>> With Angel Heidi Klum just three weeks post-partum, fellow Angel Adriana Lima nearing the end of her pregnancy, and former Angel Karolina Kurkova just giving birth late last week, Victoria's Secret was bound to make some changes before their annual Fashion Show tapes on Nov. 19.
Heidi Klum is said to be hosting the event, which is back in New York City this year, and while non-Angel casting is always highly anticipated, five new faces now have a guarantee. In addition to Klum, Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, Marisa Miller, and Doutzen Kroes, the company has named Emanuela de Paula, Lindsay Ellingson, Candice Swanepoel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Chanel Iman as their newest Angels — Iman has said in the past being an Angel was one of her modeling goals. First-time Angels are said to typically sign three-year contracts.
Lindsay Ellingson
Victoria's Secret Announces Newest Angels, Including Chanel Iman
2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Returning to New York City
>> This morning, Victoria's Secret Angels Marisa Miller and Alessandra Ambrossio, plus Emanuela de Paula and Lindsay Ellingson appeared on CBS's The Early Show to announce that the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show — which tapes in November and airs on CBS in December — is returning to New York City for the first time since 2005. They didn't reveal any specific dates or location, but last year's show was at the Fontainbleau Hotel in Miami.
No word on whether de Paula and Ellingson are new Angels — both Selita Ebanks and Karolina Kurkova neglected to renew their Angel contracts this year — and two Angels are currently pregnant: Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima. Heidi is due in October and told People of her prospects on the show: "The birth will be very, very close to when the show is. I don’t know if I’ll be able to walk in my underwear quite that fast! We’ll see." Meanwhile, Adriana Lima, who is due in December, previously told People that she was skipping the show "unless I can be dressed as Santa Claus," but is now rumored to be involved in the show somehow. Meanwhile, the costume preparation is already said to be under way . . .
>> THE MODELIZER —While the recent time-for-a-hair-change options among models seem to be either chopping it all off or dying it bleach blonde, Lindsay Ellingson decided to buck the trend. She went for a simple change, adding bangs. [JDivision Twitter]
Natalia Vodianova Shows Off Her Lingerie Pour Etam
>> Natalia Vodianova has been chatting up her collaboration with Etam for a while — and last night, the French lingerie company shelled out for their newly-signed three year ambassador, staging a full-blown show at the Ritz in Paris that drew the likes of Eva Herzigova, Emmanuelle Alt, and Charlotte Casiraghi in the front row and Edita Vilkeviciute, Sigrid Agren, Flavia Oliveira, and Sessilee Lopez on the runway. Natalia pour Etam, which encompasses swimwear and lingerie, including a silk nightgown inspired by one in Natalia's own wardrobe, runs $20-$80 and hits stores in April. The line will be reoccurring, with Natalia designing a new collection every season over the period of her ambassadorship.
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Arlenis, Abbey Lee, Maryna, Sarah Stephens, and Erin Heatherton All Score VS Fashion Show
>> As the Victoria's Secret yacht rolled into Miami and the girls had a beach photoshoot today, we got to see of the 30 non-Angel faces that will be participating in this weekend's fashion show — 19 of them, to be exact. No sign of Lara Stone, Jessica Stam, or Natasha Poly, but after missing yesterday's event, Izabel Goulart is there. There are plenty of new faces — Abbey Lee Kershaw and Sarah Stephens represent Australia, Arlenis Sosa Pena the Dominican Republic, Maryna Linchuk Belarus, and Erin Heatherton the US.
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Frida Giannini Taps Into the Rachel Zoe Style Rules for Gucci Resort 2009
>> If Frida Giannini is aiming for her Gucci customer to be one Rachel Zoe, nothing says it stronger than the flowy printed maxi dresses and one-shouldered bohemian blouses that she sent out as Gucci's Resort 2009 collection.
Shown in Rome to celebrate the brand's 70th anniversary and a re-opening flagship, the collection will surely please those who hanker for a Hermes scarf-like minidress or a pair of fringed espadrille wedges. Guests who were left waiting for their rides to the show venue, however, were less impressed, remarking that if Tom Ford were still at Gucci, the cars wouldn't have been late, and the drivers would have been handsome and topless . . .
A video of the show can be seen here.
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Christian Lacroix Bugs Out for Fall 2008 Couture
>> Usually Christian Lacroix's designs are a little too overwrought to speak to me, but something about this set sits just right.
Maybe the scarlet backdrop is to blame, setting off all the intricate detailing with its vivid hue: the peekaboo lace sleeves, the bell-shaped cocktail dresses, the gossamer tufts; or maybe I've just gone buggy for Lacroix's insect-inspired fantasy world. If so, I'm not the only one: the attendees showered the designer with carnations at the end of the show.
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Karl Lagerfeld Goes Organ-ic for Chanel Fall 2008 Couture
>> Seeing a Chanel couture collection is a thrill, but the clothes are always rivaled by what new, huge installation Karl Lagerfeld has plopped in the center of le Grand Palais for the models to stream out of. In recent seasons, there's been a giant tweed jacket and a larger-than-life carousel; This time around, it was a gigantic set of organ pipes.
The show started with a fugue of ominous organ music, and together with the central pipe installation and the tube-like detailing on many of the intricate dresses, reflected the inspiration which had come to Karl during a concert.
Enjoy the big production while it lasts, folks — word is Karl is talking about reducing the Chanel shows to be more intimate experiences in the future.
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Charles Anastase
Bloch
Ray-Ban