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Victoria’s Secret unveils 10 new models

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Victoria's Secret unveils 10 new models

Ten angels just got their wings, and some free bras.

Victoria’s Secret added 10 new models to its roster, which had recently been whittled down to five (Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel, and Lily Aldridge).

The lingerie company provided a 15-second clip introducing their new employees, and handy dandy summary of each new model’s bona fides, which include, variously, racket sports, salsa dancing, and trying new meals.

KATE GRIGORIEVA is an accomplished ballroom dancer. She graduated from art school and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing before starting her modeling career.

TAYLOR HILL was scouted at a horse ranch in Colorado. She likes new music, reading, snowboarding and practicing yoga.

ELSA HOSK began modeling after her father submitted photographs to a local agency.  Elsa balanced modeling with a professional basketball career, eventually leaving the court to pursue modeling full time.

MARTHA HUNT was discovered in her home state of North Carolina at a modeling competition. She likes to cook and stays active with surfing and dancing.

JAC JAGACIAK was discovered during a casting at a shopping mall in her hometown of Puszczykowo. She comes from an athletic family, and trained in track and field since childhood. She enjoys playing sports and cooking.

STELLA MAXWELL has lived all over the world. She was discovered by a New Zealand agent, loves racket sports, hiking and travel.

LAIS RIBEIRO stays active with boxing, volleyball and soccer. She also has a passion for salsa dancing.

SARA SAMPAIO has won the Portuguese “Best Female Model” Golden Globe multiple times. She is a brown belt in karate, plays the violin, and loves to surf.

ROMEE STRIJD has a passion for interior design and cooking. She stays fit with running and boxing.

JASMINE TOOKES practiced gymnastics for 14 years and played high school volleyball. She is a self-described “foodie” who loves trying new and exotic meals.

 

More from RUNWAY: THE NEW FACES (&BODS) OF VICTORIA’S SECRET  |  Explore FASHION

A protein battle underlies the beauty of orchids

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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A protein battle underlies the beauty of orchids

The shapes of the petals and lip of this Phalaenopsis orchid are governed by competition between two different protein complexes, a new study finds.

One of the main characteristics that make orchids so attractive to us and to pollinators is shape. Unlike a flower such as a daisy, orchids don’t have a uniform pattern of petals and sepals. Instead, one of the orchid flower petals has been modified into a lip that can serve as a landing zone for, say, a bee.

The formation of the lip and the standard petals, a new study finds, is governed by two competing sets of proteins. And when researchers modified those proteins, they changed an orchid’s shape. Hsing-Fun Hsu of National Chung Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan, and colleagues report their findings April 27 inNature Plants.

In plants, flower development is controlled by a group of genes called MADS-box. About 60 million years ago in orchid ancestors, some of these MADS-box genes got duplicated, and those new versions of the genes changed in ways that gave them new functions. In studying those genes, Hsu and colleagues found two groups of proteins, the “L” complex and the “SP” complex. How much of each protein complex a flower makes determines whether the lip or the standard petals are dominant.

A mutant version of one orchid called Oncidium Gower Ramsey has petals that are all shaped like lips, and it expresses only the L proteins, the researchers found. In other species, the team found that the balance between lip and petal was reflected in the expression of the two protein complexes. The scientists then used a virus to manipulate the expression of the L complex in Oncidium and Phalaenopsis orchids, which converted lips into standard petals.

“This experiment nicely shows that during orchid evolution two copies of duplicated developmental genes acquired a new function by specifically promoting lip identity,” Barbara Gravendeel and Anita Dirks-Mulder of the University of Applied Sciences Leiden in the Netherlands, write in an accompanying commentary in Nature Plants.

Orchids are somewhat of an evolutionary oddity in that they manage to lure in pollinators without offering some kind of food reward in return. Usually pollinators figure out pretty quickly that there’s no point in visiting flowers that don’t provide them with some benefit. But there’s something about orchids that keeps luring them in. Understanding the genes and proteins that underlie the shape and allure of orchids could help scientists figure out how these plants manage to attract bees, flies, moths, mantises, butterflies, gnats and bats — and us.

Newswire: BY SARAH ZIELINSKI

More from RUNWAY: The Ultimate Beauty Smoothie  |  Explore BEAUTY

Chanel Messenger Bag

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Chanel Messenger Bag

We love this washed fabric messenger bag by Chanel.

It has an an embroidered CC Signature and a hippy cheek style.

The bag itself is 10 inches by 11 inches by 3.3 inches and its priced at $3800 USD.

Here is a shot from the runway show.
Channel-bag-2015-hippy-style

‘Dancing With The Stars’ 10th Anniversary

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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'Dancing With The Stars' 10th Anniversary

“Dancing With The Stars” is celebrating its 10th anniversary and ABC is making sure that this will be a celebration worth remembering. Originally, the anniversary special was scheduled in May, but ABC moved it to next week so schedules have to be made.

On Monday, April 2, the Week 7 competition will push forward. One couple will be eliminated on Monday. As for the double elimination, supposedly scheduled for Tuesday night, this will be moved next Tuesday to give way to the anniversary special.

As tweeted by the Official DWTS, “The Top 7 perform on Monday, then come back Tuesday for a very special 10th Anniversary celebration.”

So, how big is the 10th anniversary celebration? Here’s the official description from ABC:

“Dancing history will be made with the show’s largest opening number ever, featuring over 45 stars including the judges, hosts, and Season 20 pro dancers performing alongside 15 celebrity alums and seven returning pros. Viewers can expect to see exciting new routines, with everything from an NFL football player ensemble to a ‘bromance’ dance.”

Come Tuesday, “Dancing With The Stars” will showcase the culmination of its talents, most popular contestants and pro-dancers as well as showcase why the show has lasted this long and why the fans still love it.

To make the celebration a spectacle, fans can expect to see dance numbers from Superbowl Champions Donald Driver, Kurt Warner, Hines Ward, Jacoby Jones, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Jerry Rice together with Karina Smirnoff, Emma Slater and Anna Trebunskaya.

Also, “DWTS” Season 18 winners Meryl Davis, Maksim Chmerkovskiy will have a showdown against Season 19 winners Witney Carson and Alfonso Ribiero.

Celebrity dancers who will perform on stage includes Amy Pury, Chelsea Kane, Kelly Monaco, Maria Menounos, Kristi Yamaguchi, Melissa Ryroft and many more.

There will be tons of surprises on Tuesday night, including Patti LaBelle singing “Lady Marmalade” with Lil’ Kim and four-month pregnant Katherine Jenkins will also hit the stage, a first in the show’s history.

“Dancing With The Stars” Week 7 airs April 27, while the 10th Anniversary Special airs April 28.

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Aakomon Jones AKA AJ

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Aakomon Jones AKA AJ

Aakomon “AJ” Jones
may not sound like a
familiar name to you, but
you’ve probably seen it
on many film and music
credits without realizing.
Maybe it won’t be his
name that stands out,
but rather his dance
moves. AJ Jones is the
choreographer behind
tremendous performers
like Madonna and Usher,
as well as hit movies.
Most recently, Jones’
choreography was
featured in the James
Brown biopic, “Get On
Up!”, and soon you’ll be
seeing his work in the
much anticipated “Pitch
Perfect 2”. Runway had
the pleasure to discuss
the beautiful, challenging
and entertaining art of
dance!

Aakomon “AJ” Jones and the Work Behind the Movement

This 2015 RUNWAY archive feature captures Aakomon “AJ” Jones at a moment when his choreography was moving easily between music, film and live performance. The original profile introduced Jones through work connected with artists including Madonna and Usher, along with choreography for the James Brown biopic Get On Up and the then-upcoming Pitch Perfect 2. Those credits help explain why a choreographer can be influential even when audiences do not immediately recognize the name behind the movement.

Choreography is more than a sequence of steps. In music and film, it determines how performers occupy a frame, how a camera follows motion and how a performance builds tension or release. A successful choreographer has to understand music, character, physical ability and visual storytelling at the same time. That combination is what makes Jones’ cross-media résumé especially relevant to RUNWAY’s coverage of entertainment and performance.

Why Choreography Matters to Fashion and Pop Culture

Fashion and choreography regularly overlap. Clothing has to move convincingly on a body, stage costumes have to survive repeated performance, and a strong silhouette can become more memorable when movement gives it shape. Music videos, concert tours and film sequences often turn fashion into part of the choreography itself. A jacket, dress or pair of shoes can change the way a performer moves, while the choreography can make a look feel iconic.

Jones’ work with major performers illustrates that relationship. The audience may remember the song, costume or film scene first, but the movement is often what binds those elements together. That makes choreography an important part of the visual language shared by entertainment and fashion.

A RUNWAY Archive Interview Worth Revisiting

The value of this short archive item is its direct connection to a working creative professional whose contribution normally happens behind the scenes. RUNWAY’s 2015 conversation focused on the beauty, difficulty and entertainment value of dance at a point when Jones’ film work was reaching a broad audience. Preserving that context gives the page more value than a simple name-and-credit listing.

For more coverage of performers, directors and the creative teams shaping visual culture, explore RUNWAY’s Entertainment coverage.

Coco Chanel’s Secret ‘Love Nest’ Is Up For Sale

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Coco Chanel's Secret 'Love Nest' Is Up For Sale

It began at a lavish party in Monte Carlo and would last for a decade. Legend says that he concealed a large uncut emerald for her to discover, hidden at the bottom of a crate of vegetables. Now Coco Chanel and the Earl of Grosvenor’s alleged ‘secret love nest’ is on sale for a whopping £3 million.

Over 80 years later, sparkling jewels have all but vanished and the neglected house itself – an emblem of Coco’s secret love affair –  is now a dilapidated relic to a bygone age.

Let’s hope whoever purchases the Highlands mansion invests the same amount of love with which it was bought in the 1920s by Hugh ‘Bendor’ Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster.

Built in 1820, the mansion resides on The Rosehall Estate, near Inverness, and currently boasts 22 rooms on a 700 acre plot of land.

During the twenties, Coco Chanel set to work, transforming each room with her own unique style, and although much has changed since she left nearly a century ago, some of those rooms still whisper, bearing her legendary mark.

If rooms could talk. The walls of those 22 rooms witnessed their fair share of history, as even Winston Churchill himself stayed with Coco at the property during the summer months. Writing to his wife, Churchill enthused about Coco’s talent for fishing, revealing ‘she fishes from morn till night, and in two months has killed 50 salmon. She is very agreeable – really a great and strong being fit to rule a man or an Empire.’

 

His words ring true, especially when the time came for Chanel to explain why she never married the Duke. ‘There have been several Duchesses of Westminster’ she apparently replied. ‘There is only one Chanel.’

 


At £3 million, there may only be one buyer for the forgotten mansion that framed a unique period in Coco Chanel’s unconventional life. Only time will tell if it is returned to its former glory once again.

‘People’s lives are an enigma’, Chanel once said. Perhaps none so mysterious as Coco’s.

Kat Lister via Newswire

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Pumpkin seed oil: A beauty must-have?

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
-
Pumpkin seed oil: A beauty must-have?

Newswire by Sanaya Chavda

It may seem like an unusual tool to add to one’s beauty regime but pumpkin seed oil is slowly gaining more fans. The seeds of the fruit are rich sources of vitamins A, K, and E. They also contain other nutrients like omega-6 fatty acids, zinc and iron, which offer a host of benefits for the skin and hair. When used on the mane, it’s said to improve hair growth, strengthen strands and add shine. When used on the face, it not only hydrates, but can also help fight acne and stop scars from forming. A number of beauty brands such as Peter Thomas Roth, Murad and Burt’s Bees have incorporated this oil in their face serums and hand creams. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is also a fan of the product. In fact, incorporating the oil in one’s cooking can help improve moods and ease menopausal symptoms.

Helps soothe irritated skin
Dr Geeta Oberoi, dermatologist and founder Skin and You clinic says pumpkin seeds can be added in salads or used in cooking but it can also be used topically on the skin after taking your doctor’s opinion. “Pumpkin seed oil can be applied on the scalp and left on for an hour or two and then washed off. However, this oil should not be used by those with greasy scalps. The oil contains many essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and helps to soothe irritated skin. It also hydrates and renews new skin cells, increases the firmness and offers relief from eczema and rashes. One’s skin tone can also improve because of the rich vitamin A content that it contains. It can also help improve acne since the seeds are rich in zinc and selenium that clears the complexion.

Works as a nutritional supplement
Dr Abhay Talathi, dermatologist, Skin Space, explains pumpkin seed oil is yet another nutritional food product made available for consumers. “Capsules of pumpkin seed oil can be consumed for its antioxidant benefits, however consumers should have realistic expectations. It can also be used for hair conditioning but I’m not sure if it helps with hair fall. Used as a facial oil it can have good moisturising abilities and help maintain skin glow and delay the ageing process,” he says.

Recommended for hair
Pumpkin seed oil is not that popular in India yet says Dr Jaishree Sharad, CEO, Skinfiniti Aesthetic Skin and Laser Clinic. “I would recommend it to use on the hair but not for skin, as there is still no scientific studies proving its efficacy. One can use it like a regular oil on the scalp. As for the skin benefits, it is rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, so it may have anti-ageing effects but there’s no research done yet,” she says.

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Romantic You – Single and looking?

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Romantic You - Single and looking?

by Sandy Lo

Today’s woman is not about catering to a spouse’s every whim. We are take charge, powerful, hardworking, go-getters. While we’re busy attacking life searching for the right career, having fun, finding ourselves, and exploring the world, our love lives can sometimes take a backseat, or completely fall off the map. We still want what our housewife great grandparents wanted, though. We want to find love and make it last.

With the divorce rate sky high, and so many failed past relationships, we begin to wonder what went wrong for us and those around us. The truth is, most people are not mentally ready for romantic relationships before jumping into them. Let’s face it, most women were little girls who planned their dream wedding, swooned over teen heartthrobs, envisioning their lives with said heartthrob, and lived a big happily ever after.

It all seemed so simple; that’s how the movies always made it look anyway. We then continue to jump from relationship to relationship with no real grasp of key concepts, like communication, compromising, and common core beliefs.

We women boast ourselves to be the more mature gender, and maybe that’s true in some cases, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have some mental growth and preparation to do ourselves before jumping into a serious, committed relationship. Before we can even look, there are a few ducks we should have in a row first. Even as the search for “the one” ensues, we need to not hold those movie star images in our minds of what our mate should look like. It’s just not fair to us or that guy who has all of the right qualities, but lacks Channing Tatum’s body and Hugh Jackman’s Aussie accent.

We asked relationship expert and founder of MarriageMaterial.co, Dana Michel to weigh in on the subject.

Runway: What are some key signs that a woman is mentally secure enough to be in a serious, marriage potential relationship?

Dana Michel: The key signs are as follows: 1. She is no longer obsessing about past relationships. A new man should be able to be judged on his own merits and not for the past actions of previous boyfriends. 2. She is willing to let her guard down and let a new person in. There are many women who date, but remain guarded and defensive. Men tire of trying to break through and move onto someone who is warm and open to an emotional connection. 3. She is no longer seeking the impossible standard perfection that is only found in movies. All too often we are rigid and hold onto “The List” we made as teenagers. Does he really need to look like Brad Pitt if he has everything else?

R: How can you decipher between settling and not being too picky?

Dana: Settling means she is fundamentally believes she is taking a step down. If you feel like you are settling then move on because he will surely feel it, and the relationship will become toxic. Compromising is an adult form of give and take, which every successful relationship requires on a daily basis. Compromising can be as simple as choosing a restaurant to the more difficult issues concerning how many children to have, where to live, or how to deal with extended family.

R: In today’s society, how valuable is online dating?

Dana: It is an essential tool for 2014 and beyond. It extends your inner circle and allows you to meet people you would never come in contact with. The truth is that most of us are stuck in a routine with work, home, errands, family obligations, etc., which makes it hard to meet new people organically. It is possible to meet someone at the dry cleaners, but it is a rare occurrence.

R: Where else is a good place to meet people?

Dana: Introductions from friends and colleagues, business conferences, group activities, such as cross fit or salsa classes. Pick hobbies that promote interaction with others. The most important thing is to be open about the physical traits you are looking for. Does he really have to have green eyes?

R: What things should a woman have in place before considering marriage?

Dana: 1. She needs to have a clear understanding of who she is and what she wants her life to look like. 2. Her finances should be in order to be a real partner to her husband. Finances are the #1 factor leading to divorce. 3. She needs to know what her must-haves, nice to haves, and deal breakers are and have the confidence and commitment to stand by her convictions when dating.

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Louis Vuitton’s Travel-Focused Spring Campaign 2015

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
-
Louis Vuitton’s Travel-Focused Spring Campaign 2015

Model Julia Nobis leaning on Louis Vuitton trunks featured in the “Spirit of Travel” ad campaign/Photo: Louis Vuitton

 

Luxury brand Louis Vuitton has long provided haute travelers with the finest quality luggage for sojourns around the globe, but the French design house is now making an even stronger push to target fashion-minded wayfarers.

The brand’s travel-themed, Spring 2015 marketing campaign is now being featured in New York Magazine’s blog, The Cut. The optimized ads, which can be viewed on both desktop and mobile versions of the blog, feature the bright blue skies and deep blue waters from the brand’s “Spirit of Travel” campaign shoot in the Caribbean. The campaign offers a welcome escape for travelers in New York City and beyond who have suffered through a brutal winter and are ready to escape in spring.

On mobile platforms, the ad appears as a banner across the top of the blog, with the name “Louis Vuitton” and the words “Spirit of Adventure ” written against the backdrop of the Caribbean sky. The desktop version is quite similar, with the banner expanding to border the navigation bar of New York Magazine’s website, with a corresponding ad placed on the page, further drawing eyes to the campaign. The corresponding ad features images from the campaign’s photo shoot with photographer Patrick Demarchelier.

Louis-Vuitton-Spirit-of-Travel-ecommerce
An image from the Louis Vuitton Spirit of Adventure Campaign/ Photo via Luxury Daily

Once clicked, the ad takes visitors to a landing page where they are presented with options on how to explore the “Spirit of Adventure” campaign. Louis Vuitton’s various handbags and trunks are lovingly showcased against the backdrop of the Caribbean. Visitors can either watch the entire campaign film, or choose between the featured bags and view them individually. The full campaign video features each piece of the Louis Vuitton collection, and is constructed as a narrative about “a modern voyager.” Models are shown walking through various terrain with the pieces of luggage in tow.

“By splitting the handbag collection into chapters, Louis Vuitton is able to tell a story about each style,” says Gay Gabrilska, senior vice president of operations at Gravit8 Marketing. “They are essentially saying one size doesn’t fit all, so understand the ins and outs of each design and then decide which one suits your style, similar to when you pick up a good book and you want to understand every facet of a character’s personality.”

After viewing the various videos, customers are taken to a page where they can flip through a slideshow of different images in the campaign and click on icons to learn more about each of the featured pieces. Customers can then add items to their online shopping bag or call customer service for help. Unfortunately, Louis Vuitton’s trunks, which can be seen throughout the campaign, are not available to purchase online.

Fashion marketing insiders came away with positive things to say about the campaign. “One of the key focuses of brands executing good mobile campaigns is to surprise and delight the consumer and Louis Vuitton does just that,” says Jeff Gunderman, President of Eye, New York. “Incredible imagery and great online and mobile executions. You want to spend time exploring.”

Louis Vuitton isn’t alone in creating specialized mobile campaigns for their collections. Burberry has also experimented with banner ads on travel websites like Departures. Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2015 campaign is available here.

 

(Via Luxury Daily)

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Jacqueline Toboni – RUNWAY

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
-
Jacqueline Toboni

by Melissa Farley

Hers is a story every aspiring actor dreams of; no years of endless auditions and countless rejection emails for this breakout star. Instead, the world of Hollywood came to her doorstep. Grimm executive producer Jim Kouf came to speak to Jacqueline Toboni’s Screen Arts and Culture seminar at University of Michigan and heard her do a reading of some of his material. Next thing you know she’s swept up in her own personal fairytale landing the role of ‘Trubel’ on season 3 of Grimm. This exceptional young lady talks about her first time on set, words of wisdom and swapping wardrobe

When you were transitioning into becoming a professional actor, what were the three best pieces of advice that other people gave you to be successful?

“There is power in silence.”

“You got a family? Keep it, so you can get away from all this when it gets too big. They’ll ground you.”

“They’ll try to break you down. Don’t listen to him. Just keep working.”

Being able to work and play in this fictional reality on set all day, what things from the world of Grimm do you wish existed in reality?

I think life in the Grimm world is much more exciting. Of course, I wouldn’t want people trying to kill me every day, but protecting people from different creatures would be very gratifying.

Every actor has that one role in mind and heart that you always think, “If I could just play that role, I’d win all the awards in the world and all the hearts of the universe!” What is that role for you?

If they remade “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” I would die to play Martha. That won’t be for a while, but when it happens I’ll be ready.

If you could swap wardrobes with any other actress you’ve met so far, who would it be and why?

Keke Palmer. I’m gunning for that Cinderella ball gown.

When you get nervous, either on set or auditioning, or maybe even in interviews, what do you do to combat those nerves?

Great question. Hopefully, it’s a situation where you can use that energy. Otherwise, just very deep breaths. I need to focus on the task itself, as opposed to the gravity of the situation.

Let us fans know how to keep in touch with you and follow your work and where we can expect to see you next!

I love when fans reach out, whether it be through mail or social media!

My Instagram is @jtoboni and my twitter is @jtaboner (ridiculous, I know).

More from RUNWAY: ENTERTAINMENT coverage.

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RUNWAY PICKS: Prada Tote

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
-
RUNWAY PICKS: Prada Tote

Shopping Ideas for Spring. Need a bag?
Love this tote, so cute. Black gives a taste of elegance. This one should be in every ladies collection.

 

Here the details:
Patent Saffiano leather tote
Double leather handle
Detachable adjustable leather shoulder strap
Steel hardware
Metal lettering logo on leather triangle
Snap closure on sides
Two outside pockets with zipper closure
Three inside pockets, including one with zipper closure
Nappa leather lining
$1980

l. 11.0    h. 7.6    w. 4.7    inches

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