android kindle

The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off last night in (you guessed it!) Cannes France. Last night was the Opening Ceremonies with the festival opening up with Baz Luhrman's new film "The Great Gatsby".  Superstars Nicole Kidman and "Amelie" star Audrey Tautou kicked off
12-days of red carpet fashion at the opening night festivities. The prestigious Riviera movie event provides both big fashion houses
and (rarely, but sometimes as in Audrey Tautou's case--see below) up-and-coming designers with unparalleled opportunities to showcase
their work before a global audience.







At the fashion house of Lebanese couturier Elie Saab, a favorite with award ceremony regulars--according to france24.com--the Designer (or at least, their PR dept.) never make the first move. "We don't contact them: they have to want to wear our robes," said
Elie Saab's Emilie Legendre, adding that a large number of fittings were
done this year in Los Angeles, London and Paris. I somehow doubt that the PR companies of the designer brands do not contact the actresses' pr agents to offer a gown or two, especially for such a high-profile event like Cannes. This, I do not believe. But irregardless, Cannes has become a BIG Red Carpet "Fashion Show". Speaking of, let's discuss the Red Carpet so far:






The Fashion: For the Opening Night Ceremony, actress--and 2013 Cannes Film Festival Jury Member--Nicole Kidman wore Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2013, a strapless ivory silk organza tea-length dress with fitted bustier and gathered attached skirt featuring hand-applied multicolored sequined applique







At the Jury Photo Call...













Julianne Moore: Moore wore a strapless black and lilac silk dress from Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2013, modified (Custom) for her from the runway sample shown (right photo above). I thought she looked great. Not sure this is her type of silhouette and maybe not one of her best red carpet ensembles but it was modern, still somewhat classic and very Francais-chic!




Carey Mulligan: "The Great Gatsby" actress Carey Mulligan wore a light pink duchesse satin gown form Christian Dior Couture. It was a custom design, very fitted and similar (in silhouette and simplicity) to...








Cara Delevingue: Questionable white powder concealer/English supermodel Cara Delevingue, who just returned from Singapore modeling in Chanel's Resort 2014 Fashion Show, did the 2013 Opening Ceremonies red carpet, in a black lace gown from Burberry. Love the fitted gown, the see-through lace and especially that red lipstick'ed "Don't EVEN try-and-ask-me-about-the-white-powder look"!




Cindy Crawford: Speaking of Supermodels...The one-and-only Cindy Crawford also walked the 2013 Cannes Opening Night Ceremonies red carpet---she wore a white sweetheart neckline fitted gown with gold sequined neckline detail from Italian designer Roberto Cavalli. Can we just discuss how FABULOUS Cindy Crawford looks!? She gets major "Nick At-a-Girl" points!







Solange Knowles: Solange wore a coppery silk chiffon gown from French Couturier Stephane Rolland and his Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall 2012 collection. Solange--and the gown--were both EXQUISITE! This is a $100,000+ costing (if she were to even buy it!) Couture gown, and kids, she did it "DRAMA justice" at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival red carpet!





Lana Del Rey: Singer Lana Del Rey wore a strapless black and white lace applique gown. She was very much in "the Great Gatsby" spirit in this gown as well as her "modified 1920's"-like hairstyle.




Isla Fisher: Fisher wore a strapless red gown from Oscar de la Renta. The gown featured a gathered bustier and tiered cascade ruffled full skirt. The gown style was a little Prom but, " 'Tis the Season"....I did like the necklace, hairstyle and bright color!




Florence Welch: Welch wore a pink and black polka dotted custom Miu Miu gown based on a below-the-knee style featured in the Miu Miu Fall 2013 collection. Saucy and Sassy. Gotta luv Miss Welch!



Last, But Not Least...(for now)




Fan Bingbing: Actress and Fashion Glam Diva Fan Bingbing wore a rose pink silk ziberline strapless gown with sequined bust section. In case you want to know, it was from Louis Vuitton. Miss Fan Bingbing has been really bringing on the COUTURE in the last couple of years at Cannes, so I hope she delivers this year as well!

Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2013: Jennifer Lawrence chose this "hot off the runway" Blue/Black Strapless Taffeta Gown by Christian Dior. The Fashion Show happened just last week, so this dress must have been quickly packed and sent to Lawrence's Stylist immediately after walking the runway!



It also looks slightly different so this could have been a version created just for Jennifer.



There is no doubt that Christian Dior Haute Couture is one of the hottest labels right now and every actress would die to wear one of Raf Simons' gowns, but with all the choices available to an A-List Actress like Jennifer, I am surprised by this very safe and rather boring choice.



What do you think?

Strapless COUTURE, Watteau backs, Simple Sublime...and then there's Versace:








Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2013 Fashion Week began yesterday in Paris. For those of you who need a quick "re-freshening" on Haute Couture:

*Only certain design houses/designers are allowed to be members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture--and be allowed to use the word "Couture" in their title and/or advertising--and of course, be allowed to show Couture Collections in Paris.

*There are only a handful of brands/designers doing Haute Couture (which translates into "high sewing", "high dressmaking", "high fashion"), including Dior, Valentino, Giambattista Valli, Elie Saab, and so on.

*Almost every seam on a Couture garment is HAND-DONE. Yes, even a simple side seam of a pant! Couture garments can take hundreds--if not thousands of hours to complete.







*Couture are custom made/made-to-order clothing (as opposes to off-the-rack), beginning with the client choosing the design via the fashion show look books, an appointment is made, consultation, follows, a muslin/toile of the ordered garment is made, 3-5 fittings follow, and then a final fitting and/or delivery of the garment.

*A Couture jacket can cost about $30,000, $45,000+  for a cocktail dress and $100,000+ for a gown.



*There are only an estimated 2,000 clients in the entire world who are considered regular customers of Couture. These clients used to be very wealthy American socialites (usually from Texas or NYC)--as well as Euro royalty. Now, most of these clients hail from Russia, the Gulf States, Middle East, China, and Brazil--the so-called "emerging nations" with the most multimillionaires./billionaires.



*In terms of the "bottom line" and business, Couture makes only a small profit; it can cost around $1 million to mount a runway show (making the clothes, hiring the models, location, flying in A-list celebs to sit in the front row). The Couture Collections are used as a marketing tool, to sell auxiliary items of the brand--such as perfumes, sunglasses, accessories.



*Finally, actresses get to borrow Haute Couture for big red carpet events--such as the Oscars, Golden Globes, etc. They usually will wear the runway/showroom sample (so therefore, they must fit into the runway size 2) because it is too costly to create a separate dress specifically for them but there are exceptions. The Couture gowns are then returned to the designer so it can be part of their Archives.



Now, let's discuss this season's Couture, beginning with Dior and Atelier Versace:



Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2013:





























The Look: Flowers, Garden Party dresses, luxe separates. Watteau backs. Audrey Hepburn-esque models with glittering lipstick.  Strapless dresses, bustiers. Lots of delicately embellished work, sequins, flower crystals. Light-as-air silk gazar, organza cocktail dresses. Asymmetrical shapes. Razor-sharp jackets, slim cropped trousers. Pockets, pockets and more pockets...in dresses and gowns. Those SUBLIME final gowns!



Click below for Full Runway Video of Dior Couture Spring 2013: