So what was hot this week? And what was not? A guest post by Aoife Valentine
Hot
The rumourmill has been running for a long time on this one, but Raf Simons, now former creative director of Jil Sander, has been appointed artistic director of Dior. Known for his minimalist designs, the company’s chief executive has enlisted Simons to modernise the label and his first collection will be the A/W couture collection this year. Several designers have turned down the post already, fearing that taking the reigns after Galliano’s dramatic departure would be taking a poisoned chalice, but Simons is feeling “fantastic”.
Justin Bieber’s shoot for Complex
We may be used to seeing Justin Bieber through the squeaky clean rose-tinted glasses his PR people would like us to, but the popstar who has just turned 18 has gotten bloodied up in a shoot for Complex and is “through being your punching bag,” according to a promo video for the shoot. Though pretty graphic, Bieber is somehow less annoying when he’s being beaten up and not pretending to be holier than thou.
Image courtesy of Beaut.ie
Of late, a simple French manicure simply won’t do. Even experimenting with bolder shades doesn’t quite cut it. If you don’t have extravagant artwork done on your nails, you may as well not bother doing anything with them. Simpler than transferring the works of Picasso onto your nails, however, is the gradient trend. Using any combination of colours you want and a cosmetic sponge, it’s simple, if a little messy to achieve, but looks a lot more effort than it is.
Not
Geri Halliwell re-inventing that Union Jack Dress
This has been in the works for a while now, but it’s now more than just an idea the internet laughs at. Rather than just accept her fate as a former Spice Girl who wore a terrible outfit at least one time, Ginger Spice has reinvented her infamous British flag dress, though granted it is now actually a dress. Featured as part of her most recent collection for Next, it is not the only piece in the line to embrace ‘cool Britannica’ wholeheartedly. The fact that it costs £199 is almost as bad as the fact it exists.
Occasionally they look like a bra that has been extended to offer a little support to your back after some kind of minor accident but at the moment the high street is dominated by much prettier, cuter versions than anything you get for a broken bone. That’s all well and good when they’re worn well with something nice and high-wasted, but too much of that same high street is being trodden down by those who think baring your stomach like you’re Britney Spears (pre-babies and breakdowns) is perfectly okay. Just look briefly in the mirror and you’ll realise it’s really not.
Who knew the Irish international rugby star had his finger in so many pies? Just releasing his third collection of footwear, with each style named after a player, for upmarket brand Lloyd & Price, it’s very easy to question how one became three. If ever there were a reason fashion and sports should remain quite a large distance from one another, these shoes are evidence of this. Stick to the rugby, Tommy.
