Sometimes It Can Be: Dior's "Secret Garden" and Depeche Mode

Yes, Raf. YES! This latest installment of the 'Secret Garden' promotional art videos for Dior features divine art influences, rich French landscapes and sleek fashions all set to the new wave perfection of Depeche Mode's "Behind the Wheel"  (off the anthemic brilliance that was the "Music for the Masses" album) 






There's a certain art school coolness attached to this icy new wave strumming over gallery-ready ready to wear against watercolor scenery (this is not the first fab fashion house that's banked on the slick synths of Depeche Mode to sell perfume) 



PS: Genius DIY project inspiration of CD pearlized opera glasses. Ooh, come on rainy day!  

Which Dior Fall 2013 Couture Pieces Will Marion Cotillard Don???

Ooh, it's hot and gross out. Let's play fantasy dream sequence and try and guess which pieces from Raf Simons' Fall 2013 couture collection hired face, Marion Cotillard, will wear? 

Lunch Lady

It doesn't matter that it's 96 degrees in the shade, Marion stays cool as a cucumber in her layered skirt shift, perfect for a power-high-tea at Mariage Freres





Deep Blue Something

Yes, diva! Marion knows Madame only has one chance to make a grand entrance. Enter the room with bold, royal colors to let everyone know whose Fiefdom this is, honey! 

Gym Clothes

Braving the elements doesn't mean you can't bear a little leg. Afterall, the misses does not attend the Cerles de la Forme for rien, mon ami! 

Fashion Column

M. Cotillard just loves a column dress, cheri. And now, thanks to dear, dear Raf, the column dress can actually look like a column. Finalement! Someone who gets it. 

Robert Pattison Dior Ad Leaked Images are Black and White Romance

Leaked images of Robert Pattinson's Dior Homme fragrance ad look all dreamy French romance. 

Whose Instagram Do You Follow?

In addition to the usual fashion fare (Barney's, Kirna Zabete, Colette, etc) and models / fashion folk (Coco Rocha, Steven Kolb, Kate Spade New York, etc) 

I also check in with Pantone for the freshest take in color, Peter Som for runway, recipes and relaxation 











And, of course, Rihanna. Because that B puts her whole life on Instagram blast. Seriously, does she not have a handler for that???







If you aren't already, you should follow ME! 

Instagram handle: macsmith1218   (Yeah i thought long and hard on that one)  

Get a Whiff of my 'Scents and Sensibilities' Piece on EDGE

Hey looking for a good read about unique perfumes based on blood types, 

Italian seaside castles 

and French aristocrats? 

Look no further than my latest piece for EDGE

Up today! 

LINKY LINK: 

http://www.edgeonthenet.com/style/grooming/features//141264/scents_and_sensibility:_highlights_from_the_elements_showcase

Carven Men's Fall 2013

Dear co-workers, 


as I write my annual performance self-evaluation (ooh, fancy talk!) I am also perusing the Carven Fall 2013 menswear collection which Guillaume Henry (French for hot piece) says is inspired by "modern officewear". 


Thus, one of my goals for 2013 is to incorporate the following into 'office appropriate'

The Watercooler Killer Snood

The Xerox Blood Splatter Coat

And of course the Casual Friday Strangler Gloves 

All in a lumbering stance sure to get the attention of my superiors. Promotion! 

Tis the Season for Nutcracker Stallkers and French Whore Getups

I can't, honey. 

I just can't!

Can't stop loving this W Magazine December 2012 shot of Marion Cotillard in Dolce & Gabbana, a bob and a lecherous nutcracker that is. Cheers! 

Don't be Jalouse She Got Her Own T-shirt, Honey!

That crazy French fashion editor, Jennifer Eymere of Jalouse that slapped PR gal, Lynn Tesoro, now got her own tagline t-shirt, honey

 and I want one bad! 

Luckily French blogger, Natacha Steven is 'Bibbing' one on Bib and Tuck right now

Now I just gotta get on putting some ish up there to Bib myself, cuz this bastard's gonna go FAST! 

(Cotton silk screened t-shirt, size small, $70 at Bib & Tuck, http://bibandtuck.com/items/1403)

Umm...This Be Good: April 77 Receipt Envelope

Despite running into some rough patches, French denim label April 77 is still rockin' and rollin' and causing les oh-so-hips to blow their paychecks on skinny jeans.

In return you not only get the perfect fit and the in-the-know nods, your receipt undergoes a little rad injection with a cheeky envelope / guitar pick combo

(Photo courtesy of Aprill 77's Instagram) 

Oh the French: even their receipts are impeccably turned out. 

One Day, I'm Gonna Wanna Know How it Came to This

Fortunately, I'll have photo documentation of my path to Fat Kid City

(Homemade walnut cocoa brownie, $3 at Colson Patisserie,

374 9th Street at 6th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn http://www.colsonpastries.com/menu)

I really should be avoiding anything labelled French for FAT

Alas, the French have such a charming way of wording "you gonna die". 

Face it: These Eclairs Have a Better Life than You

Fauchon, the venerated French cookie line is giving me my dose of annual "why don't we Americans have the month of August off" envy with their Summer campaign

I mean why am I not sunning and coordinating like this apricot number?

Or being sprinkled with silver leaf like this strawberry-lime lovely about to take a quick dip? 

Instead of writing about ill fitting sweaters, I could be sliding up to the bar as cool as a cucumber ---urr,  Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean. 

-sigh- I guess this is how the cookie crumbles...

Diane Kruger Hustles Her Ginormous Dior Bustle

Diane Kruger wears Dior Spring 2012 Couture at Cannes Film Festival and somehow makes a bustle look modern and easy 

(She seems very pleased with herself, non?)

Damn those Germans and their ability to streamline!

Here's the same couture gown by intermediary Dior designer, Bill Gaytten, back in January 

Man, Milla Jovovitch Cannes Really Work a Dress

(Milla Jovovich in Atelier Versace Spring 2012 at Cannes)

Milla has special skills in filling out and working the hell out of a dress. She looks shades sexier at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala at Cannes than the model who closed out the Atelier Versace Spring 2012 show

That's how you bring attention to your cause, honey! 

Ne Plus Carla Bruni

France has voted and Nicolas Sarkozy is out and Socialist Francois Hollande is in. The bigger news is model turned First Lady Carla Burni's penchant for Dior is out too

The next French First Lady's got some big shoes (probably typical model size 11 to be exact) to fill!

Where Have I Been? Where Has Diego Luna Been?!

I never see much of my former celeb boyfriend, Diego Luna, ever since we broke up. We had such a sweet run and he was the first in a string of beautiful brown boys that stole my heart. But soon it was 2004 and he'd just completed that superfluous Dirty Dancing sequel and alas, I'd moved on to Fabrizio from The Strokes.


Well now my former sweetie is poppin' up in Katy Perry videos

I'm obviously not on top of  the Perry video grind or else I would have realized this when this video came out in November, but this brush with loves past still gives me pause

Diego looks like his charming, goofy self posing in hats and vintage Persian lamb coats, all scruffy and shaggy haired and adorable

The dramatic Mustang crash scene only refuels this French cinema lover's passion for my little Mexican cutie

And wouldn't you know it, like my longing, Diego's spirit proves eternal! 

Enjoy!