People are inspired by John Galliano all the time! But this time his creativity comes in an unexpected realm – holiday decor. John Galliano has designed a Dior Christmas tree for London’s Claridge’s hotel. The tree will be as non-traditional as Galliano’s fashion. The tropical white tree will be draped with crystals, orchids, vines and lianas along with – wait for it – a sleeping leopard.

“I want to combine the festive with the innovative, the spirit of Dior with the beauty of Claridge’s and create something spectacular that will inspire,” Galliano told WWD.

Look for the tree December 1, and start buying those strings of crystal garland to bring the look home to your own tree.

Lara Stone talks openly about the serious (her battle with alcoholism) and the silly (friends love to play with her perfect breasts) in the December issue of British Vogue, which also includes a whole supplement on glamour.

“I am a complete alcoholic. It used to be so easy to say to someone, ‘Get me a bottle of vodka,’ and they’d run and get it. Going to rehab was the best decision I ever made. The last six months have been the best of my life,” Stone says in the issue.

If that’s not candid enough for you, Stone admits she chose alcohol because she “never wanted to be that model on drugs, the sort who gives head for a line of coke.”

I guess with her no-pretenses attitude, and being a modelling-industry vet, it’s also no surprise she’s pretty comfortable with her body. On her admittedly perfect, real breasts she comments “Everyone’s seen them. My girlfriends love them — they play with them!”

But Stone’s voluptuous figure isn’t the only glamorous thing in the December issue. In fact, there’s an entire supplement devoted to glamour.

“There are lots of reasons we chose to do glamour … glamour is great because there’s no rules about glamour, you’re not confined to any era or any decade, and yet things are completely recognizable about it,” said Daisy Garnett, who edited the supplement.

Editors chose iconic images of glamour from the magazine’s archive which were still relevant today for feature in the section.

See a behind the scenes video on the making of the supplement here.

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The fashion industry hasn’t seen much of Gemma Ward since the passing of Heath Ledger in February 2008 (to whom she was linked romantically), but I was still holding out hope for one of my favorite wide-eyed mannequins. And I’d be even more excited to see her do a campaign or two now that she’s being seen a bit curvier! But, after pictures of her celebrating her 22nd birthday at what can only be described as a healthier weight and the street shots above came out, Ward’s agent has announced her retirement.

The announcement seems to have come on the heels of nasty comments which started on the BryanBoy blog about Ward’s weight gain as if to say “She’s not trying to model anymore, could you just leave her alone?”

I really hope maybe in a few years when she’s ready to be in the public eye again she’ll do something fashion or entertainment related, or just a campaign here and there – at her old weight (seen bottom left, above) or her current one, she looks beautiful either way.

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Sienna Miller jazzed up a pretty ordinary outfit with the Katherine Kwei Joyce Carry-All in black over the weekend. This bag is a great take on the fringe trend, with leather strips revealing a peek of metallic underneath and tying up neatly in knots at the bottom of the bag. The calf and lambskin bag, $625, is available at Luna Boston.

This is such a realistically doable look – just pair the bag with jeans and a pea coat and you’re channeling Sienna with considerably more ease than some of her red-carpet looks would require.

What to do with all that pumpkin after Halloween? How about nourishing your party-ravaged skin? This pumpkin spread recipe is great for dry skin types.

Honey Pumpkin Spread

5 tablespoons canned organic pumpkin
1 teaspoon agave sweetener
1 tablespoon softened organic butter

Combine everything together and mix well to make a smooth paste. Make sure your face is clean. Spread Honey Pumpkin Spread over your face in an even layer. Rest for 15 minutes. Rinse and enjoy the softened skin.

We got this recipe from Kayla Fioravanti, ARC Registered & Certified Aromatherapist and the Co-founder and Chief Cosmetic Formulator for Essential Wholesale www.essentialwholesale.com. You can find ingredients for lots of home made cosmetics at her site.

If you’re just not the DIY type, try Dermalogica skin prep scrub followed by Dermalogica intensive moisture balance for intense moisturizing.

Oh those Obamas and their firsts. First Lady Michelle Obama is now the first First Lady to pose on the cover of Glamour Magazine for their Women of the Year issue. I’m not as huge a fan of Mobama’s style as some, but I do love her cover look here. A fantastic red dress for the holidays paired with a hot statement necklace is style well done. I even like her hair and the fact that she seems ironic about showing off her arms for the billionth time. But, lest we become confused, Glamour editor Cindi Leive says she didn’t feature Michelle as a style icon, but as an empowering example for women. Calling her mentor in chief is a bit over the top, but not as annoying as hearing about “first dog” Bo’s birthday party. Vom.

It’s nice that the magazine focuses on Michelle’s role as First Female and even includes some White House interns in the photo feature. But don’t worry, they also get her to give readers dating advice. She advises against going for the “cute” guy, if you’re wondering.

The Jimmy Choo for H&M Accessories Collection hits 200 select H&M stores worldwide on November 14. Given the frenzy Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney for H&M caused, the current economic climate pushing high-end designer accessories further out of reach for some and into the unwise expenditure column for others, and the first chance to get one of the biggest names in footwear at an affordable price – I anticipate a feeding frenzy. If I make it out to one of the lucky stores, I’ll know which pair I’m grabbing before I get there.

While the cage heel at right in the picture above is probably my favorite from the collection – so sexy – I’m beginning to question the wearability of the collection and if the styles will be flattering on average women. That stiletto actually seems to have the most delicate ankle detail of any of the shoes – others seen below have even chunkier ankle straps which aren’t attractive on shorter, less slim legs.

To put a thigh high boot (seen in top image) in such a limited collection seems to be playing manipulatively on the current fervor for the trend, rather than serving women the way Jimmy Choo usually does – with classic styles that will stand the test of time. Where is the chic black pump we all need in our wardrobe? Perhaps this is a ploy to get high-end shoppers down into the dregs of H&M since they might not pay $2,000 for Christian Louboutin’s over-the-knee boots, but would probably drop the $200 likely to cap off the price points at H&M.

Handbags don’t fare much better. While leopard print can look luxe at a luxe price point, at a cheap price point it usually looks … cheap. I’m ready to be surprised and impressed, but I also think you can get a similar, cuter style for not much more than the bag at left at Coach (the Madison ocelot pouch, to be exact). I know, the idea is to own a Jimmy Choo instead of a Coach, but what’s the point if it’s the lesser of the two bags?

I sound pretty down on the collection, and maybe that’s because the collection has me down. I was really excited for this, but have been pretty disappointed by the images coming out. Maybe the quality will impress me and I’ll be in line to buy three pairs by 10 a.m. on Nov. 14. But, I just as well may be in bed reading about it on Twitter and all the Web sites likely to live-blog the launch.

[Images: WWD]

Up and coming American fashion designers recognized as nominees by the CFDA/Vogue fashion fund often get their first big media exposure in what is becoming Vogue’s annual editorial featuring the nominees. It’s a great opportunity to get to know the new talent coming out of the U.S. like Sophie Theallet, left with Chanel Iman and Gary Graham, at right with Sasha Pivovarova. All the designers generally get a boost from the nomination, even if they don’t get the Council of Fashion Designer’s of America’s cash prize and mentoring by industry big wigs. At least a handful of names go on to be ones to watch in forthcoming seasons. Who will be this years?

Alabama Chanin designer Natalie Chanin is taking her second stab at the prize after being nominated in 2005 for Project Alabama. Her pieces are crafted by local artisans in Alabama out of organic materials with very green, very sustainable practices – green has only gotten cooler since 2005 so maybe Chanin’s stock will rise as well.

Gary Graham is another of my favorites, as is anyone who takes inspiration from Nancy Spungen (style inspiration – not life inspiration!). With roots on Broadway, Grahams designs do have a theatrical bent I enjoy, as does the man himself it seems.

Not just womenswear designers, the contest also includes two menswear designers, Patrik Ervell and Spurr, jewelry designers like Monique Péan and House of Waris and footwear like Esquivel Shoes.

Check out all the designers in the November issue of Vogue shown at left, and pick who you’ll be rooting for!