Click on each item in the image below to see more information and additional photos!

Black Dresses by Boulee
Platforms by Christian Louboutin

Clockwise from top left:

Ward off predators and unworthy dates with a wrist full of spikes. Eddie Borgo Agate Cone Bracelet, $650

The best way to say “I don’t give a sh*t” is with sexy black asymmetries. Boulee Cutout Scuba Dress, $195

Draw on a thick line and take the night by storm. Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Waterproof Liner, $20

This deep purple hue will only attract the brave into your presence. MAC Lipstick in Rebel, $14.50

The perfect everyday ring, you can enjoy this one all the year through. Mawi Cygnet Cocktail Ring with Spike, $558

Step into 1970s French glamour, a secret you can keep or share. Agent Provocateur Bubbles Brief, $250

Walk high above everyone else in 5.5 inches and deadly spiked toes. Christian Louboutin Asteroid 140 Suede & Patent-Leather Pumps, $1,595

Death to all the mushy mush and long live McQueen. Alexander McQueen Skull Handbag, $1,775

- One Million Assholes Moms is calling for JC Penneys to fire Ellen Degeneres, the face of the mass retailer’s relaunch, claiming Ellen’s sexuality does not jibe with the company’s image and that “the majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there.” Well, they should know a thing or two about offending people. And maybe Penneys is remaking themselves so d-bags like OMMs can take their bigoted business to Sears where it belongs. [Towleroad]

- Don Cornelius is now popping and locking down that Soul Train line in the sky. The creator of the landmark show committed suicide today at 75. [Huff Po]

- Nicki Minaj‘s booty-enriched video for “Stupid Hoe” has been banned by BET. [TMZ]

- British GQ named “thuggish rapper-slash-singer” Chris Brown the worst-dressed man in the world. [GQ UK]

- This is what happens when you don’t keep your interns on a short leash and a diet of fear and caffeine pills. A former Harper’s Bazaar intern — perhaps incensed by the mag’s new makeover — is suing parent company Hearst for not paying her despite working there full time. FashionIndie‘s interns better not get any ideas into their heads that I didn’t personally slap in there myself. [NYT]

- According to David Beckham, his brood of boys are embarrassed by his underwear ads. Meanwhile, that bulge has been putting food in those little brats’ mouths for years so they would do well to learn some goddamn gratitude. [Telegraph]

- Speaking of Mara, the girl without the dragon tattoo eschewed her usual black for a white frock at the Japan premiere of her hit film. Foreshadowing, anyone? [UPI]

- Kmart is ready, willing and more or less able to help with any #fashionweekproblems you might have. Thanks, Big K, but unless you know a drug dealer that delivers outer borough, my #fashionweekproblems are a bit out of your #areaofexpertise. [Racked]

- Kristen Stewart continues to weasel her way into the assumed hearts of the fashion industry with this little candid of her flipping the bird to/around/beside Karl Lagerfeld. Better people have died for less. [Styleite]

- Well this happened. Pied piper to the gays and the Guidos alike, David Guetta has a new video with newfound muse Nicki Minaj for “Turn Me On.” And it’s weird as fuck. [Towleroad]

- Adele will make her first post-vocal-cord-surgery appearance at the Grammys on February 12. After the ceremony, she’s expected to require shoulder surgery from lugging all those damn trophies around. [Paper]

- Hopefully you all tuned in last night to the season premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race — i.e. the greatest show of all time. If you did, you might have noticed the thirteen dragtacular contestants brilliantly recreating the finale to Alexander McQueen‘s spring 1999 fashion show in which Shalom Harlow was assaulted by two paint-spewing mechanical arms. And if you didn’t, I don’t know what the hell you’re waiting for. [NY Mag]

Although it’s easy to be underwhelmed by any dresses coming before the Oscars, there are some ladies who really turned it out last night. We put our top 10 at the beginning of the gallery for your viewing pleasure. All photos from Huffington Post Style.

- Rooney Mara, Givenchy’s spring 2012 Haute Couture collection and the Oscars are a match made in heaven. At least that’s the general consensus. [Fashionista, NYT, The Cut]

- Speaking of award-worthy dressing, Leesa Evans, costume designer for Bridesmaids, took inspiration for the characters’ wardrobes from everyone from Forever 21 to Alexander McQueen. [NYT]

- Demi Moore was hospitalized Monday night, allegedly following an epileptic seizure. Moore is — also allegedly — seeking treatment for anorexia and substance abuse. [Huff Po]

- The most expensive T-shirt in the world may be made out of 16 diamonds and cost $400,000, but it still looks like something the Ed Hardy factory threw up in or around New Jersey. [Styleite]

- Jean Paul Gaultier sent models with Amy Winehouse-esque beehives down his spring 2012 haute couture runway. [Style.com]

Coats by Yves Saint Laurent
Boots at Torrid

Clockwise from top left:

Red Valentino Wool Socks, $185

Yves Saint Laurent  Cotton-Gabardine Trench Coat, $2,990

ModCloth Lightning Camera Action Earrings, $15.99

Beauty Without Cruelty Waterproof Mascara, $23.99

Stella McCartney Eco Python Falabella Chain Shoulder Bag, $1,128

Alexander McQueen Skull Umbrella, $565

Torrid Red Patent Rain Boots, $56.50

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Royal, $22

A panel of experts will choose the Design of the Year as well as the top designs in six categories including Fashion, Architecture, Furniture and Graphics. In the Fashion Design category, Mary Katrantzou and Céline‘s fall 2011 collections will compete against Vivienne Westwood‘s Ethical Fashion Africa collection, and the collaboration between shoe company Melissa with Italian architect Gaetano Pesce. The winners will be announced April 24 at an awards night at the Museum. [Vogue UK]

- With New York Fashion Week only a month away — cue panic attack — the CFDA wants to make sure you’re not freebasing Sugarfree Red Bulls and replacing the sugar in your coffee with cocaine by hosting a panel dedicated to living healthy. If I wanted to live healthy during fashion week I’d just sleep through it. [The Cut]

- Time to tune into TRL and vote for your favorite videos of the day! Oh, wait, it’s not 1998. But it certainly feels like it now that 90s R&B divas Brandy and Monica are reuniting to sing-argue who the boy really belongs to for their new duet, “Turn the Lights On.” I just hope the video involves a split-screen and a tube-top turtleneck. [Buzzfeed]

- Kim Kardashian wished Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge née Kate Middleton a happy birthday the only way she knew how: with a convenient product placement. Meanwhile, if the Duchess is ever caught dead in a Shoedazzle heel, all the style points she earned with that McQueen wedding gown will go right out the window. [Huff Po]

-  Models just can’t keep it in their pants these days. Molly Sims is the latest catwalker to get knocked up. [Modelinia]

- Barbie may be making some questionable choices as of late, but the pint-sized fashion plate has never looked so badass, thanks to these amazing printable hair extensions. Now if they just came out with these in human size. [Refinery29]

- PETA strikes again. The most annoying people in the world have now taken issue with Oscar de la Renta’s Beats by Dre headphones, imploring beatsmith Dr. Dre to use his “tremendous amount of influence on young people…to advocate kindness toward animals by pledging never to design with real fur and exotic skins.” The good doctor, unsurprisingly, has not responded. [Huff Po]

- In the age of viral this and social media that, why let something as petty as death interfere with your internet life? Now you don’t have to, thanks to a new app that ensures your last words will be disseminated to all your Facebook friends, in the event of your untimely passing. But more importantly, can you poke some one from beyond… [Refinery29]

Graciously Yours,

Lady Jessica, Indie of Fashion.

Images via Fashion Gone Rogue

Key Pieces: In addition to the previous items, we’re talking sequins, a string of pearls down to the ground, more sequins, Chanel doorknockers, and the occasional kitten heel.

Designers to Wear:  Donna Karan, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen

Defining Fashion Moment: Season 7, Episode 19, “Journey to the Center of Attention.” In a bar full of middle-aged horndogs itching to climb up Blanche’s dress (she’s not wearing any underwear…meanwhile, imagine your grandma saying that to anyone and not being able to blame it on the Alzheimer’s) when Dorothy steals the spotlight by singing a heartfelt rendition of Irving Berlin‘s “What’ll I Do.”

All the while, she’s wearing  a black blazer with gold piping and epaulets, black pants tucked into a slouchy black boot and only one major accessory — her gold Chanel doorknockers. Perfection. Simple, chic, but still playing on that fun masculine edge. Signature Dorothy.

The challenge they face is producing within their boarders, keeping the business in Israel. Much like in the US, labor is more expensive there, and they lack the resources to fully flourish. Each garment becomes more expensive and and yet the quality suffers. According to Eva Cavalli, “There’s also a lot of creativity here, but there has to be more of a focus on techniques and workmanship. That exists here, there is the potential, but it needs to be nurtured.” Lev predicts that the Israel should be ready and capable for production in about 2-5 years. Get ready.

[WWD, WIWT]

The sale benefits the Amy Winehouse Foundation, an organization the late singer’s parents set up to help kids in need of assistance. ”I can’t put into words how grateful I am to Kerry [Taylor Auctions] and Disaya for their support and hard work,” said Winehouse’s father, Mitch. “We are just over the moon and this is a wonderful start to the foundation. We are off to visit a homeless charity in Euston tomorrow and so the money will go to a good cause straight away.”

Among other items auctioned off yesterday was a beaded fall 2007 Alexander McQueen evening gown — sold for $127,000 — and a replica of Princess Diana‘s wedding dress made by Elizabeth and David Emanuel for Madame Tussaud’s, which sold for $78,300. [WWD]

“The Great Designers” will also be accompanied by the book The Great Designers: Fashion’s Hall of Fame from A to Z, highlighting 500 of the museum’s masterworks by 100 of the 20th- and 21st-century’s most important designers. Publishing in April 2012, the book will include an essay by museum curator Valerie Steele on the history of fashion museums and exhibits,  along with short bios on the 100 designers. Click through the gallery for some of the designs featured and to keep you occupied until you can make your way to the FIT Museum to see them in person. [WWD, FIT]

2011 British Fashion Awards

Emerging Talent Award — Ready-to-Wear – Mary Katrantzou

Emerging Talent Award — Accessories: Tabitha Simmons

Emerging Talent Award — Menswear: Christopher Raeburn

Model: Stella Tennant

Designer Brand: Victoria Beckham

Menswear Designer: Kim Jones

British Style Award: Alexa Chung

Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Sam Gainsbury

Red Carpet Award: Stella McCartney

BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion: Sir Paul Smith

Accessory Designer: Charlotte Olympia

New Establishment: Christopher Kane

Designer of the Year: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

[Link Love: BFA / Vogue UK]

Working with The Creators Project, Chalayan and fashion show director Alex de Betak rigged champagne flutes with tiny, battery-powered, wireless cameras that activated when titled 15 degrees. The models received their champagne from a be-wigged Chalayan, disguised as a waiter to observe the action — then turned their attention to a blank wall behind the runway. Taking a sip, the cameras automatically lit up and projected onto the canvas an in-depth view of the models’ mouths and throats. Part performance art, part fashion show, Hussein Chalayan once again demonstrated his unique ability to utilize technology  in his vision for fashion’s future. For him, technology is “really the only thing through which you can do new things.” [The Creators Project]

Fashion editor Camilla Nickerson outfits Theron in Alexander McQueen, Marchesa, Christoper Kane and Salvatore Ferragamo for the aquatic-themed shoot. I’m assuming the water represents rebirth and all that jazz — considering Theron’s split from  Stuart Townsend and her new film with director Jason Reitman, Young Adult – but Leibovitz comes up dry once again.*

And what’s happening with the underwater shot? Looks like Leibovitz employed the same Photoshopper from those Kardashian Kollection Sears catalogs.

Photos: Vogue

*Annie, get your pun. Anyone?

Images via Huffington Post

The caveat that broke the camel’s back was Jacobs’ insistence on taking his Louis Vuitton team with him to Dior, leaving Vuitton — LVMH’s cash cow — without a heel to stand on. To make matters worse, Arnault had wanted Céline‘s Phoebe Philo to replace Marc at Vuitton should he move to Dior, but Philo is happy where she is — outfitting Kanye West in billowy blouses.

So with Jacobs more or less off the table, LVMH has reportedly approached Alexander Wang, Jason Wu and Jil Sander‘s Raf Simons; though out of the three Simons would seem the most likely choice, that is unless Dior plans on eschewing breathtaking gowns and impeccably-crafted ladysuits for sweatpants and cocktail dresses.

Then there is Givenchy‘s Riccardo Tisci, whose name has been bandied about since Gallianogate got into full swing. But he — along with Lanvin‘s Alber Elbaz, Alexander McQueen‘s Sarah Burton and Balenciaga‘s Nicolas Ghesquière – has turned down the Dior deal, citing brand loyalty.

So the question still remains — and frankly, the question is getting really tiresome — who will take the reins at Christian Dior? However, by the time someone is announced, the question might be, who the hell cares? [WWD]

Rankin

Nick Knight

David Sims

Terry Richardson

Jake & Dinos Chapman

Damien Hirst

Sam Taylor-Wood

Katie Grand

Katy England

Alister Mackie

Nicola Formichetti

Alexander McQueen

Vivienne Westwood

Gareth Pugh

Sarah Burton in Vogue UK / Photo: StyleFrizz

Burton told her mum and dad about the commission the night before the ceremony and they saw the dress the same time as everyone else in the world, at an ungodly hour on the morning of April 29th. Only Burton’s core team of designers knew about the now iconic dress in the making. Since it was only days after the royal wedding, Burton cleverly used the Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s Savage Beauty exhibit as a cover to explain away her frequent missed appointments.

Finally, on the big day, Burton accompanied Catherine to Westminster Abbey to put the finishing touches on the dress’ nine-foot train: “I remember standing in Westminster Abbey thinking, ‘This is unreal’. It was like a fairy tale. And all I could think was, ‘I hope I don’t trip over’. I didn’t realise the enormity of it until much nearer the wedding day. It was a magical experience.”

It’s been a banner year for Burton, what with the dress, the Met exhibit and widely-acclaimed collections for the design house. Filling the late Alexander McQueen’s shoes, she more than met the expectations of the role, but Burton admitted she had her doubts: ”I definitely considered not taking this job. I was at such a loss, he was such a huge part of my life, my every day. I could finish his sentences but I didn’t know that I could begin anything, and that terrified me.”

She sees her success as a final “gift” from McQueen and notes that, “Out of such terrible, tragic times and from under this dark cloud came that dress.” [Telegraph]

E.G Emma Griffiths SS12 from Giovanni Martins on Vimeo.

Shop the E.G Fall collection, for the dress that is contouring Fergie’s lady lumps. My humps, indeed.

Diving for McQueen on Nowness.com.

The two ladies wax rhapsodic over McQueen’s legacy, the intricacy of the garments’ construction and staying true to the McQueen woman in Diving for McQueen, Dustin Lynn‘s  short film for Nowness.com. Lynn’s exploration of the diaphanous dresses through extreme close-up evokes a couture Cousteau while offering a rare glimpse into one of fashion’s greatest wonderlands. [Nowness]

“Our customers are very digitally savvy,” Linda Chang, Forever 21 senior marketing manager said. “We love that, because it challenges us to meet them head on with a fashion experience that’s innovative, fun and progressive.”

What do you think, are hologram fashion shows the next big thing? Tell us in the comments.

First appearing as part of Vanity Fair‘s March 1997 “Swinging London” feature, the portrait was acquired with the help of Daphne Guinness, a close friend of both McQueen and Blow. La Chapelle and Guinness were in London last week for the induction ceremony. [DLC.com]

*Kate Middleton‘s Alexander McQueen was a late addition and Rubenstein had to cut one of the dresses to keep the list to 100. So it was sayonara Nancy Reagan and her white one-shoulder inauguration ball gown. Michelle Obama‘s Jason Wu, however, remained in tact. [WWD, sub req'd]

By juxtaposing Schiaparelli’s and Prada’s viewpoints on these topics, museum curators Andrew Bolton and Harold Koda hope to create a dialogue between the designers:

“If we can play with that idea of what Schiap would say, with her real words, and what Miuccia would say, in her real words, on a variety of issues,” Koda explained, “we could end up with something that was a mind-teaser for the audience, and would allow people to see Schiap with increased relevance and Miuccia with a different kind of understanding than they perhaps already have. We want it to be serious in content but playful in its approach.”

This approach will certainly be playful considering who the Met has in charge of the production and design: no other than that master of the spectacular spectacle, Baz Luhrmann. According to Koda, the exhibit will have “a very high-tech aspect” so as to bring the past to life.

On Fashion will run from May 10th to Aug, 19th and will include some 80 designs by Schiaparelli from the late Twenties through the early Fifties and by Prada from the late Eighties through today. The annual Gala — my ticket to which is clearly already be in the mail — will be chaired by Anna Wintour, Miuccia herself and Carey Mulligan — a Prada and Vogue fave as well as the star of Luhrmann’s upcoming adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Hello, multi-brand tie-in.

Amazon.com, who along with Condé Nast is underwriting the exhibit, will serve as the Gala’s honorary chair. [WWD, sub req'd]

Photos: WWD

Photo: WWD

Reminiscent of his work for Savage Beauty at The Met, Palau nonetheless thought that “[t]he idea seemed quite extreme, but it’s actually very pretty.” You say pretty, Guido, we say STUNNSIES.

Although Elizabeth II, being the Queen Bitch she is, famously described the Buckingham Palace installation as “horrid,” people apparently went ahead and bought the £17.50 ticket for it anyway. The money will not only go to new skirt suits for the Queen, some of it will actually go to charity too.

The easiest way to start is to find a piece of jewelry that’s done the mixing for you.

1. When you’ve got knives slung around your neck, no one will question the matter of silver and gold together. Surface to Air

2. A blackish silver with drops of gold deepens the mixture with an old time air. Stephen Webster

3. Hammer out gold atop a silver setting for a ring that kind of resembles a hand drum. Henson

4. Hey bulldog, get royally charged with a crowning cuff link. Tateossian

5. This chain linked cuff has a gold man out. Maison Marin Margiela

To bridge the gap, you could try a little rustiness. Like this cuff by Dsquared2.

When working with a multi-tonal look, you’re at liberty to mix it all up. These runway looks from Lanvin, Alexander McQueen and John Varvatos show how mashing up tones can be rugged, sexy and just plain cool. For the jewelry, start with gold cuff links and a silver watch when going for the brown and black suit look. If you’ve got mustard and gray going on, go gold bracelet, silver ring.

Will you do the mash?

As if an alien space pod had landed carrying a fierce race of insectoid women, the models stormed the runway against the backdrop of a gaping maw resembling their mothership. Shedding the cage-like chrysalises of the show’s first half, the alien women swathed themselves in voluminous black and donned Phillip Treacy‘s cocoon masks as their mothership became engulfed in purple flames. Aside from a great story, Pugh’s show provided some of his strongest looks to date — clean to the point of minimalism but still defiantly “out-of-the-box.” These aren’t red carpet-ready creations…unless it’s a red carpet on Venus.

Also, bonus points for featuring a man-heel with some actual height as opposed to a run-of-the-mill Cuban heel.

Photos: Models.com

Sam‘s Faves

Prabal/Style.com

- Ralph Lauren: “For the ostrich feather boas.”

- Diane von Furstenberg: For handing out little American flags in honor of 9/11 and for making an outfit that anyone could wear.

- Prabal Gurung: “For using one print 100 ways, and also for clever cutouts.”

- 3.1 Phillip Lim: ”For his tasty sherbert color palette.”

- The Row: “For dressing the old ladies that the Olsen twins were born to be.”

After I see the exhibit, I’ll tell you more about each piece. For now, enjoy fashion at its most powerful. See it now through January 7, 2012.

Exhibition photos by Tom Mendes; Opening reception photos by Patrick McMullan; Opening reception sponsored by Kim Crawford Wines

Jackets go ablaze when electric hues brighten up the scene. Proenza Schouler, Jil Sander and Phillip Lim have not gone back to black, and how refreshing!