Eccentric Fashion At Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week was not just about Christian Dior and its anti-gloomy world climate collection. There were around 100 designers who showcased their ready-to-wear spring and summer fashion collections during the event.


And while there were many outstanding designs, there were also eccentric fashion collections at the Paris Fashion Week, from which the bizarre designs made the designers and models more noticeable.

Take for example the collections of Japanese designer Junya Watanabe above. It's not the dresses that became remarkable but the large floral headdresses that the models wore. Critics say it was but a lovely floral derangement.

Another fashion collection that made a bang in the Paris Fashion Week was the creation of Portuguese designer Fatima Lopes (a). The suit was one of a kind since it perfectly suited the amazon characters from “Battlestar Galactica.”

To complete the list of eccentric fashion from Paris Fashion Week, a Christian Dior model also presented an outfit for Battlestar Galactica, courtesy of the famous British designer John Galliano (b).

Indeed, with the gloomy world climate today, even such eccentric fashion styles made a statement: "the fight to save humanity rages on."

A Gatecrasher At Milan Fashion Week?

There was a gatecrasher at Milan Fashion Week who climbed into the catwalk during the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada show and attempted to strut in his own velcro suit.

Both the models and the audience were startled by the bold attempt of the gatecrasher who climbed into the catwalk and ramp on the runway. He even went to the changing rooms backstage, much to the surprise of the models and make-up artists.

The gatecrasher has been causing all sorts of disruptions. See the video below:

The nervy gatecrasher's attempt for instant stardom was, unfortunately, short lived. Just as he made few steps on the catwalk, he was readily apprehended by security and was brought to a nearby police station where he was formally identified.

It turned out that the gatecrasher was in fact, already a star in his own right. He was Sacha Baron Cohen, the British comedian who became famous for his portrayal of the freaky Kazakh journalist “Borat.”

Sacha Baron Cohen's bold attempt to ramp on the runway was “influenced” by his “alter-ego,” Bruno. Bruno is a camp Austrian television presenter. He is Sacha Baron Cohen's character in the upcoming film “Bruno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Male.”

Becoming a gatecrasher at Milan Fashion Week for the sake of promoting his film? Sacha Baron Cohen's style is silly and unusual, and that simply made him famous.

Actors, Music Icons, and Fashion Models Unite For UN Poverty Campaign

Actors, music icons, and fashion models combined their talent and charm to launch the new campaign to cut global poverty in half by 2015.


Last Thursday, YouTube launched a new channel on its site where users can upload a video stating their name, home country, and a message to their government about the need to meet the poverty goals. YouTube will accept videos until November 1, at which point Will.I.Am “will mash up all the videos into another version of the song to be presented to world leaders and be broadcasted directly to the U.N.”

Aside from Will.I.Am, singer Angelique Kidjo, actress Kristin Davis and model Elle MacPherson have also helped in the launching of the new campaign. To date, many famous celebrities have already posted their messages to the web site including Scarlett Johansson, Fergie, Annie Lennox, Wyclef Jean, and John Legend.

Hollywood actor Kristin Davis was positive about the new campaign as she said, "Leaders are ultimately responsible for the commitments they made to end poverty by the year 2015. We're halfway through that mark. Those promises have not been kept in terms of the funding and what we are trying to say is that we are paying attention.” The gorgeous celebrity serves as an ambassador for Oxfam and has been to African countries to support the call to end poverty.

The unification of actors, music icons, and fashion models for the UN poverty campaign was inspired by Millennium Development Goal set in 2000 by the United Nations which aimed to cut poverty and disease and improve health care and education for the world's poor by 2015. Unfortunately, halfway through the time period, the ambitious goal has not been met by all countries.

Thanks to the generosity of many celebrities in the showbiz, music, and fashion industry, the UN poverty campaign still keeps going.

When Models Tumble On The Catwalk

When models tumble on the catwalk, especially if they are wearing high-fashion dresses, expect wide news coverage.

Take for example the Prada's spring and summer collection fashion show on Tuesday. Some Prada models tumbled on the catwalk while strutting on their “gravity-defying” stilettos. It was certainly not the best part to watch during the fashion show, but it was the most interesting (*grins).

Unfortunately for the “fallen models,” they had to wear skyscraper heels only to tumble on the catwalk and be helped up by members of the audience.

Models blamed the undignified fall on the skyscraper Prada heels and the fact that they had to “negotiate a tricky catwalk that snaked around the room like a river.”

Poor fallen Prada models. According to a fashion expert who was also on the show, the young models looked terrified as they tried to keep their balance. One was traumatized by the accident that she did not even turn up for the finale.

When models tumble on the catwalk, they must be wearing the devilish Prada stilettos.

FAME Club by Hilary Rowland

FAME Club a sensational success!

 

Actress Or Grossman with producer Russell Terlecki - Producer Grant Greenberg, Hilary Rowland, and IMG boss Ivan Bart - Julia Stiles and friend

Last night, our founder Hilary Rowland held the first in a monthly series of FAME Club events. FAME, of course, is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, and stands for fashion/arts/media/entertainment. The event, which focused on film and tv, was held in New York City's SoHo district at the posh Sanctuary restaurant, which was closed to the public for the event. Of the 40 guests, were Weinstein VP Jonathan Fuhrman, Marvel Studios bigwig David Maisel, famous and fabulous IMG sentior VP Ivan Bart, Town & Country features editor Thomas Farley, and actors Julia Stiles, Lonny Ross (30 Rock), Federico Castelluccio (Soprano's) as well as Michael and Paul Sorvino. Also in attendance were producers Julio DePietro, Russell Terlecki, Rene Bastian, Grant Greenberg and Talia Osteen as well as journalists from New York magazine, Radar, Vogue, NY Times, Marie Claire, Business Week, HILARY magazine, Page Six and US magazine.

Hilary plans to hold FAME events monthly, rotating between fashion, film/tv and music focused events.

Supermodel Giselle Bündchen Poses In Flip Flops And Influences Reforestation

Supermodel Giselle Bündchen once again showed her support for the environment when she recently posed for the Ipanema flip flop line and influenced reforestation campaigns.

The Brazilian beauty did not just earned her high talent fee from endorsing flip flops but also get the chance to pursue her passion for taking care of the environment.

Last year, Gisele Bündchen designed a line of rubber sandals for Ipanema and posed on ad campaigns while wearing a water dress that aimed to raise awareness for water preservation. Next, she posed for the second collection of the Ipanema line and supported the SOS Mata Atlantica, an organization that watches out the remaining Atlantic Forest in Brazil.

And just recently, Gisele Bündchen used her supermodel influence and made a special request (along with Ipanema brand owner, Grendene) to support the SOS Mata Atlantica in planting 25,500 saplings of 100 different species to recover 15 hectares of Atlantic Forest in the Brazilian regions of Campinas and Bahia.

For supermodel Giselle Bündchen to pose in flip flops and influence reforestation, it is indeed a very smart way to earn her money, as well as her positive public image.

Hilary Joins The 60th Emmy Awards (2008)

Fresh from the New York Fashion Week, New Faces (R) founder, Hilary Rowland, was in Los Angeles to attend the 60th Emmy Awards and mingle with movie stars, fashion personalities, agents, producers and casting directors.

Hilary attended the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 21, 2008.

Hilary fit right in as she made her way on the red carpet with all the Emmy nominated Hollywood stars and celebrities - the most respected names in television.

While in L.A. for the Emmys, Hilary was kept busy with meetings, the Emmy Awards ceremonies and Emmy parties!

Never Too Late To Be A Supermodel: She's Got The Look 2

The door of modeling opportunities is once again opened for mature women, as TV Land's “She's Got The Look 2” is currently casting females age 35 and older to join the modeling contest.


Famous 1980s supermodel Kim Alexis, now at 58, continues to inspire mature women who still dream of becoming models as she will host the reality modeling competition for the second time around.

According to TV Land, the viewers' response to the original series “She's Got the Look” was so overwhelming so that the show is returning for Season 2 in 2009.

“She's Got The Look 2” is expected to once again discover sophisticated, beautiful and confident women age 35 or older who are destined for supermodel stardom. For the season 2, the winner will receive $100,000 plus a lucrative modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models and a photo spread in a national magazine.


For those who are interested to join this once in a lifetime modeling opportunity, you may view the casting details for “She's Got The Look 2 With Kim Alexis” here.

The Greatest Model Of All Time Has Curves

Kate Moss and her heroin chic image? No. The greatest model of all time is no other than the 44-year old curvy Australian Supermodel Elle Macpherson.

Dubbed as “The Body,” Elle Macpherson earned the title “Greatest Model of All Time” after topping the poll of 3,000 women carried out by British high street store Debenhams. Cindy Crawford, 42, was ranked number two and 53-year old British star Twiggy was third on the list.

And why can't she be the greatest model of all time? Elle Macpherson is six-foot tall with exceptional body measurements (36-25-35). She has graced the covers of all the major fashion magazines which includes six cover appearances on Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue.

But Supermodel Elle Macpherson did not become as celebrated as other fashion models like Kate Moss. That's why some people might have wondered why she was the one being called the greatest model of all time. According to a representative from Debenhams, however, "Women prefer curvier figures. They go for girls like Elle and Cindy." This answered everything.

Actress Bette Davis On Stamp

How would you like to get your own famous face in a national postage stamp, just like Bette Davis?

The late actress Bette Davis was recently honored in a new 42-cent U.S. commemorative postage stamp, in all her iron-willed image.

The stamp was released on Thursday in Boston. It featured the face of the American actress in her Margo Channing role from the famous 1950 film, “All About Eve.”

Actress Bette Davis was known for being difficult to work with yet she was also reported to be the highest-paid Hollywood actress in 1942. She was known for the epitaph, “she did it the hard way” because she viewed her life as difficult but rewarding.

Indeed, Bette Davis is one of the few famous actors who have created a legacy. It's not surprising then that people chose to remember her through a national postage stamp. Inspiring isn't it?

Best Dressed Stars Of 2008

People Magazine has recently confirmed its new list of the ten best dressed stars of 2008. This year's list is more diverse as it include the brightest names from film, music, modeling, and even politics.

Music icons who were on the list included Rihanna and Fergie on the first and third spot. German Supermodel Heidi Klum ranked number six as she effortlessly graced the red carpet with designs from luxe designers like Roland Mouret and John Galliano. Michelle Obama, the wife of presidential hopeful Barack Obama, was on the eighth spot and outshining the sexy Calvin Klein model and actress Eva Mendes on the ninth spot and the towering South African beauty Charlize Theron on number 10th of the best dressed stars of 2008.

Check the complete list of the best dressed stars of 2008 below:

1. Rihanna

2. Gwyneth Paltrow

3. Fergie

4. Anne Hathaway

5. Kate Hudson

6. Heidi Klum

7. Sarah Jessica Parker

8. Michelle Obama

9. Eva Mendes

10. Charlize Theron

Model: Skinny, No Body Fat And Size Zero?

What defines a model?

MTV's Model Maker gives definition for fashion models, as it defends the reality show that was criticized to be promoting thinness in modeling:

“Women come in all shapes and sizes, but models don’t,” says the MTV statement. Skinny, no body fat and size zero are the words and phrases associated with models. Chubby, well-fed and big-boned are not.”

Well, like as it has already been foretold, it's a looooooooong skinny modeling debate in the media, really. And MTV is just one of the many companies that comes out to clearly take a side ...

Not-So-Thin Is In

Not-so-thin models are “in” in New York Fashion Week.

The days of anorexic models strutting down the runway might soon come to an end. In New York Fashion Week, a lot of not-so-thin models have been presented, seemingly telling the fashion world that the skinny era in modeling is over.

Although there were still few of the models with protruding collarbones and ribs, majority of the models looked healthy with more flesh. Accordingly, models were up to sizes 2 and 4 - not 0. Designers also rejected prepubescent 13-year olds. One of the model who was considered to be super-thin was noticeably absent.

Aside from curves, more smiles were also noticeable from the not so-thin models during the event. The fashion designers and beauty editors could not help but sighed,

"I think a lot of the direction from the designers has been a much healthier approach... We're obviously going through a season of a less cookie cutter look."

New York Fashion Week - Backstage

Hi everyone! This is Hilary Rowland, the founder of New Faces®. I've been attending fashion week, backstage and front row (and don't forget the parties!), with my friends from IMG.

I'll be posting more photos and coverage soon, but here's a shot of a model being interviewed backstage, that I took about an hour ago! Lots of love, Hilary

Me with male models at Calvin Klein.

Tori Praver being interviewed backstage. Go girl!

Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors

How to identify Hollywood's most overpaid actors? Simple – if they receive large amount of money for their acting project, but the project did not gain much earnings in return. The ranking is compiled by looking at a star's past three movies and dividing their total earnings by the films' gross income to get the actor's payback figure.


And guess who tops the list of the most overpaid actors in Hollywood these days? The towering Australian actress Nicole Kidman.

According to U.S. Magazine Forbes, Nicole Kidman is this year's most overpaid celebrity in Hollywood in its second annual list of least bankable stars.

Nicole Kidman's films were estimated to only earn $1 for every dollar that she was paid compared with $8 a year ago. For her film “The Invasion,” the Oscar-winning actress was paid $17 million but the film reportedly lost $2.68 for every dollar earned by the actress.

Other Hollywood actors on the list of most overpaid celebrities include Jennifer Garner who came in second and Nicole Kidman's former husband Tom Cruise whose on the third spot.

Jennifer Garner's recent movies “The Kingdom” and “Catch and Release” underperformed at the box office with a calculated earning of only $3.60 for every $1 paid to the actress. Tom Cruise's performance, on the other hand, was affected by the failure of his last year's film “Lions for Lambs” which had only returned $1.88 for every dollar paid to the veteran actor.

Completing the top ten of Hollywood's most overpaid actors were Cameron Diaz, Nicolas Cage, Drew Barrymore, Will Ferrell, and Cate Blanchett.

Sydney's Underwater Models

Tired of the usual fashion shows where catwalk queens ramped through the stage in blank faces and unusual clothes? Try this one: In Australia, a fashion show made a washout impact through the help of its Sydney's underwater models.

There was no runway in sight, only a large tank of water. The models who were dressed in their most gorgeous outfits climbed up a ladder and plunged into the water – delighting the onlookers for the first public underwater fashion shoot in Australia.

Sponsored by women's magazine Cosmopolitan and skincare label Neutrogena, the nine models who posed underwater were very professional as they tried to look glamorous despite the cool spring temperatures.

"It's fairly hard to look glamorous under water. We had to get specialist make up that doesn't run. The hair and the hands can go everywhere, the success rate is less, so you just take more pictures," commented the official event photographer Daniel Smith.

Aside from Sydney's underwater models who have to remain poised despite the cold underwater temperature, the hair and make-up artists' “poise” were also tested. "I felt sorry for the hair and makeup artists because they spent so long doing my hair and makeup and as soon as I got in it just washed away, but it's all fun," said Jaynie Seal, a television weather presenter.

Alice Dellal Is Caught In A Drug Controversy

If you are a rising fashion model, don't let yourself get caught by the paparazzi especially if you are in a party, holding a white powdery substance in your hand. Otherwise, you would get into a drug scandal and this might jeopardize your career, especially if you are dubbed as “The New Kate Moss” like Alice Dellal.

Sexy Brazilian model Alice Dellal is caught in a drug controversy as pictures of her with the white powdery substance believed to be cocaine is spreading through the Internet these days. In one of the photos, Alice Dellal is seen partying with friends with a nearby DVD case covered in what appears to be cocaine. Along with the suspected illegal drug is a credit card and straw – maliciously validating the powdery substance for cocaine.

Alice Dellal enjoys a promising career and a considerably successful life at the early age of 20. She is the prominent face of Agent Provocateur, has recently appeared in Paris Vogue, represents the Pussy Glamore lingerie line, and is also the face of Mango Jeans. Aside from a rising fashion model in her own rights, she is also a heiress. The young model is the daughter of a British millionaire and a Brazilian model.

Famous for her half-shaven, half long hair, media were fast to cover the news of Alice Dellal caught in a drug controversy. For one, she is the “new Kate Moss” and Kate Moss, during the peak of her career in the 1990s was also involved in drug controversies, particularly with cocaine that earned her the name, “Cocaine Kate.”

Alice Dellal should therefore spare the cocaine to have some originality.

Moms Of Supermodels Get Fashion Workshops

If you think supermodels are the only one who have to learn the ways of the modeling industry, think again. Parents are also affected in as much as their famous children. So it's no wonder that moms of supermodels get fashion workshops nowadays.

Rather than risk developing relationships with unreasonable mothers and fathers, moms of fashion models get fashion workshops. Most of these workshops are set up by fashion agencies with the goal of orienting the parents to the modeling industry and making them ready for fashion fame as influenced by their children.

At Elite Models for instance, parents get two-hour orientations as soon as they arrive for an initial visit to New York.

The way Supermodel Giselle Bundchen puts it, “parents are everything” so it is very important that moms of supermodels get fashion workshops. This is for the reason that “Parents are inextricably linked to the talent and have a huge effect” on their child’s success in the industry," says Ford Models’ creative director Matthew Hunt tells Portfolio.

Expect For Advertising Campaigns This September

“It's September, the month when fashion houses go for the hard sell. And hard sell means capitalizing on effective advertising campaigns.”


One of the roles that fashion models undertake is appearing on advertising campaigns. Their beauty attracts people to take a look and examine the endorsed brand in more detail.

Advertising campaigns employ the finest people in the fashion industry – models, photographers, hair and make-up artists, art directors, and set designers – and together, they work to achieve the most seductive commercial message that will assert the brand and or the company's superiority.

“Apart from the collection itself, the advertisement is the biggest risk a designer takes all season, and the images are an acute barometer of the socio-economic climate in which they are produced,” says a fashion industry insider.

It's September, the month when fashion houses go for the hard sell. And hard sell means capitalizing on effective advertising campaigns. This only means one thing – expect for the glossiest advertising campaigns and for the brightest fashion icons and supermodels these days.

Fashion Designers' Alternatives To Runway Shows And Fashion Weeks

"Many fashion designers live up to their name as they creatively look for alternatives to showcase their collections on outside splashy runway shows like fashion weeks."


Following the Fashion Designer Allegra Hicks' withdrawal of her collection from the London Fashion Week after her sponsors pull out their support from her catwalk show, we are reminded of the fact that fashion is one of the first to be affected by “economic circumstances.”

However, designers do admit that runway shows greatly promote the clothing collections of fashion designers. That is why behind the glamour and sophistication that a clothing line gets when being presented in fashion weeks, it is rather costly for fashion designers. Aside from personal money, designers have to look for sponsors to help them showcase their work on the global stage.

In New York Fashion Week for example, the venues at the Bryant Park tents which are the hub of eight days of previews for retailers, editors and stylists, cost between $25,000 and $50,000. This still do not include the costs for models, invitations, show producers, even food backstage.

The good thing is that amidst this economic crisis that affects the fashion industry, many fashion designers live up to their name as they creatively look for alternatives to showcase their collections outside the splashy runway shows like the fashion week.

There are designers who go for static presentations as alternative for the expensive runway shows. Static presentations do not need runway or seats, and some designers use mannequins instead of models.

Showrooms and trade shows are also alternatives for showcasing one's fashion collection. Trade shows usually have more buyers than press media. Without the editorial attention from the media, however, designers still need to promote their collection to the buying public to make money.

Other designers use volunteer models while still some stage runway shows outside the Bryant Park tents. If designers cannot afford the media exposure and access to taste makers that fashion week offers, the images from the runway are printed and use for advertisement.

When getting to the runway show is really the goal, other cunning designers go for unusual sponsors like faucet makers instead of fashion and beauty companies. This way, they do not have to compete with other fashion designers for sponsorship.

As for Fashion Designer Allegra Hicks' Fashion alternative to runway show in the London Fashion Week, she announced that her company will present the new spring 09 collection after the shows in a more private environment. Her company will be showing the spring 09 collection to buyers as usual from London, Paris and New York.

MTV's Model Maker Promotes Thin Models?

Tsk tsk. Looks like it's a long, long way to go before the size-zero controversy in the modeling industry will be resolved. Nonetheless, more and more news about various groups condemning the promotion of too thin models have been making noise in the media these days.

Add this to the list:

Members of Parliaments have criticized MTV show Model Maker for "positively promoting" size-zero fashion models.

An early-day motion has been moved by Liberal Democrat junior culture spokesman Richard Younger-Ross calling on MTV in the UK to not import the American show, or to "clearly re-edit" it to encourage healthy eating.

MTV's Model Maker is already causing outrage in the US primarily for the set-up of the program, especially from public health and women's group. Model Maker challenges women between 17 and 24 to lose 30 to 100 lbs to be called a model and win $100,000 and a possible modeling contract.

Liberal Democrat junior culture spokesman Richard-Younger Ross deliberated, "I am appalled to see that the zero size model is once again being positively promoted. The message that you have to lose weight to look beautiful and become successful must be nipped in the bud.”

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb added, "Over one million people in this country suffer from eating disorders. With this in mind, it seems highly irresponsible for TV stations to be encouraging dangerous behavior and promoting unhealthy lifestyles."

Convinced that MTV's Model Maker is promoting too-thin models, UK's MTV has been asked by Liberal Democrat through an early-day motion to not import the MTV show in the US and not to “clearly re-edit” it in order to encourage healthy eating.

Actors Are Role Models For Humanitarian Campaigns

Being a TV or film actor is good. It makes you popular. It helps you earn large sum of money. It even makes you influential. But aside from this self-serving reasons, there is far more important part that an actor takes – becoming a role model especially in raising awareness to humanitarian campaigns.

One of the many popular movie icons today who lead humanitarian campaigns is the lovely Hollywood actress Natalie Portman. The 27-year old actress who recently presented her directorial debut in the Venice Film Festival has received the “Movie for Humanity Award” for her active works in the social and environmental programs.

One does not need to become Natalie Portman, though, to take part in humanitarian causes. Even Z-list Hollywood stars can also be of great help in their own little ways.

Big Brother star Jane Goody plans to make a reality TV show about her battle with cervical cancer. The reality-TV star was diagnosed with cancer last month and expressed her desire of documenting her journey. Through the film cancer documentary, Jane Goody hopes to inspire people by helping them avoid cancer or learn to cope up with the disease.

Of course Natalie Portman and Jane Goody are just two of today's many on-screen personalities who have extended their skills in television and movies to influence humanitarian causes.

What makes these film and TV stars special is not just their lovely face or stunning personality but also their inner beauty that radiates on and off-camera, making them worthy role models for humanitarian campaigns.

Life-Size Gold Sculpture Of Ideal Beauty: Kate Moss

How would you feel if you were immortalized in a life-size gold sculpture – the largest statue made of gold since the time of Ancient Egypt, weighing 50 kilograms with a monetary value of $2.75 million USD or £1.5 million, and displayed in national museum alongside the Greek goddesses? Unhappy or ecstatic? It's really hard to tell – unless you're the supermodel Kate Moss.

Kate Moss, the famous supermodel with waifish look and child-like face is the muse of world-renowned artist Marc Quinn's masterpiece, “Siren.” As Siren, Kate Moss has become a solid-gold statue in a Yoga pose. She will be unveiled in the British Museum in October.

As a supermodel, many women looked up to the lovely Kate Moss as an icon, a standard that they want to reach before they consider themselves not just beautiful but phenomenal and precious. Kate Moss is the ideal of beauty that even fashion models find hard to achieved.

Radiant, splendid, and ideal – why is it then that the artist's comment on the life-size gold sculpture is ironical?

“I thought the next thing to do would be to make a sculpture of the person who’s the ideal beauty of the moment. But even Kate Moss doesn’t live up to the image.”