Kate Moss for LV & other Fashion Spectacles

My favourite, Kate Moss caused a mini furor when she surprised guests at Marc Jacob's Louis Vuitton show in Paris this week, appearing on the catwalk in leather gloves and hot pants, smoking a cigarette. Kate rarely graces the catwalks these days so her appearance, strutting out in her custom LV outfit was a treat for the glitterati - just maybe not for those who adhere to the French law of no smoking inside public buildings.

Kate Moss for Louis Vuitton

This is why I love Marc Jacobs - he loves a stunt (Victoria Beckham in an over sized shopping bag, anyone?) With two of fashion's greatest showmen out of the picture (the late, great Alexander McQueen and John Galliano), we need all the surprises and stunts we can get! One of my favourite McQueen fashion show moments was his stunning Kate Moss hologram, screened at a show in 2006.

Alexander McQueen Fall 2006 Ready to Wear

Lady Gaga was Alexander's muse and it was fabulous to see her making her catwalk debut, growling and gurning (and also smoking!) for Thierry Mugler, also at Paris Fashion Week. The spectacle was a bit of a pick-me-up for the fashion crowd following the news of Galliano-gate. (NEWSFLASH - Ricardo Tisci from Givenchy is being touted on the social media circuit as the replacement for John Galliano as Head Designer at Dior! Official confirmation pending...)

Lady Gaga and her stylist Nicola Formichetti during and after the show

Although, we also still have the wonderfully irreverent Jean Paul Gaultier, who used to be dubbed the Enfant Terrible of fashion. He was the one who had Madonna walk his catwalk topless and invented her conical bras.

Madonna and John Paul Gaultier, 1992

JPG was also in the media recently for his inspired move of having beautiful Aussie/Croatian model Andrej Pejic walk in both his Men's and Women's Spring 2011 collections. Andrej is also flaunting a cigarette! Must've been the big trend in Paris this Fashion week!

Andrej Pejic for John Paul Gaultier, Spring 2011

And last but not least, we can't forget another Enfant Terrible of fashion, the British designer Vivienne Westwoood - Queen Viv. Having Pamela Anderson strut her runway at Paris Fashion Week in 2009 was inspired! In a way, you can see how the two have struck up a friendship - strong, kooky, crazy chicks!

Pammy for Vivienne Westwood, 2009

Kate Moss and Lea T in LOVE

Yay, my fave mag's latest issue is out! the Theme 'This is Hard Core' aligns several of my favourite things - Kate Moss, Mert & Marcus, and Pulp! The song 'This is Hardcore' by Pulp, one of my favourites, is featured in the promo.

Kate Moss on the cover - great to see her back in an edgy shoot, with amazing styling from the faux-hawk to her clear, freckled skin. She looks beautiful. Kate is photographed by Mert & Marcus with Lea T, a trans gender model who is in the process of a sex-change. Lea - born Leonardo - was discovered by Givenchy Creative Director Ricardo Tisci.

LOVE Ed Katie Grand saw Lea (above, second from right) at the Copacabana Pool Hotel, clad Givenchy: "At first I didn’t notice her gender, just that she was wearing Givenchy couture and looked amazing!'"

Riccardo Tisci insists that, despite the impact of the decision, casting a trans gender model in his latest campaign is not intended purely to raise fashion eyebrows. The model, Lea T, is his long-time personal assistant and former fit model - and Tisci insists she perfectly embodies the collection. "She's always been very feminine: superfragile, very aristocratic. She's part of the family," Tisci told WWD, adding that including a trans gender person in the campaign exemplifies the masculine-feminine dichotomy that has become one of his design signatures." Vogue.com. French Vogue features a nude Lea T in this confronting image. The fashion industry may discriminate against larger models, but it is admirable that more often than not don't discriminate against gay, trans sexual or trans gender people.

"When you are a transsexual, you look for your future, and you can't see it," Lea told the New York Times. "I thought this would be a nice message for another tranny: 'Look, we can be the same as other girls and boys.' It's small, but it makes you feel like you have a little chance. Maybe a transsexual will open a magazine and think: 'That's cool. We can be whatever we want.' That's why I did the Givenchy campaign." Vogue.com



More power to you Lea!



Here's 'This is Hardcore.' xox