Secret Dream-World of A Fashion Muse

OFF

2011-11-01T22:59:00.002+07:00

Inside the Minds of Models...

2011-10-19T22:56:00.000+07:00

And people say they only have good looks...

Think again.

Arizona, the "Muse"

2011-09-16T22:57:00.001+07:00

Once in a while, a name comes along that screams “I was born to be a star”. Arizona Muse is such a name. The 22-year-old progeny of a British mother and American father began modeling at 18, while still in high school. Growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the fashion industry was a far cry away from her surroundings as she tells Dazed and Confused, “I didn’t have any contact with fashion or media. I’m only just learning now how it works”. It was by chance that she met her agent, a former model, who offered to help her into the industry.

She began slowly, not gaining much notoriety. After a year, she became pregnant with her son Nikko, and left modeling. This short hiatus created a change in Muse, who decided to return to modeling when Nikko was 1, and to give it a real try “If I’m going to work again then I’m going to do it properly this time”. And properly she did. Her long natural blonde hair was morphed into a short brown cut. Ever since her reemergence, she has been whole-heartedly welcomed by the in-crowd.

Each season, there is a model, either a newcomer or an established model, who overtakes all the runways: she walks in every show, is an exclusive for certain designers, will open or close major shows and put herself above and beyond the rest. Spring Ready-To-Wear 2011, her first runway season, Muse managed to do just that. She opened BCBG Max Azria, walked for Marc Jacobs, Narciso Rodriguez and Proenza Schouler, all within the same week. She then proceeded to open and close the Prada show, the Miu Miu show, and opens for Rochas as well as Kenzo. No newcomer can even imagine or hope for this type of success within their first catwalk moments.

But then again, not every newcomer is Arizona Muse. After her runway triumph, she became the face of Prada. It certainly did not hurt that the affectionately called “Monkey Business” Prada show she opened and closed was considered one of the most influential and directional shows of the season. Appearing in their short promotional fashion film followed.

What is most interesting about Muse is her luck and talent. She has been fortunate enough to see everything she touches turn into pure gold. Her success seems predetermined; being the face of Prada and Yves Saint Laurent, walking the Valentino, Elie Saab and Chanel couture shows all the while appearing in editorial after editorial in the most prominent of fashion press does not just happen. Or does it?

Facebook?

2011-09-15T23:18:00.002+07:00

Facebook is actually like a jail, no?

You sit around and waste time,

write on walls,

get poked by people you don't know.

I seriously need a restriction order from my PC!

7th September

2011-09-07T23:35:00.000+07:00

September 7 is the 250th day of the year in the calendar.
There are 115 days remaining until the end of the year.

Something beautiful, please pop up anytime soon...

Bonjour!

2011-09-02T21:58:00.000+07:00

I'm in a long distance relationship:

I live here and how,

You live somewhere in my future.

Every night I'm talking to the moon, trying to get to you,

in hopes you're on the other side talking to me.

And maybe someday we will meet.

This story will resume.

We will turn back time, we will find each other, fall in love, get married and live happily ever after.

Anorexic Obsession.

2011-07-29T00:00:00.000+07:00

I wanna be so thin that people talk behind my back of how skinny I've become.

Céline, Fall Winter 2011

2011-07-16T00:26:00.001+07:00

UPDATED: new images photographed by Juergen Teller.

Monika Sawicka and Kirsi Pyrhonen are the new faces of Céline for their Fall Winter 2011 campaign replacing Stella Tennant and Daria Werbowy lensed once again by Juergen Teller.

White Fairy Tale Love Ball 2011

2011-07-11T02:39:00.004+07:00

Every year since 2005, Natalia Vodianova brings together renowned designers and celebrities for a large charity event in favor of the Naked Heart Foundation (NHF), an association that helps underprivileged children in Russia.

It was the Besian school siege in 2004 that spurred the top model and philanthropist to set up the NHF. Their mission is to provide safe outdoor Play Parks in Russian cities where more than 25% of all families raise children below the poverty line. The Love Ball is the main fundraiser for the Naked Heart Foundation.

On Wednesday night July 6th 2011, Valentino Garavani and Natalia Vodianova invite you to experience one of the most magical nights of summer ever imagined in your wildest dream -this year's Love Ball.

In the atmosphere of the XVII century Chateau de Wideville, residence of Valentino Garavani near Paris, a fairy tale will unfold.

For this event, 45 unique dresses have been created especially for the NHF, by some international designers such as Riccardo Tisci, Calvin Klein, Olivier Theyskens, Ulyana Sergeenko and more... The highlight of the evening will be a chance to bid for one of these gorgeous pieces through auction over an exquisite dinner. Profits from the sale will be donated entirely to benefit the Naked Heart Foundation.

Must-Have: LV Speedy

2011-07-06T02:38:00.002+07:00

Your bag collection shouldn’t be missing a Louis Vuitton Speedy, but if it is, we’ve got a few things you might want to consider.

1. In the world of designer handbags, they’re relatively affordable

Despite the fact that the price of a Speedy has gone up by over $100 over the year, they’re still something of a steal in the great scheme of designer bags. Speedies start at $665 for the 25 cm monogram version, and for an iconic bag from one of the biggest luxury companies on the planet, you’re not going to find a better deal. Bags with similar storied histories and famous followings will set you back thousands of dollars.

2. Don’t like monogram? There are dozens of other options

Monogram canvas may be the most popular material, but that’s certainly the only one. Damier and Epi leather options always available, as well as whatever graced the runways that season. Fall/Winter 2010 will be of particular interest to Speedy lovers – Vuitton showed nothing but dozens of different Speedies in a variety of leathers and exotics. If you want logos, Vuitton comes up with a new version practically every season – watercolor, roses, cherries, pop-art pandas, graffiti. You get the idea.

3. Louis Vuitton bags are practically indestructible

This one requires little explanation for a true bag lover – even people that aren’t Vuitton fans know that their bags are historically very well-made, particularly the traditional styles. Also, if your Speedy were to require repair, Vuitton has great service for those kinds of things.

4. The shape can fit in any woman’s wardrobe

Speedies range in size from petite to quite large, and if you’d rather not wear a bag on your arm, Vuitton offers a crossbody strap to keep you hands-free. The brand’s purists will caution against using it, but crossbodies have become so very modern in the past year that wearing a Speedy as a messenger might actually be a good way to update it. Once you’ve decided how to carry it, even the 25cm version has plenty of room for all of your daily essentials.

5. If it was good for Audrey Hepburn, it should be good enough for us

Grace Kelly may have been a fan of Hermés, but Audrey Hepburn was continually photographed wearing her favorite Louis Vuitton Speedy.

Some people may say that the bag is played out, but don’t let people who chase labels dissuade you from enjoying a bag that has an important historical place in the lineage of the luxury handbag. With all of the different size and design permutations, there’s a Speedy out there to suit every style.

a Grand Affair

2011-06-29T01:03:00.003+07:00

Natalia Vodianova met Justin Portman, a British property heir, former artist and chess organizer at a Paris dinner in 2001. They married in November 2001 when she was eight months pregnant. In September 2002, over nine months after registering the marriage in the UK, they had a wedding ceremony in St. Petersburg, where Vodianova wore a dress designed by Tom Ford.

The couple have three children: sons Lucas Alexander (born 22 November 2001) and Viktor (born 13 September 2007), and daughter Neva (born 24 March 2006). Viktor is named after Vodianova's grandfather, who had helped raise her after her father's departure. Neva is named after the Russian river Neva.

They separated from February 2010, Vodianova and Portman announced their final separation in June 2011.

What a shame...

pureDKNY, pure good will

2011-06-24T22:42:00.004+07:00

The pureDKNY -the environmentally conscious fragrance from DKNY, takes small steps to make a big difference.

A drop of vanilla sourced from Africa, a drop of goodwill. The fragrance bottle is 100% recyclable, the box is biodegradable and for every tree used in the packaging, a tree is planted in its place. DKNY Fragrances is donating 10% of the proceeds to CARE, to help fight poverty in Uganda, where the fragrance’s key vanilla ingredient is sourced.

Here's a nick of interview with Angela Lindvall -the face behind Donna Karan's new fragrance, plus some beautiful and candid behind-the-scenes shots from the pureDKNY advertising campaign which she stars with her adorable son, Sebastian.

How did you feel when you were asked to be the face of pureDKNY?
I am so honoured to be the face of pureDKNY. It feels great to represent something I truly believe in.

What do you like about the fragrance?
Besides being an amazing pure smell of natural oils, I like the fact that the brand has made responsible decisions as a company while launching this new product. The vanilla is harvested in Uganda, which helps support the nation of Uganda and biodegradable plastics and recycled papers are used in the packaging as well. Mostly, I like what the campaign represents, which is all the little moments in life that make life special - the pure moments and relationships in our lives.

Who do you think the pureDKNY woman is?
A strong multi-dimensional woman. A woman who is confident in herself and sets trends, not follows them.

What did you enjoy the most when shooting the advertising campaign?
I love all the DKNY team, Nathaniel Goldburg, and being with my son was a plus. It was very easy going, you wouldn't have even known it was a job - it was more capturing pure moments.

What was it like having your son Sebastian feature in one of the campaigns? And your partner also?
My partner was just there to help with Sebastian and ended up getting booked on the job, so he was super excited. Sebastian and I just hung together and without even knowing we had our picture captured. We all had a really fun trip to NYC.

How was the pureDKNY campaign different from all the other work you’ve done with DKNY?
This was very raw in the sense of the style. It wasn't so much about clothes, but more about a feeling. It was very intimate. This also represents something much bigger and a message that is much needed in the world in which we live today.

Was it important to you that this fragrance supports environmental sustainability?

Absolutely. The industrial revolution opened a lot of opportunities in the past, but those ways are no longer sufficient and sustainable to evolution. There are new ways to do things. But, it is necessary to implement them into existing structures and procedures. I’m very proud that pureDKNY has made these steps and I’m also proud to be a part of it.

Worthwhile

2011-06-21T12:14:00.001+07:00

"I understood the danger of focusing only on what isn't there...

What if I came to the end of my life, and realized that I had spent

everyday, watching for a man who would never come to me?

What an unbearable sorrow it would be to realize:

I never really tasted the things I had eaten,

or seen the places I had been;

because I thought of nothing but the Chairman,

even while my life was drifting away from me.

And yet, if I drew my thoughts back from him,

what life would I have?

I would be like a dancer who had practiced since childhood,

for a performance she would never give."

-Sayuri Nitta,

Memoirs of a Geisha

Stella McCartney, Las Vegas

2011-06-18T23:33:00.000+07:00

Located within The Crystals City Center project, the Las Vegas Stella McCartney store nestles between two inclined thirty storey ‘crystal’ towers. Like huge glass shards they create a landmark space in their shadow within the Daniel Libeskind designed building. This is the new epicentre of Las Vegas – a complex cluster of angular forms which houses marques from around the world under thirteen (lucky for some) twisting rooves.

The Stella McCartney store sits next to Cartier, close to the Aria Casino entrance – a simple brass facade. Formed with rhombus ceramic tiles defining two large display windows, the central entrance opens with a colourful threshold. This is the beginning of Stella McCartney’s Vegas.

Stella McCartney have collaborated with architects APA from Soho, London with whom they also worked for stores in Paris and Milan, (in association with an experienced local team) to propose the ambitious new store which houses a remarkable crystal horse at its very centre.

Imported from a Scottish Castle, the horse ‘Lucky Spot’ is named after Stella McCartney’s mother Linda’s own horse. Hanging within a vast fourteen foot ceiling space, the crystals are suspended mid air to describe in light the form of George Stubb’s famous equestrian painting ‘The Whistle Jacket’. It is an act of theatre combined with design artistry and a slightly wicked but healthy sense of playfulness. The horse is surrounded by the Stella McCartney latest collection on an array of sculptural sweeping clothes rails and with geometric cubes housing her accessories merchandise. A subtle sense of joy is, we hope, evoked.

On the floor, a traditional Herringbone (designed by Raw Edges with Established & Sons) has been commissioned which subverts the classical feel in beautiful nude tones to depict an enormous sweeping curvature guiding the customers though the collection. At the back of the store, the pattern becomes a classic dotted check plaid subtley merging to a warm luxurious lounge punctuated by brass clothes rail and English furniture.

The fitting rooms go a step further in spectacular tones of veneered maple of warm red, azure turquoise and deep rich flannel grey ; a further inflexion of the traditional, this time in timber panelling set within a room of deep Hague blue.

The new environment mediates between design, artistry and the bravura of Las Vegas in a confident and uncompromising manner.

Chanel Crocs Biarritz Aligator

2011-06-09T23:36:00.001+07:00

Chanel loyalists, feast your eyes on the Chanel Croc Biarritz, an oversized (literally huge) Chanel tote designed with black crocodile. Forbes reports that there are three of these in Chanel NYC, two in Chanel LA, and three more wandering around select Neiman Marcus locations.

There is a simply understated external zip pocket with a CC silver pull and dividers on the inside. Not sure if the bag can be found anywhere now, but the Chanel Croc Biarritz deserves fuss and press and spotlight.

The line is inspired by the world-famous holiday resort on the Basque coast of south-west France where Coco Chanel opened her boutique in 1915. The Kaiser designed the line for the Parisian jet set who loves the resort in addition to paying homage to the original jet setting mademoiselle, Coco Chanel.

Coming in at $43,150, this bag is sure to be exclusive not only because of the limited quantity made, but also the exorbitant price tag. Any of you get one of the eight known beauties?

M.I.A

2011-05-30T15:46:00.000+07:00

For those of you wondering where the hell I've been these days...

There goes the story of a stranded girl in HK.

All We Have

2011-05-14T23:39:00.003+07:00

Song Title All We Have

Singer OK Sweetheart

Songwriter G.K. Hizer

Album Home

You’ve got your vices, I've got mine, as long as we stay in these lines;

I’m sure we’ll be okay.

We may seem so complicated, feelings are so overrated;

let’s get used to being numb.

Why are we so sad? Take a good look at all we have.
Why are we so sad? Take a good look at all we have,

at all we have, at all we have..

He’s got his k you’ve got your e, as long as we’re left smiling;

what’s the matter with that?
Let’s live our lives plasticulated, so wildly medicated;

counting down till the charade’s all over .

Why are we so sad? Take a good look at all we have.
How did we get so sad? Take a good look at all we have,

at all we have, all we have.

Tell me, oh why are we so sad? Take a good look at all we have.
How did we get so sad? Take a good look at all we have,

at all we have, all we have.

L'empresse, Amsterdam

2011-05-12T23:18:00.001+07:00

Haute Impression

Jan Clemens Hoek, the owner and founder, has become one (if not the) youngest entrepreneur to have opened his own luxury-line boutique (and to have earned a mention in the International Herald Tribune). Hoek has impressively established a shop with only the hottest names in fashion, like Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi, Marios Schwab, Balmain, Rodarte, Lanvin, Balenciaga… The list goes on.

L’Empresse offers a great assortment of clothing, exclusive accessories and even collector’s items. All you need is an occasion for that new hot cocktail dress.

Cornelis Schuytstraat 48

1071 JL Amsterdam

+31206390067

www.l-empresse.com

info@l-empresse.com

Spring Feelings

2011-05-07T00:07:00.011+07:00

Wonderfully composed by my lovely Chantelle of Chai, Cinnamon & Couture...

dear chirping birds, they sing

as i devour delicate yellowing pages

of forgotten stories, french films and sweet

lattes of caramel, of chai, of gingerbread. . .

the occasional sighs of wind comb through,

and they bring aromas of earth and of

flowers; spring is exquisite,

it is truly, so very lovely

as are you, you

and you

♥

Can't Help Falling in Love

2011-05-03T00:31:00.000+07:00

You don't know how lovely and irritating you are at the same time.

For no logical reasons, I'm entirely fixated at you.

I guess love is a form of amnesia when a girl forgets there are 1.2 billion other guys in the world...

and the reason is You...

2011-05-01T13:43:00.000+07:00

Dragons,

angels,

gnomes,

creatures beneath the earth that make words with hammers,

a shooting star that shoots back,

rain falling from the ground to the sky,

bars that refuse to serve dwarfs or wanderers,

a fountain that makes you young while those around you grow old,

saplings that know everything,

a sea made of tears from every lover who never loved,

a silver boat with a sail made of pages from all the books that were never written.

All my dreams are beautiful.

But none as beautiful as you.

You are the reason I return here each morning.

Yours Fluently,

2011-04-30T23:08:00.000+07:00

Everybody wants to speak in another language.

I want to speak in your language.

I want to read your mind.

I want to finish your sentences.

Cut Loose

2011-04-29T23:36:00.000+07:00

I need some time for myself.

I need to be with myself.

I need to be lonely for a while.

Lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless.

And lonely is healing if you make it.

I need enough distance so that when I come back,

I won't remember a thing.

Carolina Herrera, Spring 2011

2011-04-27T02:38:00.003+07:00

Carolina Herrera's program notes explained that Spring was inspired by two things: the traditional clothes of Korea and botanical plates collected in the eighteenth century.

For anybody who admired the elegant simplicity of her recent Resort show, that little bit of news sent up a red flag. The tall, wide-brimmed straw hats (customarily worn by men in Korea) and the superfluous obilike bows that decorated the bust- and waistlines of evening dresses hardly dispelled the disquiet, nor did floral prints complete with calligraphy detailing the plant's name and origins.

Happily, there was also a lot here of a more subtle nature. The more restrained gowns suggested that Herrera can still teach a thing or two to the up-and-comers gunning for the Park Avenue set. In particular, a lotus-blossom-embroidered blouse and olive to-the-floor skirt and a forest green metallic fil coupé column dress with a slightly asymmetrical neckline nailed the understated grandeur that's long been a Herrera signature.

If it's grandeur plain and simple a girl is after, she should look no further than the finale gown with its yard-upon-yard of porcelain-embroidered floral jacquard.

a Matter of Taste

2011-04-25T22:48:00.003+07:00

How amazing is the latest book of Fulvio Bonavia: “A Matter of Taste” is full of surprising creations made with natural and edible elements. The work in the book lives in a world between gastronomy and haute couture. Love it !

Customize your own Fendi!

2011-04-18T18:31:00.000+07:00

The Italian fashion house Fendi comes with a new funny concept of bag. Now, you can have your Fendi Baguette, where “your” means unique and really representing your own style. How is it possible? With the new Fendi limited edition called Baguette Mezzo Punto. “Mezzo punto” is the Italian for “half stitch”, so you have to bring this canvas bag, a needle and all your fantasy! There are in Fendi box also diagrams and illustrations help beginning stitchers. ”Fendi is a creativity factory that supports talent without boundaries. In these challenging times in which the world is changing rapidly, we wanted to exalt pure creativity by putting attention on traditional materials and low technology techniques. We wanted to rediscover the power and the beauty of ‘Fatto a Mano’ (Hand-Craft)” Fendi Accesories Creative Director Silvia Venturini Fendi said. “Fendi strongly believes that creativity and the flow f ideas are the Fuel for the Future. Forever.”

Fly.

2011-04-10T00:08:00.000+07:00

Quit your job.

Buy a ticket.

Fall in love.

Never returns.

How does that sound?

Maybe this is wishful thinking, probably mindless dreaming.

Emma Enchanted

2011-04-07T03:50:00.000+07:00

Emma Watson has magically transformed from Harry Potter's precocious overachiever to a full-blown glamour girl.

She was just shy of ten years old when she took on the role of Hermione Granger, the bookish, bushy-haired sidekick to the titular hero of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. So feverishly anticipated was that first film—and so beloved were its four sequels that Emma Watson, now nineteen, has been world-famous for more than half her life.

Fashion, in fact, has long been of particular interest to Emma. She's worn enough big-night Chanel to become friendly with Karl Lagerfeld, the line's iconic designer—"It's kind of my lucky brand," she explains, "a fail-safe"—and lately she has been branching out, experimenting with Balenciaga, Burberry (for whom she's a fall face), Miu Miu, Alice Temperley, and a little-known Englishman named William Tempest, whose designs she first spotted at an up-and-comers event called Fashion Fringe. When she's not premiere-hopping, she says, "I live, really, in jeans from Topshop, blazers from Ralph Lauren or Reiss, and ballet flats."

"It's very hard to describe your own style," she admits. "And I'm young, so I'm still experimenting. But I think it's quite British and very much about individuality." Emma says she prefers to pull her own party dresses, but even when she's short on time and must work with a stylist, she's careful to make sure that the resulting outfits don't look overdone. As she explains, "There's nothing interesting about looking perfect—you lose the point. You want what you're wearing to say something about you, about who you are."

Chance vs. Fear

2011-04-02T16:35:00.002+07:00

The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them.

Just stride on.

Sometimes, it is simply a matter of putting one foot in front of another.

And not stopping.

Bold Color Combos!

2011-04-01T23:37:00.000+07:00

Spring's 2012 color theory is this: go bold and bright — and make your selections a little unexpected. Spring collections from Yigal Azrouel, Christian Siriano, Peter Som, and so many more are awash in high-wattage hues that get amped up when they're layered up and colorblocked by the twos, threes, even fours. Alongside neon, citrus colors, designers, like Azrouel, are adding cool cobalt, or peachy pinks, like Siriano, making the color pop affect another major trend we're craving on our clothes for Spring.

This spring and summer, get yourself wrapped in heavenly fabrics, adorned with fabulous vivid color!

Drink of the Week: French 75!

2011-03-31T04:09:00.001+07:00

A little history with your buzz...
The French 75 may be a champagne cocktail, but by no means is it only meant to be sipped at wedding receptions and New Year's Eve parties. This is a drink that kicks ass and takes names, thanks to the ingenious addition of gin, its intensity masked by a little lemon and sugar.

The drink was allegedly created by a World War I fighter pilot of French and American origin who found champagne a little lacking in the potency department. The resulting drink was so powerful he said it felt like being on the receiving end of a French 75mm howitzer artillery piece -hence the name.

Hair-on-your-chest factor: 74/100
If a World War I pilot says it's strong, and if Ernest Hemingway and his cronies knocked these back at the Ritz in Paris, then you can be confident in your masculinity while ordering one. Just beware that particular kind of intoxication that comes from the mystical dovetailing of gin and champagne -- not for rookies.

Instructions:
2 oz gin
1 tsp sugar (superfine if possible)
1/2 oz lemon juice
5 oz Brut champagne

In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, sugar and lemon juice and shake well with cracked ice. Fill a Collins glass partway with ice and strain the gin mixture into it. Top off with champagne.

Louis Vuitton City Guide

2011-03-30T03:46:00.000+07:00

For ten years now, Louis Vuitton has been sharing its passion for travel and city life. Providing an attentive, informed commentary on the changes shaking the heart of cities and voicing off-beat views on fashion, design, the arts and gastronomy, each guide highlights the latest trends and offers unique advice.

Drawing on the talents of journalists and writers, the Louis Vuitton City Guide collection successfully and daringly combines traditional values with new aspects, traditional locations with extravagant ones, known with unknown and out of the ordinary.

Perfectly capturing the spirit of cities with words and imagination.Inspired writing, a pleasure to read and a feeling of discovery for a unique urban immersion.

Luxury and charming hotels, gourmet restaurants and local bistros, typical markets and delicatessens, antiquarians and designers, museums and fashion shops, essential or little-known monuments… with 40 international destinations and 10,000 addresses, the 2010 edition offers the traveller an insider’s guide into these cities.

Behati Prinsloo & her NYC Pad

2011-03-29T14:04:00.000+07:00

From our vantage point, a model's life can often seem nothing short of otherworldly. They jet-set and have the ability to practically transform clothing into art. But really, when you get right down to it, they usually have super messy closets, eccentric book collections, and way too many pairs of ankle boots, just like us. Or at least, the ones we love do.

Twenty-year-old Behati Prinsloo is just such a lady. The Namibia-born beauty, who's graced campaigns for H&M to Marc by Marc Jacobs and has strutted for everyone from Chanel to Louis Vuitton, considers herself a "jeans and T-shirt" kind of girl, but there's more to this budding fashion star than meets the eye.

Her apartment, the local's East Village mixes up vintage wares, a hookah den, a giant Kid Robot sculpture, and various other curiosities reveals another side of this fashion plate... Here's a sneak-peek into Prinsloo's downtown crash-pad, where she shacks up with her pretty kitty Gollum. .

Come Away with Me...

2011-03-28T16:17:00.000+07:00

We'll find a place between fact and fiction.

Stranded between heaven and earth.

We'll stay there forever.

Make an inception.

And as long as they don't know we'll be the masters of pretense.

Beautification

2011-03-27T23:06:00.000+07:00

Cleansing.

A facial begins with a cleansing with cotton pads or sponges and a product chosen for your skin type (normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive, mature.)

Skin Analysis.

The esthetician covers your eyes and looks at your skin through a brightly lit magnifying lamp that reveal various skin conditions.

Exfoliation.

Using a mechanical exfoliation, it has a gritty texture and usually happens while a steam vapor is directed at your face.

Extraction of blackheads or whiteheads.

Facial massage.

Using classic strokes like effleurage to both relax you and stimulate your skin and facial muscles.

Facial mask targeted to your skin type and condition.

Application of toners and protective creams.

Aaarrggh!

Can we girls just have an instant magical beauty potion instead?

My Reality

2011-03-22T23:11:00.000+07:00

Stop telling me I can't, I won't, I shouldn't.
Stop telling me how I should feel.

I think I know how this should be,
what normal is supposed to be like.

This my reality, asshole.

An Event to Remember

2011-03-20T00:46:00.000+07:00

Jerry Sibal is no mere party planner. He’s a world-renowned designer of unforgettable celebrations of every description. Each of Sibal’s projects—whether for a private birthday party or holiday dinner, a lavish wedding or bar/bat mitzvah, a corporate retreat or charity ball—is a distinctive work of art.

An Event to Remember presents a portfolio of some of Sibal’s finest and most visionary work—with dramatic photographs that will make you wish you’d been there. Throughout, Sibal reveals how he coordinates architecture, lighting and audiovisual systems, interior decor, tabletop arrangements, and his trademark floral extravaganzas to create such gloriously spellbinding environments.

Venues from all over the country are featured, from New York City’s Rainbow Room, to Miami Beach’s Setai Hotel, to Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino, to outdoor settings such as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and a California hillside with breathtaking Pacific Ocean views.

Capital Kitchen

2011-03-19T03:34:00.002+07:00

Capital Kitchen is more than a café: it is a union between café style dining and retail provedore. They are are dedicated to specializing in food and homewares that are seasonal, fresh, simple and beautiful.

Capital Kitchen is a uniquely sophisticated dining space within Chadstone's new luxury precinct where shoppers can unwind and enjoy delicious fare and coffee.

At Capital Kitchen we are passionate about providing shoppers with unique homewares for their kitchen, in addition to our own signature homewares range.

Capital Kitchen: simple things, beautifully made.

Somewhere

2011-03-17T02:49:00.000+07:00

Sofia Coppola's new film, Somewhere, stars Stephen Dorff as a burned-out actor named Johnny Marco who lives in a suite at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles, wanders around in untied Red Wings, and appears to be drifting through an endless series of premieres, junkets, parties, and his life in general, with little in the way of meaningful relationships.

However, Johnny's own routine, as empty-seeming as it is, gets interrupted when his pre-teen daughter from a previous relationship, Cleo (Elle Fanning), arrives for a weekend stay that unexpectedly turns into a longer one, forcing him to very quickly become the father that she very apparently has never had, and what emerges is a stark and, in many ways, unvarnished portrait of two people searching for something they've been missing, and maybe, possibly, finding it.

Somewhere, which hits theaters in late December, premiered in August and the Venice Film Festival, where it took top honors, winning the Golden Lion. This melancholy film is a place worth visiting.

Cryptic

2011-03-10T17:13:00.001+07:00

Sometimes you forgive people, simply because you still want them in your life.

Does that sound reasonable for you?

I'm not OK. You're not OK. That's OK.

From now on, I don't stalk no more. That actually means something.

Mixed signal + second thoughts.

Oh dear, I'm making up scenarios for us again.

Light Up!

2011-03-09T04:25:00.000+07:00

Nothing quite like an electric hue to make the month pop like a Warhol color treatment. For a little fashion-meets-art, think these gorgeous shocking colors!

The Louis Vuitton World

2011-03-06T03:21:00.004+07:00

If you had the choice, what designer collection would you live in?

Imagining of a refined and outdoorsy look...

What about taking a safari of Africa with such a magnetic scenery as a backdrop. From tents, lion cubs, sunsets and campfires…

And of course the Louis Vuitton collection which is made up of glamorous trunks, cases, watches and eyewear, stands out amongst the beautiful setting.

Spring Sneak Peek

2011-03-05T23:35:00.000+07:00

Earlier this week Miranda Kerr headed out to Palm Springs, California for a photoshoot. Yes, stunning Miranda Kerr has modeled David Jones Spring/Summer 2011 collection for catalog as well as walked runway for the brand. The catalog is bright and trendy, outfits are great and summery.

David Jones Spring/Summer 2011 catalog full of bright summery womenswear is featuring Miranda Kerr in all her glamor modeling dresses, skirts, tops, jackets, lingerie and swimwear. All the latest summer trends are here – white, full skirts, bight and bold hues, crochet knit, prints, and maxi length. Safari chic, capri pants and a trench coat are there to make you look fresh and effortless while super bright dresses are both romantic and chic.

Bugaboo meets Missoni

2011-03-04T00:34:00.000+07:00

Bugaboo, known for their modern strollers, has teamed up with Italian fashion house Missoni to design and produce an exclusive Bugaboo + Missoni special collection.

Featuring two tailored designs — vibrant zigzags and a bright print block — and a Missoni signature knitted blanket, this collection will satisfy mommy fashionistas everywhere. The collection will be available in July 2011 at selected stores.

Visit the cool site here

The Wang Clan Charm

2011-03-01T00:25:00.000+07:00

Alexander Wang niece is a living proof that fashion knows no age. So cute with her Chanel bag and fur jacket, this cute fashion baby steals everybody's attention!

Karla Spetic, The Dreamer

2011-02-27T01:49:00.000+07:00

Bringing you a refreshing gelato inspired colour palette from fashion forward designer Karla Spetic...

Think mandarin, sherbert, and soft winter greys. Don't you just adore Karla Spetic her for memorable, delicate and feminine styling? This season Karla is bringing back the cardi in a big way. She's also dishing out some living proof that crochet can be chic...

Bla, Bla, Blahnik!

2011-02-26T03:30:00.000+07:00

A great shoe can make a $20 outfit look like couture.

A poorly constructed shoe can make couture look like a cheap knockoff.

-Nina Garcia

You are what you wear is true.

A girl is as hot as the shoes she choose!

Afternoon Rambling

2011-02-25T03:57:00.000+07:00

I miss talking about Paris...

Be My Fireman.

2011-02-23T03:05:00.001+07:00

What is it this power that lingers on, holding me captive?

What is this flame that's burning me to ashes?

Decide my fate, it is in your hands...

Love is giving someone the power to destroy you,

but trusting them enough not to.

Brand New Day

2011-02-21T01:43:00.000+07:00

New day, new designer.

Whether it's love or war you're outfitting for,

thank god for friends and fashion.

Contentment.

2011-02-18T01:34:00.000+07:00

Learning to be content requires that you stop any “when and then” thinking –
“When I am ___________, then I’ll be happy.”
“When I have ___________, then I’ll be happy.”
(You fill in the blanks)

The reason we fall into this trap is that we may actually be content for a little while but it won’t last. But, more than likely, someone else or something else will come along and drain the contentment from our lives.

Happiness isn’t getting what you want. Happiness is being happy with what you have. Look at all the things that have been given to you.

Unfortunately, we often focus on what we don’t have and forget the many wonderful things we do have, not only material blessings, but far more important things, such as family and friends.

A key to contentment is recognizing that you have the choice to be happy right now with the many things that have been given to you. What are you waiting on to make you happy?

True Love's Kiss

2011-02-14T01:36:00.003+07:00

Many a girl has waited long, for a husband brave or strong;

but I’m sure I never met any sort of woman yet

who could wait a hundred years,

free from fretting, free from fears.

Now, our story seems to show

that a century or so, late or early, matters not;

true love comes by fairy-lot.

Some old folk will even say it grows better by delay.

-Charles Perrault, The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods

Comeback of the Year!

2011-02-13T03:42:00.000+07:00

Remember this dolly face?

Gemma Ward has been off the radar for some time now, sitting on the modeling sidelines for almost three years. Various rumors said Ward had gained weight, she was depressed after actor Heath Ledger's death or simply that she had enrolled in Yale to pursue acting.

But Ward is set to make a comeback, in a big way, playing a mermaid in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides". She will act alongside Johnny Depp, Megan Fox, Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush!

Teo Jasmin Baroque Sofa

2011-02-12T01:17:00.000+07:00

Angeline Bailly, the creator of French studio Teo Jasmin, uses cutting edge digital printing and technology to print beautiful and conceptual photos and art works on cushions, wallpapers and some furniture pieces. Baroque chairs and sofas are some of that pieces that could attract much more attention than other.

Their backs are decorated with pictures of San Francisco and New York, scenes of Italy, French superstar Bridget Bardot, Doggy Queen, image of Japanese geishas and tea ceremony, the Beatles and so on. There are as dining as lounge chairs and sofas available in various colors. Combination of art images with Baroque design creates really elegant piece of decor which would fit almost any interior.

NYFW 2011, starts 09/02/2011

2011-02-08T23:33:00.005+07:00

New York has been in the grips of a particularly brutal winter. Good thing fashion week is back to generate some serious sizzle. From Michael Kors' 30th anniversary celebration to the opening of Alexander Wang's first New York store, here are all the warming trends!

Wedding Peach

2011-02-07T00:43:00.000+07:00

Spring has sprung and we have some peachy keen inspiration with elegant touch. Sweet but sophisticated, the color peach is now ripe for the picking. Pair it with classic cream for a combination that's fresh, modern, and gloriously memorable.

Traditionally spring is associated with the beginning of new life. Flowers bloom, and the earth awakens from its winter sleep. A beautiful spring wedding might be outdoors, in a garden, with an abundance of fresh flowers. Use light, pastel colors in the décor for a clean, radiant look. Place a petite favor vase with a single blossom at each place setting echoing the flowers in the bridal bouquet.

This lovely little inspiration shoot provided a much-needed dose of sunshine to my morning!

Flip Through...

2011-02-06T02:06:00.000+07:00

One of my favorite editorials.

New York, I Love You!

2011-02-05T23:36:00.000+07:00

The smoochy travelogue franchise that got its passport in 2006's Paris, Je T'aime hops across the pond for this vaguely overlapping portfolio of Big Apple lovebites...

New York, I Love You is a tale of the connections and personal missteps that occur every single day in the city that never sleeps. It plays out like a movie version of a song mash-up: some story lines are linear and independent of the rest while other characters wander in and out of each other's lives. Throw an all-star cast in there, and you could possibly have a recipe for perfection.

Made up of a series of short films, New York, I Love You is an homage to the city as well as the residents who hold it near and dear to their hearts. Have a little bite of the upcoming V day!

The City Rises and Falls

2011-02-04T13:44:00.000+07:00

You were a dream.

Then a reality.

Now a memory.

I heart pink!

2011-02-03T23:59:00.001+07:00

Virtually stunning: Chanel Iman graces the cover of Elle UK this month!

In front of David Vasiljevic’s lens, Chanel Iman sports Jil Sander spring collections for the February issue of Elle UK. Iman is showing off a striking colour combinations and sleek tailoring, while she also rocks matching accessories including some statement sunglasses! Love how Raf Simons is redefining effortless elegance in a fun way with the neons from this season.

Peekture: Tom Ford Spring '11

2011-02-02T22:53:00.000+07:00

Here is sneak peak at Tom Ford's new womenswear collection.

Last month during fashion week, everyone was intrigued and wondered how Ford would put his fabulous stamp on the womens world of fashion due to the fact that photographers were band from the Spring 11 showing. If his new womenswear line is anything like his menswear line, you can expect nothing less than utter perfection with every attention paid to detail.

Dear February,

2011-02-01T23:29:00.003+07:00

Please be gentle...

Please be beautiful...

Cradle Me

2011-01-31T23:11:00.000+07:00

I can't get any sleepier than this.

I hope I can sleep in a heavenly place.

I want to take a power nap and in that time have a million dreams,

some of them dreams of dreams.

Will You Marry Me?

2011-01-30T01:24:00.002+07:00

Song Title Marry You

Singer Bruno Mars

Songwriter Bruno Mars, Ari Levine, Phillip Lawrence

Album Doo-Wops & Hooligans

It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do.

Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes, or is it this dancing juice?

Who cares baby, I think I wanna marry you.

Well I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go,

no one will know, come on girl.

Who cares if we’re trashed got a pocket full of cash we can blow,

shots of patron, and it’s on girl.

Don’t say no, no, no, no-no.

Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah.

And we’ll go, go, go, go-go.

If you’re ready, like I’m ready.

So whatcha wanna do? Let’s just run girl.

If we wake up and you wanna break up that’s cool.

No, I won’t blame you. It was fun girl.

Just say I do,

Tell me right now baby!

Kate Bosworth & 3.1 Philip Lim

2011-01-29T03:06:00.000+07:00

Kate Bosworth and Philip Lim are like match made in heaven. She has the careless elegance and natural beauty and he brings the youthful sophistication. As the brand expands, Kate would be a great face for the label's advertising.

The ruffles on this dress could have easily looked vulgar if it wasn't for the simple shape and chic color palette. And Kate acessorizes like a pro. Simple and Beautiful.

You know, you hear about celebrities being environmental activists, but to see it seals the deal.
We love Kate Bosworth; she's so cute and her style is ever evolving. We were super excited when we found out she was going to co-host this year's Gorgeous and Green benefit in San Francisco.

Miss You Like Crazy

2011-01-28T04:14:00.000+07:00

If you miss me...

You can't text.

You can't email.

You can't post it on my (fb) wall.

If you really miss me, you come and see me.

Family:

2011-01-27T02:19:00.000+07:00

The thing about a good marriage is,

even if a terrible mistake happens,

you just can't imagine your life with anyone else.

That's why you commit to each other.

That's why you make vows to each other;

that through the good or the bad, you'll just keep trying.

You're fighting not only for love...

You're fighting for something bigger than either one of you,

You're fighting for the family you've become.

You're fighting for the us you've become.

And that's really worth fighting for.

"I have done it. I have everything I want. I have made enough money to secure my family and that is all I care about."

- Natalia Vodianova

Anya Hindmarch Wine Tote

2011-01-25T01:12:00.000+07:00

I love almost all Anya Hindmarch totes and this Wine Tote is no exception. Depicting three wine illustrations in simple white on brown, this wine tote isn't just about showing off your love of wine but also about actually toting it.

The interior is divided into 6 segmented compartments so you can carry a half-dozen bottles at once without risking breakage (or just the annoying clinking and clanking). It has a reinforced bottom and handles, goldtone hardware, and a the little signature embroidered bow detail top and center. Great gift for an eco-friendly wine lover who can use it as a shopping bag. $190

Miu Miu, Resort 2011

2011-01-19T00:02:00.000+07:00

Fun, sensual, insolent.

Miuccia Prada's prescription for Miu Miu's Resort collection nailed its naughty little heart. The clothes were inspired by lingerie shapes and lingerie fabrics like crepe de chine, satin, and sable, but there was another story, too.

Prada's undying reverence for Yves Saint Laurent is a strong strand of her design DNA, and there were echoes of YSL's notorious 1971 collection, the one that was scandalously inspired by the shady ladies of Paris in the early 1940's. That old-time raciness was reflected in the

"come hither" neon brightness of Miu Miu's color palette, carried over into armfuls of bracelets, and prints of apples and hearts whose cuteness was cut by the fact that they were slightly blurred, like a neon sign.

The languid line of a keyhole-neckline crepe dress or the masculine/feminine flared, cuffed cotton drill pants paired with a fitted military jacket could have been out of Dietrich's closet (her again!), except that the designer preferred the more playful, less ambiguous comedienne Carole Lombard as a reference.

"Keep things simplest" is Miuccia's new mantra. Word to the lookbook: one of the most seductive re-creations yet of the glamorous harpies who ruled the pages of Vogue Paris in the heady seventies. As far as the historical references go, Miuccia's convinced nobody remembers anything anyway, which means that Miu Miu fans will find irresistibly colored clothes in proportions that look sexy and new to them.

Ring, Ring. Yellow?

2011-01-16T01:26:00.000+07:00

New year, new wardrobe. If you're thinking of making new additions to your closet. Why not take a bold step and make this choice of bright color: Yellow!

This new year, it doesn't get any spicier than mustard yellow. This saucy shade is oh-so-fresh and pairs beautifully with black, grey and bold accessories. Choose a contrasting color to make your fashion statement!

You just have to love the way it looks paired with darker colors like black and silver as a splash of vibrant color to brighten things up on a cold and dreary day.

Good Old Days

2011-01-09T22:43:00.007+07:00

During these times we're apart,

close your eyes and try to feel the way we did that day.
Then you could remember our song...

Keep smilin', keep shinin',
Knowin' you can always count on me, for sure.
That's what friends are for.
For good times and bad times,
I'll be on your side forever more.
That's what friends are for.

As far as I'm concerned,

I'm glad I got the chance to have this beautiful friendship.

Ferragamo, the Shoemaker

2011-01-08T04:37:00.000+07:00

Shoemaker to Fashion Empire.

The Story.

Known as the "shoemaker to the stars," Salvatore Ferragamo is renowned first and foremost for its footwear. In the early 1920's, Ferragamo, a Naples native who apprenticed with a shoemaker as a teenager, set up the Hollywood Boot Shop after moving to California. Soon he was crafting boots and shoes for movie stars' on-screen looks. Enamored of his designs, actors from Douglas Fairbanks to Mary Pickford enlisted him to custom-fit their feet off-screen as well.

After moving his company back to Florence in the late twenties, Ferragamo achieved worldwide success in the next few decades as he pioneered such innovative designs as the "invisible" sandal, wedge heels, and the all-important steel-reinforced stiletto, popularized by Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot.

In 1959, a year before his death, Ferragamo's daughter Giovanna introduced the label's first clothing collection. Accessories soon followed. Today, the ready-to-wear collection, shown in Milan, focuses on Italian sportswear.

From 2003 to 2007, Graeme Black, a Giorgio Armani alumnus, oversaw the label, offering mostly ladylike looks in a neutral palette. In 2007, Cristina Ortiz, formerly of Brioni and Lanvin, assumed the post of creative director. While her first collection met with mixed reviews for its flashy vibe, which was out of sync with the house's traditional aesthetic, hopes are high that she will forge a distinct image for Ferragamo rather than let the clothes be a backdrop for the accessories.

While shoes and that famous fit remain the focus of the house (certain sizes come in six different widths), Ferragamo today also includes eyewear, watches, and fragrances. In early 2008, the house celebrated its 80th anniversary with a blowout party in Shanghai.

Status

2011-01-06T04:09:00.000+07:00

Subtlety is the enemy of clarity.

I know it's frustrating.

So let me be straightforward.

No sobbing.

No crying.

No sweet words.

No explanations.

No goodbyes.

No nonsens.

This is how we part.

On Leave.

2011-01-05T04:22:00.002+07:00

Restart.

2011-01-02T20:50:00.004+07:00

Here's to starting over.

Just surprise me, will ya?

2011-01-01T22:36:00.003+07:00

Another year. Lots of new dreams.

Old and New

2010-12-31T00:05:00.000+07:00

Dear 2010,

2010-12-30T00:07:00.000+07:00

Thanks to those who hated me,

you made me a stronger person.

Thanks to those who loved me,

you made my heart bigger.

Thanks to those who envied me,

you make my self-esteem grow.

Thanks to those who cared,

you made me feel important.

Thanks to those who worried,

you let me know that you care.

Thanks to those who left,

you showed me that not everything is forever.

Thanks to those who stayed,

you showed me the meaning of true friends.

Thanks to those who entered my life,

you made me who I am today.

One Last Piece of Advice

2010-12-29T23:18:00.001+07:00

So many people have no clue of what they want.

They don't think independently, merely following what everyone else is doing.

I admire people with a sense of independence, who stand firm on their beliefs.

Calculated "authenticity" is inauthentic.

Trying to appear authentic is role playing, the opposite of true authenticity.

Since culture determines what's currently "cool", you can't be cool and counter-culture. You must choose side.

Trying to be cool tells everyone you are a follower.

The same principle applies in fashion:

You don't wear what other people are wearing.

You create your own style and set the trend.

Style is actually a state of mind.

You're so confident about what you're wearing that others start doubting themselves.

Period.

2010-12-28T23:56:00.000+07:00

Loosen up.

Unbend.

You’ll feel better.

Detox.

2010-12-27T00:25:00.000+07:00

Does it ever happen to you?

Does it ever happen to you to feel as if there were nothing more to come?

NOTHING

That everything good is past?

And to feel not exactly dull, but sad?

When everything is alright and everyone is cheerful?

The thought has come into my mind that I was already tired of it all,

and that we must all die.

As if all of your life is a mere dream.

I should think so...

a Merry Little Christmas

2010-12-25T01:23:00.007+07:00

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Let your heart be light.
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight.
Faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more.
Through the years, we all will be together.
If the Fates allow, hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

Christmas eve with the loveliest gleams.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Best of 2010

2010-12-24T01:42:00.000+07:00

Life is a caleidoscope.

Always changing patterns, different in colours.

Symmetry of Asymmetry.

It is beautiful, it is grim, it is frustrating, it is everything...

It is life.

Here, a roundup of year 2010 in style:

Jang Dong Gun & Go So Young’s

2010-12-22T01:46:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST EPIC WEDDING CEREMONY

This is not a drama but something real.

Mega stars {Korean Brangelina}, Jang Dong-gun and Go So-young tied the knot on 2nd May. The wedding ceremony was held at Shilla Hotel. After teasing the entire nation with their wedding photos, the A-listers couple dazzles us with their conspicuous beauty and guest list. About 500 of influential people were invited, from US Ambassadors to the fellow A-listers.

Mr and Mrs Jang was afterwards spending the long passionate night in the hotel’s presidential suite. Just to rub it in as to how filthy rich they are, the suite cost US $8000 per night. Imagine how delectable the wedding banquet was. The golden couple left for their 4 day honeymoon at Bali, Indonesia the next day.

Go So-young, looked ravishing in her Oscar De La Renta gown. Jang Dong-gun on the other hand, is all dapper in his black tuxedo. A beautiful couple no doubt.

Céline Luggage Tote

2010-12-22T01:41:00.000+07:00

The luggage tote has a waitlist that rivals the Hermes Birkin, so if you're looking for one, call the store asap at 214-559-4510 (Singapore).

A little advice: Get the calfskin, better structured.

Runway Report: S/S 2010

2010-12-21T02:55:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST FASHION MAGAZINE

Need a little rendezvous of the past seasons?

Still can't get over those styles?

From flirty dresses and utilitarian separates to ’60s trompe l’oeil and futuristic motocross, the spring/summer 2010 shows which offered looks that were smart, playful, and chic are gorgeously compiled here:

The Corinthian Club

2010-12-20T10:48:00.001+07:00

# 2010 BEST COUNTRY CLUB

Presenting the ever fluctuating Corinthian Club located in the heart of Glasgow... The Glasgow Ship Bank was built in 1843 and ranks high on the city’s most intricate and ornate buildings list. And now, millions of pounds later, the establishment has opened its doors again to become the epitome of classic brilliance and new beauty.

The Corinthian Club features a casino, hotel suites, bars, restaurants, meeting rooms, and press rooms. This grand, Victorian former bank is now all about fine food at affordable prices. Ideally situated in the center of Glasgow, The Corinthian Club is always abuzz with activity.

Enter and you'll find bars to your left and right, above and below - a myriad of bar styles, including 30s cocktail and girlie boutique all feature, each providing something new and unique. We ate in the grand and majestic banking hall, which is now knows as the Tellers Bar and Brasserie. The ceilings soars and is framed by the most amazing cornicing and ornate plasterwork. Modern touches are fused with the building’s original decedent glamor. The restaurant below is replete with beautiful bays and cozy winged seating surrounding a central bar - the lively hubbub is both exciting and welcoming.

The ostentatious Victorian architecture - as well as a host of quirky touches - ensures that The Corinthian Club provides a feast for your eyes as well as your palate. So If you feel like getting dressed up and going to a place where you can have a cocktail, dinner, and then dance -all under one roof, then come here. Enjoy!

Boxed Water

2010-12-19T00:38:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST GREEN DAIRY PRODUCT

Part sustainable water company, part art project, part philanthropic project, and completely curious. Boxed Water Is Better, is a boxed water company.

Started with the simple idea of creating a new bottled water brand that is kinder to the environment and gives back a bit - The Boxed Water found that it shouldn't be bottled at all, but instead, boxed. So they looked to the past for inspiration in the century old beverage container and decided to keep things simple, sustainable, and beautiful.

About 85% of the Boxed Water container is made from a renewable resource, trees, that when harvested in a responsible, managed, and ethical way serve as an amazing renewable resource that benefits the environment even as it's renewed. They ship the boxes flat to their filler which is significantly more efficient compared to shipping empty plastic or glass bottles to be filled.
They really care about the world's water supply. 10% of their profit is donated to world water relief foundations.

I love the idea of drinking water when that helps to plant more trees and protect our forests.

Jane Aldridge of Sea of Shoes

2010-12-18T04:37:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST FASHION BLOGGER

The new front row: Who's got the best seats at Fashion Weeks?

Jane Aldridge Paris, Texas: Who knew the Lone Star State could be so chic? Aldridge, the 17-year-old blogger phenom behind Sea of Shoes, has a wardrobe that could make stylists in the Marais rethink their outfits. She wears a Junya Watanabe flight coat and Givenchy bondage wedges to school (though only when it's a no-uniform day, presumably).

Kanye Approved

Glossy magazines have been tracking Aldridge since at least 2008, but the greatest compliment of all? Getting an e-mail of approval from Mr. West and a plug on his blog in March. From then on, she's the fashion blogs darling! Check out her site!

Robert Downey Jr.

2010-12-17T00:22:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST ACTOR

Hailed by many critics as one of the most brilliant and versatile actors of his generation, Robert Downey Jr. chalked up a formidable onscreen track record that quickly launched the young thesp into the stratosphere.

Although, for a time, Downey's stormy offscreen life and personal problems threatened to challenge his public image, he quickly bounced back and overcame these setbacks, with a continued array of impressive roles on the big and small screens that never sacrificed his audience appeal or affability.

"Robert has a way of making everyone around him feel very special and comfortable," Michelle Monaghan, his costar in Due Date, raves about the 44-year-old. "Whenever I see him, I walk away smiling. Those beautiful brown eyes may have something to do with it."

Chair Couture,

2010-12-16T03:30:00.004+07:00

# 2010 Best {green} Design Inspiration

How to Wake Up in a Field

Each one-of-a kind piece in New York-based Chair Couture's green collection is a bold, contemporary splash of the outdoors. Founder Margaret Elman reupholsters finds with her own nature-inspired recycled polyester and organic cotton fabrics--say sunlight glinting through the trees, dappled water, a field of gently waving dandelions, and grass so lush it looks in need of a mow.

Voila, a bold, modern, nature-inspired collection!

Euphoria, Calvin Klein

2010-12-13T21:00:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST FRAGRANCE

Mysterious beauty, intoxicating glamour
An air of seduction transparent with desire
Arouse the senses, illuminate the dream…

The beautiful fragrance starts with sweet fruits; the pomegranate and persimmon are liberally sugared, and the “lush green accord” adds a kind of synthetic freshness that floats above but does nothing to temper the syrupy sweetness. It moves quickly into the dry down, which is blended floral notes mingling with now-indistinct fruits, the whole doused with a warm vanilla cream laced with patchouli, amber and a hefty dose of musk.

The iconic Euphoria bottle has been rediscovered with a silver shell draped over the shoulders, exposing the signature bottle’s sensuous curves. The color of the fragrance is sheer and elegant, with the sleek champagne interpretation of the outer packaging refined and delicate.

The Cat That Ate The Canary

2010-12-11T22:25:00.000+07:00

# 2010 Best Trend

Miu Miu's Spring Prints

Everybody's cold black heart should slowly turning red for these flighty friends. Whimsical bird prints were seen all over Miu Miu’s Spring runway and if Prada’s doing it, that’s enough reason to overcome ornithophobia. Incorporating bird prints and charms into Spring outfits takes it to soaring new heights.

Mad Cow Restaurant

2010-12-10T19:20:00.002+07:00

# 2010 BEST CONCEPTUAL RESTAURANT

Cuisines: Steakhouse
Neighbourhood: City Centre
330 Georges Street, Sydney 2000, Australia
(02) 9240 3000

Mad Cow might just be the least appealing name for a steakhouse ever, but it’s certainly memorable. Its look speaks of sweetness and light (breaking with the steakhouse clichés and trying something new). The oversized lampshades, all-booth seating and the array of cute little chandeliers and shades are all white or picked out in a very zesty shade of lemon. Pale green carnations and little bunches of hydrangeas adorn the tables.

Back of house, head chef Christopher Whitehead has been meticulous in ensuring that Mad Cow. has something to suit all tastes. Having built the restaurant reputation on the exceptional steak offering, the super heated grill ensures that every steak that leaves the kitchen is cooked to the customer's expectation of perfection.

The team's attention to details, such as having a match wine list personally selected by Filippo L'episcopo (overseen by Gourmet Traveller's Somelier of the year, Franck Moreau) were not missed by the judges at the 2011 SMH Good Food Guide Awards, where Mad Cow received one hat.

for Cover-Girls-Wanna-Be...

2010-12-09T22:43:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST GIFT IDEA

pefect gift for Christmas, the Vogue cover-mirror.

Suri Cruise, Youngest Style Icon

2010-12-08T03:03:00.000+07:00

# 2010 Best Style Icon

Suri Cruise, the daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, is only a tot. And she's already a style icon the world over. Designers are desperate to dress her, and the mini fashionista's £2million wardrobe features custom made clobber from every big label.

Suri has been spotted wearing a Ralph Lauren dress or a Burberry coat or with a white leather Valextra designer bag. She even has a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes! They were custom made for her after a mold was taken of her feet. We wonder if she'll get a new pair every time her feet change sizes.

We never thought we'd be going to a 3-year-old for fashion advice, but we'd probably wear everything Suri Cruise wears if it happened to come in our size. She is officially the hottest tot of the year. Based on cuteness alone, she has become a real star!

Karl Who?

2010-12-07T23:43:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST QUOTE

Personality begins where comparison ends.
-Karl Lagerfeld

Glamorous Gossip Girl

2010-12-06T22:49:00.000+07:00

# 2010 Best TV Series

Why do we love Gossip Girl?

The fashion and drama.

The cat fights and kisses.

They make Mondays so much better.

You know you love me...

xoxo,

Gossip Girl.

♥

Hermes' Dark Fairy Tale

2010-12-05T04:17:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST AD CAMPAIGN

Hermes Fall Winter 2010

For some reasons, Hermes always plays with fairy-tale plots and characters for its campaign. Now it's time to darken up, tighten up and watch Constance Jablonski doing the magic for the Fall Winter 2010 ad campaign. Constance angles for luxury Hermes bags and rides a horse to get the desired Hermes scarf. Pure delight, all immortalized through Paolo Roversi’s lenses.

Alber Elbaz, Dress Whisperer

2010-12-04T22:19:00.000+07:00

# 2010 BEST DESIGNER

In the eight years that Elbaz has been designing for Lanvin, the oldest surviving French fashion house, he has transformed it from a dusty artifact of the past into something influential and prominent. His vision has also started to trickle down to the mass market. {Who doesn't love Lanvin for H&M?}

Who the hell is Alber Elbaz?

Elbaz worries constantly and openly, and there seems to be something fundamental about him in need of comforting. If he is melancholy and heavy, his clothes are joyful and weightless. He often describes his work as “classic with a twist.”

Elbaz was born in Morocco. When he was eight months old, his family, like many other Sephardic Jews at the time, moved to Israel. He left home in 1985 and moved to New York to pursue a career in fashion. Geoffrey Beene hired him as an assistant designer and served as his mentor for seven years.

In 1997, Elbaz moved to Paris to become head designer at Guy Laroche. After Elbaz had spent just over a decade in the business, Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé, recruited him to be head of ready-to-wear for Y.S.L. In November 1999, the Gucci Group, headed by Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole, bought Y.S.L. Two months later, Elbaz was dismissed and Ford was installed as head designer. Elbaz was devastated. Ford both reflected and shaped the culture of the nineties. He made it cool to flaunt. But in our current moment Tom Ford, with his cufflinks that cost as much as a car and his naked-men-on-bearskin-rugs aesthetic, seems distant and comical. Elbaz doesn’t want to define trends. He wants his designs to be timeless.

Elbaz and his dreams: Lanvin

Like Elbaz, Jeanne Lanvin sought to design fashion that transcended seasonal fads. She found founded her label in 1889, starting out as a milliner and later dressing Paris’s upper class. The company built a name with ultrafeminine clothing, marked by elaborate trimmings like embroidery and beading, as well as its popular fragrances.

After a period of decline at the end of the twentieth century, Lanvin found new financial and critical success with the 2001 arrival of designer Alber Elbaz, who is frequently lauded for his technical skill and innate sense of what women want to wear. The Israeli designer has made Lanvin one of fashion's most coveted labels.

Today, it’s the oldest French fashion house in operation. And while it encompasses menswear, it is best loved among editors and celebs for exquisitely made womenswear. Duchesse satin, cocktail-length frocks (often with one shoulder), dressed-up cigarette pants, and volume experimentation are signatures.

Pictures via The New Yorker