The ‘Gossip Girl’ star, Blake Lively, 23-year-old, rocks a Michael Kors tunic and Lorraine Schwartz bracelets as she covers Glamour magazine’s July 2011 issue. In the interview with the magazine, she talks to Florence Welch, her new best friend, about her personal style and how she gets ready for being the face of Chanel’s Mademoiselle bag, her love for cooking, and roles she loves to play.
Lately, it seems that we see Blake Lively everywhere. The actress was spotted hanging out and hugging Leonardo DiCaprio. Then there are nude photos spreading on the Internet of a woman looking very much like Blake, yet she told us they are fake. And the actress also got a blockbuster this summer called ‘Green Lantern’ with Ryan Reynolds, a contract with Chanel mentioned above, and she became the cover girl of several renowned magazines, with the one for Glamour’s July 2011 issue as the latest.
The girl just looks amazing wearing a Michael Kors tunic with the dreamy blonde locks. Still, about becoming new ambassador of Chanel, Blake told the magazine that it was such an honor to her.
And when asked about her strong, breakout performance in the movie ‘The Town’, the actress said that those darker roles actually reflect the real Blake, and she laughed, “That’s what you don’t know!” And then Blake explained, “No, I’m drawn to those roles because (they’re so) rare, especially for someone my age. Women in film are often the prizes for the men and nowhere near as layered or complex as the men get to be. My character in The Town was written for a 37-year-old. I had to fight for that role. But also, I’m not this super-tortured soul, so it’s fun to be able to go there.”
However, apart from acting, the girl also does pretty well in styling and cooking. In fact she is becoming an style icon and the inspiration for girls around the globe because of the unique styles she boasts, which she considers as being ‘moody’. Blake’s mother modeled and made clothes, so she always had such an appreciation for designs. “And then Gossip Girl completely blew open the door to fashion for me,” said Blake. She had to go to fashion shows and asked her publicist whether she could buy a certain item, and would take it after getting a YES. Blake regarded this as one of her favorite hobbies.
Blake also told readers about her love for simple styling on hair and makeup, because to make everything easy is her own recipe and because as a mannequin for clothes, it’s not OK to do anything too distracting. And you may find it unbelievable but the famous actress told that she feels shy when people are fussing on her.
As for cooking, Blake expressed the thrill of discovering a new sauce or spice and says that is crazy. She once wanted a sauce from New Orleans, the FDA didn’t approve the delivery. Then Blake even asked the restaurant to put the sauce into a teddy bear and send it to her. But she finally got turned down by the restaurant saying that they are not the drug cartel.
Here’s absolutely great news for Hello Kitty fans. As the most renowned cat ever, Hello Kitty, born in 1974, now gets precious in the latest limited Swarovski + Hello Kitty Collection. This new set will begin to sparkle at Swarovski’s shops in August, 2011. Swarovski, the expert on crystals, again uses those dazzling stones to adorn the necklaces, pendants, rings, earrings, and some other accessories.
“As a fan from day one,” Nathalie Colin, Swarovski Artistic Director, perfectly explains how they got that idea, “I saw an obvious connection between the magical, sparkle of crystal and the bright, playful world of Hello Kitty”.
Hello Kitty without doubt has long been loved by numerous people all over the world, and we’ve certainly seen lots of great designs as results of the previous collaborations of the cat and those fashion houses. This time the Japanese company Sanrio and Swarovski upgrade the kitty’s look in a sparkling limited collection to be released in August this year. This gorgeous line will then make its grand debut in some of Swarovski’s 1,900 stores, completing Swarovski’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection.
The oh-so-adorable kitty, together with it well-known ear bow, is featured on lots of different things, and in this collection by Swarovski you can also expect things like apples, flowers, bows, and hearts. Every single detail and each of the exclusive crystals applied with special techniques are definitely enchanting. And one item that has wowed so many ladies is the Swarovski’s classic “Power” bag in clear Crystal Mesh and Kitty’s face made in white leather with black, yellow and pink crystals.
There are some rings in this collection, also super elegant, lovely and sweet. One is in fact a set of three rings which are adorned with Hello Kitty’s face, bow, apple, and a little heart, yet they can be worn together or individually. The second boasts the Kitty’s face with a bow over her left ear.
Of course the other playful stuff also wins lots of love, like the bracelets with Hello Kitty’s face on a pink crystal pearl bracelet with a colored bow. Then let’s look at the seven necklaces and pendants that too come with breathtaking charm. Made from extremely fine materials with superb techniques, these pieces of artwork are simply irresistible.
When we are still stuck in this cold long winter at the beginning of 2011, the fashion world just seems not able to wait any longer to present to us something new. Fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, has already been well prepared for next winter, with the coming out of the Fall/Winter 2011-2012 collection. Men’s Studio Director Paul Helbers has explored the ultra simplified elegance of Amish style and instilled it with a hint of strangeness. 
Helbers described this unique pairing of Amish design elements with lynchian overtones, telling that this collection is almost all black to emphasize shape and technique. As can be seen from the show, those Jackets have been sculpted around the body almost like shields. And you will find the intrigue in those contrast materials like rubberized, matte Macintosh with metallic python and sun bleached wide wale corduroy in unexpected combinations. These all take on a new beauty, just as what designer’s said. However, instead of being too monotonous, some excitements have been brought to this predominantly black tone of the collection with flashes of Motel Red and matte and shine contrasts. Even denim is double dyed black with hand-painted bleach tracing long seams for a “caught in the headlights” look. 
On the other hand, iconic bag styles are presented in a new leather, Damier Infini, an ultra-soft and high quality leather embossed in signature check. The Keepall, the Neo-Greenwich and the Porte-Document de Voyage this time come in Motel Red, Glacier Grey and Anthracite. Aside from this new leather statement, small satchels and brief cases adorned with trunk locks, reproduced from vintage Louis Vuitton models, are shown in elephant print leather and in classic Nomade soft leather. Monogram canvas or patent alligator. 
Then we come to the accessories part. The house has displayed faceless watches, rose-cut cluster rings, side pleated gloves and thick matte black sunglasses associate plain simplicity with a mysterious lynchian quality, while thick knit scarves, have replaced ties to create a rustic Amish look. 
And we’ve seen the reversion in luxury footwear. This time they go inside out, with patched material combinations, which put alligator on the inside, patent leather on the heel and leaves edging uncut for a thick sole and a rough feel.
People are fascinated by all the masterpieces from the watch brand of Breitling, and Breitling has never stopped providing surprises that have never let us down. This time Breitling introduces its flagship Chronomat 01 model in a limited collection endowed with exclusive finishing and a transparent caseback providing a fascinating view of the 100% in-house made chronograph caliber. A close-up look at elegance and top-flight performances.
This collection was first introduced in the spring of 2009, the Chronomat 01 was the first Breitling watch to house Caliber 01, a chronograph movement entirely developed and produced in the brand’s workshops. As the leading model in the Breitling collections, this instrument features the powerful character of its case, its bezel engraved with original numerals, and its distinctive combination of strength and elegance. The watch is available in a few different versions, it has established itself as the new benchmark in the field of mechanical chronographs – and indeed as the ultimate chronograph.
For those fans who collect rare and exclusive timepieces, Breitling is now offering this iconic model in a limited edition of 2,000 in steel and 200 in rose gold, all bearing the individual number engraved at 9 o’clock on the case middle. Each of them is fabulously crafted. The strong and unique design of the case, bezel and bracelet is highlighted by subtle contrasted finishing – satin-brushed on the top and polished on the sides. The black dial is adorned with applied hour-markers. Different from the standard Chronomat 01 models which are equipped with solid steel or gold casebacks, this new Breitling Chronomat 01 is distinguished by a transparent sapphire crystal caseback providing optimal views of the in-house made chronograph movement. An exceptional glimpse of this high-performance motor boasting a column-wheel, an entirely original architectural design, and assembled according to a revolutionary industrial process.
A fashionista will surely know something about the renowned fashion brand of Fendi. Fendi is an Italian high fashion house known for its fabulous items in several different lines – bags, furs, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces, as well as writing Instruments. The business was started in the year 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome. However, today it is a multinational luxury goods brand owned by LVMH. And Karl Lagerfeld is the creative director of Fendi.
It will be an exciting thing to most fans to see what Fendi has got for the coming year of 2011. For a Roman house, the most Roman of references: La Dolce Vita – the movie as well as the state of mind – gave Fendi’s pre-fall collection its luxurious glamour. As befits a transitional season, though, this was glamour of a beautifully easygoing kind. Anita Ekberg would find something here to wear, all right—but it might be jeans.
Chunky knits, in jewel tones like emerald and sapphire, appeared in the form of skirts and sweaters, and most hemlines hit at the knee or below. The waist was emphasized in high skirts and nipped-in dresses worn with belts. And the palette, favoring cool blues—sapphire, cerulean, cobalt, and sky—was light without heat. (Though one is honor-bound to mention the spangled harem pants, for all the glitter effect you could want.)
Fendi being Fendi, the fabrications were exquisite, the details just so. They made the basic special, as in the multicolored enamel buttons marching up the front of a prim skirt. The special they made—well, you get the picture. Vide the treated jacquard that was used in a few evening options, covered in tiny dots of metallic sheen that sparkled like stars —the kind you’ll find twinkling in the Roman night sky or, if you like, splashing in the Trevi fountain.
Well, I know how you feel sometimes in front of these pieces of masterpieces, since I probably feel the same. You may wonder whether the inspiration and creativity of designers will run out, but at least we can still be surprised by the lefendary designer Karl Lagerfeld and the ideas and stuff he has brought to the world.