Azealia Banks

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

• Azealia Banks, who's been called on to perform for everyone from Chanel to H&M, has declared she'll be boycotting Dolce & Gabbana because of the earrings in its Spring 2013 collection, which some have called racially insensitive. Banks said whoever designed them "deserves a swift kick in the mouth." [The Cut]
  

• Victoria Beckham's cover and photo shoot with French Elle is out — and in the coordinating interview, the designer says, "It's been a long time since I cared what other people think of me." [Jezebel]
  

• Olivier Theyskens says the key to his success has been realizing when things need to change. "A designer's first collection may have a lot of success because it's all about prints, but the person must have the courage, if prints are not really what he or she wants to do their entire design life, to find a way to get rid of it, to discover how to develop other things," he said. [Refinery29]
• The Portland-based band Chromatics used backstage footage they shot during Chanel's Spring 2013 show to create the music video for their song "Looking for Love." [Pitchfork]
  

• Actress Joanna Lumley, who brought the fashion-obsessed Patsy Stone to life in Absolutely Fabulous, is auctioning off pieces of her wardrobe from the show. Lots including a blazer from Dolce & Gabbana and an Alexander McQueen vest will benefit The Princes Trust, a British charity that helps young people finish school and find work. [Daily Front Row]

Photo via French Elle

The costume: Azealia Banks
Raptress extraordinaire Azealia Banks has been gaining popularity for more than her music. Her mink-tinted hair, talon-like nails, and sultry makeup are all part of her look, making for a seriously relevant and fun Halloween costume.

Hair and makeup: Since Azealia's hair is Rapunzel-long, try extensions or a lengthy wig to re-create her style. A bright eye shadow and exaggerated false lashes are must haves, along with a deep lipstick hue. Bonus points if you were able to nab Azealia's Yung Rapunxel lipstick with MAC; swipe it on to complete the look.

What to wear: Let no bustier top go unworn. The rapper has a passion for crop tops and high-waisted shorts in bold, bright colors. Azealia loves a good leather jacket, too, so pull one on if it's a chilly night. Don't forget to zip or lace your thigh-high boots up, either.

Take it to the next level: Don some crazy 3D nail art, carry around a microphone, and put on a show for anyone who will listen.

Lady Gaga, Azealia Banks, Leigh Lezark: just a few of the notable names who may be involved with Nicola Formichetti's Spring 2013 runway show and afterparty for Mugler Wednesday night.

Formichetti said Tuesday that while this season's show wouldn't be live streamed, he would release a video on Wednesday "with new show music by Lady Gaga." Just last week, he tweeted at the singer, saying he was "so excited to see my lady." (A Gaga devotee from Azerbaijan later declared that the performer would reprise her role as music director for Mugler.)

Banks tweeted at Formichetti that she was in Paris this morning. The two collaborated on the music video for Banks's song "Liquorice," and the 21-year-old may well be the "special live guest" mentioned on the invitation to the Mugler afterparty. A list of DJs on the invite includes The Misshapes, Tommy Saleh, Christopher Kutlesa, Franco V, Mademoiselle Stephanie, and Nicopanda — Formichetti's nickname.

Kim Kardashian also exchanged missives with Formichetti last week, saying she couldn't wait — although what she couldn't wait for was unspecified. Perhaps she was referring to being one of the first recipients of Mugler's new handbag line, which will be unveiled at tonight's show. Formichetti sent bags from the debut collection — which includes a model shaped like Lady Gaga's backside — to Kardashian, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Gwen Stefani. Whether Kardashian will thank Formichetti for the bag in person tonight remains to be seen.

Photo: Lady Gaga and Nicola Formichetti bow after the Fall 2011 show for Mugler.

MAC is gearing up for Fashion Week with a new lipstick by a popular provocateur. Rapper Azealia Banks collaborated with the brand to create a semimatte blackberry lipstick named for her alter ego, Yung Rapunxel. The shade is in line with the vampy lip color trend seen on the Fall runways, and we think it embodies Azealia's risqué style. The color will be available online on Sept. 5, just in time for New York Fashion Week. In conjunction with the release, MAC is hosting a Fashion's Night Out performance by Azealia at its SoHo store on Sept. 6. So if you're in the 212, stop for what is sure to be a spirited set.

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

• Anna Wintour's tennis coach, Byron Spence, has nothing but good things to say about the editor's game. "She's like a retriever," Spence says. "She's so fast. She'll chase down everything. She doesn't hit with a lot of spin, but she has an amazing cross-court forehand." [The New York Times]
  

• Azealia Banks's September cover of Dazed & Confused magazine, which reportedly features the singer inflating a balloon that resembles a pink prophylactic, has been banned in seven countries. [The Cut]
  

• Garance Dore's capsule collection for Kate Spade, which feature's the blogger's signature illustrations, is now available online. [SheFinds]
  

• While the rest of the world oohed and aahed over Lady Gaga's Vogue cover, Marjorie Gubelmann was posting a picture of the singer wearing a wedding dress to her Instagram account. [SugarScape]
  

• Betsey Johnson has asked her fans to send in vintage pieces she designed to be featured in her Spring 2013 retrospective show during New York Fashion Week. [Fashionista]
  

• To cure the hangover he felt on his 21st birthday, male model River Viiperi had eggs, bread, and beer. "Beer has vitamin B12 in it," he says. [WWD]

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

• Bergdorf Goodman will celebrate its 111th birthday this year with window installations, an in-store pop-up shop, and special merchandise created by over 100 designers "for every single division and floor in the women's and men's stores." [Racked]
  

• Venus Williams doesn't know yet where she'll stage the presentation for her sportswear line EleVen during New York Fashion Week. "I'm not sure of the exact location because I just got back from the Olympics," she said. "I'm still getting updated. Who am I? Where am I? Why?" [The Cut]
  

• Michelle Dockery says she's nothing like her Downton Abbey character, the infinitely imperious Lady Mary Crawley. But she does acknowledge that "it's amazing, really, how [the show] has affected fashion." [Harper's Bazaar]
  

• Industry darling Azealia Banks has landed her very own September cover. [Spin]
  

• Tyra Banks (no relation to the aforementioned Banks) has started documenting her life with GIFs she created for the photo-sharing site Cinemagram. [BuzzFeed]
  

• The image of a swimsuit-clad Michael Phelps sitting in a bathtub that was originally believed to be part of a campaign for Louis Vuitton "is not an official Louis Vuitton image," according to a spokesman for the company. [The Daily Mail]

Photo: Michelle Dockery photographed by Benjamin A. Huseby for the September 2012 issue of Harper's Bazaar.

Heidi Klum, Karolina Kurkova, and Arizona Muse, among others, have revealed what they'll be wearing to Monday night's Met Gala.

Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing told Style.com that he'll be taking model Joan Smalls as his date. Anthony Vaccarello has confirmed he'll be accompanied by Anja Rubik. Jason Wu will attend with Karlie Kloss, and Haider Ackermann will walk the red carpet with Constance Jablonski.

The site has also confirmed another spate of pairings: Roland Mouret is taking Doutzen Kroes; Rachel Zoe and her husband, Rodger Berman, will attend with Karolina Kurkova; Erdem Moralioglu will dress Arizona Muse; and Thakoon Panichgul is taking actress Christina Ricci.

It has also recently been revealed that Heidi Klum will wear a "very very lacy and very very see-through" one-of-a-kind dress by Escada. Chanel's official attendee will be French actor Gaspard Ulliel, face of the brand's Bleu de Chanel fragrance.

Previously confirmed pairings include Alexander Wang and rapper Azealia Banks, who tweeted that she would perform at the Met Gala last week; Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez with Australian actress Isabel Lucas; and Joseph Altuzarra with Lana Del Rey. Coco Rocha will attend with her husband, James Conran, wearing a vintage dress by Givenchy.

The Met Gala will be live streamed for the first time from 6:30-8:30 p.m. EDT on May 7.

Update: Everyone from Sarah Jessica Parker to Giovanna Battaglia has decided what they're wearing tonight. Below, a list of everything we know so far:

• Kristen Stewart will wear Balenciaga and attend the Gala with Nicola Ghesquiere.
• Gwyneth Paltrow will wear Prada. Linda Evangelista will also wear Prada, and will attend as Miuccia Prada's date.
• Renee Zellweger will wear Emilio Pucci.
• Jessica Stam will wear Dior.
• Cameron Diaz will attend with Stella McCartney.
• Lauren Santo Domingo will wear Oscar de la Renta.
• Kate Upton will attend the gala with Michael Kors, who is also dressing Jessica Alba and Liu Wen.
• Sarah Jessica Parker and Lily Cole wil both wear Valentino.
• Amy Adams will wear Giambattista Valli Couture.
• Scarlett Johansson is wearing custom Dolce & Gabbana, but the house will also dress Bianca Brandolini d'Adda, Andrea Dellal, Giovanna Battaglia, and Marpessa Hennink.
• Brooklyn Decker, Liya Kebede, Rashida Jones, and Tory Burch will all wear gowns of Burch's design.
• Kristen Bell and Dee Hilfiger will both wear Tommy Hilfiger.
• Dree Hemingway will wear Topshop.
• Farida Khelfa will wear vintage Schiaparelli.
• Emma Stone will wear Lanvin.
• Stella Tennant, Poppy Delvigne, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, and Sigrid Agren will wear Chanel.
• Claire Danes will attend the gala with her husband Hugh Dancy and Gilles Mendel. She'll wear J. Mendel, and so will Aerin Lauder and actress Christine Taylor. Taylor will attend with her husband Ben Stiller.
• Burberry will be dressing Cara Delvigne, Jourdan Dunn, Gabriella Wilde, Vanessa Kirby, Douglas Booth, Mario Testino, Casey Affleck, and Roo Panes.
• Prabal Gurung is dressing Greta Gerwig.