Posts for May 3rd 2010

Red Carpet Arrivals at the 2010 Costume Institute Ball
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Red Carpet Arrivals at the 2010 Costume Institute Ball

After last year's "Model as Muse" parade of teeny tiny minis, long dresses are ruling the red carpet for the 2010 "American Woman"-themed Costume Institute ball.
by coutorture

After last year's "Model as Muse" parade of teeny tiny minis, long dresses are ruling the red carpet for the 2010 "American Woman"-themed Costume Institute ball. Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture, Diane Kruger in Calvin Klein, Bee Shaffer in Balenciaga, Kate Bosworth in Valentino Haute Couture, Oprah Winfrey in custom Oscar de la Renta, and Emma Watson in Burberry—all opted for floor-length gowns. The few notable exceptions were Blake Lively in a barely there Marchesa, Hilary Rhoda in red and black Prabal Gurung, Gisele Bundchen in fringed Alexander Wang, and Carey Mulligan in purple Miu Miu. Click below for images straight from the red carpet at the Met.

Source: Getty/WireImage

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2010 Costume Institute Gala Arrivals Have Started!
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2010 Costume Institute Gala Arrivals Have Started!

>> It's officially Costume Institute Gala time: Anna Wintour, in her requisite Chanel couture, and Bee Shaffer, in Balenciaga, are among the first to arrive.
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>> It's officially Costume Institute Gala time: Anna Wintour, in her requisite Chanel couture, and Bee Shaffer, in Balenciaga, are among the first to arrive. Anna is chatty, joking about the humidity's effect on her newly-blonder hair, while Bee, complaining that her feet hurt, won't talk with press. Evening co-host Oprah appears on Oscar de la Renta's arm (she's wearing a custom-made gown by the designer), to deafening cheers, and shrieked with excitement at Iman's arrival.

Jessica Alba, in Sophie Theallet for Gap, meanwhile, reportedly had trouble maneuvering in her dress — her husband Cash Warren had to practically carry her up the steps. Marc Jacobs arrives in a baseball cap — "I had a hair transplant," he explains — and doesn't stop for pictures; Lorenzo Martone, on the other hand, walks the red carpet with client Alessandra Ambrosio.  And fashion week buddies Andre Leon Talley and Whoopi Goldberg appear again together tonight in matching white Chado Ralph Rucci robes.

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Inside “American Woman" on View at the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute
Gap

Inside “American Woman" on View at the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute

“American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity," the Metropolitan Museum's spring Costume Institute exhibit, kicks off tonight with an Anna Wintour, Patrick Robinson, and Oprah Winfrey hosted gala.
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“American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity," the Metropolitan Museum's spring Costume Institute exhibit, kicks off tonight with an Anna Wintour, Patrick Robinson, and Oprah Winfrey hosted gala. Starting tomorrow, the Costume Institute will be open to the public. 

Sarah Jessica Parker narrates the 2010 exhibition, taking viewers through six archetypes of American femininity from the 1890s to the 1940s (The Heiress, The Gibson Girl, The Bohemian, The Patriot and The Suffragist, The Flapper, and The Screen Siren). As we walked from room to room during this morning's press preview, we watched new money princesses of the late Nineteenth century become athletic tennis-loving girls and, through the feminist movement, emerge as bobbed flappers and glamorous film stars.

The last room in the exhibition aims to bring one's gaze back to present day. "American Woman" by Lenny Kravitz plays on repeat along with a video installation created by Trey Laird. Images—mostly sourced from Vogue magazine—of actresses, athletes, reporters, models, politicians, and musicians (like Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Connie Chung, Janet Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice, and Gwen Stefani) appear alongside sometimes curious video footage (Serena Williams celebrating on the tennis court, Halle Berry and Katherine Bigelow accepting Oscars, Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video). One can assume the viewer is meant to place these modern day American women neatly into the aforementioned archetype, where Michelle Obama becomes our Gibson girl and Angelina Jolie is the new screen siren.

The hand-painted rooms by Nathan Crowley, are a definite highlight—heiress gowns by Worth are presented in a replica of Mrs. Astor's drawing room, while the flapper dresses by Jeanne Lanvin appear in front of an Art Deco cityscape—as are the wigs and headpieces created by Julien d'Y.

“American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" will be on view May 4 through August 15. The exhibition was made possible in large part due to a partnership with the Brooklyn Museum's Costume Collection, which is currently staging a parallel show on American fashion.

Source: Courtesy of John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

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Who's Wearing What at the 2010 Costume Institute Gala
met gala

Who's Wearing What at the 2010 Costume Institute Gala

>> It's only a couple more hours until the pictures from tonight's "American Woman"-themed Costume Institute Gala red carpet start rolling in, but already, there are plenty of dress confirmations — and one performer confirmation, in the form of Lady Gaga.  Without further ado, the running list (which will be updated until the photos hit) of who's wearing what, below.
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>> It's only a couple more hours until the pictures from tonight's "American Woman"-themed Costume Institute Gala red carpet start rolling in, but already, there are plenty of dress confirmations — and one performer confirmation, in the form of Lady Gaga.  Without further ado, the running list (which will be updated until the photos hit) of who's wearing what, below.

The list »

Donatella Versace and Christopher Kane Host Art of Elysium Charity Event in New York
Versace

Donatella Versace and Christopher Kane Host Art of Elysium Charity Event in New York

Versus designer Christopher Kane and Donatella Versace hosted The Art of Elysium Bright Lights gala Friday night at Milk Studios in New York.
by coutorture

Versus designer Christopher Kane and Donatella Versace hosted The Art of Elysium Bright Lights gala Friday night at Milk Studios in New York. Co-hosted by Joy Bryant, Sarah Moonves, Bee Shaffer, and Nicole Vecchiarelli, the children's charity event attracted an A-list fashion crowd (Alexa Chung, Anna Wintour, Bee Shaffer, Naomi Campbell, Olivia Palermo, and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen to name a few) with the majority of guests decked out in Versace or Versus. Estelle performed while guests sipped lemonade and vodka cocktails, all for a good cause. Click below for images from inside the event.

Source: WireImage

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Fashion in 50 Seconds 05/03/10 Madonna For Interview, Helena Christensen Bares All
Madonna

Fashion in 50 Seconds 05/03/10 Madonna For Interview, Helena Christensen Bares All

Madonna dons an eyepatch and brass knuckles for the May issue of Interview magazine, photographed by Marcus Piggott and Mert Alas.
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Madonna dons an eyepatch and brass knuckles for the May issue of Interview magazine, photographed by Marcus Piggott and Mert Alas.

Nick Knight is rumored to have shot Lady Gaga for the September style issue of Vanity Fair.

Penelope Cruz is replacing Kate Winslet as the face of Lancôme fragrance Trésor, and Diane Kruger will be the new face of Calvin Klein scent, Beauty.

“The reason I quit fashion was that I had had enough of spending my time always being on my knees, making other people look amazing and fabulous."—Thierry Mugler to the New York Times' Eric Wilson.

Helena Christensen bares all for Reebok campaign.

Source: Interview/Marcus Piggott and Mert Alas

Naomi Campbell to Oprah: "I May Look Good. But I Need to Look the Same Way on the Inside"
Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell to Oprah: "I May Look Good. But I Need to Look the Same Way on the Inside"

>> Two weeks ago, Naomi Campbell's temper made news again when she walked out of an ABC News interview and allegedly punched the camera after being questioned about a blood diamond reportedly given to her by former Liberian President Charles Taylor.
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>> Two weeks ago, Naomi Campbell's temper made news again when she walked out of an ABC News interview and allegedly punched the camera after being questioned about a blood diamond reportedly given to her by former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

On today's episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, however, Campbell says that she never punched the camera: "There definitely is sound effect [added]. There were three cameras, and I went to walk out the door, and the other one came in the way. So I moved the first one out to get to the door, and there were two more." She says she didn't want to ask questions about Taylor because she didn't want to be involved in his war crimes case, and adds: "Because of my behavior in my past, I will be sometimes pointed at and said, 'She hit me.' And I've got no proof of saying any different."

She sees red before her outbursts »