Dirty|Sexy|Pretty|Fun

Who is the most photogenic woman in the world? Who is able to overshadow Dennis Hopper's last interview?
No guesses.
This is the upcoming Vanity Fair cover and read excepts here.

At least in the form of skirts. While leather skirts remind me of the late Eighties/early Nineties, contemporary designs are worthy of consideration...such as this Louis Vuitton number. It doesn't resemble a leather skirt, but it is. I'd say that this is a wonderful optical illusion and a far cry from the pencil-slim leather skirts of yesteryear.

I don't know what more to say about the Hermes Birkin handbags that no one else has said before. Sure, Victoria Beckham collects them. Other celebrities deface them and they come at a hefty price. There is usually a two year waiting list, although I'm a little doubtful when I see brand new celebrities obtain theirs within this time frame.
To find out more about this budget and fun Birkin concept, visit here,but I suspect that this too will be targeted by the legal team at Hermes. Anything that features an original design or concept, in image or similar form, tends to be a copyright breach.

Image via

I don't know what it is about Lady GaGa. At first, she seemed like a relatively inspirational type but now, it seems as though celebrity is messing with her mind, for what else can be said about her view on drinking water on stage:

"I don't even drink water onstage in front of anybody, because I want them to focus on the fantasy of the music."

Well honey, let me tell you something. I saw Yusuf Islam last night, singer/songwriter extraordinairre and he didn't allow his ego to get in the way of water.
As photographs attest, Lady GaGa forgoes matters of health and safety for fashion. Highly superficial...little substance. The above images are at Heathrow airport, where it was reported she had taken a fall and no, it's not a glam look. In fact, she could have avoided it by wearing safer shoes. At the moment she is walking the fine line between attention seeker and fashion tragic. 
Besides, Victoria Beckham did these shoes quite a while ago. I wish Lady GaGa would focus more on her music instead of trying to one-up herself.
There are reports of her considering using real cadavers for her shows.
How far will GaGa go before the music shifts to the background?
Porn?

These two images are from the Dolce and Gabbana for their fall/winter 2010 campaign.

The verdict: who doesn't use Photoshop?

Even so, it has to be said that Madonna has a distinctive presence in any fashion campaign. Even though she is a world superstar she does have that down to earth sophistication that most women can identify with. Sure, there is photoshop, but I think that the Julia Roberts/Lancome advert is worse in terms of it's 'normalisation' effect on Julia's face.

It's obvious that Lady GaGa's style is synonymous with weird. Some days I wonder if she is moving toward becoming the female version of Marilyn Manson.
This cover for Rolling Stone isn't totally lewd or anything, but I don't find it that appealing. What is the fascination with violence? Why the need for strategically placed machine guns? I found the sparking brassiere in the Bad Romance filmclip funny, but this cover...I don't know.
You decide.

Above from the Wilson Ranieri spring/summer 2010-2011 collection via Sao Paulo Fashion Week

If ever there was a mandatory item of clothing for every woman, it is the LBD or the little black dress. The thought of having a regular LBD blog post came to me as I was turfing out some old clothes and realising that I didn't have any decent LBD's. Sure, I can't afford the above variety, but the above dress can offer incentives and ideas for women who are nifty with their sewing machines. There are various dresses, spanning casual to formal wear, but the best kind is that which enables a woman to dress it up or down- a flexible piece of clothing that is cut along classic lines that doesn't date. Such dresses are wonderful for first dates but also work for cocktail hour.
The dress below is more extravagant than usual, and a hefty price. It's by Valentino and is awfully pretty.

Dress via Net-a-Porter

Is it just me or does the kitty look terrified?



Pic: Troyt Coburn/Sunday Magazine

Remember old Hollywood films depicting aging actresses playing characters obsessed with their lost youth?
Photoshop, and its creators at Adobe, should receive a humanitarian award for allaying the crinkling effects of age. But at what cost? Looking alien-ish?
While the above advert may seem all right, on closer inspection, there is something almost hideous about it.

Isn't she pretty? Marion Cotillard is an example that is seldom seen in Hollywood, where most young starlets are only known for their looks and the people they sleep with. I've yet to see Nine, but if you haven't seen Marion in the Edith Piaf biopic, La Vie En Rose, then you're missing out.
Via Vogue
Image: Mario Testino

I'm not sure how larger dogs fare. If you own a St Bernard or a Great Dane, you may have issues if you purchase this luxury doggie sofa, but it's quite interesting and described by the manufacture as being:

Designed in Paris, it is hand-shaped by french craftsmen before being sent anywhere in the world to reach your ‘Favorite’ companion.

The contemporary design of this sofa will bring any interior to perfection, for masters' greatest pleasure.

Each sofa comes with a high quality finish, unrivaled softness, fake-fur cushion with removable garment.

Judging by the terms 'French craftsmen' and limited edition (which appears on the official site) -the sofa is limited to 100 individually signed pieces, the price tag isn't anything to sniff at (pardon the pun). You can just picture this sofa being used by your average squillionaire socialite or celebrity.
The Sof'a is made by La Favorite.

Made is about designer furnishings without the hefty price tag. This is accomplished by eliminating the middle man - the retail outlet (department store rentals, etc) and the like - enabling a further 50-80% cut in the cost to the consumer.
The great thing is that you can track your order.

...wonderful about themselves less than a year after giving birth to their babies? In Heidi's case, baby number four?
Here is Heidi Klum on the cover of German GQ. I'm wondering how much of this is Photoshop ingenuity, so as to not ruin the male fantasy of model perfection.
It's a nice shot of her. But do I believe it?
Hmmm

Yes, it's all about Armani, yet another Armani underwear advertising campaign that will literally be blown up into distracting billboards. Thank god I don't drive. I'm betting Giorgio Armani gets his thrills. Who wouldn't?
The latest ad campaign is enough to make David Beckham weep bitter tears.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo fit or what?

It's not enough that technology requires financial respect and, sometimes, outlays, but luxury electronics are a growing industry. If the above iPad is anything to go by, this industry won't meet a swift death.
The above iPad weighs 2.1 kilograms and is made from a single sheet of 22 carat gold (which I think is a little too soft. 18 is much better, but hey, what do I know? I've only owned 22 carat bracelets).
The above delight is also encrusted with diamonds...to the tune of 25.5 carats. It's not too shabby and if you like this delightfully inflated iPad you can view other equally delectable gadgets at Stuart Hughes. While you're there, check out the 24 carat gold BMX bike.
These are clearly items for those with celebrity budgets....
Ah, to dream...
Then again, it would be a pain to have to retain a permanent security team in order to use one of these gadgets.

I don't know about you, but I seldom see unchewed pen lids so seeing one as a piece of jewelry is quite interesting. But if a chewed pen lid is your preference, you also have that option as well.
This pen is made by Chewed by Tuesday, and is handmade. In fact, all pens are handmade and individually numbered.

For more information, visit Chewed by Tuesday.

Image: Chewed by Tuesday

Not all celebrities hire stylists and thank goodness, because it all becomes a little boring. So what if Helena Bonham Carter is wearing a corset over a dress!
Sometimes I wonder if J K Rowling was actually inspired by Helena when she thought up Bellatrix Lestrange.

Image: Wenn

I've noticed a trend for over 40 celebrities in black and white photospreads. I don't want to be mean to say that it minimizes flaws. It's not exactly that. Black and white also adds to old world glamor as well.
Either way, this cover shot of Kylie is quite elegant, and it has to be said that Kylie has improved with age.

For more on her upcoming interview, visit BlackBook magazine.

T-Shirts are a staple of everyday life, so why not make them fun? Like the above cheeky print?

Get it here: NatalieDee via Sharing Machine

Auction via Christie's, June 30 2010.

Where fashion houses are concerned, Longchamp is quite young, being established in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain who sold leather covered pipes in his family's tobacco store. The horse logo was chosen later, as homage to the famed racetrack.
As a brand, Longchamp's popular is established. There isn't a day when I don't see a pliage bag in the street. Handy, stylish and colourful, these bags have become an affordable luxury for many women. I wouldn't describe Longchamp's style as conservative and relatively unchanging, a la Hermes birkin and Kelly bags. It's innovative and now, relatively open to bringing 'celebrity' designers on board.
Kate Moss is Longchamp's ambassador, apparently lending her designing skills or suggestions (?) to present an interesting array of bags.
As for my taste. I'm liking the colourful carryall in the bottom left image.

Transformer's (now ex-Transformer's) vixen, Megan Fox's recent interview and photographic spread in June/July's Interview magazine is creating headlines, as it is expected to. Many have noted its mannequin eroticism.
In the interview, she discusses her experience with that heartless bitch that is...
Fame.

Often times we forget that today's celebrities started somewhere or, lo and behold, lived ordinary lives before they became 'extraordinary'. There are many things I can say about the negative aspect of celebrity culture. No, not everyone will be a celebrity. If that was the case, everyone reaching celebrity status, then we'd be bored with ourselves. There wouldn't be any novelty. But hey, this isn't a philosophical blog.
The recent billboard, part of a youth incentive, enables us to appreciate that even J.Lo was a relatively ordinary girl, like most celebrities are at some point in their lives. As to the question of them being ordinary afterward, even in their private lives? As I said...not a philosophy blog.

Alice Springs does more than document the appearance of celebrities and anonymous contemporaries; she captures their charisma, their aura. Her eye for people is mostly concentrated on people’s faces. Occasionally she narrowly frames her subjects in a half- or three-quarters’ length portrait, where the hands receive special attention as well. It might be that her deep knowledge of acting helps, how to simultaneously look at and beyond the human façade. This is particularly evident in her double portraits, in which the protagonists’ interaction is perfectly staged. - Helmut Newtown Foundation/Alice Springs Exhibition

Image: Alice Springs

Beginning a blog is never easy, especially a blog with the above title but who better to blog about, who personifies the gist of this blog better than the person in the below video clip? She ticks all the boxes. She is a celebrity. She is edgy and, depending on who you talk to, has a strange style that has become her trademark.

There has been a lot of talk and controversy related to the clip of her latest single, Alejandro. Everything from bad taste to 'blasphemy' has been mentioned. Apart from this, the music does take a while to start: there are stylishly dark sets, a funeral procession and a Carmen-esque declaration.




I have to say that it's a catchy song - typical GaGa - but the beginning reminds me of Ace of Base's "I saw the sign..." (I'm embarrassed to remember that song!). The scene with GaGa in beige/flesh colored underwear and a short blonde do, playing the dominatrix is very Madonna or, to be more polite, plays homage to Madonna? This song would really fit right in with a Eurovision song entry.