Photo: Cults

In just two short years, New York-based Cults have perfected what could be described as a sweet-but-salty sound, juxtaposing dreamy ‘60s-style melodies with layers of reverb. For singer Madeline Follin, that contrast has seeped into her onstage style. For the band’s current tour, which takes them across the US through April, she’s been favoring Opening Ceremony’s girly-with-an-edge collaborations. “I love baby doll minis but I also love grunge, so the textures and fabric make it more punk but the cuts make it more cute and feminine,” she explains of her Chloe Sevigny-designed leather dress. It’s one of many that she’s packed for the trip—although she notes that it depends on how long the band is traveling, “it’s usually a minimum of six dresses. The most I ever packed was, like, 15!” Here, a peek into what she’s brought along for the trip, and why you’ll never catch her onstage wearing jeans. Outfit breakdown: Jean Paul Gaultier for Opening Ceremony cropped motorcycle leather jacket, my eyelet black leather Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony dress, and black tights and black flats from Urban Outfitters. I brought this outfit on tour because: the jacket goes with everything. I wear a lot of skater girl mini-dresses—I have one in every color—so the jacket is a great piece to dress anything up. Same with the eyelet dress; I fell in love with the fit when I got it and it’s a leather dress…badass! My personal style is: a great mixture of cute-meets-punk. If this outfit were one of my songs, it would be: “Go Outside” because it is the first leather outfit I have ever owned. I went outside of my normal fashion comfort zone and actually found something that I really enjoy! I always pack: black tights. I never leave home with a pair of black tights. When you are a girl wearing dresses on stage, you’ve got to be careful! You’d never catch me onstage wearing: my day outfit—leggings, vintage T-shirt, Converse high-tops, and a jean jacket. I always wear dresses on stage, always. My pre-tour shopping stop is: the basics—Topshop, AllSaints, Opening Ceremony. If I have time I’ll usually poke around some thrift stores in the East Village. I also order a ton of stuff from Asos. Online usually is my go-to, since I never have time to shop. The best on-the-road purchase I ever made was: my jean jacket. I found it at a thrift store in L.A. and I literally don’t go anywhere without it!

Photo: Proenza Schouler

The LA Times is reporting that construction has started on Proenza Schouler‘s first store.  It’s in New York, of course, but uptown on Madison Avenue instead of downtown where the brand’s most loyal fans both live and hangout. Lazaro Hernandez told the paper, “For us, it’s weird to go to stores and see a watered-down version of the collection.  With our own store, we’ll have the opportunity to show our whole expression of the brand.” When it opens, later this year, the boutique will offer plenty of exclusive product, as well as Proenza’s new line of denim—”Kind of dorky, super-clean. No whiskers, no bells and whistles, no signatures….Super-anonymous.”—and an ever growing selection of PS1s.  Between this and Celine’s new Madison Avenue outpost, Madison Avenue’s suddenly looking pretty hip.

Justin Bieber released his new single this morning.  In “Boyfriend,” he offers to be everything from Buzz Lightyear to the perfect gentleman.  Most girls would probably just like him to be Justin Bieber.  Anyway, click through to listen.  We can’t wait to hear Sophia Grace cover this on Ellen.

Looks from Goff's collection, as well as the designer herself, far right. CHARLESTON—When twenty-three-year old Savannah, Georgia resident Hannah Goff’s bold collection exploded onto the runway, camera lights went off like mini supernovas of excitement; the young North Carolina State University alumnus easily won Charleston Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer competition. Since 2006, Charleston’s unique Fashion Week has been dedicated to breaking the mold. The event’s creative director, Ayoka Lucas, has taken it on herself to find the next Proenza Schouler or Alexander Wang.  Fully aware that the New York route is often expensive and challenging, she states, “It really is a great introduction for them [the designers] into the industry, which is a challenging industry to get into, so I am really proud of the emerging designer component; we are seeing talent from the entire east coast.” In many ways, the competition’s the hinge of the week.  Five finalists showcase their collections over as many nights, four showcase their full collections on Saturday night and one is invited back to compete for the coveted Emerging Designer title.  Celebrity judges Lindsey Carter, local designer of Troubadour, K. Cooper Ray, designer of Social Primer, Cameron Silver, owner of Decades Boutique, Fern Mallis, Chris Benz, Vanessa Lachey and ELLE’s own Anne Slowey chose Goff from the twenty finalists and 180 applicants. Benz got his wish, expressed earlier in the week, as he looked for bold color down the runway, “I think it is so great that the designers are not afraid to use color.” The crafted textiles and hand-woven garments could not be overlooked, and as Benz said, “that is very difficult to do.” Goff exemplified this, telling a story with her pieces.  Deriving her inspiration from the modern woman straddling life as a homemaker and a businesswoman, she created her own prints and enhanced them by manipulating the fabric with careful pleating and tapering. With vibrant colors and shoulders evoking an armor-like masculinity, she was careful to balance them with feminine skirts and fine lines. As Mallis said, “In the bigger [fashion] weeks it is so hard to be noticed, and this is the opportunity to shine.” And shine she did. Looks from Goff's collection, as well as the designer herself, far right. CHARLESTON—When twenty-three-year old Savannah, Georgia resident Hannah Goff’s bold collection exploded onto the runway, camera lights went off like mini supernovas of excitement; the young North Carolina State University alumnus easily won Charleston Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer competition. Since 2006, Charleston’s unique Fashion Week has been dedicated to breaking the mold. The event’s creative director, Ayoka Lucas, has taken it on herself to find the next Proenza Schouler or Alexander Wang.  Fully aware that the New York route is often expensive and challenging, she states, “It really is a great introduction for them [the designers] into the industry, which is a challenging industry to get into, so I am really proud of the emerging designer component; we are seeing talent from the entire east coast.” In many ways, the competition’s the hinge of the week.  Five finalists showcase their collections over as many nights, four showcase their full collections on Saturday night and one is invited back to compete for the coveted Emerging Designer title.  Celebrity judges Lindsey Carter, local designer of Troubadour, K. Cooper Ray, designer of Social Primer, Cameron Silver, owner of Decades Boutique, Fern Mallis, Chris Benz, Vanessa Lachey and ELLE’s own Anne Slowey chose Goff from the twenty finalists and 180 applicants. Benz got his wish, expressed earlier in the week, as he looked for bold color down the runway, “I think it is so great that the designers are not afraid to use color.” The crafted textiles and hand-woven garments could not be overlooked, and as Benz said, “that is very difficult to do.” Goff exemplified this, telling a story with her pieces.  Deriving her inspiration from the modern woman straddling life as a homemaker and a businesswoman, she created her own prints and enhanced them by manipulating the fabric with careful pleating and tapering. With vibrant colors and shoulders evoking an armor-like masculinity, she was careful to balance them with feminine skirts and fine lines. As Mallis said, “In the bigger [fashion] weeks it is so hard to be noticed, and this is the opportunity to shine.” And shine she did.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Vanessa Paradis in Tokyo for Chanel. Photo: Getty Images So why was Karl Lagerfeld giving a press conference in Tokyo?  Because it’s the first stop on Chanel’s Little Black Jacket tour. The book, Lagerfeld’s latest endeavor, features over 100 portraits of women donning one of Chanel’s greatest hits.  Though it features celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Dakota Fanning interpreting the jacket based on their own style, the designer told Tim Blanks that its his portrait of Hudson Kroenig (the only three-year old on Chanel’s runway this season) that’s his favorite.  Lagerfeld wrote the book with Carine Roitfeld, who appears on its cover, and is celebrating with three days worth of festivities. Though it doesn’t come out until later this year, the book’s already spawned a second showing of Chanel’s haute couture collection, a dinner, and an exhibition of the photos in the book, the latter of which will be open in Tokyo through April 15th.  After that, it heads to New York before making seven more international stops, each of which will be freshly feted.

The cover of tomorrow's Independent. If you were charged with editing a newspaper in honor of your favorite charity, and you happened to be married to a supermodel, why wouldn’t you put her on the cover?  David Walliams gathered his wife, Lara Stone, and Rosie Huntington Whitely for a muddy photoshoot on behalf of Sport Relief (the same charity for which Kate Moss and Stella McCartney are guest starring on Absolutely Fabulous), and chose the photo at left, by Alasdhair MacLellan, to cover tomorrow’s Independent in the UK.   All of the proceeds from tomorrow’s sales of the paper, which includes celebrity interviews and guest contributors like Bill Gates and Eddie Izzard, will go to the charity. Speaking of McCartney, the designer’s Olympic collection was released in London this morning.  In collaboration with Adidas, McCartney was charged with designing the UK’s Olympic uniforms for the international games, to be held in London this summer.  She manipulated the Union Jack and stretched it over sports bras, swimsuits and running gear.  She told the AP, “The basic message is to unify the team.  The athletes all want to feel like one team. The other big starting point for me was the Union flag, an iconic flag, I think every Briton is so proud of it, but I wanted to look at it in a different way.” Click through for a look! Photo: Getty Images

The future of film lies in Nicole Richie's hands... Photo: Getty Images

In an era where teenagers worship celebs’ online rants, it’s rather timely that Sofia Coppola would open her newest flick, The Bling Ring, with a quote from loquacious tweeter, Nicole Richie. While there’s no word on which of Richie’s zingers sets the scene, the move’s an interesting one for the indie director best known for stylized cinematography and lethargic pacing. Starring Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga and Leslie Mann, Bling profiles a group of teens that pilfered nearly $3 million worth of jewelry, cash and designer clothing from celebrities including Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom and Rachel Bilson in 2008 and 2009. And though we’ll have to wait until next year to solve this pressing mystery, there are plenty of other engaging film plots to be born from Ms. Richie’s endless stream of consciousness. Without further ado, our favorites: “The early bird might catch the worm, but I bet it also needs a ton of under eye concealer” – Nicole Richie, July 2011 Blake, Just Barely Blake (Demi Lovato) is surviving her junior year at art school when she befriends mysterious Gregg (Kieran Culkin), who exposes her to Diablo Cody movies, Edward Sharpe cover bands and synthetic pot. “Life just makes so much more sense with black framed glasses on…” – Nicole Richie, January 2012 Tapas at Barneys CO-OP This Breakfast at Tiffany‘s reboot features Lily Collins as Holli Golightleigh, an F.I.T. student by day, D.J. by night, whose magpie sensibility is turned upside down after developing a terrible cat allergy. “Mark my words, my rap career [is] on the rise.” – Nicole Richie, February 2012 VH1 Driven: Drake A documentary on the incendiary rapper featuring never-before-seen footage of Aubrey Drake Graham spitting rhymes on the Toronto set of Degrassi: The Next Generation while being fitted for Jimmy Brooks’ wheelchair. “No grandma, I don’t think you’re ready for bikini season.” – Nicole Richie, February 2012 Hour Glass After discovering a disparaging journal entry from her granddaughter, an emboldened Greta (Helen Mirren) vows to sport a bikini at the annual July Fourth family reunion. “I woke up today knowing everything about everything.” – Nicole Richie, November 2011 Untitled James Franco Project

Photo: Getty Images

In the three seasons that Tom Ford’s designed his eponymous women’s wear collection, he’s painstakingly controlled its release to the press and the public. For his debut, Ford allowed his clothes to be published in a glossy editorial.  His follow up collection, which was less well received (critically, at least) was released online months after the show.  But this season, after presenting to the press during London Fashion Week, Gwyneth Paltrow wore one of his showstopping gowns to the Oscars less than one week later.  Now, a couple of weeks after that, a video that’s glossy enough to look official (but slightly less than what we’d expect from the man who directed this) has hit YouTube.  You can see the rest of his collection, including a crocodile version of the slinky black dress that Jennifer Lawrence wore to a Hunger Games premiere last week, as well as the dyed Alpaca coats, sleek leather suits and Russian spy-inspired looks Ford showed in London. Click through to watch!

Both Karl Lagerfeld and Martin Margiela have said that Haider Ackermann’s their ideal successor, but it sounds like the designer’s waiting for the perfect offer. In this same interview, he told the Financial Times‘ Vanessa Friedman that designing couture is his dream, which has of course sent the Dior circles of the Internet into a tizzy.