Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Withings Hopes a Mini Cara Delevingne Lookalike Will Sell Its Smart Watches

Withings Hopes a Mini Cara Delevingne Lookalike Will Sell Its Smart Watches:

I've been a fan of Withings's activity-tracking watches for a while now. The original style, released in June, was classic and minimal. Its second iteration, the Activité Pop, was still classy but a bit more fun — and at $150, $300 cheaper than the first. They're really good-looking devices that can pass for "real" (read: single-purpose) watches.

But when it comes to wooing the fashion industry, it's not enough to merely create chic tech products and hope the style-minded find their way to them. As Withings Chief Marketing Officer Julien De Preaumont explained over the phone Tuesday afternoon, fashion people "aren't going to start reading tech blogs just because you have a nice watch." You have to go break those walls down yourself.

That's why the wearables company chose London Fashion Week to release a photo series featuring two preteen Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne lookalikes (Maya Koski-Wood, 12, and Harley Chapman, 10) wearing the Activité Pop and reenacting shots from the supermodels' recent "My Burberry" campaign. There's also a Twiggy moment and a plainclothes Cara D moment thrown in for good measure.

"We didn't have the budget to have the originals, so we had to come up with lookalikes," De Preaumont said of the casting.

"Kate." Photo: Withings
"Kate." Photo: Withings
It's cute and eerie and feeds our basest Internet tendencies. Of course we're going to look at tiny adorable replicas of the most popular models on the planet. I'm writing about it right now!

So well done, Withings. Well done.

The company hasn't bought ad space to promote the images, De Preaumont says; instead, they'll live on social media and some blogs. The point was to prove that the Activité Pop, which is now available in the UK and will go on sale at Best Buy in the U.S. this March, can be a fashion accessory.

Having launched the original Activité at an event with Marie Claire's Nina Garcia, Withings has also started to send out devices to photographers, makeup artists and hairdressers to track who walks the most during Fashion Month.

Withings isn't the first tech company to go above and beyond in its efforts to win over the fashion crowd. Apple took direct aim at the highest tiers of the industry — Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, et al. — by holding an Apple Watch event at Colette during Paris Fashion Week last September. The following month, the device cropped up on the cover of Vogue China. Withings's move is smaller scale and the company certainly doesn't have Apple's pre-existing fan base, but these photos should at least help get the brand on the radar of the fashion-minded.

And while it's a little odd that Withings chose to imitate an existing ad campaign, these kids are really cute.



"Cara" and "Kate". Photo: Withings
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"Cara" and "Kate". Photo: Withings



"Cara" and "Kate". Photo: Withings
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"Cara" and "Kate". Photo: Withings



"Kate". Photo: Withings
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"Kate". Photo: Withings



Baby Cara. Photo: Withings
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Baby Cara. Photo: Withings



Baby Twiggy. Photo: Withings
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Baby Twiggy. Photo: Withings



"Cara" and "Kate". Photo: Withings
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"Cara" and "Kate". Photo: Withings



"Cara" and "Kate". Photo: Withings
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"Cara" and "Kate". Photo: Withings

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:23 PM
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The 8 Biggest Trends from London Fashion Week

The 8 Biggest Trends from London Fashion Week:

The whirlwind of London Fashion Week is officially behind us, and in the spirit of fashion, we're moving onto the next. But not before we take a quick look back at the last five days.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (and we know this isn't the last time that this trend will be mentioned during a wrap-up, so get used to it), the '70s saw a lot of runway time, again. Topshop, Burberry Prorsum and Matthew Williamson were just a few of the offenders in London.

Luckily for us (and our sanity), a few new trends broke through as well. Scroll through to see what London had to offer for fall 2015:

The Mod Squad

From left to right: Peter Pilotto, Mary Katrantzou, David Koma, Daks and Jonathan Saunders
From left to right: Peter Pilotto, Mary Katrantzou, David Koma, Daks and Jonathan Saunders
Wait, what? Didn't we just go on and on about the '70s? OK, hear us out. The '70s were alive and kicking, but there is something to be said for this week's nod to mod from London.

Fringe Benefits

From left to right: Pavane, Timur Kim, Julien Macdonald, Burberry Prorsum and Issa.
From left to right: Pavane, Timur Kim, Julien Macdonald, Burberry Prorsum and Issa.
Designers are not shying away from fringe this season. At all. Not only does it seem like everyone is using it, they are using it to the extreme.

Dare to Flare

From left to right: Topshop Unique, Felder Felder, Eudon Choi, Gareth Pugh and Jonathan Saunders
From left to right: Topshop Unique, Felder Felder, Eudon Choi, Gareth Pugh and Jonathan Saunders
And the run-off from the '70s continues. Or perhaps it's just time for the skinny pant to be on its way out? Either way, trousers seem to be getting wider as the season progresses. We welcome it.

Think Pink

From left to right: Emilia Wickstead, Mary Katrantzou, Fyodor Golan, Toga and Sibling
From left to right: Emilia Wickstead, Mary Katrantzou, Fyodor Golan, Toga and Sibling
Continuing from New York was pink in every shade. It proved to be a nice contrast to another popular color…

Eggplant

From left to right: Vielma London, Jasper Conran, Jean Pierre Braganza, Barbara Casasola and London College of Fashion
From left to right: Vielma London, Jasper Conran, Jean Pierre Braganza, Barbara Casasola and London College of Fashion
The deeply autumnal aubergine was a go-to for plenty of designers in London, including Barbara Casaola and Jean Pierre Braganza. We especially liked the leaves lining the runway at Jasper Conran. Nice touch.

Mix 'n Clash

From left to right: Judy Wu, Central Saint Martins, Doru Olowu, Minnan Hui and J.W. Anderson
From left to right: Judy Wu, Central Saint Martins, Doru Olowu, Minnan Hui and J.W. Anderson
Prints, colors and textures came together and clashed together in some of the most exciting looks in London. Matchy-matchy is overrated anyway.

Mongolian Fur

From left to right: Holly Fulton, Ashley Isham, Sass and Bide, Matthew Williamson and House of Holland
From left to right: Holly Fulton, Ashley Isham, Sass and Bide, Matthew Williamson and House of Holland
Fox was the fur of choice in New York, while London went for something on the fluffier side.

Caped Crusader

From left to right: Duro Olowu, Marios Schwab, Burberry Prorsum, Giles and Mulberry
From left to right: Duro Olowu, Marios Schwab, Burberry Prorsum, Giles and Mulberry
Kate Moss showed up to Burberry Prorsum draped in a (fringed) cape looking as chic as ever, and wouldn't you know it, several capes walked the runway. If there's anyone out there who can start a trend, it's her.

Wallpaper Prints

From left to right: Simone Rocha, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, Burberry Prorsum and Mother of Pearl
From left to right: Simone Rocha, Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, Burberry Prorsum and Mother of Pearl
Often times piled one on top of the other, these prints add color and complexity to any look. Honorable mention goes to upholstery prints, part of the same category.

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:21 PM
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Delfina Delettrez Celebrates The Opening of Her New London Store

Delfina Delettrez Celebrates The Opening of Her New London Store:

Delfina Delettrez. Photo: Black Frame
Delfina Delettrez. Photo: Black Frame
Delfina Delettrez, the jewelry designer known for her surreal, imaginative creations, had a lot to celebrate during London Fashion Week. First, and most superficially, she debuted a brand new boyish pixie cut, which earned her one compliment after another as she entered a dinner in her honor for two other — more substantial — achievements: the opening of her second brick and mortar store, and the release of the latest issue of  A Magazine, which she guest curated, following in the footsteps of Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, Riccardo Tisci and Giambattista Valli, who have all previously put their stamp on the publication.

Delettrez, who's part of the Fendi family, opened her first store in Rome in 2011, and while she can't quite put her finger on why she chose London for her second, she says it just felt right. "I really follow signs and I had such an amazing feeling about London," she told us after the new location's opening celebration. "Here in London are my best retailers, so I see that my creativity is well perceived. I always thought I would open it on Mount Street. There’s a protective aura and it’s very jewelry oriented — I kind of feel that there's a stone energy and a strength in us [jewelry brands] being close together. Also because I’m moving here — everything just sort of connected."

The space was designed by downtown New York-based Rafael de Cárdenas, whom Delettrez worked with on her first store and has known for years. "I love the way he mixes geometries — smoother shapes and sharper shapes — and he has excellent taste color-wise as well," she explained. "He really knew my work because he’s a friend, so we didn’t have to exchange so much; we were already kind of inside each others brains and universes. I believe in human connections, even work-wise. He knew how to translate all of my codes, which are a lot." Delettrez plans to keep the shop feeling alive by changing up the furniture and the art relatively frequently, and wants the asymmetrical space to feel both homey and vibrant.

As if opening a new store wasn't enough work (the finishing touches were completed just hours before its opening celebration), Delettrez said that curating A Magazine was quite an undertaking — though of a very different sort. "I love contrast, and to be here launching a magazine, which is something flat — not flat because of its content, but because of its shape — and something so 3-D as a shop, it was a heavy passage," she said. "It is crazy how a magazine turns out to be three-dimensional when you have it."

The theme of her issue is gold, and its features run the gamut from an experimental mind map designed by de Cárdenas and his team, to an editorial styled with pieces from the Fendi archives and lots of commissioned works of art, including a sketch by Karl Lagerfeld. "I love how everything doesn’t really connect to each other, it’s like a star mapping or a constellation," Delettrez said. "It’s like a voyage to another dimension when you encounter different planets — none of them stick to the other but they all make sense. In a chaos, there is an order."

Check out the interior of the new shop at 109 Mount Street in London by clicking through the gallery below and look out for her issue of A on select newsstands.



Photo: Mark Cocksedge
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Photo: Mark Cocksedge



Photo: Mark Cocksedge
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Photo: Mark Cocksedge



Photo: Mark Cocksedge
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Photo: Mark Cocksedge



Photo: Mark Cocksedge
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Photo: Mark Cocksedge



Photo: Mark Cocksedge
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Photo: Mark Cocksedge



Photo: Mark Cocksedge
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Photo: Mark Cocksedge



Photo: Mark Cocksedge
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Photo: Mark Cocksedge

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:20 PM
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Natalia Vodianova and Karlie Kloss Throw a Star-Studded Fashion Fair for Charity

Natalia Vodianova and Karlie Kloss Throw a Star-Studded Fashion Fair for Charity:

Natalia Vodianova, Karlie Kloss and Taylor Swift. Photo: Oliver Rudkin 
Natalia Vodianova, Karlie Kloss and Taylor Swift. Photo: Oliver Rudkin 
After Tuesday night's Elle Style Awards, many decamped to Natalia Vodianova's and Karlie Kloss's "First Fabulous Fund Fair" to raise money for Vodianova's Naked Heart Foundation. The party was held at London's Roundhouse, where A-listers stood cheek to jowl in a riotously fun theme park environment, complete with stalls, cotton candy, balloons and cool music.

Whilst many fashion editors had already left en masse to Milan, the performers for Wednesday night's Brit Awards flew in, which explains why Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, Nick Jonas, Ellie Goulding and Chrissie Hynde all dropped by the fundraiser for the Russian supermodel's cause celebre.

Vodianova's heart is in the right place: The charity focuses on special needs kids and building safe playgrounds for them: it is a prime example of the fashion industry giving back. Good to see then that designers turned out in droves too, including Stella McCartney, Alice Temperley, Charlotte Olympia and David Koma. The model contingent was also strong, and included Cara Delevingne, Jourdan Dunn and Lily Donaldson, who all took turns at the various rides and games, which were sponsored by the likes of Swarvoksi, Dior, Moda Operandi and many more big-hearted companies that pitched in.

Karlie in front of her kookie stand at the event. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
Karlie in front of her kookie stand at the event. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
While we were expecting a fun, fair-like atmosphere, we didn't expect Eva Herzigovia to be serving coconut ice cream, face painting by Pat McGrath, fortunetelling by Suzy Menkes, or Karlie Kookies being handed out by Karlie herself, which felt a bit like getting communion from a fashion god. (We queued up at the Guerlain kissing booth with Ms. Vodianova, but let's just say, the blokes took over). There is a lot of buzz around Karlie these days, with her leaving Victoria's Secret to go to University, and her current Vogue cover with her twin bestie, Taylor Swift (who screeched and fell into a heartfelt hug when they saw each other -- as if they hadn't seen each other for years. But we were more intrigued by Kloss's recent V magazine shoot where she took on a whole new look. "I loved that shoot, it was so fun -- and the clothes!" Kloss told us in between jostles from Kookie fans. Indeed the clothes, but as this party represented, sometimes fashion is about more than just the material. And that is a good thing.

See more photos from the event below.



Lily Donaldson, Ellie Goulding, Karlie Kloss, Taylor Swift and Cara Delevingne. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
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Lily Donaldson, Ellie Goulding, Karlie Kloss, Taylor Swift and Cara Delevingne. Photo: Oliver Rudkin



Karlie Kloss and Ellie Goulding. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
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Karlie Kloss and Ellie Goulding. Photo: Oliver Rudkin



Karlie Kloss and Jourdan Dunn. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
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Karlie Kloss and Jourdan Dunn. Photo: Oliver Rudkin



Daisy Lowe. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
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Daisy Lowe. Photo: Oliver Rudkin



Karlie Kloss, Taylor Swift and Cara Delevingne. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
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Karlie Kloss, Taylor Swift and Cara Delevingne. Photo: Oliver Rudkin



Lindsay Lohan. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
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Lindsay Lohan. Photo: Oliver Rudkin



Chelsea Leyland. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
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Chelsea Leyland. Photo: Oliver Rudkin

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:19 PM
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Wes Anderson Is Having a Fashion Moment

Wes Anderson Is Having a Fashion Moment:

Left, Gucci; Center, Right, Lacoste. Photos: Getty
Left, Gucci; Center, Right, Lacoste. Photos: Getty
First, a confession: I am not a huge Wes Anderson fan. Not because I don't enjoy his work but because I really haven't seen much of it — like, I think I saw "The Royal Tenenbaums" once in college?

But I do know a Wes Anderson reference when I see one (mainly because every Halloween I see at least five Margot Tenenbaums). Of course, sporty French tennis brand Lacoste would be able to easily draw from the Wes Anderson well. But perhaps more surprising was new Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, who seemed to have an Anderson heroine or two in mind when designing his first ready to wear collection for the brand.

So pack away your backup Left Shark costume: This October, it will be easier and chicer than ever to be Margot Tenenbaum for Halloween.

Though, if you'd rather go for a less mainstream character, according to the more Anderson-familiar on the Fashionista team, Michele's collection was also reminiscent of "Moonrise Kingdom"'s Suzy Bishop:

And "Rushmore"'s Max Fischer:

See it all here.

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:18 PM
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Red Carpet Highlights From the 2015 Brit Awards

Red Carpet Highlights From the 2015 Brit Awards:

Taylor Swift continues her red carpet domination across the pond in Roberto Cavalli Atelier. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
Taylor Swift continues her red carpet domination across the pond in Roberto Cavalli Atelier. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
Even though awards season concluded stateside, the fun is still raging across the pond in London. On Tuesday, the fashion elite gathered for the Elle Style Awards (and a supermodel-packed after-party) and, Wednesday evening, the stars walked the red carpet at the Brit Awards, a.k.a. the British Grammys. Honestly, when do Taylor Swift, Karlie Kloss and Cara Delevingne have a chance to rest?

Similar to its American counterpart, the music-focused Brit Awards allow for, let's just say, more creativity and flexibility in terms of red carpet dress code. Just look at Kim Kardshian's, er, curve-hugging bodysuit, Delevingne's mod Carnaby Street pants-ensemble, FKA twigs' strappy bustier dress over pants and Rita Ora's sparkly jumpsuit-gown hybrid by Zuhair Murad Couture.

Meanwhile, Spice Girl alums Melanie "Sporty" Chisholm and Emma "Baby" Bunton opted for business casual (or "smart casual" as the Brits are wont to say). Click through the gallery below to see all the red carpet looks from the Brit Awards.



Adam Lambert at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
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Adam Lambert at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images



Kim Kardashian at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
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Kim Kardashian at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images



Taylor Swift at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
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Taylor Swift at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images



Cara Delevingne in Saint Laurent at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
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Cara Delevingne in Saint Laurent at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images



Rita Ora in a spring 2015 Zuhair Murad Couture dress at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
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Rita Ora in a spring 2015 Zuhair Murad Couture dress at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images



FKA twigs at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
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FKA twigs at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images



Clean Bandit's Grace Chatto at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
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Clean Bandit's Grace Chatto at the 2015 Brit Awards. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:17 PM
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MILLIE MACKINTOSH at Felder Felder Fashion Show in London

MILLIE MACKINTOSH at Felder Felder Fashion Show in London:



MILLIE MACKINTOSH at Felder Felder Fashion Show in London


The post MILLIE MACKINTOSH at Felder Felder Fashion Show in London appeared first on HawtCelebs.

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:16 PM
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LAURA WHITMORE at Bora Aksu Fashion Show in London

LAURA WHITMORE at Bora Aksu Fashion Show in London:



LAURA WHITMORE at Bora Aksu Fashion Show in London


The post LAURA WHITMORE at Bora Aksu Fashion Show in London appeared first on HawtCelebs.

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:15 PM
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LAUREN COHAN at Marc Jacobs Fashion Show in New York

LAUREN COHAN at Marc Jacobs Fashion Show in New York:



LAUREN COHAN at Marc Jacobs Fashion Show in New York


The post LAUREN COHAN at Marc Jacobs Fashion Show in New York appeared first on HawtCelebs.

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:15 PM
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JASMINE TOOKES and LILY ALDRIDGE at Victoria’s Secret Spring Event in West Hollywood

JASMINE TOOKES and LILY ALDRIDGE at Victoria’s Secret Spring Event in West Hollywood:



JASMINE TOOKES and LILY ALDRIDGE at Victoria


The post JASMINE TOOKES and LILY ALDRIDGE at Victoria’s Secret Spring Event in West Hollywood appeared first on HawtCelebs.

Posted by Nelio Inacio at 4:14 PM
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