Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini has joined forces with Beyonce Knowles Carter and Salma Hayek Pinault to launch Chime For Change, a global campaign for women’s empowerment, specifically aimed at the areas of education, health and justice. The three co-founders are joined by an expert ‘Advisory Board’ which includes Meryl Streep, Jada Pinkett Smith and Julia Roberts, leading Beyonce to feel “honoured to be in the company of women who live fearlessly and who set an example for the next generation of young ladies." The fact that today is also International Women’s Day, I'm even more excited about their initiative. Girl Power at it’s best. A Zigga Zig Aaaaah.
Mother's Day Flowers ... From Chanel
Show your Mum just HOW much you love her by hot-footing it down to Covent Garden this weekend and buying her a beautiful bouquet from the Chanel pop-up flower stall. From tomorrow the flowers essential to the House’s most loved fragrances (including roses, jasmine, patchouli and irises) will be available to buy until late Sunday afternoon. Also, if you purchase a 100ml of Chanel perfume, you will be given a complimentary hand-tied posy with a personalized message handwritten by a Chanel calligrapher on a camellia-embossed card... I’m slightly breathless at the very thought.
These are not just flowers. These are CHANEL flowers!
Follow The Yellow Brick ... Carpet
This month there are three (great and powerful) women’s names on the tip of Tinseltown's tongue –Michelle Williams, Rachel Wiesz and Mila Kunis; the leading ladies of ‘Oz the Great and Powerful.’
Above: At London’s European premiere of the movie, the red carpet was exchanged for yellow bricks with the actresses shining in their beautiful dress choices… Rachel Weisz looked every inch a classic Hollywood star in a champagne laceMichael Kors strapless gown, Mila Kunis wore a slate grey Alexander McQueen SS’13 ruffle tiered dress (my least favourite of the three as it slightly drowned her small frame, but she still managed to look gorgeous and hold her own) and the ever quirky Michelle Williams (a red carpet favourite of mine) in a peacock blue Burberry feathered cocktail dress from their SS’13 collection - cute.
I must say however, I thought the outfits these actresses conjured up for the Los Angeles premiere of the film were even better - which lady do you think won in the style stakes?
Above: Rachel Weisz looked HOT in this bright orange, floor-sweeping gown by Victoria Beckham with signature exposed VB zip. Rachel let the dress do all the talking, opting for zero accessories and scraping her glossy locks into a chic bun. Bond Girl Perfection!
Above: Mila Kunis looked adorable in a Dolce & Gabanna embroidered dress with peep-toe Louboutins, a Bottega clutch bag and STUNNING ruby drop Sutra earrings.
Above: Michelle Williams looking oh-so-demure from the front in a pretty, floral Prada gown but not-so-demure from the side, with a waist-high slit revealing her black pants! Absolutely magical, and as unique as ever. My cute-as-a-button winner.
'The Great and Powerful Oz' is out in cinemas now...
New Face of Dior: Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence's adverts for Miss Dior were released earlier this week, and now a new behind-the-scenes video now also gives us an insight into the making of the campaign.
"Dior represents beauty and strength in women and that's how I feel when I'm wearing his clothes... It just makes you feel so confident… Being part of something with such incredible history is an honor..." Jennifer Lawrence.
Amazingly, when Jennifer saw these photographs on the Oscar's red carpet last week, she remarked candidly, "that doesn't look like me at all. I love Photoshop more than anything in the world. Of course it's Photoshop, people don't look like that."
HAWT: Alexa Chung in J.W. Anderson for Topshop
Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.
During London Fashion Week fashionista Alexa Chung nailed the ‘Winter White’ trend at theJ.W.Anderson A/W 2013 show by teaming a latex J.W.Anderson for Topshop off-white skirt (not available on line yet) with a cream cable knit sweater. By adding contrasting black accessories and a pink pout, Alexa created the perfect cosy/chic ensemble.
Dior 'Fall' Fashion 2013
If you're gonna tumble... Be sure to tumble in Dior
The Oscars 2013
Last night I was invited to watch the all singing and all dancing 2013 Oscars at a party hosted by Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody on a Santa Monica rooftop. With macaroni cheese, margaritas and milk duds, it was an evening of pure Oscar awesomeness where I also won the sweep steak for predicting the most award winners. Thank you Gary!
Seth MacFarlane’s was a brilliant presenter (his 'We Saw Your Boobs' song was hilarious!) and amidst the awards for this year’s most enjoyable films (and what seemed like an inordinate amount of musical medleys) there were, of course, the all-important dresses…
My Favourites Looks:
Below (L): Jessica Chastain shimmered in her custom-made bronze Georgio Armani, complemented by vintage Harry Winston diamonds. The actress revealed that she chose the Old Hollywood-style dress as it said ‘Happy Brithday Mr President’ at her! Below (R): Naomi Watts - a sure fire winner in this futuristic Armani-Prive dress with unusual neckline.
Aside from these two gorgeous dresses nothing completely blew me away, or made me Bjork-Gasp in style-horror either. Well, having said that there was...
Jennifer Lawrence tripping up the stairs collecting her Best Actress Award (thankfully she styled it out, Phew!) K-Stew’s hair (it’s the OSCARS Kirsten, could you not have brushed your hair this one time?! ) and Renee Zellwegger’s outta-this-world (literally) presenting style… "I’ll have what she’s having!"
Some key red carpet trends I noticed on the red carpet were as follows...
1) Pale and Interesting Neutrals
Above (L-R): Amanda Seyfried in McQueen, Anne Hathaway in Prada and Charlize Theronin Christain Dior Haute Couture.
2) Go Big or Go Home Gowns
Above (Clockwise L-R): Jennifer Aniston in Valentino, Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta,Sally Field in Valentino and Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior Haute Couture.
3) Sparkling Metallics
Above (Clockwise L-R): Nicole Kidman in L’Wren Scott, Jessica Chastain in Armani, Halle Berry in Versace, Naomi Watts in Armani Prive, Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herreraand Catherine Zeta Jones in Zuhair Murad.
4) Backwards Necklaces
Above: Both the night’s Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress wore their necklaces backwards. Jennifer Lawrence slung her Chopard diamond bead necklace behind her, and Anne Hathaway’s tassle-infused Tiffany & Co necklace also faced backwards.
My Favourite Oscar Style
So many perfect Oscar dresses have walked the red carpet in the recent years but these four stood out to me. Fashion-forward, unique and award-winning in their own right.
I cannot wait until this Sunday! I'm thrilled to actually be in Hollywood for Oscar week...
Above: (2006) Michelle Williams in Vera Wang. My favourite Red Carpet look EVER.
Above: (2008) Marion Cotillard in scallop detailed, mermaid-style Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Above: (2011) Cate Blanchett in beautifully detailed and intricate Givenchy Couture.
Above: (2012) Gwyneth Paltrow in the most stylish caped Tom Ford gown.
Trend: Canary Yellow
Here comes the sun... Ok, kindof! We all knew Canary Yellow was going to be a big and bright SS’13 fashion trend after DKNY tickled us with their NYC Cab hues and then more delicate tones soon followed in the Zac Posen, Jenny Packham and Carolina Herrera spring runways. On last week’s freezing, snowy EE BAFTA's red carpet, Marion Cotillard (in Christian Dior) and Rising Star nominee Andrea Riseborough (in Vivienne Westwood) bravely led the way, both looking stunning in their LYD (Long Yellow Dresses!)
Lemon, Canary, Mustard… Get ready for the highstreet to flood with an array of glorious sunshine shades – just add some simple jewellery and pouty red lips...
Above: To emulate the feathery Bridget Bardot or Girl-Of-The-Moment Lena Dunham (at this month's Grammy Awards): Rag & Bone Knitted Ribbed Dress - RRP. £195.00, Nars Nail Polish in Amchoor (designed by Thankoon Panichgul of Thankoon) - RRP. £14.50, Whistles Structured Tee - RRP. £75.00, Topshop Mustard Brocade Cutout Dress - RRP. £59.00.
Musical Moment: Haim ('Forever')
I Wish We All Could Be Californian Girls... like Haim.
As I’m currently in LA I feel it both right and proper for my next Musical Moment to come from, Haim. Influenced by 80’s pop and early 90’s R&B, these Californian sisters, Este, Alana and Danielle Haim, are about to be HUGE. I love this song. It reminds me of Gloria Estefan's '‘the rhythm is gonna get you,” and makes you want to dance around your bedroom. A seeerious girl anthem.
"Forever I see you and me, forever I'll try for you and I,
No I never believed in their insight, just another good reason to get it right..."