Burton Bleaches Another Brunette

The Huffington Post put up a bunch of shots of the actors in character for Tim Burton's upcoming "Alice in Wonderland." Burton has a habit of turning dark haired girls platinum blonde for his movies (Christina Ricci in "Sleepy Hollow" and Winona Ryder in "Edward Scisorrhands" and now Anne Hathaway for her role as the White Queen.)

Agyness Deyn already did the dark brows and bleach look, so I highly doubt that will be a trend (god, I hate it. HATE IT.) The drama of icy porcelain skin (sans blush) and blood red lips, however, is killer.

A Magazine Gets Real (For Just One Issue)

Whoa - ANOTHER post about a fashion mag breaking the mold. Is the speedy decline of print publishing creating a byproduct of awesome? Did budget cuts mean they had to lay off the photoshop staff?!

This Saturday's new issue of French ELLE features a huge spread of stars who agreed to be photographed with NO MAKEUP and NO RETOUCHING. Not only that, but Eva Herzigova appears on the cover au naturale - under eye puffiness, asymmetry and all. (And still stunning, I might add.)

Man. If "real" were ever to become a trend in fashion publishing (and it won't - cause their advertisers WANT you to feel inadequate. Don't you watch Mad Men?), can you imagine the impact on the self-image the average woman? How many syringes of Botox would go uninjected! Tubes of Proactiv unsqueezed! Healthy lunches un-purged!

What I want to know is how the f*ck ELLE got away with this? Weren't the beauty advertisers pissed? Or are things that different in Europe?

[Source]

McQueen's Runway Terrors

[Photos by Giovanni Giannoni via WWD.com]

If you haven't already seen highlights from his show posted on the rest of the internet, take a moment to check out his Dave McKean drawing meets Amanda Lepore meets Pierrot clown meets Edward Scissorhands meets the bird exhibit at the zoo Fall 2009 collection from this past Tuesday at Paris Fashion Week.

McQueen, as you may have noticed, is always my most anticipated part of every fashion week. If he and John Galliano (my other hero) ever teamed up for a show I think my face might fall off. I. Love. Drama. And no one does it better.

While everything was truly conceptual and barely wearable outside a costume ball or a Broadway stafe, I do hope that mass-market textile designers take note of the incredible print featured on several of the dresses in which houndstooth deteriorates into a vicious swarm of birds. Also fantastic is his use of volume in the shorter jackets' sleeves and their huge scuptural lapels. But my favorite is a classic example of the "nightmare/fairytale" aesthetic he is so known for - a super goth harness bodiced dress with a leathery mass of skirt attached. Oh, to be Victoria Beckham.

It's London Fashion Week

And lately it's becoming my favorite of the fashion weeks. Here are a few trends I'd like to see cross the pond:

(Click either image for a closer peek)

These are three of the best looks to hit the London runways to date:

Giles, Julien MacDonald, and Richard Nicoll.
I'm in love with the fabrics, the tailoring and the general future-romantic vibe, respectively.

For more on the London Shows, hit up WomensWearDaily.com.

(Faux) Vintage (Faux) Jewels

Having just ripped through Season One of the Showtime series The Tudors on DVD in a matter of one day, it's to be expected that my obsession with vintage costume jewelry has kicked into overdrive. Every scene has Catherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn flaunting some gem-heavy pendant, brooch or headpiece that would have any girl who can recall her youthful (okay, or grown-up) princess fantasies drooling in envy. Even the boys rock amazing shoulder-draped bands of jewels (see photo.)

Jonesing for a few sparkling imitations on the cheap, I hit the website of my favorite contemporary costume jewelry brand: 1928. Here are the ones I could make a royal dent in my bank account for (P.S. - Use code DELIGHT08 for 20% off):




Midnight lace necklace, $28; Cielo rojo necklace, $72; Aquamarine pendant, $16; Gold tone teardrop, $37; Amethyst brooch, $19; Drop earrings, $16; Sapphire set, $9.99.