Tilda and Douglas Gordon for Pringle of Scotland: round 2

I guess you already knew about that, since back in February this year, I had had the chance to meet Tilda Swinton at the Serpentine Gallery in London, but next September, round 2 of the Pringle of Scotland ad campaign will rock on the lifestyle press.

Turner Prize-winning artist Douglas Gordon - who recently collaborated with Rufus Wainwright - and Tilda will model in the new print ad campaign for Pringle of Scotland. They were photographed by Ryan McGinley and art directed by former Frieze Projects curator Neville Waklefield. What's really interesting is that Tilda models for both the man and woman's lines...

Vanessa Paradis and Chanel: a long-lasting love story

The charismatic and very talented singer and actress Vanessa Paradis is featured in the new Chanel ads for the brand-new line of Cocoon bags. But it’s not the first time that Vanessa partners with Chanel. In 1991 she appeared in the beautiful ad (see below) for the fragrance entitled Coco, she later was the face for the New Mademoiselle (1995) and Ligne Cambon (2004) bags ads. In 2010, she sings and models in the Rouge Coco lipstick commercial.

Her friendship with Karl Lagerfeld is the key to these collaborations. In 2004 she said: "Karl is a gentleman. His work, his kindness, and his respect for people...everything in him seduces me. In addition, he smells so nice !"

I personally have a lot of respect and admiration for her, since she drives her career on her own (without her husband's help) and she always explores different roles, sounds and situations, and this is how you can judge if someone's got talent. She does !

Madonna looks amazing in the May issue of Interview magazine

I love Levi van Veluw's artwork "Landscape" showcased at Dead or Alive, the new MAD's exhibition

Dead or Alive, show presented by the Museum of Arts and Design of New York until October 24, 2010, showcases the work of over 30 international artists - including Jennifer Angus, Nick Cave, Tessa Farmer, Tim Hawkinson, Jochem Hendricks, Damien Hirst - who have used a palette of bizarre materials. They have transformed organic materials and objects that were once produced by or part of living organisms-insects, feathers, bones, silkworm cocoons, plant materials, and hair-to create intricately crafted and designed installations and sculptures. I found this artwork - Landscape by Levi van Veluw - absolutely stunning but unfortunately I won't have a chance to see the exhibition but please let me know if you have seen it and what you think about it !

The exhibition explores a territory related to the Museum of Art and Design's Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary, which featured contemporary works created from multiples of ordinary manufactured items.

More info on: MAD, New York http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp

Guy Bourdin - hot fashion photography

Jil Sander to continue partnership with Uniqlo

Courtesy of Jil Sander and Uniqlo

In January, Jil Sander took her decision, she will be designing her +J line indefinitely for Uniqlo, and may expand the collection with bags and shoes.

“I try as much as possible to give you a great basic product and what comes out, I feel, is really amazing,” Sander said, adding she has been pleasantly surprised at the quality of many affordable fabrics, including high-tech cottons, silks and cashmere. “You don’t have to pay more to have a great form.”
So do expect more edgy design by the avant-garde designer !

More info on: http://www.uniqlo.com/

First Armani hotel opens in Dubai

Last March, I was really sad to hear that the opening of the Armani hotel had to be delayed due to problems with the elevators of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower ever built in the world. I was in fact in Dubai for Art Dubai and this opening was supposed to coincide with the fair. The PR was telling me that "no, Giorgio wouldn't be in Dubai"...

Anyway, the 432,000-square-foot hotel boasting 160 guest rooms and 144 private residences, all outfitted (of course) in Armani’s own Casa line which I totally love, finally opened in April. Armani is set to build at least 10 more hotels within the next 10 years, with locations in Marrakech, Marassi, Egypt, New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, and London, but it's no surprise that Dubai has come first.