Two American actresses star in French campaigns

Photo Source: Zimbio.com

Chanel and Dior have picked two American actresses as their new ambassadors, and it’s not too much of a surprise.

Blake Lively — Karl Lagerfeld’s latest obsession and frequent Chanel front-rower — is said to be starring in a handbag campaign for Chanel. And Natalie Portman’s the new Miss Dior Cherie girl.

I knew Sofia Coppola — who directed the first Miss Dior Cherie commercial — was filming Natalie in Paris, and while Natalie’s tiny and polite, she almost seems too old to be in one of Dior’s younger-marketed campaigns. Not old as in age-wise, but less giggly and frolicky than the girl in Sofia’s first go-around. I’m sure they commercial and ads will be beautiful and fun, but what would’ve been wrong with Clemence Poesy? And I’m still betting that Diane Kruger‘s going to be a new face for Chanel within the next year — she’s just as chummy with and supportive of Karl as Blake, and is of course a former model. Karl’s said of Blake that she’s the epitome of the all-American girl. I wonder if these handbag campaigns will run in Paris?

Lagerfeld takes over St. Tropez

Photo Source: Fashionologie

This time of year, we start to get used to envying Beyonce and Eva and Kate and everyone else who heads to the French Riviera for vacation for pre- or post-Cannes Film Festival fun. But Lagerfeld’s started it off right, hijacking St. Tropez for his Chanel Cruise 2011 celebrations and Cruise Show.

The question is, which was a better showing: the actual “runway” presentation, which featured Abbey Lee, Georgia May Jagger and Freja bouncing down a village street (sometimes barefoot, swinging shoes in hand), or the bocce ball party the day before, where Diane Kruger, Joshua Jackson and Vanessa Paradis were the perfect picture of summertime leisure?

Photo Source: Popsugar.com

How to shop for a fedora: what you need to know

Photo Source: Fabsugar

I just bought my first summertime fedora from Lord & Taylor, and I’ve already mentally put together a million outfits to go with it for preppy and more relaxed looks. But before I made the purchase, I asked my good friend Anabel for tips: she’s sort of my fedora guru (and probably the most put together but original dresser I’ve ever met) Here are her tips on shopping for a fedora and styling the fedora:

1.” Never limit yourself to just checking out fedoras/hats for women, as some of the coolest fedoras are actually in the men’s section. Most of my fedoras were actually bought from mens stores. Just get the smaller size (men have small heads too!) plus you can mix menswear-style hats with more feminine pieces.

2. You can get cheap hats and redesign them if you have some imagination and a glue gun. Just buy a basic hat and make it your own by adding a cool ribbon or even some feathers on the side. A $10 hat can end up looking pretty expensive if you feel like getting  creative.

3. If you’re having a really, really, really bad hair day nothing is more low maintenence and fast than throwing on a hat. It looks great, it shows you have some personality, and no one will know how bad your hair really looks.”

Personally, I think fedoras look cute tilted a little forward (especially for those bad hair days), but also propped back like this summery retro look from Diane Kruger. If you have more tips to share, leave them below!