Bailey's Self-Love Debate

David Bailey has no problem with the rising amount of photography created using camera phones. He's also recently become familiar with the idea of selfies.

"It makes no difference," he told The Evening Standard. "In the past, every journalist had a tape-recorder. It didn't make them Tolstoy. I didn't even know what a selfie was until six months ago. I thought it meant masturbation. Although of course it is masturbation of a sort."

David Bailey: Selfies

He is the second fashion legend in a week to compare selfies to self-pleasure. Karl Lagerfeld recently spoke of his contempt for them; describing them as "electronic masturbation".

"They are this horrible thing where you are distorted. The chin is too big, the head is too small," he told the Guardian.

Rihanna Is Officially A Fashion Icon

She may inspire thousands of young girls with her controversial style, but now Rihanna´s impact on fashion will be officially recognised by the industry, when she receives the Fashion Icon Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Rihanna

The singer is in good company, with past recipients of the award including Kate Moss, Lady Gaga and Iman. She will receive the prize at the annual ceremony on June 2, which will take place at Lincoln Centre's Alice Tully Hall in New York.

Introducing Chanel The Opera

Karl Lagerfeld  and Coco Chanel  have inspired a new version of Jean-Philippe Rameau's 18th century comic opera, Platée. The production, which premiered in Vienna last week, is now on show in Paris and will travel to New York next week.

Coco Chanel

The original story centres upon Platée, an unattractive water nymph, who believes Jupiter, the king of the gods, is in love with her. Sadly, she discovers that his amorous advances are all part of a plan to punish his wife, Juno, for her jealousy. The play was first written for Louis, Dauphin of France and his wife, Infanta Maria Theresa of Spain - who apparently wasn't very aesthetically gifted either.

The new version sees Jupiter played by a Lagerfeld lookalike, complete with a white ponytail, dark sunglasses and black suit, and he arrives on the stage using Chanel's famous mirrored staircase. Juno's character is made to resemble Coco Chanel, dressed in head-to-toe tweed, while Platée is portrayed as the ultimate fashion victim.

Dolce And Gabbana To Be Acquitted?

State general prosecutor Gaetano Santamaria has requested that all defendants in the Dolce & Gabbana tax evasion case be acquitted "as the case is groundless". He spoke during the first hearing of the appeal held in Milan this morning.

Dolce & Gabbana

Although an unexpected twist, Santamaria's request does not mean that all charges will be dismissed. The trial continues this afternoon, WWD reports.

Dolce & Gabbana have always strongly denied any charges or allegations against them concerning tax evasion. The designers' lawyer filed a 90 page appeal against  last year´s convictions in November 2013.

Design Your Own Prada Shoes

Prada is offering a new service this week, enabling customers to design their own Prada shoes. On March 26 and 27, shoppers at the label's Sloane Street store will be given the chance to create a customised shoe style based on its Made To Order Décolleté collection.

Customised Prada

Prada fans can choose from nine different models - from pumps and peep toes to platforms, varying heel heights and an array of colours for both the uppers and soles. There will be a choice of materials, too - suede, satin, patent and different kinds of leather.

Our favourite touch? The option to add your initials in amber-coloured metal below the Prada logo. Each order will be ready approximately a month after the order.

Bulgari To Restore Rome’s Spanish Steps

Bulgari has pledged to invest €1.5 million into restoring Rome's famous Spanish Steps. The two-year refurbishment starts in 2015.

The luxury label is calling the donation a "special gift from Bulgari to its city" and marks the jeweller's 130th anniversary. The baroque-style stairway was built in the 18th century and is one of Rome's most famous landmarks.

Rome: The Spanish Steps

The Italian fashion world has been keen to help maintain its country's historical sites in recent years - Tod's has helped fund the restoration of the Colosseum, while Fendi is refurbishing the Trevi Fountain.

Why Cara Is Not The New Kate

Storm Model Management co-founder  Sarah Doukas has revealed the key differences between Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss.The models - who are both signed to the agency - are often compared to one another in the press.

Doukas's brother, Simon Chambers - who helps run the agency - joined her at the  Conde Nast College to give the students an insight into the world of modelling. She pointed out that there is a generational difference between the two models, with regard to what can now be done with social media.

"For Cara, it just comes naturally to use social media and it's just part of the way she lives," she said. "I mean the other day she took a selfie on the catwalk. Nobody else from another generation, perhaps Kate's, would even consider doing that."

Cara Delevingne

Chambers went on to discuss how, in this new age of social media, brands have to engage customers in a "3-D aspect". He spoke about how a campaign is no longer just about one beautiful photograph, but the model now has to be seen to be the person in that campaign and this has to be shown through all the different layers of marketing - from the campaign image to the behind-the-scenes imagery.

"Cara is a lot like social media itself - innovative, exciting and can't stop expressing herself," he said.

However, Doukas was keen to point out the importance of not allowing their girl wonder to become oversaturated in the market. She revealed that they have to turn down at least 70 per cent of what Delevingne is asked to do, admitting: "We spend our lives saying no."

Delevingne is not the only face that the owner of Storm is excited to be representing. The legendary spotter gave us an insight into who she thinks we should look out for in the next few months - Lottie Moss is expected to have a bright future ahead of her, as is Ella Richards (Keith Richards's granddaughter, who recently walked for Tom Ford and Giles). Saudi Arabian-born 19-year-old beauty Alewya Demmisse - who appeared in the latest issue of Vogue - is also one to keep your eyes peeled for.

What would Doukas's advice be to aspiring models? "Just go for it and walk through the door!" Also, remember that, "A good agency will be able to tell from even a Facebook profile or a phone photo if you have the potential - expensive portfolios are never necessary." She also warned that you should be smart about giving your information away until you know exactly who you are talking to.