"Tyra is the First Lady of fashion" Oh no, they did not just say that!

Tyra Banks plays Michelle Obama in the Sept. issue of Harper's Bazaar and this video shows the behind-the-scenes footage of the shoot. Here are the video's best moments:

- When Tyra says: "Michelle and Barack Obama? Y'all might be going to the White House — I'm going to White Castle because I'm starving. And I'm bringing my superfine male model Roman here who stood in for Barack. But you know what? Roman, you're fine, but Michelle's man is finer than you."

- The fake smile Faux-Barack gives Tyra after she disses him.

- The grin on Tyra Banks's smug mouth throughout the whole shoot. We all know that she plans on taking over the world. A fake election photo shoot is just the beginning my friends. Just wait and see.

- The moment you realize that Tyra can barely fit into her First Lady dresses.

- An overenthusiastic Harper's Bazaar staff member calls Tyra the "First Lady of Fashion." You may be too stunned to laugh.

- Tyra practicing waving and kissing to her adoring fans. It's funny cause she does this in every episode of America's Next Top Model. Maybe she is ready for the White House!

Maxi dresses: Not for the short and stubby

Most people think that when they wear a Maxi dress, they will look as great as the tall, thin models in the ads (see the sexy Daria Werbowy above.) Trust me, I have had these delusions before when buying clothes but when I look in the mirror and I see imperfections (love handles, straining seams, pants that cover my feet) then I know not to buy that item.

Unfortunately for the general population, most girls and women do not trust their instinct, and buy clothes that look great in the magazines but do not translate well in real life with real bodies.
Now, I love the Maxi dress. I think it's perfect for summer because it's flowy, light and can be beautiful as a simple mono-colour frock or wild with colours. But the Maxi dress is tricky because it generally does not look good on short and full-figured women.

If you are short, the Maxi dress overwhelms your body and can make you look a bit too much like a child playing dress-up. Put the Maxi on a full-figured woman and it will make you look...full-figured. Not in a good way.

Women believe that the dress will cover up their flaws; that pouch, those thighs, those hips and that butt. But in fact, it only enhances those body parts. So if you are graced by Mother Nature and are tall and thin, this is the perfect dress for you because it gives you a waist, shows off your toned arms and enhances your height. You lucky she-devils.

Celebrities have been wearing Maxi dresses all of this summer. Here are a couple of the good ones and the not-so-good ones.

Not-so good: Hayden Panettiere
Hayden has a gorgeous figure but she is too short for this dress. Her arms look chubby and her cute figure is just lost in this. The neckline is not flattering either.

Good: Alex Curran
Alex looks stunning. The dress emphasizes her small waist and hips and shows off her toned legs. The jewel colour tone is beautiful for the summer. Damn her!

Not-so good: Melissa Joan Hart
Again, here is another short, not super-thin person wearing a Maxi and it does not look good. She looks frumpy instead of sexy and the Granny print doesn't help.

Good: Kate Hudson, Kristen Bell, Carrie Underwood
All three of them look fabulous. I love the exotic print of Carrie's dress. The neckline is still elegant, not skanky. Kristin's dress is simple but the bustline gives is more va-va-voom. And Kate looks really sweet and cute.

I broke down and bought Italian Vogue on EBay

After being on the waiting list for two weeks at two magazine stores, I've decided to just give up and buy the "Black Issue" of Italian Vogue off EBay for $50. I think that's pretty good considering it includes shipping and I would have paid $45 plus tax at the store.
I was debating on which cover to get- Jourdann Dunn or Naomi (Jourdan's cover was $10 cheaper!) but I decided to go with Naomi because, well, she's Naomi.

When I get the issue I will review it on here in all its glory.

COPENHAGEN - magnet cocktail, mogens dahl koncertsal + nørreport, 08/05/08

Fascinated by feathers

I have been finding mysterious bird feathers lying around my house in the past several weeks. I hope it's not the tragic remains of some poor bird that my cats have killed. Instead I like to imagine that the breeze carried them into the house, as I always leave my back door wide open to let the cats (savage brutes) in and out as they please.
This got me thinking about how much I used to love playing with feathers when I was a kid. I used to collect them and put them in my hair or make a necklace or tie them around my waist. I don't do that anymore for fear of bugs or whatever else birds pick up, but I still appreciate their beauty.
The Fall collections also featured a lot of gorgeous feathers: McQueen made them into regal dresses, Ralph Lauren added long, exotic feathers into hats and Carolina Herrera made them into necklaces and other décolletage. The results not only make you wish you could own these stunning pieces but also appreciate how nature's beauty and the creativity of the designers and artists can meld into something breathtaking. Mother Nature is truly the best accessory.

Alexander McQueen Fall 2008


Alexander McQueen Fall 2008

Carolina Herrera Fall 2008

Carolina Herrera Fall 2008

Carolina Herrera Fall 2008
Ralph Lauren Fall 2008

Ralph Lauren Fall 2008
Ralph Lauren Fall 2008
Ralph Lauren Fall 2008

Ooohhh nipple! Scary!

I don't get all of the big hullabaloo over the "banned" Eva Mendes Calvin Klein ad. Like nobody has ever seen nipples before. Get over it!
I find it kind of boring. There is nothing inspiring about the commercial. Mendes just roles around pouting her lips and arching her back; like she does in all of her movies.
CK needs to find a new theme other than nakedness.
But judge it for yourself:

Update: Changed the video because the last one stopped working. This one works!

Model profile: Christina Thé

I first noticed Christina Thé at the Evan Biddell show at L'Oreal Fashion Week Fall '08. It wasn't so much her but her incredibly chiseled jawline and high-set cheekbones that made me sit up and stare. And oh, those lips. Forget about Angelina Jolie; Thé's pout will make you cry. She was definitely one of the most memorable models during Fashion Week.

The Chinese-Canadian was only 11-years-old when she was discovered at Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition. She has appeared in ads for Emporio Armani, Cover Girl and Creative Nail Design and has appeared in magazines such as Jasmine. and GQ She's signed with Elmer Olsen and Next.
Surprisingly, there is little buzz about her on the Internet considering her unique and exotic looks.
To me, she looks like she should be a movie star. Put her in a horror movie!

(Photos: L'Oreal Fashion Week, The Fashion Model Directory)