Supermodel Strut: Going for Gold

We all watched the astounding close of the Olympic ceremonies.  From the moment the incredible athletes sauntered wide-eyed into the stadium to the epic performance from the legendary Spice Girls to finally ending with the passing of the torch, the olympic evens of 2012 will never be forgotten.

One of the most intriguing and eye catching moments of the 2012 Closing Ceremonies was when the top supermodels in all of Britain showcased the best of Britian's fashion design.  The moment was short lived but very impacting as the one and only Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Georgia May Jagger, Stella Tennant, Karen Elson, David Gandy, Lily Cole, Lily Donaldson, and Jordan Dunn turned the stadium into a high-powered, high-energy catwalk.  Laced in glittering gold designs by some of the Englands greatest designers -- Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Christopher Kane, Victoria Beckham, Vivienne Westwood's Gold Label and more -- these models earned much admiration from its viewers for this widely anticipated fashion show.

Enjoy these photos of the best of Britain's Beauty and Design below!

Supermodels Lily Cole, Karen Elson, Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell turn the stadium into a catwalk

Kate Moss in a gold Alexander McQueen dress

Lily Donaldson in Vivienne Westwood's Gold Couture Collection

Naomi Campbell glistened down the catwalk in a glittering, gold Alexander McQueen piece accentuated with an endless, dazzling train

Models dressed as seen in Vogue UK September issue:  

Kate Moss in Alexander McQueen
Naomi Campbell in Alexander McQueen
Georgia May Jagger in Victoria Beckham
Lily Donaldson in Vivienne Westwood
Karen Elson in Burberry
Jordan Dunn in Jonathan Saunders and Stephen Jones
Lily Cole in Erdem
David Gandy in Paul Smith
Stella Tennant in Christopher Kane

Far Out Fashion of the 70's

The sensual, powerful styles of the 1970s were spreading fast and changing in many ways from the 60's all around the world.  Women now had more freedom to wear whatever they wanted whenever they wanted.  Wild prints, tie-dye clothing, platform shoes, flared pants, and polyester suits are only some of the fashions trending widely throughout this decade.  

Skirts in the 1970's came in distinctly three different lengths: the mini, the midi (between the ankle and knee), and the maxi.  Flamboyant floral patterns were also a fad in the 70s as well.  Floral printed skirts and fake-flower chokers or hair pieces were often worn to play up an outfit.  I tried to give the maxi above a sort of early 70s to late 60s feel of the hippy transition to retro, skimpy styles of the 1970s.  This "flower power" maxi skirt from the 1970s is in excellent vintage condition, and can actually be alternated between either a dress or a maxi skirt!  It comes with a matching belt also to help cinch at the waist!  

The 70s tops the charts in my book as one of the funkiest decades yet.  Unfortunately, I did not get to live through the 70s, but with shows like Scooby Doo, That 70's Show, and Austin Power's, I get a pretty solid idea of what went on during the 70s.  With mood rings, afros, leisure suits, discos, and to top it off, pet rocks, the 1970s is the most "far out" decade of the century!

Buy this 1970s vintage floral skirt now!

Montage of Marilyn Monroe: 50 Years After Death

"Beneath the makeup and the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world." 

-Marilyn Monroe 

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the late Marilyn Monroe.  As goddess of the golden age in Old Hollywood, Marilyn embodied the silver screen and is still the face of glamour and fame to this day.

Thrust into stardom with such an unfortunate past, Marilyn is an inspiration to us all, and her attractiveness yet vulnerability intrigues and captivates all those within her presence.  She is most remembered by her free spirit, stunning looks and fashion, movie performances, and scandalous behaviors.  Marilyn was also very open with her sexuality, which was somewhat taboo back then, but many people fell in love with her honest personality.  She followed her dreams and did what she could to get her name out there, as well as create an image for herself.  Her famous, curvaceous figure denounced all those stickily models we see in today’s generation, and I believe that is why Marilyn is so well loved and respected still to this day and age.  Soon, she quickly became a sex symbol and the face of America pop-culture.

Marilyn’s life spiraled downward as she battled the press, depression, divorces, photo scandals, lateness, and illness.  She was later fired from the film “Something’s Got To Give”, and soon after, came face to face with death from an overdose.

Marilyn Monroe is remembered today as one of the most famous icons in Hollywood, and is lived on through her stunning looks, photos, and all those who she is loved by.

Marilyn Monroe

1926-1962

British Bombshell & ELLE UK

On the cover of the September issue of UK Elle, Rosie Huntington-Whitely models gorgeous Dolce & Gabbana floral pieces taken by David Vasiljevic.  First seeing the British bombshell on the cover of a Victoria's Secret Swim catalog was captivating, as I am sure is the same for many others.  In 2011, when Rosie replaced Megan Fox in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, I immediately gained so much more admiration for this supermodel.  She is by far my favorite Victoria's Secret Angel because of her multiple talents in modeling and acting.

 Elle UK sources say the launch of her career seemed to give her some trouble, as they do to many others when first starting out.  However, Rosie eventually found her niche, modeling for Victoria's Secret in 2006, but remained unknown until 2008 when she signed with Burberry's Fall/Winter campaign.  She then hit the runways in Milan and Paris, the fashion capitals of the world, and became an official Victoria's Secret Angel in 2009, modeling at the highest anticipated fashion show in the world, The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.  Now, Miss Huntington-Whitely is one of the worlds most desired, leading supermodels.

Enjoy some highlights from Miss Huntington-Whiteley's interview below, but for more, be sure to pay a visit to ELLE UK and but the September issue, hitting stores now!

On her desire to have a family with her actor beau Jason Statham:

"I always see myself working, but definitely being a mum will be a big part of me. Look, I think my career is very self-indulgent. It’s all about me. I’m not a doctor, I’m not looking after people, I’m not saving children. I’m in the entertainment business. I’m a model. I’m an actress. So it is very self-involved. I think there is naturally a point where you think, ‘I don’t care about myself as number one any more.’ I want to care about other things."

On her struggles while trying to launch her career:

"I wasn’t quite tall enough either and I hated it to be honest. There was no individuality, no opportunity to be individuals. I think that people forget you’re human and you just become an object. In New York] I was constantly reminded that I wasn’t right wherever I went and that was difficult because I’d come from a place where it didn’t matter. For any young girl to be told they’re not good enough, every day, wherever they go..."

On how her struggles shaped who she is today:

"I don’t know, I just had this thing, that this was where I was going, this was the opportunity that life had presented me with. This was my destiny and I wasn’t going to just pack it all in because these people gave me a hard time - and that’s still my attitude now."

Source: ELLE UK