Ever wonder what today’s top celebrities would look like without makeup—or Photoshop retouching, for that matter? The April issue of French Elle features eight female European celebrities–including Eva Herzigova, Monica Bellucci, Sophie Marceau, and Charlotte Rampling–all  looking très belle and au naturel. The magazines headline “Stars Sans Fards” translates to “without rouge/makeup,” but it’s a French saying that also suggests a sense of  “openness.” What do you think of stars going without their makeup for magazine covers? Would you want to see Hollywood’s leading ladies in this light? I think we can all handle the truth. In fact the truth is refreshing!

British supermodel Erin O’Connor come journalist is not just a pretty face. Now a well known contributor to a regular blog in the online presence of British Vogue, she speaks of her path to self discovery in Mumbai and might we say we couldn’t have put it better ourselves. It’s like reading a sequel to Holy Cow. She mentioned, “Funny, I’ve just picked up a newspaper and see my model mate Naomi Campbell splashed across the front page wearing a beautifully embroider sari – she’s in town for Mumbai Fashion Week! Is there no beginning to my escapism?”

Hang in there Erin! For in India, the greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.

The Volta might give you déjà vu, but that’s no accident. The brand produces one unisex style explicitly conceived to feel familiar -The Clarks desert boot is an obvious referent, and it is also made by the same family factory that produced the boots for 25 years. The Italians have done a crackerjack job revamping the classic casual. Fyi, its untreated, unpolished Italian leather develops character as it ages. For Volta’s debut this fall, the range will include suede and seasonal colors with its current neutral-toned range. If this is the new face of uniform dressing, we’ll take it.

After a super long break , Dirty Cobwebs is proud to announce that it’s back!

Happy reading.

Dirty Cobwebs on holiday. Back after New Years. Seasons greetings to all.

Terra Plana is spreading the green message more loudly and clearly than ever. This ethical footwear brand explains that there’s no excuse whatsoever for environmentally-conscious fashionistas not to be green from head to toe.

Terra Plana, which means Flat Land, produces its entire collection using processes that cause the least amount of harm to the environment. It features recycled elements, like recycled foam foot beds, rice husk soles; vegetable tanned leathers to chrome-tanning; and signature quilting made with dowry quilts from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Each one beautifully crafted to walk in style and comfort.

Seasons come, seasons go. So do the collaborations at H&M. Hot on the heels of a super-successful collaboration with Comme des Garcons, the next designer to work their magic will be English designer, Matthew Williamson. Known for having a good eye for working with colours and prints, Williamson combines things to get a very contemporary London look, which we are always in favour for. Set to hit selected stores from April 23.

“It is an incredible opportunity to be working with H&M, creating a ‘Matthew Williamson for H&M’ capsule collection. I am thrilled that my creations for H&M will be accessible to and hopefully enjoyed by so many people around the world,” says Williamson, who will also make his first foray into menswear with the collaboration.

People do the most fascinating things out of boredom. Cult Aussie lablel, Ksubi plans on opening a “pop-n-shop” pop-up concept store in London come sunshine. The concept’s first existence, Lest We Regret, is currently enjoying a 12-week stint at Don’t Come in Melbourne’s Schwipe Gallery, offering the brand’s latest collection as well as one-off and exclusive pieces. From there it will move on to Brisbane and Sydney before becoming UK-bound.

Designer Dan Single said, “We are easily bored here at Ksubi. The idea of opening a pop-up shop is a great way to cure the boredom. It’s exciting building them, and before you can you get sick of it… Pfffffft! It’s gone!”

(Model: Ms. Grace Jones; Photographer: Andrea Karin)

No one could carry off looking hotter than Ms. Jones in a leather blazer, bra and latex tights ensemble and stood simply behind a white background with just her shadow for camaraderie. We would say, sometimes that’s all you need to appreciate a photograph.

Fashion-ation reported, “It would take a bold and confident photographer to work with Ms Grace Jones – she of the panther like qualities and iconic outlandish style! Ms Jones prowls across the studio space commanding your attention with her dramatic poses and facial expressions.” [Fashion-ation]

With Marc Jacobs’ ever-changing collections for Louis Vuitton, the only thing to expect is the unexpected. On Louis Vuitton’s Press day, as Edith Piaf trickled from speakers to set the mood for Marc Jacobs’ spring celebration of French fancy, ostrich-strewn skirts, embroidered taffeta cocktail frocks, braided forties suiting
and, of course, bags and bags were seen everywhere. The bags were back in sumptuous array- tactile, poufy shapes glowing with mixed-materials and multicolored metallics, python, and leopard spots. 

The latter print, developed during Jacobs’ first collaboration with the
late, Stephen Sprouse in 2000. Reviving Sprouse’s seminal neon Day-Glo bright, sixties-inspired, graffiti-prints for the brand. A vision Jacobs and Sprouse discussed before he died, the room and collection – is something of a homage to
the New Wave designer whose immense talent was never quite matched for business. Our favourite piece? The classic monogrammed trunk that glows in the dark.