This Venice Film Festival, the two big contenders for Best Dressed so far have been very different ladies: Keira Knightley and Kate Winslet.
Though they’re both English roses, they couldn’t have chosen more contrasting dresses for their big premieres.
Knightley chose a long-sleeved, gold brocade Valentino for the premiere of her film A Dangerous Method – she stars as a Russian madwoman, so perhaps she was looking to seem a little more sophisticated.
Winslet, however, is there for the miniseries Mildred Pierce, which – set in the 1940s – is deliciously fashionable. So her black-and-white Stella McCartney wiggle dress was a nice contrast to all that 40s-style tailoring.
The big disappointment for fashion lovers? Madonna- not her dresses, but her much-hyped film W.E., which was rumoured to have the best fashion in years. Apparently the rumours were right – but the film itself is getting extremely rude reviews, and the fashion’s the best part. If it keeps tanking, people wanting to see the fashions of Wallis Simpson might have to wait till it comes out on direct-to-DVD.
Which star looked best: Winslet or Knightley?
Image: Knightley in Valentino.
The New Accessories Trend – Delicate & Quirky
It’s a change from the big bulky bracelets and chains of last season, but fashion now wants us to go delicate – in our jewellery, at least.
Rescu. has rounded up our favourite sources for whimsical, charming jewellery for all ages and budgets.
Galibardy Jewellery is a major favourite of UK celebrities – they have a necklace with a triceratops on it! They’re very individual, smart, witty pieces (anybody want a ring that looks like a lion roaring) – and most importantly they’re affordable. Snatch up their line quick, before every woman discovers this hidden British treasure. www.galibardy.co.uk
My Little Gems is a niche jewellery store for people who rejoice in the handmade and one-of-a-kind. It’s for the girly girl, with semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls and beautiful charms. Know somebody who loves Pandora bracelets but wants something a bit more individual? This is for you – and it won’t break the bank. Just be careful not to buy out the entire store. www.mylittlegems.me
Smug Designs might sound off-putting, but they’re doing delicate feminine jewellery with an edge – it’s all modern, smooth and very slick. Based in Sydney, Smug lets you pick a design and customise your earrings or necklaces, making them truly your own. www.smugdesigns.com.au
Image: My Little Gems.
Rimmel, Kate Moss And Wheels & Doll Baby Launch Fashion Search
It’s the ten-year anniversary of Rimmel London’s association with Kate Moss – and they’re celebrating in a BIG way.
They’ve teamed up with Wheels & Doll Baby, the Australian vintage-themed sexpot fashion label, to find a T-shirt design to celebrate the launch of Kate’s anniversary Rimmel Range. The theme? ‘Get The London Look’.
The top five T-shirts have already been chosen, and the final winner will be decided by Ms Moss (now technically Mrs Jamie Hince) herself, in collaboration with Melanie Greensmith, head designer at Wheels & Doll Baby.
The winner will have their Tshirts sold in Rimmel and Wheels & Doll Baby stores – a pretty big leg up for any aspiring Australian illustrator or fashion designer. And the competition is tough!
Check out Rimmel London’s Australian Facebook page to have a look at the designs and pick your favourite.
And even if you haven’t got your hands on one of the limited edition T-shirts by October, you can still partake in Kate’s Rimmel line – she designed it herself.
Image: Tiah Eckhardt in Wheels & Doll Baby T-shirt.
Carine Roitfeld: ‘I Will Never Use Cigarettes In A Shoot Again’
It’s one of fashion’s most contentious issues – is it OK to shoot a smoking model to make the photo more ‘interesting’?
Carine Roitfeld, ex-head of Vogue Paris, no longer thinks so.
Vogue Paris has taken shoot after shoot of smoking models, but in an interview with Vogue.com, Roitfeld was no longer happy about the choice.
“I will never use cigarettes again in any shoot,” said Roitfeld. She added, “It’s an easy solution to make a picture more interesting, but it’s not the only solution.”
Her wish now? “Forgive me for all those cigarettes I’ve put in all these issues.”
Vogue Paris, becoming health-conscious or socially responsible? The fashion world is being turned on its head. What with all the scrutiny of the French fashion world over Galliano’s trial (he will be sentenced this week) and children being used as sexualised models, maybe Roitfeld is trying to rehabilitate her ex-magazine’s image.
Image: Lara Stone in Vogue Paris 2009.
Controversy Over Model’s ‘Taped Eyes’ For Vogue Japan
The editor of Vogue Japan, Anna Della Russo, is one of fashion’s most celebrated identities, but she may have gone too far.
The original plus-size model, Crystal Renn, was in a story for Vogue Japan recently, and Della Russo decided, along with the beauty director, that Renn- who, like Della Russo, is not Asian – should have her eyes taped back, to give her a more ‘Asian’ appearance.
The results? Odd – and, for several Asian commentators, offensive.
It was called ‘tone-deaf’, ‘horrible’, ‘racist’ and a slew of other comments by several observers across the internet, who pointed out that just because it’s an Asian woman’s magazine, the women represented do not have to look artificially Asian.
Others are defending it as an avant-garde move, saying that fashion is all about playing with expectations and appearances.
Renn and Vogue Japan have had no comment thus far. What do you think?
Image: Crystal Renn with her eyes taped back.
