Photo: Paul Maffi

Let’s break it down. Stylist Leslie Fremar was born in Canada, began her career as a fashion assistant, climbed the ranks and eventually became associate fashion editor, moved on to become the Director of VIP Relations at Prada, established herself as one of the industry’s most coveted celebrity stylists—and the rest is history. Today, her current client list includes sartorial icons like Jennifer Connelly, Julianne Moore, Charlize Theron, and Reese Witherspoon, and she’s about to debut her second collection in collaboration with Fruit of the Loom. Her luxe range consists of tees, sweaters, leggings, and dresses that start at $8 and will be sold at every single Bloomingdale’s store around the country beginning in June. She’s epitomized the concept of “high-low,” and as we anxiously wait for her collab to hit shelves—we spoke with Fremar and found out why she deems her “pregnant dreams” too crazy to share.

ELLE: What is your favorite smell?

Fremar: I love the smell of rosemary. There is nothing like fresh rosemary in a garden.

ELLE: What do you consider the epitome of happiness?

LF: When my son cracks up laughing. When he is happy, I am happy, and nothing else matters.

ELLE: How do you define luxury?

LF: To me, luxury is something really well-made. It can be clothing, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be anything really, as long as it is made with expertise and time.

ELLE: What is the last dream you remember?

LF: Well, I am pregnant, and I think when you are pregnant, or at least for me, you have crazy dreams. If I shared them with you, you may think I am crazy.

ELLE: What’s your favorite childhood memory?

LF: Growing up in Canada, going to summer camp was a huge thing. As a 10-year-old kid, going away for two months in the summer was pretty fun and getting handwritten letters from your parents was very special. If I had known handwritten letters were going to be a thing of the past, I would have kept them all.

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

LF: Sadly, the last book I read is called When Pigasso Met Mootisse. My son loved it.

ELLE: Describe your home’s aesthetic.

LF: I love my apartment. I put so much time into decorating it because I want my son to have a home. It is very warm and comfortable, but it has a strong point of view. He needs to know his mom takes aesthetic very seriously.

ELLE: What are your vices?

LF: Chocolate, pizza, french fries, and cheese.

ELLE: Describe yourself in five words or less.

LF: I am very conservative, serious, controlling and decisive. Somehow I still have friends.

ELLE: What possession will you never throw away?

LF: All “things” are disposable to me.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen flank Steve Madden in sneakers from The Row x Superga. Photo: Billy Farrell Agency

Last night’s soiree for Superga’s newly minted creative directors, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, was a different kind of fashion party. Despite the savory samplings, bumping beats (courtesy of Harley Viera-Newton) and top tier tipples, the crowd at The Crosby Hotel was a little less statuesque than usual—and a helluva lot more comfortable! Known for quirky sartorial choices and a love affair with high heels, reveler Leandra Medine rocked a gold pair of the chubby-soled sneaks, neatly tied around her ankles. “I have this weird thing about shoes being tied normally,” she confessed. “The bunny ear loops are kind of weird, right?” And when it comes to wearing her gilded pair all summer long, Medine has big plans. “I’ll wear them with an airy, loose, tentish dress or denim cutoffs with a long-sleeve, silk t-shirt.” Dannijo designer Danielle Snyder agreed that the sneakers perfectly anchor girlish looks. “I like to be a little bit feminine, but a little bit tomboyish,” she explained to ELLE. ” Supergas are great for that.”



DJ Harley Viera-Newton mans the turntables in cashmere kicks from the collection. Photo: Billy Farrell Agency

Clairvoyant when it comes to style, Mary-Kate and Ashley knew the brand’s North American domination was only a matter of time. “It’s always been a brand that we loved,” enthused Ashley. “It’s been around for years, but just hasn’t been distributed to the U.S. in a really great way.” MK agreed: “It made sense for the collaboration with The Row because Superga is simple, modern, and classic.” Of course, another celebration may be in order. The designers, alongside Proenza Schouler, are nominated for Womenswear Designer of the Year for The Row at the June 4 CFDA Awards. “We’re just really happy to be involved in this industry. And I think you just see a lot of the hard work that goes on every single day,” Ashley said of the distinction. Put simply, “they’re winners,” gushed Steve Madden. “And it’s good to be with a winner.” The trio’s footwear collaborations, which include the successful Elizabeth and James range, have afforded him not only success, but the opportunity to learn from the indomitable duo. “We have shoes at Neiman Marcus. We have shoes at JCPenney and at Bergdorf Goodman. They are one of the few people that can do all that. I mean, Steve Madden is not in all those places!” But more than their marketing prowess, Madden’s most impressed with the pair’s commitment to punctuality. “They always show up on time!” he exclaimed. “I’m always shocked by that because celebrities never show up on time. I’m lucky to be able to work with them.”

Erin Wasson at Cannes. Photos: Getty Images

Rachel Zoe has worked with Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Garner, Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, and Nicole Richie over the years; now she’s added a new name to the troop: Erin Wasson. Known for her daring and distinctive red carpet choices, Wasson had never used a stylist—before she worked with Zoe for her Cannes Film Festival appearances this month. “Rachel is someone I have a huge amount of respect for, so I emailed her about working together,” Wasson told InStyle.com. “She just gets it.” The pair picked out options together before Wasson took off for France; she ended up wearing an Antonio Berardi dress (above left) and an Oscar de la Renta gown (above right). “After all of these years of not working with a stylist, Cannes seemed like the right time to up the ante,” Wasson added. Perhaps this has something to do the model’s first credited film role—as a vampire called Vadoma—in the upcoming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, out next month?

Summer is almost here, and with the hot weather comes even hotter trends. This season, designers are steaming up the runways with skin-bearing bandeau tops, form-fitting one-pieces, and teeny-tiny jumpsuits—all colorful, playful, and perfect for some fun in the sun. We’ve rounded up our five favorite trends of the season below, so check out the styles that will brighten up your wardrobe.

1. Printed Pants


(From left) Thakoon, Ports 1961, and Erdem; Imaxtree

Prints are always on-trend in the warmer months, and this season they’re especially big on the bottom. Loud tropical prints add a pop of color to your outfit and make it look very feminine. (If you really want to take the trend head-on, rock different printed patterns in the same outfit for a fashion-forward and oh-so-chic look).

2. Bandeaus


(From left) Jen Kao, Zero + Maria Cornejo, and Willow; Imaxtree

While it may be a bit intimidating to step out of the house with no shirt on, the bandeau is anything but scandalous when worn right. Pair yours with high-waisted bottoms and a tailored jacket to cover-up, but still show enough of your bare midriff to turn heads.

3. One-Piece Swimsuits


(From left) Suno, Band of Outsiders, and Alexander Wang; Imaxtree

Even though a one-piece conceals most of your assets, it can still be very sexy. Many designers are enhancing the bra area with different cuts that can really showcase what you’ve got. And these pieces aren’t just for the pool: they double as slim-fit tops that look great under high-waisted skirts and shorts.

4. Midi Dresses


(From left) Joseph, Vera Wang, and Organic by John Patrick; Imaxtree

We’ve seen the maxi and the mini, so why not bring that length in between for a dress that works for any occasion? Midi’s can be tight and fitted or loose and casual. You can dress them up (with wedges) or down (with sneakers), making them perfect for wherever you go.

5. Jumpsuits


(From left) Jill Stuart, Kenzo, and Marc By Marc Jacobs; Imaxtree

The jumpsuit is a simple and easy piece to have in your wardrobe: it looks polished and put together, and it’s easy to glam up for a night on the town by simply adding some statement jewels and swapping your flats for heels (a little bit of bold lip color, as seen on the models above, doesn’t hurt either).

Photo: Courtesy of Parker Fitzgerald

We developed a total fan girl crush on Anya Marina when she covered rapper T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” on season three of Gossip Girl. If you didn’t catch that episode, you’ve probably heard the songstress’ soft, childlike voice on other hit shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, 90210, and How I Met Your Mother—not to mention her big screen debut on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack. In addition to making the rounds on TV shows, the Michigan-born singer-songwriter has also toured with acts like Jason Mraz, Spoon, The Virgins, and, most recently, Nikka Costa at NYC’s Highline Ballroom. We caught up with Anya while she was out promoting her new album, Felony Flats (released in March) and chatted with her about producing her own music, life on the road with Jason Mraz, and whether she’s Team Edward or Team Jacob.

ELLEgirl (EG): How were you discovered? Anya Marina

(AM): I guess I was discovered by Alexandra Patsavas at Chop Shop Records when I was a DJ in San Diego and I was part-timing as a musician. I had recorded my own album, Miss Halfway, and she heard the title track from that and put it in a show that she was music supervising called Grey’s Anatomy, and that was my big break if you will.

EG: You used to act. Do you incorporate acting bits into your onstage performances?

AM: I think I can’t really help my somewhat entertainer personality—it comes out during shows, so there’s certainly an element of that. But I don’t think about it, I just like to connect with the crowd and get whatever is in my head out—it’s very therapeutic to connect with people that way. I don’t do a standard music show where you just play songs and say “good night.” I like to also talk to people. It’s not an elevated rock show either, it’s a little more casual. I think once I had Shaun Cassidy come up and sang a song with me. Just a couple weeks ago, I grabbed a person onstage with me who was one of my seatmates on a flight and made him tell me half the stories he told me onstage. Sometimes some stories get told about my mom, she’s Russian, so there’s all that, but it’s really whatever went on that week or whatever things are bothering me. I tend to overshare.

EG: Your song, “Satellite Heart” was featured on the The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack. Why do you think the song and its lyrics worked so well in the movie?

AM: I think that the director, Chris Weitz, thought that it really spoke to the Bella character. I wrote it for her in mind, I got to see the movie before it came out. I just felt really moved by that character’s sense of really feeling lost and spun out without her soulmate, and I think that is such a romantic idea to have a soulmate and someone that you really feel lost without…I wanted to write a song that spoke to that real romantic Shakespearean love where you feel lost without someone.

EG: Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? AM: I have to be Team Edward, it’s so obvious. I don’t know, it seems like it would be a person without arms if she wasn’t with him.

EG: You’re probably sick of hearing this, but your sound is quite different from T.I.’s. Why did you decide to cover “Whatever You Like”?

AM: I loved the melody of that song and I thought it was really catchy obviously. I heard it in a club and everybody was singing. It has sort of childhood lyrics…it’s such a sort of nursery rhyme-y childlike refrain so that called back to me. I think I was seduced by the melody right away, and of course the lyrics. I really wanted to showcase the lyrics and I think that comes across [in the song].

EG: What was it like touring with Jason Mraz? AM: I love touring with Jason, not only because he and I go way back and are friends from San Diego days but also because he has a wonderful woman named Tricia Huffman who was his “joyologist”—she would lead us in yoga every day and prepare these amazing raw vegan meals. I felt really high on life because we were eating this really fresh organic amazing food and playing music and it was amazing to really take care of ourselves and play music, so it was just a lot of fun. And we had a lot of dance parties on the bus.

EG: You live in Portland, which is known for its trendy hipster style. Did it influence how you dress?

AM: It’s influenced me in that I don’t wear as much makeup as I used to. There’s not really such an emphasis on covering up or looks as much. I think it’s a very natural sort of place, and obviously everybody’s interested in organic this and that, so I think it’s really influencing in that way. I don’t wear makeup a lot of times.

EG: You produced your new record, Felony Flats, all by yourself. What were the struggles you faced?

AM: The biggest struggle I faced was just doubting I could do it, and once I got over that, it was really fun. And I had a great engineer that helped me out, Gregg Williams, and if it wasn’t for him, I couldn’t have gotten a lot of the sounds that I needed to get, and he had so many great ideas too. It was really fun. It was really empowering to know that I could do something that was completely out of my wheelhouse.

EG: A lot of your first album, Miss Halfway, talked about your ex’s. What does Felony Flats focus on? Has your sound changed?

AM: [The sound is] not totally far off. In fact, I just listened to Miss Halfway a few days ago, and even though it sounds a lot different, a lot of the spirit is the same—there’s still the same themes that pop up here and there. Felony Flats is much more tough and confident, and as a sound, I’ve definitely graduated to a place where I don’t think I’ll look back on this record and cringe.

EG: Do you cringe when you listen to your first record?

AM: I really didn’t know how to arrange songs that well yet and everything sounds so sweet sometimes to me, but when you really listen to the lyrics, the edges are still very much there. It’s still got a lot of snark and pain and yearning and honesty, so I’m really proud of that. Even though something can sound really pretty, that doesn’t mean that it lacks heart. A lot of [Felony Flats] is just believing in yourself, like that song “Believe Me I Believe”…moving, transitioning—I was moving from L.A. to Portland—saying goodbye to old relationships, there are a lot of subtle things. You kind of have to listen to it and figure it out for yourself. For me, it’s mostly that transition and really digging deep and getting over hurdles and growing up.

Photo: Giorgio Armani

For the first time in six years, Giorgio Armani is headed to China. There, Armani is mounting its “One Night Only in Beijing” extravaganza tomorrow, to celebrate its more than a decade in China. In front of a thousand guests and celebrities, the brand is holding a fashion show at the New Tank in Beijing’s gallery-filled 798 Art District—the first time the venue has hosted a show of such international scale. Fifteen new Armani Privé couture looks created in tribute to China will be shown alongside an edit of looks from the Fall 2012 Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani men’s and women’s collections and the Armani Privé Spring 2012 collection. “I’ve always had a very special relationship with China… It is a place to which I have paid homage in many of my collections,” Armani noted. “More than a decade after my arrival in China, it seems to me that the time has come to celebrate our presence in the country and to present the current collections in a special way, edited just for this purpose.” Following the show, an exclusive party featuring live music performances is promised. Watch a livestream of the event—as well as reporting from backstage—here, tomorrow, May 31, at 8 am EST.

Photo: Getty Images

Star power has been guaranteed at the CFDA Fashion Awards ever since Johnny Depp was announced as the recipient of this year’s Fashion Icon Award. And it can’t hurt that the Olsens are up for womenswear designers of the year for the first time. But rounding out the wattage is a trio of up-and-comers, WWD reports: Jessica Chastain, who will present the aforementioned womenswear award, Mad Men‘s Jessica Paré, who will present the accessories award, and Matt Bomer, who has tapped to present the menswear award. As for the host of this year’s event, taking place on June 4 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall? Saturday Night Live‘s Seth Meyers.

Hollywood’s a tough place to hit it big, so it never hurts to have someone with more experience by your side who’s willing to lend a helping hand and guide you on your path to fame. Such is the case with many of our favorite celebs in the entertainment biz, including the unlikely pairing of Usher and Justin Bieber, who both recently graced the cover of Billboard Magazine and took the stage at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards. It seems like beside every great star is an exceptional protégé, who’s being shaped to become the next big thing. Usher and Biebs inspired us to compile a list of our other favorite students and the mentors who showed them the ropes. Check them out!

Usher and Justin Bieber

 

Photo: Getty Images

Biebs has Usher to thank for putting him on the map. After a chance meeting with the R&B singer, Bieber was signed to Raymond Braun Media Group (Rbmg), a record label created by Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, and Usher. Ever since, Usher has taken the teen singer under his wing, coaching him, performing with him, and even starring in his movie.

Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen



Photo: Courtesy of Twitter

Bieber took his own turn at mentoring with former Canadian Idol contestant Carly Rae Jepsen. Although Carly is eight years his senior, Bieber helped catapult her to fame by creating a now infamous homemade music video for her infectious pop single “Call Me Maybe” with Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale, and others.

Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj



Photo: Getty Images

The Trinidadian rapper got her big break after Lil Wayne discovered her on the DVD series The Come Up. After signing to Weezy’s label, Young Money Entertainment, Minaj released two studio albums, collaborated with artists like Kanye West, Drake, and will.i.am, and performed at the Super Bowl alongside Madonna and M.I.A.

Drake and The Weeknd

 

Photo: Courtesy of HowFlyHipHop

Although The Weeknd’s talent speaks for itself, Drake helped generate buzz for the singer after talking up The Weeknd on his Twitter. The two artists have since collaborated on a series of songs, including the hit “Crew Love” off of Drake’s 2011 album Take Care. Drake and The Weeknd even gave their duo a name: OVOXO (OVO stands for October’s Very Own—Drake was born on October 24—and XO stands for kiss and hug).

Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian



Photo: Getty Images The Hilton Hotel heiress grew up with Kardashian in L.A. and took her to her first Hollywood parties. After being introduced to the socialite scene, Kardashian took a cue from Hilton and starred on a reality TV series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. After Kardashian became an It Girl in her own right, the two socialites were seldom seen together, causing rumors that they were feuding. But after running into each other last year at a Grammys afterparty in L.A., the two starlets seemed to have buried the hatchet. That’s hot!

Madonna and Britney Spears



Photo: Getty Images

Britney is pretty much the Madonna of her generation. Her debut album …Baby One More Time solidified her spot as America’s pop princess, and the singer has since expanded her brand to movies, fashion, and beauty products. Ever since Brit and Madge performed together (and shared a kiss) at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Britney became the iconic singer’s unofficial protégé. The two reunited just two months after the awards for the single “Me Against the Music” and Spears even briefly become a follower of Kabbalah, Madonna’s trendy religion.

Photo: Getty Images

We’ve seen plenty of Roberto Cavalli and Emilio Pucci on the Cannes Film Festival red carpets this year, but not until Kristen Stewart showed up today have we seen Balenciaga. Stewart, who signed on as a face of the brand in January, repped Balenciaga in two different looks today: bright pants at the On the Road photo call this morning, followed by a pale pink embroidered gown at the movie’s premiere this evening. Needless to say, this not your usual celebrity-brand partnership: no safe red carpet looks here; in fact, prints abound. If you need further evidence, remind yourself of the daring Balenciaga dress Stewart wore at the Met Gala earlier this month, after the cut.


Photo: Getty Images