Oscar Winners

Oscar Winners

Meryl Streep scooped her third Oscar last night for her role as former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, but fellow favourite George Clooney - who was nominated for his role in The Descendants - went home without the prize, losing out to French actor Jean Dujardin who cried "Formidable!" as he collected his award for his part in The Artist. The silent film also scooped four other awards, including Best Film. The oldest man to ever take home the gold statue - Christopher Plummer, who is 82 - also went home happy last night as he was awarded the Best Supporting Actor prize for his role in Beginners. SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS BELOW.

SEE ALL THE RED CARPET STYLE

Streep stepped on to the Oscars red carpet in Salvatore Ferragamo shoes as a style nod to the woman who brought her there.

SEE MERYL'S STYLE EVOLUTION

"Ferragamo was Margaret Thatcher's favourite shoe designer, she wore them all the time," Streep said on the red carpet before collecting her Best Actress prize. "I think Mrs Thatcher would have approved."

SEE THATCHER'S ICONIC STYLE

She also wore a glittering gold Lanvin dress, created by Alber Elbaz as part of Livia Firth's Green Carpet Challenge - which this year includes a raft of big name designers, and other stars, as well as Livia's eco-design favourites.

SEE THE LATEST FROM THE CHALLENGE HERE

Despite receiving an incredible 17 nominations in her career, her prize for The Iron Lady is her first in almost 30 years. She collected her first in 1980 for her role in Kramer Vs Kramer, and her next in 1983 for her part in Sophie's Choice. Last night, her moving acceptance speech began with thanks to her husband, Don Gummer, because "everybody thanks the husband last and they always drown it out with the music".

SEE WHO WORE WHAT TO THE OSCARS

The full list of winners are as follows:

Best Picture: The Artist

Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin - The Artist

Best Actress: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer - Beginners

Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer - The Help

Best Writing - Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen

Best Writing - Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants - Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash

Best Animated Feature: Rango

Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation

Best Documentary - Feature: Undefeated

Best Documentary - Short Subject: Saving Face

Best Live Action Short Film: The Shore

Best Animated Short Film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Best Original Score: The Artist- Ludovic Bource

Best Original Song: "The Muppets" - "Man or Muppet" by Bret McKenzie

Best Sound Editing: Hugo - Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty

Best Sound Mixing: Hugo  - Tom Fleischman and John Midgley

Best Art Direction: Hugo  - Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo

Best Cinematography: Hugo  - Robert Richardson

Best Makeup: The Iron Lady - Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Best Costume Design: The Artist

Best Film Editing: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Best Visual Effects: Hugo - Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann and Alex Henning

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 27 February 2012

Swarovski's Twelve

Swarovski's Twelve

SWAROVSKI enlisted 12 designers - six from New York and six from London - as always this season to showcase its gems as part of the Swarovski Collective. For more than 10 years, Swarovski has selected designers each season for their "innovative use of crystal and their creative presence in the fashion community" and has given them free reign to use the stones as they wish - with dazzling results.

SEE THE SWAROVSKI CATWALK LOOKS

"The Marlene Dietrich naked dresses designed by Jean Louis were a great inspiration to the pieces I designed with Swarovski crystal elements for autumn/winter 2012-13; the way the dresses conceal yet seem to reveal without actually showing any of the body," Marios Schwabtold us. "The Swarovski Elements crystal necklaces and embroidery really enhance the curves of the body and create key areas of luxurious interest on the body as if they were directly on the skin."

"It's great to be working with them again, they're very supportive,"Erdem added. "It's wonderful to collaborate with them, I have done so from the beginning. For me, I've always been attracted to their weight structure."

Alongside Erdem and Marios Schwab, this season's Collective includes Giles, Mary Katrantzou, JW Anderson and Craig Lawrencefrom London - and Rodarte, Jason Wu, Creatures of the Wind, Jen Kao, Juan Carlos Obando and Marlon Gobel from NY.

YOU SHOULD SEE: The season's sparkliest catwalk creations...

YOU SHOULD SEE: The latest shows from Milan...

Source: VOGUE: LAUREN MILLIGAN 23 February 2012

MARILYN MONROE - Tribute

Monroe Tribute

MARILYN MONROE is the subject of a new exhibition, opening at the Getty Images Gallery on March 9, marking the 50^th anniversary of the Hollywood icon's tragic death. The showcase will include original dresses and costumes worn by the star herself, as well as never-seen-before photographs of the actress when she was a child and later shots of her at glamorous film premieres.

"We are extremely excited to present our Marilynexhibition, offering the public unparalleled and rare access to Marilyn's life through the iconic imagery from Getty Images' extensive archival collection," said Getty Images Gallery director Louise Garczewska. "Private Monroe memorabilia collector David Gainsborough Roberts has kindly loaned us Marilyn's dresses which the public can see in London for the first time ever, making this exhibition a perfect tribute to one of Hollywood's greats."

Highlights include pictures of Monroe relaxing in her Palm Springs home and an intimate shot of the actress practicing her lines. An original film will also be shown, giving visitors further insight into Monroe's troubled life.

Marilyn will be on display from March 9 to May 23 at Getty Images Gallery, 46 Eastcastle St  London W1W 8DX.

YOU SHOULD SEE: Monroe's style in pictures...

YOU SHOULD SEE:  From Marilyn to Audrey, Hollywood's most iconic stars...

Source: VOGUE: ELLA ALEXANDER 23 February 2012

Dame Vivienne asks why we Brits all dress so badly

Lack Of Style

DAME VIVIENNE WESTWOOD has never been shy to tell us what she thinks of us - whether it's our pointless love of disposable items or the harm we are, however inadvertently, causing the planet - but the latest bug bear on her list is our style, or lack thereof.

SEE THE WESTWOOD SHOW HERE

"People have never looked so ugly as they do today, regarding their dress," she told journalists yesterday, following her Red Label show in London. "We are so conformist, nobody is thinking. I'm a fashion designer and people think 'what do I know?' but I'm talking about all this disposable crap. So I'm saying buy less, choose well, make it last… In history people dressed much better than we do. If you saw Queen Elizabeth it would be amazing, she came from another planet. She was so attractive in what she was wearing."

And, in an interview over the weekend, it emerged that Stefano Pilati- whose pared-back, classic, tailoring-focused vision for YSL could scarcely be more different from Westwood - agrees with the Dame.

"It's not easy to find elegant women," Pilati told Vice magazine. "There are a few, the majority of whom are old - and there are one or maybe two in the world who created a new style when they were young. Today when I go to New York and survey art and fashion, I see smart women and the level is high. But there's a difference between this and saying a woman is elegant. My idea of elegance - and this refers to women as well as men - is that someone is elegant when he or she shows a good knowledge of what fits them, where you can find naturalness and self-esteem. Not showing off. Elegance is the idea of showing an optimistic depiction of oneself, and to lose oneself in the frivolity of style and fashion. Nowadays nobody gives a shit about being elegant, or chic. If you're doing it, you're doing it for yourself, because it's your way of being. When you're not thinking, "This is fashion," and you're not buying clothes to create statements, you're on the right path."

YOU SHOULD SEE: Pilati's latest show for YSL...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Was the Red Label front row the week's most eclectic turnout?

Source: VOGUE – LAUREN MILLIGAN 17 February 2012

Tom's Oscars Wish

Tom's Oscars Wish

TOM FORD isn't expecting one of his favourite dresses from his autumn/winter 2012-13 collection to be worn at the Oscars.

SEE THE TOM FORD SHOW REPORT

"I love it - but everyone is afraid to wear real style on the red carpets," he said yesterday, unveiling a crocodile appliqué and chiffon robe with a bold gold disc at the front. "You get completely ripped apart unless you're Tilda Swinton, who I thoughtlooked really great in Haider Ackermann that time - and in Celine at the BAFTAS. But other than her, they don't even take advice from  me - those worst dressed lists are just too harsh, it's not good for any actress to be on them, they don't want to take the risk."

One of his other dresses might make it to the Academy Awards, however - a cream double silk crepe robe with slightly raised shoulders that has plenty of Forties siren appeal about it. Fingers crossed Ford.

YOU SHOULD SEE: The Tom Ford autumn/winter 2012-13 show report...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Will Tom Ford be the next designer to collaborate with H&M...

Source: VOGUE – Dolly Jones 17 February 2012

The Fashion Hunt

The Fashion Hunt

Ahead of the official public launch of the FabergéBig Egg Hunt tomorrow, hosted by Emilia Fox, we have the event's most fashionable eggs to show you. From Lady Amanda Harlech's design, which is adorned with pressed flowers, to Tommy Hilfiger's bow-covered creation, begin your Easter celebrations HERE.

SEE FASHION'S EASTER EGGS HERE

A number of the eggs were unveiled today in different locations across London - from Potters Field Park by Tower Bridge to The Ritz Hotel on Park Lane.

Updated Friday January 20, 11.52am: Bruce Oldfield, Zandra Rhodes, Mary Katrantzou and Diane von Furstenberg are contributing to the Fabergé Big Egg Hunt by designing and decorating their own giant eggs. On Saturday February 21, over 200 eggs created by art and fashion's biggest names will be strategically placed around London and the public given the task of finding them. The works will then be put up for auction, with proceeds going towards Elephant Family, which raises money for endangered Asian elephants, and Action for Children - the renowned children's charity.

"I find it very therapeutic, moulding the lace around the egg, snipping and cutting, pinning together a jigsaw of tiny lace motifs to make a seamless couture skin," Oldfield told us. "It's certainly worthy of Fabergé and worth the effort for what it will bring to the two causes involved."

The project is set to break world records for the most participants in an Easter egg hunt and the world's most expensive chocolate egg, created by William Curley. Other names taking part include Rob Ryan, Polly Morgan and George Butler, as well as street artists Mr Hicks and Marcinella - who started the celebrations last Saturday with a live art exhibition, where both artists went head-to-head to paint one half of an egg.

YOU SHOULD SEE: The film stars who inspired Bruce Oldfield's career...

YOU SHOULD SEE: How Vivienne Westwood supported anti-capitalism...

TODAY IN HISTORY:  What was Kate Moss "lost without"?

Source: VOGUE - ELLA ALEXANDER 17 February 2012

Richard Nicoll confirms he has a new investor

Nicoll Investment

RICHARD NICOLL has a new investor in his business, the London-based designer confirmed today. Nicoll announced that he would show his collection in an intimate presentation rather than his usual catwalk show this season, explaining that it was the "economically and emotionally responsible" decision for the business at this time.

SEE NICOLL'S LATEST CATWALK SHOW

"The investor, who wishes to remain anonymous, is a private individual who has known Nicoll for many years and is committed to supporting the future growth of the business," Nicoll's spokesperson confirmed today. International expansion, "including strengthening and nurturing retail partnerships around the world and specifically building brand relevance for identified markets through extended PR and celebrity ambassadors" are high on the agenda for the coming year, after welcoming the minority shareholder. He also plans to develop a bespoke service for VIP clients.

"It is incredibly inspiring to have this financial support at a time when we are ready to grow the business and from a source whom we know incredibly well, someone who knows the business inside and out and someone in whom we have great trust," Nicoll said today. "This investment will give me the opportunity to really focus on the design of the collections and expanding the ranges and spend time introducing the brand to a much broader global audience."

"Our new investor is there as a support for us," Jo Knight, Nicoll's business partner and director, added. "They will remain a silent partner but will be there to offer advice if needed and financial support when necessary.  We have a very clear vision of the future of our company and are delighted to have the resources to make that vision a reality."

YOU SHOULD SEE: Richard Nicoll's latest blog...

YOU SHOULD SEE:  Nicoll's latest LFW show...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 17 February 2012

Daddy Duffy

Daddy Duffy

ROBERT DUFFY, Marc Jacobs' business partner and right-hand man, has spoken for the first time about becoming a father at the age of 57. Duffy married his partner Alex Cespedes in Provincetown, 

Massachusetts in May 2010 and - after a year-long domestic adoption process - brought home their daughter Victoria Alexis Duffy last summer, changing everything about their lives.

"When we first started getting serious about each other, Alex told me that he wanted to have children," Duffy told WWD. "I've got 2,000 of them working with me, I have 14 godchildren, and I am 57… My priorities changed completely. I was always just working. My job has been my life. Marc and I started the company in 1984 and he was my family. All of a sudden, within the three last years, I am married with a kid. In the past, there was no way that I would be sitting here doing this so close to the show, but I want to be at home now. I want to be with the baby."

And, after being his best man at the wedding, Jacobs was also called upon to act as godfather to Victoria; a task that he wasn't entirely confident about.

"All Marc said was, 'Robert you can't be serious that if something happened to you and Alex, I would get the baby," Duffy said. "'No,' I said. 'But you oversee her interests, and her financial interest in the company. I don't trust anybody else, other than my husband.' Strangely enough, Marc is the only person in the world I trust unconditionally to do the right things. It was so important to me that he would be a godfather, not because I think that he would raise her, but I know that he would make sure that she would be raised properly."

YOU SHOULD SEE: What Robert Duffy told us about Marc Jacobs...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Marc Jacobs' latest collection...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN - 13 February 2012