Sharon Stone for Spanish Vogue Causes Conflict

My friend recently returned from a trip to Spain and I asked him to pick me up a copy of Vogue España on his way through the airport. He graciously did so and even though, me hablo no Espanol, Vogue is Vogue and the spreads are always stunning no matter what language or country they are shot in. I also feel that Spanish women are underestimated when it comes to European style and I’m often inspired by the way they dress.

Ironically though, it is American actress, Sharon Stone who is the cover star and I was blown away by the 16 page feature inside. It sees the 51 year old actress “Clad in black leather, studs and [thigh-high] boots… [she] plays a dramatic role for Vogue; [the] wildest of her life”. I pour over the pictures, some of which include her brother Mike and can’t believe not only how beautiful Sharon Stone looks but also the amazing styling throughout the shoot. I was just saying to a pal of mine last week that I was getting a little tired of the Rock Chic look but after seeing, this I’m taking that back immediately. From Balmain to American Apparel the pieces and styling in this shoot are all incredible.

I have an issue though, my conflict is the old photoshopping debate. Now, I am under no illusion that Sharon Stone doesn’t look absolutely fantastic for a woman of 20 years her junior let alone 51. Her picture from the red carpet at Cannes is proof alone that she looks fantastic. My question is, is it right to promote pictures that seem to be so obviously photoshopped? I have already said here that it’s the styling as well as the subject herself that has prompted me to blog about this shoot but would I have been so enamoured had the lens interpretation been more accurately represented in print? I doubt it. But so what? As far as I can tell the images have been photoshopped, for heaven’s sake her legs look like the plastic perfection of a shop mannequin, but Sharon Stone is not a mannequin, she’s not even a model.

The argument then should be why use an actress to feature in a fashion shoot, why not just do some au natural shots and leave the fashion shoots to the models?

Tesco Fashion Shoulders it’s way through for AW09

I was invited to the preview of the Tesco clothing collections for AW09 on Friday and it seems the supermarket chain is shouldering its way into the party season. After finally finding the venue having gained some nicely blistered toes – I had been running around Grand Canal Quay like a loony in 5 inch heels only to find I was on the wrong road. – I entered what I hoped was the correct warehouse slightly clammy and harassed. I pressed the button and the lift opened, two men appeared in front of me carrying what looked like bodies wrapped in cellophane. I swear my heart skipped a beat, I stood frozen to the spot for a second until they reassured me that they were simply mannequins from the preview. I sighed with relief and dashed past them into the lift.

As Tesco do a huge range of clothes, from Kids to Menswear, work wear to casual wear, I headed straight for the womenswear party collection. It was a myriad of sequins, shoulders, lamé and structured dresses and jackets. Stand out pieces included: Silver sequinned, shoulder detail tunic €14, Black sequinned boyfriend jacket, €35; Statement-shoulder tuxedo jacket, €35;

Kelly Rowland in Dublin in AW09 Trends

After a weekend of recovering from the successful celebrations of Arthur’s Day in Dublin, I’m only now realising exactly who was here celebrating 250 years with us: Razorlight, Imelda May, Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, The Kooks, Jamie Cullum, David Gray, Sir Tom Jones, Ronan Keating, The Enemy, Soul II Soul, Estelle and Kasabian were all here, among others.

I was lucky enough to be given a ticket to the Vicar Street venue where Dizzee Rascal, Razorlight, The Blizzards, Ronnie Wood played.

All over the city, stars flew in to join us in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the day that Arthur Guinness signed the lease to the St. James Gate Brewery. None more glamorous than Kelly Rowland, rocking a few of the major AW09 trends and looking fabulous to boot. (pun intended). The studded dress, the boyfriend tux-style jacket and the ultimate, only-beautiful-people-can-wear-them AW09 footwear; thigh-high boots, hers are by Gucci.

I love the way she still has her mic with her in the street, (possibly South William Street), but is she flipping the bird here??? Hmmm, I think she might be, but who cares, that outfit is great and I love those boots; if only I could convince myself that I wouldn’t be channelling Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, I’d get a pair. It’s also pretty awesome to have another Destiny’s Child in Dublin.