Black Swan

I haven't been able to go the cinema and see Black Swan yet, so in the meantime I've had to content myself with this behind-the-scenes video.

It gives a sneak peek into the work that went into the Rodarte-designed costumes, and the extraordinary amounts of Swarovski crystal that were used for the set production:

Fashion Fun

Not sure how comfortable this lipstick-heeled court shoe by Alberto Guardiani would be, but thats hardly the point of an eye-catching shoe, is it?

Stocking Fillers

It's worth staying at Le Meurice in Paris, just to take a bath with this super cute canard de bain.

Alternatively, you can buy it at the hotel's online boutique for 20€.

Equally amusing is this reindeer USB key, 9.99 € (4Go) and 11.99 € (8Go), from Maxell.

Making Up

L'Wren Scott is best known for her expert fashion styling and designing (Nicole Kidman is one of her most loyal clients), but now she has branched out and created a limited edition makeup palette with Lancôme.

It's available exclusively from Sephora.

Taxi!

How witty is this London Taxi clutch, that can also be worn as a handbag thanks to its detachable strap, from Lulu Guinness.

Love it.

£ 295, from Lulu Guinness.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!

In honour of this special event, gift a loved one this fabulous Lulu Guinness Stars & Stripes snakeskin Lips clutch.

£ 395 from Lulu Guinness.

Christmas Wish List

Christmas may be a month away, but it's never too early to draw up your wish list of presents.

Personally I love this Lanvin satin leopard-print travel kit, which includes slippers and a sleep mask. A no-brainer gift.

$ 490, available from Bergdorf Goodman.

Another favourite is this Collier de Chien bracelet from Hermès, in rose gold and pavé diamonds.

Price upon request, from Hermès.

If I had a driving license, I would dream about owning this Tesla Roadster.

Price upon request, from Tesla.

Back in the real world, I would be so happy with the very cutely packaged Anna dello Russo scent.

$ 25, from Yoox.

Cover Star

Carine Roitfeld has invited Tom Ford to guest edit French Vogue's Christmas issue, as well as grace its iconic cover (albeit accompanied by a model).

I personally cannot wait to see what the issue has in store...

Time's Up?

Karl Lagerfeld, the kaiser of the fashion industry, continues to deny that his contract at Chanel will expire in 2012.


What's more, he also denies that Alber Elbaz, widely believed to be his successor, will follow him into the legendary office on rue Cambon.


“I have a contract for life so it all depends on who I would like to hand it to. At the moment I’d say Haider Ackermann,” Lagerfeld has told Numéro magazine.

Loving Lanvin

Love the promotional video for Lanvin's collaboration with H&M.

Most of all though, love the asymmetrical cocktail dresses and accessories, that look way too qualitative to be sold at H&M...but then again, masstige is the word du jour...

Eternal Flame

To celebrate its century of existence, Elizabeth Arden has created a limited edition, scented candle illustrated with sketches of its prestigious 5th Avenue address in New York.

I'm sure it smells fabulous, but I think the packaging is the best part.

Fashion At Your Fingertips

For quite possibly the most fashionable manicure in the world, commission the young London artist Georgia Rose Fairman to paint your nails.

Her Fashion Designers set includes the nail-sized likenesses of Karl Lagerfeld (my favourite), Donatella Versace and Giorgio Armani.

It's fashion at your fingertips.

Contact Georgia Rose Fairman at georgia.rose.f@googlemail.com.

Fashion With Benefits

I have to say that I wasn't overly excited by the news that Gucci were about to launch their first childrenswear line.

That was, however, before I found out that a share of the profits go to the very worthy charity Unicef.

In this behind-the-scenes video of the shooting of Jennifer Lopez for the new Gucci campaign, complete with Gucci-clad twins, find out what inspired the actress and singer to sign up her son and daughter to the brand:

On The Slopes

Chanel never never put a high-heeled foot wrong in the fashion stakes, so why would they take any other approach when decide to design sports equipment?

Check out these fiberglass, trompe-l'oeil quilted-effect mini-skis. A must if you are headed to Gstaad this winter.

Quote of The Day

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Carine Roitfeld was asked, "What would be your song?"

Her answer: "You're So Vain. I think in this business, it's a good song. It's dedicated to a lot of people."

Still love her.

Olivier Twist

Olivier Zahm, Founder of Purple, the influential avant-garde fashion magazine, isn't a fan of bloggers; indeed, in the interview below, you can find out why he "hate[s] them all".

Getting Catty

So before we know it the party season will be upon us, and nothing is more classic in makeup terms than a slick cat-eye.

MAC has always been my makeup brand of choice, so who better to teach us how to get that 60s flick?

Love To Love You Chloé

I love the soundtrack on the commercial for the new Chloé fragrance Love Chloé.

The head to toe camel on Raquel Zimmerman is pretty cool too, but then it was directed by Roman Coppola...

Chanelling Coco

Chanel is not a word, not an adjective, it is a name and trademarked brand - something the lawyers at Chanel want you to be very aware of; you may not use it in vain.

This week the super-brand took out a full page ad in WWD to inform the fashionable public:

“A note of information and entreaty to fashion editors, advertisers, copywriters and other well-intentioned mis-users of our Chanel name:
Chanel was a designer, an extraordinary woman who made a timeless contribution to fashion. Chanel is a perfume. Chanel is modern elegance in couture, ready-to-wear, accessories, watches and fine jewelry. Chanel is our registered trademark for fragrance, cosmetics, clothing, accessories and other lovely things. Although our style is justly famous, a jacket is not ‘a Chanel jacket’ unless it is ours, and somebody else’s cardigans are not ‘Chanel for now.’ And even if we are flattered by such tributes to our fame as ‘Chanel-issime,  Chanel-ed, Chanels, and Chanel-ized’, PLEASE DON’T. Our lawyers positively detest them. We take our trademark seriously.
Merci,
Chanel, Inc.”

Chanel is Chanel, and everything else is incomparable - now, by law.

Fast Fashion

Tom Ford just staged his comeback womenswear "show", at a highly secretive presentation during New York Fashion Week.

There were no invitations, no emails, just a phone call, asking the chosen editors to be at the Tom Ford boutique at a certain date and time.

Again going against the tide, he chose to showcase his collection on fashion and cultural icons, instead of high profile fashion models: Daphne Guinness, Lauren Hutton, and Beyoncé, all walked in the show.

What's more, no-one was allowed to take pictures, apart from Ford's own in-house photographer. A few, however, have leaked onto Fashionologie's website, which is frm where I bring you the headshots below - how many of the famous faces are you able to recognize pre-makeup?

Explaining the extreme levels of secrecy to WWD, Ford said: 'this fashion immediacy thing — I get [it].…I don’t get the need for this immediacy. In fact, I think it’s bad. The way the system works now, you see the clothes, within an hour or so they’re online, the world sees them. They don’t get to a store for six months. 


...The next week, young celebrity girls are wearing them on red carpets. They’re in every magazine. The customer is bored with those clothes by the time they get to the store. They’re overexposed, you’re tired of them, they’ve lost their freshness, you see somebody wearing it and you say, “Oh, that’s that jacket that was in blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." Or [a] customer doesn’t want to wear that jacket that was in blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. In addition, all of the fast-fashion companies that do a great job, by the way, knock everything off. So it’s everywhere all over the streets in three months and by the time you get it to the store, what’s the point?'.


Personally, I am in complete agreement.