(L-R, Kate Middleton – notedly not Catherine yet, Anna Della Russo, Demi Moore)

A brief history of the fascinator:

With shops already in cities like London, Tokyo and Luxembourg, it’s about time we got a taste of Maison Ladurée‘s famous macarons. As flavors shift with the seasons, you’ll find these delightful little pastries in Lily of the Valley, Orange Passion, Chuao Origine Pure Chocolate, just to name a few. Plus, Maison Ladurée offers the most gorgeous packaging you could ever want, so these little treats make the perfect gift.

Still not convinced? The French patisserie is known for creating the double decker macaroon and made all of the pastries for the film Marie Antoinette. It’s also a favorite of Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf. The shop just opened today at 864 Madison Ave. between 71st and 72nd Streets, so run to get your sugar high before the rush.

LINK LOVE: Eater

Many of our favorite Indies were out last night including: Sir Ben Kingsley, Shenae Grimes, Famke Janssen, Rebecca Minkoff, Billy Burke, Scott Campbell, Arlenis Sosa, Genevieve Jones, Waris Ahluwalia, Lance Bass, & Sky Ferreira

The exhibition was itself  fantastic.  Some of the films included in the exhibtion were Taxi Driver, The Aviator, & Vertigo. Our personal favorite attraction happened to be costumes from Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. (Featured below)

The exhibition, which will be open to the public (FOR FREE!) starting today until June 19th 2011 at  Center 548 in New York City, celebrates the stories of obsessive craftsmanship behind some of cinema’s most iconic on-screen moments.  It takes 30 manual steps to create the perfect pair of Persol frames and  similarly this exhibit showcases how each instance of what appears on the silver screen  can take hours, weeks or even months of painstaking research and craftsmanship to develop and comes for a place of passion.

For some more art check out this video of Sam & I doing a wave in a flipbook we made at the event (below)

Elisa Sednaoui for Harper’s Bazaar en Espanol Cover – May 2011 issue 

After being published in the April issue of Harper’s BAZAAR China, the Spring-Summer 2011 Haute Couture editorial shot in the magnificent decor of Le Bristol Palace Hotel in Paris with model Marlena Szoka lensed by Benjamin Kanarek has also been published in Harper’s BAZAAR en Español, May 2011 Issue.

Luz Resplandeciente

In an absolutely ethereal atmosphere, Marlena wears these amazing Haute Couture looks from the Spring Summer 2011 Collections of established Couture Houses the likes of,  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.

A New Generation of Couturiers

This new publication reveals 3 bonus images featuring 3 fashion designers of the New Generation. There is an interesting twist in what they have on offer, their use of silver and metal in their outfits, which were  all selected by the young and dynamic Japanese fashion editor, Sohei Yoshida. These designs are in stark contrast to the soft billowy mist surrounding Marlena Szoka.

Maxime Simoëns

The 26 year old French Fashion Designer, considers his Collection Semi-Couture (an intermediate category between Haute Couture and Ready-to-Wear) as the prototypes are not tailored made for the client, but are available in different sizes. Nonetheless, his craftsmanship featuring the “à la Française Know-How” gave him the privilege to be invited during the official Schedule of the The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. For his first “Haute Couture” show, he gave his own interpretation of French Queen Marie-Antoinette’s slice of life (no pun intended).

The chain dress is one the master pieces of his collection that needed more than 300 hours of work and weighs more than 35kg. It represents Maxime Simoëns vision of Marie-Antoinette as a prisoner in La Conciergerie waiting for her judgment and execution.

Jantaminiau

Since 2007, Jantaminiau, from Dutch Designer Jan Taminiau, has showed his collection twice a year in Paris during Couture fashion week. Surrounded and inspired by antique dealers, decorators and interior designers, Jan’s Collections are a combination of artisan techniques and a constant experimentation with forms, shapes and fabrics.

Marlena is waving in a silver and gold sequins embroidered jumpsuit and full pearl grey chiffon over-coat perched on extremely high pumps inspired from Japanese Ippon-ba Geta and Chopine platform shoes worn in Venice in the 15th Century.

“Couture has nothing to do with reality or being wearable. It is about free imagination and the extraordinary…
In my quest for the perfect fit I pursue new shapes and unconventional techniques. By weaving and interweaving fabrics, I enable a natural form to emerge which highlights character from the wearer.”
Jan Taminiau

On Aura Tout Vu

Is a duet of two Bulgarian Fashion Designers: Livia Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov, primarily Accessory Designers for Couture Houses like Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy. They founded “On Aura Tout Vu” that is a French expression meaning “You think you’ve seen it all” with André de Sà Pessoa, from Portugal, who passed away in 2005. Since 2002, On Aura Tout Vu presents its own Haute Couture Collection in Paris as Invited Member of the Fédération Française de la Couture.

Their Spring-Summer 2011 Collection takes us in a “Kingdom of dreams where the bodies of the fairy queens are covered with a thousand sets of jewels that shine with a fiery glow.” Marlena embodies the LadyBird in this spectacular outfit mixing Haute Couture and silversmith craftsmanship with its leggings and body entirely embroidered and topped by feathers carved in a metal cartwheel ruff which has already been purchased by the only other LadyBird: Lady Gaga herself !

The Extended Version of the Behind the Scenes Video Here

The Complete Editorial

The Team

Photography and Co-Creative Direction by Benjamin Kanarek
Co-Creative Direction & Video Direction by Frédérique Renaut
Model: Marlena Szoka @ Nathalie Models, Paris
Fashion Editor: Sohei Yoshida
Make Up by Topolino @ Calliste Agency, Paris
Hair by Tanya Koch @ B Agency, Paris
Manicure by Kamel @ B Agency, Paris
Digital Retouching by Freddy Baby, Paris

Assitants
Benjamin Kanarek’s Assistant: Benoît Tremblay
Sohei Yoshida’s Assistants: Moe Meier, Haruka Suzuki, Hisato Tasaka
Tanya Koch’s Assistant: Blandine

Special Thanks to Hotel Le Bristol

Soundtrack Credits

Adele, Chasing Pavements
Ben’s Brother, Let Me Out

With each collection, Burton asserts her own aesthetic while subtly referencing past house motifs. This time around, for her collection themed “The Ice Queen and her court,” Burton was inspired by “heritage silhouettes,” and indeed there were echoes of Fall 2009‘s, Spring 2007‘s and Fall 2006‘s (among others) ready-to-wear womens shows.

Though instead of feeling like a re-tread, the gowns that strolled down the runway of Marie Antoinette‘s one-time prison were more of a reinterpretation. This was a softer, more feminine McQueen; breathtaking in its feathery-light construction, but the warrior woman often conjured in past collections was alive and strong through bodices resembling armor and leather straps tied about shoulders.

Marie Antoinette would have lost her head over Burton’s brilliant pieces…and then there’s that other royal who’s rumored to be wearing McQueen for her big day. If there is any British designer and label worthy of such an honor, it is no doubt Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

Photos: Style.com

Shop WILDFOX HERE and let us know what you bought!

Models: Jennifer Pugh, Naty Chanbanenko, Daria Zhemkova

Styling: Emily Faulstich, Kimberley Gordon, Meredith Leyerzaph

Hair: Marki Shkreli

Styling: Emily Faulstich, Kimberley Gordon, Meredith Leyerzaph

Photographer: Emir Eralp

Photo: Mommylife.net

Look #1: Marie Antoinette recreated with Alexander McQueen fall 2010

Photo: MrDowling.com

Look #2: Cleopatra recreated with Pucci fall 2010

Photo: Theage.com.au

Look #3: Joan of Arc recreated with Audra Callo fall 2009

Photo: Redbubble.com

Look #4: Helen of Troy recreated with Alberta Ferretti spring 2008

Photo: Tonialexis.blogspot.com

Look #5: Jackie O recreated with Alice + Olivia resort 2011

Photo: Yoursdaily.com

Look #6: Nico from The Velvet Underground recreated with Giorgio Armani spring 2003

Commons.wikimedia.org

Look #7: Clara Bow recreated with Louis Vuitton spring 2011

All runway photos from Style.com

I loved all the bright, pops of color that was a part of the Marie Antoinette film that Kirsten Dunst starred in.

The movie has gone on to be a huge source of inspiration for many in fashion, and when you look at the many various costumes throughout it, you know why. It stays true to the period, but I also think the bright colors give it a big modern twist.

I loved every outfit Kirsten wore & although I’d probably never go around dressed in this period look, I can definitely draw so much inspiration from it.

Elisa Palomino used to design for Moschino Cheap and Chic, she also worked for John Galliano, Dior, Cavalli and DVF, before she decided to launch her own label. She presented her debut collection yesterday, the decor was so beautiful and a live band was performing for the show

I loved this collection, the pink color omnipresence made me think of the movie ”Marie-Antoinette” by Sofia Coppola, the crazy haird and make-up was AMAZING. This debut floral inspired collection was quite impressive.

From 2006′s Vogue US “Teen Queen” on Sofia Coppola’s then released “Marie Antoinette” about the ultimate big spender.

GALLERY: Cult

Via Wicked Halo

Thanks to Just Jared for the photo!