From top Tesla’s Elon Musk, TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Christophe Babin and Leonardo DiCaprio. Leonardo DiCaprio and J.-C. Babin with the Grand Carrera Pendulum concept watch. Leonardo DiCaprio, J.-C. Babin and TAG Heuer honorary chairman Jack Heuer. The unique TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio spoke highly of TAG Heuer’s social responsibility in fighting climate change at an event in Basel, earlier this week at the BaselWorld shows.
   TAG Heuer, supporting the NRDC and Green Cross International, launched what it called the Odyssey of Pioneers, a travelling roadshow promoting its timepieces between March and October this year.
   Tesla Motors is supporting the promotion, with a special edition of its Roadster. The TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster led the roadshow, which departed from Basel at dawn today.
   The Odyssey is planned to be the first round-the-world tour by a zero-emission sports car.
   DiCaprio said TAG Heuer has a ‘global mission … to protect our planet.’ He commended the company for its donations to NRDC and Green Cross International which, he says, are part of the company’s business model.
   He made his support for President Barack Obama publicly known, calling him a leader who understands the necessity of a ‘green revolution’.
   At the event, as part of its 150th anniversary, TAG Heuer launched the Grand Carrera Pendulum concept watch, which is the first watch without a hairspring, replacing it with magnetic fields. Over 600 people attended the celebration.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes video from Hennes & Mauritz on its latest shoot, for its collection titled The Garden Collection, in Palm Springs, Calif. Natasha Poly—or, Natalia Polevshchikova to give her full name—is the model.

Supermodel Hélèna Christensen proves that she still has recognition and appeal as she becomes the latest model for American intimate apparel company Bali.
   In the new online, print and TV campaign, Christensen introduces the Bali Comfort-U back design.
   The new advertising campaign has been created by Kraftswork NYC. The first TV commercial aired March 15 on ABC’s All My Children.

Model Hannelore Knuts, 32, has curated an exhibition, Fashion Testimony, to be shown at the Fashion Museum of Hasselt from March 27 to June 6, 2010.
   Knuts’s exhibition offers a glance at her 10-year career, which includes working the professional catwalk at Chanel, Gucci and other top European labels.
   Designers featured in the exhibition include Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermès, Christian Lacroix, Martin Margiela and Dries van Noten. Contributing photographers include Miles Aldridge, Steven Klein, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Michael Thompson and Ellen von Unwerth.
   The aim of the exhibition is to lift the veil on the fashion world. It features some of her favourite images from her first fashion show to today. Some artists have provided works that Knuts felt connected with her.
   Those artists include Marc Claes, Patricia Ghijsens Ezcurdia, Ugo Rondinone, Filip Vandingenen and Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven.
   The Museum states that the exhibition is not a retrospective or a homage to Knuts, but a look in to her world.
   Knuts had been studying photography and, at age 21, turned to professional modelling.
   The Museum is located at Gasthuisstraat 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium (near de Groene Boulevard, next to the Holiday Inn and Molenpoortplein).

We traditionally don’t cover kids’ shoes, but these designs from Sudo are delightful. The company calls them ‘funky’, which isn’t far off the mark. The Monday moccasins and the ballet flats pictured are among the Sudo autumn–winter 2010 collection, designed by Melbourne-based Terry and Rachael Lay.
   With three children themselves, the Lays found children’s clothing was ‘predictable and cliché,’ motivating them to create their own lines. Sudo is designed for children aged two to twelve.

SDA Bocconi School of Management has announced its Fashion Entrepreneur Challenge competition, with an intensive fashion management course at its Milano campus as first prize.
   Entrants are encouraged to submit a business plan, whether it is ‘Opening an internet-based fashion business, launching a new line of accessories with a low environmental impact or introducing a new distribution model for the footwear sector,’ says the school. The deadline is April 30, 2010.
   The course includes studies in strategy and branding to help the winner launch their own fashion, luxury or design business.
   In a release, the school states, ‘The competition will reward 15 participants who propose the most innovative and financially viable ideas. The competition is open to individuals or teams composed of a maximum of three people from anywhere in the world. Candidates can upload their applications on a dedicated e-platform. The business plan should include a detailed description of the idea, plus plans for financing as well as the participants’ CV. A three-minute video with the teams’ pitch may also be included.’
   The 15 winners will participate at the course on July 12 and 13.
   The school promises that all participants will receive feedback on their proposal from the selection committee.
   The programme is part of a larger summer school project launched by the Milanese city council.
   For more information, visit summerschool.sdabocconi.it/fashion.html.

On the site today are the Massey University graduate collections from late last year. Shown here are some of the designs from Uma Lele, who’s working with us at Lucire now. As her garments weren’t among those in the official selection we received (beautifully shot by Lisa Wilson), we decided to give our Uma a bit of an extra nudge here at ‘Insider’. Have a glance at what her fellow graduates came up with here.

We couldn’t let the day pass without showing you some of the Oscar gowns. These images are courtesy Giorgio Armani, who dressed many of the celebrities at the 82nd Academy Awards last night.

   As previewed yesterday in Lucire, Jennifer Lopez’s Giorgio Armani Privé iridescent icy pale pink silk organza evening gown was much talked about by the public, especially on the Tweetstreams. ‘The dress features high-tech, futuristic fabric with a revealing front slit and a crescent-shaped bustier that cascades into a dramatic side train accented by Swarovski rock crystals. The mermaid silhouette gown is part of the 2010 Privé collection inspired by the romance and mystery of the moon,’ says the company.

   Amanda Seyfried wore a Giorgio Armani Privé soft green silk strapless princess ball gown, again with high-tech materials. The gown has a geometric bustier encrusted with Swarovski crystals and a full skirt accented with mesh panel overlays.

   Academy Award winner Hilary Swank attended the Vanity Fair party wearing a Giorgio Armani Privé black gown with Swarovski beading. Swank can get away with a plunging neckline without looking trashy, and continued her smouldering style with a cut-out back on this dress.

Thierry Mugler today announces a new website, Womanity.com, which aims to connect women in an interactive platform.
   The idea behind Womanity.com is to spark creative exchange between women, says the company, ‘where members can share knowledge, trade experiences, express their creativity, and—above all—have fun.’ Members are invited to share video, photography, and writings with one another.
   The site will also include special guest contributors from the literary, artistic, journalistic, cinematic and fashion industries. It is online today, with full functionality expected by June.
   The site appears to have been developed with the cooperation of Microsoft, whose copyright notice features at the foot of the web page. At first glance, it has a fairly complex appearance.
   In 2007, Thierry Mugler introduced the Blogalaxy, where fans could set up their own blogs to share experiences about the brand. It also created the Island of Dr Muglerstein on Second Life. It has been using ecommerce since September 2007.

Giorgio Armani has shown a drawing of the dress it has supplied for Jennifer Lopez at the 82nd Academy Awards tonight.
   Lopez will present wearing a Giorgio Armani Privé iridescent icy pale pink silk organza evening gown, says the label. ‘The dress features high-tech, futuristic fabric with a revealing front slit and a crescent-shaped bustier that cascades into a dramatic side train accented by Swarovski rock crystals.’
   Other celebrities that Armani is dressing include Amanda Seyfried, Hilary Swank, Eugenia Silva, George Clooney, Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), Steve Martin, Samuel L. Jackson, Sean Penn, John Travolta, Robin Williams and Lawrence Bender (producer, Inglourious Basterds). Apolo Ohno, Adrien Brody, Cory Montieth, J. C. Chasez and Jordi Mollà will attend Oscar-night parties wearing clothing from the Armani labels.

The venue is filled with only standing room. The lights are dim and a mystical tune fills the air. While the crowd glares at the stage, a slender silhouette appears in the background. As the light shines more brightly, the crowd is progressively enchanted by a sleek, dark-haired model with an unusual grin. Her movements are dramatic and flamboyant. Walking slowly toward the throng, she is vintage glam personified. Who is she? Her name is Monica Palatnikov.
   At first glance, Palatnikov is strikingly more reserved than most models with her résumé. She has loads of print ad, runway, film, and even theatre credits under her belt. This 23-year-old Russian beauty is more than just a pretty face. Born and currently living in San Francisco, she’s recently been showing up on advertisements and runways in the Bay Area.
   Wearing a simple graphic T and dark denim jeans, Palatnikov has the casual style that makes you think she’s too down-to-earth to be a model. But, as a new and fresh-faced local choice of many designers, she has a distinct and refreshing look about her. At a very young age, she knew modelling was her destiny when she played dress up, just as any little girl in her mother’s clothing. There was something about the way a garment made her feel when she slipped into it, allowing her to transform any mood into exuberant.
   Palatnikov shows a wide range of versatility in her modelling—from Lever 2000 soap and tequila commercials to Davidoff cigarette ads. So, she may very well be a household face already to some people.
   She’s received adoration for her almost theatrical expressions while on the runway, which has paid off from formal training at acting school. Although she enjoys having fun on stage and is passionate about modelling, Palatnikov’s equable temperament is fine-tuned by the people she surrounds herself with daily. ‘My family is very supportive as long as my career doesn’t consume me,’ she says.
   The clothing isn’t the only part that’s remembered in a fashion show, it’s also the model’s presence and energy exuded while on the runway. ‘I love how all eyes are on me while the audiences watch the clothing look even more stunning than just lying on a shelf in retail stores. It’s that personality of the model that really makes it,’ says Palatnikov.
   One thing is certain, this young lady has absolute staying power. Why do we love her? Maybe it’s because she mesmerizes you with her hazel eyes and innocent glow. It might also be the fact that she’s a professional ballroom-dancing, Japanese-speaking, health science major. Palatnikov is clearly well-rounded and has the essence of a seasoned supermodel. So, be sure to look out for her, whether it’s in a TV commercial, at the theatre or, better yet, on the runway.

Tony Barbera/Disney Enterprises, Inc. Used with permission.
Above Avril Lavigne in Abbey Dawn for Alice in Wonderland, on the set of her music video.

The Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne label will roll out a limited-edition range of apparel to tie in with Disney’s Alice in Wonderland film, directed by Tim Burton. Both the film and the range début on March 5, with the clothing exclusively in Kohl’s stores across the US and on kohls.com.
   Graphic Ts and denim form the core of the range, in line with Lavigne’s rock image. The White Rabbit’s watch and sayings such as ‘At least we love each other’ appear on Ts; the range also includes boyfriend jeans with suspenders and black jersey. Prices range from US$28 for the printed Ts to US$54 for denim.

Nintendo knows how to engage the tech-savvy, as the idea of having an online fashion store as part of a gaming environment steadily becomes mainstream. Those who own its Style Savvy game for the DS can, as of March 1, access fashions from Deréon, the fashion line created by Beyoncé and her mother, Tina Knowles.
   Players with internet access can choose from five real-life designs for the clientèle in the game. Below are an interview with Beyoncé and some behind-the-scenes footage.