Kylie's opening night at the O2, 26 July 2008

After a wild night at the Burlington Club (ending with sending an awfully misspelled text to my boss after way too many drinks at 6 in the morning... seeing as I am a copywriter, do I wish my phone had an alcohol sensitive keypad now!), I didn’t feel absolutely exhilarated at the idea of meeting my friend Andy Morris from GQ in East London for a surprise night out... Man, can women be unfairly grumpy sometimes: I am sure you all experienced one of these foul moods. I should have known better, I always spent amazing evenings with him...

Getting out of the tube at North Greenwich, he’s wearing a beautiful shirt and I begin to suspect there is something serious going on out there. We get in the O2, and he ushers me in the very smart Gaucho Grill that just opened in the heart of the dome: the light is pleasantly dim (especially enjoyable when you have a pounding headache), and crystal chandeliers play with the reflects of sleek glass walls around the rooms, creating an elegant and slightly mystical atmosphere... The food is really divine in this cathedral of Argentinean steak: the first mouthful of fillet is Eucharistic, so tender it melts on the tongue. The wine too is beautiful, with accents of citrus and flowers unravelling in the balloon, and a gorgeous ruby colour in the light. The conversation is of course delightful, the waiters helpful, charming and knowledgeable and the whole dinner makes for one of the most refined meat adventures of my life. And I will tell you, I am French, I know what a good filet de boeuf is... No faux-pas here, I am in paradise. If I had one reserve I would say do not try the dulce de leche desert because it is so strong you cannot taste your wine after a spoon. But their exquisite Malbec and port desert wine makes you forget everything else: I am walking on clouds, and the wonderful thing is that I am still feeling light when the manager escorts us to their private booth, right above the stage of the Arena, where Kylie Minogue is about to give her first concert!

As the first notes of music ring out and a cascade of smoke falls off the stage, I take in the amazing space of the concert hall: it is grand, Kylie seems really small on stage in comparison, even on her 10" high platforms, but the first lady of pop can stand her ground, and the whole evening goes by in a heartbeat. I am a bit ashamed to say I knew the songs and of course I was familiar with Kylie, but I had never made the link between most of them and the singer... I won’t say I found Kylie inspirational in fashion terms: the calf high boots, the world war II cap, the pompom girl outfit, the whole staging was a bit tacky... But it does take some class to enter the stage on top of a giant silver skull... Obviously, from the last Anna Sui pirate belts to Damien Hirst’s diamond skull and Alexander Mc Queen prints, skulls are not getting out of style.

Dark Knight Premiere, London, 22 July 2008

Maggie Gyllenhaal was every bit the batman girl in her Stella McCartney backless satin pantsuit last night at the Leicester Square premiere of the Dark Knight: dark, sensual and sexy. It was a very glamorous intake on the pantsuit, which seems to be making a comeback on strong successful, beautiful, intelligent women after Gwyneth Palthrow wore one at a premiere last month. The halterneck shape of the garment graciously underlined the delicateness of Maggie's neck and back: remember, girls, you should never underestimate the seductive power of a back line!

Delicateness in tone too, as all Maggie's fellow actors wore similar colours in rememberance of their co-star Heath Ledger, who is delivering his last performance in the movie.

Another one I never had the time to kiss...

Burlington Style

High bun and wide belt make for a laid back 50's style. Outside the Burlington club, New Burlington Street. Zena, model.

Lovebox

What I love about music festivals is that it's an amazing source of inspiration in terms of style: people who attend the festival are the most careless in the world... They are here to see and be seen, but without a care of what people will think when they see them. It creates some explosive looks, truly inspirational, often retro and hippie, and sometimes... well sometimes a tiny bit surprising, but colourful at least.

I wish I had had my cowboy hat, because the cowboy outfit was de rigueur, with vintage leather boots ornate with cabalystic signs and worn felt hats scattered all over Victoria park, twirling and shaking at the sounds of Bizzle Bizzle and Ladyhawke...

Everybody joined in when Manu Chao went on stage, and it looked like a little piece of South America had just come alive on the green, a Brazilian heartbeat in the heart of London.

It left me with sparkles inside...

Too Cool For School at Dazed & Confused

On Friday night I found myself, with fellow Fashionista Camille Roman in tow, at the Dazed & Confused party.

Serving cold Japanese beer out of dustbins full of ice, with a DJ who looked like he was a throwback from the 80’s my colleague and I looked like strangers lost in a Punk era that automatically disliked and rejected my GAP cardigan and Zara Dress.

Those in attendance where the usual kooky crowd with the "Too Cool for School" aura around them. With a fashion dress sense that would not look out of place among the Brit Punk era of the late 70's early 80' OR the alternative Japanese fashion existing today, I was both wowed and excited to talk to individuals who embraced fashion without fear of ridicule. It was whilst talking to my new found friends that I realised that people did not just turn up to show off their rags but that they had also come to celebrate Philip Smiley’s work.

Philip Smiley is an illustrator whose clients have included Comme Des Garcons, Burberry and Stella McCartney. It is through the creation of his work that Philip is able to elaborate images and detail.

Born in Hawaii in 1976, Philip is a MA Fine Arts graduate from the School of Visual Arts in New and currently lives in London.

THE GOSSIP- LFW has spoken....

The word on the fashionable streets of London Fashion Week, 'they' have spoken and the winners of September 2008's Fashion Forward design sponsorship, the initiative set up by the BFC to support designers across the vital transition from emerging talent to established designer.

The winners were:

Christopher Kane, previous New Gen winner and to be honest no surprise there

Erdem, the London ready-to-wear line established in 2005- a nice feather in his fashion cap

Marios Schwab, his most recent show SS08 was chosen as one of the top ten shows of the season by Style.com- which could be the reason why he one!!!

Roksanda Ilincic, all haute couture contemporary and feminine style was awarded Fashion Forward sponsorship for the second time this season- i guess when it rains it pours!

Well done winners! I lok forward to seeing you grace the catwalks for seasons to come! For more info on Fashion Forward visit: http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/admin/e_go.asp?TransmissionID=310&URIEnc=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5sb25kb25mYXNoaW9ud2Vlay5jby51ay9jb250ZW50LmFzcD9DYXRlZ29yeUlkPTEwOTY&User=X9G4%2BE1w

Rimmel goes pop

Pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been appointed the new face of Rimmel along with Lily Cole. Rimmel are not replacing Kate Moss who will remain their ambassador, but their spokesperson said they wanted to reach a larger, younger market. Is that to say that Kate Moss doesn't appeal to 20 years old anymore; are advertisers starting to think she has aged?

After Burberry using 10,000 things punk singer Sam Riley in their Autumn Winter 08 ad campaign and LiLo squeezing herself in Agent Provocateur Lingerie, Sophie Ellis-Bextor is yet another music star to take over the fashion world. It seems fashion is looking into a change in rhythm: music stars attract more youngsters than plastic models, which means that supermodels are being replaced little by little by celebrities who look more like real people (well, if you look at Lily Allen modelling her own collection for Monsoon for example... then there is this other type of Paris Hilton-long-toned-legs-white-smile celebrities too). It might be a way to come back to a more regular image of the woman in fashion and escape the size zero debate everybody is getting tired of.

However, the Murder on the Dance Floor singer, with her smoky eyes and thick eyelashes, is hardly average looking, and she is bound to blow away the new Rimmel audience.

Photographer Bruce Weber's Summer Camp....and what a world!

I am a big fan of the NY magazine "W", and the photographs by Bruce Weber in this month's issue have intrigued me, and heres why. I was once upon a long time ago a camp counsellor at a camp in MA, and camp for moi was nothing like Bruce's vision. I mean looking at the magificently photographed (and styled might i add) shoot, I was drawn in and most definitely NOT reminded of my summer camp days but instead of a different kind of summer camp where the people are just beautiful, the worn fashion is seasons ahead and where sipping mojitos by the pool whist a kabana boy sprits you with Evian is the norm. Ok I have floated away with the fairies en route to Bruce Weber's Camp, so why not take a peek and see what i am babbling on about and do not forget to spot some fashion famous faces [or by the way if you blush easily do not look any further- you have been warned]....enjoy!!!

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF W MAGAZINE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRUCE WEBBER

STYLING BY ALEX WHITE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT W MAGAZINE

Dior Homme Spring Summer 09

It's Kris Van Assche's third season for Dior Homme, and he is as young and enthusiastic as ever... One thing you can say for him is that he doesn't lack imagination: his new collection is full of ideas and colours, and just like a fireworks final, you're not sure exactly what to focus on, which might be the reason why half his models were wearing these fluorescent glasses like the ones you would put on if you suddenly turned colour-blind. Volume, slim slim trousers, sleek and shiny, baggy and sporty, bright like the sun, male, girly, automnal, flowery, what? where? can it really be all that at the same time?

Kris knows how to tailor, and he has talent, that's for sure, but catalysing his creativity might not be a bad idea...

Glastonbury 2008 Madness- A fashion point of view

Reporting from the fashion front line in Glastonbury, were internet access is available, hazel lattes can be enjoyed and where one can eat at Leons- I cant believe it either-i find myself knee high in mud, and in a place were there are no visible mirrors (maybe that is a good thing) and I am constantly baby wiping myself due to fear of smelling.

Fashion here is quite eccentric and it seems tutu's are a prerequiste for both fashion conscious males and females. There seemed to be a uniform that had to be adhered too- shorts, tights and a tight rock n' roll t-shirt, which i found dull, dull, dull! So therefore i seeked the eccentric fashionistas whose outfits had something to say.




As for the music, well I saw the Gossip, Kate Nash, Estelle,the fine young criminals and i loved the Verve, James Blunt (yes you just read correctly), Scouting for girls, Mark Ronson and of cause the controversial Jay Z who I actually did not get to see all of his performance but thats another story!!!

I will keep my report from the front short and sweet as there is a queue of 1000's waiting to use the internet, and one thing i have learnt at the festival is the art of sharing!!!

from number 104'488 person to enter Glastonbury ( as stamped on my wrist band) xxx

Oh before I forget there was the celebs who also decided to slum it.....

Dolce & Gabbana will leave you voiceless

Wait... I didn't register the rest of the Dolce & Gabbana Spring Summer 09 catwalk... For some reason it just did not leave any imprint on my mind.

Last year when the size zero debate was raging on, The Independent published a terrible article showing how annorexia had reached the male modelling world. Androgyny is a big trend in fashion; it is a very futurustic look. But this season the designers have put an accent on malehood in their new collections, and it reflects -divinely!!!- in their choice of models. I never liked a man who makes me feel like I am twice his size in bed. Spring 09 celebrates men, and I love it!

Italian Vogue is the New Black, by Kimberley Aparisio

Italian Vogue, the most artsy and baroque of Vogues, famous for its theatrical shoots, 18th century colours, golden make-up and rich staging, seems to be taking things up a sexy, upbeat notch this summer.

The next issue, which will hit the newstands on July 26th, features only black models throughout, which is quite a move, since middle-class Italy is known for being a bit racist, and the fashion industry is missing women of colour like the deserts miss the rain, with designers using very few black models on runways.

As a New York fashion girl, I think this issue is pretty exciting. How will Italian girls feel about seeing Toccara from America's Next Top Model on the pages of their fashion Bible? I'm not so sure, but maybe they'll start adding Jay-Z to their iPods. Well, we can only hope. For people who like their fashion served up a certain way, there is definitely a stark contrast between the starched, perfect hauteur of Italian Vogue and the image of Naomi "one sandwich short of a picnic" Campbell reclining serenely on a chaise longue, when we all know she was clawing at a police officer not long ago. For any of those familiar with Miss Tyra, she doesn't have the most sedate image either (flashback to the three ring circus that is ANTM). Still, whatever reservations and prejudices one might have, Steven Meisel's photography and the models are simply breathtaking.

In the issue, Steven Meisel remarks "I have asked my advertising clients so many times, 'Can we use a black girl?' They say no." With the majority of consumers being white, they're seen as less likely to buy the product; he said, "It all comes down to money."

How depressing. Advertisers are basically saying that fashion is aspirant, and it is not desirable to be anything other than white, slender and blonde with wide blue eyes. Let's think about that. I will never look like Gisele Bundchen, but it doesn't stop me from shopping!

Anyhow, I've had the misfortune of reading some ill-thought out opinions about the issue being divisive and even condescending. Yes, fashion can be racist. Nevertheless, the world is changing; Vanity Fair's Africa issue came out recently, and Obama may become leader of the free world. Franca Sozzani, editor of Vogue Italia, has captured the zeitgeist. Hopefully, Anna Wintour will follow in Sozzani's Louboutins.

The preview shots look amazing, so be sure I'll elbow you right out of the way to get my copy on Thursday.

Kiss me quick Kate (well not literally)... you are looking fab in Longchamp

(Kate Looking Fabulous- actually forget Kate how fantastic does NYC look in the background- i miss my "home"!)

(Kate Moss minus makeup and airbrushing but wearing the hell out of her new Longchamp)

Loving Kate Moss, and i havent done that in a long time, in the NEW Longchamp ads. I am a dedicated Longchamper' (errr is that a word) and Kate has done the ads justice. I want to go and buy a Longchamp. Then again my wallet could argue that I do not need Kate to convince me to buy a Longchamp, and to that I would reply "alas my badly abused wallet you are correct"

Not Forgetting our fellow men....

Men's fashion week is off and running, and although it is an event that does not bring much ohhhh and ahhhhhhs from us women folk, I must say seeing perfect male specimens strutting down the runaway is a good enough reason to find this champagnista front row at the Donatella Versace show which dedicated its Spring/Summer 2009 collection to Barack Obama- do i smell a crush on the great man-mmmm- the mind wonders!!!!

THE GOOD

Seersucker suits – nice and stripy but not a sign of them next season, so flaunt them while you can.
Collars up – yes it’s a bit spivvy, but everyone’s turning up their blazer collars. It takes the edge off.

Isn' he yummy- yes please- definitly worth fighting front row seat for!

THE BAD

The Japanese school boy – beige shorts and navy knee high socks.

Oh my!!! Metrosexual man i think not, bring back the brut i say!

THE UGLY

Huge, inflatable, and miraculously not fake, bosoms at the Uomo Vogue party. At least we had somewhere to prop our drinks.

And finally....the People and Parties

Uomo Vogue – the party of the week. Read this roll call of A –list celebs and weep:
John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Rupert Everett, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Donatella Versace, Stefano Pilati of YSL in a pair of slippers, Roberto Cavalli, Anna Piaggi, Anna Wintour, Jefferson Hack.

When will this fashionista have her day?

We all got tearful when we saw Carrie in her wedding dress in SATC movie. Granted she did not get married in "the" Vivienne Westwood dress, which i know would have suited me better as i have the boobs to fill it but I am going off track, what I am trying to say is that for SATC fans that was a beautiful moment. So you can understand Leah Woods glitterati friends who turned up for nuptials had tears of joy as she married Jack Macdonald at a ceremony at London's Southwark Cathedral.

She looked like a bride right of the 1920's. The dress i must admit was not too my taste- but i am a hard woman to please. Leah look happy and her father happier- probably very happy that his daughter did not take the Liz Jagger route via Chinawhite and Calum Best.

Congratulations Leah, we wish you all the best.