Oh, Marc!

Dakota Fanning for Marc Jacobs

There has been a bit of an uproar about the most recent Marc Jacobs campaign, featuring child star-turned teenage muse, Dakota Fanning. The 17-year-old is seen posing with an oversize bottle of the scent between her legs. Jacobs has described Oh, Lola! as "sensual", and is "more of a Lolita than a Lola."

Oh, Marc! The Advertising Standards Authority have pulled the advert after receiving several complaints that the campaign portrays a sexualised child, due to Fanning appearing underage and the actress straddling a questionably shaped bottle. Coty, the makers of Oh, Lola! have said that they believe the image is "provoking, but not indecent".

This does sound a bit like a fuss about nothing. The fact of the matter is Dakota Fanning isn't a child anymore. We've watched her grow up since she was in I Am Sam, and it's hard to shake off the memory of an angelic child who was all blue eyes and blonde locks. But angelic child she ain't. Take a look at this promotional picture for her 2010 film, The Runaways:

Cherrybombshell - Dakota Fanning in The Runaways

You can't really blame Marc Jacobs for thinking Fanning was ready to tackle a provocative perfume advert. In this day and age where designers pick girls instead of women to promote their collections, I can't help but think we brought this on ourselves. Models much younger than Dakota have starred in campaigns which have been plastered on billboards around cities without a hitch, so maybe we should calm down a bit and accept a young woman modelling a perfume isn't such a terrible idea after all.

Victor/Victoria Fashion

Lady Gaga would love to think of herself as the pioneer of the latest androgyny trend from when she bandaged up her chest and donned a suit to look like this:

but alas, no. The boy-girl thing has long been working its way up the fashion scale. Over the last couple of years there have been an increasing number of sightings of women in tuxes, along with the rising star of the likes of transsexual model Lea T and “beautiful” male mode Andrej Pejic have been helping to blur the line between masculinity and feminine beauty.

Designers, such as Moschino, Ralph Lauren and Boy. by Band of Outsiders all have featured models in tuxedos and trouser suits, while Dolce & Gabbana leads the pack by their braces, bow ties and slicked back hair. The androgyny trend is a great antidote to the ultra-feminine looks which have been heavily featured this year; a welcome alternative to cocktail dresses (they are more attention-grabbing and awe-striking than a mini-dress could ever be).

Pull your socks up: Dolce & Gabbana

One fashion starlet who champions the lux tux is singer Janelle Monae. Her monochromatic uniform consisting of tuxedos and dinner jackets, saddle shoes and an incredible gravity-defying ‘do have earned her major style points- she retorts to those who don’t like her style that “they ain’t seem to mind the last three times I posed in Vogue”. While dancing like a female James Brown and belting out her fast-paced upbeat tunes, one can’t help but notice how unbelievably composed and dapper she remains throughout.

If you like the idea of stylishly upping the gender-equality stakes but still want to remain feminine, then wear 70s style wide-legged trousers with a fitted tuxedo jacket or blazer a la Gucci. Add curves with a waist-cinching cummerbund or belt, a slick of red lipstick and sky-high platform heels. Voila! The world is your oyster.

Bow Ties and Boyish Looks: Janelle Monae

Fight For This Love: A PR Battle

In the last couple of weeks it has been reported that Cheryl Cole has been getting close to 'Dynamite' star, Taio Cruz.

Blondes have more fun: Cheryl Cole loving the single life

The Girls Aloud singer has finally turned her back on serial philanderer Ashley Cole, and is rumoured to be spending a lot of time with Cruz, telling her friends "Taio is beautiful, caring and amazing".
The two singers are apparently back in the studio, after previously recording a track together for Cole's album back in 2009.

Taio, who split with girlfriend Roxy Horner earlier in the year, has been hinting at his 'lust' for Cheryl, by posting a picture to his Facebook of the singer wearing one of his designs for Rockstarr watches. Well if that constitutes two people are in a relationship, then I've gone out with everyone I've ever posted a picture of.

Tiao Cruz - all news is good news

According to Cheryl, there's "a lot of sexual tension flying around". Not so. I have it on good authority from an impeccable source from Camp Cruz this is all just a big PR stunt. Cheryl isn't giddy as a schoolgirl over Tiao- in fact, they aren't even in the recording studio together. When I asked if we could expect a collaboration single from the two in the near future, my source said "Maybe...but we're not sure yet."
Any male singer with a story about being associated with Britain's Sweetheart Cheryl Cole isn't going to have a sudden dent in their reputation, especially if they are 'allegedly' restoring Ms Cole's wounded self confidence. So good on Camp Cruz! This publicity stunt is only going to win fans.

Peace

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