ELLE & ELLE girl
ElleGirl
Photo: Courtesy of 3.1 Phillip Lim
Fashion houses like 3.1 Phillip Lim and Lanvin put a twist on the spring 2011 runways—literally! These braids aren’t for little girls: 3.1 Phillip Lim used a ying yang-inspired theme to combine both black and white, and Lanvin…well, Alber Elbaz just took interwoven jewelry to the next level.
Photo: Courtesy of Lanvin
We picked some chic and out-of-the-loop pieces for you to indulge in this season!
Check it out here:
Elle.Stardoll
Photo: Billy Farrell Agency
Last night, Volkswagen, the Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 hosted a dinner and party to toast to the new partnership between the car company and the museum. Volkswagen has made a huge stride to support MoMA in innovative new exhibitions and education programs, and the celebration was truly felt. Madonna, Marina Abramovic, Penn Badgley, James Franco, Yoko Ono, Rufus Wainwright, Rachel Weisz and Patti Smith were a few of the guests in attendance. But Lucy Liu, pictured with VW Chairman Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, got a real special treat of the night — a lift to the party in the U.S. debut of the futuristic Volkswagen XL1 prototype. Liu, in a stunning, white Givenchy frock and Michael Kors silver belt, told ELLE about some of the impressive labels she’s nabbed recently.
- ElleGirl
Prada fall 2011, Imaxtree
There’s nothing like a cutting-edge print to initiate some of the craziest trends we’ve seen in a while. Trends are often based off of the unique print of the fabric themselves, which makes prints lots of fun to play with and mix-and-match.
- Elle.Stardoll
Photo: Marc Jacobs
Packing for a beach getaway is all about strategy. In order to be the belle of the beach, there’s three important pieces you must have. First you need a bag. It has to hold a towel, sunscreen, a change of clothes — and yet still be chic enough to impress. Then, you need a suit to give you the best tan lines. And finally, a cover-up that will take you from the sand to the streets. My beach essentials include a cool cotton tunic to wear over my suit during a chic mid-day lunch, a colorful swimsuit to make my winter-paled skin appear somewhat tan, and a sturdy yet stylish tote to carry all the necessities from day to night. Whether you’re planning a beach vacation, an open-water sailing trip, or a relaxing weekend by the pool, take a cue from the Spring runways, and choose your swim wardrobe with vivid hues, classic whites, and easy, versatile shapes. For some of my favorite pieces on sale now, check out the beach boutique on Rue La La today.
- Elle.Stardoll
Photo: Richard Chai x Acura
There might be no other accessory that manages to be both consistently elegant and strong as the driving glove. Luckily enough, designer Richard Chai has taken a new spin on the glove with a collaboration with Acura. The gloves are in fact, also inspired by Thor. In the film, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents drive Acura cars, wearing sleek black suits reminiscent of Chai’s menswear, merging fashion and lifestyle one step closer. The Richard Chai x Acura black leather gloves, in fact, use a handsome pattern mimicking the car’s curves and interior. As a perfect Father’s Day gift, we can’t wait to get our hands on them. The gloves will sell for $225 at Odin New York beginning in June. ELLE caught up with Chai to get more details on the backstory.
- Elle.Stardoll
Photo: Tracy Anderson
Any layperson would agree: Jennifer Lopez’ legs are pretty much the stuff of dreams. To that end, Venus recently challenged a group of online media to achieve goddess gams like those of their global ambassador, Lopez, by organizing a group leg-toning session with trainer to the stars Tracy Anderson.
- Elle.Stardoll
Photo: Lie Sang Bong
Over the next week, Seoul-based journalist Michael Reyes will be tapping us into the most important Korean designers. An affinity for marrying distinctly Korean aesthetics with a sharp mastery of technical skill, the label that bares the designer’s name shatters the enigma of Korean creativity. Lie Sang Bong is arguably the most internationally recognized Korean designer and his influences range from Korean art, pottery, calligraphy, the peninsula’s breathtaking scenery and cultural treasures; notably its remarkable written system “Hangeul.”
- Elle.Stardoll
Photo: Carrie Parry
Running away and joining the circus is an escape for some, but for Carrie Parry, it was inspiration. “Each season we traveled from town to town through the English countryside. It’s difficult to describe what it’s like to wake up surrounded by Russian Cossacks and acrobats, clowns, musicians, and jugglers—and then getting to work with them, and then getting to know them as people and as friends,” remembers the Los Angeles-born, New York-based designer. It’s just one of the many things that influence Parry’s timeless-with-a-twist designs for her eponymous label, which launches this fall.
- ElleGirl
Photo: Retna
What can we say—gingers are so hot right now. With Disney’s newest flick Lemonade Mouth debuting on DVD today (win it here!), we couldn’t be more excited to spotlight 18-year-old actor-slash-songwriter Adam Hicks, who plays Wen in the movie. Hicks dishes on rapping (obvi), high school, and the coolest date he’s been on, which is actually pretty awesome (we took notes). Check out our Q&A below!
- Elle.Stardoll
Photo: Rich Tong
Part of the appeal of fashion blogging is its tangibility. There’s the feeling of intimacy with the author, but also the sense that anyone has a shot at celebrity—that you actually have a chance at becoming the next Tavi (well, if you’ve missed the 13-year-old age mark, perhaps the next Susie Bubble). Granted, fame probably isn’t the driving factor in your desire to get your words out there, but you must admit: recognition has its perks. Increasingly, those looking to share their style sensibilities are turning to Tumblr, and they’re smart to do so—the four-year-old blogging service is known for its largely photo-focused content and avid user engagement. ELLE talked with Rich Tong, Tumblr’s Fashion Director, about the best way a fashion blogger can market herself on the platform and how to become a key player. Here, his essential tips.
1. First, choose Tumblr. Not to highlight the obvious, but there are certain opportunities and advantages to being part of the community. Part of Tong’s job is reaching out to fashion brands, developing new features for fashion bloggers, and managing fashion week initiatives, which is rare (and awesome) for a tech company. Another bonus: the re-blog feature lends itself easily to publicity. Explains Tong, “Your posts are much more likely to be re-blogged and shared, providing you more exposure than you could get anywhere else.”
2. Be consistent. “This is key in maintaining a follower base,” says Tong. “You want to train your readers to know when or how often you’ll post. Make sure to ‘like’ and re-blog others’ posts.”
3. Make the pic pretty. Tumblr users get off on beautiful photos so either take hi-res photos (people especially love highly saturated images) or re-blog quality pictures (always giving credit where needed, of course).
4. Create your voice. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to write from a first-person perspective or post pictures of yourself. “It’s easy to be anonymous and still curate one of the most beautiful fashion blogs on Tumblr,” says Tong. Another tip: answer questions (using the ask feature).
5. Learn and follow others who already do it well. Some of Tong’s suggestions: “Jamie Beck (fromme-toyou.tumblr.com) has done an exceptional job marketing herself, ever since she joined Tumblr’s fashion week initiatives this past season. She’s gone on to work with some absolutely incredible people including Oscar de la Renta, Coco Rocha, and Christian Louboutin. Jessica Quirk (whatiwore.tumblr.com) is also another terrific example, as she’s now in the process of publishing her first book based on her blog.” You can also find top players in Tumblr’s fashion feature section (http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/fashion). Getting in here will guarantee that you’ll amass some followers, so be sure to tag your posts and give credit where needed. A hint: original content gets attention.
6. You can always rely on buzz-worthy topics. Unsurprisingly, Tumblr users are obsessed with what we’re all obsessed with. “Gaga, McQueen, and Alexa Chung. Always Alexa,” says Tong.
Also: “If you need to resort to it, photos of puppies and kittens. It doesn’t matter that they’re not fashion-related. They’re cute.”
