The Buzz

Nicole Kidman Steps It Up at Cannes as Jimmy Choo’s New Ambassador

Hannah Ongley May 22nd, 2013

images: Lia Toby/WENN.com; Joe Alvarez/WENN.com

Nicole Kidman at 66th Cannes Film Festival – Opening Ceremony; Image: WENN

Nicole Kidman is no stranger to brand association. The Aussie actress and emitter of ice queen vibes has played ambassador for Chanel and Omega, and more recently, got thawed out for a Swisse Vitamins commercial. Now Nicole is switching it up again for Jimmy Choo, having recently been named the face of the brand’s fall ad campaign.

As a 45-year-old mother of two, it’s no surprise Nicole usually opts for blue jeans and cardigans instead of towering stiletto heels and masses of racy animal print. But as a judge at Cannes Film Festival she’s really falling into her role as ambassador of the brash UK brand. So far the actress has teamed her Choos with L’Wren Scott, Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior couture and black leather Calvin Klein, with a decent amount of PDA thrown on for good measure.

Ironically, it’s the frothy and the floral designs that really make Nicole Kidman dwarf the rest of the crowd (and her country singer/songwriter/Idol judge husband Keith Urban). The black leather and straight hair are a little severe, but she is absolutely killing it in the Dior Couture. This Jimmy Choo thing might not be such a bad idea.

The Buzz Latest News

Carolyn Murphy Covers Vogue Thailand’s 5th Issue

Nika Mavrody May 22nd, 2013

Carolyn Murphy / courtesy Vogue Thailand

Vogue Thailand's June 2013 cover features Carolyn Murphy sunning herself in a summery white garment, her hair wrapped in a matching turban and a stripped down makeup look. The minimalism telegraphs confidence from the new publication, which is just releasing its fifth issue. The glossy's (few) previous covers have tended towards more elaborate styling; for the debut issue, Thai model Si Tanwiboon was photographed in an opulent gold headpiece custom-made by Philip Treacy.

Murphy has been all over the place, being stunning, for the past few months. The 37-year-old supermodel was featured in two lengthy Vogue US editorials, one photographed by Patrick Demarchelier for May 2013 and another by Mario Testino in March; there was a cover of Madame Figaro in March; a campaign for Paul & Joe Spring 2013; another for Estee Lauder; she closed Calvin Klein's Fall 2013 runway show. And she's looked ridiculous (in the good way) throughout.

Vogue Thailand's June 2013 issue hits newsstands on Monday, May 27.

This 80% Polyester Saint Laurent Jacket Costs $61K

Nika Mavrody May 22nd, 2013

Signature Open Jacket in Black and Gold Original Babycat Sequins / via YvesSaintLaurent.co.uk

Spotted in the Forums today: some concern about this Saint Laurent jacket, which is listed on the label's British website for £40,420 (about $61,000) and made primarily out of polyester.

The item copy describes it as an "open jacket in grain de poudre wool," but wool makes up only 10% of the fabric composition (satin makes up the leftover 10%).

The design is based on Yves Saint Laurent's iconic smoking jacket, which was made of wool with a "grain de poudre" texture. (Saint Laurent Paris currently sells "Le Smoking" tuxedo trousers composed entirely from the iconic fabric; they cost $1,150.)

The sequin embroidery, done in the label's signature babycat print, appears elaborate; the construction process was presumably time-consuming and skill-intensive. But given the garment's cost, it's surprising that YSL used only a drop of the luxe wool listed in the product description, choosing to rely mostly on a synthetic fiber which has the reputation for being cheap and kind of tacky (not that trendy animal print blazers worth two years' tuition at a private college are a paragon of taste).

As fashionista-ta said in the Forum thread, "I can understand needing to cut costs on this piece, but what about non-virgin wool instead of polyester?? Even (perhaps especially) filthy rich people sweat."

The item is no longer available for sale on the website, and when I called YSL's personal shopper service, they said it wasn't in stock anywhere in Europe (I was not able to find a record of the garment ever having been sold in the US).

I reached out to the Saint Laurent press office asking for additional production details and some information about how the brand determined the price for this item, but have not heard back.

The Buzz Gossip and News

Cara Delevingne Resists Leonardo DiCaprio’s Advances at Cannes

Nika Mavrody May 22nd, 2013

Cara Delevingne / via WENN.com

What follows is really gossipy but I'm on 24/7 Cara Delevingne watch mostly because I'm proud of myself for having learned how to spell her name ("ngn" —I say it under my breath every time I type it out, and it's such a satisfying, gutteral sound).

Despite earlier rumors that Leonardo DiCaprio had invited the 20-year-old British model to Cannes as his date, the latest reports rolling out of the South of France have Cara resisting the 38-year-old actor's advances, due to what sounds like a major case of having self-esteem.

From a Perez Hilton source:

"Normally all Leo has to do is look at a girl and they fall at his feet. Though Cara was having none of it. He spent the night chasing after her and essentially she blew him out. They spoke and he was pretty forward inviting her to a party back at his suite. They swapped numbers but that was it. He tried every trick in the book and apparently kept lunging for her but she kept dodging them. Everyone is howling at the fact she actually knocked back the biggest actor in the world. She thought he was too forward and too old."

Previously: What Was Cara Delevingne Doing at Cannes? (Besides Wearing a Smoking Hot Dress)

The Buzz Latest News

‘The Bling Ring’ — the Book Version — Is Out Today

Nika Mavrody May 21st, 2013

Real-life Bling Ring member Alexis Neiers, right / via WENN.com

A month ahead of the Sofia Coppola film, The Bling Ring: How a Gang of Fame-Obsessed Teens Ripped Off Hollywood and Shocked the World, a nonfiction book about the celebrity-obsessed teenagers who made headlines when they were arrested for their habitual raids on Hollywood celebrities' homes, is out today (available in paperback, ebook, audio versions).

Nancy Jo Sales, the writer behind the Vanity Fair piece you might have read, "The Suspects Wore Louboutins", expanded on her original reporting in just six months, after being approached by HarperCollins.

With actors like Emma Watson, Leslie Mann and Gavin Rossdale, The Bling Ring is sure to have well-photographed red carpets and a well-attended premiere — meaning lots and lots of publicity. If you have any intention of eventually watching the film (and from what we've seen of the trailer, you should have lots of intention) you probably will see it. And so maybe you'll also want to read the book.

The Buzz Forum Buzz

Raf Simons’ Dior Resort 2014 is a Hit! (Forum Buzz)

Pilar Meier May 21st, 2013

Raf Simon’s Dior Resort 2014 is a hit! (Forum Buzz)

Last weekend, Raf Simons presented the new Christian Dior Resort 2014 collection in Monaco. The elegant setting with a stunning view over the Mediterranean Sea was not the only aspect that managed to excite the fashion crowd. The collection spanned 59 looks and seemed seemed bolder, more experimental and more fluid than Simons’ other collections for the Dior house. TFS forum members are loving this less minimal and more daring side of Simons and believe he is finally feeling more confident designing for the iconic Dior house.

"Raf is really putting Dior into shape, with a clear, clean and elegant vision! This is one great resort collection and the venue is a dream!" exclaimed miguelalmeida.

TianCouture agreed: "These colors—I want to live in them! Amazing. I feel like he's taking parts of previous collections and adding them with new looks, slowly removing the old pieces until the once new looks become the older ones, with a new set of looks that will antiquate the former. Forces the viewer to find the new, if that makes sense. And there is a lot of new here."

VogueDisciple93 fawned over the great use of color as well and added, "Absolutely amazing! Breathtaking use of color. Agreeably much like his offerings thus far, but was different enough to be a solid step forward. I commend him for sticking to his vision of what he wants the house/ Dior woman to be and not falling prey to trends."

Lee MG Tisci pointed out the use of lace, a material that Simons admittedly hadn’t worked with before: "This is so much more contemporary, fresh and even sexier with all the sheer he used. I just love the mix of all the textures and fabrics, interesting work with the lace and the layering is great too…"

Forum members made excellent points about what sets this collection apart from the more repetitive and safe collections that Simons had delivered thus far. This collection has everything a good Resort collection needs: summery colors, light fabrics, sexy and feminine cuts and flattering silhouettes. Looks like this is a new Dior that we could get used to!

Raf Simon’s Dior Resort 2014 is a hit! (Forum Buzz)