Cannes 2013

There’s always hype around the Cannes Film Festival - but this year does seem particularly fun and fabulous. First, the Great Gatsby premiere was the fashion film the world’s been waiting for. Then the million dollar jewellery heist from a hotel on La Croisette on the day that Sofia Coppola showed her Hollywood IT kid flick, The Bling Ring. And on Sunday the prolific Hollywood heart throb James Franco hosted a party with the designer Leon Max on board a yacht bobbing sleekly away in the Cannes harbour. The party was honouring their friend Ahna O’Reilly at The Art of Elysium’s charity event - she’s involved in two films playing at the festival, As I Lay Dying, as well as Fruitvale Station - and a host of stars and starlets, including Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz and Beth Grant walked the plank and into the party. Also jostling for the spotlight was the Weinstein Company party at Baoli where Naomi Harris dazzled in a black strapless gown with net ruching around it and carried a black Jimmy Choo bag and sported Kirkwood heels as Nicole Kidman was toasted for her role as Grace of Monaco. She certainly looked the chic and regal part. Meanwhile the other social talk of the week has been the launch of the French version of Vanity Fair, which joined forces with Chanel to host a party on the beachfront at Tetou, the restaurant in Golfe-Juan east of Cannes. For this the big guns were marshaled - Karl Lagerfeld was there of course but so to Jessica Chastain, Adrien Brody and Milla Jovovich. A recipe for certain success.

Contributing Editor: Richard Dennen

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Prepping for Cannes

The big Cannes kick-off comes on Wednesday as the grand Palais des Festivals hosts the opening ceremony and the unveiling of the great 2013 festival jury - this year starring Steven Spielberg, Nicole Kidman, Ang Lee and Daniel Auteuil. That night the talk of the summer, the film the Great Gatsby, finally has its premiere, sport. It’s been a long wait but no doubt worth it. The beautiful people are certainly planning on being at the post-screening party where guests including its director Baz Luhrmann, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan as well as Isla Fisher, Amitabh Bachchan, JAY-Z, Beyoncé and Bryan Ferry, will be shimmying away on the sandy reaches off La Croisette. Thursday heralds more hi-jinks with the opening of Sophia Coppola’s The Bling Ring. She’ll be pitching up to the Palais with her sassy co-horts Emma Watson, Katie Chang, and Claire Julien. Based on the Vanity Fair story of bored Hollywood kids robbing celebrity homes, it’s set to be one of the IT films of la saison. The A-list fun continues into the weekend when Princess Charlene of Monaco and Dior designer Raf Simons host a gala in the Port of Monaco and back in Cannes on Sunday night Robert De Niro, Tobey Maguire, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor and Bradley Cooper (and what makes a better guest list than that?) hit the most glamorous hotel in the world, the Hotel du Cap, for the IWC Schaffhausen - filmmakers dinner. Nice work if you can get it. 

With all the glitz and glamour everyone will be on their best fashion behavior. From daytime beachside events to red carpet ready we have all the looks you need to pack for Cannes now!

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Contributing Editor: Richard Dennen

Met Gala 2013: ‘Punk: Chaos to Couture’

It was one helluva night last night and the shiniest of A-list stars gave it their all at the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute gala ball in New York. While there were hushed complaints on the red carpet that there was nothing ‘Punk’ about this party celebrating the opening of the Museum’s ‘Punk: Chaos to Couture’ exhibit it didn’t stop the likes of Madonna going all-out in fishnet stockings, chains, crucifixes and a Givenchy jacket. The other big Givenchy moment of the night was a towering flame-print gown on Beyonce resplendent in a patent-leather bodice. There were elements of ‘Punk’ on Karolina Kurkova and Carey Mulligan who channeled the vibe through the use of safety pins and Rooney Mara who had re-evaluated a white lace gown with a leather strap and zippers: “the romanticism of the lace represents her” explained Met Ball co-chair and Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci. Donatella Versace had no problem keeping to the night’s form with her own custom made gown spiked to perfection. Sienna Miller and Cara Delevingne were spikey too in their Burberry jackets. Sarah Jessica Parker probably wins the most Punk points in this alternative fashion universe - she topped her Giles Deacon gown with a fetching Philip Treacy mohawk. Anne Hathaway got everyone talking with the unveiling of bleach blonde hair and a somewhat sheer vintage Valentino dress while Gwen Stefani kept it simple in black and white. Plenty of starlets including Kate Beckinsale, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Bosworth committed to the pink, the official color of punk.

Contributing Editor: Richard Dennen

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Fashion Inspiration: The Great Gatsby

The fashion film happening of the year is almost upon us. Fashion loves a literary style icon and it doesn’t get much better than Daisy Buchanan. Yes, ‘The Great Gatsby,’ directed by Baz Luhrmann, and with a soundtrack helmed by Jay-Z is the film which had already spawned a thousand style features and hundreds of looks before it even reached the multiplex.  Last year’s Met Ball channeled the feel with Luhrmann co-hosting the Costume Institute’s annual fundraiser and the opening of the ‘Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada: On Fashion’ exhibition. The collections that summer were already awash with opportunities to channel one of Gatsby’s Long Island dances of 1922 with Lanvin and Gucci not the only places to look for Art Deco drop-waist dresses. With the lavish stills we’ve seen of Carey Mulligan’s Daisy Buchanan and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jay Gatsby it’s now imperative that these embodiments of Jazz Age chic inspire the new Summer wardrobe.

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Contributing Editor: Richard Dennen 

Vibrant Red for Summer

Celebrities like Carey Mulligan, Mila Kunis and Jennifer Aniston are taking inspiration, literally, from the red carpet by donning stylish evening dresses in this bold hue. This trend is much easier than one might think so ditch those LBDs for something a bit more memorable. With a colour this vivid and exciting, a monochromatic, minimally accessorized look is the way to go. Take a cue from these chic starlets and opt for something red hot in linen or a fine gauge knit for day, or silk and satin for evening.

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CANNES THEY DO IT AGAIN?

Reese Witherspoon, Diane Kruger, Charlotte Casiraghi, Marion Cotillard, Eva Longoria, Nicole Kidman, and Cheryl Cole all turned out in the South of France for the red carpet moment of the season.

The twelve holy days of the sexiest walks down the red carpet included both mega-wattage Stars and Fashion. The Jury, including Ewan McGregor, Diane Kruger (wowing in feverish Christian Dior couture), and Jean-Paul Gaultier cast their votes. The winner was front-runner, Amour, from Michael Haneke, although On The Road and Cosmopolis, starring Twilight’s Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson definitely created a buzz. The ever-present star-watchers loved Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, and Reese Witherspoon. And – ah! – of course the parties. The Hotel du Cap is the most glamourous and divine hotel a la plage. Sprinkle Cannes star dust and it’s quite simply Nirvana. The Gucci/Vanity Fair dinner to fete the newly restored Once Upon a Time in America got ten out of ten for party points. The dinner was held in honor of Robert De Niro and co-hosted by Graydon Carter, Frida Giannini and Francois-Henri Pinault. All the Hollywood big guns (Weinstein, Lourd, Geffen etc) turned out while Paul Bettany stared into wife Jennifer Connelly’s eyes and whispered at her telling her how beautiful she looked. Who said Hollywood had no heart?

Contributing Editor: Richard Dennen

Photo Credit:

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

George Pimentel/WireImage/Getty Images

Daniele Venturelli/Gucci/Getty Images

Stylist Picks: Soyon An for American Idol

Stylist Soyon An puts the finishing fashion touches on American Idol tonight as the show’s 11th season comes to an end. Throughout the season Soyon has adorned contestants in looks inspired by their personal style as well as the mood of the song they perform. She turned to the Leon Max Spring 2012 Collection when in need of original gowns with movement and a touch of romance.

Soyon felt the orange crinkled silk chiffon maxi dress was perfect for Elise Testone because it suited her Bohemian style as well as the sexy mood of her song of choice Alicia Keys’ “No One”. The movement of the sheer chiffon created by the wind machine resulted in a dreamy, ethereal look that was perfectly contrasted by the tight slip underneath, showing off her figure yet leaving just enough to the imagination. 

For Hollie Cavanagh’s rendition of “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis Soyon wanted a dramatic effect, so she chose the mixed mesh and lace long black dress for its cascading train that flows like a waterfall.

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One Look Two Cities: Leon Max Asymmetrical Blouse

Manhattan: The asymmetrical neckline along with the textural ribbons and movement give a pair of cropped trousers a feminine touch. This creates a glamour that makes it effortless to go from day to cocktails.

Cannes: For a warm weather getaway to the glam film festival, this asymmetrical blouse pairs effortlessly with white shorts, wedges and a pair of sunglasses. This is the ideal look for afternoon yachting, a decadent lunch by the shore, or a viewing of the newest film.

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Met Gala 2012

On May 7th there was only one place on the planet for the social and fashion set: New York’s Metropolitan Museum where Vogue hosted the Costume Institute Ball, the kick-off carnival for the summer season. Bright coral pink and shimmering metallic gold were the trends de la nuit with everyone from models like Dree Hemingway to a goddess like Jessica Alba in a gold one-shouldered Michael Kors piece embracing the mood along with Carey Mulligan in a flowing Prada of shimmering fish-scales. Karolina Kurkova triumphed channeling her inner Daisy Buchanan – appropriate as there was a Great Gatsby themed twist to proceedings - and as Beyonce worked the red carpet in sheer sequined Givenchy couture, the gown had a purple tail that sashayed perfectly behind her. The gala was the opening night of the annual Met fashion exhibition, this year the curators have put the late, great surrealist designer Elsa Schiaparelli head to head with Miuccia Prada, together the most fearless fashion rebels. Baz Luhrmann, the Great Gatsby director who was creative director for the evening created hypothetical short videos of Prada and Schiaparelli conversing. Magic in the making. Strange to think what Schiaparelli might have made of a flamed haired Florence Welch whirling her Sarah Burton confection in front of the crowd, a giant chic snowflake amongst all the fierceness.

Contributing Editor: Richard Dennen 

Photo Credit:

Stephen Lovekin/Film Magic/Getty Images

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

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A Model’s Life: Caroline

Caroline is on set in LA wearing Spring 2012 Maxstudio slim cropped trousers, oversized chambray shirt and sunglasses.

What is your favorite aspect of modeling?

Traveling and seeing places I never would have experienced had I not become a model

Favorite city for fashion:

London, the street style is incredible

Favorite city in general:

London once again. I love it there

How would you describe your personal style?

Very casual and laid back. California wear

What would you wear for a night on the town?

A dress and boots, I love to be comfortable when going out

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