Tom Schirmacher

Karen Walker Eyewear has announced its summer 2015 collection, and, in the brand’s inimitable style, sees Toast, a King Charles cavalier spaniel, as the model.
   Brands all over the world want celebrities with strong social media followings, and Karen Walker is no exception. The rescued “it” dog has 154,000 Instagram followers and has already donned shades on her account. Now as the spokesdog for Karen Walker Eyewear, she’s expected to be wearing her new brand on the streets of New York.
   In a release, Walker cheekily says, ‘We were after a model for this campaign who could fit with our caramelly colour palette and also someone whose hair would work with our three wind machines hitting her from every angle to create a slightly ’70s vibe. Toast ticked every one of those boxes.’
   The new campaign, hashtagged #toastmeetskaren, has been photographed by Tom Schirmacher, and creative-directed by Mikhail Gherman. Grooming for Toast was by Hannah Raymond, and hair by Gavin Harwin.
   The collection has five new styles, featuring two-tone patchwork with gold trim, dusty colours, and CR39 lenses for UV protection. The eyewear is double-polished and cured for strength.
   The company can claim Beyoncé, Rihanna, Scarlett Johansson, Lena Dunham, Gwen Stefani, Alexa Chung, Lady Gaga, Lorde and Florence Welch among its wearers. The range hits stores in February 2015.

Tom Schirmacher

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Cara Delevingne’s status as one of the celebrities of our era is further confirmed with TAG Heuer selecting her to be one of its new ambassadors. Calling her ‘the most disruptive “it girl” of the moment’, TAG Heuer has tapped into the model’s social media following (9 million on Instagram, 2 million on Twitter, 1·7 million on Facebook) to promote its range to a new audience.
   She was welcomed into the TAG Heuer family at the Salle Melpomène at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, posing with a lion cub, in front of an audience of 150 VIPs and journalists. Tying in with the lion cub, the new TAG Heuer campaign will be hashtagged #Dont­Crack­UnderPressure.
   The lion is a symbol that Delevingne identifies with, and she had one tattooed on her right index finger in mid-2013.
   Delevingne wore a Karl Lagerfeld jacket at the event.
   Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer and President of LVMH Watches Worldwide, presented her with a TAG Heuer Formula One Steel and Black Ceramic Chronograph set with diamonds.
   Biver said, ‘The TAG Heuer family is not just an idea, it is a team, with true team spirit. We needed someone disruptive yet elegant like Cara to open our minds to the brashness and boldness of today’s youth. TAG Heuer has set its sights on “it-ness”, and Cara is just the person to help us get there.’
   The Daily Mail reported concern from Dr Neil D’Cruze of World Animal Protection, who told the newspaper, ‘Lion cubs are not photo props. Their health and well-being should not be compromised.
   ‘They belong in the wild, not draped over a celebrity just to sell a designer watch.’

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Scott Barbour

TAG Heuer hosted a summer party at the MS Collins nightclub in Melbourne on Tuesday with tennis star Maria Sharapova as its best known VIP while she was in town for the Australian Open.
   Australian DJ duo Nervo, made up of twin sisters Miriam Nervo and Olivia Nervo, performed at the event, which also served as their official welcome to the TAG Heuer family of brand ambassadors.
   Nervo, based in Ibiza and Las Vegas, performs at festivals around the world, signed their first publishing deal at 18, produced the Grammy Award-winning hit ‘When Love Takes Over’ for David Guetta and Kelly Rowland, and will launch its first album, Collateral, in the spring. TAG Heuer identified the duo’s nonconformist approach and their desire to push themselves, which it saw in line with its own brand.
   Nervo gave Sharapova some DJing lessons while there, and enjoyed clubbing at the venue. Model and MTV host Kate Peck, Olympic skier Lydia Lassila and her husband Lauri Lassila, a champion skier in his own right, and twins Vikki and Helena Moursellas (My Kitchen Rules) were among the VIPs. Some 250 attended the event, many having won their guest passes through an earlier online competition. Sharapova modelled the new, and exclusive, TAG Heuer Aquaracer Lady 300 m in Daring Red, while Nervo wore the TAG Heuer Formula One Lady Steel and Ceramic.

Scott Barbour

Alexandra Wyman

Even in pouring rain, the Colgate Optic White Beauty Bar Golden Globe Experience gave fashion media, starlets and celebrities much to smile about on January 9 and 10 in Hollywood. Luminaries included Dancing with the Stars’ Cheryl Burke, Karina Smirnoff and Chelsea Kane, Christina Milian, Jennie Garth, Ross Matthews, Audrina Patridge, Jax Taylor, Gilles Marini, Aviva Drescher, Roxy Sowlaty and Adrienne Bailion. The setting itself—the Selma House at the Chateau Marmont—was very sunny and cheerful, which made sense given that Colgate’s Optic White line is supposed to empower everybody to reveal their sunny dispositions.
   To further enhance smiles, guests made appointments for hair touch-ups with Rowenta dryers and styling instruments, make-up touch-ups and polish changes from Priv (an on-demand salon services’ company), and nourishment with gourmet sandwiches, Naturade shakes, tea in Rove diffuser bottles and thermoses, and mouth-watering Chloë fruit-juice popsicles. If you got there early enough, you could also add bling to your look with modern costume jewellery from Tuleste.—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

Alexandra Wyman

Courtesy Giambattista Valli

Courtesy Lanvin

Lucire fashion editor Sopheak Seng had two very clear picks at the 2015 Golden Globes: Lupita Nyong’o in Giambattista Valli haute couture embroidered silk gown, and Emma Stone (nominated for Birdman) in a custom Lanvin beaded jumpsuit with a taffeta bow (left).
   There was also Keira Knightley, nominated for The Imitation Game, in a sequinned Chanel green muslin dress with feather embroidery, based on look 50 of the Paris–Salzburg 2014–15 collection. Chanel says 31 of its staff, the plumassier Lemarié and the embroiderer Lesage worked on making her dress.
   Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) wore a Chanel haute couture embroidered long bustier dress from the autumn–winter 2014–15 collection, complemented by the Chanel Muse ring in 18 ct white gold, diamonds and cultured pearls.
   Diane Krüger wore a shimmery Emilia Wickstead gown accessorized with a Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Art Deco watch.
   Our videos feature Eddie Redmayne, winning best actor for The Theory of Everything, confessing to cutting his honeymoon short to be at the Golden Globes 2015; and Chris Pratt and Anna Faris on the red carpet being dubbed the Globes’ ‘cutest couple’.

Chanel

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

When Gavin Keilly calls a party, A-list celebrities and press show up, rain or shine, especially when the food is delicious, the goodies are stylish and functional, and the charities are truly doing some worthwhile things to make the world a better place. Once again, GBK’s Golden Globes’ suite took place in the ballrooms of the W Hotel Hollywood with an international array of covetable goodies and worthy causes.
   World Vision is best known for their infomercials and work to benefit children in developing countries through fundraisers and holistic community development programmes. At this event, they went above and beyond timely to present a programme that provides unusual way for groups to give back: a group- or team-building activity involving the assemblage of ebola kits for workers in stricken areas. They also offered hand-crafted tote bags from Thailand whose manufacture benefits rural communities.
   Lambda Legal continued their work advancing civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy advocacy. Yes! Beat Liver Tumors continued to get their message out about providing information, resources and support for people affected by cancer in its advanced stages. Citizen E-Cig, meanwhile, was on hand to help with the cause of encouraging people to quit smoking for the sake of the environment at large and their own personal health with their classy line of e-cigs.
   You could say the fashion offerings were quite “crafty” this go around, and not only because Artisan Group was back with some beautiful one-off pieces on display. The ladies of Samiah Fine Clothing encouraged guests to express their inner rock star through trying on their bespoke jackets and coats, and sending them on their way with hand-made brocade shoulder bags. Sledge USA was all about team spirit with its forthcoming Major League Baseball collection (I was partial to the Chicago-related gear), stunning contemporary silver and brass pieces from Westland Jewelry, a gift card from Canada-based Beyond the Rack (which allows us to select something we really want or need-genius!), empowerment-themed jewels from BraveChick.com and some Canadian-made, chic-yet-homespun hats from Canada Bliss.
   Smart items for the avid traveller included elegantly crafted totes, laptop bags and tablet cases from Solo from their upcoming spring collection, a three-night stay at Puerto Vallarta Beach Club in a private, spacious three-bedroom villa, feather-light headphones in jazzy colours from LG Electronics and the new H2V Eye-tox 3 serum from Burke Williams and a Burke Williams Advanced Eye Lift enhancement (much welcome after 18 hour-flights from abroad and red-eye flights from New York). In at-home pampering, VIPs received home spa products and soaps from Beauty Kitchen by Heather Marianna and a full set of Sheex bedding fashioned from performance fabrics.
   At this suite, nobody went home hungry, with the presence of GBK regulars Barrys Gourmet Brownies and Sabra savouries. Newcomers included Cupcake Fusion LA, a bakery known for delightful and whimsical combinations of sweet and savoury cupcakes, which was on site providing gift cards and cupcakes; kosher sweets from My Candy Basket; and Corazons Custom Catering, a family-owned Filipino business catering yummy Filipino–French snacks and gifting certificates for complimentary food tasting parties. You could wash all this good stuff down with cocktails made with Bare Organic Mixers, which are organic, low-calorie, gluten-free delights made with juice, water, and agave syrup as well as portable and potable Nuvino Wines from South Africa, Argentina, Chile and Australia.
   Pilot Pen not only offered fashionable and exceptional writing instruments, but also a chic Japanese ambiance that covered much of the GBK space, inspired by the centuries-old Japanese art of maki-e. VIPs received the Vanishing Point Fountain Pen, while all guests received FriXion Clicker Erasable Gel Ink Pen 8 Pack Pouch, an entirely new kind of erasable pen that is retractable, has striking good looks and ink that is formulated to write smooth and erase cleanly.—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

Winter came to southern California, and with it much needed rain and chilly air. Tents went up, covering the storeyed courtyard of the SLS Hotel, making the Secret Room Events’ Golden Globe Style Lounge an actual room filled with sponsors focused on healthy treats, sustainable and wearable style, natural products and, of course, animal activism and rescue.
   Given many celebrities are vegetarian or vegan, Farm Sanctuary had a fantastic opportunity to turn their message into a cause célèbre. This unique organization operates three shelters in New York and California providing lifelong care for nearly 1,000 rescued farm animals. While the animals are rescued from abuse and starvation, the organizers hope their practices will change the way society views and treats farm animals, and encourage compassionate vegan living.
   Hope For Paws, meanwhile, hopes to accomplish a similar mission with cats, dogs and other homeless pets throughout California, North America and elsewhere via widely circulated videos as well as encouragement of pet adoption events.
   Platinum sponsors Derma E and Big Slice were predictably a huge hit among the diverse talents in attendance. Big Slice, a family-owned company, transforms baked apples into luscious, nutritious snacks, integrating everything from tropical fruits to sesame, chocolate and other healthy indulgences into a healthy packet that goes from the kitchen to practically anywhere. Derma E bills itself as food for your skin, through a series of vitamin-rich, high-performance antioxidant skin care products that are 100 per cent vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and GMO-free.
   Other natural, and naturally appealing products for body and hair, included Younique, RX Clinical Cosmeceaticals, Body & Soul Natural Haircare, Bellivita Body and Haircare, and Ioma Paris.
   DelGrosso Foods’ pasta sauces and Heat Holders’ thermal socks provided warmth for guests on that chilly Friday while Stella Carakasi allowed VIPs to select a toasty sweater from their current winter and spring lines. There were also some nice little items perfect for the frequent fliers in the room: the B Belt, created by Nelson, New Zealand native Becky Larsen, is the perfect carry-all for women who want their hands free. The sash-like belt holds mobile phone, Ipod, money, ID or even a compact. Though the name Golden Girl may spark memories of the 1980s television show about sprightly and sassy seniors, Montreal, Canada-based Golden Girl Clothing’s jean leggings appear to be designed to flatter women of all ages and shapes.
   While Dallas-based Kathy Fielder is best known and loved for her interior design accents, she’s successfully broken into fashion, with chic faux fur vests, fabric handbags and eye-catching lace infinity scarves with a jewellery-like feel. Australian jewellery designer Jennifer Reeves, meanwhile, showed that natural stones could be as flattering and fashionable as opals and other precious gems.
   Celebrities attending included Adina Porter (True Blood), Ashley Argota (The Fosters), Jason Ritter (Parenthood), Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black), Josh Brener (Silicon Valley), Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains), Mekhi Phifer (Divergent), Neil McDonough (Suits), Omar Dorsey (Selma), Beau Casper, Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz (both nominated for Gett: the Trial of Viviane Amsalem).—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

Wearable technology is all the rage as we head into the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week.
   Misfit has announced its Swarovski Shine line. The company, which makes trackers that can sync with your phone so you can measure your walking, running, swimming, cycling and other activities, including sleep quality and calories burned through its wireless technology, will show two new products. The clear Swarovski Shine, with a crystal face, is the first, while a violet Swarovski Shine has an “energy crystal” technology that allows solar charging, eliminating the need for charging or batteries. Both are waterproof.
   The collection is available for pre-order in the US at misfit.com, and will go on sale in the spring at Swarovski retailers in the US, China (including Hong Kong) and online at swarovski.com.
   Meanwhile, the Robotic Spider Dress, designed by Anouk Wipprecht, is 3-D printed, and reacts to motion through proximity sensors. Wipprecht told Motherboard that the dress will react to aggression by getting into an attack position, but if one approached the wearer more calmly, it would have more ‘suggestive gestures’.

Robotic Spider Dress (Intel Edison-based) from Anouk Wipprecht on Vimeo.

   Another vision of the future at CES is the Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion concept car, which is a self-driving saloon. Mercedes-Benz says that the ‘car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a private retreating space. This new way of travelling gives passengers the freedom to use their valuable time on the road in manifold ways.’ Mercedes-Benz sees people retreating to their cars in a more urbanized future, where time and space are the real luxuries.
   Its interior adopts the theme of a lounge, with open-pore walnut wood, soft white nappa leather, and metal and glass surfaces. It features four rotating lounge chairs in polished aluminium, which can swing outwards for easier egress, and the front seats can face forward if the driver opts for manual driving. The steering wheel then extends from the dashboard. Six screens are incorporated into the instrument panel and rear and side panels, which respond to gestures, eye-tracking and touch.
   Outside, the car glows blue if it is driving autonomously, or white if its driver is in control. The body structure uses carbonfibre-reinforced plastic, aluminium and high-strength steel, making the bodyshell 40 per cent lighter than today’s production cars’. Rear suicide doors allow easier access, and the B-pillars have been eliminated. The front and rear doors are interconnected with an interlocking system.