Elizabeth Taylor

This week saw the passing of a hollywood legend.
Sometimes her turbulent private life took centre stage and over the years perhaps many have forgetten or don't even realise what a brilliant woman she was.
Not only was Elizabeth Taylor an exceptionally good actress (winning two Academy Awards) she also spent decades as a social activist, championing the cause of AIDS awareness, research and cure. In those years she helped to raise more than $100 million to fight the disease.

Corinne Day 1965 - August 28, 2010

Corinne Day was arguably one of the most influential photographers of the 90s.


Working with a young Kate Moss on a fashion story for The Face magazine titled 'The 3rd Summer of Love,' which was published in July 1990 and later (1993) on the British Vogue cover story (opposite) the images would define the 'Waif' look and spark the 'Heroin chic' movement.


The imperfect and voyeuristic feel of the images that Corinne Day produced were in stark contrast to the perfectly made up supermodels and photography of the time, paving the way for the documentary style photography that became synonymous with the late nineties and beyond.

Make-up Mavericks

Even though make-up artists are responsible for the execution of most of the looks that these celebrities wear, for me it is the strength of personality behind the make-up that really makes them look so dynamic.

Few people wear strong make-up with this amount of confidence.

Saint Kate.

It feels a bit strange to post about someones beauty and success as a model. After all she just looks good she isn't saving lives.

The truth is that we are affected by beautiful things everyday of our lives. We want to buy beautiful clothes, own beautiful homes and most of all we want to look beautiful because beautiful things are prized and celebrated.
Kate is one such treasure.
So what is it about Kate that makes her so especially beautiful and successful?
Is it the perfect distance between her eyes?
Her heart shaped face?
Her high cheek bones?
Or her Full lips?
For me, it is all these things and something else... she has grown up with me.

I loved her (and probably wanted to be her) when I first saw her (she was 16) in “the third summer of love” shot by Corinne Day for The Face magazine, which I subscribed to, thankfully my mum didn't realise it was wholly inappropriate for a 14 year old.
Eighties models were overly made up with big hair and perfect teeth, they all looked older than they were. Kate was young, fresh and real.

It seemed to me that a lot of models tried to mold themselves to fit into whichever trend was current, Kate could set trends.
I believe the reason Kate has achieved such lasting success is because she is beautiful but doesn't have a specific 'look'.

For example, Cindy had the sex bomb look, which didn't really cross over to high fashion.

Linda had an exotic, classy sexuality that wasn't right for Heroin chic or waif.

Naomi, has an attitude that means Naomi always appears as herself. She has become more of a personality than a muse.

Claudia is elegant and sensual but her deep-set eyes limit experimentation with make-up meaning that she always has a similar look.

But Kate shook off the waif label with ease and can be anything we want her to be. Her face is incredibly versatile and open. Any make-up will look amazing on her and she will carry it off with that Kate attitude and style. Gemma Ward has this chameleon quality too.
Kate's beauty is not theatening and although stunning there is something very girl next door about her too. Which brings me back to the fact that she always looks like Kate, not like she is trying to be someone else, look a certain way or sell us something.

Linda E

This is the inspiration picture for my recent Linda Evangelista tutorial.

My camera flash has bleached the eyeshadow out a little in my picture.

A piece of Chanel history.

Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (19 August 1883 – 10 January 1971)
Quite a few years ago while working for Chanel I had the great privilege of being invited to visit the apartment of Gabrielle Chanel.
Located above the Chanel boutique at 31 Rue Cambon, Although she lived at the Ritz she kept this apartment "as a place to house her own clothes and host dinner parties"

Many influences from the Chanel collections can be seen inside the apartment. For example, a small birdcage in her sitting room was the inspiration behind the 1992 Chanel commercial with Vanessa Paradis. Many Chanel ads have been shot here including the Keira Knightly 'Coco Mademoiselle' commercial and the Shalom Harlow 'Coco' fragrance campaign (below)

Click here for Vogue's tour of the apartment.