Daily Front Row

2011 June 3

Look of The Daily: Olivia Wilde

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We're Wild About Olivia Wilde
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We spend a lot of our day looking at pics on Patrick McMullan, Billy Farrell and Getty Images, so we're rather familiar with who can work a pose and who can not. Olivia Wilde, you could teach red carpet school. While this picture of her last night at the Fresh Air Fund's Salute to American Heroes at Pier 60 isn't even on a red carpet (Hello, car in the background!), theThor actress has it all down.  

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2011 June 3

Vintage Video Vault: Ruffian Style

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Claude Morais and Brian Wolk
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Even the Ruffian boys deserve a break from Chic reporting, so in honor of their hiatus this week, we're bringing back a now (tears) vintage video of our first collaboration together. We hit their studio just over a year ago to get their take on who is and who is not a true Ruffian. Bieber? Efron? Lagerfeld? Do you remember? And...Stay tuned for Chic's very first spelling bee. Must see!  

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2011 June 3

Praising Naomi

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Aww of The Day!
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How about something pleasant to digest as the week winds down? Christopher Gorham (AKA adorable Henry from Ugly Betty) reveals to Da Man magazine who the sexiest person he's ever worked with is. Drumroll….Naomi Campbell! "She once was on Ugly Betty (the Season 2 finale, in 2008) for an episode, and we’d all heard the stories, but, you know, she was incredibly nice," he reveals. "She was soooo sexy and didn’t really have this attitude that the press makes it out to be. At least she was pleasant to me, but yeah, definitely, she was stunning." How crushy! 

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2011 June 3

Robbie Williams' New Gig

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Exciting News!
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Take this! It's the news we've all been waiting for…Robbie Williams is getting into fashion! (Drop the confetti, Bob!) The cheeky British hottie is releasing a menswear line this fall that's inspired by his grandfather Jack Farrell. The line, Farrell, will be available at House of Fraser stores and online at Shopdirect.com. Sources revealed to Sky News that the line will have a "heritage feel combined with a modern style." Whatever that means. 

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2011 June 3

Rebecca's Guide to Quogue

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Rebecca's Latest Travel Tales
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Where has the week gone? In her latest column, Rebecca Minkoff recaps her Memorial Day weekend plans, but we know she's already off on her next adventure. 

"Ah, Memorial Day. For me, this holiday has always evoked feelings of warm breezes and sunny relaxation, images of a long and leisurely weekend at the beach, lots of yummy food that I normally wouldn’t allow myself to indulge in, and some quality time with my husband and dear friends. So, this year, I made this dream scenario my Memorial Day reality in Quogue. Ah, the  Hamptons. For most people who don’t live on the East Coast, a weekend in the Hamptons may (or may not…I’m just sayin’) be a status symbol for snooty and uptight Manhattanites looking for an ostentatious weekend at the beach. For most New Yorkers, however, it’s understood that the Hamptons actually play a key part in maintaining our sanity throughout the summer months. Manhattan, we love you eternally, but come on—during the summer, you tend to be a little on the stifling, smelly side. Quogue, located a hop, skip, and a jump away from West Hampton, always provides me with a convenient getaway that remains, and always will be, elegant, beautiful and incredibly relaxing. With a smile on my face and a sense of freedom inspiring me, I packed up my new Rebecca Minkoff weekender bag, grabbed the hubby and it was Hamptons or bust!

 Luckily, I don’t have to worry about a hotel in Quogue. My base camp is my lovely summer share, but if you need somewhere to stay, check out Home Away for a house rental catered to almost anyone’s budget. You probably want to get on it, though. Word on the street is that summer rentals book up pretty far in advance.

After dropping off my bags and getting moderately settled in, which means putting on my favorite beach chic outfit and listening to the waves lap at the shore for a second, I call up my tried and true miracle worker masseuse Kathleen Tilley to start my weekend off on a high note, with a little pampering in the morning. Now I’m telling you all right now: Kathleen’s hands very well may have been blessed by a higher power, I worship her massages. She is miraculous, and since I could now be classified as “quite pregnant," I need her magic more than ever.

With my body feeling relaxed and loose, I look down at my watch and realize that it’s time for some lunch! One of my favorite things to do in Quogue actually involves leaving Quogue, but only for a hot minute. My husband and I hop on our bikes and make the scenic trip to Westhampton for some super scrumptious fare at Deeangelo's Pleasant Ave Café. This place is sweet and cozy, it’s located right on Main St., and we always leave with big smiles on our faces. Never fails.

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2011 June 2

David LaChapelle Returns

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David LaChapelle
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Director and photog-in-hiding David LaChapelle has returned to the New York art scene with a highly anticipated exhibit called "From Darkness to Light," debuting at the Lever House today. The controversial shutterbug got his start as Andy Warhol's protégé at Interview, quickly becoming the no-brainer pick for glossies like Vogue, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair. After two decades in the biz and a portfolio overflowing with high-profile shots, he hung up his hat and moved to an organic farm in Maui. A couple years have gone by and much to LaChapelle's surprise, he's back--and bolder than ever. Chic sat down with the artist before his grand opening on Park Ave.

What started "From Darkness to Light?"
The genesis started in '91 when I did a show downtown that no one saw, and no one came to. That's the worst thing that can happen to an artist--being ignored.

Why the Lever House?
They asked me, and it's a huge honor for any artist to show there. It's one of our great public art spaces--everyone can see it, and I really believe in that. When you go, you'll likely see every walk of life pass through from bike messengers to secretaries to CEOs to food vendors.

What's the biggest misconception about you?
People are pleasantly surprised after they talk with me. I don't know what they expected--maybe it's the photographs. I think they expect me to be rude. I get that over and over again. I feel like I always have to clear up who I am and what my motives are.

Why did you 'leave it all behind' as they say?
I've always lived very intuitively. I just knew I was at the end of a chapter in my life. There were signs.

Like what?
I wasn't excited about shooting Justin Bieber or the next pop star. It wasn't fair for me to continue even though I was making tons of money doing it. I knew that I had to move on and let the 20-year-olds who were really excited to shoot Bieber, have a chance.

Who is the most visionary fashion editor right now?
I think all magazines have shifted. Sadly, Isabella Blow was my good friend, and she was my editor. Now, that she's gone and I've been invited back into this world, my editor, or the person I go to for advice, is Julian Schnabel. He's been generous with his criticism. I value his opinion. He gets right to the point. He's always on it, and I really respect him. He has a whole new body of work that's going to shut people up when they see it. I've known him since I was a kid, and he's always been nice to me for some reason.

Is it time for a new guard in the magazine world?
Online blogs are the new guard.

Who was your favorite person to photograph?
My most nervous was Muhammad Ali. My dad was a huge fan, and he's such a hero. On set, every time I would turn around, he would flip me the bird. I wouldn't see it, but the crew would laugh. Finally, I caught him, and it just really broke the ice. It said so much about him and his humor. In a real gentle and humorous way, he taught me, 'Chill out, boy. It's just a photoshoot.'"

Who was the most difficult to shoot?
Rock stars and pop stars are the easiest. They love the sets and the glamour. Actors are the same. Sports stars, with the exception of Ali or Lance Armstrong, are the most difficult. A lot of NBA guys are treated like demi-gods and don't see the value of getting their picture taken.

What do you expect for your opening today?
We're planning a low-key opening since everyone's in Venice, but we'll have a second opening in September. My mom thinks I soak up the attention, but I don't. I don't even like my own birthday parties. I don't like the focus on me--that's why I like to be behind the camera.

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