"Work It Out" (2002) Beyoncé's love for the 70s and giant hair was evident from her first single and video as a solo artist. Channeling her Foxy Cleopatra character from that Citizen Kane of shitty sequels, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Bey sported a sequined shift and her never-again-seen afro.

"Crazy in Love" (2003) Bey announced her arrival to superstardom with "Crazy in Love"'s thunderous horns and her birth as a fashion icon with a series of outfits -- such as the always appropriate fur coat and a bikini -- as well as some serious posing.

"Me, Myself and I" (2004) Could always use more Bey in a bob.

"Naughty Girl" (2004) The song itself features an interpolation of Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby" and combined with a very Diana-esque fur shawl and a little nod to Bob Fosse's choreography -- something she would mine time and time again -- Beyoncé was getting in touch with her inner Studio 54 ...by way of the Harlem Renaissance.

"Upgrade U" (2007) While talking a mean fashion game, Bey dons an even meaner braid.

"Kitty Kat" (2007) Though the video for "Kitty Kat" was only a minute long and served really as an intro to "Green Light," how the hell can we not talk about this makeup? Following the theme of the song, Beyoncé also wears a leopard-print catsuit. It's called commitment.

"Get Me Bodied" (2007) An homage to Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity, Bey sports another memorable pony and is joined by former Destiny's Children Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland -- and -- beginning to step out of her sister's ginormous shadow -- Solange as they enter a party the only way acceptable: like a bunch of drag queens.

"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It" (2008) The leotard worn 'round the world. Who knew such a simple concept would be the watershed moment in Beyoncé's career? Inspired once again by Fosse -- this time "Mexican Breakfast" -- but with the added touch of a Lorraine Schwartz robotic titanium glove. If Gwen Verdon had had that...let's just say Liza wouldn't be alive today.

"Diva" (2008) Just in case there were any lingering doubts, Beyoncé is a fucking diva. But for anyone questioning her female hustler status, Bey pulled some diva antics like blowing up a car of mannequins and wearing the hell out of some Gareth Pugh and vintage Thierry Mugler. Sasha Fierce was not playing around.

"Video Phone" (2009) By this point in her career, Bey had really stepped up her sartorial game, eschewing mom Tina Knowles' House of Dereon creations for haute couture. And I think we all know fellow pop queen Lady Gaga may have had a little something to do with that. The two paired up for "Video Phone" then got all Thelma & Louise for Gaga's similarly-titled "Telephone."

"Why Don't You Love Me" (2010) Betty Page met Betty Draper in the martini-swilling, chain-smoking, mascara-running incarnation of B.B. Homemaker. Foxy Cleopatra she certainly is not. Shazam!

"Run the World (Girls)" (2011) Beyoncé's style evolution pretty much peaked when she decided to wear Givenchy Haute Couture while brandishing two jackals on a leash. You don't go up from there, I'm sorry. Alexander McQueen dress and thigh-high boots, a Giuseppe Zanotti harness, an incredible disco-ball of a Gareth Pugh dress and heels, a Jean Paul Gaultier couture gown, an Emilio Pucci dress. In Beyonce's post-Apocalyptic world, haute couture is the only armor you'll need.

Anthony Gallo flexes his guns and brandishes one in Magdalene's "Nothing Personal," directed by Joe Lally. Also, check for a cameo by Sebastian Sauvé as the Angel of Death.

Holden Newell in Carly Rae Jepsen's piece of pop perfection and early contender for song of the summer, "Call Me Maybe."

Brazilian Evandro Soldati joins a bevy of shirtless, muscular and high-heeled dancers in Lady Gaga's "Alejandro," directed by Steven Klein.

Picking up where Gaga's stilettoed hoofers took off, Madonna ups the male model ante with not one but five hunks. Rob Evans, Simon Nessman, Jon Kortajarena, Sean O'Pry and Brad Alphonso lend their life forces to keep Madge feeling young in "Girl Gone Wild."

The Material Girl's backup dancers in "Girl Gone Wild" are none other than Ukrainian dance-pop outfit Kazazy, who're known for their immaculate collection of heels, moves and splits. Their video for "Love" shows them at their finest and hottest.

Katy Perry really knocked it outta the goddamn park with this one. The song and the model. "Teenage Dream" pretty much solidified her as a pop phenom while giving us loads of model Josh Kloss' rippling six pack for our viewing pleasure.

And then there's Katy Perry's former boytoy Baptiste Giabiconi, who decided to take the reigns and deliver his own music video, the brilliantly awful "Showtime."

French pop tart Anggun's "Echo (You & I)" was France's official selection for Eurovision 2012. So she wasn't about to half-step with the video which not only features model Yonathan Wangman among other delectable dudes, but costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Link Love: Vogue UK

Tom Ford on personally test driving his beauty collection: "I put every single thing on -- I don't wear it down the street, but I want to see how it covers, how it works. When you put your name on something, you want people to know you believe in it." Tom Ford on his incredible shyness: "I'm the face of the brand. With Chanel, you feel that Karl Lagerfeld's personality has really melded with Coco's - but not everyone knows yet who I am, so that's why I'm in the pictures. I don't like having my picture taken but it helps people to respond. My real life's not like the fantasy Tom Ford world - with naked girls pouring perfume everywhere. It's more staying in and watching Friends on television." Tom Ford on why he eschews the runway: "The reason I present in a small controlled way is that so much of what makes my clothes special is the cut, the stitching, the lining -- things that would be lost on the catwalk. On the catwalk you have to exaggerate, almost."

Natalia Vodianova on dieting: "The only diet I have ever done is the blood type diet -- I have done it for five years now. The big contracts go to the girls who are healthy - they need to have a sparkle in their eyes and you can't fake that if you're unhealthy." Natalia Vodianova on negativity: "I think it's really important to say no in this industry actually, it's more important than saying yes. I believe it is very much about saying no, and fighting for what you think you deserve." Eva Herzigova on being a 90s super: "It's a different time now - [the supermodel phenomenon] was a trend," she said. "The woman was much more feminine then, and we took longer to build up our careers. Modelling is very much based on experience."

Jourdan Dunn on healthy body image: "I've learnt to accept my flaws - I hated being skinny and lanky growing up. I think I'm fine so I've decided that no one can tell me otherwise. OK I'm skinny -- what's next, let's move on!"

Diane von Furstenberg on independent women, part 1: "I was on an early flight one morning and I was the only woman on the plane. On the same day, I'd managed to make it onto the cover of the Wall Street Journal -- which I had bought for the journey. There was a man sitting next to me on the plane and he kept staring at my legs and nudging me in the way someone does when they want to talk to you, but don't know what to say. So instead, the first thing he said to me was: 'Why would a girl like you be reading Wall Street Journal?' I looked at him like 'you jerk'. I never said to him, 'look you idiot, I'm on the cover!' Of all the satisfactions I've ever had in my life, that was the biggest." Diane von Furstenberg on independent women, part 2: "I didn't know what I wanted to do, I just knew the sort of woman I wanted to be. I wanted to be independent, I wanted to have my own money and be able to stand on my own - not the type of woman that waits for a man to call."

Stella McCartney and Kate Hudson on Keith Richards: "We met at the VH1 Fashion Awards. I saw her -- she was so cool -- standing in this doorway with Keith Richards." - Kate "I always carry Keith Richards with me in my handbag so I look cool." - Stella Stella McCartney on counterfeiting: "Part of you thinks, 'that's really annoying - we worked really hard on that. But my CEO came in one day so happy and said: 'My mum just saw a fake Falabella Bag in Marbella!' I suppose it does show you've hit kind of a sweet spot if people are copying you. But with the Silhouette Dress and the Polkadot Dress last season, we did have to send a few little letters reminding people that maybe it's not a good idea."

David Bailey on Cecil Beaton: "I mean, I was always a big fan of Cecil - but he was the most terrible middle-class snob." David Bailey on feminism: "I had a terrible time with feminists in the Seventies. They hated me, those women. I think they hated everything."

Stefano Gabbana on Domenico Dolce: "We are in love. It's a different kind of love, but we love each other. It's a difficult word to explain, but there's no real difference in the way we work together. We have a better level of understanding and tolerance maybe since separating romantically. People are jealous of what we have: still being in love and being able to make something interesting - we are strong and that's disturbing to some people. Domenico is like my family - even though we're not a couple any more. I have a brother, a mother, and Domenico... it has been a 20-year love affair." Domenico Dolce on underage models: "People say: 'Models are so young, they're so skinny.' But Mr. Balenciaga used models at 16 and that will never change. People say they are skinny, but there is a difference between skinny and sick. If someone is sick, they're sick. It's not because of fashion. If I have flu, I have flu; it's not because I work in fashion." Stefano Gabbana on shuttering the D&G line: "When we decided to do it, the people [stockholders] called us, going crazy - but we need to do it. Chanel has one label; Gucci; Vuitton - why do we need D&G? The people call Dolce & Gabbana 'D&G' - it is the symbol for Dolce & Gabbana, there's no need for us to have two labels." Stefano Gabbana on Madonna: "We went to see her on the Blond Ambition tour, we were big fans. We were watching the show - she was wearing Jean Paul Gaultier then - and I said to Domenico: 'Imagine if one day she wore Dolce & Gabbana.' Then we picked up the paper and there she was, in one of our dresses...She's beautiful, she's mature, she's a mother - like Isabella Rossellini or Monica Bellucci. She's a real woman."

Rachel Zoe on one of her fave jobs-well-done: "Anne Hathaway at the Venice Film Festival 2008 was a really good one. She wore an Atelier Versace celadon green gown and she looked just like the quintessential movie star. Literally - I gasped for air." Rachel Zoe on avoiding wardrobe malfunctions: "One of the things I'm most militant about is proper undergarments. Dress transparency can be a real issue! I photograph my clients in their dresses from the front, from the back, from the side, inside, outside, under hot lights... it needs to be an outfit that looks good from all angles and where potential disasters are kept to a minimum."

“Collaborating with Lady Gaga is always an exciting experience for me,” the legendary designer said. “I admire the way she uses fashion as a scenic element and as a means to build a character. She is an artist of many talents and great intelligence.”

Gaga’s custom costumes come complete with gloves with mirrored nails, a black bodice covered in Plexiglas guitars,  a boat-load of studs, spikes, latex and Swarovski crystals — it’s called show business for a reason, kids — and of course, nary a pant.

Meanwhile, I’ll take one in every color. [WWD]

- Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt of legendary celebrity couple Brangelina are reportedly engaged, since Angie has been spotted sporting one hell of a rock on her ladyfinger that Brad allegedly designed. Since they’ve repeatedly said they wouldn’t get married till everyone — gay and straight — had the right to, here’s hoping Fran Drescher performs the duties for these two queens. [Fashionista]

- Families are spending between $1000 to $2000 on prom this year, which is a lot of money to look like a cheap slut and get knocked up in the back of a Chevy Camaro. [USA Today]

- Jean Paul Gaultier and Madonna have reunited for the pop tart’s upcoming world tour, meaning we can only hope for conical bras, absurdly high ponytails and the return of Madge’s blond ambition, all relics of the early 90s. [Grazia]

- The Arrested Development movie is slated to start shooting this summer while the miniseries will premiere on Netflix in the first half of 2013, thus righting everything in the world. [The Cut]

- M.I.A., noted bird-flipper and giver of not-a-fuck, has written the theme song for a new talk show hosted by Julian Assange, i.e. the guy behind Wikileaks. Which makes perfect sense when you think about it since M.I.A. released the brilliantly punny mixtape Vicki Leekx last year. [Paper]

Since the bottles are only getting European distribution, you're more likely to find this collector's box at specialty stores here. Want it?

Between Superman Lagerfeld's fixation on crystals and Giambatista Valli's kinked stripes, cubic patterns jump forth geometrically from Paris.

Cubism Movement

We've well worn the leggings under skirts look, now go for boot cut, center pressed trousers.

The Skirt's Trouser Snake

Lisbeth Salander got a tattoo that sent the whole fashion world into gothic leather. Not that Mugler and Gareth Pugh wouldn't have gotten their without her help.

Lisbethan Leather

The outlining trend has carried through Fall 2012, as its body shaping properties are out of this world. Rei Kawakubo, meanwhile, has taken the stroke density to an epic level.

Outline, Take Notes

Perhaps it was the staggering lack of snow this season that has led so many designers to dream of a white winter.

Next fall, you might take a side job as a street sweeper. Or hire someone to carry your jacket's train. Coats are hitting the ground and billowing out in a righteous way.

Angelina Jolie's leg bomber followed Fashion Week to Paris and continued deploying bare gam splits.

Time for a second job, or a sugar daddy, or for your million dollar idea to actualize; the hottest trend is having a personal porter/bellboy/man servent. How chic!

As the “Serial Designer,” Gaultier shares the screen with some sassy British popstar puppet named Irene and in the first video helps her find her inner rock chick with the help of some miniature leather and lace.

I’m not sure that Gaultier will lend his image and/or expertise to Coke’s range of non-diet drinks but as a fashion designer it would be irresponsible of him to advocate anything with caloric content. [Vogue UK]

Brighten up a rainy day with an umbrella that changes color when it gets wet.

Glow in the dark and stormy.

For the rainy hunger pangs.

Square off against the downpour.

Keep a head above the storm.

Snake dry through the puddles.

Blast the plaid apart.

Fly away like Mary Poppins under a hot air ballooned umbrella.

Dress up you forms. Stay artfully chic in the rain.

Ferragamo dress, Etro shirt.

Left: Thakoon button down. Right: Pucci dress.

Left: Thakoon button down. Right: Pucci dress.

D&G scarf shoes top, and skirts.

Jil Sander dress.

Thakoon tunic (red).

Versace shorts and t-shirt.

Jean Paul Gaultier dress, Jean Paul Gaultier top over face.

Missoni tank, Suno blazer.

AF Vandervoorst pants, skirt and vest worn as face scarf. L'Agence shirt.

Pucci tops and skirts.

Photos: Image Amplified

All photos from Style.com.

Erdem

Mary Katrantzou

Aquascutum

The Kokorico man can land himself a pretty pretty prince[ss].

Kokorico for the dazed dude.

Hard leather, soft features. The essence of Kokorico.

Formally tuxed in Kokorico.

Kokorico's got a deep bite and dreamy notes, and a sexually confusing after-scent.

Via: USDish.com

Commentary: "She looks like she's slithering out of her own skin...and for good reason."

Lose the jacket and you've got yourself a stunner. And I'm talking to you Jessica Chastain

Commentary: "I didn't realize the circus was in town. Tell me, how many clowns can she fit under that tent?"

Perhaps a little too heavy on the beading, but the stars will be out once the cameras start flashing.

Commentary: "Gone with the picnic table. Even Scarlett O'Hara couldn't pull this one off."

Simple and chic but the sheer skirt keeps this from waltzing into comatose couture.

Commentary: "She's going commando! Literally, she skydived onto the red carpet, then wrapped the parachute around her and marched into the show."

It was hard finding anything suitable for the Oscars on Gaultuier's runway, but this scoop-back ditty hit all the right notes.

Commentary: "Looks like she came to her senses a little too late and was only half successful in taking her dress off in the limo ride here."

Pretty much everyone and their mother wants Rooney Mara in Givenchy and this is the closest thing to perfection she'll get.

Commentary: "Tilda you look amazing! Anyone else might receive a public stoning."

When in doubt, always go the ethereal route.

Commentary: "Did a hurricane sweep through every retirement community in Boca Raton and land directly on her?"

Black is always a popular choice on any red carpet so a stunning pale yellow like this will surely have heads turning,

Commentary: "Little ho on the prairie."

All this look needs is a high chignon, a Judith Leiber clutch, and a pair of statement earrings OR a statement necklace...not both.

Commentary: "The dress is wearing her. And it wants off."

It don't get no more chic than this. Give me a two-tone and I'll give you a star.

Commentary: When did the ghost of J.Lo's career show up?"

Miss Havisham knocked a few back and now she's ready to party.

“The family was upset to see those pictures, they were a total shock,” Papa Winehouse elaborated. “We’re still grieving for her loss, and we’ve had a difficult week with the six-month anniversary of Amy’s death. To see her image lifted wholesale to sell clothes was a wrench we were not expecting or consulted on. We’re proud of her influence on fashion but find black veils on models, smoking cigarettes with a barbershop quartet singing her music in bad taste. It portrays a view of Amy when she was not at her best, and glamorises [Brit talk] some of the more upsetting times in her life. That’s upsetting for her family.”

Gaultier, for his part, was trying to do right by the chanteuse: ”She was an icon of fashion and truly, the sense of how she mixed the clothes – it was great. It was very Eighties but we did it in a very modern way. It is very joyous.”

Personally, I thought it was a very fitting tribute and it’s not as if LPG had models stumbling out with a bottle of Jack Daniels in their hands. As I would’ve done because I’m a trash bag. Rather, it was a pretty tasteful homage — as tasteful as Jean Paul Gaultier can possibly get —  that I was glad someone in fashion finally made.

Yet, I see Mitch’s point as a grieving father and perhaps a donation to Amy’s charity would have softened the blow. Speaking with the Sun, i.e. the trashiest tabloid on either side of the Atlantic, Mitch vented his righteous indignation, “No one asked us for permission or offered to make a donation to the foundation. This is purely about Gaultier making money, and that’s wrong.” Just sayin’, wouldn’t hurt to open up those purse strings, Jean Paul.

What do you think? Was Gaultier’s show offensive? [Vogue UK]

Ditto’s currently in Paris for couture week where she confessed that Jean Paul Gaultier‘s Amy Winehouse-inspired collection almost made her cry and gave her chills — in a good way. While in the City of Lights, the singer will attend a fancy shmancy dinner to celebrate the cosmetic collaboration as the special guest of Estée Lauder group president and MAC AIDS Fund chairman John Demsey and MAC global president Karen Buglisi. [WWD]

- 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]

The silhouette of a mountain troll on the palette of a dandy with a Victorian harking makes for one time and bodily twisted trip at

Versace plays to the color hungry eyes of the psychedelically tripping.

Serious double take! Moschino and Jean Paul Gaultier both dabbled in brick laying for Fall 2012.

I have a vision, let me show you mine... It's Derelict! Seemingly made from garbage bags with the pull tab handles, this jacket is playing mind games.

'Tis a trick of the eye as a different cartoon suit is painted overtop the three dimensional suit.

Stars, Stripes and Skirts for the men at

Cascading hardware makes for trippy visuals.

The wonderfully weird Thom Browne keeps the athletes on their toes for

It looks like a glowing ball of light that I want to move with to the music.

The expert surrealist Rei Kawakubo mashes at least four colors onto this jacket, and has you wondering if your actually looking at Joan Jett in prep school.

- Rumor also has it the Andrej Pejic is about to sign a deal for his first fragrance deal with BFF Jean Paul Gaultier. [Frockwriter]

- Adriana Lima will star in not one, but two Super Bowl commercials. Guess New York doesn’t have the only Giants in the big game. #boobjoke. [Modelinia]

- Christian Siriano will soon be heading down the aisle. The reality star cum designer is collaborating with Nordstrom on an exclusive bridal collection. [The Cut]

- European fashion magazines are really not endearing themselves with black ladies. Following a blatantly racist rant about Rihanna in a Dutch pub, Elle France is coming under fire for an article on “black fashion power” and its exploration of the new “black-geoise.” [Fashion Bomb Daily]

- And Gilt Groupe is not endearing themselves to a few dozen of their (former) employees. The company laid off between 80 and 90 people on Friday. [The Cut]

- Nicki Minaj slathered on a few hundred pounds of makeup and a few candy-colored wigs for her new “Stupid Hoe” video:

“Over the past several years, I have been approached countless times to create my own brand,” said Madame Ciccone. “The timing is right and I have found great partners in Iconix, who can help translate my vision to reality.”

Iconix CEO Neil Cole seconded that emotion: “After the highly successful launch of the junior brand Material Girl, we knew there would be a tremendous demand for a brand that Madonna herself is the face of and that truly captures her essence.”

Lady Madonna is already developing a scent with noted celebrity perfumer Coty and will eventually roll out footwear, handbags and intimate apparel.

Is anyone else hoping for a mass-produced version of the Gaultier cone bra? [WWD]

Menswear billowed into womenswear.The androgyny laid not in cutting a man's suit for a woman, but taking those elements that define a man's wardrobe and blowing it out with a feminine angle. Like a tuxedo shirt that melts into draped jersey. Or suit pants that slit upen to reveal another trouser.

Spring was designed in sheer delight. Whether crochet or clear like water, we see through next spring, and so will you.

Let the leg out. While we're still loving the maxi, they're being steered in a sexier route. Thigh high slits make the floor length look thankfully less austere.

"Florals in spring. Groundbreaking." Exactly why we're so surprised it was so strong for Spring 2012. But it was positively everywhere. The trend forecasters must have predicted rain, because designers listened. That or they all independently decided that now is the time for a communal bloom. Floral or not, it's all about the pattern mash. Loud and proud, ladies.

Photo: Trendland

Italian designers are forming a united front to decide on their own dates, out of the three following options: 1.) move to July; 2.) show before New York in September; or 3.) leave things the way they are, which could mean an overlap between Milan and London.

Condé Nast, for its part, is not having any of this. In a letter to Mario Boselli, head of the Italian Chamber of Fashion ”obtained”  – *cough* stolen *cough*– by WWD, CEO Jonathan Newhouse writes that Vogue editors “like the schedule the way it is presently organized. We at Condé Nast do not want the schedule to be changed. We very much oppose moving the Milan shows earlier so that they overlap or conflict with the London fashion shows — or with the New York fashion shows or those of any market.”

Newhouse then goes on to basically threaten a boycott by all Vogue editors — American, British, French and Italian — of Milan shows, stating matter-of-factly that “they will not under any circumstances abandon the London or New York shows if the Milan shows are moved earlier.”

The root of the conflict stems from a pact in 2008 when all four cities agreed to kick-off the fashion weeks on the second Thursday of February and September. Boselli claims that the agreement was only for three years while the CFDA‘s Steven Kolb and the British Fashion Council‘s Caroline Rush contend that it was indeed a permanent arrangement.

As for the fromage standing alone, Paris is expected to side with Milan. However, Didier Grumbach, head of the Chambre Syndicale, would rather come to a compromise and wants everyone to just chill the eff out: “When planning our schedules we have to factor in the time constraints of houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier or Givenchy that deliver couture, men’s and women’s shows with one designer. In any case, these things can’t be improvised. We have our locations. To move dates on venues like the Grand Palais cannot be improvised. Those dates are decided months and months in advance. If [anyone wants to] move dates for 2013, why not, we have the time to talk about it, to arrange it.”

Frankly, it’s a little odd that London is siding with New York considering the hubbub over model castings earlier this season, with London designers blaming New York for hogging all the best girls and the general feeling that LFW was being squeezed out. Now it seems Milan is feeling the crunch and are going to have to come to a decision soon or face the wrath of Wintour. [WWD, sub req'd]

Photo: Trendland

Photos via Fashion Gone Rogue

From Le Figaro via The Cut:

From the first model on the runway, we are struck by what resembles an out-of-style Gucci collection from ten years ago. The fussy complications of the cuts (drawstrings, shirring, high-waisted skirts, leg-of-lamb sleeves), the disheveled hairstyle of a girl barely back from happy hour, and the overdone makeup… Overload is the key word of the show… The laced shoe? An ersatz model of an Alaïa. The jogging shorts in black leather? Already seen last year in Céline‘s cruise collection, as were the sandals with bracelet straps (here, encrusted with rhinestones). The coat bristling with raffia? A pale version of those in Yves Saint Laurent‘s spring 1967 collection.

And then shit gets personal:

At the end of this inventory suited to Kim Kardashian, Tom Ford appears. He advances. And he remains there, in the central area, asking people to stand up. Perhaps [people would do so] out of distress, or sympathy, or because all of this is supposed to be festive after all. But everybody just looks at their feet. The music does not stop. Ford tries to speak above the noise, louder. We can’t hear a thing. We just see this baby-faced man trying desperately to clear the air. He throw[s] himself upon his companion, Richard Buckley, and hugs him (Ralph Lauren often hugs his companion Ricky at the end of his shows, but then he returns backstage). But here everyone stays put. So Tom Ford retreats toward Anna Wintour and now it’s she whom he decides to embrace. Troubling.

A.) That comparison to Kim Kardashian is verging on out-of-line. B.) I’m pretty sure Mouzat called Ford fat with that “baby-faced” comment. And  C.) I think the most “troubling” part is that he reportedly had the cajones to publicly embrace Anna Wintour. People have died for less.

This isn’t the first time Ford has weathered bad press as noted sassbag Cathy Horyn referred to Ford’s spring 2001 Gucci show as “not just truly ugly, but also…completely at odds with his reputation as a designer who loves women.” And then there was that reporter at the Guardian, Jess Cartner-Morley, who also had some choice words for Ford’s latest collection.

So, is it a case of sour grapes, or has Tom Ford simply made an unfashionable misstep? Well, you’ll have to wait to form your own opinions when the photos come out, but everyone’s allowed a mistake every now and then. Hell, we keep Jean Paul Gaultier around and when’s the last time he did anything passably good? Oh, right. [The Cut]

Karlie joins the ranks of iconic supers Veruschka and Naomi Sims that have graced the legendary pub. Trailed by Revere over the course of four days in July, the 19-year-old’s cover was snapped backstage at Jean Paul Gaultier’s Haute Couture show. Now I’m ready for a Vogue cover, an attempted acting career and general world domination.  [Life]

When asked by Jean Paul if there was anything that she didn’t want to be asked, Gags just looks at him and says, very matter-of-factly, “No.” So they talk about everything from her past drug use to her special relationship with the little monsters and of course, the fashionality. The seething fashionality that includes a fair share of spanking and a priest costume.

Yeah, this is definitely going into my post-Fashion Week TV queue. Check out the hilariously dramatic preview below.

For instance, Coco Rocha and Sean O’Pry dancing all over Venice for Americana Manhasset is 10 times more interesting than the ad itself.

NEW YORK

- Diva and pioneering androgyne Annie Lennox is getting a fashion retrospective at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. I hope patrons have to literally walk on broken glass throughout the exhibit. [Style.com]

Laugh it up, Radcliffe, you’re next.

- Emma Watson continues to be perfect while showing that rarity among Hollywood actresses — genuine emotion — at the premiere of the 300th and last Harry Potter film. And she did it in Oscar de la Renta. Atta girl, steal my heart. [Jezebel]

- Also on the heart-stealing perfect superhighway is male super Jon Kortajarena who seriously hoofs it up  in the new ad for Kokorico, the latest Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance. [Oh La La Mag]

- Lady Gaga , a self-proclaimed “show with no intermission,” doesn’t speak German, but she can if you like. Either way, she’ll make as much sense as her recent column in V — a missive on reality versus fantasy. Short version, there is — surprisingly —  no line. [V Magazine]

- And the bride wore…TOMS? [Refinery29]

- Speaking of random ideas with little to no reasoning, Cedric the Entertainer is starting his own line of hats called, ingeniously enough, Who Ced?

- Megan Fox just can’t catch a break these days. After being replaced by professional stunner Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in the latest Transformers movie, she’s now been replaced by professional panty-wearer Rihanna as the face of Emporio Armani underwear. Sidebar, way to class up the brand, Armani. [Fashion Week Daily]

Most Sublime and Divine

Couture at its finest, eliciting emotions rarely experienced outside of a gay bar’s men’s bathroom.

Givenchy

Model castings are one of the most important parts of a fashion or beauty photography editorial or print advertising campaign.  Those of you having to have cast for a job probably understand how complicated the whole affair can be.

Casting protocol and logistics are changing all of the time and the necessity to see a model in the flesh so to speak is less important than most of you might think.

Highly evolved internet technology has changed the dynamic considerably. Access to information about the model and how she appears on screen, provides all of the decision makers a much wider gamut of information about her-him than ever before. If the pertinent information about the model is up to date, that information can be even better than a real on the spot casting. However, the responsibility falls on the model agency to provide the most up to date information on the models dimensions, hair color and cut, skin condition etc. so that the client can make an accurate assessment of the model they are casting.

Some of the questions we ask model agencies are what is her REAL shoe size, weight, height, hair color, length of hair and skin condition.  In most cases the agencies will be forthright and honest when confronted directly.  Don’t trust a comp card for the information, as it is already outdated when you get it. The model could have had a hair color change the night before your shoot for another clients needs and you will not be informed until she shows up, unless the agency is really on the case, this will rarely happen.  So you have been warned.

Real castings are often needed in the following cases.  The model has come in from another city or country and is available for a limited time only. The model is a new be and hasn’t any images at all or just a few snap shots. She has had a radical re-looking and nothing in her book represents her new look. It is a beauty capping and the skin is very important as the client wants to use minimal retouching. The client has honed down the preliminary casting to a few models and now wants to see the real deal (at their expense if the model is out of town). Once the model has been hired and need to do a pre-show fitting, as I have illustrated with a pre show Jean-Paul Gaultier model fitting.

If you are new to casting, get ready to be disappointed. In most cases, models are required to come to castings with little or no make-up and what you see in the flesh is nothing like what you saw when you scrutinized her on the web.  It is often as radical as night and day.

However, with the understanding of image usage and rendering in that chosen media, most good casting directors and photographers can see what the potential of the model is with all of the available information on the net which includes video, snap shots, tear sheets, skype conferencing calls etc. and in fact, many prefer to see how models are rendered in the format they will be exhibited in.

With new 3D technology coming to the forefront, virtual castings will become the norm and “real” castings will be done as part of the finalization process and for the fittings only.  In fact, fittings will eventually be done virtually as well, using outerwear templates to determine exact sizing and fitting parameters.

My recommendation is to compile as much info on the model as possible via the net and when convinced of your edited choice, than call in the choices for your finalization process.  This is a real time saver, unless of course you are casting for a speaking roll.  Now that is an entirely different subject. Or is it?

This show seemed to have a little something for everyone.  Whether it be tailored pieces, billowing silhouettes, subdued colors, bright bold prints, something masculine, or something in between this collection really has everyone covered in the chicest way.

Unlike other shows with prints Gaultier decided to go with more graphic designs of tropical images. After viewing this show it is apparent that plaids are trending.

The scooping on the lapels is something I have never really seen done well in menswear but it drapes well and seems fresh in this collection

Thank you Jean for bring this beautiful collection into our lives.

Follow me on Twitter & visit my personal menswear blog for more pictures & Mens Fashion Week coverage: dailyMISTER.com

The designer was on hand to discuss the exhibit and revealed he initially didn’t even want to do it:

“…[A] retrospective usually follows your funeral and I’m still alive, but Nathalie Bondil [director and chief curator at the MMFA] convinced me. The purpose is to show what I want to say through clothes. It is to make clothes that you will love and wear. It’s a good way to show my themes.”

Those themes, explored in “From Sidewalk to Catwalk,” are the Odyssey of JPG, Boudoir, Skin Deep, Punk Can-Can, Urban Jungle and Metropolis and are displayed to full effect on lifelike mannequins. These mannequins bear the faces of real people, filmed and projected onto them, thus giving them the appearance of winking, moving their jaws and speaking.

Featuring 130 pieces culled from more than 150 of Gauliter’s collections, starting from his first in 1976, the exhibit also includes clothes Gaultier made for films and even Madonna‘s iconic cone bra.

Luckily, the Canucks won’t be hoarding this exhibit for too long. After it closes at the MMFA October 2nd, it will move to the Dallas Museum of Art from November13th through February 12th and from there to the de Young Museum in San Francisco from the end of March through July. [WWD]

1. Princess Diana – Diana Spencer

Title: Princess of Wales
Prince Charming: Friend, confidante and designer of choice, Gianni Versace, particularly since Prince Charles proved more frog than prince.

2. Princess Grace – Grace Kelly

Title: Princess of Monaco
Prince Charming: Longtime BFF, Josephine Baker, whom she met in 1951 after standing up for Baker against The Stork Club’s racist practices

3. Princess Jasmine – from Disney‘s Aladdin

Title: Princess of Agrabah
Prince Charming: Street urchin turned Prince Ali, Fabulous He Ali Ababwa

4. Princess Ann – Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday (1953)

Title: N/A
Prince Charming: Co-star Gregory Peck and Hubert de Givenchy whom she wore to accept her Best Actress Oscar for her performance

5. Princess Charlotte – Charlotte Casiraghi

Title: Princess of Monaco (she’s Princess Grace’s granddaughter)
Prince Charming: Gucci’s Frida Giannini who exclusively designs Princess Charlotte’s equestrian wardrobe.

6. Princess Sirivannavari – Sirivannavari Nariratana

Title: Princess of Thailand
Prince Charming: Fashion. She’s designs her own fashion line and is a regular at Jean Paul Gaultier‘s shows.

7. Miss Chi Chi Rodriguez – John Leguizamo in To Wong Foo

Title: Drag Princess, “P to the R to the In to the Cess”
Prince Charming: Julie Newmar, who crowns the princess a queen while wearing a Mugler catsuit.

8. Princess Leila – Leila Pahlavi

Title: Princess of Iran
Prince Charming: Barbiturates. A former Valentino model, Leila had her share of demons including anorexia, depression and drug abuse, which ultimately claimed her life.

9. Mia Thermopolis – Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries

Title: Princess of Genovia
Prince Charming: Julie Andrews, whose spoonful of sugar helped make the royal medicine go down as Mia’s grandmother, Queen Clarisse.

10. Princess Catherine – Kate Middleton

Title: The Duchess of Cambridge, Her Royal Highness Princess William of Wales
Prince Charming: Sarah Burton, whose Alexander McQueen wedding gown propelled Kate from lady to Lady.

A teaser trailer debuted on YouTube a few days ago and if anything,  it clearly shows that the French know how to go about making a professional documentary. [WWD]

Sonam will be rated on the below categories, five being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

Fit: 5

Appropriateness: 4

Trendiness: 5

Styling: 4

Hair: 5

Makeup: 3

Pose: 5

Confidence: 5

This Gaultier couture gown is absolutely stunning, and I’m so glad Sonam did it justice. She wears it well and looks extremely confident on the red carpet. Her eye makeup is way too heavy and a bit juvenile, but that didn’t stop her from acing the look.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 15: Sonam Kapoor attends "The Artist" premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Gaultier is the most recent addition to the Puig fashion family, which includes Nina Ricci, Carolina Herrera and Paco Rabanne. JPG will step down as president, making room for Manuel Puig (right), so that he can focus his attentions — thankfully — on designing his couture and ready-to-wear collections.

The past few seasons have seen Gaultier in a creative rut, but the designer is happy about the new partnership, saying of the Puigs: “They know what they want to achieve and they are buying Gaultier for Gaultier, not to turn it into something else.”  Well, they could at least turn it into a good label again…I’m just sayin’. [WWD]

*Andre Leon Talley wins the award for best purple tent. As always, his volumes are amazing.

Let’s take a look at the Best Dressed of the night. This category has quite a bit of people, as it should, for fashion’s biggest event. These were the As and high Bs, the working girls.

Shalom Harlow is my pick for BEST DRESSED in Marchesa. This is what the Met Ball is all about – she looks breathtaking in that gown.

I almost fell over when I saw Christina Ricci in Zac Posen. She never ages a day and looks super sexy in this sheer number.

I found Mary-Kate’s dress underwhelming, but Ashley Olsen looks ravishing in vintage Dior Haute Couture. The whole look is perfect.

Elle Fanning looks like a little couture doll in Valentino. She is so outshining her sister, it’s not even fair.

Rihanna has been looking haggard lately, so I was pleasantly surprised at how elegant she was in this striking Stella McCartney gown.

Iman, also in Stella McCartney, turned it out in a metallic gold jumpsuit. A little draggy, a lot amazing.

Karolina Kurkova in a spring 2011 Jean Paul Gaultier lace legging-dress creation. If the models can’t do it, who can?

I love this Prabal Gurung gown and funky jewelry on Ciara. White could be difficult to pull off at the ball, but she did it right.

Even though Crystal Renn is too skinny for my taste, she is an absolute vision in Alexander McQueen. I need my hair to look like this.

After getting ready in a Barneys window yesterday, Daphne Guiness showed up in McQueen. Perfect, amazing, stuns.

I loved Ginnifer Goodwin‘s look from the moment  I saw it. Then I realized it was custom Topshop. Damn she makes it look good.

Naomi Campbell looks like the queen she is in custom McQueen. She wears the sedatives well too.

Hamish Bowles looks like a true gentleman in custom McQueen. Love it from head to toe.

I always wait with baited breath to see what Blake Lively is wearing. She obviously did not disappoint in a Chanel toga.

New York’s best couple showed up looking better than ever. Beyonce is working that Emilio Pucci gown like whoa.

Queen Bitch Anna Wintour gave her best smile to the camera and looks like a shiny grandiose statue in Chanel.

On to the Most Boring of the night. On any other occasion, these folks would have looked great (probably). Unfortunately, this also means they’re the Cs of the Met Ball.

I’m sleeping. Zoe Saldana is usually among the best dressed. Why did she choose this boring Calvin Klein for the biggest fashion night of the year?

Leighton Meester is amazing, but she has trouble getting it right. Different shoes and hair would have done this Louis Vuitton dress more justice.

I love this Michael Kors dress on Emma Roberts, but she has the body to wear something more over the top on a night like this.

Madonna, the Material Girl herself, definitely could have done better than this Stella McCartney dress. Pretty, but boring.

I’m actually quite obsessed with this Miu Miu dress Michelle Williams is wearing. But I would wear this to a nice dinner, not a gala.

And now ladies and gentleman, the Worst Dressed of the night. These are the Ds and Fs of the Met Ball, the creme de la creme of mistakes.

ARGH! Christina Hendricks used to dress so well! This Carolina Herrera gown is an unflattering fit and color on her.

Oh dear. Hate to say it Alicia Keys, but it looks like you’re wearing a giant turd instead of Givenchy. Brown jacket AND dress is NOT fly.

Jennifer Lopez looks like a halfway plucked bloody chicken. Matchy-matchy lipstick, bag and Gucci is a no go.

I thought Chloe Sevigny would make McQueen look good, but I was wrong. The hair is awful and the dress fits like she grabbed it off some rack.

Sorry to say it Kate Hudson, but this Stella McCartney is not a cute pregnant lady dress. And whatever is on your head isn’t working either.

Nooooo! In the rush of preparing for the gala, Lucy Liu forgot to get a wax! Oh wait, that’s just her looking blech in Vionnet.

I hope everyone enjoying looking at the red carpet photos from the 2011 Met Gala as much as I. Who was your best and worst dressed of the night?

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

Model Crystal Renn poses on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, in New York, May 2, 2011. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT FASHION)

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

- Some bitter queens at Chanel USA apparently had some “grumblings” over Gossip Girl star Blake Lively being named the brand’s Purse Ambassador — considering her look “off-brand.” Karl Lagerfeld, meanwhile, immediately had the disgruntled employees taken out back and turned into Chanel quilted handbags that he later gifted to Blake as a token of his esteem. [Daily News]

- Beyoncé has dropped her father Matthew Knowles as her manager after overseeing her career from Destiny’s baby to an Independent Woman [Part 1]. Now if only we can convince her to drop her mom Tina as a stylist…and then maybe bomb the House of Dereon…we can get the U.S.S. Fierce back on course. [Popeater]

- For Halloween, an industrious British gay — I’d say “flaming fag” but that’s completely something else over there — super-glued a tiny sequined hat to his adorable little, queer head. When the hat wouldn’t come off he visited the ER where they mercifully cut off part of the chapeau, leaving only the brim which came off hours later. Personally, I don’t see the problem with a tiny sequined hat permanently affixed to my head. Some say problem, I say party…24-7. [Huff Po]

- Talking plastic replicas of Jean Paul Gaultier and some of his famous clients will adorn the designer’s retrospective at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal this June. Also on display will be Madonna’s famous conical bras which you can use to pierce those talking plastic replicas in their creepy talking plastic faces. [The Cut]

- Reese Witherspoon got married to someone who’s not Ryan Phillippe so I clearly don’t care, but seems someone couldn’t help stealing the spotlight; among the guests at the wedding were new couple, Oscar-winner Sean Penn and Tony-winner (that must be a type-o) Scarlett Johansson. Let’s see, Sean Penn doesn’t have the greatest track record with women, so I’m just going to sit this one out and wait for the inevitable police report. [Popeater]

Misty

We’re getting Misty eyed with Marlena Szoka featuring the best looks of Haute Couture Spring Summer 2011 Collections for the April edition of Harper’s BAZAAR China with Gaultier Paris by Jean-Paul Gaultier, Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal, Chanel Haute Couture by Karl Lagerfeld, Elie Saab Haute Couture, Alexandre Vauthier Couture, the last Dior Haute Couture Collection by John Galliano, Armani Privé by Giorgio Armani, Valentino Haute Couture by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci captured in the Mist of the Hotel Le Bristol, Paris by Benjamin Kanarek.

To Watch the Video and the Whole Story Here

Cate Blanchett has my vote for best dressed at last night’s Oscars in Givenchy Spring 2011 Couture. Her absolutely stunning look was as close to perfection as one can get.

Fit: 5

Trendiness: 5

Appropriateness: 5

Styling: 5

Hair: 4

Makeup: 5

Pose: 3

Confidence: 5

Mark Ruffalo‘s wife and fabulous lady Sunrise Coigney turned it out on the red carpet in Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2010 Couture and looked more avant-garde than anyone else at the Oscars.

Fit: 5

Trendiness: 5

Appropriateness: 4

Styling: 5

Shoes: 5

Hair: 5

Makeup: 5

Pose: 5

Confidence: 5

Merely one month after giving birth, Penelope Cruz arrived to the Oscars wearing this fiery red gown from the L’Wren Scott Spring 2011 collection. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz also have my vote for hottest couple.

Fit: 4

Trendiness: 4

Appropriateness: 5

Styling: 4

Hair: 4

Makeup: 5

Pose: 3

Confidence: 5

Did you notice the top three women on my best-dressed list weren’t even nominated for Oscars? Way to steal the spotlight ladies, you deserve the recognition!

HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Actress Cate Blanchett arrives at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

arrives at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.

Shot by Andrew MacPherson and styled by Brett Bailey, the bodacious raptress lets her hair down, snarls a lot and generally looks like the best thing going on in the world right now.

Wearing Gareth Pugh, Jean Paul Gaultier, House of Holland and vintage Versace, Minaj is demure by…well, Nicki Minaj standards.

Photos: BlackBook

- Items found in Janis Joplin’s handbag: an antique cigarette holder, several motel and hotel room keys, a box of Kleenex, a compact, a bottle of Southern Comfort (empty), a hip flask, gum, sunglasses, credit cards, aspirin, assorted pens and writing pad and a corkscrew. I assume the hip flask was full of SoCo. At least mine is. [The Hairpin]

- Shit is getting UGLY in the Halle Berry/Gabriel Aubry custody battle. Apart from calling her a “fucking bitch,” the Aussie allegedly (his daughter is part black after all) called her the “N” word. I hope she (finally) put that Oscar to good use and threw it at his gorgeous head. [TMZ]

- Jennifer Aniston confronted professional douchebag Perez Hilton about his cruelty to her. I’d like to confront Jennifer Aniston over her current injustice performed upon me. [Huff Po]

- Sassy black lady, my favorite kind of lady, Jazz Ison Sinkfield has been growing her nails for the past 22 years in an effort to meet Oprah Winfrey. I guess that beats my strategy of slowly growing into Gayle King. [Styleist]

- Speaking of becoming a woman, GLAAD is all in a gay huff over an SNL skit they deem to be “dangerous and blatantly anti-tansgender.” Hey, GLAAD, why don’t you untuck for a second and realize it’s just comedy. Sheesh. [Jezebel]

- Lindsay Lohan is under investigation for filching a $2500 necklace from a Venice, CA store on Jan. 22. I hope she threw in a fur and some diamonds as well because $2500 is not worth going to jail for. [People]

- Sartorial star Anne Hathaway had a rare misstep at the premiere of her latest film. And that step landed her in some truly hideous culottes. [Gawker]

- “Oh my god, did someone just jizz on you while you were on your period?”/ “No, silly, I’m just wearing the new Lady Gaga fragrance. And yes.” [Musings of a Muse]

- Jean Paul Gaultier will have his first museum retrospective in June. Make sure to watch your eyes around those cone bras. [NY Mag]

LINK LOVE: Design Scene

Gaultier Createur Thong, $198

Gaultier Createur Babydoll, $913

Gaultier Createur Waist Cincher with Panty, $1240

Balconette Bra, $393

Gaultier Createur Underwire Bra, $523

If none of these are anything to your liking SHOP here!

At an age when many of us can’t even afford a couture gown let alone make one, Maxime Simoëns has joined the official Couture calendar. What’s even more impressive, he’s the first designer to do so without ever having staged a runway.  But before sending out his first painfully constructed garment down the Parisian runway this week, the young couturier shared his inspirations and insights with Style.com.

Your first interest was film. Why did you abandon it for fashion?

Starting from the age of five or six I was totally taken by James Dean, Charlie Chaplin, and Marilyn Monroe. Then I got to film school and found it too technical and scientific—all physics, math, chemistry. I wanted to express myself more concretely; I was thinking less about science and more about the narration of a heroine. Then came Madonna’s “Drowned” World Tour and I took one look at the costumes and silhouettes—and of course the corsets—by Jean Paul Gaultier, and I knew. I went home and started to draw. It totally threw my parents off because after ten years of talking about film I turned around and told them it was going to be fashion.

What happened once you arrived in Paris?

I attended the Chambre Syndicale, and I figured that since Gaultier was my inspiration my first internship should be there. It’s very complicated to get an internship there, so I knocked on all the doors I could, and then I hand-embroidered a letter on a corset that I made out of python and painted. It took my whole summer vacation—the corset, the packaging, everything. Mr. Gaultier never saw it, but his assistants did. It made the rounds in-house and that’s how I got my internship in the accessories department.

You also interned at Christian Dior and Balenciaga. What were the takeaways there?

I was an assistant stylist in the embroidery atelier at Dior. So much happens at the last minute that it was a lesson in working on a tight deadline. As an assistant stylist at Balenciaga I worked on inspirations and embroidery, especially prints. Once, two weeks before the show, we changed everything. It was sort of a liturgical theme, and then it was flowers. Working with Nicolas [Ghesquière] is great because he pushes everything to the limit.

How did the annual fashion and photography festival at Hyères become your launching pad?

Hyères is usually about a concept, but some journalists told me that my mini-collection of seven pieces had commercial potential. We presented at Hyères and found ourselves with orders for 600 pieces, which was enormous. I couldn’t work out of my apartment anymore; we had to really set up a house. Then, unexpectedly, the numbers doubled with the second collection. At the same time, Gossip Girl stylist Eric Daman was scouting for the Paris shoot and he liked the collection. It gave us great exposure, and we [Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively and Leighton Meester] hit it off.

Is that how the couture connection came about?

Didier Grumbach [president of the Fédération Française de la Couture] had encouraged me to participate in Couture week, but I wasn’t sure at first because couture seemed to me a bit old-fashioned. In the end I decided to do it because it wasn’t about aligning with an old image, it was about a new vision of couture. The timing is perfect because ready-to-wear arrives in stores a week later.

What is your take on couture?

For me it’s not about made-to-measure. It’s more about normalized sizing with French creativity and quality. There’s a whole French generation emerging that’s interested in preserving that tradition. Since we took over Lacroix’s old atelier, we have artisanal know-how to back us up and the capacity to deliver quickly. Those two factors make [creating couture] feasible. The idea with our atelier is to support the young coalition and help consolidate the new generation of French couture.

Who are this season’s heroines?

There’s a Sofia Coppola inspiration for both parts of the collection. The first, which I call “Cherry Blossom Girl,” is dedicated to sacrificial heroines like the teenage ones in Virgin Suicides, but with glamour, geometry, and elegance. The second part is called “This, Madame, Is Paris,” which is inspired by Marie Antoinette. For my first Couture show I wanted a theme that was very French, so I chose the absolute icon.

How do you render an icon of excess in neo-minimalist times?

Instead of panniers and frills I worked a lot on fabric, in mille-feuilles and prints. One print is black marble; another is lace transformed into jacquard that is slightly industrial; and another is a pixelated version of a painting the Queen commissioned for the Petit Trianon. Then you get to a heavier jacquard that I created from droplets of blood Photoshopped and reworked in color, thread by thread. But even if her end was somber, we focused on the lighter, iconic side of things—handmade flowers in leather, white gowns embroidered with stones. And there’s a chain theme to invoke the idea of being chained to one’s destiny.

Has Sofia Coppola seen the collection?

No, but she’s invited!

Link Love: Style.com

This glam and edgy look is filled with sparkles and spikes and everything nice:

1. Wanda Dress by Jones and Jones $150 – topshop.com

2. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Psychedelic Sister $17 – urbandecay.com

3. Chanel Aqualumiere Gloss # 707 $33 – yesstyle.com

4. Pamela Love Three finger tribal spike ring $1,000 – brownsfashion.com

5. Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Eau de Parfum Natural Spray $100 – nordstrom.com

6. Alexandre Birman Platform python sandals $795 – net-a-porter.com

7. Kate Spade Swan Lake Scottie $425 – katespade.com

8. Max and Chloe Onyx Dangling Earrings $650 – maxandchloe.com

This time Gaultier is playing with shoulder volume. A bra with built-in shoulder shapers will give you the instant Emmanuelle Alt signature, even in a shlump shouldered jacket. My biggest hope – no, not hope, more like a prayer – is for a Blonde Ambition world tour Rocket Cone Bra flashback. The structured line will be out in the UK January 17th in Harrods.

Link Love: Full Frontal Fashion

** FILE ** Pop singer Madonna performs during her Blonde Ambition tour at Wembley Stadium in London, in this July 20, 1990, file photo. The ever-evolving Madonna will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with John Mellencamp, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen and The Dave Clark Five. The Ceremony will be held on March 10, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo) Original Filename: Music_Rock_Hall_Inductees_NYET254.jpg