MANILA, Philippines - Leonine references are plentiful of late. At the recent Chanel haute couture showing, a bronze lion dominated the snow-white podium at the Grand Palais. Invites to the event were emblazoned with “Sous la signe de la lion,” — referring, no doubt, to Coco Chanel who was born under the star sign Leo. Four months of production resulted in a steel and aluminum lion sculpture, standing at a height of 12 meters, with a polystyrene skin. Critics have noted that the piece is another grandiose reflection of Karl Lagerfeld’s ego. We disagree. Those fugly rusched boots kind of clinched the notion that Lagergeld is afraid to go nowhere — even tacky territory — and for that we kind of admire him.
Little leos stole the show, from Julianne Moore in the fall/winter campaign of Bulgari. The label debuted bags featuring gold lion heads sewn on the flap but it was the two adorable cubs — seriously, they give a young Michael J. Fox a run for his money in the cute department — draped over a naked Moore that sold us on the campaign. We say: less bags, more cubs!