Kate Winslet is known for lashing out against magazines that Photoshop her body, and now another British beauty’s retouchings have people feeling uncomfortable.
The images of Twiggy’s smooth face in recent Olay Definity (an anti-aging cream) advertisements have moved members of the Parliament to call for action, which we learned about thanks to our friends over at Jezebel.
The Liberal Democrats in Parliament want to ban Photoshopping completely on advertisements aimed at children (those under sixteen), and place disclaimers stating how much Photoshopping was used on all other ads. The politicians who suggested these changes are hoping that this could boost young adults’—specifically girls’—self-esteem, or more accurately, lessen the negative comparison a young girl could make between her body and the perfectly sleek and slim body of a model in a magazine.
Continue reading Regulating Retouching?…
On Friday, WWD reported that Salma Hayek is currently working on an undisclosed beauty project. Earlier this month, it was also rumored that Jennifer Aniston is on the hunt for an endorsement deal herself.
But all I could think was, really? Isn’t the celebrity endorsement template a bit staid, especially in today’s tough economic times? There are plenty of models out there that could do the same job for much less money and hassle. Sure, a celebrity creates more exposure for your brand, but do they really influence consumers to spend money? I can’t say I know anyone who’s rushing out to CVS because Drew Barrymore’s shilling a Cover Girl mascara via alluring blinks. (And just think of the stable of stars L’Oréal Paris employs - sixteen celebrities, including Beyonce, Scarlett and Eva Longoria Parker - and somehow they can’t think of how to help that year-to-year net profit drop of 26.6%.)
You’d think beauty companies would try to cut some of the dead weight right now - could what Neutrogena gets out of Susie Castillo’s advertisements really make up for whatever she was paid? - unless we’re totally off. Do celebrities smiling and flipping their hair really get you to spend your cash more so than models?
—MEGAN MCINTYRE
We learned a lot of valuable lessons from Rachel Zoe’s reality show.
The wise one explained that while she’d love to throw her girls onto red carpets in fashion forward runway looks, the public doesn’t always get fashion forward. And so she’s forced to put aside her own taste in lieu of more traditional garb. As in, if she veers too far from strapless/sparkly/long De La Renta, US Weekly will have a field day with her poor unsuspecting clients.
It’s with that rule in mind that we’ve chosen what we hope three of the nominees will wear and what we think they’ll actually wear.
To begin, we’d die if Kate Winslet wore this Vivienne Westwood. It’s her night, she has to win and this is the dress one wears while winning. Plus, we’re still not sure exactly why Britain got so pissed over her Golden Globes speech but this would be a nice nod to her homeland.
Amy Adams, please eschew chiffon and jewel tones for a night - you’re hot and you can rock this black lace. If you’re scared or intimidated, the Oscar De La Renta label is there to comfort you.
Anne Hathaway! Congrats on the nomination. You’re hot, too. And young, so very young, too young to wear so much Valentino and the frumpy Chanel couture of late so why not go nuts and wear this super sexy Proenza cut-out gown? Seriously, Ryan Seacrest won’t know what to do with himself.
But what do we think they’ll actually wear? What do they have to wear to land Best Dressed? Click on my friends.
Continue reading The Oscars Are Here! The Oscars Are Here!…
This morning, Vogue UK confirms last week’s big fashion/movie rumor - that Kate Winslet’s accepted the role of Vivienne Westwood in the British designer’s upcoming biopic.
To prepare, Kate will be spending lots of time with Dame Viv, to pick up on that certain attitude she’s known for - and presumably, to learn how to seamlessly morph from concentrated dressmaker to political activist in just a few breaths - and to study the exact shade of pumpkin Kate will need to reprise from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
The movie, from Universal, is untitled so far, but here’s a thought - with biopics about Valentino, Chanel (she has two, actually) and now Vivienne Westwood eventually being released in every Regal Theatre across the country, does this mean fashion’s new mission to stay accessible has finally shifted from the small screen to the big? Or can studied, thorough movies about designers coexist with Project Runway anyway?
UPDATE: Looks like Vogue UK may have spoken too soon…