Halloween Hysterics!

Vamping for the Camera and Channeling a
Stylicious Sow in the City!

Louboutin Signs Soles and Elevates DMV Style One Pump at a Time

Last Saturday, Christian Louboutin greeted over 150 style-istas and singe-handedly elevated the fashion standard for the DMV.

Of course, we were on hand (thanks to a tip from fellow fashion blogger Katherine L.) along with our very favorite not to mention famous DC dermatologist, Dr. Cheryl Burgess.

Enjoy these fab pics courtesy of Dr. C. B! (See Dr. B to the right of C. Louboutin)


-Air Kisses, darlings.

Picture Perfect: Meridian Hill Park

Fall continues to make quite an impression on me.

Case in point: Meridian Hill Park.

The water is back on, darling!

"One of the intriguing feature of the park is the thirteen basin cascade fountains that form the center of the lower level formal garden. The fountains are designed with a recirculating water system which, through an elaborate series of pumps, supplies water to two large circular fountains on the upper level, and cascade found on the lower. Each cascade bowl flows to a larger bowl as they descend to the bottom. Water fills one bowl, overflowing into the next, until it reaches the large reflecting pool in the plaza."

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French Vogue Strikes a Dissident Pose!

If you have not seen the recent French Vogue pictorial showing Dutch model Lara Stone in Black Face, allow us to verify the veracity of the rumor. Apparently Vogue Italia is the only Conde Nast fashion Publication that consistantly recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Black Women in the area of fashion.

These ridiculous photographs were taken by American photographer Steven Klein and actually styled by French Vogue editor, Carine Roitfeld.

Interesting Quote from Carine:

"French Vogue is fashion and sex, liberally spiced with controversy. "I like to have something every month that is - how you say? - not politically correct. A little bit at the limit. Sex, nudity, a bit rock'n'roll, a sense of humour. That is very French Vogue," she says.

What the CupCake, indeed!

Remember darlings, silence = consent.

Send your comments, quips and gentle reminders to:

CONDE NAST DIGITAL

26 rue Cambacérès

75008 PARIS

Tel: 01 53 43 60 00
Fax: 01 53 43 61 61

Directrice Commerciale :

Sophie Antoine
santoine@condenast.fr

Directrice de clientèle :
Laure Civet-de Louvencourt
lcivet@condenast.fr

Chef de publicité :
Marine Parmentier
mparmentier@condenast.fr

Chef de publicité :
Claire Richard
crichard@condenast.fr

What's in VOGUE??? The Black Barbie of course!

July 2009 Vogue Italia features BLACK BARBIE insert!

A few of my favorite pics from the Vogue Italia June 2009 Barbie supplement.
Pics taken by Tefani Williams!

See More!

See Article on MYFOXDC.com!

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/myvoicedc/featured/Myvoicedc_Wishes_Barbie_a_Hap

Last Friday, Lulu, my fab friend in Milan fed exed 3 copies of the VOGUE ITALIA 2009 issue that contained an insert that contains decadent pictorials of BLACK BARBIE.

Last July, I hosted a Models, Bottles and BBQ Garden Party to commemorate the launch of July 2008 Vogue Italia issue. The July 2008 Vogue Italia issue was the most coveted magazine in history. It was called the Black Issue and featured over 50 of the best black models in the fashion business photographed by Steven Meisel.

In July 2009, Vogue Italia commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Barbie with a 100 pictorials featuring Black Barbie dolls. OOH LA LA.

A few weeks ago, we sat down to chat with Gianni Grossi and Mario Paglino, the two Italian Barbie Collector designers responsible for styling and coordinating the Black Barbie insert.

Simone Butterfly: ¡Ciao! Come stai?

Mario Paglino: I am very, very well.

Simone: Wonderful. My name is Simone, your fabulous freelance fashion investigator. Tell us about your collaboration with Mattel.

Mario: Oh, we collaborate with Mattel in Italy and in the U.S. We coordinate special events like the Barbie convention and the Barbie birthday party held in Italy. We also design special one-of-a-kind dolls.

Simone: You have two beautiful one-of-a-kind dolls in your hands. Please describe them for us.

Mario: Oh thank you. These dolls are a replica of Madonna. We created them dolls for the Madonna exhibition in London this February 2009 and March 2009. One is a replica of the Christian Lacroix dress that she wore in the Re-Invention tour. The other is the very famous corset worn in the Who’s That Girl video. Both dolls are one-of-a-kind with her complete repainting.

Simone: So when you design a doll, do you also design the hair, the make-up, the face, everything?

Mario: Everything. We start with a classic doll or a collectable doll and we we take off all of the repainting and start again.

Simone: Beautiful! Well done. Now tell me about the July 2009 issue of Vogue Italia. I thoroughly enjoyed the 2008 July issue featuring the most celebrated black models in the business.

Mario: There’s a new one! There’s a new one! I’ll tell you what I can because many of the viewers will be thrilled to see it. The July 2009 Vogue Italia contains a new booklet. The very, very special booklet is about black Barbie. We were fortunate to style the Barbie for the photo shoot.

Simone: How many pages are in the booklet?

Mario: More than 100.

Simone: Oh my goodness!

Mario: People will enjoy it. It’s a beautiful issue. I really think they will love it.

Simone: So does the booklet feature other designers other than you and Gianni Grossi?

Mario: We are the only one-of-a-kind designers to have the honor of being featured in the Vogue Italia July issue. We collaborated with Mattel on his issue.

Simone: What is your favorite page in the booklet?

Mario: Oh, you mean other than mine? LOL! I think the disco fever and some of the other garden pictures are my favorite. But you will see the excerpt is incredible. All the professionals at Vogue Italia did an incredible job.

Simone: I know that last year’s Vogue Italia July issue sold out like 4 or 5 times. Do you expect the same this year?

Mario: I expect more.

Simone: I do too, because everybody loves Barbie.

Mario: Thank you so much.

Simone: Thank you.

Meet Robert Best, Principal Designer for Barbie Collector

BARBIE Hosts Her 50th Birthday Party in Washington, DC

Barbie is 50 and fabulous! But don’t take our word for it. Ask Robert Best, instead. He is the Principal Designer for Barbie Collector. On Friday, June 10, 2009, Mr. Best agreed to speak with us at the Barbie doll’s 50th Anniversary Convention held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC from July 7, 2009 to July 11, 2009. WDC, we’re in the pink!




Simone Butterfly: Hello.

Robert Best: Hi.

Simone: My name is Simone, your fabulous, freelance, fashion investigator.

Robert: Fabulous, I love your outfit. Barbie pink looks very good on you.

Simone: Thank you very much. It’s a pleasure to speak with you Mr. Best, Principal Designer for Barbie Collector. So how long have you been in that position?

Robert: I have been working at Mattel for 15 years now. Who knew?

Simone: So what does a Principal Designer for Barbie Collector do?

Robert: As Principle Designer for Barbie you are responsible for everything. It’s a very head to toe kind of job. I am responsible for the look, which includes the style of hair, make up and of course all of the accessories, the shoes, the jewelry, and everything the doll is going to be wearing. I also oversee the packaging. So I am really like an Art Director in a lot of ways because I have to handle the entire look.

Simone: That is amazing because Barbie has really changed over the years. Who is the 2009 Barbie?

Robert: The 2009 Barbie is a very active, healthy girl of today. I think she's very plugged in to everything that is going on, including trends and fashions that you see on the runway. Barbie is very relevant and is always current. Barbie is very much a reflection of the popular culture that surrounds her.

Simone: We love Barbie and we love her new blog, website and her Twitter updates. She’s fabulous! http://barbiestyle.barbie.com/

Robert: Barbie is absolutely plugged in.

Simone: Please describe the beautiful gown that you designed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Barbie!

Robert: The gown is called Generations of Dreams and it was inspired by the doll of the same name. The gown features a collage of different images of Barbie throughout the years, from her very first 1959 swimsuit up to today. Everyone has a Barbie story and everyone remembers the doll of their generation. Hence the name: “Generation of Dreams.” The [Generations of Dreams] gown is a fun couture take on a wacky idea.

Simone: How long did it take to create?

Robert: The gown itself took…it feels like years. But it probably took a few weeks. We had a team in New York sewing and creating the first pattern. We had people in LA doing the beading. It was shipped to Australia. Then it was shipped back to the US. It will be traveling all over the country. The gown is better traveled than i am actually. Lol.

Simone: WOW! It’s been a pleasure. Thank you so much for speaking with us.

Robert: It’s been a pleasure.

A few fun facts about the Generations of Dream Gown on display at the Convention:
Eight experts from New York to Los Angeles used 15 yards of pink duchesse satin and silk organza to create the life-size gown. The bodice and skirt are adorned with 50 patchwork prints representing over 50 years of Barbie artwork. Each patch is outlined in countless iridescent sequins, shimmery Swarovski crystals and beautiful delicate trim!