All eyes on Camilla

The Duchess of Cornwall is out to make a fashionable im pr ession during her trip to the U.S. with Prince Charles. The duchess will show off a whole new wardrobe and stack of Philip Treacy hats and colorful handbags during a weeklong tour that will take her to New York , Washington and San Francisco . She's taking 50 outfits because, like any royal, she has the right to change her mind about what she's going to wear.

Robinson Valentine, who designed the duchess' wedding dress, and Anthony Price, who's been working with her for the past six years — when she was still Camilla Parker Bowles — have supplied the bulk of her wardrobe for this first official U.S. trip. Treacy, who created the halo-like s pr ay of feathers the duchess wore for her wedding, has come up with two fresh creations, in addition to the clutch bags.

"She'll be flying the English flag," said Price, who has designed three outfits for the trip. The first is a midnight blue velvet cape and dress, slated to be worn tonight at a reception hosted by the British Consul General at the Museum of Modern Art in New York .

1 November 2005

Scarlett Johansson on the catwalk

Imitation of Christ designer Sara Subkoff knows how to cause a little controversy, as much as she knows hot to get a little help from her friends. New this season for IOC is its denim label, and Subkoff decided to enlist the ever-so-beautiful looks of her best friend Scarlett Johansson to open the show dressed as a modern-day Marily Monroe.

Johansson, who's pop idol pout is a red carpet favourite, opened the show. wearing skintight jeans, a tank top and red heels. She made her way down the elaborate stairs inside Surrogate's Court smoking a cigarette, then strutted and vamped for the frenzied photographers, her hair done up in the fluffed Fifties style the starlet seems to prefer for her A-list appearances.

We expect waiting lists for the high waisted, cigarette leg, indigo jean.

11 September 2005

Flowers…

In the cruel world of celebrity one-upmanship it is reassuring to see someone step back and realize that words have a real impact. Kimberly Stewart sent flowers and an apology to Jennifer Aniston after calling her "homely" in a Blender Magazine interview after the actress told Vanity Fair that she was devastated by the remarks. Stewart was reported as saying, "It was one of those things you say and then you bite your tongue and think what did I just do?”

26 August 2005

It's all about Tippi

This fall is all about Tippi Hedren in her role in Hitchcocks ornicological horror The Birds. Think 50s heroines and Tippi screaming at the top of her lungs, all the while looking super chic in structured lady-like ensembles, and that's the look for fall.

The best way to get this look? First of all, think of a curvy silhouette. Roland Mouret springs to mind with his tight bodices and pencil skirts that may hamper walking properly but promote a sexy sashay and tiny, feminine steps. Skirts can be topped with luxurious cashmere twinsets or silk blouses with ribbon detailing. The ensemble should be completed by the ever-so-elegant trench coat, cinched at the waist, or a gorgeous capelet which looks fantastic in faux fur – and there's enough of that to go around this season.

Jackets look best with a slightly puffed sleeve, like the gorgeous number by Moschino, or with a gently sloping shoulder, which is entirely reminiscent of the 1950s. For a bit of added drama, Alexander McQueen does a great trench in leopard print with a matching pencil skirt. Of absolute importance to the queen of the 50s thriller genre are her accessories. Pearls have made their way back from dowdiness and are now terrifically popular. Pair them with a classic silk scarf and a pair of oversized sunglasses to add glamour to your look. Don't shy away from brooches either. They are far from being out of fashion and if you want to forgo strands of pearls, a diamanté brooch will add pizzazz to your outfit.

The descriptive word for bags this season is structured. Anything polished looking, preferably in an alligator skin, will do. Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo and Alexander McQueen do particularly elegant handbags. Finally, for the true lady, add a pair of gloves to the mix for that finishing touch that positively screams old-world elegance. They look especially enticing when worn with a sexy, fitted dress and a pair of ultra-high heeled pumps. A final word to the wise: don't forget to peruse the High Street and vintage shops for great bargains.

22 August 2005

Gwen Stefani to launch Harajuku Lovers

Singer Gwen Stefani is adding another fashion range to her name to be called: Harajuku Lovers: A Fatal Attraction to Cuteness. The collection, for women, men and kids is to be a more accessible version of her ready-to-wear range L.A.M.B. which is scheduled to be shown during New York Fashion week in September.

Expect clothes to be cut from supersoft grinded or enzyme-washed cotton and fleece. Edges are raw and hemlines extended to add to the slouchy, street-informed, borrowed-from-boyfriend look. With the exception of intimates, which consist of underwear, camis, bras and drawstring lounge pants. The graphics and allover prints of the two first groups draw directly from this year's hit songs and videos from Stefani's platinum-selling solo effort "Love. Angel. Music. Baby."

10 August 2005

Murphy face of Jordache

Brittany Murphy is the first celebrity to be the face of Jordache jeans. The diminutive, bubbly actress, famous from her roles in Clueless and, more recently, Sin City , features in a new ad campaign for the brand, shot by Patrick Demarchelier.

Jordache jeans were all the rage back in the 1970s and have been revived to what promises to be their former stature. Hence, the eleborate ad campaign. In it Murphy poses bareback on a horse in a field – this being a twist on the brand's horse-head logo. The brand has said that the first ads will appear in US publications beginning in September. The Jordache website shows a scrambled picture of the ad with an actual clock doing a countdown till the big day. Talk about building expectations!

www.jordache.com
27 July 2005

Madonna's latest makeover

Not too long ago the Material Girl turned herself into the Maternal Girl. Madonna realized that children and bondage don't mesh well, and now the world's most provocative style icon is showing that motherhood and domesticity can be just as much fun.

The 46-year old Madonna appears in the new US Vogue, styled like Grace Kelly and shown doing all the things that modern-day mother do: playing with her children and talking to her husband, even feeding chickens! "I was a very selfish person," she told Vogue. "You go through periods of your life where the whole world does revolve around you, but you can't live your whole life that way."

21 July 2005

Jude apologizes for cheating

Hollywood heartthrob Jude Law publicly apologized for cheating on his gorgeous, It-girl fiancée Sienna Miller this weekend. His apology came after his affair with nanny Daisy Wright became public knowlegde. "I just want to say I am deeply ashamed and upset that I've hurt Sienna and the people most close to us," said Law. "There is no defence for my actions which I sincerely regret."

Law is believed to have started the affair with the 26-year-old nanny of one of his children on location in New Orleans. According to the BBC, Jude and Sienna are "working through" their current problems.

18 July 2005

Cruz for Diddy?

Rumour has it that Sean 'P Diddy' Combs is hoping to convince Penelope Cruz to be the face of his new womenswear line, Sean by Sean Combs. The new ad campaign is planned for the autumn of this year.

According to Women's Wear Daily, sources close to P Diddy assert that he is very close to signing Cruz for the print advertisements, which will be shot by Peter Lindbergh. That Penelope Cruz used to be the face of Ralph Lauren appears to be more than a coincidence. P Diddy is known to be a great admirer of the brand, so perhaps he feels that hiring Cruz will help with his image. Watch this space!

28 June 2005

All about Katie

Watch out, Jessica, Paris and Lindsay: There's a new object of the paparazzi's dubious affection. And she's proving to be a quick study of the red carpet's perilous twists and turns, according to WWD.

Katie Holmes, currently on tour with new fiance Tom Cruise, is flirting with different looks and different designers, but so far is keeping it simple. No Glastonbury chic for her - at least not yet. "Katie's charm comes from her always-bright personality," says Giorgio Armani, who has dressed the actress often. "She combines a wonderful innocence with a subtle but strong sophistication in the way she dresses."

Holmes' stylist, Jeanne Yang, has carefully put the starlet in jeans and designer frocks from Chanel, Dior, Prada and Chloe - not to mention Armani - for everything from casual street appearances to black-tie galas. Mission accomplished.

27 June 2005

Oprah gets dissed

It obviously isn't enough to have your own talkshow, a production company and a prominent place on Forbes' 500 list. The most powerful woman in America, Oprah Winfrey, has reportedly been refused entry to the Hermes store in Paris. According to pagesix.com a source said that Winfrey was turned away at the door. "Oprah didn't have her hair done," said the source. "When she tries the door, they refused her entry because they have been 'having a problem with North Africans lately' and obviously had no clue who she was."

When questioned, a representative for Winfrey admitted that she was in Paris but declined any further comment. Hermes did not return the paper's calls.

20 June 2005

Madonna turns mumsy

In a recent interview with Ladies' Home Journal, Madonna admitted that she regrets her sexy look of the past. The iconic singer and actress has certainly changed her tune since settling down with husband Guy Ritchie and their children. She has turned her attentions to the mystic religion Kabbalah and to writing children's books and while doing so, has come to the realisation that showing off her body isn't everything.

"Sometimes I was being overtly sexy for the sake of showing off when I didn't need to be. I think I hurt myself. Ultimately none of us wants to be judged, or approved of, or loved because of the way we look, or how sexy we are," she said in the interview.

"One minute I was saying 'believe in yourself' and the next minute I was saying 'just be sexually provocative'. I was letting it pump up my ego, thinking 'aren't I great, they're writing about me, my picture's on the cover of every magazine, I'm so fabulous," she added. Madonna has just released her fifth children's book 'Lotsa De Casha'.

15 June 2005

Puffywear for girls

Watch out, Sean John boys. The girls are on the make. Sean 'P.Diddy' Combs is finally launching his womenswear line. After having cancelled the launch three times as his menswear collection Sean John became increasingly successful, the CFDA award winner is now finally ready to dress women.

"I want women to come into my world," he told WWD. "This is the woman the Sean John man wants. Our foundation is sexy, but it's not so sexy that you don't feel comfortable wearing it." In other words, over the top bling and cut-outs are out of the question.

"We want to bring a bit of edge, but we're not afraid to be sophisticated," Combs continues. "Sean is for the girl who, when she leaves the house in the morning for work, may have a date after and the night might continue on so that she's having drinks at a lounge. We have pieces that look beautiful in the morning, but as the sun goes down, the clothes start to get sexier."

The new 150-piece range has been nicknamed "the appetizer" by the design team, as it is just a selection for the holiday season, with much more to come afterwards. The womenswear collection is called Sean, which gives insight into how close Combs feels to his female customers. "Only the people that are very close to me call me Sean. Sean is different from Sean John and men are very different from women. When I design for men, I design under the personality Sean John. When I'm doing this line, it's another part of my personality. It's been very intimate and romantic in a way because I just want to please women. The reason I kept cancelling this (collection) was because I didn't want to come out and let women down. I feel very proud of this line."

After the phenomenal success of his menswear collections, we can't wait to see just how close Sean feels to his women. And if his exes are anything to go by, we know we're in for a lot of sexy, sassy and stylish wear.

www.seanjohn.com
2 June 2005

Usher turns to fashion

R&B singing sensation Usher is turning his attention to fashion. He is launching his own clothing line, which will be based on the formal designs of Prada, Gucci and Roberto Cavalli. "You know what, to be perfectly honest with you, I'm really a suit man. If it's not Prada, it's Gucci, Roberto Cavalli. I'm really into Italian designers as well as American designers, as a matter of fact I'm heading in that direction," he was reported as saying by Femalefirst.

The new collection should be ready in 2006, although no specific date has as yet been revealed. Usher is following in the footsteps of hip hop moguls Russell Simmons and Sean Combs, who have also launched successful clothing lines. "Look at eh capabilities of Martha Stewart or Russell Simmons or Sean 'P Diddy' Combs or even 50 Cent with G-Unit. Look at what they did with their licensing. This is my opportunity to do the same. Clothing and shoes are kind of the standard nowadays, so I'm trying to figure out how I can come at it from a different angle. Watches, clothes, perfume, cologne, facial and acne products. There are so many possibilities," he said.

25 May 2005

Mariah's makeover

Songstress Mariah Carey has recently made more headlines over her wince-worthy fashion choices than song hits. Thankfully Andre Leon Talley, US Vogue's editor-at-large, has stepped in to save her from herself and guide her in the fashionable direction.

Talley has been seen escorting the diva across Manhattan to a dinner hosted by Karl Lagerfeld and a celebration of African-American legends hosted by Oprah Winfrey.

Carey's friend and representative, Marvet Britto, told Pagesix.com, "She has an incredible sense of style - but then she went out in oufits like cutoff shorts and tank tops. It was her old team of people telling her to wear that. Mariah always said she would love Andre's guidance and wisdom, and when I called him to help her, he was thrilled and said, 'I would be honoured!' Andre is there to help Mariah's broken relationships with fashion houses. No one wanted to lend clothes to her because when she wore them the clothes would be different - shorter or not worn right - and it wouldn't complete their vision of the clothing. We don't want people to say things like 'skanky'…But that is changing…"

18 May 2005

Kylie diagnosed with cancer

Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue has been diagnosed with breast cancer, her management team revealed.

The singer, who turns 37 this month, has cancelled her Australian tour as a result. "I was so looking forward to bringing the Showgirl tour to Australian audiences, and am sorry to have to disappoint my fans. Nevertheless, hopefully all will work out fine and I'll be back with you all again soon." Kylie has always been very active in the fight against breast cancer.

Her treatment will begin immediately.

17 May 2005

Watch out for Jay-Z

Hip hop artist Jay-Z has teamed up with Swiss watch brand Audemars Piguet in lieu of his 10 year anniversary in the music business.The limited-edition selection, called the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Jay-Z 10th Anniversary Limited Edition series will be sold exclusively in New York and retail between £14,000 and £43,000. Of the 100 pieces made, 17 have been pre-ordered and sold already.

Lucky watch buyers will also receive a 40-gigabyte Apple iPod loaded with Jay-Z albums for free. The inscription on the back is to read: "I'm so far ahead of my time, I'm about to start another life. Look behind you - I'm about to pass you twice," a line from Jay-Z's song, "Hovi Baby."This is not the first time Piguet has brought in a celebrity to the brand. In 2000, the firm teamed up with Arnold Schwarzenegger and created a chronograph for "Terminator 3."

19 April 2005

Dash for president

Why should we be surprised that a rap and fashion mogul should want to run for President of the United States? After all, we have already seen a movie star head up the West's greatest superpower. And an Austrian-born body builder is governor of California.

ROC-A-WEAR founder Damon Dash announced to the New York's Daily News last week that he is going to run for the presidency. "I'm a socialist but not an extreme socialist," he said. Of going by the book might cost him votes he responded: "The idea that you need to be stabbed or shot for street cred is corny. Street cred is about making the streets safe and secure."

18 April 2005

Destiny's Child Fashions

It's always a good thing in business to stick to what you know. That is what pop diva Beyonce and her mother Tina Knowles must have thought when they decided that their fashion label, House of Dereon, would provide exclusive wardrobes for the members of Beyonce's female group, Destiny's Child, for their upcoming tour. Destiny Fulfilled is taking place this month and has been highly anticipated.

Tina Knowles and her team of designers have created sixty original costumes for Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to wear during the tour, which will consist of performances in forty US and thirty-five international cities.

The costumes, complete with accessories, range from eveningwear to sporty ensembles. Everything has been made from the most luxurious fabrics such as imported leather, stretch silk, silk charmeuse, crystal mesh and silk chiffon. Hundreds of hours were spent on the custom finishing and detailed beading with Swarovski Crystal.

"Performing is not only about sharing my musical passion, but it's also about expressing my individuality. By having Destiny's Child wearing House of Dereon on the tour, I am able to express my creativity and love of music and fashion," said Beyonce.

House of Dereon teamed up with Swarovski, the largest manufacturer of cut crystal in the world, for this venture. "Swarovski is thrilled to have a creative partnership with the House of Dereon and to have the stars of Destiny's Child sparkle on stage with Swarovski crystal," said Nadja Swarovski, Vice President of International Communications for the firm.

12 April 2005

Newest fashion icon

Stop the presses! Mary-Kate Olsen, of Olsen twin fame, has been declared a fashion icon by the New York Times.Mary-Kate is currently being treated for anorexia in New York, where she is attending New York University. However, the whole skinny issue is once again scoring points with the fashion set who now applaud her sense of grunge fashion.

Stylist Karen Berenson says: "The Olsens are the real thing. (Mary-Kate) makes skinny girls in baggy clothes look cool." This type of comment - which appears to encourage thinness in teens - cannot be good for Mary-Kate's recovery process.

10 March 2005

Middle age glory days

An attitude adjustment is slowly taking place in the wonderful world of fashion. Middle age is becoming glamorous as opposed to dowdy and people are starting to cotton on.

Gorgeous, fashionable celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Lane, Liz Hurley and Linda Evangelista find themselves on the eve of or nearing their 40th birthday. These women, many of who have become fashion icons in recent years, are about to redefine our perception of this new decade they are about to embark on. "Being 40 today is what 30 used to be, and 50 is the new 40," says designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Turning 40 no longer has to mean packing all you flirty dresses and skinny jeans into big black bin bags. Although miniskirts will be relegated to the back of the closets or left to teen-age daughters and rockers' wives, the modern middle-ager is not about to hide her softening assets behind a wall of frump. Less elasticity in the skin only makes this woman work harder at being better. But she also accepts that she is no longer 20. This is all about aging gracefully.

Donatella Versace, known for her daring, baring designs, appears to be doing some growing up of her own. "I'm not blind. I know that most women don't look like models. We had to start addressing other parts of a woman's life," she says. Her new designs feature a more structured silhouette. Simply look at the tailored outfits Madonna sports in the new Versace ad campagne. The look is part corporate, part sexy, but in a sophisticated way. But don't let her hear anyone call it chic. "It is cool rather than chic. I hate chic. It's such an outdated concept," she told The Times.

Dr. David Metz, co-author of the book "Older, Richer, Fitter", predicts that the future will be a more ageless society, where people will be defined by merit, goals and lifestyle rather than by a number.

21 February 2005

Jlo closes NYFW

Super diva Jennifer Lopez is debuting her new fashion line, Sweetface, at this season's New York Fashion Week, which started on Friday and will end on 11 February. Jlo will in fact be closing the week with her show, which will be taped for an hour-long MTV special. The special will focus on her design career, which started when she launced a line for teens in 2001.

In a statement, Lopez said: "I really think this is going to be a rebirth for us - a big step. I've had a passion for fashion for so long."
We will wait with baited breath.

8 February 2005

Beyonce to produce clothing line

Last week R&B diva Beyonce Knowles announced that she had signed a licensing contract to produce a line of clothing for young women. The Tarrant Apparel Group will produce the new line. The company already makes clothes under the American Rag, Cie and Gear 7 brands.

Beyonce is naming her brand the House of Dereon, for her grandmother Agnes Dereon. The new line is expected to hit stores in time for the Christmas 2005 season. It will include ready-to-wear, sportswear and denim. Knowles told reporters: "There will be a lot of sexy tops, sweaters and party dresses, things that I would wear either on or off the red carpet."

Beyonce's grandmother, who was Creole, not only influenced the naming of the brand but also the style of the clothes, which will feature a large amount of "beading and detailing", according to Tina Knowles, Beyonce's mother and the woman who designs all the stars clothes. Together they have established Beyond Productions, a joint venture with Kids Headquarters, to develop and license the House of Dereon brand.

The new line will target women between the ages of 18 and 28 and will be priced slightly lowers than brands like Theory and BCBG Max Azria, according to Cory Silverstein of Kids Headquarters. He added that there are plans for licensing deals for outerwear, shoes, accessories, jewellery and fragrances.

31 January 2005

Bob Geldof attacks charity shops

Band Aid organiser Bob Geldof has launched an attack on charity shops, claiming that they should all be closed down. Geldof was appearing on Radio 4's Start the Week programme, and was asked what should be done to save small shops.

He commented, "I live in a small town in Kent and a major supermarket set up shop on the outskirts and it denuded the town. We saw the ubiquitous charity shops sprouting everywhere, which is the first sign of decline." "If there was zero tolerance in policing then they would immediately raid charity shops and close them down."

28 December 2004

Osbourne fashions

Kelly Osbourne, scion of rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his manager wife Sharon, has added another item on her list of dubious accomplishments. Besides being a famous reality TV personality, recovering painkiller addict and pop star, Kelly has launched her own fashion line.

The clothes she designs are clothes with attitude and include t-shirts, hoodies and sweatpants adorned with cartoon drawings and slogans like "I'm not with stupid anymore" and "Just break up with me".

www.stilettokillers.com
14 December 2004

Fashion Icon 2004

Whether in Louis Vuitton at the MTV awards, as Jean Harlow for her film debut, or sporting her own diffusion fashion line, LAMB, Gwen Stefani cemented her relationship with old-school glamour and secured her role as the year's fashion muse.

Nick Knight's cover photography for her stellar solo album was the packaging of the year. Not many women can do fur stole, hotpants, crown, sceptre, ash blonde bleach and ruby red lips while flanked by a skinny Japanese lovely. Gwen could. She doesn't just know how to wear fashion, she knows how to live it.

13 December 2004

Don't mess with Mama

Beyonce Knowles is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Her mother Tina, who has always designed Beyonce's outrageous outfits, is demanding that her daughter support her new label by wearing her clothes in public.

On the other hand designer Tommy Hilfiger wants the pop diva to wear his designs to promotional appearances for the fragrance True Star, of which Beyonce is the face. According to an insider Mrs Knowles is so miffed she refuses to be in the same room with Hilfiger.

7 December 2004

Moore designer t-shirts

Pop star and actress Mandy Moore is the next in a long line of celebrities to take to designing. She is launching her own label Mblem in the spring of 2005, although her exclusive line of vintage modern t-shirts already hit a number of US boutiques last August. The preview collection featured lyrics from favourite songs form the 60's to the 80's.

Moore was reputedly inspired by her remake album, "Coverage", which includes covers of Blondie, Carole King and Joni Mitchell, among others. The pretty star says that she is a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal, always in search of the perfect t-shirt. She therefore decided to make her own. The shirts are inspired by rock n roll and batik art, with funky fonts and prints and light weight, extremely soft material. Mblem is currently available at over 100 hip specialty boutiques in the US. For the time being at least, British fans will have to refer the site.

www.mblem.net
6 December 2004

Star-struck Stefani

Singer and quirky fashionista Gwen Stefani recently admitted losing her cool when she met her fashion idols Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano.Stefani revealed that meeting Stefani was like meeting the Queen. And when she was invited to a Christian Dior show, she actually cried. She has even included the two in her latest single, Rich Girl. Stefani made her foray into the fashion industry by designing her own label, L.A.M.B.

1 December 2004

Mickey Rourke designs

For a while there he seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth, but Mickey Rourke has been crawling back onto the scene. The latest news from Hollywood is that the 9 ½ weeks actor has announced that he will be unveiling his first fashion collection.

51-year-old Rourke has joined forces with Christian Audiger, ex-Von Dutch designer. The two are planning a collection of biker wear, which they have called Stroker Joe. Rourke told a US magazine that Stroker Joe is a biker friend to whom he is very close. Bad-boy Rourke seems the ideal match for a line of biker wear. However, he will not be designing any helmets. "They look so stupid," he said.

29 November 2004

Fashion talk

Supermodel Tyra Banks is planting her shapely posterior on the interviewer's couch next fall, as she takes on the role of talk show host.
Banks has signed a deal with Telepictures to host her own show. The show will be co-produced by Benny Medina, Jennifer Lopez's ex-manager, and will air late next year.

Gorgeous Tyra insists that her new show will not be about celebrities but about real people with real problems. It will be human interest driven, with a strong focus on women's issues, especially for the younger generation. Tyra has gained a great deal of experience in this field after having hosted the hit reality show, America's Next Top Model, which saw her dealing with many issues such as body image and self-esteem. The show will covers these subjects amongst others such as dating, marriage and children.

23 November 2004

Catherine knitting away

At a location in Mexico for the Zorro sequel, Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, reportedly has got obsessed with knitting ponchos for Christmas gifts. The Welsh actress has knitted 15 ponchos so far, with plans to knit at least 20 more. Zeta-Jones and co-star Antonio Banderas are in San Luis Potosi filming the sequel to Mask of Zorro, due for screens in 2005.

18 november 2004

Hall gets real

Jerry Hall, ex-wife of Mick Jagger, will be hosting her own reality TV programme. The show, with the dubious title "Kept", will feature Hall making a selection out of 15 men who are to compete for a position as Hall's 'kept' man. The competitors will join Hall in the lap of luxury, attending premieres and parties with her and socialising with her friends and family.

The show is being produced by MSNBC.COM and will be aired on VH1 next year. All "attractive and charismatic" men have been called upon to apply. They must send in a picture, tape an resume. Most importantly, they must be between the ages of 25 and 40.

3 November 2004

What Madonna did next

The superstar is rumoured to be in talks with Versace to model the house's spring/summer 2005 collection. Madonna is no stranger to modelling, specifically for Versace. She first appeared in a Versace campaign ten years ago.

Donatello Versace reportedly asked her high-profile friend to model for the new campaign as a favour, but it appears that Madonna has not lost her cutting edge. She demanded a $12 million fee for her participation in the project, which will be shot by celebrity photographer Mario Testino. Madonna's spokesperson, Liz Rosenberg, confirmed that the talks are indeed taking place, but that Madonna has yet to make a decision.

2 November 2004

When Ben met Kate

Not many people will forget Kate Winslet's appearance in a fire-engine red gown at a certain red-carpet event. The designer was Ben de Lisi, and since then he has been heralded as the best thing to happen to A-listers across the globe.

He recently revealed the creative process that he embarks upon with Kate every time he designs a new frock for her. They begin with choosing a colour, and then Ben begins sketching. Kate has admitted feeling as comfortable in a De Lisi creation as in a pair of blue jeans, because his dresses are corseted and keep all the unruly bit from protruding in front of the paparazzi.

The New York-born, London-based designer hopes that such endorsements from Kate will help boost his presence in the US. He told reporters "The US market has become very insular over the past few years. I'm hoping that Kate will give the US business a shot in the arm."

28 October 2004

Thou shalt not blaspheme

What do David Beckham and Britney Spears have in common? They have both managed to offend the Roman Catholic Church by wearing rosary beads as a fashion statement instead of as an act of true faith.

Beckham showed up at a party recently with four sets of rosary beads around his neck and was photographed for the cover of Vanity Fair wearing a Dolce & Gabbana version worth $1,000. Britney was caught wearing a white set while strolling around London.
Consequently every fashion conscious teenager has started a scavenger hunt for the accessoire-du-moment and Christian shops have been barraged with requests for rosary beads. Much to the concern of the Church.

The Roman Catholic Church in England and Whales has published a leaflet stressing the importance of the rosary as a religious relic, but teenagers across the UK keep buying rosaries for fashion purposes. Christian shops reported an extraordinary rise in sales during the summer, and there are no signs of sales abating as yet. Considering their impact on teens, perhaps it is time for Becks and Britney to embrace the Catholic faith sincerely. Failing that, they might consider adopting a new trend.

27 October 2004

Pharrell introduces eyewear

N.E.R.D. lead singer Pharrell Williams paired up with Louis Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs to co-create a line of eyewear. This is not Pharrell's first foray into the world of fashion. He recently launched a limited edition Ice Cream shoe collection and the Billionaire Boys Club clothing line for Reebok's RBK range.

The eyewear line was revealed at Paris Fashion Week last week.

19 October 2004

Kim Cattrall In Fragrance Ad

Actress Kim Cattrall, whose portrayal of femme fatale Samantha Jones on "Sex and the City" won her the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe in 2003 and the Screen Actor's Guild Award in 2002, will star in an ad for Spark Seduction for both men and women, two new fragrances by Liz Claiborne Cosmetics. He her reputation as a seductress makes Cattrall perfect for the part.

18 October 2004

Extreme Re-brands Legends For UK High Street

The media group Extreme, which owns the Extreme Sports Channel and already operates online and mail order surf, skate and snow retailer Extremepie.com is to bring its brand to the British high streets. With the acquisition of the Legends Surf Shops - now to be rebranded using the Extreme name and logo - Extreme will make a play at conquering the UK high street with the chain to be renamed Extreme Shops.

Al Gosling, chief executive of Extreme Group, told The Retail Bulletin: "The overall goal is to build a significant retail chain in our sector, fully integrated with our existing TV, internet and mail order operations. He added: "We are grateful to the previous owners of the Legends stores who have done a remarkable job in building this sector. We wish them well, and hope to work with them in the future in whatever way we can."

Steve Hazell has been appointed as managing director to lead the growth of Extreme Shops, bringing more than 20 years of retail and operational management to the business. His most recent role was as a director of Snow+Rock, where he played a key role in taking the company from a four store operation to a 13 store, GBP30m turnover sector leader in snowsports and outdoor pursuits.

Hazell said: "This is the result of six months of hard work in which we have identified the potential of the Legends business and built, tested and refined a plan to grow it. I am very glad that we have been able to reach this point, and thrilled to be involved with such a positive, dynamic and capable team, at an exciting time for this sector of the retail market. "The opportunity to work with such a strong brand gives us a unique opportunity to establish dominant sector positioning in a shortened time frame."

6 September 2004

Mira Sorvino Weds In Armani

Giorgio Armani custom-designed the wedding dress for the marriage of actress Mira Sorvino to Chris Backus, which took place on luxury island Capri last week.

The bride worse a long white satin bustier dress with jais floral beading detailing overlaid in organza with a veil in organza. She also wore white satin gloves and shoes with the dress. For the bridesmaids Giorgio Armani designed long blue-green satin spaghetti strap dresses overlaid in blue chiffon inspired by the sea off Capri.

>> more Armani news on FashionUnited
9 July 2004

Kristin Davis The Face Of B-Young

Former Sex and the City Star, Kristin Davis, AKA Charlotte, is to become the public face for Danish fashion-wear company B-Young.

B-Young is an international fashion chain based in Copenhagen that has 200 stores throughout Europe, including 125 outlets in Ireland. Davis' former Melrose Place co-star Heather Locklear has also represented B-Young.

24 June 2004

Celebrities To Front Strenesse Campaign

Tennis Ace Boris Becker and supermodel Claudia Schiffier are to star in German designer label Strenesse's latest advertising campaign, to be launched this August. German fashion photographer Jürgen Teller, who has also shot the latest Marc Jacobs ads, will photograph the campaign.

23 June 2004

It's A Dog's Life

Rapper DMX, who growls and barks through most of his records, has landed in the legal doghouse with a company that claims he breached an agreement to promote its line of high-end doggie-wear.

Amusing Diversions Inc. alleged in court papers that when it signed a promotion agreement with DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, it was unaware of his involvement in dogfighting or his conviction on animal cruelty charges.

Agents for the 33-year-old rapper, who recorded the hit "Get at Me Dog," said in court papers that he had recorded "dog awareness" radio spots urging people to be kind to their animals. Those announcements reflected his "positive connection with dogs," they said.

But Amusing Diversions, in its filing this week in Manhattan's state Supreme Court, said his radio spots were "part of a community service obligation judicially imposed upon him" for animal cruelty.

DMX pleaded guilty to the cruelty charges in 2002 after officials found 14 pit bulls living in filthy conditions at his New Jersey home. He was fined and ordered to do the ads.

16 June 2004

TV Shopping Channel For N Brown

N Brown, the home shopping group is to launch a TV shopping channel to be called Express. The new channel, to be launched in September, will focus on difficult sizes for products such as shoes and lingerie.

N Brown's turnover for the year to February 28 was up 2.9 per cent to GBP470.5m from GBP457.3m. Pre-tax profit fell to GBP49.1m to GBP54.8m.

19 May 2004

Fashion Keeps Sex And The City Alive

Friday night was deathly quiet in London. With the greater city tuned into the last ever episode of four women living the urban lifestyle so many of us aspire to, the streets were empty with the thirty-something crowd at home parked on the sofa with a box of tissues and a bottle of wine. Maybe even a Baileys on ice (the show's not-so-subtle sponsor) appearing in certain living rooms of those die-hard fans who effortlessly recall every storyline since the show's debut in 1998.

Sarah Jessica Parker, aka Carrie Bradshaw, single-handedly became a new generation icon by being sexy, single, and, in her vulnerable quest for true love, became our friend. Reflecting on screen our general desire to meet THE ONE TRUE LOVE, she epitomised the now-moment without being too desperate, whilst all the time managing to stay on top of the style stakes.

If ever there was a fashion moment on prime-time television, Sex and the City's were boundless. The credit, of course, is largely due to the almost famous stylists behind the scenes who styled the shows actresses, yet Sarah Jessica Parker managed to encapsulate the fabulousness of being today's fashion-girl without falling victim to it. Who else could pull off wearing Chanel, Blahnik and Vuitton all in the same outfit yet still maintain an air of nonchalance and drink cappuccino in Starbucks without looking out of place?

And so, while the series' ending may or may not have satisfied the viewing audience, the frocks and fashion certainly did. Carrie's dress from the second last episode (yes THAT dress that she fell asleep in, in a Paris hotel after being stood up by Petrovsky) is now on sale at Versace's boutique on 5th Avenue. The blue and brown tulle, chiffon ball skirt will cost you USD39,000. But for that you get the original that SJP wore and Petrovsky stuck his head up. Then again, if second-hand isn't good enough for you (it certainly wasn't for our Sex in the city friends) or if you don't fit into a size 2 sample, you can order your made-to-measure for USD80,000 and keep a little of Carrie with you.

22 March 2004

It's payback time…

They are more used to dishing out criticism than receiving it. On Wednesday, however, What Not To Wear presenters Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine received a dose of their own medicine - from Carol Vorderman, the hostess of Countdown. Vorderman labelled Woodall as an "anorexic transvestite" and Constantine "a carthorse in a badly-fitting bin liner". She retaliated after Woodall and Constantine named her one of TV's worst dressed women - she wore a revealing blue dress to the 1999 Baftas - on their BBC2 show last year.

Vorderman hit back in a magazine interview. The Cambridge-educated presenter said: "I saw the two snobs at the National Television Awards last year. One looked like an anorexic transvestite - with apologies to drag queens everywhere. The other wasn't exactly a clothes horse, she walked more like a carthorse in a badly fitting bin liner. "

In addition, Vorderman said she was particularly angry with the pair for criticising those who were unable to defend themselves. She told TV Times: "If you're on the telly you take the good with the bad. I don't like mean television which ridicules members of the public who can't fight back." Woodall and Constantine sniped: "The problem with Carol Vorderman is that she went from kind of a librarian on Countdown to this sex goddess. She feels the need to show off as much as possible."

www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle
February 27, 2003

Frodo's frock nominated for award

The Costume Designers Guild last Tuesday unveiled the nominees for its fifth annual Excellence in Costume Design Awards. The hobbit cloaks of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and the jazzy tap shoes of "Chicago" were among the onscreen accessories that caught the eye of members of the Guild.

In the contemporary film category, nominees are: Joanna Johnston for "About a Boy," Wendy Chuck for New Line's "About Schmidt," Sarah Edwards for "Igby Goes Down," Ellen Mirojnick "Unfaithful" and Susie DeSanto for "White Oleander." In the period or fantasy film category, Colleen Atwood's work was recognized for "Chicago" and Julie Weiss for "Frida." Ngila Dickson got a nom for "Two Towers" and Albert Wolsky for "Road to Perdition."

American television station HBO that released a record number of hit series dominated the contemporary television costume design category. Patricia Fields was nominated for the urbane look she gives the stars of "Sex and the City". Also vying for honours in that category are Julie Polcsa for "The Sopranos" and Gail McMullen for "Six Feet Under." Winners of the fifth annual CDG Awards will be announced March 16 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire.

January 23, 2003

No style? Off to jail!

Beauty Prison, a new Channel 4 show that will be broadcasted in the New Year, takes crimes against fashion literally by taking the badly dressed off to "jail". The new show claims to be a cross between What Not to Wear and Prisoner Cell Block H.

The show targets "unfashionable, overweight, spotty frumps" in need of an image makeover. Participants will be thrown in an "isolated correctional facility' staffed by experts. They will be transformed with the help of laser hair removal, acid peels and style experts and will not be allowed out until they have passed a "parole hearing".

Beauty Prison is a production of Talkback, the company behind Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Smack The Pony. A spokeswoman for Talkback said: "If the victims have the staying power to endure sarcastic criticism and the degrading exposure of their flaws, then they should check out as glossy, designer diva's."

www.channel4.com
December 21, 2002