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2010's Defining Moments

As 2010 draws to a close, it's time to reflect on the past 12 months and the fashion moments that have defined a year in style. (via style.com)





From Tom Ford’s return to womenswear and Lanvin’s collection for H&M to Giles Deacon's appointment at Ungaro, this has been a year of newsworthy highs and tragic lows - Alexander McQueen died in February and Corinne Day passed away in August.

And then there are the year's most memorable events - Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief show, Fashion's Night Out, the first ever Fashion's Night In and Louis Vuitton's star-studded maison opening - not to mention Emma Watson's new pixie crop and Chanel's incredible iceberg at its autumn/winter 2010-11 show.

The Lowdown On Valentino's Incredible Roman Extravaganza

"Make it beautiful." That was all Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti told Patrick Kinmonth and Antonio Monfreda when they hired them to design an exhibition marking 45 years of the designer's work. Everyone connected with the anniversary celebrations in Rome had clearly been given the same brief. The century is still young, but Valentino has set the party bar impossibly high with his 36-hour extravaganza.

There were four main way stations: Friday's exhibition opening at the Meier-designed Ara Pacis Museum followed by a dinner at the Temple of Venus, then Saturday's presentation of Valentino's couture collection and a black-tie ball on the grounds of the Villa Borghese. So, plenty of opportunities for Val's gals to work their way through a wardrobe of his outfits.



"Nothing looks old," a bedazzled Elizabeth Saltzman Walker declared, speaking for everyone at the Ara Pacis. To prove the point, Dr. Lisa Airan was wearing a dress from the archive that was designed 40 years ago but could have been from Saturday's show. "Valentino made one of my wedding dresses," Astrid Muñoz said cryptically. "It was red."

Milan Fashion Week: Dolce & Gabbana’s 25th anniversary celebrates silhouette, Sicily and sensuality

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Italy's most famous designer duo, celebrated a quarter-century of collaboration at Milan Fashion Week.

Their 50th Dolce & Gabbana collection was a romantic and poetic salute to their heritage of clothes for the sensual woman, both dressed and undressed.

The show was staged in the old Metropole Theatre, where Maria Callas once sang, which is now a Dolce & Gabbana headquarters.

A total of 75 models, wearing variations on tailored black jackets over black satin and lace corsetry, formed a dramatic visual encapsulation of the brand's tradition, walking against a backdrop of black-and-white footage of the work done in the studio to bring the collection to fruition.

The collection was as much a romantic homage to the duo's strong feminine ideal, as it was about a shared, enduring passion for designing beautiful clothes.

Called 'Sartorialita, Sicilianita, Sensualita', the collection, for next autumn/winter, revisited the brand's signatures of tailoring, corsetry, leopard and rose-print, and the age-old black garb of the Sicilian woman, updated in knits, lightweight silks and stretch fabrics.

The news that Alexander McQueen has killed himself is particularly devastating because it always felt to me like he’d be the last man standing. He was restless, but so pragmatic with it I assumed he had what it took to endure the extreme situations he placed himself in. He was also an arch romantic with a pessimistic streak. It produced some of the most beautiful, shocking images in the history of fashion, but it’s a state of mind that can lead to endless disappointments. The death of McQueen’s mother last week would have validated his pessimism. It would undoubtedly have taken away his most vital support. It’s awful to imagine him trying—and failing—to cope, and one can only hope that, if he was looking for peace, he found it. For everyone left behind, there will eventually be consolation, however scant right now, in a body of work whose power will never die.

Alexander McQueen’s Memorial - During London Fashion Week in September, the fashion industry gathered at St Paul’s Cathedral for Alexander McQueen’s memorial service. Kate Moss, Anna Wintour, Annabel Nielson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Naomi Campbell were in attendance to hear Bjork – dressed as an angel – give a moving performance of Billie Holiday's Gloomy Sunday.

Usually, you wouldn’t want to see this much skin at a 90th birthday party. But when it’s a 90th birthday party for Paris Vogue, all bets are off. Carine Roitfeld and her Gallic crew threw a bal masqué in Paris last night, and though the faces were obscured, not much else was. Sheer—which has been all over the Spring runways—was the look of the night. The charge was led by the hostess, in a see-through, leopard-spotted Givenchy number, and her heiress apparent, daughter Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, in a gold-embellished sheer number from Peter Dundas’ Spring ‘11 Pucci runway. Natalia Vodianova, Mariacarla Boscono, Lily Donaldson, and Bianca Brandolini d’Adda were also feeling the transparent vibe. (Some, like Maryna Linchuk, above, went for sheer masks, too.)

Over 1,200 guests descended on Rome's Palazzo delle Esposizioni last night for an exclusive preview of Bulgari's 125th anniversary retrospective. "I want a snake bracelet from 1972 all in gold," said Ginnifer Goodwin as she admired a roomful of the Italian jeweler's signature Tubogas serpents, including Diana Vreeland's to-die-for belt. Chloe Sevigny also counts herself a fan of Bulgari's seventies and eighties creations. "I've worn so many pieces in this exhibition," she told us. Lucky girl, but perhaps not quite as fortunate as Elizabeth Taylor. The jewels that the legendary actress loaned from her personal collection were arrayed in a room of their own with Richard Burton's famous quote decorating one wall: "I introduced her to beer and she introduced me to Bulgari." When in Rome…

Alexander McQueen’s Last Collection – A week after McQueen’s death, PPR - the company that owns the Alexander McQueen brand – confirmed that the collection that the designer had been working on would be shown during Paris Fashion Week, at an invitation only private salon presentation.



The following month, a select group of editors gathered at the PPR headquarters to see a moving tribute to McQueen’s great talent. To the backdrop of classical music and gilt-edged mirrors, 15 exquisite looks, inspired by religious iconography, were shown in a moment of profound poignancy.

Fashion’s Night In – After the phenomenal success of Fashion’s Night Out, this November VOGUE.COM brought all the fun inside and online for the first ever Fashion’s Night In.



From exclusive product launches and one-off designer collaborations to competitions and live fashion advice, it was one big online fashion party. And all for a good cause too – a portion of the night’s sales was donated to the children’s charity KidsCo.

Fashion For Relief – Naomi Campbell staged her Fashion For Relief catwalk show at Somerset House just a few days after Alexander McQueen's death. In tribute to the designer, Kate Moss and McQueen’s muse Annabelle Neilson took to the catwalk with Naomi in pieces from his last collection.

Fashion Kisses – After the moving catwalk tribute paid to McQueen’s memory by Naomi, Kate and Annabelle, the mood was lifted when comedians David Walliams (who was engaged to Vogue cover girl Lara Stone at the time and - married her in May), and James Corden camped it up spectacularly down the catwalk before snogging for the cameras.

Fashion’s Night Out –The international, global celebration of fashion and shopping was back again for 2010 and even more fun than last year - with Bugsy Malone-themed dance lessons in Rupert Sanderson, cookery lessons in Browns, customising classes at Harvey Nicks (from Erdem, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders), make-up lessons in Chanel and live music in the windows of Matthew Williamson and Burberry.

Lanvin for H&M – In September, after much speculation about which label would be the next to collaborate with H&M, it was announced that Lanvin would be joining forces with the high street brand for a collection. “What intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public,” said Lanvin creative director Alber Elbaz of the collaboration.

Riccardo Tisci Autumn/Winter 2010-11 Couture Show for Givenchy – Presented in the 18th Century Hotel D’Evreaux – which was given to Madame de Pompadour by King Louis XV- the fashion world was left abuzz after Tisci’s small but perfectly formed couture show, which was based on the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration and Frida Kahlo’s three great passions: religion, anatomy and sensuality.



“What’s amazing with his couture is that he manages to make it modern while infusing it with all the gravitas and impact of couture and you really get to see the detail of it,” said Vogue’s fashion director Kate Phelan.

The Burberry Front Row – Since Burberry returned to show in London for the 25th anniversary celebrations of London Fashion Week in September 2009, the brand’s front row has consistently been one of the week’s starriest. The spring/summer 2011 show was no exception - Sarah Jessica Parker, Alexa Chung, Andy Murray, Serena Williams, Cat Deeley and Mario Testino were among the famous faces gathered to see Christopher Bailey’s spring collection.

The Death of Corinne Day – After a long struggle with brain cancer, fashion photographer Corinne Day passed away on August 27. Her lens had captured some of the most iconic images and famous faces - including Kate Moss - of the past two decades and her talent was charted across the pages and covers of Vogue.

Tom Ford’s Return to Womenswear – Tom Ford made a triumphant return to womenswear in New York during Fashion Week for spring/summer 2011. After dedicating the last six years since leaving Gucci to designing menswear and movie making, Ford acted as master of ceremonies at his Madison Avenue store, where he introduced his collection - which was modelled by Daphne Guinness, Beyoncé, Stella Tennant, Julianne Moore, Marisa Berenson and Lauren Hutton - to a super exclusive gathering of editors and buyers.

And finally, my dear Fellow Fashionistas – FM is coming back!

Introduce...

If you ask me what I am thinking about him, I could tell you more than few words. But, if you aks me, what I am thinking about his work, about his delicious photos, my answer will be just one word: Fabulous!

He has creativity, his Polaroids, adorable blog The Singular, and many, many marvelous shoots!

He is Antonio Barros.

*In a period of digital information, people are flooded with countless images.

One unique polaroid picture. One single moment.

An attempt to be out of the ordinary.* - Antonio Barros

Ana: Tell me something about your beginning?

Antonio: I started to photograph professionally runway shows for brazilian newspapers and magazines in 2004. In january 2006 I moved to Paris and began to photograph for WireImage. I had the opportunity to see shows like Jean Paul Gaultier, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Fendi, DKNY, Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent and mostly all shows in Paris, New York, London and Milan. It was not easy but I was really lucky and my work started to be published in many magazines.

Ana: Who is your nonesuch?

Antonio: I'm a big fan of Mario Testino and Helmut Newton!

Ana: Have you ever wished to leave your profession?

Antonio: Yes. Many times! When clients don't pay, when money is short... but I always get over it.

Ana: What is the most important to photographers, except for high-quality camera?

Antonio: Creativity!

Ana: With whom you have had the best cooperation?

Antonio: I worked with many amazing make-up artists, hair stylists, models and wardrobe stylists. It is really difficult for me to say just one person.

Ana: In which your photo you are in love?

Antonio: Right now I'm in love with my Polaroids!

Ana: What is your Life philosophy?

Antonio: "Why not?!" If I have one opportunity to do something that I never did... or to go somewhere I never went... or to try... why not?!

Ana: Tell me something about your Inspirations?

Antonio: I walk a lot in the streets and always like to observe people and architecture. If I find a nice place I right down the address and keep it in mind until I get the right clothes/model/thema.

Ana: Which construction, building is the most beautiful at your photos? And, whose face is the most beautiful on your photos?

Antonio: The Louvre is for sure the prettiest building I have photographed. Tanya Dziahileva looks always gorgeous in my backstage pictures.

Ana: Average your threshold of tolerance, on the scale of 1 to 10?

Antonio: I'm very tolerant with people as long they don't abuse of me. I would pick number 5.

Ana: You would award yourselves the medal for ...?

Antonio: I would not award myself anything yet! I will evaluate my life and give me awards only when there is nothing left to do.

Ana: What invention would you most delight?

Antonio: Teletransportation!!!

Ana: Do you accept criticism? Did you able to destroy the image, if not highlights what you want?

Antonio: Sure I accept criticism but it has to be constructive and show me where I did wrong. If I'm not pleased with an image I did, I keep the image.. but don't use it.

Ana: Whom you appreciate that you learned something? And what was that?

Antonio: I'm grateful to all make-up artists, hair stylists, models, stylists and journalists I worked with! I learned something every time I have worked with someone!

Ana: To whose “Bravo” you care?

Antonio: The most important "Bravo" is always the one from the client!

Ana: Which scents the entire, challenge whole body react?

Antonio: I can't resist the smell of Pizza!!!

Ana: When you overacting?

Antonio: Driving at traffic jam's makes me go insane!

Ana: Do you prefer models whos flirt with the object~glass?

Antonio: It is always easier to work with models that come up with their own ideas and interact with the camera. But it is also very nice to work with shy models or new faces.

Ana: Did you kind always or kindness conditional kindness?

Antonio: I'm always kind to everybody.

Ana: Did you ever find ahead, in front of the objective? How you behave and how you feel in the front of the objective?

Antonio: I don't like so much to be photographed. I'm very shy in front of the camera and don't know what to do.

Ana: Is the objective“dangerous lover”?

Antonio: The camera for me is just like the scalpel for the surgeon, an instrument. Without knowledge the result will never be like planned.

Ana: Anyone who has at least one was in Serbia will tell you that Serbian women are the most beautiful women in the world. Whether it was enough (in the professional sense) that if you get a call, accept and visit Serbia?

Antonio: I have some Serbian friends and they are very kind and pretty! If I had the opportunity to travel to Serbia one day, I would go!

More photos by Antonio Barros you can see on his site.

Thank you, Antonio!