BEHIND-THE-FABRIC

With Dior’s campaign video going viral last year, Dior has decided to release a sequel to promote the Fall 2013 collection titled, Secret Garden—Versailles 2. Already reaching over 7 million hits on YouTube, this artistically directed video, styled again by Raf Simons, obtains influences from surrealism, impressionism, and rococo.

In the last installment of From Tokyo, With Love, Joonbug was introduced to a new and exciting world of Japanese beauty products at Make Asobi in Los Angeles. We were charmed and intrigued by the doe-eyed, innocent look promoted by celebrity mode Tsubasa Masuwaka, icon of Japanese youth style culture.

A blog which seeks individuality and diversity of ways of channeling strong unique qualities is a blog that stands out. We sat down with blogger Sean Santiago, who runs a lifestyle blog for gays and their friends called *fruitpunch. With heavy fashion images that can keep us scrolling for days from a remedy of style inspiration from all corners of the street, take a look of what Sean had to tell us!

What is the motivation behind your blog ?

Iconic French fashion designer, Pierre Hardy famous for his accessories and architectural shoes has recently teamed up with NARS for a summer beauty collection. The collection will include an assortment of blushes and nail polishes. The nail shades will invlude lilac, lemon, peach, orange and navy- all in which have been evident colors in Hardy's 2013 Spring/Summer Collection.

Our favorite product in this beauty line is the blush as it has an imprinted overlay of gold, channeling Hardy's signature geo-cubic print. In Marie Claire Magazine Hardy says, "My favorite game is to play with shapes and colors."

It is safe to say that the Italian fashion label known for its notorious zig-zag print has had a rough past year. If you recall back to the weekend of January 4th, Vittorio Missoni—the marketing director of Missoni and son of the Missoni founder, Ottavio, vanished on a small plane. Vittorio and his wife were traveling off the coast of Venezuela and the aircraft disappeared. With a long, strategic search and no plan of giving up hope, there was never sight of the plane. Despite the horrific tragedy, the Missoni fashion show in Milan still took place and ended with a standing ovation but to an empty stage.

Spring is in full swing in Manhattan and hot summer nights are right around the corner! Recently, Joonbug had the opportunity to chat with Elie Tahari, an iconic designer that truly knows how to flatter a woman. After meeting him in person at Bloomingdale's in Hackensack, NJ (right outside Manhattan) it's easy to see why his brand thrives year after year and why he's a master designer. The store was packed with women clamoring for his latest pieces of the season and for an opportunity for a personal styling session with Mr. Tahari. Dresses that could easily take you from day to night, bright pops of neon and sleek shift dresses ruled the collection! Although it was an ultra-busy event, Elie Tahari graciously set some time aside for Joonbug and here's what he had to share with the women of NYC.

Nail Art has become widely popular throughout the US. From the notorious black and white polka-dotted nails at Kate Spade to the neutral matte finish featured at the Narciso Rodriguez show; nails are making a huge statement in fashion throughout the runway. There’s no one more at the epicenter of this whole game than celebrity and fashion manicurist,Deborah Lippmann. Lippmann’s eponymous brand is a cut above the rest. Everything about the brand seems to be unique; the colors, the formula, and even the sparkle. Lippmann sat down to chat with Joonbug about her new Mermaids Summer Collection, her collaborations between other artists and herself, and what it takes to really build a successful beauty brand.

Describe and explain your craft—was it your intention to create such a smart business idea and model?

With the arrival of spring in the city and the impending summer, many a city gal has thoughts about enhancing her look! Joonbug had the opportunity to chat with the handsome, inspirational, and über-talented makeup artist and creator of Vincent Longo Cosmetics, Vincent Longo. Actresses Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes and Michelle Williams, in addition to supermodel Cindy Crawford and Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio are just a few of his celebrity clients. Legions of women are addicted to his gorgeous line of lip glosses and cosmetics.

Creating chic, effortless, and meticulously crafted pieces that can seamlessly transition from day to evening can be a challenge for any designer, no matter what the targeted demographic may be. Montreal-based designers, Marisa Minicucci and her daughter, Anisa Marcanio, not only achieve this but also the near impossible: practical, comteporary designs for the modern woman, no matter what her age.

What began as a conversation regarding the wants, needs, and desires of their respective counterparts and colleagues in regards to clothing, would soon develop into the brand which would become MM: Minicucci x Marcanio. Minicucci, a 30-year veteran of the fashion industry, and her daughter sought out to marry the many elements found within a woman's closet: to combine the artistic with the practical, the trend-driven with the timeless.

British fashion designer, John Galliano has had major success in the world of fashion until his anti-semitic words placed a halt on his career. From Head Designer of Givenchy for a year to Head Creative Director and Designer at Dior for 15 years and then to creating the John Galliano label, he has clearly proved himself as a fashion master.

After his time was suspended at Dior in 2011, Galliano seemed cut off from fashion…so what has he been up to now? Well this past fashion week, he was invited to intern with Oscar de la Renta backstage. Galliano worked alongside de la Renta as they worked a creative collaboration between themselves as two extremely different designers.