Marc Jacob's Glass Slipper

Whimsical...or ugly? I can't decide. They have a pretty awesome 80's vibe to them. 

A perfect shoe for spring, the Transparent Pump is in reality made from PVC making them more comfortable and thankfully, shatter proof. Jacobs has given his already fanciful slippers an even lighter step with the addition of a lucite heel.

This season has seen a lot of lucite, from the likes of Chanel and Prada to Zara and Asos giving high style legitimacy to an aesthetic formerly associated with strippers and pole dancers.

This time last year when lucite first emerged on the runways, Racked noted the trend and admitted the look could be 'sweet, demure, fun, and not trashy at all (or at least, not Taylor Momsen trashy.)

In fact, so dainty are these creations, they wouldn't look out of place on the feet of a bride and some wedding blogs and message boards have already featured them.

Eager fashionistas can pick up a pair at New York-based online website, La Garconne 

Christy Turlington On Tatler

Dressed for the May issue as a stereotypical male director with vintage camera in hand, the natural beauty, who is married to actor Edward Burns, has aimed to bring attention to her foray into the world of film directing.

In 2010, she made No Woman, No Cry, a documentary about pregnant women in developing countries. The film is currently touring the U.S. via specially-staged screenings.

A straw fedora and plain white shirt buttoned up right to the neckline bring added masculinity to the look, which is finished off with a hand drawn mustache. 

Jackie O Wore Fake Chanel?

It happens to the best of us, I guess., but is the suit a fake, or just a copy, or "inspired by"?

Former First Lady Jackie Onassis/Kennedy is still making headlines, this time in an interview with Karl Lagerfeld in which he spoke of the iconic pink suit she wore the day her husband was killed.

The raspberry pink bouclé skirt suit with blue collar, assumed by all to be Chanel, was revealed by the German designer to have actually been a 'line-by-line' recreation by American dressmaker, Oleg Cassini.

Jackie Kennedy's pink bouclé suit, the one she wore the day JFK was assassinated, is revealed to be a copy by Karl Lagerfeld though opinions are divided as to who recreated it

In an interview for Style.com also featuring Carine Roitfeld, the former Paris Vogue editor recalled the fateful day the president was assassinated as the first time she had seen a Chanel jacket. She was quickly corrected by Lagerfeld who said: 'In 1963. It was a fake, a line-by-line copy by Cassini. She did have real Chanels, [but] her sister ordered them. We have all the proof.'

Though Kennedy famously adored Chanel and Givenchy, after a spending spree in Paris caught the attention of the media during JFK's presidential campaign she had been advised to keep her sights on couture closer to home in order to seem patriotic.

Jackie Kennedy in a Chez Ninon dress inspired by Christian Dior

Despite Lagerfeld's recent comments, the provenance of the outfit has been hotly debated for a while among fashion historians.

While it is widely acknowledged the outfit was a copy, many sources point to a New York dress shop called Chez Ninon rather than Cassini. In an article in the New York Times, Bill Cunningham made mention of the fact that the glamorous First Lady was indeed a client of the high society dressmakers. Justine Picardie who authored Coco Chanel's biography confirmed the same.

'[She] was able to acquire Chanel outfits sewn for her in New York by a dressmaking establishment called Chez Ninon. The garments were not fake or pirated, but made to order using materials supplied by Chanel in Paris,' she wrote. 'Thus it was,' the biographer added, 'that she came to be wearing a vivid pink Chanel suit (complete with fabric, trim and buttons from 31 Rue Cambon, but fitted at Chez Ninon) on 22nd November 1963, accompanying her husband to Dallas.'

The suggestion by Picardie seems accurate given that the biography was approved by Chanel but what does appear certain either way is that it was not made by the French fashion house.

 Jackie Kennedy Onassis remained a Chanel devotee after her time as First Lady when she married Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.

Ballet Flats Vending Machines Hit Las Vegas and Hollywood

A new vending machine concept that distributes cute flats presents an ingenious solution to the ongoing problem of heels causing sore feet on a night out. 

Ashley Ross, 25, and Lindsay Klimitz, 26, from Las Vegas, have bought the rights to manufacture and distribute Rollasole flats in clubs across the U.S.

They stumbled across the UK-based company after a long night out and were in desperate need of a quick-fix for their stiletto-wearing sore feet dilemmas.

The idea of a vending machine that sells ballet flats was their answer.

Soft and squishy, the shoes come out of the vending machine rolled up in a plastic cup, and according to Rollasole, they're also recyclable - to ensure no one clutters up U.S. landfills with too many disposable shoes.

The entrepreneurial pair are working on more diverse style choices, with an array of flats that feature gold studs, rhinestones, polka dots and leopard print, ensuring all outfits are catered for.

Along with a tiny purse and a tiny dress, the towering stiletto completes the club girl's uniform, and taking them off to go barefoot is not an option according to  Ross.

She told LA Weekly: 'It is not a good look. It's not classy.'

The vending machine ballet flats are designed to roll up and fit in the tiniest of purses and are also recyclable

 Klimitz agreed, adding: 'Both of us are not really people that would walk barefoot. I know a lot of girls are into walking barefoot - when they're in just too much pain, they can't take it. But me and her would literally suffer through the pain.' Club girl or not, high heels are synonymous with sore feet, a universal truth among women. How long a girl can go before chucking them in for a comfier option varies, but Ross concedes it's about a couple of hours.

 

She explained: 'Two hours is the limit for a lot of girls. If you put a few drinks in them, probably one hour.'

Discipline, peer pressure and band aids have been the answer until now, and it appears that it's not just girls who are happy about the introduction of the Rollasole vending machines.

Club owners approve because girls who wear them stay out an average of 40 minutes later, according to a survey Ross and Klimitz commissioned. 

 Rollasole machines sell ballet flats at $20 per pair

Guys like the shoes because it keeps girls out partying for the night, minus the sore-feet whining, with many gentlemen getting let off the popular carrying-the-girl-home hook.

So far there are three Rollasole vending machines in Las Vegas, one in the Venetian Hotel in front of Tao nightclub, one in Vanity at the Hard Rock casino, and one at the Tropicana.

Bringing the vending machines to Hollywood, the most recent addition is located beside the women's restroom at the nightlife superpower, Colony.

Selling for $19.95 per pair, they beat having to bring a pair of flip-flops to a club, which one of the girls' friends often does. Apparently other girls look at her with envy.

Not wearing heels in the first place for a night of dancing would seem like an obvious answer, but as Ross and Klimitz both declare a 'No' in unison at the option, Rollasoles are clearly a better one.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley on Vogue Brazil

Rosie features in the April 2012 issue of Vogue Brazil

Rosie took a trip to her native England earlier this month, where she spoke of returning to her spot as face of Marks & Spencer.

The model turned actress was paired once again with Ryan Reynolds for the Autograph range.

She said: 'I really enjoyed the Spring shoot, it was great working with Ryan again. I love this season, there was a cool, relaxed vibe created on set by the whole team.'

Rosie is currently dating actor Jason Statham, 44, and the pair were recently spotted looking at properties in New York together.

For more information visit Vogue Brazil's website.

H&M To Open New Chain of High End Stores

Continuing to feed our insatiable appetite for fast-fashion, Hennes & Mauritz announced today the Swedish company will launch a new chain store next spring.

After rumours emerged earlier this week that H&M have been planning its first luxury brand, to sit alongside the current budget brand H&M and higher-market label COS, it has been confirmed that 2013 will see a new offer from the mega-retailer.

H&M is keeping everyone guessing regarding further details such as the chain's new name, however a Swedish news outlet reports that all trademarks and logos for the name '& other stories' were handed in to the Swedish Patent and Registration Office by a Swedish firm last year.

A representative for the company could neither confirm nor deny the name '& other stories' to Fashionista, writing: 'We do not comment on rumors, at this time we do not have anything else to add.'

However, Camilla Emilsson-Falk, Head of Media Relations for H&M, did confirm the reports of a new store to the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter, saying: 'We see the new chain as a complement to H&M.

'It will be at a slightly higher price bracket and with a little better quality, but still stay within the framework of our business concept - fashion and quality at the best price.'

 

It looks like the U.S. might have to wait a little longer than Europe to access the Swedish brand's new offering however, with the new stores to be launched in several of European countries first.

The announcement came after the company's figures were released, citing a 22per cent jump in Swedish profits.

The company announced its plans to launch a new label two weeks before H&M's new Glamuor Conscience Collection goes on sale April 12

CEO Karl-Johan Persson said in a statement: 'Like COS, which today is very successful with good profitability, the new chain of stores will be independent and complement the other offerings from the Group. We have great faith in this new brand and we see considerable potential for further initiatives.

'We have great faith in this new brand and we see considerable potential for further initiatives.'

Keeping tight lipped, ensuring even more anticipation from customers, he continued:  'We are making these long-term investments in order to build an even stronger H&M, so that we can give our customers an even broader offering going forward. We have many different projects in progress.'

Something tangible to cling to though, is the company's plan to start online sales in the U.S. this year.

And following H&M's most recent famous designer team-up with Marni, the budget brand is launching its Exclusive Glamour Conscious Collection on April 12. 

The collection has already been worn on the red carpet by both Amanda Seyfried and Michelle Williams and is made using sustainable materials including organic cotton, hemp and recycled polyester.

Now we just need to wait patiently for H&M too dish more details on what they're cooking up.

Stella McCartney Paisley Cut Out Dress

Stella MacCartney is on a roll, with celebrities and the fashion industry collectively losing their fashion marbles over her last three collections - from her famous exploding tropical prints last spring, to her mesh polka-dot little black dresses from her fall collection.

Fast forward another season and the 40-year-old designer seems to have another hit on her hands with fitted dresses that featured prominent paisley cut-outs from her spring 2012 collection already seen on Gwyneth Paltrow, Helena Christensen, Nicole Kidman, and most recently Brooklyn Decker.

Brooklyn Decker is the latest star to wear Stella McCartney's hit dresses from her spring 2012 collection, with sexed up Gwyneth Paltrow and Helena Christened also sporting theirs

 Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson and Chloe Moretz can't get enough of the paisley cut-outs on the designer's dresses

Something is definitely clicking for the designer, with her body-hugging statement dresses having an irresistible pull for celebrities and models alike. 

 

On top of this string of recent red carpet coups, both Elizabeth Banks and Sienna Miller wore the dresses on their recent covers for Lucky and British Vogue, respectively.

Plenty sexy, the ultra fitted dresses are a little bit sporty, with standout zany mixed prints, pops of three-dimensional feminine embroidery and mesh cutouts.

 Elizabeth banks and Sienna Miller 

Whether they're worn with sneakers for the ultimate summer weekend dress or with stilettos, the sexy sporty dresses will turn heads, celebrity or no celebrity wearing them - cue the common folk's next Net-a-Porter purchase.

 The designer wore her paisley prints in a more subtly sexy style when she launched her Olympic kit

It's possible that with their eyes to the coming Olympics, the stylish A-list are already embracing this season's athletic influence.

Ms McCartney is not the only designer to embrace a sporty twist paisley, however.

The print, which in the past had been limited to traditional men's pajamas, has been a sartorial hit this season, appearing in the collections of Jil Sander, Haider Ackermann, and J.W. Anderson

The popularity of Ms McCartney's collection, though, far surpasses that of her rivals.

Cementing Ms McCartney as fashion's biggest power player, on top of her designs for the Olympic British team, her succession of successful 'it' collections the designer generates season after season can only be down to one thing. She captures how women want to dress now.

The designer's little black dresses last season, with the famous sheer polka-dot insets were also a huge hit, most memorably seen on an hourglass Kate Winslet at the premiere of Mildred Pierce, and on every other style setter from here to Hollywood.

The designer herself opts for more covered-up, polished yet easy pieces, and her designs are a reflection of her own balanced sense of style. 

Mixing in elements of cool, quirky and classic, as evidenced in her most recent fall 2012 collection that celebrities will have to wait several months to get their hands on, Ms McCartney is sure to ignite the same feverish fashion response all over again.