Trashy mantra

Tara Reid is the latest of Hollywood blondies to start her own clothing line, Mantra, which she was launching yesterday in Vegas. The American Pie star gave the following statement to US People: “It’s about putting into the universe what you want in life: Red means love, pink is friendship, green is lucky, black is protection”, etc etc. You get the picture. Not sure if she is pantheist or buddhist or just superstitious, but if you believe in this kind of philosophy, do go for her clothes, and let me know if life changed colours in your new little red beaded dress.

One thing though: depending on what you want to attract in life, I would recommend you avoid her 'Catch me if you can' bikini, if you don't want your left boob to end in some stranger's hairy hand...

After all, class can be colourful, but it is all about sending the right message.

Image from websterismybitch.com

Pour nos amis les British men...

What follows is not entirely fashion-related, but it has to be said, because anything that makes me doubt my fashion sense (no false humility) is a crime.

British men my friends, you piss me off!!!

You can be endearing, and humorous, and have some substance, but you have a major problem: you don't look at women in the street - or anywhere else for that matter- and I cannot begin to explain how much it frustrates me!

Six months after I moved to London, I went back to Paris for the Christmas holidays, and I was suprised to find that men were staring at me in the metro I took on my way home. After this little game was repeated over and over again and I started feeling down right paranoid about having a huge spot on my nose, a beautiful stranger flashed me a marvellous style, and I came aware that these men's looks were actually a compliment. And I suddenly realized how much I had missed this permanent flirting game French men keep on.

In London men ignore women in the street; if you are unfortunate enough to be crossing when a car arrives, they horn and accelerate instead of slowing down and giving way with a smile; in a club they prefer to dance in a gay-like male circle and avert their eyes if by miracle you catch them looking rather than coming over to introduce themselves. Unless of course they're in a pub, after the 15th post-work Friday pint and you find their eyes wandering intently in you decollete.

No wonder that English young women go to astouding lengths (literally... I am always amazed at the shortness of these frilly black skirts they wear on bare legs even in the heart of winter) to attract their attention!

So a little piece of advice for you, my dear men: we find your attention flattering, it's an aknowledgement of our sex-appeal, it makes us feel good about ourselves and warm inside, so why refuse yourselves this pleasure? Enjoy the view, and if a woman sees you watching her, smile: how could things possibly go wrong?

Flowery hand, Savile Row, August 2008

Looking at her hand, the word that springs to my mind is 'ingenue': its petiteness, fragility and perfect grooming convey a kind of pre-raphaelite dangerous innocence.

Or maybe it's just me being paranoid. I never wear rings: it's a love-hate story between my fingers and them. I really like them, particularly big mineral rings in colourful stones set in silver filigrees: this kind of wild exotic statement pieces, I adore... But try to slide one on my finger and I'll go ballistic: I don't know if it's the roundness of it, the unity, or the inescapable symbolism it entails, but the tight touch of the metal wrapped around my ring finger gives me cold sweats. Total claustrophobia!

Having said that, isn't her hand marvellously delicate? She seems to be carrying summer on it.

She's a Genie in a bottle

What did I say three posts ago??? The candy celebrities strike again!

Christina Aguilera's new perfume, Inspire, will be released in association with Proctor & Gamble on September 1st.

I do confess I like the Inspire ad better than the Fancy one: it's less Alice in Wonderland and Walt Disney princess and a little more pop, and the composition is rather humorous with its reference to the first Aguilera years.

Now for the title: Inspire? Ahem, that remains to be seen....

R.I.P Paul Starr

Naomi Watts

Angelina Jolie

Jennifer Garner

Paul Starr was found dead in his LA flat at the beginning of the week, after neighbours reported they had not seen him in a few days. The cause of his death remains unknown, and details of his funeral have yet to be released. He was 48 years old.

For those of you who are not familiar with him, he was one of the greatest makeup artists of his generation: he worked with the most beautiful and the most famous, from editorial shoots with Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Garner to ad campaigns for Lancome, and Vivienne Westwood catwalk shows. In 2005, he published a book called On Beauty (before Zadie Smith, mind you!) where he showcased the creation of different beauty looks on celebrities who bared their hearts in the pages. He also launched a magazine named Flaunt, which covers featured amazing and often controversial beauty shots.

Beyond craft, he had a particular genius for using his brushes to reveal the personality, the originality, and the ineffable moods of his subjects. He was a true make-up artist, and the whole film and fashion industries are grieving for him.

http://www.paulstarrmakeup.com/

The Little black dress reinvented

Bottega Veneta

Alessandro Dell'Acqua

Alexander McQueen

Balenciaga

It might come as a surprise but I don't have a little black dress in my wardboard: up to now, I've always thought the little black dress was a dispensable accessory, the garment every girl has in her cupboard in case she has to go to a cocktail party at the last minute and needs to look elegant and unremarkable. I don't like unremarkable, I think it's dull, and it's at the antipodes of style: I like strong, deep, shimmery colours, shapes, volume and character... And you might call me anal, but I like to plan my outfit for every occasion: style is all about theatricality and expression, about finding the right tone, the right word, and, of course, about turning men's heads in the streets...

However, the Fall 2009 collections have come up with a new kind of little black dress that caught my eye: it's a little black dress with character, simple, sexy and powerful, which reinvents the working girl outfit with shoulder lines that go up and tight fabrics that clench at the hips. It's smart, it's sexy, it's simple, and with a pair of stilettos it will devastate our friends the men, which is exactly what we want, is it not?

Time to start saving those pennies, girls...

Fancy, another celebrity perfume!

Jessica Simpson is yet another celebrity to launch her own fragrance after Sarah Jessica Parker, J-Lo and -I dread to say her name- Jade Goody. Her perfume, Fancy, will launch at the end of the month for the greatest pleasure of 15-year-old cheerleaders who like marshmallows...

Ok, maybe that was mean, but seeing as Jessica Simpson looks like a big pink cotton candy on the ad pictures, you can't help but wonder exactly how sweet and sugary the scent is going to be. I hope it doesn't grab you by the nostrils like the smells emanating from Dunkin Doughnuts when you pass by one of their stores.... Oooooh, I'm shivering just to think about it!

At least if your girlfriends start wearing it, you always have the option to say 'I simply must go'.

Street style, Mad hairdo

Mad hairdo, Leicester square, August 2008

SACRE BAZAAR

Fashion changes and repeats itself...

Season after season, designers interpret, twist and reinvent past trends: most of the time it makes for our great pleasure, but when fashion loses its integrity in copycat, it is time for the Champagnistas to crack a whip.

When you look at the September cover of W featuring a silver-pale Kate Hudson with crimson lips giving the camera a fierce feline look, aren't you disappointed that such a great and visionary magazine could reproduce almost detail for detail the Harper's Bazaar cover for which Demarchelier photographed Nadja Auermann in 94? I like a bit of intertextuality, it shows some in-depth, but you can't quote a text without brackets, it's intellectual dishonesty.

We can only hope the editorial team proved more creative to fill the contents of their next issue.

Hail the Fashion Queen- Hannah Marshall

I have been quietly watching Hannah Marshall's rise to in the fashion world for nearly two years following an article I wrote about her fashion show debut for fashion industry site Fashion Capital. I was impressed with her dedication to her work and her clear talent to express her outlook through her work.

Now gracing the "who to watch" pages of fashion magazines, I am proud to report that Hannah's Trapeze Dress from her collection has been loaned by Erin O'Connor for the Little Black Dress exhibition, at the Fashion & Textiles in London. The exhibition is open until 25th August so be sure to pop on by and support a British fashion deisigner who is destined to go far!

Did YOU guess the Campaign?

So the time has come to separate the fashion smarty pants from the fashion no hopers!!! Did you manage to guess which campaign ads belonged to which label???
I can now reveal the answers (OMG i sound like some terrible gameshow host!!!)

Champagnista secrets: Giuseppe Zanotti sales

In little fashionistas that respect yourself, you all know the beautiful beautiful Giuseppe Zanotti Design I'm sure... Well, here is an ultra secret tip for you my lovelies, whispered carefully within the exclusive fashionista sorority: their Summer 2009 collections was all about delicate lines and strong colours, and definitely a step forward in elegance and modern classicism from their previous collections (I know I know, but if you're familiar with their designs you'll see the truth of this oxymoron)... and it is going to be on sale on Saturday at 70% off (don't choke) in their Sloane street and Walton street stores.

More choice at Sloane street...

Enjoy, and register on the blog if you want to post a small thank you in answer to this post: we would love to hear from you.

ONE on ONE with fashions most coverted position- that of ‘the’ fashion intern

With her a big brown eyes and a fashion sense that channels Ralph Lauren circa. 1979, American Correy McMahon is all white teeth and goodness. A complete newbie to the fashion interning scene, the summer 2008 saw the fresh faced 20 something taking her first tentative steps into the harsh scary world of fashion.

When I first saw her I wasn’t sure whether I should hug her and welcome her into the fabulous fashion sorority that one belongs too or wave her off and tell her to turn and run as fast as her beloved 4 inches could carry her, because I know that this is an industry that will break you down and build you up in its own image, and only when you have been painfully broken will you become the desired image of fashion.

As I talk to the 21 year old, I try and give her the big sister shoulder (although we could never pass as such) and try and find out whether she was going to survive. It was as I smiled at her whilst in deep thought that she who professed with a girly grin that her favourite designer was Michael Kors and that she adored any season that starts with SS.

Lastly, Correy McMahon hails from New Hampshire a definite small town girl with big dreams, I should know as I once was the small town girl coming to the big city. She seems to be so sweet and full of hopes and dreams. It is because of her great positiveness that I refuse to be the Miranda Priestly to her Andrea, the pebble in her uggs, the straw that broke the camels back. My own memories are still so fresh, so therefore when her internships ends with me I will send her back into the big bad fashion world and hope that the big bad wolf will not get the sweet Correy riding hood.

Buddhattitude

I had a pleasant evening yesterday... Burlington man (the sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet boy I enjoy spending time with at the moment) took me out to see The Edge of Love (by the way, do you know Sienna Miller can act?! Singer, designer and actress, there are all-accomplished women on this planet...), and then we headed to Buddha Bar for a late Sunday night drink.

Yes, Buddha Bar has finally hit London, after Paris, New York and Dubai, and it is opening officially on Friday 8 August, at the end of the week. Located under Waterloo Bridge on the Embankment, by the Savoy Hotel, the bar opened its doors on Saturday to the first happy few, and as you can imagine, the hip London fashion crowd is already indoors.

However iconic, I had been really disappointed by my Parisian experience of Buddha Bar: I had found the place dark, crowded and touristy. Buddha Bar in London seems pleasantly more exclusive. Maurice, the host of the place, reflects its spirit with his opulent looks: dark skin, long brown dreadlocks, 18th century like shimmery pendant earrings (were these real diamonds?), shiny tailored jacket and skinny jeans, he looks esoterically stylish and elegantly quirky.

The space is grand: several floors with balconies are wrapped around a main room with very high ceilings. The gigantic golden Buddha holds court in the middle of the main room, shining in the dim light of massive crystal and brass convoluted chandeliers. Around and behind the stairs come semi-private and private areas, where the better known will be able to enjoy dinner in peace.

Seated at the first floor bar which pleasantly overlooks the restaurant, sipping my heartbeat cocktail, I let my thoughts wander at the relaxing rhythm of the music. Open until 6am, the place is going to be the new heaven of after-partiers who want something smooth to end the night.

Can YOU guess the campaign????

It seems that lately fashion labels are going all out when it comes to their ad campaigns. Some are amazing, others are thought provoking and then there are the rare few that are sooooo bad that I know I could have done better with my disposable Kodak camera and a broom stick for a model!!!

Any who my question to you is that with the hours spent reading your Vogues and Elle’s cover to cover can you now guess what campaign belongs to which label? Why not take a gander (answers will follow):