Grace Magazine

Here is the official poster for the upcoming Chanel biopic starring French actress Audrey Tautou.

Coco Before Chanel, directed by Anne Fontaine, will focus on Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel before she became the famous couturier.

Audrey Tautou will also have the lead role as the new fragrance model for Chanel No 5. She will appear in television and print ads for the world’s most famous perfume.

Sex and the City opens May 30.

Are you looking forward to the movie?

This year’s theme for the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s Gala was “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy.”

Enjoy the pictures.

Italian designer Giorgio Armani was honorary chairman. Here he is with co-chairs, George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

We all know American Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour rules the world. Her silver cyber-dress was by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel.

Actress Scarlett Johansson wore Dolce & Gabbana along with her diamond engagement ring from actor Ryan Reynolds.

A nearly naked Gisele Bundchen impressed with her Versace dress.

Is Kate Moss wearing Stella McCartney or the other way around?

The inseparable quartet: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes with Victoria and David Beckham.

I know you want a close-up of Katie Holmes hair:

Sweet, dainty, subtle, exquiste craftsmanship. The art of cameo carving is still alive and well in Italy.

Cameo: a technique of engraving upon a gem or other stone in such a way that an underlying stone of one color is exposed as a background for a low-relief design of another color.

Here are some fine examples by Del Gatto of Naples:

Young Woman Agate Stone Cameo Pendant - $238

The Italian Del Gatto family has been working in the shell cameo and coral art for over five generations. This beautiful cameo in an 18K gold frame, is part of the Agata collection which uses particular Brasilian stones.

Loving Mother Agate 18k Gold Cameo Pendant - $215

This beautiful agate cameo by Del Gatto uses age old artisan techniques to sculp the marvelous image of mother and child. The intense blue background and exquisite detailing adeptly conveys the mother’s pure joy - a perfect gift for mothers of all ages.

Young Woman Cornelian Cameo Pendant / Pin - $215

The Italian Del Gatto family has been working in the shell cameo and coral art for over five generations, selecting every shell and crafting them with a unique carving technique. This beautiful cameo, in a wavy 18K gold frame, is part of the Corniola collection which uses particular South-East Africa sea shells. This creation shows a beautiful profile of a young woman with her hair pulled up with flowers.

Another beautiful idea for Mother’s Day or perhaps a gift to yourself.

Available at forzieri.com

POP Beauty: Glow Belle, Glow Kit - $28

This kit contains eight highlighters to illuminate your skin and give you a healthy glow.

Brush these powders onto eyelids, cheeks or your body to look radiant any time of the day.

Colors include:
–White Gold Highlight
–True Gold Glow
–Nudy-Peach Glow
–Pale-Pink All-Over Radiance
–Cream Glimmer Highlighter
–Peach Luste
–Lavender Brightner
–Warm Nudy-Pink Illuminator

So pretty.

Available at beauty.com

Recently, I bought this purse online. But now that I have it in person, I’m not sure I like it.

Designed by Kathy VanZeeland, the bag is a satchel shape and comes with a detachable mini bag that has a mirror on the back.

I’m usually a clean-lines person and I think this might be a little busy for me. The key ring with charms is removable. I took it off right away because not only does it add to the busyness, it’s also heavy and loud.

On the positive side, I like that the purse has organized pockets inside for my cell phone and lipstick. The fit and finish seem to be good and the lining is a cute animal print.

What do you think? Should I start carrying it or should I return it?

“The French National Assembly has passed a groundbreaking bill which seeks to criminalize the promotion in the media of extreme thinness.” — BBC News

This bill targets Web sites and publications that encourage anorexia among young girls and women.

If the bill is approved in France’s Senate, stiff fines and jail time could result for those seeking to promote extreme thinness by encouraging girls to lie to their doctors and telling them what are the easiest foods to bring back up.

There are more than 40,000 anorexic women in France.

In the U.S. we don’t know how many women are anorexic because most cases are not reported. If you know someone you suspect may have an eating disorder, encourage them to get help. They can contact the National Eating Disorders Association helpline at 800-931-2237 or the National Women’s Health Information Center at 800-994-9662.

This post is inspired by an entry on Slaves to Fashion called How Long Is Your Morning Regimen?

I live in Southern California, so I have a pretty long drive to work. I have never been a morning person but, fortunately, I work at an office where the start times are relaxed and the attire is casual.

Here’s my usual routine:

7:01 AM - First alarm goes off. Hit Snooze. (I have a 9 minute snooze on my alarm.)
7:10 AM - Second alarm. Snooze, etc., etc., until about…
7:45 AM - Finally get out of bed. Relax in the living room, sipping a glass of water.
8:00 AM - Check clock, realize way too much time is passing and I better get moving before I fall asleep in my big comfy chair.
8:05 AM - Wash face, brush teeth.
8:10 AM - Shower (I usually wash my hair the night before to save time in the morning.)
8:30 AM - Out of shower. (Somehow, it still takes me 20 minutes.) Moisturize.
8:35 AM - Apply makeup.
8:45 AM - Check clock. Damn.
8:50 AM - Straighten or curl hair. If I’m running really late, I twist it into a clip.
8:57 AM - Get dressed. Debate what shoes to wear. My job involves cars, so I have to think about what I’ll be driving to choose the right shoes. Of course, this problem could easily be solved if I just managed to carry driving shoes with me at all times. But fashion always wins out in the end and I usually choose inappropriately cute footwear.
9:04 AM: Dab on a little perfume.
9:05 AM - Hit the road. Don’t even think about the freeway. It’s the scenic route all the way. My commute can be anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. I try to be at work by 9:45 but usually get there around 10:00.
9:30 AM - Should be halfway to work by now, passing a beautiful view of the ocean.
10:00 AM - Still commuting. Argh.
10:05 AM - Arrive at work.

Yikes, that’s 3 hours. I really should get out of bed earlier so I can add daily exercise into my routine. I’m not a breakfast person. I usually grab a coffee around 11:00, then lunch at 1:30 or 2:00 PM. I’ll be at the office until 7:00 or 7:30 pm, sometimes later. Then I start the whole evening routine. Check the Sigalert to see if I can jump on the freeways. Drive an hour or so home. Find something for dinner. Relax. Wash hair. Blog. Go to bed and start over.

What is your daily routine?

Sssssss. You don’t need to speak Parseltongue to wear this beauty.

Antica Murrina Veneziana - Santiago - Purple Murano Glass Snake Pendant Necklace - $59

A sinuous snake pendant in precious Venetian Murano glass sparkles with gold glitters and a purple accent for an attractive touch to your neckline. Made in Italy.

Available at Forzieri.com

I can’t imagine life without ever having owned a pair or two or three of luxurious Ferragamo shoes. His beautiful designs were good enough for some of the most glamorous Hollywood stars and they are certainly good enough for me.

This weekend in Shanghai, the Italian label Salvatore Ferragamo celebrated it’s 80th anniversary in the business.

Celebrities such as Christina Ricci, Jennifer Jason Lee and Melissa George were on hand for the festivities, which included a fashion show, gala dinner and performance by dancer Roberto Bolle of the La Scala Ballet. Bolle is representative for Ferragamo’s new line of watches.

Congratulations, Ferragamo.

Here are some pictures of the event:

From left to right: Christina Ricci, Jennifer Jason Lee, Melissa George

Roberto Bolle strutted the catwalk before breaking into dance

Roberto Bolle and partner perform at Salvatore Ferragamo’s 80th Anniversary

At the Salvatore Ferragamo: Evolving Legend 1928-2008 exhibition: a bag-making workshop, a colorful display of shoes, a chandelier made of Ferragamo perfume bottles