Photo: Mert & Marcus for Tod's

‘Tis the season for spring campaigns! Though brands like Prada and Balenciaga released their ads before the holidays, there’s been an onslaught of glossy new images this week from bigwigs like Chanel and Proenza Schouler. Today, both Tod’s and Jil Sander dropped their new ads.  Anne Hathaway’s the face of the former for the second season in a row. The newly engaged actress wrapped herself into a sort of pretzel to show off two bags at once—and a pair of red snakeskin ballet flats. Mert and Marcus shot Hathaway under the creative direction of Fabien Baron. Meanwhile, the Jil Sander ads are very Hitchcockian. Photo: Willy Vanderperre for Jil Sander

Willy Vanderperre shot Daria Strokous and Natasha Poly in Raf Simons’ couture inspired spring collection. If Sienna Miller‘s baby bump doesn’t get in the way of her playing Tippi Hedren next year, the film’s costume designer should pay her local Jil Sander store a visit. Photo: Willy Vanderperre for Jil Sander

Photo: Getty Images

Though the would be Republican Presidential candidates have dominated the news cycle for the past year, President Obama is finally about to jump into the election game.  His doing so with help from the fashion industry may sound strange, but New York’s creative elite has long supported the President—and not just because of his stylish wife. Twenty-two designers have signed up to participate in Runway to Win, a (hopefully) star-studded benefit hosted by Scarlett Johansson next month featuring clothes and accessories whipped by big names like Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Alexander Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, rag & bone and Narciso Rodriguez. WWD reports that some companies, like LVMH, were hesitant to get involved for fear of “alienating their brands from Republican voters,” which may explain the absence of Donna Karan, who’s been a very vocal Obama supporter in the past. The initiative officially launches on Thursday, when you can buy everything at runwaytowin.com. All of the profits will go straight to the Obama-Biden campaign.

Photo: Tom Ford

We don’t expect to see Tom Ford collaborating on ice cream cones anytime soon, but the designer has taken the first step toward Karl Lagerfeld-ization—shooting his own campaigns. The designer dropped his spring ads today. You’ll remember that this collection was his first to receive less than 100% rave reviews (and we mean first, like, ever), but it looks great on Mirte Maas in the two campaign images.  Ford shot the pictures in Palm Springs (but does that matter?) and they’ll hit magazines starting this March. As for the boy biting Mirte’s ankle? That’s Mathias Bergh. Photo: Tom Ford

Photo: Splash News

At the Paris premiere of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on Tuesday, Rooney Mara dazzled in a short and sweet Louis Vuitton number. The 26-year old actress wore simple strappy sandals and no jewelry. She kept her makeup low-key as well, pairing a bold lip and a delicately smokey eye with a fresh, natural complexion (a choice that we applaud, considering the overwhelming attack of heavy-tanning celebs on the red carpet). Rooney wore the super-embellished little black frock from Louis Vuitton’s pre-fall 2012 collection, cinched in at the waist with a plain leather belt and kept her hands snug in the secret side pockets for the most of the evening. While we’ve applauded her glamorous goth-warrior-bride look in the past, we’re even happier to see her in something that’s both dark and charming at once. Pump up the glam and understate the accessories with these similarly chic pieces:
Photo: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters Urban Outfitters lace knit dress, $69.
Photo: Courtesy of Dorothy Perkins Dorothy Perkins A-line dress, $69.
Photo: Courtesy of Kurt Geiger Kurt Geiger leather belt, $26.
Photo: Courtesy of Steve Madden Steve Madden wedge sandal, $25.
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora Sephora long-wearing lipstick, $12.

Erica Cerulo Sure, there are hundreds of different fashion-centric websites angling for our attention, but there are probably a dozen keeping us interested on a daily basis.  The secret to Of a Kind is its simple formula: every week, Erica Cerulo (along with her partner Claire Mazur) choose one designer with whom they collaborate on a limited edition piece. They produce a maximum of 50 pieces of the result and feature the designer on their homepage to help promote the on-the-rise designers.  We chatted with Illinois-born Cerulo to learn some of her other secrets.

ELLE: What is your favorite smell?

EC: Lilacs. There were massive lilac bushes in the yard of the house I lived in until I was five, and I delivered bouquets of the flowers to my neighbors. I don’t really remember it, but my sense is that it was adorable.

ELLE: What do you consider the epitome of happiness?

EC: A night with no plans, a home-cooked meal, six episodes of an addictive TV show, the BF, and a couch.

ELLE: How do you define luxury?

EC: Something you don’t need and therefore want more.

ELLE: What is the last dream you remember?

EC: I never remember my dreams! So I’m going to have to say that I don’t remember the last one that I remembered.

ELLE: What’s your favorite childhood memory?

EC: My preschool was called Big Top and at the end of the year we had a circus. I was a tightrope walker, which meant performing a routine on a line of masking tape and—most importantly—wearing a purple satin leotard with pink sequins. It was sick.

ELLE: What’s the last book you read and loved?

EC: Oooh, loved—the pressure is on. I really connected with The Marriage Plot. I know people have mixed feelings, but everything about it (OK, except the ending) spoke to me, especially the aggressively intellectual classroom scenes at the beginning. They were very reminiscent of University of Chicago, my alma mater.

ELLE: Describe your home’s aesthetic.

EC: Bunny-approved. My Holland lop, Patsy Stone, runs the show around here.

ELLE: What are your vices?

EC: Prosciutto, cabs, and movies about high school.

ELLE: Describe yourself in five words or less.

EC: I am myself. How’s that?

ELLE: What possession will you never throw away?

EC: A gold chain of my dad’s—it’s plenty sentimental and men’s jewelry always looks rad on girls. Duh.

Wes Gordon Spring 12 Just three days into 2012 and already a handful of designers are emerging as the ones to watch this year. Correll Correll, Eighteenth, Haus Alkire, and Sunhee were all awarded the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award today, with a $25,000 grant going to each womenswear label. Joining them are Tim Coppens, Dezso by Sara Beltran, and Titania Inglis, who won for menswear, accessories, and sustainable design, respectively. While $25,000 might not seem like much in an industry where backpacks sell for $40,000, the Ecco Domani prize certainly pays off. Previous winners include Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Alexander Wang, and Rag & Bone, among many others. It’s particularly impressive considering that this is just the 11th year that the Italian winemaker is giving out grants. What’s notable about this year’s recipients is just how varied they are—German-born sisters Daphne and Vera Correll launched Correll Correll in 2006, while South Korean designer Sunhee Moon introduced the first collection of her eponymous line just this past fall. The winners were selected from a pool of 200 applicants, all of which must have at least one retail account, with judges like Julie Gilhart, The Fashion Calendar’s Ruth Finley, and Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing making the final decision. But it’s not just the Ecco Domani prize that’s shaping the list of up-and-coming designers in 2012. The Fashion Group International just named the finalists for its 15th annual Rising Star Awards, with Wes Gordon, Nahm, Nonoo, and Stacy Lomman among the labels vying for the title. The winner will be announced at a luncheon at the end of January, with men’s apparel, accessories, retail, and beauty awards also given out. Like the Ecco Domani winners, the Rising Star Award is another barometer of which designers to watch—Joseph Altuzarra took home the prize in 2010.

Patrick Demarchelier discusses his favorite shoots—and subjects—with The Telegraph.  (We want to know who’d think that Demarchelier’s favorite subject is Diddy.)Patrick Demarchelier discusses his favorite shoots—and subjects—with The Telegraph.  (We want to know who’d think that Demarchelier’s favorite subject is Diddy.)

The Row fall 2011; Imaxtree Ballet slippers may have some competition with the recent popularity of lounge loafers. These shoes have come on the scene with a vengeance and taken androgyny to a new fashionable level. Everyone from Alexander McQueen to Sam Edelman have contributed to the trend and have brought studs, prints, and tassels to the table. Here’s what to consider before  you delve into this trend: Longevity: Not new to the style scene, the loafer has been around since Hugh Hefner debuted them in the ’70s. We never thought we’d tale a cue from the Playboy patriarch, but even the most unpredictable of celebrities end up being trendsetters. For those of us who can’t decide between the flat and the oxford, this is a neutral combination of the two that is sure to be around for years to come. Wearability: If there’s one thing that these shoes possess, it’s comfortability. These shoes are literally made for walking. Or lounging. And although we all love a good heel, a great stylish and practical flat is like winning the lottery. You can follow in the footsteps of the always fashionable Mary-Kate and Ashley and their brand The Row and pair them with mens-like business wear, or you can throw them on with a simple jeans and T-shirt for running errands. Dressed up or down, they work like a charm. Personality: Whether you’re a plain Jane or love to experiment with prints, there’s a loafer out there for everybody. Studs, velvet, leopard, or patent, whatever your hearts desire. Although they may come off a bit grandfather-esque, it all depends on the style of the shoe and yours. Save vs. Splurge?: Save. Although the studded Louboutin loafers may be tempting, some of the splurges run close to $1,000, and who has that kind of money? There’s no need to break the bank to nab a pair of these shoes. Save options:
Photo: Courtesy of Aldo Killion Black Patent, $28, Aldo

Photo: Courtesy of Topshop Manney Pink Spot Slippers, $60, Topshop
Photo: Courtesy of DSW Wanted Ritzy Flat, $30, DSW
Photo: Courtesy of Asos DV by Dolce Vita Marcel Tasselled Loafers, $100, Asos
Photo: Courtesy of Lulu's Qupid Strip 27 Mustard Velvet Yellow Loafer Flats, $26, Lulu’s
Photo: Courtesy of Steve Madden MADEE tailored loafer, $120, Steve Madden
Photo: Courtesy of Nordstrom Adena Same Edelman spike and sequined satin flat, $150, Nordstrom Splurge Options:
Photo: Courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman Loeffler Randall printed calf-hair loafers, $325, Bergdorf


Photo: Courtesy of Shopbop Marc Jacobs jumbled logo metallic flats, $260, Shopbop
Photo: Courtesy of Net-A-Porter Christian Louboutin leapord print and bow loafers, $1,295. Net-A-Porter 


Photo: Courtesy of Free People Carillo metal disk studded loafers, $288, Free People


Photo: Courtesy of Neiman Marcus Charlotte Olympia cat face velvet skimmer flats, $695, Neiman Marcus

 

Photo: Courtesy of Saks Alexander McQueen velvet embroidered skull loafers, $595, Saks

Photo: Target

H&M dominated the mass collaboration category in 2011 with its Versace extravaganza and news of an upcoming partnership with Marni and Sofia Coppola, but Target’s kicking things off in 2012. Yesterday they released a first look at their collaboration with Jason Wu as well as the line’s ad campaign. It features a pink and yellow dress with black trim, as well as Milu, the cat who played muse to Wu’s Target collection. The clothes and bags hit Target next month, but next week the mega-store will reveal what they’re calling “the next chapter in Target’s design partnership model.” Though details are scarce, WWD reports that it will definitely vary from the Go International concept they started with, even extending into food categories. Mario Batali for Target anyone?

Click through for another look at Wu’s collection! Photo: Target