It’s a new year & a new Kate Spade with the newest ad campaign for the brand under Creative Director Nicola Glass. The stylish & bright brand embarks on their “optimistic femininity” by staying true to what’s classic & what works, with the message that women should stay true to their own story. Kate Spade has always embodied such an empowering vibe, but continues to do so with the help of Ozark‘s Julia Glass, If Beale Street Could Talk breakout star Kiki Layne, & Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink.
It’s hard not to smile when checking out these latest Kate Spade designs & the playful photographs taken by Tim Walker, who worked with the brand since the late Kate Spade was at the helm in 1999. The photos offer a fresh, vibrant, & young take on fashion, including the bold textiles, girlish jewelry, & polished accessories.
What do you think of the photo shoot? Are you a fan of Kate Spade designs? What brands are your favorite to follow? For more designer-inspired posts, click here, here, here, & here! Happy Styling!
For some more fall fashion inspiration, I thought I’d share the latest, gorgeous ad campaign from Louis Vuitton, starring three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams & it-girl Alicia Vikander (The Man from U.N.C.L.E. & The Danish Girl). The actresses & spokesmodels are showing off the most elegant design’s from the brand’s Cruise ’16 collection, set in the Palm Springs desert, featuring 70s inspired clothing & luxe luggage & bags.
I’m all about fashion for function & affordability, but from time to time, it’s also important to be aware of what’s going on in the industry for the easiest inspiration, where high-end glamour can influence your street style. Watch the video below for the full experience of The Spirit of Travel.
The gorgeous ad campaign plays off the setting with rich neutrals & refreshing pops of color, perfect for any shopper of any age & style.
If there’s one Style Darling to watch out for, it’s always going to be the one & only, Olivia Palermo, whose personal style has transformed the way fashion bloggers like myself consider street style, as well as millions of Pinners approached their wardrobe. The internet is always buzzing when the socialite-turned-fashion icon makes an appearance anywhere, & now there’s even more reason to talk about her flawless sense of style with her newest designer collaboration with jewelry retailer BaubleBar.
The line features all things decadent & detailed, modern & progressive, elegant & classic, including statement necklaces, earrings & earring jackets, cocktail rings, cuff bracelets, & brooches, which ranges in price from $28.00 – $78.00. Shop the entire collection here & check out her promo ads, including nothing but fashion perfection.
Here’s a closeup look of some fantastic pieces that would instantly dress up any cardigan & skinny jeans look, little black dress & ankle boots, or sheath dress under a chunky sweater.
Model / actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is always on point when it comes to red carpet looks, street style, & when she’s working it on the runway & on camera. As the face & body of Paige Denim, the humanitarian for UNICEF & AIDS research advocate, continues to take the fashion world by storm with the brand’s newest campaign for fall denim. The collection includes plenty of leather outerwear, classic button down shirts, henleys & pullovers, printed jackets, & cozy knits, all of which will inspire your fall style.
PopSugar reports: “The supermodel, who collaborated with the brand’s founder Paige Adams-Geller, showed up to their initial Fall 2015 campaign meeting with shots of Kate Moss’s iconic model off-duty looks all over her Pinterest board. That served as the inspiration for the Autumn shoot, where Rosie worked with celebrity stylist Cher Coulter to channel Kate’s rock-and-roll appeal — a fitting tie-in for the brand’s new lineup of seasonal denim and its first collection of outerwear.”
Eva Mendes is one busy woman- not only is she a mother, girlfriend of Ryan Gosling, fashion designer (for New York & Company), & cosmetics mogul (for Circa), she’s also a spokesmodel for Estee Lauder‘s New Dimension Skincare line, including serums & cosmetics to enhance the look of your skin. The Cuban-American beauty is flawless in the ads, featuring her warm honey complexion, killer cheekbones, & natural glow. When talking about her interest in representing the products (ranging in price from $58-$89), Eva shares with Estee Lauder her own experiences getting to know her face as an actress with, “I have an angular face and I kind of had to learn which angles were which, and how I could work that into a scene,” she continues. “It’s probably what was attractive to me about becoming an actress—the art of transformation.”
The actress made an appearance at a Miami mall to promote the line in a timeless Grecian-inspired Halston Heritage dress with pink ankle strap heels, discussing her experiences as a new mother & turning 40. Later in the day, Eva was spotted at the airport, looking every bit elegant as ever in a belted printed shirtdress & sandals. Though she’s known for her sexy roles & stylish magazine covers, any Style Darling can appreciate the busy day-to-day life of the working woman who’s just trying to take care of herself. For more on Eva’s beauty philosophy, check out Estee Lauder’s interview here.
If you’ve seen Style Darling‘s Instagram (@MissAlissaL), then you know that I can’t wait for the fourth season premiere of HBO’sGirls. It’s one of those shows that I love because I can relate to it when it comes to friendships & relationships, I laugh my butt off at the wit & ridiculousness of the show’s clueless & brilliant characters, & because it almost always makes me feel a little bit more together as a young woman trying to make it in the world. Also, the show is a terrific example of real-life style from its four main characters: Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham), Marnie Michaels (Allison Williams), Jessa Jenkins (Jemima Kirke), & Shoshanna Shapiro (Zosia Mamet). Clearly, each character isn’t trotting the streets of New York in impossibly expensive designer duds, which is something else that I can appreciate about the exciting dramedy!
Hannah isn’t without style, but her interpretation combines basics with her quirky sense of self. She’s not afraid of color & pattern, & always wears what she likes above what trends may be most popular. She can be seen in cutesy Peter Pan collared shirts, floral print rompers, teeny sweaters & bright pants, & shoes that she almost always can’t walk in. But we love Hannah because she tries her best to be inspired by the 50s classic cuts & whimsical patterns.
Marnie is certainly the sophisticated shopper among the characters, wearing tailored looks that blend femininity & maturity. She tries to exude through her style the life she wants to live, often in sleek dresses, preppy separates, unstructured pieces, & core accessories that interfere with her goals. She invests in pieces that can be worn a variety of ways, but are still timeless as she seeks to attain a lifestyle equally as fancy as her tastes.
Jessa is a bohemian of the quartet, mixing prints & billowing volume to express her carefree spirit. She’s always feminine, but on the verge of hippie chic with peasant tops, maxi dresses, long sweaters, crop tops, & loose-fitting pants. I love watching Jessa for her accessories, which almost always include some sort of feather detail, gemstone, layers of metals, or harder gothic inspiration against the softness of her preferred fabrics.
Shoshanna is the youngest of the girls with a lot to learn about self-editing. She is as accessorized as she is articulate, with plenty of hair styles to match with her girlie, on-trend style. She can be found in form-fitting mini dresses, always looking all sorts of cute because she’s always running into crushes, exes, old friends, & making new friends wherever she goes. Her clothes are party-ready & she’s fearless when it comes to taking fashion risks. No skirt is too short, no heels are too high, & no print is too wacky for her to play with, especially when combined with color-coordinated extras like a statement necklace or stacked bangles.
For a little extra taste of what’s to come on the highly anticipated fourth season of Girls, which premieres on Sunday, January 11th on HBO, check out these teaser & promo videos of what’s to come for Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, & Shoshanna.
Gwyneth Paltrow has done it all. She’s won an Academy Award. She’s a working mom & celebrated lifestyle guru (for goop.com). She’s a designer’s darling, always on the best dressed lists. She never fails to make us envious of her effortless glamour. And now… she is making headlines for her latest collaboration it beauty brand, Max Factor, in a new ad campaign, featuring the actress undergoing a high glamour Old Hollywood makeover, á la Marilyn Monroe with a modern twist.
The Oscar-winner has starred in previous campaigns for the cosmetics company, recalling stylish & vintage decades from the 50s to the 80s, inspired by icons like Brigette Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, Madonna, & Farah Fawcett. This behind-the-scenes look at the photo shoot, courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar UK, shares Gwyneth’s thoughts on blending her personal style with the brand’s signature pink lipstick.
Two of the biggest stars in Hollywood are lending their acting chops & model-worthy good looks to the fashion industry’s latest short film, Street of Dreams, directed by the one & only, Martin Scorsese. Dolce & Gabbana spokesmodel Scarlett Johansson & Southern heartthrob Matthew McConaughey join forces under Scorsese’s direction for this commercial / video, celebrating the Italian fashion house’s fragrance The One ($59.00 – $82.00), which can be purchased through the brand’s official website, Sephora, Macy’s, & Ulta.
In a recent press release, Domenico Dolce shared how pleased he was with the final result, as well as Scarlett’s performance: “Scarlett is the embodiment of ‘The One’ woman… She lives and breathes every womanly nuance. She exudes desire and innocence. She is both sobriety and sensuality. There is innocence in her eyes yet her smile is laced with mischief. She is a talented actress and a beautiful woman.“
Below, check out the commercial of Scarlett, clad in the brand’s signature black lace & old Hollywood glamour, playing the role of ‘The One.’
In a thoughtful effort to featuring more news for any male readers out there, I have something here for everyone. About a month ago, news hit the web about The Twilight Saga heartthrob, Rob Pattinson, had set to star in the new ads for Dior‘s Dior Homme cologne. The below video features a series snapshots of the ad campaign, which took plane in New York City, under the direction of German artist Nan Goldin. The teaser images will certainly make for a special cinematic moment, especially since participating in fragrance ads for luxury designers has been a hot trend in the few years.
The scent features notes of amber, vetiver, & leather blend, according to In Style, which sounds like all things sophisticated & masculine- a perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season. You can shop the fragrance at Sephora & costs between $60.00 – $80.00.
Back in April, the world was swooning over Beyoncé‘s debut ad campaign for H&M, but now that the fall is here, the Swedish retailer is pursuing a fresh, new look for its latest collection. The answer to this is none other than Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who looks nothing short of fabulous wearing the polished & preppy fall duds.
These images call on everything that’s great about fall fashion, like fluffy sweaters, deep saturated hues, rich textures & luxe layers, sharp accessories, & sophisticated outerwear. Even though the summer isn’t over yet & you shouldn’t pack up your maxi dresses or gladiator sandals, but planning ahead for some killer new fashions for autumn isn’t such a bad idea either.
Among all the celebrity sisterly duos, I have to say that the Simpsons, Jessica & Ashlee that is, are my favorite. While their musical careers may have lost their spark, it’s safe to say that the Texas natives are feeling good taking on fashion. The Jessica Simpson Collection has been successful with plenty of feminine apparel items & flirty accessories like platforms & sandals that are perfect for any wardrobe.
For the Fall 2013 collection, new mom Jess enlisted the help of her edgier rock & roll-esque baby sister, Ashlee, as the face of the latest line, which includes a stylish variety of casual dresses, date-worthy pieces, girlie jewelry, & trendy separates, as seen in the images above & below!
In a recent interview with People Style Watch, Ashlee shared that “I have a pretty cool sister with an amazing sense of style, and I was honored to get to do the shoot… We keep it in the family. Jessica’s a fun one to work with.”
I knew that being away for so long & out of touch with the latest fashion news would make me (almost) miss some really great stories tos hare here on Style Darling. This includes the latest from the fall ad campaign circuit, which is three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williamsshowing off her darker, dramatic side for Louis Vuitton. The usually ethereal girly-girl of the red carpet is shedding her bombshell Marilyn Monroe / sweetheart Glinda image in this images seen above & below!
The ads are celebrating the latest in handbags from the brand’s Autumn / Winter 2013-14 line, including the W and the Capucines, by photographer Peter Lindbergh. However, it’s Michelle here who really steals the spotlight from the luxury accessories with her sensual wine-hued pout & a rocker-inspired shaggy ‘do.
Along with the new fall previews hitting the pages of the best fashion magazines, you can expect lots to look at when it comes to ads for the biggest brands with the most stylish collections. I’m certainly paying attention to texture, pattern, shine, & accessories, especially when there’s plenty of 60s-inspired silhouettes to Lanvin‘s Fall 2013 campaign. Also, I love the nod to Hitchcock heroines like Grace Kelly & Janet Leigh, as well as plenty of Mad Men-chic looks. This is a more memorable ad with an elegant Aflac-esque duck held by the models, as quirkily demonstrated by director Alber Elbaz with shots taken by Steven Meisel of House + Holme.
Back in May, I posted the debut image of Rooney Marafor Calvin Klein‘s newest fragrance Downtown. Now, the brand has released the short film for the perfume, directed by Girl with the Dragon Tattoo visionary David Fincher, which features a rarely cheerful leading lady. The black-&-white minute-long film hits up the subway, dances with children, & wears the most gorgeous of fashions all to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song, “Runaway.”
When it comes to ad campaigns, I’m always excited to see celebrities in action wielding a fashion or beauty brand. However, in the spirit of style, the Italian brand, Miu Miu, has gathered a group of models, including Adriana Lima & Georgia May Jagger, to represent their latest Fall 2013 collection. The mixture of prints with pops of color create a fun, flirty, & fall-ready combination of looks for the upcoming season. The usual fashion photo shoot contains a slew of models posing for the camera, but this newest campaign shows that models can also dance aside from walk a runway. Also featured in the ad are Katlin Aas, Daphne Groeneveld, Anne Verhallen, & Lindsey Wixson.
When I hear about Chanel, I think immediately about the legendary designer, as portrayed in films in like Coco Before Chanel, & how A-listers today interpret the brand for modern-day red carpet appearances & showing off their street style. Also, I’ve been following a lot from the fashion house, including their latest Fall 2013 Haute Couture collection, & now, the latest news that actress Diane Krugeris the new face of Chanel’s skincare line, as well as the brand’s ambassador.
The elegant ad showcases the German import’s natural beauty for La Commence La Beauté, which features day & night creams. Chanel recently released a statement about choosing Diane to represent the brand: “Attracted by her sophistication and artistic spirit, the House of Chanel chose her for its Allure fragrance advertising campaign, then again for the Paris-Biarritz handbag advertising campaign, shot by Karl Lagerfeld… Now an ambassadress for Chanel, Diane Kruger will be the face of a new skincare advertising campaign, due to be unveiled in 2013.”
All this time here I was thinking that the best legs in Hollywood belonged to actress / mogul Jennifer Lopez or supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, but the sultry side of Nicole Kidman is out in full force for her latest venture as the face.. err… legs… err feet of Jimmy Choo‘s Autumn / Winter 2013 collection. This is by far the best we’ve ever seen the Australian beauty & not only are there images to show her strut her stuff, but there’s also a short film video that’s gorgeous enough to make any Style Darling break the bank and buy a pair of the luxury footwear! I love the nearly $1,000 shoes, as well as Nicole’s shaggy red wig, which makes her look every bit the bombshell that we love her to be.
“I really enjoyed being able to play a role that was strong, sexy and in control,” she shares, according to People, adding “I got into a relationship with the photographer [Mikael Jansson], & Mikael is very intuitive, he knows what I am thinking & feeling & is able to translate it through the camera.” Inspiration for the shoot came from the photography of Helmut Newton, as well as the strong heroine icons of Alfred Hitchcock films- no doubt including Grace Kelly, who Nicole portrays in her upcoming film, Grace of Monaco.
The brand’s creative director Sandra Choi reveals more behind the campaign & collection. “There is a feeling of a quiet eroticism in the collection, & this concept was brought to life by Nicole’s magnetic presence in front of the camera… Her character portrays the multi-faceted qualities of the Jimmy Choo woman for this season – strong, sexy with a beguiling sense of mystery.“
Last fall, Hollywood’s it-girl Jessica Chastain made her debut as the face of Yves Saint Laurent‘s fragrance Manifesto. it looks like the ad campaign is evolving with a more dramatic edge, showing the raw beauty of the two-time Academy Award nominee in all-black looks with a smoky eye & Veronica Lake-inspired curls. These latest photos were taken by Max Vadukul & under the direction of YSL’s creative director Hedi Slimane. For those of you who haven’t taken a whiff of the $82.00 fragrance, it effervesces with luscious notes of bergamot, green accord, sambac jasmine, wood & vanilla.
These are quite the departure from the previous ad campaign, featuring the Zero Dark Thirty star rolling around in purple paint, as well as bidding on her art work in a gold auction room, as seen in the video below.
In an effort to contribute some sort of satirical fashion news for a friend’s new website, The Long Island Leek, I got sidetracked with some male-appropriate fashion-related news that I was super excited to share on this very sunny Father’s Day. Also, it’d been over a year since I last featured something about men’s fashion here on Style Darling, so I thought today was a good day to do it. Last year, I shared that actors like Gary Oldman & Garrett Hedlund not only walked the runway for Prada, but were also featured in the brand’s campaign.
However, leave it to Prada to pick a variety of actors, seasoned & up-and-coming, for their new Menswear Fall / Winter 2013-2014 ad campaign. This time we’re seeing two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz, of Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained & Inglorious Basterds fame, Skyfall‘s Q British actor Ben Whishaw, & Perks of Being a Wallflower breakout star Ezra Miller, who you might also recognize from 2011’s We Need To Talk About Kevin.
The ads were shot in London by David Sims back in March, which was “inspired by the irreverent world of ’60s New Wave cinema,” & each actor serves as “protagonists in a drama of wit & enigma.” The unconventional leading men are perfect for capturing the ageless & legendary look of Prada for men, inviting the dapper foreigner, pretty boy artist, & solemn brainiac to the table. Additionally, Prada released a behind-the-scenes video of the shoot, which shows the actors-turned-temporary-models in action!
Rooney Marahas certainly cemented her status in fashion, especially after co-chairing this year’s Met Costume Institute Gala with Givenchy‘s Riccardo Tisci. Now the Oscar-nominated actress is the latest face for Calvin Klein‘s new fragrance, Downtown. The cool, edgy scent is geared towards a 25-35 woman, which can be seen in the upcoming, yet-to-be-seen David Fincher-directed TV spots. The print ads were photographed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, featuring a fresh-faced leather jacket-wearing Rooney, leaning against a brick wall.
“I am very excited to be included in the group of amazing women that have been featured in the iconic advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein fragrances. It’s an honor to be part of a brand with such a legacy of breakthrough advertising. The Downtown fragrance holds true to the chic, confident and simple feeling of the Calvin brand,” says the actress about the perfume which will be featured in 3,000 department stores nationwide.
Former model / actress Diane Krugeris a German-born beauty who ranks among the A-list when it comes to red carpet appearances, & has certainly proven her acting chops in such films as Inglorious Basterds & Farewell, My Queen. She has any & every designer begging to dress her, as she dazzles fashion critics with her bold choices, graces, & timelessness. Speaking of time… The Swiss-based watch company, Jaeger Le-Coultre, recently featured Diane in a short film called Reinvent Yourself, which asks the question, how many times can you reinvent yourself in a lifetime?
Well, we can surely ask the powerful likes of Madonna or Lady Gaga that; however, in this beautiful two-minute piece, we are privileged to see a music-video-like project, set to the powerful voice of Shirley Bassey with “(Where Do I Begin) Love Story.”
During a recent interview, Diane had this to say about “It felt very authentic about my life and my friendship with Jaeger Le-Coultre…It pieces together my professional life and my personal life, and I’m very grateful for that.” She also adds, “Everybody in life can relate to laughter or cry for joy or just that moment of something ending, so that was the inspiration there… I had a couple of sad thoughts going through my head on that one…” In addition, she wanted the film to end on a positive note, one that hopefully inspires women. She says, “You’re not just defined by your job, but also by the choices you make as a woman. You can be anything, if you put your heart to it.” This is certainly the truth for a stylish chameleon of the red carpet.
In case you forgot, Beyoncé, a. k. a. Mrs. Carter, is the new Spring / Summer 2013 face of H&M. Now, we finally have access to Bey’s ad campaign featuring a tropical setting, tribal inspiration, & plenty of splashing around. Take a look at the music video, including the singer’s new track, “Standing In The Sun.” Beyoncé dons some sexy swimwear & changes up her look with watercolor separates.
Country crooner Taylor Swiftrecently lent her good-next-door, all-American style chops to a new collection with the shoe brand Ked’s. Her affinity for playful details like polka dots, kittens, sunglasses, & nautical inspiration is evident in the collaboration which retails at $50.00 a pair. Not to mention that Taylor is using the her foray into fashion as a role model, calling all “brave girls” to share their bravest moments.
As seen in the video below, Taylor talks about her move from Pennsylvania to Nashville with her family once she convinced them of her dream to be a singer / songwriter. In addition, check out the video below, which features the shoes in action, perfect for spring, as Taylor encourages her fans & Ked’s customers to embrace life. It’s a pretty amazing message that she’s sending via shoe design, which makes me consider how many different ways Ked’s can be mixed into your everyday wardrobe.
Obviously, I don’t normally features sneakers in my Show Me The Shoes posts, but I love the idea behind this collaboration? Would you wear Ked’s designed by Taylor Swift? Which style is your favorite? How would you wear them? Happy Styling!
Beyoncéreally needs no introduction. She’s stylish, talented, & an awesome role model for women everywhere. Her latest effort is a new ad campaign for Pepsi with the short video “Mirrors,” which puts a hip-shaking Bey up against her career highlights in a mirror’s reflection. A troubled Beyoncé is practicing her famous moves in front of mirrors, when a sip of an ice-cold can of Pepsi suddenly revives the diva within.
More specifically, we get to see the Texas-native reunite with her Sasha Fierce alter ego in her “Bootylicious” hot pink costume during her Destiny’s Child days, as well as her tank & shorts look for “Crazy in Love,” & the always fabulous hand armor-baring “Single Ladies” leotard. Also, there are flashes of Beyoncé from past videos including, “Naughty Girl,” “Beautiful Liar,” “Baby Boy,” & “Love On Top.” The theme of the video is: “Embrace your past, but live for now,” which is a phrase I’ve been experiencing all too well these days.
Marion Cotillardis certainly one of the most beautiful women in the world & Diorsnagged up the French Oscar-winner as its spokesmodel for several seasons now. The actress returns as the face of Lady Diorbags, standing alongside the colorful collection with old Hollywood & vintage-inspired pieces from the Dior line. Her smoky eyes & dark berry lip hue are perfect for translating the brand’s effortlessly chic style, with photographs by Jean-Baptiste Mondino.
It’s hard not to smile when checking out these latest Kate Spade designs & the playful photographs taken by Tim Walker, who worked with the brand since the late Kate Spade was at the helm in 1999. The photos offer a fresh, vibrant, & young take on fashion, including the bold textiles, girlish jewelry, & polished accessories. 
Style Darling Daily 