Cameramen elbowed photographers out of the way, television presenters crashed into bloggers, PR assistants were drowned in a shouting mass of paparazzi as everyone fought for a glimpse of Lindsay Lohan at Paris fashion week.

As a marketing scoop, her new job as artistic adviser for fashion house Emanuel Ungaro has certainly been a success. She even out-papped R&B singer Rihanna and actor Bruce Willis, who were among the VIPs visiting the Paris shows. Ungaro’s president, Mounir Moufarrige, observed the backstage scrum with a satisfied smile on his face, maybe mentally recalculating his profit outlook.

But whether the hype will translate into better sales for the ageing label remains to be seen.

“It’s the clothes that talk. People are interested, and our business is to sell,” Moufarrige told me after the show, surrounded by exhausted fashionistas sipping champagne. “We want to make beautiful products that people will buy.”

Lohan herself may well decide that ultimately, consuming fashion is more fun than producing it. She looked a little dazed and tired after her debut collection, and when a reporter asked her about her love of scandal, she snapped that it was “an unnecessary question”.

Even if the collaboration turns out to be short-lived, Moufarrige could have the last laugh. The label’s clothes are now guaranteed to appear in tabloids, glossy magazines, blogs and talk shows. And the fact that fashion critics have derided Lohan’s stripper-inspired nipple pasties, bra tops and skimpy pink dresses may not matter to shoppers. After all, Victoria Beckham was long sneered at by the fashion in-crowd, and yet her
collection of dresses is now flying off the shelves.

- Reporting by Sophie Hardach

- Photos by Reuters

Wear ribbons of torn cloth as a bikini. Pin a picture of your boyfriend to your sleeve. Dig out your mother’s old clothes.

Vivienne Westwood’s latest advice may sound like a DIY fashion campaign, but it’s actually her contribution towards fighting global warming.

At her fashion show in Paris, the queen of punk handed out leaflets blaring: “Act fast - slow down - stop climate change”.

Looking as energetic as ever, her hair in a frayed beehive,  she told me after her show that people are meant to cut out the slogans, or even photos of their own boyfriends, and pin them to
their T-shirts, in the style of marathon runners.

Under the heading “Call to action for all eco warriors: dress up!”, her leaflet lists a whole range of activities that are meant to stem global warming, though the link isn’t always quite clear.

“Dress older — young girls are so sexy when they look more important,” Westwood writes in one passage that seems to slightly veer off the subject. “If your mother was a punk like me you can
choose bondage shorts and ripped stuff and the AR shirt (a better version of the 70s Anarchy shirt).”

Earlier this year, the queen of punk recruited Baywatch star Pamela Anderson for her Paris show, then announced to the assembled fashionistas that they would all be fried by global
warming unless they changed their eco-hostile habits.

Whether her message is effective remains to be seen, especially considering the huge carbon footprint of fashion week, with hundreds of buyers, journalists and celebrities flying in
from around the world to look at clothes and shoes.

- Reporting  by Sophie Hardach

Want to know the real Lindsay Lohan? Check out her latest clothing range.

Hollywood’s wild child recently signed up with fashion house Emanuel Ungaro as an artistic adviser to add pizzazz to the ageing fashion brand. Her first collection will be unveiled on October 4 and it’s one she says is very close to her heart.

“I think working with Ungaro it’s more personal for me,” she told Reuters in Singapore, where she’ll be hosting a three-day music concert that coincides with the country’s Formula One race.

“It’s kind of more about who I am and what I want to put out there in terms of what people wear and different styles. And what I wear in films means a lot to the character and what people take from the character.”

Over the past two years, Lohan’s creative endeavors have been eclipsed by scandals, nightclub antics and drug problems. The 23-year-old was briefly jailed in 2007 after being convicted of drink driving and cocaine possession, and made to wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.

But she said she’s been dealing with headlines for such a long time, that she doesn’t let them get in the way of her work.

“I’m pretty numb to everything that gets said and goes on. I’m not going to say the paparazzi don’t get annoying, when I, you know, just want that alone time. But it’s not that bad. I don’t really pay attention to it, in all honesty,” she said.

Lohan loves to shop and her previous fashion ventures have included a line of leggings that drew mixed reviews from fashionistas.

And, like a true fashionista, Lohan arrived almost two hours — or shall we say fashionably? — late for media interviews.

Tom Ford has branded as “disgusting” the ban on gay marriage in parts of the United States and elsewhere in the world.

The designer, who is openly gay, used a Venice press conference for his feature film debut “A Single Man” starring Colin Firth to criticize decisions like that in California in November banning same-sex marriage. He did, however, add that his movie, which is in competition at the Venice film festival was not about being gay at all, but about the human condition in general.

“It is, I have to say, quite disgusting that in America and in other countries you cannot have a civil union or something equivalent to marriage,” said the 48-year-old.

“I have someone I’ve lived together with for 23 years. Recently he was in hospital for something. I had to carry papers on me at all times that he had signed saying that I could visit him in his room and make medical decisions for him if anything happened. Our taxes, by the way: if I died tomorrow my estate would be completely taxed and then the remainder go to him whereas if we were a couple his life wouldn’t have to change and my entire estate would move to him. There are things that are wrong with our legal systems in a lot of countries.”

It’s fashion week in Paris — time for TV audiences and online readers around the world to stare at their screens and shout out that most popular of fashion comments: “Who on earth would wear that?”

The answer is, of course, nobody. Proper catwalk fashion isn’t meant to be worn. It’s meant to be photographed, looked at, talked about, in the hope all that buzz will help the fashion label sell products that are actually profitable, such as perfumes and sunglasses.

Ayone who has been into Topshop’s Oxford Street store in London on a Saturday will know that there are normally so many shoppers inside that it is almost difficult to move.

So when the trendy British mass market fashion retailer — for which supermodel Kate Moss designs a clothing line — opened its first U.S. store in New York this month it was no surprise that people were lining up to get in the door.

On Saturday, despite drizzling rain and less than spring-like temperatures, the line outside stretched half a block, although the Soho shop appeared less packed inside than the Oxford Street store on a Saturday morning.

With bouncers outside only letting shoppers in as others left, Topshop New York resembled more of a nightclub.

Would you line up to get into Topshop? Or any other clothing stores?

Style guru Susan Tabak has been a regular in the front row of the Paris fashion shows for the past seven years. Tabak, author of the book “Chic in Paris” and the popular style blog chicinparis  gives her take to Reuters on last week’s shows:

The Pret-a-Porter Fall 2009 collections in Paris heralded chic design all week, albeit with increasing edge.  Dramatic shoulder emphasis and the classic black and white palette were shown time and again, revealing themselves as key elements to Fall fashion this year.

Riccardo Tisci featured both in his show at Givenchy, with fur implants in shoulder pads and several variations of a one-shouldered dress.  Stefano Pilati also incorporated these themes.  He presented an ultra-chic and impeccably tailored collection for Yves Saint Laurent with crisp white shirts and pencil skirts, lots of black leather and very sleek jackets.  It was classic, with a twist.  I could definitely see myself wearing the collection.

The same goes for Akris.  Marked by trapezoids, geometric design, and — yes — accentuated shoulders, Akris designer Albert Kriemler’s architectural inspiration was evident in nearly every piece.  Though the clothing is different from Alber Elbaz’s collection for Lanvin, both Elbaz and he have a great sense for what the chic modern woman wants and needs in her clothing. 

Finally, Chanel used black and white, as always, but added exaggerated white frills, plissé ruffs, chiffon camellias, accordion pleats, boutonnières and floppy bows on the cuffs and collars of the blouses.

Sonia Rykiel held a quirky and charming show at her Boulevard Saint-Germain boutique, and I was a big fan of Giambattista Valli’s regal yet understated designs.  Among all the collections these past few days, however, Elie Saab and Galliano may be the most memorable. 

Elie Saab lacked the hard edge prevalent this season, making it stand out by comparison.  I’ve come to expect a bit of glitz from this label, but it was all about subdued beauty last Tuesday.  There were no bells and whistles, so to speak.  The appeal lay in the graphic cuts and sculpture of the clothing.  The silhouettes were extraordinary, from the sheath dresses he led with to the evening wear at the end.  Bucking the black and white trend, Saab chose hues like cream glazed chestnut, powder grey, dusty blue and celadon green instead.

Then there is John Galliano.  With his own label, Galliano doesn’t have the responsibility of carrying forth the legacy of Dior, so he’s free to channel his extreme flamboyant creativity.  And this is exactly what he did.  Wow.  The designer showed a fantastical collection heavy on Russian folklore.  Looking back, I should have guessed he had something up his sleeve!  We had to wait over an hour to get into the show, causing some jostling and unrest among photographers.  When we were finally granted entrance, guests were served vodka on the way into the ice-cold Halle Freyssinet.  The temperature and theatrical display began to make sense as the models came down the runway with glittering snow falling around them.  It was like a magical winter wonderland with spectacular clothing to match.  There were peasant blouses, embroidered full skirts, headdresses, and absolutely sensational coats.  I can not overemphasize the exquisite detailing and craftsmanship of the collection as a whole.  It was incredible.  Here was the signature Galliano flair that I was missing at the Dior show.

Capping a week of fashion festivities was Karl Lagerfeld’s Fendi party at the V.I.P. Room on Rue de Rivoli.  And this was a grand finale.  The venue was packed with fashion elite eagerly awaiting a performance by Beth Ditto and her group, The Gossip.  It was crazy!  The whole place was super-into it, myself included.  My look is obviously different from Beth’s, but at the core of my blog and my book Chic in Paris is discovering your own sense of style and celebrating it.  This is exactly what Beth did and it was awesome.

Editing by Rebecca Prusinowski. Photos by Reuters.

Style guru Susan Tabak has been a regular in the front row of the Paris fashion shows for the past seven years. Tabak, author of the book “Chic in Paris” and the popular style blog chicinparis  gives her take to Reuters on this week’s shows:

The Pret-a-Porter Fall 2009 shows here in Paris have signaled a return to chic design for the modern woman, and, of course, I couldn’t be happier!  Though the collections thus far have displayed a range of influences, nearly all have captured an elegance that is quintessentially Parisian.

Lanvin was perfection.  Designer Alber Elbaz says he appreciates the strong woman and that sentiment was reflected in this chic collection with an edge.  Held at the Halle Freyssinet in the 13 arrondissment, the runway looked like an asphalt street, implying these were not just precious clothes for models on the catwalk but for the contemporary woman with places to be.  There were forties-inspired suits gathered into soft peplums in the front, gorgeous fur stoles, cascading ruffles tempered with tailored silhouettes.  I hugged Alber backstage and told him I wanted one of everything!

Showcased in a giant tent in the Jardin des Tuileries, Dior was a correct collection of tailored suiting with a twist.  Designer John Galliano infused the clothing with Orientalism and a Mongolian look.  The array of beautiful coats was the highlight for me, and though I also admired the decorated airy chiffon evening wear, the collection as a whole lacked the signature Galliano flair that I look forward to.

Olivier Theyskens collection for Nina Ricci, on the other hand, took my breath away.  His last show with the label due to internal strife, Theyskens will walk away triumphant. Some of the looks reminded me of work he had done at Rochas.  Others were totally fresh and unlike anything I’ve seen before. It was sexy, modern, romantic and Victorian.  I loved the transparent pants, the structured jackets with big shoulders, the dresses with broad billowing ruffles and those with short fronts and trains in the back.  I’d be remiss not to mention the outlandish stilt-like embellished platform shoes at the show.  They were fascinating but distracting, too.                                                                                                   

Amid the shows, there have been many fabulous parties!  Thierry Mugler hosted a presentation at their atelier to celebrate the revival of their form-fitting and futuristic fashion line. Prada held the last of their Fashion Week Iconoclasts events on Avenue Montaigne, where French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld decked their boutique in snakeskin, live pythons included.  I had a wild night with Diane von Furstenberg and Giambattista Valli at the new nightclub Le Montana, and it was a lavish star-studded affair at the opening of Roberto Cavalli’s new five-story flagship store on Rue Saint Honore. 

The energy here in Paris is crackling.  I am not only inspired by the designers’ collections but by the city itself.  Watching people while waiting for the shows to start is pure theater!  The crowd is dressed to impress like no where else in the world.  I love the fur, the hats and the coats (though I could do without the clunky shoes, which look to be here through Fall).  Stay tuned for more runway reports and Chic in Paris stories by Susan Tabak.

Editing by Rebecca Prusinowski

Photos by Reuters

(Writing by Lisa Baertlein)

Glamour ruled on Hollywood’s biggest night, and “Slumdog Millionaire” star Freida Pinto was brilliant in a blue John Galliano gown, supporting actress winner Penelope Cruz donned a 60-year-old Balmain and best actress winner Kate Winslet dazzled in a one-shoulder number from Yves Saint Laurent.

Stars like Heidi Klum and Natalie Portman added splashes of color, but many stars including Anne Hathaway, Cruz, Taraji P. Henson and Evan Rachel Wood wore white and other light colors.

Who do you think was best dressed? And worst?

Award winners Penelope Cruz in Balmain and Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent

Heidi Klum in Roland Mouret

Freida Pinto in John Galliano

Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive

Viola Davis in Reem Acra and Taraji P. Henson in Roberto Cavalli

Marisa Tomei and Natalie Portman

Don’t forget to check us out on Twitter!

(Photos: REUTERS)

The Golden Globes were back this year, and no one was more excited than the stars themselves, who celebrated by walking down the red carpet in all their finest. But whose primping and preening paid off the most? And who fell horribly flat?

US Weekly Fashion Director Sasha Charnin Morrison listed Anne Hathaway and Angelina Jolie as two of her favorites, saying Marisa Tomei and Renee Zellweger’s looks were “clunkers.” Meanwhile, style expert Michael O’Connor said his top choices were Eva Mendes and Drew Barrymore.

But what did you think? Check out some of the looks below and let us know.

    Angelina Jolie in Versace

 Drew Barrymore in Galliano

Marisa Tomei in Oscar de la Renta

                                                                            Eva Mendes in Dior

Anne Hathaway in Armani

 Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herrera