Elizabeth Taylor Auction

By: Erika Shantz

The iconic Elizabeth Taylor had an auction of all of her jewels on Tuesday night. The sale exceeded all expectations and it wasn’t even complete when it set the world record of $118 million in one night. A massive pearl sold for $11.84 million. It was suspended for a Cartier necklace and was projected to sell for $2-3 million, which is called “La Peregrina,” but it reached the highest price that any pearl has sold at auction. This wasn’t the only shock of the night; this auction actually broke six world records, which include per carat price for colourless diamond, per carat price for a ruby and the price for an Indian jewel.

It wasn’t only the jewelry that caught the eye of thousands. There were also dresses from Dior, Chanel, Versace, Valentino, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent. All of these pieces told a story about Elizabeth Taylor and the changes in fashion from her career. Her dress from her first marriage is estimated to go for $40,000 - $60,000 USD.

As well as the live sales there is an Internet only auction. It consists of approximately 1000 items, which includes accessories and jewelry.

BOXPARK, The World’s 1st Pop-Up Mall

By Keshia Griffiths

Every year around the holiday season pop-up stores arise. Pop-up retail has been growing over the years around the world, attracting new brands to the trend, like Christian Dior (in Miami) and eBay – who has created virtual stores for product viewing.

This past weekend the world’s first pop-up mall, BOXPARK, opened up in London, England. This innovation has changed the way consumers view traditional shopping and is attracting many curious shoppers.

The mall is constructed with movable building blocks allowing it to relocate anywhere in the world. They carry a mix of over 60 sports, independent label and lifestyle brands, including Nike, Boxfresh and etnies (where you can get vegan products). In addition to top brand selection, BOXPARK offers galleries and cafes for patrons to enjoy, creating buzz and demand for more locations.

Amsterdam has been reported as the first European location for the pop-up mall, in addition to multiple UK sties that will be up by the end of 2013. BOXPARK is expected to remain in London for the next 5 years, with no word on where they will go next. It is refreshing to see such an innovation at the shopping mall level.

Here’s hoping we see it in Canada.

Follow me on Twitter @KeshiaMG

Riccardo Tisci for Dior?

by Derek Dotto

The rumour mill is in overdrive and the twittersphere is aflutter with word that Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci is heading to the House of Dior.

Harper’s Bazaar and Style.com editor-at-large Derek Blasberg tweeted this late Tuesday night: “I was just told backstage at the @KatyPerry concert (of all places!) that Riccardo Tisci is CONFIRMED at Dior. I leave #PFW for a second...”

Tisci and Dior have yet to come out with an official comment. The French fashion house has been looking for a new creative director since it gave John Galliano the boot last week after scandal erupted involving anti-semitic slurs and an internet video.

The latest news come midway through Paris Fashion Week. It has editors, bloggers, and fashion lovers weighing, with mixed reviews, all over the internet. I’ve been a huge fan of Tisci’s since the Italian designer took over at Givenchy in 2005, except for this season. His stunning Japanese robot-inspired couture collection couldn’t make up for the eyesores seen at Givency’s men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections. Rottweiler and panther prints? Seriously!?

If the rumour is true, I’m excited to see what comes out of the House of Dior... as long as Tisci keeps the animals out of it.

Here are some shots of Tisci's offerings at Givenchy this season (courtesy Style.com):

Givenchy Couture Spring 2011

Givenchy Ready-to-wear Fall 2011

Givenchy Menswear Fall 2011

Dior Fires Galliano

by Derek Dotto

John Galliano has been handed his walking papers after a barrage of accusations of racist and anti-Semitic rants. Dior’s president and CEO, Sidney Toledano, told WWD, “I condemn most firmly the statements made by John Galliano, which are a total contradiction with the essential values that have always been defended by the House of Christian Dior.”

Dior suspended Galliano Thursday after he was arrested for allegedly hurling racist and anti-semitic slurs at a couple while drinking at La Perle, a Parisian ‘see and be seen’ hotspot. The final straw came when a video, reportedly shot last year, surfaced online, showing the British designer declaring he loves Hitler, among other controversial remarks, at the same restaurant.

Recent Oscar winner and face of Miss Dior Cherie perfume, Natalie Portman, ripped into Galliano saying she’s “shocked and disgusted,” adding, "as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way."

Galliano's firing leaves the House of Dior sans-creative director just days before its Autumn/Winter 2011/2012 ready-to-wear collection is slated to be shown at Paris Fashion Week. The question now is who will take the reigns, and how long will it take for Galliano to be snatched up by another fashion house.

Check out the video of Galliano's remarks below:

The Evolution of The Corset

By Salma Moustafa

The corset has certainly evolved throughout fashion history.Most commonly worn in the mid-1800s, the corset was considered a medical necessity. It was believed that a woman was very fragile and needed assistance from some form of stay to hold her up. It wasn't until the Victorian Era in the 19th century, that the widespread use of the corset emerged. Recurring changes of female shapes, mainly to the waist being enhanced or concealed led to the disappearance and reappearance of the corset in 20th century fashion.

During the Art Deco period in the 1920's, dresses were more flat and square with less emphasis on the waist. Corsets disappeared for a while.However, in the 1940's, "The New Look" created by Christian Dior placed emphasis on the waist, once again, bringing the corset back but this time turning it into a bustier.

In the 1970's, Vivienne Westwood becomes the first designer of the 20th century to use corset in its original form which led to designers Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler following in her path in the 1980's.

Madonna wears one of Jean-Paul Gaultier's corsets in her world tour in the 1990's making her the first woman to wear them as outerwear.A fashion trend commences.

And now with the increasing trend of curvy women, a niche has emerged with some craving the need of curves once again.Once considered a medical necessity, the corset has now become a form of liberation and sexual empowerment for women everywhere, translating the corset from a garmet worn as innerwear to one that can be worn as outerwear.