Gal Who Took The World by Storm

She comes in your favorite shapes and sizes, blonde, brunette, or red. Dress her up in a Christian Dior gown, or dress her down in Harley Davidson leather. Design her occupation from a prima ballerina to your family’s veterinarian. Dress her up as your favorite Grease character or simply Marilyn Monroe. Make today her birthday, graduation, or even her wedding day! Pick from her modern day face or take it back to those vintage years of 1959 – 1975. From the day of her release she took the world by storm and became the next phenomenon, her name – Barbie. There are cheap imitations but Barbie holds its reign. – Nothing looks like a Barbie except for a Barbie. The first vintage Barbie in her striped black and white bathing suit, blue eyeliner, and white sunglasses came a long way to wear couture gowns designed by the designers themselves. Crafted from a German doll, Barbie created its reputation as “the perfect girl.”

Marciano Big $pending

George Marciano, one of the founders of Guess, had been reported buying a $16.2 million diamond at auction. The diamond is said to be the world’s largest and purest brilliant-cut stone to be sold. Auctioned by Sotheby’s, the selling price was the second highest for a diamond at auction. Marciano paid $191,980 per carat of the 84.37 carat stone. He named the diamond the “Chloe Diamond” after his daughter.

Cavalli Spice

This December a once growing mania will be making a comeback. Roberto Cavalli will be responsible for designing the Spice Girls’ stage costumes for their comeback tour. Victoria Beckham also known as Posh Spice is accountable for Cavalli’s contribution in the project. The costumes include attire such as bright colored jumpsuits, black and silver tailored tuxedos, metallic uniforms, and dresses embellished in feathers and Swarovski crystals. Cavalli stated, “At their debut, the Spice Girls generated a trend with their individual looks and now, ten years later, they have put their trust in me to get a new, unique and iconic appeal for the tour."

City of Angels '07

At the Kodak Theater, with an audience of one thousand two-hundred, the Angels walked down the runway. Thursday night Victoria’s Secret staged its second fashion show in Hollywood. The event drew many celebrities including -no surprise, Heidi Klum’s husband, Seal, who performed. In addition to the excitement of the show, the mid-show contained a performance by the Spice Girls. This was there first time in ten years being on stage again. Alessandra Ambrosiosaid, an Angel, stated, “It’s not your typical fashion show. It’s like the Cirque du Soleil of the fashion world.”

Cracking a Real Di Vinci Code

While I was getting a cleaning today at the dentist, my attention was drawn to the television in the room. It was on a news station and Di Vinci’s Last Supper had yet again another breaking story. Apparently the artist left clues of a forty second musical composition in his painting. It was found by drawing the lines of a musical staff across the painting; the hands of Jesus and the Apostles as well as the loaves of bread contributed as the music notes. Theses notes made sense musically only when read from right to left, Di Vinci’s own style of writing. The notes are said to be a forty second “hymn to God.” This did not come to much of a surprise to researchers due to the fact that Di Vinci was not only a painter, inventor, and sculptor, but also a musician.

The Scottie Dog of Couture

Juicy Couture has transformed the tracksuit to a "velour Scottie-dog signature”- fashion statement. The designers, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, planted a new flagship in LA along Rodeo Drive. The Rodeo store is a sight to behold with its marble floors and its curving wroth iron staircases. The Marie Antoinette-style chairs and sofas are embroidered with typical Juicy sayings such as “Viva la Juicy.” There are also replicas of well-known paintings that are spray painted with these Juicy sayings. “We wanted to allow the customer to feel the personality of Pam and Gela.” – Pamela and Gela.

Artist & Vuitton

Vuitton stepped out of the norm for his spring 2008 bag collection. The designer collaborated with artist Richard Prince in the designing of the bags. The bags that walked down the runway at the Paris Fashion Week Louis Vuitton Spring Show were of vibrant colors and a funky spirit. The infamous monogram prints were deconstructed; bags were splashed with pinks and purples, embroidered cartoon illustrations, as well as snakeskin handles. The models were dressed as nurses as they walked down the runway with these elaborate bags. In entirety, the show was an explosion of color and textures as well as a change for the Louis Vuitton standard.

The Hi-Tect Last Supper

As a painter, I have always found an interest in Leonardo Da Vinci’s works. Da Vinci has always been noted for having deeper meanings set into his works. As of last Saturday, Da Vinci’s masterpiece of “The Last Supper”, which is located in Milan, has been put online at sixteen billion pixels. This high resolution will allow experts to observe details they could not ordinarily see; it also gives art-lovers the chance to view this masterpiece from home. By being available to view online, it is more likely experts will discover other aspects than what is already known about this fifteenth century painting. The magnified masterpiece can be viewed here.