Job Interview Look

First impressions are very important in all our relationships but in a job interview they are absolutely crucial. Many recruiters make early judgements before we even utter a word. So it's worth making an effort to look the part, just as costume design, the right clothes can help us embody the role we are applying for.

Top: Bellatrix, skirt: Hobbs, necklace: Ralph Lauren, shoes: Karen Millen

There is plenty of room for manoeuvre depending on the type of job but the clothes should be clean and well pressed and the shoes polished. My selection is aimed at those who are on a budget so everything is up to £150, for instance the Ralph Lauren glass pearls are £36.

Top: Modcloth, jeans: RA-RE, bag: Moschino, shoes: Steve Madden

Classic elegance is a safe ground, you can never go wrong with a simple white shirt but for fashionable jobs add something trendy or an eye-catching accessory. The most important is to feel confident and look the part but this is just the first step. It can never be stressed enough how much a good preparation will help.

Dress: Adrianna Papell, earrings: Kenneth Jay Lane, shoes:  BCBGMAXAZRIA

Research about the company shows a genuine interest and we should train beforehand to put ourselves in their shoes. If we were in their position what would we ask and what would we look for? It's all about communication so we should focus not on how good we are but on how we can be of any benefit to them, with clear examples from past experiences.

Top: Oasis, earrings: Vivienne Westwood, skirt: Top Shop,
belt: Marni, watch: DKNY, shoes: Isola

It works like a spider's net, each answer should reflect the connection points between our competencies and their specific needs. As in any communication process, it's important to be able to listen carefully and answer thoughtfully. Even though it may feel like a performance, where we are aware of all our moves, it's crucial to be truthful and genuine. Last but not least, be punctual! (Would you hire unreliable people?)




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Most Popular Fashion Videos

From magazines to online retail sites and global luxury brands, videos are more and more crucial to communicate with potential consumers and engage target audiences. If a video becomes viral it saves a lot of investment in terms of advertising and marketing campaigns.

1 - Dior: Secret Garden Versailles film - 17,401,524 views

(25,552 subscribers / 53,609,045 video views)

You can watch videos not only on a specific website but those with vision have extended their online presence to a YouTube channel, showcasing their work to an increasingly growing community.

2 - Fendi: Milan Fashion Show Fall/Winter 2012-13 - 4,595,252 views

(2,655 subscribers / 20,439,303 video views)

This global phenomenon of video sharing creates a buzz around brands and if you don't have a YouTube channel is very likely that someone else is being popular and even making money out of your built image.

3 - Nowness.com: Lernert & Sanders "Natural Beauty" - 1,558,043 views

(5,341 subscribers / 4,341,548 video views)

This is a research of the most popular videos based on brands which have a YouTube channel. The fact that a video is popular does not imply an increase in subscribers and does not interfere particularly on video views, but it gives an idea of what people enjoy watching online.

4 - Armani: Megan Fox for EA Underwear and Armani Jeans - 1,465,478 views

(9,209 subscribers / 9,435,802 video views)

Sometimes they just follow one another as a snow ball going down a mountain. My most popular blog post of all time is about an exhibition from last September. It's not particularly interesting when compared with others but everyone is curious to check out what others like. 

5 - Chanel: Blue de Chanel - The Film - 1,429,174 views

(29,641 subscribers / 8,611,451 video views)

Maybe they assume it's good just because the majority of people love it but this is always questionable. However, viral videos do wonders by reaching global audiences in a short period of time. But what makes a video viral? 

6 - Dolce & Gabbana: The making of Calcio Underwear campaign: episode 1 - 1,052,659 views

(21,159 subscribers / 13,462,203 video views)

It can be quite random and it is challenging to unveil the secrets of a video's success. It is really not about advertising in its conventional form but brand communication at its highest level. The big players in luxury fashion can afford to gather the best possible team of contributors to create eye catching videos.

7 - Agent Provocateur: Classics - The Chase - 837,417 views

(3,393 subscribers / 4,039,133 video views)

Creativity is definitely a key ingredient to capture the attention of people who are likely to enjoy it enough to share the video with their social media network. Entertainment is also fundamental if you think about user experiences.

8 - Lanvin: Fall Winter 2011-12 ad campaign - 750,099 views

(3,059 subscribers / 1,255,408 video views)

A video can be a little break from work or a personal experience on an iPad or mobile phone while travelling around the city so the fun element needs to be addressed. Online communities are more and more important in our increasingly wired world.

9 - SHOWstudio.com: Nick Knight shoots Lady Gaga for Vanity Fair - 716,854 views

(9,871 subscribers / 4,847,219 video views)

The fashion industry as a fast-forward area by excellence is embracing this new tool of expressing their image with highly sophisticated short films. The figures show quite bluntly who is doing well and producing the most engaging content.

10 - Burberry: 'Remember by Misty Miller - 676,837 views

(40,134 subscribers / 15,604,620 video views)

When the future of TV becomes more and more tailored to niche markets and individual taste as it's already happening online, YouTube is probably a predecessor of what lies ahead. It's also worth considering how immune we are all getting towards advertising so brands really need to push boundaries in order to connect with us. 

PS
If this list was based on subscribers/video views the order would be very different. 

11 - Prada: "A Therapy" - 582,965 views

(7,813 subscribers / 2,074,783 video views)

12 - Louis Vuitton: The Art of Packaging - 314,844 views

(19,247 subscribers / 5,101,755 video views)

13 - Gucci: Exclusive behind the scenes footage of Jennifer Lopes - 309,797 views

(4,418 subscribers / 1,220,989 video views)

14 - Vogue TV: Gisele Bundchen Cover Shoot behind the scenes April 2010 - 199,409 views

(10,334 subscribers / 1,381,975 video views)

15 - Net-a-Porter.com: Faces of Fashion FW11 Sneak peek - 157,054 views

(7,232 subscribers / 2,623,148 video views)

Fashion Designers on Film

Costume designers are responsible to create believable characters in different time periods for the film industry. It is a challenging career without much limelight and acknowledgement but their role is crucial. Sometimes fashion designers venture into this territory such as Miuccia Prada, who designed the costumes for Baz Luhrmann's big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald "The Great Gatsby." 

The Great Gatsby (2013) by Miuccia Prada

We have to wait until next summer to watch this promising film but it is likely that it will influence the fashion industry. She had to think beyond her style to  create these costumes. It is a challenging task for a designer who usually has the freedom to design for an ideal woman.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City (2008) by Vivienne Westwood

This fantasy woman is not just a vision but an interpretation of marketing reports and sales figures. The major difficulty is to give free reign to creativity whilst achieving a balance in terms of business demands. But even with the pressure to stay on top of a highly volatile field, there is much room for manoeuvre.

Milla Jovovich in The Fifth Element (1997) by Jean Paul Gaultier

In film, fantasy and reality are also at play but it is far more restrictive. The costume designer has to create a resemblance of real people who do not really exist. They have emerged within a writer's imagination and what they wear on film builds up their character and contribute to the whole narrative.

Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) by Hubert de Givenchy

A talented fashion designer may not necessarily be able to create costumes but some of them have managed to do so. One of the most memorable and iconic collaboration is Breakfast at Tiffany's with costumes designed by Hubert de Givenchy.

Marlene Dietrich in Stage Fright (1950) by Christian Dior

But the relationship between fashion and film goes back a long way, Coco Chanel was flying to Hollywood twice a year in the early 1930s to design costumes for MGM stars. The red carpet would not be the same without fashion designers but are they as fascinating on screen? This is open to interpretation. 

Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931) by Coco Chanel

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Dating Style

In today's wired world, technology plays such as pervasive role that our lives get more and more intertwined with it. It's not just a work tool or a way of entertaining ourselves, it has gone beyond news and information research to become much more personal.

Top: Chloe, skirt: Mary Katrantzou, shoes: Gianvito Rossi, clutch: Anya Hindmarch

Social media is now indispensable to promote brands and to connect them on a deeper level to target audiences. Technology has also proven successful in finding romance, offering ease and convenience. Most people chat with a potential date online for one or two weeks before meeting up in person, which is a fairly quick process.

Top: Helmut Lang, skirt: Valentino, shoes: Christian Louboutin, clutch: Bottega Veneta

There are concerns about safety on dating sites but the lack of honesty is one of the most common pitfalls. Women lie about their looks whilst men lie about their jobs. This is probably why most people stalk their potential dates online before meeting up in person. 

Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr (photo: fanpop.com)

Women also read profiles more closely than men, who spend more time reviewing photos. These multiple surveys' results raise fundamental questions about us... Despite its growing popularity, my attitude towards online dating is quite skeptical. 

Dress: Antonio Berardi, shoes: Gucci, clutch: Alexander McQueen

But whether online or offline (most married couples meet through work or friends), a date is always a pleasurable experience even if it is with someone who is already our partner. London has a lot to offer when it comes to beautifully designed restaurants and bars and in the summer there's nothing like rooftop drinking! Have fun!

Dress: Mary Katrantzou, shoes: Sergio Rossi, clutch: YSL

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Coco Chanel's Legacy

It's 129 years since the birth of Coco Chanel, a woman who has revolutionised the world of fashion in such a powerful way that we still associate certain clothes with her, such as the little black dress and tailored suits. 

Coco Chanel, 1929.

She was undoubtedly a visionary, liberating women from the constraints of uncomfortable corsets and letting them move freely and feel at ease with her unique effortlessly chic style.

Coco Chanel. The 'Little Black Dress', 1926.

"Fashion has become a joke. The designers have forgotten that there are women inside the dresses. Most women dress for men and want to be admired . But they must also move, to get into a car without bursting their seams! Clothes must have a natural shape."  Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel. Evening ensemble, 1937-38 (V&A)

Just as her words, her clothes are timeless. Chanel's glamorous evening dresses and ensembles could easily be worn today. This short tailored bolero jacket and loose straight trousers reveal how she anticipated the direction fashion would take in the 1960s and 1970s towards an androgynous look.

Coco Chanel and Romy Schneider

But she is definitely more famous for her suits and chic day wear. We all recognise the skirt tailored suit with Chanel's unmistakable cut, popularised by prominent women in the limelight. 

Coco Chanel and Jackie Kennedy

Despite her challenging background, her talent and perseverance enabled her to build an empire. She was the first designer to ever lend her name to a fragrance, the legendary Chanel No. 5.

"What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No. 5, of course." Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe and Chanel No. 5

Coco Chanel was totally devoted to her business and worked until the end of her life. She continues to inspire many people and a wide range of writers have been publishing books about her including Justine Picardie, who has shed light on the person behind the brand. 

"Fashion passes. Style remains." Coco Chanel

Chanel Evening Dress, 1938. (MET)

But despite the controversy and tragic elements of her life, Chanel will always represent a turning point in fashion history and her style is very much alive today. My guess is that it will continue to thrive for the foreseeable future.

Chanel couture show, Autumn/Winter 2012-13. (vogue.it)

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Fashion Noir

Noir is the latest fashion obsession, mostly associated with stylish Hollywood crime dramas from the early 1940s to late 1950s, it has captured different designers' imagination with its striking visual narratives. Film Noir heroines are mysterious and empowered, just as some of the women who have emerged on the catwalk for the coming season.

Ava Gardner in The Killers, 1946. Bottega Veneta and Gucci 

Different labels are using this suggestive word for their latest fragrances: Tom Ford, Givenchy and Chanel. The iconic number 5 bottle has a new found prominence, it looks super chic in black, Coco Chanel's favoured colour.

The September cover of French Vogue magazine celebrates black's vibrant energy with amazing photographs by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott. After all the recent frills and girlie sorbet colours, Autumn/Winter is looking paradoxically dark, anticipating a need to gain strength. 

Vogue Paris September 2012 issue. Valentino and Alexander McQueen 

If you look to the latest films, we are drawn to female characters who embody power. Just as in the Film Noir era, they are not easy to read and can strike at any given moment. Charlize Theron is simply breathtaking as an evil queen.

Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman, 2012.
Jenny Packham and Givenchy 

Anne Hathaway is also captivating as catwoman: fierce, sexy and bordering fetishist. Some designers seem to have fallen in love with this kind of attitude, but just as yin and yang, it's always circling around in and out of fashion. 

Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Versace and Pucci

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Olympics Closing Ceremony

London is a proud city after the amazing Olympic Games closing ceremony, which featured a wide range of stars, from music and ballet to fashion. British fashion industry was given a special place, with a set of pictures commissioned by Vogue magazine taking centre stage.

Lily Cole (Erdem), Karen Elson (Burberry), Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell
(both in Alexander McQueen). Photo: hollywoodreporter.com 

Midas Touch, by fashion editor Lucinda Chambers, was published in the September issue. Nick Knight's fantastic photographs, displayed in huge trucks, were ripped off revealing celebrity models wearing fabulous golden pieces by star British designers.  

Karen Elson wearing Burberry
(Vogue's fashion shoot detail)

The closing ceremony was as hectic as London itself, with rhythm and an eclectic mix of performers, undoubtedly an accurate portrait of its edgy and vibrant energy. Unable to get a last minute ticket, I ended up joining many people watching the ceremony together in one of the big screens across the city.

Maddox club beach bar at Forman's Fish Island Riviera

The Maddox club beach bar at Forman's Fish Island Riviera was close enough to the Olympic stadium and the whole atmosphere was almost as enthusiastic with people singing along, dancing and cheering. The fireworks display was definitely the cherry on the top of the cake!

Maddox club beach bar at Forman's Fish Island Riviera

It was an unforgettable evening where millions of people around the world have joined together to celebrate sport. Athletes are such an inspiring example of determination, hard work and open-mindedness! John Lennon's words continue to resonate inside us and sadly we still have to 'imagine all the people living life in peace...'



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Testino's Private View

Mario Testino has become a celebrity in his own right, having created iconic images of the Royal family and of a wide range of stars from the music and film industries. But fashion remains a key platform for him and my favourite photographs have been published by major glossy magazines.

Gisele Bündchen in Vanity Fair, New York, 2007

Testino can create an atmosphere of sophistication and glamour in a unique way with a precise and harmonious combination of light, colour and background. Whenever he points his camera at someone, somehow the person is transformed revealing an unseen inner strength.  

Kate Moss by Mario Testino in Private View, published by Taschen

Testino's latest book - Private View -  published by Taschen, celebrates his inaugural exhibition in China, bringing together an exciting selection of his best work. It is best suited for those who are not so familiar with his work and want to have a record of hundreds of iconic pictures brought together.

Karlie Kloss by Mario Testino in Private View, published by Taschen

There is an amazing shot of Karlie Kloss, the darling of the fashion industry, which captures her particular vividness and enthusiasm. You can appreciate his latest fashion contribution internationally. Testino has been working with Burberry for over a decade and his latest advertising campaign is simply classy!

Burberry Autumn/Winter 2012 campaign

Mario Testino
Private View
(£44.99, Taschen)



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Dark Red Fashion

Autumn/Winter collections are starting to emerge and this is the time to invest in your wardrobe for the coming season. Dark red is gaining momentum,  Keira Knightley looks ravishing as Anna Karenina, a film based on Leo Tolstoy's novel, which will be released in the UK next month.

Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina 

Dark red is a prominent colour in her costumes, it's associated with intense passion and longing, therefore quite appropriate to give life to this novel in particular. I read the book last year, after watching a BBC programme about this highly acclaimed author.

Pierre-August Renoir. Clutch by Alexander McQueen

This was a man in search of the truth about life and death, the depth of his words comes from introspection and reflection. By the time it was published in the 19th-century, Impressionism was taking the art world by storm.

Édouard Manet. Dress by Diane Von Furstenberg

The Impressionists sought to express their own perceptions, depicting subjectively what they saw rather than creating exact representations of reality. This open interpretation of creating a unique viewpoint can also be acknowledged in fashion, where labels envision a world of their own.

Gucci's latest advertising campaign, photographed by Mert and Marcus at Vienna's American bar, is both meticulous and precise. It conveys not only a luxury lifestyle but also creates a narrative, capturing seduction and romance. Dark red baroque interiors give the whole campaign a magic energy, as if depicting a novel.

Sunglasses by Marc Jacobs

For an intense look, dark red is a colour worth investing. If you're in London, Russell & Bromley has a beautiful velvet kilted bag still on sale. Otherwise you can just follow the designers' links bellow the pictures and shop online. Or just avoid shopping altogether by checking what you already have in your wardrobe.

Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina. Cape by Haider Ackermann

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Couture for Music Stars

Most couture customers come from oil rich nations in the Middle East and Russia, where billionaire oligarchs spoil their entourage with luxury gifts. From the emerging super rich in China to the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, it is a reasonably predictable list of the wealthiest people on earth. 

Rihanna: House of Worth and Alexandre Vauthier

But music stars are more and more focused on their style and recognise the crucial role their image plays in achieving success. Rihanna's new TV fashion design competition challenges designers to create outfits specifically for stage performances. 

Lady Gaga: Iris Van Herpen and Jean Paul Gaultier

The most impressive example of this collaboration is definitely Lady Gaga who expresses herself through high impact imagery and strong fashion statements.  She features on the world's most powerful women list by Forbes which is calculated in terms of a traditional and social media component, power and money.

Lana Del Rey: Versace and Stéphane Rolland

Can music stars afford couture? The most successful not only buy it but they seem to be a source of inspiration. Going through the latest couture shows, it's possible to find beautiful pieces suitable for performances and red carpet events.

Beyoncé: Jean Paul Gaultier and Alexandre Vauthier

Beyoncé is a keen fashion supporter, her music videos are an impressive display of different designers, from emerging to luxury labels, not to mention her appearances on music awards and festivals. 

Florence Welch: Ulyana Sergeenko and Elie Saab

My selection of couture for music stars ends with Florence Welch, who has also a captivating presence in fashion, always looking glamorous in red carpet events and her performances, which include a Chanel catwalk show. 



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