Models Vs Celebrities

DESPITE Madonna's return for Dolce & Gabbana (read the full story here), it seems models are winning over celebrities in the coming season's campaigns - with almost all major luxury brands casting seasoned fashion faces.

"Actresses are fantastic, but they're not models and it's not easy," YSL's Stefano Pilati - who selected Vogue cover girl Daria Werbowy for this season's images - explained. "What I need to focus on is an attitude, and this comes from a great, experienced model. Actresses have an attitude, but will never be the fashion attitude. To me, fashion photography is with a model; otherwise, it's a portrait."

"I think it's a very contemporary approach," Gucci creative director Frida Giannini - who chose Raquel Zimmermann again for the label's winter campaign - told WWD. "The other issue with celebrities is that they are characters who are often associated with a certain film. I prefer a strong, generic face that's not related to any world — whether that be music or Hollywood."

Rumours abound that the Louis Vuitton autumn/winter campaign, photographed by Steven Meisel in New York recently, will feature Christy Turlington, Karen Elson and Natalia Vodianova, whilst Balenciaga's advertising will feature 10 models this season, including Elson and Stella Tennant. Cavalli opted for Gisele, because she is "part model, part celebrity - and she is very special," Eva Cavalli revealed, whilst Karl Lagerfeld cast models rather than celebrities in his campaigns for Chanel, Fendi, and for his eponymous line.

Vogue Korea with Gisele - May 2010

McQueen's collections

WHERE to see McQueen's final collection in real life? Don't miss a trip to Matches come the summer, where the autumn/winter collections on offer will be as much of a fashion lesson as they will constitute an irresistible shopping trip.

Also available will McQueen's red brocade coat as well as an extensive selection of the final collection from him - that didn't appear on the catwalk in Paris - and the best from Antonio Berardi.

Not A Ring On It

FOLLOWING a brief flurry of rumours circulating among online news this morning, there are no wedding plans on the horizon as yet for Naomi Campbell. According to a report on the Daily Mail website, Campbell's boyfriend Vladislav Doroninhad had supposedly leaked details - including that Dasha Zhukova would be bridesmaid - to Russian website life.ru. A spokesperson for the model confirmed to VOGUE.COM this morning that all of these rumours were untrue.

The Marigay McKee Interview - Highlights

Watch the interview here

Supermodel No More

CHRISTY TURLINGTON may be one of the models who the term supermodel was coined for - but nowadays she'd rather be known for things other than her beauty.

"I don't really think of myself as a supermodel," Turlington said. "I think my reputation and the things I've done in the time since I was in my early Twenties has proven to people that I take issues seriously and I don't really spend time with people who might think otherwise."

"Daring Di"

THE DRESS credited with turning a shy Diana Spencer in to a worldwide fashion phenomenon is set to go under the hammer. The black dress, by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, was worn by a 19-year-old Diana to her first official appearance after her engagement to Prince Charles - and earned her the tabloid nickname "Daring Di" for its low neckline and bare shoulders.

"The transformation was incredible," Elizabeth Emanuel told the Daily Mail. "She arrived [to try it on] looking like the nursery school teacher she was, but now she looked like a movie star. We hadn't considered the fact that when Diana bent over - as she would have to when getting out of the car - she would show quite a lot of cleavage. We just thought she looked fabulous."

Diana returned the dress to its creators to be altered after she lost weight but the Emanuels decided, due to the dramatic nature of the changes required, it would be easier to make her a new one in a smaller size and placed the original in storage.

The sale will also include the oyster pink chiffon Emanuel blouse which she wore for her engagement portrait with Lord Snowdon, original designs and toiles for her bridal gown and bridesmaid dresses, the layered tulle petticoat she wore for fittings and wedding rehearsals at St Paul's Cathedral, a duplicate sequined veil and a photographic record of the making of the bridal gown. The collection ends with designs for Princess Diana's official tours to Venice 1984 and the Middle East in 1986.

Dawn Of Dusk

INDIAN Vogue's latest issue is tackling colour prejudice within the country, with a cover promoting darker skinned models. Under the headline The Dawn Of Dusk five bikini-clad models, including Londoner Gia Johnson Singh, aim to dispel the prevailing belief in the sub-continent that pale skin equals beauty.

"Every generation has its share of beauty myths. Perhaps it is time to bust this one," the editorial says. "Time to say that as a magazine we love, and always have loved, the gorgeous colour of Indian skin...dark, dusky, bronze, golden - whatever you call it, we love it."

Spring Beauty Trend: Pastel Smoky Eye

To create the striking look, Page began by using the Shiseido Accentuating Color Stick in Champagne and Rosy Flush, mixing the two together and dabbing onto the lid as a base. He then added Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color in Fondant and contoured with Amethyst (he also applied Amethyst underneath the eye with a wet brush). Next came a touch of gold shadow in the inner corner, and black cream liner on the upper and lower lash line (Page used a wet brush to wedge the product in between lashes). For a bold finish, lashes received a healthy coating of black mascara.

Michael Kors’ spring 2010 collection

Gisele Bundchen - Not A Designer

SHE may be a supermodel, supermum and general superwoman, but Gisele Bundchen admits there is one thing she would be no good at: designing. The model was in Paris yesterday to unveil her latest flip-flop collection, Ipamema, with Brazil's largest shoe company, Grendene, and confessed that she hadn't created them entirely without help.

"I am very inspired by nature and like to use that for my ideas, but actually designing them — no way. I would be a disaster," she told WWD, adding that it was more important what the designs represented. "Nature is very close to my heart, and it is important for me that people who buy my flip-flops are made aware of the environment."

Hotel Vuitton

FASHION behemoth LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, is making a new foray into the hotel business. The luxury conglomerate has created LVMH Hotel Management to "oversee the group's activities in the luxury hotel sector" and to "maximise the value of its brands," WWD reports.

The first LVMH Cheval Blanc hotel opened in French ski resort Courcheval in 2006, but this move marks the brand's intentions to expand and develop the hospitality aspect of its business. Designer labels including Missoni, Giorgio Armani, Christian Lacroix, Ralph Lauren and Moschino already boast hotels as part of their portfolio.