“Intense and ethereal”, are the words Narciso Rodriguez chose to describe its latest fragrance launch, Essence. In a futuristic mirrored bottle, with curved contours were designed to be reminiscent of a woman’s body, the scent features a heart of musk, combined with notes of rose petal, amber and iris to create a wholly distinctive scent. Both modern and original, it retains much of the uniqueness of Rodriguez’ much-loved first perfume, but in lighter, fresher, more summery incarnation. I still place the Narciso Rodriguez (first perfume), ‘for her’ EdT on number 1 which I have applied since the last four years, followed by Narciso Rodriguez, ‘for her’ EdP on my second place (before!). Now it’s Essence which places my number 2 *marvelous*

Searching for that heart of gold translates well to the search for that special perfume. Maybe, just maybe, that special perfume will help to bring that heart of gold! Or maybe I am just dreamin’. At any rate, I have sampled two more perfumes, the first being Narciso Rodriguez For Her. And to think, I never thought I’d meet a musk I didn’t like! For this is essentially a musk, which breaks down simply: floral top notes, middle notes of amber, and a woody base. I appreciate the simplicity, and I think I know where they were going with this one, but for me, it just misses the mark. In spite of what were no doubt best intentions, this perfume smells like chemicals. Musky chemicals, but chemicals nonetheless. I would never wear this perfume. The second perfume I would never wear either, but for totally different reasons. It’s Agent Provocateur. I first got a sample of it because I LOVE the bottle, which is so stunningly simple. This perfume is a floral chypre, and it is big, brash, and rosy. This is an insanely sexy perfume, wanton and unabashed. I am not absolutely in love with its heady rosy heart, but I appreciate its pale woody base of oak moss, sandalwood, and maybe ambergris. These are the notes that qualify Agent Provocateur for the category of chypre. I just wish it didn’t take so long to get there, as first one must first brave the all-engulfing floral notes. Once you get to the base notes, it is really a great perfume. The reason I won’t wear it, however, is just because I don’t think I can pull it off. It is so unapologetically sexy, so bold and heady. Maybe if I were to wear the lingerie by Agent Provocateur…but what is the point, really? I am, after all, still searching for that heart of gold.

For Her, el perfume por excelencia de Narciso Rodriguez no desciende en la categoría de los más respetados y queridos, aún cuando su precio está un poco por encima de los perfumes clásicos.

El almizcle egipcio es el secreto de esta fragancia tan especial, pero además está mezclado con rosa floral, ambar suave y madera.

Podemos encontrarlo en El Corte Inglés por 95€ el eau de parfum (frasco rosa) y por 86 el eau de Toilette (frasco negro, aunque el año pasado salió una edición especial “espejo”). El aroma difiere un poco entre ambos, y sobre todo, como suele ocurrir, el perfume dura bastante más. No obstante se puede encontrar con descuentos bastante interesantes en las tiendas Aldeasa del Aeropuerto o en la cadena de perfumerías Padilla, que llegan a ofrecer hasta un 20% de descuento.

Durante bastante tiempo Narciso Rodriguez quiso diferenciarse de otros evitando la comercialización de sus productos en grandes perfumerías que no fueran de “diseño”, así Juteco, If o Marinnaud quedaron al margen de su distribución, sin embargo hoy en día ya se puede encontrar en la mayoría de ellas. Eso sí, no lo busquéis en los perfumes “de muestra” porque lo ocultan como oro en paño!. En su página Web podréis encontrar todos los lugares en los que podréis adquirirlo.

Narciso Rodriguez, lanzó el año pasado por navidad una segunda fragancia, Essence, pero ésta no ha tenido tantísima aceptación como For Her. El olor es bastante más fuerte y más dulcificado, bueno, yo diría “empalagoso”.

Sin duda me quedo con el perfume For Her, pero eso sí, mejor que se acabe cuando esté cercana la navidad o el cumpleaños, porque en esta época de crisis no todo el mundo puede permitirse el lujo de adquirirlo.

Hey guys, hope everyone had a fantastic Halloween weekend!! Mine was pretty chilled.

However its a MONDAY again… start of another week.. and if your like me… you’ve probably started counting down to the WEEKEND!! *sigh*

But anyways… I have got a bunch of pictures from events and appearances. (I hope to make  this a weekly post…. so keep checking in.)

Here are a few of my favorite outfits…..

Kerry Washington & Georgina Chapman: both in Marchesa

Halle Berry: if anyone can pull off this sleek black sequined Kaufman Franco dress its Halle… She looks HOT *the JOYS of COUGARHOOD *

Iman. Shes always elegant.

Hilary Swank

Mamie Gummer.

Taylor Momsen. This is a SEXY Versace dress but it looks horrid on her. Fishnet tights coupled with the heavy makeup not a good look.

Shakira. in Versace

Isabella Fontana. It’s always nice to see a bit of colour on the redcarpet.

Chanel Iman. This is really cute. lurve the strappy heels.

Lauren Conrad. She’s usually in a black simple dress… she totally surprised me with this vintage ‘do, body-hugging Hervé Léger dress and deep-red lips.

Fergalicious

Sienna Miller. This Balmain minidress is definitely one of those dresses that can either be a HIT or a MISS… But she pulls it off, it looks HOT and effortless on her…

Demi Moore and Ashton: She looks young and stunning in this Prabal Gurung dress. Once again the “joys of CougarHood” 

Reese Witherspoon. looking great in this strapless Narciso Rodriguez dress. *Joys of CougarHood*

Diane Kruger.

Whitney Port. Don’t you just lurve how simple and elegant this looks.

Minnie Mortimer. A Lovely ruffle dress, seems like it’s going to be huge for the holidays.

Zoe Saldana. This dress has got a vintage feel to it, which i LURVE.

Chanel Iman. in a Versace Minidress. (I’ve never realised how skinny she is)

Estelle. Gorgeous dress, but for some odd reason it looks weird on her… hmm

Miss Ghana Menaye Donkor and Leona Lewis. Personally, Miss Ghana clearly rocked this puffy-shouldered Alexander McQueen frock better than Leona, plus those strappy L.A.M.B heels didn’t do her justice.

What do you think

Kit Willow Pogornik. OMG this jacket is Amazing. The whole look reminds me very much of Vintage Chanel, with a bit more edge.

Cynthia Rowley.

Shingai Shoniwa from the Noisettes. She pushes boundaries with her style. It’s a little too kooky for me at times. But it seems to work on her. (not sure about the fruits on her hair.)

Lindsay Lohan. she looks washed out in this Versace dress, especially with her blonde hair. Plus lately she looks like she’s always on drugs!

Alexandra Burke. Seriously darlyn.. your stylist needs to be SHOT!!! This is hideous… from those nasty boots to the hair and that DRESS looks so wrong on her…  

Taraji P. Henson. I have always been a hugeeeeee FAN and am glad she’s finally getting the recognition she truly deserves. The dress is Cute… however the makeup is really bad, (not sure what look she was going for.) Plus, I prefered her with short hair.

.

P.s Its my gorgeous friend Habibas 22nd today (lurve you darlyn & i hope you have a fantastic day… kisses boo.)

Lurve you…. Lurve me….

♥

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A collage of the many famous faces who have crossed Indochine's threshold over the years.

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From the time it opened its doors back in the hedonistic ’80s, Indochine has exerted an inexorable pull on the famous, the glamorous, and the fabulous, and unlike its equally glittery peers—the Mudd Club, Studio 54, the Palladium—it’s still standing. In fact, this year is Indochine’s 25th anniversary, and Rizzoli has just published a book documenting its finest hours.

Indochine: Stories, Shaken and Stirred features a combination of collages and Polaroids taken at private parties plus photos from the ’80s and ’90s by Patrick McMullan, Patrick Demarchelier, and Roxanne Lowit. There’s also work by many of the artists who frequented the downtown boite, including Julian Schnabel, Ross Bleckner, and Francesco Clemente; and Salman Rushdie, Moby, Julianne Moore, and Bob Colacello have contributed essays.

“The beauty of Indochine is that everybody has all these dear-diary moments, but nobody ever has ever really talked about them!” designer Narciso Rodriquez told Fashion Weekly Daily at a party at Bergdorf Goodman last Thursday celebrating the book.

Jean-Marc Houmard, a co-owner of Indochine, remarked to Vogue that he’d been working as a law-firm intern when he took a night job as a busboy there a year after it opened. “There was this sense of fabulousness,” he noted, “especially when I started working there in 1985.”

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At the book party (from left): Richard Johnson, Jim Gold, Narciso Rodriguez, and Jean-Marc Houmard.

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One of Roxanne's photos from the book (from left): Andy Warhol, Jacqueline Schnabel, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, and Kenny Sharf.

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I asked Roxanne, who signed books at the party, about how she felt looking back at those times and at her photos. I wondered if it made her nostalgic. “It’s fun to see them. It was  a fun time then,” she said quietly. “I don’t think about going back in time, though. I think about going forward. I always say my next picture is going to be my best one.”

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Düfte, die zum Zeitgefühl und zur aktuellen Fashion passen, finden Sie ganz bestimmt – und das zu fairen Preisen – in Ihrer Online Parfumerie.
Sie haben die Qual der Wahl zwischen – beschwingt, frisch, heiter – sinnlich, extravagant, orientalisch – elegant, klassisch, zeitlos.
Daraus ergibt sich eigentlich zwingend, dass ein Duft nicht reicht.

Sorry Diane Kruger, eu sei que é um Narciso Rodriguez e tudo mais, só que não rolou pra mim. E esse cabelo pode até combinar com o outro look que eu postei aqui esses dias, mas com esse vestidón não neam? Queéqueé hein? Sempre achei que vc teria uma promissora relação com a moda…portanto, não me decepcione hein? Ou leva um chocho, como esse aqui! Mas eu acho que isso foi só um dia meio uó, briga com o maridón, coisas do tipo. Que vc se recupere bem!

ps: continuo adorando a sua participação em Inglorious Besterds hein?

On Saturday, I attended Nordstrom’s Art of Beauty Trend Show at a mall outside of Philadelphia. Tickets were $15, and all ticket costs could be applied toward cosmetics purchases the day of the show. I was told by a Smashbox brand rep upon purchasing my ticket that this would be more of a fashion show, where “fall’s hottest looks” would be paired with accompanying ensembles highlighting fall’s fashion trends. (I was also firmly instructed to arrive at 7:30am, half an hour before doors opened, to snag a front-row seat.) What the event turned out to be was a 2.5-hour live infomercial.

I had fully intended to get up early on Saturday and be there promptly at 7am to break down the doors and claim my front-row seat. However, I had not intended to have too much wine on Friday night, which hindered my ability to get out of bed. In desperate need of coffee, I had to make a pit stop at my local java joint. All in all, I didn’t get there until 8:30am, about 1/2 hour into the show. So long, front-row seat.

Read on for the full lowdown.

Julianne de’Chaump, beauty director for Nordstrom’s corporate offices, emceed the show. She was incredibly loud and talked too close to the mic, and my ears were begging for mercy at such an ungodly hour on a Saturday morning; seriously, 8am is too early for screaming! (Side note: can I get this chick’s job? She travels around the country talking about MAKEUP and has a professional artist and

 hairstylist who travel with her and make her up before every appearance. I definitely picked the wrong profession.)

The event was divided into three “acts,” with each act preceded by a mini-fashion show; 3 models strutted their stuff in fall fashions fully made up in the hottest fall beauty looks. That was it for the fashion element. I found myself squirming in my seat waiting for the “intermissions” so I could check out the clothes. Also, I fell in love with a couple of items; but nowhere was it noted what they were! How can we be expected to purchase any awesome fall sweaters/leggings/sequined minidresses/berets if we don’t know who designs them? Nobody was on hand to answer questions post-show, either; Nordstrom staff immediately began dismantling the set, stacking chairs as soon as the house lights came on.

Anyway, back to the beauty: The “stage” was set up like a runway, with rows of chairs lining the catwalk. Julianne, the emcee, moseyed around the catwalk from start to finish, introducing brand reps and giving her input on certain products.

Brand reps were present from: MAC, Bobbi Brown, Anastasia, Smashbox, Chanel, NV Perricone, Philosophy, Clinique, Bare Escentuals, Dior, Nordstrom’s BP (juniors) department (promoting Twilight-themed makeup), Clarisonic, Phyto, Estee Lauder, and Trish McEvoy. Fragrances repped were D&G and Narciso Rodriguez. Each rep came out to talk for approximately 3 minutes about the brand’s newest products and how they will change your life. They were accompanied by a model carrying a selection of products, which were given away to lucky audience members.

I did learn some things. For example:

• Jennifer Aniston’s amazing sleek hair is because of Phytolisse smoothing serum (by Phyto).
• Oprah will be airing her Favorite Things holiday spectacular this year, and Philosophy’s holiday “cookbook” (bodywash/shampoo/bubble bath in fresh-baked scents) is on the list as her fave hostess gift.
• Clinique’s Even Better (which is so great for remedying any type of skin discoloration) is now in an SPF20 moisturizer ($42.50) that evens out skintone and fades discoloration.
• At Anastasia in-store brow salons in Nordstroms nationwide, estheticians trained by Anastasia Soare herself (aka Hollywood’s brow queen) will expertly shape (wax and tweeze), groom and define your brows for $30. Appointments can be booked at participating Nordstroms by calling their main number and asking for the Anastasia salon. Global Education Director for Anastasia was also at the trend show, accepting clients on the spot and shaping brows herself, which was pretty cool.

After the show, multiple artists from each brand sold at this particular Nordstrom were on hand to make over thousands of people. Appointments were booked well in advance, and for the duration I was there, nearly every chair was filled.

The best part of the day was getting made over by a MAC artist, and scoring some pro tips from Romero Jennings, MAC artist extraordinaire! Look for a post on his insider tips later this week.

So here’s the bottom line: If you want to expand your knowledge about makeup, are searching for a totally new look, or just want to get your makeup professionally done gratis, a beauty trend show would be a great opportunity for you to catch up on what’s new and get an inside glimpse of the latest products, from people who know them intimately.

Also, if you’re historically a lucky lady, it may be worth your while to show up because they give away free stuff faster than you can spritz perfume. Each seat has a program and raffle ticket on it, and Nordstrom staff are on hand to collect your completed raffle tickets. Winners got everything from an eyeshadow pallette to a full line of new Chanel skincare products (worth hundreds!). Also, random people from the audience were picked for really great prizes, like baskets brimming with an entire brand’s full-size products, full-size bottles of fragrance, and a free brow shaping at the Anastasia salon.

XXXX MAGAZINE NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
SPRING/SUMMER 2010 TREND REPORT

Reporting by Indira Cesarine assisted by Cristina Cuyco for XXXX Magazine

New York, September 10-17, 2009
By the time the first shows hit the runways in New York, it was clear summer was over and a new season had begun. XXXX Magazine hit the shows to check out the latest trends coming out of New York fashion week… there was an interesting energy of new and old hitting the city with the new Mac & Milk space set up at Milk Studios creating a modern venue for shows and presentations, as well out with the old… as the last season of fashion week at Bryant Park set the stage for an end to an era in New York. What were the major trends that came out of such a setting? Between the 139 shows and 69 presentation on the calendar, New York forecasted many trends that later hit the international runways of London, Paris and Milan…

X – NEUTRAL X NEUTRAL
In a fight to keep sales up in the credit crunch, designers veered towards classic shades that hold timeless appeal… clothing that can be worn again and again, and can be staple pieces in any wardrobe. Clean, crisp, safe and of course neutral … shades of white, grey and beige or khaki made up almost exclusively the color palette of many shows… simple, clean aesthetics for a conservative wallet…
The collections of Adam, Christian Siriano, Doo-ri, Elise Overland, G-Star, Herve Leger, Jeremy Laing, Luca-Luca, Malandrino, Marc Jacobs, Max Azria, Monarchy, Tadashi Shoji, Tommy Hilfiger and Vassilios who maintained monotone neutral looks…

X – THE ART OF COLLAGING

High craft fashion has invaded the New York runways. Patchworking, Cutouts, peek-a-boo slits, and clashing fabric textures layered and sewn together created a new treatment to fabric that we haven’t seen since the 70’s. This modern translation of traditional patchworking deserves it’s own term, as it is an art onto itself. Fabric pieces and layers are integrated with woven effects and unusual fabric treatments that make the art of “collaging” a new look for 2010.

Designers who presented looks with these kind of elements were 3.1 Phillip Lim, Behnaz Sarafpour, Herve Leger, Jill Stuart, Marc Jacobs, Max Azria, Hervé Léger, Rodarte, Thakoon, Thuy, Y-3 and Zac Posen. Rodarte’s collages of burnt plaid cheesecloth, sandpapered silk, and woven leather braid skirts and vests stood out as some of the strongest designs with this effect.

X –ASYMMETRIC

Following from the fall/winter ‘09 trend of one-shouldered looks, spring collections once again showcased more than ever asymmetrical designs. There were 80’s body-con versions, 90’s architectural takes and 70’s ruffled romantic looks hitting the runways all with asymmetrical cuts shaping the silhouette.
A recurring theme throughout the week, this season it has grown in strength with designers such as Calvin Klein, Mark Jacobs, BCBG Max Azria, Halston, Jason Wu, Jill Stuart, Luca-Luca, Malandrino, Marchesa, Matthew Ames, Milly, Nicolas K, Tadashi Shoji, Thuy, Tommy Hilfiger, Vassilios, Y-3, Yigal Azrouel and Zac Posen cutting their fabrics with asymmetrical lines.

X – ROMANCES AND RUFFLES
It was all about frills and romance as Spring 2010 heralds the return of romantic dressing. Light and fluid fabrics floated down the runways with ruffles and frills reminiscent of 70’s backlit summer days. Long free flowing skirts, ruffles and exposed lingerie presented a softer touch for spring.

Designers who had a love affair this season with ruffles and frills were Adam Lippes, BCBG Max Azria, Christian Siriano, Luca-Luca, Malandrino, Mara Hoffman, Marc Jacobs, Marchesa, Monarchy, Narciso Rodriguez, Tadashi Shoji, Tibi, Vivienne Tam and Zac Posen.

X – DESERT TRIBAL
Ethnic prints, animal motifs, geometric tribal patterns, turbans, harem pants and chunky jewelry with a modern Marrakech feel hit the runways throughout the city. Tight hair pulled back with a high braid or hair wrapped in turbans and even the “genie” headscarf look completed the effect of tribal dressing.

Catherine Malandrino was one of the designers most noted for celebrating this look with her collection based on nomadic tribes from Africa. Others include Diane Von Furstenberg, Custo Barcelona, Rosa Cha, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Rodarte and Proenza Schouler.

X TANGERINE DREAM
One color that was impossible to miss this season with the infiltration of Orange everywhere. Many collections only showed neutrals with slices of orange thrown in for a bit of flavor. Traditionally the color orange stands for courage, so perhaps this is a statement of the times to be courageous. With all the 70’s references floating about it’s hard not to also forget that Orange was The color of the 70’s.
Which New York designers sent Orange tones down the runway? 3.1 Philip Lim, Diane Von Furstenberg, Elise Overland, Marc Jacobs, Milly, Monique Lhuillier, Rosa Cha, Thuy and Anna Sui among many more…

Photography of New York runways by Shawna Simmons for XXXX Magazine (3.1 Philip Lim, Alexander Herchcovitch, Anna Sui, Barbara T Fank, Bespoken, Charlotte Ronson, Christian Siriano, Diane Von Furstenberg, Doo.Ri, Generic Denim, Herve Leger, Jeremy Lang, Mara Hoffman, Marc Jacobs, Matthew Ames, Max Azaria, Milly, Monarchy, Nicholas K, Petrou, Rosa Cha, Temperly London, Thuy, Tommy Hilfiger, Twinkle, Vassilios, Vivienne Tam, Whitney Eve, Yigal Azrouel) additional imagery provided by perspective showrooms or courtesy of Style.com.

I have been looking for the opportunity to wear this strapless, tiered, bow across-the-bust lbd.  I never show much skin, so the dress, which is probably 3 yrs. old, has been languishing in a closet.  My cute little shrug, that I pre-ordered last summer, arrived just a few weeks ago giving me the chance to wear a dress I’ve wanted to wear for some time now.

The shrug has a double zipper and is a heavy-weight knit.  The dress is a heavy-weight silk satin and has the cutest bow detail …

My dress is RED (Valentino’s contemporary line) and the shrug is from Narciso Rodriguez.  I also wear suede, laser-cut booties from Valentino that I got in the “good old days” — last winter when retailers had to practically give merchandise away.  *sigh*  Those were some good times.  The tights are Wolford from many seasons ago and I don’t remember the style name.

That’s all in this installment.  More to come soon.  — Carole

The Morphoses London Season opens tonight at Sadler’s Wells with a programme dedicated to 100 years of Ballets Russes, an appropriate choice for a company structured in the same way and whose mission to “broaden the scope of classical ballet through the creation of innovative productions and collaboration with the seminal artists of its time” ties in with the feats of Diaghilev’s own legendary troupe.

Three years and many accolades on, Christopher Wheeldon’s company continues to match some of ballet’s brightest stars to new work by the best choreographers and designers around.  By nurturing these quasi pro bono collaborations, Morphoses projects the image of a fresh and accessible company whose main objectives are to target the 25-34  year old public not familiar with ballet and to challenge some of the preconceptions associated with the art form.

As part of Wheeldon’s target demographic, we think the existence of a company like Morphoses sends a very positive message, a promise for the future of ballet.  Its mission strongly resonates with us as we also believe ballet can and should be made accessible to younger generations while staying true to its traditions, with no dumbing down of the art form. We only wish their seasons were longer (only 4 days in London) and that we could see more of Wheeldon’s work this side of the Atlantic.

Wheeldon's Morphoses in Commedia. Photo: Erin Baiano © Source: Danceviewtimes

Morphoses in a Nutshell

Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company was founded in 2007 by Christopher Wheeldon, previously NYCB’s resident choreographer, together with Lourdes Lopez, ex-NYCB Principal and Former Executive Director of The George Balanchine Foundation. The troupe attracts dancers from major companies in the world who appear at reduced fees. The repertory is a mix of modern classics and new pieces created by Wheeldon or by guest choreographers, in collaboration with innovative designers and composers, very much in the spirit of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.

Originally Morphoses would function as a pickup company, hiring dancers on a season basis until Wheeldon had secured enough financial backup (around US$5 million) to have dancers on a fixed payroll, but the credit crunch  has forced the company to carry on with a small administrative staff of three and to remain at its donated Manhattan base for the present. Dancers continue to be recruited on a season-by-season basis while Wheeldon has kept working as a choreographer outside Morphoses, which allows him not only to continue staging big budget works for the major ballet companies, but also to bring in extra funds for his own Morphoses projects. His long term plan is to  be able to support a permanent troupe of 12 dancers alongside the regular guests.

Morphoses’s inaugural performance took place at the 2007 Vail International Dance Festival. After a heavy media build-up, this first appearance received mixed reviews from the American press. Some critics thought the ballets in the programmes looked too similar, with too many abstract ballets (including pieces by Forsythe and Edwaard Liang) and prominently featuring too many pas de deux, but they generally praised Wheeldon for elevating the artistry in his dancers (NYCB’s Wendy Whelan, often regarded as Wheeldon’s muse, was nominated for an Olivier Award) and for creating a rapport with the audience by coming onstage to introduce each piece with insightful commentary.

That same year Morphoses became a Guest Resident Company at New York City Center and at London’s Sadler’s Wells. Wheeldon was appointed as Associated Artist for Sadler’s Wells and the London season won a South Bank Show Award. Since then, Morphoses has also appeared at the Sydney Festival.

The Many Faces of Morphoses

Guest Dancers

Tyler Angle, Alexandra Ansanelli, Leanne Benjamin, Hélène Bouchet, Ashley Bouder, Darcey Bussell, Batkhurel Bold, Thiago Bordin, Alina Cojocaru, Jonathan Cope, Ángel Corella, Adrian Danchig-Waring, Jason Fowler, Gonzalo García, Marcelo Gomes, Craig Hall, Drew Jacoby, Johan Kobborg, Nehemiah Kish, Carla Körbes, Maria Kowroski, Edwaard Liang, Tiler Peck, Rubinald Pronk, Teresa Reichlen, Danielle Rowe, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Michael Nunn, William Trevitt, Edward Watson, Miranda Weese, Wendy Whelan

Collaborators

Composers James MacMillan, Michael Nyman, Steve Reich and Bright Sheng; Artists/Set Designers James Buckhouse and Jean-Marc Puissant, Adrianne Lobel; Designers Francisco Costa, Narciso Rodriguez, Isabel & Ruben Toledo; Director Nicholas Hytner

Repertory

The inaugural programme presented in 2007 featured two new Wheeldon pieces – “Fool’s Paradise” and “Prokofiev Pas de Deux” – alongside his exisiting works “Mesmerics”, “After the Rain” and “Morphoses”. It also included William Forsythe’s “Slingerland”, Michael Clark’s “Satie Stud”, Liv Lorent’s “Propeller”, and Edwaard Liang’s “Vicissitude”.

The following year brought a mix of premieres led by Wheeldon’s “Commedia” (to Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite), Lightfoot León’s “Shutters Shut” (at City Center) and Emily Molnar’s “Six Fold Illuminate” presented together with classic works by Sir Frederick Ashton – The Dream Pas de Deux (in Vail) and Monotones II – Robbins’s “Other Dances” and Wheeldon pieces “Polyphonia” and Fool’s Paradise”.

This year Morphoses brings a host of new works to both its transatlantic headquarters. It also continues to collaborate with influential fashion designers Francisco Costa (Creative Director of Calvin Klein), Isabel and Ruben Toledo. Commemorating the Ballets Russes’ centenary, the first programme will  include Wheeldon’s “Commedia”, Ratmansky’s “Boléro” (to the eponymous Ravel piece) and a new work by Tim Harbour.  Two days later, a second programme brings “Softly as I Leave You”, originally choreographed by Paul Lightfoot and Sol León (resident choreographers of Nederlands Dans Theatre) for dancers Drew Jacoby and Rubinald Pronk, in addition to old and new Wheeldon: “Continuum” and  “Rhapsody Fantaisie”  (a world premiere set to Rachmaninoff’s suites for two pianos).

Extracts of Reviews and Selected Praise:

One of the wonderful things about Mr. Wheeldon’s work is that there are new discoveries to be made each time you watch it. Roslyn Sulcas at the NYTimes [link]

Morphoses does have a provisional air. For the moment it remains an assembly of dancers, albeit extraordinary ones, from other troupes, and Mr. Wheeldon hasn’t yet had the opportunity to develop a group of performers to his own ends. But he is a choreographer with an instinctive grasp of dancers and their abilities…To see major ballerinas like Ms. Benjamin and Wendy Whelan on the same program is reason enough to watch Morphoses. Roslyn Sulcas at the NYTimes [link]

Trained on Balanchine, most New York ballet critics absorb meaning and sense syntactically, because with Balanchine it’s the action between the notes–the syncopated rhythms–that shape the steps and their portent. With Wheeldon, the ballet’s color and emotion may be rooted in the score, but the organizing principle is visual. Apollinaire Scherr at Foot in Mouth / ArtsJournal [link]

Wheeldon has set his standards about as high as a new company could aim for. We can really look forward to what follows. Judith Mackrell at The Guardian [link]

It is an absolute pleasure to watch this group of top-rate dancers running through their paces in this way. With ages from the teens to the over-forties, in all shapes and heights, they are so full of personality and presence that they make this a most uplifting evening. Sarah Crompton at The Telegraph [link]

Sources and Further Information

1. Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company Website [link]
2. The Newcomer by Joan Acocella. The New Yorker [link]
3. Metamorphoses by Astrida Woods. Dance Magazine, October 2008.
4. Ballet without Borders by Peter Aspden. Financial Times, September 2008. [link]
5. The dancers are Young, Beautiful, Sexy and Smart by Valerie Lawson. The Sydney Morning Herald, November 2008. [link]
6. How to watch a Wheeldon ballet by Apollinaire Scherr. Foot in Mouth at ArtsJournal, October 2008. [link]
7. Risky Business by Gia Kourlas. Time Out New York, October 2007 [link]

Over the past few years, the runways have been no stranger to the nerd, the freak, the geek or even the outcast. The brat pack rebels of yesteryear have been replaced by the nerd herd: long and lank twiks with black framed glasses and skinny jeans. What fashion enthusiasts were unprepared for this season was not the embrace of the rebel, nor the geek, but something entirely other-worldly. The alien.

Narciso Rodriguez cited a District 9 movie poster as inspiration for his Spring/Summer 2009 collections. Contrary to the 80s body-conscious trends we’ve been seeing in retail so much lately, Rodriguez as well as some other designers, (Alexander Wang, for one) have been sending wider, more spacious silhouettes down their runways.

The geek trend is still far from over, (plaid shirts and oxford shoes, anyone?), but I for one am welcoming the introduction of not only a new sci-fi silhouette, but a refreshingly different kind of style icon.

O casamento é um conjunto de muitos detalhes, mas o centro das atenções de todos é sempre a noiva. E não há noiva sem um vestido de noiva!…

Na realeza a história não é diferente. Basta fazermos uma rápida viagem através do tempo….

A moda começou quando a Rainha Vitória escolheu para vestir em seu casamento, no século XIX, um vestido de cetim branco debruado de flores de laranjeira, quando o comum à época eram vestidos coloridos que poderiam ser usados em outras ocasiões.

A onda pegou e sua bisneta, Elisabeth, iniciou a competição pelo vestido mais bonito quando teve seu vestido feito pelo costureiro oficial da corte real inglesa, Norman Hartnell.

Foi só a partir da década de 20 que o padrão branco se estabeleceu entre as noivas, como temos hoje.

Jacqueline Kennedy, em 53 utilizou em seu primeiro casamento um vestido que deixava os ombros à mostra, desenhado por Anne Lowe. Já em sua segunda união, o estilista escolhido foi Valentino.

Em 1981 foi a vez de Lady Di. Suas mangas bufantes e véu quilométrico formaram o modelo mais copiado da história!

Já em 1996, Carolyn Bessette apresentou o estilista Narciso Rodriguez e seus modelos minimalistas ao mundo em seu casamento com John Kennedy Jr.

Mas foi em 1956 que Grace Kelly deu vida à noiva mais bela e elegante de que se teve notícias. Segundo o blog Maisie Fantaisie, a princesa hollywoodiana utilizou um vestido desenhado pela figurinista Helen Rose, que trabalhava desenhando os modelos das estrelas de cinema nos filmes. Rose elaborou o vestido de Kelly baseada em um dos modelos feitos para a atriz no longa “High Society”. O modelo foi seu projeto mais caro, apoiado pela MGM, produtora para quem trabalhava. Tão famoso ficou que foi parar em um museu!

What a year it’s been for NARS, eh?! Celebrating its 15th Anniversary (which, sadly, is most of my life), they pulled out every trick in the book to have us beauty girls addicted and begging for more. From bringing out Mr. Nars himself to the runway for Marc Jacobs (he did the makeup for Jacobs’ Fall 09 AND Spring ‘10 shows) to making special in store appearance in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York (which I missed), this is one busy man dedicated to bring out the beauty in all of us!

How do you top it all off? Can there be anything..ANYTHING…that will have you drooling by the end of this post? I’m sad you had to ask my friend. I present to you- NARS’ 2009 Holiday Collection:

This Holiday season, the colors are deep and bold with festive shimmer- perfect for designing a look that is both sophisticated and sultry. “For the holidays, I think it’s a great time to feel beautiful and sexy…with a little bit of movie star attitude,” says François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics.

NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil ($24)
Sure to be a favorite for the holidays, the soft touch shadow pencil is a new addition to the NARS product line that offers a convenient delivery system and multi-purpose formula. Available in three playful shades:

Goddess: A cool, divinely ethereal, glistening pink champagne that’s worthy of worship.
Skorpios: An irresistibly iridescent copper named for the alluring Greek isle of the famous and flamboyant.
Aigle Noir: A smoky, bold black infused with gold shimmer named for the dark, noble raptor that soars the Himalayas graceful and rare.

NARS Duo Eyeshadow ($32)

Brousse

Deep, subtly shimmering hues of eggplant and the darkest wood create an earthy, yet sophisticated palette

Eurydice

Of all the colors and products in this collection, this is the one product I have to get my hands on. Bordeaux with hints of iridescent blues and coal rich with metallic greens make for a modern holiday pairing. This duo is perfect for creating a perfect smokey eye for a night out on the town. With my birthday coming up during the holiday, I foresee tons of photos being taken with this little gem swiped across my eyelids.

Taiga 

A surprising contrast of bright, yet intense hues in the sheerest of textures

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow ($21)

This shimmering, spicy pine cream eyeshadow is named for the monsoon – natural and unpredictable

NARS Rouge Andalou Nail Polish ($16)

Lasting and lustrous, like its namesake region – this classic, incandescent candy apple red nail hue is sultry, sexy and steeped in tradition

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24)

Pop Life

Coat lips instantly with this bold, bright and modernly matte holly red hue that slips on with a velvety texture
Toundra

This richly pigmented Barolo wine shade is creamy, long-lasting and matte for strong, seamless color

NARS Luxor Multiple ($37)

An iridescent pink to be used on eyes, cheeks, lips and body for dynamic highlights and a perfect, glowing complexion

The Holiday 2009 collection is currently available at narscosmetics.com.

My faves from Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 collections. It seems like a lot but I really couldn’t narrow it down much further from over 500 pics. Send me to Milan…someone…anyone!

Si vous ne saviez pas encore que j’avais un problème avec les flankers, ce billet est  votre réponse. Narciso Rodriguez vient de sortir une édition limitée, intitulée “For Her & For Him Musc Collection”. Laquelle viendra enrichir For Her d’une Eau de Parfum Intense, et For Him d’une Eau de Parfum.

Sincèrement, j’adore le travail de Narciso Rodriguez, je porte avec un plaisir non dissimulé l’eau de toilette et l’eau de parfum For Her qui sont pour moi une superbe réussite à tous les points de vue. J’admire Essence, pour ce qu’il apporte de moderne et de différent dans le paysage des parfums actuel (comme l’avait fait d’ailleurs For Her), même s’il ne me convient pas vraiment. Et enfin, For Him exerce sur moi un drôle d’effet magnétique que j’ai du mal à contrôler.

Je ne pensais pas que le virus du “flanker rapide” aurait touché ses parfums, mais ma visite hebdomadaire chez Sephora m’a rappelée à l’ordre. Je n’ai pas encore senti l’eau de parfum For Him, mais j’ai été franchement surprise en sentant l’eau de parfum intense For Her. L’intensité est relativement discutable (en tout cas sur moi), car je le trouve un peu fluet et il manque cette impression de richesse et de texture que l’on attend dans une version intense. Mais surtout, on a perdu toute la spécificité du parfum, et la signature olfactive si particulière qui avait fait son succès est totalement écrasée sous un bouquet de fleurs blanches somme toute assez banal. Exit le côté sombre et un peu sale que j’aimais tant, exit le caractère de l’accord musc-patchouli… La féminité de cette eau intense n’a plus grand chose à voir avec celle de l’aînée et moi, je préfère celle de l’aînée. Le jasmin, l’ylang-ylang et la fleur d’oranger qui composent cette nouveauté me laissent bizarrement une forte impression de lilas… Le fond retrouve tant bien que mal la touche de musc que l’on connaît, mais l’ambre y est plus présente.

Le parfum n’est pas mauvais, non. Mais il fait pâle à côté de son voisin et me donne une impression de fait “à la-va-vite” , ce qui est bien dommage, tant je suis sûre que cette marque est prometteuse dans ses créations parfums. Vous me direz, ce n’est qu’une édition limitée, bientôt je l’aurai oubliée !

Musc Collection “For Her Eau de Parfum Intense” ; 50ml et 100ml : 78€ et 100€

I’ve always been a fan of both green and yellow, but more so than either color I like the shade that falls precisely between the two known as chartreuse. It’s the perfect spring color–crisp, sunny, bold and fun.

Used as an accent against a classic palette of black and white, chartreuse adds a fresh twist:

L-R: Nanette Lepore, Derek Lam, 3.1 Philip Lim and Narciso Rodriguez

as i am now in a resort culture, my first fashion entry coming back from a dry spell is reasonably one about resort collections.

it wasn’t too long ago when the fancy term “resort” made its way into the glamorous jargon of annual fashion events, squeezing itself among the blur of fabrics that are “spring-summer” and “fall-winter”.

so what exactly is the resort collection?

though the term gained solid existence only in recent fashion history, resort wear itself goes far back when the wealthy jet-set formed a viable market for high fashion appropriate for escaping the bitter winter as they fly off to warm tropical climates. it used to be primarily made up of light materials, gossamer fabrics, billowy hats, open footwear and multifarious swimwear, but designers have now considered the other side of the jet-set who run off to aspen rather than the bahamas by including toasty materials, furry hats, snug boots and warm gloves.

my favorite pieces from resort 09 collections:

badgley mischka

badgley mischka

badgley mischka

badgley mischka

luca luca

luca luca

luca luca

luca luca

narciso rodriguez

narciso rodriguez

narciso rodriguez

nicole miller

nicole miller

nicole miller

nicole miller

nicole miller

nicole miller

nicole miller

rag & bone

rag & bone

rag & bone

while girls in many countries blessed with year-long sunshine prefer their wardrobes to consist mainly of jeans and shirts, i think it would be a fine idea to introduce some dresses and hats (yes, hats. why is it that not many women wear hats in the philippines?). i like jeans and shirts too, but i find myself wearing dresses more often here in fiji. they are more comfortable under tropical heat, plus they are easier to pack and wash. and i always wear a hat.

don’t forget your sunscreen.