The US August Covers Are In

I was quietly confident that the August 2010 covers would feature a few models, but the US August covers are all out (apart from W, which is sure to be good whoever it is) and there is not a single model in sight. ELLE paired Drew Barrymore with photographer Carter Smith, and I like the result. Drew hasn't been around much recently, so it's nice to see her on a cover. It's a rather awkward pose though, right?

Fellow Charlie's Angel, Cameron Diaz was photographed by Terry Richardson for Harper's. I normally love Cameron's magazine covers, but there is something about this image that seems a little off. At least she looks fabulous in the red dress.
Over at Marie Claire Dakota Fanning continues to branch out of the teen market, landing one of her few 'grown up' covers. I like the slightly androgynous stying, it's an interesting direction to take. But the matching floral rings are a little too fussy for my taste.

My current favourite (I need to see W before I decide) is Gwyneth Paltrow's Vogue cover. While I think she's a boring choice for Vogue she looks so fresh and beautiful in the Testino image, so I can ignore the fact she's a really predictable cover star.
At the moment it looks like UK Vogue is the only glossy to use a model for its August cover. I hope there are some model covers for the September issues but so far it is looking unlikely.

Which US August cover is your favourite?

images from thefashionspot.com and justjared,buzznet.com

Zoe Saldana's Calvin Klein Campagin

As you all know I am a big fan of Zoe Saldana, she rules the red carpet and is also insanely beautiful. Zoe has just landed a the Fall 2010 Calvin Klein Underwear campaign, photographed by Mikael Jansson, further securing her place as Hollywood's hottest actress. I know Megan Fox's Armani underwear ads were a huge hit with the male population, but as far as I'm concerned Megan has nothing on Ms Saldana.

Image © 2010 Mikael Jansson
For me bra shopping is one of the most tedious activities out there, as it seems virtually impossible for anyone to make an A-cup that doesn't look like it's designed for a 13-year-old, but I can always rely on Calvin Klein. I love their underwear. Zoe's Calvin campaign features their new Envy range of underwear which, according to the press release, will create a "more revealing silhouette."
As you know Calvin Klein has had a great lineup of campaign faces over the years, from Brooke Shields to Kate Moss, and they have an equally impressive selection of stars for A/W 2010. Zoe fronts their underwear, Lara Stone features in their mainline ads and Diane Kruger is the new face of Calvin Klein beauty. All three ladies were in Berlin last night for the "World of Calvin Klein" event.

What do you think of Zoe's Calvin Klein Underwear ad? And who do you think was the best dressed Klein 'face' last night? For me Lara and Zoe are joint favourites.

images Getty/Picapp.com

It is Absolutely Hallucinating

Jean Paul Gaultier used the rather bizarre expression "it is absolutely hallucinating" when talking to Sunday Times Style about fashion designers paying celebrities to wear their dresses on the red carpet. I'm not exactly sure what "it is absolutely hallucinating" is supposed to mean, but it's a fantastic phrase, and it feels fitting to describe his A/W Couture collection as absolutely hallucinating.
I am in love with the collection. It's possibly knocked Givenchy out of the number one spot. And I don't think I have been this obsessed with a piece of headwear since the Vuitton bunny ears. I need one of these turbans, they're too much fun!

I could easily have posted every look from the collection, but have somehow narrowed this post down to four looks. The bright blue turban is my absolute favourite, and I love the pleated trench coat worn with red heels and matching tights. I'll definitely be trying that look this winter.

Kim Noorda has quickly become one of my favourite catwalk models, and I adore the LBD she wore. Her look reminded me of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's - she has real pizazz. And even though I hate smoking I can't help loving the gesture of the long cigarette holder in the models hand. I know it's wrong but there is something very glamorous about it. Don't hate on me though - it's all part of JPG's hallucination. 

What do you make of the JPG collection? Absolutely hallucinating?

images from vogue.co.uk

Chanel Haute Couture is the Best Medicine

I felt flu-ish all day yesterday, and have woken up this morning feeling no better. But at least I had the Chanel A/W Haute Couture collection to flick through whilst I ate my cornflakes, so the day has started off pretty well.
I thought the entire collection was beautiful (and I loved the gold Lion), but the sequin embellished looks in the second half of the collection really captured my heart. The detail is insane, especially on Freja Beja Erichsen's final look. This is what Haute Couture is all about, and although the Givenchy collection has stayed put as my favourite I can't stop thinking about these three Chanel looks...

Beautiful, no? I think the red number is my personal favourite, and I hope Grace Coddington marked that look whilst watching from the front row - I'd love to see it in Vogue. From what I've read online this morning the boots don't seem to be going down so well. I personally don't mind the cobweb-effect style in the top image, but Freja's blue and gold pair are a little Britney Spears circa 1999. What do you think?
And finally, Chanel has dictated just about every nail polish trend for the past few seasons (as I type I'm wearing a budget version of Chanel's greige S/S 10 polish) so it would be foolish not to look at the models hands. As well as some gorgeous bracelets Karl's girls were wearing a deep terracotta colour on their nails.

Track down that shade now to be sickeningly ahead of fashion. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention - Jessica Alba sat in the front row. I told you she'd made it to the top! I bet it's Dakota Fanning next season... She's the next big thing.

What did you think of the Chanel Couture collection?

images from style.it

Get Your Wedding Planner to Givenchy

There are times when you realise how embarrassing your celebrity obsessions are, and one such moment came to me last week when the news broke that Zoe Saldana is engaged to her boyfriend, Keith Britton. The excitement I felt for Zoe was really rather lame, considering I don't even know her, but she is sure to have the most stylish wedding of the year. So my fan-girl happiness is justified, right?
Zoe wore the breathtakingly beautiful purple Givenchy S/S 2010 Couture gown to the Oscars this year, and as soon as I heard the news of her engagement I immediately thought of Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci. He needs to make her wedding dress!

Tisci is one of my favourite designers working today, I can't get enough of his work, and the Givenchy A/W 2010 Couture collection is easily my favourite Haute Couture collection of the season so far. The lace detailing on the evening dresses is exquisite and I adore his use of fringing and feathers. Ten out of the eleven looks Tisci showcased would make wonderful wedding dresses (the black feathered dress is more red carpet) and they would all look gorgeous on Zoe.

Eager Givenchy fans will know that Tisci recently dressed model Lara Stone for her wedding, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Zoe is his next celebrity bride. Surely if she wasn't originally thinking of Givenchy for her wedding she is now. Let's just hope she shares her wedding snaps...

Would you like to see Zoe wear Givenchy Couture? And what do you think of the A/W collection?

images style.com

The Alba Makeover is Complete

Regular readers of the blog will remember how shocked I was to see Jessica Alba wearing a beautiful Antonio Berardi mini in January this year. Before the Berardi moment Jessica faded into the background, along with all the other Jessica's in Hollywood. Her style was bland, predictable and uninspiring.
But since the beginning of 2010 Jessica has worked really hard to make a name for herself in fashion. I believe she has been working with Rachel Zoe, which would explain the sudden transformation, and her casual attire has garnerd just as much attention as her red carpet style. Jessica is pictured in Grazia almost every week now - firm evidence she's become a popular source of fashion inspiration.

Today Jessica's transformation was completed, as she attended the Christian Dior Haute Couture show at Paris Fashion Week. Any celebrity can get seated on a front row today, but landing a Couture invite shows you have real fashion power.
It looks like people have actually started to care what Jessica Alba is wearing. And I don't think a celebrity has worked their way into the fashion industry this successfully since Victoria Beckham reinvented herself as a designer. But a kind piece of advice for Jessica: just because we're interested in your wardrobe now does not mean we want you to start designing clothes, just stick to wearing them please.

Have you become a fan of Jessica Alba's style this year?

image Getty via picapp.com

Taking the Maxi Skirt into Fall

My jersey maxi skirt has been my best friend this summer, I've worn it time and time again. And rummaging through the summer sales (which if I'm honest have been a big disappointment this year, no?) I've stumbled across so many maxi dresses and skirts that I've been tempted to buy.
The maxi is so easy to wear in the summer, as you can just throw it on with a simple tank top and statement jewelry, but in the winter it gets a little more complicated, as nobody wants to look like they're stuck in the previous season. The Marc Jacobs A/W collection, however, offered a great solution to wearing a maxi in fall, simply by pairing it with chunky knit jumpers.

The Marc Jacobs collection (which remains a firm favourite of mine for A/W) saw the oversized knits worn over velvet and sequined evening dresses, but you could just as easily wear a maxi skirt in this way. It's obviously not the best idea to layer your floral printed summer styles - they can be kept in storage until next summer - but if you have a basic black, grey, khaki or navy maxi it can move into A/W with you.

I'll also be on the look out for any vintage maxi skirts in heavier fabrics, such as velvet, to wear in this way too. As the new season is all about poise, sophistication and womanliness this Marc Jacobs styling is perhaps the most casual (and comfortable) A/W will get.

Will you be taking your maxis into A/W with you this year? How will you style them?

images from vogue.co.uk