The Buzz
Earlier this month, French-born, London-based designer Roland Mouret announced that he was releasing an eight-piece capsule collection made from Australia Merino wool. After weeks of counting down and an official launch dinner, we’re finally able to get our hands on the collection.
The designer’s had a busy week. He’s been Instagramming his activities, including boating around Sydney Harbour, announcing the Woolmark Prize to Strateas.Carlucci and meeting up with Harper’s Bazaar Australia editor Kellie Hush. Last night was the big one, though, with the international designer launching his colourful range at a dinner held by department store Myer.
As the exclusive stockist of the highly-anticipated collection, Myer helped Mouret celebrate the launch by calling in guests like Marie Claire Australia Editor Jackie Frank and designers Johnny Schembri of By Johnny and Alex Perry. Face of Myer, Jennifer Hawkins, was also in attendance, wearing the collection’s orange and fuchsia Leana dress.
The rainbow-coloured tops, pants and dresses, all in Mouret’s signature draping technique, are now available at Myer Melbourne City and Myer Sydney City. If you live elsewhere, you can snap up the limited-edition pieces through Roland Mouret’s online store.
 Image: PNP/WENN.COM Upon hearing the announcement that Blake Lively was launching a new site, Preserve, everyone wondered two things: Do we really need another celebrity lifestyle site? And how will it differ from Gwyneth Paltrow‘s Goop? Vogue magazine gets the scoop on her latest venture in its August issue featuring Lively on the cover (her third for the fashion bible).
The magazine describes the site as “part digital monthly magazine, part e-commerce venture, part video blog.” Blake will be selling items crafted by American artisans (aka people who hand make their goods) — promoting wares that have a folksy, small-town charm. You’ll find apparel, accessories, home goods and food on Preserve, which aims to inject a little more life into the artisanal economy.
If you’re already drawing comparisons between Preserve and Gwyneth’s Goop venture, Blake is quick to dispel such likening, stressing that the site is “not trying to show you the perfect life or the aspirational life. It’s real life.” She goes on to explain, “It’s the thing that blindsides you on an idle Tuesday that’s tragic but that also makes you who you are. It’s not about me.”
I take it that means no $500-a-day dieting tips or crazy-expensive, limited-edition designer wares. No, Blake’s site is all about bringing American-made artisanal goodness to the masses.
“I’m sure there will be plenty of people who will say horrible things. I’m sure this interview will be picked apart. But you can’t worry about it. There have been so many things written about me that are untrue and horrifying… People like to gossip. They bond over it. They don’t bond over complimenting famous people. I’m always the first person to defend Gwyneth Paltrow. Or any woman in a position of power, like Martha Stewart or Oprah, who gets burned. Because they have paved the path for so many other women who are doing something they believe in.”
Blake’s site is due to launch later this month.
[via Vogue]
As rumored in theFashionSpot‘s Cover Rumor Thread, Blake Lively is on the cover of American Vogue‘s August 2014 issue. For the magazine’s annual “Age Issue,” Blake is photographed by Mario Testino and styled by Tonne Goodman. Shot for the cover wearing a red knit dress, which was teamed with a thick brown leather shearling coat, Blake looks radiant with her hair styled effortlessly as she flashes a welcoming smile while portraying Southwestern chic. The former Gossip Girl star previously fronted both the February 2009 and June 2010 issues of the fashion bible.
 IMAGE CREDIT: VOGUE.COM VIA TFS FORUMS Our forum members aren’t so thrilled that Blake has scored yet another Vogue cover. “I adore Blake but gosh another Vogue cover? I mean, there are talented up and coming actress you can choose from a pool who’s having their movies now but then you decided to choose Blake Lively with a story focusing on a GOOP-ish website. Oh well…” posted TaylorBinque.
“This is horrible! I don’t think she deserves another cover, but I was still expecting it and the editorial to look nice enough. The only shot I like is the one with the dog. The styling is awful,” said an unsatisfied SallyAlbright.
Sharing their sentiments was whysper: “Seriously, her? I just don’t see the ‘IT factor’ with Blake, despite the fact that she surprisingly has lucrative deals and that still confuses me to this day. She’s got hustle, sure, but nothing special.”
Not everyone is in the same frame of mind, though. A small few actually liked what they saw! “It’s a lovely classic American Vogue cover. I can almost see Linda or Amber in this same setup during their heyday. With that being said, I have zero interest in Blake. The pictures are pretty but the headline might as well read, From Gossip Girl to a Failed Movie Career. Internet entrepreneur? Give me a break,” proclaimed A.D.C.
“Stunning! Am getting that Elaine Irwin vibe and I think she deserves the cover being a fashion and beauty star,” wrote Urban Stylin.
What are your feelings about Blake’s third Vogue appearance? Check out the thread for Mario’s accompanying cover story and join the discussion here.
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We’re thinking Melbourne’s getting a little greedy. Its third Topshop store is set to launch next week in Melbourne’s ever-growing Emporium building, and it’s going to be the largest Topshop/Topman store in the Southern Hemisphere.
Taking up a whopping 2,732 sqm, the Topshop store’s stock will be in sync with London, New York and Los Angeles. There’ll also be weekly deliveries to meet consumer demand. Because it’s set to be such a huge addition to the Australian retail market, Topshop has pulled out all the celebrity-type stops to help build the anticipation.
Not only does the store have Topshop-branded MINIs riding around Melbourne, there’s also a mix of big-name Aussies posing with them for a complete Instagram takeover. Zoe Foster Blake, author, columnist and wife to Australia’s funnyman Hamish Blake, is one brand ambassador who’s taken a branded MINI for a spin.
“I’ve been zim zam zoomin around today for a fun project to celebrate the new @topshop_au opening in Emporium next Friday. It three floors. It magical. It make us very happy,” Zoe wrote to her Instagram, under a picture of Blake crouched down next to the car.
Other young-gun names on board include former The X Factor contestant Nathaniel Willemse, bloggers Lisa Hamilton of See Want Shop and Luc Wiesman of D’Marge and Puberty Blues stars Isabelle Cornish and Sean Keenan.
If previous international store openings like Topshop and Zara are anything to go by, we think the store’s going to be just fine getting shoppers through its doors on opening day. In fact, they might even get trampled on.
For a model, a little nudity is just part of the job. Just ask Jourdan Dunn, Devon Aoki and Staz Lindes, who have gone nude for Maybelline New York in a short for i-D, directed by Christian Larson. The three models dish on their new favorite makeup trend: neutral eyeshadow from Maybelline’s new NUDES palette. No, we don’t get to see the models (completely) naked, but we do get a great view of each woman’s perfect neutral makeup look, created by Alice Lane. Watch the video to see Jourdan, Staz and Devon in the nude.
Sponsored by Maybelline New York
I selected the topic for this week’s flashback series at random from a stack of UK Harper’s Bazaar magazines and my finger ended up on the October 2007 issue with Gisele Bündchen on the front (I wouldn’t even like to think how many Gisele covers I have, but never too many, right?). Our favorite Brazilian beauty was photographed by Alexei Hay and styled by Alison Edmond for Bazaar‘s “Power of Change” issue. Below is the cover, which was sent out to subscribers, but the same cover image was also used for the regular newsstand edition. Posing against a green backdrop, Gisele flicks back her signature glossy locks, wearing a silk tasseled mini dress from Bottega Veneta.
 IMAGE CREDIT: MARK E Just about every magazine likes to take advantage of Gisele and this time around, British Bazaar is no exception. Alexei also shot the supermodel for a fashion story, where she showcased a range of the season’s most coveted short dresses from Paul & Joe, Missoni, Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
The X Factor champion Leona Lewis also posed for the magazine (kind of an odd choice, though her photos are rather impressive), shot by Ralph Mecke. For the opening shot of the spread, Leona wears a gorgeous silver crystal dress from Dolce & Gabbana that was absolutely everywhere back in 2007. Naomi Campbell even wore something similar during her community service. Another noticeable set of pictures, captured by Satoshi Saïkusa, are also featured inside the 372-page issue: Model Fabiana Semprebom posed as a scandalous French maid donning body-skimming silks, sexy stockings and scarlet lips. Shot in Paris, the story just couldn’t be sexier.
Familiarize yourself with the contents of the October 2007 edition inside the thread by clicking here.
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