LA FASHION WEEK.COM

Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein

Photo Credit:  Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Gwynnie looks a little too washed out, as usual.  Nothing special. (see make up notes given to Hillary Swank)

Colin Firth and lovely wife Livia

Photo credit:  Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Colin Firth quite rightly deserved to win Best Actor.  His wife Livia wears a custom dress made from recycled materials by ethical designer Gary Harvery.  Jolly good!

Hillary Swank- Did you borrow this from Bjork?

Photo Credit:  Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

Bolder eye make up and lipstick required for a night like this.  Many actresses today make the mistake of underplaying their makeup, to their great detriment on the most glamorous evening of the business.

 

Sharon Stone looked awesome as well

Photo Credit:  www.osoblog.tv

Genderless Model Andre J. on Real Beauty

Photography credit: Nick IDM
Make up: Thom Ticklemouse

Catching our eyes today, Alexis Wolfer of The Beauty Bean sat down with the genderless (and probably agless and timeless) model Andre J.  Go….?

How do you define beauty?
I define beauty by a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful thing that beats. And it’s called your heart. And it’s that glow, that comes from within, that exudes without, that gives you that radiance and that shine that people don’t realize that they’re actually glowing and emanating this joy – that is what is considered beauty to me, because I think that beauty, by superficial terms, you can go to a plastic surgeon and you can get a lip implant, you can get your nose broken, you can get boobs. But that’s not beauty. To me, the beauty that you have comes from within. And it’s about a passion, it’s about an enthusiasm, it’s about a life, it’s about your mind being open. You know, it’s all of these elements that the world, for some reason, isn’t conscious of – that is what beauty really is?

How has that definition, for you, changed over time?
Well, since I have discovered the beauty that comes from within – which is my beauty – it has gotten me to travel around the world for almost 2 years, I’ve been on the cover of French Vogue – where I’m considered the only African American male or, they say, “transsexual,” to be on the cover of a major fashion magazine in full Andre J. , in heels, in a trench coat, in heels and hair and with a smile! And with a smile! Because French Vogue covers they never have anyone smile on them before. That joy came from within and it landed on the cover of the fashion bible of the world!

How does being unconfined by gender norms impact how you see and experience beauty?
Well, for me, simply because I am exotic, I find that I can accept everyone and anyone and when I see people I am never judging them for how they look or how they dress or any of those entities of society’s interpretation of what life or fashion or style is. Me, I’m much more interested in someone who has a great smile, or a great disposition or someone just by the way that they walk – you know that they are feeling good about themselves – or someone who has on multi-colors, who chooses to express themselves. That’s what I’m more fascinated by. I’m not fascinated by someone who’s wearing Manolo Blahniks or an Hermes bag. That, to me, anyone can have. You can buy it in a store and you may be the only one in your area with it, but if it’s easy to buy happiness the please, that’s not even real happiness, honey!

When do you feel the most beautiful?
I feel the most beautiful when I wake up because I’m so grateful that I’m actually alive, that I have a new day, it’s a new start, it’s a new beginning.

If you could give your younger self advice about beauty, what would it be?
Love yourself. Love the universe. Love others. And if I had that interpretation from my youth, I would be even further than I am today. So, now that I know those elements, I know to pass that on to other people – as opposed to talking with them about great shoes. And yes, I like great things, but that isn’t the core or substance or what I am – that’s just my taste!

How would you hope to see how others define beauty and gender change over the next 20 or 50 years?
I would love to see more people believe in themselves. I would love to see more people want to be themselves. I would love to see more people who are more fascinated with their individuality. I would love to see people who have a huge nose, love their nose! And if you choose to change it, that’s fine also, but that love has to come from within you – it isn’t defined by how small your ears are. All of these elements that are in society, that are in fashion magazines, do not define or create a good human being. What is does is create paranoia. It creates insecurities. It creates all of these marketing strategies to get you to spend money. Because as long as you feel unhappy, the more you’ll spend money to feel happy when, in reality, if you just took 5 minutes and just sat in the bath tub – for free – maybe bought some Epsom salt and put some scent in the water – you would feel even more impeccable than if you had those $5000 shoes that actually hurt your feet! So, is pain beauty? No!

Who are your beauty role models?
Good question! To be absolutely honest with you, I have grown up on old divas, on icons, not celebrities. To me, Cher and Diana Ross or Buddha or a deity, to me, that’s beautiful because it stands for something. When you looked at Diana Ross, you saw glamour, she was poised, she was graceful, she had charisma, she had charm, she knew how to shine. When you look at Cher: same thing. Tina Turner, Jimmy Hendrix too. It absolutely became a “look,” but it became a look because of that inner joy, inner peace, inner something special they had that showed they loved being themselves.

What message do you hope everyone who hears you speak walks away with?
Love yourself! That’s my mission. I want them to know that they should love themselves. I want to share that. That’s what my new mission in life: to touch lives and save souls.

[January 16, 2008 - Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images Entertainment]

Note from Alexis: *I’ve decided to put gender reference in quotes because gender roles/norms/expectations are continuously evolving and, particularly in the presence of Andre J., called into question (in the best way possible)”

Click here to read the full story.

Lady Gaga Debuts on Vogue

VIA: Telegraph.co.uk

The cover of US Vogue is the most coveted prize in fashion. It means that you have the approval of the most powerful figure in the industry: Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief.

This morning, the March issue of the style bible was officially released, which sees Lady Gaga anointed as Wintour's 'chosen one'.

Lady Gaga waxwork figures unveiled at Madame Tussauds worldwide

The avant-garde pop star and fashion muse was photographed by Mario Testino. On the cover she wears a blush-toned silk kimono robe by designer Haider Ackermann. The accompanying interview, for which writer Jonathan Van Meter accompanied Gaga on tour, speaks of the star being committed to the outrageous. So, it will come as no surprise to British fashion observers that it was the London designers who accepted her with open arms first.

In pictures: Lady Gaga's most outrageous looks

In pictures: Lady Gaga's iconic outfits in miniature

Van Meter writes: "The fashion world sees something more precise: the influence of a very specific tribe of English eccentrics - Leigh Bowery, Isabella Blow, et al. 'The fashion community in general got me much earlier than everyone else,' [Gaga] says. 'But actually, I felt truly embraced by this London cultural movement, that McQueen, Isabella [Blow], Daphne Guinness wing of the English crowd. I remember when I first started doing photo shoots, people would say, 'My God, you look so much like Isabella Blow, it scares me.' And McQueen used to say, 'Oh, my God, your boobs!... Even your boobs are like hers!'"

Lady Gaga's stylist Nicola Formichetti makes Mugler debut

When Van Meter first meets the star she is wearing "a slinky black-and-white striped dress-a gown, really-with a four-foot train and shoes that-do I even need mention?- make her feet look as if they are screwed on backward. The heels bring her nearly up to my height of six feet. (She is five feet one.) She has a Bride of Frankenstein up-do, with a brooch perched on top."

Yet Gaga has honed a regal and refined disposition: "Lady Gaga may be behaving as if she were a member of Marie Antoinette's coterie-the powdered wig, the binding costume, the impeccable courtliness."

She adds: "I am quite down-to-earth for such an eccentric person..."

The March issue of Vogue will be on news-stands in the US on February 22. Read the full interview on Vogue.com

Enter for Your Chance to Win Whooga Ugg Boots

As this nasty winter rages on (Ok, not so nasty here in Los Angeles) how about a chance to win some toasty Whooga ugg boots? Whooga are quickly gaining recognition as a popular alternative brand of sheepskin boots with their legendary thick Thermofleece foot bed. To enter simply follow them on Twitter or sign up to their newsletter.

If you’re not feeling too lucky and can’t wait until the end of the month for the prize draw then enter the following for an exclusive 10% discount
(valid for the next week) 1437FWEEK

The Gap Project Runway Showcase- March 17-18, LA Fashion Week

The GAP Project- LA Fashion Week Designer Runway Showcasing

Come out and enjoy LA Fashion week in Style by attending the runway showcasing's of The GAP Project feauturing 16 of LA's Hottest Designers

 

When: March 17th and 18th
Where: The Blackstone -Downtown LA
         901 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Time: Show times: 6pm-11pm
Admission: $35 per ticket
                2 for $50
Includes Admission for Both Days

buy tickets at: www.thegapproject.com

poshrevents@live.com

Project Ethos CARPE DIEM at LA Fashion Week Seeks Models

WHO: Project Ethos CARPE DIEM at LA Fashion Week

WHAT: Model Casting for Project Ethos Fashion Show (show being held on 3-12-11 at Avalon)

WHEN: Saturday February 12th, 2011 | 1pm-3pm

LOCATION: 4401 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 250, Los Angeles, CA 90010

WHY: Project Ethos is the premier Fashion, Music and Art organization dedicated to exposing emerging talent to REAL media and REAL industry. Its not just a party or consumer event, it is here to bring true results to build businesses and take dreams to manifestation.

RATE: Trade for print. Photoshoots will be taking place on and off the runway by Runway Icon our amazing house photography sponsors. High resolution images will be provided post event.

REQUIREMENTS: Runway ready walks. Female models must be 5'8 in height. Male models must be 5'11 in height. Please bring a portfolio and/or loose prints.

THE 50 most Influential people in New York Fashion- according to Fashionista.com

Image of Marc Jacobs courtesy of Fashionista.com

Gearing up for NEW YORK FASHION WEEK, Fashionista.com has published their list of the 50 most influential people in New York Fashion.  Apart from the omission of our amazing special correspondent, Gabriel Gima, we think it’s a pretty good list.  

Designers
Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, Proenza Schouler
Ralph Lauren
Marc Jacobs
Oscar de la Renta
Jenna Lyons, J.Crew
Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty, Suno

CEOs/Investors
Andrew Rosen, Theory
Mickey Drexler, J.Crew
James Gardner, Createthe Group
Robert Duffy, Marc Jacobs
Gary Wassner, Hilldun Factoring

Editors
Anna Wintour, Vogue
Sally Singer, T

Stylists
Grace Coddington, Vogue
Karl Templer
Alex White, W
Camilla Nickerson
Lori Goldstein
Kate Young
Sally Lyndley
Joe Zee

Buyers and Retail Fashion Directors
Steven Alan, Steven Alan
Amanda Brooks, Barneys New York
Jen Mankins, Bird
Paul Birardi and Eddy Chai, Odin
Julie Gilhart
Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, Opening Ceremony

Photographers
Craig McDean
Scott Schuman
Terry Richardson
Bill Cunningham

Personalities/Muses
Chloe Sevigny
Alexa Chung
Andre Leon Talley
Nina Garcia

Writers
Cathy Horyn, New York Times
Bridget Foley, WWD
Cintra Wilson, New York Times
Lynn Yaeger

Behind the Scenes
Gayle Dizon
Natalie Joos
Gucci Westman Neville
Steven Kolb, CFDA

Marketing and Branding
Carol Han and Alexandra Weiss, CA Creative
Andy Spade, Partners and Spade
Ed Filipowski and Julie Mannion, KCD
Sylvie Picquet Damesme and Pierre Rougier, PR Consulting
Hamilton South and Lynn Tesoro, HL Group
Jennifer Hyman and Jenny Fleiss, Rent the Runway
Lauren Santo Domingo, Moda Operandi

If you really want to click through the whole slideshow, you can do so here.