Happy New Year!

With the madness of the Holiday Season, our blog has been impatiently waiting our return...we are almost there! So here's wishing you all a fabulous New Year of love, happiness, health & prosperity. Stay tuned for big things in 2011, including gorgeous new fashion film and other branded entertainment from Stylegroove Media. Meanwhile, read as Mashable explains why the fashion industry is betting big on branded online content: http://on.mash.to/ewZQD8

Fashion: Tommy Ton's Most Stylish

Blogger/Photographer Tommy Ton has just come out with his own list of the year's top fashionistas.  The founder of the much-adored fashion blog Jak & Jil and resident photoblogger for Style.com, has (refreshingly) kept actresses or singers off the list, instead comprising a list of mainly fashion assistants, editors, and stylists. Leigh Lezark is the only DJ on the list, but even she has a tie to the fashion industry, as a beauty ambassador for Chanel. Only one fashion blogger turned up on the list, and one NYC party girl, Michelle Harper. Other than that, it's all business. It's no surprise that Anna Dello Russo is on the list, but Ton also included both of her assistants—Viviana Volpicella and Aurora Sansone—which will certainly make them a new target for other street-style photographers.

Fashion: A Very Greedy Girl

By far, the best post I have seen all day was on today's The Huffington Post (reposted from Velvet Dupont). Kind of sad, mostly hilarious, it posts a recovered NY Christmas "dream wish list" from a very greedy woman (Louboutin, Mulberry Alexa bag, Givenchy & Louis Vuitton bags, Tiffany necklace & earrings, Cartier love bracelet, etc.) for her boyfriend, who may want to re-think this monetized relationship. "Honey, I know you're living in a bubble...a purse and Cartier filled bubble with your noise canceling ear phones on, but we're in a recession. R E C E S S I O N. Do you know how many people will claim less than $6200 in income this year on their taxes? Probably one for each perfectly coiffed hair on your head." LOL.

Fashion: Roitfeld Retrospective

Via The Cut: A fabulous All-NSFW Carine Roitfeld Retrospective. Since Roitfeld announced her departure from French Vogue last week, much has been made about her tremendous legacy at the magazine and many tributes have been made as she directed far more of Vogue's shoots than is usual for an editor-in-chief, and remade the magazine "in her own image, which is to say svelte, tough, luxurious, and wholeheartedly in love with dangling-cigarette, bare-chested fashion," as Amy Larocca put it in her profile of Roitfeld for New York. Legendary photographers like Steven Klein, Mario Sorrenti, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, and Mario Testino snapped the pictures, always edgy, risque and nudity inclined. See the slideshow for some highlights from Roitfeld's more provocative work at French Vogue. For complete layouts going back years, as well as some of her ad campaigns, Models.com has a well-organized link list.

Fashion: Skarsgard + Freeman's

Just in time for the holidays! A very handsome Alexander Skarsgard strikes a pose for Hickey Freeman's latest campaign.

Photo: Vogue Holiday

Just because....A Very Vogue Holiday.

Fashion: Michelle Obama's Vintage Norman Norell

First Lady Michelle Obama's continued support of the American fashion industry has been tremendous. First she showed us fashion's future by wearing emerging designers Jason Wu, Maria Pinto, and Thakoon and now for the taping of Christmas in Washington, Mrs. Obama wears a vintage 1950s black lace dress by one of America's once-great American designers, Norman Norell. Tres Chic!

Fashion: Carine Roitfeld leaves French Vogue

Say it ain't so! Carine Roitfeld, French Vogue's Editor extraordinaire, has announce her retirement from the magazine after 10 years at the helm. Under her direction, French Vogue became one of the most daring fashion publications, and a much more interesting & edgier version than American Vogue. “It’s 10 years that I’m editor of the magazine, I think it’s time to do something different,” Roitfeld told Cathy Horyn at the New York Times. “When everything is good, maybe I think it’s the time to do something else.” She will be missed! Who will succeed? Perhaps Emmanuelle Alt, French Vogue’s equally cool fashion director.

Fashion/Event: Burberry Holiday Ecard

Another great idea from Burberry! Watch Johnny Borrell from Razorlight perform 'Can't Complain About Christmas'. Every time you email your card, a donation will be made to the Burberry Foundation.

Fashion/Beauty: Black Swan Behind the Scenes

It seems like everyone is talking about "Black Swan" the fabulously dark film that snagged Natalie Portman Golden Globe & SAG nominations for her portrayal of a ballerina going through a breakdown.
We can't get enough of the gorgeous costumes by Rodarte in Black Swan either, so in a new behind the scenes clip, costume designer Amy Westcott along with Laura and Kate Mulleavy explain the thought process behind their intricate designs. The film's makeup director Margie Durand also dishes on how they used MAC Cosmetics to achieve the signature look.

Fashion: Lara Stone + Tom Ford Womenswear

Tom Ford is a busy man! After editing the holiday issue of French Vogue, finally sharing some snaps of his super-secret runway show to Harper’s Bazaar & had models show it off in Vogue, Ford decided to chat with W Magazine about the lovely ladies who first wore his womenswear looks last fall. Read what he had to say and see more ensembles donned by bombshell Lara Stone, such as this one, that he said he designed with Lou Doillon in mind. "Lou is young and has an amazing body,” says Ford. “She was the perfect person to wear a catsuit—le smoking.”

Fashion: Most Stylish 2010 @Fashionista

According to Fashionista, the 30 most stylish people of 2010 are:  Alexa Chung, Anna Dello Russo, Anne Hathaway, Ashley Olsen, Brad Goreski, Carey Mulligan, Caroline Sieber, Charlotte Dellal,  Chloe Sevigny, Daphne Guinness (photographed above), Diane Kruger, Elle Fanning, Emma Watson, Frida Gustavsson, Hanneli Mustaparta, Jason Schwartzman, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Kanye West, Kate Bosworth, Leighton Meester, Lou Doillon, Margherita Missoni, Mark Ronson, Michelle Obama, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Palermo, Rachel Bilson, Shala Monroque, Sienna Miller, Sofia Coppola.

Photo: Glitter Ninja

Living in NYC, I am fortunate enough to work & collaborate with many creative individuals. Most recently, I had the privilage to pose for my talented friends, makeup artist Laura Stroup (aka Glitter Ninja) and photographer Jon Bunning. I can't recommend them enough! Visit laurastroup.com and jonbunning.com

Fashion: January Jones + Versace

The first Versace advertisement featuring January Jones has arrived, with the "Mad Men" beauty posing with the brand's accessories for Spring 2011. Donatella told WWD, "I am always on the lookout for the next Versace blonde...and in January I feel I have found a perfect Versace woman for the 21st century. She is chic and elegant but deeply sensual too." She was shot by Mario Testino for the campaign.

Fashion: Portman + January Vogue

The lovely Natalie Portman is Vogue's January 2011 Cover Girl, looking lovely and ethereal in a spread shot by Peter Lindbergh. This seems fitting given her tour de force performance in "Black Swan" that is already generating tremendous Oscar buzz.

Fashion: Givenchy's Albino Model

Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci has done it again, following up his groundbreaking fall campaign, featuring transsexual model Lea T, by casting albino model Stephen Thompson for the spring. Tisci told WWD he's always admired albino people, saying "They’re very near my world" also stating the idea for his latest collections — and the campaign — dovetailed from a Robert Mapplethorpe photo of an alabaster Roman bust atop a stretch of leopard-print fabric. The new campaign will debut in magazines in January.

Fashion: Nowness + BDH

Considering my obsession with Nowness, I'm not sure how I let this 1950s themed fashion film starring Bryce Dallas Howard slip through the cracks, but I did. So I am sharing it now - better late than never!

Fashion: Russian Vogue

Russian Vogue has just released its first issue, January 2011, under the new direction of Editor in Chief, Viktoria Davydova, and already it is stirring up controversy. Not only is the cover girl, Alina Kabaeva, not a model a gold medal winning rhythmic gymnast, and wearing a gold Balmain dress that has already seen many magazine covers, but Alina is also the reputed mistress of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Needless to say, (previous) fans have taken to online line forums en masse and are not impressed, including a post that read "R.I.P. Russia Vogue". Oh, snap!

Photo: Offical Royal Engagment

They're here. We sure didn’t have to wait long for Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Mario Testino-shot royal engagement photo. Testino took two pictures — a formal shot in the Council Chamber of St. James’s Palace’s State Apartment, and a more casual one in the palace’s Cornwall Room. The photographer told the AP: “I have never felt so much joy as when I see them together.” Nice photos, but those white teeth are blinding! Enough already, we want to see her dress at the wedding this Spring!

Fashion/Media: The Gentlewoman

I have just been handed a fabulous new UK women's magazine called "The Gentlewoman" , a new biannual style magazine for a new decade. Featuring inspirational, international women, it pairs ambitious journalism with a sartorial and intelligent perspective on fashion that is focused on personal style – the way women actually look, think and dress. Check it out at your local international magazine stand immediately.

Fashion: Pre-Fall 2011

Pre-Fall 2011 Collections are arriving in droves, even if they are - according to Michael Kors - a forgotten period due to its unfortunate name. He explained people tend to skip over pre-fall and go right to fall/winter clothes: “You see everyone in the front row bundled in furs and tweeds in September and it looks insane!" Resort collections, on the other hand, sell well because the name sounds appealing. "Everyone knows now that resort is important, but because the name 'pre-fall' is so ugly no one wants to acknowledge that these are the clothes you actually put in your closet." Considering how beautiful these Chanel clothes are, I would reconsider!

Fashion: Angelina for who?

When I saw this photo recently touted as being part of a Russia Tatler Magazine January 2011 spread, it made me suspicious since I am pretty sure this photo and others were previously published in another magazine, no? It is gorgeous nonetheless.

Jewels: A Tiffany Christmas

Tiffany & Co. recently lit up Milan’s Piazzo Duomo with a tree that cost more than $450,000, making it the most expensive Christmas tree in Europe. Ever. There are more than 100,000 electric candles adorning it, as well as specially-designed decorations by the jeweler. Tiffany will also have a pop-up shop of sorts underneath the tree selling “gifts.” And a very Happy, Sparkling, Tiffany Holiday to you!

Fashion: Golden Choo's

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Jimmy Choo line, Tamara Mellon had Marilyn Minter photograph the Crystal Anniversary Collection, featuring sky-high stilettos encrusted with crystals and jewels, splashing around in gold liquid. Mellon has planned a number of collaborations and projects to commemorate the 15-year anniversary, but quickly chose Minter to kick off the series: “I have long been a collector and a fan of Marilyn’s work and know that she can capture the essence of my vision.”

Film/Media: NY Times Hollywood Issue

I bow down to the NY Multimedia team yet again. Really, just another stunning display with their newest interactive feature for the Hollywood issue of "Fourteen Actors Acting: A Video Gallery of Classic Screen Types" with everyone from Natalie Portman to Matt Damon, Javier Bardem, Jesse Eisenberg, James Franco, Tilda Swinton and Michael Douglas. Watch it now! For Christmas this year, I would like a phone call from the NY Times saying they want to work with me. Anyone?

Fashion: Bryan Boy Earns

Bryan Boy makes what!? Considering most bloggers, even those who attempt to monetize, don't exactly reap in financial benefits, blogger Bryan Boy claims he makes "over $100,000" per year. Since BB has made such a name for himself, he scores by advertising on his site and he will sometimes charge for making appearances, explaining to The Cut, "But if it's something or somebody that I support, then of course I'm not going to charge. For me money is really not the issue, it's about getting material and getting my content." Highlights of the 24-year-old’s career so far include having a Marc Jacobs bag named for him and sitting beside Anna Wintour at a Dolce & Gabbana show, even though she didn’t speak to him. Ugh. Who else is depressed?

Fashion/SG: FC "On Location"

This week in my "On Location" interview series for the French Connection Electrique Blog, it's the lovely Carolyn wearing the Violet Thunder Dress. Every Thursday, there will be a unique, beautiful woman in unique, beautiful clothes from French Connection, so visit:

electrique.frenchconnection.com

Fashion: Joan River's Closet Confessions

Oh, Joan Rivers. Joan just did an episode of Bluefly's Closet Confessions tour of her fabulous wardrobe, and cracking jokes throughout. On her favorite designer: “I just had dinner with Valentino. I was wearing his jacket and he was delighted to see it, but never once from that Italian mouth came out, ‘You must buy me wholesale.’” And if you haven't seen it, also check out her fabulous documentary "A Piece of Work".

Watch live streaming video from bluefly at livestream.com

Fashion: Lively + Chanel

Vogue's favorite girl, Blake Lively, landed the new Chanel ad campaign. This follows Karl's previous  choices of young stars like Keira Knightly and Lily Allen. And I am suddenly consumed with jealously over all those Chanel freebies!

Music: John Lennon Legacy 30 years Later

"This year would have been the 70th birthday year for John if only he was here. But people are not questioning if he is here or not. They just love him and are keeping him alive with their love." These are Yoko Ono's words, as today marks the 30th year since the passing of one of the world's most beloved artists, John Lennon. Yoko commemorated the occasion with a touching piece in the NY Times times, Rolling Stone's final interview with Lennon, and be sure to watch the wonderful PBS documentary on Lennon’s life in New York City during the 1970s. In John's words: “You are all geniuses, and you are all beautiful. You don't need anyone to tell you who you are. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace, think peace, live peace, and breathe peace, and you'll get it as soon as you like.”

Fashion: Nick Knight tribute for McQueen

"To Lee, With Love, Nick - A Tribute to Alexander McQueen By Nick Knight". Today, Alexander McQueen was honored with Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design at the 2010 British Fashion Awards in London. Nick Knight created a film of McQueen's most iconic looks for the occasion, set to the music of Bjork. 

Fashion/Art: Matthew Williams

Meet Matthew Williams, the man behind Lady Gaga's flamethrower bra that she famously wore on the cover of Time's 100 Most Influential People In The World issue. Williams was the art director on Gaga’s design team and now he is also taking on other similarly visually inclined artists, including Kanye West. What an incredible, creative mind.

Fashion: McQueen British Fashion Award

Alexander McQueen will be honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design at the 2010 British Fashion Awards in London. The award, which is being handed out by the British Fashion Council, “celebrates the achievement of a designer whose work has had an exceptional impact on global fashion."

Fashion/Music: Duffy

I love all the raspy songstresses coming out of the UK: Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy, featured recently in Vanity Fair promoting her second album "Endlessly". These soulful sirens are a throwback to motown classics, and their style, sultry and immaculate.

Fashion: BK Alexa Chung

Watch fashion darling Alexa Chung as she takes Style.com on a tour of her favorite New York neighborhood, Williamsburg, to discuss her adventures on style.

Photo: Royal Testino

Kate Middleton and Prince William have sat for their engagement photo shoot, and none other than Mario Testino was behind the lens, who seems like a natural choice after Testino photographed Princess Diana in 1997 for Vanity Fair. According to the Telegraph, the pictures were taken last month in London and they "are expected to be released later this month."

Media: 25 Most Powerful 20th Century Women

Time Magazine recently put out a list of "The 25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century". And look which fashionista made the list: Coco Chanel!

Fashion: Ballet Editorial

Via Fashionista: With Black Swan finally in theaters and opening to rave reviews, we’ll finally be able to get a look at those Rodarte costumes! Ballet has long been a muse for fashion, so take a look at some of the best ballet-themed editorials over the years.

Fashion/Photo: Katy Perry + Swarovski

Harper's Bazaar has released a special holiday edition featuring a sparkling Katy Perry. The cover shows Katy's red lips that are covered in 150 ruby-colored Swarovski Elements rhinestones. For the first time, the limited edition cover is available to download on Zinio and includes special features like enhanced images and interactive content.

Fashion/Film: Dior's Lady Grey: Sneak Peak

For the forth installment of the Lady Dior saga, Marion Cotillard takes on London in "Lady Grey". John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch ) brings Lady Dior, the character played by Marion, to life as she steals the hearts of two men in this epic finale to her four city adventure. See a sneak peak here, and unveil the mystery and celebrate the iconic Lady Dior on December 8, 2010 at LadyDior.com

Fashion/Beauty: Kate Spade Twirl

I always love Kate Spade's print ad campaigns and this adorable holiday video for her new fragrance "Twirl" is no exception. Hopefully all of the holiday parties I will be attending are this fashionable, fun and slight Mad Men-esque!

Fashion: Anna Dello Russo's Holiday Advice

In a fabulous blog post from the fabulous Vogue Japan Editor Anna Dello Rosso share some tips on how to be the perfect guest at a Holiday party (Don't mind her hilarious grammar...we love her too much too!)
1. “Don’t wear RED or GREEN outfits. You will look like a Christmas tree.”
2. “Forget any COATS (also if outside it’s only 5 degrees). You should make a big impact just with your dress.”
3. “Choose a GOLD. You will emphasize the idea to be a Christmas GIFT to unwrap.”
4. “Go to the hairdresser, facial, manicure and pedicure. Don’t be worry to be OVER-DONE!”
5. “Choose between HAT and MAKEUP, if you wear a hat keep fresh face otherwise you will looks like a transvestite.”
6. “Wearing lots of JEWELLERY. The sound of JEWELLERY banish bad thoughts and bad ghosts.”
7. “Focus on the SHOES. Generally at Christmas party you spend a lot of time seated on the sofa.”
8. “Shoes have to carry all the magical atmosphere of Christmas: Choose sparkling, shiny, eccentric, metallic, decorative, precious, brocade, extravagant, color-full, magnificent, enchanting, ...PAIR OF SHOES.”
9. “Don’t be worry about your BAG, you immediately will forget it on some chairs.”
10. “Don’t throw yourself on the drinks and on the food. It’s not POLITE.”

Fashion/TV: Conan does Jeggings

Avert your eyes! Just 24 hours after professing his love for jeggings, Conan O'Brien put his money where his mouth is acid wash denim where his legs are and wore a pair on air. OMG.

Fashion: Asia Major

Vogue article "Asia Major" shot by Steven Meisel for the Dec 2010 Issue of Vogue, talks about the growing presence of Asian models and their role in a changing industry. In a related article, Cathy Horyn explores fashion in China in "Year of the Couturière". Both good reads!

Fashion: Tom Ford 1st Look

Tom Ford’s top secret womenswear collection finally allows images to be released from the show in September, a-la Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar UK.

Fashion: Kate Moss + Vogue Italia

Kate Moss returns to the pages of Vogue Italia as a sexy pin-up photographed by Nick Knight. Kate wears ensembles from Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Film: Woody Allen turns 75!

Today is Woody Allen’s 75th Birthday. Thank you Woody, for your brilliant films, and Annie Hall, for your fabulous 70’s fashion!

Media: Johnny Depp + VF

Well, hello Johnny Depp! In the latest issue of Vanity Fair, Depp talks to Patti Smith about working with Angelina Jolie, Jack Sparrow, and His Own Musical Aspirations. We just want to look at his photos. Yum.

Event: World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day which raises awareness to tackle HIV prejudice and help stop the spread of HIV. There are many ways you can help, such as shopping (RED) products or watch the new Killers music video today and Starbucks will donate 5 cents per view of the video available exclusively at www.starbucks.com/share (anytime after 12pm EST) or from the purchase of a handcrafted beverage, to the Global Fund.