The Bertrand Times

Video - TBT - LOOKING BACK, YEAR 2011

2012-01-06T09:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks for another great year at The Bertrand Times, here's a look at year 3.

Video - TBT n° 41 - JANUARY ISSUE 2012 - Editorial - Overhaul

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

TBT - N°41 - January 2012

2011-12-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

(click to see in full screen mode)

Words from the editor in chief - January 2012

Happy New Year y’all! May 2012 bring you whatever you’ve whished for! How to start off? Perhaps by thanking you, as readers, to stay that faithful over the years, to keep interacting with our online edition, to be that excited about our paper-sellable version of the magazine, and to keep bringing your passion for fashion. The Bertrand Times’ legacy keeps getting bigger as the years go by. In January we’re all very excited to start the year with a bang: for some of us it could mean getting used to newer jobs, friends or lovers, for others it’s about focusing on ourselves and what we want our lives to be. Hopefully by the time you are reading this brand new issue, you’re lounging around on your bed or in your cozy living room or at a café with your best mates. This publication has been constituted, from the very beginning, by people with guts, vision and talent; words which are reflected in the designer’s latest collections for F/W 11 you’ve all seen, all over the internet, while looming already for the S/S 12 season’s picks or the already published Pre-Fall 2012/2013! Why are we running every year, faster than the previous one? Can’t we just relax and enjoy our time for a while?

Last December, was the Celebration issue, but with this January edition, I’m celebrating nowadays, my 10th year achievement as a fashion model in this industry. Fashion, has been so far the richest experience I have most enjoyed in my life. Yes I’ve been a successful competitive swimmer for half of my life and did wonders with BVS (my previous entertainment online company of books/web TV-series and online movies) and learned and traveled to several countries with the 7 languages I’ve learned among other things, but to me, the world of supermodeling has engaged my drive and myself in a way no other activity or anyone has ever done before. Our goal isn’t to become one of the most famous magazines in the world, or to land the most important and lucrative deals; but to open up the masculine modeling field, to nurture new talents, to bring our vision and passion for the world of tomorrow, to take care of those diamonds’ models, designers, entertainment’s geniuses, editors and photographers and to push them as much as we possibly can, to the next level and eventually to mold them into possible modeling superstars!

By January you’ve already heard about the newest h&m’s collaboration, the new movies of Charlize Theron, Meryl Streep, Versace’s new campaign for Versace, Marc Jacobs’ relationships’ scandal and explanations with the house of Dior, or Iris Apfel’s MAC Makeup’s line among other cool news. Personally I love how former stylist to the stars-turned- designer Rachel Zoe grew her business. She attended the ZOE Media Group launch party which was a celebration of her group's expansion into beauty (ZOE Beautiful) and accessories (AccessZOEries) in Hollywood last month. My team of editors and myself, have also been very impressed by American actress Rooney Mara’s unconventionally sexy sleek fashion style. Speaking of which, I’m dying to see “Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston” a new documentary about Halston's heyday in the seventies. The movie compiles lots of footage of the designer gadding around at parties and hanging out at Studio 54 with models, socialites, and people like Elizabeth Taylor and Yves Saint Laurent. “He looked like a movie star version of what a designer is,” explains a voice-over in the trailer. Filmmaker Whitney Sudler-Smith charts the designer's life and career up until his death in 1990 (from AIDS, at age 57) by interviewing members of his high-profile social circle — Liza Minnelli, Anjelica Huston, and Billy Joel — as well as fashion experts like André Leon Talley and Cathy Horyn. Particularly as the future of Halston's fashion house (or what's left of it) seems bleak these days, this film looks to be a great reminder of a bygone era. It has been released on December 26. Hope you all will go to watch it, it’s an epic piece in my opinion. And if we need another reason to be excited for another fashion related movie, here comes an upcoming HBO documentary, “About Face”. The promotional trailer features sneak peeks of the movie in which Paulina Porizkova, Carmen Dell ‘Orifice, Jerry Hall, China Machado, and Isabella Rossellini talk aging in an industry where so much emphasis is placed on looking young. Dell’Orifice’s take was perhaps the most pragmatic in people’s minds: “Well, if you had the ceiling falling down in your living room, would you not go and have a repair?”. “But by far the most inspiring is Rossellini, who laughs as she tells the camera, “As you grow old, you don’t count anymore.” She continues, “For sure my social status has diminished, because I know I’m not invited to the A [list] parties anymore” she laughed, remind Verena von Pfette from styleite’s website. “About Face” will air on HBO this summer, so get excited y’all.

Having said all of this, the major 2012 news comes courtesy of Condé Nast, with US Vogue magazine which is about to hit a big anniversary. Firstly, arrives a new book which captures the fashion's Bible's most famous covers, and then a digital archive will bring 120 years of publishing history to your computer screens with its newest website: “Vogue Archive” (read our inside “Fashion File” column on page 22). Meanwhile, what started off as an unexpected experience and became, ironically, a much bemoaned event is returning for a fourth time in 2012. Fashion's Night Out will impose on New York and more than 250 cities around the country in September. The exact date is still pending, depending on when New York Fashion Week runs, because FNO must occur on the first or second day of it, which is terribly convenient for all the designers who have to put shows on and everyone else who has to attend them.

Now, what matters is to be ready for the new year, to be focus in order to reach your goals and dreams and to fly as high as you can. At The Bertrand Times, we are in the business of defining the standards of beauty, to help you see the world in another way with fashion, great behaviour, brains and savvy, but we’re also sensitive to and knowledgeable about the constant flux in which, as cultural and social beings, we (and especially people in their 20’s and 30’s) find ourselves between work, the search for love and the desire to live the healthier way. I’ll give you some wise words, which I’ve found on the internet a few weeks ago, and knew they would be useful at some point: “It is difficult to live in the present, ridiculous to live in the future, and impossible to live in the past. Nothing is as far away as one minute ago.” - Jim Bishop. Who is he? It doesn’t matter, what is however, is the message: live at your max and start your year on a great note by taking-off from the old you and becoming the one you’re meant to be... or at least the one for 2012!

xoxo Bertrand

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TBT in print - The January "Take-off" issue n°41

ISSUE 40 = THE TAKE-OFF ISSUE

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Video - TBT n° 41 - Cover Diary

TBT - January 2012 editorials' previews

2011-12-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

"A Sultrier Toughness"
Model: Radoslav Blagoev
Ph: Georgi Andinov
St: Various
10 pages

"Overhaul"
Model: Bertrand Vergnes
Ph: BMedia
St: Various
8 pages

"Warm Lust"
Model: Vitan
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Classic
6 pages

"Snooty sexy"
Models: Stefani and Vessela Stefchova Dimitrova
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Street style
6 pages

"Puzzled spirit"
Model: Boyan
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Vintage
6 pages

TBT - January 2012 Preview

2011-12-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

TBT - N°40 - December 2011

2011-12-14T01:27:00.001-08:00

(click to see in full screen mode)

Words from the editor in chief - December 2011

Christmas is approaching my dear readers, what are you gonna do this winter? Will you celebrate the day in a conventional way or do you want to shake things up? Planning on a trip? Settling the final gifts’ budget? Oh and have you eventually written your list? Christmas presents can become a pain in the ass for those who wait to the very last minute, but if you’re planning on shopping with friends and other family relatives for common gifts, it can also be really fun. Every December, everybody is stressed out with tracking down the perfect gifts for all the family members... But hey let’s not forget that December and the holidays is the perfect time to relax, think about what we’ve achieved throughout the year and think about the future. I was reading various blogs last month and I got super excited with what could be considered already an early gift: h&m’s brand new collaboration... with Marni.

“The collection, which encompasses womenswear, menswear, jewelry, shoes, bags, and scarves, hits 260 h&m stores worldwide and online on March 8, 2012.” said the editors from fashionologie. "I wanted to create a true Marni wardrobe by revisiting all our favorite pieces in signature fabrics and prints," explains Consuelo Castiglioni. "As always, I love juxtaposing prints and colors, mixing modern tribal with Bauhaus graphic adding sporty utilitarian elements." According to the collection's press release: "For women, the colors are vivid and the prints are bold, be they African inspired or simpler color blocks. The silhouettes are all Marni staples, with full pleated skirts, dresses, cropped trousers and jacquard knit, and fabrics range from silk to crisp cotton poplin. For men, the colors and fabrics are softened for a relaxed take on menswear staples that is truly Marni. The use of print is subtle, often as a lining or as a contrast detail for shirts, the silhouette a modern and relaxed take on masculine classics."

Between those perfumes’ lists, sweaters, toys and expensive shoes and handbags, there is also the great parties one can bu lucky to attend. Not too long ago, it was at London's Savoy Theatre, a who's who of British fashion gathered for The British Fashion Council's annual awards, and let me tell you, my team and I were really excited by the winners. Victoria Beckham, accepting her Designer Brand of the Year award from presenter Marc Jacobs, told the crowd, "I am SO nervous," before shedding a few tears and adding: "This is rubbish." Alexa Chung, who took home the British Style award — which is decided by a public vote — dedicated her award to "girls who dress like awkward boys", and finally, Sarah Burton, who took home Designer of the Year, called the award "the icing on the cake for what has been an amazing year."

With this Celebration issue we want to thank you as readers, we applaud the fashion’s worldwide figures and the amazing talents this world has to offer, our models, photographers, contributing editors and all of you who’ve made what The Bertrand Times magazine is to this day. As editor-in-chief of TBT, I try as much as I can to wield a different kind of influence, brains and power to this publication. This magazine has traditionally been seen as a solid english written and clothes’ driven magazine for both young men and women but my editors and I also put our high fashion taste into the pages of the magazine, we want to offer you that vision of the industry with the most exciting editorials we can create and with the most exciting talents we discover on a monthly basis. It is not so much about circulation as reflecting the zeitgeist. It doesn't matter that the editorial is in English, the magazine is here as a help/source of inspiration/original vision for our readers to go through every month and to escape into a different reality. Even though we all know that actions speak louder than words and that pictures are always more important than the words, I still believe to this day in this importance of the words we use, the articles we decide to put our attention and time onto and the themes we want to cover.

What to add? We’ll soon embark into our 4th year and I hope to continue to work with the most visionary photographers/editors and the most exciting/sexiest/high fashion knowledgeable models in the business. To many of you, from all around the world, this small but growing title, is 'very special, and I’m glad you’ve found with TBT, a voice that follows yours. I just have to add that I wish you a great Merry Christmas, a Happy new year and to keep dreaming big, working hard and to follow your gut. I want to end this letter with my favorite commercial, which is kinda of old bu it doesn’t matter, from LV. "What is a journey? A journey is not a trip. It's not a vacation. It’s a process. A discovery It’s a process of self-discovery. A journey brings us face to face with ourselves. A journey shows us not only the world, but how we fit in it. Does the person creates the journey, or does the journey create the person? The journey is life itself... Where will life take you?" You’ll find this answer while living to the fullest of your abilities, with the most generous and fun people around you and always keeping in mind to achieve your own goals to make every single year, the most special thing ever. Don’t forget: we only live once, so make it count y’all and be as fierce as you can be while dressing up and being educated.

xoxo Bertrand

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TBT in print - The December "Celebration" issue n°40

ISSUE 39 = THE CELEBRATION ISSUE

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Video - TBT n° 40 - Cover Diary

US Vogue January 2012 : Meryl Streep by Annie Leibovitz

2011-12-14T01:20:00.000-08:00

For January’s Vogue cover shoot, actress Meryl Streep traveled with photographer Annie Leibovitz from her home in Connecticut to the rocky shores of Rhode Island before heading south to Washington, D.C. Never one to shirk a challenge (travel or otherwise), this month Streep takes on the role of iconic British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in her latest screen incarnation, The Iron Lady; she’s also taken up an important cause, pushing Congress to fund construction of the long-debated National Women’s History Museum. With both matters close to her heart and at the top of her mind, we captured all the behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot and sat down with the two-time Academy Award winner (and several U.S. senators working on the museum project) to talk about women, power, and the importance of preserving and promoting our country’s history.

Love magazine - Tyra Banks: Strike the Pose

2011-12-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

Supermodel, TV personality and newly published author Tyra Banks stars as the body-popping, face-pulling subject of Marcus Gaab’s new fashion short for the latest issue of I Love You Magazine. Transformed into an empowered jitterbug with flat-top hair, yolk-yellow eye shadow and an unashamedly 80s wardrobe, Banks danced spontaneously and made off-the-cuff emotive declarations of love (and hate!) in the low Los Angeles light. “I just told her to perform, do her thing and to stop when she felt like,” says Gaab. “But she didn’t stop, she kept on voguing. There was no rehearsal; she invented the whole thing while we were there.” Best known as the sassy and energetic host of guilty pleasure America’s Next Top Model and her self-titled chat show that ended in 2009, beneath the caricature Banks is a shrewd business woman, running a successful production company, attending Harvard Business School, and boasting a built-in brand that eclipses most ex-supermodels. “When I was a little girl and went to Disneyland, I didn’t know that all this was from Walt Disney,” said Banks, revealing her surprising idol. “That’s what I want to be. Me being behind the scenes, the business woman, creating new stars, products, projects.”

ANTM cycle 17 winner: Lisa D'Amato

2011-12-12T05:57:00.000-08:00

The Lisa D’Amato story is one of inspiration and intrigue. She was born Lisa Marie D’Amato in Los Angeles, California on October 22, 1980 and grew up all over the area. She knew at an early age that she was destined to be a performer. While a kid, going to school and growing up she also modeled, took acting classes at Playhouse West and Howard Fine as well as commercial and improv classes and sang and danced constantly. Through her teens and early twenties she developed an impressive modeling career, traveling internationally working as the face and personality for many varied projects. During this time she was also cast on the UPN reality competition show Americas Next Top Model cycle 5. A passion of Lisa’s has always been music and she began pursuing it professionally in her early twenties. She collaborated with Jan Kortis of Kortis Records creating many songs. One of which was "Ace of Spades" which was picked up by gossip blogger Perez Hilton. The video was posted and received 200,000 views in one day becoming one of YouTube’s “Top Videos” in the world at the time. To date it has collected over a million views. From Kortis she began collaborating with Cisco Adler, producer for the likes of Mickey Avalon, Shwayze, and Dirt Nasty. They worked together creating several songs to be released on her first studio album, La Puchinetta in December 2009. They also toured extensively. The collaborators on La Puchinetta also included DJ Lethal (House of Pain, Everlast), and DJ Gavin O'Connor . Between recording sessions, D'Amato has performed throughout the Southwestern United States, doing shows with her backup dancers, dubbed "The Super Smokin' Hot Bikini Dancers". She has opened for, or worked with LMFAO, Hyper Crush, 3OH!3, Shwayze, Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy, Mickey Avalon, Ultraviolet Sound, Electric Valentine, Boomkat and The BeachBoys. In September 2011 Lisa released her sophomore album “Flippin' The Bird.” It includes collaborations with The Cataracs (Far East Movement), L.P. (signed toRedOne), Aqua (Rock-a-fella Records/Jay-Z) and Colin Hartel. Source: From the official site for Dream Come True – the first fragrance from America's Next Top Model!

Here's one of her songs which I like very much

The song she did on the 17th season of ANTM (very catchy and cool)

WSJ - Inside Vogue’s Digital Archive

2011-12-12T02:15:00.000-08:00

On the Style column of the Wall Street Journal's website, Christina Binkley explores Condé Nast’s new Vogue Archive, containing more than 425,000 images, 300,000 ads and 100,000 articles from the magazine’s history.

"When I first heard the siren call off the Vogue cover, luring me irresistibly toward the treacherous rocks of fashion obsession... They also mirror up to their times, as Vogue's covers have continued to do through the decades... The transformative power of a Vogue cover should never be underestimated." - Hamish Boyles

Vogue Taiwan - Culture Chanel

2011-12-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

"法國設計先鋒與藝術大師們的對話 "展覽 - "The French pioneer and artist who designed the Dialogue"

CBS - Actress: Charlize Theron

2011-12-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

(CBS News) Charlize Theron's star turn in the 2003 movie "Monster" won her an Oscar. For an actress who's been dubbed one of the most beautiful women in the world, she's played some rather unglamorous characters. In fact, she wouldn't want it any other way, as she told Lee Cowan in this video.

Historic moment - The Vogue Archive

2011-12-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

As Hamish Bowles revealed, two months ago, to New York Mag's editor Bennett Marcuson, Vogue’s New Website is up! "Vogue is starting some kind of archival website. What is that about?" Hamish answered: "Yeah, we're putting the history of Vogue online, so you can flit to a March 15, 1927, issue and go through it. And there's going to be a kind of fashion encyclopedia component, too. It's the histories of all the designers and all the contributors and figures that Vogue has celebrated and embraced through the century."

Video - TBT n° 40 - DECEMBER ISSUE 2011 - Editorial - 60's then and now

2011-12-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

Vogue 2011 - December 2011 issues (HQ)

2011-12-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

1. British Vogue (UK) - 2. Vogue US - 3. Vogue Australia - 4. Vogue Brazil - 5. Vogue España (Spain) - 6. Vogue Deutsch (Germany) - 7. Vogue Hellas (Greece)- 8. Vogue India - 9. Vogue Italia - 10. Vogue Nippon (Japan) - 11. Vogue Korea - 12. Vogue México - 13. Vogue Paris (France) - 14. Vogue Portugal - 15. Vogue Россия (Russia) -16. Vogue Taiwan - 17. Vogue Türkiye (Turkey) - 18. Vogue 服饰与美容 (China).

+ extras of the month

1. Vogue Brazil cover 2 -

TBT - Commercial to think about...

2011-12-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

"What is a journey? A journey is not a trip. It's not a vacation. It’s a process. A discovery It’s a process of self-discovery. A journey brings us face to face with ourselves. A journey shows us not only the world, but how we fit in it. Does the person creates the journey, or does the journey create the person? The journey is life itself... Where will life take you?" - Louis Vuitton

US Vogue December 2011 : Charlize Theron by Annie Leibovitz

2011-11-29T13:58:00.000-08:00

For the December issue of Vogue, Charlize Theron — who, next month, takes on the role of Mavis Gary in Jason Reitman’s latest film, Young Adult — braved waterfalls in Pennsylvania and the cold coastal waters of Rhode Island for her cover shoot with Annie Leibovitz. In this exclusive video interview on the set, she talks about her South African upbringing, being reunited with the famed photographer, and what interested her about playing the girl everyone loves to hate.

Marni for h&m coming this march!

2011-11-29T13:43:00.000-08:00

The British Fashion Awards 2011

2011-11-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

The British Fashion Awards recognise the most influential people in fashion today and celebrate the reputation and development of British fashion. The 2011 Awards took place on Monday, November 28th. British designers and creatives were renowned for their ability to set the global fashion agenda. Each year the British Fashion Awards celebrates their creativity and success. Established in 1989, the British Fashion Awards was born from the British Fashion Council’s then five-year-old Designer of the Year Award. For more than 20 years, the British Fashion Awards has been celebrating the contributions of British designers, creatives and models to the international fashion scene.

TBT - December 2011 editorials' previews

2011-11-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

"24 Hours"
Model: Vitan
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Various
10 pages

"60's then and now"
Model: Julio Padial
Ph: Bertrand Vergnes
St: Various
8 pages

"Arabian light"
Model: Bertrand Vergnes
Ph: BMedia
St: Zara Man
4 pages

"Picturesque bonds"
Models: Stefani and Vessela Stefchova Dimitrova
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Various
10 pages

"Ardent earth"
Model: Atanas Pachkov
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Various
8 pages

TBT - December 2011 Preview

2011-11-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

TBT - N°39 - November 2011

2011-11-13T09:54:00.001-08:00

(click to see in full screen mode)

Words from the editor in chief - November 2011

One of Fashion’s most exciting side for us, is the one of instant stardom and fame, which can take an unknown designer, model, stylist, editor, photographer, make-up artist or whoever you are into the next “it” person on the scene. Then comes the way to cultivate your 15 minutes of fame into a lasting and successful career, (a.k.a what the current 17th cycle of America’s Next Top Model is doing). People always ask me how I’ve made the jump from being a highly competitive swimmer, into a high fashion model, and transitioning into a web entrepreneur with a media company of books/web television series/online publications etc. Well for me it’s about knowing what I’m good at and really working hard enough to fulfill whichever dream I have in my mind and making those dreams come true.

As you may know, I’m a polyglot PhD student and a teacher-in-training for 2 years now and I’m also the editor of this magazine which is also a printed sellable publication. How did I do it all? I turned myself into a brand, and I really think people should consider doing the same. The thriving business I’ve created for myself for years and years, with several web television series, web movies adapted from previous books I’ve written, my modeling career, the magazines I’ve undertaken as well etc. are all part of this media empire that I’m really excited to direct and shape as I go along throughout this life. It’s really important for me to give you all a message of empowerment and having fun, I think this is what my audience is looking for. Whether people are reading the magazines I’ve done, or when they’re looking up at my modeling photographs or when they watch one of my web TV shows, I need them to feel the message of fun, drive and originality that I intend to give them. Some of my friends like to call me a “crazy mogul” or a “very driven man” but you know what, that’s what I do, I have my dreams and lots of goals and I always, always go for them.

I’m equally obsessed by very powerful moguls-in-trainings because I sort of created my journey based on theirs to a certain extend. I find the Olsen twin sisters incredibly inspiring, they made their first million while they were still in diapers thanks to a popular TV series, they produced tv series and sold products leveraging their image, and not just in terms of money, they’re really dedicating their lives to their own brands, I find this uplifting and motivating for the generations of kids who have no clue what to do with their lives. I look up so much to people like Tyra Banks, Will Smith, Oprah, Steve Jobs, and all of these incredible moguls, who took their skills to the next level and turn these into a business, and that’s what I think is the message, for this issue. “You can think in terms of yourselves as being a brand, and that’s why it’s so important to take care of the bread early” said 70’s supermodel B. Smith, when she was invited on “The Tyra Banks Show”, celebrating the first ever all ‘black’ issue of Vogue Italia” a few years ago.

Now, supermodels like Tyra and Heidi live parallel lives in a way because they’re equally famous and successful and also because they’re powerful brand themselves. Look, they are both bona fide fashion moguls with their own successful fashion inspired television shows, they’re former Victoria’s Secret models, and were high ranking fashion runway models. These supermodels seem to have the Midas touch when it comes to business and marketing their image, which is key to a lasting career in this world. They earn some of the highest incomes in the fashion industry even though they are both basically retired and they also do it mainly without controversy and scandal like so many of their younger counterparts. It's not just the beauty and brains for The Bertrand Times, it's what each of these moguls/brands achieved and are doing nowadays to keep up with their businesses. If I took Banks and Klum’s resumes, it’s because they are two very multi-faceted stars who have completed their respective careers with higher and higher achievements.

When you think “supermodel”, or “mogul” or “entrepreneur” you have sexy well known models in mind, if you’re in love with fashion of course, but if asked to name a male model within the same league, however, most of people in the streets would struggle to think of someone who even comes close. That’s why I created this niche for myself if you want. I mean, even though it seems that the modeling male industry is set to change with the new league of hunks who have invaded fashion, determined to establish international reputations on the same scale as their female counterparts, it still gets very hard for any of these guys to make a name for themselves. On the contrary, I’ve on my level, established myself as a brand for people to see that I can do anything I set my mind to do.. It’s not about being selfish but it’s about working with your skills. I’ve been a model for almost ten years now and I’ve done a few jobs here and there between runways, catalogs and editorials but my goal was to create a place for a self-made brand. I don’t care if in the next five years people don’t know who I am or what I did with this magazine or the other products I’ve created under my name, but I want people to remember what my brand stands for and to get it without having to explain it.

What we admire at TBT, is tenacity, determination and drive. It’s this tunnel vision that we love to see in stars we cover for the magazine. Tyra Banks, who had a huge crowd assembled at her “Modelland” book signing, revealed that she wanted to leave a legacy like Walt Disney's, and that’s right there why she is this brand herself. “I want to leave a legacy like Walt Disney. I used to go to Disneyland when I was little and I didn't know he was a person,” Banks said without any sense of irony. Although the point she was trying to make was that she wanted her company and its message to young girls to live on long after she was gone”. “It's difficult to be taken serious for anything because I'm thought of as a model, so when I said I wanted to create this television show, people were like, 'You are a model you can't be a producer,” Banks says. “Then 'Top Model was successful and they were like, 'We always knew that was going to be a hit, Tyra. That was fantastic, we always knew that.' Then I said I would love to do a talk show. 'You can't do a talk show, you only produced a show about models.' Then that was successful -- we won two Emmys. And they go, 'We always knew you had that in you.' Cut to me being a writer. Everyone is going, 'Tyra? Author? This model can write?'". By proving everyone wrong, she keeps being this trailblazer kind of human being who is as iconic as any other real brand.

xoxo Bertrand

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TBT in print - The November "Branding" issue n°39

ISSUE 39 = THE BRANDING ISSUE

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Video - TBT n° 39 - Cover Diary

Cover Interview

One in a generation

Adding another layer every time we meet him, this 25th year-old French driven man is on a mission. Photographed at Antonio García’ studio. Known as one of today's self-made French web media moguls and youngest entrepreneurs, a PhD student/teacher-in-training, and a very driven man who's lived his whole life, in the pursue of higher goals, Bertrand goes a step further on the latter.

Underneath that inviting and funny exterior, lies a fiercely determined human being with a national swimming career, a modeling career path, a web television series’ company, a successful list of fashion magazines, books, movies and a determination that notches above everybody else, which fascinates the world. About an hour into Vergnes’ life and one thing comes out very clear: the man has a very special place for fashion in his mind. “To me, fashion is this other worldly place, where anything is possible; where beauty/art and creativity/designers and original minds/behind-the-scenes people have a place and a platform to send a message: which is their own vision of our world or their own ideal planet” says Bertrand. This incredible drive, which he’s extremely conscious about and raises up for himself on a daily basis, comes from his parents’ education and love, and his lifetime’s role model: Tyra Banks. “I looked up to her so so much, like you couldn’t understand or grasp how much her own vision and her career as a supermodel shaped the way I did build up my life to this day. From the moment I saw her, like I knew instantly that she was my mentor, I see this supermodel/business person who is such an inspiration because she has dreams and keeps making them a reality. To me she has become an icon on every sense of the word, I see in her this exceptionally powerful being who is capable of anything: modeling, acting, singing, producing, writing, directing, hosting, managing, speaking with such a poise and a inner beauty which fascinates me and motivates me to do as much as I can to sort of live up to this mogul and statuesque beautiful woman, who has transformed herself into a super mega brand.”

Appreciating and celebrating the influence of black models in the fashion world, has also been one of Vergnes’ personal interests. “I think that, because they had to fight to get where they are, those people especially in fashion are really interesting to my eyes. Their careers remind me of my own struggles to build up my brand or being accepted in any arena I wanted to set myself into. I mean it’s obvious that the African American market isn’t as well represented or celebrated as the Caucasian market. So, for me, when I see people like Tyra, Iman, Pat, Naomi and the young girls like Chanel, Jourdan, Sessilee or Arlenis and Joan, I’m getting excited because they do pay homage to their community and still build up careers for themselves. I’m all about branding, I think I was a business man in another life like for real. I love to watch/read/hear about very successful people who started with nothing and then blossom to become very respected and powerful people; but not with the power to bring others down to build up their business, but those who help their community to make everybody happier, I guess this is my philanthropic side, if you will.” Bertrand makes a pause and then retakes his thought: “It’s funny because now that I think about it, no one in my entire family or my friendly groups is as obsessed with drive as much as I am. I believe that now, being 25, I sort of build up a tiny mini media empire for myself, but which can totally stand up on its own nowadays, because I rightly previously added books, web television shows, web created-movies, online magazines to my brand.”

Vergnes, who started modeling at age 16, in the south of France, with test photos, castings and go-sees, soon up began to be signed in France and started to travel to various countries in Europe and eventually landed to Spain. Once there he got signed to 6 agencies right after spending only one month in Madrid, its capital. Now, if you're the type of fashion-hungry person who loves to hear about the era of big supermodels and then the clash with celebrities landing covers to promote their movies, and longs to know how successful careers really happen, then hear him up; Bertrand Vergnes dares to explain his view on these matters today. “I remember when top models used to rule covers and editorials in the 90’s, like Linda, Christy, Naomi, Cindy, Claudia, Elle, Stephanie, Tyra or Helena, they were all able to do so, because they were allowed to be themselves rather than monotonous-looking, personality-less stick figures forced to conform to someone else's extreme idea of beauty. And since rock stars and actors weren’t as famous as today, because the perception of the public changed, then those girls had it all. You could see them in movies, advertising, campaigns, red carpets, talk shows etc. I mean everywhere you could think of. So when I started, I had in mind those big names and their spectacular careers to live up to, so it gave me that extra bit of excitement. I obviously didn’t start out nor had the 10% of their careers, but I love the fact that they truly inspired me.” After he did small runway shows in the south of France and travelled to Germany, England and Italy, Vergnes finally came to Spain for his 3rd year at University. With a portfolio already filled up with test photos and small jobs, he visited 10 agencies in Madrid as he wanted to continue his career on the side of his studies. And just like that, 6 of them booked him right away, and a few months later he decided to stick with 4 of them and started to travel doing shows, editorials and began to brand himself in the process with the creation of this current magazine, The Bertrand Times.

Since its first cover on September 1st, 2008, The Bertrand Times has had people talking. Vergnes’ self-made magazine chronicles the most exciting fashion moments of today’s most striking collections, designers, models and interesting faces of our world. Editorial images and relevant cover stars keep reflecting the ideal of the fashion and lifestyle publication, for more than 3 years now. “I would have never guessed, in a million years, that this little project I had in mind when I was 12-14 years old, before I started to model professionally, would shape into something real and exciting for my team and myself to work on, every single month. It really is a dream comes true. This is my core brand you know; I now have a voice and a platform to bring my vision to life. Throughout this publication I speak to my readers, I share my ideas and a vision that we all share with my team of editors/photographers/stylists. This project helps me to discover new models and helping them to build a professional portfolio, so I’m really glad people are following it and get this exciting feeling about it.” The other thing is that, I have lots of friends who compliment me on those achievements I make once in a while, but I always cheer them up and teach them that ‘we are all capable of achieving our dreams’. The only tool they need, bedsides being creative/driven/focused and skilful on their field of expertise, is being organized and being a true expert at multitasking.” Every month, the team of editors comes up with the most beautiful/interesting, and fashion-forward cover stars, and those covers are highlighted alongside a behind-the-scenes story with a featured fabulous editorial. “Featuring the work of today’s influential fashion models, rising talents and photographers from Paris, London, Madrid and Sofia, helps creating a stronger wrapper to Vergnes’ brand. The magazine is a stunning celebration of everything that influences me.

“I do have though a very strong opinion on celebrities on magazines’ covers, I do not mind them when they’re gracing famous people’s kinda of publications, but when they’re invading campaigns, catwalks, editorials and covers, it makes me really angry, because these are models’ jobs! This year, as I was reading Coco Rocha’s own blog, I was particularly interested in her article for British Elle’s august issue, when she asked Cindy Crawford and Iman if they felt professional modeling was a dying career path. ‘It certainly is harder to achieve success as a fashion model today,’ Cindy said. ‘It seems like just being a good model isn’t enough. I tell young models to develop other talents as well’ Iman told Coco, and she even had a slightly different angle on the issue. ‘I wouldn’t mind if these A-, B-, C- and D-list ‘celebrities’ only got the covers,’ said Iman. ‘As we all know, covers don’t pay the rent!’ The real kicker for Iman is that celebrities are ‘grabbing the spoils of war of our industry! Those coveted beauty and hair contracts…’ she added and I couldn’t agree more, nowadays you even see actresses on some fashion runways and in edgy couture editorials; I mean WTF?! Instead this magazine is devoted to help models, rising top models and stars who could shine and go far later on in their careers, it’s an opening-the-door kinda of deal you know.” Sometimes, moments just happen to coordinate and work out, and that’s why some models with the right looks, a big amount of luck and with the best agencies, can truly make a successful career in modeling. “However as Helena Christensen said to a magazine last summer, “we were allowed to just be ourselves” so it changed the way fashion models were being looked at. Ironically enough, in a business where a lot of styles and looks are dictated in some way, from the point of view of the media onto the audience, the careers’ longevity that past models have had was linked to their sense of style, stronger and larger than life personalities. Today people don’t get why it’s so hard for new kids on the block to make a big career and more importantly, to make it last. Young wannabe models have to understand the rules of this industry they try to break into, it’s very tough and a lot of people come and go, so if you want to stay and keep working, you have to have a plan, guts, motivation and talent.” Bertrand who just re-signed with an agency in Madrid, says that his peers got where they are also because of their knowledge and passion for fashion. “It’s crucial, you have to be in love for fashion if you want to work there; otherwise you’re wasting your time. You just have to know who are the players, editors, and top photographers to make it big. The modeling industry is famous for its constant reborn, people come and go but true stars stay.

“When I started in the business, I was 16 and I had people saying to me that I wouldn’t fit their agency profile or had the skin complexion they were after or that I had to lose weight etc. But what kept me around working in editorials and shows and whatever, was my drive. I knew what I wanted to take out of this industry, and it was a resume to have my own brand.” He says with a very American accent. Smart but not vein, Vergnes doesn’t collect his photographs nor talk so much about his ascent as a national swimmer or fashion model. “I prefer to focus of my studies and on this magazine than telling everybody what my resume is. I don’t even have a single photo of myself in my home or in my wallet. My portfolios are in both of my homes in France and Spain and I don’t take a look at them only if my agency tells me to take them for a go-see or whatever. However I’m a photography fan, my favorite photographers have to be Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier. I'd collapse if I’d ever get the chance in my life to work with them.” On this 3rd season of Forever Madrid, one of Vergnes’ current web television series, the young French mogul is determined to reach out his intellectual potential as he enters into his 2cd PhD year as well as keeping modeling as one of his priorities and making the magazine, an even bigger success.

“Watching a whole new generation of models, ever season, on TV or in real life convinced me to go back to one of my skills: modeling. I do have strong opinions though, especially on how male and female models should behave on a shoot and in real life. When I was working the modeling madness in my teens, I had a big knowledge of this industry and I had the walk down I’m not gonna lie, but then hell yeah it was up to me on every shoot to wow that crowd of photographers, stylists, editors, bookers, to convince them I was worth it.” Vergnes, who has graced covers of magazines as well as editorials and modeled for nearly a decade says it wasn’t easy and is conscious he wasn’t introduced into the supermodels’ arenas, he just took that name for his many achievements, as part of his fun side and his many skills with drawing, speaking various languages, as well as modeling, photography and video editing, which he loves very much.

Nowadays Bertrand Vergnes, who has already fashioned a highly successful web media career and achieved the highest level in education, is focusing on his upcoming dreams, which he says he can’t revealed yet. “I’m not superstitious but I like to see my dreams happening before I even describe them. This former self-made ‘supermodel’ is now moving to another step and forging a new role for himself… a teacher.

By Bertrand Vergnes

Inside star video: Kennan Cahill

Movie - Mission Impossible 4: The Ghost Protocol

2011-11-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

My second article for VOGUE Italia

2011-11-13T07:51:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all here's my second article, as freelance contributing editor, for VOGUE Italia's contributing project on vogue.it, Vogue Encyclo - I do hope you'll enjoy as much as Vogue Italia's editors would. Click on the image to read/download my article.

The next french fashion find... ?

2011-11-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

"I think it's totally important for all of us in the American fashion industry to support the young designers, and I think that's why New York's become such a vibrant fashion center, because people go there not only to see the Donna Karans of the world but a whole new generation. I'm just so sorry that there isn't something like that in Paris that's similar. I think that they should look for the younger generation here [in Paris] as well. Not only New York but London really supports their young talent; Franca Sozzani at Italian Vogue supports the young Italian designers, and I think when France is so known for its fashion industry — for them not to be reaching out to help younger people today is really a shame. [Agnes: "And there's space in your pages for them."] There's space in everybody's pages." - said Anna Wintour, from the 2009 Sundance Channel' six Habillees webisodes produced by Loic Prigent (director of documentaries Marc Jacobs; Louis Vuitton, Signé Chanel, and The Day Before) and hosted by french TV personality Mademoiselle Agnès teamed, chronicling the search for the next French design talent. I retrieved the video today and it reminded me that even today neither french Vogue nor the entire french fashion industry is looking after the next emerging hidden gems. It's sad.

Music - Duran Duran - Girl Panic!

2011-11-13T05:10:00.000-08:00

+ Behind the scenes

+ My favorite teaser

Vogue 2011 - November 2011 issues (HQ)

2011-11-07T02:33:00.000-08:00

+ extras of the month

1. British Vogue supplement -

Iconic moment: Worldwide Vogue Editors

2011-11-06T07:20:00.000-08:00

Iconic moment: all the Vogue worldwide editors gathered for a photo by photographer Frederic Aranda.

Worldwide Vogue editors' positions (from left to right): Yolanda Sacristan - Spain (seated), Kirstie Clements - Australia (middle), Anaita Adajania - India (back), Christiane Arp - Germany (seated), Angelica Cheung - China (standing), Franca Sozzani - Italy (seated), Mitsuko Watanabe - Japan (standing), Anna Wintour - America (seated), Emmanuelle Alt - France (reclining), Alexandra Shulman - Britain (seated), Victoria Davydova - Russia (standing), Anna Harvey - representing Brazil and Greece (seated), Seda Domanic - Turkey (seated), Myung Hee Lee - Korea (seated), Rosalie Huang -Taiwan (standing), Eva Hughes - Mexico and Latin America (standing), Paula Mateus - Portugal (seated).

TBT - November 2011 editorials' previews

2011-10-24T04:05:00.000-07:00

"Ferocious Manifesto"
Model: Ignacio Asencio Espejo
Ph: David Algota
St: Various
10 pages

"Once upon a time"
Model: Michail Sabkov
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Various
12 pages

"Bloody bright"
Model: Bertrand Vergnes
Ph: BMedia
St: Zara
8 pages

"All day long"
Model: Regis Da Conceiçao
Ph: Roberta Mattos
St: Various
8 pages

"American Freshman"
Model: Julio Padial
Ph: Bertrand Vergnes
St: Various
10 pages

TBT - November 2011 Preview

2011-10-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

Preview Video - TBT n° 39 - Cover Diary

2011-10-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

TBT - N°38 - October 2011

2011-10-16T07:33:00.001-07:00

(click to see in full screen mode)

Words from the editor in chief - October 2011

As I went through my prepared list of new books that I intend to read, for this 2cd year’s PhD thesis, I was wondering: how many of them would I be really able to read in the whole year? Just like when we go shopping on our own or with a bunch of friends, how many items will we be really wearing truthfully afterwards? Not so many am I right? On the other side, yes, new clothes bring this kind of excitement with ourselves, every morning when we get up out of our beds, with fresh new accessories, shoes, bags or pairs of jeans, and that’s why fall fashion is so cool. When you’re in your 20’s, you’re obsessed with your image, you want it to reflect who you really are from the inside, and that’s great and somehow that’s why you’re ending up buying brand new clothes, the minute you get that monthly check. But, think for a minute here, what if you’d have in your closet, iconic and classic pieces to wear all the other times you want to look good but don’t have the money to buy new items? Wouldn’t it be nice? These days, new kids on the block go for those very graphic t-shirts and jeans and crazy colorful shoes, but I think as I get older, I’m more attracted to refined and elegant and yet trendy and youthful pieces, to make me look more of a respectful, chic and very driven man but from time to time I do love to dive in a pool of exciting colors clothes, just like the collection of D&G we feature in this month’s fashion file. I personally hate vintage or hats or anything too passé, but I’m not either too fan of buying brand new-off the runway pieces, just to look somehow cool and chic, which is something lots of people in their late 20’s and 30’s really aspire to. As you’ll read in our Style article, trends come and go, but style is something that one possesses for a lifetime. And speaking of style and being cool, which was our point of departure for this issue, just look at the stars we’ve decided to cover for our spreads: super cool singer Rihanna, super chic editor Anna Wintour and super strong male model Yulian.

Every month, for The Bertrand Times, we bring as a collaborative team of people, what we consider relevant/fun/elegant and fashion forward. Our fashion pages are meant to make you enjoy fashion, to be attracted to the clothes we pick and to give you the option to update your look to a more original and sophisticated level while still giving you stars to talk about, news to gossip from and a view on this society with relationships’ advice. Most of us follow and worship fashion designers, supermodels and the bible of fashion, a.k.a: Vogue, but not with the immediate intention to buy the wildest expensive clothes from those fashion houses and to be bankrupt the morning day after, but because we all feel by doing so, it does educate our eyes and mind as well as update our taste, to this dreamy world we call: High Fashion. Journalist Amanda Fortini, who we quoted in this month’s article about Wintour, feels about Anna that, “she is not the first fashion editor with elitist tendencies; Diana Vreeland tossed off comments like "I love royalty. They're always so clean." The real question, of course, is whether Wintour's uncompromising tactics have served her magazine. The answer, quite simply, is yes.”

In an ocean of men and women's glossy magazines that sell beauty norms, The Bertrand Times loves to present to its readers what is interesting about rightly looking so different from what the standards of this society are. Perhaps we’ve also became elitist in our approach at times, but we don’t really think so; admiring Wintour’s vision does not imply that our own publication is conditioned to follow the same aesthetics. Staying cool is always, unconsciously I believe, what we intend to do every month when we challenge ourselves and our viewers’ expectations. Stars like models, actors, singers and entertainers of this world make you excited about your own life, and that’s why we support those who we feel are fun and smart. In my opinion, they serve as role models sometimes, and give us this boot of confidence to achieve higher goals for ourselves afterwards, because we see it’s possible. Speaking of All-stars, my team of editors and myself are very excited by the return of America’s next top model and the 17th cycle of the show: the All-Stars. You would think it is easier right now for the girls? Well, Spanish working male model River doesn’t agree and his answer is the best because it’s full of honesty, when asked about being a model/star nowadays: “My opinion about the fashion industry nowadays is that you can’t just be a model to model… You have to be an actor or a celebrity. Those are the ones who really get to do the huge jobs like fragrance contracts however some girls are lucky enough and get huge campaigns. But I think it’s harder for male models…” he told Essential Homme magazine, last may.

Eventually September was filled with major news: John Galliano eventually free, the Spring 2012 collections filled up with very bright colored garments, luscious aqua lips at Richard Chai, Beyoncé and Rihanna's fall campaigns for respective clients: House of Deréon and Armani Jeans, Anna Dello Russo’ styling for Macy’s while posing with supermodel Karolina Kurkova and being shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and much much more, in a word: explosive.

What is important, I think, is to go through October and the fall season more prepared and to focus on being grounded, staying funny and to appreciate each and every one of us’ own star quality. Our Canadian favorite supermodel Coco Rocha rightly chatted about the pros and cons of blogging the behind-the-scenes of the modeling world at Lucky's Fashion and Beauty Blogger conference last month and it does retake what I feel: “You lose contracts definitely, jobs, because a lot of the models, they don’t want them to talk. You’re a face and that’s it; don’t have a personality. But others love that you have a personality” which is I think, very important to let it shine, to embrace the star quality and eventually to become cooler little by little.

xoxo Bertrand

---

TBT in print - The October "Cool" issue n°38

ISSUE 38 = THE COOL ISSUE

BUY YOUR COPY NOW!

Special print cover (Subscriber version)

Paperback: 17.20€

- shipping costs not included -

Ships in 3 – 5 business days

Video - TBT n° 38 - Cover Diary

Cover Interview

Sturdy Yulian

Straight out of the commercial world and rushing into high fashion mode with quite a baffling ease, Bulgarian male model Yulian shows guys how it’s done, in men’s most iconic pieces: white t-shirts, jeans and speedos. Yulian Voynikov talks to Bertrand Vergnes about his ascent as a fashion male model, his devotion to stay in shape and what he’s looking forward in the future. Photographed by Radoslav Blagoev.

Although the female modeling industry is starting to open more and more to the diverse kind of branches for models such as Asian, Black, Curvy and any sort of models that weren’t promoted, next to the Caucasian female models, the male industry however is still suffering to be more inclusive. Men still make way less money than women, the so-called “it boys” remain the blue chip ones that get the top runway bookings and major clients’ campaigns. So what fresh faces and undiscovered gems have to do, in order to become the breakout-models of tomorrow? And who better to answer to this phenomenon than Yulian Voynikov, a 26-year old current and devoted male model from Ivet Fashion agency, from Sofia, who understands the highs and lows of the job and who still keeps going to remain in this highly competitive male modeling industry.

Signed at the very famous Bulgarian modeling agency created by Ivet Grigorova, named Ivet Fashion, sharp-looking Yulian, is part of the male model game since summer 2006, “I was on vacation at the seaside” he says with a nice gently voice, not as strong and hard as his body looks recalls Radoslav Blagoev, another high fashion male model and photographer who shot Yulian for this issue. Rado and Yulian worked together when they were both shot for GIA magazine for an editorial story back in December 2010. Both guys enjoyed the shoot and became friends; both of them are actually vegetarians. “We talked at the shoot and when he found out I was vegetarian, he added me on Facebook, we had a dinner together and regularly talk on skype, which is cool” comments Rado. “The photos I posed for, during that time, came out very good. So after that, I’ve decided to show them to a modeling agency. Back then it was called Webmodels. I’ve stayed there for two years, however the agency didn't provide so much of ‘good work’ and so I’ve moved to Ivet fashion and here we are” says Yulian, talking about how the idea of coming to Ivet happened.

For several years the agency has been discovering and making the big names of the Bulgarian fashion industry. Due to their frequent showing in the world’s runways, the young models of the agency are the first in Bulgaria who learn the newest steps and also the first who impose them on the Bulgarian stage. Booked by fashion designers and shot by prestigious fashion magazines, Ivet models also go from one editorial side of the industry to the commercial big bucks jobs. Rado actually just landed a cover and print ad for a mobile phone company. When I ask him how he felt about Yulian’s obvious modeling skills he says, “I am very pleased with his skills as I had no problem working with him, he also helps in the process and gives me what I want, he is not afraid to experiment and also makes daring poses that many male models would not agree to do... and most of all I was quite happy that he has no problem posing with little clothes, he is confident with his body and it is a great pleasure to work with such a model”.

Right after I asked Yulian about how he got his start in the modeling industry, I was really curious to know how it felt, when he had his very first photoshoot done. “Take me back and tell me how the experience as a rookie was like.” I ask him. “It was actually making my first book pictures. I had to bring 5-6 sets of clothes and I remember the night before I was very nervous because some clothes weren't clean enough or ironed. Nevertheless when the shoot has begun, I felt comfortable and I’ve learned how to let go. I was even happier when I saw the pictures on the screen of the computer and I felt pleased with the result of the shoot.” All in all the fashion business is a tough industry to work in, fresh faces come and go every season, a few succeed in not only staying on top but to remain on the main boards of agency and in the casting directors’ eyes. Male models have to stand the test of time, in order to be part of the big guns, and as models.com says “It takes more than looks to make it into male modeling's top leagues; it takes tenacity, personality, drive and the backing of elite clients.” Knowing your fashion market and working that market to the fullest is another key to remain relevant, so I asked Yulian this question: “if you had the chance to be casted for a big show in Milan, Paris or New York, for who would it be? And why?”, he breathes and says: “Honestly I don't have impressions from these cities, nor their events’ prestige concerning fashion. So I don't know.”

At a point where I feel a bit worried, since it’s fundamental to know where you’ll be the most successful and make most of your incomes as a model, he reassures me with his next answer, when I ask about his devotion and interest to the work related to taking care of his body. “Describe your diet and your sport routine for our readers please”. He seems instantly on his game: “Keeping in shape and developing the body is mainly mental. I think of my body as something perfect and brilliant and I believe that good training ethics do influence my body and keeps me in good shape.” When he says this, I sort of have a quick flashback, with another male model that looks so much like him, American Kerry Degman. But comparing them, which is something we do on a daily basis when we work in fashion, I realize that Yulian has more refined features, yes he does look strong/hard edge/almost military strict-kinda guy with impressive muscles and intimidating sort of aura but his eyes show a shy-sweet young man with sexy/naughty/cheeky side, or perhaps I did imagine it while starring at his pictures?! lol who knows? “I became a vegetarian about 2 years ago, though I still eat fish. So I am not a complete vegetarian. I work out 2-3 times a week, it is not that much. But when I do it, I give 120% or even more of my possibilities.” When I see how devoted he is to achieve his perfect body, being tall and statuesque, which is something to die for, Yulian shares with me his mantra: “You know what, my way of thinking is this – ‘You get results proportional to the efforts you give’. Probably my training of karate in my early childhood played a crucial role for my current body and my spiritual development to this day” he says.

Switching to lighter kind of questions I come up with asking Yulian about his exterior image and the importance he may or may not have to holding on to what he thinks suits him. “Would you agree on a drastic change of appearance for a big job if your agency would ask you to?” He sort of waits and says: “Drastic change as... a change in my haircut yes, but... I don't know which drastic change would be worthy, giving the fact that all kind of changes can be done with makeup or computer’s enhancing.” This answer actually puts Yulian on quite a fine line, since it’s sort of a big talk these days with retouching, and how much of an invasion on pictures do we eventually agree on at the end of the day.

“For now, martial arts are probably my biggest hobby. Except modeling, my working profession is to be a pharmacist” he told me, when I asked if he thought he had any rather special skills aside from modeling. When he talked about his profession, I kinda of thought to myself, “yeah you do give me the impression of someone who is smart and could fit into a medical job.” Now, I don’t know you but when we say, “there isn’t really a typical look for jobs3, I disagree, haven’t we all at least look at people in the street and felt like we could almost guess what their jobs were? “And I am even making my PhD degree now. I work at the university in Sofia as an assistant lecturer.” Right there with that element, I see the savvy, bright and cool person I’m always keen on featuring in the magazine. I’m actually also doing a PhD and I feel by deciding to learn more, Yulian proves he’s thinking ahead, forward. It comforts me to know that, when I’ve chosen someone for the cover and to do a feature on that person, that, those people are down-to-earth, they are life driven and they mean to do something bigger for their future. “I play guitar for hobby some times and also some computer games.” Here’s the fun and sweet aspect of Yulian which makes him more approachable to you all I think and also shows you that we can do high level careers and jobs and yet remain as normal as one can be.

“Hum… bad things that I can't resist to… Well... Sometimes I find myself playing way too much computer games lol. About food... food is a fuel, but I don't get so tempted by delicious food. Generally I control myself; in fact it is not about control, because I try to be in harmony with my mind and subconsciousness.” The strength he has shown here demonstrates Yulian’s passion for excellence and when answering my question on the list of guilty pleasures he may have and what he enjoy doing when he isn’t modeling, he adds “During my spare time, well... I like to work out, go on vacation, watching movies or playing some more games lol... things like that you know.” And what about long-term? How do you see yourself in 5 years? In 5 years... well, I see myself with my PhD finished, already gone to some cool fashion events abroad and being able to work there… And still with a great physique I guess lol (he laughs)… In my modeling career, I would like to go abroad and to shoot a lot and be on every billboard!” Then keep working hard and good luck Yulian.

By Bertrand Vergnes

TV series = Forever Madrid season 3 promo

2011-10-04T02:55:00.000-07:00

Vogue 2011 - October 2011 issues (HQ)

2011-10-04T02:44:00.000-07:00

+ extras of the month

1. Vogue Australia cover 2 - 2. Vogue Australia cover 3 - 3. Vogue España (Spain) Hair supplement (Cabello) - 4. Vogue España (Spain) Accessories supplement (Complementos).

Music - Super Junior 슈퍼주니어 A-CHA

2011-09-27T14:38:00.001-07:00

TV series = Forever Madrid season 3 trailer

2011-09-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

TBT - October 2011 editorials' previews

2011-09-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

"Fostering your behavior"
Model: Boyan Karadzhoff
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Various
10 pages

"Innately fine"
Model: Irena
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Various
8 pages

"Rebel Rebel"
Model: Yulian Voynikov
Ag: Ivet Fashion
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Various
10 pages

"Enchanting poise"
Model: Devora Neikova.
Hair and make-up: Denise Moretti
St: Designer Sabrina Platz
Ph: Elliot Dollie.
8 pages

"Elegance rebirth"
Model: Abraham Vázquez Belisario
Ph: Self
St: Vintage
8 pages

TBT - October 2011 Preview

2011-09-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

Book = Modelland is out today!

2011-09-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

Modelland's idea

Modeland promo

Now as I just said on my twitter page, I just bought it, can't wait to receive it and most importantly, to read it ;))

TV series = Forever Madrid season 3

2011-09-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

FOREVER MADRID SEASON 3 – RELEASE

Synopsis: This web television reality series focuses on the life of one of the show’s main characters, Bertrand Vergnes, as he lives/studies and work in Madrid as a language assistant, as well as a PhD student, a model and eventually the editor-in-chief of his own magazine. The show, now in its third season, with brand new main characters, will portray a more mature side to the lives of the students. Vergnes will live with another two roommates, both women and students. A love story has been decided but not confirmed. The show is produced by BMedia Press Group and is filmed in Madrid, Spain. Season 3 will start this fall on The Bertrand Times’ magazine network.

FOREVER MADRID 3×01 JUMPING FORWARD – RELEASE

Your favorite Language assistants from various countries are back and they really scattered around the world for one sizzling/hard/crazy summer, we hope you’re excited to see them back as much as we all are! And if you thought last year’s season finale had enough shocking revelations between love triangles, sharp departures and scandalous moments, then you’re in for a treat, because you haven’t seen anything yet! The Madrid’s teachers-in-training will face new challenges, new friendships and love interests but most of all, they will return with brand new attitude for the hotly anticipated third season of Forever Madrid! Confirmed characters include Bertrand, Catherine, Juany, Avery, Joanne and returning faces that will come as guest-stars such as Francesco, Anne-Laure, Lucie, Lucilla among others. In the Season 3 opener, Bertrand goes back to Madrid to start his 2cd year of his PhD as well as continuing to help new models to make their way to the top of the modeling industry throughout his magazine. While he gets ready to retake his role as a language assistant at a new high school, he meets new roommates and a bunch of new people along the way…

texts courtesy of BMedia press group.

TV series = ANTM cycle 17 - launch + official promo

2011-09-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

A SUPER-SMIZED CYCLE KICKS OFF WITH THE FIRST-EVER ALL-STAR CAST FEATURING FAN FAVORITES - Tonight is the premiere of cycle 17 of ANTM featuring the first-ever All-Star cast, with fan favorites and outrageous personalities from different cycles as they square off and compete for the grand prize. This cycle will feature a variety of women who will go head-to-head as personalities clash and the competition gets intense as they vie for attention and the grand prize. The first photo shoot has the women re-enacting memorable moments from the previous cycles they appeared on. André Leon Tally and Nigel Barker join guest judge Nicki Minaj and Tyra Banks on the judges' panel for the first elimination of the All-Star cycle. Prize Package Includes A Spread In Vogue Italia, A Contract With Covergirl, An Express Fashion Campaign And Guest Correspondent Opportunity On Hit Entertainment Newsmagazine “Extra”. Lending their expertise as guest judges this cycle are rap sensation Nicki Minaj; comedienne Kathy Griffin; pop star and author LaToya Jackson; actress and singer Ashlee Simpson; model and actor Tyson Beckford; reality star Kristin Cavallari; rapper Game; model Coco Rocha; Anthony Zuiker, the creator and executive producer of “CSI”; and fashion photographer Nikos Papadopoulos.

the official promo

Happy 3rd anniversary!!!

2011-09-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

TBT - N°37 - September 2011

2011-09-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

(click to see in full screen mode)

Words from the editor in chief - September 2011

This year' September issue is a wonderful occasion for us to look back at our history, as we’re celebrating our 3rd year anniversary. It’s also the perfect moment to check in with our readers, all of you who have been a part of the magazine’s history from the very start, back in September 2008, when the magazine looked like a school project-soon to be serious and fun publication. It's personally a very big pleasure and an honor to say “we did it”! Not only to those who didn’t believe it would be possible, or though it might crash five or six months later, but also to those who, rightly, have been incredibly supportive and collaborative along the way. I’m instantly thinking of my team of amazing editors, photographers, stylists, and models but I secondly think of all of you. This magazine is very meaningful for me; because it’s a living proof of my love, dedication and contribution to the fashion industry. To celebrate the new era of the magazine, we’ve added new layouts, new fonts, new contents and some familiar faces, as we bring you exclusive content from past and current models who did work with The Bertrand Times for the past three years.

Since our publication is a fashion driven magazine, the likes of female and male models played a massive role in defining this magazine and its ideals. I started my life as a sporty kind of person, and became a good swimmer as I participated to France’s national championships at the age of 14, but I knew my calling was in fashion, and I became a fashion model at 16. Traveling, shooting, doing runways/go sees and meeting industry’s people is what I loved doing as I kept growing up. Modeling has been/is/will be a major part of defining myself as a human being; I love the creative around it, the passion and dedication and love, those people put into their work, they make us all dream. Is there something better? Legendary designers, photographers, models are what our business is all about, it’s about channeling this other world that only exists in our minds, and to make it come alive. Not to be bragging about it, but I consider myself, as my friends say too, as an ultimate focused and driven man, it's especially important to my eyes and is also very exciting, that I keep my dreams alive in my head, so I make them come true as I go throughout life.

The idea, behind our cover with top international supermodel Carmen Kass, is that: it’s important to have good values for our readers and who better than a supermodel that has worked nearly 2 decades in fashion and remains at the top. September is always a moment of frantic feelings: money, studies, job, relationships etc. So we felt that having a familiar face and someone who is grounded, is our way to say to our reader that in hard times, it’s always important to remember that former friends/family figures, are here for you no matter what you do. I also loved the piece we did on our News’ check column with Zac Posen's work, including this fall looks + preview of his resort 2012 collection. Posen’s vision was American Royalty. “It's about how to be dressed up and poised, but still cool; Patti Smith in a gown and Penelope Tree in a trench,” said Posen. Show-stopping gowns with silhouettes is a study in contrasts with ruffles at the hip is what it is all about, for that collection, but let’s go back to Fall 11 now. We love the future but we also have to live in the present. Living the moment and thinking ahead is certainly supermodel turned mogul Tyra Banks. Her new writing endeavor, “Modelland” allows us to get inside Banks’ head. Coming out around the same time as ANTM’s new fall season, its 17th “All-stars” cycle, you can follow in the novel four girls as they enter the most prestigious modeling school to become “Intoxibellas”, which in Banks’ words are the most amazing supermodels. Centered around the awkward character, Tookie De La Crème, the book takes readers on an adventure to Modelland- a mysterious mountain top where magical modeling happens. Could you resist reading the modeling version of Harry Potter? We know we can’t and preordered already the book coming out September 13th.

Also in our minds this month is Kate Moss’ gigantic wedding. “When I put the dress on, I'm really happy. I forget about everything. [I wanted] a classic Galliano, those chiffon Thirties kind,” the supermodel told Vogue. “I've lived in his dresses for years, and they just make me feel so comfortable.” The supermodel turned icon is also this month on the cover of September’s US Vogue, which is the most desirable cover to get in the 1000 magazines’ titles out there. As a PhD polyglot student, former swimmer/fashion model/web television series' producer, my mission is to bring a vibrant vision of the world we are living in, and to make people dream bigger. I feel that, I was put on this earth to inspire, entertain, educate and help others to achieve their goals while I also work very hard to achieve mine. Spotting talents is, after a decade of learning and reading Vogue and modeling on the side, I guess, one of my gifts, I love to emulate people to develop their skills; it’s exciting and emotions’ worthy.

TBT has been influential right from the very start, providing our readers: beauty/lifestyle and fashion advice, as well as the latest industry news. With a creative and successful team, industry insiders such as bloggers, photographers, models, stylists and make-up artists, among other professionals, have created with a passion for fashion, what the magazine is nowadays. As a striking and smart publication, The Bertrand Times has been given young journalists and models, as well as new emerging photographers, their start in the world of high fashion. Celebrating our 3rd birthday, now flying between the south of France and Madrid, Spain, my team and I couldn’t thank you enough, our dear readers, to keep traveling throughout the years, countries and collections, months after months and being as supportive as you were when we just started. Thank you y’all and stay driven & fierce!

xoxo Bertrand

---

TBT in print - The September "Fall Fashion" issue n°37

ISSUE 37 = THE FALL FASHION ISSUE

BUY YOUR COPY NOW!

Special print cover (Subscriber version)

Paperback: 26€

- shipping costs not included -

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Video - TBT n° 37 - Cover Diary

Cover Interview

Long girls stay longer

Carmen Kass is, as models.com coined it: “a master at portraying blonde ice queens who have it all”. For nearly 2 decades, this Estonian supermodel, who has been working with the world’s top designers and keeps maintaining a high-profile career with an incredible professionalism, remains as cool as a top can be.

No one screams more “supermodel” nowadays than Carmen, she has been doing every show on earth, every campaign, every cover and remains at 33 years-old, one of the coolest models ever. Discovered at the age of 14 in a Tallinn supermarket, Kass has gone on to become one of the world's most successful models, with major campaigns for Calvin Klein, Chanel, Fendi, and among others the most recurrent campaigns she did over the years as the face for CFDA achievement-award winner: Michael Kors. Regular cover girl, Carmen is world renowned for her ad work for Sephora, one of the world's leading cosmetics retailers, and the Christian Dior perfume, “J'adore”. Recipient of the most prestigious Vogue’s model of the year award, which she received out of the hands of fellow supermodel Gisele, at the 2000 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, Carmen has lived through the various eras of fashion and still remain as normal as one can be after decades of glamour, hard work and intense schedule. What is the key of such a huge success you would ask?

“I have been working in the business rather successfully for more than 15 years and yet it is impossible to predict what season will be good and what less good. I guess I have proved to the clients in the business that I have a value that sells with a combination of pleasant and uncomplicated work time. I never complain, treat everyone equally and always give my best when at work.” she told to Models Observer’s website. And how early did you know, or what was the moment you knew you became a supermodel? “Back in the day models (Naomi, Kate, Christy, Nadja, Cindy, Claudia, etc...) that were continuously working with major fashion houses, appeared on the covers of major fashion magazines and acquired fame also outside of the business through that kind of modeling became credited with a status Supermodel. Today models like Petra Nemcova, Heidi Klum, Bar Raphaeli and many others alike have been credited Supermodel status with all kinds of other reasons and therefore I think that media has ruined the original status of "supermodel". Understanding the above mentioned, I never paid importance to the status but cared more for ongoing business.” And that’s right here why Carmen is called a pro, she does her work and doesn’t care about the labels, models like her nowadays are a rare find. Honesty is also part of her life, like her fellow models’ peers, Kass always says like it is. It reminds me of that Vogue covershoot Linda did in August 2006 for the US edition when she talked about age “It's really important for me to be honest," she said. “I don't look like I do in the pages of Vogue. I think it's OK to say I'm 41 and it's work being me. It's a lot of upkeep!”

Kass, on her side always talked about the world of fashion with honesty: “it’s a tough job and people aren’t always nice so you always have to know what you’re doing and who you’re working with”. She is also not interested in this whole game of fashion and partying, and stays in Germany (where her partner and her live part time due to their jobs. Eric Lobron is a chess champion who is also from Germany) and her home in Estonia instead of New York, Milan or Paris. She tries ‘not to hang around anything to do with fashion’ in her private time and claims to never wear high heels off-duty. And that’s right here why Carmen is called a pro, she does her work and doesn’t care about the labels, models like her nowadays are a rare find. Honesty is also part of her life, like her fellow models’ peers, Kass always says like it is. It reminds me of that Vogue covershoot Linda did in August 2006 for the US edition when she talked about age “It's really important for me to be honest," she said. “I don't look like I do in the pages of Vogue. I think it's OK to say I'm 41 and it's work being me. It's a lot of upkeep!” Kass, on her side always talked about the world of fashion with honesty: “it’s a tough job and people aren’t always nice so you always have to know what you’re doing and who you’re working with”. She is also not interested in this whole game of fashion and partying, and stays in Germany (where her partner and her live part time due to their jobs. Eric Lobron is a chess champion who is also from Germany) and her home in Estonia instead of New York, Milan or Paris. She tries ‘not to hang around anything to do with fashion’ in her private time and claims to never wear high heels off-duty. Here she describes how she feels about her career. “Every offer becomes enjoyable when executing. When aspiring models see you, they idolize you and want to be like you. How do you feel about the admiration you receive from them and from fans all around the world? There is nothing more rewarding than being appreciated for your work, without fans and admirers there is no continuity! I thank and love them for that! And what has she discovered about herself through modeling? ”Confidence, courage and knowledge that we all have our place under the sun.”

“I was 14 and was traveling to the capital of Estonia, and an Italian Guy just walked towards me and said “I’m a modeling scoot and I really think you should model, do you want to try it out?” he asked but I didn’t listen to him. Growing up in Estonia, you sort of become cautious and it gets hard to really trust anybody like that, because it’s very poor country to live into. He came to me again, the same guy, a little bit later and said that if I would want to become a model that I could probably travel in a week or two. And all of the sudden I realized if I could travel, then that’s my chance. I went home and told my mom and of course she was against it, we sort of had a fight about it but I was a pretty stubborn kid so finally she has agreed to let me do it. Of course I’ve heard of Marks & Spencer, I actually love the shirt I’m wearing right now” says Kass when being interviewed on the set of the brand new campaign she has shot for them. “I like casual things and I also like to mix things together you know. I can totally see myself wearing this with my regular heavy boots and jeans. From very early age, I did get the chance to already discover the high fashion and you know I was surrounded by the most incredible things. I love about all comfort, if I’m a little bit more in the mood of getting something that I use: some accessory, belt, bracelet or watch, I think tailored. Tailored clothes: not too sexy, not too primitive, and something darker. I don’t think trends are meant to be followed immediately. They should be rather an inspiration. Add something to your own style. I think everybody should, rather try to dress from inside-out, than from outside-in.”

At fashion week in Paris for the F/W 11 season, at the Balmain fashion show, television channel ‘Fashion TV’ talked to Carmen, and after seeing the video, you understand why she is still so cool, so now, so her. “Do you have a lucky charm that you carry around with you or something...” asked the interviewer, “Yes, my man!” says Carmen laughing. That’s a great answer, and how is it to live with him? “It’s the best. He’s super smart, has a great sense of humor, he’s a manly man, he isn’t from that business, he’s a chess player, you know he’s very important for me. We understand each other very well.” She has done quite a few shows this season, which at The Bertrand Times magazine, we just love. “Yeah, in fact I have, a couple more than usually, it’s nice, I figured I’m here so why not. It’s no pressure you know when you don’t have to run after each show, each city; it also becomes more enjoyable.”

By Bertrand Vergnes

Megan Gale for Project Runway Australia season 3

2011-09-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

It was announced last month that Kristy Hinze was leaving her role as host of Project Runway Australia after two years to spend more time with her husband Jim Clark and focus on her studies (she’s getting a degree in marine biology). She’d been uncertain about returning to the show since early last year, and possible replacements included Elle Macpherson and Australia’s Next Top Model host Sarah Murdoch. But the job has gone to Megan Gale, who revealed to The Sunday Telegraph that she will not only host but also act as executive producer on the reality show, which screens on Foxtel. In Foxtel’s official announcement this morning she said: "I am so excited to announce that I’ll be hosting and working on Project Runway Australia, as I feel it is something that sits extremely well with what I do, having worked almost two decades in the fashion industry... There’s advice that I can give, but I think there will much more that I can learn about fashion via this show and add it to what I already know, which will be an incredibly positive thing." What she remained tight-lipped about was her rumoured new romance with 22-year-old AFL player Shaun Hampson, following her split from Andy Lee last month. She’ll relocate to Melbourne next month to shoot the show, which will premiere on FOX8 mid-year, confirmed popsugar.com.au. However I do have to say that I love Kristy so I hope we'll see her in something soon :) but congrats too Megan, she has good personality.

Dior's commercial Fall 2011

2011-09-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

Dior’s newest commercial for its "J’adore" perfume just dropped on the web, so here it is. It's just perfection. Featuring beautiful and returning face of the brand, actress Charlize Theron, the commercial follows her as she sneaks incognito into the Versailles Hall of Mirrors for a fashion show (she would in fact be a great supermodel now that I think about it). "Along the way she meets icons and famous Dior fans Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, and Marlilyn Monroe (their famous faces are all CGI’ed in seamlessly–it’s a neat trick). She then dons a shimmery gold Dior gown and struts the runway to much acclaim. What’s really interesting about this ad (directed by Seven Years in Tibet director Jean-Jacques Annaud) is that Dior is still firmly aligning its beauty brands with its fashion brand. Back when Kate Moss did the Dior Addict lipstick commercial, Galliano hadn’t yet had his infamous meltdown. It was set on Dior’s SS 2011 runway, and much was made of the fact that Galliano was nowhere to be seen in the commercial, which dropped after all the controversy. Dior is obviously proud of its fashion history and is staying on-message with its various campaigns–Dior the brand is simultaneously moving on and embracing its heritage." text by Cheryl Wischhover from fashionista.com

My take on... Vogue Россия (Russia)

2011-09-06T03:25:00.000-07:00

As a man, I'm more into men's fashion because it's what I wear, what I like and what inspires me: designers, male models' photography, campaigns, runway looks etc. However, Vogue to me is the bible, no men's fashion magazine ever can replace what this entity does for my brain and passion and knowledge of fashion. I've decided to give my two cents of every edition of Vogue since I publish every month their covers. So starting with: Russian Vogue, here it comes. According to their sites, "Vogue.ru is supposedly the premium daily fashion resource in Russian language – the starting page for every Russian, eager to stay on top of the latest news in fashion." yeah right, you mean every rich woman who doesn't differentiates high style and tacky hooker style? Give me a break! "Vogue.ru is the most complete, daily updated site on fashion, millions of pages and photos, the most detailed reports from fashion shows and reviews of all seasonal collections, not limited to pret’a porte and haut-cuture. It reviews latest trends in fashion, beauty, accessories and jewelry decorations, it publishes exclusive interviews with stars, designers and perfumers, reports from world’s most important red-carpet walks and selections the most outstanding novelties and season’s hits." ok it may be right, but which fashion magazine doesn't do that already? They don't give nothing you. "It's the most reputable operational source of fashion news for fashion oriented public, where trendy people come to find the latest news from the world of fashion, twitter-flows of designers, models, muses and society ‘hot-shots”, where every day they can read personal columns on the blogs of Alyona Doletskaya, Lana Tchesnovitskaya- Director of Beauty Division,or contributions from other members of editorial board, important and influential bloggers and fashion-journalists." andddd sink! Ok, first of all, I have to say that before I'm about to give a critique of this mgazine, I do own some issues of it. I have 6 digital editions of Russian Vogue.

Ok, now after the presentation, here comes my take on it. It's a BAD magazine, really! From cheap looking covers (except perhaps one of those I own which the one I've chosen to feature here by Patrick Demarchelier) to very lame articles (I do not read Russian but I've translated articles on google, and have friends who know Russian) to uninspiring editorial fashion stories. It's just a cheap high end publication. I don't find the appeal towards the women on their covers, nor in their feature spreads or interviews; their accessories and runway look are tacky at best... "Reprints" is their motto, so they don't innovate with their own content but prefer to take stuff from other Vogue editions and their whole presentation sucks big time. I do not recommend anybody to purchase a Russian Vogue issue now or in their past before they've changed their editor-in-chief. Anyways, it's just my view, perhaps people won't agree but I do believe this magazine isn't up to the standards of a high end fashion publication (Image credits: Vogue Russia May 2011 : Maryna Linchuk by Patrick Demarchelier).

WSJ - Anna Wintour

2011-09-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

One, if not the best article written about VOGUE or Anna Wintour for that matter. I wish I had this issue, but at least here's the article, enjoy y'all, it's a very very good one, hence the fact I wanted to share it.

The Editor Who Keeps Vogue In Fashion

Anna Wintour is the only fashion editor whose name is likely to be recognized by those who have never purchased a copy of Vogue but are close readers of the Economist.

The blogosphere and the mainstream media are filled with stories that fetishize her as a combination oracle and beneficent dictator, as well as those who see in her inscrutable public demeanor, her waifish physique and her wardrobe of Chanel and Prada the sum total of all that is wrong with the Western world. She is, in effect, both fierce and to be feared. Which means that over the 20 years she has been at the helm of Vogue, she has become a cultural icon and so has her magazine. Wintour will mark this extraordinary accomplishment in the publishing world by doing... nothing.

On June 29, 1988, the chairman of Conde Nast announced that Wintour, who had been the editor of HG, would take over at Vogue. Barely a week later, stories appeared detailing how she had orchestrated a coup forcing her predecessor, Grace Mirabella, out the door. Wintour's reputation for steely discipline and determination has only grown during her long tenure, reaching a breathless furor with the 2006 release of "The Devil Wears Prada," based on the revenge novel written by her onetime assistant. Wintour attended the film's New York premiere dressed in Prada, thus proving that the devil also has a sense of humor. The magazine's circulation is 1.2 million, a Vogue spokesman said, essentially what it was when Wintour took over two decades ago. She came to represent a new archetype for a fashion editor: a master of the universe who wears her power as comfortably and impeccably as Chanel couture. It's an intimidating combination because it implies that she is a woman who is accomplished in the so-called masculine art of war and still knows how to use all the stereotypically feminine wiles. She is a double threat.

Wintour personifies the sort of woman who is celebrated in the pages of Vogue. It doesn't matter whether that woman's clout is on the social circuit, on the pop charts or in federal Washington, the magazine highlights her achievements, influence and always, always her style. Vogue doesn't play the role of best girlfriend in the manner of O, the Oprah Magazine, which invites readers to get together for ice cream, girl talk and book club. Vogue does not advocate book clubs. It is a magazine for women about whom books are written. It does not include recipes for fat-free cookies or how-to guides for juggling a job with the kids' soccer practice. The only real evidence that Vogue readers have children is when well-groomed toddlers serve as background props in photo shoots or when young socialites are explaining why they've signed up for Pilates classes.

No other American fashion magazine exudes such an unapologetic, cool-girl, gloriously elitist attitude about style. It does not explain fashion or gently lead its readers into the next season. It is a monthly fix for those who understand the futuristic appeal of Balenciaga and the wry wit of John Galliano. Vogue treats fashion the way that Sports Illustrated treats athleticism: as something glamorous and in need of neither explanation nor validation. I worked at Vogue briefly in 2000, a fact that always elicits the question: What was it like? I'm well aware that the questioner is breathlessly awaiting tales of free clothes, frantic assistants and hissy fits over cerulean blue belts. I hesitate to spoil the fantasy, but during my short stay I never witnessed any toddler-size temper tantrums. My colleagues did improve my standard of dress, although by example, not by mandate or largess.

Wintour brought an unwavering point of view to Vogue, a complex blend of brains and beauty. Editors search for the hedge fund manager who wears Christian Dior, the lawyer who litigates in Dolce & Gabbana or the activist who's a dead ringer for Halle Berry. The magazine represents a combination of things that many women secretly want but are unwilling to admit to because they think they would be criticized as politically incorrect, shallow or frivolous. Vogue is not politically correct. The magazine loves fur, after all. And it celebrates a slender physique. Sure, in its annual shape issue it applauds curves. Vogue has championed fashion industry initiatives to combat eating disorders among models. But Vogue will never endorse fat; it won't even pretend to. Heck, it just ran a story about how it paid for nutritionists and trainers to help two promising young designers lose weight... for their health.

During Wintour's tenure, Vogue has incorporated street trends into its pages. It has put its stamp of approval on what was once called hip-hop style and now is merely urban style. But it does so on its own terms, by, say, including Sean Combs in a couture fashion shoot as a Cary Grant type with a tan. (It struggles with bringing diversity to its pages, as do most fashion magazines.) Vogue has never implied that celebrities are the same as everyone else. They may talk about their insecurities in the pages of the magazine but they are always pictured as glorious, rarefied creatures. Their style triumphs are heralded, not their afternoon outings to Starbucks.

The magazine is at its most provocative, though, when it turns its attention to personalities not typically associated with high fashion -- Oprah Winfrey, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain, Condoleezza Rice. The resulting photographs are fascinating not because of any reality they reveal but because of the fantasy they unleash. Vogue sets its sights on an of-the-moment character and transforms her into an impossibly perfect version of herself. In the accompanying story, her accomplishments are detailed: Her charitable acts. Her legislative successes. Her business acumen. But the primary photo rarely illustrates all that brainy, do-gooder activity. The photo is pure glamour. It taps into that core desire to be gorgeous and declares it righteous and worthy and, most important, smart. Vogue validates the modern careerist's fantasy, that she can run the world and look fabulous doing it.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Sunday, June 29th, by Robin Givhan

TBT - N°37 - Columns

2011-09-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

This post showcases the editors' main sections, in September's Bertrand Times magazine n°37. Those sections obviously have more pages in each of those columns, but it gives you a broader view of what this issue looks like. Read the brand new issue and check it out.

Forward Living Editor: Bertrand Vergnes (France)

News Editor: Daniela Martin (US)

Fashion file Editor: Ángel Duran Lopez (Spain)

Relationships' Editor: Ashley Tschudin (US)

Beauty Editor: Eve Wilson (Britain)

Fashion, TV, Gossip Editor: Clare Ladner (Australia)

Runways and Accessories Editor: Heidi Foner (US)

Face On Editor: Aaron Atkinson (US)
Fashion Editor: Bertrand Vergnes (France)

Video - Milan Fashion Week / Fall 2011 - D&G

2011-09-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

Simply the best collection of Milan's fashion week for Menswear Fall 11 ! I mean the clothes were FABULOUS, love the music too and the cast has been well done but yeah I want everything!

Vogue 2011 - September 2011 issues (HQ)

2011-09-03T04:49:00.000-07:00

1. British Vogue (UK) - 2. Vogue US - 3. Vogue Australia - 4. Vogue Brazil - 5. Vogue España (Spain) - 6. Vogue Deutsch (Germany) - 7. Vogue Hellas (Greece)- 8. Vogue India - 9. Vogue Italia - 10. Vogue Nippon (Japan) - 11. Vogue Korea - 12. Vogue Latinoamérica - 13. Vogue Paris (France) - 14. Vogue Portugal - 15. Vogue Россия (Russia) -16. Vogue Taiwan - 17. Vogue Türkiye (Turkey) - 18. Vogue Hommes Japan (Japanese's men Vogue) - 19. Vogue Latinoamérica (Cover 2) - 20. Vogue Latinoamérica (Cover 3) - 21. Vogue 服饰与美容 (China) - 22. Vogue China supplement.

Vogue 2011 - Worldwide editions

2011-09-03T03:14:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the post of the word's most powerful and world renowned fashion magazine's covers: Vogue! Ok let's see, the reason of why I'm in love for Vogue is a long story, but to make it short, I'm basically a die-hard fan of high fashion photography and supermodels so there you go! I mean the great looks from the runways, the shootings in studios with sleek poses, the lighting on the hot designers' labels with grey and white backgrounds, and the most amazing models of the world...It's crazy cool to me... Vogue love ya! Now, I'm also a long-time subscriber to US Vogue, and was until 2 years ago, subscriber to French and Italian Vogue but not anymore. I usually buy from time to time Italian, Spanish, British, Japanese and Chinese Vogue. I own on top of my paper versions, several web editions in PDF files of Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, Vogue India, Vogue Russia, and Vogue Japan. And now my compilation of the international 19 Vogue monthly editions for the year 2011. Enjoy ;)

Order of the Vogue international covers for each month during the year 2011 (left to right and up to bottom):

1. Vogue (US) - 2. Vogue Italia (Italy) - 3. Vogue Paris (France) - 4. British Vogue (UK) - 5. Vogue España (Spain)

6. Vogue China - 7. Vogue Korea - 8. Vogue Nippon (Japan) - 9. Vogue Taiwan - 10. Vogue Australia

11. Vogue Portugal - 12. Vogue Brasil - 13. Vogue Latinoamérica - 14. Vogue México - 15. Vogue Turkey

16. Vogue Deutsch (Germany) - 17. Vogue India - 18. Vogue Hellas (Greece) - 19. Vogue Russia (Россия).

Vogue readings - October 2011

2011-09-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

Here is my Vogue's upcoming reading(s) for the month of October 2011: Vogue Japan October 2011 : Florence Welch by Karl Lagerfeld.

Desperate Housewives season 8 coming soon

2011-09-01T13:22:00.001-07:00

Project Nim

2011-09-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Seems so interesting and nice, I wish I could see that film.

CBS - Supermom: Christy Turlington

2011-09-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

Featured in this month's Bertrand Times' Fashion file, supermodel Christy Turlington was featured on CBS News, Sunday Morning, earlier this summer; she talks about her modeling past and her first pregnancy that led to the foundation of "Every Mother Counts" and her film: "No Woman No Cry."

Louis Vuitton F/W 11 Campaign's making off

2011-09-01T13:00:00.001-07:00

Maybelline, The Shine :)

2011-09-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

Love this commercial, those supermodels are soooooooo hot! Jessica White, Emily, Christy :))) love this. Also the music/editing of this behind the scenes is really well done, which is the kind of making off I love. Yeah it's weird but I love those short segments with cool music and small moments where it's so frantic/hot/fresh and exciting for the viewers.

Entrepreneurial spirit comes to life

2011-09-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

I was really intrigued and fascinated by Robert Steven Kaplan's newest book, professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, he speaks about entrepreneurial ideas and managing your life as a leader, things that I aspire to every day. In "What to Ask the Person in the Mirror", author Robert Steven Kaplan offers a concise and engaging guide to help executives improve their effectiveness as leaders. At the core of the book is a series of critical questions to help you lead your organization more successfully and take ownership of your career. Based on his extensive experience as a senior business executive, professor at Harvard Business School, and an advisor to leaders worldwide, Kaplan provides a simple, powerful framework that includes seven key areas for inquiry that will resonate with business leaders in both the commercial and the nonprofit sectors. I discovered this book thanks to Tyra Banks' twitter account, tks tyty :)

Madrid's Fashion's Night Out coming soon

2011-09-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

ANTM cycle 17 pre-show interviews

2011-09-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

+

Bianca is back loooool such a mean bitchy character back then but with good modeling skills and so funny too on this new commercial

Just so... Raquel!

2011-09-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

The moment I saw that girl I knew, I just knew she was amazing! Steven Meisel, Anna Wintour and hundreds did too, I mean lol she kills it everytime! Ok lol sorry guys for that too-excited introduction, I just love Brazilian supermodel Raquel Zimmermann. She knows "how to model", she transforms, isn't afraid of any pose, challenges our minds to what a model should be, I LOVE her style, her as a person. She is the perfect chameleon kind of girl, Fashion needs and loves, a bona fide supermodel. No more words, here she is in action for various projects among others Vogue Italia and the most recent interview she gave in Portuguese at the Sao Paulo Fashion Week etc. Remember that I've also picked her in November 2009 as our covergirl.

Macy's + Karl + Coco Rocha = BAM!

2011-09-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

Macy's behind the scenes look at Karl Lagerfeld's 45-piece limited-edition collection. Shot on location at Karls studio in Paris with Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha, who I love a lot!!! The shoot looks amazing and the outfits too! Coco was on the cover of The Bertrand Times, in April 2010 :)

Holidays are over

2011-09-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hi y'all what's up everybody? So the vacation part of the year is now behind us, and I'll only speak for myself sayin' I'm really glad it did. I had the most awful summer ever. I've lost my grandfather, worked non-stop for over 2 months in a supermarket, had just the time to focus on my PhD, not really having a social life at all because of the thesis, work, and July-August and September issues of TBT to be made etc. As you know, I've already written my article for Vogue.it, part of the Vogue Themes, which Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia has launched and referred to, speaking to everybody who did participate, as good: "Congratulations on your good work: some pieces are truly brilliant!". Right now I'm working on my thesis and on the October issue of TBT. Hopefully I didn't spend the whole summer without some friendly night outs and (some... ok many) guilty TV pleasure, a.k.a: Australia's next top model cycle 7, Britain and Ireland's next top model cycle 7, Korea's next top model cycle 2, New Zealand's next top model cycle 3, Project Runway season 9 and re-runs of The 22cd season of The Simpsons! Not too shabby if you ask me lool. Now that I'm done with my job I can eventually care about me: hair, skin products, dressing nicely and not the bad white t-shirt and awful pair of jeans I had to go to work every single day of those crazy-ass long/almost unbearable two months... I really despise those fuckin' clients! Gosh what a pair of plain dumb-scruffy and asshole jerks! Starting from tomorrow I should be able to get back to my real life and start to plan for my departure from France on the 15th and to get back to Madrid, where I belong!!! I've learned I'd have a new French girl as a room-mate, I'm really excited to start to work at the new high school I've visited last may and to get back to my schedule/life and friendly circle.

xoxo Bertrand

My first article for VOGUE Italia

2011-08-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

As promised here's my article, as freelance contributing editor, for VOGUE Italia's contributing project on vogue.it - I do hope you'll enjoy as much as Vogue Italia's editors would. Click on the image to read/download my article.

Series - Nikia - Season 2 trailer

2011-08-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

The game has changed. New season, new deception, new night. Don't miss the Season Premiere of Nikita Friday, Sept. 23 at 8/7c on The CW! I'm so freakin' excited, I love the show, it reminds me of Alias, which was THE show that got me to be obsessed with tv shows and returning seasons and to watch every week the brand new episodes of my fav shows. Cool can't wait!

TBT - N°36 - August 2011

2011-08-28T09:23:00.001-07:00

(click to see in full screen mode)

Words from the editor in chief - August 2011

Hi y’all and welcome to our August “Attitude issue” for 2011, in which we focused on Age, Korean’s fashion and what we think, good Behavior should look like from our featured stars. It’s also our very first entire black & white issue, which makes this issue even more special that it intended to be. This month’s front cover-star is South Korean supermodel: Yoon Ju Jang, who graces our pages for the very first time. Now, I have been a fan of Asian fashion and their lifestyle since I can remember, they have this easiness and cool vibe about their way to dress up, they also have very interesting traditions and ways to live in today’s 21st century world. In this issue dedicated to Vogue Korea’s creative layouts and spirit, we pay homage to shows, music and style among other topics which are related to South Korea’s culture.

Our top career file of the month is on Carmen Dell' Orefice, an 80 year-old working supermodel, who keeps having the best attitude I’ve seen in this industry and in my inner circle for a long time: she’s what we called a “legend”: sincere, hardworking and happy to be alive, in a word: commendable. The “Adrienne Vittadini” show, she took part of was just great; especially touching was the presentation’s casting; supermodels from past eras including Pat Cleveland (Halston’s muse), Carmen Dell’ Orefice (Vogue cover model at age 15), Carol Alt (referred to as ‘”The Face” by Life Magazine), Frederique van der Wal (of Victoria’s Secret fame), Irina Pantaeva (Karl Lagerfeld’s former muse), and 1990s beauties Roshumba and Niki Taylor (a favorite model of Vogue from back in the day). These past pros model have one thing in common: confidence and a glow that the somber young models of today lack. That’s what “Attitude” is all about. I am always amazed by how driven and smart people like Carmen, Oprah and Yoon Ju are, because at the end of the day, they’re what I aspire to be every single day: be the best version of myself, which is something my team of editors and myself try to emulate in our readers’ lives, issue after issue.

I went along a different road this time, when it came to design the cover of the magazine; Instead of doing a shoot for this occasion, and because Yoon Ju is in the other side of the world, I digitally drew her and came with this cool fun image that served as one of the promotional images for the second season, of the reality television modeling competition that she’s hosting, I’m obviously talking about “Korea’s next top model”. To me all the elements are here: glamour, high fashion, perfect hair and pose, cool clothes and newsworthy star, there you go: the ideal consummate Bertrand Times’ cover girl, with the funniest attitude ever when it comes to teach modeling to young rookies who dream to be part of Korea’s next wave of fashion models. Staying in this country, we’re also very happy to celebrate a birthday this month commemorating the Vogue Korea’s 15th anniversary! Special 15 covers were launched, including two of Yoon Ju, and the magazine created an exhibition at Plateau, a gallery operated by Leeum Samsung Museum of Art in central Seoul, featuring 15 artists and 14 designers - all of them Korean heavyweights. Once again Happy Birthday and to our readers have a great summer 11.

xoxo Bertrand

---

TBT in print - The August "Attitude" issue n°36

ISSUE 36 = THE ATTITUDE ISSUE

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Video for TBT - N°37 - September 2011 - Editorial

2011-08-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

On the shoot with Bertrand Vergnes and Sandra Giner in the south of France, wearing vintage clothes and photographed by BMedia for the "Old school sizzle" editorial.

Anna Wintour about stereotypes for Forbes

2011-08-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

Anna Wintour is the 69th most powerful woman on Forbes's list of the world's most powerful women. Ironically, she comes behind some of the women she helped make powerful by putting them in and on the cover of Vogue, like Lady Gaga (number 11), Beyoncé (number 18), and Gisele (number 60). With Vogue's third annual Fashion's Night Out just days away, this is a rare window of time that Anna does a good number of interviews, and so she had Forbes over to her office with their video cameras.

Before she got into Fashion's Night Out, Anna touched on sexist portrayals of women in the media.

What does ‘power’ mean to you?

Anna Wintour: I don’t think of myself as a powerful person. You know, what does it mean? It means you get a better seat in a restaurant or tickets to a screening or whatever it may be. But it is a wonderful opportunity to be able to help others, and for that I’m extremely grateful.

What’s your least favorite stereotype about powerful women?

It’s not so much about powerful women. In some cases, there are stereotypes about women. I often don’t hear men talked about in the same way. It’s more a sexist stereotype than a powerful stereotype.

On the matter of Fashion's Night Out, while the event faces harsh critiques in its third year running, Anna says it's always been a huge success. "The stores were thrilled," she said of the first FNO. "To be honest, we started off thinking it would be just one night, but immediately we were asked to do it again. Some people even wanted us to do it twice a year, and we put our foot down on that. But we decided to anniversary it." Watch Anna talk in the video. Brought to you via nymag.com - The Cut.

TBT - September 2011 Cover

2011-08-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Carmen Kass shot by photographer Luca Cannoniera, at Louis Vuitton F/W 11 backstage in Paris, France.

TBT - September 2011 editorials' previews

2011-08-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

"Welcome back" (lookbook promotion)

Models: Frida Gustavsson, Jeremy Dufour

Ph: Andreas Sjodin

St: H&M

14 pages

"Glamorous Tragedy" (main editorial)

Models: Nicole, Gabriela Dasheva

Ag: Ivet Fashion agency

Ph: Radoslav Blagoev

Make up: Bojidara Popova

Designer: Petar Georgiev

12 pages + extra edit cover with Gabriela Dasheva

"Heart robbing jungle"

Model: Regis Da Conceiçao

Ph: Bertrand Vergnes

St: Maria Perez

10 pages

"Old school sizzle"

Models: Sandra Giner, Bertrand Vergnes

Ph: BMedia

St: Vintage

10 pages

"Manage your beauty"
Model: Irena
Ph: Radoslav Blagoev
St: Vintage
10 pages

"Sun is up"
Model: Julio Padial
Ph: David Algota
St: Various
8 pages

TBT - September 2011 Preview

2011-08-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

Vogue readings - September 2011

2011-08-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

Here is my Vogue's upcoming readings for the month of September 2011: US Vogue September 2011 : Kate Moss by Mario Testino, Vogue Paris September 2011 Charlotte Casiraghi by Mario Testino and Vogue India September 2011 : Nargis Fakhri.

ANTM All Star cycle 17- Teaser video

2011-08-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Supermodel Tyra Banks is back with the 17th season of ANTM! The host and creator of the show, Banks, went through all the past cycles to bring back fan favorites. America's Next Top Model is back with 14 girls hoping to be the next top model. "It is ON!" says the CW. Catch the season premiere Wednesday, Sept. 14 on The CW television network.

- CW's teaser for ANTM cycle 17 -

- Wednesday September 14th...
Tyra Banks'line: "I did it! I went through all the past cycles and brought back your favorites!"
- Top model is back! With a special All-star competition! Featuring 14 Fan favorites, getting a second chance to be on top!
Isis King's line: "These girls are hot!"
Mr Jay's line: "Diva all the way!"
- And with celebrity judges deciding their fate... "IT IS ON"!
Bianca Golden's line: "Always bet on black lol"
- America's Next Top Model All-stars premieres September 14th on the CW.

TBT - 3rd year Anniversary issue

2011-08-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

"The thirty-seventh issue of The Bertrand Times is our defining gift for international fashion collections, top high-end designers, trends, models and lifestyles for the past 3 years and counting, and I could not be happier. TBT has been influential right from the very start, providing our readers: beauty/lifestyle and fashion advice, as well as the latest industry news. With a creative and successful team, industry insiders such as bloggers, photographers, models, stylists and make-up artists, among other professionals, have created with a passion for fashion, what the magazine is nowadays. As a striking and smart publication..."
Read more...

Tyra Banks about MNTM

2011-08-14T02:47:00.000-07:00

Supermodel Tyra Banks was in Mexico promoting the show and its women on the premise of the 2cd cycle. On this segment Banks is speaking in Spanish, she does some mistakes when she tried to speak but it's very nice that at least she tries and it's endearing at the same time. Her message is clear: Mexican models have to understand that the industry is still fragile when it comes to build careers made for top models like it was the case back in the day. For Banks, companys and magazines have to promote their models and send a positive image to women in Latinoamérica.

US Vogue September 2011 : Kate Moss by Mario Testino - Covershoot video

2011-08-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

This fall, Kate Moss will be everywhere, or at least in people's magazines. Shot by Mario Testino, the British petite supermodel got the September cover of American Vogue magazine. Personally I'm really not liking the whole thing, I was expecting something bigger and more beautiful, especially since it was their September Vogue + Kate Moss package. Here the color of the dress by McQueen doesn't work, her hair hasn't been done at all... was it? And I'm not excited by the cover nor the editorial preview of her spread but still it's nice to see a supermodel and not an actress on Vogue. We all know by October they'll comeback but at least, for a month, we have a model. In this video, Vogue asked Marc Jacobs, Candy Pratts Price, Mario Sorrenti, and Camilla Nickerson to share their favorite thoughts about Kate Moss and to give us an inside look at the supermodel’s wedding to Jamie Hince in the Cotswolds this summer. Plus: Going behind-the-scenes of her rock-and-roll Great Gatsby-themed wedding shoot, photographed for Vogue by her friend Mario Testino.

Documentary: "No Woman, no Cry" from Christy Turlington

2011-08-08T02:16:00.000-07:00

In her gripping directorial debut, former supermodel Christy Turlington Burns shares the powerful stories of at-risk pregnant women in four parts of the world, including a remote Maasai tribe in Tanzania, a slum of Bangladesh, a post-abortion care ward in Guatemala, and a prenatal clinic in the United States.

Teen Choice Awards 2011 with Tyra Banks

2011-08-08T02:10:00.000-07:00

Tyra Banks poses on the blue carpet at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards on Sunday (August 7) at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif. The 37-year-old former model and talk show host, wearing Thierry Mugler, hit the stage to present an award with Sean Kingston. “Hey there boo! On my way to Teen Choice Awards. Rockin’ black leather and gold! Kinda like a fierce bumble bee!!!” Tyra tweeted earlier in the day. “Met @justinbieber on the Red Carpet at Teen Choice Awards. Whoa, love him! He is so down-to-earth! It’s a great night so far!” she wrote in another tweet. VIDEO: Tyra Banks talks to LA Times reporter Amy Kaufman at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards.

ANTM All Star 17th cycle + All New Prizes

2011-08-08T01:44:00.000-07:00

Guest judges from cycle 17 will blow your mind! Lending their critical fashion eyes wildly varying degrees of expertise are Nicki Minaj, D-list graduate Kathy Griffin, La Toya Jackson, Ashlee Simpson, Blue Steel aficionado and fellow model reality show vet Tyson Beckford, Kristin Cavallari, The Game, CSI franchise creator Anthony Zuiker and supermodel Coco Rocha. Important fashion photographers will also be popping up along the way. As for the contestants, they've obviously aged since their last attempt at winning, and this could very well be their last shot at success in a notoriously youth-oriented industry. The all-stars will be competing, as Tyra Banks will surely remind viewers at every opportunity, for a fashion spread in Vogue Italia, a campaign with Express, the chance (but not guarantee, apparently) to be a guest correspondent on Extra, and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics. Helping Banks are returning judges Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley and photographer Nigel Barker. Jay Manuel and Miss J. Alexander will also return when the 17th installment kicks off Sept. 14. (photo: CW's cycle 17 contestant Kayla)

Here's the complete list of contestants:

• Shannon Stewart, 27; cycle 1 (last competed at age 18)
• Camille McDonald, 33; cycle 2 (last competed at age 26)
• Brittany Brower, 29; cycle 4 (last competed at age 4)
• Lisa D'Amato, 30; cycle 5 (last competed at age 24)
• Bre Scullark, 26; cycle 5 (last competed at age 19)
• Bianca Golden, 22; cycle 9 (last competed at age 18)
• Dominique Reighard, 27; cycle 10 (last competed at age 23)
• Isis King, 25; cycle 11 (last competed at age 22)
• Sheena Sakai, 24; cycle 11 (last competed at age 21)
• Allison Harvard, 23; cycle 12 (last competed at age 20)
• Laura Kirkpatrick, 22; cycle 13 (last competed at age 19)
• Angelea Preston, 25; cycle 14 (last competed at age 22)
• Kayla Ferrel, 20; cycle 15 (last competed at age 19)
• Alexandria Everett, 22; cycle 16 (last competed at age 21)

Vogue Fashion Night Out 2011

2011-08-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

It's official: Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and NYC and Company have announced that Fashion's Night Out will return for a third, and certainly most spectacular, year on September 8, 2011. 17 countries with their own Vogue edition will participate in that newest edition for "the shopping & celebration night of the fashion world". Here's the video with every Vogue editors-in-chiefs, enjoy it's really rare to see them all in one video and I have to admit I didn't know a lot of them.

Video for TBT - N°36 - August 2011

2011-07-31T13:03:00.000-07:00

On the shoot with models Boyan Karadzhoff, Antoaneta Ivanova with stylist Vladimir Shukov and photographer Radoslav Blagoev

Is US Vogue becoming too predictable?

2011-07-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

I mean look at this: again and again issue after issue: Testino is the same photographer, and in every issue more than half of the magazine is filled up with too many advertisements, I'm not enjoying this as a reader and I can't believe that the bible of the fashion world isn't more bigger in content every month than less than 100 pages. Have a look, even The Bertrand Times has at least 100 pages with no ads:

US Vogue August 2011 : Sarah Jessica Parker by Mario Testino

Number of pages: 228
Number of real pages without the ads: 94 pages
Number of editorials: 5 (including the Sarah Jessica Parker feature)

US Vogue July 2011 : Emma Watson by Mario Testino

Number of pages: 152
Number of real pages without the ads: 84 pages
Number of editorials: 5 (including the Emma Watson feature)

US Vogue June 2011 : Penelope Cruz by Mario Testino

Number of pages: 206
Number of real pages without the ads: 106 pages
Number of editorials: 5 (including the Penelope Cruz feature)

TBT - August 2011 editorials' previews

2011-07-29T04:32:00.000-07:00

"Winsome eye contact" (leading editorial)

Models: Unai Díez López, Esteban Granados

Ph: David Algota

St: María Pérez

10 pages + extra edit cover with Unai Díez López

"Get the shot"

Model: Bertrand Vergnes

Ph: Alonso Rodriguez

St: L'Oreal Paris

6 pages

"Daily Schedule"

Model: Emanuel Oviedo

Ph: David Algota

St: tba

8 pages

"Oh sweet country"

Model: Stoyan

Ph: Radoslav Blagoev

St: tba

8 pages

US Vogue August 2011 : Sarah Jessica Parker by Mario Testino - Covershoot video

2011-07-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

This fall, Sarah Jessica Parker stars as a frazzled and overextended wife, mother and career woman in the film I Don’t Know How She Does It. It’s a part, the actress says to Vogue, that’s probably closest to her real life. So, how does she do it? Vogue spoke to Parker (and several other hugely successful working mothers, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, artist Rachel Feinstein, makeup artist Gucci Westman, and Vogue Fashion Director Tonne Goodman) about how the role of women in society is always changing, and how they do their very best to keep up—and, more important, let go.

NZNTM cycle 3

2011-07-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

After the return of Britain's next top model (season 7), Korea's next top model (season 2), Australia's next top model (season 7 coming up soon), now it's time for New Zealand's next top model to come back with its 3rd season. The first two winners literally disappeared after their win but it's still a cool show to watch for the photoshoots. The season finale of NZ's Next Top Model will be screened live from New Zealand Fashion Week in September. I didn't know that but apparently the show came back a month ago lol hence the 6th episode's launch already. The official channel which broadcasts the show, TV3, has teamed up with the country's biggest fashion event for the showdown, which will see the last three models strut their stuff in one of the biggest catwalk shows, before the winner is announced live. And after her Australian counterpart accidentally announced the wrong winner at last year's Australia's Next Top Model final, host Sara Tetro will no doubt be as nervous as the contestants. But there was no way that the show's producers were going to let the opportunity of collaborating with the fashion fest go. "This is the first time in three cycles that the filming of New Zealand's Next Top Model has coincided with New Zealand Fashion Week and it seemed the perfect opportunity for us to work together," says producer John McDonald. The finale will air on TV3 on September 2cd at 7.30pm.

Official promo trailer for cycle 3 of NZNTM

Official cycle 3 episode 1 teaser for NZNTM

Tyra Banks' very first novel: Modelland!

2011-07-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

The world's most renowned supermodel-turned-supermogul is once again making headlines for another product of hers: a very first novel, named "Modelland". For those of you mourning the end of the Harry Potter series on the big screen, never fear, Tyra is here héhé! From supermodel, to Emmy's winning talk show host, fashion icon, producer, singer, actress, Harvard' student, Banks can do it all (no doubt she's my icon and role model in life) and now she can add another line to her C.V: fiction writer. Yep, Banks will be filling the very big shoes of J.K. Rowling with the upcoming release of "a young adult book about models with magical powers". Here's the plot: "No one gets in without being asked. And with her untamable hair, large forehead, and gawky body, Tookie De La Crème isn’t expecting an invitation. Modelland—the exclusive, mysterious place on top of the mountain—never dares to make an appearance in her dreams. But someone has plans for Tookie. Before she can blink her mismatched eyes, Tookie finds herself in the very place every girl in the world obsesses about. And three unlikely girls have joined her. Only seven extraordinary young women become Intoxibellas each year. Famous. Worshipped. Magical. What happens to those who don’t make it? Well, no one really speaks of that. Some things are better left unsaid. Thrown into a world where she doesn’t seem to belong, Tookie glimpses a future that could be hers—if she survives the beastly Catwalk Corridor and terrifying Thigh-High Boot Camp. Or could it? Dark rumors like silken threads swirl around the question of why Tookie and her new friends were selected . . . and the shadows around Modelland hide sinister secrets. Are you ready? Modelland is waiting for you. . . ." You can pre-order your copy here. And here was Tyra on Good Morning America this week.

Fashion News 26/07/11

2011-07-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Sarah Jessica Parker, who we all know for a while, will be Vogue's August covergirl is also having a new movie coming out: "I Don't Know How She Does It"; I saw the promotional trailer and it looks fun and fresh. In other news for the magazine, Vogue's September 2011 issue will boast 584 ad pages, with an increase of 50 pages — or 9.3 percent — over its September 2010 issue (By comparison, Vogue had its all-time high — pre-recession — in 2007, with 727 ad pages.). Elle's September 2011 issue was down 6.8 percent to 350 ad pages; Harper's Bazaar came in at 308, a 2.2 percent gain; and W increased 3 percent to 255 pages. When announcing the magazine's numbers yesterday, Vogue publisher Susan Plagemann added that Vogue plans to roll out another website aside from Vogue.com in December, but she wouldn't give further details. [Ad Week] Anyways, here's the trailer of SJP's newest movie.

That's why they're called "SUPER" héhé, top notch supermodels Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmermann star in the brand new upcoming F/W11-12 campaign for Lanvin. The campaign features images where the girls have the same poses with different colors' outfits. It's kinda of funny, I mean I think it was intented to be that way since usually, campaigns are strong and people are jumping, sporting crazy make-up and hair but here they look classy and almost robotic. It's styling, elegant, classy and very Parisian chic. The fashion itself for next fall is as always one of my favorites!!! Lanvin's head designer Albert Elbaz is such a genius: lots of black pieces, very strong, sharp looking, incredibly sexy and classy, just amazing!

Now, still in fashion, the newest F/W11 campaign for Balenciaga, who, as always comes up with the craziest fashion but which, in a way, works at times because it's so sharp/graffic and cool. For the first time ever, Nicolas Ghesquiere, the designer for Balenciaga, has released a behind-the-scenes footage from the photoshoot, which was styled by Marie-Amelie Sauve and photographed by photographer legendaire: Steven Meisel. The video, featuring new Balenciaga faces Liya Kebede, Liisa Winkler, and Julia Nobis, is the first to come of many Balenciaga videos. I personally love Liya's outfit and posing skills in that campaign, what do you think?

My favorite fashion's creative director, Grace Coddington, has been working on a memoir since last year, and now it sounds like it's guaranteed to get published: she's sold it to Random House for a rumored $1.2 million! The book is said to cover Coddington's early life in Wales, her time as a model in '60s London, the car accident that changed her career path, and the subsequent years spent as a stylist and editor at both British and American Vogue. Although she was originally collaborating with Jay Fielden, he left the project after becoming editor-in-chief of Town & Country; Coddington is now said to be co-writing the book with former Vanity Fair fashion and style director Michael Roberts. Random House declined comment. [NYO]

Vogue's most exciting news comes courtesy of styleite.com. "Remember last week when we discussed Vogue’s super secret new website? We speculated what exactly said site might entail, and the rumors are swirling! Our fave guess yet? This awesome tidbit courtesy of Fashionista: According to a reliable source, we’ve learned that this mysterious web property will be a digital archive. That means every single issue since the fashion bible launched in the 1890’s will be available online. Shut. The. Eff. Up. This would be HUGE! Can you imagine having millions (millions!) of pages of fashion history at your disposal?! We’re guessing such an archive would come at a cost, most likely a subscription fee of sorts. But, who knows! Maybe Anna will go all benevolent dictator on us and give the public this treasure trove for free. We can dream, right? Speaking of dreams…let’s cross our fingers that international editions will be included (yeah, they won’t be, but whatever)." I would soooooooooo love for THAT news to be the newest Vogue's website, but I'm not sure yet if it is.

Anna Wintour on Vogue.(dot)com

2011-07-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

In this exclusive CNN video, journalist Felicia Taylor talked to US Vogue's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, back in June 2011 about the new website.

What's your job? I' working for Vogue... kinda

2011-07-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

As of July 19th, Franca Sozzani, the editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia posted this on the website:

"As from September a new project will be launched, or better, a new channel. And for all those who love to write this channel will be ideal. We will be speaking about fashion, photography, designers, fabrics, accessories, purses, shoes, jewelry, and hairstyles. And more, fashion, cinema and art, news from the world always linked to fashion, customs, traditions and the history of a Country. Each piece that is published on the channel will be signed. So what do you have to do? Send us proposals, or rather what you would like to write about. For example, the profile of a photographer, consider a specific fashion topic like I did over the Christmas holidays (reread my posts on the trench), tell the history of the shoe buckle, or the evolution of heels, the origin of the straw hat, lace as a fabric, pearls, etc, etc, as if they were all chapters of an imaginary history of fashion, of which you are the authors. By next Tuesday you must send us the topics you would like to cover. Please write them in the comments below this post. We will then choose them and get in touch with you via email and assign them: you will have the whole month of August to write the pieces. You can write up to 4000 characters. Some of you will have the possibility to write more than one article. The important thing is, before sending us the proposals, that you are aware that you then have to write a proper journalistic piece with references, dates, descriptions and interactions with cinema, art or famous names. This is an opportunity to put yourselves to the test, also to become our freelance contributors and to begin a relationship with the magazine. Others amongst you began in this manner, and now work with us on a regular basis. You have a week to choose what you would like to write about: needless to say, those of you who send in their proposals first, will be first considered. I wish you all successful writing!"

As the fashion lover that I am, having worked as a model since I'm 16 and being a faithful Vogue reader for years and a magazines' addict and being an editor-in-chief myself, I jumped on this fabulous opportunity. As I said to my friends on facebook (who, and I'm pleased to say, got really excited about the news) "I'm living another dream of mine once again, and once again: I'm making it a reality for myself, I always say: "reach your goals" and tada here there are for me every year!!! But Ok now back to what it really means: don't get too excited y'all, it's a first piece of article that "might" be taken to consideration, and later, land me other opportunities to, perhaps, work on a regular basis for Vogue Italia. So we'll see."

Franca added: "We are receiving an incredible amount of interesting proposals. I'm personally perusing them and, so far, I managed to reply to about a quarter of them but I've already assigned each and every one of them a theme. Some of you have sent proposals that, although very interesting, are not in line with the current project; we will, nonetheless, try to explore them and make them become a reality. A good example is Lorena who proposed to create a ranking system of Italian bloggers out of which you select the best ones through voting. We also received many ideas and topics and we will ask the people who suggested them to develop them into full articles. In any case, today I'm once again writing on this matter to clarify a few points. It's important that the topics put forward are linked to fashion although not necessarily strictly connected to clothing. You could explore the visual world by writing about photographers, certain magazines, about style icons but also about cinema, directors and costume designers. You may also write about certain professions related to the fashion world such as make-up artists and hair gurus – hair styles and trends have characterized eras - or even about other sectors which had a powerful influence on fashion: I refer to music and the arts, for instance. However, your articles should be well focused in terms of era and genres and not at all generic because we must be able to divide them into categories. It's not our aim to write a compendium on the history of music, cinema or the arts but we would rather try to understand how a trend is born, how it develops and what influences it through time. There is also a historical and social side to fashion and the way it evolves: once again, many are the fundamental figures that could be writing about. Because I haven't read all of your replies I may find later on that you have indeed tackled all such topics. Tomorrow I'll continue the work in an attempt to let you know the plans for August by Wednesday. In the meanwhile, many thanks to all of you!"

I mean, this is crazy cool! Think about it: one of the most important magazines of fashion gives you a nearly complete freedom to write about anything you love, fashion-related of course, and to do it for them. It's freakin' huge! You can find my name on Vogue italia's website/Franca Sozzani's daily diary on the date of the 24th of August. "Bertrand, subject: male supermodels". Hopefully I'll do a kick-ass article to give me the opportunity to keep working for them. (Picture's credits: The Bertrand Times' January 2011 issue, myself photographed by Emilio Gramart in an editorial called "Style shift".

xoxo Bertrand

Ringer season 1

2011-07-24T11:40:00.001-07:00

Here's a sneak peek from this upcoming series

Sarah Michelle Gellar wasn't looking to top the classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer on her return to series television in CW's Ringer. "I wanted to come back to do a show fans would love and I would love to watch," Gellar told a Comic-Con audience that greeted her with wild applause last week. When she read the script she says, "I realized it was the first time in a really long time I was surprised by something." In the new series, Gellar plays twin sisters, Bridget, a witness who is on the run, and Siobhan, a woman with a seemingly better life. When Siobhan disappears, Bridget takes on her twin's identity. Gellar said she's able to keep the two very different characters separate. "The Bridget story is one of redemption and the Siobhan story is one of revenge. As long as you can keep that in the back of your mind, you can make two compelling characters at the same time," she said. The hardest part of playing two characters? "Hair and makeup. Put the eye makeup on, take the eye makeup off," Gellar said. With a cast that also includes The Fantastic Four's Ioan Gruffudd and Lost's Nestor Carbonell, producers promised no supernatural elements in the "neo-noir" serialized thriller that was originally developed for CBS. "There will be no vampires, no demons, no hatch," co-executive producer Nicole Snyder promised. I'm personally very excited by this new show and look forward to watch it.

TBT - September 2011 Cover's rumor...

2011-07-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

No, you won’t see a new model-wannabe or a stylish A-list actor or a famous sexy woman to grace the September cover of your favorite high-fashion & lifestyle magazine The Bertrand Times! “This year, things will be different”, announced BMedia press group early this week end. So are you excited to see familiar established faces or do you think it’s better for the mag to keep featuring new faces as it did these past months and especially on a September cover? The month of September, which isn’t secret to any fashion people, remains one of the most anticipated and coveted, if not the first, most important magazine cover. “The Bertrand Times’ September issue will...
Read more...

KNTM cycle 2 - part 2

2011-07-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

Promo trailer of the season premiere

Opening credits for cycle 2

Korea's next top model cycle 2 is really good, I've been watching the very first three episodes and it's very good, the girls pose well, they have personality and I love the host, she's so sexy/cool/smart and fun to watch. You'll be able to know more about the show while reading the August 2011 issue of The Bertrand Times magazine. And you can also check the first part of this article here. Enjoy :)

AUNTM cycle 7

2011-07-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Australia's Next Top Model will return with its 7th cycle on August 8th 2011. Hosted by supermodel Sarah Murdoch, AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is FOX8’s hit reality series that follows a group of young women as they try to prove they have what it takes to make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of modelling. A nationwide audition tour earlier this year saw thousands of hopeful wannabe models apply across the country. For the first time in Top Model history, this year 100 girls will embark upon the first phase of the competition, each one determined to kick start their modelling career by taking home the title of AUSTRALIA'S NEXT TOP MODEL. During the series, the finalists are transformed from attractive girls-next-door into potential working models, while navigating their way through various modelling assignments and tasks. The girls must demonstrate both inner and outer beauty as they learn to master complicated catwalks, intense physical fitness, fashion photo shoots and perfect publicity skills. Enjoy the promo teaser for this 7th season y'all.

TBT - August 2011 Preview

2011-07-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

TBT - August 2011 Cover's rumor...

2011-07-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

Editor-in-chief of The Bertrand Times, model and PhD student Bertrand Vergnes, tweeted earlier this month on July 3rd, the following statement: “A Korean supermodel will be on our cover!!!” no name has been dropped so far but some people rumor that supermodel Yoon Ju Jang could be the one on the August issue of the high fashion publication, since she will take back her role, starting this month, as the host of Korea’s next top model for the 2cd season of the show. This August issue n°36 will also...

Video shoot - The Bertrand Times N°35 - July 2011

2011-07-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a behind the scenes' look at one of our editorials from the 2011 Summer issue of The Bertrand Times magazine:

TBT Archives: Inside Beauty covers

2011-07-07T02:54:00.000-07:00

1. May 2011 : Jorge Josemaría Quirós by Bertrand Vergnes
2. June 2011 : Mario Muñoz by Bertrand Vergnes
3. July 2011 : Julio Padial by David Algota
4. August 2011 : Julio Padial by David Algota

TBT Archives: Inside Editorials covers

2011-07-07T02:42:00.000-07:00

1. April 2011 : Unai Díez López and Esteban Granados by David Algota
2. May 2011 : Mario Muñoz by Bertrand Vergnes
3. June 2011 : Boyan Karadzhoff by Radoslav Blagoev
4. July 2011 : Regis Da Conceiçao by Bertrand Vergnes
5. August 2011 : Unai Díez López by David Algota

TBT Archives: Inside Runways covers

2011-07-07T02:32:00.000-07:00

1. May 2011 at Australia Fashion Week,
2. August 2011 at Seoul Fashion Week

Highlights S/S 11 - New York, Milan, Paris

2011-07-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

Style.com's highlights for the fashion collections of Spring/Summer 2011 Ready-to-wear. As always they focus their attention on the fashion weeks' capitals of the world: New York, Milan and Paris. And even though the world has gone global and other coutries also organize their fashion weeks such as other respected fashion cities such as London, Berlin, Rio, Madrid, Tokyo, Melbourne, or Seoul among hundreds of others, the fashion industry prefers to only cover and talk and reference themselves to the most prominant and most world renowned fashion labels and designers of those cities. I personally don't like to watch the shows of Paris or London, but those from New York, Milan and Seoul, from which fashion week The Bertrand Times prepares you a spread for the August 2011 issue, are really cool to me. Here's then the videos from the 3 most known cities.