Friday 30 December 2011

It's all about the eyes...


In The Eyes

TWIGGY set the bar in the Sixties, and now amped-up, doll-like lashes are everywhere all over again for autumn/winter 2011-12.

SEE 10 OF THE BEST MASCARAS

They were heavily-coated at Miu Miu, spiky atLanvin and dramatic at Christian Dior - whilst atValentino they were full and curled to perfection. Providing the ideal beauty companion to the sloping shoulders, bracelet sleeves and boxy coats of the season, Sixties lashes are pretty, flattering and easy to achieve.

THE BEST MASCARAS FOR THE SIXTIES TREND

In light of this we've picked out 10 of the very best mascaras, from high street classics to the newest launches from luxury brands such as Chanel and YSL. With stark minimalism a key beauty trend forspring/summer 2012 we suggest you make the most of this season's luscious lashes now.

SEE 10 OF THE BEST MASCARAS

YOU SHOULD SEE: The best Sixties-style fashion...

YOU SHOULD SEE: The season's best beauty looks... 

Source: VOGUE - LISA NIVEN 21 December 2011

Sunday 25 December 2011

A Year In Vogue


A Year In Vogue

THIS year saw musicians, including Rihanna and Adele, grace their first Vogue cover - whilst the world's most beautiful models - from Gisele Bundchen to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - also had their moment. Here's the year in Vogue:

JANUARY: Cover girl Keira Knightley talked about her shyness, as Mario Testino captured her in Miu MiuSonia Rykiel, Prada and Marni.

FEBRUARY: Victoria Beckham graced her eighthVogue cover;  Sarah Burton talked life after McQueen; and Alexa Chung grilled Christopher Kane on his kind of woman.
MARCH: A delighted Rosie Huntington-Whiteley secured her first solo Vogue cover, cleavage and tumbling hair included, whilst inside Miuccia Prada's  fashion-transformation skills were explored in The Alchemist.

APRIL: Kate Winslet appeared on the cover for the third time, sporting a pale blonde crop, and talked for the first time about her split from husband Sam Mendes and her future plans. Inside, Lindsey Wixson was the girl of the month, starring in two - very different - fashion shoots.

MAY: Vogue's royal wedding issue dressed Lara Stone, Natalia Vodianova and Freja Beha-Erichsen as brides for Mario Testino - in what was the first multi-cover issue in the magazine's almost-100-year history.

JUNE: A very colourful Alexa Chung cover bounced us in to spring, but the tone inside the pages was more sombre. The turbulent "Arab spring" was examined by writer Rana Kabbani in Road To Revolution, whilst Paolo Roversi's Neo Geisha shoot took inspiration from the then-recently troubled nation of Japan: both its heritage and its cutting-edge modernity.
JULY: Vogue's Ageless Style issue delved in to the secrets of those women who always look impeccable, no matter their age, including cover girl Vanessa Paradis - who also deigned to show her engagement ring from Johnny Depp for the first time.

AUGUST: Fresh from her July wedding to Jamie Hince, supermodel Kate Moss added another Vogue cover to her impressive tally - and sported the season's classic, Forties-inspired looks for Mario Testino inside.

SEPTEMBER: The biggest issue of the year saw one of the year's biggest models, Freja Beha-Erichsen, wear the season's most coveted dress - Dolce & Gabbana green sequins - on the cover, as the magazine unveiled the trends to know in the coming months.

OCTOBER: Multi-award-winning British songstress Adele became one of the magazine's most popular issues of the year in October, and explained in an interview inside why if she was to become the face of any brand it would be "full-fat Coke!".

NOVEMBER: In a blonde Marilyn Monroe-wig and trademark pout, Rihanna made her Vogue cover debut - whilst inside, the year's most sought-after model, Karlie Kloss, channelled Studio 54 for Terry Richardson.

DECEMBER: Clad in vibrant, metallic Pam Hogg leggings, the world's first billionaire supermodel, Gisele Bundchen, graced her 13th Vogue cover, surrounded by balloons.

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 22 December 2011

Wednesday 21 December 2011

The next chapter of Lee McQ


After Lee

SARAH BURTON has revealed that, almost two years since the death of the "genius" Lee Alexander McQueen, she is glad she agreed to take over as his former label's creative director.

"He was such a genius; inspiring and funny and an incredible man," she said. "I could never pretend to be him but when I look back now, I'm glad that I took the job - because it kept the studio alive in his spirit, and it kept the team together. Because what did he work so hard for all those years if it was all just going to disappear?"


Burton spoke as McQueen launched its first store in Beijing in October, in a just-released film created in collaboration with Hong Kong store Joyce. The designer, who also made the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress this year, spoke about the creation of this season's most intricate dresses: the "broken plate" gowns - giving an idea of just what goes in to the famously couture-esque collection.

"We took a cast of a body and poured the porcelain so it fitted that body," Burton explained. "Then we hand-painted ten different plates, dissected them as if they were broken and then we engineered the image on to a bodice. Then we hand-cut all the pieces out from the mould we had and then we made each of those pieces again individually and numbered them. It was like a jigsaw puzzle!"



Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 21 December 2011

Diana's Dresses


Diana's Dresses

KENSINGTON PALACE will play host to five of the most recognisable dresses belonging to Diana, Princess of Wales next year, some of which have never been displayed in the UK. The exhibition, Diana, will also feature illustrations and photographs detailing the history of the dresses, some of which were worn at poignant times in Diana's public life.

The exhibit will showcase dresses from some of the late Princess' favourite designers; an ivory silk crepe dinner dress and a purple silk chiffon sari style dress both by Catherine Walker will together with a Versace black ribbed silk shift evening dress and a black and white cocktail dress by Bellville Sassoon Lorcan Mullany. These will be displayed alongside the black silk taffeta gown by Emanuel that Diana wore at her first official engagement with Prince Charles in 1981.

Diana opens at Kensington Palace on 26 March 2012.



Source: VOGUE - HATTIE WEST 21 December 2011

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Couture New Boy


Couture New Boy

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI has been awarded the couture appellation by Paris 'Fédération Française de la Couture.

The Italian-born designer, who showed his debut couture collection in July this year, was previously only a guest member of the calendar. Designers are typically only given the official appellation after they have showed couture for five years, but the Federation decided that the standard of Valli's work made him eligible early for the prestigious honour.



Source: VOGUE - ELLA ALEXANDER 20 December 2011

Burberry’s Good Will


Burberry’s Good Will

BURBERRY chief executive officer Angela Ahrendts raised £574,000 for charity after donating 50,000 of her shares in the luxury label to the Ahrendts-Couch Foundation - a non-profit charitable company, which Ahrendts is director but not a beneficiary.

The trust sold the each share for 11.48 last Thursday, the results of which were then released in a statement to the London Stock Exchange on Friday.

Burberry isn't the only label getting into the Christmas spirit of giving - Gucci has donated $1.15 million (£735,907) to the UNICEF Schools for Africa initiative, which aims to improve the level of education in Africa.

"Ever since we first worked with UNICEF in 2005, it has been inspiring to lead this partnership and ensure its growth over the years," said Gucci creative director Frida Giannini. "Now, we are proud to extend Gucci's commitment to UNICEF by making a further $1.15 million contribution to the many children they serve.

"When I visited Malawi in November 2009, I saw the difficult situation children face in sub-Saharan Africa where every third child doesn't get the chance to go to school. I saw that UNICEF's Schools for Africa initiative is successfully giving more children access to a good education, providing a start in life that so many of us take for granted. Through our commitment, we hope to help these children who may otherwise not have the chance to go to school."



Source: VOGUE - ELLA ALEXANDER 20 December 2011

Monday 19 December 2011

Duchess of Cambridge "pregnant" doll


Baby Catherines

Chelsea-based toy company Arklu is considering creating a pregnant version of its best-selling Duchess of Cambridge doll, due to popular demand. The Palace has to date denied rumours the 29-year-old is expecting her first child.

"We've had a lot of requests for a pregnant Kate doll from the US,' Arklu's Lucie Follett told theDaily Mail. "We've also had many requests for a Pippa doll."


Updated Thursday November 17, 10.11am:A spokesperson for the Duchess of Cambridge had no comment to make this morning in the wake of a new wave of US tabloid rumours that the newlywed may be expecting.

America's In Touch magazine claims that a "royal source" has revealed that Catherine is "around six weeks pregnant" - and went on to further embellish the rumours with the addition of possible names ("Edward, Philip and Michael are likely choices for a boy, or Alice or Rose for a girl"); the building of three nurseries for each of their homes; and the information that the couple are hoping for a daughter.

Unsurprisingly the Palace refused to be drawn on any discussion about the alleged pregnancy.


Updated Monday November 7, 9.17am: Speculation thatCatherine, Duchess of Cambridge, might be pregnant grew to fever pitch over the weekend, after the newlywed declined to taste peanut paste whilst on an official visit to Denmark with her husband - but the Palace will not be drawn on such claims.

"This is just speculation," a spokesperson for the Duchess told us this morning. "This is not something we would confirm or deny."

Despite Department of Health assertions that peanuts are safe for pregnant women, some women - particularly those with a family history of allergies - are reluctant to eat them amid claims that they increase the risk of the baby developing a nut allergy.





Sourse: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 19 December 2011

Versace childrenswear boutique in Milan


Kids Are Alright

AS Versace opens the doors of its first childrenswear boutique in Milan, luxury French shoe label Roger Vivier has announced its plans to get in on the market too.

Roger Vivier will debut a collection for girls, entitled Jeune Fille, inspired by its new collection of brightly coloured patent ballet pumps for women which bear the label's signature buckle. Priced at around £200, the collection will be available from March, with proceeds going to a range of children's charities, such as Mothers4Children in the UK, Save the Children in Italy and New Yorkers for Children in the US.

Young Versace, the Versace children's line, debuted last June at Pitti Immagine Bimbo in Florence, WWD reports. It includes clothes and accessories for both girls and boys from infancy to age 12 and is now available from the new store on Via Borgospesso in Milan.

YOU SHOULD SEE:  The Versace for H&M madness...



Sourse: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 19 December 2011

Dior with no Marc......


Marc's Dior

Marc Jacobs seems to have ruled himself out of the running for the Dior job once and for all.

"I am at Vuitton, and I am very happy there," said Jacobs. "I've been saying that for a long time. There have been on-and-off conversations about Dior. I don't know; maybe someday in the future, maybe years from now, I may end up going someplace else, maybe Dior. But right now I am at Vuitton, and all that matters to me is that that's where I am and I'm going to keep doing my thing.

"The irony in all of this is that I don't dream of doing anything else, or I didn't. My greatest challenge is to do something better than we've done the season before. The idea of couture doesn't hold that thing for me. It's archaic - in my opinion. I mean, I am really interested in the craftsmanship behind couture. But I can explore all that in ready-to-wear. With couture, one dress each season is photographed by a couple of magazines; there's no advertising; it reaches 20 customers. I don't feel there is anything lacking in what we do. I get to work with these amazing craftsmen. Maybe not the same ateliers that would make a couture dress, but, again, we are not in a deficit for working with people who create beautiful things. I am not sure I ever looked at couture as this great opportunity."


And at Christmas time, when most people are celebrating with families, Jacobs has expressed his own views on togetherness. The designer has not seen his mother, brother or sister for 20 years.

"I hate this idea that you have to love somebody because they are your family," he told US Vogue. "Nobody can tell me what I'm supposed to feel and who I am supposed to feel it for. I don't blame them, I don't hate them, I just know that I don't feel love for them. That's all. And I am not going to make the call or try to stay in touch because society says, But it's your mother. Oedipus, Schmoedipus."

Updated Thursday December 15, 8.45am: With rumours circulating that Raf Simons is the new frontrunner for the Dior job, fellow designer Valentino isn't convinced he'd be the right man for to follow in John Galliano's footsteps.

"I'm not sure - it's an amazing job, I don't know if he would be the right person for it," Valentino told us at a private view of Anthony Souza's new photography exhibition this week. "John Galliano is difficult to replace. I think it's important not to jump into things. It needs to be a logical continuation of the brand. But who am I to say anything? I guess we all just have to wait and see."

Sourse: VOGUE - ELLA ALEXANDER 19 December 2011

Sunday 18 December 2011

No Longer A Secret


No Longer A Secret

VICTORIA'S SECRET has promised to investigate claims of child labour, after reports emerged that the company it uses to create its fairtrade cotton - the Burkina Faso programme - beat and abuse its child employees.

"[The allegations] describe behaviour contrary to our company's values and the code of labour and sourcing standards we require all of our suppliers to meet," said Tammy Roberts Myers, the lingerie brand's parent company Limited Brands Inc's vice president of external communications. "Our standards specifically prohibit child labour. We are vigorously engaging with stakeholders to fully investigate this matter."

According to Bloomsberg, Victoria's Secret made a deal in 2007 to buy cotton "fairtrade" and organic from Burkina Faso. The products were launched in shops in 2009 and were labelled "Good for women. Good for the children who depend on them." Bloomberg Marketshas since discovered that the farmer, Victorien Kamboule, who produces the cotton whips and denies food to his child work force, using 13-year-old Clarisse Kambire as a case study.

"If I leave the child out, how will I be able to do the work?" Kamboule said. "I sometimes beat her. "This is when I give her work and she doesn't deliver."



SOURCE: VOGUE - ELLA ALEXANDER 16 December 2011

Monday 12 December 2011

Online Fashion Week


Online Fashion Week

Updated Monday December 12, 9.21am: After five days of shopping, it's time to look back at the highlights from the world's first Online Fashion Week, here on VOGUE.COM - and what a week it's been.


Christopher Kane, Alice Temperley and David Gandy chatted from aboard the London Eye (not all together, sadly); Selfridges gave away a £500 shopping spree every day of OFW; Cheryl Cole talked us through her new shoe collection;January Vogue cover girl Florence Welch got the action underway; Matches gave one lucky winner a spring/summer 2012 must-have each day ( including a Christopher Kane dress); Christian Louboutin unveiled his first ever European transactional website, exclusively here; the 100 most influential people in the digital world (from bloggers, to editors, to retailers) were unveiled; Donatella Versace joined the OFW party; Mulberry gave away a limited-edition Bayswater bag; Victoria Beckham gave readers her best career advice; and our Twitter account was hijacked (only for an hour a day), by the industry's biggest names - from Matthew Williamson to Anya Hindmarch.


Updated Friday December 9, 5.01pm: It's all over! If you want a free Burberry perfume, or YSL bag, or secret entry to the Stella McCartney sale, well, you're probably too late - but there's still plenty to enjoy from the last five days: from exclusive videos withChristopher Kane and David Gandy; to career advice from Paul Smith and Harold Tillman; to cosy chats with Florence Welch andCheryl Cole.


Updated Friday December 9, 8.45am: The final day of OFW is here and with it some of our most exciting offers and content - don't miss our exclusive, one-day-long Stella McCartney sale. Available to OFW shoppers only, the label is offering up to 50 per cent off its autumn/winter 2011-12 collection. Also to look forward to is the launch of Lulu & Co's first ever website, with free scarves given to the first ten people who make purchases. At 1.30 today, Matthew Williamson will be answering your questions via the Vogue Twitter page.


Updated Thursday December 8, 7.33am: The penultimate day of OFW was action-packed, with highlights including the announcement of the Design A Dress competition shortlist (with the winner to be revealed tomorrow), a Jonathan Saunders Twitter auction, Christopher Kane opening up about his career and exclusives from labels including House of Holland, Selfridges andPrada.


Updated Thursday December 8, 7.33am: Christopher Kane got Day 4 of Online Fashion Week underway this morning aboard the London Eye with VogueTV. He opened up about the women in his life; shared the advice he'd give to aspiring designers; and confessed all about confidentiality agreements. The rest of the day sees Laura Bailey share her Christmas wish list; House of Holland launch a OFW exclusive; Jenny Packham open a 12-hour online flash sale; Harold Tillman bestow his fashion career advice; Jimmy Choo offer a special gift with purchase; and much, much more. Start shopping now.


Updated Wednesday December 7, 5.03pm: So, what did you buy at Online Fashion Week today? Our favourite moments were Cheryl Cole chatting about not looking like Gisele  as she launched her new shoe collection;  Alice Temperley's amazing Twitter takeover and Selfridges'  royal exclusive. But it's not over yet - have you chosen which charity you're shopping for yet?


Updated Wednesday December 7, 8.57am: Have you started shopping today yet? Today's highlights include Vogue cover girlCheryl Cole opening the proceedings by unveiling her new show collaboration with StylistPick - and she'll be giving you the chance to win the entire collection with a new competition. Look out for special offers and discount from Rupert Sanderson, Stella McCartney and Whistles, plus make sure you get your questions in for Alice Temperley who will be taking over the Vogue Twitter pagefrom 1.30pm today. Christian Louboutin will also be making a very special annoucement - make sure you don't miss it by following the blog.


Updated Tuesday December 6, 5.02pm: Day 2 of Online Fashion Week was filled with yet more exclusive content, enticing offers and discounts. Donatella Versace opened the day's proceedings via a short film, Victoria Beckham, Patrick Demarchelier and Tommy Hilfiger shared their career advice, whileAnya Hindmarch took over the Vogue Twitter page. 


Updated Tuesday December 6, 9.22am: Still haven't visited Day 2 of Online Fashion Week? Look what you've already missed! It's not too late to win a £500 Outnet shopping spree; take home a Marios Schwab T-shirt; get Victoria Beckham's tips for success; see Florence Welch's shopping wish list; and much much more.


Updated Monday December 5, 5.14pm: Have you been toOnline Fashion Week today? Florence Welch kicked the week off, David Gandy gave away some secrets, Chanel gave us  party make-up tips, and Christopher Kane launched his dress competition.


Updated Monday December 5, 9.00am: It's started!! Online Fashion Week is now underway. Florence Welch, David Gandy, the handbag half hour, shopping treats and special discounts - click here to see what's happening right now.


Updated Friday December 2, 9.04am: Phones, computers and iPads at the ready: the countdown has really begun now for Online Fashion Week, which kicks off at 9am on Monday. Designer labels including Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Mulberry, Stella McCartney, Prada, Burberry, Miu Miu and Christian Louboutin join high street brands - from Topshop and Reiss, to Gap and Urban Outfitters - and boutiques and department stores, including Matches, Selfridges, Net-A-Porter, Browns, Harrods and Harvey Nichols, for the shopping extravaganza. Every single company is offering special online events, prizes, discounts or free gifts - and with every single purchase you'll be helping a charity of your choice.



Updated Monday November 28, 10.30am: Sign up now to raise as much money as possible as you shop during Online Fashion Week. You choose which charity will benefit from every buy, by signing up here.

Online Fashion Week will launch for the first time next month, in what is to be the biggest shopping extravaganza the web has ever seen.


Following the hugely successful Fashion's Night In online event in November last year - which raised over £40,000 for charity in six hours by encouraging readers to shop the best, exclusive buys on the web via a blog on VOGUE.COM that ran from 6pm until midnight - this year's event will involve more online retailers, include more high fashion styling advice, feature even more exciting exclusive content and - hopefully - raise a good deal more money for charity over the course of a full working week. On Monday December 5 until Friday December 9, we'll be blogging about the latest offers and discounts, one-off, covetable collections and the best online buys.

Updated Friday 28 October, 9.16am:  We are one step closer to  Online Fashion Week today as the  registration page launches to welcome retailers to the event. Brands from Alexander McQueenand Chanel to Topshop, and from Prada and H&M to MY-WARDROBE.COM, are already on board and are currently planning their activities for a week of virtual events. Cheryl Cole's new collection of shoes is set to be unveiled during OFW; Burberry'spioneering online department is already planning something bigger and better than ever for the Week; VOGUE.COM blogger Livia Firth has already signed her Eco Age boutique up; whilst shops includingBrowns, Net-A-Porter and Matches are preparing to bring their many international designer names to OFW.

To see the latest news and to tweet about the event, use the #OFW hashtag on Twitter.
Updated Tuesday 20 September, 9.16am: VOGUE.COM's Online Fashion Week is teaming up with the Online Fashion 100 to publish the third edition of the list during the event, which runs from December 5 to 9, 2011. For the first time, you can have your say as to which retailers and bloggers should be honoured here.





Updated Wednesday 14 September, 12.30pm: VOGUE.COM UK is pleased to announce a partnership with Everyclick's Give as you Live to generate as much money for charity as possible as a result of Online Fashion Week.

Give as you Live allows shoppers to raise money for their favourite charity every time they shop online. For Online Fashion Week VOGUE.COM readers  can nominate their  favourite charity to support with every purchase they make from featured retailers. To read more about the Give as you Live partnership and how it will work, click here.

Updated Tuesday July 26, 9.16am: VOGUE.COM UK will launch Online Fashion Week for the first time in December this year.

From now until December 5, we'll be liaising with retailers to plan top secret, exclusive offers, one-time-only collections and never-seen-before content. Then, from 9am on December 5 to 6pm on December 9, we'll reveal all by blogging constantly to direct you to the best events happening across the web - allowing you to put together your own Christmas wish lists, plan your Christmas shopping and generally join the action as we celebrate all that is fashionable online.
Expect more news soon about this one-of-a-kind event soon - and in the mean time keep up to date with all the latest news about it atwww.vogue.co.uk/onlinefashionweek.
Any retailer wishing to join in this event, please send all queries toonlinefashionweek@condenast.co.uk.



Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 12 December 2011