Too Cute: J-Lo And Her Tiny Tots Star In Gucci For Kids Campaign. [Tangent Magazine]

Max and Emme Lopez, the gorgeous twins of Jennifer Lopez, have made their modelling debut with their superstar mum in the campaign for Gucci’s new children collection – and what a debut it is.

Jennifer Lopez is featured holding one twin in each arm, casually strolling along a Californian beach and all three Lopez’s are looking impossibly ravishing in their Gucci attire.

But what’s even more beautiful is how the Lopez clan came to be involved in this campaign.

Since it began it’s partnership with UNICEF in 2005, Gucci has donated $US9 million to UNICEF initiatives. And, in honour of this relationship and the launch of the new children’s collection, Gucci has announced a further $US1 million donation to UNICEF’s ‘Schools for Africa’ initiative.

This initiative aims to increase access to basic education for millions of children in Africa, with a special emphasis on helping those most disadvantaged including orphans and children living in extreme poverty.

It has been Gucci’s overwhelming dedication to UNICEF and philanthropy that inspired Jennifer Lopez to become involved with the lavish fashion house.

As Lopez says, ‘When Frida [Giannini – Creative Director for Gucci] told me about her trip to Malawi and her excitement about launching her new children’s collection, I was inspired by her idea to build upon Gucci’s long term support for UNICEF with a donation in honour of the launch of the collection.’

She added, ‘As a mother, I am proud to be part of this campaign.’

The new children’s collection by Gucci will be available from November and comprises a huge range of delectably stylish goodies for little ones.

Fight AIDS - Buy a Maison Martin Margiela T-Shirt. [Tangent Magazine]

Charity AIDS t-shirts are not a new thing for Maison Martin Margiela. But what is new is the Japanese design and the concept behind this innovation.

The charity AIDS t-shirt has been an integral part of every Maison Martin Margiela collection for the last 16 years, and each season it comes in a different colour with the same text emblazoned on it:

THERE IS MORE ACTION TO BE DONE TO FIGHT AIDS THAN TO WEAR THIS T-SHIRT BUT IT’S A GOOD START.

But this year, the Maison has made an inspiring and impassioned addition.

From 2010 onwards, each year the notorious Maison Martin Margiela charity AIDS logo will feature in a different language – starting with Japanese.

Usually, t-shirts that carry a slogan allow their message to be read from a distance, dialogue is unnecessary. However, not only is the text for the new edition in Japanese but most of the text is hidden.

The philosophy behind this design lies in the hope that it will encourage people to ask the wearer what is written on their t-shirt and start a dialogue about the issue of AIDS.

It’s not exactly genius, but it sure is logical and innovative.

One would expect no less from Maison Martin Margiela, a fashion house that thrives on epitomising innovation.

The limited edition t-shirt will be available exclusively in Maison Martin Margiela stores as of World AIDS Day, December 1^st, with a percentage of proceeds going to AIDES, a French organisation dedicated to fighting the HIV virus and taking care of patients living with the virus.

Dior Illustrated: A Fashionably Fitting Tribute. [Tangent Magazine]

Rene Gruau (1909 – 2004) created some of the most iconic and evocative fashion images of the twentieth century – particularly for Christian Dior – and now his artistic brilliance will be encapsulated and exhibited at the gorgeous Somerset House in London – how delightfully fitting.

The exhibition, ‘Dior Illustrated: Rene Gruau and the Line of Beauty’, will beautifully demonstrate the fluid style and immaculate use of line for which Rene Gruau is most appreciated and that has greatly influenced haute couture, theatre, art and design of the last century.

It will also give a unique insight into the friendship that blossomed between Christian Dior and Rene Gruau – a friendship that represents history’s most perfect mixture of fashion and art.

As John Galliano, Creative Director for the house of Dior, has said, ‘To be inspired by Dior is to be inspired by René Gruau. His sketches capture the silhouette and spirit of Dior and a new era of fashion and femininity. His illustrations are timeless, ever youthful, ever faithful to the moment he saw, and equally are a token of an enduring friendship.’

The exhibition will feature a selection of Dior Haute Couture pieces which have been hand-picked by John Galliano, including a gown designed by Galliano himself in homage to Gruau.

There will also be a showcase of Gruau’s most groundbreaking artworks, including over forty original illustrations for Christian Dior Parfums, exquisite vintage perfume bottles, sketches and magazines.

'Dior Illustrated: René Gruau and the Line of Beauty' will give a rare glimpse into the fairy tale of the house of Dior and is sure to provoke endless creativity and inspiration for all who visit.

INFORMATION:

DATES: 10^TH November, 2010 – 9^th January, 2009

OPENING HOURS: daily from 10am – 6pm

LOCATION: Somerset House, London

From The Trenches To Iconic High Fashion: Burberry Prorsum Always Keeps Us Guessing. [Tangent Magazine]

The tale of Burberry Prorsum is like no other – once designing practical pieces for British war officers to now revelling among the best of the best in the high fashion realm and paving the way in the online fashion revolution.

Once upon a time, very long ago, a modest endeavour by Thomas Burberry to design practical outerwear using quality fabrics and innovation quickly spread through England and beyond, becoming what we now know and love the world over as Burberry Prorsum.

Starting in a small shop in Hampshire, the Thomas Burberry & Sons label quickly collected an impressive and surprising client list.

British officers in World War One donned Burberry coats in the trenches and the first man to reach the South Pole was fully equipped by none other than Burberry Prorsum, which had by this time formally become known as Burberry with the Latin addition ‘Prorsum’ meaning forwards.

These are near impossible imaginings given the stature regarded for Burberry Prorsum designs now – to wear a Burberry trench coat in any kind of messy situation would today be considered nothing short of fashion sacrilege.

But it was not until Burberry Prorsum pieces were seen on the likes of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca that the label came to be appreciated as iconically fashionable.

And this appreciation and reverence has done nothing but grow since then.

The Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2011 collection adds yet another delectable and inspiring element to the extraordinary journey of this luxury fashion label, earning Chief Creative Officer, Christopher Bailey, accolades in abundance.

As Chief Creative Officer, Bailey has successfully injected a fresh, modern twist into the traditional aesthetics of Burberry Prorsum, with the latest collection overwhelmingly epitomising this contemporary influence.

With the utmost sophistication, Bailey incorporates the traditional Burberry Prorsum style, including the beige check and trench coat that the brand is most famous for, while also managing to push the boundaries of the Burberry Prorsum imagination.

And you know Bailey must be fabulous when you see the guests that graced the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London to see the show: Sarah Jessica Parker, Alexa Chung, Serena Williams, Cat Deeley – need I say more?

And boy-oh-boy, weren’t these lucky Burberry Prorsum front-rowers given a show to remember.

On the runway, the Spring/Summer 2011 collection first brings to mind words like structured, polished, clean, wearable. And then, all of a sudden, we’re swept off our feet and taken to a place that is futuristic, full of grunge and balances perfectly soft and hard with delicious splashes of colour.

In the most daring step yet, Bailey has disrupted his muted palette with the insertion of lurid animal prints and tinted python – a completely unanticipated inclusion that brilliantly keeps his audience on their toes.

Where we had previously experienced touches of metallic or touches of animal print, we now see a whole Burberry Prorsum collection that is beautifully drenched in metallic fabrics, prints and intricate detailing.

For the Spring/Summer 2011 collection, Christopher Bailey has taken the conceptual construction and detailing of previous collections and pushed these ideas so much further, transforming them into something extraordinary and extraordinarily tempting.

Perhaps Bailey knew that each look that paraded down the runway would give the audience that gorgeous feeling in their stomach that they get when they see something they have to have.

Because, for the first time ever, the runway show was broadcast live from London directly into custom-designed, digitally charged Retail Theatres in 25 flagship Burberry stores worldwide as well as directly live streamed at Burberry.com.

But better yet, you could also purchase your favourite pieces of Burberry Prorsum treasure immediately.

Customers who were lucky enough to attend one of the live broadcasts from one of the 25 participating flagship Burberry stores across the globe were able to use a custom-built Burberry iPad application to purchase their must-haves straight away.

And, those who were not so lucky could instantly purchase via Burberry.com.

Burberry Prorsum exudes style and innovation and, for the Spring/Summer 2011 collection, the fashion house has almost outdone themselves allowing their customers a unique opportunity to view live and purchase immediately.

And to think – Burberry Prorsum, a label that is now at the very forefront of the fashion industry, started deep within the trenches.