Gucci’s Heart Tattoo Bags for UNICEF

For its fourth annual campaign to benefit UNICEF, fashion brand Gucci launched special white versions bags of its Tattoo Heart Collection. All the bags feature the iconic Gucci heart and rose designs against the winter white beautiful color.

“I love the idea of a heart being tattooed onto the handbags,” says Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini. “It’s a permanent mark that you can wear with pride that stays with you. I think that represents very well what we are doing here. This is not a one-off program, but rather an ongoing commitment to the incredible work that UNICEF is able to achieve. It’s really our chance to give back.”

The Gucci UNICEF Tattoo Collection is available from November 19th to January 31st in Gucci stores in more than twenty countries. 25% of the sales will be donated to the charity which will assist in providing aid to orphans and children affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa.

Barbie’s Fashion Show on New York Fashion Week 2009

The most loved doll of all time and a true fashion icon in its own doll special way, Barbie is celebrating its 50th Birthday in 2009 with her own Fashion Show. Its parent company Mattel Inc will market Barbie as a fashion brand with a runway show in February 2009 during New York Fashion Week and will feature many designer collaboration to guarantee an unforgettable birthday. Fifty designers will produce life-sized outfits inspired by the doll. Famous designer Vera Wang will create a life-size wedding gown which will include Barbie wearing its own mini version too. Other designers include Jeremy Scott and Diane Von Furstenberg who will also make real life garments that reflect Barbie’s fashion world.

But the collaborations do not stop there as a little further east in Shanghai, the first Barbie Flagship store worldwide, the House of Barbie, will open its doors in 2009. The store is a 3400-square-meter-store and will carry Barbie dolls and all Barbie related products. The new Barbie collection will go on sale there and Mattel says that House of Barbie will encourage women and girls to “nibble on truffles, smear on pink-tinted mud masks and shop for clothes for themselves and their dolls”.

Mattel will also sponsor New York’s IMG organised Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The senior vice president at IMG Fern Mallis explains, “For many young girls, [Barbie is] their first association with fashion and dressing up and changing clothes.” And what an amazing year for Barbie and all its fans worldwide it will be!

First Photo of “Coco Avant Chanel”

One of the most anticipated films, “Coco Avant Chanel” just released its first look starring the beautiful Audrey Tautou who will play the icon Coco Chanel in her earlier days. Filming began in early September in Paris and Normandy and the movie is set to be released in late 2009. Directed by Anne Fontaine, the film is loosely based on the biography of Mademoiselle Chanel by Edmonde Charles-Roux titled L’irreguliere. The much awaited costumes, which will also feature iconic Chanel dresses, will be designed by Catherine Leterrier with Karl Lagerfeld’s oversight.

“Any woman who wants to invent a destiny for herself can identify with the early years of Coco Chanel, a young uneducated woman who dreams of entering the world while exacerbating her differences and ignoring everything of the extraordinary destiny awaiting her,” says Tautou. “That’s what makes the whole modernity of the film, and that was the reason why I didn’t hesitate a single second when the role was offered to me.”

Victoria Beckham is The New Face of Emporio Armani

Victoria Beckham is the new face for the Emporio Armani underwear’s international ad campaign. The ad was shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and will debut for Spring 2009. Giorgio Armani is very excited about Posh Spice saying, “Who better than Victoria Beckham to launch our new global Emporio Armani underwear campaign? Victoria is a style icon, a dynamic lady whose influence and recognition will add great excitement to the continued international growth of our Emporio Armani women’s underwear business.” Her husband, soccer star David Beckham is the current face for Emporio men’s underwear campaign.

Giorgio Armani Not Ready To Retire

With Valentino retired and Yves Saint Laurent passing away, there are unfortunately only a handful of the grand designers left today. Giorgio Armani who is a favorite of mine, recently spoke to Italian magazine Il Sole 24 Ore about the idea of retirement.

“It is painful but you need to have the courage that, once it is done, not to have any claims over it,” Armani says. “In the case of reaching a certain age or the market needing a radical change in style, it is extremely difficult for someone who created a company to detach themselves from it.”

Giorgio adds, “The founder is linked to the brand and represents its style. When it comes to replacing the founder there is always a doubt as to whether to change the style. The young designers have all the talent that is needed but in a system made up of only ‘untouchable icons’ that cut off all oxygen, you can also die.”

But don’t worry! The talented designer is not on his way to retirement! “I have never posed myself the problem, looking at the pros and cons… I have not picked my ‘heir’. Touch wood, we’re not talking about it but an organisation that is so precise could easily survive me. I can easily manage this as I have always firmly kept the style, management and ownership in my hands.”

Armani’s Spring/Summer 2009 collections were spectacular and we sure hope that our favorite designer will continue to beautify the fashion runways and inspire our lives with his delicate pieces.

Cleopatra’s Soft Secret: Milk Baths

Throughout history, it has been widely written that Cleopatra bathed herself in milk baths almost every day. The Queen of Nile had the most radiant, soft and young skin and for this, she was known worldwide for her beauty. Today, Cleopatra is still the glowing icon that many women look up to for beauty tips. Even if it means digging in Egyptian BC history. Milk baths however haven’t just been used by Cleopatra. Elizabeth I of England and Elisabeth of Bavaria both have acclaimed the beautifying secret of bathing in milk.

Milk baths utilize lactic acid which dissolves the proteins holding together the dead skin cells and thus, exfoliates the skin. The rejuvenating baths help to exfoliate, soften and smooth the skin, accelerate the skin cell renewal and moisturize and relieve stress. What is crucial though is the use of fresh milk!

Making a milk bath at home is not a hard task and most importantly, it is a misconception that one needs to fill up the entire bathtub with fresh milk. You only need to pour a couple of cups of fresh milk into the tub as the warm water is filling. In general, two to three cups of milk is enough but you may use as much as you want. You may also use milk powder if you would like. For the honey, you may add one or two teaspoons to add fragrance and nutrients to the water. You can also add sea salts, which I love to do, and any other oils you like. You can also add petals and flowers in the tub for that extra sensual luxury and romantic appeal. Definitely worthy of a Queen!

Some people say that the milk baths leave their skin way too oily. You can use fat free milk instead. The oily skin just means that your skin got very moisturized which is a great thing because it cleansed better and you do not need to apply additional moisturizer after your bath.

As an alternative, you can always buy milk powder or milk bath products from beauty stores. Just make sure it is organic and fresh! You may find milk baths in many delicious flavours such as strawberries, vanilla, lavender and the yummy chocolate. I should also note that cleaning your bathtub is a bit inconvenient after your milk bath, but your baby soft skin is certainly worth it!

Coco Chanel by Douglas Kirkland: 40 Unseen Photos

Photographer Douglas Kirkland released a book Coco Chanel: Three Weeks/1962, featuring 40 unseen photos of the fashion icon capturing some of her most intimate moments. The book is available at Amazon and I cannot wait to buy it! To promote his book, Kirkland is showing his Chanel photography collection at the Westwood Gallery in New York City.

In 1962, Douglas spent three weeks with Mademoiselle Chanel following her everywhere and taking photos of her. Douglas remembers that when he approached her, she was very hesitant and asked him to show her some of his work. Coco was so deeply impressed with his photography that she allowed him full access to her. The photos are truly special and intimate as they show our favorite designer in her private rooms, in the Versailles gardens, with her friends, and when she worked with her sketches and fittings.

Next Page »