Candidly Nicole

Another new week, another new obsession, this time it comes in the form of Paris Hilton's former side kick, Nicole Richie. Having ditched the hair extensions, juicy couture tracksuits and overly tiny dogs in handbags long ago, Nicole has cemented herself firmly as a style icon in her own right. Her sense of bohemian, casual Californian chic is what I really love about her, her transformation is truly admirable, I mean who could forget her bold and fabulous white hair teamed with a Topshop dress at the Met Gala this year, the stuff of a true 'I don't care if you put me on your worst dressed list' fashionista. However, aside from her sharp eye for what's stylish, Nicole has decided to showcase to the world the outrageous, hilarious and vivacious side to her personality by treating us all to five minute clips each week, in which she discusses various topics in her life. 'Candidly Nicole', well and truly promotes the star's tremendous sense of humor and ability to laugh at herself, which I suppose for Hollywood is somewhat refreshing. Her first clip documents her embarrassment at her alleged 'tramp stamp', a tattoo that she got during the folly of her youth and now wishes for it to be removed by the man she aptly names Dr Tattoff (she totally ignores the fact that this is not his real name and she even looks good while wearing the ridiculous laser friendly protective glasses). She also covers topics such as how to dress for a first date and how to learn new slang words from her younger sister such as 'Homie Hopper', which describes THAT girl who steals all yours/your boyfriends friends (sounds so familiar, we all know one of those). From beauty pageants to piercings, how to perfect the perfect selfie and picking the ideal flower arrangement to giving an insight into a day with her famous singing legend of a father Lionel Richie, she well and truly proves that she is witty, fresh and bright, far from the character that we saw during her stint on The Simple life many years ago. We have fallen more in love with Nicole and suggest that you watch her in action so that you can fall in love with her too....

http://on.aol.com/show/candidly-nicole-517742769/episode/517759892 

A Londoner who feels like a New Yorker.......

I sat watching the London skyline from my beautiful balcony and noticed myself obliviously jotting down on a piece of paper this little bit of musing......who new I had lost the love for my home city. Will it be NY in the not so distant future?

Little Monsters AWAKEN.....Lady Gaga beckons!

Applause applause APPLAUSE....

Go wild belles and bad boys! Despite the nose job rumours, the "is she too fat, is she too thin" media furore, Mother Monster has come out of hibernation to wrench back her freak power and once again rule over her minions, anyone who stands against the norm, anyone that tries to be different.
When Lady Gaga first broke out onto the music scene in 2008, I like everyone else rejoiced at the fact that an iconic strong female character who represented the underdog had come into the world with a larger than life BOOM. She has shocked us with her fashion, provoked us with her alter egos and made us dance like crazy to her music, teaching us the true meaning of P..p..p Poker face.

With her new single already exciting the masses it made me think, was all the hype worth it?! To be honest when first listening to her new single 'Applause' I was a tad bit disappointed but like all Gaga music, it is like a seed that is planted and grows into the most mammoth of trees. Now I have it on repeat and literally hear it everywhere, I'm even whipping my hair back and forth to it as I write this post.


So it comes as no surprise that the ever nonchalant V magazine have chosen Gaga as the face of their September issue and not only have they given her one, but four covers to fit all her alter egos over the ages.
We begin with Armani Gaga, who sports a Bowie-esque quiff adorned in a holographic print piece. "I see this girl as the first incarnation of me. Of Gaga. The Bowie superfan, playing with glitter and reflective materials, like doing a jigsaw puzzle." . 

Then prances along the Saint Laurent Gaga. "This is the me I was most afraid to ever be again. The me I'd left behind. I'm wearing a custom Saint Laurent sequinned jacket from Hedi Slimane. Impossible to be sad!" Third comes Versace Gaga "This cover commences the newest transformation in my long love affair with Versace, Donatella opening the Gianni archives for me during the campaign for my album Born This Way was just the beginning of a dream that seems to never end. And today it's c-threw plastic, with my custom shoulder, Medusa pins, and a wrong blonde. Donatella approved." Last but not least there's Balenciaga Gaga "In this custom Balenciaga, I felt full passion, and fearless, like my hair and body were on fire," . The covers were shot by famed photographers Inez & Vinoodh.


Watch out for the premier of Gagas 'Applause' video, I'm sure we all will once again be left gobsmacked.

Aller danser en talons...Vive le Spice Girls!

I was shown this YouTube video yesterday and I have virtually had it on repeat ever since, it is too amazing for words. I grew up listening to the music from The Spice Girls and even saw them reunite for one night only at the London 2012 Olympics Closing ceremony from the front rows. But it looks as though they have a bigger fan base in the form of some truly fabulous dancers, led by French choreographer Yanis Marshall. The video, which already has 814,557 views since being posted on 30th June, is led by three main dancers (Yanis & co) and sees them run riot across the streets of Paris, with some seriously major dance routines to a medley of Spice Girls greatest hits and to make it that little bit better...they are in heels for the entire duration. Whilst I suspect many of us will not so ashamedly admit that we have all sung our hearts out to 'Stop' and 'Wannabe' in the privacy of our own homes, these men have taken our dreams of singing and dancing our socks off and turned it into a YouTube sensation reality. The genius creator behind this dance movement Yanis Marshall is highly credited in the industry for his incredible talent and most notably his extraordinary 'Dancing in Heels' classes which he teaches at the Studio Harmonic in Paris.  I give mega props to these men, considering I struggle to last an entire night of dancing in my Manolo's and Kirkwood's, true talent. I wonder what they will come up with next?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfKrE3YDtoc

All images of Yanis Marshall and his heeled dancers

Think Ink

My mother always used to say to me 'No pain, no gain' and I have taken this saying with me through many stages of my life. And I quite literally took it with me to Frith Street Tattoo shop in London's Soho a few weeks ago. Having already had three other tattoos done by the equally wonderful Adem (in Selfridges, Oxford Street before their tattoo parlour sadly closed a few months ago) I found myself with the difficult decision of finding somebody else that I trusted to permanently etch onto my skin and not mess it up. The more people I asked, the more people told me about Frith Street, so I finally decided to go in and put my trust into one of their tattoo artists, Stefano. I now have two tattoos (mini anchors on the inside of both feet) from this incredibly talented young man and they are easily now my favourites, I am sure it is the relaxed atmosphere and the insane skill of the artists that keeps on bringing everybody back (during my fifteen minutes in the tattoo chair, all other artists were busy and the queue of walk-ins was ever growing).

I adore models Freja Beha Erichsen and Erin Wasson, who each have their own individual and very cute etchings, along with Cara Delevingne who has most recently had a lion tattooed on her knuckles, her initials 'CJD' on the side of her hand and 'Made in England' on the sole of her foot (somebody has been bit by the tattoo bug for sure) all inkings done by world renowned Bang Bang, a recommendation from fellow tattoo enthusiast Rihanna. Freja however is arguably one of the most tattooed supermodels (she has a total of 16) and they merely add to her air of nonchalent, Danish cool attitude. Her most distinguished tattoos include a revolver on the inside of her arm, and two sayings 'serendipity is life' and 'tonight the world is mine' on her arm and wrist. Italian fashion blogger Chiara Biasi is also a tattoo fan, with a variety of unique drawings on her body, most notably a lucky number 8 on the inside of her forearm.

Tattoo's are one of those love/hate things but when you look at the likes of Freja, Erin and Chiara below, how can you NOT love them? I have fallen head over heels for my anchors and will be paying Soho a visit in the not so distant future.

http://frithstreettattoo.co.uk/

http://chiarabiasi.it/

I LOVE FRITH STREET. THANK YOU FOR MY ANCHORS.

Freja Beha

Erin Wasson

Cara Delevingne

Chiara Biasi

Hear me Roar..

It cannot be disputed that August is one of the best months of the year, summer is in full swing, everybody is showing off their tanned pins in cut off's, it is acceptable to drink during the day and you can pretty much wear your sunglasses all day every day, which is ALWAYS a good thing. 

However, it is my favourite time of year because it is my birthday month, which makes me a Leo, a very proud one too. We are characteristically very gregarious, outrageous, fun and fiercely protective of our loved ones. Most of all, us lions are exhibitionists, which probably explains why so many of our well loved, famous faces are Leo's. 

This month marked the coming of age of the fabulous fashion trio of the moment, Cara Delevingne, Karlie Kloss and Jourdan Dunn. Their Instagram and twitter accounts went into a complete frenzy, with images of their weird and whacky celebrations and messages from their dedicated legion of fans. While it appears Karlie spent her 21st at Disneyland with her family, obviously she still looked every inch the supermodel even in a pair of comedy oversized Minnie Mouse ears  Cara appeared to sport a Lycra all-American stars and stripes unitard and wig while posing on a bed with a 'Happy Birthday' message emblazoned across it. 

Oh and just to add, Barack Obama celebrates his birthday on August 4th, thus proving that Leo's really do run the world.  

La femme fatale- Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour has once again been found in the most compromising of positions. She just couldn't turn down the offer of playing Karma Sutra with Homer Simpson, who ever could...?!

You can see the many depictions of Ms. Wintours' fetishes, which goes to show, even the Queen who helms the might Vogue publication, yearns for something more than just fashion.
The risque drawing were birthed from the wild imagination of former Italian knitwear designer aleXandro Palombo, titled 'Illustrated Erotic Advice with Homer Simpson and Vogue Editrix Anna Wintour'. Lets hope Wintour sees the funny side of these illustration and that they were able to crack a smile on her usually stone faced demeanour.

Palombo- 'Homer Simpson is the perfect embodiment of the average man today with all his frustrations, desires and weaknesses. He is also The Male Chauvinist. Similarly, Anna Wintour is the embodiment of the liberated women, a woman of power. She represents the ideal feminist'.

When he puts it that way, you could only ever see this as a compliment...

Insta-glam

La Belle et le Badboy are now on Instagram...follow us 'bellebadboy'..stay stylish x

Former French Editrix becomes a Mademoiselle.

I've always loved a documentary centred around strong personalities who have made their mark on the Fashion industry and somehow still managed to come out the other end with their dignity in tact, like the Germans say "Kopf Hoch".

So it won't come as a surprise that we will soon have another "September issue"- like film on our hands, but this time around there won't be a runaway star/ unsung heroine like Grace Coddington, as the leading lady in this new feature is not used to sharing the limelight.

"Mademoiselle C chronicles Carine's launch of her new magazine CR Fashion Book. It gives a rare inside glimpse at the inner workings not only of Roitfelds professional world but also her personal life. It is a film about transition, letting the audience watch as Carine moves to NY, starts a new business, and prepares to become a grandmother. And of course, it 's filled with models, celebrities, and eccentric personalities that make the fashion world so entertaining"

The film was directed by Fabien Constant and will open on the 11th of September in NY to perfectly and coincidently coincide with New York Fashion week. Truth be told, we are über excited to watch fashion royalty play out a real life  "Game of Thrones".

Pixie this!

Another one bites the dust. What is this new trend of our favourite women doing a semi Britney Spears and getting a Pixie. First Miley, then Princess RiRi, soon after that "Girls run this world" Beyonce and now my one and only fashionista, Coco Rocha. Why all the dramatic chops? Who died and named you trigger happy Edward Scissor hands? I'll be the first to admit that some women can pull the look off and some bluntly, just can't. It's safe to say the ladies above have managed to pull it off, but hopefully this craze doesn't spill over as I've always been a fan of old Hollywood, glamour locks and the last thing we all want is to have a multitude of androgynous ladies roaming around confusing the masses of single men populating the world, straight or otherwise inclined.

An oldie but a goodie

I never ever get bored of talking about Tom, of course I am talking about Tom Ford. He has bought a whole new meaning to men's tailoring not to mention some of the greatest ad campaigns ever to grace the pages of Vogue, Harpers, Vanity Fair, the list could go on....remember a young Nicholas Hoult smouldering in sharp eye wear, blazer and bow tie with a coy, completely naked Carolyn Murphy at his side, combing his hair into a slicked back side parting? My fascination with this man is almost unhealthy, I cannot tell you the number of times I have watched the below documentary and the amount of times I have fallen in love with him over and over (it does help that he is unbelievably handsome). A truly great 41 minutes and 33 seconds of viewing for any fashion enthusiast like myself, you can well and truly see why he has become the icon that he is today. Why the world's most famous women fall at his feet to be dressed by him, why the likes of Jay Z and Justin Timberlake dedicate an entire song in his name in their latest album 'Magna Carta...Holy Grail' (you know you are fashion royalty when music royalty name drop you). 

 

Gentlemen...take note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsmJ_l4jZFQ

Out with the new and in with the Supermodel...Tom boy-Daria's back!

It's that time of year again! When the Queen of Conde Nast anoints one glamazon with the coveted front cover on the biggest and baddest Vogue issue of the year. After a 5 year hiatus Daria Werbowy is truly back...... The Polish-Ukranian Canadian model tried hard to go into early retirement since walking for Balmain in 2010, but when you're summoned by "She who shall not be named", your presence is mandatory.

Daria, who wears that tiara title of being the coolest tom boy with her anti waif physique and piercing blue she-wolf eyes, gives us a sense of how the new age model does not always need to be photographed looking dainty and fragile. 

The Vogue cover was photographed by fashion titan, Patrick Demarchelier and Daria is seen wearing Balenciaga and Stella McCartney jewellery.

1.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WEAR BORING CLOTHES.

We are a London based duo, practically a married couple who fell in 'love' over our mutual obsession with all things fashion. Kay has got the bad boy's covered with his page dedicated to the gents, while Hope has something for the Belle's. Stay stylish and enjoy.