The Met Ball is just over a week away and finally the designer-celebrity paring confirmations are beginning to pick up pace. So far we know that Isabel Lucas will attend with the Proenza Schouler boys and as you'll recall, Lana Del Rey's partnership with Joseph Altuzarra came as a bit of a surprise.Azealia Banks and Alexander Wang, on the other hand, is a pairing that makes sense.
Banks confirmed the news on Twitter saying: 'I can't wait for the MET ball! I'm going as Alexander Wang's date. He custom made my outfit and shoes!!!! It's so hot!' And if that gets you excited, there's more good news as the Harlem based rapper will also perform at some stage during the event. 'I've been invited to perform for PRADA next week in NYC! Gonna b so lush!! Let's see what new songs I debut there! #metball2012'
With images of her former Park Slope townhouse in just about every major magazine and home interiors board on Pinterest and the news constantly full of reports of her alleged $1million salary, it's easy to lose sight of just how much Jenna Lyons has brought to the table at J. Crew. Last year the retailer began what is only the beginning of a series of expansion plans when it launched it's European e-commerce site and sales couldn't be better. The fact that a certain First Lady wears the brand - and without a discount - certainly helps. In addition to their great women's wear offerings, the retailer has an extremely successful menswear section, along with kids and bridal wear. Not bad for what was once a catalogue only-company.
Despite being such a powerhouse, Lyons is completely unaware of her ever-growing status.'I was in Westfield in London and a girl comes up to me and says: 'Are you Jenna Lyons?' My father is British, so I was thinking: are you a long-lost relative? Was I nice to you when we were kids; did I give you some of my Kipling cakes? And she just said she was a huge J Crew fan,' she toldSarah Harris in her profile in the Guardian. 'I was so taken aback.' And that status isn't going to slow down any time soon as Lyons has no intention of leaving J. Crew in the near future. 'I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity that I've been given,' she said. 'This company has changed my life in so many ways, and as long as Mickey wants me here, I will be. My God,' she added, 'he's seriously going to have to give me a cow bell and a green pasture one day, and yell: 'Go! Go girl! Go!' As Harris wrote, we're all grateful.
Over the years Stephanie Winston Wolkoff has earned the reputation of being a major player in the fashion scene and today she cemented that by revealing that she's going out on her own. This morning WWD confirmed that Winston Wolkoff is launching a new creative agency, SWW Creative, which 'seeks to forge new partnerships in fashion, beauty and entertainment.'
The new move works for several reasons. In the past she served as Vogue's special events director so was the mastermind behind the success of most of the Met Gala's up until 2010, along with all of the other events that come hand-in-hand with US Vogue. After leaving Vogue she headed over to the Lincoln Center to serve as their very first fashion director where she worked on New York Fashion Week's big move from Byrant Park and was responsible for big events like the recent 'Lincoln Center Presents Ralph Lauren in Conversation with Oprah Winfrey'. Naturally, then, if there was anyone who could bring production, collaborations and sponsorship together, it's her.
'After almost two decades in the fashion and arts world, I am ready to bridge the gap into the entertainment world as well,' she in a statement to WWD. 'The support from my mentors has been overwhelmingly positive and I am so fortunate to have had the ability to work with some of the most incredible people in all industries. Now I can create so many initiatives and productions and advise on so many levels.'
With less than 100 days until London hosts the 2012 Olympics, all eyes are on TeamGB girls and not just in the way you would expect. Over the last few weeks, four key members of the team have been announced as the face of various beauty brands.
Last week Pantene announced that they have brought track cyclist Victoria Pendleton on board as the face of their latest beauty campaign; a move which is part of Proctor & Gamble's (their parent company) worldwide Olympic partner status with the London games. 'It makes so much sense to me that a female athlete would be a beauty ambassador,' Pendleton said in a statement. 'Part of being beautiful is being healthy, but I don't think people realize when they look at us that we want to be healthy from head to toe and that includes having healthy, beautiful hair.' This is particularly special for Pantene as the partnership marks the first time they have partnered with an athlete in this way and will see Pendleton join the likes of Liv Tyler as one of thir brand ambassadors.
The fashion industry has really embraced Azealia Banks over the past year. The Harlem native performed in Karl Lagerfeld's Paris apartment after the Chanel couture show, sat front row at Mulberry and Unique in London and collaborated with uber stylist Nicola Formichetti on her latest music video. With all of that industry endorsement, we've all been waiting to see her big editorial debut.
This is the closest we're getting at the moment, as the 21 year-old appears in the latest issue of W magazine shot by Francesco Carrozzini. Although it's only one shot, stylist Patrick Mackie gave us enough to get excited about. The Versace look works to Banks' aesthetic but also makes her look a lot more polished compared to what we've seen her in recently and it looks like we can expect a lot more of this from her in the months to come.
As writer Karin Nelson notes, unlike artists like Nicki Minaj, Banks isn't about grabbing people's attention with crazy outfits. Instead she loves creative but wearable designers like Christopher Kane 'and all his big shiny shit' but for her it's all about reflecting a sense of reality. 'I'm not here to sell a fantasy,' she said. 'I think that's why people are interested in me. They're like, 'Who's this girl making pop music and wearing a Mickey Mouse sweater?'
I think it's great news. Let's just wait and see how he decides to express himself. We've never been in the same place at the same time so we never got close. But I hugely admire his work.
She hasn't even turned one yet but already Harper Seven is having offers sent her way. The daughter of David and Victoria Beckham received her first job offer last week by My1stYears.com, who asked the nine-month old to become the face of their personalised baby gift company.
'Both your parents are fashion icons, and we can see no reason why you shouldn't start your own career in the fashion industry even at your young age," wrote My1stYears.com's Emily Sandford. 'From what we have seen of you since your first public appearance less than a year ago, we know you have implacable style and taste. You were therefore the immediate first choice for our campaign.' The letter continues: 'Due to child labour laws we cannot negotiate a contract or salary directly with you, that is why your Mummy and Daddy have been copied in on this letter. We are happy to speak with them about your fee; however, we are prepared to pay you a significant amount to be the face of our new range.'
Am I surprised, well no, I'd prefer to see her front a Bon Point or baby Chloe campaign. Who doesn't love Bon Point?
President Barack Obama knows how to throw a good party and deliver a good red carpet and the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which took place over the weekend was no different. Along with the usual mix of politicians came fashion folk like Tory Burch and Rachel Zoe, models like Kate Upton and Irina Shayk and major actresses like Kerry Washington and Claire Danes. As you know, Kim Kardashian never misses a photo-op was made an appearance with mother Kris Jenner making Obama joke, 'Why is she famous anyway?' during his speech.
Olivia Palermo may be readying to launch a lifestyle brand but that hasn't stopped her from lending her face to another brand. Today this image of the former reality TV star emerged showing her fronting the campaign for Rochas' new fragrance, Les Cascades de Rochas, Eclat d'Agrumes.
'The inspiration for [Les Cascades] is really a Parisian fountain in the summer,' Bill Brace, vice president of Procter & Gamble Prestige, told WWD. The fountain outside the Palais Royal in Paris was naturally the perfect backdrop for the campaign and who better to shoot the feminine ad than Camilla Akrans. This is Palermo's second big campaign and considering how beautiful she looks here, I'm doubt it will be her last. In fact, I'm convinced that a modelling career works a lot better than her recent website pursuits.
The fragrance will be available exclusively in May in Marionnauld in France before being released in the rest of Europe in July. Prices range from 48 euros for a 50-m bottle to 72 euros for a 100ml bottle.
