Made in Brazil

Gianecchini Works The Leotard

A week ago when I got to work with photographer Marcelo Krasilcic, he showed me some of the promo pictures and posters he had done for Reynaldo Gianecchini's new play Doce Deleite, which opens on May 9. Needless to say, I wanted to steal all the shots of the actor in nothing but a nude leotard, and post them here.

Since Marcelo posted some of the posters on his blog last week, I felt it would be okay to share them with you.

Love it. Now if only I can get my hands on the behind the scenes videos Marcelo showed me as well.

A Semana: Carnival, Angels, SPFW, Alessandra Ambrósio, And Will Smith

CNN features a guide on how to celebrate and survive Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. If you are heading that way (singer Fergie is), make sure to read it.

Ford's Supermodel Of The World contest takes place tomorrow night in New York.

Adriana Lima will appear in Victoria's Secret new Super Bowl ad, which will run only once during the game for a mere $2.7 million.

Victoria's Secret angel Alessandra Ambrósio is pregnant from bf Jaime Mazur.

Victoria's Secret angel Izabel Goulart kicks off São Paulo Fashion Week tomorrow at the Forum Tufi Duek show. She is booked with exclusivity for the designer's fall campaign.

Model Juliana Imai is booked exclusively for the Ellus show and the brand's ad campaign, to be shot by Jacques Dequeker this season.

Actor Will Smith kissed a cardboard version of Brazilian actress Alice Braga last night in Rio at the premiere of I Am Legend . The actress could not attend due to other work commitments.

Keira Knightley and James McAvoy score the cover of W magazine. I just actually saw the two of them in Atonement last Friday, and highly recommend the movie.

Photographer Joe Oppedisano celebrates the Calvin Klen man in the latest Collezioni Uomo.

Rio, Cidade Maravilhosa

The opening of the new Diesel store yesterday at Shopping Leblon in Rio was celebrated with the launch of Terry Richardson's book Rio, Cidade Maravilhosa, a collection of photographs shot in the city back in April.

The book is divided into three parts: people, landscapes, and celebrities; and will be available in Brazil exclusively at Diesel stores. More at RG Vogue and here.

Terry Does Rio

Photographer Terry Richardson spent some time shooting in Rio earlier this year for a book project sponsored by Diesel. The behind-the-scenes video of the shoot has made its way to YouTube:

Speedo Sundays By Didio

Below are two new images taken directly from photographer Didio's recently updated website.

Men's Lab

Remember the week-long series of pictures of sexy Ragazzo models? Didio, the Brazilian photographer responsible for the images, updated his website recently, and added a new gallery entitled Men's Lab, which will feature some of his unpublished works and personal projects.

Didio just made his debut at The Boy this month, and has a spread on the second issue of Junior magazine. More of his Men's Lab after the jump.

Strike A Pose: Jacques Dequeker

I have written Jacques Dequeker's name on this blog about a million times already. He is responsible for many of the beautiful images which have been posted here from Brazilian ad campaigns and editorials, and also happens to be one of my favorite photographers in the country. The fact that we both come from the same home town only makes me admire him even more (not to mention the fact that he is sexy as hell).

Jacques recently launched a website with a vast portfolio of his work, and I highly recommend that you take a good look at it.

More at Jacques Dequeker.

A Semana: Purple, Project Runway, Heroes, And Blackout

The eight issue of Purple Fashion magazine with coverboy Andre Saraiva is already on newstands. It features a travel spread shot in Rio by Terry Richardson, which is causing a little controversy in Brazil thanks to pictures of a few naked models.

Photographer Marcelo Krasilcic shares some of his pictures for the latest issue of Butt magazine on his blog.

Gay media in Brazil keeps on growing: Drops magazine has a gay-oriented publication in the works for early 2008, to be edited by Marcos Costa (a.k.a. Carioca Virtual).

Fashion Rio has confirmed dates for the fall shows: the event will take place at Marina da Gloria from January 7 to January 12. São Paulo Fashion Week starts right after, on January 16.

Brazilian BRA Airlines shut down its operations today, canceling all of its flights, and laying off 1,100 employees. The company had 4.6% of the domestic market share.

On the new primetime soap Duas Caras, Bernardinho was caught in bed with another man.

Project Runway kicked off its new season with a runway preview at Lincoln Center. The NY Post talked to Heidi and the judges.

Have you seen the latest episode of Heroes? I saw it last night as I cannot watch it on Mondays in Brazil. Not only was I treated to a shirtless Milo Ventimiglia extravaganza, but also to the best episode so far this season. Could the absence of the new Mexican girl with the petroleum eyes have something to do with it?

Have you seen the new Spice Girls video for Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)? Whoever lit that feast of egos should get an award for best special effects in next year's VMAs. Miss Beckham alone in Dolce & Gabbana makes it worth watching it.

Britney's latest release Blackout debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 290,000 copies. The Eagles' first new studio album in 28 years, Long Road Out of Eden, took the first slot thanks to a revised chart policy that will now allow exclusive album titles that are only available through one retailer to appear on The Billboard 200 and other charts.

Chloë Sevigny For Ellus

Because this week I have developed some sort of obsession with the work of Brazilian photographer Marcelo Krasilcic, here are his pictures for the spring campaign of jeanswear label Ellus, featuring none other than Ms. Chloë Sevigny.

The ads are all over the Brazilian fashion magazines now.

A Semana: Björk, Gisele, Marcelo Krasilcic, And Miss Britney Spears

Björk attened the premiere of Hector Babenco's El Pasado last night at Cine Odeon. Only she would wear a runway look from Lanvin to a movie premiere in Rio, which is why I love her. She performs in Rio this Friday at Tim Festival.

Singer Róisín Murphy talked to Arjan about critics, reviews, and blogs. If you haven't listened to her new album yet, do it now.

When Brazilian sites start offering illegally unblocked iPhones as gifts, you know something is wrong.

Singer Caetano Veloso will be playing the Nokia Theatre in New York on November 19 and 20.

Rumor has it that Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury has a girlfriend in New York.

The much talked about gay couple arrived on Wisteria Lane on Desperate Housewives this past Sunday.

Gisele has been booked as Wendy on the new series of Disney promotional pictures shot by Annie Liebowitz. Mikhail Baryshnikov is set to pose as Peter Pan next to her.

Model Fernanda Tavares gave birth to her first son last night. The genetically-blessed baby was named Lucas, and the proud father is actor Murilo Rosa.

Hint Mag is in love with Brazilian newcomer Daniela Borges this month.

Photographer Marcelo Krasilcic is incorporating sculpture into his work, using pillows, formica, and even fruit. Check out the results in incredible pictures on his blog (warning: NSFW).

Style.com takes a look at sixteen trendsetters and image-makers, including Carine Roitfeld, Grace Coddington, and Joe Zee.

I normally don't do this, but it's Britney b*tch we are talking about (link may not be up for long).

Porn star Francois Sagat gives us more.

Indecent?

Jeanswear label Ellus was charged with R$ 500K in fines by the state of Santa Catarina for moral damages, because the billboards of the spring 2007 campaign were considered indecent and too racy for public display. The campaign shot by Marcelo Krasilcic featured Evandro and Letícia Birkheuer half-naked on a beach. The brand has already filed for an appeal.

Pictures of the campaign at:
Evandro Soldati For Ellus

Pole Dancing With Dado Dolabella

Actors Dado Dolabella and Sidney Sampaio are part of the much talked about series of photographs about women empowerment by Paula Klein, which will go on display in Rio next month.

Gratuituous Fetish Display

Brazilian photographer Paula Klein is getting a lot of media buzz thanks to her upcoming Gatos e Sapatos exhibit, set to open on October 22 in Rio at IAB. The pictures are about the empowerment of women, and a series of Brazilian celebrities such as actors Marcos Pasquim and Cauã Reymond got involved in the project.

The entire exhibit includes 38 pictures. Make sure to take a look at another image after the jump.

A Semana: Evandro Soldati, New York Fashions, Blindness, and Naked Rugby Players

Model Evandro Soldati stars in the Emporio Armani Underwear campaign.

Fashion week in New York is now over. Brazilian Francisco Costa got mild reviews from Style.com for his spring Calvin Klein collection, but was praised by Cathy Horyn.

Brazilian newcomers from Ford, Fernanda Reis and Laila, scored bookings at Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Still on the fashion week topic, there are three things I have seen a lot: floral prints, gold sequined numbers, and the safari jacket. Even if you are a guy, get one now (even if it is sleeveless).

People magazine elected the best and worst dressed celebrities of 2007.

Cate Blanchett (missing from People's list) looks stunning in the latest issue of W magazine, photographed by Michael Thompson.

Director Fernando Meirelles has been blogging the shooting of Blindness, his latest project with Julianne Moore and Mark Rufallo. It is a fascinating read if you understand Portuguese.

Kanye West came out with yet another great music video this year, for Good Life, while Ari Gold debuted his new animated video for Where The Music Takes You today.

Pictures of the 2008 Dieux du Stade Calendar shot by Steven Klein have already hit the web (warning: NSFW).

Photographer Fabien Baron brings back the 80's Weber aesthetic for Calvin Klein's new fragrance Men.

The first candidate to the title of Mr. Gay Brazil is Fred Oliver from Cabo Frio.

Make Love, Not War (With Rodrigo Calazans)

Meisel does it again on Vogue Italia this month with the genious Make Love, Not War edit, and I love that he booked Brazilian Rodrigo Calazans as one of his soldiers.

And yes, that is La Zimmermann he is kissing. Take a look at her mud-wresting after the jump. Carol Trentini is also in the edit.

A Semana: Fergie, Britney, Brad, Hillary, Rugby Players, And Mr. Gay International

Brazilian label Moshe Sport presented its Prince Harry-inspired spring 2008 collection at Conjunto Nacional in São Paulo over the weekend.

Ana Beatriz Barros tells Nova magazine this month that some men feel impotent (to use her own words) by going out with a woman like her. "I am not quitting my job for a man. I was brought up this way, I don't like to waste time, and I love what I do," says the model.

Singer Fergie is a Brazilianizer: she cast Brazilian model Andre Ziehe for her next video, shot over the weekend in Los Angeles. Her single Big Girls Don't Cry took the #1 spot at the Billboard charts, making her the first female artist to have three #1 hits from one album since Christina Aguilera with her debut.

Check out David Guetta's new video for Baby When The Light.

Sweet dreams are made of this: Britney Spears' promotional makeover blitz is going strong. Another track leaks on the web, but it is not nearly as addictive as the new Gimme More.

Brazilian actress Alice Braga is a hot new commodity in Hollywood: she has been cast to star opposite Jude Law in Miguel Sapochnik's Repossession Mambo.

Hillary Clinton talked to Ellen this morning about her position on gay marriage versus civil unions.

Brad Pitt graces the cover of the October issue of Detais, shot by his usual photographer of choice Steven Klein. He confessed loving a gay story at the Venice Film Festival this week.

The 2008 Dieux Du Stade calendar, also photographed by Steven Klein, is coming soon, and I can't wait to get my hands on one.

I hear from good sources that American label Andrew Christian will soon be available in Brazil. I am sure the boys will be lining up for it.

While Brazil gets ready to elect its first Mr. Gay International candidate, Mr. Gay Argentina Jorge Schmeda gets a lot of buzz thanks to his career as a porn actor. Regardless of who ends up representing Brazil, he can already count on my vote.

A Semana: Richarlysongate, New Videos, Fall Fashions, And Brazilian Day

On another turn of the gay soccer case also known as Richarlysongate, the player is now asking for R$ 300K for moral damages to Palmeiras executive José Cyrillo Júnior, who stated in June that Richarlyson was gay during a debate on live TV. Richarlyson recently said that he is pursuing the case in an attempt to fight prejudice at soccer. If that is the case, then how about donating the money to several gay rights institutions?

Photographer Cristiano, famous for his work for Terra's The Boy, will be opening his first solo exhibit in São Paulo at Galeria Mezanino this Tuesday. The show is on display until September 8, and admission is free, so make sure to check it out.

The Freemasons will be playing Rio on October 13 during Gay Pride weekend.

Actor Gael Garcia Bernal will land in São Paulo this October to promote his upcoming movie El Pasado, directed by Hector Babenco.

With extras dressed as pimps and prostitutes, J. Lo shot the video for her new single Do It Well last week in Los Angeles, with photographer and director David LaChapelle.

Annie Lenox debuted her Dark Road video today on Amazon.

Baby I swear it's déjà vu: Lil' Mo does Beyoncé.

New York magazine is out with its Fall Fashion Issue, and a very interesting article with Kris Van Assche on his debut at Dior Homme.

Teen magazine Capricho is electing the cutest male model. Needless to say, Brazilians Evandro Soldati and André Ziehe are on the lead.

My Brazilian fashion friends over at Gema TV have taken over Tokyo.

The 23rd Annual Brazilian Day in New York is scheduled for Sunday, September 2. Attractions for this year's festival on 46th street include Jota Quest, Asa de Aguia, and Bruno and Marone.

Eat Your Heart Out

Guess who I worked with this morning? None other than Mr. Saulo Melo himself.

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Another Sunny Day In Ipanema

I am sorry for my absence but I am in Rio shooting until tomorrow. The weather could not have been better.

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Shooting In Copa

It is a beautiful day in Rio, and it almost feels like summer: a perfect day for a swimsuit editorial.

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A Semana: Fasano In Rio, Diamonds, Magazines, And Mr. Gay Brazil

The much anticipated Hotel Fasano will finally open its doors in Rio this Sunday. A cocktail will be held from 10 am to 6 pm to 3,000 select guests, celebrating the new hotel which will officially start operating this Tuesday.

Just out of curiosity, the comments about the September issue of Vanity Fair on this blog generated a series of articles and posts on every Brazilian site this week.

Diamonds are Beyoncé's best friend, and a new fragrance for women.

Gwyneth Paltrow looks slightly scary on this month's W magazine, photographed by Steven Klein.

Actor Ryan Reynolds talks to the Advocate about gay rumors and homophobia.

Model Viviane Orth scores the cover of the August issue of L'Officiel Brazil. This will be her second cover for the magazine in the country.

Top male models get their hair bleached for the latest installment of V Man.

Mix Brasil takes you backstage to check out the making of the cover of its upcoming gay magazine, Junior. I was fortunate to receive a copy of it in advance, and am thrilled that the country will have a gay publication that does not revolve around porn.

I had a bit of an obsession with German photographer turned (his own) model Lars Stephan earlier this year, but I am even more obsessed now after taking a look at his summer sweat series of self-portraits (warning: NSFW).

As previously mentioned, Mix Brasil partnered with Mr. Gay International to elect a Brazilian representative to the title. Eleven Brazilian cities have already confirmed their participation on the pageant, and Mix Brasil is still taking applications until Monday. The national finalist will be chosen in São Paulo on October 20. Now where do I sign up as a judge?

A 45-year-old man was found dead at Sauna 269 in São Paulo. The victim was found at a storage area with deep wounds on his forehead, and his pants down. According to the police, the victim probably died trying to exit the sauna during an unexpected police check last Friday night. The man apparently tried to escape to avoid having to tell his wife that he was at a gay sauna, and fell from the roof. Sauna 269 declined to comment on the case.

A Semana: The 2014 World Cup, The Black Boxes From Flight 3054, And A Foreign Eye On Brazil

Brazil became an official candidate to host the 2014 Soccer World Cup yesterday, but we all have to wait until October 30 for the final verdict.

Authorities investigating the crash of TAM's Flight 3054 suspect that a pilot error may have lead to the tragic accident which killed 199 people two weeks ago. According to Folha de São Paulo, the pilots had programmed the computerized engine controls to maintain a speed of about 150 mph prior to landing in Congonhas. When the plane was about 30 feet off the ground, the pilots correctly switched one of the engines to idle, but did not do so with the other engine. When the pilots applied the brakes, the second engine automatically attempted to accelerate to maintain the preset 150 mph speed. That caused the plane to veer left and made it impossible to stop. The Brazilian newspaper leaked the data obtained from the black boxes this morning, and recordings indicated that the pilots tried to break but were unable to. The complete data is being transmitted to press live today.

São Paulo's government announced that construction of an express train line between the city and the international airport in Guarulhos is scheduled for next year. The train is set to be running by 2010.

The main runway at Guarulhos international airport will be undergoing minor repairs to accommodate the flights which have been transfered from Congonhas in São Paulo. Major construction will not start until February, and a third terminal may be in the works.

Brazilian Douglas Neitzke is the model of the week on Models.com. He is off to a good start, having opened and closed the Missoni spring 2008 show in Milan.

Michel Novello is the new face of Kenzo's fragrance, Tokyo by Kenzo.

Towleroad previews the latest DNA issue, with incredible pictures by Lewis Payton.

From now until September 16, Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil in Rio will be showcasing a new exhibit called desFocos (o olho de fora), featuring the work of 30 international artists who have never lived in Brazil but have approached the country as a theme in the past 30 years. Photographs of Rio de Janeiro by the likes of Bruce Weber, as well polaroids of Pelé by Andy Warhol are amongst the featured works.

Beauty And Power At The Pan-American Games

As most of you probably know, the 2007 Pan-American Games in Rio kick off this Friday. To commemorate the event, photographers Guilherme Cunha, Rodrigo Mendes, and Daniel Moreira registered a series of Brazilian athletes in black and white for the Beleza E Poder exhibit.

Beleza E Poder features 40 images, and opened yesterday at Gávea. It runs until September 20.

The Boys Of Fashion Rio And SPFW

Last season I met a girl in Rio who turned out to be one of the sweetest and coolest people I have ever met. I was thrilled to see her again this season, and asked her again to send me a compilation of her favorite pictures of the boys who were in the country for the spring shows.

Click HERE to check out the result in an exclusive picture gallery. I think you will like the images just as much as I did.

Thanks to Maria Sanz for sending her pictures to Made In Brazil. Aside from being the best dressed girl I know, she is also a talented writer. Make sure to visit her blog No Provador for her take on fashion.

A New Brazilian In New York

Brazilian model Marcus Santos recently signed with Re:Quest Models in New York. I had not seen any pictures of him until yesterday when photographer JD Ferguson sent me some stunning shots. There are more after the jump.

Rudnei For Ellus

I met Rudnei Graczyk back in January in São Paulo, where I heard he had booked the much coveted Ellus campaign with renowned photographer Marcelo Krasilcic.

The pictures are as stunning as the ones from last spring with Evandro Soldati. There are two more after the jump, courtesy of Marcelo himself.

A Semana: Chad White, Queer Art, Angels, And A Visit From The Pope

Model Chad White undressed for the latest issue issue of Out magazine, photographed by Francois Rousseau in Equestrian fashions. Madonna would have been proud.

The New York Times reported on a new generation of gay art.

Brazilian bombshell Alessandra Ambrosio is gracing the cover of British GQ, which brings a special report on Victoria's Secret fashion show (as well as pictures of angels Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart, and Ana Beatriz Barros).

Naomi is on the cover of W, sharing her community service diaries (and Steven Klein portfolio) with fashion readers over the globe.

Designer Alexandre Herchcovitch autographed his book in São Paulo. Cartas a um Jovem Estilista (or Letters To A Young Designer) is not only a retrospective of his career, but also a guide to new designers and students.

Pope Benedict XVI landed in Brazil today on a mission to strengthen the control of the church in the country. In spite of Brazil being the world's most populous Roman Catholic country, the Roman Catholic church is reported to be losing 8,000 members a day in the country to evangelical Protestant churches, and other faiths. Could that be because of the Pope's position when it comes to issues such abortion and safe sex? NGOs will host a protest this evening in São Paulo against the presence of Benedict XVI in the country, homophobia, illegal abortions (the procedure is illegal in Brazil), and AIDS.

Speedo Break: actress Deborah Secco and soccer player bf Roger make a splash at the beach.

Models On Speedo Sundays

It is the question that I keep asking myself: why did I not attend Fashion Cares this past Wednesday at Jeffrey in New York?

Exclusive photos of the male models backstage courtesy of photographer JD Ferguson. There are large pictures from the event after the jump which I highly recommend you take a look.

Thank God For Galliano

It is not often that I post editorials which don't include my fellow Brazilians, but the latest issue of Arena Homme inspired by Mr. Galliano's fall 2007 show and shot by his partner in crime Nick Knight deserves your undivided attention.

That is what Men's Vogue should look like. There are more scans after the jump. Warning: semi-NSFW.

The Fashion Blitz Takes Over Paris

I have just heard that my friend JD is scheduled to shoot none other than Kaiser Karl. He was kind enough to send me some exclusive backstage shots of La Bündchen at the Dolce & Gabbana show last week in Milan.

For more of his backstage coverage of fashion week, check out JD Ferguson's blog on V magazine.

The Boys Of São Paulo Fashion Week

One of the coolest people I met at Fashion Rio and SPFW was certainly Maria, who was covering beauty trends and made it into every backstage with me. She sent me some of her pictures of the male models, and I thought they were so beautiful that I decided to create a portfolio with 25 of her images for the blog.

Click here to view the complete Boys of SPFW portfolio by Maria.

Maria also happens to be a great writer (she was also the best dressed girl in São Paulo), so if you read Portuguese stop by her blog No Provador.

Speedo Break: DNA #84

In spite of how beautiful (and sexy) the pictures from DNA magazine