(Last) Week In Review: Pat McGrath, Idris Elba, The Dream and Victoria's Secret Models

Hey Glamazons! Whew, June has definitely been a whirl of social events for me..and don't think that I'm complaining...I live for it! Last week proved to be a fun one! Here's the Cliff's Notes version of everything:

The fabulous Pat McGrath (makeup artist extraordinaire and one of the main creative brains behind P&G Cosmetics) recently launched a collection of cosmetic bags for LeSport Sac and CoverGirl threw her a cute cocktail party downtown at the LeSport Sac store. They even had a fun photo booth..which I had no problem cramming into it with friends (Sara Conley from styleitonline.com and makeup artist Lesley Forrester) to take the super goofy shots of us below. Aren't they fun?!

Pat McGrath and I strike a pose for the cameras...she's so awesome!

Our fun photo booth pics in black and white (and color, of course!)

The LeSportSac makeup bags Pat McGrath designed. Each features a fun hangtag of makeup application tips from the makeup guru herself!

Moet & Chandon launched its exclusive Rose Lounge in New York on a rooftop at the Ink 48 Hotel. Hosted by Idris Elba and The Dream, the lounge featured it's newest libation, the Moet Rose minis (so cute!) as well as a gaggle of well dressed NY women, handsome men and celebs. Oh, and of course Idris was the hottest of the all....especially when he was spinning those beats while DJing...ooooweeee!

I snapped this pic of Idris DJing at the party...he was really into it and was spinning some great tunes! Love.

Here's Idris on the red carpet...why he looks confused, I don't know..perhaps he was wishing that he could be upstairs DJing some more instead?! lol

The Rose Lounge is scheduled to appear in Atlanta, Chicago, D.C., Baltimore, Cleveland and Detroit next so be sure to check a social calendar near you for dates.

Here's what the new drink looks like....

And there's my champagne flute of the drink (it's so good!) along with a real life shot of the minis.

Victoria's Secret Beauty turned a whole floor of the The St. Regis Hotel into a beautiful oasis of pink peonies, shimmering underwear and gorgeous supermodels when announcing plans to launch the new fragrance Bombshell in September 2010.

Pretty pink peonies adorned every table..they smelled delish!

I snapped this pic of some VS Models (from r to l: Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr and Candace Swanepoel) talking about what makes every woman a bombshell.

I've always wanted my own pair of angel wings! Don't I make a pretty angel?! lol

Marcia Caster, Fashion & Beauty Managing Editor at ESSENCE, posing with one of the mannequins at the event. Get into that outfit! Sexy grunge glam...love it!

The VS models posing onstage at the end of the event with executives from Victoria's Secret. Man, they have the best jobs!

xo

Ferocia

Fashion Week EXCLUSIVE: Behind-the-Scenes Video of Marc Bouwer Fall 2010

Marc Bouwer is more than a designer; he's a visionary. The talent behind red-carpet gowns for Beyonce', Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey and Rihanna, Bouwer is the first designer to ever host a virtual runway show. Now, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Alexander Wang and Isaac Mizrahi are all following suit. (Sidenote: I got an invite to Isaac Mizrahi's show this season! Super excited!).


Marc Bouwer is also a pioneer in his passionate campaign against animal cruelty. In 2002, he was the first designer to present a collection completely devoid of animal products. The groundbreaking collection was sponsored by PETA, who later honored Bouwer with the PETA Humanitarian award. 


I was honored to land an exclusive invite to the taping of Marc Bouwer's Fall 2010 virtual runway show. Famous for his eye for detail and sophisticated draping techniques, Bouwer has been one of my favorite glamorous, red-carpet designers. And let's face it, he has amazing hair.


Between dressing Victoria's Secret Angel, Candice Swanepoel, and chatting with the director, Carl Byrd, Marc took a moment to speak with me about the inspiration behind his Fall 2010 collection (chocolate!), his affinity for faux fur and the young, sexy starlet he'd love to dress.


Check out our behind-the-scenes video and read the full interview below. Don't forget to visit www.marcbouwer.com on February 18th at 9AM EST for a front-row seat to the debut of Bouwer's stunning collection.

Coutura: What was your inspiration for the new collection?


Marc Bouwer:  I envisioned a beautiful woman wearing these avante garde clothes walking through a celestial universe and thinking about a past lover. The colors were inspired by a velvet box with a burgundy ribbon that you open up and inside are chocolates in metallic wrappers, hence the jewel tones, the turquoises, purples, burgundies, golds and silvers. Then you unwrap them and there’s this gorgeous, dark chocolate. It's a rich, sensual experience.

Coutura: Chocolate and lovers? Sounds perfect. I see metallic is a strong theme in this collection, which is different than what you’ve shown before. In what other ways is Fall 2010 different than your previous collections?


MB: A little more avante garde and futuristic. Fashion is moving in that direction but it’s not just about padded shoulders. It's all about extending the sleeve---a tight silhouette with explosions in the neck, the sleeves, the hip or the back, in architectural angles. And now that I have three different lines [his eponymous line, the moderately-priced Marc Bouwer GlamIt! and M by Marc Bouwer, a line on QVC], I can afford to be more experimental and spend a little more money with my Marc Bouwer Collection line.


Coutura: You’re adept at changing with the times and the virtual runway show is an example of that. Why did you choose to host a virtual show instead of a traditional show?

MB: We were the first to have a virtual show because I wanted to give the whole world a front row seat: school kids, mothers, editors and celebrities. [Traditional shows have] become a celebrity circus and I'm not so concerned about getting celebrities to my show---they wear my clothes. I want everyone to see it. The disadvantage to putting on a live show during Fashion Week is that it's very expensive, costing $300,000 and more; and editors and journalists can’t always make it.


Coutura: You’re also a pioneer when it comes to anti-fur activism and I’m really proud of what you’ve accomplished, including your PETA humanitarian award. Fur is a huge trend on the runway this season. How are you combating that and offering an alternative in your collection?


MB: People need to become aware of the process: when animals are killed to make fur, their skin is ripped off of them while they’re still alive and they’re thrown in corners to die. If you want that look, technology has given us a way to recreate it. I have a faux fox jacket in my latest collection. To spread awareness, I always speak out at interviews and to celebrities.

Coutura: Speaking of celebrities, Beyonce looked gorgeous in your dress at the launch party for ‘Heat.’


MB: Thank you. She’s beautiful. She also wore one of my dresses in Paris.


Coutura: You’ve dressed so many beautiful ladies, Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Sarah Jessica Parker. What celebrity would you like to dress that you haven’t yet?



MB: I've worked with so many. Even the young girls like Taylor Swift and Rihanna. I’d say Megan Fox. And I always wanted to dress Nicole Kidman and finally, we did.


Coutura: Congratulations! I love Nicole. Well, I’m sure celebrities and editors will fall in love with this new collection. Thank you for speaking with us.


MB: My pleasure, thank you for coming. 

Don't miss the show: Marc Bouwer Fall 2010 airing February 18th at 9AM EST on www.marcbouwer.com.