Photo: WWD

Louis Vuitton has a long history of iconic artist collaborations under Marc Jacobs’s direction: there were Stephen Sprouse’s graffiti bags in 2001, Takashi Murakami’s colorful monogram bags in 2003, and Richard Prince’s joke-printed bags in 2007. Now, the brand is pairing up with a new artist: Yayoi Kusama. Jacobs first met Kusama in 2006, when she presented him with a monogrammed Vuitton bag painted all over with her signature polka dots. Now that the two are teaming up in a bigger way, those same dots will be covering everything from trenchcoats to silk pajamas to watches and hitting Vuitton stores on July 10—just in time for the Whitney Museum’s Kusama retrospective which opens two days later. A second installment of the collaboration—monogrammed leather goods covered in Kusama’s tentaclelike “nerves” motif—will hit in October. “Her energy is just endless,” Jacobs said of the Japanese artist. “Through the painstaking sort of obsession in each of her canvasses and installations that she’s created, you see this world that never ends. I guess that’s what I admire and that’s what I respond to in terms of feeling for her and for her work… For many people who don’t look at art or go to galleries, or maybe they’re not aware of Kusama’s work, there will be a new venue, a new place to see this work and to come to appreciate it through the eyes of Louis Vuitton.” See one more image of the collection after the jump. Photo: WWD

Atwood by Colleen Atwood for HSN. Photo: Getty Images

Colleen Atwood’s style aesthetic has been exhibited across the silver screen in over 50 films to date, including Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands and Rob Marshall’s Chicago—where fashion is at the crux of the drama. Having just wrapped her latest project, Snow White and the Huntsman (in theaters June 1), the Academy Award-winning costume designer is now dipping her toe in the fashion pool as well—with a 12-piece, Snow White-inspired line for HSN, out May 30. We caught up with Atwood to find out more.

ELLE: This marks your first foray into fashion. Were you nervous?

Colleen Atwood: Yes, because it’s really different from what I do. I had to let go of a lot of control, and it’s a whole other game.

ELLE: The looks in the line for HSN were made to look more sporty than medieval, like they are in the movie. Was this a conscious decision to make your designs more accessible?

CA: Yes, it was for many reasons. A lot of medieval design is very simple—which relates to modern design—but I tried to use medieval elements with it to kind of give it a little bit of a romantic twist. Some of the things are very simple. One dress has leather medieval buckles like armor, so I used elements of [medieval], but not going full-on.

ELLE: What are the differences between being a costume designer versus a fashion designer?

CA: Doing this kind of fashion design is very different from costume design—in the sense that you’re thinking about the span of people that could potentially wear something and look great in it and make them look good or maybe better than they might otherwise, where in film, you’re designing for characters, and you’re designing generally on people that are pretty amazing with nothing on, so it’s a different kind of talent. But in both ways you’re trying to enhance the beauty of the individual, and I think that’s what clothing design is: Whoever the person is wearing it, just try to make them look and feel better about themselves.


Atwood's work on 'Snow White and the Huntsman.' Photo: Universal Pictures

ELLE: Did you look to previous film versions of Snow White while designing the costumes? Did you have to consult Mirror Mirror to make sure you weren’t doing something similar?

CA: Because our script was kind of different from the fairytale in that sense, I think my big acknowledgment to the whole fairytale is probably the sleeves on Kristen [Stewart]’s [costume] that are sort of like Snow White’s from the cartoon. But other than that, I sort of just went with a different creation. I mean, I  love in the cartoon the queen’s pointy crown which seemed to be an element that went with the architecture of the castle, but I think that basically, because the script was different than anything else, I went with the script. I wasn’t worried about Mirror Mirror because I knew it was a different take on the story and it just was more fluffy and a different vibe, so I felt safe that I didn’t have to worry about that.

ELLE: Why did you finally decide to launch an HSN collection with Snow White and the Huntsman as opposed to all of the other films you’ve worked on?

CA: [HSN] was doing a whole hookup with Universal Studios about the collection, and they’re coming into a whole new level of fashion at HSN. So when they approached me, I was like, “Yeah, why not? I’ll give it a shot.” No one has really asked me before and come up with the goods and said, “Yeah, we’ll do it. We’ll take care of it.” So it was fun to do.

ELLE: Do you hope to have a line of your own someday?

CA: I would love to do that along with continuing to do film. I think I could do it as I go learn in that way in fashion. It’s a new thing, I like changing up things. I just met with somebody today about doing a ballet. It’s fun as a designer to think of all the different things you can do with design.

ELLE: What’s next for you? Are there any new costume projects on the horizon?

CA: I’m working on a film called The Thin Man with Rob Marshall, who I did [Memoirs of a] Geisha and Chicago with. It’s a ‘30s piece, and it’s very glamorous ‘30s, so it’s a whole other facet. But I think it has huge potential and it’s going to be really fun for me.

Photo: Getty Images

When Hedi Slimane’s appointment as Yves Saint Laurent’s new creative director was announced in March, his first designs for the brand were promised to debut in June. That’s still the case—but very few will get to see them so soon. Both the women’s cruise and spring men’s collections will only be shown to buyers—not press, WWD reports, which means most of us will still have to wait a few more months before catching a YSL by Slimane collection. A house spokeswoman called the two collections “transitional”; Slimane, who has been designing in Los Angeles—not Paris, where YSL is based—apparently wants to make his first major statement for the house this fall, with the presentation of the woman’s Spring 2013 collection on the runway during Paris Fashion Week.

Diane Kruger at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony. Photo: Getty Images The Cannes Film Festival gets underway today, and with Diane Kruger serving on the festival jury this year (alongside Jean Paul Gaultier), the fashion bar is definitely set high. She’s already trotted out two stellar looks in the span of one day: a pleated, burgundy Versus dress dress paired with Jimmy Choo shoes for the jury photocall, followed by an aqua custom Giambattista Valli couture dress offset by Repossi earrings for this evening’s opening ceremony (above).  Considering that the festival spans 11 days and Kruger is so involved this year, it wouldn’t be unheard of to expect at least ten more red carpet looks from the actress before it’s all said and done. Until tomorrow … See her Versus look after the cut. Diane Kruger at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival jury photocall. Photo: Getty Images

Boy bands were all the rage from the late ‘80s through the early ’00s, stealing the hearts of young girls all over the world. But as its members dispersed and moved on to other projects—be it solo careers, acting gigs, or in some cases, outer space—the era of joint harmonies, matching jumpsuits, and synchronized dances slowly came to a halt. But all hope isn’t lost: British-Irish import One Direction has recently come on the scene attempting to revive the infamous all-male music act. The band consists of five members: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles (yes, that’s his real name), and Louis Tomlinson—all aged 18-20 years old—who met on The X Factor in 2010 as separate talents. The group’s first album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, so perhaps these boys really do have what it takes to bring the boy band back in vogue. Either way, One Direction is giving us some serious nostalgia for boy bands past, so we thought now would be a better time than ever to revisit our favorite acts. Click through for some super embarrassing photos.


The Backstreet Boys



Photo: Getty Images

The Backstreet Boys are pretty much the reigning kings of boy bands. The quintet started the music industry trend back in 1996, only to be quickly followed by similar acts like ‘N Sync and 98 Degrees. Even though these guys are over 30, we’ll always have a special place in our hearts for their smash-hits, including (but definitely not limited to) “I Want It That Way.”

‘N Sync



Photo: Getty Images

When ‘N Sync formed in 1996, they already had the recipe for musical success: five young guys who can sing and dance (two of whom starred alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on The Mickey Mouse Club). Even though the group disbanded in 2002—only seven years after they came together—its star member, Justin Timberlake, has achieved a ton of success in music, film, and fashion.


New Kids on the Block



Photo: Getty Images

As LFO once sung, “New Kids on the Block had a bunch of hits”—and they really did: seven certified singles between 1988 and 1990. The boys eventually went on hiatus, reuniting in 2008 with the album The Block. In 2011, the band came together again, partnering with The Backstreet Boys for the compilation album NKOTBSB.

Boyz II Men

 

Photo: Getty Images

Boyz II Men brought R&B to the fore when they joined together in the late ‘80s. Known for their emotional, heartfelt ballads like the hit single “End of the Road” (about a man who really doesn’t want his woman to leave him), this quartet tugged on the heart strings of girls nationwide (and won four Grammys in the process).


98 Degrees


Photo: Getty Images

98 Degrees is comprised of Ohio-born brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group had a strong run of hits from 1998 to 2000, including “The Hardest Thing,” “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” and “My Everything.” Although the group dissolved in 2002, when Nick starred on Newlyweds with then-wife Jessica Simpson, there are talks of a reunion show this summer.


Hanson



Photo: Getty Images

Everyone remembers when these three brothers from the Midwest came out singing “Mmm bop, ba duba dop.” Even though the lyrics sounded like complete nonsense, the hit song was nominated for a Grammy award—one of three noms the band has earned so far in their career. Most recently, “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen opened for them on their Shout It Out World Tour (can you think of two more infectious pop songs? Us either.)

The Jonas Brothers



Photo: Getty Images

Following in the Hanson’s footsteps, three more brothers gained popularity in the mid-2000s for their work on the Disney Channel. The Jonas Brothers showed the world that more can come out of the state of New Jersey than tan lines and fist pumps: They’ve sold over eight million albums worldwide, and even though they’re on hiatus, with Nick on Broadway and Kevin living the married life, we’re sure we haven’t seen the last of this handsome trio.

Photo: Getty Images Carine Roitfeld has a lot coming up: a new fashion magazine, a makeup collaboration with MAC, the impending birth of her first grandchild, and a documentary. New details have surfaced on the latter: It’s called Mademoiselle C., Screen Daily reports, and is being billed as “an upbeat, fly-on-the-wall documentary” that is “a lot of fun.” Director Fabien Constant—who also followed Roitfeld around for a short film last year—has apparently been granted unprecedented access to Roitfeld’s life, both private and professional, as she works on the launch of her magazine, CR. Additional interviews are already confirmed with Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, and Donatella Versace, with more expected to come, and shooting is already well under way. Cameras were following Roitfeld around during Paris Fashion Week in March—and will continue up until the launch of CR this September.

A look from Rousteing's fall collection for Balmain. Photo: Imaxtree

Who says French fashion is stuffy? While our WordPress was busy crashing yesterday, the house of Balmain was kicking off its own social media initiatives. Though the brand’s been through its fair share of ups and downs over the past few years—from setting the industry’s trends to seeming incapable of doing something fresh, and losing its creative director along the way—it’s placed its fate in the adorable Olivier Rousteing. The 26-year-old designer’s proven that yes, he can design hit Balmain collections and, based on this video, develop a relationship with fans of the brand. He promises a behind the scenes look at his seasonal inspirations and the production of each collection, as well as an intimate look at his atelier. Click through to watch, and don’t forget to follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.

Kate Upton with Aziz Ansari at last weekend's White House Correspondent Dinner. Photo: Getty Images

This morning, the New York Post reported that Kate Upton was going to the Met Ball.  Fine, so are a hundred other models.  But the paper said Upton, who gets more famous by the day, whipped out her checkbook and bought her own $25,000 ticket. Most people do not buy tickets, especially not models.  Brands buy tables for hundreds of thousands of dollars and invite their faces and a few celebrities to join them on the big night…which is exactly what happened here.  The part that the Post does get right is that Upton will be sat at Michael Kors’ table, along with the designer, Jessica Alba, Hillary Swank and Liu Wen.  “We invited her to join us,” a source at Michael Kors said of Upton this afternoon. “The Post story is BS.” At this rate, we expect to see Upton on a Balenciaga-caliber runway come September.

A still from Inez & Vinoodh's Dior commercial. Ferragamo hasn’t even held their fancy dinner in the Louvre yet and Dior’s already one-upping them—sort of. Though their spring campaign video isn’t intimate (it’s on YouTube), it was shot at Versailles and features Dior-clad models running through the castle’s gilded halls.  Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shot the living campaign, starring Daria Strokus, Melissa Stasiuk and Xiao Wen Ju in Bill Gaytten’s last collection for the house.  A release notes the house’s long history with the palace, from the names of Dior’s first collection—Fete a Trianon, Bal a Trianon—to the brand’s most recent ad campaign, the storied French house has made Versailles its sort of unofficial home.  Click through to watch!