IS IT JUST ME.....

but would you wear this? (dlisted.com)

los angeles - ........or is this a really ugly outfit. i spotted this on one of my fave blogs, dlisted.com, and couldn't even read the post attached to it. i was just caught up in the mess that is that dress - especially with the shrug and hat and stockings. it's in especially bad taste. even for paris hilton. and blaynista's, that's saying a whole lot.

PARIS COUTURE SHOWS: HI-LITES SO FAR

paris - first, a warm thank you to style.com for these photos. don't know whose on the camera for the website, but honestly, brilliant work. as you know, the couture shows in paris are in full swing. they wrap up tomorrow (and as i type mr. valentino is getting ready to show/is showing his last collection ever). what's been shown so far is simply amazing. my words could never be colorful enough to rival them, but i had to try. feast your eyes on the clothes and my commentary below. they are just a sample of what was shown. log on to style.com for the full collections and reviews.



DIOR - how does galliano and his team do it? after pulling off what i thought was a vividly original and daring menswear collection for his own namesake line, the designer turned around and featured a couture collection that was really beyond imagination. ( i mean really. only lsd and acid could manufacture trippy dresses like that.) i absolutely loved it. womenswear is always a very feminine affair. but these candy like confections really did take the cake.

GIVENCHY - I wasn't going to comment on the givenchy collection. i found the clothes nice - and that was about it. but then i saw this dress an understandably - i fell in love. haven't you? it's far and away my favorite piece from their collection.

CHANEL - it gets no more classic - yet modern - than the chanel couture collection. what can i say? i loved it. it was pared down and minimal yet at once grandiose and extravagant much like karl lagerfeld, the master mind behind the collection. i am curious to see how celebs will rework these pieces for the runway.

ARMANI PRIVE - this is not a line that usually moves me. but then again, this collection was unusually moving - at least as far as i'm concerned. brilliant colors, sexy silhouettes, and flirty flounces are just a few of the details that combined into a dazzling collection. i really could go on, but i think i'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

MENSWEAR SHOWS: MY WRAP UP

paris & milan - the menswear shows have wrapped up. but i wanted to catch up on a few other notable collections i liked and didn't like. n joy. zb

CALVIN KLINE - this show was a perfect example, to me of how despite the trends and the times - each label has a dna that it must keep. i am tempted to call their latest collection a snore, but that would be rash. ultimately, it was classic calvin kline: clean lines, modern shapes, cool tones. i'm sure buyers and connoisseurs of the brand were happy with it. in future, i'll learn to look for my thrills from other labels, like galliano's below.

LOUIS VUITTON - overall, the collection felt a bit gimmicky - a feeling played up by the use of helmets and umbrellas on the models. it's clear that this season the vuitton man is a working man - a graphic designer in europe perhaps? whatever his vocation he makes money. how else to explain his penchant for well tailored and well made pants, jackets and sweaters. as it turns out - that's exactly what the designers were thinking: sort of. the collection was loosely based on a french film about hoods who dress up in order to rob from a swanky casino. as such references to money and a "fast getaway" can be found throughout the collection. if i could steal one thing though: it would be the dynamic new gray damier bags which were trotted down the runway in a variety of styles.

Yves Saint Laurent - i'm really starting to like stefano pilati. the ysl designer is proving that he is at once classic and modern - a combination which can be awkward at best to pull of. yet, his mens collection showed him combining both traits effortlessly. the results were clothes that are relaxed yet urbane. i loved the slim pants and the relaxed pants. the velvet smoking jackets were simply brilliant as were the more modern ones in electric colors.

VIKTOR & ROLF - the glasses might seem comical, but there was nothing funny about viktor & rolf's latest collection. instead everything about it felt slightly antique and largely fanciful. according to one media review, the inspiration behind the show was the main character from the book, around the world in eighty days. the strikingly similar looks between the models played up that effect. you got the sense that the same guy was suiting up for different adventures. loved it.

GALLIANO - so what would henry viii be wearing if he lived in modern day england? john galliano has the answer. the king, it seems, would held on to the voluminous silhouettes and sumptuous fabrics that comprised of his costumes of old. except - he would have been much sexier. at first blush, the collection which included jester hats, macabre make up, and ass-less underwear should not be wearable. but it is! the pieces are very wearable, very fashion forward, and again - just incredibly sexy. far and away, this was one of my favorite menswear collections this season. see my favorite pieces from the collection, above.

A MODELS' LIFE: ROTIMI PAUL

rotimi paul is easy on the eyes. very easy.

new york city -- in case you didn't know wednesday's are the days when i feature blayreport exclusives: these are specially researched and reported pieces done by myself and my team of blay reporters: danielle, shavon and meredith. in keeping with that theme, check out this exclusive q&a with rotimi paul. you may not know the name, but if you read magazines or watch televisioin, you've probably spotted his charming smile and dazzling looks. this 23 year old, syracuse university grad, has already lived across the world with with stints in guyana and antigua. learn about this and many other fascinating bits below....(p.s, my saucy comments are in bolded text. his aren't.)

girls and (some of my) guys, i know what you are thinking. i'm thinking that too.

mr. rotimi paul. that's a pretty cool name. you could almost be a designer.
"Thank you, it's Youraba for 'stay with me.' My mother gave it to me, so I think it's pretty special. As a model, I just use my first name because of it's uniqueness, but as an actor I'll go with both."

so what made you go into modeling -besides your stunning good looks?

"You are too kind," (Blushes). "Ummm...modeling actually came about as a segway to acting. I knew I was going to be in school studying and wouldn't be able to really audition for anything acting-wise but I wanted to be doing something I felt was related. I knew a few people on the business side of the industry, and they helped get me started in fashion."

do you enjoy it at all?

"I actually do enjoy it. I love clothes (especially the free ones you get at some shows). I love to travel; it is something I have been fortunate to have been doing since I was a child-i'll never stop loving seeing different parts of the world and experiencing different cultures. I also enjoy it because of all the interesting/creative people you meet along the way."

what's a typical day like for you?

"Get up early. Go to the gym. Get a bite to eat. Check in with the agencies. Go to any castings I have. Go to classes. Get dinner. Meet up with friends or just enjoy a few hours of free time before bed. Since I am an acting student in New York, I try to catch a few Broadway shows a month in the evening.what are some cool gigs/jobs you've had since starting?I shot for the JC Penny campaign that is out now and that was a cool shoot. I shot an editorial for Vibe Magazine which was pretty cool. I love doing the "Gilded Age" runway shows because the clothes are so cool and I get a nice outfit afterwards. I also recently shot a commercial for AT&T where I was a basketball player-that was cool for me because I have been athletic all my life, I even played football in college. I also just shot an editorial that was styled around the civil rights movement. That was probably the coolest one to date. The clothes were phenomenal, but more important, the images I saw in the play-back moved me. It made me feel very proud of that heritage."

brilliant. but at the end of the day, are you making money doing this?

"Yes, I can actually say yes. I save it all because I have another job.how else do you supplement your income?-I work events and banquet parties at one of the chic hotels here in NYC. It is really good for my schedule right now-it pays well and does not conflict with modeling/acting for the most part."

five years from now, do you think it will be a lot easier for you to earn money modeling?

"Of course! From purely a modeling perspective my book would have had a few years to build, and I would have had a few years to develop relationships with the clients. The other thing is that as a make a name for myself as an actor, it was only boost my career as a model because I would have become a more marketable commodity. And I will do well as an actor...just remember the name 'Rotimi.' "

do you find that being a male model is hard compared to being a female model?

"There are obviously more opportunities for females. It is harder in that you have to fight harder in an equally big pool of people for the quality jobs. You don't just want to settle for the jobs that anyone could do...every model should have that feeling of self-worth I think. I drives me to be the best I possibly can."

what are some ways in which you make yourself stand out of the pack?

"For a male I think it is imperative that you make yourself noticeable and network when the opportunity presents itself. Little things like how you behave on a job, cleanliness, arriving a few minutes early could mean the difference between forming a good relationship with a client and leaving a bad taste in their mouths. In this industry, your reputation is important to the scope of your career. For me once I book a job, it's "game on"; it becomes all about how I can be the best model for that client to: a) show them that they picked the right guy, and, b) make sure that I am one of the first people they think of for future jobs. I also have my own sense of style. I'm never trying to follow every trend that's out. I think that same characteristic that cause me to get teased as a kid actually helps define me as model. It is important to have your own style."

any advice for aspiring male or female models?

"1)Be yourself! Don't loose yourself in an industry that tells you what you should be. 2) Care for your body and face, after all, you are a model. Plus, you never know who you'll run into or could be introduced to-first impressions are important."

and our signature question - what's your signature style?

"A complete mix up. Some prep influence, some skate influence and some bohemian influence I guess."

oh! and our most important question, why do you love the blay report?

"I love the blay report because of the topics it covers. It a place where people who are into fashion, for whatever reason, can go a be updated on the latest happenings. Plus if you're unsure what to wear when you leave the house, you can simply take a few seconds to get an idea of what could be fashionable that you could pull off easily."

HEATH LEDGER IS DEAD

ledger, 28, may have taken his life. (phlamer.blogspot.com)

new york - this is not an entertainment blog - but this is news you might care to know. heath ledger is dead. news reports are slowly leaking out and no details surrounding the death have been confirmed of yet. but it looks like a drug overdose. he will be missed by many people, for many reasons, least of which was the fact that he was an eclectic dresser with a solid sense of style. a superficial trait to list upon someones death, but a wonderful trait none the less. rest in peace.

DID YOU GET ONE? MINE WAS LOST IN THE MAIL

the invitation to tomorrow's show...did you get one? must be nice. (fashionweekdaily.com)

paris - tomorrow is d-day. or rather v-day. either way, it's the day that mr. valentino will give his farewell coutur show. are you ready for the guest list? claudia schiffer, karolina kurkova, eva herzigova. oh! and then there's elizabeth hurley. gwyneth paltrow. uma thurman. the list goes on. they mistakenly forgot to add zandile blay, but i'll be busy on wednesday, so that's okay. the show is sure to dazzle though - and that's without the clothing. just the invitation alone is sensational, see above. it was shot by famed photographer henry benson and is printed on heavy cardstock. if the valentino spectacular tomorrow is not enough to sate your appetite for the legendary designer, then wait until may when valentino: the last emperor, will debut at the cannes film festival.

WHAT MY KIDS WILL BE PLAYING WITH

i love how the toy designer modled this after the skinny karl lagerfeld. am i the only one who remembers when he was plump? (thanks to my old stoming grounds, complex mag for this photo.)

paris - i am years away for childbirth, but i'm determined to be a chic mom with an even chicer infant (chanel pampers anyone?). thank god colette has endeavoured to help me. the uber-stylish boutique is now retailing karl lagarfeld figurines. the tiny toy stands 3.9 inche tall and is a limited edition item: only 100 will be made. so what if it's a hazard for young children to play with? my nanny will make sure that zandile jr. stays safe.

DITA VON TEASING THEM!

von teese gives it good. in the retail category, of course. (drapersonline.com)

europe - is it just me or is ms. dita von teese doing more endorsements than burlesque dancing these days? she's lined up another one, this time with wonderbra, the bra & lingerie company. it's been announced that she's teamed up with the label to produce a line of limited edition undergarments that will be retailed in the u.k and in france. look out for the launch in september of this year. the teese says of the collaboration, "I've been passionate about beautiful lingerie my entire life, so to team up with Wonderbra is a great privilege for me and I am immensely proud of my collection. I really hope that with this new range I can share my passion for sensual, wearable lingerie that will add a touch of glamour to people's lives." you already know what i want to know? how much did she get paid for this? i'm loving that folks are just raking it in the fashion industry. maybe this lil' old blogger will be next?