Cover Craze: Kate Upton’s American Vogue Cover Channels A Modern-Day Marilyn Monroe!

To be completely honest, I wasn’t crazy about supermodel Kate Upton at first like the rest of the world has been; however, after seeing the beyond-amazing spread in the June 2013 issue of Vogue- the model’s first major American fashion magazine cover- I was won over! She channels a modern-day Marilyn Monroe with classic all-American style, bombshell curves, & old-fashioned ambition to break away from the typical supermodel mold. The shoot was photographed by the ever-legendary Mario Testino, which includes looks & pieces from Dolce & Gabbana, Cartier, Rochas, Ray-Ban, Donna Karan New York, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Max Mara, Jason Wu, Stella McCartney, Michael Kors, Tom Ford, Hermès, & Matthew Williamson.

While Kate looks more voluptuous than most models walking the catwalk, she’s a healthy size 4 & responds to nay-sayers about her shape with the following: “The things that they’re rejecting are things that I can’t change. I can’t change  my bra size. They’re natural! I can work out and I can stay healthy and  motivated, but I can’t change some things.” The Sports Illustrated beauty is breath-taking in sleek separates looks, flirty swimwear shots, & evening couture.

In a behind-the-scenes look at the model strutting her stuff in Uruguay, Kate shares her tips for having the ultimately stylish summer, including how having the right sunglasses & some comfy sandals can make or break your vacation! The resemblance to Marilyn Monroe in uncanny, but it’s really gorgeous to see the celebrated hairstyles of vintage Hollywood starlets like Monroe teased in contrast to contemporary fashion.

What do you think of Kate’s Vogue shoot? Do you think she’s worth all the fashionable fuss? Which is your favorite look from the cover story? For more stylish posts, check out Christina Hendricks for Lucky‘s June issue, Rooney Mara’s latest ad campaign with Calvin Klein, Diane Kruger’s short film for Jaeger Le-Coultre, the latest red carpet looks from Jennifer Aniston & Kerry Washington, & 3.1 Phillip Lim’s designer collaboration with Target!

Ad Madness: Rooney Mara Is The Face Of Calvin Klein’s New Fragrance, Downtown!

Rooney Mara has certainly cemented her status in fashion, especially after co-chairing this year’s Met Costume Institute Gala with Givenchy‘s Riccardo Tisci. Now the Oscar-nominated actress is the latest face for Calvin Klein‘s new fragrance, Downtown. The cool, edgy scent is geared towards a 25-35 woman, which can be seen in the upcoming, yet-to-be-seen David Fincher-directed TV spots. The print ads were photographed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, featuring a fresh-faced leather jacket-wearing Rooney, leaning against a brick wall.

“I am very excited to be included in the group of amazing women that have been featured in the iconic advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein fragrances. It’s an honor to be part of a brand with such a legacy of breakthrough advertising. The Downtown fragrance holds true to the chic, confident and simple feeling of the Calvin brand,” says the actress about the perfume which will be featured in 3,000 department stores nationwide.

For more celebrity ads, check out previous posts including Diane Kruger’s short film for Jaeger Le-Coultre, Beyoncé’s new ad campaign for H&M, Marion Cotillard for Lady Dior by Dior, Kate Winslet for Lancome, & the latest from Kate Moss for Stuart Weitzman! Happy Styling!

Cover Craze: Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks Is Lucky’s June Cover Girl!

Christina Hendricks has been one of the most watched out for celebrities on the red carpet, especially with her success on the drama, Mad Men. Plus, it wasn’t that long ago that I featured the curvy actress in another Cover Craze post for her feature in Canada’s Flare magazine, however the fiery redhead is now the face for Lucky magazine’s June 2013 issue.

She talks to the magazine about her favorite red carpet moments, famous for wearing designer duds by L’Wren Scott, Christian Siriano, Zac Posen, & Dolce & Gabbana. Also, her Mad Men fame & iconic role as Joan have created a signature style for the actress who embraces pencil skirts, high heels, & anything bra-friendly. She’s also a bargain shopper as a fan of Nine West & J.Crew, as well as international boutique for vintage-inspired pieces.

Watch the video above to get a behind-the-scenes look at the magazine’s shoot & hear Christina first-hand charm the pants off of us! Christina can be seen next in the Ryan Gosling-directed film How To Catch A Monster, & the Neil Labute ensemble dramedy Seconds of Pleasure. For more magazine posts, check out Scarlett Johansson for Marie Claire, Hayden Panettiere’s beachy shoot for Glamour, & last month’s Lucky cover with Drew Barrymore! Also, be sure to check out InStyle‘s inside look at the costumes worn by Mad Men‘s leading ladies! Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: Diane Kruger Stars In A New Short Film For Watch Brand, Jaeger Le-Coultre!

Former model / actress Diane Kruger is a German-born beauty who ranks among the A-list when it comes to red carpet appearances, & has certainly proven her acting chops in such films as Inglorious Basterds & Farewell, My Queen. She has any & every designer begging to dress her, as she dazzles fashion critics with her bold choices, graces, & timelessness. Speaking of time… The Swiss-based watch company, Jaeger Le-Coultre, recently featured Diane in a short film called Reinvent Yourself, which asks the question, how many times can you reinvent yourself in a lifetime? Well, we can surely ask the powerful likes of Madonna or Lady Gaga that; however, in this beautiful two-minute piece, we are privileged to see a music-video-like project, set to the powerful voice of Shirley Bassey with “(Where Do I Begin) Love Story.”

During a recent interview, Diane had this to say about “It felt very authentic about my life and my friendship with Jaeger Le-Coultre…It pieces together my professional life and my personal life, and I’m very grateful for that.” She also adds, “Everybody in life can relate to laughter or cry for joy or just that moment of something ending, so that was the inspiration there… I had a couple of sad thoughts going through my head on that one…” In addition, she wanted the film to end on a positive note, one that hopefully inspires women. She says, “You’re not just defined by your job, but also by the choices you make as a woman. You can be anything, if you put your heart to it.” This is certainly the truth for a stylish chameleon of the red carpet.

What do you think about Diane’s style? Do you like the video? For more fashionable videos, check out previous posts from Watch This Style, including 3.1 Phillip Lim’s collaboration with Target, Chanel’s short film Once Upon A Time which stars Keira Knightley, Beyoncé’s latest commercial for H&M, & the trailer for the documentary Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s! Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: 3.1. Phillip Lim Is The Next Designer Collaboration Featured @Target!

As a regular Target shopper, I’ve been privileged to seeing the evolution of the retailer’s apparel collection. Over the last few years, we’ve seen magic in collaborations with Jovovich Hawk, Missoni, Prabal Gurung, & most recently Kate Young. Also, this past holiday season saw luxury finds from Neiman Marcus regulars like Marchesa & Robert Rodriguez. However, the latest high fashion name to join the ranks of Target greatness for the mainstream shopper is 3.1 Phillip Lim, whose vision for the collection includes men’s & women’s apparel & accessories, ranging from $20 – $300. Extras also include shoes, bags, & travel goodies, which are designed for a wardrobe that’s 24 / 7. In a recent video, the designer talks about his point of view for the line, which looks every bit casual chic with some street smart edge for the modern shopper. In a recent statement, Lim shares, “Since an early age, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of design evolution… One of the reasons I wanted to collaborate with Target is because I felt that together we could create a collection that would inspire—one that is cool and chic, but still very accessible.”

The collection makes its debut for Target in September. Which designer collaboration has been your favorite for Target so far? Do you find the price points for these collections to be affordable for the average Target customer? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out Revenge actress Ashley Madekwe’s Topshop look, stylish spring cardigans for under $25, a budget-friendly red-white-&-blue look for under $100, look-alike flat sandals as seen on Katy Perry, & Beyoncé’s latest ad campaign for H&M! Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: The Trailer For Chanel’s “Once Upon A Time,” Starring Keira Knightley!

To mark the 100th anniversary of Chanel‘s first boutique, designer Karl Lagerfeld has cast Oscar-nominated actress Keira Knightley as leading lady, Coco Chanel, in a short film about the designer’s first outpost in Deauville, France. Once Upon A Time… will premiere on May 8th in Singapore, but will also be available for viewing that night on Chanel-News! Check out the very short trailer for the film, which also features French actress Clotilde Hesme & American model Lindsey Wixon.

For more stylish videos, check out previous posts from Watch This Style including Beyoncé’s commercial for H&M, the trailer for Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s, Drew Barrymore’s cover shoot for Lucky magazine, & Taylor Swift’s stylish collaboration with Ked’s. Happy Styling!

Watch This Style / Ad Madness: Beyoncé’s H&M Commercial Is Here, Featuring New Music Too!

In case you forgot, Beyoncé, a. k. a. Mrs. Carter, is the new Spring / Summer 2013 face of H&M. Now, we finally have access to Bey’s ad campaign featuring a tropical setting, tribal inspiration, & plenty of splashing around. Take a look at the music video, including the singer’s new track, “Standing In The Sun.” Beyoncé dons some sexy swimwear & changes up her look with watercolor separates.

Take a look at the provocative video & share your thoughts on Mrs. Carter’s latest project. Do you think she’s the best fit for H&M? What swimwear trends are you following? For more fashionable videos, check out previous posts from Watch This Style including a sneak peek at the documentary Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s, Drew Barrymore’s Lucky cover shoot, Taylor Swift’s collaboration with Ked’s, & the trailer for Baz Lurhmann’s The Great Gatsby. Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: The Fabulous Trailer For ‘Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s'!

Some of you may already know that I share my online writing time with a film news & reviews website, Movie Buzzers, which has also served readers here on Style Darling. One such story includes the new trailer for the fashion documentary, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. The Matthew Miele-directed documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at the ins & outs of one of New York City’s most iconic centers for fashion, Bergdorf Goodman. The title comes from cartoonist Victoria Roberts, whose caption from a classic Bergdorf-obsessed cartoon in New Yorker put all other retailers under par. There are plenty of famous faces talking about, including designers like Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld, wrap-dress genius Diane von Furstenberg, CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award-winner American Michael Kors, shoe-God Christian Louboutin, among countlessly accomplished and glamorous others. Also, personalities like Joan Rivers, designer / celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, Sex & the City costume designer Patricia Fields, and actress Susan Lucci all share their experiences of high-profile exposure at the retailer’s central location on 5^th Avenue. In addition to these famous faces, the documentary also includes a look at legendary personal shopper, Betty Halbreich, an 85-year-old employee of Bergdorf Goodman since 1976.

Due out in New York theaters on May 3rd, more premieres will follow. What do you think about the documentary? Is this a movie you’d wanna go see? Are you a Bergdorf Goodman shopper? For more from Watch This Style, check out previous posts including Drew Barrymore’s cover shoot for next month’s Lucky, Taylor Swift’s shoe collaboration with Ked’s, Beyoncé’s latest commercial for Pepsi, Christina Hendricks’ photo shoot for Flare magazine, & the newest trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby! Happy Styling!

Cover Craze / Watch This Style: Drew Barrymore’s May 2013 Lucky Cover Shoot!

Drew Barrymore is Hollywood royalty, but still keeps a down-to-earth air that makes her one of America’s sweetest sweethearts. She recently shared her secrets to motherhood, breaking into the wine business, & creating her new cosmetics line, Flower, for Walmart in an interview with Lucky‘s May 2013 issue. The cover shoot included lots of fun & flirty looks that share Drew’s effervescent happy glow.

In the video below, we get a sneak peek at Drew during her cover shoot, playing around with fashion, makeup, & sharing with the world why she’s still any girl’s on-screen best friend, exuding joy & embracing every opportunity. “If you have good intentions, everything just works out,” she tells the magazine, adding, “And—I don’t think you can have it all. Something’s got to fall off the table. Let it fall, mourn it & move on. You’ll get your focus back. You can do a couple of things really well. We come from this generation of women where God forbid you give something up. It’s scary to let go, but you make so much more room for yourself that way.”

For more posts from Cover Craze, check out Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks for Flare magazine, Hayden Panettiere for Glamour, & Kate Hudson for Elle UK! Also, for more videos, take a look at Taylor Swift’s collaboration with Ked’s, the newest trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, & Beyoncé’s latest commercial for Pepsi! Happy Styling!

Show Me The Shoes: Taylor Swift Collaborates With Keds For A New Collection!

Country crooner Taylor Swift recently lent her good-next-door, all-American style chops to a new collection with the shoe brand Ked’s. Her affinity for playful details like polka dots, kittens, sunglasses, & nautical inspiration is evident in the collaboration which retails at $50.00 a pair. Not to mention that Taylor is using the her foray into fashion as a role model, calling all “brave girls” to share their bravest moments.

As seen in the video below, Taylor talks about her move from Pennsylvania to Nashville with her family once she convinced them of her dream to be a singer / songwriter. In addition, check out the video below, which features the shoes in action, perfect for spring, as Taylor encourages her fans & Ked’s customers to embrace life. It’s a pretty amazing message that she’s sending via shoe design, which makes me consider how many different ways Ked’s can be mixed into your everyday wardrobe.

Obviously, I don’t normally features sneakers in my Show Me The Shoes posts, but I love the idea behind this collaboration? Would you wear Ked’s designed by Taylor Swift? Which style is your favorite? How would you wear them? Happy Styling!