what's on the plate, rather than the theoretical. To generalise, New World wines [those grown outside the traditional wine regions of Europe] work best with Indian food, because they have a more up-front fruitiness and are a little less structured. Pick something with lots of intensity, and nothing too complex because that will just get thrown into the background against the strong flavours of the food.

What about pudding wine?
A favourite of mine is the late harvest Sula Chenin Blanc. The York late harvest Chenin Blanc is also good- it has more caramelised, nutty flavours. Sweet wines come in half bottles and keep very well; you can have a small glass after dinner, put the cork back in and keep it in the fridge. It will last for about a month, assuming you're keeping it at a cool temperature- handy if you have guests coming over once in a while.

Rihanna Breaks The News About Her First Ever American ‘Vogue’ Cover Shoot!

2011-01-14T03:13:00.001-08:00

The sexy singer excitedly tweeted the news today! Are you excited to see RiRi on the May cover?

Right after photos of Kristen Stewart on the February cover of Vogue surfaced, Rihanna tweets her excitement over the first time she landed a cover of American Vogue. “Just wrapped my first American Vogue cover shoot with Annie Leibovitz … Rah! #SEXY.” Although after she sent out the message she quickly deleted the tweet — guess she didn’t want to spill the beans!
Considering the mags are shooting for May now, I guess we can expect to see RiRi in the spring. What do you think of the news?

Katrina Mitzeliotis

Kristen Stewart on Cover of Vogue

2011-01-14T03:11:00.001-08:00

As fans of Breaking Dawn wait to see Kristen Stewart on the February cover of Vogue, a photo of Stewart on Vogue has hit the web. In a tweet from Twilighter, KStewartBR, fans of Kristen Stewart now get to see the February issue of Vogue with Stewart on the cover and in a feature series of photos inside. Although Kristen Stewart appeared in Vogue before, it is the first time that Stewart is featured on the cover.
Check out the Vogue photos of Kristen Stewart at KStewar

Closet Diaries

2011-01-12T19:31:00.000-08:00

Stylish Sorts

Tali Lennox on Today I'm Wearing

Closet Diaries

Ella Alexander

03 January 2011

4 Comments

OUR Today I'm Wearing blog is back for 2011 - with model and rock star royalty Tali Lennox as January's star. With campaigns for Burberry and Topshop already to her credit, she is shaping up to be the face of the year.
SEE OUR TODAY I'M WEARING HIGHLIGHTS
Last year we stepped into the shoes of some of the world's most stylish women, as they opened their wardrobes to us every day for a month. From Olivia Palermo in sunny New York, to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in rainy London, the stars gave us style inspiration for every occasion. See what they wore here.

National Board Of Review Gala

2011-01-12T19:28:00.000-08:00

Blake Lively in Marchesa ©PA

Julia Neel

12 January 2011

0 Comments

THE stars are out in force ahead of Sunday's Golden Globes Awards. Last night, in New York, Michelle Williams (in Oscar de la Renta), Sofia Coppola (in Gucci), Blake Lively (in Marchesa) and Jennifer Garner (in Roland Mouret), all trod the red carpet at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York for the National Board of Review Awards.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE

They were joined by an array of well-turned out gentlemen, including Jon Hamm, Ben Affleck, Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg to see Social Network crowned Film of the Year

Winter Sun-Seekers

2011-01-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

Desert Palms

Julia Neel

11 January 2011

WHILE most of us spent the Christmas and New Year's breaks snuggled up against Britain's frozen temperatures, on sunnier shores in the Caribbean and Florida, models, rock stars and royalty were soaking up the sun.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and beau Jason Statham, Salma Hayek, and Chloe and Philip Green chose celebrity favourite St Barts for their winter break, while Alice Dellal and Charlotte Casiraghi sunned themselves on Ipanema beach in Brazil and Rihanna returned to her native Barbados.

Elsewhere, Chloe Sevigny showed some impressive commitment to styling in Miami with an array of cool cover-ups and accessories, while Naomi Watts wore Breton stripes in Sydney.

Magnificent Maurizio

2011-01-11T02:47:00.001-08:00

I’m completely obsessed with Maurizio Anzeri. He hand embroiders archive imagery - INCREDIBLE. Father Christmas, if you're listening, get down to the Photographers Gallery and get one of these in your sack for me...

Yooohooooo!

2011-01-11T02:46:00.001-08:00

Yoohoooo, Voguettes! We are having a sample sale next week from December 2 - 4 at 99c Talbot Road, W11 2AT, between 12-7pm, so get down and grab yourself a bargain! Here are some of my favourite things that you will be able to get hold of. There will also be clothes from seasons past if you want winter clothes! See you there!

Christmas Shopping

2011-01-11T02:45:00.001-08:00

MEEERRRRRRRRYYY CHRRRISTMAS!!
Hi Ya'll,
We go into full sale tomorrow with 30 per cent off autumn/winter and 50 per cent off pre autumn/winter so if you haven't bagged yourself that elusive Christmas party dress head to one of our stores (Westbourne Grove, Westfield shopping centre and St.Martins Court in Covent Garden) and pick up one of these beauties!
Have a great Christmas
xx
S

Christmas Festivities

2011-01-11T02:44:00.000-08:00

Last night saw team RS descend upon the South Bank for our annual Christmas knees up. We were treated to an evening of cabaret, vaudeville and some out-of-this-world showmanship at La Soiree , the new show from the cast and creators of La Clique. From double jointed Norwegians squeezing themselves through tennis rackets whilst standing on a metre high pile of buckets, to world-renowned Spanish (via Croydon) senorita, Ursula Martinez performing her cult striptease, it was a cracking Christmas feast for the senses. Book the ‘posh seats’- close enough to see all the action, but far enough away not to get pulled up on stage by Miss Behave or soaked by aerial ballet dancer David O’Mer. Photography was forbidden – but I managed to sneak this one out.
La Soiree runs until 27th February 2011 at the South Bank Big Top.

Lisa E Moss Jewellery Rocks

2011-01-11T02:43:00.000-08:00

This blog is all about Lisa E Moss's jewellery because I LOVE it.

Lisa is a British jewellery designer originally from Liverpool. She's been designing for several years and I'm not sure how I've only just cottoned on to her stuff but anyway, it's stunning. She produces one off statement pieces using precious metals and stones and other materials such as vintage bone, glass and leather. The pieces are quirky, unique and different. She offers a bespoke commission service and I've actually commissioned her to make me my very own necklace - I cannot WAIT to see it. I've given her a bit of guidance but am mostly leaving it to her to surprise me. I've no doubt I'll love whatever she comes up with. Below are some pics from her latest Strange Fits of Passion collection. Get on her website quick:

Reprieve's Event

2011-01-11T02:41:00.000-08:00

Vivienne Westwood (centre).

Last week was Reprieve's annual fundraising dinner and auction. We raised vital money for this very worthy cause, with the help of Jon Snow, Vivienne Westwood, Bianca Jagger and a few other noble souls.
Clive Stafford-Smith, notorious human rights lawyer and Reprieve founder, made a fascinating if harrowing speech about Secrecy: how the UK and US governments keep so much information from the general public, by classifying and redacting information from documents - be they letters from men inside Guantanamo or notes that lawyers make during interviews with their clients - that justice, or the ability to deliver it, is made impossible.
Jon Snow compèred the event and did a wonderful job. Vivienne Westwood donated tickets to her shows in London and Paris. Bianca Jagger read out the seven redacted paragraphs (finally released this year) that proved Binyam Mohammed was tortured and that the UK and US governments were complicit in the process. One of the paragraphs for example reads:
"Although it is not necessary for us to categorise the treatment reported, it could readily be contended to be at the very least cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by the United States authorities."
Paul McGann read a letter written by Bisher Al Rawi about his experience in Guantanamo and how sad he feels for all the men still in there. Bisher is an exceptional human being - I have met him - who was wrongly imprisoned and tortured inside Guantanamo for several years.
There were several other very interesting parts to the evening. Pictures below to show. Reprieve is an extremely worthy charity that helps people in dire situations. If you are interested please visit:
to find out more and make a donation if you wish.

Jon Snow.

Jacquetta Wheeler, Vivienne Westwood and Jon Snow.

The Perfect Christmas Gift

2011-01-11T02:40:00.000-08:00

I have the perfect Christmas gift for you to buy any female close to you this Christmas- please see above. This very funky necklace has been designed by Vivienne Westwood for Reprieve, the charity I work for and feel very strongly about. This is a perfect way to donate some money to an extremely important cause at the same time as giving someone you like a lovely gift. It costs £105, with all profits going direct to Reprieve. And you can buy it here:
Reprieve is a human rights charity that uses the law to save people all around the world from dire situations. The people I work with daily (a mix of lawyers, investigators and other volunteers like me), get innocent men and women out of jail and off death row. There is nothing much sadder to me than imagining an innocent person being locked up and being abused, away from their families and loved ones. I mean can you imagine! Imagine your dad suddenly disappearing and not knowing where he’s gone, and then finding out he’s in a military camp somewhere being tortured with no access to a lawyer or anyone to help? This ACTUALLY HAPPENS! Reprieve gets calls from relatives of people in situations like these quite often and helps them. Vivienne feels as strongly about this as I do, and we’re both hoping that this necklace will help to raise essential funds for Reprieve.
For more information and to understand what I’m talking about a bit better, please visit:

The funds raised from this necklace will go towards providing legal council to those who otherwise couldn’t afford it, or wouldn’t know how to access it. Some of those that Reprieve represent are guys inside Guantanamo Bay. I have met a few former Guantanamo prisoners now, and it makes my heart heavy when I think about the torture that they endured, the humiliation, the inhumane abuse they received at the hands of the US military. These are men who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and got sold for bounties to the Americans. Did you know the Americans literally dropped leaflets down from planes offering bounties of $5000 to anyone who handed over a ‘terror suspect?’ To a Pakistani villager that was enough to feed their kids for five years. And that was how the majority in Guantanamo got there. I know it sounds mad - it is mad! And there are still innocent men inside there who need your help! Please click here to buy one of these limited edition necklaces, and help save the lives of men and women who need your help this Christmas:

Bei-ristmas

2011-01-11T02:37:00.000-08:00

For Xmas, we nicked off to Beirut for a four-day mini break to avoid cranberry sauce and snow. We had an incredible time in the warmth and the food was insane (my favourite ever Christmas lunch).

Lulu Kennedy's Lebanese friend and investor Tania Fares put us in touch with her amazing sister Hala, who picked us up on Boxing Day (wearing Lulu and Co/Henry Holland), and took us to her friend's Boxing Day lunch in the country.

I've never been one for many words, just do yourself a favour and go to Beirut - very friendly people, great bars, shops and culture. I'm back in April. Annoyingly I had loads of really great shots on my camera which I broke on NYE so these are the best I have left.

New York Tip

2011-01-11T02:35:00.000-08:00

This looks like a really interesting exhibition and well worth checking out if you are in New York.
The Morgan Library and Museum presents a month-long exhibition of photographs by Missimo Listri of The Great Libraries of Europe.
The show coincides with the reopening of the Morgan's original 1906 library and includes 23 large format photographs of magnificent rooms as Michelangelo's Laurentian Library.

Great European Libraries: A Photographic Journey Opens December 8, 2010

Massimo Listri, Biblioteca del Trinity College, Dublin, 1992, lambda print.
The Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Avenue, at 36th Street, New York,

David Hockney - Paris
David Hockney: Fleurs fraîches - Drawings on iPhone and iPad from October 20, 2010 to January 30, 2011.
Great new exhibition by David Hockney in Paris at the Fondation Pierre Berge/Yves Saint Laurent of over 200 drawings made on the iphone and ipad.

Somerset House - Dior Illustrated: René Gruau and the Line of Beauty

Until January 9, 2011
I have always been in awe of the work of Rene Gruau and I was lucky enough to meet him just before he died. Amazingly he was more interested in drawing monsters than fashion when I met him, which was quite bizarre.
This exhibition shows how "new" his work was at the time and features a lot of the work he did for Dior. The exhibition is well worth a visit for anyone interested in illustration.

Paul Recommends

2011-01-11T02:33:00.000-08:00

Cirque du Soleil – Totem
I’m not sure if you are a fan of Cirque du Soleil, but seeing is believing if you get the opportunity of going. Starting in London at the Royal Albert Hall from January is their new show, Totem.

Future Generation Art Prize
There was an amazing Art Competition called the Future Generation Art Prize, established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Kiev, with a very generous prize of £100,000! The winner was Brazilian film maker, Cinthia Marcelle – definitely one to keep an eye on!

Great new limited edition book out called Any Day Now: David Bowie the London Years (1947 – 1974) by Kevin Cann. This exclusive hardback edition contains many rare items and is individually numbered and signed by the author. There are also 122 rare and exclusive facsimiles of photographs, a newsletter, promotional biog, theatre programme, stickers and tickets. There is also a paperback version available priced at £24.99. Click here for more information

Review Of The Year (In Pictures)

2011-01-11T02:31:00.000-08:00

I know I know I'm a little late with this guys but I've been killing it down the sales.
As way of an apology here is my pretty basic review of the last year through the medium of imagery - it's true what they say, a picture really does tell a thousand words. Sometimes however some of these words are lies, be warned.

January
Went to Austria, did some snowboarding - did even more Jaegermeister.

February
Went to the Brits with Pixie in HOH. Only met bloody GaGa!

March
Filmed the advert for Frock Me with Chungy. Got a well nice dressing gown out of it.
Watch it

April
Went to Coachella with gang. Filmed Frock Me in NYC with Chungy wearing very questionable outfits.

May
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME had a party on the roof - even the blackberry went blurry. Met Lulu!

June
Got Bieber fever - spoke to the arrogant little sh*t for 30 sec - got over Bieber fever.

July
Glastonburyyyyyyyyyyyy *vomits and the worlds biggest Croc. *VOMIT.

August
Moved into a new home with new roomies. Big sis got married AND got shot by Nick Knight.

September
SHOWTIME. Me and Hillier loving the jewels. And this beaut of a dress never even made it onto the runway.

October
Popped to Paris where Dree rocked some pretty good pantaloons. Compared hair colours with Riri.

November
Launched our skiwear range with Roxy and stole a skidoo with Jade in the process, before competitive "crabbing" of an evening.

December
Got my first EVER billboard! Went to British Fashion Awards in Ponyskin.

This Time - PR Fraud!

2011-01-11T02:28:00.000-08:00

I personally approve every celebrity that wants to borrow - and not buy - our pieces. I am not easily seduced by the power of celebrity and I don't believe that this influences our sales, so why not only send out pieces to the people I like and respect? We can't influence who buys the designs but we can control who borrows them.
The other day our press office emailed me asking if it was ok to borrow pieces for a shoot with Julianne Moore. Whoo-hoo - hell yes! She is a great actress, smart and amazingly beautiful, a perfect brand ambassador! The shoot is for the New York Times and it is about Julianne's favourite places in London - and the Lara Bohinc store is her favourite shop! Really? How come I have never seen a photo of her with our pieces? Excited I ask the girls in the press office to do some research and to find photos of her wearing our products. I have never seen them myself but you never know, I don't read celebrity gossip papers so I am not really an authority on that. But nothing, no photo as such....
They have requested to borrow only one item - the Lunar eclipse bag in python, our classic design that has been selling for years now and it costs nearly £2,000.
A week later when the return is due, we become suspicious: the stylist's number is not working and when we call the New York Times they confirm our fears: no, there is no photo shoot with Julianne Moore and they don't know that stylist either. Julianne's assistant confirms that she is neither working with the aformentioned stylist nor shooting for the New York Times....
Arghhhh - fraud, it happened again! We have been tricked in a quite clever way- they knew to choose a celebrity that I would approve of and banked on us not checking them up.
Serves me right- and I thought I wouldn't be fooled by some celebrity carrot!

Objectivity Of Taste

2011-01-11T02:26:00.000-08:00

Kinetic shoe boots from spring/summer 2011 Manifesto collection.

It is always strange looking through sales statistics from the recent selling season. Some styles that you love do well, some badly, and there are always some unexpected winners and losers. I find it impossible to predict. My business partner always wants a sure winner, but how can you tell? I need to put a crystal ball on my Christmas wish list.
This seasons’ Kinetic shoe boots in the black lace and velvet combination from the Manifesto collection were one of my favorites, I was sure this style would sell well. That is until our first appointment with a major department store’s shoe buyer who exclaimed: “This shoe is a kiss of death, we are not buying it! It is not right for our customer and lace never sells!” Oh well, I wish I knew earlier. The next appointment is with another department store buyer from the same city. Well now, they loved them and bought heavily into this Kiss-Of –Death style.

How come there is such a difference of opinion between two quite similar stores in the same city? The buyers always claim that they never buy what they personally like, it is not about their individual taste, it is about their customers’ taste. Apparently they are so objective that they can predict what their customers will like in the forthcoming season based on certain rules (lace never sells for some), and past experiences. However, when you look at the sales statistic this sometimes speaks against it. Otherwise all the styles that they buy for their store would sell out?
This shoe did very well in the end, on the wholesale front. What the customers in the shops will like and actually buy only time will tell. And mirror, mirror on the wall, lets see who is the most objective of them all?

Bangkok Lights

2011-01-11T02:24:00.000-08:00

I am in Bangkok right now, visiting a new jewellery manufacturer. This is my last and my favourite business trip of the year.
Despite the eleven or thirteen hour flight, it is always a pleasure to come here: always hot (which I love), amazing food, great hotels, restaurants and bars, as well as massage any time of the day or night! People work hard (six days week anyone?) but they do look happy. Their attention to detail is outstanding and their gentleness is also visible through their work. This is not China - it reminds me more of Italy or France.
And the way they put those Christmas lights together is just - sweet!

The King's Speech - Paris Premiere

2011-01-11T02:23:00.000-08:00

There’s being delivered in style and then there’s being driven in a vintage, Bordeaux-coloured Rolls Royce that’s used to ferry the Queen around when she is in town - that’s how Colin and I arrived at The King’s Speech premiere in Paris.

With this type of transport you need to be smart and elegant, which is why - as you see - I went for this stunning dress. However its backstory is unexpected. For starters, it’s the creation of the very edgy refashioning label, Junky Styling – which is based in London’s Brick Lane district and which represents the antithesis of that sort of Hardy Amies royal couture. Secondly, the Junky geniuses have refashioned one of Colin’s suits - a beautiful suit, in fact - that had been devoured by wardrobe moths (my constant search for a “non chemical” and natural remedy to fight these wardrobe beasts has so far failed to turn up any solutions. Does anybody have any tips?).

Here’s the backstory of the dress/formerly man’s suit:

I have wanted to work with Annika Sanders and Kerry Seager - aka Junky Styling - since I discovered them at Esthetica two years ago (we also stocked some of their pieces at Eco Age last season). They started their venture in 1997 and make all their garments from the highest quality second hand clothing, which is deconstructed, re-cut and utterly transformed into a new piece. As the New Yorker put it: “They do a brisk traffic in body parts – dismembering the arms and legs of old suits and repurposing them… the result is an eccentrically chic line of mutant couture.”

Before Christmas, after the moth incident, I paid a visit to their headquarters. I am glad we left the piece with them rather than witnessing it being chopped up and reconstructed. I have watched Junky Styling and their amazing tailors perform their wardrobe surgery before - and it’s strong stuff. Collars are dismembered, panels sliced apart. Hems become collars and front panels become hems. It’s extraordinary!

But the results are stunning. And in Paris, Colin’s loss - he was pretty furious at the moths - was the Green Carpet Challenge’s gain. Annika’s design is totally individual but she also managed to make me feel “chic” (it’s a cliché but that’s how you want to feel in Paris).

Up next in the Green Carpet Challenge…

After a wonderful night in Paris, I’m really excited about next week in Los Angeles. We’ll be bringing you lots of eco and sustainable style from a huge number of events in rapid succession culminating with one of the Big Ones: The Golden Globes. Last year I wore a repurposed wedding dress (dig into the archive here to reminisce!).

Divine Intervention

2011-01-11T02:22:00.000-08:00

The “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” school of thought is wrong - it’s actually chocolate. In particular, Divine Chocolate. Not only for their Dark Chocolate with Raspberries (my favourite) but also because the company gives chocolate lovers like me the opportunity to vote for change when they buy Divine.

Divine is the only Fairtrade chocolate company that is owned by farmers. In fact they are the major shareholders. The farmers of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana own 45 per cent of the company, which means they are in charge, control their future and earn money that can truly be described as a fair and living wage.

I’m delighted to announce that Divine is our sponsor for this year’s Green Carpet Challenge. Sophi Tranchell MBE and Divine’s managing director – a titan of ethical campaigning! – has been very kind about the GCC, saying: “Like Divine, Livia and Lucy [Siegle] are at the forefront of pushing for fairer, more sustainable design, production and trade – and, like Divine, they do it with style and lashings of glamour!”

Just to reinforce Divine’s glamorous take, check out the brand’s advertising campaign. The models are actually farmers from the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative.

CHOCS AWAY! (sorry)

Beauty First Aid

2011-01-11T01:59:00.000-08:00

We thought we'd share with you just what it is that is getting us through this most drizzly, chilly month. As you can see it's all about weather-combating products interspersed with flashes of colour and luxury. Well, we've never claimed to be low-maintenance have we?

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Concealer, £19, esteelauder.co.uk

Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, £18, boots.com

Ruby and Millie I-Lash Curler, £9, boots.com

Sisley Comfort Extreme Body Cream, £76, sisley-cosmetics.co.uk

Eve Lom Lip Mix, £14, evelom.co.uk

Carmex Lip Balm Tube, £2, boots.com

Essie Smoking Hot Polish, £10, nailsbynails.co.uk

Revlon Fire and Ice Super Lustrous Lipstick, £8, revlon.com

Balenciaga Eau De Parfum, £60, 08006521615

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Tasai Cream, £22,

Beauty Bootcamp: Day 3

2011-01-11T01:57:00.000-08:00

Neil Moodie and Wendy Rowe are still hard at work in Ibiza...

Day 3 is apparently the day when everyone has some kind of mini breakdown, and has definitely been our hardest day so far. We struggled with the early run, our minds saying yes, but the body saying "no way". There's been gossip in the camp too: two of our fellow boot-campers didn't turn up for the run after a few too many glasses of wine last night (alcohol is banned btw), and after a yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs, we were 6 minutes late for the circuit training and got severely punished for this by having to run up the 279 steps, not once, but twice. (The drinkers were also punished!). We struggled through the 2nd circuit, with Wendy having severe breakfast reflux in the process. The afternoon 6 mile hike which seemed so daunting became our anger management session. A pep talk from the trainers at the top and the walk back down suddenly made us feel better within a day where we could have quite easily ploughed our way through a burger and a Mars Bar. Stretching at the end of the day made us feel better and the almost compulsory dip in the cold sea suddenly didn't feel so bad. At dinner we all talked about how if you smell something vanilla then it takes the sugar cravings away. We all smothered our arms in Vanilla Body cream and spent the rest of the evening sniffing them (desperate times!)

Wendy says: The bootcamp has absorbed the last 3 days of my head and from that suddenly I feel clearer headed about other recent events in my life. I never expected this, is this a turning point?
Neil says: I found inner strength today that I never knew i could find within myself. From wanting to completely give up something I was hating, I found a way to enjoy it again - I'm in shock !!

Laura Bailey - Daylesford Daytripping

2011-01-11T01:52:00.000-08:00

Vlad-our charismatic chef/teacher

Before my friends accuse me of false advertising, I am not pretending to have any natural talent in the kitchen. There are three things I do well - pancakes, macaroni cheese and banana bread, and my old flatmates would say my culinary repertoire is based on a variety of jacket potato fillings...There is definite room for improvement, and once in a while I'm consumed by good intentions and newfound ambition...(usually after reading anything by Nigel Slater). I owe it to my kids to up my game, let alone the boyfriend who usually cites the contents of our fridge (or lack thereof) quite high up amidst his list of complaints...

I'll happily cross town-or country-to eat at my favourite restaurants, or spend a carefree morning pottering - and eating my way - around the famers' market, but at home I'm lazy, preferring to pick up a (veggie) lasagne at my favourite deli, heat up the kids leftovers, or simply boil an egg. I'd like to be a spontaneous, confident cook, and I'd also like to know that my diet - and that of my family - is encouraging optimum health and energy...

I signed up to a cooking day at Daylesford Farm in Gloucestershire in the middle of a manic meltdown week. A friend of a friend had whispered about its seductive joys and I felt calmly virtuous simply perusing the choice of classes: Artisan Breadmaking? From Field to Fork? - Next time.

I'm slightly ashamed to say that I chose the Holistic Cooking day, partly on the basis that I was desperate for a massage, but the combination of cooking inspiration, yoga, and deep tissue pummelling was hard to resist.

Such a spoiling drop-out-of-real-life daytripping kind of day is perfect to share with a hard-to-treat jet-setting friend, so I kidnapped my beloved Josh Wood (who I used to live with so he knows all my failings...) for a day's adventure - a rare day off for him, he's the hairdresser/colourist/creative genius EVERYONE wants on their speed dial. The only hitch was that we were so excitedly chattering away en route that we sailed past the motorway exit and then spent an hour backtracking ending up with having to ask local builders/postmen / hikers for directions. Slightly shamefaced, we eventually turned up at Daylesford too late for our yoga session, but ready to cook!

Aprons on, we got to "work" smoothie-tasting, while being taught the fundamentals of healing nutrition and the diverse benefits of seasonal organic cookery. Manuka honey, flaxseed oil and a blender are now on my shopping list!

Pomegranate-bashing!

Quite thrilled with my new pomegranate-bashing technique: score into quarters and pummel with a wooden spoon and the seeds fly out. Cut to a shot glass full of the most delicious juice I've ever tasted... I'll be picking up pomegranates on Portobello Road on my way home from work from now on...

Making the artichoke soup

Chopping/giggling

Winter salad

Lunch - artichoke soup with truffles-quite proud!

Pudding - poached fruits in mulled wine

We're on a roll...artichoke-peeling, onion-steaming, milk bubbling... Our teacher Vladimar Niza's passion and enthusiasm is infectious and I almost blush when he admires my chopping technique - a definite first! Our soup simmers as we assemble a winter salad, bitter endive and pear, stilton and celery. Strong flavours, but simplicity itself. I literally feel myself relaxing, relishing the very essence of the ingredients straight from the garden, the simple act of cooking and eating with a friend nurturing in itself.

Daylesford Organic Farm

Scarecrow in silhouette

Head gardener Jez Taylor

After a seriously amazing massage the rest of the day was admittedly a bit of a blur, but wellies on (borrowed - it goes without saying that we were both in totally inappropriate shoes...),we stumbled out of the cosy spa cocoon world into the silver-rose dusky glow to explore the fields beyond the farm... I wanted to interview Daylesford's inspirational head gardener Jez Taylor but my brain had happily turned to mush so all I could do was nod my humble appreciation of his organic farming master plan as we crunched through the ice and the sky turned pink.

Last light

Daylesford Farm

A good supply of salad

I picked up chocolate chip cookies for the kids (and supper for the hungry and abandoned boyfriend), from the farm shop on my way out and, no, I didn't pretend I made any of it, though was just a little bit tempted.

It's a start. Happy 2011!

Daylesford Farm

Visit for further information. Details about the day below:

Holistic Cookery & Hay Barn Spa Day
"Discover the healing power of food and its effect on your health with our Holistic Cookery class. The cookery class is complemented by a yoga session and a deep-tissue massage to restore your well-being at our award-winning Hay Barn Spa. Our professional nutritionist chef teaches how to make dishes that are based on incorporating key principles from Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda everything, including our bodies, are made out of the five elements of air, space, fire, water and earth. Students will learn how to re-vitalize their body and soul through a healthy approach to diet and lifestyle. £175 per person includes yoga, massage, cookery class, lunch, refreshments, apron and all course materials. One day course 10am - 5pm.

Bracelet Time: Clarice Caine

2011-01-11T01:50:00.000-08:00

Clarice Caine bracelet

Catching our eye right now are the delicate bracelet designs of UK jewellery label Clarice Caine. Handmade using responsibly sourced materials, founder Tanya Sherwin makes the leather wrap bracelets in her kitchen - or in her garden with the dogs and chickens wandering about.

"The bracelets are intricate and time-consuming to make, but there is a sort of rhythmic therapy to them, much like knitting I guess," says Sherwin, who likes to name each one to give them their own sense of identity.

Take your pick from rock chic bead and skull designs to crystal and pearl designs. From £19.95 to £55,

Inspired By TED

2011-01-11T01:46:00.000-08:00

Hilary Clinton

In December I attended the first TEDWomen's conference in Washington DC and starting to digest some 70 presentations (each no longer than 18mins, delivered over a day and a half), focused on women as innovators, idea champions and architects of change. Speakers ranged from a highly articulate 17 year old social entrepreneur to political luminaries such as Hilary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Nancy Pelosi. Arianna Huffington expounded the benefits of sleep and Donna Karan discussed how life and death are inextricably linked.
Here are some of my highlights:

Hilary Clinton declared the empowerment of women and girls to be a cornerstone of US foreign policy and vital to its security, prosperity and peace. She wants every girl in the world to live up to her own dreams and aspirations. Stirring words indeed.
Hanna Rosin, a US journalist who dares to pen what people are thinking but may not have yet realised, focused on the growth of women in the Twenties, Sixties and now in the Noughties. Her 21st century criterion for a good leader was "One who can foster creativity".

Straight talking Icelandic founder of Andur Capital, Halla Tomasdottir practices feminine values when it comes to financial investment and has been one of her country's few success stories in recent years. Halla believes in understanding risk awareness and feels emotional due diligence is just as important as the financial. She is also an advocate of good business and philanthropy going hand in hand.

Deborah Rhodes

Deborah Rhodes MD, a doctor of Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic received a standing ovation for her revolutionary fight to improve the accuracy of early breast cancer detection, particularly for those with denser breast tissue through the use of gamma rays rather than traditional mammograms which tend to less effective results.

Kiran Bedi

Corrections pioneer, Kiran Bedi one of the most trusted and admired community leaders in India, shared how she introduced meditation to great effect into the Indian police force and subsequently to prisoners through education, resulting in facilities more akin to ashrams rather than squalid jails as before. She also shared some words of wisdom, "Life is on an incline, you can choose to go up or to go down. If 100 things happen in your life, 90 are of your own doing, good or bad. The other 10, nature dishes out to you."

The two days were punctuated by interesting musical entertainment including heartfelt chamber music (a paradox in itself), from the hugely talented, Juilliard educated, Ahn Trio - three Korean sisters breathing new life into classical music and commissioning works from visionaries such as Michael Nyman, Maurice Jarre and Pat Metheny. I downloaded their Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac that evening and have been playing it ever since.

Madeleine Albright

The big quote of the conference surprisingly came from former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, “There is a special place in hell for women who don't help each other."
See these talks in full and discover more on TED.com.

Playing Cultural Catch-Up In Manhattan

2011-01-11T01:44:00.000-08:00

NK in NYC after the snowstorm

Having just managed to escape the airport chaos in London, I got marooned in NYC on Boxing Day when 24 inches of snow fell overnight and scuppered immediate plans of a sunshine break in South Beach, en route to Anguilla.

I cannot recall Park Avenue ever looking like this, however the positive side was being able to see exhibits that eluded me on previous trips – Chaos and Classicism at the Guggenheim, covering French, Italian and German artists between 1918 and 1936, made me reflect on the aftermath of war and how society is forced to start functioning again. I also saw Edward Hopper at the Whitney, tracing the development of realism in American art between 1900 and 1940 - an all together, much more uplifting afternoon’s gazing.

Antonio Donghi, Circus, 1927

Edward Hopper New York Interior, 1921

I also managed to catch up on some of this season’s hot Oscar contenders at the movies. Colin Firth movingly comes of age in The Kings Speech and will probably battle it out for the Best Actor with James Franco in Danny Boyle’s compelling 127 Hours. The take away from Franco’s adventure gone wrong, is always let someone know your intended route - makes total sense even when going for that New Year’s resolution run in the park.

Natalie Portman should be a shoe-in for Best Actress for her mesmerising performance as Nina (complete with Rodarte-designed tutus), in Darren Aronofsky’s disturbing ballet drama Black Swan. Portman reportedly trained for over a year for the role (dance training, choreography and cross training), and dropped over 20lbs in the process by sticking to a healthy vegan diet.

For some of the latest thinking in this regard and a lot more, check out US statistician and time management obsessive Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Body - a personally tested collection of minimalist methods for rapid weight loss and body transformation which has shot to the top of the NY Times Non Fiction Bestseller List. Ferriss’ cutting edge thinking, garnered from many of the world’s top athletes and scientists, makes a fascinating New Year’s read – going forward no white carb is passing through my lips!

Dresses Undressed

2011-01-11T01:39:00.002-08:00

Most women need their chest measured. A fact that might sound a little odd, but is fact all the same. Many put it off (including me), and fudge along at the size you think are, or would like to be.
In light of the curvy womanly trends for autumn winter, and underwear-as-outerwear trends for spring summer, I decided to take matters in hand.
La Perla's Undressed Review is available in select shops until Christmas, and will launch in all stores in 2011. While it sounds a little like a James Bond film, it is quite straight forward and useful. A member of staff measures you, and has you try on a number of different shapes to establish the perfect style and fit. La Perla's stunning collection of lingerie, and the lovely staff, take all the awkwardness out of the experience.
I am now armed with a handful of stunning La Perla styles. Better yet, I know exactly what to ask for this Christmas.
For more information: 0207 245 0527

Fashion Musings

2011-01-11T01:39:00.000-08:00

Samantha Cameron and Victoria Beckham.

Does fashion reflect life? That was the question at the British Fashion Awards held at the Savoy theatre last week, and specifically what the fashion photographer Nick Knight got me thinking about.
If sharing a table with the model Lara Stone and Victoria Beckham isn’t enough to convince you, then a teary Naomi Campbell accepting her Special Recognition Award by dedicating it to more women of colour in fashion, or Celine’s Phoebe Philo perching next to Victoria Beckham for an especially long chat, should get the synapses firing.
Aside from the fact that fashion is an influential multi billion pound industry, which on numbers alone is on par with Football, the power of fashion is as an expressive extension of ourselves. Most of us have a memory of the importance of a favourite dress on a first date or an interview. Mine is a midnight blue shift dress I wore on my first date with my now husband.
It was clear at the Savoy that the most successful designers, brands, photographers, and models, tap into this sense of identity. They help give us confidence, show our allegiances, get attention, or help us fit in. Fashion becomes a way to communicate, or as Nick Knight explained, his work is a reflection of the way he sees life.
Maybe football isn’t, but fashion still qualifies as a beautiful game.

Charitable Thoughts

2011-01-11T01:34:00.001-08:00

A couple of years ago, I fulfilled a life-long dream and trekked to see gorillas in Uganda. It truly was an astonishing trip, getting to spend an hour with these majestic animals; curious twin baby gorillas and intimidating silver backs all within touching distance. Seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat and up close was quite a privilege and that amazing day is one that I will treasure forever. There were two other parts of that trip that I had no idea would have as much impact on me, but they did and for very different reasons.
To get to the area where Diane Fossey studied the gorilla, we had to drive for about 13 hours a day for 2 days, and so we got to see the true Uganda and some of the people who lived there. By travelling through a developing country, we got an insight into another world that we forget even exists when we are in the comfort of our own homes.
Small children, running to get to school with just a couple of belongings to their name and yet nothing to keep them in, shoeless and with very little clothing were, unfortunately, the norm. They didn't have some of the basic things that we take for granted and yet, in spite of that, every one of them we met greeted us with a broad, welcoming smile and a wave. We offered them what we had - a sweet, pencil, bottle of water - and from their reaction you would have thought that we were handing out gold bars. They were so grateful and happy. We could learn a lot from them.

The second, but much more shocking, view whilst driving was of the the numerous UN camps that were homes to hundreds, if not thousands, of victims from the Congo. I knew very little of the conflicts in the Congo, but have subsequently researched the history between the rebel movements, foreign fighters, and local militias who fight to control Congo's vast natural resources. The atrocities that affect the civilians of the Congo make for horrific reading. However, there are people working hard to raise funds and awareness for victims including The Tatiana Giraud Foundation - which supports victims of rape in the Congo, an area where a woman or girl is raped every 8 seconds in the DRC. More than 200,000 women have been raped since the beginning of the conflict.
Since then, I've thought about starting or helping a charity or organisation or providing the young children with the very basics for school - a T shirt, sandals, a water bottle, pencils and pens all contained in a holdall or lunchbox. It's a very simple idea but to them, it would mean the world. A model friend of mine, Marius Hordjik, and I have recently been thinking of ideas of how to raise money for this or another charity or organisation such as the Tatiana Giraud Foundation so I thought I'd see what you thought and if anyone can expand on or come up with a different idea to the lunchbox/school supplies then please let me know.
Our latest fundraising idea is for a large group of well known male models and actors to run the New York Marathon next year, hopefully providing strong awareness and fundraising for a great cause. It's even been suggested that if enough money is donated then the team should run the entire marathon topless (a brave idea considering it will be November!).
Going to Uganda had a real impact on me and whilst this week's blog probably isn't the easiest of reading, I felt it may help to raise awareness, interest or generate discussion which I think can only be a good thing

Still Modelling

2011-01-11T01:33:00.001-08:00

Not much will make me down my Sunday morning coffee and toast in astonishment, but the Mail on Sunday headline "Poster hunk Gandy packs his trunks - and quits modelling" was certainly news to me, especially when by sheer coincidence, at that moment, the new Light Blue 2 commercial came on the television.
Reading the article further, I discovered that apparently, my two friends Stefano and Domenico (Dolce & Gabbana) and I had fallen out because I had shown an interest in acting and, sadly, our “future looks bleak together”. Now, I may not be the most intelligent person on the planet, but just a week before I had been shooting the apparel campaign with them in NYC and we talked excitedly about our future projects in 2011 and of acting - something which Stefano especially has been encouraging me to pursue. Just to make sure though, I went to check all my bags and cases. There were definitely no “trunks packed”.
I am lucky to have had, and to continue to have, a lot of support from the media and I'm very grateful for that, but it's incredible how wrong reports can sometimes be - and this very far-fetched story certainly falls into that category. Before being involved with media so much, I would have believed everything I read, thinking that lies and even quotations (that have never been said), could and would not be printed. I guess I was a little naïve then.

Patrick and David. Image courtesy of Katie Hillier.

Tuesday evening and the British Fashion Council Awards 2010. The awards at The Savoy were very lavish - it was a beautiful evening and very special to have the top British people in fashion in one room. As you know, I was really proud to be the only man nominated in the Model Of The Year category. It was Lara Stone who took home the award on the night, she's a totally worthy winner so big congratulations to her. I cannot say that I wasn't a little disappointed though. I admit I don’t like losing anything (as anyone who has ever played Monopoly with me will vouch for!). However, as the night went on, the huge amount of people who came over to congratulate me for being recognised alongside the top female models and for raising the profile of male talent on the same level as women's was very touching and I realised the achievement in just being nominated. It was very kind of them and started an interesting discussion point ... should the BFC take the plunge and create two categories next year? We don't compete for the same covers, campaigns or work so it why compete for one award? A dedicated award to Female Model of The Year and another to Male Model of The Year would be a big breakthrough in the industry - maybe something to look into...
A very special mention and congratulations to Patrick Grant for winning Best Menswear Designer. His personal style is the best I have seen for a long time and he is also charming, handsome and down to earth. Being recognised for his work on the label E Tautz is hugely deserved - some people really do have it all!
It's been a busy week, as ever, and one which ended working with Massimo Dutti. I've been shooting their campaign on and off for many years now and the clients and crew are like family. They are such a great bunch of people and show just how respectful and lovely the industry can be and it's an honour that they chose me again. I'm looking forward to seeing the campaign soon.
Last but not least, a big thank you to everyone who not only comments on my blogs, but to those of you who came up with ideas, experiences and solutions for my charity blog last week. We're looking at all of them and I will let you know of any developments.

Happy Christmas

2011-01-11T01:32:00.000-08:00

London in the snow

Walking out from my last photo shoot and interview of 2010 this year, the beauty of London struck me suddenly with the subtlety of Santa's sleigh at full speed. It had been snowing for an hour and there was slight sprinkling of snow that had covered everything. The Christmas lights seem to be twinkling twice as much through the falling snow and London almost took on a Charles Dickens-esque feeling - beautiful. So beautiful in fact, that I walked home that night - even though it was three miles in bitter conditions. I loved every step. For the first time this year it really felt like Christmas.
In these freezing conditions, the filming of the Light Blue commercial on the coast of Capri in the warm Mediterranean sea seemed a lifetime away. When these commercials start showing like they have again recently, the main topic of conversation (apart from the obvious and now seemingly famous white trunks), is about my fitness and diet to get into shape for filming.
Because I often get asked the same question, I have thought of maybe expanding my iPhone apps and developing a fitness/workout/diet app, passing on everything that I have learnt over the last 10 years of training - with some very advanced trainers and nutritionists, as well as through my own trial and error. There will definitely be some serious thought into this.
Even though I mostly train myself, when I want to push myself and my body for shoots such as the Light Blue, there's only one person I go to for advice and training. Her name is Nathalie Bomgren and she works at a private training studio called Bodyism in London http://www.bodyism.com. For me, she and the other trainers are some of the top and most advanced performance coaches/fat loss specialists in the world. Now I wish I could say they have miracle techniques that require little effort, but this is never the case. Nathalie is a great friend, but in the gym she won’t budge an inch and pushes me physically like I have never been pushed before. They really do provide incredible results for their clients. I think after Christmas and a little over indulgence, I may be making a few emergency visits.
Well, what an astonishing year. I'm not going to lie, I am pretty exhausted and looking forward to the Christmas and New Year break. I feel very lucky to have become part of the VOGUE.COM team and would like to thank Dolly for inviting me to start writing. I certainly find it a great challenge, but it has become part of my weekly ritual that I love, wherever I am or whatever has been happening.
But I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who reads my blog and especially to those who have taken the time to comment throughout. I promise you that I read everyone's thoughts and comments and wish in many ways that I could reply or answer your questions (hmm is this another idea Dolly?). So to everyone, a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2011.

History

2011-01-11T01:29:00.000-08:00

Vogue was founded as a weekly publication by Arthur Baldwin Turnure in 1892. When he died in 1909, Condé Nast picked it up and slowly began growing the publication. The first change Nast made was that Vogue appeared every two weeks instead of weekly. Nast also went overseas in the early 1910s. He first went to Britain, and started a Vogue there, and it went well. Then he went to Spain, however that was a failure. Lastly, Nast took Vogue to France, and that was a huge success. The magazine's number of publications and profit increased dramatically under Nast. The magazine's number of subscriptions surged during the Depression, and again during World War II. In the 1960s, with Diana Vreeland as editor-in-chief and personality, the magazine began to appeal to the youth of the sexual revolution by focusing more on contemporary fashion and editorial features openly discussing sexuality. Vogue also continued making household names out of models, a practice that continued with Suzy Parker, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Lauren Hutton, Veruschka, Marisa Berenson, Penelope Tree, and others.^[1]

Cover, May 1917

In 1973, Vogue became a monthly publication.^{[citation needed]} Under editor-in-chief Grace Mirabella, the magazine underwent extensive editorial and stylistic changes to respond to changes in the lifestyles of its target audience.^{[citation needed]}
The current editor-in-chief of American Vogue is Anna Wintour, noted for her trademark bob and her practice of wearing sunglasses indoors. Since taking over in 1988, Wintour has worked to protect the magazine's high status and reputation among fashion publications. In order to do so, she has made the magazine focus on new and more accessible ideas of "fashion" for a wider audience.^[2] This allowed Wintour to keep a high circulation while discovering new trends that a broader audience could conceivably afford.^[2] For example, the inaugural cover of the magazine under Wintour's editorship featured a three-quarter-length photograph of Israeli super model Michaela Bercu wearing a bejeweled Christian Lacroix jacket and a pair of jeans, departing from her predecessors' tendency to portray a woman's face alone, which, according to the Times', gave "greater importance to both her clothing and her body. This image also promoted a new form of chic by combining jeans with haute couture. Wintour's debut cover brokered a class-mass rapprochement that informs modern fashion to this day."^[3] Wintour's Vogue also welcomes new and young talent.
Wintour's presence at fashion shows is often taken by fashion insiders as an indicator of the designer's profile within the industry. In 2003, she joined the Council of Fashion Designers of America in creating a fund that provides money and guidance to at least two emerging designers each year.^[2] This has built loyalty among the emerging new star designers, and helped preserve the magazine's dominant position of influence through what Time called her own "considerable influence over American fashion. Runway shows don't start until she arrives. Designers succeed because she anoints them. Trends are created or crippled on her command."^[2]
The contrast of Wintour's vision with that of her predecessor has been noted as striking by observers, both critics and defenders. Amanda Fortini, fashion and style contributor to Slate argues that her policy has been beneficial for Vogue:^[4]

[W]hen Wintour was appointed head of Vogue, Grace Mirabella had been editor in chief for 17 years, and the magazine had grown complacent, coasting along in what one journalist derisively called "its beige years." Beige was the color Mirabella had used to paint over the red walls in Diana Vreeland's office, and the metaphor was apt: The magazine had become boring. Among Condé Nast executives, there was worry that the grand dame of fashion publications was losing ground to upstart Elle, which in just three years had reached a paid circulation of 851,000 to Vogue 's stagnant 1.2 million. And so Condé Nast publisher Si Newhouse brought in the 38-year-old Wintour—who, through editor in chief positions at British Vogue and House & Garden, had become known not only for her cutting-edge visual sense but also for her ability to radically revamp a magazine—to shake things up.

Reb'l Rihanna

2011-01-11T01:25:00.000-08:00

Rihanna. Photo courtesy of PA Photos

RIHANNA is set to launch her first fragrance entitled Reb'l Fleur at the end of January 2011. Named after a nickname given to Rihanna by her grandmother when she was growing up in Barbados, the new perfume has been described by the singer as being "like high heels with a short, flirty dress", reports WWD.

The intensely fruity fragrance contains notes of red berries, plum and peach, Hawaiian hibiscus flower, coconut water and violet, and has been created to reflect Rihanna's roots in Barbados and current life in New York and LA.

It appears it was only a matter of time before Rihanna joined the likes of Britney, Kylie and Katy Perry in producing a perfume - the singer is said to have the habit of mixing fragrances together to develop her own signature scents. Reb'l Fleur will initially launch in Macy's stores across America on January 25 in time for Valentine's Day, with an international roll-out expected three months later.

Diary Dates 2011

2011-01-11T01:22:00.000-08:00

Glastonbury ©PA

GET your diaries out. The year 2011 is shaping up to be a fun-filled year - and we've compiled the most unmissable events here so you don't miss a thing.

From the glossiest red carpet events (think, the Oscars, Cannes and the Met Ball), to the summer's essential festivals (Coachella, Isle of Wight, Latitude), society polo in Windsor and an alternative to Valentine's traditions - this is our pick of the best events of 2011.
SEE 2011'S MOST IMPORTANT DIARY DATES

Twitter Trouble

2011-01-11T01:20:00.000-08:00

Estée Lauder ambassador Liz Hurley

Estée Lauder ambassador Liz Hurley could have breached Office of Fair Trading rules if she is found to have Tweeted about the company's products for payment - without clearly stating an endorsement. Liz has been the face of the Estée Lauder for 17 years and has fronted promotions such as the company's annual Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. According to The Guardian, Liz's Twitter page included more than 10 references to Estée Lauder's product range, but a spokesman for the actress could not confirm if her contract with Estée Lauder obligated her to Tweet.
The Office of Fair Trading has begun a clampdown on Twitter users and bloggers endorsing products and companies online without clearly stating their relationship with the brand, or using words such as "ad" or "spon" to show that the reference has been paid for. Celebrities such as reality TV star Kim Kardashian can earn up to $10,000 for Tweeting to her 5.6 million followers.

Talk To Us

2011-01-11T01:18:00.000-08:00

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana © PA Photos

IT'S a first - Vogue is opening its channels to invite VOGUE.COM users to interview the exuberant Dolce and Gabbana. We are inviting you to submit the questions you would really like to ask the influential duo, Stefano and Domenico, who are celebrating some 25 years in the fashion business.
They first met in a Milanese nightclub in the Eighties and have come to influence the world of glamour through their many celebrity collaborations and the sheer bravado of their collections. Imagine for a moment the fashion world without bra tops, brocade, corseted siren dresses and lace? Their vision has always been a sexually empowered and self-possessed vision of woman as they hip hop their way through all manner of references from Visconti heroines to Sicilian beauties and glamorous divas.
Dolce & Gabbana have also pioneered on the digital front with live-streamed shows, an expansive website and a blogging site, SWIDE.COM, where we will also be asking Dolce & Gabbana's social network to take part in the interview all making this online question time a perfect fit.
Please submit your questions by January 10 using the comments form below. Your questions won't appear on the site, but the best questions and their answers will be printed in the April issue of Vogue, with a special video of the interview broadcast on VOGUE.COM.

New Heights

2011-01-11T01:16:00.000-08:00

The python Picardy shoe from Sanderson's spring/summer 2011 collection

1 Comment

RUPERT SANDERSON'S latest collection takes the designer's skills to new heights; with the launch of a higher heel. The new 140mm heel appears on four styles complete with a double platform, creating the "different and more daring" effect that he aimed for, although Sanderson's signature clean silhouette is still very much in evidence.
SEE THEM HERE
"In terms of design limits, there's only so high you can go with a heel, to create a shoe that's still perfectly balanced and wearable at the same time," Sanderson explains. "I was interested in seeing how high I could build up this heel and platform combination whilst keeping the styles as simple and un-fussy as possible. That's how I came up with the sort of 'abstract' double platform - it looks somehow lighter and less clumpy when 'split' in two. With Picardy I was inspired mostly by material: mixing skins with metallic leathers and combining them with a raw edge for added texture. I love the graphicness and simple colour blocking in Hydra. David Bowie's album Aladdin Sane inspired the Lightning Bolt platforms."
And, after international store launches in Paris and Hong Kong, is 2011 set to be a quieter year for Sanderson? It seems not.
"Well, I'm about to start working with Charlotte Rampling on her new film," he reveals. "I'm hoping to collaborate with design duo the Inoue Brothers , on one of their 2011 projects. And in September we've got our 10 year anniversary, but I can't give anything away about that just yet."

Dolce Undressed

2011-01-11T01:13:00.000-08:00

French Appeal

Model Andres Velencoso Segura, boyfriend of Kylie Minogue, in the new Dolce & Gabbana Uomini book, out now.

VOGUE blogger David Gandy stars in Dolce & Gabbana's new coffee-table book.
SEE HIM HERE
Uomini, the Italian word for men, showcases the duo's favourite specimens of manhood - in Dolce & Gabbana underwear, of course. Famed for creating clothes that make women feel more feminine and men feel more masculine, the book illustrates the designers' vision of men, all for a good cause.
Photographed by Mariano Vivanco, a portion of the book's proceeds will benefit the EUPLOOS Project, a digitisation initiative which aims to put Florence's Uffizi Gallery's prints and drawings online to create an catalogue.
Starring models including André Ziehe, AJ Abualrub, Antonio Navas, Andres Velencoso Segura, Chris Folz, Chris Garavaglia, Clint Mauro, Eduardo Oliver, Julien Quevenne, Miguel Iglesias, Sam Saffman and Tom Warren, the book is available now from Dolce & Gabbana stores.

Desert Palms

2011-01-10T23:04:00.000-08:00

Natalie Portman ©PA

THE 2011 awards season is hotting up. Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams, Carey Mulligan and Helen Mirren took to the red carpet at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards over the weekend.
SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE

Colin Firth - in an Alexander McQueen suit - picked up his first award, the Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award, for his portrayal of George VI in The King's Speech, while Natalie Portman - in Vionnet - won the Desert Palm Achievement Actress Award for Black Swan.

Other red carpet stars included Aaron Eckhart, Ben Affleck (who won the Chairman's Award), and The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg - who was part of the Ensemble Performance Award-winning cast.

The Big Day

2011-01-09T21:16:00.000-08:00

Remembering McQueen

Click to see full gallery

The official portrait photographs for the engagement of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton © Mario Testino.

13 December 2010

Updated Friday January 7, 2011, 16:40am: The Royal Mint is set to produce its first ever £5 Alderney coin commemorating the engagement of Prince William to Catherine Middleton. Kate, who turns 29 on January 9, will be depicted alongside Prince William for the coin, which has been approved by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales.
Updated Wednesday January 5, 2011, 16:30am: Clarence House has announced the details of the royal wedding day. Kate will arrive at Westminster Abbey in a car, rather than a horse-drawn coach as is usual in royal weddings. Following the ceremony, a fleet of horse-drawn carriages will transport the couple and the rest of the royal family past the assembled crowds to Buckingham Palace, via Parliament Square, Whitehall and The Mall. Rather than the usual sit-down wedding breakfast, guests will be offered canapés and Champagne whilst the royal couple have their official pictures taken. Guests will leave early in the afternoon, but at 7pm the couple will welcome guests for a private dinner - hosted by Prince Charles - followed by dancing. They will then spend their first night as man and wife at one of the royal residences, and will depart for honeymoon the following day to an undisclosed location.

Best Dressed Of The Week - 07/01/2011

2011-01-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

Can’t have a team in Kolkata without Dada: SRK

2011-01-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

Zeecric Bureau

Kolkata: After snubbing Sourav Ganguly completely in the IPL auction, Shah Rukh Khan, the Kolkata Knight Rider team owner said that he would like to have the former Indian captain in his team in a different capacity.

None of the teams vouched for Ganguly in the recently concluded IPL auction in Bangalore, not even his former team Kolkata Knight Riders. That undoubtedly, not only left the on-field King of Kolkata miffed, but also his supporters as they burned effigies of the Bollywood star.

One may call it a ‘damage control’ act or self-realization, Shahrukh said that it is impossible to think have Kolkata Knight Riders without Ganguly and that he wishes to rope in the cricketer in a managerial role.

“He (Sourav Ganguly) is an integral part of the team. It is difficult to think of having a team in Kolkata without him,” Shahrukh said.

“I have spoken to Sourav over phone. We will try to use him in a different capacity,” Shah Rukh was quoted as saying by a Bengali television channel.

When asked why he taught the other teams did not bid for Ganguly, Shahrukh turned to his diplomatic best and said, “I don’t think I should be commenting on that. There are ten teams and thus, there are ten different think tanks. There are various permutations and combinations which the teams try to work out. So it is difficult to say,” he said.

It has been revealed that KKR CEO Venky Mysore has already invited Ganguly to take up a managerial post in the team.

However, as per the sources, Ganguly in ‘not desperate’ to get into KKR and might also reject the offer.

Shocked to not find any takers in the fourth season of the Indian Premier League, Dada said, “I don’t know what happened. It’s up to the teams to decide on the players but I didn’t expect to go unsold. It’s hard to believe that I don’t figure among the 100-odd cricketers.”

Clinical India thrash South Africa by 21 runs

2011-01-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

Buzz up!

Durban: Indian came up with an all-round performance against South Africa in the one-off Twenty20 match to register a comprehensive 21-run victory over the hosts despite a valiant effort by Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk, who scored a dazzling 67.

Defending a tricky total of 168/6, Indian pacers went for too many runs in the initial overs despite picking up a couple of wickets. Van Wyk gave South African innings the much needed impetus as he plundered runs at will. His 39-ball stay at the crease entertained the Durban crowd as he slammed 5 fours and an equal number of sixes.

But once he got out, South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Their downfall started as soon as the Indian spinners took over the bowling duty from the pacers.

Yusuf Pathan (3/22), Yuvraj Singh (1/20), Ravichandran Ashwin (1/33) bowled cheaply as well as picked up vital wickets in the middle overs which derailed the Proteas innings. Though Munaf Patel gave away to many runs, Ashish Nehra (2/22) bowled really well to guide India to a clinical win.
Rohit Sharma slammed a brilliant quick-fire half-century before Suresh Raina blasted 41 to guide India to a challenging 168/6 in the on-off Twenty20 International against South Africa here on Sunday.

Sharma, who was bought by Indian Premier League team Mumbai Indians by a whopping amount yesterday, justified his worth by playing a brutal knock of 53 off just 34 balls. He took all the Proteas bowlers to the cleaners, hammering 5 fours and 2 sixes during his entertaining knock.

After his departure, India lost three quick wickets which temporarily derailed their innings but it was ever-dependable Suresh Raina who kept the Indian innings on track and helped the tourists post a competitive total in the end. Raina’s 23-ball 41 consisted of two fours and three huge sixes.

Earlier, winning the toss, India were off to a flyer as they crossed the 50-run mark in the 6th over of the innings.

But they lost both the openers in quick succession. Despite losing them, India raced past the 100-run mark in the 11th over of the innings.

Rohit Sharma departed for 53 when he tried to hit J P Duminy out of the park, holing out to Ntini at long-on.

Immediately after his wicket, Yuvraj Singh was ran-out due to a terrible mix-up with Yusuf Pathan for 12. Yusuf Pathan also did not last long as he was bowled by Juan Theron for only 6

Home » Nation Indigenous supersonic fighter 'Tejas' to join IAF today

2011-01-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Bangalore: India’s first indigenously developed supersonic multi-role combat aircraft Tejas, meant to replace MiG 21s and MiG 23s, will join the Air Force on Monday for initial operational clearance.

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), considered to be the world’s smallest military aircraft with a single seat, will be among top eight aircraft in the world in technological design and performance terms.

Tejas, which was under development for nearly 28 years and beat US sanctions, will achieve the significant milestone today when Defence Minister A K Antony will give the release to service certificate to Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik.

The handing over of the service certificate will enable Indian Air Force fighter pilots to fly the LCA for final operational clearance by 2012.

The LCA has been developed by the state-run Aeronautical Defence Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bangalore. The project was started in 1983 with a budget of Rs. 560 crore and was named ‘Tejas’ in 2004.

The project was delayed due to various factors, including sanctions by the US in wake of nuclear tests conducted by India in May 1998, which resulted in rise of cost to Rs.5,778 crore from the initial estimate of Rs.3,300 crore.

The F404-GE-IN20 engine from the US-based General Electric powers the fighter, as the indigenously developed Kaveri engine is still undergoing advance trials.

ADA director PS Subramanyam said that they are developing a new variant of the present LCA by 2014-15 and the fighter jet will be fully indigenous in five years time.

The HAL is manufacturing eight aircraft for clearance flights and will take up the IAF’s initial order to deliver 20 jets to form the first Tejas squadron, which will be based at the Sulur air base near Coimbatore.

The Air Force has also placed an additional order of 20 more Tejas for the second squadron in 2010. It will be raised at Kayathir near Tuticorin. The IAF may finally have around 200 LCAs (10 squadrons) in its fleet.

'Sexercise' for that slim figure

2011-01-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: Forget treadmills, long walks and Atkins diet, an expert has come up with a new way of staying in shape-and it has nothing to do with cutting out on carbs - it's indulging in plenty of sex.

Yes, you heard it right, "sexercise" makes a person slimmer - if you do enough of it. Combining sex and fitness is like killing two birds with one stone. Sex gets you fit. And being fit makes you want to have more sex. This is, in large part, because of all of the benefits a good sexercise routine offers, like: improved blood flow in strengthening your heart, better cholesterol, changing more of your bad cholesterol (LDL) to good cholesterol (HDL), weight control, better sleep and greater energy, including longer life and a better quality of life.

According to Fox News, women, in particular, feel more attractive with sexual fitness, since they produce more estrogen. This makes for shinier, smoother hair. Both sexes glow as their skin pores become cleansed, thanks to sweating. They feel sexier than ever. But how do you start this sexercise routine? Well, sex educator Dr.Yvonne Kristín Fulbright has come to your rescue.

Arizona Suspected Gunman Passed FBI Background Check

2011-01-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

The suspect in Saturday's deadly rampage purchased a firearm legally after passing an FBI background check, the company's vice president of hunting operations told FoxNews.com on Sunday.

Jared Lee Loughner, a 22-year-old man with a troubled past who law enforcement say may have been influenced by American Renaissance, a pro-white publication, bought the gun from Sportsman's Warehouse's Tucson store in November.

Loughner, accused of killing six people, shooting Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and wounding 13 others, did not present a concealed weapons permit so he was required to pass an FBI background check. He did so"immediately and without incident," said Matt French, speaking from the Sportsman's Warehouse's Utah headquarters.

"To my knowledge, the firearm purchase was without incident," French said.

French could not confirm whether the gun purchased in November was the same gun allegedly used in Saturday's mass shooting, for which Loughner so far has been charged with five counts of murder and attempted murder. However, he said it was the only recent firearm purchase made by the suspect at their stores.

"Sportsman's Warehouse is cooperating fully with the authorities in investigating this horrible tragedy," he said. "Our sincere condolences go to those affected by this unspeakable incident."

New details are emerging about Loughner as a law enforcement memo based on information provided by the Department of Homeland Security and obtained by Fox News suggests he may have ties to the American Renaissance group, though it's unclear if he was directly affiliated with the publication or group.

The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the group as "white nationalist" whose leader, Jared Taylor, is "a kind of modern-day version of the refined but racist colonialist of old."

The memo states that there is "no direct connection" between Loughner and the group, "but strong suspicion is being directed at AmRen / American Renaissance. Suspect is possibly linked to this group. (through videos posted on his MySpace and YouTube account.). The group's ideology is anti-government, anti-immigration, anti-ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government), anti-Semitic."

The memo also includes information about the suspect's mother, who works for the Pima County Board of Supervisors and notes that Loughner has multiple arrests but no criminal record.

But Taylor, a 1973 graduate in philosophy from Yale University, told Fox News on Sunday that he had never heard of Loughner until Saturday and has checked the group's records going back 20 years and has not found any subscriptions for Loughner to American Renaissance publications.

He added he has no indication that Loughner ever attended any of the group's events, which have been held on the East Coast where the organization is based.

Taylor also denied references to the group as being "anti-ZOG."

"That is complete nonsense," he said. "I have absolutely no idea what DHS is talking about. We have never used the term 'ZOG.' We have never thought in those terms. If this is the level of research we are getting from DHS, then heaven help us," he said.

Loughner lives with his parents in a Tucson neighborhood that one neighbor described as part of an area that is notorious for "stash houses" for Mexican gangs to bring drugs into the U.S. and store them.

The neighbor, who asked only to be identified as Jon, said he volunteered at a phone bank for Giffords' 2008 congressional campaign. He said none of the neighbors seem to know any member of the Loughner household, which on Sunday was cordoned off. Two run-down jalopies outside the house along with a front walkway littered with empty paint buckets and a garden hose blocked the walkway and door while the entire front yard is covered in a tangled cactus tree.

Nothing like this has ever happened in this neighborhood. "We've had a number of good DEA busts," Jon said. "It's a shock, it really is. ... It's sad, it's been a sad day."

Another neighbor directly across from the home also did not want to give his name, but said a mother, son and father live at the house.

"They weren't real friendly," said the neighbor who described himself as 60 and retired. They mostly didn't talk to anyone and mainly stayed inside. "Loners," he called them.

Another neighbor, Anthony Woods, who was three years behind Loughner in school, said the father in the household was argumentative.

Woods said the dad would complain about everything from neighbors' trash cans on the street to standing too close to his property by the fence. Woods said law enforcement interviewed the mother and father at the Loughner house Saturday night.

"They confiscated a lot of things" from the house, he said.

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said Saturday that Loughner had "a troubled past."

"I'm not a psychiatrist so I have no reason to believe the person was insane. Was he unstable? I would agree with that," he said.

Loughner was kicked out of Pima Community College following a series of run-ins with school officials and police at the colleges where he frequently caused disruptions in classrooms and elsewhere on campus, according to The Arizona Republic.

The tensions with school officials led to Loughner's production of a YouTube video in which he declared the college illegal, the newspaper reports.

The college said Loughner could only return if he received mental-health clearance, according to The Arizona Republic.

Loughner is suspected of posting a series of YouTube videos that show a focus on literacy and currency -- as well as his distrust in the government.

"Hello, my name is Jared Lee Loughner," one of the videos says, in words appearing on the screen. "This video is my introduction to you! My favorite activity is conscience dreaming; the greatest inspiration for my political business information. Some of you don't dream -- sadly."

The video, posted Dec. 15, later turns more political.

"The majority of citizens in the United States of America have never read the United States of America's Constitution. You don't have to accept the federalist laws," the video's titles say. "In conclusion, reading the second United States Constitution, I can't trust the current government because of the ratifications: the government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar. No! I won't pay debt with a currency that's not backed by gold and silver! No! I won't trust in god!"

Loughner's last writing on his MySpace page was just hours before the shooting.

"Goodbye friends," he wrote. "Please don't be mad at me."

Loughner was rejected from enlistment in the U.S. Army because he failed the Army urinalysis, a military official told Fox News.

Records obtained from the Pima County, Ariz., criminal database also show Loughner was arrested in 2007 for possessing drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor charge. The records suggest that Loughner paid a $20 fee and completed a court-ordered program for drug offenders.

Three months later he was cited for running a stop sign, according to court documents.

Another record shows a 2008 arrest for what’s described as a "local charge" in Marana, Ariz., 20 miles northwest of Tucson. The non-criminal charge was dismissed.

FBI Director Robert Mueller said that the gun used in Saturday's massacre was a Glock semi-automatic 9-mm. gun with extended magazine.

Ford Unveils Its First Electric Car

2011-01-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK – Ford's new Focus compact car isn't even on sale yet, but the automaker has revealed plans to add an electric version by the end of 2011. The Focus Electric is a pure, zero-emissions battery-powered car similar in concept to the recently launched Nissan Leaf.

Unlike the uniquely designed Leaf, the Focus Electric is nearly identical to the conventional version of the car, save for a slightly different front fascia and a charging input located behind the driver's side front fender, along with the requisite "Electric" logos. Five passengers will fit in an interior that is also largely unchanged, although part of the battery system encroaches on cargo space in the form of a large box behind the seats measuring about one foot high by one foot deep.

Ford says that the 23 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack developed with LG Chem can be fully charged in just 3-4 hours using a 240-volt outlet, about half of the time that it takes to fill up the one in a Leaf. The main difference between the two is that the Nissan pack is air-cooled while the Focus has a more complex, liquid cooled and heated system that facilitates the use of a higher wattage on board charging system, 6.6 kW vs 3.3 kW, without causing damage to the battery.

Obama Says World Is Watching Sudan Referendum

2011-01-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON -- President Obama said Sunday the world is watching as voters in southern Sudan go to the polls in a weeklong referendum that's expected to split the troubled African nation into two parts and create the world's newest country.

Writing in The New York Times, Obama said that not every generation has the opportunity to "turn the page on the past and write a new chapter in history."

"Yet today, after 50 years of civil wars that have killed 2 million people and turned millions more into refugees, this is the opportunity before the people of southern Sudan," he said.

The south, which is mostly Christian, is expected to secede from the mainly Muslim north, dividing Africa's largest country in two.

Obama said the vote and the action of the leaders of Sudan will help determine whether Sudan will "move toward peace and prosperity, or slide backward into bloodshed."

The referendum, he said, will have consequences not only for Sudan, but also for sub-Saharan Africa and the world.

Omar al-Bashir, the president of Sudan who's facing charges for alleged genocide and war crimes in the western Darfur region, has vowed to honor the outcome of the vote and let go of the oil-rich south. His government tried for years to derail the referendum now taking place under massive international scrutiny.

"Now, the world is watching, united in its determination to make sure that all parties in Sudan live up to their obligations," Obama said. "As the referendum proceeds, voters must be allowed access to polling stations; they must be able to cast their ballots free from intimidation and coercion."

The south is one of the poorest regions in the world and the people who live there have long accused the northern Arab-dominated government of taking their oil revenues and not putting anything back.

"A successful vote will be cause for celebration and an inspiring step forward in Africa's long journey toward democracy and justice," Obama said.

But, he cautioned, lasting peace in Sudan will demand far more than a credible referendum.
He said the peace pact agreed to in 2005 must be fully implemented and that border disputes need to be peacefully resolved.

Obama also said there can be no lasting peace until the situation in Darfur is resolved. He said that the government of Sudan must live up to its obligations and stop the attacks on civilians in the region.

`True Grit' Wins Big at Weekend Box Office

2011-01-09T20:34:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES -- "True Grit" seized the reins at the weekend box office with $15 million, taking the No. 1 spot and becoming the first Western to top the $100 million mark since the 1990s, according to studio estimates released Sunday.

The Paramount release starring Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon bumped off Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller's comedy "Little Fockers," which was No. 1 for the previous two weekends. Released by Universal, "Little Fockers" slipped to second with $13.8 million, raising its total to $124 million.

"True Grit," which was directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, lifted its total to $110.4 million.

Among newcomers, Nicolas Cage's supernatural thriller "Season of the Witch" opened at No. 3 with $10.7 million. Distributed by Relativity Media, the movie stars Cage as a knight in the Middle Ages escorting a suspected witch to her trial.

Gwyneth Paltrow's country-music drama "Country Strong" premiered at No. 6 with $7.3 million. The Sony Screen Gems release casts Paltrow as a boozy singer trying to get her act straight after rehab.

"True Grit" is a new take on Charles Portis' novel, previously adapted in a 1969 version that earned John Wayne an Academy Award. Bridges stars as lawman Rooster Cogburn, hired by a 14-year-old girl to track down her father's killer.

In Wayne's day, Westerns were a fixture in Hollywood, but the genre fell out of favor over the last 40 years. There was a small surge of $100 million Western hits in the 1990s, including Oscar best-picture winners "Dances With Wolves" and "Unforgiven."

The past decade brought the cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain" and the modestly successful Westerns "Open Range" and "3:10 to Yuma," but none approached the earnings of "True Grit," which also is the first $100 million hit for the Coen brothers.

While "True Grit" rides high, Hollywood's overall revenues continued a slide that persisted through the fall and holiday season. Ticket sales this weekend totaled $112 million, down 30 percent compared to the same period last year, when the science-fiction sensation "Avatar" led with $50.3 million.

The post-holiday period typically is a quiet time at movie theaters, but "Avatar" did blockbuster business last January, backed by such hits as "Sherlock Holmes" and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel."

"This time a year ago, that little film called `Avatar' was just pumping up the box office in a huge way and a totally unexpected way for January," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com.

Even the No. 4 movie from the same weekend last year, the vampire tale "Daybreakers," did $15.1 million, more than this weekend's No. 1 film.

Hollywood may get a box-office jolt this coming weekend with Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz's action tale "The Green Hornet" and Vince Vaughn and Kevin James' comedy "The Dilemma."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

12:00am - FASHION’S NIGHT IN: OVER AND OUT

2011-01-09T19:24:00.001-08:00

Thank you for joining in VOGUE.COM's first ever Fashion's Night In - hundreds of online retailers came on board to offer countless prizes, special offers, fashion exclusives and innovative digital events for thousands of shoppers to enjoy, all in aid of KidsCo. Now we're going to get busy counting up just how much money you raised for KidsCo, while you get on with enjoying the spoils.

Please read our blog below to see a minute-by-minute account of the high fashion Fashion's Night In action.

Thank you again - and see you next year.

Christmas Giving

2011-01-09T19:23:00.001-08:00

When I was a 22-year-old fashion student living in Rome, I became a temporary stepmother figure to my much older boyfriend’s two little sons Tao, eight, and Bartolomeo, five. I made various attempts to win their affections including English puddings and reading them bedtime stories from the Old Testament, which may sound weird but was something I really enjoyed when I was a child. It didn’t seem to put them off as we are still close and I am ecstatic if they ever come to London, which Tao did last week.
Tao is now married to the ravishingly beautiful actress Olivia Wilde, who is so cool she dyes her platinum blonde hair brown. She is the star of Tron, Disney’s new mega blockbuster which also features Jeff Bridges (I shook his hand in the foyer of Claridges!) and we were invited to the premiere. Before we went I hung out in their room and took this photo of them wearing their matching presents – luckily for me Tao is slender enough to fit my size large jumper. Happy Christmas.

A Cinematic Trip

2011-01-09T19:22:00.001-08:00

I have spent the last two weekends in Portugal being on the jury of the Estoril Film Festival. The festival was created by Paulo Branco, a charismatic, easygoing man with a huge Peckinpah-esque moustache. He is a friend of John Malkovich, which is why I was invited, as they showed the three short films we made together: Strap-Hanging, Lady Behave, and Hideous Man (you can see them all on my website www.bellafreud.co.uk). John also did a little fashion show with his spring/summer 2011 collection, modelled by the actors from the latest Raoul Ruiz film Les Mysteres de Lisboa. His clothes are really good, properly “fashion”. I find it impressive that in the little spare time that he has between making films and directing his operas he manages to produce exquisite, beautifully made menswear. And on top of that his drawings are masterpieces, praised by no less than my dad. I have taken photos to show you.
When I arrived in Portugal the temperature was 24 degrees and my hotel suite was of the highest luxury with a multitude of windows and a balcony over looking the sea.
Friday evening started with an exhibition of Lou Reed’s photographs, in the presence of Lou himself. The pictures were beautiful: landscapes with incredible light, some with almost psychedelic shades of green or yellow – all achieved by doctoring the camera and being a fiendish perfectionist.

The next morning after drying my hair in the sun, I went to a three-hour documentary called Ceauşescu Autobiography, almost entirely made with Ceauşescu’s own propaganda films, with clips of him meeting everyone from Nixon to Queen Elizabeth. It was interesting in a sinister way but I couldn’t help nodding off rather a lot. That night there was a screening of On Tour, written, directed and starring the genius actor from Schnabel’s The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, Mathieu Amalric. After, at midnight, a group of us went to Lisbon to listen to Fado music which I was slightly dreading - but it was incredibly good, all sung by really young people in a little club that had been a chapel. Got to bed at 5am.

Sunday there was an exhibition by Spanish photographer Alberto Maria-Alix and a documentary he had made. In spite of being in Spanish, which I don’t understand, it was the most gripping and moving film and I rushed off to the airport on a high. The endorphins must have befuddled me as I lingered rather too long in the Club lounge and managed to miss my flight!

Florrie The Muse

2011-01-09T19:21:00.001-08:00

Please have a look at the film Willem Jaspert and Stephan Langmanis directed for the collection Susie Bick and I designed together. It stars Florrie, who is the most beautiful creature. She looks like a French actress and a gazelle. The music is by Grinderman and the film is named after their song When My Love Comes Down. I found this poem that I had written years ago instead of a press release for one of my collections; it could have been written about Florrie.

Don't have mercy on me Baby,
In your Exterminating Angel dress
With its tiny white spangled sleeves,
Your look is such a success.

So Belle de Jour this afternoon,
Faux - formal in your cotton pique Cherry suit,
Posed in that sparkling pink Showbiz Jacket,
And those slinky, nude-beige tailored Straights.

When I came to meet you at 7 o'clock
You wore a dress you called The Number,
Almost demure in black crepe with slashed chiffon sleeves
Madame Claude would have admired your finesse.

On The Bus

2011-01-09T19:20:00.000-08:00

On a freezing snowy night, I went to the last of the Royal Academy's three annual GSK Contemporary exhibitions, which focuses on the connection between Art and Fashion. Susie MacMurray's Cruella de Vil's ballgown, made entirely from dress makers pins, is genius. A dinner followed hosted by Lucy Yeomans in the Library at Sketch. I haven't been there for a while and the room and food is as great as ever. It was gone 1am when I left and I asked the doorman to get me a cab. He told me that, due to adverse weather conditions, there weren't any and in defiance I stormed off out into the snow. He was right, of course, there were no cabs. So I hopped onto a night bus and, let me tell you, it was rocking. The passengers in true Christmas party spirit were dancing in the aisles and I was sorry to get off.

Erdem and Andrew Logan.

Bodil.

Stella's Shop

2011-01-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

The Stella McCartney shop.

Surprised passengers on the top deck of buses driving down Bruton Street got the best view, as Catherine Tate switched on the Christmas lights at Stella McCartney's shop. Guests crowded outside, serenaded by Santa Claus and then warmed up with glasses of Champagne or Guinness and wondered around the beautiful store.
Sandro has just opened in Westbourne Grove and gave a fab launch party. Lots of brilliant party outfits and it's dangerously close for me to pop in regularly.

Catherine Tate and Mary McCartney.

Virginia and Mary Fellowes.

Arrived at the glamourous opening of Dior in Bond Street and then had a hideous fashion moment when I felt one of my heels snap under me, thought at first I was sinking into the thick pile of the carpet. I then spent the entire evening on demi point. After my embarrassment, limped round the corner to Dover Street Market to ogle over Gaia Repossi's jewellery. Assistants wearing white gloves were showing intricate rings to a client, I was green with envy.

Julie And Me

2011-01-09T19:18:00.000-08:00

Francine and Chris Corbin.

At Waddington Galleries Cork Street, Peter Blake has selected 10 artists and produced five works in homage to each of them. The show is titled Homage 10x5 Blake's Artists and has to be viewed. The opening party was a very jolly affair, everyone loving the work, and we all left with a smile. Leslie Waddington hosted a dinner for Peter and Chrissy at the Ivy and guests paid homage to Peter Blake, icon of Brit-Art and national treasure. Driving home in the early hours, I had a chance to look at the Christmas lights, which are fantastic this year; love Regent Street and Claridge's is positively to die for.

Peter and Chrissy Blake.

Virginia, Alan Yentob and Miranda Davies.

Julie's, celebrating 40 years of eclectic style, gave a fantastic party. Ruby cocktails, delicious canapés - and a Brazilian dance troupe sambaing through the restaurant and bar - was the perfect formula for the perfect night. Guests reminisced; everyone had a "Julie's" moment in their lives. Somehow I ended up pole-dancing with my neighbour Debbie, I guess this could be another Julie's moment.

Virginia and Debbie.

Antony Price and Judith Watt.

Liberty's American Dream

2011-01-09T19:15:00.001-08:00

I love my new cushions - I am a huge fan of everything Jan Constantine does, but particularly her "American Dream" collection - perfect for my beach cottage in Malibu!!

A Stella Wish List

2011-01-09T19:14:00.000-08:00

My daughter Skyla and I took off to Stella's store on Beverly Blvd for some Christmas cheer - mulled wine, hot chestnuts, gingerbread house decorating, Santa, snow and most importantly shopping. We both picked a few pieces to add to our Christmas wish list. We love this little kids jacket and naturally at this time of year I am a magnet to all things sparkly so fell in love with these kicks and her sequined leggings!

Happy New Year

2011-01-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

Me on Christmas morning.

Hope you all had an amazing holiday!

I have been ensconced in family (in-laws!) for a month, mainly in Malibu which has been a mix of Monsoon rain, bikini weather and Patagonia puffer jackets - what's happening to the world?

The rainbow over my brother's house after five days of solid rain...

This year has started with quite a bang - literally. My daughter slammed her head into a door frame on New Years day and had to have seven stitches, my eldest brother Atticus got nominated for a Golden Globe for his score with Trent Reznor for Social Network, my two friends Tanya Sarne and Alice Temperley were both given OBE's and my husband is in full throttle production mode on Universal's Snow White and doesn't have a day off for the next two years! Yikes.

Malibu this Christmas.

We took the family to view Rupert's new office yesterday afternoon - a bungalow on the Universal lot next door to Alfred Hitchcock's (just a minor upgrade from his shed in the bottom of our garden!).
We went on the Universal tram ride afterwards (a must when visiting LA), and all screamed and waved madly when passing his front door. I have not been on the tram in a couple of years and I have to say I was blown away by the new King Kong Skull Island 3D feature - it's amazing - a far cry from the old Eighties hairy beast that used to come and grab the tram and shake it furiously - this one makes you feel as though you are, absolutely, a part of Peter Jackson's world.

Rupert's bungalow on the Universal lot.

To finish off yesterday's Hollywood experience we took my sister-in-law and her husband to CAA last night where Julia Roberts hosted a screening for Javier Bardem's latest movie, Buitiful. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez, this movie is a must see - an outstanding, thoroughly captivating performance from Bardem and his co-star Marciel Alvarez. Remember to take your tissues and wear waterproof mascara - I cried for nearly two hours I think!
Julia looked so radiant and beautiful (she will always be in my top five favourite actresses - I still LOVE LOVE LOVE Pretty Woman!), and gave a very funny, heartfelt speech before the movie, singing praises about her friend and co star (Eat Pray Love) Javier. An equally beautiful and radiant (and very pregnant), Penelope stood by her husband looking adoringly up at him as he shone in his moment. I love them.
Peace love and light this decade to you all.
PS - One of my new years resolutions is to be a better blogger so let's see if I can manage it!

Vivienne Westwood’s the Latest in a String of Designers to Shill Beverages

2011-01-09T19:09:00.000-08:00

Photo: Getty Images

Modern history’s full of designers who’ve lent their face and name to everyday products, but what is it with the drinks? Karl Lagerfeld lent his name to Coca-Cola while Roberto Cavalli teamed up with Diet Coke. Missoni teamed up with Pellegrino last year. Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Paul Smith, and Christian Lacroix have all designed bottles for Evian. Betsey Johnson whipped up a bottle of Chambord and Jeremy Scott went crazy for Tanqueray.
And now, Vivienne Wetwood’s teamed up with Cool Earth to promote their instant coffee. The British brand donates a tree in the rainforest for every container that it sells. Though caffeine and charity don’t exactly go together like peanut butter and jelly, if anyone can save the rainforest by selling coffee it’s Dame Viv.

Hugh Jackman’s Liplock with Ana de la Reguera

2011-01-08T02:29:00.001-08:00

Dashing Aussie actor Hugh Jackman was seen planting a passionate smooch on the lovely Ana de la Reguera at Grumari beach. Hey! Don’t think dirty. Actually the actor duo was performing their act in front of the camera for a new ad shoot.
According to a source, they were filming the ad shoot for Lipton Iced Tea. A source revealed that Hugh, the 41 year old star was accompanied on the overseas shoot by his wife Deborra-Lee Furness and their kids, Oscar and Ava.
Reportedly, Jackman has signed a three-year deal with Lipton Ice Tea and the company has made him a global ambassador. He is going to feature in each of the ad of Lipton Ice Tea. The press report says, that the global TV campaign will be launching in March 2010 – with the ad featuring Hugh Jackman. In the advertisement the actor will be seen using the brand’s catch line

Megan Fox is Armani’s New Lingerie Model

2011-01-08T02:26:00.001-08:00

Hollywood’s sensational beauty Megan Fox has stripped down to her designer underwear to promote fashion giant Emporio Armani`s lingerie line.
The sexy actress started her carrier as a teen artist and came into lime light from movie ‘Transformers’. She has been voted the “Sexiest Woman Alive” twice and was photographed by none other than Giorgio Armani himself for the pungent pictures.
The hot pictures of the 23-year-old actress will shortly be released across billboards in the world’s biggest cities.
About their new model Armani said, “Megan is young and sexy and has a lot of spirit. Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans are all about a youthful attitude making her the perfect choice for the collections.”

Lady GaGa and Ford’s Film Gets Nomination in Gay Awards

2011-01-08T02:22:00.001-08:00

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance awards nominated singer Lady Gaga and fashion designer-turned-director Tom Ford’s debut film “A Single Man” in best film category.
The organization ‘Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’ named around 116 nominees for exceptional coverage of gay issues. They nominated works from different categories like film, television, documentary, music, theater, comic books and journalism. The 21st ‘GLAAD’ awards will be presented at three ceremonies, which will begin on March 13 in New York.
Lady GaGa and Tom Ford’s debut film tells the story of a gay professor. The other nominated film by director Lee Daniel, “Precious” is based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” is about a struggling Harlem teen who befriends a lesbian teacher. These two films are among nominees in the outstanding film category of GLAAD Awards.
The nominees for outstanding singer category are New York singer Lady Gaga, U.S. indie band Gossip, U.S. singer Brandi Carlile as well as former American Idol runner up Adam Lambert, who last year told Rolling Stone magazine he was gay following months of speculation

Robert Pattinson May Be the Next Spider-Man

2011-01-08T02:12:00.000-08:00

The famous “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson is all set to play “Spider-Man” in the fourth installment of the superhero series. According to a source, Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi are taking leave from the record breaking Spider-Man series.
The superhero film is re-branding once again. So, the buzz is that the new Spider-Man will be Robert Pattinson. Reportedly, Pattison is being tipped to play the teenaged avatar of Parker as per the new script written by American writer James Vanderbilt. The fourth coming installment of Spider-Man series is reported to release in 2012.
A very close source from the unit has revealed that the film will trace Spider-Man’s High School experience. Well, it will be a great opportunity to see the sexy vampire in his new “Spidey” avatar.
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Jennifer Aniston Says Yoga Completely Changed Her Life

2011-01-08T02:11:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston has disclosed that yoga has ‘completely’ changed her life.
The Friends fame actress said, “It completely changed my life.”
The 40 year old actress, in the introduction to her yoga instructor Mandy Ingber’s workout DVD ‘Yogalosophy’, said “It is one of the most fun workouts I have ever had. So have fun and work hard because it will totally pay off”.
Watching Jennifer’s interest in Yoga, the Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, asked Aniston to look into Hinduism also, which was the mother of yoga.
Mr Ranjan said if Aniston needed any spiritual direction, he or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide it.
The president of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed, also said that it is time now for Aniston to explore the spiritual aspect of yoga. Yoga is a mental and physical discipline through which the human-soul (jivatman) unites with universal-soul (parmatman) and provides inner peace.
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Madonna Donates USD 250K for Haiti Earthquake Victims

2011-01-08T02:10:00.000-08:00

Pop singer Madonna has donated 250,000 US dollars for Haiti earthquake victims. The Island was shaken by a powerful earthquake on 12 January after which thousands of people died and injured.
The 51 year old singer has also urged her fans and friends to raise the donations to provide relief to the poor people of Haiti.
In a statement, Madonna said that her prayers are with the people of Haiti. She said that she donated the money to ‘Partners In Health’, a longtime health care provider there.
She has appealed her fans around the world, “to join me collectively to match my contribution or give in any way you can.”
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Nicholas Cage to Pay $14mn in Back Taxes to US Government

2011-01-08T02:08:00.000-08:00

Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage owes 14million dollars to the US government in back taxes. Reportedly, the “Face/Off” star finds him at the centre of a number of tax claims in recent months. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has made a bill of USD 6.2 million in August last year in relation to his unpaid taxes of 2007.
According to a source, Cage is also facing other claims of unpaid taxes related to his earnings between 2002 and 2004. He has been accused of defaulting USD 2 million loans, which he took in October 2009.
The actor said, “Over the course of my career I have paid at least USD 70 million in taxes. Unfortunately, due to a recent legal situation, another approximate USD 14 million is owed to the IRS. However, I am under new business management and am happy to say that I am current for 2009. All taxes will be paid, including any to-be-determined state taxes”.

George Lucas: 3-D Technology of ‘Avatar’ Can Be Used in ‘Star Wars’

2011-01-08T02:07:00.000-08:00

After receiving two Golden Globe Awards recently, ‘Avatar’ has impressed George Lucas. The director is so much impressed with Avatar’s new 3-D technology that he said this technique will help to make “Star Wars” more real.
George Lucas told reporters at the HBO Golden Globes party on Sunday, “I liked it. I make movies like that, [so], I can appreciate what [James Cameron] went through to do it.”
He also said, “[I’m] happy it’s so successful, and worked very well in 3-D. Haven’t been a big fan of 3-D, but that movie definitely improves in (the field of) 3-D.”
‘Avatar’ won the Best Motion Picture – Drama at the 2010, Golden Globes Awards. Director George was so impressed with the movie’s technology that he thinks it could help make the way for creating 3-D versions of his “Star Wars” movies.
Adding more he said, “We’ve been looking for years and years and years of trying to take ‘Star Wars’ and put it in 3-D. But, [the] technology hasn’t been there. We’ve been struggling with it, but I think this will be a new impetus to make that happen.”
Currently George is writing and producing “Red Tails,” which is the story of a man named Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.
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Sandra Bullock Lifts Golden Globe Best Actress Award

2011-01-08T02:05:00.001-08:00

Gorgeous actress Sandra Bullock has grabbed Golden Globe Best Actress Award for her film “The Blind Side”. The film is directed by John Lee Hancock. Reportedly, the movie is based on famous book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” by Michael Lewis. The film also stars Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron and Kathy Bates in vital roles.
According to a source, Sandra was looking very gorgeous, wearing a beautiful purple off-shoulder gown in the award ceremony. The actress received the award from Hollywood hunk Mickey Rourke.
Other nominees for the category were Emily Blunt for “The Young Victoria”, Helen Mirren for “The Last Station”, Carey Mulligan for “An Education” and Gabourey Sidibe for “Precious”.
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