Lady Behind The Lens-Melina Matsoukas

Ever wonder exactly who it is behind the visionary work of your favorite musical artists? From the stylists to the dancers, there is always a collaboration between the artist and the crew behind the scenes.  Knowing all the hard work it takes to execute, it’s only right that MISS shows some appreciation for one of our favorite music video directors, Melina Matsoukas.

Melina is one of the most demanded music video directors since her work for Snoop Dogg's "Sensual Seduction".

Melina is signed to Black Dog Films and broke onto the scene with Snoop Dogg’s “Sensual Seduction”, Beyonce’s “Greenlight” and Eve’s “Tambourine”. In more of her recent works, Melina has been the eyes responsible for Beyonce’s “Diva”, Lily Allen’s “Not Fair”, Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance”, Ciara’s “Work”, and Ne-Yo’s “Closer”. Outside of music, Melina has also ventured off into film for the cinematography of Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves back in 2006. Make room, Hype Williams because Melina Matsoukas is doing the damn thang!

Melanie Fiona

Melanie Fiona is a new singer signed to Jay-Z’s new label, ROC Nation, joining Mickey Factz and Wale as recent signees. The young songstress was born in Toronto to Guyanese parents who raised her in Canada and Guyana listening to Sam Cooke, Bob Marley, The Drifters, and a lot of “old soul music”. Today she cites Lauryn Hill, India Arie, and Amy Winehouse as influences in her music. VIBE magazine featured her as one of the NEXT artists in their April issue and Kanye West picked her up to open for him on the European leg of his “Glow In The Dark” tour. Fiona has also shared the stage with Akon, Lupe Fiasco, and Keyshia Cole.

The lead track off of her debut album, The Bridge, to hit the airwaves, “Give It To Me Right”, samples the iconic 1968 hit from The Zombies, “Time of the Season.” The  single has the industry abuzz with veterans like Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, and Talib Kweli remixing the song. She earned rave reviews from the artist showcase ROC Nation held for her at the Canal Room in SoHo back in February. One attendee commented, “When Miss Fiona hit the stage she had everyone’s attention, especially since she had a full band. Now that’s major for someone so new.”

Melanie Fiona

Her goal with music and her album is to bridge the gap between ethnicities, genders, and age groups in which she achieves by sampling soulful sounds and writing lyrics that speak to this generation. Fiona is currently living out of her suitcase promoting the new album and will be lighting up stages this summer. If you can, check her out at the Essence Music Festival, July 3-5 in New Orleans alongside Anita Baker, Beyonce, Ne-Yo, and many others.

Michelle Ten started Missfit Styles, an assortment of Fashion services ranging from styling, writing, and brand consulting, in 2004. In “game” years, that might as well be a full decade! Her clients include URB Magazine, XLR8R Magazine, Sean John, Chris Brown, Ludacris, Sean Kingston, and D Woods of Danity Kane, just to name a few.

Before this, Michelle was a fashion assistant at The Source Magazine. Leaving The Source to work on freelance assignments for artists like Ashanti and Full Surface Records, Michelle returned to The Source, at the height of the magazine, to act as Fashion Editor.

New York native Michelle Ten knew from an early age that she wanted to be in fashion. Cutting out her favorite looks from magazines like Vogue, Elle and Mirabella to create her own books out of photo albums. With fashion being her passion, she knew she wanted to have a career doing what she loves to do and this lady is doing it! This is why, today we honor Michelle Ten as a Woman Making History!

Michelle on some current and upcoming projects:

I’m a fashion stylist & personal shopper based out of new york. I work on celebrity and editorial projects along with ad campaigns and catalog. I’m a fashion consultant for t7live.com, styled Saturday Night comedian Fred Armisen for the cover of Urb magazine coming out March 2009. Did market for Mariah Carey in the Dream’s My Love video and recently styled New Era’s Fall 2009 catalog for their traditional apparel division.

Some on Michelle’s work:

Top left image: New Era Traditional Apparel catalog, Top right: The Gluttsie Gangster Glam

Bottom left: Cream NYC Lookbook, Bottom right: The Peralta Project Fall 2008, where Michelle took men’s t shirts and had them made in different women’s silhouettes! So fun!

We have a Q&A with Michelle, including a handwritten survey and more, after the jump!

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Marion Cotillard in Dior Haute Couture

The 81st Oscars took place tonight and one word that summed up the night - from the set design, to the fashion - is CLASSY.  It seems like the actors took heed of all the previous award show fashion critiques because most of the dresses were gorgeous and there weren’t many mishaps.  The set design of the show was gorgeous - the curtain was made from 100,000 Swarovski crystals lit from behind.  The band was brought on stage to evoke the big band era of the 1940’s and the way the Best Actor categories were announced brought a few tears to the eyes.  That said, let’s get to the fashion!  There were definitely some trends - the main one being light, neutral colors like white and beige.  One of my favorite dresses of the evening was Nicole Kidman’s but sadly I don’t have a photo.

Pale Perfection

Pale colors were very popular on the red carpet from Marisa Tomei’s white Versace gown to Sarah Jessica Parker’s “barely mint,” pastels were the color of the evening.

Tarji P. Henson in Roberto Cavalli; Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab

Ms. Henson’s flower petal dress is gorgeous and she carries it so well. Ms. Wood’s dress is very sophisticated, and together with her retro hair, her look hearkened back to old school Hollywood glamour.  The dangling earrings and black nail polish were a nice touch.

Anne Hathaway in Giorgio Armani Prive; Jessica Biel in Prada

Both dresses are lovely - my only comment about Ms. Biel’s dress is that no matter how great your figure, no one really needs that much extra fabric in front.

Read the full story to see more photos and comments.

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“Partner let me upgrade you,” yeah Beyonce said it best. 2009 ladies, it’s all about the UPGRADE! Whatever it may be: your job, your bank account, your kit, your man . . . you’re worth the best, so think big, go hard and trade-up! To inspire you on your journey for success we are starting the year on top . . . and what brand wouldn’t be more goal worthy than Chanel? Yeah, we thought you might agree. Presenting M.I.S.S. January 2009, lovingly nicknamed, “Chanails,” we bring you a mani inspired by all things Chanel: interlocking CC’s, the cap-toe, tweed, chain-link, quilting . . . luxluxlux!!!

Your mantra for the new year: “Two Thousand and MINE!” We here at M.I.S.S. wish you a year of love, health, wealth and the real deal . . . no Canal Street specials here ya’ll! This is the Fo’ Real not the Faux Real and yes those boxes are full.

You can download the M.I.S.S. January 2009 Calendar here and the Desktop here.

Three finger pearl ring by Chanel (2001), Chanel Sneakers (year unknown), Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colours: Black Satin, Gold Fiction and Blanc Ceramic.

One word: under-boob…or is that two? Regardless, leave it to Brian Lichtenberg to work under-boob into his SS09 collection. Debuting at this past L.A. Fashion Week, BL offered a collection which included his signature patched together wonders, including a full body stocking that my body is craving to be encased in, a bandage/bondage dress that my own personal under-boob is desperate to peep out of, neck pieces as part of a collaborative effort with Alex & Chloe and headpieces that would have made Isabella Blow proud by L.A.’s Franc Fernandez.

Untitled from Brian Lichtenberg on Vimeo.

Litchenberg has been on the rise and seems to be continuing in that direction. Dressing the likes of M.I.A., Katy Perry, Santogold, Yelle, Lady GaGa and even Mz. Beyonce is found rocking BL in her latest video “Diva”. Yeah, I’d say he’s doing alright.

See his entire SS09 Collection, including under-boob after the jump!

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Gareth Pugh SS09

This video is all about the wardrobe for me. The song is second in my opinion. I actually have never listened to the song all the way through until I watched the video. For some reason I could never get through the opening of the song, there’s something about it that irritates me instantly…oh well thankfully Beyonce’s wardrobe makes-up for that. Those metal fringe shades…I swear to gawd a version just landed on Canal St. as I’m typing this. The wardrobe roster includes Brian Lichtenberg, Franc Fernandez for Brian Lichtenberg, and Gareth Pugh to name a few.

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Everything old is new again in People’s latest installment of Fashion Faceoff. Well, it’s not really a compare and contrast piece, but when you put two very talented and beautiful people next to each other wearing similar outfits - there always has to be a winner and a loser, right?

That’s what we thought too. Until we began our little game of “oh yes� and “hell no,� and things began to get fuzzy and quickly soon after. Sure, Jackie Onassis is the epitome of casual chic in her signature black tee and white jeans, but if she were alive and well - we’re sure she would approve of Anne Hathway’s modern and updated version of her classic look.

Hmm, what are we to do? Choose the icon and diss the chic/younger copycat or praise the twenty somethings without regard to the regal women who inspired their entire wardrobes? We’re still indifferent.

However, one thing is for certain:

We now know where Beyonce gets her infamous hand-behind-head-to-reveal-my-armpit pose from.

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