Singer Alicia Keys got married on Saturday to her producer boyfriend, Swizz Beatz.  The two tied the knot in Corsica, France by longtime friend Deepak Chopra.  Keys selected a one-shoulder Vera Wang gown with frontal draping to accommodate the bride’s baby bump.  Her ivory silk goddess gown was complemented by her bejeweled hair ornament and purple calla lily bouquet.  The groom wore a Tom Ford tuxedo; he went for a white jacket that was perfect for a summer wedding.

Angelina Jolie was smoking hot in her Emporio Armani strapless dress last night.  The actress worked the red carpet for the premiere of her new movie, Salt, in Los Angeles.  She was stunning in a black sequin mini, and she had Brad Pitt and a great pair of legs on display.  Pitt was her dashing leading man in a Tom Ford suit and Aviator sunglasses.  The couple definitely brought sexy to the red carpet.  Salt opens on Friday, July 23rd, and we’ll get to see Jolie use those amazing legs to kick butt once again. 

Cocktail Dresses by Rm By Roland Mouret
Sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti

There is nothing easier or chicer to put on than a simple black or white dress during the summer.  I selected black and white because  they are classic colors that deliver instant sophistication. 

The white dress is a RM by Roland Mouret and it is simply gorgeous, and intricately draped.  It’s paired with a hot pair of black Giuseppe Zanotti cut-out shoes.  In black we have the Tramando dress with the beautiful details at the neckline and another great pair of Zanotti’s in white.  There are no necklaces in sight because they would detract from the necklines of both dresses, so we used earrings and cuffs to fulfill the jewelry requirement. 

The black dress and accessories have a more vintage vibe, from the twenties inspired dress and painted design on the bag to the chandelier earrings and sandals with gold and silver studs that fall in a similar pattern.  I went in a totally different direction with the white dress and accessories.  They are more modern, from the shape and structure of the dress itself, to the architectural nature of the the Judith Leiber clutch and the designs on the cuff.  Black and white need not be boring, but can be translated into elegance and style at a moment’s notice.

Tom Ford launched a new line of lipsticks in 12 glorious colors.  The colors range from the barest nude to the deepest berry.  Anything bearing this designer’s name has to be luxe, and it’s priced accordingly.  Each tube retails for $45.  Maybe Tom Ford’s Private Blend Lipstick collection is the cashmere of lip color.  He works wonders with the silhouette, it’s only fitting he would do the same with the pout.  We know lip color is to the face what shoes are to the outfit, indispensable.  The beautiful white packaging with ‘TF’ lasered into the lip color will make this temptation hard to resist.  You can pick up your favorite shade at the usual suspects - Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. 

Lipstick, the Tom Ford Way [Daily Front Row]

 We are inching closer and closer to a Tom Ford womenswear launch for fall 2011.  We are also learning that all is fair in love and fashion. Ford has hired womenswear designer Caroline Tixier from Givenchy, and accessories designer Pablo Coppola from Alexander McQueen.  It appears he wants nothing, but the best for his ready-to-wear line.  The fashion world has been anticipating this launch for years, and there is a lot of excitement.  Hiring designers from two of the top fashion houses in Europe will only add to the buzz that usually surrounds a Tom Ford project.  What will the well-dressed man send down the runway to satisfy the well-dressed woman?  That will be the question on the industry’s lips until the line is unveiled.  Everyone expects him to recreate the magic he made at Gucci, and from this latest move, he intends to.

Tom Ford Secretly Poaching McQueen and Givenchy for His Own Women’s Design Team  [The Cut]

Fashion designer turned movie director, Tom Ford, admitted today that he might have bluntly called Colin Firth fat.  The admission happened on Good Morning America.  Colin, on the other hand, recalls a more finessed version of the incident resulting in the same message.  The actor stars alongside Julianne Moore in A Single Man directed by Tom Ford.  It doesn’t matter whose story you choose to believe because both accounts are just as funny.  Watch each video below and pick a side.

Tom Ford’s version:

Colin Firth’s version:

We have noticed that launching a fragrance has been in the ‘news’ lately.  Is it just me, or is everyone launching or in the process of launching a fragrance.  Tom Ford recently launched Bois Marocain.  Now Calvin Klein, Pucci, and Cartier at Sephora are offering limited edition perfumes, and Alberta Ferretti is launching her debut fragrance as well.  Fashion Rollcall has added designer fragrances to its Rollcall list this week.  The fragrance industry had stalled a bit in 2002, sales were slow.  With the increase of new fragrances, it’s likely  there has been an upswing in the sale of fragrances.  It makes sense that sales would increase during times of economic turbulence.  Everyone wants to wear that sensual scent, the one that captivates the senses and brings out a more sultry side.  I’ll have a few bottles of that, thank you.  It is also an affordable luxury, and even more, it makes us feel better.

Tom Ford was in London to promote the launch of his fragrance, Bois Marocain.  The designer is all about sensuality and created this fragrance around the belief that scent is one way humans are attracted to each other, and sensuality is about relationships with people.  Mr. Ford believes that fragrance is a way to have accessible luxury, especially during these turbulent times.  He used great care and paid close attention to details in creating his scent and he obviously uses the same standards when he designs.