The new Sex and the City 2 trailer has just surfaced online and I for one can't wait for the film to be released on May 28, 2010. Ladies and gentlemen let the countdown begin!

       

TIFF ended just five days ago and I still can’t believe how quickly the Festival came and went, but as they say time flies when you’re having fun thanks to the wonderful TIFF09 press office. Words really can’t express how blessed and thankful I am to have had the opportunity to work with these people who I now call my friends.

The days following TIFF were spent gaining some much needed rest, but now I’m back and I’ve provided a short recap of days seven to 10 of the Festival.

Highlights of TIFF days seven to ten:

• Movies I saw: Bitch Slap, Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, The Double Hour (La Doppia Ora) and The Young Victoria
• Attended my first Midnight Madness screening at the Ryerson Theatre where I saw the film Bitch Slap. I can describe the atmosphere like a mathematical equation. Male university students + a hot female movie cast  (TNA) = hormonal screaming men
• Celebrity sightings: Julie Christie, Bill Nighy, Natalie Portman, Lisa Kudrow, Chuck D. (Public Enemy), Clive Owen, Michael Moore, Mads Mikkelsen, Til Schweiger, Werner Herzog, Jack White and Meg White.
• Missed celebrity sightings: Colin Farrell with U2 on the red carpet for the film Ondine.
• Fashion moments at TIFF:
  • From heel to flats to heels – I love my heels but having to stand and walk in them for hours takes a toll on the feet – thank goodness for stylish flats (i.e.: my Steve Madden Kazler Ballerina shoes) and quick shoe changes back into heels.
  • Fashion winner: Natalie Portman in a floral print Lanvin dress for the premiere of Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.
  • Fashion maybe/maybe not: Drew Barrymore wearing Alexander McQueen at the Whip It red carpet. This dress is from McQueen’s Resort 2010 collection; I love the dress but I’m not entirely convinced Barrymore pulled it off. I’m still deliberating on this one although the majority of the fashion press feels otherwise.

(Images from: AFP, James Helmer and TIFF)

           

The second half of 2009 is turning out to be the year that is capturing the fashion industry on film. Using fashion as the subject in movies has all the makings of a good story. Fashion involves the struggle of bringing the creative process of design to fruition by transforming sketches into garments, building an empty space into an arena of style and negotiating the relationships of all the people involved. Those employed in the fashion industry work under strict deadlines to meet the high expectations of their audiences – and remember this happens season after season for years.

The year of fashion on film began with the debut of Valentino: the Last Emperor in July, then The September Issue and now two movies depicting the life and times of fashion designer Coco Chanel. They are titled Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky and Coco Avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel).

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky will be making its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) which runs from September 10 to 19, 2009. Out of the hundreds of films being shown at TIFF this year, I’m extremely excited to see this movie because it tells the story of two highly creative individuals who have an affair with one another; Coco Chanel the successful and wealthy fashion designer and Igor Stravinsky, the composer/conductor who “doggedly wrestles (with) his musical demons.”

There are currently three films depicting the life of Coco Chanel and another two are said to be on its way; one directed by Daniele Thompson and the other starring Demi Moore which is slated to be her return to the big screen. The number of movies drawing on the story of Chanel is the subject of more films than any other fashion designer in history, making her the favourite focus of filmmakers of the period.

Behind the scenes of Coco Chanel (2008), starring Shirley McLaine and Barbora Bobulova

All three movies tell their own stories about Chanel – her struggles, successes and relationships with men. Audrey Tautou, who plays Chanel in Coco Avant Chanel describes the fashion designer; “Her life is so rich, and her personality so unusual, that the story of her life is far greater than simply being a story of fashion” (The Times) and thus representing the world’s unending fascination with the iconic designer.

FINALLY! A date for the screening of The September Issue has been set for Toronto, as announced by veteran fashion journalist, David Livingstone who had the very fortunate opportunity to preview the movie on Tuesday. See his review of the film in the Toronto Star here.

So ladies and gentlemen mark October 23, 2009, in your fashion calendar and let the count down begin – 77 days to go.

To wet your appetite in the meantime, Anna Wintour is scheduled to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday, August 24, to promote the film. This should be very interesting to watch since she has always been selective about whom she meets with from the media. The interaction between Wintour, Letterman and the studio audience will yield some interesting answers and reactions… from the viewers of course.

Anna Wintour on 60 Minutes: this interview was taped months ago but it compliments the upcoming première of The September Issue in Toronto and this blog post. What is interesting to observe is Morley Safer’s interview of Wintour as he prods at the rumours and gossip surrounding Wintour and the work environment at Vogue, hoping to extract a juicy tidbit or two from her answers. In true Wintour style, she evades and coyly answers Safer’s gossip focused questions responding with calm clarity and truth. It is apparent Safer doesn’t understand the fashion industry and he’s equally lost when he accompanies Wintour to the prêt-a-porter (ready-to-wear) shows looking perplexed as models sashay down the runway, or it could be he’s not accustomed to seeing so much breast and bum on public display.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Anna Wintour clips and outtakes (60 Minutes): I certainly can’t forget to give you a chance to watch the outtakes that didn’t make the final cut of the interview with Safer. Below are a few of my favourite clips. Enjoy!

Anna on Fur Anna on Vogue Anna on Art and Beauty

(Videos from CBS)

Ever since I heard there was a documentary called The September Issue which tells the story of Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue and the development of the magazine’s 2007 September edition I’ve become a bit obsessed about when the movie will be screened in Toronto.

After months of seeing news coverage of The September Issue premiering at film festivals around the world, such as Sundance and Edinburgh, they’ve finally announced a release date for Canada… sometime in October 2009. UGH! Why do we have to wait so long. I was hoping the movie would be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year so I could repeat my luck from last year’s attendance of Valentino: The Last Emperor.

In the meantime, we’ll have to satisfy our fashion fixations by keeping up-to-date on the latest news of the film through its pages on Facebook and Twitter, and download ringtones from the movie. Double ugh!

(Video from YouTube)

Last year several friends and I had the opportunity to attend the North American première of Valentino: The Last Emperor during the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This documentary gave viewers the rare glimpse into the personal life and work of famed Italian courtier Valentino Garavani – for me it was an emotional and very moving experience. At the end of the movie the house lights went up and the crowd was utterly shocked and overwhelmed with emotion to see the icon himself, Mr. Valentino, had attended the première. The audience instantly took to their feet and gave him a standing ovation lasting for several minutes; my hands hurt from clapping and my eyes were tearing up but I didn't care since this was a once in a life time opportunity to be near, let alone in the same building as Mr. Valentino (sigh). To read a little more on the event the Toronto Star covered the movie première in an article here.

For those true fashion lovers if you haven’t had the opportunity, I highly recommend seeing this movie because it will move you and make you love Mr. Valentino even more.

Valentino: The Last Emperor opens today (July 10, 2009), in Canada at:

• Varsity Cineplex, Toronto
• Cinemark Tinseltown, Vancouver
• Cinema Du Parc, Montreal

For other locations please go to the movie’s official site here.

(Video taken from www.valentinomovie.com)