Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, New Face of Lancome?

Rumors have been circulating that the daughter of editor in-chief of Vogue Paris, Carine Roitfeld, is the new spokesmodel of Lancome. Supposedly, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld has already been photographed for the Spring/Summer 2011 collection by Mario Testino. The new line she will be representing in called Ultra-Lavande and will be used in Victoria Beckham and L’Wren Scott’s Spring/Summer 2011 shows.

Sources: 1, 2

20 Make-Up Trends for Fall/Winter 2010

Look chic for this winter with these top looks from Vogue Paris! (I translated the blurbs about the make-up, but be sure to check out the slideshow on Vogue Paris for examples!)

1. Winged Eyeliner – Once again, the winged eye liner is back in! This season, add some color to it like a blue shadow along the crease for a more dramatic look.
2. The Color Grape – Grape is this fall and winter’s hottest color. Grape, a reddish-purple, has been seen everywhere from lipstick, eyeshadows, to blushes.
3. Blended Colors – Last season, eye make-up was done with sharp lines and clear-cut boundaries. However, this season offers a softer touch with colors that slowly blend into the skin, making lines disappear.
4. Red Lips – Just like the winged liner, the bright red lip is back and with more power. This season, try a more dull red and forget the lip liner!
5. Heavy Eyebrows – Bleached brows are out! Dramatize those brows! Just try to stay away from the Frida Kahlo look.
6. The Imperfection Look – This season don’t bother about making your make-up perfect! Smears and smudges, even eyeliner streaks, offer a new look artistic look.
7. The Natural Look – Minimize the color used on your cheeks and eyes. Use a light beige instead!
8. The New Charcoal – Instead of using a black based charcoal color for your smokey eye, try charcoals with hints of purples, blues and greens.
9. White Eyeshadow – Don’t be scared! Try a white on your lids! Just be careful not to go too light. Leave the shimmer white skin to the vampires instead.
10. The Shimmery and Glossy Eye – Try to pick light eye shadows with a little bit of shimmer in them. Mattes are good to use as a base, but this season is all about the light.
11. The Corners – Carefully add high-intense shimmer shadows to the corners of your eyes and even mouth!
12. Lightly Lined – With a kohl black, lightly line the waterlines of your eyes, which sets off your eye color.
13. Fresh Skin – Keep your skin looking like satin this season with little powder and more shine.
14. Back to the 90s – This season is drawing back on the make-up of the 90s, which was very minimal. Down play color for a 90s look.
15. No Mascara – Shockingly, mascara is no longer popular! Instead of layering on mascara, simply put on a little liner and shadow.
16. The Color Apricot – Other than grape, use apricot on your lips and cheeks.
17. Light Skin – Create a milky skin effect this season with powder.
18. Iridescent Sheen – Use iridescent colors around the tear-duct for a futuristic look.
19. Deep Red Lips – Go for a deeper red lip this year with a hint of grape. Look for colors in the wine family.
20. Sculpted Face – Use a powder that is two shades darker than your skin and hollow out your cheeks and eyes.

Re: Vogue US vs. Vogue Paris

In my previous post, Vogue US vs. Vogue Paris, I mentioned that the Vogue Paris was strongly fashion focused while the US version was smothered in Hollywood celebrities.

One point was brought to my attention by a dedicated reader.

• She said, “It might seem like the Paris issue has less celebrities in it because you are not familiar with Parisian film and you might not know the French actors.”

That is a valid point and I completely agree. I know absolutely nothing about the Parisian culture and film industry, so everything might seem different. But I have to argue that the Paris Vogue did not have name advertising. As I said before, it is weird to see no celebrity names on the cover of Paris Vogue. On the issue my dad bought me, “not even Kate Moss’s [name was on the] month’s issue! [And she was featured on the cover.] On each of my American Vogues, at least three celebrity names were dropped.

The Current Issue of W

I also found a little blurb about W‘s new cover and the new direction Stefano Tonchi, the editor in-chief, is taking the magazine. “When he was hired in March, Tonchi said he wanted to make the magazine more accessible, “probably … more of a general-interest style magazine, and less of a fashion-obsessed publication.” This cover — with clothes being anything but the focus — suggests that’s what Tonchi’s doing.”

This made me so incredibly sad when I read this because I love W and I feel like this is happening to a lot of fashion publications. Because the magazines only target a select group of fashionistas, editors in-chief are forced to commercialize their publications to get them to sell better. Soon, “fashion” magazines will evolve into “general-interest” publications and blogs will be the only real sources of fashion news.

Re: New French Designer: Alexandre Vauthier

Last week, Alexandre Vauthier premired his Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collection during Paris Fashion Week. His collection features his classic fierce shoulders and block colors in monochrome. However, Vauthier adds a splash of color with a deep purple and sex appeal. His clothing becomes much more provocative with deep “V” necklines, bare shoulders, lace and cut outs.

Check out his new collection at Paris Vogue.

Vogue US vs. Vogue Paris

Recently, my dad returned home from his trip to France with a copy of the June/July issue of Vogue Paris. I was so excited to read it and ripped the plastic cover off. I opened it up, flipping vigorously through, searching for the Kate Moss spread. (Kate Moss is by far my favorite model. A lot of people think she is overrated, but I think she is brilliant!) Upon finding it, I realized I couldn’t read the article. Why? Because it was all in French and obviously my extensive knowledge of Spanish didn’t help in the least bit. I could pick out words here and there, but they were words like “cocktail” and “couture.” Discouraged, I gave up and hunted my mom down, who speaks French fluently. I made her sit with me for an hour and read me the articles instead.

June/July 2010 Issue of Vogue Paris (Kate Moss)

Paging through the magazine itself, I realized how shocking different Vogue Paris and the American version are. And to be frankly honest, I liked the Paris version much better. I am not saying that Anna Wintour, the Editor in Chief of Vogue US, does not do proper job or lacks creativity. Instead, I find the Paris Vogue much more refreshing.

New French Designer: Alexandre Vauthier

I first saw Alexandre Vauthier’s work featured in a spread for new designers in this month’s issue of Vogue Paris*. Along with a short article, Vogue featured a photo of a model wearing a piece from his collection; The dress was a simple black, yet it created an artificial silhouette with arched and pointed shoulders. The movement of the dress was spectacular and allured me in right away. After seeing only one dress from his collection, I immediately turned to Google and visited his website and watched his show. I knew instantly that I had to feature him on my site! If I had quickly fallen for his look, I know others will!

* Vogue Paris, June/July Issue 908, “Les Laureats,” pp. 194

Alexander Vauthier, born in Agen, France, credits his interest in fashion to the strong female presences in his childhood. His mother, who was a single parent, always wore fox fur and YSL perfume. “She’s the one who made me become nuts [about fashion,]” Vauthier says, “My mother would get me out of school to do shopping.” Apart from his mother, Vauthier’s grandmother adorned herself in France’s greatest designers like YSL and Chanel.

Despite his exposure to fashion as a young child, Vauthier did not start off in the fashion world. He spent two years dabbling in law before transferring to ESMOD (l’Ecole Supérieure des Arts et techniques de la Mode), the first and oldest fashion school in France.

Upon graduating in 1994, Vauthier worked for Thierry Mugler. Vauthier had not thought of designing his own line until his boss, Thierry Mugler himself, told him, “Do something on your own, dammit!” Looking for more experience, Vauthier left Thierry Mugler after four years and he became head designer for Jean-Paul Gaultier’s Haute Couture collection.