This week Vanity Fair allowed mere mortals to enter their annual Best Dressed competition. What are you waiting for? Get your best outfits ready…
The Vanity Fair best dressed list, released annually, is one of the world’s most prestigious fashion lists.
It recognises unique dressers in the fashion world – and is unique in that it goes beyond stylist-created celebrity identities to the people behind the scenes with their own impeccable style.
Now Vanity Fair has gone one step further. They’ve opened up the list to two mere mortals per year.
The reasoning? Finding true originals has become easier in a world of interconnectedness, and VF wants to recognise fashionistas internationally – and not just those who parade outside fashion shows for street style snappers like The Sartorialist.
The editor also admitted he’s concerned about keeping a true sense of originality, because so many people – even unexpected ones – have stylists putting together their outfits these days.
So how do you enter? Simple – you upload photos to Vanity Fair online, for a chance to be part of a weekly slideshow of worldwide Best Dressed. Winners get prizes from luminaries like Armani and Clinique.
And then the overall winners, one man and one woman, get included in the yearly Best Dressed List in the magazine itself, alongside people like Naomi Watts and Anne Hathaway.
It’s not all about people with money to burn – Russian heiresses and budding young designers tend to find their way into the list anyway – but it pays to dedicate time to your look, and be elegant rather than extreme for the sake of attention.
Will you be entering the Vanity Fair style competitions? We’re dying to see your looks!
Image: Vanity Fair best dressed.
Benetton ads are famously diverse – which is unusual in fashion, considering several big luxe brands have only just included Asian models in their campaigns starting 2013. Yes, you read that right.
Their latest ads, however, go one step further in committing to fighting hate, by including their widest range of models yet.
The ads include famous faces like the Sudanese Alek Wek (who’s done so much charity work she’s more philanthropist than model), pink-haired punk Charlotte Free, and Elettra Widemann, daughter of Isabella Rosselini – but they also include a transgender model, Lea T, and an amputee.
Lea T is a new fashion favourite. Unlike Andrej Pejic, the Aussie favourite of Jean Paul Gaultier who’s male and simply looks good as a female, Lea had gender reassignment surgery in 2011 and is now completely female.
She’s been a muse of Givenchy and starred in covers for LOVE magazine, but this is a big coup – and makes the Benetton campaign one of its most political ever.
The German amputee model, Mario Galla, is famous for stomping the catwalks in shorts revealing his artificial leg, and is also releasing a documentary and autobiography about his work.
The other famous name? Dudley O’Shaughnessy, whom music lovers will recognise as Rihanna’s love interest in her music video for ‘We Found Love’ – because he’s a doppelganger for Chris Brown, only with vivid green eyes.
The aim of the campaign is to ‘promote unhate’ by featuring the diversity of beauty, and we’re certainly loving the message. What do you think?
Image: Lea T for Benetton.
Plus-size models are taking over the world again, and Agent Provocateur’s latest campaign is proof.
It features Crystal Renn, one of the most famous plus-size models worldwide – even though she’s slimmed down since she first came on the scene, apparently trying to be healthier.
Renn also appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue last year, notably devoted to the slimmest of the slim – and it was shot on Sydney Harbour itself.
The new Agent Provocateur campaign is all about the new lingerie trends- modernism, cut-outs, bodysuits and black, black, black. Shot on a gas station by Oliver Zahm, the shoot was apparently inspired by famous photographer Helmut Newton, and used the gas station because “it’s a place to meet a handsome stranger.”
Whatever the reason, Renn appears stretched over classic cars in a cut-out black bodysuit, as well as a bra that apparently comes with a choker attachment.
There’s also some fluoro purple and yellow lace, showing that the neon trend hasn’t yet died out and that underwear is still its strongest market.
Our favourite pieces? The 1960s-style set including mesh dressing gown, layers of black lace and an intricate waspie. It shows that Elizabeth Taylor, with or without Lindsay Lohan, is still influencing our ideas of sexiness.
What do you think of the Agent Provocateur pics?
Image: Renn for Agent Provocateur.
The weather will start getting cooler soon, and it’ll become easier to cycle from place to place. The big question: what should you wear?
The biking craze is all over The Sartorialist and fashion blogs, and it’s become the best way to get around in Fashion Weeks and to and from work. The most essential factor? Footwear.
Brogues are very in this season. With their proper grip and masculine air, they’re perfect for looking chic. Metallic textures are massively in: Maison Martin Margeila has glitter-covered options, as does Miu Miu.
If you want something a little less razzle-dazzle, go for Alexander Wang‘s cream versions, or Dr Marten’s pastels and pinks.
Getting your outfit right while on a bike can be tricky. Too short and you risk flashing traffic cops, too long and it can get tangled in the spikes.
The perfect (and rather cute) solution? Jodhpurs – Ralph Lauren has some glorious blue ones, and 3.1 Philip Lim’s scarlet ones take the cake.
If you’d rather be cool, go for shorts – they’re still ragingly popular. Scalloped edges are very in – we love Lulu & Rose‘s delicate pair in blush pink with a high waist.
High waists are perfect for cycling, as they guarantee comfort and nothing unseemly showing from the back, and are very flattering to all shapes. Moschino Cheap & Chic has some tailored sailor shorts with front buttons that are adorable.
Want some flow? If you get the length of a skirt right, you can pair modesty with ease. Try for midi length, with an A-line cut – nothing tight. Tibi has some gorgeous patterns for clashing, as do Stella McCartney and Chloe.
If you haven’t got a basket, fear not – backpacks, sweet and compact, are in this season. Marc By Marc Jacobs has a neon one covered in fluoro kiss marks, but we’re loving ASOS‘s range of backpacks in bug prints with useful leather straps. Go for canvas and leather for the ultimate expedition look.
To look truly Parisian, pair with a floppy hat. A Rag & Bone felt fedora is perfect for colder days, or a Eugenia Kim For Net-a-Porter wide-brimmed straw hat to look faintly like Audrey Hepburn coasting around Rome.
And there you go – dressed up to the nines and ready to cycle into the sunset.
Image: Cycling at The Sartorialist.
