While you are reading this, I am on my way to Cannes with Chopard for the 66th Cannes Film Festival. As some of you might remember, I had this amazing red carpet experience already last year as guest of Swiss luxury watchmaker and jeweler. Since 1998, Chopard has been enjoying a true romance with the Cannes International Film Festival. 2013 marks the 15th anniversary of this partnership, and of course this is celebrated with several high-profile events, including a “In Love with Cinema” photo exhibition of the most beautiful onscreen kisses and the presentation of its new Haute Joaillerie Red Carpet collection.
What has truly caught my attention is the brand’ s new eco-conscious initiative. This year’s red carpet for the Cannes Film Festival is turning green. In a collaboration with ARM (Alliance for Responsible Mining), the sculptor of Cannes’ iconic Golden Palm trophy, Chopard, has joined Eco-Age creative director and founder of the Green Carpet Challenge (GCC), Livia Firth, wife to Colin, to create ’The Journey’, its journey to sustainable luxury, which already begins at the very start of the production chain and involves issues such as respectful sourcing and traceability of raw materials. Those entirely ethical Haute Joaillerie models will mark the Geneva-based manufacturer’s first Green Carpet Collection.
At the Green Carpet collection press launch: Fan Bing Bing, Livia Firth,Marion Cotillard, Caroline Scheufele, Colin Firth and Laura Bailey
The dazzling beauty of these two Green Carpet Haute Joaillerie models, a cuff bracelet and a pair of earrings in 18ct white gold, finely chased like lacework and entirely set with diamonds, is indeed an adventure in itself. Crafted by the jewelers, gem-setters, polishers and gold casters of the Chopard Haute Joaillerie workshops, they bear exquisite testimony to the exceptional know-how of the Geneva firm.
Stay tuned for many exciting posts coming up from Cannes soon…
Last night, the premiere of THE GREAT GATSBY marked the official opening of the 66th Cannes Film Festival with such fanfare Jay Gatsby would be proud. Unfortunately, I couldn’t accept the exclusive invite to attend this amazing event (Remember last year?) because of another ongoing project but great news is that I will be flying to Cannes next week to live once more this gorgeous red carpet feeling with Chopard.
It’s definitely one of the biggest movies of 2013, directed by Baz Luhrmann. The film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous The Great Gatsby stars Leonardo DiCaprio as 1920s millionaire Jay Gatsby in the part that Robert Redford portrayed in the 1974 version of the film. The 2013 edition is narrated by Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) and Carey Mulligan plays Gatsby’s obsession Daisy Buchanan, along with Joel Edgerton as her husband.
THE STORY
„The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.
The new blockbuster is the perfect example that there is ongoing dialogue within the worlds of fashion, art, film and architecture. The lavish throwback to the “Roaring Twenties” has already been a huge trend for S/S 2012 (for the previous post please click here).
Harrods in London has taken inspiration from the new adaptation with a 1920s jazz-themed cocktail bar to celebrate the release of movie. At the famous department store, you can also shop ‘The Twenties’ return with a roar, as fringing and Art-Deco detailing add edge to architectural shapes. As Gatsby fever hits our screens with its champagne towers and shimmering wardrobe, has there ever been a better time to celebrate the beginning of the summer season?
Keeping this in mind, it is time to take a closer look at the magnificent costumes and jewels in Luhrmann’s film adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic.
Total pairs of stockings/pantyhose/garterbelts from Fogal: 1,080 Total number of Prada party dresses: 40 Total number of crystals provided by Swarovski: 288,000 Most number of hair and make-up applications on any one day, for party scenes: 76 Total items of men’s formalwear and daywear produced for background talent by Brooks Bros.: 2,291
TIFFANY & CO.
Tiffany & Co., who counted F. Scott Fitzgerald himself amongst its clientele, was responsible for the spectacular jewels in the film. The cinematic collection is inspired by pieces from the brand’s archive, genuine products of the creative prosperity of the 1920s which have also inspired a new Gatsby-esque line for Tiffany & Co., the recently launched Ziegfeld range.
The Great Gatsby Savoy Headpiece Tiffany designers crafted a magnificent headpiece in platinum for The Great Gatsby, bringing Daisy Buchanan to life. It features a detachable brooch, freshwater cultured pearls, 3.6-6.9 mm and round brilliant diamonds, carat total weight 25.04. $200,000
PRADA
Miuccia Prada was behind the flappers dresses and ballgowns for the cast. The Italian designer teamed up with costume designer Catherine Martin to create a bespoke collection of 40 Roaring Twenties-style pieces, inspired by selected runway looks from the last 20 years. The glittering re-imagining of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s jazz-age classic stars. In the film the costumes take a leading role: shimmering silk gowns embroidered with crystal and sequins; velvets, furs and dancing fringing; flickering shades of emerald, jade, topaz and gold.
“Our collaboration with Prada recalls the European flair that was emerging amongst the aristocratic East Coast crowds in the 1920s” says Martin. “The fashions of the time saw the development of a dichotomy between those who aspired to the privileged, Ivy League look of wealthy Long Island and those who were aspiring to European glamour, sophistication and decadence. Our collaborations with Prada reflect the collision of these two aesthetics.”
The beautiful costumes will be on display in New York, Tokyo and Shanghai:
May 1 – 12, 2013 at the Prada New York Epicenter at 575 Broadway in New York City.
June 14 – 30, 2013 at the Prada Tokyo Epicenter store and following until mid-July at the IFC Mall in Shanghai.
FOGAL
I am in love with Fogal’s limited edition hosiery collection made exclusively for The Great Gatsby movie. This pure 20’s glamour is now available in all Fogal stores.
Excited to see Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire in The Great Gatsby? I am inviting you to join today’s contest where you can win four amazing movie-inspired giveaways. A tee, a perfume bottle, a book mark and the movie tie-in book.
This contest is open to everyone. To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “The Great Gatsby” to . All entries must be received until May 25, 2013. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules.
The Great Gatsby hits theatres today in Switzerland. Check out the trailer below!
Last week, MCM’s first European flagship store opened its doors in Zurich. As you already know, I felt very honoured to be the blogger host for this wonderful event.
My relationship with MCM dates back to my early college years when I designed a complete collection for the German brand that was founded by Michael Cromer in Munich in the Mid ’70s as ‘Michael Cromer Munich‘ (MCM). Today, it belongs to Sungjoo Design Tech & Distribution, and has been renamed ‘Mode Creation Munich‘ (MCM).
The company’s owner Sung-Joo Kim, a very fascinating lady, had flown in from South Korea for the event along with some famous celebrities. She was ranked among the “Top 50 Women to Watch” by the Wall Street Journal in 2004 and selected as one of the “New Century Leaders” in CNN for the Best of Asia in 2003.
The new amazing colossal MCM store, located at the iconic Münsterhof, offers 160 square metres full of the brand’s must-haves.
Bettina Zollinger, store manager MCM Zurich, with me at the opening party.
Adrian J. Margelist, Chief Creative Officer MCM, with me in front of the shop. I am carrying the Veronika Isis studded shoulder bag from MCM’s upcoming F/W 2014 collection. For all details regarding my look, please click here.
To celebrate the first European flagship store, MCM released an exclusive Zurich Visetos line. The luxurious special edition, only available in Zurich is inspired by the city’s coat of arms, featuring a unique blue and white colourway available on various classic shapes.
How cute are these MCM doggies?!
The party crowd outside…
Spotted: Guya Merkle, owner and designer of Vieri Haute Joaillerie, the luxurious high end jewelry brand.
German actor Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht
Renowned South Korean actor Sang-Woo Kwon
Another famous guest: Designer Albert Kriemler, Creative Director of Akris.
At work
Lovely Fiona Hefti compèred the event.
The ribbon cutting ceremony
Later, I was invited to the official dinner held at the Zunfthaus zur Waag, during which Swiss singer Paloma Würthperformed some of her songs. The highlight of the menu was definitely the logo cake for dessert.
This Mother’s Day, I chime for you… for all the moms who inspire us. Send your mom this video featuring Beyoncé, Cameron Diaz, John Legend, Ziggy Marley, Olivia Wilde, Blake Lively and Hafsat Abiola and thank her for her unconditional love. We only have one mom, one mommy, one mother in this world, one life.
CHIME FOR CHANGE, founded by Gucci, is a community of people working to promote education, health and justice for girls and women everywhere. The new global campaign focuses on girls’ and women’s empowerment. It serves to convene, unite and strengthen voices speaking out for the weaker sex around the world, and to raise funds for non-profit organizations pursuing change. To learn more about this important initiative and to join it, please click here.
Frida Giannini, Gucci’s Creative Director, wearing the Chime for Change T-shirt.
Many celebrities are supporting this gorgeous initiative, such as Salma Hayek-Pinault and Beyoncé Knowles.
On June 1st, CHIME FOR CHANGE will present a global concert to put girls’ and women’s issues on the world’s stage. The televised event at London’s Twickenham Stadium with Co-founder and Artistic Director, Beyoncé as headliner will also feature performances by Jennifer Lopez, Ellie Goulding, Florence + the Machine, HAIM, Iggy Azalea, John Legend, Laura Pausini, Rita Ora, Timbaland and more to be announced. Tickets on sale at www.chimeforchange.org.
After I had finished my amazing shoot with Louis Vuitton for the Art of Packing in Munich, I went to the opening of the house’s new ‘Maison’ in the evening. As some of you might already know, I had been living in the Bavarian city for eight years and it is definitely my favourite German spot. Therefore, I was completely excited to see Louis Vuitton’s new location as well as spotting so many familiar faces in an iconic location at the heart of the city. It was the former Munich post office known as Residenzpost and I had been there many times in my life.
For more details about my look, please click here. The fabulous trench coat is also from Louis Vuitton and belongs to the Icons collection.
When I entered the new ‘Maison’, I felt like entering ‘Vuitton Heaven’… I embarked on a journey of unexpected discoveries through an outstanding range of must-haves and inspiring art installations. Paying tribute to the history of the building, the store also showcases an area dedicated to ‘Ecriture’, the new collection of writing instruments.
A real eye-catcher can be spotted in the form of the first German postage stamp, the ‘Schwarze Einser’ in permanent display. A limited edition of Louis Vuitton stamps were also edited for the event and I am very happy to have such a set at home.
Many celebrities from all over the world had flown in to attend the superb event.
Enjoy my impressions:
German actress Hannah Herzsprung
Model Franziska Knuppe with me
German actor Moritz Bleibtreu
Gorgeous Olivia Palermo
Jamie McGregor Smith, photographer for Louis Vuitton, shot some nice pics of me on the stairs of the new store.
German actress Alexandra Neldel
What an honor: American actress and star of the night Uma Thurman framed by Roberto Eggs, President of Louis Vuitton Northern Europe, to the left and my humble self to the right.
Richard Deacon’s sculpture “Sunday in the Country”, 2005
The after party took place right next door. The decoration was amazing, with hot-air balloon dummies placed in the center of the room.
Olivia Palermo’s model-boyfriend, Johannes Huebl.
Very sweet Cosma Shiva Hagen with me
Live act: Marina and the Diamonds
The famous singer with me
Germany’s Next Top Model winner 2009, Sara Nuru
The German magazine Bunte named me a style icon, wow! It was an unforgettable event and I am so happy that I was part of it. A huge thank you to the Louis Vuitton team!
Each year, the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the Met Gala, the fashion event of the season and the party of the year, to celebrate the newest the exhibition. This spring, it will be about PUNK: Chaos to Couture, on view from May 9 through August 14, 2013, will examine punk’s impact on high fashion from the movement’s birth in the 1970s through its continuing influence today. “Since its origins, punk has had an incendiary influence on fashion,” said Andrew Bolton, Curator in The Costume Institute. “Although punk’s democracy stands in opposition to fashion’s autocracy, designers continue to appropriate punk’s aesthetic vocabulary to capture its youthful rebelliousness and aggressive forcefulness.”
If you want to find out more about the exhibition, please click here.
Enjoy the best looks from the red carpet of the Costume Institute Benefit last Monday. On top, you can see Sarah Jessica Parker who took the night’s punk theme to heart, and went for this stunning Giles Deacondress, combined with a Philip Treacypunk hat and plaid Christian Louboutinboots. Madonna understood the invitation well and showed up in Givenchy.
Anne Hathaway had the most surprising look with her bleached blond hair which I loved. Of course, the vintage Valentino gown was the perfect match.
And here is an amazing opportunity, you can PRE-ORDER those extremely sexy couture red carpet looks (all F/W 2013) below directly now for seven days. How cool is that?! Just click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly.
And don’t miss Moda Operandi’s amazing punk pop-up store where you can find all those must-have pieces. Mmh, Hedi Slimane was obviously not so wrong with his F/W 2103 collection…
Featuring vibrant rubies and sapphires, Pomellato’s new standout capsule collection ROUGE PASSION would make the perfect Mother’s Day surprise. As those romantic pieces will hit the stores in the end of May, you might consider giving a gift voucher.
Featuring rings and earrings in an array of warm, sunny colors with deep red rubies, crimson pinks and orange sapphires, those rose gold beauties recall a sweet summer sunset.
Tilda Swinton is the face of the ad campaign shot by famous fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø and I think that she looks absolutely stunning.
While promoting her new single ‘Come and Get It‘, Selena Gomez was spotted last Wednesday in NYC wearing a killer look from 3.1 Phillip Lim. And the slogan matches her new song…
I am in love with 3.1 Phillip Lim’s botanical print for S/S 2013 and couldn’t resist this floral topand the matching Polly small flap clutch (also available at Vestibule in Zurich) that has been featured in the brand’s first ad campaign shot in New York City.
During Paris Fashion Week, I went to some amazing events that I would like to share with you. Let’s get started with one that was truly outstanding, something that you don’t see every day.
I was invited to the elegant salons of the association France Ameriques in avenue Franklin Roosvelt, where a very special collaboration, PRINCESS GRACE, MORE THAN AN IMAGE, between Pringle of Scotland and Central Saint Martins was presented.
The collection designed by young talents of the renowned college of arts and design in London features pieces in the finest 100% made in Scotland knitwear, inspired by the wardrobe of H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco, who had loved the historical British brand very much and had been frequently seen in it.
H.R.H. Carolina of Monaco Princess of Hanover had come all the way from Monaco to attend this intimate event in honour of her late mother. She had also supported the students and had given them access to the palace archives.
In April 2012, the findings were revealed in an exhibition hosted by the Nouveau Musée National de Monacofeaturing never before seen material, showcasing Princess Grace’s daily wardrobe in the most relaxed and familial situations, particularly knitwear and Pringle of Scotland archive styles.
The students took those aesthetic elements and translated them into this beautiful capsule collection…
… under the creative supervision of the famous Professor Louise Wilson O.B.E. (see photo below to the right). Being among the world’s most influential fashion educators, her former students include Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab, Mary Katrantzou, Roksanda Ilincic among many others.
Personally speaking, I found one aspect very moving when H.R.H. Carolina of Monaco Princess of Hanover explained that this project has meant a lot to her: “There have been many exhibitions on my mum, but this is special, when she wore knitwear, it meant we were more informal, it meant happy times.“
And as Marie Claude Beaud, Director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, put it “Grace Kelly has been a princess, an actress…but above all a woman, a mother”.
With this in mind, the collection truly manages to highlight the most personal, discreet and daily aspects of the Princess without loosing its historical heritage, it looks modern and desirable.
Pringle of Scotland’s ambassadress Tilda Swinton was leading the conversation.
Interesting to know is that the title PRINCESS GRACE: MORE THAN AN IMAGE derives from a quote that the Princess gave to Time Magazine in 1955, whilst still the film actress Grace Kelly, “I don’t want to dress up a picture with just my face”. This sense of exploring the person behind the image is evident throughout the project. She will stay in everyone’s imagination forever.
And this fall, it is official, we will not only dream of an Hermès Kelly bag.Pringle of Scotland’s Kelly sweater will be on everyone’s shopping list and it will be definitely more accessible. The capsule collection will hit the shelves in Switzerland in September at Jelmoli.
Stay tuned for an upcoming post on the movie “Grace” that will hit the cinemas in the end of the year and enjoy some more impressions of this beautiful event in Paris below.
Any clue what those icons have in common? They all have their birthday today!
I have been truly amazed when I stumbled upon this fact. Marc Jacobs for example is celebrating his 50th and Jean Paul Belmondo his 80th birthday. Any astrologist among my readers who can explain me this phenomena please? Being born under the sign of aries, they are all creative and fashionable…
1Jean-Paul Belmondo, French actor; 1933 2 Martin Margiela, Belgian fashion designer; 1957 3 Anna dello Russo, Italian style icon; 1962 4 Marc Jacobs, American fashion designer; 1963 5 Paulina Porizkova, Czech model; 1965 6 Leighton Meester, American actress; 1986 7 Sara Blomqvist, Swedish model; 1989 8 Kristen Stewart, American actress; 1990 9 Elle Fanning, American actress and Rodarte muse; 1998
Happy Birthday, also to Hugh Hefner (1922) and Dennis Quaid (1954)!
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