MADONNA PHOTOGRAPHED BY HELMUT NEWTON

GRACE JONES AND DOLPH LUNDGREN

PHOTO BY HELMUT NEWTON

A FUTURISTIC MUGLER GODDESS

THE GENIUS THAT IS THIERRY MUGLER........

"Mugler was born in Strasbourg, France on 21 December 1948. His passion led him to focus more on drawing than on school and at the age of 9, he began to study classical dance. By 14, he joined the ballet corps for the Rhin Opera (Opéra national du Rhin). At the same time, Mugler began taking classes in interior design at the Strasbourg School of Decorative Art.

At the age of 24, Mugler decided to travel the world and left Strasbourg to go live in Paris. He began designing clothes for a small, trendy Parisian boutique by the name of "Gudule". At 26, Mugler, who was working as a freelance designer, began to work for a variety of large ready-to-wear fashion houses in Paris, Milan, London and Barcelona. In 1973 Mugler created his first personal collection called "Café de Paris". The style of the collection was both sophisticated and urban. Melka Tréanton, a powerful fashion editor, helped launched his career. In 1976, she asked him to show his work in Tokyo, for an event organized by Shiseido. In 1978 he opened his first Paris boutique at the place des Victoires (in the 1st arrondissement). At the same time, Thierry Mugler launched a fashion collection for men. For this collection, he reworked classical masculinity giving it a definitively modern style. A clean, precise, structured cut which outlined a highly-recognizable silhouette: prominent shoulders, both "anatomical and classic", for a dynamic and slender look. During the 1980s and 1990s Thierry Mugler had become an internationally recognized designer and his collections garnered much commercial success. At the request of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, he completed his first haute couture collection in 1992.

Mugler published his first photography book in 1988, "Thierry Mugler, Photographe": filled with Mugler’s taste for travel and adventure. This first book was followed by a monograph in 1999 entitled, “Fashion Fetish Fantasy” which assembles photos of his creations. All the designs are worn by Thierry Mugler’s model and celebrity friends in the book. Mugler also directs short films, advertising films and video clips. He regularly designs costumes for musical comedies, concerts, operas and the theatre (including Macbeth for the Comédie Française). He has worked with such artists as Robert Altman and George Michael (he directed the video for Michael's "Too Funky" in 1992). He also directed the first advertising film for one of his fragrances, Alien. He collaborated with the Cirque du Soleil in 2002, a group which performs all over the world. He directed "Extravaganza", one of the scenes of Zumanity, but also created all the costumes and the identity of the characters in the show, which ran for several years at the New York Hotel in Las Vegas In 2009, Thierry Mugler worked as artistic advisor to singer Beyoncé. He created the costumes for her "I Am... World Tour" and gave his artistic vision to the staging, lighting, the decorations and the choreography.

Thierry Mugler’s first perfume appeared in 1992 and was called Angel. "Angel" opened a new olfactory trend with its combination of praline and chocolate-derived sweetness mixed with a strong accent of patchouli. Angel was the first oriental gourmand perfume and comes in an unprecedented color for a women’s fragrance: blue. The Angel bottle, a complicated design in the shape of a faceted star, was created by the Brosse Master Glassmakers. Today, more than thirteen engraved and numbered Limited Edition stars have been successively created for several holiday seasons. Other perfumes have been developed to enrich the brand's fragrance universe, including three major fragrances: A*Men, Mugler Cologne and Alien. In 2005, Alien was created, the second major Thierry Mugler fragrance, inspired by a solar world, filled with hope, serenity and light. Also in 2005, Thierry Mugler launched the "Thierry Mugler Perfume Workshops" which are open to the general public and led by specialists of the perfumery and oenology world. The goal of these workshops is to convey the art and know-how of the industry along with the craftsmanship of making perfume.

In 2006, Thierry Mugler completed a project for the launch of Tom Tykwer's film "Perfume". In collaboration with the IFF company, Thierry Mugler created a box set of fifteen compositions. During 2007, still following the metamorphosis theme, Mugler launched Mirror, Mirror, a collection of five fragrances, created as "perfume-trickery" to "enhance one’s presence". Finally, on 8 March 2010, Thierry Mugler launched the site womanity.com, a virtual space for expression which asks visitors to share their vision on what it means to be a woman today. The site corresponded to Womanity, the newest fragrance by the house of Mugler which was released at the same time.

In 2008, the Mugler's brand launched Thierry Mugler Beauty, a high-end line of cosmetics. In September 2010, Nicola Formichetti was announced to be the new Creative Director of the Thierry Mugler brand. He changed the brand name to MUGLER, removing the first name, and in January 2011, he launched the brand's first menswear collection."

In 2013 both Thierry Mugler and Nicola Formichetti left the company which is owned by Clarins.

BIG CHANGES AT THIERRY MUGLER PARFUMS

Designer Thierry Mugler is stepping down as artistic director of THIERRY MUGLER PARFUMS, a position in which he oversaw creative aspects of new fragrances. He was responsible for the fragrance ANGEL, A*MEN, MUGLER COLOGNE and ALIEN. Without Mugler, the perfume house, now owned by CLARINS group, becomes a business just like any other.

Having opened his first Paris boutique in 1978 at the Place des Victoires, Thierry departed as designer of his fashion house in 2003. Nicola Formichetti took over as creative director in 2011, but has announced that he too is leaving the house of Mugler to work with DIESEL.

On a personal note, I met Thierry Mugler in the late 70's when my friend JANE THORVALDSON walked his show and I did her makeup. After the show I was invited to sit with him at a large party where all the designers were represented at their own tables. I remember his table was next to KARL LAGERFELD. I'll never forget how exciting that night was. I wore a beautiful blue leather Mugler design that looked very futuristic, with my short bleached blonde hair. The Thierry I met that night looked like the man in the top photo with model Jerry Hall, tall, slender, with the good looks of a dancer, which he had studied to be, before becoming a fashion designer.

But in recent years Mugler decided to transform himself into a body builder and changed himself completely, as you can see in the second photo. (In April 2010 a New York Times story discussed Mugler's cosmetic transformation of his face body and genitals." [Mugler has] taken to calling himself Manfred and transformed his body...into what is apparently a 240-pound spectacle of muscle and nipple and tattoos...")

So I guess this latest departure from the house of Thierry Mugler marks the end of that era, and I look forward to learn what he will do in the future.

KAREN BJORNSON FOR HALSTON

Today is model Karen Bjornson's birthday. Karen was one of the original "Haltonettes" for fashion designer Halston.

"PUNK - CHAOS TO COUTURE" @ THE MET

"Punk - Chaos to Couture" (detailing the lasting influence of the raw edgy 1970's clothes on high fashion), is the title of this years annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Exhibit and Institute Benefit in New York City on May the 6th. The Red carpet arrivals, hosted by Estee Lauder model HILARY RHODA and Vogue's William Norwich, will be live streamed @ 7pm on the Moda Operandi, Samsung, Vogue and Metropolitan Museum websites. The broadcast will include interviews with honorary chairwomen Beyonce and the gala co-chairs including Rooney Mara, Lauren Santo Domingo, Riccardo Tisci, and Anna Wintour.

HEAVY METAL

Using some silver glitter to create your own metallic looking lip color.

MILLA JOVOVICH VOGUE TURKEY MAY 2013

BEAUTIFUL ANDIE MACDOWELL

Andie just turned 55 the other day and has been the spokesmodel for L'Oreal for years and years. Is it any wonder why?

NYX COSMETICS

Razor sharp black eyeliner and a well defined red lipstick mouth, make for a strikingly beautiful look. Model Elle E @ Pinkerton, Photographed by Andrew Stiles, Produced by Joelle Hannah @ Hatchbeauty. Hair by Tony Vin, and Makeup by Samuel Paul.

EYE MAKEUP INSPIRATION

Start by using a toast brown eye shadow over the entire eyelid. Then take a very dark brown shadow to deepen the crease and blend the color to sweep out to the outer corner of the eye and underneath the lower lashes. Add a little off-white shimmer just under the eyebrows, which have been defined and elongated with a brown eye pencil and then filled in with brown powder shadow to create a fairly strong brow. Some white iridescent power has been added just to the front of the eyelid (for a more subtle look you can leave this step out). Then using black liquid eyeliner sculpt a strong line that sweeps up the outer corner of the eyes. Apply false lashes to top and bottom natural lashes that have several coats of black mascara. The key to this look is to do a lot of blending of the eye shadows to make them nice and smokey looking. And then being bold with the eye liner to make a statement.

L'OFFICIEL PARIS COVER MAY 2013

Cover girl, Hungarian model BARBARA PELVIN is also a spokesmodel for L'Oreal.

OMG! OVER MASCARA GLITTER AND LINER BY RAMY

Want to add a little extra sparkle to your big night out? After you have applied a couple coats of your favorite mascara, add a sweep of silver glitter to your lashes. And using the special little brush on the tip of the mascara wand, you can add a touch of glitter on top of your eyeliner along your lash line or even as highlight under your brows. Light up the night with RAMY OMG! over mascara glitter and liner.

HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY TO JESSICA STAM

There are so many beautiful photos I could have posted of Jessica Stam because she has one of the most amazing faces in the world of fashion. I decided to go with this one because it shows her at work, behind the scenes, and you can't deny how truly beautiful this woman is. Her eyes and lips are in a class like no other. I love you Jessica Stam!

CAREY MULLIGAN VOGUE US MAY 2013

Actress Carey Mulligan star of the new re-make of "The Great Gatsby" (opening May 10th) appears on the cover of May Vogue photographed by Mario Testino, hits news stands today. Julien D'Ys did the hair, Mark Carrasqullo created the makeup and Gina Viviano painted the nails. I love the dress in a lovely shade of lime green and the jewels look vintage and fantastic.

MAYBELLINE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME

I remember my Mother using the Maybelline mascara in the little red box that would slide open to reveal a rectangle of solid mascara and a little brush to apply it with. You had to add some water to make it moist enough to use. That and the Maybelline eyebrow pencil, some loose face powder with a puff, and some Revlon "Love That Red" lipstick, was her beauty routine in the 50's.

JENNIFER LAWRENCE CHANGES IT UP

Looks like academy award winning actress Jennifer Lawrence was in the mood for a change. So she contacted her hairstylist Mark Townsend about cutting her long hair.

And here is what Mark had to say: "Jennifer texted me that she needed a haircut and told me to bring a chainsaw. I laughed and assumed we would just cut an inch or two off the bottom but when I showed up she answered the door saying, 'I want to cut all my hair off!' Her hair did get quite damaged from all the coloring she had to do for different roles so she needed a good trim, But Jen wanted more than a trim. We looked at a few images to determine length and we started with a lob with long layers but Jen kept saying, 'I love it, let's go shorter!' So I cut her hair into a shoulder-length shag with tons of layers throughout, starting around her cheekbone. This cut is so versatile, she can wear it wavy for a fun, playful look or style it straight for a chic look, and she still has enough length to wear it up."

I think Jennifer looks great, such beautiful skin too. She can carry off almost any style or length of hair.

INTO EACH LIFE SOME RAIN MUST FALL

According to PAGE SIX in todays NY POST, JANICE DICKINSON is having some financial troubles. Don't worry Janice, you shall weather the storm......and come back bigger and better then before. Because you are a SURVIVOR, Honey!

ELIZABETH TAYLOR

Elizabeth Taylor wearing pearls from Tiffany's for Harpers's Bazaar photographed by Richard Avedon 1960.

ROSE BLUSH BY MAKEUP ARTIST VALERIE SARNELLE

A beautiful compact filled with a lovely pink blush that is sculpted into the shape of a Rose. The color is long lasting because it is made of finely milled crushed rose flower petals. Almost too pretty to use! You can find this and many other fine cosmetics at her salon Valerie Beverly Hills or on her website by the same name.

"UNSINKABLE" BY DEBBIE REYNOLDS

I met DEBBIE REYNOLDS at the birthday party for the late ERNEST BORGNINE, that his lovely wife TOVA invited me to. It was a small intimate party and Debbie was kind of the mistress of ceremonies telling jokes, insider stories and singing to Ernie. CONNIE STEVENS was there and she and Debbie made us all laugh about the fact they were once both married to EDDIE FISHER.

Later in the evening I introduced myself and told Debbie what a fan I was and how much I enjoyed her work. As I gave her my card I told her I was the founder of THE BEAUTY ARTISTS HALL OF FAME (http://davidfrankray.wix.com/beautyartists). Debbie reminded me of her hairstylist of many years, the famous, SYDNEY GUILAROFF, and I assured her Sydney was on my list and thanked her for the lovely evening.

Now, at long last, Ms.Reynolds has written her book called "UNSINKABLE" a memoir.

I can't wait to start reading my copy knowing it will be just as wonderful and exciting as the lady herself. Be sure and get this book as it is selling out fast!

VERUSCHKA 1960's MAJOR HAIR

Of all the models of the 60's VERUSCHKA is one of the most unique. I will be posting many more photos of her, plus more information about her in the future. Makeup by Gil Cagnè.

GREAT BALL OF HAIR

This photo of model Heloise Guerin was photographed by Victor Demarchelier for Harper's Bazzar. The mega hair was created by Teddy Charles, and the makeup is by Maki Ryoke.