Sequins...Are they cheap and tacky or a great way to add glamour to a look? No - they may not part of the usual look I rep, but sequins ARE a great way to let out the glamazon in everygirl and a big trend on the runway for Fall. I love how you can mix/match it to create dimension in an outfit a la Richard Chai's Fall '08 RTW show. As well, some looks from Proenza Schouler's Fall '08 RTW. Even Vera Wang brought out a little bling for Fall.

Richard Chai Fall 2008 RTW photo from Style.com, Photograph by Marcio Madeira

Proenza Schouler Fall 2008 RTW photo from Style.com, Photograph by Marcio Madeira

Proenza Schouler Fall 2008 RTW photo from Style.com, Photograph by Marcio Madeira

Vera Wang Fall 2008 RTW photo from Style.com, Photograph by Marcio Madeira

For the more brazen fashionistas you could go full on - a la Sophie Hulme

Image from Sophie Hulme.com

It kind of reminds me of urban chainmail/armour - definitely a standout look. I'm also loving these Alexander McQueen sequined leggings - that you could layer under a look - all for the staggeringly low price of $2345.00 (somehow I wouldn't be surprised if American Apparel comes up with a pair before fall actually hits).

Image from AlexanderMcQueen.com

Posted by JACQUIE

Printemps, one of the large 'grand magasins' in Paris, is on it's way to becoming one of the top 5 luxury department stores in the world. This summer, Printemps has transformed themselves to include all the elements of a luxury hotel - a grand entrance lobby, fabulous restaurants, and of course a concierge service to fulfill any customer's request. Customers can also take advantage of the Ambience Cafe del Mar, located on the rooftop of Printemps with a full panoramic view of Paris. Also this summer, the windows of Printemps will represent 9 of the world famous Parisian hotels - Fouquet's Barriere, Meurice, Plaza Athenee, Ritz Carlton, Grand Hotel Intercontinental, Bristol, Trianon Versailles, Lancaster, Park Hyatt Vendome, L'Hotel, and L'Hotel Amour. Each window will include a fashion silhouette by top designers such as Cavalli, Lanvin, Valentino, and Yves Saint Laurent. By linking together luxury hotels with fashion, Printemps is truly celebrating all that is wonderful about Paris !

View from rooftop

Ambiance Cafe del Mar on the rooftop of Printemps

Womens Store Windows

Womens Store Windows Images courtesy Printemps Paris
Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT, Paris Bureau

When I first saw the new V Magazine/ Gisele Bundchen editorial and cover (or should I say COVERS as there are 3 options to choose from) I thought:
A) Gisele is unstoppable
B) Who ever styled this is major
C) Both

Okay, so we know Gisele, but the stylist I had to investigate...(your saying 'But Gisele is wearing nothing but ripped jeans!' and I am saying 'Ya, and they look beyond amazing') The name is Nicola Formichetti and if you have any interest in youth culture/British alt fashion publications, then you have seen his stuff. His work has been featured in Dazed, Another Magazine, Another Man, V and Vogue Hommes Japan. He is also the creative force behind the Japanese high-street brand Uniqlo and has styled ultra cool celebs like Kim Gordon, Ashton Kutcher, Samantha Morton and Kelis for the campaigns. He is a seriously strong stylist with an eye for cool and a mandate of supporting up-and-coming talent. Also a fan of HIS blog, not gonna lie...

Gisele Bundchen in V54 Magazine
Photographs by Mario Testino
Styled by Nicola Formichetti

Posted by JESSE

Vena Cava is an amazing New York label co-designed by Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai. They started the label on the floor of their apartment and now are carried in tons of stores and their stuff has appeared on the uber fashionable Gossip Girl.

Vena Cava Top Worn by Serena on "The Wild Brunch" Episode

Now the girls are Finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (keeping company with Richard Chai and Alexander Wang). Here's a look at their ADORABLE application video - it's a stop motion movie by Parisi, and stars Arden Wohl. They have cute little sections (my fav is eccentric glamour) and looks from their past and present collections. Enjoy...

Posted by JESSE

Elmer Olsen is an AMAZING agent based in Toronto with an incredible eye for talent. You MAY remember him from Fashion File's coverage of Bootcamp 2 Bigtime last season. Bootcamp is a chance for Elmer's fresh faces to come together and be seen by some of the industry's biggest international agencies(IMG/ DNA/ Women/ Supreme/ Trump ...the list goes on). This is only it's second season, but given Elmer's track record of stellar model management/discovery (a list that includes Daria Werbowy, Alana Zimmer, Taryn Davidson, Amanda Laine and last season's Bootcamp Star Tara Gill) it is no surprise that everyone was anxious to see if Elmer could produce yet another big model.

Daria Werbowy in David Yurman Campaign, Photo Models.com

Alana Zimmer Numero 89 Cover Photograph by Horst Diekgerdes

Taryn Davidson German Vogue January 2008

Amanda Laine from vmagazine.com

Tara Gill Photograph Greg Kessler from Style.com

The year's event took place late last week in two parts. First the models hit the Metropolitan Hotel to be prepped for the arrival of the international agents. They underwent seminars on fitness and beauty, and also got some advice from Elmer's seasoned veterans. There were a few girls that caught our eyes early on...

Rising Star Taryn Davidson spoke to aspiring models

Fresh from opening Alexander McQueen's Fall 2008 show, Amanda Laine also offered some words of advice

Elmer Olsen with new prospects Elise and Eunique

One to watch - Elise

Fresh Face - Eunique

The second part of Bootcamp plays out on the runway. It was a presentation of Elmer's finds, attended by all of the international agents.

Amanda Laine showed up to offer her support (while looking AMAZING)

Amanda Laine

Photographer Miguel Jacob

EO's Tessa (right)

Models wait their turn to hit the runway

Eunique

Male Model Kevin

Elise hits the runway

Bootcamp 2008 Prospects

Posted by JESSE
Photographs by JESSE, HAZEL, JACQUIE

Top Fives and Best Ofs and Most Fashionable /Glamorous/Toasted/Intelligent/Stunning/Suave/Rich/ Awesome Ever! lists are everywhere these days, but why is it - and this goes especially for the ones that skew more toward the superficial - that most of the aforementioned lists are shrouded in estrogen? I understand that women tend to be bigger patrons of clothing and makeup and laser hair removal, but is it really necessary to exclude men entirely? Who's to say that there shouldn't be a list of more male-centric topics, like haircuts that brought about irrevocable change to the world as we know and love it? As such, I thought I would take this opportunity to pioneer that very list, or at least its crowning achievement.

Remember The Rachel? Of course you do. (For those of you who answered 'no', there is no hope for you) Well, The Clooney (or The Caesar - they are interchangeable, as far as I'm concerned) was its smarter, sexier, more cosmopolitan cousin.

Now I admit that I may be somewhat biased due to my sweeping adoration of George Clooney, or maybe I've been hypnotised by his trademark head bobbing, but it is my belief that this haircut single-handedly launched George to superstardom. Some empirical evidence: ER's second season (1995-1996) was its highest-rated to date, routinely drawing over 40 million viewers a week. 1995 also happened to be the year The Caesar made its world debut. Coincidence? You be the judge.

Many actors over the years have tried to replicate The Caesar's magical powers through imitation, up to and including Matthew Perry and Pacey Witter aka George Clooney's Replacement If He Were Ever Inadvertently Killed in a Freak Gasoline Fight Accident, but few also possessed Clooney's mix of sophistication, sex appeal and self-deprecating charisma, all of which banded together to steal the hearts of many unsuspecting women.

So next time Clooney is sunbathing on his yacht on Lake Como or using $100 bills as Kleenex, he might consider sending that loveable military general a posthumous thank you note.

For those of you who remain unconvinced, riddle me this: would Clooney be the man he is today if his hair still looked liked this?

I rest my case.

Posted by KATHERINE

Bikinis, palm trees, and sand in... Paris? Just in time for the hot weather, the 7th annual Paris Plage kicked off on Monday, July 21st. This manmade beach sprawls along the Seine and could easily be mistaken for a real one (with the exception of an ocean of course!) Since all Parisians are at the ACTUAL beach, tourists and out-of-towners crowd the banks of the Seine to soak up the sun and for a quick dip under a fountain. It's no Mediterranean Sea, but it certainly cools you off!

Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT

I have a whole new respect for Diesel. Personally, this company's jeans are not the kind of denim I gravitate towards. When I think of Diesel, young attractive bridge and tunnel boys and girls come to mind- partying in their mall wear somewhere on the lower west side on a Saturday night. However it seems that Diesel's Maestro Renzo Rosso is parlaying some of that denim fortune into acquiring the world's leading designer labels- most recently with his purchase of controlling shares of Viktor & Rolf. "Only the brave appeal to us" is Rosso's motto and, with existing shares in houses like Maison Martin Margiela, Dsquared2, and Sophia Kokosalaki, one can see Rosso is a man of his word.

In a time where commercialism seems to be winning the war in fashion, it's a relief to see that some of the big dogs recognize a need for auteurism- regardless of their profit margins. I would, however, keep a close eye on these lines to see if any stream-lining takes place in terms of art direction, advertising, production or distribution. As much as I would like to paint Mr Rosso as a saviour, I fear this is the kind of man who built an empire not solely on good intentions.

Posted by ADRIAN MAINELLA

"When I asked her to tell me stories, she would say, 'Learn to read.' And when I wanted to tell her one, she would come back with: 'You may be four years old, but I am not.'" (Karl Lagerfeld, sharing memories of his mother in "Empreintes", an hour-long profile of the designer to air on France 5 in October)

Given the vast breeding-ground for crazy this kind of nurturing would create in a garden slug, I think we can cut Karl some slack for his super-starched collars, bizarro speeches on anorexic people vs. anorexic clothes, and his ubiquitous Diet Coke butler.

Posted by SAM

Kanye West has unveiled his new custom-made Louis Vuitton backpack on his blog. Apparently it took over a year of collaboration between Kan and Louis Vuitton for this one-of-a-kind (that means not available to ANYONE else... ever) backpack to be manufactured. I wonder what Uncle Karl would do for ME if I became the self-proclaimed "Chanel-Mademoiselle"?

Image from Kanye West Blog

Posted by HAZEL

I saw a woman on the subway today curling her eyelashes with a spoon. After coming to (post rage black-out) I had to stop myself from grabbing that spoon and gagging myself with it. I went to say something but realized my voice was trembly and worried that the first word out of my mouth would be "Girrrrrl..." a la Jackee from the show 227. After thinking for a moment I realized; maybe I should be applauding this woman for her ingenuity. Maybe this was a revolution in beauty application. The child in me remembered Ariel from A Little Mermaid brushing her hair with a fork. But Ariel was a MERMAID with a crab for a best friend. The spoon is not a beauty utensil. I mean, what's next- blush application with a butter knife? 'Spooning' is beyond a beauty don't, I don't care how busy, how rushed, how behind you are. Somewhere in the world Pat McGrath is weeping. It is a sad, sad day for beauty.

Posted by JESSE

With so much talk about eco-this and renewable-that, I got to thinking...the modeling world is so NOT green. It goes through girls faster than your can say Denisa Dvorakova. That is why I was D-lighted to see Daria grab the cover and editorial of French Vogue's August Issue. She is such a flawless model, so easy and constant. Maybe that's why she is being inducted into Canada's Walk Of Fame in September. Don't worry, yours truly will surely be there to snap Daria in all of her glory (though my shots probably won't be as great as these by Inez & Vinoodh).

Daria Werbowy in Paris Vogue August 2008
Photography by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Photos from Models.com, courtesy IMG Models

Posted by JESSE

Fashion File spent a couple of days with the AMAZING Coco Rocha a while back and here is what I learned:
1. Yes, she really is THAT nice.
2. Beyonce has a stage persona (named Sasha no less) Coco has a photo shoot persona. And it is FIERCE.
3. The girl can pose. In fact if she and Tyra had a pose off, Coco would win. Hands down.

Check out our Coco Rocha Fashion File segments and the Fashion Magazine August Cover which drops today. Also, have you seen Coco's new YSL shot...? Tres Coco.

Coco Rocha in Fashion Magazine August 2008
Photograph by Miguel Jacob

Coco Rocha YSL Beaute Fall/Winter 2008 from Models.com, courtesy Elite New York
Photograph by Solve Sundsbo

Posted by JESSE

We've wished for it... We've hoped and waited with bated breath...And that glorious day has finally arrived! The most iconic pair of sparkly shoes ever to grace ANYONE's feet is about to get the royal treatment - from SHOE royalty, that is. According to Thursday's WWD, Warner Brothers is honouring the 70th anniversary of the film "The Wizard of Oz" by asking the Who's Who of shoe designers to put their stamp on Dorothy's ruby slippers. Louboutin... Blahnik... Choo... and everyone else from Alberta Ferretti to Giuseppe Zanotti have signed on to make their versions of the sparkly red shoes. Apparently they will be auctioned off after NYC Fashion Week in September, with the proceeds benefitting the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
From now until then I'll be clicking my heels together wishing for the funds to procure a pair of these lovelies...and trying to find something to wear with red crystal shoes.

Posted by SAM

So I am beyond a bit of a sucker for any kind of television show which involves models. I let loose a triumphant cheer when Whitney Thompson became the first plus-size girl to win America's Next Top Model (Cycle 10). I sobbed for a solid week when Models Inc was cancelled. Yes, I watch The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency reality show, I devoured the Next Models show hosted by Petra Nemcova, and yup- I am re-watching reruns of Make Me A Supermodel, with no less joy than the first time around. If you are still with me then you:
A) Love Models.
B) Deserve a Model-y reward
This is the opening to the Greatest Modeling show of ALL TIME. It's called Paper Dolls. It lasted ten seconds before being cancelled. The cast includes Dack Rambo (!) which IS the most amazing name of all-time, the utterly fashionable Lloyd Bridges, Mimi Rogers (three years before she wed Tom Cruise), Lauren Hutton, Morgan Fairchild as Racine (the name of my first born), and Introducing...Nicollette Sheridan (she's the one in the over-sized hat wearing too much make-up). Don't ask me how I found this clip, but thank me later (it'll be the best two minutes of your life, I promise...)

Posted by JESSE

Some people do not age well. Kate Moss is not one of those people. She lost the 'heroin chic' thing and opted simply for chic on the cover of the August Age Issue of American Vogue. Well played Kate.

Kate Moss in American Vogue August 2008
Photograph by Mario Testino

Posted by JESSE

The queen bee of fashion -Ms. Anna Wintour was spotted wearing this Carolina Herrera dress to three events, in less than a month no less (in Milan at the Ferragamo show, Wimbledon, and finally at the Chanel couture show)! Yes, different shoes, different accessories -but same trademark bob and sunnies... For us fashion plebs, this is the equivalent of attending three parties, with the same people -wearing the same outfit! I know that with her entourage in tow, the words packing light are meaningless to her. So what does this mean to the rest of us?

Photographs from Word Press.com

Photograph from Style.com, Photography by Don Ashby

Posted by JACQUIE

Since all of us here at Fashion File are still on the topic of Men's fashion week, (and on a final note) I just had this to add... did anyone else notice how feminine the men's collections were this season? I mean as a girl, I felt like I could personally wear most of it! Although I'm a fan of wearing menswear, on the flipside, I don't think any self-respecting (straight) man should be walking the streets in anything like this:

Alexander McQueen Mens Spring 2009 from men.style.com, Photograph by Marcio Madeira

Alexander McQueen Mens Spring 2009 from men.style.com, Photograph by Marcio Madeira

Givenchy Mens Spring 2009 from men.style.com, Photography Courtesy of Givenchy

Lanvin Mens Spring 2009 from men.style.com, Photograph by Marcio Madeira

Prada Mens Spring 2009 from men.style.com, Photograph by Marcio Madeira

Posted by HAZEL

Duh?! Didn't the CNP heads do their research before putting the severely dull Gwyneth Paltrow on their May 2008 issue? Conde Nast Portfolio reports that their May issue is the worst selling issue this year, with a mere 310,000 newsstand copies sold!

Gwyneth Paltrow in American Vogue May 2008
Photograph by Steven Klein

Posted by HAZEL

...Stop being ridiculous!

No one of sound mind or sculpted body (which, let's face it, should be a disclaimer on slithery metallic stirrup pants) is EVER going to pay hard-earned money for these eye sores. This is beyond bad fashion and veers close to being a disservice to humanity...
And you wonder why so many people leave the house looking ridiculous (there's that word again!)? It's because they think that famous people dress like this, but they don't. And neither do not-famous people. And neither should Lindsay Lohan. And that's all I have to say about that. Phew! I feel better.

Images from Shop Intuition.com
Posted by SAM

Roxy is having a MAJOR search right now to find their first-ever Spokesmodel. She must be "daring, confident, naturally beautiful, fun and alive". Boathouse in Toronto recently held a huge casting to select Toronto's regional winner. With the expert eyes of Elite Model Management, the SUPER-cute Maddi McGowen was chosen. The BIG winner will be relaying the season's hottest trends & style tips to roxy.com viewers worldwide! Here are some pics of Maddi and the Toronto finalists.

***Correction- Original entry stated the winner would receive $10,000. This prize is for an online contest. Check out followyourheart.roxy.com for more details on how to win!

Photographs Courtesy Elite Model Management
Posted by JESSE

In an earlier blog post SAM vented her frustration over ALL the Celebs that go to Mens Fashion Week while the ready-to-wear collections in certain cities remain star-less (Milan). Here's more evidence to make her case.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers was among the first row attendees at Galliano.

Camera-shy Kanye West was at Dior Homme wearing a very futuristic hoodie. Backstage after the show, Kanye zipped-up the hoodie to take pictures and greet people. A very original way of expressing his discretion while still saying "I'm Kanye West".

Karl Lagerfeld, who's been a big supporter of Dior Homme ever since the Hedi Slimane days, congratulated new Dior Homme designer Kris Van Assche after the show. "Karl was very excited about it, and said he particularly liked the work on the back of the shirts and jackets", said Van Assche.

Posted and Photographs by FLORENT GILLES

...But we had some more photos we thought we'd share. Enjoy!

Galliano was at it again for his Spring/Summer 2009 Mens show- with the help of legendary make-up artist Pat McGrath and long-time collaborator Julien d'Ys, who put together the most sophisticated hair of the mens collections. The spirit of the hair and make-up was a crazy mix of pastel dandy-ness with cotton-candy hair puffs, techno-tribal inspiration AND plastic hair stuffed with empty cans cascading down the back of the models.

And what do you think of these Lego colored shoes ?

Photographs by FLORENT GILLES
Posted by JILLIAN BABBITT

James Hampson, recently rated model of the week on models.com, is one hot commodity right now in the fashion world. Born in Surrey, England, the 21 year old Brit was discovered this year at a music festival. Only having been in the business for five months, James had a Prada exclusive on the runway in Milan, was in the Lanvin, Kenzo, and Armand Basi shows this summer in Paris, and just finished a photo shoot for the magazine L'Officiel. That's not all James has going on though. He's graduating with a degree in property development and wants to be a quantity surveyor.
The Fashion File team first caught up with James backstage at Lanvin and we love his down to earth personality and zest for life (not to mention his big blue eyes and oh so adorable smile!) This guy is definitely one to look out for.

Backstage at Lanvin (centre)

Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT, Paris Bureau

Thursday July 3rd, Chinese designer Qui Hao was chosen from a group of ten finalists to win the inaugural Woolmark Prize. The ceremony was held at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and designer Sonia Rykiel "the queen of knits" was this year's official patron. This award, which is given to an up-and-coming, cutting edge designer, is meant to help young talent get a leg up in the fashion industry and provides the winner support of up to $100,000 and the opportunity to sell their designs at Colette, a mega-trendy store in Paris.

Designs on display in the Palais de Tokyo

Designer Sonia Rykiel

Winner Qiu Hao (far left) with Sonia Rykiel (right)

One of Hao's winning designs

Posted and Photographs by ELIZABETH PANTALEO, Paris bureau

Fashion File photos from the Valentino Fall 2008 Couture show held on Wednesday July 2nd at 8 Place Vendome. This was the first couture collection for Valentino's new designer Alessandra Facchinetti.

At the venue

Backstage beauty

Designer Alessandra Facchinetti backstage with models

Designer Alessandra Facchinetti

Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT

Fashion File photos from the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2008 Haute Couture show on Wednesday July 2nd at 325 Rue Saint Martin.

Janet Jackson being interviewed

Anna Wintour front row

Designer Jean Paul Gaultier

Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT

Fashion File photos from the Givenchy Show held on Tuesday July 1st at 15 Rue de L'ecole de Medecine.

Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT

Fashion File pictures shot at the Christian Lacroix Fall 2008 Haute Couture Show held at the Georges Pompidou Center on Tuesday July 1st.

Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT

Tuesday July 1st -To mark their 75th anniversary, Lacoste teamed up with Visionaire to create a limited edition line of t-shirts. To celebrate this event with a splash, a "wet and wild" boat party was held on the Seine, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. I talked to Canadian model Coco Rocha who is one of the faces of the custom made t-shirts. She was enthusiastic about the eternal wearability of the Lacoste polo shirt. Standing on the upper deck, Coco told me, "Fashion isn't always necessary to be in that haute couture dress...I can wear a cute pair of jeans from Balenciaga, from Rag and Bone, wear a cute Lacoste and you can look haute couture without being uncomfortable."

Model Coco Rocha

Make-up Artist James Kaliardos

Cecilia Dean

Marking the start of France's 6 month presidency of the EU, the Eiffel Tower will light up blue with yellow stars for the next 2 months

Mark Ronson with girlfriend (and model) Daisy Lowe

Celeb Stylist Rachel Zoe

DJ Lady Bunny, with Fashion File Interns (left, Elizabeth Pantaleo and right, Jillian Babbitt)

Posted by Madeleine Czigler
Photographs by Jillian Babbitt

Paris Haute Couture Week continues. Exclusive Fashion File photos from Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2008 on Tuesday.

Model Claudia Schiffer attends show

Actor Patricia Arquette attends show

Chanel show set

Model Sebastien wearing yellow vest in support of Lagerfeld's car safety campaign in France

Model Sasha P.

Designer Karl Lagerfeld

Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT, Paris Bureau

Here are a look at the exclusive photos taken by Fashion File at the Dior Haute Couture Fall 2008 Collection on Monday.

Outside the Musee Rodin where the show was held

Claudia Schiffer Arrives

Anna Piaggi Arrives

Make-up Artist Pat McGrath

Backstage Beauty

Model Coco Rocha

Model Linda V.

Model Catherine McNeil

Model Caroline Trentini

Show Opener

Designer John Galliano

Posted and Photographs by JILLIAN BABBITT