Dolce and Gabbana positioned at their 2010 Spring/Summer show

When Dolce and Gabbana positioned bloggers in the front row at their 2010 Spring/Summer show, they signalled the arrival on the scene of a new set of fashion industry power-brokers.

Given prime position amongst this new elite was Scott Schuman of TheSartorialist.com, whose modus operandi is to photograph people on the street who display a unique sense of style and post the pictures on his blog.

Alongside Schuman were fellow bloggers Garance Dore of garancedore.fr, Tommy Ton of jakandjil.com and Bryan Boy of bryanboy.com.

Despite the flattery, Schuman is skeptical.

"It was very nice Dolce & Gabbana put me, Garance and Bryan Boy and Tommy in the front row of their last show but they put these computers in front of us and made a big deal about it, like we were an athlete or something," Schuman said in Sydney recently where he was launching his new book, The Sartorialist.

"And so even though I think it was very nice I totally think it was just a media ploy for them to try and say, 'we believe in blogs now'.

"But you know what, I will believe it if they still have three or four independent bloggers in the front row for the next three or four seasons.

"Then I will say, 'Okay, they really are into it and they really believe it', but if it's just one season and they are not there next season it was totally just a marketing ploy."

Being orchestrated as a player in the fashion industry's broader schemes was not a situation Schuman envisioned when TheSartorialist.com debuted in September 2005.

Yet luxury brands looking to maintain their relevance among the digital generation have turned to bloggers - one-time fashion fringe dwellers - and quickly placed them centre stage.

In this scheme, Schuman is pure gold.

He is a digital darling whose site attracts 100,000 visitors a day eager to see who his lens has captured.

Subjects have included a kaleidoscope of individuals celebrated for their individualism, from Vogue Nippon fashion director at large Anna Dello Russo to a Sydney burlesque performer.

Ranked by Time Magazine as one of the Top 100 Design Influencers, Schuman has turned the street into a unofficial red carpet.

The new-found love affair of luxury brands with bloggers doesn't stop at the front row - designers are now also enlisting their talents to shoot essential advertising campaigns.

Such is Schuman's clout that big brands have commissioned him to capture a new interpretation of their products, including 'The Sartorialist for Burberry's The Art of the Trench' which involved shooting 100 street portraits. Earlier in 2009 following Australian Fashion Week he also shot the Melbourne based SABA campaign. There is also an upcoming collaboration with Calvin Klein for whom he will create a capsule collection of jeans and casual wear with The Sartorialist's signature style.

"If blogs had any real influence, or if my blog has really had any influence, its been having these bigger brands using real people and then accepting that you don't always have to project the image head-to-toe of Burberry or SABA to be able to get the point across," he says.

"You can show how your clothes work into a real person's real wardrobe and that the image doesn't always have to be head-to-toe something brand new.

"So that part I think it has maybe influenced a little bit that they are saying, 'okay to be realistic we can have images of our clothes mixed with somebody else's clothes', and it still looks good and it still gets the idea across.

"It was really great (that Burberry) gave me total freedom, I could shoot who I wanted and the edit is all mine.

"That's why I put those shots up on my blog - because I was really proud of the work and I was proud that they gave me such free-rein.

Then off course there is Schuman's new book which he has been promoting around the world since September.

"As a photographer I always wanted to have a book and a lot of people have asked 'why did you do a book?'

"But a lot of those images I've never printed and I've never actually held those pictures in my hands. So that was really nice to be able to have something to hold and to lay out in a different way.

"I am able to curate my own photographs in that book and to do so that was something I couldn't really do with the blog."

Dolce and Gabbana Brand Sunglasses

The Dolce and Gabbana brand and sunglasses are designed by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. Their eyewear and fashionable items are known for their modern use of color and contemporary design.  The other products and fashion items they design are; clothes, handbags, watches and even mobile phones.
Dolce & Gabbana has two main product lines, one known as: Dolce and Gabbana which is mainly luxurious items. This line is apparently more formal and looks at long-term trends rather than regular seasonal changes. The other line is known as D&G, which is more flashy or young trendsetting brand.
Dolce and Gabbana have the designer tag and are made in Italy.  They are found in high end department stores around the globe and have store in Milan.
The brand name has gone from strength to strength and known worldwide.
But, it hasn't always been a easy ride for Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, as there has been a couple of advertising campaigns that have been labelled sexist and  degrading to women. There is also alleged tax evasion from the Italian government, which got the pair and company a lot of media exposure.
All that talk aside, the Dolce and Gabbana fashion  brand, states both sophistication and style and the sunglass collections are carefully crafted of high quality materials. Such as one model of eyewear, offers high durability titanium materials in the frame for a signature look.
The Dolce & Gabbana glasses are a high end design. Hollywood celebrities, rock stars and well known sportsman all over the world wear them. Brad Pitt has been spotted in his the Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses and they do look pretty cool, although is that Brad or the eyewear making them look good?
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have turned the idea of wearing dark glasses into something chic and pleasurable.  Dolce and Gabbana glasses are among the most up-to-the-minute eyewear available anywhere. For the fashion conscious these sunglasses will leave just the right concept.

Why Women's Designer Jeans are a Cut Above the Rest

We all know that designer jeans don't come cheap. Premium denim brands such as Seven For All Mankind, Rock & Republic, True Religion, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli and many others can cost anywhere from $200-$800. But yet there are plenty of us who are willing to shell out our hard earned cash for such extravagant purchases. So why are they so expensive? Let's take a look at women's designer jeans and why they're a cut above the rest.
FIT
An important feature that differentiates high end denim from generic denim is the way they fit. Made to lift, slenderize, flatter and contour in all the right places, they mold to your body and create a flattering silhouette. Different labels tend to be better at doing certain things, such as emphasizing your rear or slimming your thighs, so you will want to shop around a bit. Once you have found the brand that compliments your body shape, it will give you a new level of confidence and you'll be coming back for more!
QUALITY
A lot of time and effort goes into making these jeans and they go through a lengthy manufacturing process before hitting the boutiques. Thus, the craftsmanship will be reflected in the price. Compare a pair of regular jeans to a designer pair and you will see the difference in quality and feel. The fabric of higher end brands are made from the finest denim textiles milled in Japan or Italy which give them a super soft, sleek and sexy feel. The stitching is skillfully done with straighter seams and all buttons, rivets and hardware are top of the line.
STYLE
A large portion of what you are paying for goes into the detailed styling of high end denim. Specific washes and designs are meticulously put together and at a glance, you can see that the color and cut is far more superior than those of their less expensive counterparts. Pricier jeans are often hand processed and they are literally stonewashed one pair at a time. Additionally, the fade or "wash" of the jeans will also affect the look and price of them. Washes are great because once you find a style you love, you can just duplicate it in different washes and this will add more variety to your wardrobe.
DURABILITY
Cheaper brands are often made with excess stretch in the fabric and this is what causes them to lose their shape after a few washes and wears. Women's designer jeans, on the other hand, are made from finer and sturdier materials with tighter weaving incorporated into the fabric. The seams are intricately stitched together with more care and attention. Due to the nature of the securely woven fabric, they are able to resist wear and stand up to repeated washings.
So while the price of women's designer jeans may be substantially inflated, you are paying for that extra bit of workmanship that keeps the seams from splitting, the more robust material that will resist wearing down the threads and the perfect, body molding fit. Consider it an investment rather than a frivolous purchase. You'll look great and your butt will thank you for it!

Celebrity style secrets

Scarlett Johansson, Yasmin Le Bon and Pixie Lott reveal their style secrets.
We all have an occasional off day on the fashion front, but luckily most people can get away with the odd dodgy ensemble without attracting too much attention.
For high-profile celebrities, on the other hand, even popping out for a Starbucks is akin to striding the catwalk.
Each outfit is eye candy for the paparazzi, up for scrutiny from the fashion press and celebrity bloggers, and on show for the world to ooh and ahh over.
And while some stars slip up, others seem to ooze style from every pore no matter what they wear. They're the muses of the world's top designers, the faces of the biggest ad campaigns, and creators of their own clothing ranges.
Step forward Scarlett Johansson, Yasmin Le Bon and Pixie Lott who let us peek into their wardrobes and reveal their stylish secrets.
Scarlett Johansson The Hollywood actress is celebrated for her curves and timeless sex appeal. Scarlett's become the poster girl for old school glamour, from pouting with those trademark bee-stung lips for Dolce & Gabbana, to posing in high street as the face of Mango.
:: How would you describe your style?
"It's sort of a New York sense of style: practical, casual, but well-tailored. I have a lot of dark colours in my wardrobe, lots of grey and black. I'm probably most comfortable in jeans and a cardigan but at the same time I also like to dress up. Obviously I go to a lot of events, so I've learned to feel comfortable in a pair of high four-inch heels, it just takes a lot of practice."
:: Who are your style icons?
"Marlene Dietrich. I love that kind of masculine tailoring for women - I'm a big fan of suits, trousers and blouses."
:: What are your wardrobe essentials?
"Probably a pair of high-waisted black trousers, a grey cardigan, and a really soft t-shirt."
:: Who are your favourite designers?
"I like a lot of different designers. I love Margiela, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent."
:: What's your relationship with clothes?
"I've always loved clothes and I guess that, obviously working as an actress, clothing and costumes particularly are a vital part of getting into character."
Yasmin Le Bon She's the Eighties supermodel who still has hanger appeal at 45. After swanning down international catwalks and gracing covers for almost three decades, the rock star spouse has turned fashion designer with her own collection for high street store Wallis, YLB.
:: How would you describe your style?
"I've become much less conservative, more experimental. I'm a magpie and love to collect different cultural elements from all over the world and kind of throw them together; that way they feel real, more authentic and more personal."
:: Who are your style icons?
"Gela Nash-Taylor, Amanda Harlech, there are too many people to mention. Princess Michael of Kent is a new favourite."
:: What are your wardrobe essentials?
"I'm going to be living in the military coat from my collection - it's Cossack gone wrong!"
:: Who are your favourite designers?
"My favourite designers change seasonally and it's impossible to say one over the other, but I would like to have a lot more of Antonio Beradi's clothes in my wardrobe."
:: What's your relationship with clothes?
"I want something that reflects my mood in some way, I want to have fun, and I want to feel confident. I try to play different roles but I'm sure I end up looking the same the whole time."
Pixie Lott Move over Kylie, there's a new pop princess in town. The 18-year-old singer's making waves in planet fashion, performing at a Fendi party at the request of Karl Lagerfeld and collaborating with both Moschino and River Island to design t-shirts. Pixie's also the face of girl-friendly Illuvial Pink Collection at The Carphone Warehouse.
:: How would you describe your style?
"It depends what mood I'm in - sometimes I'll go for a hippy look, sometimes indie or glitzy, or occasionally it's classic. I really like new designers and lots of vintage stuff, and I wear masses of accessories."
:: Who are your style icons?
"Brigitte Bardot for her glamorous femininity and Edie Sedgwick for a funky Sixties look that really stood out."
:: What are your wardrobe essentials?
"A big, baggy woolly long cardigan, my Mulberry boots, and jewellery - the more the better!"
:: Who are your favourite designers?
"My favourites are labels that are classic but have a modern edge. Names like Mulberry, Fendi, Moschino, Chanel and D&G are high on my list."
:: What's your relationship with clothes?
"I love fashion and want to get more involved. I've got so many clothes they're piled high on my sister's bed! I don't really follow trends, I just like what I like!"
:: Get the look Alexa Chung's a top cat on the fashion front with this leopard print bag. Purr with delight carrying the same Russell & Bromley Babs handbag, £195 (0207 629 6903/www.russellandbromley.co.uk).
:: Buy it now Nicole Kidman, Amy Winehouse and Alesha Dixon have cancelled the day jobs to go designer. Each celebrity has donated artwork to appear on fun sleepwear for the Whatever It Takes charity. PJ prices start from £8, available at www.oli.co.uk.
:: Recessionista alert Flummoxed by the sale rails? Get a speedy overview of the best bargains on offer at www.stylecompare.co.uk, which compares fashion from the UK's biggest online retailers.
Fashion flash :: Style stocktake Raid those wardrobes and pull out the redundant clothing duds. One in four women wear just 10% of their wardrobe, according to new research by www.MyCelebrityFashion.co.uk. Almost all the 18 to 30-year-olds surveyed claimed to have something in their wardrobe hanging up with the labels on and 79% admitted buying something they knew they would never wear.

Blake Lively in Dolce & Gabbana

New Look of the Day - Blake Lively in Dolce & Gabbana It's freezing in New York right now, with temperatures leveling at just below freezing, but that didn't keep Blake Lively from baring almost everything at the premiere of Sherlock Holmes last night at Lincoln Center.

Lively sizzled in a strapless minidress by Dolce & Gabbana, showing off her curves in little more than a bustier and a thin lace veil over the very tops of her thighs. Yes, you can see her panties. Not even the runway version was quite so revealing...but the streets are starting to look more scandalous than the catwalks.

Blake accessorized with a pair of pointy-toed Louboutins, gigantic diamond earrings, and masses of those enviable curls.