Black Swan

It's official! After two years of dating (and the birth of their son, Aleph, 14 months ago) Natalie Portman and her ballet choreographer beau Benjamin

SAO PAULO--Samuel Cirnansck has earned a reputation for his theatrical, over the top runway shows. Last season the designer sent his models down the runway tied up and gagged, so I was pretty excited to see what he had cooked up this time. And while it wasn't nearly as risque as last season, it was still a visual treat. Cirnansck dusted the runway with fake snow, and set up a huge wrought-iron gate at the front of the runway. The effect was something like a snowy fairy-tale, starring an icy swan princess, and it was a refreshing change of pace from Sao Paulo's somewhat bare-boned runway shows. Also refreshing: Cirnansck used a handful of black models--more than any other designer we've seen yet. Kudos.

Perhaps more than any other designers, Kate and Laura Mulleavy have infiltrated the art world--with their own art-inspired collections, collaborations with artists and now a growing costume design business. About a year after their buzzed-about gig designing ballet costumes for Black Swan, the Rodarte duo are slated to dress the cast of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” in May, the L.A. Times blogged today.

Franca Sozzani Doesn't Do Meetings: The long-time EIC of Vogue Italia told Industrie that she never - NEVER! - participates in sit-downs because "responsible and creative" people "don't need to have a teacher." I think my elementary school art teacher would respectfully disagree with that statement, Ms. Sozzani. {Telegraph} Carey Mulligan Looks Flawless on W, Has a Chip(munk) On Her Shoulder: Carey gets another cover - but this time it's a new photo! The lady looks phenom in her dainty (Nina Ricci?) bra. {Style Frizz} Lindsay Lohan's Playboy Spread is Not So Bad: Damn that girl is stacked. And no full frontal. Brava Lindsay. {OhNoTheyDidn't}

PARIS--Mila Kunis was a hot ticket at yesterday's Miu Miu show. She looked stunning considering she had only touched down in Paris five hours prior and told us she was "barely, barely" awake. No fewer than three EIC's of major American glossies--Elle's Robbie Myers (with Joe Zee leading the way), Bazaar's Glenda Bailey and Marie Claire's Joanna Coles--stopped by to chat up the starlet. So expect to see her covering numerous glossies in the coming months. We figure at least one of these covers will be timed to the July release of her new movie Friends With Benefits costarring Justin Timberlake. (Guess it's just a coincidence that her Black Swan costar Natalie Portman came out with No Strings Attached, a movie about friends with benefits, last month? Also in French No Strings Attached is called Sex Friends.) Next up, she tells us she's going into production on a film called Ted with Mark Wahlberg, directed by Seth MacFarlane. "They're both very funny," she assures us regarding her next films. "They're definitely not Black Swan." Speaking of Black Swan, we asked if Kunis had any thoughts on her costumes in the film and that whole drama surrounding who got credit for them.

Name: Mark MacKillop Occupation: Ballet Dancer What did you think of Black Swan? I definitely know a few girls like that. How would you describe your style? Classic American with modern touches. What is your current favorite song? "Stars Forever" by Robyn.

Gemma Ward Says She'll Head Back to the Catwalk Someday: The crux of this story is the former It-model's relationship with Heath Ledger, but we're more interested in her possible return to the runway. {HuffPo} Note to Self: Don't Knock Off the Birkin: Contemporary label Thursday Friday is in deep water after releasing a tote bag which featured a photo of the Hérmes Birkin bag. Thursday Friday screen-printed the image of the red iconic bag onto their eco-friendly tote bags, and while the bag certainly isn't a knock-off, per se, Hermés seems to think the label is "confusing" and "misleading" its buyers. The amount for which Thursday Friday is being sued has not been disclosed, but we're guessing the major luxury label isn't asking for petty change. {She Finds} The Outnet's Marni Sale: Net-a-Porter's discount site does it again with a massive Marni sale, launching tomorrow morning. They're offering up some of the label's finest shoes, statement jewelry, and fabulous printed pieces--all marked down by up to 65%. We've already got our eye on that camel skirt. {Refinery 29}

More drama over the Black Swan costumes: the film wasn't even nominated for an Oscar for costume design. Nods went to Alice in Wonderland, I Am Love, The King's Speech, The Tempest, and True Grit. We already knew Rodarte's Mulleavy sisters wouldn't see any glory for their beautifully twisted and painstakingly made ballet costumes for Black Swan--despite the buzz that their names had garnered for the film. The Mulleavy sisters weren't members of the Costume Design Guild when they worked on the film and were reportedly "naive" about movie credits. Kate and Laura Mulleavy ended up receiving a backend credit while Amy Westcott, who worked with director Darren Aronofsky on The Wrestler, received the front credit as costume designer, making Westcott the only one eligible for an Oscar. In an interview with Deadline, Westcott explained, "It was Natalie who recommended Rodarte. It was important to her and Darren asked me if it was OK. I met with Laura and Kate Mulleavy and I saw their feathered Vulture collection (I think it was Spring 2010). It seemed very appropriate." But now that whole controversy over Rodarte's ineligibility for Oscar costume credit is moot. And it comes as a bit of a shock that the film was completely left off the list to be considered. Black Swan had already picked up best costume nominations from the Critics' Choice Awards, Bafta and the Costume Designers' Guild.

In this behind-the-scenes video, we see how Swarovski crystals play a part not only in the costumes designed by Rodarte (note costume designer Amy W

Part of the anticipation leading up to Black Swan's release, at least in the fashion world, had to do with the fact that Rodarte had designed the ballet costumes. The Mulleavy sisters created 40 costumes for the Darren Aronofsky thriller, including outfitting the entire ballet corps. So it follows that Rodarte has been the bold faced name associated with Black Swan's beautifully twisted costumes. But with awards season in full swing, you won't see Kate and Laura Mulleavy's names next to the nominations for Best Costume Design (Black Swan has already received a best costume nom from the Critics Choice Awards and will likely get an Oscar nomination). Amy Westcott will take the credit, as she received the "front credit" as costume designer for the film while the Mulleavy sisters only receive a backend credit. In The Hollywood Reporter, Merle Ginsberg notes there's "a long history of fashion designers creating costumes for stars above and beyond what a film's costume designer does--and not getting the credit they crave." The most famous example of this, Ginsberg points out, is Edith Head winning the Oscar for Sabrina when Givenchy outfitted Hepburn for the film. In the case of Rodarte for Black Swan, a source told THR that the Mulleavy's were "naive about movies," meaning they didn't negotiate credits in their initial deal, and weren't members of the the Costume Design Guild when they worked on the film (they are now).

Black Swan doesn't quit. Natalie Portman gives a stunning performance, Rodarte made beautiful costumes, and now a UK design firm has put out a series of gorgeous vintage posters to promote the film abroad (we hope we'll see them stateside too). Design studio LaBoca created four posters to promote Aronofsky's "nail-biting" thriller, drawing inspiration from Polish and Czech posters from the 60s and 70s, as well as ballet posters from the early 20th century, the Guardian is reporting. We wish all movie posters looked this good. Check them out.

On the right, we have Natalie Portman's January 2011 Vogue cover. On the left, her Vogue cover from May 2002. Nine years apart, but pretty similar, n

Black Swan hits theaters tomorrow, and we'll finally be able to get a look at those Rodarte costumes (oh, and that much-hyped sex scene between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis). Ballet has long been a muse for fashion, so we decided to take a look at some of the best ballet-themed editorials over the years. The fashionheads at online communities the Fashion Spot and Fashin made them easy to find--thanks! (Sort of related: Does anyone know what's happening with that Kate Moss/Baryshnikov ballet movie?) Anyways, back to the editorials. Take a look.

Anne Hathaway and James Franco are hosting the Oscars this year. We're very much looking forward to this, both for James Franco's craziness and Anne Hathaway's ensembles, because you know there will be many and you know they will all be ah-mazing. We've decided to lighten Rachel Zoe's load a little this year (she is pregnant and all) and style Annie ourselves. So, ignoring the fact that many of her looks will probably be Fall 2011 (the Oscars are a couple weeks after Fashion Week), here are eight plausible outfits for Anne Hathaway's big night. And don't worry, there are more couture dresses than sweatshirts inside.

We already heard about the amazing Rodarte costumes for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. According to Lauren's review of the ballet thriller (out nationwide December 3), the costumes--Swarovski encrusted tutus and spider web-y warm up knits--nearly upstage the stellar, not to mention creepy, performances by stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. But just how they got their bodies into ballerina shape is another story. Kunis, who lost 20 lbs. for her role, told People mag that she "looked like Gollum from Lord of the Rings! ... Everything was just protruding." Though Portman had some ballet experience (she gave up the barre at 13), she trained for six months before filming, putting in five hours a day, six days a week. And while it might seem Portman already had the perfect body to play a ballerina, she needed to work on her thighs.

Britt and I saw Black Swan last night. The Darren Aronofsky thriller starring Natalie Portman--with costumes by Rodarte--will be released nationwide Dec. 3. Swarovski sponsored a few screenings because Rodarte utilized the family brand's crystals in many of the costumes. Luckily for Swarovski, Rodarte, Aronofsky, lead costume designer Amy Westcott, and pretty much everyone involved in this film, the clothes are nearly as powerful as the performances.

more This week, Georgia May Jagger stunned in a yellow Vivienne Westwood number. Natalie Portman wore a lovely frock by Rodarte, who designed the cos