Red Carpet Stylist

And you won’t need a gown, or even those fab Nicholas Kirkwood heels you need to beg, borrow or steal for!  Yep, that’s right — all you’ll need is your trusty wifi connection!

Since the Costume Institute Gala has been touted as the Oscars of the fashion scene, attended by obscenely fashionable elite and celebutantes alike, it’s no wonder that the powers that be have decided to webcast the red carpet arrivals live.

And, just to be sure you won’t be watching any other tech-savvy guests with a webcam, hosts will be none other that Vogue’s own William Norwich and Elettra Wiedemann and interviews are promised from the likes of Anna Wintour and Muccia Prada.  Take that, competition!

So make a note, program your iPhone and tune in to Vogue.com or Amazon.com/Fashion, and Metmuseum.org from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on May 7th.  I may just put on those Kirkwoods just for fun…see you there!

Raf Simons

So a few tears were shed at Jil Sander upon the announcement of the departure of head designer Raf Simons, whose Fall ’12 collection drew the admiration of even the ill-fated John Galliano. But Dior fans can cheer the newly named head honcho of the house with Simons’ graceful landing into the role there. He’s been quoted as saying it “just feels right” to be at Dior. We loved him at Sander and it’s this girl’s bet that we’ll love him even more at CD. What happens to Bill Gaytten, who has been steering the luxury ship since Galliano’s tirade? His future is unknown, but let’s hope that the execs from up above know how to show a little gratitude for some amazing collections in between celeb designers. Stay tuned, fashion fans!

It reads like a plot from a 1940′s film noir: John Galliano, designer at Christian Dior since 1996 has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman in a Paris cafe.  Due to the nature of the arrest (assault and claims of anti-Semitic remarks), he has been suspended from the house of Dior until further notice.

A statement form Sidney Toledano, Dior chief executive, said “Dior affirms with the utmost conviction its policy of zero tolerance towards any antisemitic or racist words or behavior…Pending the results of the inquiry, Christian Dior has suspended John Galliano from his responsibilities.”

The details at this point are a little bit fuzzy, as some say the run-in began with Galliano insulting the woman’s handbag after she called him ugly, while others say that the woman filed a complaint with police claiming Galliano was making anti-Semitic remarks.  This all went down at La Perle cafe near the designer’s home.  In any case, it seems the house of Dior wants to distance itself as quickly as possible to avoid any mistakes in dealing with the debacle.

Galliano, who seems incredibly good-natured in front of the press may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or could have been trying to get in the good books with Mel Gibson.  Either way, stay tuned fashion fiends as we find out what happened , what will happen and where Galliano will end up.  Apparently, he was chosen to design Kate Moss’ wedding gown, so we’ll see if she sticks with him in his time of scandal.  She’s no stranger to trouble in the media, after all.

Yep, that’s right…she cut it.  She has done it once before while in the throes of Friends popularity, but somehow, this is different.  This is a new Jennifer Aniston who’s haircut can seem like a symbolic gear change for not only her signature, beachy blonde tresses which always seemed to hover perfectly at the same length, but for her view of life.  This, my friends, is not just a haircut…it’s a message.   It heralds the dawn of a new Jen.  A Jen who will not be known as Brad Pitt’s ex or that girl in the romcoms — no — this is a coming out party and Ms. Aniston is the debutante decked out in white.  Well, take notice, scenesters, because I have a feeling that we’re going to see some good things happening to our ‘friend’.  All women know that long hair is so often a security blanket and this one has been tossed to the wind.  Stay tuned, this one isn’t stuck in second gear anymore…

Hallelujah!  It won’t happen for another year or so, but the mere thought of being able to shop H&M online sounds heavenly to us!  Why, you ask?  Isn’t it just the same as any other online retailer?  Well, no, my friends, and here’s why: 1. not all retail locations carry the same merch.  For example, only a select few carry the swimwear line or other special holiday or summer garments.  2.  And this is the most important one…we can finally buy the big designer colabs without going to wait in line at 4am!  Yes, you’ll likely spend all day in front of your computer, but at least you can do it in your silk pajamas.  So there…now you know why it’s such a coup for those of us who love those kooky Europeans at H&M!

Many awards were given out at the 2011 Screen Actors’ Guild Awards last night, but, in our opinion, there was only one winner.  On the red carpet, that is.  Hidden amongst the drab and predictable gowns which sashayed down the carpet and past the photogs, only Mila Kunis managed to wow us with her firey red Alexander McQueen dress.  Firstly, because the fabric and the pattern were brilliant, secondly because the shape was perfect for her body and, perhaps most importantly – it was Alexander McQueen.  It takes a certain type of woman to don the amazing designs from that house, and it doesn’t always work, either.  Kunis pulls it off, doesn’t get fussy with the hair or jewelery, and wins our RCS Award for best dressed last night.  The King’s Speech may be nominated, but the night belonged to McQueen.

Yep, that’s right…the fashionista sports season has just opened up with the Golden Globe awards last night. The glamour, the glitz and the gowns all paraded over the cushy red carpet of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s big event. Having been on hiatus myself for the past few months (I’ve decided to rear a tiny Fashionista, which has taken a good chunk of my time), the beauties and the beasts were both in attendance on “the rug”. Most, sadly, took beastly honours, not because they were so heinous in nature, but mostly because they looked more like prom dresses for teens than gowns for sophisticated stars (read: Carrie Underwood in her uniform of sparkle or Jennifer Love Hewitt in an ill-fitting ruffle fiasco). There were a few standouts (thank God) and the honours go to Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive and January Jones in Versace. Anne is really starting to show her fashion grit with an open back and delicate shoulder pads, while January Jones shows, well, just about everything but makes it look gorgeous. Good on ya, girls! Now we lie in wait, licking our our chops and ready for the SAG awards’ red carpet. All of this, sportsfans, is simply fodder and preparation for le Superbowl of floor length showstoppers — the Academy Awards! I think it’s time to start a fantasy red carpet pool and start choosing our star players. It’s time to bring some shine to this dreary weather, and begin to dream in silk and stilettos…

I\’ve Got Chic in My Pants – Huggies Commercial

Huggies has introduced a limited-edition denim looking diaper with a commercial that has shocked some and impressed many.   The commercial shows a baby strutting through a busy square while the voice over announces that “My diaper is full of chic”, and “When I do number two, I look like number one.”  Personally, this is the most humourous commercial I’ve seen in a very long time and think that with all the ridiculous things we can purchase for our babies, at least this one can effortlessly show off a parent’s great sense of humour.  Keep in mind, folks, that this is after the release of the David Beckham-Armani-looking diaper in Japan not long ago.   You must watch this commercial and have yourself a good chuckle…

We know and love Karl Lagerfeld for his non-elitist way of looking at the world.  Yes, he was the first to design a capsule collection for H&M and now, he is modelling washing machines for the French mail-order clothing company 3-Suisses.   He not only lent his pretty face to the campaign, but shot the ads as well.

“It is so chic and pretty,” he said of the washing machine. “I would like to have one — not to wash clothes but to put in my dressing room to hold my dirty laundry.”

Well said, Karl, well said.

After the tragic suicide of Alexander McQueen and a label with its popularity growing at an astounding rate, executives from Gucci group wondered how to even attempt to put the right person at the helm of the label.  Enter Sarah Burton, who worked very closely with McQueen for years and worked as head of womenswear at the label since 2000.  She even completed McQueen’s Fall 2010 collection just after his death, proving without a doubt that she is the right woman for the job.  Bringing in some flashy designer with his/her own aesthetics never really seemed quite right, so this decision to promote within the McQueen ranks seems to be a stroke of genius.  While the execs aren’t telling us what we can expect in the upcoming collections, the entire fashion world will anxiously wait another four months to see the work of Burton in the Spring 2011 collection.  There’s a certain part of me that is desperately rooting for Burton — wouldn’t it be something to see someone who knew McQueen’s inspirations and styles so well be the one to continue on his legacy?  I think Lee would be pleased.