Two of the best covers of the month, made in Korea
TFS

Sometimes I feel like we get the short end of the stick when it comes to fashion magazines in Europe. Some of the newer international titles of publications like Vogue, ELLE or W are doing such interesting things abroad with reprints – what I call editorial recycling – of stories from the European editions.
Korea is really teaching everyone a lesson or two about how to use a previously shot editorial and make the most out of it. Exhibit number 1 is the cover of Vogue Korea, where they've used the Inez & Vinoodh story from the June-July issue of French Vogue as their cover. I did love the original Vogue Paris front picture but this one is a really powerful opener as well!
Exhibit number two used the 'Mighty Aphrodite' shoot from the June issue of Vogue UK for the cover of W Korea. This shot of Kate Moss in Atelier Versace by Mert & Marcus is a great call! The colours and the dark and sexy vibe of the picture are a perfect fit for W.

Giselle Bündchen covers the Summer issue of Vogue Paris
Twitter.com/VogueParis

I love the fact that Vogue Paris has released their June/July issue cover on the same day I decided to criticise American Vogue. I have never cared about all the criticism (my love) Emmanuelle Alt received from the moment she became Ed-in-Chief. She has been doing an excellent job and getting Vogue Paris to its chic roots. I am absolutely in love with this! I love the retro feel and the colours – it's like we have gone back to Giselle's golden age in the 90's. It makes me want to be driving down the Côte d'Azur in a pale blue convertible listening to Serge Gainsburg (see below for the best summer song in this scenario).
It also kind of bring things full circle as Giselle cover last year's April issue of Vogue Paris – Emmanuelle's first as Ed-in-Chief. It's nothing short of amazing what she's done with the mag in little over a year.
I think it's great that instead of going for summer clichés Vogue Paris are focusing in staying healthy – "The cult of the body and the spirit" – and how their chosen fashion feature is about encouraging the use of see-through. After all, if you don't wear it in the summer, when will you?

The SS'12 Campaigns are out – Here are my favourites so far
Courtesy of Prada

We are just about to break for the Christmas Holidays but fashion doesn't know about resting! The Spring/Summer 2012 campaigns are being released without a pause and I must say I am happy to see vibrant cheerful colours despite how much I love the winter.

So far I am impressed with most of the ads I have seen. Though I was particularly intrigued to see what Prada and Versace did for the new season. Prada's was in my top 5 of SS12 collections and I was dying to see it through the eyes of Steven Meisel, who has done such a brilliant job with carrying on with the 50's theme in a petrol station.

I knew the Versace, shot by Mert & Marcus and styled by Joe McKenna, was going to be one of the best ones. The house has been getting so much press over the last few months and it's finally going back to Paris for Couture to show their new Versace Atelier collection. So, of course, they had to go for Giselle Bündchen! I love the LA feel of the shoot, the colours and the sort of vintage Italiana vibe.

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It has been an intense weekend for the fashion world. First it was the Royal Wedding on Friday and last night the fashion equivalent of the Oscars (or the red carpet anyway), the Met Gala, took over New York City. This year they celebrated the opening of the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" exhibition.

This year I expected a lot of dramatic gowns with big trains and also a lot of feathers. And I was right to do so, at least the first part. Despite Daphne Guiness' big feather McQueen number (she always looks so great it's hard to be surprised anymore) and Sarah Jessica Parker's chic number also by the designer I would have to say it was Giselle Bünchen who wore the brand best. The tight body and pleated big skirt made this a moment we hadn't seen since the old Valentino days.

My other favourite was Diane Kruger in Jason Wu. She is one of the chicest women in Hollywood and it's a pleasure to see her wearing something that's not white or Chanel. The embellished top made jewellery unnecessary and the mad side slit on the skirt adds a sexy edge balanced by the long sleeves.

[JustJared, Style.com, Zimbio.com]

Funnily enough, it is at these kinds of events that fashion insiders get less attention because of all of the celebrity attendees. That is why it's hard to even find nice pictures of them to post.

Lily Donaldson, in Erdem, and Mariacarla Boscono, in Givenchy HC, looked ravishing. I always say no one can compete with a model in terms of fashion. I love the fact that they know how much see-through they can get away with and they take advantage of that. Lily looked very classy in the navy lace, a perfect look to go with her new marital status. And Mariacarla channeled Morticia Adams for the hair and make-up adding that big of Goth that Tisci loves in his clothes.

Giovanna Battaglia, NYC's newest neighbour, wore Marni to accompany Consuelo Castiglioni. I am in awe of this glamourous 60's look. You know I adore both her and the brand and every time the two get mixed they achieve perfection.

I don't care what people say about Anna Wintour, I think she's got great taste. Year after year she slips and yet another incredible Chanel HC dress, which is what she deserves to wear. I found this year's number quite cool for Anna, though. The colours and the art deco feel of the sequins made it a youthful look that really suited her. And I loved the fact that she added diamonds into the mix anyway.

I might've not liked Blake Lively's Chanel as much if I hadn't been bracing myself for a big disappointment. I have to admit she looked stunning and must've made Kaiser Karl very proud. I still haven't seen her carrying one of those fugly Mademoiselle handbags she advertises, though.

I guess people just invite Thandie Newton because she always looks great. I absolutely loved the way her Stella McCartney dress played with the sheerness of the pleated skirt, the black lace and the nude touch of the underskirt.

Less dramatic or surprising but beautiful nonetheless were Gwyneth Paltrow, in a bejewelled Stella McCartney, Miranda Kerr in Marchesa and Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein Collection.

I am especially shocked by how much into Miranda's look I am. There is something so obviously Black Swan about the dress (Mila Kunis would've looked amazing in this) but the fact that she wore the Nicholas Kirkwood lace-ups makes everything interesting. It's the red carpet equivalent of someone wearing a tutu skirt with converse, just genius!

Emmanuelle's first cover

I was anxious to see this. I  didn't know whether Emmanuelle Alt would swift from Carine's cover aesthetic to mark her reign as Vogue Paris queen or if she would instead progressively settle into the job by kind of continuing to do what Carine had done before and (maybe) slowly changing things to her aesthetic. I love the fact that Giselle is on the cover, especially in Dolce & Gabbana. For some reason supermodels give those southern Italian dresses a different flair than everyone else. I also really like the way the text has been laid out and how white completely takes over the page. It's not the most original of covers but it's better to be safe than to aim to high and fail massively on your first issue, non?

Shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

I'm off.

[Picture: RDuJour]

Collage Sunday, 13.06.10

Summer is here (only some days if you live in London) and it's time to make your swimwear picks. I am tired of the good old triangular bikinis, which is why I have tried to give a bit of a contemporary-meets-vintage feel to today's Collage Sunday. Think 70's with a touch of 20's brought to today. Avoid pink and go for orange and choose interesting shapes and prints for your swimsuits. Happy Sunday!

I'm off.

[Pictures: CoutequeCoute.blogspot.com, Net-a-Porter.com, Hermes.com, Demarchelier.net, StevenKlein.com, Mariotestino.com]

she-bag

Some are old and some new. Some a sigh and some a snort. But they all took their name from someone special to their creators. The Birkin and the Kelly are veterans and the ladies they took their names from marked a style in their era. The Ricky (Ralph Lauren's wife) and the Gisele (Bündchen) have been in the market for a few years already and they keep getting facelifts trying to find their place in fashion history. And the Hayden (Panettiere) and the Alexa (Chung) are the latest additions to the club —to me the first doesn't stand a chance and the second is stunning. Which one is your favourite?

I'm off.

project ORANGE

First of, I want to apologize to those who will have Project Runway's finale spoiled for reading this. I myself encountered a dilemma, should I or should I not sneak a peek at the celebrity guest judge? Well, the web is wide (hence www) and I did not really have a choice. I've been missing Project Runway season 4 since the very beginning, I'm sad because that show really kept me well entertained. The only thing I will now spoil, since that's too the only treat I've given myself before I actually whatch the show, is the guest judge part. Formidable stiff icon Victoria Beckham pulled off a beautiful tangerine gown by Versace with the appropiate matching shoes, clearly one of her fashion signatures.

Whose fruit do you like better, VB's or Giselle's high neck?

[Credit photos: JustJared]

I'm off.

got VERSACE?

Donatella Versace, it seems to me, has finally come to her senses and decided that unending seasons of tacky gold and white adverts were to be over for this Summer. To make it up to us, tasteful audience and critics, the Italian designer and head of the brand has chosen two of my favourite icons of the moment. Giselle Bündchen and Patrick Dempsey represent both beauty and style, but the way they're supposed to be: natural and unforced. I will now be able to flip through the first pages of Vogue, GQ and Bazaar without the little strikes Versace's old ads preovoked on me. Bravo!

[Credit photos: JustJared]

I'm off.