Illustrating this theme, the mag profiles three particular individuals at different stages of their career: “the Breakout” Joseph Altuzarra, “the Artiste” Georgina Chapman of Marchesa and “the Dreamer” Alber Elbaz.

Elbaz, known for being the most adorable of high fashion designers, is surprisingly candid in his interview and reveals there are claws behind that bowtie. To wit, my favorite quote: “I always say I cannot work with bitches; they block my creativity.” And I don’t think he’s talking about the dog variety.

Elbaz even discusses being looked over for the creative director position at Yves Saint Laurent, despite being handpicked by the late designer himself, for Tom Ford: “As I say to people, I was never just Alber from Saint Laurent, and I an not Alber from Lanvin.  I am Alber, period.  That’s why I might have been hurt, but I was not dead.  It didn’t kill me.”

The issue also features an interview with Giorgio Armani who reveals his dashed hopes of being Paul Newman, as well as a conversation with Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld on Chanel‘s upcoming Little Black Jacket book that is predictably amazing:

CR: “The first Chanel jacket that I saw – that I knew was Chanel – was on TV.  It was on Mrs. Kennedy – the pink one.”
KL:  “In 1963.  It was a fake, a line-by-line copy by Cassini.  She did have real Chanels, [but] her sister ordered them.  We have all the proof.”

Only Karl Lagerfeld would have the balls to read Jackie O. Catch this and other fun fashion tidbits when Style.com/Print #2 comes out April 2.

None of these wins came as surprises, nor did Octavia Spencer and Christopher Plummer cleaning up in the Supporting categories, which is probably the real reason I fell asleep. This Academy Awards, I was the least invested I’ve  ever been. though I was hoping that Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig would be triumphant in the Best Supporting Actress and Original Screenplay categories, respectively.  But the awards season track record was already against them.  Like Woody Allen needed another Oscar.

In the end, Hugo and The Artist both won five trophies but the most  important moment was clearly Meryl Streep ending her near 30 year losing streak by picking up a much-deserved third Oscar. Greatest living actress, indeed.

Anyway, take a gander at all the winners and let us know who you thought shoulda won, and who you thought shoulda just stayed home.

Best Picture
The Artist

Actor in a Leading Role
Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Actress in a Leading Role
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christopher Plummer, The Beginners

Actress in a Supporting Role
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Directing
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Writing (Original Screenplay)
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, The Descendants

Animated Feature Film
Rango

Cinematography
Hugo

Art Direction
Hugo

Costume Design
The Artist

Documentary Feature
Undefeated

Documentary Short
Saving Face

Film Editing
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Foreign Language Film
A Separation

Makeup
The Iron Lady

Music (Original Score)
The Artist

Music (Original Song)
“Man or Muppet,” The Muppets

Short Film (Animated)
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Short Film (Live Action)
The Shore

Sound Editing
Hugo

Sound Mixing
Hugo

Visual Effects
Hugo

Heidi Klum will be portrayed by Angela Lindvall. The role of Nina Garcia will be played by Marchesa‘s Georgina Chapman. Joanna Coles, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire will star as mentor-in residence Tim Gunn. And returning to the fashion reality competition show stage is Isaac Mizrahi as Michael Kors. Guest judges will include Diane von Furstenberg, Miranda Kerr, Miss Piggy, Pharrell Williams, Nanette Lepore, Rachel Roy, Catherine Malandrino, and Mark Badgley and James Mischka.

The All-Stars in question are past Runway contestants who weren’t quite up to snuff, such as Austin Scarlett, Sweet P, Kara Janx and that much-reviled whiny copycat, Kenley Collins. Personally, I stopped watching Project Runway as soon as it hopped from Bravo to Lifetime,  deciding along the way that a season in L.A. was a good idea, but this new spin-off series could bring some much-needed fresh air into the franchise.

The All-Stars will compete for a handsome set of prizes, the most lucrative in Runway history: “an exclusive designer boutique in select Neiman Marcus stores and on neimanmarcus.com; $100,000 in technology and office space to help expand their business from HP and Intel; $100,000 cash from L’Oréal Paris; a feature spread in Marie Claire, for which he or she will serve as a guest editor for one year, and a sewing and embroidery studio provided by Brother International.” Well, at least they made returning to the scene of one’s former and very public embarrassment suitably enticing.

Will you watch Project Runway All-Stars when it premieres January 5 on Lifetime, television for women unemployed gay men? [WWD]

Halston with his girls — Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli and Michael Jackson

Sarah Jessica Parker‘s departure was a tiny little mention in her Vogue cover story:

When Sex and the City, to her own surprise, made her a fashion star, she launched her own design label and perfumes, as well as signing on to run the Halston Heritage label, a relationship that recently came to an end.

Days after that story broke, Harvey Weinstein has followed SJP out to pasture, leaving the company in which he had equity stake for the past few years. Well, the good news is Halston’s parent company, Hilco, is still confident in the label — at least someone is — as its seen recent growth in retail.

And also, Liza picked Diana up in the Beemer  and they’re on their way with Elton riding bitch. Happy days are here again! [WWD]

- Red carpet favorite Marchesa is hopping into less formal territory with its one-off Playboy Bunny costume design for the new Playboy Club opening in London June 4th. Using the original iconic costume design, Georgina Chapman and co. added “Marchesa’s signature details, such as hand draping and embroidery.” I better not see a forty-foot train of tulle cascading from that bunny tail. [Vogue]

- Anna Wintour parachuted into the J. Crew store on Fifth Ave to celebrate CFDA winner Billy Reid and the two designers who subsequently ate his dust, Prabal Gurung and Eddie Borgo.  All three designed capsule collections for the Crew; Reid’s seven piece collection is available online now through May with Gurung’s premiering in June and Borgo’s in July. [Fashionista]

Lenox Corportation’s hired  Marchesa’s Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig to design tableware. They’re calling it “a couture tabletop collection,”each being inspired by a Marchesa dress, eight in total so far.

LINK LOVE: Fashionista

Walking into the Chelsea Museum alongside Brooklyn Decker, (also see Anna, Tonne, Nicole Richie) and being handed a glass of Dom Perignon was the only way (literally) to view Georgina Chapman’s fall 2010 showcase. The room had a cool vibe of fashion lovers, industry greats, socialites, and celebrities all mingling in the midst of artistry on live models. The amount of detail and handwork on each dress blew me away – each paired with an equally stunning pair of Loubs! The ironic reality of showing a line like this in a museum, is the true appreciation of the art that is Fashion Design. Hats off to the stunningly charming Georgina for bringing her genius to life!

Gallery here.

Written by Jomarie Sanfilippo

What do you guys think about designers stepping out of styling and onto the camera?

LINK LOVE: WWD

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Lily Donaldson, Chanel Iman, and Georgina Chapman star in the Fall 08 Gap campaign. Liv Tyler is also scheduled to be featured in the print ads. Surprisingly, Gap has continues to be ingenious with their advertisements. Although, these are not as poignant as the Gap(red) ads, Gap’s fall campaign sheds words of wisdom. The dramatic black and white ads all have a fun message. Teen supermodel sensation, Chanel Iman’s, phrase is “name your own destiny.” We think she speaks from experience. 

Thanks to Fashionista for the pics!