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.

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.

It’s easy to forget that the Oscars were not the only awards for the Hollywood set over the last few days. Last Friday, Film Independent had its 25th Spirit Awards, championing independent film at an awards’ ceremony where the word Avatar was not uttered. (Interestingly, The Hurt Locker was in the running last year.)
   While our article has some photographs, the video below supplied by Piaget has even more celebrities, including Mariah Carey and Pierce Brosnan.

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.

Normally, we don’t profile concept cars in Lucire: cars that appear at shows but are not available to the public. They usually demonstrate the company’s advanced thinking, but they tend not to be things we can buy for some years.
   However, we’ll make an exception for the Porsche 918 Spyder concept shown at the Salon de Genève. This mid-engined sports car is a hybrid that can see 100 km/h in 3·2 seconds, weighs less than 1,400 kg, and has carbon dioxide emissions at a possible 70 g/km. Excuse the cheesy voiceover, claims of ‘Porsche DNA’ and the soundtrack: the message itself is more important here.

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.