Céline Covers Itself

Céline creative director Phoebe Philo



CÉLINE has been awarded legal copyright protection for one of its most famous bag designs, the Luggage Tote, which will act as a deterrent to counterfeiters of the popular silhouette.
The Trade Dress protection - a legal term that refers to characteristics of the visual appearance of a product or its packaging that communicate to consumers its origin - was originally applied for in 2013, reports The Fashion Law.

The Luggage Tote

The characteristics of the bag that now come under legal protection are "a three-dimensional configuration of a rectangular bag with extendable accordion-style sides, extruding parallel S wave designs on bag front, and rear, shield-shaped handle bracers designs on front and rear of bag. As placed on the front of the bag, the zipper represents the mouth of a face design in which the handle supports appear to be the eyes and the S wave designs represent the facial outline."
It's not the first time that Céline has gone down the legal route to protect its designs. Its Trapeze Bag was awarded federal trademark protection in May 2015.

BAFTA Nominations 2016

The BAFTA nominations, the biggest British celebration of film and talent in the awards calendar, have been revealed. Carol and Bridge of Spies lead the way with nine nominations each, while Eddie Redmayne - who picked up the award for Best Actor last year - is nominated in the same category once again for his critically acclaimed performance in The Danish Girl. Go through the gallery below for the full list of this year's nominees, ahead of the ceremony on February 14. 

André Courrèges Dies

FASHION designer André Courrèges has died, as confirmed by his company in a statement on Friday. The news comes following his 30-year battle with Parkinson's disease.

Courrèges was renowned for his futuristic aesthetic, launching his Maison de Couture in 1961. His famous Space Age collection followed in 1964, and he retired from the fashion industry in the Nineties to devote his time to painting and sculpture. New owners and co-presidents Jacques Bungert and Frédéric Torloting bought the company in January 2011, and Sebastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant were named  artistic directors of womenswear last year.

Courrèges, along with British designer Mary Quant, has often been credited with having invented the miniskirt - a staple of the Sixties style he came to represent.

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Were These the Year’s Best-Dressed Movies?

Jane Fonda in Youth

Today the Costume Designers Guild released the nominees for its 18th annual awards, a veritable who’s who of the behind-the-scenes visionaries responsible for setting the tone of characters both big and small. From the looks of the list, 2015 could hardly have been more eclectic. For one? This year’s blockbuster hits were unexpectedly gorgeous. Consider the sun-bleached, dusty ensembles Jenny Beavan conjured up for Imperator Furiosa and the Brides of Mad Max: Fury Road, or the downright Rick Owens–esque artfully draped numbers in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But the glory doesn’t all go to films with budgets as big as their titles. Men-of-a-certain-age drama Youth finds Jane Fonda looking divine as a former starlet in an Old Hollywood–tinged yellow sheath courtesy of nom Carlo Poggioli. The boy soldiers of Netflix’s Beasts of No Nation sport surprisingly vivid clothing, patched and trimmed in puka shells, and tirelessly researched by designer Jenny Eagan. And consider also the unexpectedly revitalized interest in period pieces, which have come roaring back to a place of prominence and mass interest: Plenty of buzz was generated by flicks like Carol and Crimson Peak, whose soigné ’50s garb and macabre Victoriana, respectively, have earned nods for designers Sandy Powell and Kate Hawley. Though on the note of that genre, one snub we can’t overlook? Janet Patterson’s divine styles in Far From the Madding Crowd, which to our eyes merit nomination many times over.

See the full list of nominees below, ahead of the February 23 awards ceremony.

Excellence in Contemporary Film
Beasts of No Nation – Jenny Eagan
Joy – Michael Wilkinson
Kingsman: The Secret Service – Arianne Phillips
The Martian – Janty Yates
Youth – Carlo Poggioli

Excellence in Period Film
Brooklyn – Odile Dicks-Mireaux
Carol – Sandy Powell
Crimson Peak – Kate Hawley
The Danish Girl – Paco Delgado
Trumbo – Daniel Orlandi

Excellence in Fantasy Film
Cinderella – Sandy Powell
Ex Machina – Sammy Sheldon Differ
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 – Kurt and Bart
Mad Max: Fury Road – Jenny Beavan
Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Michael Kaplan

Outstanding Contemporary Television Series
American Horror Story: Hotel – Lou Eyrich
Empire, season one – Rita McGhee
House of Cards – Johanna Argan, Kemal Harris
Ray Donovan – Christopher Lawrence
Transparent – Marie Schley

Outstanding Period Television Series
The Knick – Ellen Mirojnick
Mad Men – Janie Bryant, Tiffany White Stanton
Masters of Sex – Isis Mussenden
Outlander – Terry Dresbach
Penny Dreadful – Gabriella Pescucci

Outstanding Fantasy Television Series
Game of Thrones – Michele Clapton
Once Upon a Time – Eduardo Castro
Sleepy Hollow, season two – Kristin M. Burke, Mairi Chisholm
Sleepy Hollow, season three – Mairi Chisholm
The Wiz Live! – Paul Tazewell

Excellence in Short Form Design
“And So It Begins” Old Spice commercial – Mindy Le Brock
“From the Makers of Happy & Merry, H&M Presents Katy Perry” commercial – B. Akerlund
“The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-Earth” Kabam and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment  commercial – Soyon An
“Kevin Spacey” E*Trade commercial – Johanna Argan
“Most Interesting Man in the World Wins on Land, Sea & Air” Dos Equis commercial – Julie Vogel

M&S CEO Marc Bolland Steps Down

Marc Bolland with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as she launched her lingerie collection for the store




MARKS & SPENCER CEO Marc Bolland is stepping down after six years at the helm. In what is arguably one of the most challenging and scrutinised roles in retail, Bolland has presided over a difficult period for the British high-street retailer, as sales shrunk season after season.
A recent upturn - buoyed by a positive performance in food heralded as the store's "best ever Christmas" and a slow recovery in fashion sales - means Bolland can elect to "retire" from the role free from the ignominy that might have accompanied the decision in seasons past.

Marc Bolland

He will be replaced by current M&S executive director of general merchandise Steve Rowe, whose management of one of the business's only highlights - its solid food category- marked him out as one to watch. The outgoing executive - formerly CEO of supermarket chain Morrisons - said that the decision comes as he celebrates 10 years as a CEO in the UK, telling WWD: "It's a nice milestone and gives me a chance to do something else."
Rowe - who has been with Marks and Spencer Group PLC for more than 25 years and been a board member since 2012 - will assume control in a staggered handover with Bolland's support beginning this April.

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