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Swedish mega-retailer H&M announced today that their newest collaborator for fall 2011 is none other than Donatella Versace. While the details of this new and intriguing fashion alliance are still under wraps it is obvious that H&M will be releasing a Versace for H&M collection this fall as they recently did with their Lanvin for H&M collection. Lanvin for H&M, which arrived in stores at the end of November last year was a rousing success for both companies and led many in the fashion world to speculate that this was not a one off promotion but rather an indication of a new approach by the retailer. They were right.
Donatella hasn’t given the world much of a glimpse at this new line with the exception of a studded leather dress she wore yesterday when announcing the new collaboration at the Men’s Runway Show in Milan and a few scant pictures that have been made available to certain fashion magazines. However she did emphasize to her fans that the upcoming collection will be “quintessentially Versace” and available only in H&M stores starting November 19th. The collection apparently will also be the first H&M designer collaboration to include home pieces such as bed spreads and pillow cases.
However unlike the brief alliance with Lanvin H&M has given every indication that the Versace for H&M collection will live on past this fall season. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this collaboration is where it will be made available. As with Lanvin for H&M the Versace fall collection will be available only through H&M’s retail stores, but the pre-spring collection due out at the end of January 2012 will be available only through online H&M stores in countries where the retailer offers e-commerce. The idea of a Versace collection so exclusive that it will never see the inside of a store, just go right from the designer to the customer through e-commerce, is very interesting indeed.
 Alyssa Campanella, seen here modeling style 1370 from Clarisse Last night at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada the annual Miss USA pageant celebrated their 60th year and Miss California Alyssa Campanella was crowned by judges Miss USA 2011. The lucky Los Angeleno, formerly of New Jersey, narrowly edged out her close friend Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham to become the new Miss USA. Miss Alabama Madeline Mitchell and Miss Texas Ana Rodriguez were the second and third runners up respectively, with Miss Hawaii Angela Byrd, Miss Maine Ashley Lynn Marble, Miss Maryland Allyn Rose and Miss South Carolina Courtney Turner rounding out the top 8. Alyssa Campanella will go on to represent the United States in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant to be held on September 12th in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
For the first time in the history of the pageant the audience alone help raise one contestant to the top sixteen through online voting and SMS messaging. This year also saw some new and thought provoking questions asked of each contestant, with some observers saying that Alyssa’s answers during the interview could be what pushed her over the top. When asked if she thought marijuana should be legalized in the United States Campanella stopped short of giving her approval to full legalization but did note the drug’s medicinal benefits and took the position that those whose medical conditions could be improved by such benefits did deserve access, a complex and mature answer that many credited with putting Campanella ahead of her main competitors in the interview category.
In 2007 Alyssa Campanella competed as Miss New Jersey in the Miss Teen USA pageant where she placed as the first runner up. With a winning smile, gorgeous eyes and facial features that make her look a bit like a young Sophia Loren it is no surprise that Alyssa works full time as a model in LA. However it should be noted that this is not the first time we here at Promgirl have had the opportunity to bear witness to Alyssa’s timeless beauty since back when she was still on the east coast she did modeling work for Clarisse, one of the designers whose dresses and gowns are featured on promgirl.net.
From the first time we saw her modeling work we knew that Alyssa would go on to make a real name for herself and now as Miss USA 2011 all of us here at Promgirl wish Alyssa the best of luck in Brazil!
Azzedine Alaia one of the last hands on couturiers and considered among his peers as one of the most influential fashion designers ever to live has reportedly turned down an offer from Bernard Arnault, chairman of Dior/LVMH to become the design house’s new Creative Director. Reports have been floating around for weeks about the big names Dior has been considering for one of their biggest positions such as Vuitton’s Marc Jacobs, Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci and Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz but the fact that they approached Mr. Alaia has served to turn more heads then any other name. Mr. Alaia has long been one of the most vocal advocates of slowing down the fashion world and moving away from seasons and the market dictating release dates for new collections or how many collections a particular designer must have.
Ever since the dramatic implosion of designer John Galliano, Mr. Alaia has rarely missed a chance to point out how the pressures of the system have begun to poison the art of many established designers. Mr. Alaia himself has made news through his anti-conformist approach to releasing new lines, shunning many main stream fashion shows and releasing his newest collections to stores based on when they are ready rather then on the ebb and flow of each fashion season.
Some in the fashion world have begun to speculate that Dior, long one of the most rigidly structured and precisely timed houses, is beginning to get a little tired of the seasonal race themselves and that perhaps by reaching out to Mr. Alaia were signaling that they are ready to reconsider their own system. However not wanting to follow in John Galliano’s foot steps Mr. Alaia has apparently turned Dior down flat.
I am just going to assume that everyone here has at least glanced at a television or movie screen sometime in the last three years so explaining what the Twilight Saga is will be unnecessary. However for those of you who don’t hang on the every word of Bella, Edward and Jacob I will elaborate a bit. The hit movie franchise based off of Stephanie Meyer’s books about a human, vampire, werewolf love triangle is warming up for its final act which is (no surprise here) a two part event, the first half of which is slated for release on the 18th of November.
The story which began with eternal teen vampire Edward falling for his human classmate Bella and has since traced the rocky lows and supernatural highs of their mortal/immortal relationship is heading to that ultimate culmination, marriage. While those who have never read the books are still in the proverbial dark about whether young Bella will herself become a vampire or whether she will marry Edward at all, one thing is crystal clear; there will be a wedding scene in the movie and it will feature Bella as the ideal vampire bride, gown and all.
Which is why the recent announcement that renown designer Carolina Herrera is the mind behind the gown has caused such as stir. While there are no official photographs, and no proof that the ones leaked on the internet are the genuine article you can catch a fleeting glimpse of the veil and some of the bodice in screenshots from the trailer. Some are already suggesting that with the film still nearly half a year away and the marketing machine behind it still slumbering the Carolina Herrera design might be the most hotly anticipated wedding gown design since a certain Alexander McQueen’s design for Kate Middleton.
For anyone who wasn’t paying attention during the bleak days of February, Frida Giannini head designer for Gucci’s 2011 fall collections turned plenty of heads this year during New York’s Fashion Week and according to everyone from the Times to Women’s Wear Daily was the undisputed queen of the runways. What you may not have not heard is that one of Giannini’s biggest inspirations for her new fall line was none other than fire-haired front-woman Florence Welch. She would be the Florence half of the critically acclaimed alt-rock group Florence and the Machine for those of you who are unfamiliar.
Since the release of their debut album Lungs in 2009 the Brit rockers have taken a major bite out of the music world, being nominated for a Grammy for best new artist, performing at the Oscars and even being covered on the hit TV series Glee. However when not commanding a concert from center stage the fair skinned and flame haired beauty can often be found sitting front row at the runways or hobnobbing with the New York fashion elite at the annual Met Gala. So it should come as no surprise that sharp eyed Frida Giannini captured some inspiration from her exposure to Welch’s unique style. Yet what is very intriguing is how far Giannini has gone out of her way to point this out and credit Welch’s influence in her designs. Frida is certainly no thief but it is rather unusual that she felt so compelled to repay Welch for the inspiration that she has designed an entire wardrobe for the alt-rock diva’s US tour which kicked off earlier this month.
Many in the music world have celebrated both the arrival and staying power of Florence and the Machine due to their invigoratingly unique take on modern rock, and now it seems that at least their front-woman is being celebrated yet again for the unique inspirations she has brought to modern fashion. Here is to hoping that she has the same staying power in front of the runways as she does on the stage.
“Who wants to come out in brights for pre-fall?” was the question that began the night where subtlety was the native language spoken loudly enough for anyone with eyes to see. Muted pewters and french grays filled the room with only a hint of mauve or maroon to be seen. Yet singular and simple col0rs didn’t have to mean bland, with plenty of accordion pleated sheaths and animal prints giving life to the sublimely simple color scheme Carolina Herrera’s pre-fall show was, if not something to behold, something to take note of.
That was the scene at the end of last year anyway… Fast forward to the coming fall season and the late summer early fall designs that are already starting to hit shelves and you will notice that Herrera has jumped in the opposite direction from much of the pack. While the animal prints are keeping with a lot of what is starting to show up in store windows the muted tones and simple fabrics are a far cry from tribal patterns and weaves featured by many other designers this fall.
Now only time and the passing of the season will tell if Herrera’s vision for the fall was insight or error.
It can’t be easy to be Britney Spears these days. The former Pop diva’s fall from grace was both painfully public and exceptionally epic. However, love her or hate her one thing that has always kept Brit relevant in the world of fashion is her fearless (and too often ill advised) sense of style. Whether it be a new skinhead doo or a boa-constrictor boa, Brit has always managed to keep the attention of those who love her and those who love to have a problem with her.
Which is perhaps what makes these newest images so disappointing. E! has released artist’s concept sketches and even a scant few photographs of the costumes for Britney Spears’ 2011 Femme Fatale tour and the images are anything but interesting. Love or hate Mrs. Spears music or her all too public personal life it would be hard to summon up any such moving emotions when it comes to her new wardrobe.
A half dozen high resolution photographs and half as many concept sketches paint a style picture that could only be described as ‘vanilla’ on a good day. While the costumes are appropriately ‘inappropriate’ and revealing they are anything but inspired. It’s nice for Britney that she has reclaimed her figure after children and a major celebrity derailment, but it is rather disappointing to see that each song’s design concept somehow ended with her in some variation of a bra, daisy dukes and fish-nets.
While there is no doubt that the intrigue of the life and times of Britney Spears will be sure to continue for years of reality TV to come, her days of turning heads with her outlandish and outrageous costumes seems to have come to and end.
This July’s issue of Vogue will feature a cover and photo spread of British actress Emma Watson so if you still have trouble picturing her as anything but the mousey Hermoine of Harry Potter fame then maybe you should pick up and issue and introduce yourself to one of fashions newest and brightest stars. The spread, shot by renown photographer Mario Testino and featuring the demure British diva with slicked back hair and bold red lips, is certainly not Watson’s first foray into the fashion world. Even as far back as her early teen years when Potter’s explosive box office success sent her down more red carpets then some stars see in a lifetime, Watson was noticed for her unique and potent fashion sense. As early as 2009 some members of England’s fashion elite were already drawing comparisons between the blossoming young star and 60’s British fashion icon Twiggy Lawson.
Much like Twiggy, Emma has captured the attention of the British Isles with her flair and style as well as her subdued and some would even say haunting beauty, the short cropped hair she has favored for the last couple years and her slender frame also help explain why the connection is formed so easily. For her part Emma certainly hasn’t tried to hide from the acclaim , one look at her website (www.emmawatson.com) gives you the idea that this young lady knows how closely her style is being watched and has no problems sharing it with an eager audience.
While it may be too soon to tell if this fascination will last or if it is just a fashion flash in the pan one thing is certain, between modeling gigs and the huge demand for her presence on the movie screen Watson herself is certainly not going to be fading from the public eye anytime soon.
 Sometimes the oldest oldest tricks still work the best… If you happen to be a trendy spa regular, someone with very sensitive skin or very environmentally sensitive then chances are you have probably already heard about one of the ‘latest’ trends in beauty, eyebrow threading. For the rest of us allow me to elaborate on a perfect example of the old adage: new doesn’t always mean improved. Traced through history to as far back as ancient India eyebrow threading is a method of hair removal that uses 100% cotton thread to entwine the eyebrow hair and remove multiple hairs along a straight line without damaging the exposed skin and without the use of abrasive and environmentally damaging chemicals.
Practiced for centuries in Asia this method of hair removal and eyebrow shaping is catching on in the west for a number of increasingly relevant reasons. When done correctly eyebrow threading is far less damaging to the skin than traditional waxing or creams which makes it a very appealing choice for ladies with sensitive skin as well as many young women who are currently on Acutane or similar skin clearing medication that prohibits the use of harsh waxes and creams on the face. It also has the added benefit of being more environmentally conscious since no toxic chemicals will seep into the ground water as a by product of your quest for the perfectly proportioned facial features.
Eyebrow Threading also has a distinct advantage over the more traditional western method of plucking with tweezers because it removes many hairs at once, making the process faster and at least less painful if not painless. It also removes the hairs in a straight line which helps to cut down on the risk of mismatched or worse yet misshapen eyebrows. A single YouTube search will provide anyone interested with many detailed instructional videos on how to do your own eyebrow threading at home, but our recommendation would be to consult the salons and spas nearest you to see if they offer this service, because after all ingrown hairs are not only unsightly, they hurt!
World renown star of runways and ad campaigns Anja Rubik confirmed this week in an interview with style.com that she was in fact having her wedding dress custom designed by none other than the prince of Pucci himself, Peter Dundas. Dundas, a long time friend who has specifically requested Rubik on many occasions to show his latest creations for Pucci explained that he and the model would collaborate on his latest creation, a one of a kind wedding dress for Rubik’s marriage to fiancee Sasha Knezevic.
As if being the center of international add campaigns and stalking catwalks from Milan to Macau wasn’t enough it now appears as if Rubik has achieved every brides dream of ultimate uniqueness with the help of her friend Dundas. Saying that she asked Dundas to design her gown because of her love of his “Rock n’ roll chic, bohemian style” Rubik stopped short of giving away any details about the dress, which is apparently nearing completion.
Dundas meanwhile remained moot as to even the type of gown except to say that he and Rubik had the same silhouette in mind from the start. Asked what differences he sees in designing for a walk down the asile rather than the red carpet Dundas stated simply that “a wedding dress should reflect the wearer’s personality, make her the absolute best looking she can be.” Which is a about as standard an answer from someone designing a wedding gown as you can get.
Rubik, who has modeled for Hermes, Dior, Gucci and Armani to name only a few, should have no problem looking stunning in any kind of gown. She said that she asked Dundas to design her gown “based on a few of his previous looks that I loved.” Which doesn’t help to narrow the search down much considering his prolific contributions to the fashion world these past few years. However when pressed Dundas himself said that his absolute favorite wedding dress was “Bianca Jagger’s white skirt-suit – a real rock n’ roll moment”, yikes! While that may have measured above the cut in ’71 Dundas is going to be hard pressed to design anything similar that doesn’t look like a white washed version of a ‘power suit’ straight out of any modern female power brokers Wednesday wardrobe. However many designers in the past have learned the hard way never to underestimate the prince of Pucci. A dream come true or a modern art nightmare, either way the world will have to wait and see as Rubik has no intentions of revealing the dress before her big day.
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