Keira Knightley covers the latest American Vogue
Vogue.com

A preview of Keira Knightley's latest American Vogue cover came out a few days so I had enough time to make up my mind about it. And I love it!

Styled by Grace Coddington in  mostly couture and shot by Mario Testino, Keira looks amazing in her Chanel lace dress and cuffed silver gloves (very Karl!). The magazine is back to their close crops for cover images but this one really works. It's the mix of the luxurious look and the more casual pose that really make it great.

The story inside, which I hope is longer than what we can see online, is as beautiful as it is simple as most of the shots are just in a studio. It's about the couture pieces on Kiera, who is probably one of the best celebrities in the world to rock any of them.

What do you think of the cover?

Diane Kruger steals the show with an epic Chanel number
JustJared

Diane Kruger today at the Chanel Haute Couture FW12 show.

Best Dressed of the Weekend: Emma Stone tops it off with Chanel
JustJared, Courtesy of Miu Miu

It is incredible that Emma Stone has managed to look spotless and different every time during all the stops on her 'The Amazing Spider-Man' press tour, which isn't over yet. This weekend she topped it off with some fresh-off-the-runway Chanel from the Resort'13 collection. It is just perfect for her and I love that she studded Loubs add an edgy touch.

Zoe Saldana has really made me happy casually wearing some Prabal Gurung Resort'12 paired with Miu Miu's Madras bag. It's just so chic to wear them with ragged denim shorts and flats! But of course, she learnt from experience that Prabal is always a good choice.

Diane Kruger is unstoppable. Do you think she even looks much worse when she rolls out of bed? I don't! This weekend she made an appearance at the Berluti dinner in Paris wearing a sailor-inspired dress and my favourite Givenchy sandals.

I have always thought of Sofia Coppola as a stylish woman but I don't necessarily always like what she wears. I also don't usually love Marc Jacobs but somehow the combination of the two works great here. I love the bee-vibe of the MJ Resort'13 dress. It's a relaxed look but it sure makes a statement.

Chanel SS12 face-off: Lily Donaldson vs. Jessica Biel
TFS, JustJared

I'm a complete sucker for these silly things, you will have noticed by now. I love commenting on how different people wear the same dress, even if it's completely irrelevant.

Lily Donaldson covers the July issue of Vogue Russia in the same Chanel dress Jessica Biel wore to the MTV Movie Awards about two weeks ago. This number for the SS12 collection is a bit of a tricky one because of the volume and length of the sleeves, which can look boxy.
I'm not sure about Lily's hair, although it does work on the cover, but Biel made the same mistake. She would have looked a lot better with her hair up – it usually works better with long-sleeve, closed-neck dresses – and she should have gone for a strappy sky-high sandal or stiletto. Her Barbara Bui shoes added a nice colour but the ankle strap cuts off her leg making her look shorter.
It's a shame because I love the scalloped effect that the texture of the knit dress creates. Kate Bosworth would have rocked the hell of out this piece!

What do you think? Vote below.

Best Dressed at the amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS Gala 2012
Getty

The amfAR Gala during the Cannes film festival bring out every year all the most stylish actors, models and editors. I would say it is, arguably, much better or at least edgier than the Met Ball and this year has been a great one.
My absolute favourite was, of course, Diane Kruger. She wore one of the Chanel Cruise 2013 designs that went down the catwalk just over a week ago. Diane's ben getting it right every day at Cannes and this is a great stand-out chic look. I was also happy to see Doutzen Kroes at the event. I've been crazy about her ever since I saw her at the Giles FW12 show. She looked amazing in a modern Versace gown. Karolina Kurkova, not happy with being one of the best dressed at this year's Met Ball, had another golden moment in Roberto Cavalli. Simply stunning. Milla Jovovich, who has had both hits and misses in the last couple of days at Cannes, made up for all her mistakes in one of the best pieces from the Atelier Versace SS12 collection.
Anja Rubik has found in the last years the perfect balance between looking ultra sexy and sophisticated. I am loving this Emilio Pucci moment – the pulled-back hair, the smoky eyes, the emerald and diamond jewellery were all great choices. Magdalena Frackowiak wore embellishments, leopard print and feathers all in one dress by Roberto Cavalli. And I just loved how elegant she looked in it. Bianca Balti went for grey, which is not a colour we see very often on the red carpet. But I loved the contrast of the lighter shade of the lace and the darker silk – by Dolce & Gabbana, of course. Jessie J, who I was quite shocked to see in Cannes, went for a leopard print Louis Heal dress. I thought it was quite a refined chic choice, especially for her. And I love the fact that she stayed true to her own style wearing chunky boots

Getty

Watch the full Chanel Cruise 2013 Show

First Look at Chanel Cruise 2013: Marie Antoinette in Doc Martens
@VogueParis and @PaulaGrazia Twitter

Today all the lucky industry insiders made pilgrimage to Versailles for the Cruise 2013 Chanel show, which took place in stunning gardens of the Palace of Versailles, the famous opulent residence of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Lagerfeld has made a habit of staging his in-between-seasons in the settings that inspired the collections so the Marie Antoinette references on their way. What I loved the most about the collection is the sense of humour. The models wore 18th century wigs like the ones the men of the Parisian bourgeoisie used to sport only this time they came in strawberry red, pistachio green and cerulean blue (have been dying for years to mention this specific shade...)

The clothes were super short and sexy with brocade and light tweed fabrics that were nods to the 18th century dress undergarments such as bloomers and pantaloons. I especially loved the oversized tweed jackets in powder pink and blue, which would look amazing with a pair of denim shorts and flats in the summer.

The most surprising part of the collection were the Doctor Martens-style platform shoes that brought an even more modern touch to the collection. I am still unsure about them but they will, no wonder, be a hit amongst the fashion elite in months to come.

What do you think of the collection?

Chanel FW12: Karl does boho chic, backpacks & the 'Boy' bag gets an upgrade
Style.com

Ever since this Chanel Couture collection I have kept thinking how much cooler Chanel shows would be if Karl Largerfeld took it upon himself to Chanel-ify every-day casual clothes. I simply can't think of anything more luxurious to wear than a Chanel jean or a v-neck jumper.
The beginning of the FW12 collection was a little on the boring side, which made what was to come even more exciting. For the first time there were lots of vibrant colours on the catwalk. Lagerfeld presented his take on a super luxurious boho chic look that people like Mary-Kate Olsen would die for. I found the full-length tweed coats paired with capri snake pants extremely chic but also very relaxed. The same goes for the looks where trousers were worn with camisoles or unfitted dresses.
I loved the mix of colour the most –the scarves were beautiful– but also the lack of pretension. My other favourites were, of course, some of the accessories. The 'Boy' bag, which has become quite a hit over the last few months, got an upgrade for FW12 with bright yellow, green and aubergine velvet. The mini quilted backpacks were also a highlight and I know they'll, too, be a hit.

Do you love?

Style.com

Stephanie LaCava at NYFW: Get the look!
AllthePrettyBird.blogspot.com, Vogue.fr

I have to admit that during fashion week I spend just as much time (sometimes more) looking at street style pictures as I do the collections. It's just fascinating to see how people incorporate the previous season's collections into their wardrobes.

Stephanie LaCava is one of my favourites not only because she's such a sweet person but because her wardrobe choices are always so unexpected! SLC and I watched the SS12 Roksanda Ilincic show together in London last season and it was then that she fell in love with the bell sleeves. So I wasn't as surprised as I was pleased to see her in one of the amazing pieces from the collection. What I found super interesting is how she paired the top with a super short Miu Miu leather skirt from a few seasons back and a badass pair of Ann Demeulemeester boots. And that's exactly why I love her. There is an edge to everything she wears that we rarely see in anyone else but she manages to always look feminine.

Stephanie finished her look with a classic cream Chanel bag you might remember from my favourite picture of her taken in Paris by The Sartorialist a few years ago.

From left to right: Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Atelier Versace, Chanel.
Vogue.fr

The last edition of Haute Couture that closed yesterday was, in my opinion, one of the best of the last few years. I was deeply disappointed by Valentino. Last season it seemed like they were finally going in the right direction but all we have seen this week were all the same dresses they have been producing for the last couple of years, only in different palettes. I think it's time to get the talks of a substitute for Maria Grazia and Pier Paolo cracking.
Otherwise I am thrilled with what's been sent down the runway. The return of Atelier Versace lived up to its expectations. I would probably say it's been my favourite collection of the whole week. What Donatella did with the metallic panels and the shape of the body was superb.
I also particularly loved the high-and-low play that Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier had in their collections. Gaultier's "polo shirt" dress and varsity jacket look were an innovative take on current punk rock that was perfectly suited to the Amy Winehouse theme on the catwalk. What was most interesting about Tisci is how he managed to incorporate most of the elements he has made iconic on the Givenchy mainline –stars, studs, luxury sportswear garments– and how he mixed them with his take on the traditional Indian wedding jewellery. Although the most remarkable about his collection is the craftsmanship, especially on the individually sewn pieces of crocodile onto silk.
Chanel was more about the extraordinary setting (a catwalk that looked like a plain inside the Petit Palais) than about the innovation of the clothes. Everything was beautiful and very... like Karl had designed the Pan American uniform. My favourite thing about the collection were the bejewelled tights, which created a magical effect with the dresses.

From left to right: Armani Privé, Giambattista Valli, Elie Saab
Courtesy of Armani, Vogue.fr

I am a huge fan of what Mr Armani is doing for the Privé line. His last collections have had great success on the red carpet and I feel like he's on a roll. His lime green haute couture collection was spotless, sculptural and ultra modern. Lime green is one of my favourite colours (as you can tell by some of the font on my blog and Twitter) so this is right up my street.
There was a bit of Dior in the latest Giambattista Valli collection. I loved his take on the "bar jacket" but I thought he failed (in lack of a better word) to create that fantasy that he normally brings to all of his collections. However, I did appreciate looks like the above where we saw a tougher side to him, I wish there had been more of it.
Elie Saab was my pleasant surprise of the season. It's almost like they knew Valentino was going to disappoint and decided to take the spotlight. The entire collection was incredibly beautiful and dreamy. They did a lot of see-through but in such a refined feminine way you are only half aware. And and I am absolutely positive we are going to see 80% of this collection all over the red carpet in the next few months.

How to and not to Dress for an über VIP Chanel event
JustJared

On Saturday Chanel flew about 200 VIP guests from all over the American geography to the Wynn in Las Vegas to celebrate the opening night of "Numéros Privés: A Journey Through the World of Chanel". This sets quite a landmark in terms of PR because not many fashion companies or brands are pulling off events of this volume lately, not in the last one or two years anyway.
The build up to the event was quite fun as a lot of the attendees tweeted about their trip to Vegas. The coolest, of course, were from Rachel Zoe who flew to sin city with Dree Hemingway (and Rodge) and seemed to be quite overexcited about it.
All guests were decked up in Chanel, most of them head to toe. So this was like a massive celebration of the brand and a way to showcase their PR power rather than your standard store opening/honour dinner event.
Jessica Alba, in a super chic bicolour dress, was my best dressed of the night. The accessories, hair and make up were right on the spot. Second after J was Alexa Chung in a very Alexa-meets-Chanel number, which she accessorised with a Christopher Kane clutch. My big disappointment of the night was Diane Kruger. She normally looks so exquisite but here she looked like a pregnant mess.

Courtesy of Burberry, Style.com, JustJared

This weekend I didn't have it so easy to find four really well dressed women for my Best Dressed of the Weekend post. Thankfully, Kate Bosworth always comes to save the day. Sometimes twice.

The biggest hit of the weekend had to be Kate Bosworth in Chanel for the brand's intimate dinner in LA. I love a woman who can wear all black. The key, as Kate knows, is in the textures. So she wore this matte silk blouse with a tweed mini skirt. I loved the combination of the two and the signature Chanel detailing down the shirt and around the sole of the stunning leather wedges.

Kate Bosworth hit number 2 was a Burberry Prorsum printed dress from their amazing SS12 collection. I am in love with those African-inspired graphic Burberry prints for next season and I love how Kate wears them with a very sort of bohemian yet sophisticated air. And it was a nice change from the Chanel look.

And third on the list is Bianca Brandolini in Giambattista Valli. She always looks incredible, especially when she wears Giamba. But when you have legs like those and such beautiful long hair it's just easier to pull anything off, non?

JustJared, Style.com

This weekend I felt compelled to bring back the 'Best dressed of the Weekend' if only for Elizabeth Olsen. Her Chanel Haute Couture look for the premiere of her film in London is one of the best things I've seen on the red carpet as of late. I said we had to look out for her when I included her in one of my BTOTW posts in January and I am happy to say I wasn't wrong.
My second favourite is Hailee Steinfeld. I'm really digging this Clémence Poésy-inspired look. She's kept things age-appropriate but also very cool and forward. I love the mix of the Chanel jacket and he Jil Sander shirt. I guess Miuccia doesn't chose someone to be the face of her campaigns for no reason, right?
Karlie Kloss and Giovanna Battaglia are both in this week too with looks they wore to the same event. I am impressed that Karlie didn't go for a very 'open' dress as she usually does. This white number with the long fur gillet is extremely chic and needs no other accessory than her beautiful face and her flirty blue eyes. Giovanna is one of my best dressed people in the world. I really loved the silhouette of her white dress with the black detailing in the middle and how she accessorised it with simple hair and makeup, golden hoops and stunning feather pumps.

From right: Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Aquilano Rimondi and Lanvin F/W 2011
Style.com

I first realised this was a mini-trend a couple of weeks ago while watching Project Runway. Nina Garcia was wearing this stunning Lanvin black mini dress from the FW11 collection and it struck me how incredible the big brooch at the front was. I also noticed that Nina wasn't wearing any other accessories (apart from shoes, haha).

I remembered a lot of embellished tops at the FW11 Ralph Lauren collection –one of my favourites in years. And so I looked at a few of the collections to find how other designers had approached this 'bejewelled dress' trend.
My first instinct was to revisit Ralph and Lanvin, where I found a handful of other options, all of which included some sort of intricate detail at the top front of the dress. Probably the chicest option. Then I headed to Chanel because, well, Karl tends to do this a lot. For FW11 he included the jewellery pieces in the geometric forms of the top of his dresses, which were somewhat Byzantine.
I found a different take from Aquilano Rimondi, who has instead used his jewel detailing around hemlines and the seams. A very Italian point of view, which makes me think instantly of those infamous Valentino heels.

Models.com

For those who doubted it, here is the proof that Carine Roitfeld hasn't disappeared. She has been working with Kar Lagerfeld on his latest Chanel campaign, which she styled he shot.

I think the adverts are really great because they still look very Chanel but they feel edgier and cool. I can't possibly say how Carine has managed to put Freja in this feline styling without looking silly. The balaclava with the Chanel flowers that didn't work on Claudia as ears and whisker are quite witty and they actually look super chic! I also love the fact that it's in a photobooth.

The second picture released is in the same settings and also with Freja but looks completely different. Her hair is messy and she looks slightly rough. And I can't really read what's written on her forehead (Il n'y a pas de...) but I have the feeling it's something funny.

What do you think of this campaign?

[Style.com]

Okay, this is starting to seem like I am obsessed with finding similarities between the Cruise collections currently coming out and past creations from other designers.

The fact is that, apart from the golden brooch trend we've seen at McCartney and Gucci, not much feels fresh in some of the resort lines from the most acclaimed designers. I quite liked Stella's creations because they're fun and easy to sell but who can deny very obvious resemblance with Prada's overexposed stripes from ss11, Miuccia's surprising palm tree prints from ss10 (Wintour approved), or with Maison Martin Margiela's photographic prints? I know a beach and a palm tree are not something anyone can trademark for themselves but if someone like Prada or MMM has done it before what are the chances of doing it better?

Two other lookalikes, while more isolated, are Lanvin's take on khaki tweed and Pringle's graphic print draped dresses. The first we saw at Chanel for PreFall11 both on the catwalk and on Baptiste and Freja in magazines. And the second back in fw10 at one of Peter Pilotto's most memorable runway shows.

What do you make of all of this?

I have commented on this over the last week but how boringly long has Cannes been this year? It is my favourite film festival but ten days is five days too long. However, it did end in style. After a few appearances in very disappointing outfits Kristen Dunst finally picked a winning Chanel gown. Her mustard Chloé was cute enough and the Chanel she wore to the amfAR gala was almost a hit while her Rodarte was a big fat mess. So I'm glad she went for this Haute Couture number, which I didn't love on the runway but looks so chic on her.

Rachel Zoe looks as if she was never pregnant. She's back to her signature all-black look, fedora included. I can't think of a cooler mum to have and I simply can't wait for a special magazine spread of her and Skyler Morrison both in Couture Chanel.

The last lady on the list is Jessica Simpson. I have said a lot of really horrible things about her style in the past but I can be objective. She went shopping in New York City this weekend wearing one of the very popular printed Céline from the Spring collection. She's the second really unexpected celebrity to wear it after, of course, Kanye's Coachella moment. And I loved that she paired it with flared jeans because they suit her so well!

[JustJared, Celebrity-Gossip]

Cannes finally wrapped up yesterday with the annual amfAR event. Last year the Cinema against AIDS gala saw the most stylish attendees of the festival. This year, though, film stars really raised the bar and made it really difficult, even for fashion insiders, to outside them on the last day.

Carine swapped Tom Ford for Kanye West, quite a downgrade if you ask me. They both wore Givenchy but failed to steal the show. Kanye very much annoys me at this point and I'm disappointed at Carine for not finding a better date.

My favourite was Janet Jackson's choice of Haider Ackermann as genius beyond words. The shape suits her wonderfully, as do the colours and she looks a lot classier and more stylish than she normally does. Jane Fonda was the epitome of elegance at Cannes. She is possibly one of four women in the world who can look so exquisite in Roberto Cavalli. There's little need for more than the understated emerald earrings thanks to the leopard sequins.

Some other of my favourites were Clémence Poésy in Chanel, Anja Rubik in Pucci, Charlotte Casiraghi (who just looks incredible in anything) and Giovanna Battaglia in a rather daring number.

It was also nice to see Julia Restoin Roitfeld wearing a long gown (also by Pucci) and I have to admit I am even
a fan of Elisabetta Canalis' Cavalli
dress, it's super flashy but it somehow
works.

[Style.com, Zimbio]

Last night, a the Hôtel du Cap in Antibes, Karl Lagerfeld delivered another stunning Cruise collection. I am, by now, used to the fact that his mid-season collections are way more interesting than the main line. Last year's bohemian show at Cannes also proved that the showing of a Chanel Cruise collection is not just that but a 3-day event where models, fashion insiders, actresses and royalty are entertained before the French film festival kicks off.

Much to my joy, Karl is putting less and less runway focus on Baptiste and is instead finding new muses. First he aided the Ines de la Fressange comeback and this time it was time for Kristen McMenamy. I remember seeing her a few months ago on the cover of Dazed & Confused wearing that yeti suit I much criticised. There is something incredibly captivating about her blonde and white her and her icy stare.

Kristen is, together with Freja, Baptiste, Ana Mouglalis and Mark Vanderloo, one of the protagonists of "A Tale of a Fairy", the Kaiser's latest short film, which premiere's tonight at 9pm. I'm curious to see what Karl has done this time since I loved his "Remember Now" project but was later very disappointed by what followed. You can watch the trailer here.

[Style.com, Zimbio]