Vogue India March 2009: Freida Pinto

The Indian beauty has been wowing us with her red carpet style, so she was a natural choice to be the March 2009 cover girl of Vogue India.

She looks gorgeous on the cover, wearing a cute embellished mini dress from Louis Vuitton's Spring 2009 collection. The dress also has cut-outs, metallics and sheer capped shoulders, which work with dark lips and soft curls. I would have loved to see her full-length in this dress.

On begin recognised for her style: "I’ve become so much more aware of the fashion world recently — and I’m doomed now. There’s no turning back."

On her own style mantra: "You’ve got to go with instinct, the right dress will make your heart skip a beat. You’ve got to fall in love with what you’re wearing to really pull it off."

At the Vogue shoot, when a reporter asked stylist Tina Laakkonen why Pinto isn't being dressed exclusively in Indian fashion, Pinto grabbed a pencil and scribbled her answer on a scrap of paper, 'Because she's international now!'

Shall we Dance?

“I was inspired by the dance between the woman’s body and Rio’s nature,” said Carlos Miele of his Spring 2009 ad campaign, shot at Ipanema Beach in Rio. Aline Weber and gorgeous Brazilian Emanuela de Paula? Lovely. We wonder if this was photographed during the Claro Rio Summer spectacular in November? Cue Michael Roberts…

Minimalism at Betsey

Four distinct makeup looks complemented Betsey Johnson's eclectic fall showcase.

"For me, this is deconstructed Betsey, it's not your usual doll look," said Fulvia Farolfi, lead makeup artist for Stila. "This is fun and wearable."

Farolfi used no foundation, eyeliner or mascara in any of the looks she created. "It's bare and intimate, a younger look," said Farolfi, who worked with two very opposite lip colors, dark, inky, ultrapigmented Covertible Color in "poppy" bright pink Long Wear lip color in "hippie."

Onyx Kajal liner was used with the darker lips to create a rich, sable colored base and Stila Covertible Color in Gladiola, a bright, clean orange hue, provided a chic playful spin on cheek color. Farolifi, who did a "classic smoky eye" with "ebony" shadow for a few of the looks said "This is a modern look, it's a 10-minute look," she said. "Nobody spends an hour getting ready anymore."

Hair at Betsey was tousled looking and full of texture. "It's a street punk-rock princess," said Italo Gregario for Redken. Gregario made small braids, then blow dried and took them out. He also added small curls with a curling iron to "intensify the wave." He said, "We wanted the girls to look tougher with a little bit of fantasy and play."

Simple Yet Perfect: Marc by Marc Jacob

What was wild at Marc Jacobs Monday night was tamed Tuesday afternoon at Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Redken hairstylist Guido Palau, who estimated that 80 percent of the Marc by Marc Jacobs fashion looks included hats, did a "simple ponytail" with a middle part. He used Redken's Blown Away gel to smooth hair once locks were pulled back into place.

"It's loose, easy and straight," he said, adding, the "inspiration is a young Marc girl."

Meanwhile, Shiseido makeup artist Dick Page did what he described as a "fresh face, a bright look — as if girls were coming in from the cold." He gave cheeks a flush look, using a pearly beige highlighter mixed with a rosy bronze shade. "We're keeping the foundation as minimal as possible," he added.

"The clothes are very wrapped up, with wintry scarves and a layered look," he noted, citing his inspiration for the look.

Because the cheeks were a focal point, the eyes got very minimal touches of brown mascara and the lips a soft, patted-on red tone.

My i-D please!

Leave it to i-D to outdo previous multi-cover mags; this month, the British book has twelve (yes, twelve) different covers to celebrate the Best of British issue. From icons like Twiggy, Kate and Naomi to newbies like Jourdan Dunn, Alice Dellal, and Daisy Lowe, bevies of lovely Brits grace the glossy, along with some words of wisdom (”I don’t really fit the box” from Stella Tennant; “Feel the fear and do it anyway” from Agyness Deyn).

Chanel's Jerry Hall

Too often modeling can be a form of child’s play - most models strutting their stuff down the runway are barely old enough to drive let alone drink. With our culture’s youth obsession it’s easy to forget that true beauty can be the product of age and experience, not just pristine genes.

Leave it to a true legend like Jerry Hall to remind us of the merits of maturity. Karl Lagerfeld tapped into Hall’s inner siren for Chanel’s latest accessories campaign where Jerry plays Baptiste Giabiconi’s lady love. Literature fans will recognize Colette’s Cheri as the inspiration but anyone can enjoy the elegant images and their coy seductiveness. Youngsters take note, this is how you do it!

Fashion Week Launch

Two Nights Ago, editors and models alike gathered at Cipriani to simultaneously launch Fashion Week — officially — and benefit one of fashion's favorite causes: AIDS research foundation amfAR. Anna Wintour presented and Donna Karan received an award for her contribution to amfAR's mission; Lara Stone, Caroline Winberg, Jessica Stam, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Lily Donaldson, and Anja Rubik (with boyfriend Sasha Knezevic) all got gussied up and came along for the ride. Afterward, there was a mass migration to Rose Bar, where they were joined by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Giovanna Battaglia for a little enjoyment of the calm before the storm.

Elle India February 2009: Tamara Moss

Elle India February 2009: Tamara Moss; wearing a jumpsuit by Salvatore Ferragamo

The Cover looks amazing a huge step up from last months includes Giesle for Africa and Project(red), Karl Lagerfeld latest hit; risque idea Farhan Akhtar director turn actor and

Spring/Summer 2009 Trends.

Top 10 workplace fashion blunders

The office is full of potential wardrobe pitfalls. We highlight the top 10 and give you some pointers on how to ensure a blunder-free working week.

1. Visible underwear
Visible panty lines (VPL) and exposed bra straps top the work wardrobe blunder list for women. Avoid rising g-strings by wearing higher waisted trousers and skirts, or invest in hipster briefs that won't ride up above your pants. Carrie Bradshaw may have got away with visible bra straps, but play it safe and buy yourself a seem-free strapless bra in both nude and black.

2. Plunging necklines
"If you've got it, flaunt it" doesn't apply to the office so keep deep necklines and strapless tops and dresses for the weekend. Instead consider collared or tie blouses, shallow V-necks and round collars.

3. Sloppy dressing
Even if your office environment is casual, there's no excuse for wearing clothes that are worn-out or overly relaxed. Tracksuit pants and Ugg boots are inappropriate for the office; as are thongs, board shorts and torn or frayed clothing.

4. Confusing the office for a nightclub
You might think the best thing in your wardrobe is that new sequinned mini dress, but that doesn't mean you should wear it to the office. That goes for anything that's too figure hugging or shows too much flesh — keep it for Saturday night where it will be appreciated.

5. Over accessorising
Jewellery can lift a work outfit, but too many clanging bangles, necklaces or rings look unprofessional. The same applies to over-zealous body piercing. Accessories are best kept simple and minimal for the office, so stick to your favourites.

6. Make-up overload
Looking your best at the office often requires make-up, but slathering it on isn't going to win any points at work. Keep make-up fuss-free by sticking to neutral shades on the eyes and nude-based lipsticks, which require less maintenance than red shades.

7. Pairing brown with black
Brown shoes with a black suit is an old-school no-no. To avoid a wardrobe malfunction remember: brown shoes with a blue suit is fine, a blue suit with black shoes works well, but avoid pairing a black suit with brown shoes — it just looks all wrong.

8. Ill-fitting suits
While a well-fitted suit projects competency and power, sadly an ill-fitting one can have the opposite effect. Buy the best suit you can afford and make sure it fits in all the right places, especially across the shoulders and at the cuffs and hems.

9. Sweat patches
Work can get stressful at times but walking around with soggy clothes is a serious office faux pas. Invest in an antiperspirant deodorant and use it daily. If you need to, keep a roll-on applicator in your bag or desk draw for emergency top-ups.

10. Stagnant wardrobe
Just because there are certain dress codes for the office doesn't mean you should let your wardrobe go stale. Have enough clothing on rotation to at least get you through the week. Men, that means at least five ties and five shirts, and women should keep a few combinations of blouses, skirts and trousers rotating throughout the working week.

Makeup Inspiration - Giogio Armani

There's something very sexy when a woman has just left the shower. Maybe it's the tendrils of water snaking across her skin, the way her body glows in the light, or perhaps the sexy curls of the hair across the face and shoulders. Well Armani has captured this style in his new collection, as it features women who look like they've barely dried off after slathering on the Imperial Leather. Models strutted around with wavy, snaky hair and the soft waves are easy to replicate at home. A style like this strangely works on hair which ISN'T just washed- see after the jump for how to do this look at home.

Start with hair that's a day or two old and shake upside down, Use a wide paddle brush to brush from the underneath to create a little bit of body then spray on a styling gel or surf spray liberally. Ones we like here are Bumble & Bumble's Surf spray, or you can mix some sea salt with water and spritz on for a cheaper version.

Take the hair and use your finger to twist it into ringlets and then use your fingers to break them up. You should be left with a tousled slightly wet look that will give you heaps of sex appeal. I especially like how the style looks like you're not trying at all. Team with neutral eyes and a slick of gloss to be sex personified!

Makeup Inspiration - Christian Lacroix

For Christian Lacroix’s spring haute couture show, hairstylist Odile Gilbert fashioned rectangular, braided buns on top of models’ heads. Each one was colored to sync with the dresses they wore.

The clothing plus hair made makeup artist Stephane Marais think of ballerinas at dancing school. He created a look with a focus on eyes. Eyeliner was swept upward, on the top and bottom of peepers. On mouths, he used a rosy, peachy color.

Scarlet & Crimson

If you haven’t heard of Scarlett & Crimson yet, take note: The adorable little cartoon girls have gained cult status in the UK, but when designer Robert Cary-Williams created a limited-edition tank, the line reached an even wider group of chicettes. In the next week, 60 of the only 300 tanks will be sent out to a group of ladies in New York and L.A.! Will you be one of the lucky? We’ve also heard a very juicy rumor from S&C: that an American designer may be next up to create a version… mais qui?

Makeup Inspiration - Christian Dior

For Christian Dior’s spring-summer 2009 haute couture show, makeup artist Pat McGrath gleaned inspiration from Johannes Vermeer’s painting, “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”

“The idea was for the girls was to have almost a painterly quality,” said McGrath backstage, explaining she used colors like peach, pink and lavender.

Some tones were iridescent. Orlando Pita, meanwhile, crafted the crimped and bound hairstyles for the show.

Makeup Inspiration - Zac Posen

Zac Posen's runway show illustrated how bold fuchsia and frosted purple can work for everyone, no matter what your skin tone. Models strutted down the runway with flawless ultraviolet lips that shimmered, and showed us that frosted lips have made a return. If you're new to this look you may want to start in small steps- read how to after the jump.

If you're nervous about full on frosted start gently and just use the colour on the middle of the lips. Not only will this make them look plumper, it's also a nice way to segue into full on fuchsia. Alternatively you can opt for a lips stain (Bourjois do a lovely selection) rather than full on colour as that helps take the focus off your lips. Or you can do it Zac Posen style with chandelier earrings so big that's what people will notice first!

Makeup Inspiration - Armani Prive

Mr. Armani wanted no color on the face whatsoever,” explained makeup artist Linda Cantello backstage before the Armani Privé haute couture show for spring-summer 2009. “He wanted a black, graphic shape on the eye.”

So models’ eyelids were colored with black rectangle-like forms and tipped with long eyelashes. “It’s an odd mix of Thirties and graphism,” she said.

Hairstylist Luigi Murenu, meantime, created three different black coifs for the show. “It’s all about geometry and graphics,” he said.

There were black bobs, plus two looks involving black headbands. “The shine is almost like a vinyl,” explained Murenu of the hair’s glossiness.

Sarah Palin Uses That Passport And Heads to Paris (Sort Of)

Most people were busy sizing up the structured blazers and high-waisted pants at Jean Paul Gaultier’s couture presentation on Wednesday, but we were fixated on something else entirely. Those bangs? That wispy top knot? That heavily powdered jaw line? Could it be? Has Sarah Palin put Alaskan politics behind her and headed for the fashion frontier? All right, probably not. But you’ve got to admit it—the resemblance is uncanny! Whoever cast that show has a commendable sense of humor.

Makeup Inspiration: Ralph Lauren does Colonial Chic

Colonial chic seems to be the watchword on the Ralph Lauren runway as model meandered their way down in white linen slacks and khaki prints, with over sized gold jewellery adding colour to the look. Faux natural was the keyword in the beauty stakes, with artfully arranged tresses and naturally nude makeup. Models looked faintly flushed with peachy blush and appealed to be wearing zero makeup. Read on for how to achieve their lovely look.

The key to achieving this dewy look is getting a great base. Try priming the skin first (Prescriptives have just released a great new primer) and then applying your foundation carefully in long slow strokes to create and even base. Opt for one with a dewy finish to give you that lovely glow, and then dust some bronzer around the hairline and the neck to create a sunkissed illusion.

Dab the cheeks with a peachy blush and use a brown mascara on the eyes, to lengthen the lashes whilst still keeping to the 'make up free' illusion. Make sure your eyebrows are groomed, as this can make or break a look, and finally run some mousse through the hair to give it extra body and texture, and backcomb it slightly for volume.

Voila, you're good to go.

Makeup Inspiration - Mabille

When designer Alexis Mabille visited Mexico, he saw a painting by Diego Rivera that served to plant the seed for what then blossomed into a braided look for models at his first haute couture show, for spring-summer 2009.

Hairstylist Odile Gilbert fastened each model’s pair of braids together at their ends and decorated them with violets.

“I think it’s a little Parisian touch,” she said.

Makeup artist James Kaliardos came up with looks meant to seem “innocent, sweet” like the hairdos, but also rather “cosmetic,” he said, explaining the show was the launch pad for the use of a new L’Oréal Paris color cosmetics line, called Studio Secrets Professional.

Kaliardos created the collection with Linda Evangelista, who served as its muse. Evangelista said she also helped give feedback on some products. The line will include lip gloss, mascara, eye shadow, foundation and lipstick, among other items.

Group of 7 That Stole the Show at Stockholm Fashion Week

New York, London, Paris and Milan are known as the holy quadrilogy of fashion, playing host to some of the world's biggest and most respected fashion houses and designers on their fashion week runways. However, some of the most innovative and exciting designs can be found at less prolific fashion weeks like Stockholm’s Fashion Week By Berns.

Presenting the work of local designers in a comprehensive schedule, I struggled to refine my review of the week into any kind of concise structure. Frustrated that I couldn’t rant for seven odd pages on the praises of Swedish design, I resigned myself to choosing a mere few of my favourites, and here I shall regale you with musings on the inspiring goings on of Fashion Week By Berns.












One of Sweden’s best known sartorial exports, Acne, threw me from my feet, well and truly knocking the wind out of me. I don’t know where to start; perhaps at the sky high Perspex platforms? Or the garishly ugly wallpaper magically transformed into the most desirable of dresses? Or maybe it was just the devil may care, rock’n’roll attitude that oozed from the collection, teasing me in my conventional bubble and daring me to stick it to the man.











That same attitude filtered into the designs of Whyred and Carin Wester. While Whyred opted for a nonchalant androgyny, Carin Wester took a more feminine approach to rebellion, adding ample edge with sheer blouses, leather pants and velvet everything. Carin Wester’s collection also featured the must have shade of the year-delicate nude- juxtaposed with bold colours and heavy boots for a striking and effective combination of proportion.

Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair did not fail to deliver with their usual avant-garde designs, as volume played on volume to create fantastical shapes, inspiring the imagination with images of dark, malignant fairytale stepmothers. Fairy tales were also the order of the day at blog sensation Minimarket, whose quirky designs were characterized with references to popular fairy tales. Babydoll dresses in block colours became a cool little red riding hood and a deceptively delicate wolf in sheep’s clothing.

My final favourite pick was Tiger Of Sweden; a collection designed for the modern Tsarina. The Russian mood was strong as models were styled in layers of velvet and leather featuring woolen hats and leather gloves, the perfect combination for a winter of espionage in Moscow.

Linda Evangelista's Make-up tips!

Monday mornings don't get anymore glamorous than catching up with uber catwalk legend Linda Evangelista at the Paris couture shows. A fellow blogger managed to grab a quick cappuccino (skinny of course) with the supermodel after the Alexis Mabille show to grill her on her exciting new make-up range for L'Oréal Paris and how the hell she still looks so amazing at 43. 'I am a total product junkie. I love to play with products,' she told me. 'I have an extensive make-up kit lined up on a huge silver tray that I move from one side of the house to the other depending on what light I want to do my make-up in. It's all about the light!' I guess doing shoots with some of fashion's experts can't have hurt either? ‘I've learnt so many tricks from so many amazing make-up artists so I know exactly what suits me and what my face needs to look good.' But Linda also revealed that she nearly always does her own make-up on shoots. 'Nobody lines my lips or defines my brows except me!' And yes, after getting up close and personal we can report that she does in fact look fabulous and incredibly flawless. Eyes perfectly sculpted in neutral brown, gleaming golden skin and precisely applied neutral lip gloss. So who did her make-up this morning? 'Me of course!' That's us told! So can you help us out once in a while, Linda? Please?!