Kourtney Kardashian Tried On 3 Extremely Rare Dresses to Host Her Family Christmas Party

‘Tis the season to be merry—and, if you’re Kourtney Kardashian, to dress in extremely rare archival pieces. The eldest Kardashian sister was tasked with hosting the family’s annual holiday bash this Christmas Eve; so to mark the occasion, she tried on not one, not two, but three vintage outfits. “The vibe of the affair was eclectic wintery chic, including aged hardwood floors, green velvet drapes, chandeliers, fireplaces, and comfort food to bring a homey feel to such an elegant evening,” her stylist of two years Dani Michelle shares with Vogue. “Kourtney wanted to dress up for the occasion, and was most inspired by rich jewel tones.” One look that certainly fell in line with that rich, megawatt color palette, was an emerald green Jean Paul Gaultier silk dress, complete with the designer’s signature cone bra. (This isn’t the first time that Kardashian has worn Gaultier, either—she’s long been a fan of the designer, in particular the label’s vintage semi-sheer, stretchy pieces from the Soleil line.) Then, Kardashian tried a slinky plum dress with crystallized flames by Thierry Mugler. She finally settled on a Tom Ford-era Gucci corseted gown from the Fall 2003 collection, in ruby red. (Look 44 to be exact, originally worn by model Carmen Kass.)

Over the past few months, Kardashian has been regularly gravitating towards vintage outfits, from the aforementioned Jean Paul Gaultier garb, to the ’90s Gucci leather dress she wore to attend the Dior Men fall 2020 show in Miami. Now, the eldest Kardashian is delving even further into the world of hard-to-find archival looks. (After all, her middle sister Kim has long been a fan: Peep her museum-worthy Thierry Mugler, Azzedine Alaïa, and Versace moments from earlier this year.) “When we did a fitting, I pulled everything from early 2000s archives to the latest runways, but she gravitated most to the vintage collections of Jean Paul Gaultier, Gucci by Tom Ford, and Thierry Mugler,” says Michelle on styling Kardashian. “What we loved most about these gowns, and those of the past, is that they don’t compete with the trends of today, but are the actual original concepts and designs that paved the way for modern fashion. It’s thrilling to find these looks in perfect condition.” To track down the items, Michelle tapped an insider’s group of archive dealers. “I sourced the [Tom Ford-Gucci] 2003 runway gown from Janet Mandell, who has been buying museum archives for the last 10 years,” says Michelle. “Just as we have brand showrooms for current designers, I have a network of archival vintage collectors.”

While wearing archive pieces has become something of a trend this year—the choice is sustainable, and plus, who doesn’t like showing off their super collectable discoveries?—it seems that Kardashian has more sentimental reasons for opting for these designers. “She remembers all these designers from an early age as they are what her mommy would wear,” adds Michelle. Nothing like getting into the festive familial spirit this holiday season—and if it’s very fashionable, too, then all the better.

Angel Olsen on Her Bespoke, Old World Vision of Fashion

When I meet Angel Olsen at a bar in Greenpoint this past August, she’s a bit burnt out. She’s just received some bad news regarding a friend of hers; she’s also in the thick of promoting her new album, All Mirrors, and beginning a lengthy tour, which extended to playing a series of headlining shows in Brooklyn this past weekend. “I keep having to switch gears from talking about the record, doing photoshoots, trying to look interesting—trying to wear beautiful dresses and get into it—but I also get depleted, because I know I have to go home and learn how to program my synth and actually do the fucking thing,” she says.

In spite of this fatigue, the Asheville, North Carolina-based artist excitedly shows me the knockoff Vogue T-shirt that she’s wearing—a handmade, abstract black-and-white design that her friend made and framed with the classic Vogue lettering, worn in anticipation of speaking with me. She also lights up when showing off her new tattoo, which she got in Lisbon during her sole vacation of the summer. “I went with my best friend who’s a DJ, and he has this little chihuahua. We were just in the streets singing fado and we both got tattoos—this is the first I’ve ever gotten.” It’s based off a post she saw on the oddball Instagram account History Cool Kids. “A Swiss taxidermist created a 3D model of this Siberian princess whose body was completely preserved. She was 2,500 years old and covered in tattoos. They found some weed next to her, and they found out that she had breast cancer, so she was smoking to ease the pain. It’s a really powerful image and it just kept coming back to me,” Olsen says. She thought she was going to get a mini labyrinth or a compass tattooed on her arm, but instead she went with the swirling, almost Pegasus-like design that the mummified princess had etched into her shoulder.

Selena Gomez Refreshes the Suit With a Surprising Choice of Shoe

Selena Gomez is back in full force. After a brief hiatus from music, the singer released two surprise singles last week, titled “Look at Her Now” and “Lose You to Love Me.” Today, she has been busy making the promo rounds for the new songs in New York City, where she appeared at multiple events and showed up at each one in entirely new outfits. One of her chicest looks, however, was the suited-up moment that she gave a refresh with a surprising shoe choice.

Working with stylist Kate Young, Gomez wore a checkered, double-breasted suit by Frame to cap off of her slew of winning looks. She accessorized it with a black Alexander McQueen bag. But it was her unlikely footwear that made the whole look feel fresh and modern: she slipped on leather mules by Proenza Schouler that had a twisted upper and mirrored block heel. It was a fresh departure from the simple pumps or masculine brogues that celebrities often wear with suits.

The fall season has already had its unexpected shoe moments—see Ariana Grande in Crocs, or Rihanna in flip-flop heels—but Gomez’s unexpected accessory is surprisingly wearable, too. Consider it a seasonal guide to suiting: just pop on a fun shoe, and you’re ready to go.

A$AP Rocky Makes the Case For Yet Another Unexpected Men’s Accessory Trend

In case you missed it, A$AP Rocky has firmly made himself known as a babushka boy. Since he first reinterpreted the matronly headscarf—most notably, perhaps, with the floral silk Gucci scarf he wore to a LACMA gala in Los Angeles last year—Rocky has continued to break out the unexpected accessory on a regular basis. Just last night, even, Rocky went to a Fenty after-party in the midst of Paris Fashion Week wearing a sleek, black patent leather Marine Serre raincoat which he paired with, yes, a red babushka-cum-baseball cap.

For Rocky’s latest appearance at the Loewe runway show earlier today, though, the rapper swapped out his go-to accessory for something a little different. With a caned bag slung low on his hip and his pants cinched at the ankles, Rocky walked into the Loewe show with an opalescent, almost Victorian looking choker firmly set around his neck. It’s a bold styling choice, especially when paired with a men’s blazer as Rocky did, but it’s certainly fetching on him. When he first debuted the babushka headscarf last year, the response was divided, but since then the look has been sported by the likes of Jaden Smith and Marc Jacobs—could Rocky be patient zero for a menswear accessory trend once again with the choker? For that, we’ll have to wait and see—but don’t be surprised if he writes a song called “Choker Boi” now, too.

Why Lenny Kravitz Is Still a Menswear Icon

I love Lenny Kravitz. I love his attitude. I love his look. Ever since he made his debut with Let Love Rule in 1989, the singer has cultivated the same love-worn, pheromone-soaked and unbuttoned style. And it still looks fresh, too. Last night on the VMAs red carpet, a place crawling with teenage YouTubers and Insta-celebs, Kravitz stood out once again. The 55-year-old rock star (and father!) stood there with his hands holstered into his pockets, wearing a pair of faded jeans paired with a vintage Levi’s vest from What Goes Around Comes Around with shorn-off arms and a distressed, fraying collar. Call it a Canadian tuxedo à la Kravitz.

And there’s more: On his torso was a delicate golden halter top that appeared as if it was spun by gilded spiders from heaven. (Zoom in, and you can see that the threadlike, ready-to-snap strap was connected by a large safety pin!) His footwear was the ultimate signifier of male confidence: pointy-toe white boots. His hands were laden with kingly Southwestern jewelry that included a massive turquoise ring and a glittering pinky ring so big that it was reminiscent of a miniature pavé disco ball. Around his neck hung an abstract fist-size gold medallion that appeared to be handmade.

Every detail merely amplified the singer’s style legacy. Kravitz has been a seemingly ageless heartthrob with an unapologetic oft-shredded style to match since before some of last night’s nominees were born. He is the purveyor of the flare! The mesh tank top! He has always shown off his sculpted biceps and Zeus-like pectorals, and why not? Kravitz has it; he should flaunt it, and he has, memorably, in his everyday style and in his own videos.

Take his “I Belong To You” (1998), specifically the moment when Kravitz biblically emerges from the sea like a ripped, saltwater-drenched Moses, sporting a soaking white shirt and a chain choker with a bone carving dangling from it. He’s also wearing sunglasses. It’s as ridiculous as it is blindingly hot. Who wears clothes or sunglasses when submerged into saltwater? Who cares! He sports a similar look on the cover of his Greatest Hits album from 2000, but in that instance, it is a pair of low-slung, partially unzipped jeans with the waist torn off. Like I said, Kravitz loves his wardrobe to be slightly beat-up, as if he’s been walking through the desert and his wares have been organically wind-blasted for 40 years.

But there’s far more to Kravitz’s style, and I’m not just talking about the multiple ear piercings, stacked like beautiful, tiny wedding bands on his lobes. Or his double nose ring: a hoop and stud. Nor the nipple piercings. And that other newsworthy piercing. There is depth to his look—a natural laidback appeal that is so far from try-hard. Go back to the music video “Again” from 2000. In it, he plays himself, a rock star who at the time was dating actress Gina Gershon. Then he becomes enamored with a waitress at a diner. We can see that Lenny is struggling with fame: He doesn’t need the glitz and the glamor of a penthouse apartment! That’s not Lenny! Instead, we see that he’s the type of guy who can pluck out a white ribbed tank from his underwear drawer and simply get on with his day. And that’s just what he does: The penultimate scene when Kravitz runs out of that sterile apartment to pursue his love interest, he wears a plain tank and regular jeans. It’s smoldering. Lenny doesn’t need the clothing labels to make a statement. Come to think of it, it’s hard to recall any designers that he wears on the regular, except for the occasional Saint Laurent. What’s more elevated rock ’n’ roll than that brand?

This is not to say that Lenny doesn’t do excess well. He’s always had a knack for reviving that wild and groovy ’70s rocker style and making it his own. He showed up to the Betsey Johnson Fall 1998 show wearing a Western-type jacket made from fur and leather that was only fastened by one button along with a pair of happy trail-baring red leather pants. (He also wore the same aforementioned bone-carved necklace!) Way back when, he donned a corset contraption and skin-tight paisley print. He even memorably wore a blue-tinged Global Coffee House art-style crop top. In one undated image from a concert presumably in the early ’90s, Kravitz is pictured in a suit of the palest blue with a scooping fur-trimmed collar, not unlike a look that David Bowie or Prince might have worn. And remember that humongous brown knit scarf Kravitz wrapped himself in while braving a chilly day in New York in 2018? It was crazy, bizarre, and also so Lenny.

Men’s looks in music have always been changing. There are boy bands who shoot to fame, and then the members assume other styles off-stage and as the time goes on. There are standard rock bands with unremarkable wardrobes. But just as Iggy Pop performs shirtless in a pair of jeans threatening to fall off, or Bono is never without his trademark sunglasses, Lenny’s style is iconic and seamless. He wears these looks off-stage and on-stage. He is the precursor to the millennial sartorial powerhouses that we know now, like Post Malone with his honky-tonk garb or Bad Bunny with his hyped-about dorktastic get-ups. Kravitz knows himself, feels good, and looks phenomenal in his clothes. What’s to change? For Lenny, nothing.

Kim Kardashian West Steps Out in the Unlikeliest Summer Pant

Kim Kardashian West isn’t one to play by the fashion rules. If a dress code calls for all white, she’ll likely show up in bold neon colors; if it’s a casual day affair, she’ll wear a glitzy evening dress instead. It’s just her style M.O.—so why would her approach to summer dressing be any less individualistic? Today, the reality star and business mogul hit the streets in Calabasas, California wearing the most unlikeliest pant of the season—and totally pulled it off in her own way.

Forgoing breezy linen pants or a mini skirt, Kardashian West defied hot weather with a pair of baggy leather trousers, complete with a drawstring waist. They’re an unexpected piece, but somehow worked well with her approach to styling: she offset its voluminous shape with stiletto sandals and a more form-fitting turtleneck top with short sleeves, which had a touch of tie-dye near the neckline. In her hand, she also carried a mini croc bag by Hermès. So, while a heavy leather pant may seem more of a fall-winter staple, leave it to the creative Kardashian West to take a risk and make it work in the dead of summer. Season be damned.

Priyanka Chopra’s Day Date Beauty Strategy Is Your New Summer Go-To

Sometimes, scene-stealing summer beauty is as simple as honing in on a buoyant color palette. The point was proven today by Priyanka Chopra, who took to the streets of Paris—husband Nick Jonas in tow—with pops of pink that played off of her ensemble.

A blush-toned skirt suit served as a jumping off point for the effortlessly romantic look, Chopra's glossy brunette mane was pulled back into a mid-level ponytail, characterized by a bit of volume at the crown, that ensured focus fell on a berry-stained pout. The only aesthetic rival? A petal pink polish job, the hue swiped across fingers and toes to saccharine effect.

Though Chopra's outfit didn't call for sandals, a pair of transparent heels kept the pedicure on display—furthering the actress's legs-for-days agenda in the process. Accessorized with gilded hoops, slim sunnies, and a slice of midriff, consider this City of Light look—or simply a personalized play on pink—a go-to for your next afternoon rendezvous.

Swae Lee, Reformed Sneakerhead, Is Now Making the Case for Rappers in Heels

As Swae Lee combed through the clothing racks in his expansive closet before the Grammys in February, he boldly proclaimed that men don’t know how to dress. He’s clearly the exception to this rule, though, as he proved that night. For the awards show, he chose his favorite piece: a lacy white shirt that he insisted was unisex. Lee anticipated Instagram comments from people bemoaning the fact that he stepped out in a women’s shirt, but he persisted. “It’s 2k19 boy, it’s unisex, alright? Get with it.”

Lee has just taken this agender approach to dressing to new heights in a literal sense. He debuted a head-to-toe oxblood-colored outfit on Hollywood Boulevard yesterday, combining a bowling shirt, a Gucci belt, a well-tailored pair of slacks, and his signature pile of chains with patent leather heeled boots. It’s rare to see a rapper donning such towering footwear (especially for a sneakerhead like Lee) but men in heels is definitely becoming a thing again—just take Xavier Dolan’s Cuban heeled leather Christian Louboutin oxfords that he wore to Cannes last week, or American Horror Story actor Cody Fern’s Tabi boots from the Golden Globes red carpet. Lee might not be the only man keen to add a few extra inches, but he’s one of the first to bring heels into the world of contemporary hip hop. It’s only a matter of time until, to borrow a phrase from Lee himself, his peers get with it. In the meantime, we’ll be patiently waiting for Lil Uzi Vert to step out in some platforms.

Of Course Rihanna Pulled This Super Bold Look Off the Runway

When it comes to fashion, Rihanna is fearless. She is the ultimate style shape-shifter: she’ll go from a breezy, beachy look to suited-up tailoring with complete ease. She loves switching up her aesthetic and taking a risk with her outfits, and rarely has it not paid off. Her latest challenge? Taking one of the boldest, most over-the-top looks from the recent Fall 2019 runways and managing to make it look completely wearable on the streets. And without a doubt, she pulled it off.

Spotted in her home of Barbados, where she took in a Buju Banton concert, Rihanna wore a look from Off-White’s recent Fall collection, which was first shown in February in Paris. The Virgil Abloh–designed ensemble—a floor-length jacket, hot shorts, and booties all in the same checkered print—is one of those tricky runway styling jobs that’s purposefully pushed to the extreme. Yet Rih wore it exactly as shown, committing to the designer’s original head-to-toe take. And, magically, she made it look super casual in the process. Now, any average person would maybe take one graphic piece and incorporate it into their wardrobe. But Rihanna? She’s a master of extremes.

Christian Louboutin’s First Trip to Nashville Included Dinner With Dolly and a Blowout Party

An instantly recognizable signifier of fabulosity, Christian Louboutin’s iconic red-soled heels have traveled the world. Now the designer himself is making an epic journey—he’s determined to discover the United States one state at a time. Last week he traveled to Nashville, home to many of his most ardent fans and a thriving fashion scene. The destination was ideal for the designer who made the trip with Nordstrom for a party thrown in his honor hosted by Karen Fairchild of the Grammy-winning band Little Big Town.

From the start, Louboutin aimed to make the most of his time in country music’s capital. First on the agenda: a private dinner with Dolly Parton at the music legend’s home in Brentwood. Then it was off to the famed Gibson guitar factory for a special tour. A vintage aficionado, Louboutin hit up a slew of local shops in walking distance from the stately Hermitage Hotel in search of authentic cowboy boots and Western fare before heading to the bash.

The event featured a mini concert led by emerging local acts Fancy, The Brummies, and Lucie Silvas. Attended by a slew of country luminaries—Martina McBride, Jessie James Decker, and Kellie Pickler among them—it was a night filled with good music, good friends, and Southern hospitality. Here, the designer gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse at what happens when red soles meet Tennessee soul.

Rihanna Made a Fierce Fashion Statement at Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Secret Oscars Party

Leave it to Rihanna to upstage some of Hollywood’s best dressed stars on Oscar night. The singer attended Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s super-secret post-awards-show party last night (it took place in the parking garage of the Chateau Marmont), making a fierce fashion statement in a piece off the runway: a ruffled leopard-print design from Alexandre Vauthier’s Spring 2019 Couture collection. Of course, the bad gal pulled off the OTT dress better than most, accessorizing with simple black stilettos, black tights, a matching clutch, and a wrist full of chunky bangles. Rihanna honored this big fashion win with a trio of Instagrams posted to her account today, no captions necessary.

Not much is known about Bey and Jay’s apparently gold-theme soiree, other than Rihanna’s wild ensemble and a few other major names on the guest list, including Drake, Adele, J-Rod, and newly engaged couple Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom. Rih might not have been present for the awards ceremony, but she sure did shut it down in the late hours once all of the accolades were handed out. One can only imagine the partying that went on inside Sunday’s most covert celebration, but no doubt Rihanna and her fierce couture had a ball.

Why I Love the New Kate Moss So Much Better Than the ’90s Waif

Kate Moss has been looking great lately. This past month, she celebrated her birthday in London with her longtime friend Stella McCartney and wore a black minidress with her signature monkey-fur chubby. (That same night, she stepped out on the arm of her hot boyfriend Count Nikolai von Bismarck.) Later that week in Paris, she was spotted with another old friend, Sadie Frost, and wore a cinched velvet jacket with a peekaboo leopard-print shirt. At 45, the supermodel has never looked so bright nor so put-together.

It’s radically different from the hard-partying Moss who I fell in love with when I was a teenager in the early ’00s. That was the second coming of Kate, about a decade after she had her mercurial rise as the infamous waif. I discovered Moss in this form on a French Vogue cover tucked away in the international magazine aisle of a Barnes & Noble. In the November 2004 issue, Moss wore a ridiculous green fur coat on top of a Nike sports bra and a pair of short white gym shorts. Maybe the image was so out of my world that I became transfixed. Or maybe it was because she was super flat-chested—just like me at the time!—yet had an electrifying confidence. (I was very insecure about my nonexistent bra size.) That cover gave me hope, a curious peek into another dimension.

By the mid-aughts, it appeared as if Moss had come into her own. I wasn’t so much a fan of her now immortalized ’90s wardrobe, like the sheer slip dress that she wore with Naomi Campbell or the matchy-matchy grunge-inflected outfits she wore with Johnny Depp. She seemed too quiet back then, too young. I liked her noughties energy. (Watch this grainy cut of Primal Scream’s “Some Velvet Morning” to get a visual feel). Plus, in 2005, she carved out a new name for herself in the fashion-verse. Moss had just begun a relationship with Libertines front man Pete Doherty. Her style became wild, bad-to-the-bone English rock ’n’ roll. She’d attend Glastonbury hanging off the arm of Doherty in tiny dresses with mud-caked Wellies and a cigarette dangling from her lips. On a regular day in London, she was effortlessly cool in a pair of black skinny jeans, ankle boots, a leather jacket or army jacket, and a skull-print Alexander McQueen scarf. Even if she wore these outfits in the back of a car, half asleep after a rough night out, I thought she looked amazing.

I gravitated toward her not only because her getups appeared easy and attainable but because she wore her out-of-control behavior well. At the time, I was a teenager with problems at home and school. Moss’s blasé, even tumultuous attitude resonated with me. I tried to re-create her style. I still have a tiny black dress from American Apparel and a low-slung, circular medallion belt floating around my parents’ house. I even wore ballet flats, as an ode to her Repettos. I also scooped up a pair of rosary beads, like Moss had worn in 2005 at Glastonbury with a vest and short shorts. (Fun fact: I’m not even Catholic.) And somewhere in my childhood bedroom shoved in the back of a bookshelf, there is a half-smoked pack of Marlboro Lights.

Then, Moss went to rehab. Soon after, I slowly started to grow out of my bad-teenager phase. Toward the end of the late 2000s, she dropped off of my radar. It felt as if she had lost her mojo. Years later, in 2015, she was photographed while playing a caricature of herself in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. She was waist-deep wading out of the River Thames wearing a body-skimming sparkling aquamarine dress with a glass of Champagne and a cigarette. And though it was an act, the image simply seemed too real.

And yet, suddenly this past month, Moss has come back on my radar. It’s not for falling on her knees exiting the club or zonking out on the seat of a black car. In recent weeks, she has really hit her stride, whether she was celebrating her 45th birthday or at Paris Fashion Week. The newswires show her looking incredibly chic and put-together. After all, she isn’t only a model but owns a modeling agency now and is dressing the elevated part of someone who makes decisions. Think: all-black everything, like a wide-leg pleated trouser that is polished or a velvet jumpsuit with a silk placket. She is glowing. It is almost as if she wants people to see the new her.

Coincidently, I have taken on a similar uniform in my own life, along with a more responsible attitude. There’s no more drinking, going out late, and, funny enough, no more sloppy outfits. (Though, I admit I never could pull of a chicly disheveled look à la Moss in her party years.) The other day I joked to my friend that even though I am not as fun because I go out less and that I dress like I’m attending a funeral in head-to-toe dark colors, I have never felt or looked better. I actually, probably like Moss now, thoughtfully consider what I am going to wear for a day at work or to a dinner. Do I sometimes miss those paparazzi images of Moss perpetually with a cigarette in her mouth, hanging out of a window at a party, or simply hanging off of Doherty while wearing something so down-to-earth and yet effortlessly fantastic? And do I miss my own crazy moments? Of course. But we all have to grow up at some point. So why not make it look good?