Trust Cate Blanchett to deliver drama with perfect poise. The veteran fashionista wowed in an ostrich-feathered McQueen confection — a fishtail gown with the most decadent display of feathers gathered at the hemline. We love that she balances both the volume and luxury of her dress with understated makeup and a simple, slicked-back ponytail. With a gown like this, you need little else but a pair of delicate studs, a diamond bangle, and a box clutch — precisely how Cate perfects her Met Gala style. How do you rate her arrival?

Fashion Flashback — See All of Our Royal Wedding Style Coverage!
Tomorrow marks Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding anniversary. It was a stylish, momentous event and if you're looking to take a walk down memory lane, we covered every aspect of Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding for you to peruse. Check out our roundup for the complete breakdown — ranging from an all-angle breakdown of Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen dress to what the guests were wearing — and tell us what you think about their big day. Congrats to the happy couple for one amazing year!
4 Statement Scarves You Need Now
A scarf is the perfect statement piece to breathe life into even the most basic ensembles. So today, we've rounded up four lust-worthy scarves that will punch up your look year round. From lovely leopard, to playful polka dots, to signature McQueen skulls, make sure to pick up one of these bold accessories. On Allison: StyleMint top, Forever 21 blazer, House of Harlow 1960 necklace.
Sarah Burton and Spanx Inventor Sarah Blakely Named to Time 100 List

>> Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen and Spanx inventor Sarah Blakely are the only two names in fashion to land on Time's annual list of the world's 100 most influential people.
Burton famously designed the wedding dress Kate Middleton wore when she married Prince William last year, and has been running Alexander McQueen since its founder Lee McQueen committed suicide in 2010. In the entry accompanying Burton's name, Sarah Jessica Parker — a longtime McQueen supporter — celebrates Burton's dedication to her craft. "She thinks about women and art and stories, weaves her tale into the future of fashion," Parker writes. "On the runway she is inspired."
Journalist Katie Couric penned Blakely's entry, in which she jokingly points out that Blakely doesn't need to wear her own waist-slimming products. "Poor thing," Couric writes, "She was a size 2 when the idea hit her."
The list honors other fashionable women who aren't in the industry — Viola Davis, Claire Danes, Rihanna, Adele, Pippa Middleton, and Kate Middleton are all included. An increase to two fashion names on the list is an improvement over last year; in 2011, Tom Ford was the only designer on the Time 100.
But Time hasn't forgotten about the runway set. The magazine recently released a list of the world's 100 greatest fashion icons, which includes Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell, Steven Meisel, and Coco Chanel, among others.
Photo: The finale of Alexander McQueen's Fall 2012 show.
Charlize Theron's Soft Pink Blazer Makes Leather More Femme — Too Chic!
Charlize Theron is always sharp, but the actress popped up in Paris in an outfit — soft pink Stella McCartney blazer, black leather pants, Giuseppe Zanotti cap-toe pumps — that took chic to exciting heights. After a French dinner, Charlize hit the streets to show off her sweet-cum-badass ensemble, which included a killer Alexander McQueen clutch and Stella McCartney black aviator shades. Charlize's look sans blazer would have been too hardcore, but with it, it got a much-needed feminine jolt. Black-and-white cap-toe pumps ensured that she stayed right on trend. If you can't get enough of Charlize's Parisian look, shop similar pieces below to re-create it for your next fancy dinner. Then ditch the leather pants for wide-leg trousers for a more work-appropriate version.

When Sarah Burton Lied to Anna Wintour, Analyzing the Modeling Industry, and Kate Moss's 300 Covers

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>> Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.
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- Sarah Burton looked Anna Wintour straight in the eye and lied to her about her involvement with Kate Middleton's royal wedding dress — not a feat most designers could pull off. According to Hamish Bowles, the editor cornered Burton and asked her point blank whether or not she was designing it, and Burton said no. "Anna was telling everyone, 'Sarah told me she's not doing the dress, so she's not doing the dress,'" Bowles said. [The Cut]
br> - A few other pieces of Alexander McQueen's creations are on display as part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's current exhibit, titled British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age. Among other items included in the exhibit is "a tattered Anarchy in the U.K. T-shirt designed by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren." [Fashion Etc]
br> - The Model Alliance today released an analysis of the modeling industry's working conditions and found that 68 percent of the models surveyed suffered from depression or anxiety, and 77 percent had been exposed to drugs and alcohol on the job. The analysis also revealed that 93 percent of models get their start in the industry before their 20th birthday. [The Fashion Spot]
br> - Marissa Mayer is known as much for her position as one of the top female engineers at Google as she is for her penchant for designer clothing. "Oscar de la Renta is an amazing designer who works really well with color and detail which I think is something that's inspiring," she says. "When you want to treat yourself to something that's really beautiful, that really inspires you and captures your imagination, you should buy it." [BuzzFeed Shift]
br> - Just how many issues of Vogue has Kate Moss covered? According to a new book, Kate Moss: The Making of an Icon, she's been on over 300 covers of international editions of the magazine, including her recent September 2011 cover of American Vogue. [Stylelist]
Slash Your Little Black Dress Like Maria Sharapova
Tennis beauty Maria Sharapova helped TAG Heuer open a new store in Miami, and along with her fancy watch, sported a badass Alexander McQueen slash LBD. Her exact dress is available for $1,760, but if that's not in your budget, you can still get the slashed look without slashing your wallet. What we love so much about Maria's McQueen is how the cutout bodice helped counterbalance the girlishness of the mermaid hemline. While a classic LBD is a must, having something fashion forward is equally great for those times when you'd rather look less good girl and more bad babe. Check out the widget below to see some of our favorite slashed little black dresses — there are slashes in front, back, side, all over, so take your pick.

Eye-Catching Makeup Looks From Paris Fashion Week
Europe's Fashion Weeks have come to a close for Fall 2012, and Paris ended on a high note with some unconventional eye makeup looks. Ornate eyebrows at Chanel, bright mascara from Stella McCartney, and illustrated eyeliner at Miu Miu were among the runway highlights. See the boldest looks — watch now!
Alexander McQueen Fall 2012
All gorgeous iterations of volume and texture, Sarah Burton gives us a new slant on Alexander McQueen's futuristic sense with femininity and optimism for Fall 2012. She tapped right into girlish fantasy from the very beginning and saw it all the way through in pinks, fuchsia, floral-embellishment, and the most extreme proportions of fluff and fur. There may be less of the provocative, darker sense that McQueen's later collections were made of, but that's not to say that Burton doesn't impress with her own artistry. The shapely play and construction are a testament to Burton's expertise. Floral-embellishments feel like full rosebushes on voluminous tiers, feathers and fringe move like beautiful sea creatures, and sculptural laser-cut looks have the delicacy of porcelain. In every piece, Burton tells her story — romantic, yes, but not tinged in nostalgia; with mirrored visors on, McQueen's girl is still looking toward the future.
- Trends: Volume, texture, femininity, fur, metallics.
- Colors: Pink, fuchsia, black, gray, white, silver.
- Key Piece: The white and black laser-cut looks were a beautiful departure from the extreme volume.
- Accessories: Fur, floral, and fringe-embellished platforms to match every look, visor-like glasses, furry mittens and gloves, fur collars, oversize metallic bows and flowers at the waist.
- Who Would Wear It: The most whimsical and imaginative of fashionistas; Anna Dello Russo would be a perfect fit for the voluminous furs and pom-pom adorned looks.
Alexander McQueen Fall 2012
>> For Fall 2012, all the gorgeous, classic McQueen-isms were in place — hoof-like shoes, nipped-waists coats, drama to the umpth degree — but this season, Sarah Burton injected much more of her own viewpoint into the mix. It came in the form of lightness, volume, and shining optimism. Silhouettes were lush, round, and frothy, with mirror-like details and masses of floral appliqué. Dresses were done in blush-hued tiers of ruffles, coats were capped by whisper-light tufts of ivory fur, and skirts were covered in intricate doily laces. "It’s futurism with softness, not cold futurism," Burton explained.
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With a collection as magical as this, Burton's future is so bright she might want to wear shades. Maybe that explains the giant, super-dark visors covering each model's face.










