Inspirational Coco CHANEL: From an Orphanage, to absolute Fashion Glory

FG10 came across 10 overwhelming facts about the Coco Chanel; we read them over and over again and all you could notice is one wave of inspiration. The determination, the creativity and innovative mind she carried are clearly the reason of why CHANEL still stands as one of the most prominent fashion brands the industry has ever known.

Chanel posing in her own perfume advertisement (1937)

It caught our eyes since we're in a time where emerging talents are struggling to find their way to the runway. Perhaps, these few facts will touch you and inspire you the way they did to us. Perhaps these facts will show you that passion and determination can take you anywhere, that there is never an "end", but continuous new beginnings that unveil at the threshold of every accomplishment. We hope these facts tell you that there is nothing as "I'm there"; instead, there's "I want to do more - this isn't just it..".

Ali MacGraw - star of "Love Story"

TEN Inspirational Facts about Coco Chanel

She was born in France in 1883 and was part of a big family, as one of five children.

When Coco was 12, her mother passed away from tuberculosis and her father left the family; she spent the next six years in an orphanage.

She became a licensed hat-maker and owned her first shop in 1910.

She introduced her first perfume, Chanel No. 5, in 1922, and it was one of the first perfumes ever to mix natural and artificial essences.

She invented the “Little Black Dress” in 1926, which French Vogue dubbed “Chanel’s Ford”, for its practicality and marketability.

She is credited with popularizing the concept of “costume jewelry” in the 1920s, creating seasonal jewelry that mixed fake pearls with real stones.

She introduced the idea of using jersey fabric to create clothing, which had prior been used only for men’s undergarments.

She and her brand are most well known for costume jewelry, two-tone shoes, quilted bags, and simple suits made of tweed or jersey.

Her classic Chanel suit became famous for its flattering cut, simple fabric, and specially weighted lining, to give it that perfect hang.

She died in 1971 at the Ritz Hotel in Paris at the age of 88.

Tom Ford 'unhappy' with people's reaction on his latest collection

Tom Ford has admitted that his choice of venue was probably to blame for the mixed reviews his autumn/winter 2013 collection received.

The designer's autumn/winter 2013 show in February saw him return to the traditional catwalk format for the first time since he was creative director of Gucci. Consisting of clashing prints and colours, evening gowns garnished with sequinned, comic book-style blasts and "cross cultural multi ethnic" references, many were surprised by the departure from Ford's usually slick, sexily understated aesthetic.

"I expected a more positive reaction in a stronger way. And what I got was a sort of stunned reaction. I couldn't read [it] when people started to come backstage - what they thought. But that simple fact was proof of not getting the reaction that I thought I was going to get," Ford told WWD , before going on to admit that the reviews were "lukewarm".

So, what did he do wrong? "I think that I chose the venue inappropriately."

Said venue was Lancaster House, a mansion in London's plush St James area. Not content with its extravagant, gilded rooms that Queen Victoria was allegedly "jealous" of, Ford lined the sweeping staircase with 75 devastatingly handsome, perfectly-groomed male models all in matching Ford suits with matching haircuts. He also had dapper waiters serving Champagne, as well as ushers - and liberally spritzed all of them in his Noir fragrance.

Judge Tom Ford's autumn/winter 2013 collectionf or yourself: 

War begins over the legacy of Yves Saint Laurent

War has erupted over the screen legacy of Yves Saint Laurent after the late fashion designer's longtime partner threatened to sue the makers of a "warts-and-all" biopic, while backing another "official" film.

Tensions had been mounting between the two rival productions ahead of a release date for both films on the flamboyant bad boy of French fashion slated for release later this year.

In the red corner, Saint Laurent , a film directed by Bertrand Bonello, has received the go ahead from the owner of Yves Saint Laurent brand, François Pinault, to use the logo and dresses in his possession.

In the blue corner, Yves Saint Laurent , directed by Jalil Lespert, is a film which has the official blessing of Pierre Bergé, 82, the couturier's companion on and off from 1958 until his death in 2008 and the guardian of his creative legacy.

"Two films on YSL? I hold the moral rights over YSL's work, his image and mine and have only authorised Jalil Lespert. A trial on the cards?," threatened the multi-millionaire part-owner of Le Monde newspaper on his Twitter account.

Could Cartier put an end to fashion spoofs?

Jewellery brand Cartier have taken legal action after a New York student produced a profane spoof of their branding.

Over the last month or so the fashion market has become flooded with 'parody branding' - when famous, iconic logos are taken and given a comical twist, such as What about Yves?'s 'Ain't Laurent without Yves' tees, Reasons' 'Celine (Dion)' branding, Conflict of Interests' 'Ill Sander' logo and Brian Lichtenberg's 'Homies' play on Hermès. Celebs have got in on the trend too, with the likes of Cara Delevingne and Rihanna sporting various spoofs and boosting their popularity further.

But now it appears the trend may have gone too far, with luxury jewellery brand Cartier taking one such jovial spoof to court.

The brand in question is KTHANKSBYE, which was set up by a Parsons The New School for Design graphic design masters student known only as Fahad. Fahad created a small range of baseball caps and knitted beanies featuring a profane play on Cartier's branding (hint: swap the 'ar' for 'un') using the same typeface and brand colours - an idea which sprang from a friend complaining about the jewellers poor customer service, reports The Daily Beast .

A Special Birthday Letter to Lady Fozaza

FG10 has received this message from a fan to Lady Fozaza's Alanoud Badr on her Birthday...

I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Now I'm just rolling home

Into my lover's arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you.

Happy Birthday to the one.

Forever.

Saint Laurant autumn/winter 2013

We are simply in love with the beauty of YSL AW 2013 Collection... We'll leave you with the pictures, since "A picture speaks a thousand words"!!

Roberto Cavalli autumn/winter 2013 in pictures

Roberto Cavalli autumn/winter 2013

This is the most searched-for brand in the US!

US designer Michael Kors is the most Googled US label, beating Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren.

Give us a dollar and we would have taken a punt on Marc Jacobs being the most Googled US fashion label - he's basically still the Big Deal at New York Fashion Week, despite the efforts of Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler and the rest of the city's young guns, and he's got a huge global profile. However, they've all been trumped by Michael Kors.

The designer accounted for 19.6 per cent of the 31 million internet searches covering 10 international markets including the UK, China and the US, according to Digital Luxury Group , which puts together data for luxury brands. The research focused only on US labels between January - June 2012.

Kanye West attempts to ban skirt photos

Folds, flourish and 50 shades of grey at Alexander Wang's final showcase before his Balenciaga debut.

Rapper Kanye West has reportedly asked one photo agency to remove any photos of him wearing his Givenchy leather kilt following jibes from fellow rapper Lord Jamar.

Kanye West is never one to shy from a headline-grabbing outfit. His recent homemade beanie-cum-balaclava and the Céline womenswear shirt he wore back in 2011 (which we thought looked rather good) are particular favourites of ours, but it seems he's rather regretting one particular wardrobe choice - his leather Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci kilt.

The custom-made kilt had its first outing back in 2011 and was sported throughout Kanye and Jay-Z's 'Watch The Throne' tour but, if today's reports are to be believed, it's recently been causing West some grief. The father-to-be has allegedly asked photo agency Getty Images to remove all photos of him wearing the skirt at a concert in aid of Hurricane Sandy last December after receiving jibes from fellow rappers, reports The Sun.

Although Kanye had already worn the skirt on numerous occasions, his appearance at the 12-12-12 Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert in Madison Square Gardens caught the attention of MC Lord Jamar, who decided to write an elegantly-titled song about it, Lift Up Your Skirt …

Beyoncé slammed for Super Bowl outfit

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have released a statement slamming Beyoncé's python, iguana and cow skin costume.

Following nothing but praise for her spectacular Super Bowl appearance, Beyoncé has today found herself on the end of some disappointed words from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

The organisation says the singer "missed the mark" when it came to backing humane fashion by sporting a leather Rubin Singer bodysuit which was made of python, iguana and cow skin for her much-lauded performance.

That's what's BANNED from the Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards broadcaster CBS issue a 'wardrobe advisory' notice ahead of Sunday's ceremony to encourage flesh-flashing celebrities to cover up.

Celebrities are finding ever more inventive ways of baring their assets on the red carpet. Side-boobs, waistline-necklines and backless dresses, which sit so low they reveal something of 'what lies beneath', have become the norm. And that's before we've even got into the thigh-split dresses that so love to make a feature of a girl's underpants.

Such rampant, flesh-baring antics have now driven CBS, the broadcaster of Sunday's 55th Grammy Awards, to take the unusual step of sending out a 'Standard And Practice Wardrobe Advisory' notice to all attendees, containing a strict dress code.

'Please be sure that buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered', it begins.

'Thong type costumes are problematic. Please avoid exposing bare fleshy under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack.' 

Addressing the growing side-boob trend, the notice cautions 'Bare sides or under curvature of the breasts is also problematic. Please avoid sheer see-through clothing that could possibly expose female breast nipples.'

Sorry… female breast nipples? Who wrote this? So male's nipples are okay??!!! 

Marc Jacobs forced to postpone New York Fashion Week show

Customs and deliveries delays have forced Marc Jacobs to postpone his autumn/winter 2013 show as 'Blizzard Nemo' threatens to wreak further havoc with the New York Fashion Week schedule.

New York Fashion Week designer Marc Jacobs has been forced to move his upcoming autumn/winter 2013 mainline show due to customs and deliveries delays.

"We're missing bags, shoes and two fabrics," Marc Jacobs International president Robert Duffy told WWD .

The delays mean Jacobs has had to move the show from its usual Monday night slot to the 8pm slot on Thursday February 14, the final day of New York Fashion Week. The date change will mean many fashion editors, stylists and buyers will have to make the decision to either stay in the city for the highly-anticipated show or head to London for the start of London Fashion Week, which begins on Friday.

Vittorio Missoni still Missing.... but Fashion Show to Go Ahead

Missoni's autumn/winter 2013 menswear show will go ahead in Milan this Sunday despite the continuing search for missing family member Vittorio.

Backstage at Missoni's spring/summer 2013 show Photo: Rex

Missoni have confirmed that their forthcoming autumn/winter 2013 menswear show will go ahead this Sunday in Milan, despite the continuing search for missing family member and marketing director Vittorio Missoni.

The company made the decision to press ahead with the show despite the family's circumstances "in order to give continuity", reports WWD . It is assumed that none of the Missoni family, including Vittorio's creative director sister Angela and his founder parents Ottavio and Rosita, will be present.

The 58 year-old was returning from a holiday on the Venezuelan island of Los Roques with his partner, Maurizia Castiglioni, two friends and two crew members when the plane they were travelling on disappeared. Searches by the Venezuelan authorities continue, but as yet no trace of the aircraft or its passengers has been found.

ELIE SAAB :: HAUTE COUTURE 2012-2013

The draping, the detail, the cuts, the swooshing down the aisle, the sparkle and lastly the bridal look.. Who else but Elie Saab, the Internationally renowned Lebanese fashion designer dazzles us with his Haute Couture 2012-2013 collection.. We've picked 20 styles for you.. Indulge!