Photo: Roxanne Lewitt / Obsession Photo

Ostroff will be Condé’s first president of entertainment as it hopes to ween the Nast off the teet of advertisers and start rolling in that Hollywood dough. Though projects like The September Issue and America’s Next Top Model, featuring a be-caped André Leon Talley, already give CN a multi-media presence, the publisher’s not getting any money from it. Which is where Ostroff comes in.

“This is all content that Condé Nast should be able to build a library with in some way — even if it’s in partnership with other companies,” said Ostroff. “It could mean films, it could mean documentaries, it could mean television shows, it could mean digital series or digital content, it could be digital channels. And it could be across all platforms: Cable channels, cable broadcast networks. It ranges across the board.”

In that case, allow me to pitch my first — of many — Condé Nast-themed shows. Picture it, The Golden Gossip Girls, starring Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington as Blair Waldorf and Serena Vanderwoodsen, respectively (naturally)…50 years in the future. It’s got Emmy written all over it…or at least People’s Choice Award scribbled somewhere on its side. [NYT, WWD]

1. You don’t need any sleep to look radiant—if you have Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick and finishing powder on hand.
The morning I go to meet Ford at his glitzy London HQ, he has had two hours’ sleep the night before. He has terrible insomnia. However, in his immaculate black suit, white shirt, and black tie, he looks crisp and fresh. I would like to know his secret, I tell him.

“Powder under the eyes,” he declares authoritatively. “The only thing making you have bags is the light hitting the high points of the skin. If there is translucent powder under your eyes,” he says—grabbing a gorgeous glossy brown-and-gold compact and, looking in the mirror, dusting finishing powder under each eye—“and you use a little stick foundation, and then the powder in moderation, the shadows are gone.”

Ford is endearingly vain. For a man so famously handsome and successful, he is as insecure as a teenager about his looks. Even though he spends serious amounts of time peering into his magnifying mirror (a compulsory piece of equipment, according to Ford), it’s not to say, “ ‘Wow, I look great’; it’s to think, I’m getting older and my eyebrows are getting longer and they need a cut, and oh, God, maybe I need a little more Botox here. So all I see are flaws when I look in the mirror—initially, until I correct them.”

The point is, whatever the beautiful 50-year-old Ford is doing, he wears makeup. And the starting point for him—and so for his cosmetics line—is flawless skin. As well as stick foundation, the range includes primer and an extraordinarily light “traceless” liquid foundation. When I try it, it seems to magically disguise any unevenness in my skin without being visible. I usually hate foundation because it’s so obvious, but this feels and looks completely different—like nothing is there at all. “Everything about the Tom Ford world is perfect,” says makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, who helped Ford create the line, “and that includes perfect glowing skin.” I tried Ford’s moisturizers and serums—his collection includes skin care as well—over the space of six weeks, and my complexion seemed to spring into bloom.

2. Get a dressing table now.
One of Ford’s favorite childhood memories is of watching his mother do her face every morning at a dressing table equipped with magnifying mirrors and spotlights at their home in the Houston suburbs. “She looked like Tippi Hedren,” he remembers. “She didn’t wear a lot of eye shadow, but there was definitely foundation, a brow, and lipstick with a very orange, 1960s cast to it. She would tease her hair up between sips of coffee, spraying on the Aqua Net, as it’s called in Texas.”

Tom Ford isn’t about on-the-go makeup. When my box of his new products arrives—mahogany-handled brushes (manufactured by the world’s finest brush factory, in Japan), blushers, powders, kohl pencils, nail colors, lip glosses, and lipsticks—the need for a dressing table is suddenly pressing. I have to spread it out all over my bed just to take it in. “You can’t put this makeup on in the subway or in the car ever,” Ford had told me. “Because if you paint your mouth on slightly crookedly, you no longer have a straight mouth, you have a crooked mouth. Why would you do that?”

3. Manners maketh makeup.
Ford is famously old-fashioned about putting on your face in public. If a girl needs a touch-up, he says, she should go to the powder room. There are, though, exceptions. “If you have a gorgeous hand and gorgeous mannerisms and a gorgeous compact . . . there’s a very well known beauty, I can’t say her name, but I used to see her a bit for dinner,” he confides. “She’d lay out a compact, a lip brush, a lipstick, and it was like part of the knife and fork. After each course, out came the compact and the lipstick, and somehow she pulled it off, because it was so much her thing.”

4. Makeup is the new It bag: Change it and you don’t need a new frock.
“You can take a little black dress,” explains Ford, “and put on twenties makeup, thirties makeup, or seventies makeup, and that dress becomes totally different.”

5. Thou shalt wear “full on” color for evening.
Ford has always believed in color in his clothing. His makeup range contains every shade the Tom Ford woman needs for her face: sexy nudes, glamour reds, moody plums, midnight blues, and titanium blacks for night.

After timidly playing with the colors at home, I’m ready to give them a trial outing. The occasion: insanely fabulous tickets to see Alicia Keys at a one-night-only performance in London.

The look starts with nails. I take a bottle of African Violet—a luscious dark-fuchsia—to Coco Nail Bar on Portobello Road, just about the only place you can get a simultaneous mani-pedi in London. The manicurist whispers that she feels “honored” to be using the first Tom Ford polish. Once my nails are done, I feel the beginnings of a Bianca Jagger moment coming on: The exotic dark pink reminds me of the lacquered, lipsticked icon in her heyday.

It seems right to make up my eyes more daringly than usual. I pick the palette of lilacs and purples, Violet Dusk, and gradually layer on each shade, topping it off with the shimmery “sequin” finish. (Each eye-shadow compact contains four shades of varying intensity and texture in a given color harmony, and represents a complete look curated by Ford.) I add a shot of peacock green along my upper lash line, using the Metallic Moss kohl pencil, and gently shade my lips with the muted Pink Dusk lipstick. I’ve somehow managed to pull off an updated disco-chic look, rather than descending into the Priscilla Queen of the Desert territory I had feared.

I throw on a bias-cut, original 1970s black jersey dress, Moroccan gold earrings, gold Manolos, and grab a dark-brown patent clutch with gold trim. I feel dressy and fun with my lacquered nails and glittering eyes. When I run into a makeup-free Phoebe Philo at the after-party, I momentarily doubt my violet eyelids. But only momentarily. It is so much fun wearing brights that I vow to try the tantalizing greens of the Sahara Haze palette on my next night out.

6. If you don’t have a long neck, draw it.
Ford believes you can create any shape of face you want using his Shade and Illuminate palette—a compact containing a brightening “lifting” cream and a darker “sculpting” one. “If I know that one cheekbone is higher than the other, I can put highlighter on the lower one,” he says, showing me how to do it, “and suddenly my cheeks look symmetrical, because the light bounces off the lower one better.” Ford says you can even create a jawline like Linda Evangelista’s. “If you don’t have that fabulously strong jaw, you could basically highlight where your neck is and shade where your chin is, and you would have a really strong look.” In case this sounds a little intimidating, Ford reassures me that Charlotte Tilbury will be personally training the beauty advisers at every one of his counters worldwide so they can show women exactly how to do this.

7. Change your eyebrows—avoid plastic surgery!
Ford is eyebrow-obsessed. He believes eyebrows are the one thing you can dramatically change on your face without going under the knife. To that end, he has included an angular Brow Sculptor, which allows the user to get a much sharper line than with an ordinary eyebrow pencil. The formula is soft, so it’s great for gentle filling.

8. Old Hollywood glamour is the best Hollywood glamour.
Despite his other job as a movie director, Ford admits he often feels the current Hollywood standard of beauty is “tragic.” He says Hollywoodized women—whether they are in London, L.A., or New York—who all look exactly the same are like “Barbies. Real women shouldn’t look at any of it or think about any of it.” Instead, he tells me, “women should do the same as I did when starting my brand: What colors do I always like? What was my favorite period of makeup? What am I comfortable in? What time in my life did I think I looked my most amazing? What was I wearing? And from just thinking about those things, you can start to put together who you are. Then stick with it. It doesn’t mean your shoulder or heel shouldn’t change a little, but it gives you a base.”
9. Bitter Bitch is the new Vamp.
Enough said about the sexiest chocolate-brown nail polish I’ve ever seen.

10. It’s chic to wear jeans and a T-shirt and be made-up.
Ford tells me that the coolest 20-something girls in his London office come to work in high-street clothes and immaculate makeup. “They grew up in the hip-hop moment of nothing, so they’ve reacted against that and want to be glamorous. They want a lacquered lip.” Ford shows me a crimson lip gloss that recalls the Dallas and Dynasty starlets. It’s fun, fabulous, the perfect orangey red. Ford has always loathed lip gloss, so it took him a while to get to the point where he could add one to the line. His strikes me as different, more grown-up: saturated and opaque, yet not sticky.

Putting a face on suddenly feels chic again.

Credit: Fall 2011 Vogue September Issue

- Nicola Formicehtti said what we’ve all been thinking — “…old people should just be old and go away.” –  so what? [The Cut]

- Kim Kardashian is bored. [Refinery29]

- DailyCandy wants you to “Go Big” or go Home..or Go Fashion, Food & Drink or Beauty with their “Start Small, Go Big” — connecting you with some of the country’s most prominent entrepreneurs. The bigger, the fiercer, I always say. [FashionIndie]

1. Paris Is Burning (1990)

Set amidst the backdrop of 80s New York ball culture, Paris Is Burning is an exploration of beauty, race, sexuality, capitalism and the American Dream, all wrapped up in a dragtastic homage to the transformative powers of fashion. Also, where do you think Madonna learned to Vogue?

See Also: To Wong Foo — Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1994) Drag queens, yes; acute social commentary, not so much…but how can you argue with this? Oh, that’s right, you can’t.

- Target is apparently offering a Mossimo knock-off of Proenza Schouler‘s PS1 bag and Jack and Lazaro are none too happy about it. Target on the other hand will neither confirm nor deny the allegations but they did say something about being rubber and Proenza being glue. [NYT]

- Noted actress, Tea Leoni…it is 1998, right? Anyway, Tea Leoni will be starring in a new HBO pilot set in the fabulous, fast-paced world of fashion titled Spring/Fall. The show is being written by one of Six Feet Under‘s scribes and produced by the kids who brought you The September Issue, so Tea Leoni might actually have a career again. The 90s really are back! [Deadline]

- The second gal to accuse Dov Charney of…well, being Dov Charney took to the airwaves to speak to Today. My guess, for a company already on the verge of bankruptcy, this isn’t going to help. Just sayin’. [NY Mag]

- Katie Holmes got down with the Real Housewives of New York at a premiere party for her new fashion short film with John Frieda…hey, remember that time Holmes’ Dawson Creek co-star, Michelle Williams, got nominated for an Oscar? Twice? [Daily Front Row]

- View co-host and EGOT-er, Whoopi Goldberg admitted that she was stoned as a Marley on 420 when she accepted her Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the 1991 ceremony: ”So I smoked this wonderful joint that was the last of my home grown. When he [presenter Denzel Washington] said my name and I popped up, I thought, ‘Oh fuck… okay, up the stairs… around to the podium… there’s millions of people, pick up the statue, get the statue.’” Oooh, Whoopi’s got that home grown ish? Can a bitch come over and hold your Oscar in a very similar state of mind? [DListed]

EDIBLE LINGERIE- Maybe a bit grody, and might  not be the most fashionable and secure piece of clothing to wear, but it could be fun.

Buy some Burberry Brit perfume, one of my favorites, smells beyond sweet with a twist of a reminder that it’s breezy Fall weather time!

Find some new leather boots to call your favorite, preferably black.

Try a grande soy vanilla latte. one: because it’s cold outside and two: because it tastes like Christmas in a cup.

Check out MAC for your shade of burgundy lipstick.

Kick back and watch The September Issue! All Vogue, all Team Wintour, all FASHION.

The September Issue DVD, which is available on pre-order now through Amazon or iTunes, has 90 more min of Grace, Anna, and Andre, which is kinda like seeing part 2.

LINK LOVE: NY Mag

I have mixed feelings about Anna Wintour. I think we all do. I love her because she’s corporate and decisive; after-all, she has kept Vogue afloat since 1988. I hate her because her conservatism really hinders the potential of Vogue and the potential of fashion in general. But there is so much more to Vogue than Anna Wintour, is there not? I thought the purpose of a documentary was to document reality. If you call R.J Cutler’s shoddy filming and manipulative editing ‘reality,’ we’ve got some serious issues on our hands. If you pick all the clips where Anna seems cold, distant and heartless and splice them into a montage, yes, everyone is going to think she is a bitch. Again, should you pull all of Grace Coddington’s moments of undermined superiority, you automatically assume she does all the work and Anna alters and takes credit. But in reality, Anna probably agrees with Grace more often than not and Grace is probably a demanding sod. Manipulation? I think so.

Speaking of reality, is launching a September issue really that lax? Where’s the hustle? Where’s the stress? Where’s the writers slaving over deadlines? WHERE ARE THE WRITERS!? Oh, and please tell me the Vogue offices aren’t that drama free and boring. I realize that David Frankel’s The Devil Wears Prada was only inspired by Vogue/Anna Wintour and is a silver-screen dramatization, but it’s sad when a movie seems more realistic than a documentary. Really, Mr. Cutler, you made Vogue seem like another, no big deal, walk in the park. I highly doubt that is so.

All in all, had I not been slightly tipsy and in good company at The September Issue, it would be safe to say that last night was a complete and total failure. But hey, at least I learned a few important things: Reality does not exist (oh, how profound of me), Grace Coddington needs a serious makeover, jenky Long Island girls are worthy of manning the Vogue reception desk and mom is always right. Let’s just hope Fashion Week let’s me down easy if letting down is in the cards.

P.S. Daniel and I both agree, Coco Before Chanel looks like shit. Our opinion radiated throughout the Lincoln Center AMC too.

I know I enjoyed every second of this documentary, and apparently the rest of the world did too. If you haven’t seen it yet I suggest you do, I know you want to be part of the $240,078 the movie grossed in only six theaters! That’s an average of $40,013 per screen, the second best theatre per-average  in the year of 2009. Amazing – I guess it’s true, Anna is all powerful. Oh, P.S: Gawker has a picture of Anna waiting in line and (shocker) wearing a t-shirt, just like the rest of us.

SOURCE: NY Mag’s Cut Blog

Vogue’s editor-in-chief landed on Letterman’s Late Night couch to promote The September Issue.

Via Fashionista

LOVE that pantsuit. Even though everyone is over Cassie’s half-shaved head, I honestly think she looked awesome at the premier of the September Issue. Hate away.

LINK LOVE: Livejournal

Sienna Miller and Anna Wintour acted buddy-buddy at the premier of The September Issue, but apparently after Miller appeared on the 2007 September issue cover, Wintour called her “toothy” and said she had “unruly hair.” I suppose everyone’s hair is unruly next to Anna’s perfectly coiffed bob, but I think Sienna out shined Anna at the premier..sorry Anna, but what is happening with that dress?!

SOURCE: Splash Mag

Chanel Iman weighs in on her must see movie of the year, Inglorious Bastards of Conde Nasty.

LINK LOVE: LINK LOVEL twitter.com/itsmechaneliman

Nope, just The September Issue.

Live chat on Twitter today at 5PM EST with RJ Cutler, the director of The September Issue. Wonder if anyone will ask him the question that is on all our minds. Is Anna Wintour as kind and gentle hearted as she appears on film?

Follow at http://twitter.com/septemberissue

Despite rumors that Anna Wintour wasn’t too happy about the documentary called The September Issue, word has it she’ll be hosting the premier of the documentary this August! The Vogue documentary is set to debut August 19th, gearing up for the magazines actual September issue.

LINKAGE: Style Caster

With “The September Issue” soon coming to theaters, you’d think Vogue is on the top of the world, but ad sales show differently. Yes, when the documentary was filmed they had 727 ad pages in a 840 page magazine, but two years later those ads have reduced themselves to a mere 400 pages (according to the Post). Why is this? Jezebel suspects:

1. The recession? Though Elle is in the lead — and In Style is doing well — ad pages at those publications are likewise down. Companies aren’t spending money like they used to.

2. The zeitgeist? While people are still interested in fashion, it’s no longer cool to be all bling-bling and logo-covered. Perhaps attitudes have changed? Accessible clothes — Project Runway, guest designers at H&M — still pique people’s interests, but what Vogue calls “aspirational” can often feel like a cruel fantasy.

3. It’s stale? Vogue will never die. But maybe it needs resuscitating? A fresh polish on a brand losing luster? Is there a way to restore the enchantment, the magic that Vogue was capable of? Hint: This is not the way.

4. Anna Wintour? The high-profile EIC of Vogue stars in a documentary that may be less than flattering, and recently called fat people in Minnesota little houses. And despite recent covers with Michelle Obama and Beyoncé, there was a time when, for issue after issue, there were no black models on the magazine’s pages. Zero. When does your asset become a liability?

5. The Internet? With sites like The Cut, The Sartorialist, Style.com, Fatshionista, StreetPeeper, Refinery29 and so on, it’s possible to be interested in fashion and find out about all kinds of runway shows, trends and designers without the narrow point-of-view Vogue offers. In a lightning-fast, interactive way. Like we always say, when in doubt, blame this Web 2.0 thing people are always talking about.

What do you think?

QUICKLINK: Jezebel

Previously stereotyped by pajamas and pillow fights, movie nights are finally getting a touch of glamour thanks to the almost impossible to find nature of The September Issue. Set for release in September, fashion insiders are so desperate to see the film they have resorted to bootlegging! These little fashion parties have been keeping ladies busy in New York, Paris, and Moscow. I too am dying to see this, where’s my invite??

SOUCE: NY Mag

Mark your calendars, shine your shoes and learn how to control your popcorn scarfing habit, because this is bound to be the most fashionable film you see all year! 

Thanks Fashionologie! 

The Daily Mirror’s 3AM Girls have uncovered a horrid, yet not surprising truth. THIS ENTIRE IMAGE IS A LIE!!!

In a behind-the-scenes documentary, The September Issue, fearsome Vogue editor Anna Wintour claims Miller is too “toothy” and staff were worried she has “too many fillings” and “unruly hair”….

 

The documentary shows how the actress was airbrushed within an inch of her life for the shoot with famed photographer Mario Testino back in 2007. They then took one photo of her face and super-imposed it on a separate picture of her body.

LINKAGE: Tooth Hurts, Sienna

Thanks NY Mag!