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."

Photos: WOWWOW.ME

LINK LOVE: Refinery29

© Charlie Gray / MARTINI® / Sportfolio PR

A pregnant Monica Belluci looks amazing on the cover of Vanity Fair Italy.

LINK LOVE: Vanity Fair

A friend referred me to David Alexander’s site, and on viewing his collections I fell in love with the fur, leather, mesh, studs, jewels, and all of my favorite things compiled into one fashion show. Once I began to speak with David, I found his quirky, enthusiastic and overly creative personality absolutely thrilling, and had to share it with you.

Here’s a little anecdote that got me hooked on David straight away:

So my friend Susan calls me and says ” your gonna be so mad at me.” and as I put down my Playstation controller and jogged over to my computer I see this email and I’m like…..who is that, and she goes “Well I dunno, but she is prolly never gonna buy another skirt from you or Curve again..” and Im like omg omg did i fudge up and the skirt zipper was broke because I do pride myself on an 100% usa made quality product…”She goes well I saw her in the skirt and I freaked out and ran over and I was lil drunk and I sort of shook her cause I was in the gold one and was like OMG OMG my friend made these arent they great”….So basically if you buy my clothes in NY and a crazy beautiful woman runs over to you its my friend Susan haha I cant be mad she is just all about my designs and gives me so much support.

I was also lucky enough to hear from David on a few questions that I asked:

FASHION INDIE:  How did you get your start in designing?

DAVID ALEXANDER: I started designing at 12 when I started drawing super hero costumes, and worked watched my grandma design wedding dresses for fun, then eventually went to FIDM and Parsons where I got my BA in Fine arts Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing. I have done freelance work for Juicy, DKNY, and Simon G.

FI: Your collection ‘Broken Princess and Her Secret Prince’ features a secret prince named David…any chance it’s named after you?

DA: Yah sort of I design clothing based on stories I come up so with every outfit I took all the women I know and work with and sort of designed around that, the princesses name was Alexis after my little sister.  I guess my ultimate ambitions of having a luxury line, a comic book, and an action cartoon television series haha.

FI: Can you tell us anything about your new line? I hear from a super secret source that it’s called Dahlia Dangeroux

DA: So far yes, it’s designed around inspiration from the Black Dahlia, and my non-fiction short movie ill be working on with an actress friend of mine….Im about 60% it will be called Dahlia Dangeroux or Fleeting Stars…but around the same concept, which is a young hollywood actress is kidnapped by mad man who is kidnaping the creme de la creme of Young Hollywood, and while knocked out in the drunk she dreams of all the movies, red carptes and wonderful things she could do if she survives…..and the unfolding of the story. it was inspried by a spoken word song called victim by the golden palminos. I know weird right? LOL im totally a nerdo

FI: I’ve noticed you shoot a lot with the fabulous Laura La Rue.  Has she, or any other models acted as your muse to your lines?

DA: I use people who i feel are truly beautiful inside and out, that brings out the best in a dress a confident sexy woman..Laura is also a red head like my mom and as an ode to her I always use red heads and brunettes …I also love love love Monica Bellucci she is a muse as well as Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li and my other friend Iwona Lis. one of my new muses is Karen Elson (YSL model) and Chanel Iman.

FI: You make everything from evening gowns to menswear..how on earth does your brain balance all of that?

DA: I have no clue I think my skull is full of clouds red bull, anime and video games. I always make these collections and when im done im like does is this stuff go together at all and then when people read the story there like ya…and im like…….( O_o…..ok) I guess i just do my own thing and so far its worked…

FI: What’s next? Red carpet looks, diffusion line, world takeover?

DA: (Hehehe :::Twiddling Fingers:::: World Domination All My clothes have secret tracking devices MWAHAHA)……. Um well winter is always BOOM BOOM glamour because it can be heavier but my winter is gonna be very high end couture with a few actual everyday..well what I call everyday dresses if it were up to me everyone would run around in evening gowns and furs trying to one up each other….But I just got signed on by SAGA FUR for the Royal Vision Team so I will be taking a trip in October to see all the techniques and amazing things they can do with it im thinking Chains Metal Spikes and Sable… Im def working on some casual items that are more affordable but they will still retain there runway glamour look and probably only kick the price down a good 40 or 60 bux but hey save where u  can save and where the same dress every day…I wear the same jeans….they just fit so well!

FI: Any advice for hopeful designers?

DA: YOU GOTTA WORK!….Um I dunno…ya know the world of fashion is tough and there are moments you can get very heavy hearted my advice is to if you wanna be a designer get tough skin and a shit load of 5hour energy because when you think you have made it or you have caught up you realize its 2 months from your next show and your scrambling from fabric shop to shop looking for your inspiration …..Haha I guess I have alot of advice to give like dont judge any other designers work unless there an asshole then rip up there dress, but if there cool compliment them because everyone has there own style and when u see someone and out and your like OMG what are they wearing well there wearing someone design which is more then I can say for some other people who spend all day judging…but I wont give up to much info its best to learn as you do the ups and downs create great great collections.

–

If you aren’t sold on David Alexander yet, see more of his looks on Envy. Check out his site, and shop at the following locations:

“how do u kill a blonde u give her spike shoulder pads and ask her a question ( raising shoulders) she answers “I dunno”

The April 2009 issue of Elle France features the natural beauty (meaning no makeup whatsoever) of Monica Bellucci, Sophie Marceau, Eva Herzigova, Inès de la Fressange, Anne Parillaud, Karin Viard, Charlotte Rampling, and Chiara Mastroianni captured by Peter Lindbergh.

How very Brad Pitt of them.

LINKAGE: Thisis50