Diana Ross

Who´s the boss? You are for sure! Mrs Ross is as bossy as no one else could get when it comes to glamour, gamine looks and charisma. Is not her fault that she was born skinny, long legged and with big deer expresive eyes on a sunny morning in Detroit, Michigan in 1944 when her Supremes colleagues decided to pick on her, just because she was shinning brighter than the stars above her fast rising carrer! Diana Ernestine Earle Ross soon began to fly solo proving that she was not only a glamma puss, but an outstanding performer with a wide range of styles that was a glittery fresh air for her former and formal record house Motown. She not only sang and pose gracefully in front of the various photographers that were mesmerized by her innate elegance, but she was brave enough to cross over to the acting path, embracing difficult roles like Mahogany, Dorothy in the Wiz ( a colourful version of The Wizard of Oz) or her only Oscar nomination and Golden Globe winning performance in Lady sings the blues. Diana surely knows how to lead us all through the yellow brick road, if not, ask the late Michael Jackson about it!

Skulls

My darkest side flourishes, maybe cause is a direct influence of Halloween, but I had always been obsessed with skulls, collecting them in all shapes and sizes! In my collection some actual real human têtes found at 'The Dispensary' in New York or traditionally Folk boxes with 'carecas' from Mexico. No wonder artists like Damien Hirst use skulls as a constant in his work, or why Nicola Formichetti chose Rick Genest aka 'Zombie Boy', with a full on skull tattoo in his face, for his latest Mugler ad campaign. Skulls are defying beauty ever since you are born. Me, having a ridiculous obsession for cheekbones as sharp as knives, was given by nature round and high up cheeks, very Asian and the contrary to my wishes, I would say. If to that you add that models like Natasha Poly owe her success to her perfect bone structure, very much like a skull, we end up wanting to starve to achieve our razor blade profile. Death has never looked so good!

Ballet

Ever since I was little I was a ballet dancer, because my mum always said that a good posture comes from discipline, and yes, she was so right! Ballet is not only a way of expressing yourself, feeling or wearing fabulous tu-tus, it is a lifestyle. When I reached the age of sixteen I realized I could no longer cope with the sacrifice and slaverism that this fine art demands, instead I chose fashion, another type of stage and theatrical ways that were more suitable for me. I still admire ballet, and dreamt what it would be like if I chose the dancing path, luckily I can appreciate more as an audience that being involved backstage the rigourous and sadistic hard work that is needed for a perfect arabesque or Tendu. Things  and persons are stuck in my mind, like Isadora Duncan, a constant inspiration for me who set dance free from rigid rules and status quo. Les Ballet Russes, a stunning group of dancer beautyful choreograph by the likes of Nijinnsky and costumes designed by Monsieur Poiret himself. The enchanting paintings and studies of ballerinas by Degas, stealing the spotlight in museums like Jeau de Paume, Louvre or Met. A personal role model, not only in ballet but in fashion, Rudolf Nureyev, who was not afraid of anything, including Andy Warhol, who portrayed him bare it all. A constant fashion influence, look no further than John Galliano´s Spring Summer 1999 runway presentation with ballerinas turned models Shalom Harlow and Erin O'Connor going back to their roots in a mesmerizing staging paying tribute to Martha Graham, or Hannah Mc Gibbon's collection at chez Chloé for Spring Summer 2011, where studio excersise-warming outfits were the chic of the crop for the seasonal streets in an array of nudes, greys and camel.To round up my ballet references, may I just say that one of my favourite films is 'The red shoes'! Dance till you die!That would happened to me if I accepted my place in the ABA in New York City!

Mr Porter

Well, I know that the whole e-shopping experience is overrated, but not when it comes to Mr Porter! Leave it to Nathalie Massenet to create an equaly stunning site for men as per its eqully pretty sister net-a-porter. Mr Porter looks like a complete layout taken from the magazine Fantastic Man, which by the way is another one of my favourite publications. That is not just a copy and paste matter, it is a well founded fact that its creative direction is shared with the magazine´s creative directors and co-founders Jop van Bennekon and Gert Jonkers with, of course, the team of this monthly journal delicatessen supporting them. In Mr Porter, not only you get the most exquisite selection for the modern day male, but it also gives you tips, videos on how to wear them, the season´s top picks, tricks on how to knot your tie or even a stunning image library to potentiate their already precious merchandise. If you round up the whole experience with tailor made service and pampered packaging, you will end up with an extra-sensorial feeling that will be reflected on your bank statement, but nevertheless so worth it! Trust me when I tell you that I am not receiving a single penny from them for recommending it, but I know that most of you will be thanking me for that! Mr Porter you are...Oh so handsome!

www.mrporter.com

The Little Mermaid

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collection is complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the girl, the girl who has everything? Look at this trove, treasures untold. How many wonders can one cavern hold? Looking around here, you'd think: Sure, she's got everything! I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty. I've got who's-its and what's-its galore! You want thing-a-mabobs? I've got twenty. But who cares? No big deal. I want more! I want to be where the people are. I want to see, want to see them dancing! Walking around on those...What do you call them? Oh! Feet. Flipping your fins, you don't get too far. Legs are required for jumping, dancing, strolling along the...What's that word again? Street! Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun! Wandering free, wish I could be part of that world! What would I give if I could live out of these waters? What would I pay to spend a day, warm on the sand? Bet you on land they understand. Bet they don't reprimand their daughters! Bright young women, sick of swimming. Ready to stand, and ready to know what people know. Ask them my questions and get some answers. What's fire, and why does it...What's the word? Burn! When it's my turn? Wouldn't I love? Love to explore that shore up above. Out of the sea, wish I could be...Part of that world!

Prince

Well, you have to give him credit, when you are born a midget in Minneapolis, Minnesota, you either are a genius or you are scarred for life for what nature did not give you. Luckily Prince Rogers Nelson, not only was born with an enchanting name but with a voice and talent much larger than him and life. His physique and his sex appeal helped him climb his way up to stardom and, of course, to controversy. Perfectly grommed and with permed hair, his eye make was impeccable and his costumes were a perfect mix of a new romantic and a medieval poet with a much more outrageous vision on hookers uniform and "My own private idaho" looks. A much hazier and revolutionary love life emerges to the public eye, thanks to the likes of Madonna and Sinéad O´Connor, who were more than colleagues to become lovers. He even changed his name to the symbol, a mix of Egyptian cryptologie and gender signs. What else can you expect from him...Oh yes! Did I mention that he starred on his own musical-Opera film titled "Purple rain" which, by the way, is his favourite colour. I had been lucky enough to seen him twice in concert, and let me tell you; hands down the best concert I have ever been to... ever! Seeing these pigmy standing on lucite heels and singing "alphabet street" or "when doves cry" gives me something to talk to my grand-children! Oh Prince if only you were taller you would be my perfect lover!

Lanvin Printemps-été 2012

Literally, goosebumps! Leave it to Monsier Elbaz to deliver a thrilling collection with Gothic inspiration and a wink to femme fatale attitude. My favorite collection of this Spring-Summer season was cluttered with laser cut numbers and heavily embellished ensembles with snake skin prints and pleated chiffon lavish dresses, all in a noir palette of saturated black, coil grey, flesh pink, and poisonous greens. A collection walked by the best models in the business trotting under the sounds of Jeremy Hayley mixes of Siouxsie and the banshees and a final walk through to remember with a mesmerizing "lets stay together" from Tina Turner on the sound system. Alber, you defenitevely make me want to dress to kill!