East Meets Ralph Lauren

Overt Chinese influences on the runway will not stop atLouis Vuitton's spring 2011 collection. (Of course, there was aChanelpre-fall show before that.) Models inRalph Lauren's fall 2011 show this morning wore dangling jade earrings with shoulder-skimming tassels, complementing a color palette of mostly black, red, and green. There was a smattering of cheongsam-inflected silhouettes, at least one mandarin collar, and a few pieces embroidered with dragons— one of them worn, strikingly, by an Asian model. The soundtrack included a cover of"China Girl,"and the whole thing ended with a pretty wonderful black column dress with a glittery silver hood. Front-row highlights included André Leon Talley, who looked a little giddy when Lauren came out to take hisfullwalk down the runway (a rarity— most designers pop out for a second or two and then return to hiding), andW's Alex White, whose arm was in a fashionable leopard sling. Maybe all the leopard print the fashion people are wearing to shows this season will be replaced by East Asian floral prints or embroidered dragons the next.

Photo: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images

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Alexander Wang Wore a Toucan Tee When He Was a Wee Thing

If the fashion issue'sprofileofAlexander Wangwasn't enough Wang for you, enjoy these bonus shots of child Wang. Here you see the designer during his stint at Stevenson boarding school in Pebble Beach, California— wearing a T-shirt with a toucan on it. It looks like the faded, worn-in type of thing Wang likes to this day, but God, we hope this isn't the last we see of him wearing a tropical bird.

Related:Women of Wang

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Spotted: McQueen in the Wild

Lisa Airan worea lookfrom the last runway collection (for fall 2010) thatAlexander McQueendesigned before he committed suicide a little over a year ago last night to the opening of the Van Cleef&Arpels exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

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Hot Shot: Gwen and Kingston at the L.A.M.B. Finale

Gwen Stefani hit the runway with her son Kingston at the conclusion ofL.A.M.B.'s fall 2011 show, which walked at 8 p.m. at Lincoln Center tonight.

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The Fug Girls: Matt Damon Fails to Take His Seat at L.A.M.B.

It seemed only right to close out Fashion Week with the most intense paparazzi scrum we'd been in all season. When we walked into the tents Thursday night forL.A.M.B., everything seemed normal— only a few photographers were spotted on the runway, and there was quiet chatter from all sides about how everyone wanted to get celebratory cocktails. But then we noticed something— and by"we,"we mean,"all the journalists in the room, at exactly the same time:"One seat, in the prime section of the front row, bore the name Luciana Barroso, and right next to it was a sign that read,"Matt Damon."Wait a second. Matt freaking Damon? An Oscar-winner? Were we about to witness first-hand the talents of one Mr. Ripley?"Oh my God,"the entire room seemed to breathe at once. And just like that, a mob camped out in front of his seat for some good old-fashioned Will hunting.

Time ticked by. Our feet got a bit more swollen. As the seat remained empty, rumors started to fly:"The PR people told me it's not Matt Damon, it's Matt Dillon,"one reporter said. Another informant scampered past long enough to squeal,"No, no, it's Bob Dylan!"We held firm, and waited. And waited. Security people came by and halfheartedly told us,"They're not giving interviews,"but we persisted, determined to get at least some story out of being trampled by 50 Damon-starved photographers. Actress Taryn Manning— relegated to the second row, behind Damon's seats— squeezed through the mob to pose for pictures, but they were perfunctory at best. At this point, everyone was just keeping their trigger fingers limber, waiting for Matt to show us his ocean's eleven.

It wasn't until their Bourne ultimatum—"Get your seats or get out"— that we hung our heads and departed. And then, suddenly, the show began: The lights went down, they popped back on… and a PR staffer was seated where Matt Damon should have been. We thought maybe some sympathetic good shepherd, worried for Damon's safety, had decided to save Private Ryan from the scrum and march his happy feet somewhere else to watch. Then, however, a backstage source expressed doubt that any Matt— Damon or Dillon— had ever been in the building at all. But at least Taryn Manning's courage under fire got her upgraded to the front row. We may have missed out on seeing all Matt's pretty horses, but it's nice that at least someone got something out of it.

See the Complete L.A.M.B. Fall 2011 Collection

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Dita Von Teese’s Perfume Will Smell Like Velvet; Double Amputee Lands Thierry Mugler Campaign

FRAGRANCE

• Dita Von Teese dropped some hints about the new perfume she's working on."No fruit, no vanilla, no candy. Velvet sensuality with a dash of vulgarity! I want to evoke passion with fragrance: intense love/lust and distaste/fear rather than merely popular acceptance."{Bella Sugar}

•Meadham Kirchhoffdesigners Ed Meadham and Ben Kirchhoff have teamed up with Brit fragrance purveyor Penhaligon’s to“scent” their latest collection. {Beauty Counter Blog/Style.com}

• South African double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is the new face of Thierry Mugler’s A*Men men’s scent. {WWD}

MAKEUP

•Ashley Smithtried out tangerine eye shadow and a matte fuchsia lip color for the latest issue ofDansk. {Fashion Gone Rogue}

• January Jones stepped out wearing bright red lipstick and thick stripes of yellow eye shadow. {Girls in the Beauty Dept./Glamour.com}

• Lady Gaga, promoting her MAC lipstick, sales from which go toward the fight against HIV:“MAC has a strong identity, a strong camp of people who are the faces of MAC. It’s not just beautiful girls that are airbrushed and stretched to look teeny tiny and perfect. It is so without prejudice and without judgment in the most beautiful way. And that’s how the conversation about sex should happen. It’s removed of race, it’s removed of sexual orientation. Wrap it up, protect yourself, and buy that lipstick for your mom, or your sister, or who knows, maybe your brother likes to wear lipstick— and tell them to be safe. Love yourself.” {WWD}

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Critics Praise Proenza’s High-Tech Prints, Disagree Over Lim and Klein

New York Fashion Week has come to a close— on to London!— but there's little consensus among the critics about the final shows. Some admiredRalph Lauren's China-inspired collection, but others felt the"costumey"references were too overt. Amid generally positive reviews,Phillip Limdrew barbs for his"awkward"pants and a"sad"patent tunic.Calvin Klein's minimalism garnered praise from some and critiques from others, who called the fabric treatments"just too far out."Proenza Schouler, however, got near-unanimous praise for cool sportswear and high-tech digital prints. Read the last of New York's reviews below.

THE HITS:
Proenza Schouler
•"{T}he collection of Proenza Schouler provides the clearest example yet of how to satisfy all the conditions that make for exciting 21st-century fashion….as a largely uninspiring Fashion Week closed on Thursday, Mr. Hernandez and Mr. McCollough, both 30, have shown what is possible with new technology…Uniting everything was a cool, slouchy silhouette."{NYT}

•"With their skills in making complex construction appear simple, their 21st century craft looked remarkably cool…the duo mostly incorporated the digital prints with great skill…{the collection took} the Proenza label fast forward in its luxurious modernity."{IHT}

•"In a word: cool. Not everything will be quite as palatable to their fans. We're talking here about the overwrought trio of densely patterned leather and viscose knit sweaters and pants… {But } whatever you call it, the results were impressive."{Style.com}

•"There was not a look out of place in their fall collection. It seemed to be a crisper, dressier distillation of what they presented in pre-fall, inspiration for which was sourced from a trip out West…. The fabric innovation made things look quite new… What was most impressive about this collection was Hernandez and McCollough’s ability to take traditionally homespun themes and make them look sophisticated and even edgy."{WWD}

•"It was a gripping‘On the Road’ sartorial-narrative that unfolded on the catwalk - an unexpected journey well-worth taking that renewed and transformed the Navajo trend, and will no doubt inspire new-found interest in American textile history for the autumn/winter season ahead."{Vogue UK}

•"{The collection} demonstrated the technical prowess and impeccably developed concept that few New York designers can muster (a la fois)… it was the last five dresses, handpainted velvet on transparent silk, worn with opaque black tights, that became the palette cleanser for whatever else was seen this week. They spoke quietly, but in volumes."{Daily Front Row}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Proenza Schouler Collection

MIXED:
Ralph Lauren
•"{I}t was possibly one of Mr. Lauren’s most beautiful shows in a while, a display of confidence and worldly polish…All of these clothes would look sophisticated and desirable in any market."{NYT}

•"Usually, when Mr. Lauren takes a theme, he injects it with modernity. But the offering became increasingly clichd. By the time a jacket came out with those signature dragon embroideries, it looked like the designer had landed in a tourist trap in Chinatown and then copied the look with couture care…in leaving America’s Big Country world entirely, Mr. Lauren seemed to be on a path that diverged from the general fashion spirit."{IHT}

•"Few designers know better than Lauren how to keep luxury opulent yet simple… Talk about self-assured aplomb."{Fashion Wire Daily}

•"The show was not without its costumey moments, chief among them a China red tuxedo jacket with multicolor dragon embroideries. It finished strong, though, with a series of elegant black evening dresses accented with a single brooch or beaded in an Art Deco style."{Style.com}

•"The trip {eastward} made for an air of mystery and plenty of high chic… While the red silk smoking jacket hammered the point with uncharacteristic indiscretion, lavish vests and cocoon coats more gracefully recalled French Deco’s obsession with Orientalism. There was nothing costumey about Lauren’s gorgeous eveningwear."{WWD}

•"{Lauren is} a designer who wouldn't be so crass as to present a clich-laden collection of obvious references and tread-upon banalities... Instead, the designer chose to refine his vision of the Orient via the glamour and elegance of the Thirties… It takes a person who is both a savvy businessman and talented designer to blend the maxims of a label so steeped in Americana with the desires of a foreign market, but Lauren did it beautifully, with taste and wit."{Vogue UK}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Ralph Lauren Collection

3.1 Phillip Lim
•"{D}ynamic, utilitarian sportswear… his clothes were an example of how smart use of fabrics could refresh the familiar…{Lim} boils down the essence of functional sportswear with enough quirkiness to make it work for his youthful generation."{IHT}

•"{T}his hybrid look isn't a million miles away from the mixed-up approach other designers have taken in recent seasons. Nevertheless, it yielded some nice pieces… the show wasn't without its moments of awkwardness, particularly in stiff carrot-shaped pants and squared-off culottes... As Lim explained, cholos buy their pants too big and fold them in to have a heavier stance, something, it's fair to say, no shopping woman ever wants."{Style.com}

•"Looks were very approachable and well blended…wearable, colorful and fearless for fall… Lim's appreciation for art and his skill are overtly represented in his covetable collection."{Fashion Wire Daily}

•"As influences go, they were plenty intriguing. But by show’s end, the overarching statement was about what Lim does best: chic sportswear… With the exception of a few awkward evening looks and a sad patent tunic, {the fabrics were approachable}."{WWD}

•"His aesthetic is thoughtful and interesting while never sacrificing comfort and wearability… Nothing forced, and nothing without a luxurious detail to set it apart… The effortlessness and ease that guides the designer's hand shows that he's best when he trusts his intuition of what women want."{Vogue UK}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Phillip Lim Collection

Calvin Klein Collection
•"Francisco Costa also showed shorter lengths. After all the manly parkas and layers, it looked new. This was an unusually controlled collection…As a pro, he seemed to know that more design would have undermined the contemporary power of the fabrics."{NYT}

•"{Costa} broke new ground with his fabrics… Call it urban cool at its most austere… Yet, though striking and highly inventive, the collection somehow was a tad too severe and relentless. The clothes had almost too much gravitas. Costa certainly delivered in terms of new ideas, but that ultimately this collection was an artistic, rather than aesthetic, success."{Fashion Wire Daily}

•"It was good, confident work— spare and clean as usual, but looser, softer and more textural than some of Costa’s recent offers…. Costa seemed to put most of his energy in developing high-tech fabrics…The needle-punched shearling vest was particularly nice, but as much as the textile development added a level of interest and technique to such simple silhouettes, some treatments were just too far out."{WWD}

•"The magic from this collection wasn't derived from flashiness or attention-begging trickery. It did the opposite, it stunned with clarity and singular vision… it’s just as risky to stay silent than it is to join in the yelling. Today, Costa took that risk, and it paid off nicely."{Vogue UK}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Calvin Klein Collection

Reed Krakoff
•"Reed Krakoff wisely opted for calm, measured sportswear…But now Mr. Krakoff has to give us something tastier. Because, as they say, it’s not the bread that people like, it’s the butter."{NYT}

•"Fine examples of tailoring done with a modern attitude…But it is still hard to find an absolute identity for this Krakoff line. Some bold bags, now virtually banished from other runways, suggested that the designer is building his new brand with his head as much as his heart."{IHT}

•"Krakoff's strength is his outerwear… Customers might need more convincing when it comes to his new dresses. Krakoff worked a variation on a theme—short, belted at the hip, long-sleeved. In satin, at least, the results tended to be a bit droopy."{Style.com}

•"The evolution— let’s call it progress— was obvious at his fall show. Krakoff gave his utilitarian premise a little breathing room… Krakoff still knows his accessories best and the wedge python booties, available in an array of colors, were the best bet."{WWD}

•"{Krakoff} has softened his stance a bit, though, resulting in pieces that were still workman-like but without being overly so… This being Krakoff, the outerwear was also sublime, as were the accessories."{Vogue UK}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Reed Krakoff Collection

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Flash Mobs, High-Altitude Drops, Skating Rinks and the Season of the Stunt Show

A model walks out. Then another. Then another. Then the Designer. Then there's applause. That's been the fashion show formula since time immemorial— well, since Paris in the thirties— but this past week in New York, that went out the window. Or rather, dropped from a great height via a crotch harness which was then unbuckled for the runway walk.

More than any other season in memory, designers did very public stunt shows this week. LikeElise Overland's show on ice, which starred the newly fledged fixture that is Johnny Weir, and a gigantic ice sculpture that had that morning been in a Pennsylvania lake.“It is a slash between a nuclear tower and an igloo,” Overland explained.“If it is just an igloo, it is too romantic for me. I’m not romantic."

Catherine Malandrinois; her show took place in slightly dingy former offices of the New YorkTimes. The Times Square building is soon going to be converted into a hotel, and Malandrino said,“This made it more exciting, like it was an installation that would soon disappear.” Malandrino chanced upon the site during an extensive scouting search.“The space reminded me of the photographer Peter Lindbergh when he would set up a model in a raw space with daylight. Ten minutes before we opened the show I was looking at the space and I thought, This is a moment of magic."

Andrew Buckler didn't even need a roof; he shut down the street in front of his store and used it as a runway. Siki Im had a runway made out of dirt and Native Americans chanting and beating drums.Monclerhad a flash mob dance performance in Grand Central, andThom Browne showed his women's collectionin the august wood-paneled interior of the New Your Public Library. But the biggest stunt goes toBand of Outsiders, whose mountain-climbing-inspired show opened with models rappelling down from the ceiling.

#8220;It was wicked!” enthused model Jonatan Frenk."At the casting, Sternberg asked, 'Are you scared of heights?' And then we had to try on the harness.”
The safety measures were high, but Frenk would have liked a little more thrill."I was surprised about how slow it was,” he says.“I thought it was going to be a freefall drop.”

Click to see all the out-there venues.

Watch the Slideshow»

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The Best Beauty Looks From New York Fashion Week

Hair, makeup, and nail art are the icing on the cake that is Fashion Week. This season's beauty looks were heavy on glitter and references to psychedelia, starting withVena Cava's smoky-shiny combo eye, and intoJen Kao's peacock-inspired nails to Ivana Helsinki's sky-high beehives— not to mention the neon collision of eye shadow and hair dye atJeremy Scott. Drawing inspiration from street gangs, glamazon starlets, and seventies disco queens, the beauty treatments were as diverse as the clothes. Click ahead for the best of the New York runways.

Watch the Slideshow»

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Model Diaries: Delightful Julia Nobis Documents Her Fellows in Their Natural Habitats

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Slideshow: The 22 Most Stylish People of Fashion Week, Day 7

Last day of New York, but only one quarter of the way through the biannual international fashion trek. Still, showgoers soaking up the sunny, warm day had a spring in their step— and, in the case of Anna Dello Russo, a couple of huge gilded cherries on her head. An excellent send-off.

The Scene Stealer is documenting London's Fashion Week, so check back this weekend for street style from another capital.

Watch the Slideshow»

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Best Bets: Lush’s R&B Hair Moisturizer

The weather is finally taking a warmer turn, but we're still left with winter's effects: limp, tangled hair. Lush's rereleased R&B (Revive&Balance) finishing hair moisturizer is our new go-to product after blow-drying and heat styling. The balm contains oat milk and olive, avocado, and coconut oils to hydrate locks and amp up shine. (An added bonus: It smells like a beachy mix of orange blossom and coconut.) It controls frizz in curly hair and moisturizes brittle ends after blow-drying. Use sparingly— the cream is rich, so a tiny dab goes a long way.

R&B Finishing Hair Moisturizer, $18.95 atLushoronline.

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Critics Embrace Kors’s Glam Sportswear, Tire of Vera Wang’s Parkas

Fashion Week is drawing to a close, and the critics are weighing in on some of the big-name shows.Michael Kors, celebrating 30 years in business, impressed with his languid, glamorous collection of greatest hits.Oscar de la Rentaplayed to his strengths— and his customers— with in-your-face opulence, whileSophie Thealletcharmed with her breezy Parisian-chic aesthetic. And while some appreciatedVera Wang's fur-trimmed parkas and ethereal gowns, others found the looks repetitive. Read the rest of the reviews below.

THE HITS:
Michael Kors
•"{T}he show was pure Kors… Mr. Kors sells happiness and a good time, like a Broadway show for the entire family."{NYT}

•"You wouldn't be wrong if you called this a greatest-hits collection… His MO this time around: playing luxe tailoring against languid draping… The operative word here was sleek; even the furs were knitted to eliminate some of their inherent bulk… If you want relaxed but unalloyed glamour, this collection proved that 30 years on, Kors is still the man to give it to you."{Style.com}

•"Even by Kors standards, this was the purest of collections… Evening was about sparkly drama….{menswear had} the sleek kind of sexiness that feels perfectly at home in Gotham."{WWD}

•"Through the juxtaposition of sharp tailoring with languid Seventies draping techniques, a new silhouette for winter emerged that was polished yet easy - a definitively Kors refined and simplified take on classic American luxury… taut, trim cuts and glamorous reimagining of classic all-American luxury sportswear."{Vogue UK}

The exception:
•"{A} sleek, sensual take on American sportswear… Kors does not vary his stylistic pitch that much, but even so this season he was very much in tune… {C}onsistency, while admirable, ultimately means a lot of restraint, and for that reason this fall 2011 collection lacked one key defining element - the thrill of the new."{Fashion Wire Daily}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Michael Kors Collection

Oscar de la Renta
•"{A}ll was snug in the world of Oscar de la Renta; opulent, too, in its offering of Eastern textures… The details were impressive… many pieces were great theater, something he can get away with."{NYT}

•"This is one designer who was never tempted by the recent minimalism trend, but if he'd curbed his taste for glorious excess in the face of the recession over the last couple of years, his Fall collection signaled an end to that… The ascetics in the room didn't leave happy, but de le Renta isn't aiming to please them. Plenty of others found his exuberance spellbinding."{Style.com}

•"The collection he showed for fall was about unbridled luxury, and it was breathtaking… Evening was as opulent and spectacular in its diversity… his madras-print chiffon and a gorgeous embroidered patchwork column were both artful and alluring."{WWD}

•"His unwavering attention to the merits of unabashed luxury look fresh after a season of casual, street style blog ready wares… His clothes this season are womanly and developed, with an idiosyncratic sense of mystique."{Vogue UK}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Oscar de la Renta Collection

Sophie Theallet
•"Sophie Theallet, though not widely known, has among the best color sense of any designer in New York or Europe… The clothes were wonderful on their own… her clothes connect with people on an emotional level. She doesn’t resort to tricks."{NYT}

•"{W}herever Ms. Theallet found her color palette, it was a lovely, lively mix of juicy orange, wine red, salmon pink, crimson and cobalt blue. Anchored by dark French berets and a black tape at the neck, the show had the merit of juiced-up simplicity."{IHT}

•"Thallet certainly pushed into new territory, tightening up the typically blousy lines of her bohemian silhouettes…there was still a sweetness to the look."{Style.com}

•"{Theallet’s} artistic and off-beat Gallic style is a breath of fresh air… Theallet’s collections, that while often the product of complex construction techniques, suggest an ease and effortlessness…an ode to Parisian charm."{Vogue UK}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Sophie Theallet Collection

MIXED:
Vera Wang
•"Listen, anything could have been going on under those hooded parkas of Ms. Wang’s. She could have been cooking an entire meal for her family. Honestly, they were pretty great, even in a big parka season… This was a somber collection for Ms. Wang, with many long, pleated chiffon dresses. It could have benefited from a color tastier than cardamom."{NYT}

•"All this was brought together with the clarity of a designer who senses fashion change— but interprets it in her own graceful way."{IHT}

•"A thoroughly chic statement of contemporary fashion… Wang has always been a savvy draper, and a series of gathered chiffon dresses all looked great…{it had} it had all the authority, panache and hint of seductive scandal."{Fashion Wire Daily}

•"Wang returned to her more usual subdued palette for Fall… Wang is clearly trying out a new direction—there was no jewelry and no clusters of crystal and tulle in today's show. But with all the focus on just two big ideas, you eventually missed the richness of some of this designer's former outings."{Style.com}

•"Wang’s combination conjured the prettiest of tough girls, and it worked beautifully, to a point… Look by look, the clothes impressed. But in a sea of look-alikes, even the most interesting girl on the block will see her powers of fascination wane. Thus, Wang’s single-minded brigade would have benefited from a small shot of diversity."{WWD}

•"{O}ne of Wang's more subdued outings… It was all very pretty, but still this show begged the question: how many fur-trimmed coats and pleated frocks does any one woman need? We're sure Wang has a Plan B in the form of more varied offerings in the commercial collection that will be produced for stores."{Vogue UK}

See the Complete Fall 2011 Vera Wang Collection

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Model Diaries: Miles Garber Stage Dives, Trash-talks Some Bagels, Wears a Harness

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Breaking: Nordstrom Buys HauteLook for $180 Million in Stock

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Video: A Front-Row View of the Beginning and Ending of Fashion Week’s Most Fun Show

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New Shows: Calvin Klein, Naeem Khan, Isaac Mizrahi, and More

New York Fashion Week is doooone! The last day of shows includedCalvin Klein, who played with varying shoulder proportions crafted from soft, fuzzy-looking materials. Also on the docket wasNaeem Khan, whose ripe-for-the-red-carpet gowns were bursting with feathers, beads, and sequins; meanwhile,Isaac Mizrahi's models walked lavender poodles down the catwalk. See all the runway galleries, plus loads of new details shots, below.

RUNWAY
•Calvin Klein
•Christian Cota
•Frank Tell
•Isaac Mizrahi
•L.A.M.B.

•M. Patmos
•Naeem Khan
•Ralph Lauren
•Stephen Burrows

DETAILS
•Anna Sui Details
•Badgley Mischka Details
•Derek Lam Details
•Diane Von Furstenberg Details
•Doo.Ri Details
•Herve Leger Details
•Jenny Packham Details
•Karen Walker Details
•Max Azria Details
•Oscar de la Renta Details
•Rachel Roy Details
•Reed Krakoff Details
•Ruffian Details
•Suno Details
•Tommy Hilfiger Details
•Tory Burch Details
•Y-3 Details
•Yigal Azrouel Details

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Video: Lea T’s Nude French Vogue Photo Shocks Oprah’s Audience

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Sui He Is Thursday’s Top Model

Three of America's most iconic designers showed their fall collections on the final day of New York Fashion Week. Francisco Costa atCalvin Kleinselected this season's leading face,Daphne Groeneveld, to open for the second season in a row, whileLara Stoneclosed it. ArgentineTati Cotliar, who appears in this season's Prada campaign, scored the first look atIsaac Mizrahi, and Brazilian top modelBruna Tenoriohad the last look atRalph Lauren. But, in what is this season's most surprising casting to date, casting director Jennifer Starr chose Chinese newcomer Sui He to open Lauren's runway. This marks the first time in recent history that an Asian model has opened for the venerable American label. See these key opening and closing looks in the slideshow ahead.

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Shiny Pants Are the Party Garb of Next Fall

The shiny metallic trousers that showed up in several collections conjured an era of liberated, bohemian cocktail parties; part Betty Draper, part Gloria Steinem. Stacy Bendet's version atAlice + Oliviawere cut loose and easy, whileJill StuartandMarc Jacobskept theirs trim and paired with tailored jackets.

See the complete Alice + Olivia collection
See the complete Jill Stuart collection
See the complete Marc Jacobs collection

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Marc Jacobs's Show Cost About $1,750 Per Second

The inspiration for the set— consisting of white vinyl columns, a mirrored runway and mirrored benches— was a padded cell, his business partner Robert Duffy half-joked to theTimes.“It could be more, but it’s definitely at least $1 million,"Duffy said of the show's cost. It lasted about 9 and a half minutes. {NYT}

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The Fug Girls: Fashion Week’s Good, Bad, and Punishingly Claustrophobic Moments

As we waited for Matt Damon to make his nonappearance at L.A.M.B. on Thursday night, we ended up chatting to several familiar faces— reporters, photographers— likewise biding their time in the press melee. After a week of bumping up against these folks, you start to feel like you're war buddies. Even the redheaded security lady, tasked all week with trying to shoo people into their seats, felt like an old friend."Last one!"we chirped at her. She patted our heads."It is the last one,"she sighed."Thanks for being so good!"Aw. We feel the same about Fashion Week itself. Herewith, please enjoy our assorted final thoughts, extra tidbits, and even a kind word or two. Yes, it does happen.

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Diane Von Furstenberg‘Embarrassed’by What She Said About Michelle Obama Wearing McQueen to the State Dinner

TodayDiane Von Furstenbergspoke with Tina Brown to journalists to hype her annual DVF Awards, given out to empower women. Of course she also had to address the statement she issued on behalf of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, saying the organization (of which she is president) was"disappointed"in Michelle Obama's decision to wearAlexander McQueento the state dinner honoring China.

“I said that Mrs. Obama has been extremely supportive of American designers, but clearly we were disappointed that she chose to wear a British designer for the state dinner…From there, I was so embarrassed that I am definitely going to write to her. She has been super supportive to American designers.”

Asked Brown:“Why did she decide to wear it?”“I don’t know,” von Furstenberg replied.“Maybe she liked the color! I’m sure she had options like all of us. Or she asked {President Obama},‘Which one do you like?’”

Oh, please. When a woman has her hands on a McQueen ballgown, she doesn't ask her husband if he likes it!

Diane von Furstenberg Honors Women at New York Fashion Week{TDB}

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Marina Diamandis Wears Her Mice on Her Sleeve

Marina Diamandis of Marina and the Diamonds is almost as well-known for her crazy stage getups as she is for her music. So it wasn't too shocking when she accessorized her knit frock with a cluster of crocheted vermin.

But in the battle of stuffed animals as clothing, how does her mouse dress compare toLady Gaga's Kermit coat?

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Yaeger: Wrapping Up With Mick Jagger

"Vulgarity is a very important ingredient in life,” the endlessly quotable Diane Vreeland once opined, and you can’t help but wish that Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa would now and again add a splash of something really tacky to his impeccably conceived garments. His show is classic CK— butterscotch leather dresses, creamy shifts— but the only thing even minimally surprising is that the models’ bare knees are showing, since this has been a season of long lengths and covered legs (sometimes wackily so, as in the striated black affairs at Prabal Gurung, which I loved, but many people hated.)

It’s the 30th anniversary of Michael Kors, and though it is 10 a.m., the stars are aligned— Bette Midler sitting next to Anjelica Huston sitting next to Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones! The clothes include a plethora of cashmere tanks, halters, and catsuits that looked so scrumptious on Patti Hansen back in the day— and here is Hansen herself in the audience. Practically everything is sleeveless, since you are apparently meant to keep warm with one of the many fluffy furs on the runway here— and at a multitude of other catwalks this week, from the Row to Joseph Altuzarra. But will young people embrace these controversial cats, goats, and lambs? Is there a new generation of cool kids out there anxious to don these politically charged garments?

I wear my best vintage reindeer sweater to Ralph Lauren’s show— it’s just the sort of thing his minions snap up as they sweep through flea markets— since I am expecting to see some version of Ralph’s home-on-the-range ersatz-vintage winter dressing. But wrong again. He has exchanged the turquoise jewelry for swinging ropes of jade and red lacquer and cranked up“Little China Girl” (at least it has words, unlike the cacophonous banging and bonging that has assaulted us at so many other shows).

Lauren offers a lesson in what constitutes, at least in his eyes, Chinese-themed dressing, by which he means overwhelmingly black examples that round up all the usual RL evening suspects— tuxedo jackets, etc.— but enhanced with dragon motifs, along with beaded flapper dresses that in this context make you think of Anna May Wong. If this is a naked ploy to corner the Chinese market, Lauren should bear in mind that the prospective customer in Beijing and Shanghai would probably much prefer a Fair Isle cardigan.

You know how sometimes by a miracle you meet someone and the attraction is so immediate, the atmosphere so charged, that you can barely look at the person and have to turn away? This is apparently what has happened between me and Mick Jagger, a man I have been convinced I will marry since I was 12 years old. Mick can barely bring himself to glance in my direction at the L’Wren Scott show, which he attends because Scott is his girlfriend (well, at least for now— it certainly has been a week for Glimmer Twin consorts). Maybe because it is the last day of the New York presentations, but everyone is in a celebratory mood— and not just since the show comes with a free lunch, though that certainly helps. As we eat our chicken pot pies— lots of crusts left untouched on plates in this crowd— a purple brigade, a veritable mauve decade parades in front of us, all trussed up in Scott’s trademark ultranarrow, tailored silhouettes. And if some of the sequined extravaganzas lay on the glimmer with too heavy a hand, who can resist the naughty Goth child bride who closes the show, in a beaded black and gold number, a bit of black veiling askew on her dazed empty head?

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Buffalo Plaid Transcends Its Hipster/Lumberjack Confines

Derek Lammade the oversize pattern a subtle counterpoint to his collection of mostly solid-hued separates. AtLibertine,designer Johnson Hartig used neon tones to make his versions modern, whileChris Benz's softer-hued version seemed almost nostalgic for the prairies.

See the complete Derek Lam collection
See the complete Libertine collection
See the complete Chris Benz collection

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Hot Shot: Cat Hats at Anna Sui

Furry, feline-themed accessories ruled the catwalk at tonight's show.

See the Complete Anna Sui Fall 2011 Collection

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Backstage Video: Betsey Johnson Explains the Difference Between Fantasy and Reality

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Fug Girls: Alice+Olivia Show Interrupts Weddings at the Plaza

Here's the thing about having an event— say, an Alice + Olivia presentation— at the Plaza on Valentine's Day: A lot of people apparently really want to get married at the Plaza on Valentine's Day, and your guests, therefore, will end up walking through several wedding parties en route to your shindig. In this case, that included one where the bride looked super-irritated by the stream of intrusions. It was kind of like being a walk-on extra inBride Wars, minus Kate Hudson's heinous bangs.

Maybe that particular bride was just peevish because she wanted to have her reception in the space Alice + Olivia had taken over— and we do mean taken over. The presentation spanned four rooms— two for the models and D.J. (one of which included a grand piano), one to house the show's red carpet and press corps, and one devoted solely to a full open bar, from which uniformed Plaza employees scurried carrying trays of mini- and maxi-sized cupcakes, chocolates, and pink-frosted cookies. We even spotted one of the waiters singing along to"New York, New York."So as far as Valentine's Day parties go, it was actually pretty fun. We spied designer Stacey Bendet dancing around the room wearing a super-tight and very spangled black sequined minidress that showcased her ready-to-pop pregnant belly.

Like many baby bumps, Stacey's doubled as a magnet. We saw several people cooing over it, and figure skater Johnny Weir actually patted it before hunkering down with fellow skater Sarah Hughes for a long chat. We assume they were talking about the current dire state of U.S. Ladies' Figure Skating and whether Sarah needs to jump back into competition to show today's whippersnappers (whipperskaters?) how it's done.

Speaking of sports, we also spied sideline reporter (andDancing With the Starscontestant) Erin Andrews wearing a skimpy silver minidress and working the press line for nearly 30 minutes, alongsideThe City's Louise Roe, who is really trying to make"fetch"happen—"fetch,"in this instance, being herself. There were, in fact, more than a few people at this particular event who seemed very excited to talk about themselves, including a woman who claimed to be onSkins, despite the fact that neither IMDb nor MTV's website seems to know who she is. She was closely followed in the press line by two people who can do more than just claim to be onGossip Girl: Kelly Rutherford, sporting chunky-framed glasses and a Dalmatian-print blouse, and Brittany Snow, the young Lily van der Woodsen on the ill-fated spinoff episode ofGG, who looked a bit overtired and in need of some restorative Champagne. Bringing up the rear was Vanessa Hudgens, who was wearing one long feather as an earring— a style we most associate with ABC Family'sPretty Little Liars. If the events on that show are anything to go by, Vanessa better start watching out for someone who wants to cruelly toy with all she holds dear. Hope someone's keeping an eye on Zac Efron— having something nefarious happen to your on-again, off-again boyfriend on Valentine's Day of all days would be simply too cruel.

But our favorite sighting of the night— and easily the most random— was stocky bald actor Michael Chiklis, famous for yelling at people onThe Shieldand being indestructible onNo Ordinary Family. We can't imagine what he was doing there— surely Michael Chiklis is not a secret megafan of sequined party dresses. Maybe he was downstairs at a wedding and heard about the cupcakes?

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Robert Geller Tries to Recapture His Youth

Robert Geller’s Fall 2011 models were to-the-manor-born gone a bit seedy. A gentleman wore preppy cardigans and a dress shirt paired with motorcycle boots and metal studded gloves. Many wore multiple scarves,— creating an effect as thick as a lion’s mane— or a cowl-like, hood-scarf number that Geller didn't have a name for. But the designer dubbed baggy long-underwear bottoms (worn as outerwear, of course)"lounging pants."“They’re not meant to be worn under anything,” he said."I think they’re great to pair with a shirt and tie and blazer.”

Geller's blue- and white-collar clash was inspired by Luchino Visconti films."He always uses luxury and wealth and then shows the fucked-up underbelly,"Geller explained."He often has older men longing for their youth and falling for young men or women."The designer nodded to his own teenage years with pink-tipped blonde models."It represents youth to me,"he said."When I was younger I tried out having different colors of my hair. When you mature, you don’t really do that anymore."

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Loeffler Randall and Suno’s Collaborative Shoe Collection Drops Tomorrow

The stacked wedge heels and flat sandals that Loeffler Randall cooked up forSuno's spring 2011 collection feature four of Suno's cotton canvas fabrics inspired by"kanga,"a brightly printed African garment. The zippy, colorful collection goes on sale on Loeffler Randall's website tomorrow. Check 'em out in our slideshow.

Watch the Slideshow»

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Carine Roitfeld Will Reveal Her‘New Project’in One Month

Last night at amfAR’s annual gala, Carine Roitfeld— wearing brand-new Givenchy couture— dropped hints that she’s got something serious brewing in Paris. Since announcing her resignation as editor of FrenchVoguein December, Roitfeld has been tight-lipped about what her next move might be, but she told us last night at the amfAR gala that she has something planned."I have a new project, and I’m just coming here for this event because I’m working with amfAR and it’s very important for me to be here tonight. Tomorrow my son has an art show. And I have a book that was very late to finish with Rizzoli,"explained Roitfeld, who will not attend New York Fashion Week."And {Saturday} I have to go back to Paris."She’s"too superstitious"to discuss the details of this project, which is"in fashion, of course,"but promised to reveal more"in one month."

She spent the night flanked by her stylish children, Vladimir and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, who also refused to spill their mother’s secret.“We talk about everything together,” said Julia, wearing a Louis Vuitton gown.

Tomorrow, the family ought to continue to keep mum at the RETNA show that Vladimir is curating at the 560 Washington Street gallery.

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@Cutblog Is Tweeting #NYFW Starting...Now!

We're kicking off our up-to-the-minute coverage of New York Fashion Week with tonight's Heart Truth's Red Dress Fashion Show, which we're about to toddle off to. Follow@cutblog on Twitterfor the latest updates from shows, parties, presentations, cold sidewalks, and wherever else this week leads us. {@cutblog}

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The Complete Fall 2011 Fashion Week Calendar

Holy cow, Fashion Week is the day after tomorrow!!! Time to freak out! Or, well, at least mark your planners. Whether you're going to be tromping around town to the shows or keeping up through the Cut's 24-hour coverage, this comprehensive calendar will come in handy. Shows, presentations, and parties are viewable by date and designer (along with times and locations), and the calendar will be continually updated as details are confirmed.

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2011 Collections

See more from the Fall 2011 Preview:
•Slideshow: 65 Designers Reveal Their Fall 2011 Inspirations

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Gisele’s Publicist Explains That She Didn’t Really Mean to Call Sunscreen‘Poison’

AfterGiseleangered dermatologists 'round the worldby calling sunscreen"poison"that she"cannot put"on her skin, her publicist issued a release today clarifying that the statement was simply a mistranslation."Gisele would never say not to use sunscreen because she has had family members who have had skin cancer. She simply stated that her all-natural skin-care line does not have SPF because there is not an all natural SPF available,"her publicist, Amber Clapp, explained. {StyleList}

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Only International Monthly Magazines Will Get the Honor of Looking at Tom Ford’s Second Womenswear Collection in Person at London Fashion Week

Tom Ford has said he'd show his womenswear stuff each season to editors in his London showroom. After reporting that Ford would show at London Fashion Week earlier today, Catwalk Queen has updated its story with a statement from a spokeswoman who says the event"will only be a small presentation for international monthly magazines."Goes with his whole"Screw you, Internet!"meme. {Catwalk Queen}

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Fug Girls Book Club: Lauren Conrad’s L.A. Candy

There is something tragic about dashing out first thing in the morning to purchase a hot-from-the-storeroom copy of Lauren Conrad's debut fiction novel. (Announcing"It's for WORK, we SWEAR"only made the clerks more skeptical.) But from the moment LC announced she'd be penningL.A. Candy, the first in a loosely autobiographical young-adult series, we've been dying of curiosity. Could she write better than she feigned interest in herHillsjobs? Could she write better than she designed A-line jersey dresses? Could she write,period? And how much transparent gossip wouldL.A Candycontain? We swallowed our pride— for you, dear readers, for YOU— and blazed through Lauren’s magnum opus so that you don't have to. Let’s call it taking one for the team. Here's the verdict:

Thinly Veiled Mudslinging: Marginal.
The gold standard, Nicole Richie's secretly awesomeThe Truth About Diamonds, refers to the Paris Hilton character as functionally retarded; compared to that,L.A. Candyis practically a love letter. We craved cracks about, say, a douchey, self-impressed blond man of moderate height, minimal intellect, and Mephistophelian facial hair; the best we get is a bitchy, vain boss who becomes a different person for the cameras (Teen Vogue's Lisa Love, mayhap?). But the first 70 or so pagesdoinclude copious jabs at girls who move to L.A., bleach their hair, plump their lips, get boob jobs, and become generic, useless bimbos. Hello, Heidi!

Best Dis by Omission: The acknowledgments.
LC thanks none of her cast mates except Lo. Maybe she's hoping none of them can read?

Parallels to Real Life: Basic.
The book hews to the general details: Girl from beach town joins reality show on a whim, gets in over her head. But aside from a bland Whitney-style office-mate who is great at asking leading questions, the only specific similarity to LC's own life is when the heroine, Jane, has embarrassing semi-nude photos leaked to the tabloids by her fame-hungry, villainous female co-star— recalling the summer Spencer Pratt spread the infamous sex-tape rumor about Lauren. Even the scene-obsessed Hollywood boys don't bear much resemblance to Brody Jenner, or Lauren's myriad exes. Maybe LC didn’t realize these books are only fun if the reader is busy ferreting out which character is based on which real-life celebrity. Or, in this case,“celebrity.”

Behind-the-ScenesHillsInsight: Obvious.
Shoots for the show within the book are scheduled meticulously, locations aren't spontaneous, the show provides telegenic accommodations, and the edits don't reflect reality. Shocking! But the executive producerisportrayed as a scheming puppet-master who arranges plot twists without cluing in the cast, and doesn't want his main characters to follow their hearts if it won't lead to good ratings. So we assume LC didn't invite her former bosses to the book party.

Name-dropping: Predictably limited.
Plenty of locales familiar to anyone who watchesThe Hillsmake a cameo, from Les Deux— scene of so many Speidi-related tear-fests— to an awkwardly gushy description of the boutique Madison. And we give props to Lauren for setting a pivotal scene at sports bar Big Wangs, if only because it’s the most amusingly named bar in town. But we wish she'd tossed in offhand references to actual people, for verisimilitude; presumably her lawyers disagreed.

Level of Soap-iness: Too low for a summer read.
People booze and backstab, but no character’s motives or actions are surprising or terribly unique. In fact, this entire enterprise could stand to be more scandalous— can’t someone develop a raging coke habit or accidentally sleep with her own cousin? We suggest LC spend some quality time in front of SoapNet before penning the sequel.

Quality of Author Photo: Hilarious.
Lauren lookstremendouslyserious in the full-size head shot plastered on the back of the book. We're shocked they didn’t also make her wear glasses and hold a pencil.

Quality of Actual Writing: Better than anticipated.
The bookstore salesman asked us,“Do you think she actually wrote this?” We shrugged. In truth, while we’re sure Lauren had plenty of help, it’s also not wholly unbelievable that she did much of it herself. Should she be clearing any room off her mantle for the National Book Award? No. But words are spelled correctly, sentences are properly constructed, and the plot and structure hold together. Admit it: That's more than you expected.

Overall Quality: Totally average.
Since LC's clothing lines were uninspired at best, in a wayL.A. Candy's cheerful mediocrity is its biggest success. But it would have been more entertaining if it hewed to an extreme— incredibly terrible, bizarrely cracked-out, or, in the best-case scenario, wickedly witty and juicy. There's little point in a dishyromanà clefif you don't include heaps of actual, recognizable dish, so for book two, may we suggest a character named Claudrina who just can’t get over“Dustin-Robby,” a tool with an increasingly horrifying array of headwear? Throw your readers a gossipy bone, Lauren, and they’ll come back for more. You can thank us later.

For more of the Fug Girls, check outGo Fug Yourself..

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Chanel Mounts Museum Exhibit in China; Stella Tennant Models Zara’s Spring Collection

• To market their products in China,Chanelis teaching prospective customers about the history of the brand by launching an exhibit called“Culture Chanel” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai. {WSJ}

•Stella Tennantstars in Zara's spring 2011 look book. {Fashionologie}

• British designerDavid Komahas done a capsule collection with Topshop, available in stores February 18. {Vogue UK}

•The Wall Street Journal’s Tina Gaudoin on workout gear:“I truly believe that over the age of 16, one should only be working out in black, navy, grey or, in extreme cases, deep red or burgundy (white T-shirts are permitted).” {WSJ}

• Giovanna Randall, the designer behind the label Honor, is opening a store at 68 Gansevoort Street on February 22. {T Magazine Blogs/NYT}

•Christian Lacroixillustrated a children's storybook by Camilla Morton. {T Magazine Blogs/NYT}

•Thakoon Panichgul’s Yorkshire terrier-Chihuahua mix Stevie has become quite snippy lately, reportedly going so far as to bite one of the designer’s interns. {Page Six/NYP}

• Paco Rabanne just hired Indian designer Manish Arora as creative director for womenswear. {WWD}

• The latest in unsubstantiatedTom Fordrumors: Word is that he'll show at London Fashion Week. {Catwalk Queen}

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Jennifer Lopez Looked Very Sparkly Last Night

Jennifer Lopez celebrated her new gig as thefacelegs of Gillette razors at last night's Venus Goddess Fund for Education Campaign launch, where she wore a tiny sparkly skirt by Haute Hippie. She paired her disco-ball mini with a silky tan blouse, Louboutin platforms, and plenty of bronzer and baby oil.

Do you like this look? Or is it time for J.Lo to branch out from all things nude and sparkly?

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Theory Names Brian Blake As Its New President; Lea T’s and Kate Moss’s Solo Love Covers Are Out

• Here areKate Moss's andLea T's soloLovecovers. {Modelinia}

• Theory founder Andrew Rosen has appointed Brian Blake, the former Gucci chief president and CEO, as the new president and CEO of Theory and Helmut Lang for the U.S. and Europe. Andrew Rosen will stay on as co-CEO. {WWD}

• There have been some staff shake-ups at the Gap: Art Peck, the company’s head of outlets, will succeed Marka Hansen as the president of Gap North America. {WSJ}

• Alex Gonzalez joinsWas a new creative director. He's not replacing anyone, just giving Stefano Tonchi some much-needed"extra help."{WWD}

• Ann Taylor is casting Columbia students to model for their online look book. {Fashionista}

• Terry Richardson shot the look book for Opening Ceremony’s latest collaboration with Levi’s. {Opening Ceremony}

• Madonna reportedly made Kelly Osbourne sign an"extensive"confidentiality agreement before naming her as the new face of her Material Girl clothing line. {Daily Mail UK}

• Anne Christensen has made some changes toGlamour. {WWD}

•Naomi Campbellon that blood diamond scandal:“I was afraid for my own life and I was afraid for the life of my family. If you hear someone has killed thousands of people— of course I was afraid! One more person is not going to make a difference. People forgot that I was a witness and thought I was a defendant."{Vogue UK}

• Gilt Groupe has partnered with Nicole Richie to host a sales event featuring her House of Harlow 1960 and Winter Kate spring collections. {WWD}

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Helen Mirren Mounted a Motorcycle in a Glittery Gold Dress

This evening in London, Helen Mirren attended the premiere ofBrighton Rockwearing a shiny, textured gold dress and a black knitted shrug with lace trim. She added glittery gold shoes, a gold purse, gold elbow-length gloves, and a shiny gold watch.

Do you like Helen's all-gold ensemble, or is too matchy-matchy?

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Lauren Hutton Likes Tom Ford’s Films More Than His Fashion

She walked in his fall 2010 namesake women's wear debut that seems to have given everyone in the room a wild orgasm. It doesn't sound like she had a wild orgasm herself when he called and asked her to participate:"He said, 'I'm going back to fashion.' I said, 'Oh no, why? I like your work, but I love your movies!' But, anything for Tom, and he knows that."{Harper's Bazaar}

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Hot Shot: Writing on the Wall at Issey Miyake

Models joined Dai Fujiwara in signing the runway backdrop at the end of the fall menswear show.

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Does Rafael Nadal’s First Armani Jeans Ad Make You Feel a Little ... Stiffed?

Fine, this ad is meant to sell pants, which could explain why the fine people at Armani— who had the genius idea tocast Rafael Nadal in the campaign— chose to leave most of his torso out of it. But you know what sells jeans even better than a sculpted tush?Abs. A nice eight pack, and maybe, if they're on the right person, a six pack.

Photo: Courtesy of Armani

Megan Fox gets to show hers, though she may lose in the competition to take a photo that best encapsulates the year 1991.

Megan Fox, Rafael Nadal Heat Up Armani Ads{WWD}

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Is R.J. Cutler’s Fashion Reality Show Tied to Teen Vogue?

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Tomorrow’s Events and Sales: 65 Percent Off at Annie Havlicek; Last Chance at Bing Bang

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Patrick Mohr’s Creepy Runway Makeup; Angelina Jolie’s Golden Globes Lip Gloss

MAKEUP
• Patrick Mohr, the German designer who sent molting bearded ladies down his runway last season, has come up with an even creepier makeup look. At his latest show, he glued models’ mouths together and put plaster over their eyebrows. {BellaSugar}

• In case you were wondering what kind of lip gloss Angelina Jolie was caught reapplying during the Golden Globes, it was Chantecaille’s $28 Brilliant Gloss in Love, a soft pink shade. {InStyle}

• Tarte just released a new line of Amazonian Clay Long-Wear Blushes, which have a doughy consistency and are an alternative to the brand’s popular cheek stains. {Beauty Counter/Style}

• Celebrity makeup artist Nathan Johnson speculated on how much man makeup Justin Bieber was wearing during his appearance at the Golden Globes.“He may have used a liquid highlighter or a brightening primer, but I suspect there is more to it than that. I’d be willing to wager that he was either airbrushed or is wearing a very sheer layer of liquid/cream foundation. And he’s wearing blush.” {Fashionista}

FRAGRANCE
• Julian Rouas Paris is launching a perfume duo in homage to the late Michael Jackson, called Jackson’s Tribute for men and Jackson’s Legend for women. Not surprisingly, both scents have been licensed by Michael’s father, Joe. {Independent UK}

SKIN
• Aesthetician Kate Somerville, who used to assist Elizabeth Taylor’s personal cosmetic dermatologist, claims that Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe both shaved their faces regularly. They weren’t whiskery, they just did it for the exfoliation it supposedly provided. {Beauty Counter/Style}

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Meet the New Girl: How Julia Saner Went From Winning a Modeling Contest to Becoming a Face of Valentino

Two years agoJulia Sanerwon the 2009 International Elite Model Look contest. The now 18-year-old Swede's prize included a contract with Elite Paris, which would lead to her signing withPaul Rowland'snew Ford Models editorial division in 2010. During the spring 2011 shows, Saner skipped New York and London Fashion Weeks, and debuted at the springGuccishow in Milan. Before the week was over, she made high-profile appearances atFendiandRoberto Cavalli. But Saner's major coup was booking the first look atValentino, which led to her becoming one of the label's spring 2011 faces, alongsideFreja BehaandCaroline Brasch Nielsen. Soon after that, she was on set with Mario Testino for a spread in next month'sVogue. Look for Saner on only the best catwalks at New York Fashion Week next month.

Tell us a little about your childhood.
I grew up in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, with my family. I still have a wonderful relationship with all my siblings (my younger brother who is now 15, and my older half-brother and half-sister), as well as with my parents.

Your major breakthrough happened when you won the Elite Model Look contest— what was that like?
For the world final I flew to Sanya, China, and met so many beautiful girls from all over the world.

You have the day off tomorrow; what would you like to do?
I'd like to meet with my friends, visit the city, and take lots of photos to collect memories. I also like to write in my diary, go jogging, and play the piano.

Tell us something about modeling most people don't know.
There are so many prejudices about being a model. For example, the assumption that models are dumb and that most have not graduated from school. Conversely, the notion that models have this easy, luxurious jet-set lifestyle and don’t have to do more work than“standing and looking pretty in front of the camera.” Those are so far from the truth. This career is a lot of work and you have to be smart to really succeed!

Describe your style in three words.
Comfortable, sporadic, and genuine.

If we looked in your purse, what would we find?
A lip balm, a bottle of water, my BlackBerry, my wallet, my diary/notebook, and my camera.

If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would you meet?
It would definitely be Marilyn Monroe. Although some people have a misconception that she was nave and superficial, very few pay attention to the fact that she wrote poetry and read a lot of books. She was much more than just a sexy actress.

Tell us something random and totally weird.
I always have to reapply the adhesive tape that I’m using on the broken“enter” button on my BlackBerry so that it doesn’t fall out and get lost!

Favorite thing about being a model?
The traveling that you get to do is incredible. I feel like I’ve been given an unprecedented opportunity to meet interesting people from all around the world and make great life experiences at the same time.

Worst thing about being a model?
Being alone can become difficult. It’s a small price to pay, though!

Explore other rising stars (plus all the big names) in our extensiveModel Manual, featuring runway pics, glamorous editorials, model bios, career timelines, and more.

Watch the Slideshow»

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Can Gisele and Balenciaga Make Croakies Happen?

The full set of images fromGiseleand her goblin friend'sspring 2011 Balenciaga campaignare out. You'll notice that in this one, Gisele tugs seductively on the strap affixed to her shades known best as Croakies, which is whatpreppy people love to havefor all their beer-drinking rendezvous on Cape Cod. Is that the story this ad campaign is really trying to tell? The one of the goblins that roam the Cape late at night terrorizing young, stylish, wealthy women who actually secretly like it? Who could resistthoseCroakies, after all?

Balenciaga's Spring '11 Campaign in Full View{FabSugar}

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Rafael Nadal Flaunts Armpit Hair in New Armani Ad; Isabelle Caro’s Mother Commits Suicide

• Another photo fromRafael Nadal's new Armani campaignis out, and it's pretty sexy, albeit rather hairy. Then again, no armpit hair would look even weirder. {InStyle}

• The mother of anorexic model Isabelle Caro has committed suicide; she reportedly suffered from severe guilt overher daughter's deathtwo months ago. {Toronto Sun}

• More information has been released on Calypso St. Barth’s capsule collection for Target: The line will contain apparel, accessories, lingerie, candles, pillows, dinnerware, and serving pieces. Prices will range from $1.99 to $79.99, and merchandise will hit shelves on May 1. {WWD}

• J.Crew has reduced sales expectations for the fourth quarter. {WWD}

• The full editorial spread ofMarc Jacobsin drag forIndustriemagazine has come out. {Fashionologie}

• Snoop Dogg is designing a pair of sneakers for Adidas“inspired by his love of Los Angeles and the L.A. Lakers.” {Fashionista}

• Sacha Walckhoff on his first menswear collection forChristian Lacroix:"The name, Les Garcons Migrateurs, comes from this idea of the bird travelling to the south of France in winter. For me this collection is for today's men travelling from one city to another for work and pleasure and always in need of practical, easy but also edgy and unique looks."{Vogue UK}

•Naomi Campbellstars in a commercial for her boyfriend Vladimir Doronin's swanky Moscow apartment building,"Legend of Tsvetnoy."{Page Six/NYP}

• Venus Williams took to the court at the Australian Open wearing a yellow latticework top and a printed skirt. {Vogue UK}

• Models likeAnja Rubik,Coco Rocha,Angela Lindvall, andAlessandra Ambrosiopose with their significant others for French Vogue. {Fashionologie}

• Giles&Brother has teamed up with manufacturer Lucas Design International, marking the first time the brand has turned to an outside source for production. {WWD}

•Versacehas appointed Patrick McGregor, formerly the VP of PR of BCBG Max Azria Group, as director of worldwide communications and public relations. {WWD}

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‘Two People in Love Have a Glow and a Presence More Powerful Than Anything Else’

Of course that sentence ran inVogue(February 2011), as told to Hamish Bowles by Mario Testino, describing the engagement shoot he did for Prince William and Kate Middleton in Buckingham Palace. Testino says that he knew the pictures would come out well, not necessarily because he's The Testino but because Kate"has a natural grace, a very open personality, and a beautiful face and posture."Testino had also noticed previously"how beautiful she usually looks in the press and how stylish she is, with a preference for simpler clothes that show off her great figure."Apparently that Reiss dress Middleton wears in the official engagement portrait— thereby inspiring Reiss tore-releasethe dress— was kind of his idea.

From the looks Catherine brought, we thought a favorite simple white dress would be best for the more formal picture. Two people in love have a glow and a presence more powerful than anything else, and I wanted that to be the subject of the picture, not what they were wearing.

We'd say Kate's dress was more than half the focus of the photo, with the love between them rounding out the rest of it, while Prince William's suit gets maybe .0000000000000001 percent of the focus (or maybe that figure's too generous?).

Testino goes on to talk about his roots growing up in Peru, and how his photographic style evolved when he moved to London:

After 30 years of living in England, I have mixed together these two cultures— the formal, dressing-up side of Latin America and the relaxed side of Britain— and ended up with a sort of"reality glamour."

Oh, so, maybe that's whatVoguetoday is all about. Makes us feel a little better about not"getting it."

Picture of Happiness {Vogue; not online}

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New Menswear Collections: Louis Vuitton, Yohji Yamamoto, Viktor&Rolf, and More

The Paris menswear shows came pouring in today, bringing with them lots of furry coat lapels (Louis Vuitton), bold cherry-red suits (Viktor&Rolf), and knit sweaters printed with cherries (Yohji Yamamoto). We also have a bunch more details galleries from both the Paris and Milan shows, which are useful for studying the army of man-bags on theZ Zegnarunway and the rugby-inspired knee socks atMoschino. Enjoy.

RUNWAY
•Adam Kimmel
•Alexis Mabille
•Dries Van Noten

•Gianfranco Ferré
•Issey Miyake
•Jean Paul Gaultier
•Louis Vuitton
•Rick Owens
•Smalto
•Thierry Mugler
•Viktor&Rolf
•Yohji Yamamoto

DETAILS
•Alexis Mabille
•Giorgio Armani
•Gucci
•Issey Miyake
•John Richmond
•Moschino
•Versace
•Z Zegna

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Nicola Formichetti Wanted to Show a‘Flawed Superhuman’at His First Thierry Mugler Show

For his first collection as creative director of Thierry Mugler, Nicola Formichetti explained via press release that he was"looking at a chink in the armour of the Mugler type in the clothing and the person."Naturally, this led to hishighly publicized casting of Rick Genest(also known as Rico), who Formichetti describes as"a sort of flawed superhuman— still extraordinary but not untouchable ... I suppose if you wanted to look at Rico’s role in this he's like a literal, visual interpretation of what is under the skin as well as a celebration of what is covering it."

Lady Gaga was also quoted in the show notes:

Blood pumps through Nicola’s veins like perfume and cigarettes. His brain throbs with misfit royalty, glamour as punk survival, attitude as liberation, style as revolution. Thierry Mugler has a way with legendary lifestyle and Nicola is just that: Epic Lifestyle, Freakdom, Gorgeous or Die, the‘fuck’ in future poetry, the street in High-Fashion. Nicola Formichetti is Fashion’s Freedom. I love him, my friend the genius, my collaborator, more than any piece of clothing or closet I possess. But don’t tell him I said that, he’ll die. He picked them all out.

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Elle Macpherson’s Gown Had a Very Long Tail

Elle Macpherson attended an event in Geneva for Portofino watches wearing a strapless black gown with a very long, skinny train. The puzzling bit of fabric didn't seem to trip her up on the red carpet, which is perhaps why she's a supermodel.

So, what do you think of the dress's lengthy tail?

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Michelle Obama Celebrated Her Birthday in a Cozy Cardigan

Today is Michelle Obama's 47th birthday, and the FLOTUS is celebrating by doing volunteer work in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She participated in a service project at Stuart Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C., this morning wearing black pants and a gray cardigan. See the full look in theMichelle Obama Look Book.

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Drag Someone Across the Floor in the Spirit of Lanvin

Lanvin's spring 2011 campaign, shot by Steven Meisel, may be our favorite of the season, because there's nothing better than two models fighting. ModelsIselin SteiroandKinga Rajzakclaw at each other and drag each other across the floor by their ankles, in a room filled with nice plush cushions and fur rugs that would be great for"movie night."The concept of two women fighting over Lanvin makes perfect sense and actually quite accurately embodies how many ladies and real-lifeGossip Girltypes feel about the brand. It also capitalizes on the same raw hot lesbian sex appeal that madeBlack Swanso intriguing. Will spring 2011 become the season of the catfight? Contemplate with our behavioral study of the campaign in the slideshow.

Watch the Slideshow»

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