Emma Watson Gives the Disney Princess Look a High-Fashion Makeover

The live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast will waltz its way into theaters this March, with Emma Watson starring as Belle, and Dan Stevens as the beast. The British actress paid homage to her heroine’s French countryside beginnings when she posted a Louis Vuitton look to her new Instagram account earlier today. On location for a photo call at hotel Le Meurice in Paris, Watson took a page from the cartoon’s bookish protagonist, reimagining the sky blue pinafore Belle wears throughout the animated 1991 classic with a fashion-forward edge. The move was a marked departure for Watson, whose red carpet wardrobe generally leans toward the more gamine end of the style spectrum.

Her fashion risk paid off; indeed the cobalt blue asymmetric number hit a sophisticated note and the bold hip and midriff cutouts made for eye-catching and complementary details. Watson kept accessories to a minimum, a smart styling move on her part, one that kept the dress’s dramatic look in check. Leather ankle boots with a pointed toe evoked an Old World folkloric charm that was reminiscent of the sturdy galoshes traditionally associated with male characters of the storybook variety. Then again, Belle has always been one step ahead of her Disney princess peers from a feminist standpoint.

Victoria Beckham Leads The Woolmark Line-Up

VICTORIA BECKHAM, Lanvin creative director Bouchra Jarrar, and chairman of the British Fashion Council Natalie Massenet will join a host of fashion's most influential names to judge this year's International Woolmark Prize, the Woolmark Company announced this morning.

Set to take place in Paris on January 23, the event will see Beckham, Jarrar and Massenet joined by editor-in-chief of Vogue Germany, Christiane Arp; group fashion buying director for Harvey Nichols, Anita Barr; singer and actress Lou Doillon; Buro 24/7's Miroslava Duma; fashion and lifestyle editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, Virginie Mouzat; chief brand officer at Lane Crawford, Joanna Gunn; general manager of womenswear at David Jones, Damian Burke; contributing editor to Vogue Paris, Suzanne Koller; senior vice president and fashion director of Hudson’s Bay Company, Suzanne Timmins; co-founder and co-CEO of Boutique 1 Group, Lena Jabbour Matta; founder of System Magazine, Elizabeth Von Guttman; and Stuart McCullough, managing director of The Woolmark Company to select the womenswear winner.

They will be selecting from six womenswear designers from six regions: Toton from Asia; Macgraw from Australia and New Zealand; Faustine Steinmetz from the British Isles; Tim Labenda from Europe; Nachiket Barve from India, Pakistan and the Middle East; and Gabriela Hearst from the USA.

Also joining proceedings in Paris at the end of the month will be the menswear contingency of the prize. Munn from Asia; Ex Infinitas from Australia and New Zealand; Cottweiler from the British Isles; Tonsure from Europe; Bounipun from India, Pakistan and the Middle East; and Rochambeau from the USA will be vying for the top prize, which will be judged by some of the most esteemed names in menswear.

Imran Amed, founder and editor of the BoF; Rami Atallah, co-founder and CEO of Ssense.com; Jefferson Hack, CEO and co-founder of Dazed Media; Michael Hadida, director of development and men's buyer at Leclaireur; Olivier Lalanne, deputy editor at Vogue Paris and editor-in-Chief of Vogue Hommes; Michèle Lamy, Owenscorp partner; Benn McGregor, senior buyer of menswear at Harvey Nichols; Nelson Mui, VP of men’s fashion director of Hudson’s Bay Company; Shayne Oliver, creative director at Hood By Air; Fabrizio Servente, global strategy advisor of The Woolmark Company; Takehiko Suzuki, general manager of men's and sportswear at Isetan Mitsukoshi; Stefano Tonchi, editor-in-chief at W Magazine; and Leilah Weinraub, CEO of Hood By Air will be making the big decision.

All the brands that have reached the finals have already been awarded an AU $50,000 lump sum and mentoring for the last six months. If they win the grand final, they will win a further AU$100,000 prize and will have their collections hosted in top retailers around the world - including Harvey Nichols in London.

To mark the occasion, The Woolmark Company has commissioned Rankin to shoot the accompanying campaign entitled Unravelled, starring Jefferson Hack, Tim Blanks and Carmen Kass and featuring looks from this year's finalists. An accompanying trailer, shot by Isaac Lock, will be released tomorrow.

Why the Woman’s Hour power list is as daft as the second Bridget Jones film

To mark its 70th birthday, Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour has released a definitive version of its annual power list, choosing “the seven women who’ve made the biggest impact on women’s lives over the last 70 years”. For the first time, women who are no longer alive were considered, as were women from outside the UK, if their impact could be demonstrated here. It is a loose set of guidelines, but the panel – including The Apprentice star and businesswoman Karren Brady and screenwriter Abi Morgan – have really gone to town with the brief. The results are in: Margaret Thatcher, Bridget Jones, Germaine Greer and Beyoncé are among those who have had the greatest impact on the lives of British women today.

To claim the Power List as a definitive ranking of anything is as daft as the second Bridget Jones film. Lists such as this have an impact only if they are divisive and provocative – and nothing says “Let’s celebrate women” like getting people to argue about how rubbish some women are.

Inevitably, there will be debate around even the most obvious inclusions because, in some cases, these are controversial figures. Yes, Thatcher symbolises the attainability of female power, but the former prime minister was notoriously indifferent to advancing other women (“What did Margaret Thatcher do for women? Nothing,” wrote Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray in 2013). Yes, Greer wrote an iconic feminist tract, but she is supportive of women only if they don’t happen to be trans women. The Bridget Jones films, directed by a woman and based on books written by a woman, are some of the most underrated British comedies of recent times – but the books are dated and the idea that she is some sort of template for modern womanhood is an anachronism at best.

The list also includes, and draws attention to the work of, Barbara Castle, who introduced the Equal Pay Act; Helen Brook, who set up the Brook Advisory Service, offering contraceptive advice to unmarried women; and Jayaben Desai, who campaigned against low pay for female and immigrant workers in the 1970s. Naturally, they have been squeezed in to leave space for a fictitious diarist obsessed with calories and an outstanding pop star who certainly made my life better for the two hours of paradise that was her last arena show, but whose contribution to British women’s daily existence may not be the most significant we’ve seen since 1946.

Still, it is a shame that some of these women are no longer with us, because I would love to see this list come together to discuss what exactly is going wrong in Britain today, and how to fix things such as the pay gap and discrimination. Because, between them, I have no doubt that Beyoncé and Barbara Castle could hammer it all out.

Ralph Lauren To Be Honoured For Outstanding Achievement

RALPH LAUREN will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Fashion Awards two weeks today, the BFC announced this afternoon.

The New York-based designer, who founded his eponymous label in 1967, is to be honoured "for his invaluable contribution to the fashion industry" during the ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall. Of giving the accolade to Lauren, whose designs have been frequent favourites amongst the fashion industry and celebrity names, BFC chairman Natalie Massenet said: “Ralph Lauren is an exemplary designer and businessman. He has helped to define an era in both American and global fashion with his singular vision; I know that most of us would say he has inspired us immeasurably."

"He has built an outstanding legacy and I look forward to celebrating him for years to come,” she added.

In receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award, the designer - who is also frequently celebrated for his philanthropic endeavours - follows in the footsteps of recent recipients Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, Terry and Tricia Jones, and Manolo Blahnik.

LeBron James & Savannah Send Cleveland Indians Special Dinner Before Series

LeBron James and his wife Savannah want their Cleveland Indians to win this year’s World Series so bad that they went out of their way to feed the entire team. HollywoodLife.com is EXCLUSIVELY reporting that LBJ’s wife prepared the club one of her special dishes! Here’s the scoop.

The Indians will take on the Chicago Cubs in the best of 7 games beginning Oct. 25. But before the first pitch is thrown, the team will have chowed down on one of LeBron‘s favorite meals that his wife Savannah so graciously prepared. “Savannah’s such a class act! She spent several hours preparing LeBron’s favorite chicken and shrimp pasta dish and sent a huge pot of it to the Cleveland Indians team for good luck,” a source close to James family told HollywoodLife.com.

“It was the least she could do. She and Bron are such huge fans and wanted to do something nice for the team,” the source explained. “Besides, Bron always eats this dish before games for good luck and they’re hoping that luck will rub off on the Indians. Bron and Savannah really want to see them bring yet another sports title home to Cleveland this year.”
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As HollywoodLife.com previously reported, LeBron was right there front and center watching his beloved Indians prowl their way into the World Series. On Oct. 19, King James and a few of his boys were having the time of their lives watching the Indians win the American League Championship Series. He posted a video on Instagram of himself at a local bar screaming and cheering as soon as the last out was recorded. You can hear Bron chanting “one more strike, one more, one mooooore!” So supportive!

HollywoodLifers, now it’s your turn to sound off. Do you think LeBron and Savannah’s gesture will ensure that the Indians will win the World Series?