Photo: Style.com

Color Palette: Burgundy, midnight navy, caramel.

Mood: And then there’s Mod. 60s military chic meets fox hunting with the hounds on Park Ave.

Statement Pieces: The coats were everything with two double-breasted numbers standing out in particular — one in plaid mohair and leather (above) and the other in burgundy patent leather.

Front Row:  Model turned actress and professional Bill-killer, Uma Thurman as well as editors in chic, Elle‘s Joe Zee and W‘s Stefano Tonchi and Edward Enninful.

Runway Music: Despite hearing about her nonstop for the past few weeks, this was my first time actually hearing Lana del Rey. Her ”National Anthem” kicked off the show and I wasn’t completely offended by what I heard. Who knew?

- Red-hot raptress Azealia Banks is apparently bisexual. But then again she’s a 20-year old kid from New York, so that’s like saying she apparently carries a knife on her. No big deal. [NYT]

- Blake Lively, speaking to Elle about her future baby plans, expressed an interest in trannying up America’s youth. ”I hope to have a few girls one day. If not girls, they better be trannies. Because I have some amazing shoes and bags and stories that need to be appreciated.” Now that’s the hallmark of a good mother. Meanwhile, some people take offense at Lively’s — and others — use of “tranny,” but those trannies need to grow a pair. Through hormone injections, natch. [Elle]

- And speaking of trannies, Lana del Rey on the cover of Vogue UK everyone! [E! Online Twitter]

- Remember those jerks who were trying to oust Ellen DeGeneres from JC Penney’s new marketing campaign? The gays are not having it. [The Cut]

- And in other Ellen news, the talk show host challenged the First Lady of the United States to a push-up contest. And Michelle Obama was not having it. [Styleite]

- Gisele and Tom Brady‘s new $20 million dollar house has a bridge adjoining its two wings — which Gisele will hopefully use as a runway. [Fashionista]

- You could head over to Elle for Nicki Minaj‘sbeauty secrets or cut out the middle man and ask any drag queen. [Elle]

- Fashion’s Night Out, the night that refuses to die, will take place on September 6 this year. [Styleite]

- It pays to have a supermodel in the family. Karlie Kloss gifted her sisters and her mom with Chanel bags for their birthdays. [The Cut]

- If there was any doubt, President Obama is the smoothest world leader around. The commander in chief did a little rendition of Al Green‘s “Let’s Stay Together” — and I’m pretty sure Nancy Pelosi tossed her granny panties on stage immediately afterwards. This is how you win an election, kids.

- Paris Hilton‘s smelling all the way to the bank. The heiress has been standing (and probably occasionally kneeling) on her own two  for some time now and she’s claimed that since 2005 her fragrances have brought in over $1 billion. If only I had gotten in on the sex tape market before that bubble burst. [Just Jared]

- Ladies in London stood up for their vaginal pride in a Muff March back in December. [VICE]

- Tumblr is getting into the editorial game, hiring a crack team of journalists to “help promote stories people write and share” on the popular blogging platform. Since its inception, 30 of Tubmlr’s blogs have landed book deals, meaning that we can look forward to the further disintegration of literature and a couple more  Fuck Yeah! tomes for good measure. [Gawker]

- Isaac Mizrahi is now a married woman! Mizrahi sat down with his sister from another mister Wendy Williams, revealing that he had recently married his boyfriend of six years. Turns out Wendy and Isaac share the same wedding date, though Mizrahi chose to elope to city hall in lieu of a big ceremony. However, Mizrahi’s not taking a one-year anniversary to-do off the table and naturally he would get Vera Wang to design his gown. [Styleite]

- In other same-sex couple news, the Will Smith-Jada Pinkett divorce rumor fire gets further stoked with the latest news that Jada has hired celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. [Huff Po]

- For the first time — but certainly not the last — in history, digital music sales surpassed physical sales. Lady Gaga is 2011′s most streamed artist; Nicki Minaj‘s “Superbass” the most-streamed song; and Adele‘s 21 and “Rolling in the Deep” the best-selling digital album and song, respectively. [CNN]

- Lauryn Hill‘s gorgeous 12-year-old daughter Selah Marley is a dead-ringer for her mommie dearest. [The YBF]

- Ryan Murphy cast leading ladies from his two hit shows, American Horror Story and Glee – including Lea Michele, Dianna Agron and future Emmy-winner Naya Rivera – in an editorial homage to his favorite horror movies for Elle. As usual, Amber Riley is conspicuously absent, but considering twas a horror-themed shoot, she was probably killed off in the first 5 minutes. [Elle]

-  French fashion chain La Redoute was apparently asleep at the wheel when it ok’d this image from its latest campaign featuring four adorable kids…and a naked man not-so discreetly (un)tucked into the background. Either that, or this is an ad for their newest To Catch a Predator children’s line. [Styleite via Stylist]

Karachi Fashion Week

One must also consider the undeniable impact of the internet and blogs, bringing the latest and greatest in fashion to anyone with a decent internet connection. Now a teenager in Ohio can gasp at the fantastical creations from Beijing Fashion Week as a blogger in Thailand livestreams the latest Marc Jacobs runway show. But with this democratization of the fashion industry comes its inevitable oversaturation. “Every other city is doing a fashion week. I think there can be only one market in the U.S., and that’s New York,” Kolb opines. So fashion weeks in Moscow, Karachi, Berlin, Zurich, Huston, Dubai, Portland, Rochester, Islamabad and Tel Aviv won’t garner the kind of respect or attention paid to London and Paris; clothes from its runways won’t land in Elle or W – nor might they ever be worn outside of their respective countries. However, Glenda Bailey’s or Anna Wintour‘s is not the only eye foreign designers hope to capture.

For participants in Islamabad Fashion Week, fashion is a new form of expression that further immerses them in the global culture of the 21st century. When filming Fashion Week Internationale for Vice.com, hostess Charlet Duboc was surprised at the presence of women in full Burkas volunteering backstage:  “I couldn’t quite believe it. How does that work? How can you look at that and admire it and yet know you can’t wear it? But they were there, they were appreciating it and it didn’t feel like there was a divide. Like, ‘You do your thing, I do my thing’ and everyone got along.” Fashion transcends more than just clothing to become a force for cultural change. And a force for economic change. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, Zurain Imam observed,  ”Fashion in Pakistan for a long time has been an entertainment sport; at [Karachi Fashion Week], we are trying to really make it about the business of fashion.”

While Kolb concedes that smaller fashion weeks can be good training ground for prospective designers, some bigger names are flocking abroad to show their collections. There probably is no hotter designer in America than Singapore-born, Nepalese-raised Prabal Gurung, whose last two presentations at New York Fashion Week met with near universal acclaim. Even he is considering showing his wares abroad in Moscow, Turkey, London and his native Singapore, saying, “There are so many emerging markets that we want to in some way be a part of, and I would love to showcase my collection in a more global way.” With a crowded and contentious calendar, Glenda Bailey won’t likely end up in Richmond, VA, but who’s to say that she won’t be stomping through a Singaporean jungle for the latest in spring ready-to-wear?

As I’m sure you all know, Williams’ ex and the father of her six-year-old daughter, Heath Ledger, died of an overdose in 2008. As for the haircut, it’s become a part of her, as the Oscar-nominee explains: “I’ve really grown into it – I feel like myself with short hair. And it’s been a really long time since I had long hair, five years.”

Williams opened up to Elle to promote her new film, My Week with Marilyn, in which she plays tragic movie icon Marilyn Monroe, a role she found particularly challenging: “I’ve never been so hanging on a cliff waiting to hear what people think of a movie. I think after the second day, I told them they had to take away my passport because I was a flight risk.” [Telegraph]

My Week with Marilyn comes out November 23rd, but till then, feast your eyes on the official trailer:

Women’s Nights were held in other major cities including London and Tokyo, where shoppers were given personalized denim consultations for their perfect G-Star jeans.  The entire store staff was there and along with our blogger hosts who were head to toe in G-Star looks we really got to see the brand come to life.  With a high-style spin to street wear, some of our favorite pieces included denim jumpers, leather bottoms, and all their men’s jackets.

All photos via JennaHipp.com.

The songstress gets swathed in fur courtesy of stylist Christopher Niquet and shot by Thomas Whiteside. Photos: Elle

Olsen cherished meeting Pfeiffer, whom she claims was “one of the reasons I wanted to become an actor.”  While Wood remembered brandishing a jump rope as a whip pretending to be Catwoman, like every little girl — or sexually-confused little boy — did after seeing Pfeiffer claw up the screen in Batman Returns.

Pinto, meanwhile, gushed over a crushed velvet-wearing Streisand: “I can’t believe you are right here in front of me. You’re not only a legend in Hollywood, but literally all over the world. I can say that because I come from India.” Streisand wasn’t short on praise — she never is, if everyone knows what’s good for them. Bigelow, the first woman to win a Best Directing Oscar, praised Babs as “somebody who has mastered virtually every art form imaginable: directing, acting, composing, singing, producing, writing.”

The legend, however, was quick to point out that out of the 250 films released last year, women directed only 7 percent and wrote only 10 percent. Aside from the glass ceiling behind the camera, Viola Davis emphasized diversity in front of it — or lack thereof.  “You don’t always love what you do,” she said during her speech, “but what keeps me in the business is hope, and that’s the hope that women of color are also part of the narrative.” [WWD]

Apparently it’s the first time in 8 years (really?!) that models and not celebrities were featured on the mag’s cover. We’re definitely happy with the model choices as well. Miranda Kerr, Chanel Iman, Doutzen Kroes, and Adriana Lima are some of the sickest girls in the game. If they through Karlie Kloss a cover we’d literally run into Hearst ans scream in everyone’s face.

Good job Elle. We’re pretty sure of bff Joe Zee was definitely behind this.

- Karl Lagerfeld, clearly bored with the 3,000 other projects he’s juggling, is now designing glassware. [Architectural Digest]

- Victoria’s Secret angels Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima, Chanel Iman and Doutzen Kroes open up on the cover of Elle magazine. [Fashion Gone Rogue]

- Tommy Hilfiger and the CFDA are sending 10 designers, including Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Billy Reid and Eddie Borgo to Paris to show their collections. [The Cut]

- Kanye West may or may not be joining those 10 lucky designers in the City of Lights come Paris Fashion Week. [Fashionista]

- I was fully on board for Missoni‘s Target diffusion line until they debuted this beyond creepy 25-foot “blogger.” [Styleite]

VOGUE Fashion Night 2011 dans le monde (version… by VOGUEPARIS

“I thought [W] could be a very strong general-interest publication for our generation [ages 30 to 50], in the way that Vanity Fair is for a different generation.”

– Stefano Tonchi [Editor in Chief, W] on his vision for W, LA Times

Varied silhouette shapes, including the bun-flaunting booty short cut, came down the runway in both bright colors and softer morphed tones. “The essence of our collection for Spring ’12 comes from many places in the past, present and future,” say Suzanne Vallely, Volcom Swim designer. “This SP2012 collection can and will take her as far as she wants to go.”

Click through the pages for more photos from the show.

Some of the pieces were made exclusively for Elle and are available for purchase on the mag’s website from June 14th through July 14th, while supplies last.

Theyskens, for his part, couldn’t be happier at how it all turned out: “Its great to see how each stylist mixed everything up. It’s like they went to a vintage store and discovered all these cool finds.  They gave me some great ideas for the brand.” [WWD, Elle]

The story goes something like this:

InStyle – up 4.7 % to 1,156 pages

Vogue – up 11% to 1,094 pages

Elle – up 15% to 1,082 pages

Harper’s Bazaar – down 5.4% to 712 pages

W – up 5% to 44o pages

For  men’s titles:

GQ – down 3% to 485 pages

Esquire – up 12.5% to 410 pages

Men’s Health – up 4% to 377 pages

Men’s Journal – up 5% to 353 pages

Details - down 2.8% to 311 pages

And on the lifestyle front:

Real Simple, down 6.6% to 688 pages

O: The Oprah Magazine, up 3.8% to 671 pages

Vanity Fair – up 6.5% to 650 pages

Redbook – down 1.6% to 635 pages

Martha Stewart Living – up 2% t0 507 pages

More – down 3.3% to 401 pages

[WWD]

- Elle‘s creative director, Joe Zee, needed some extra security after one of the dismissed contestants from his new Sundance Channel reality show, All on the Line, sent him and show producers hundreds of “troubling” emails threatening to kill himself. The drama queen, one Ms. David Victor Rose, admits to “completely freaking out” (you think?) but claims that Zee dismissed him based on false assumptions and limited information….yeah, in hindsight, maybe Zee was on to something. [Page Six]

- Unlikable multi-hyphenate Gwyneth Paltrow was seen walking out of Coach HQ with creative director Reed Krakoff, sparking rumors that she may be the new face of either Coach or Krakoff’s eponymous label.  [Refinery29]

•Bid on a chance to meet Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour and attend a photo shoot for the magazine
•One full week’s stay at the private home of Diane von Furstenberg in the Bahamas
•Ralph Lauren’s Paris – Two Round Trip Business Class Tickets from NYC to Paris, two nights at the Bristol Hotel in a deluxe room, dinner for two at Ralph’s, the quintessential American restaurant in Paris, a 1,000 euro shopping experience at the Ralph Lauren store on St. Germain, and two tickets to visit “The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces of the Ralph Lauren Collection,” an exclusive exhibit of Mr. Lauren’s vintage automobiles featured at the Musée des Arts décoratifs.
•Live like a Vanity Fair writer for a day—minus the torture of actually reporting and writing. The winning bidder will take a tour of the Vanity Fair offices, have lunch with one of the editors, sit in on a meeting in Graydon Carter’s office, and then finish off the day with a dinner for four at Mr. Carter’s restaurant, The Monkey Bar.
Night: 2 tickets and backstage passes to Jay-Z and Kanye West’s concert
•Morning, Noon & Night with Tory Burch – Morning: $3,000 shopping spree at Tory Burch with a personal stylist; Noon: Lunch with Tory and the design team;
•Lunch and style consultation with celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, includes a tour of her offices and additional styling tips from her team
•Go behind the scenes with The Hilfigers at the Spring 2012 Tommy Hilfiger ad campaign shoot. Get prepped out in a full Tommy Hilfiger look at the brand’s Fifth Avenue store before having your photograph taken with the Hilfigers.
•A meet and greet with The Row designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen plus an entire wardrobe of Elizabeth and James and The Row Collections
•Two tickets to the Elton John Oscar’s Party
•The opportunity to intern for a day at Elle Magazine along with a personal fashion consultation with Elle Creative Director Joe Zee
•Have a Barbie custom made by Mattel in your likeness, valued at over $10,000
•Courtesy of DKNY, enjoy a “VIP” experience at Yankee Stadium for four guests. Experience includes a private tour of Monument Park followed by watching the Yankees’ batting practice from the field, followed by a meet and greet with Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. Afterwards, watch the Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays on July 9th, 2011, from four front row Legends Suite seats
•A lunch and style consultation with TV Personality and Project Runway Judge Tim Gunn
•Two tickets to the Vera Wang Spring Summer 2012 Fashion Show followed by a meet and greet with the designer and a $2000 shopping spree at the Vera Wang flagship store
•The opportunity to personalize a PS1 ‘it’ bag with Proenza Schouler designers Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez
•A “Made to Measure Experience” custom suit and fitting from designer Tom Ford.
•Eight tickets to the Metropolitan Opera and dinner with Lincoln Center President Reynold Levy
•Two tickets to a live filming of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” along with private cocktails with host Andy Cohen following the filming
•And many, many more……….

So get bidding on Charity Buzz, and support Japan in the most fashionable way possible (or any way you can).

The Swedish superstar’s Body Talk series was one (or rather three) of the best albums to come out last year and her epic ode to the self-samba, “Dancing on My Own” has yet to leave my iPod rotation. It warms what’s left of my heart to see her getting some much-deserved attention, especially after being snubbed this year at the Grammys.

Sidebar: I mean, really, Teenage Dream? But I promised myself I wouldn’t get too upset about it, especially after that incident last year with Taylor Swift.

Joining Robyn in Elle‘s “Music Issue,” out April 12th, will be the Messiah also known as Beyoncé, Florence Welch (of the Machine), hair-whipper Willow Smith, American Idol judge and apparently-still-a-”singer” J. Lo, the baddest bitch in the rap game Nicki Minaj, multi-hyphenate supermom Gwen Stefani, blue-eyed soul songstress Adele, Oscar and Grammy-winner Jennifer Hudson, the incomparable Stevie Nicks and the Queen herself, Aretha Franklin.

That’s quite the line-up and the cover is quite a get for Robyn, who will also be performing April 11th as part of  Elle‘s second annual “Women in Music” event at the Music Box in Hollywood.

So West Coast gays, I expect you all to rally in support. After all, good pop music must be treasured and nurtured like the sequin-clad bird of paradise that it is.

Photo: Image Amplified / Link Love: Just Jared

LINK LOVE: Fashion Gone Rogue

LINK LOVE: Fashion Copious

Photo Credit: Elle.com

In a celebratory month of love, and lust, it’s no surprise Ana Beatriz Barros, is sporting all the right colors for Elle US Magazine February 2011. Let’s review the favorites pieces of Missoni, Versace, Lanvin,  on this hottie with the body.

Converting Ke$ha’s not so successful ice blue lips into the color of her nail polish is a number one on anyone Spring list, bright tribal prints and 90′s style belly cut tanks, fiercely strutting her banana yellow dress, transitioned into a more minimalism look of an all white ensemble paired with her 70′s inspired cork wedges… and of course for those New York City girls, we can’t forget to tie up the ends with an all black “less is more” look! Need I say more March 20th (first day of Spring) please get here soon!

Photographed by Max Farago

Sources told the Times of India, which first reported the story:

“[Aishwarya] believed that these things don’t happen anymore. Not in this day and age when women are recognized for their merit, and not for the colour of their skin. She is currently verifying this skin-whitening allegation. If there is any proof of this, she might even take action.”

Ash’s fans took to the internet to complain about her complexion, in belief that “her image had been doctored by the magazine to appease Caucasian standards of beauty.”

If Aishwarya decides to sue — and if she wins — will magazines be forced to ease up on the Photoshopping and — dare I say — represent realistic images of people?

Of all the concepts.

LINK LOVE: Huffington Post

Styled by Natalia Osadchaya, Isle de Boer explores halls of Ukraine’s National Opera House in designs from labels such as Zac Posen, DSquared2, Gucci and others.v’s nighttime shoot filled with masks and all the glam one would expect. Styled by Natalia Osadchaya, Isle de Boer explores halls of Ukraine’s National Opera House in designs from labels such as Zac Posen, DSquared2, Gucci and others.

In January’s Elle magazine, the Black Swan star says:

“I don’t use the Internet but apparently you can find out everything on it. I have my e-mail on my BlackBerry, and that’s about it. I’ve never read a blog, ever.”

To think, Winona’s missed out on all that porn, deranged Britney fans and puppies acting like people?

Sad.

In other news, email totes involves using the internet so in addition to being a thief, you’re also a liar. Winona Liar.

LINK LOVE: Gawker

“We have the clothes and shoes and the bags so we’re ready.  But it won’t just be my stuff…there’ll be things I love that I find on my travels,” she explained.  “It’s very exciting for me because I get to be a buyer now!”

Based on the widespread popularity of her bags we’d peg her for the Soho or West Village type, but like pointed out last night, she likes to do things differently.  (She used to go on the Purse Forum years ago, before blogs were a blip on anyone’s radar, and interact with her customers.)  So we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled in the East Village, or even Brooklyn.

(Via: Elle Magazine)

So nonchalant Frida Gustavsson in leather leggings, a erfectly unbuttoned white oxford, and inspirational geeky glasses.

(photo credit: Elle)

“Williamsburg is sort of like my lover, whereas London is more like my husband. I love my husband, and I’ll always be with him, but Williamsburg is so exciting.” Intrigued? Watch the clip.

Alexa Chung Loves Brooklyn

(credit: Elle)

Out of all the cheesy youtube “how to” videos on make up this is the easiest and best way to get Palermo makeup right on Olivia Palermo Makeup

Here topmodel Caroline takes over the cover of Elle Danmark’s December issue.

The Olivia Palermo Vs. Blair Waldorf Youtube video is so exciting! How could you not love such a glamourous prepster!!  Thoughts?

–Gwyneth Paltrow in Elle

No, Gwynny, your career will be ruined because of Shallow Hal and practically every movie you’ve made in the past ten years. Seriously, do you really expect anyone to believe that that Oscar won itself?

We should really appreciate the fact that Elle didn’t try making her look like a seductive twenty-something year old.

Who’s really buying that?

Every woman of color has her skin lightened in commercials, on magazine covers in, editorials. If you believed what you saw on newstands, you’d think Beyoncé was a bootylicious  WASP.

It’s all a part of what makes fashion a business: its blatant homogenization of cultures and peoples to make them more easily digestable to the general public.

Is it right? Hell no. Is this a precedent? Hell to the no. Am I glad to see a plus sized girl, and a black plus sized girl at that, on the cover of a major fashion mag? Damn skippy. Will I take my victories wherever I can find them? Sure. Do I enjoy answering my own questions? You betcha!

Gabourey Sidibe has a nice smile and all, but what happened to her skin here?! She’s, like, 18 shades lighter than she should be. Are we really living in an age when the Photoshop team feels the need to do this? Good job idiots.

Oh Megan Fox. Meeeeeeeegan Fox. You look like you’re having trouble remembering what to do. Hand on hip, look over here, yes, good girl!

Amanda Seyfried is a lovely girl even if she does stupid movies. I love her in this outfit, she looks adorable. But Elle could have turned those fans down a notch.

Hahahahaha Lauren Conrad, you’re not fooling anyone. How much extra did they pay you to smile? Love the outfit, how much did they pay you to not dress like a hooker for the cover?

Gabourey looks cute, but I feel like this was a bad zoom-crop job. If you going to feature this young lady in your magazine, show her whole body. If you’re afraid to do that, she doesn’t belong on your cover. Lauren looks ridiculous , I just want to give her a buzz cut and call it a day.

Oh my goodness, Amanda and Megan, you both look fucking adorable. Love this 60s mod hair and makeup on Amanda, she looks like a model. And Megan looks lovely after taking off a few coats of eyeliner and giving us a whimsical smile.

What do you think indies? Any questions or comments?

LINK LOVE: Style Frizz

“Well, I can now reveal that we were shooting for Elle Magazine!…The theme of the shoot was ‘The Graduate,’ for obvious reasons, LOL,” writes Kim. “Justin and I had such a fun time together at the shoot.”

Entire spread on Envy.

Thanks kimkardashian.celebuzz.com

On taking stock of where she is now:

On the media’s misconceptions of her: “I make movies. I have a passion. Puppies and daisies don’t accomplish anything. That’s not me at all.”

On being single: “If you’re 35 and single and it’s a choice, it feels fine. So I didn’t settle with the wrong person yet. Big deal!”

On her upcoming role in Going the Distance: “I like that it’s not a traditional romantic comedy, with the story line of, ‘Oh, I slept with this guy, but when I woke up, I found out he’s the CEO of my company, and we’re going to live happily ever after once we go through all these crazy perils. I talk shit with my girlfriends. And it can get dirty.”

On why she’s not afraid to get older: “I don’t want to be vain or fearful, and I don’t think I’ll do anything [in terms of plastic surgery], but if I want to do something, I will. From my perspective, there’s no reason to be afraid of aging, because if you age, you’re lucky! The alternative is death.”

After her alleged suicide attempt, the French beauty is back to work and she’s still  beautiful!

Check out the back of this womens blazer jacket covered in lace! (Anyone know the label?) It looks amazing. I´m just thingking of refashioning my fav black wool brazer by sewing pices of lace on the back bodice and sleeves. And then cutting the back piece and sleeve fabric away from under it. Adding the layered ruffles is optional bot adds a lovely victoran feel to the piece. You with me?! This would be a killer look in summer weddings/bridal wear or you steampunk fans.

Naomi Watts for Vanity Fair Italy May 2010.
Via Fashion Victims.

LINK LOVE:Lace

Check out a behind the scenes look at the photoshoot for the June 2010 issue featuring Twilight star Kristen Stewart.

On the album art for Rated R: “I wanted pictures that represented strength and fearlessness but still femininity—a strong woman who can be vulnerable. Every woman is made up of vulnerability and strength; no matter what race you are, no matter what you’ve been through in your life. Every woman has that strength that is undeniable, but we also have really big hearts. It’s just us.”

On her new beau: “I have a boyfriend. I’m so happy. I feel really comfortable, and it’s so easy. I have such a chaotic life, but at the end of the day, that is just my peace. It keeps me sane, really, talking to him and talking to my family.”

On designers she admires: “It’s clear there are definitely fewer black women in the high-fashion industry. One of the things I respected most about Gucci was that they did a print campaign with me. I’m a black girl on a fashion spread for Gucci—that was a big deal. I respect designers who aren’t afraid to go outside the box. I went to a Jean Paul Gaultier show, and I saw girls who are thicker than me, beautiful and voluptuous and different ethnicities. That made me so excited. I thought, Okay, I can work that, for sure.”

On the past year: “A year ago, I was very confused. Because he was my best friend. All of a sudden, one night changed our whole lives—not only our friendship, but our lives. I wanted to wake up one day and just not have that pain anymore. I wanted to be with him again or get over him—it was either-or. I just didn’t want to feel the pain, the confusion.”

Check out the behind the scenes here.