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Edith Head stresses the importance of formal attire at the Oscars. 15-09-2025, The Oscars are no longer just a celebration of movies. They’ve also become a fashion show, with fans, designers and the media celebrating and critiquing Hollywood celebrities as they stroll, pause and pose on the red carpet of the annual awards ceremony. A sharp look can be a story in and of itself. Take actress Lupita Nyong’o. After she wore a powder blue Prada dress to the 2014 Oscars, she became the new “It girl” overnight. She was named People magazine’s Most Beautiful Woman, became the first Black ambassador for beauty giant Lancôme and landed on the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Glamour. But fashion wasn’t always so central to the ceremony. In my book about the history of the Oscars red carpet, I point to two essential figures that turned the Oscars into the fashion spectacle we know today. TV puts the Oscars in the spotlight At the end of the 1940s, the Hollywood film industry was facing economic headwinds. More and more households were buying television sets, which impacted movie-going. The studios also saw their revenues decline when they were forced to sell their theater chains after losing an antitrust case in 1948. Financial struggles continued to mount when, in 1949, the motion picture companies refused to fund the Academy Awards after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that puts on the awards, allowed British films to compete head-to-head with American productions. The organization found temporary solutions to keep the event going. But when faced with the possibility of discontinuing the Oscars ceremony altogether due to financial constraints, the academy weighed the advantages and disadvantages of airing the program on television, which was seen as film’s main competitor. Eventually, the academy approached NBC and requested that the network cover the expenses to put on the event in exchange for the rights to broadcast the show in 1953. Until then, the studios had carefully crafted and controlled their stars’ public image. Television was a new medium – and a more spontaneous one. Studio executives feared how their stars would appear on screen and behave during the broadcast. Furthermore, many nominees were skeptical of appearing at the event since there was no stipulation in their contracts about television appearances. Edith Head, guardian of glamour So the academy hired Edith Head as a fashion consultant to supervise the stars’ appearance. At the time, Head was Hollywood’s most famous costume designer. She’d been working since the days of silent cinema, and she was accustomed to the media spotlight through her promotional work for Paramount. Head was responsible for making sure that everyone dressed appropriately, abiding by the “decency and decorum” guidelines suggested by the Code of Practice for Television Broadcasters. She also had to ensure that no two dresses were the same and that the outfits worn by presenters and nominees looked good on camera and complemented the set. One of her most important roles ended up being talking up fashion in media interviews leading up to the Oscars, which she frequently referred to as a fashion show. “This is a very competitive night from a fashion point of view because, as I said, the stars are presenting themselves as themselves,” Head explained on one of her radio shows. “For me, as a fashion designer, the most exciting question is who will wear what.” The postwar growth of the international fashion industry paved the way for Hollywood stars to wear the latest creations by European designers, including Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy and Pierre Balmain. However, by the mid-1960s, new fashion trends such as miniskirts, shapeless dresses, pants and bohemian styles threatened to upend the formal attire of the Oscars and the feminine ideals preferred by Head. In 1968, she felt compelled to remind young actresses of the event’s stature with a press release after actress Inger Stevens wore a mini dress to the ceremony in 1967. To Head, this was no informal social gathering; it was a glamorous, upscale fashion parade. Two years later, in 1970, she reiterated the importance of formal attire while announcing the nominees for the Oscar for best costume design. She reminded young actresses that the Oscars was “the most important time of the year in Hollywood” and advised them to avoid wearing “the freaky, far-out, unusual fashions.” Edith Head stresses the importance of formal attire at the Oscars. Fred Hayman rights the ship After Head said goodbye to her position at the conclusion of the 1971 ceremony, celebrities blew through the boundaries of decorum, inaugurating an era of questionable fashion choices: Edy Williams’ shocking bikini looks, Bob Mackie’s memorable transparencies for Cher and Armani’s over-the-top informality for Diane Keaton. Fashion order was restored in 1989 when Beverly Hills impresario Fred Hayman became the event’s new fashion coordinator. Lucky for him, in the 1990s, fashion was in fashion. New successful designers such as Giorgio Armani, Thierry Mugler and Gianni Versace elbowed into the spotlight alongside established conglomerate brands like Louis Vuitton and Givenchy. Supermodels had become celebrities on par with actors and actresses, and cable television launched specialized international networks dedicated entirely to fashion and celebrity culture. Hayman was eager to capitalize on this momentum to promote Rodeo Drive as the luxury shopping mecca of the West Coast. Hayman had begun his career in the hospitality industry. But in 1961, he switched to fashion after investing in a friend’s boutique, Giorgio Beverly Hills. Hayman would eventually become the boutique’s sole owner. In 1989, the same year he joined the Oscars as fashion coordinator, he rebranded his store as Fred Hayman Beverly Hills after selling the Giorgio brand to cosmetics conglomerate Avon to commercialize his perfume line. Giorgio Beverly Hills catered to the rich and famous by retailing garments from various designers and brands from Europe and New York City. As fashion coordinator of the Oscars, Hayman became the official go-to resource for what to wear to the event, attracting more celebrities, brands and media attention to Rodeo Drive. Building off Head’s media strategy, Hayman introduced the fashion previews. These were runway shows for the press organized at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre on Wilshire Boulevard to anticipate each year’s red-carpet trends. Fashion at the Oscars took a giant leap forward with Hayman. Thanks to his efforts, the West Coast enhanced its fashion profile, prompting luxury brands to open flagship stores along Rodeo Drive. He continued in his role for a decade until he was replaced by stylist L’Wren Scott for the ceremony in 2000. Through their media savvy, Head and Hayman were able to recast the Academy Awards ceremony as a dazzling spectacle of glamour – what Head frequently described as “the biggest international fashion show free-for-all.”  Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén, Fulbright Scholar and Sweden-America Foundation Research Fellow, University of Southern California This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
How the Academy Awards became ‘the biggest international fashion show free-for-all’ (2025-09-15T14:02:00+05:30)
Priyanka Chopra Jonas showcases retro glam for MET Gala 2025 (2025-06-14T12:22:00+05:30)
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Mumbai, (IANS) Global head-turner Priyanka Chopra looked drop-dead-gorgeous as she flaunted vintage Hollywood fashion at the 2025 MET Gala. Priyanka took to Instagram, where she shared her look for the event dressed by Olivier Rousteing of luxury fashion house Balmain for the 2025 theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”. She wore a white halter-neck dress with black polka dots with a black belt at the waist and black buttons down the center. She completed her look with a big black wide-brim hat and emerald green neckpiece. For the caption she wrote: “MET 2025.” Ahead of walking on the carpet, the actress shared a video of herself getting dolled up for the event. She wrote: “Sneak peek of a new @maxfactor product for the perfect glow #MetGala.” Priyanka was joined by her husband Nick Jonas, who looked dapper in black slacks and an off-white shirt featuring a tied scarf around his neck, reports people.com. Prior to this year’s event, which is co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Vogue’s Anna Wintour, with athletes like Simone Biles and Angel Reese and singers like Doechii and Usher serving on the host committee, the couple have been a regular attendees at the annual fundraising event. Priyanka and Nick made their red carpet debut at the 2017 Met Gala, though the joint appearance was prior to their relationship. The Met Gala is the annual haute couture fundraising festival held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in Manhattan. The Met Gala is popularly regarded as the world's most prestigious and glamorous fashion event.Attendees are given the opportunity to express themselves through fashion, often producing elaborate and highly publicized outfits inspired by the evening's theme and broader cultural context. The event is known as "fashion's biggest night" where "haute couture intersects with history to create the ultimate cultural moment – all in the name of art". Priyanka Chopra Jonas showcases retro glam for MET Gala 2025 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Aditi Govitrikar to represent India at 40th anniversary of Mrs World, 'life comes full circle' (2025-06-14T12:22:00+05:30)
 Mumbai, (IANS) Back in 2001, Aditi Govitrikar created history by becoming the first-ever Indian to win the prestigious Mrs. World title. Now, the actress and former model will be representing India at the 40th anniversary of the prestigious Mrs World pageant. Turning back the clock, she will once again be gracing the global stage on 30th January 2025, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort. Aditi Govitrikar revealed that this latest opportunity feels like life coming full circle for her. She revealed, “It feels like life has come full circle. Mrs. World holds a very special place in my heart, and every time someone remembers that victory, it’s overwhelming. The love and respect I’ve received over the years are beyond words, and I’m so grateful. I can’t wait to relive those memories and celebrate this incredible journey.” Aditi Govitrikar termed her 2001 victory a collective effort. Her exact words were, “Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this incredible journey. You’ve made it possible for me to stand here today, with my head high and my heart full. This isn’t just my story—it’s ours.” Meanwhile, on the professional front, Aditi Govitrikar last appeared on the third season of the popular Netflix series "Mismatched". She essays the role of Rishi Singh Shekhawat's (Rohit Saraf) mother, Kalpana Singh in the series. Before "Mismatched" Aditi Govitrikar had been away from television for some time. However, during a media interaction, she revealed that she did not intentionally step away from the space. She added that she is someone who always follows her instincts and believes in going with the flow. The actress stated that she thinks OTT platforms have redefined storytelling. She is of the opinion that while TV remains timeless, OTT content offers unique opportunities.In addition to this, Aditi Govitrikar has also launched Marvelous Mrs India, a platform to empower women. Aditi Govitrikar to represent India at 40th anniversary of Mrs World, 'life comes full circle' | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
London Fashion Week goes 1960s... with a twist (2025-06-14T12:22:00+05:30)
 The first full day of London Fashion Week kicked off with a nod to the Swinging Sixties by Irish designer and LFW veteran Paul Costelloe and Turkish designer Bora Aksu. 1960s-style Mod dresses and workwear in pastel linens, floral silk jacquards and understated tweeds abounded in Costelloe's Spring/Summer collection, "Le ciel est bleu". The once-private stylist for Princess Diana presented his "ode to Paris" -- 40 years after showing at the first ever LFW in 1984 -- in a call back to his fashion beginnings working as a design assistant in the French capital. In a modern twist to the outfits with his debut hosier line, Costelloe paired trending long striped socks with stilettos. Speaking to the Irish Independent newspaper ahead of the show, Costelloe said the hybrid look was "akin to Emily in Paris", the hit Netflix series starring Lily Collins, whose character Emily Cooper's experimental fashion choices have split opinions among viewers.  AFP | BENJAMIN CREMEL A short walk away from Costelloe's Parisian-inspired runway, models at the Bora Aksu show strutted through a sun-drenched rose garden in a central London churchyard, draped in layers of sheer, delicate fabric. Pastel colourways and floral patterns alongside polka dots and bows recalled the traditional roots of the trendy "coquette" aesthetic. Outfits with intricate lacework, tailored jackets, and light knitwear were completed with cat-eye sunglasses and vintage hairdos piled high. The slim, layered silhouettes were a "nod to the 60s", Aksu said backstage after the show, along with sunglasses and pearl earrings -- favourites of his late Turkish mother to whom the show was dedicated. "You know, they have that femininity, and that coquette look, but they're still quite strong", Aksu explained, describing his mother as an independent working woman who explored her individual style through creating her own clothes. Greek designer Dimitra Petsa (Di Petsa), meanwhile, travelled further back in time to ancient Greek mythology with her "My Body is a Labyrinth" collection, inspired by the myth of Theseus and Princess Ariadne and celebrating feminine pleasure and summer nostalgia. Wet-look dresses and jumpsuits, seen notably on actress Zendaya, hugged the models adorned with barely-there chest jewels and fishing nets.  AFP | BENJAMIN CREMELMermaids and sea gods seemed to emerge from the waters with wet hair and sunburnt skin, in immaculate asymmetrical swimsuits and cut-out tops, mixed with more straightforward red or electric-blue pieces and colourful flip-flops. For the show's finale, the models linked together with a long red thread, recalling the spool Ariadne gave to Theseus to help him find his way through the labyrinth. London Fashion Week goes 1960s... with a twist |
The story of … the supermodel (2025-02-21T12:03:00+05:30)
Kathleen Horton, Queensland University of TechnologyWomen, fashion, and glamour are synonymous in the modern era – but in the mid to late 1980s this association intensified into one distinct cultural icon: the supermodel.
While highly professional models with identifiable looks and personalities had existed since the 1950s, (Christian Dior’s favourite was called Lucky) and celebrity models since the 1960s (think Twiggy), the 1980s version literally superseded their predecessors in stature, stardom, and – most importantly – earning capacity. The supermodels were an elite and exclusive group. Key figures included Americans Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington, Brit Naomi Campbell, Canadian-born Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer from Germany. This grouping is not definitive and the term was applied to other high profile models of this generation including Australia’s own Elle “The Body” Macpherson and later notably English model Kate Moss. A list of very specific characteristics secured the pedigree of the original supermodels. First, self evidently, perhaps were their physical attributes. While each supermodel had a distinct “look” (Linda’s old world glamour versus Cindy’s girl-next-door) all of them had bodies of Amazonian proportions. Strong and lean as opposed to slim and diminutive they embodied a powerful, intense and indeed mythical vision of female beauty. Second, as at home on the catwalk as they were in editorials, a supermodel was a supermodel simply by virtue of her market value. Witness Linda’s quip to journalist Jonathan Van Meter:
Finally real supermodels managed to transcend the world of fashion that had borne them and registered simply as celebrities with all that entailed, including dating movie stars, hosting TV shows, and becoming fodder for gossip magazines. The precise cultural circumstances that saw the celebrity cachet of models arise are difficult to discern but it is clear that a number of factors aligned. Big name celebrity designers such as Versace and Karl Lagerfeld became the figureheads for global conglomerate fashion, the worlds of entertainment and fashion merged through internationalised media networks, and, in Paris, John Casablancas of Elite Model Management championed a new brasher version of the modelling agency. One of Casablancas’ key strategies entailed marketing his “girls” as a group. This ploy dovetailed nicely with a genre of fashion photography that had been developed in the 1950s – the large cast fashion shoot. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s high-end fashion photographers including Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel and Herb Ritts developed compelling editorial spreads that featured groupings of supermodels lined up next to each other wearing variations on a theme. In these somewhat disarming images each model seems to trump the beauty of the next resulting in a giddying excess of glamour. The supermodels faced the 1990s optimistically appearing en masse on the covers of the world’s most influential fashion magazines and attracting lucrative make-up endorsements. But meanwhile the fashion clock was ticking. Not only was grunge replacing glamour as the fashionable ideal the whole image of the supermodel with her perfect beauty was attracting critique from various quarters. Despite the fact these women were without exception naturally beautiful they became emblematic of an idea of falseness and artifice often associated with fashion. Moreover the fact that they traded on their appearance, and made previously unheard of amounts of money for merely “being beautiful” was frequently interpreted as morally corrupt. Finally and most ironically, as the “reality” of their lives was exposed through increased media exposure (failed marriages, bungled career moves, and the like) their very humanity seemed to work against them. The real treachery however came from within the industry. In the March 1996 edition of US Vogue, an article entitled “Supermodels, the Sequel” was busy promoting four new younger “faces” who were keen to distance themselves from their slightly more experienced counterparts. While all the interviewees agreed that the supermodels had played an important role in the industry (from which they now profited) none of them wanted to be associated with prima donna behaviour or vacuous self promotion. Aligning themselves instead with notions of reality and groundedness, there was a sense they wouldn’t let the market value of their beauty go to their heads. For me perhaps the clearest sign that the reign of the supermodel was well and truly over was when Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, launched the highly successful “honest advertising” campaign in 1998 with the byline:
While the campaign won widespread support and turned Broddick’s fortunes around, I find it unfortunate that its logic comes at the cost of ostensibly pitching eight of the world’s successful and beautiful women against the rest. Read more articles in The Story Of series Kathleen Horton, Senior Lecturer, Fashion, Queensland University of Technology This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
Preity Zinta is 'on top of the world' as she drops BTS video of her fashion shoot (2024-05-14T11:42:00+05:30)
 Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Preity Zinta has shared behind-the-scenes (BTS) glimpses from her recent fashion shoot and said she is "on top of the world". Preity, who is currently busy with the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with regards to her team 'Punjab Kings', took to Instagram and shared a Reel video. In the video, she is seen posing on the terrace of a high-rise building for a fashion photoshoot. Wearing a backless halter neck purple and orange colourblock long gown, the 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' fame actress exudes elegance. She accessorised the look with silver earrings. The post is captioned: "On top of the world #fashion #shoot." Fans couldn't help but shower her with compliments. One user commented: "Pretty girl", while another fan said: "Beauty queen".On the work front, Preity has 'Lahore 1947' in the pipeline, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.Preity Zinta is 'on top of the world' as she drops BTS video of her fashion shoot | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Hrithik Roshan walks the ramp (2016-11-15T13:32:00+05:30)
For the first time ever, the Greek God of Bollywood Hrithik Roshan walked the ramp and displayed his newly launched active lifestyle apparel and casual wear brand HRX at Myntra Fashion Weekend. The actor walked the ramp on the final day, and gave fans a chance to get an exclusive glimpse of his elegant style.
Dressed in a casual T- shirt with a blue coat and Khaki pants, a part of his HRX collection, Hrithik took the stage by storm. The actor, who is busy enjoying the success of his recent film Bang Bang, was at ease as he showcased his chic sense of style during the show. A wide range of casual wear & active sportswear for both men & women offered by HRX were revealed at the show.
During the show, Hrithik expressed his enthusiasm on twitter saying, “Power walk! Thank you for the most explosive ramp excitement! #pushyourextreme in the cool!”. He also tweeted, “Create the environment u want ! U have the power! GIVE YOUR BEST every step. One step at a time! Love u all ! #Hrx”.
Hrithik also tossed his jacket in the crowd for his lucky fans thereafter commenting, “And it just didn't stop! Cause I didn't stop! Keep moving! Celebrating in bangbang style! Who got my jacket??”. Fans enjoyed an unforgettable time at the event with one of them bagging the super star’s exclusive HRX jacket Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com/
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Myntra announces Masaba Gupta as the Creative Director for its fashion brand Anouk (2014-12-23T19:14:00+05:30)
Keeping in trend with their mission to provide consumers with the latest style statements, Myntra.com has announced the extremely talented designer Masaba Gupta as the Creative Director for their indian apparell brand Anouk. Starting October 2014, Masaba Gupta will add her personal twist to Anouk & develop signature designs in indian wear that will be exclusively available on Myntra.com. Speaking on the collaboration, Mr. Mukesh Bansal, CEO, Myntra.com & Head of Fashion Flipkart.com said,“Masaba’s journey in the Indian fashion industry has been remarkable & she has showcased her intrinsic design talent with some fabulous prints that have received love & appreciation from fashion experts & consumers across borders. She beautifully embodies values of individuality, confidence, urbanism & tradition, all of which represent the brand Anouk. We’re very proud to welcome Masaba to the Myntra.com family & look forward to a long & fabulous association.” Speaking on her new role at Myntra.com, Masaba said, “I was absolutely thrilled & honoured when I was asked to creatively head Anouk for Myntra.com. Anouk personifies the young Indian woman who I like to speak to through my designs. She has a passion for life, flair for fashion & loves unique bold design concepts. I can’t wait to translate all these beautiful elements into my designs for Anouk & create a versatile style experience for Myntra’s consumers.” Anouk is the ethnic wear brand by Myntra.com which also diversifies into Anouk core,Anouk Rustic & Anouk Mirage giving consumers a wide variety of designs to choose from. The Anouk woman is confident, ambitious & independent & yet someone who celebrates her culture. Anouk’s product offering allows the mood to morph from the seriousness of the boardroom to being fun & carefree. Source......
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Brand Ambassador Sonam Kapoor walks the ramp at the IIJW 2013 inaugural (2014-04-26T18:12:00+05:30)
Brand Ambassador Sonam Kapoor walks the ramp at the IIJW 2013 inaugural, After three phenomenaleditions in Mumbai and the successful New Delhi edition, GJEPC once again proudly presents The India International Jewellery Week 2013, The inauguration was held on Sunday, 4th August and graced by the honorable Chief Guest, Mr. Rajeev Shukla, Member of Parliament, Mr. Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, Mr. Pankaj Parekh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, senior members of GJEPC, high ranking government officials as well as GJEPC Brand Ambassador and Bollywood Diva, Sonam Kapoor.The IIJW is being presented by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) this year in association with PC Jeweller (PCJ). The inaugural show this year featured a scintillating line up of jewellery collection by Gitanjali Gems adorned by not only the impressive model lineup, but also by the bevy of television celebrities. The crowning glory of the inaugural show was the mesmerizing Bollywood Diva, Sonakshi Sinha, who looked ravishing in breathtaking jewellery from Gitanjali along with Akshay Kumar. The grand finale on 8th of August will feature the “Best of Best” show that highlights the best creations by each designer. IIJW is an initiative to showcase India's finest in jewellery, be it designs, innovation, craftsmanship, technology or quality to the customers from around the globe. India, the world diamond leader, is today burgeoning with energy and passion when it comes to jewellery. As the fastest growing manufacturing centre, the world is eyeing "INDIA" and the industry is fast progressing to be the world's "Jewellery Hub". IIJW 2013will be one glamorous destination with a lot of international buyers & media attending. Furthermore with the scintillating glitterati comprising celeb showstoppers and red carpet attendance, IIJW is ready to set the mercury sizzling with their presence bringing the event on an international edge. The event will not only showcase established design houses and designers, but will also give an opportunity to new talented designers to showcase their skill set.IIJW 2013 will feature 24 budding designers from GIA, IGI, NID and IIGJ, marking the popularity that the show has been receiving from the young designers keen to make a mark in the industry. The show will also feature 21 renowned jewellery houses of international repute besides leading designers including Nirav Modi, Pallavi Foley, Vijay Golecha, amongst others. These renowned names are known to have adorned many of the Bollywood celebrities and prominent socialites. The gorgeous Bollywood heartthrob, Sonam Kapoor looked splendid at the inauguration in her designer attire and bedecked by a dazzling neck piece by the celebrated designer Nirav Modi. “We are proud to announce the 4th edition of India’s most sought after jewellery show which has been an ideal platform for not only the established jewelers and designers, but also encouraged next gen designers to showcase their immense talent, craftsmanship and innovation in the field of jewellery design”, said Mr. Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC. Sonam Kapoor, Brand Ambassador, GJEPC said, “I am very proud to be a part of IIJW which has created a benchmark for itself in the field of fashion and style since it first started. Each year the show has evolved and has been introducing exceptional jewellerycreations by not only young upcoming designers but has also been consistently showcasing the exquisite design and collections by Indian leading jewellery manufacturers and designers.” This year, the participantswill showcase the finest in design, innovation and present the latest trends and styles. Each of the 4 days will feature a series of 7-8 shows including Gehna Jewels, Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas, Kays Jewels, Golecha’s Jewels, Charu Jewels, Kashi Jewellers, D.Navinchandra, SethInternational, Laxmi Jewellery Exports, Shringar - House of Mangalsutra, Shobha Shringar Jewellers, Auro Gold, Jewel Trendz, Saboo Fine Jewels, established designers including Nirav Modi, Pallavi Foley, Moni Agarwal and Dipti Amisha, and over 22 budding designers from GIA, IGI, NID and IIGJ as well as Dhora by Aavriti Jain and Sidharth Daspan. “The show has received much appreciation and enormous goodwill from the participants, sponsors as well as the audience over the years, which is a reflection of the fact that many have been a part of the show since inception. We are happy to have created a platform that has successfully brought to the forefront, the exquisiteness and beauty of the Indian jewellery, thereby opening up wide opportunities for the participants and the industry”, said Sanjay Kothari, Convener, Promotion, Marketing & Business Development Sub-committee, GJEPC. “IIJW is a unique platform in the gem and jewellery industry that showcases India’s talent at the highest level,” saidNirupa Bhatt, Managing Director, GIA India and the Middle East. “GIA’sobjective is to support this event and cheer novelty in jewellery arts. And IIJW is a platform that recognizes these innovations.” Mr. Balram Garg, Managing Director and CEO, PC Jeweller said, “IIJW has been an inspiring platform for all established as well as young designers to feature their best collections with respect to innovation, style and design. Over the years, IIJW has emerged as one of India’s premier events in the gem & jewellery industry promoting India as the leading design hub globally.” The IIJW is being presented by GIA in association with PC Jeweller. The event is co-sponsored by Gitanjali Gems and partners include Platinum Guild India & Forevermark, besides UB Group as Good Times & Beverage Partners, Star Plus as broadcast partner & Bright Outdoor as Outdoor partner. Source..
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Katy Perry Killer Queen Fragrance Review (2014-03-04T21:08:00+05:30)
By Smaranda: Katy Perry has just launched her 3rd fragrance yet: Killer Queen, the first done in collaboration with Coty. Personally, I wasn't a fan of Katy's previous two scents; the good news for me is that Killer Queen marks a departure from its predecessors and it is a definite improvement. The new licensing partnership with Coty is a good move for Katy;when it comes to celebrity scents, Coty is the biggest player on the market. Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Moss, David Beckham are some of the big names included in Coty's ever-growing portfolio of celebrity fragrances. Killer Queen has been announced as a playful, powerful, edgy and delicious fragrance, with top notes of wild berries, dark plum and bergamot, middle notes of red velvet flower (Celosia), Sambac jasmine and rainbow plumeria, over a base of cashmeran, patchouli and liquid praline. (Plumeria is a sweet tropical flower, also known as frangipani and cashmeran is a synthetic musky note designed to replicate the texture of cashmere.) Citing some of the influences that inspired her in choosing the right scent and packaging, Katy Perry mentions fragrances like Thierry Mugler's Alien and Tom Ford's Black Orchid:“I wanted some floral [notes], like jasmine...it does have a bit of a gourmand thing to it. I wanted the scent to have a little bit of ambiguity. I was attracted to scents in the last couple of years like Alien by Thierry Mugler and Black Orchid from Tom Ford. They’re too strong for me to wear all the time, and I didn’t want to them to be [copies], just to have a hint of ambiguity like they do. It’s sophisticated, but it’s not alienating my main group of people. The patchouli heart gives it ambiguity and this thing called cashmeran is really cool. It has this real curve ball in it that I think is sophisticated but still super sexy.” (WWD) As far as the packaging goes, Katy was inspired by the quirky, non conventional presentation of Jean Paul Gaultier's fragrances: “One thing I was really inspired by was Jean-Paul Gaultier’s fragrances, time after time after time,” said Perry. “There was the snow globe [Fragile], he was doing a bust [Signature], he was doing this or that. But he always did something that made me want to keep the bottle as a keepsake afterwards. I felt cool if I had one on a shelf in my room, even if there was no juice left in it. That inspired me. There isn’t any point for me to put out something that doesn’t stand out — because that is so not like me.” (WWD) Upon first spray, Killer
Queen opens with fruity notes, mainly a mix of plum and berries, although I can pick up some citrus accord right at the beginning as well (coming from the bergamot). This is not an extremely fruity scent and you don't have to wait too long for the middle and base notes to shine through: the mix of florals and the patchouli base with added sweetness (from the praline note) are noticeable right from the start. It is actually well blended and more grown-up than Katy's previous scents. Killer Queen is not a fruity floral, and I wouldn't call it a floral oriental (floriental) either. I would say it follows the current trend of the 'fruitchouli", that is scents that have a fruity opening over a prominent sweet patchouli base (with the middle often being a combo of floral notes). It is a fun, potent scent, with good lasting power on my skin. If you are wondering what other scents I would compare it to, just to give you a better idea about how it smells, I would say it falls in the same category with Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb and Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum. If sweet, patchouli-based scents are your thing, then Katy Perry Killer Queen should go on your list. Katy Perry's Killer Queen is available as 15 ml, 30 ml, 50 ml and 100 ml Eau de Parfum and you can find it in stores now, Source: Smartologie.com
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Scandal rocks Miss Supranational 2013 pageant: Polish business partner fails to distribute winner's prize (2013-12-01T23:07:00+05:30)
Gerhard Parzutka von Lipinski poses with Ekaterina Buraya of Belarus, Miss Supranational 2012, during the press conference of the Miss Supranational 2013 pageant in Minsk, Belarus.
A reliable source informed Critical Beauty that Gerhard Parzutka von Lipinski, the Polish producer, host and launch partner of World Beauty Association (WBA), the Panamanian-based company that owns and produces the Miss Supranational pageant, has failed to distribute the cash prizes for the 2013 winner, Mutya Datul, and her runners-up. This information was sent via e-mail to all license holders by WBA Chief Operating Officer, Marc Russell, dated November 15, 2013. WBA is now considering a possible class action against von Lipinski, who heads his company called Nowa Scena, This source then forwarded the e-mail to Critical Beauty. The e-mail also reveals that von Lipinski pretended to be WBA President Tryny Marcela Yandar Lobón when he wrote a
Gerhard Parzutka von Lipinski (front row, third from left) eyeing a contestant during the swimsuit preliminaries of Miss Polski 2013 pageant last June in Poland.
circular e-mail to all license holders on October 17, 2013. The e-mail looked suspicious as it had been written from a different e-mail address that Yandar Lobón never had. Russell's e-mail also mentioned Edwin Dominguez, the national director of Panama. Russell states that Dominguez does not work for WBA. Russell writes: "We assume that our National Director from Panama will wake up from his frivolous mistake to assist Mr Gerhard Parzutka von Lipinski when seeing the poor financial statements of Nowa Scena since 2010." [I don't quite understand what Russell is saying, but it seems to suggest that he wishes that Dominguez should
Gerhard Parzutka von Lipinski and Panama's national director Edwin Dominguez. Date & location of photo unknown.
have reported von Lipinski immediately to WBA after having seen Nowa Scena's near-bankrupt situation in 2010. Russell's e-mail ends with a note of disappointment, accusing von Lipinski of behaving "greedy and dubious at the end of our 5-yrs launch and regret the damage our clean and superb brand may suffer" - and a little bit of optimism: "We will do our best to get the situation under control and will inform you about our owners’ next exciting steps." We'll see about that. Photos from Miss Supranational website and Gerhard Parzutka von Lipinski's Facebook page. By Rafa Delfin: Updated:11-30-2013. Per readers' request, publishing Marc Russell's email here. Judge for yourself. Source: criticalbeauty.com......................................................
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Kate Moss (and That Wacky Little VooDoo Doll) For Alexander McQueen by Steven Klein (2013-11-13T00:02:00+05:30)
With bright yellow hair, lots of cuffs and clutching a doll in her likeness, Kate Moss is the star of the 2014 Spring Summer ad campaign for Alexander McQueen - her first time appearing in ads for the brand. Shot by the fabulous Steven Klein, the images are accompanied by a short film (shown further down in the post), also directed by the photographer. In the majority of the dark and moody photos, Kate is clutching a 3D printed
 doll in her own likeness, who is wearing her own miniature versions of the Alexander McQueen fashions and in some of the shots, is stuck with pins: The print ads in the campaign (spreads and single pages): The four and a half minute film, directed and shot by Steven Klein, was inspired by the 1960 British thriller Peeping Tom, stars the 40 year old Moss and was shot in East London: Source: Article |