Virginie Courtin-Clarins, the chic French granddaughter of Clarins skincare founder Jacques Courtin-Clarins, first caught America’s eye while sitting front row at New York Fashion Week in 2011. Her innate sense of style made an immediate impression on Anna Wintour, who promptly placed her in the pages of Vogue, and on the horde of bloggers who declared her fashion’s next “It Girl.”

Wes Gordon is nothing if not bold. Four years ago, the then-22-year-old fashion wunderkind used his internship experience with Oscar de la Renta and Tom Ford to launch his eponymous label. Now, at 26, the Chicago-born designer is riding high: The line is carried in top-tier stores across the globe, including Bergdorf Goodman in New York and Neapolitan here (715 Elm, Winnetka). “If you’re going to be young in any industry, this is one where it’s totally cool and acceptable,” Gordon says.

Tyra Banks crowned Jaslene Gonzalez “America’s Next Top Model” in 2007, but the Chicago native — and Daily Splash columnist — doesn’t count the victory as her biggest accomplishment. She’s most proud of her hard-won independence: Just after her star turn on the reality series, Gonzalez found her way out of an abusive relationship with the help of friends, family and the show’s producers, who set her up with a therapist. “It was through that experience that I found my inner beauty,” says Gonzalez. “I was a victim, and now I’m a survivor.”

Stars stepped out in bare shoulders and glamourous gowns on Oscar night Only brides wear white to black tie. Except Charlize Theron. For the rest of the Hollywood glitterati, the Oscar trend pointed toward the very best of the bridal salon. Keeping shoulders bare, actresses showed off their décolletage — many without necklaces — which made their choices all the more striking. By Meg Moore, mmoore@suntimes.com Click below for our gallery:    

Dispatches from our Chicagoan in Hollywood, Liz Crokin, on Fergie, Khloe Kardashian and the next Austin Powers.

If you frequented Scoozi restaurant in River North during the 1980s, chances are a handsome young actor named Stephen Colbert was the server grating Parmesan on your spaghetti Bolognese. “I waited tables there for five years out of college,” says Colbert. “I had a beard and I wore a lot of black. I was a stereotypical actor. I remember walking around and saying, ‘Why am I so depressed right now?’ And I would think, ‘Oh, that’s right. Because I paid for the bus with pennies.’ ”

No one would blame Ian Schrager for being exhausted. The hotelier has spent decades revolutionizing the way we sleep while away from home — in fact, he’s credited with creating the boutique hotel, opening The Morgan in Manhattan in 1984 and making what was once a relatively staid enterprise into a hip destination.

Dispatches from our Chicagoan in Hollywood, Liz Crokin: Rihanna and Chris Brown are making it no secret that they’re back together and totally in love. The couple were spotted together all over Hollywood during Grammy weekend, hitting exclusive parties — and they didn’t refrain from the PDA. This may be a hard pill to swallow for some people, considering the fact that he physically assaulted her on the night of the Grammys four years ago. But many in her inner circle are happy about the reunion, including her family.

The new member of the United Nations Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council spends a day in her hometown.

Fabio Viviani has charisma. When the celebrity chef walks into a room, he takes a moment to greet everyone — ladies with a kiss on the cheek or hand, gents with a handshake. Between his trademark smile and native Italian accent, Viviani leaves almost every woman in the room a little weak-kneed in his wake, though winning hearts is hardly his intention; it’s just who he is. “Since I was young, I’ve had an enormous respect for women. They were always the pillar of our household,” says Viviani.