Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Royals riding high in media a year after wedding
The wedding fervour, which saw a million Britons cram the streets of London on April 29, 2011 to catch a glimpse of the future king and queen, has inevitably faded with the memory of the fairytale dresses, uniforms and horse-drawn carriages.
But royal watchers and many members of the public believe the couple have boosted the monarchy's popularity and offer an escape for a nation beset by recession, unemployment and financial insecurity.
Even if, as naysayers argue, the duke and duchess are merely celebrities whose wealth and style are out of reach of all but a few, their popularity reaches far beyond Britain.
Media outlets in Britain, the United States, Canada and beyond remain enamoured with Catherine and second-in-line-to-the-throne Prince William.
"I think it's been a complete triumph for them," Claudia Joseph, a biographer of Catherine, said of their first year of married life.
Where the couple, and their PR team, have been particularly successful, commentators say, is in projecting the image of a relatively ordinary pair, albeit it one that has access to palaces, castles, glitzy red carpets and the odd butler or two.
While William has been working as a rescue helicopter pilot in north Wales, they have stayed in a rented home on the island of Anglesey, a move that has helped them build the "couple-next-door" idea.
"William drives himself to work, enjoys a pint in the local pub, Kate shops at the local supermarket, cooks for her husband, they go for walks, go to cinema, watch television," Joseph said.
MEDIA MESMERISED
Some newspapers have followed the royal couple with a commitment bordering on obsession.
Barely a day goes by when either the Daily Mail or Daily Telegraph -- as right-leaning publications natural allies to the monarchy -- do not splash images of them over their pages, usually accompanied with gushing prose.
On Friday, the Daily Mail featured photographs of the duke and duchess attending an official function on its front page and again on page 3 and 27.
The Telegraph devotes its main front page picture to Prince William holding a baby and page 4 to a story of how Queen Elizabeth and father-in-law Prince Charles get on well with Catherine.
Often stories are about official engagements, including visits to charities, trips abroad and movie premieres.
They also focus on fashion, with the duchess seen as a key arbiter of taste whose choice of clothes and accessories sends items flying off the high street shelves.
"Catherine's style spans the catwalk and the high street and she is a great champion of British brands, making her an excellent style ambassador," said Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council.
In one of the more bizarre examples, pictures of the duchess playing field hockey led to a surge in interest in the sport -- one online retailer saw sales of hockey sticks surge 238 percent in the days after she paid a visit to the British Olympic team.
Some articles have ventured into pure speculation.
"Kate Middleton's sexy underwear secret revealed!" ran a headline on the website of celebrity Now magazine, followed by an unsourced story based on conjecture.
If and when the couple have a baby is currently top of the "guessing games", followed by speculation over whether the duchess has an eating disorder -- a sensitive topic given that William's late mother Princess Diana, to whom Kate is inevitably compared, suffered from bulimia.
Coverage has extended to Kate's sister Pippa, who also shot to global fame as a result of her appearance as maid of honour at the royal wedding.
A recent trip to party in Paris may have caused royal blushes after Pippa was criticised for being photographed in a car with a man wielding what looked like a pistol at pursuing paparazzi.
Generally, however, the press has been overwhelmingly favourable, although anti-monarchist group Republic counters that support for the royals is weaker than headlines suggest.
It said this week that polls showed a fall in the number of people believing Britain would be worse off without the royals -- down to 51 percent from 63 percent this time last year.
Only 41 percent said they believed the monarchy was a unifying force, with 32 percent saying it made no difference.
"These polls put the lie to the claim that the monarchy is enjoying a resurgence of popularity," Republic's chief executive Graham Smith said. "No poll over the past 18 months has shown any increase in support for the monarchy."
FEEL-GOOD FACTOR
However, royal officials believe that austere economic times have added to the monarchy's allure.
"Continuity and stability has strength in its own rights while everything else is in a state of flux," one senior royal aide told Reuters on condition of anonymity, due to the palace's demands for discretion in dealing with the press.
"One of its roles in a way is to provide a sort of ballast to the nation, a solid foundation, and it probably comes to the fore more obviously in difficult times.
"You saw that with the royal wedding last year. People realised they could have a celebration. It was something that people turned to very naturally."
The queen may well be grateful to her grandchildren for casting the royals in a positive light, following a series of scandals including popular Diana's death in a Paris car crash aged 36.
The 86-year-old monarch is gearing up for a weekend of national celebrations in early June to mark her 60th year on the throne, a spectacular event expected to draw more huge crowds to London and media attention from around the world.
In sharp contrast to their very public wedding, the duke and duchess will be avoiding the limelight on their anniversary on Sunday at a long-planned event with friends at an undisclosed location in Britain, their spokesman said.
(Editing by Paul Casciato)
Source:Reuters
UK royals riding high in media a year after wedding
The wedding fervor, which saw a million Britons cram the streets of London on April 29, 2011 to catch a glimpse of the future king and queen, has inevitably faded with the memory of the fairytale dresses, uniforms and horse-drawn carriages.
But royal watchers and many members of the public believe the couple have boosted the monarchy's popularity and offer an escape for a nation beset by recession, unemployment and financial insecurity.
Even if, as naysayers argue, the duke and duchess are merely celebrities whose wealth and style are out of reach of all but a few, their popularity reaches far beyond Britain.
Media outlets in Britain, the United States, Canada and beyond remain enamored with Catherine and second-in-line-to-the-throne Prince William.
"I think it's been a complete triumph for them," Claudia Joseph, a biographer of Catherine, said of their first year of married life.
Where the couple, and their PR team, have been particularly successful, commentators say, is in projecting the image of a relatively ordinary pair, albeit it one that has access to palaces, castles, glitzy red carpets and the odd butler or two.
While William has been working as a rescue helicopter pilot in north Wales, they have stayed in a rented home on the island of Anglesey, a move that has helped them build the "couple-next-door" idea.
"William drives himself to work, enjoys a pint in the local pub, Kate shops at the local supermarket, cooks for her husband, they go for walks, go to cinema, watch television," Joseph said.
MEDIA MESMERISED
Some newspapers have followed the royal couple with a commitment bordering on obsession.
Barely a day goes by when either the Daily Mail or Daily Telegraph -- as right-leaning publications natural allies to the monarchy -- do not splash images of them over their pages, usually accompanied with gushing prose.
On Friday, the Daily Mail featured photographs of the duke and duchess attending an official function on its front page and again on page 3 and 27.
The Telegraph devotes its main front page picture to Prince William holding a baby and page 4 to a story of how Queen Elizabeth and father-in-law Prince Charles get on well with Catherine.
Often stories are about official engagements, including visits to charities, trips abroad and movie premieres.
They also focus on fashion, with the duchess seen as a key arbiter of taste whose choice of clothes and accessories sends items flying off the high street shelves.
"Catherine's style spans the catwalk and the high street and she is a great champion of British brands, making her an excellent style ambassador," said Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council.
In one of the more bizarre examples, pictures of the duchess playing field hockey led to a surge in interest in the sport -- one online retailer saw sales of hockey sticks surge 238 percent in the days after she paid a visit to the British Olympic team.
Some articles have ventured into pure speculation.
"Kate Middleton's sexy underwear secret revealed!" ran a headline on the website of celebrity Now magazine, followed by an unsourced story based on conjecture.
If and when the couple have a baby is currently top of the "guessing games", followed by speculation over whether the duchess has an eating disorder -- a sensitive topic given that William's late mother Princess Diana, to whom Kate is inevitably compared, suffered from bulimia.
Coverage has extended to Kate's sister Pippa, who also shot to global fame as a result of her appearance as maid of honor at the royal wedding.
A recent trip to party in Paris may have caused royal blushes after Pippa was criticized for being photographed in a car with a man wielding what looked like a pistol at pursuing paparazzi.
Generally, however, the press has been overwhelmingly favorable, although anti-monarchist group Republic counters that support for the royals is weaker than headlines suggest.
It said this week that polls showed a fall in the number of people believing Britain would be worse off without the royals -- down to 51 percent from 63 percent this time last year.
Only 41 percent said they believed the monarchy was a unifying force, with 32 percent saying it made no difference.
"These polls put the lie to the claim that the monarchy is enjoying a resurgence of popularity," Republic's chief executive Graham Smith said. "No poll over the past 18 months has shown any increase in support for the monarchy."
FEEL-GOOD FACTOR
However, royal officials believe that austere economic times have added to the monarchy's allure.
"Continuity and stability has strength in its own rights while everything else is in a state of flux," one senior royal aide told Reuters on condition of anonymity, due to the palace's demands for discretion in dealing with the press.
"One of its roles in a way is to provide a sort of ballast to the nation, a solid foundation, and it probably comes to the fore more obviously in difficult times.
"You saw that with the royal wedding last year. People realized they could have a celebration. It was something that people turned to very naturally."
The queen may well be grateful to her grandchildren for casting the royals in a positive light, following a series of scandals including popular Diana's death in a Paris car crash aged 36.
The 86-year-old monarch is gearing up for a weekend of national celebrations in early June to mark her 60th year on the throne, a spectacular event expected to draw more huge crowds to London and media attention from around the world.
In sharp contrast to their very public wedding, the duke and duchess will be avoiding the limelight on their anniversary on Sunday at a long-planned event with friends at an undisclosed location in Britain, their spokesman said.
(Editing by Paul Casciato)
Source:Reuters
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Fairytale fashion: Louboutin creating Cinderella-inspired glass slipper
Fashionistas will have to wait until the summertime to see the shoe, although it is said the creator, famous for his red-soled talons, will put his own magic touch on the famous footwear.
I have been so lucky to have crossed paths with Cinderella, an icon who is so emblematic to the shoe world as well as the dream world, Louboutin is quoted as saying in WWD April 26.
This wont be the first time the Brothers Grimm fairytale shoe has provides a source of inspiration.
Maison Martin Margiela created its own interpretation of the iconic glass slippers a few years back for a limited edition range.
Meanwhile, Snow White also looks set to be a major source for fashion trends this year thanks to the release of a new Hollywood interpretation of the tale, Snow White and the Huntsman. The film has already inspired a Benefit Cosmetics beauty kit allowing fans to recreate protagonist Kristen Stewarts pale beauty, and Charlize Theron's Evil Queen character boasts an extensive haute couture wardrobe.
Fairy tales were also the theme for the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 collection, which was described as spring-like and magical by creative director Marc Jacobs.
Source:AFP Relax News
Hit the Met Ball red carpet: 'Fashion Oscars' to be live streamed for first time
Reporter William Norwich and model Elettra Wiedemann will host the live coverage, and are set to interview the likes of Carey Mulligan, Miuccia Prada, and Anna Wintour, who are this years gala co-chairs. Fashion fans will be able to submit their questions via Twitter using the hashtag #metquestions.
Top designers invite dates to the gala, i.e. a model/celebrity that they will dress for the night. Last years best dressed included Rihanna in Stella McCartney, Beyonc Knowles in Emilio Pucci and Diane Kruger in Jason Wu. For the upcoming edition, Joseph Altuzarra has revealed singer Lana Del Rey as his guest, while Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are set to take Australian actress Isabel Lucas.
The Costume Institute gala celebrates the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute, which this year will be Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, putting the spotlight on Italian creators Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada.
http://www.metmuseum.org/
Source:AFP Relax News
Singapore railway station gets new life as fashion runway
Less than a year after it ended life as an active train station, models sashayed down a makeshift runway to show the latest clothing from Italian fashion house Valentino and show off one of Singapore's architectural gems.
The art deco building at the edge of Singapore's central business district, with its murals in the main hall and four marble statues on its portico entrance, closed in June last year as part of a deal that saw Malaysia move its rail operations to a new site nearer the border with Singapore.
Malaysia and Singapore were briefly joined in a union after independence, and the station and the area alongside the railway tracks were considered Malaysian territory under agreements forged by former British colonial rulers.
Malaysia handed the railway station over to Singapore last year, effectively giving up sovereignty over the land in return for sites in other parts of the city-state and Singapore's help in developing an investment zone in southern Malaysia.
The station, which opened in 1932, has been named as a national monument.
"We try to do our fashion show in an interesting and different location every year. The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is historical, it's interesting and it's never been used for a fashion show before," Grace Lee, editor of fashion magazine NuYou told Reuters.
Nuyou, which is Chinese for girlfriend, organized the show with sister magazine Female.
"We're working with RED Valentino, the baby in the Valentino stable, as it expands into Asia," added Female's creative editor Jeanette Ejlersen.
Introduced in 2004, RED, which stands for Romantic Eccentric Dress, offers a more contemporary, casual spin to more traditional Valentino attire.
The Singapore Land Authority, which owns Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, closed the building to facilitate the removal of railway track, furniture and equipment.
It plans to redevelop the area while preserving the station facade and individuals and will allow it to be used for events and activities on application, a spokeswoman said.
(Reporting by Kevin Lim, editing by Paul Casciato)
Source:Reuters
Techno-chic: This seasons must-have tablet sleeves
Meanwhile, an array of creations can be seen on Net-a-Porter, including a glitter-finished sleeve by Jimmy Choo, a laser-cut leather iPad case by Azzedine Alaa and an adorable iPad cover by Lanvin adorned in quirky sketches of the labels creative director Alber Elbaz.
Other houses have kept things more classic: for example Chlo, Yves Saint Laurent and Mulberry favor block colored leather creations, and Stella McCartney offers a chic faux leather iPad sleeve.
Labels including Dolce & Gabbana and Marni evoke their trademark prints for the tablet sleeve: the latters features khaki colored spots, while Dolce & Gabbana offers a leopard-print faux leather variety.
The tendency for luxury tablet sleeves emerged back in 2010, although it truly skyrocketed in the past twelve months of so -- with almost all of the worlds biggest fashion houses now in on the trend. Luxury leather brand Tods was one of the pioneers, and its crocodile leather cases are still among some of the most coveted.
Source:AFP Relax News
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Bottega Veneta latest label to offer personalized fashion
Women can select from a range of small leather goods, shoppers, wallets, cases, and a belt. For men, items include a tote, a cross-body bag, two wallets, and a belt. Once the product has been selected, a choice of four leather colors are available, while there are eight shades of lettering to choose from.
Following in the footsteps of labels such as Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta will also launch the Initials service for luggage as of July.
Other major fashion houses to have embraced the consumer demand for personalized fashion include Goyard and Prada, which offers everything from customized sunglasses to biker boots. Meanwhile, visitors to the Burberry Bespoke site can create their own take on the British labels iconic trench coat, changing details including color and length.
Source:AFP Relax News
Discover design stars of the future with live stream of FIT's Annual Fashion Show
Nowadays it is commonplace for labels in all four fashion capitals to live stream fashion shows, and designers in the Big Apple such as Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera and Narciso Rodriguez have been doing so for some time, so it makes sense for FIT to follow suit.
Fashion fans will be able to catch The Future of Fashion streamed live on the web at 7:30pm Wednesday, May 2, via www.fitnyc.edu/futureoffashion.
To get into the mood beforehand you can also gain insight into the final preparations by the FIT students ahead of the fashion show by checking out some of their blogs. For a list of links visit http://www.fitnyc.edu/12061.asp.
Source:AFP Relax News
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Miyake eco-friendly origami line beats Duchess wedding gown at 'design Oscars'
In the fashion category, Burton had been nominated for the wedding gown she created for Britains Duchess of Cambridge, while esteemed creators such as Mary Katrantzou and Phoebe Philo had also been in the running for a prize -- but the innovation behind Miyakes collection ensured a victory.
Created with the assistance of software that creates flat geometric shapes from single sheets that open into 3D creations, the 132 5. collection comprises wearable dresses that can also be folded flat, origami-style. This isnt the first time the art of origami has inspired the fashion world, as Belgian designer Alexandra Verschueren scooped the main prize at the prestigious fashion and photography festival in Hyres with an origami-inspired collection back in 2010.
Miyakes 132 5. collection also boasts green credentials -- dresses are made out of recyclable materials such as polyester processed from plastic bottles. This is particularly on trend at the moment, with labels such as Paul Smith, Lanvin and Armani embracing sustainable fashion as part of eco-fashion campaigner Livia Firths Green Carpet Challenge. Firth famously wore an Armani gown partly made from recycled plastic bottles to the Golden Globes back in January.
Source:AFP Relax News
Donatella Versace making 'emotional' return to Ritz Paris for couture show
"It is with tremendous emotion that I return to the Ritz where I shared so many special moments with my brother," said Donatella Versace.
The Atelier Versace show is scheduled to take place July 1, with Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week running July 2-5. The iconic hotel and frequent fashion hangout will close for a major renovation project as of July 31.
"The closing of the Ritz Paris for two years represents the end of an era but also the beginning of a new one, so to be able to show Atelier Versace there one last time will be a memorable milestone," added Versace.
Source:AFP Relax News
Coachella 2012: Best dressed stars penetrate Instagram
http://instagr.am/p/JsDZUjIR27/
Photographed partying with Von Teese was television star Kelly Osbourne, who took to her Instagram to share a snap of her new lavender hairdo. Musicians Katy Perry and Azealia Banks also favored purple locks for this years Coachella.
http://instagr.am/p/Jp_un4Ab13/
Socialite Paris Hilton was another celebrity to embrace colored locks at this years Coachella, opting for bright pink streaks to match her neon fingerless gloves and pink bag.
http://instagr.am/p/Js0SoTMHJV/
Model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington Whiteley also scored style points, snubbing the classic vest top by teaming her denim cutoffs with a billowing white blouse. The star shared a snap of herself and British celebrity stylist Cher Coulter.
http://statigr.am/p/174625422705353147_25096719
Another Brit showing of her style credentials at Coachella was Emma Watson, who attended the Mulberry party in an animal print playsuit, cardigan and floppy hat.
http://statigr.am/p/171187379309887072_40289846
Emma Roberts shared an array of her outfits on Instagram, including this one with friend Christy Cham, in which the actress sports a trilby hat and tribal print pants.
http://statigr.am/p/170293431003509012_18370763
Rihanna favored the classic festival staple of denim cutoffs, which she wore with a bustier cropped top and sneakers.
http://statigr.am/p/170455301341105336_25945306
Reality star Lauren Conrad was the epitome of festival chic in her round vintage style glasses from The Row teamed with tousled waves and a straw hat.
http://statigr.am/p/169594339263487161_7183558
Source:AFP Relax News
Monday, April 23, 2012
Victoria Beckham turns designer hand to cars
"I've stayed very true to myself. I've designed a car that I want to drive, a car that I think David wants to drive," the former Spice Girl told Reuters in an interview in Beijing, where she was promoting the vehicle, late on Sunday.
"I think that though women will drive this car, it has a masculine edge. I think it's very cool," she added.
Beckham, who admitted she had never done a project like this before, said she had learned "an enormous amount."
"And the bottom line is, would I drive this car, like when I'm designing a dress, would I wear this dress? I love what I do. I consider myself so blessed to do a job that I love and this has been a great experience for me," said Beckham, wearing a sleeveless striped dress from her own collection.
She said she searched for inspiration in many places.
"I did a lot of research and not just with cars, old and new, but boats, planes, movie stars, different locations," she said.
"It would be hard to pinpoint exactly where the inspiration came from. It's just what I like, that's the bottom line. I don't try to be too technical about it ... It's what feels real to me."
The special edition "Evoque" features exclusive, hand-finished matt paint, the first for a Land Rover-type vehicle.
The vehicle also has rose gold accents on the grille and gloss black forged alloy wheels. Inside, the four-seat coupe includes vintage-inspired leather seats, rose gold-plated accents and features trimmings of black lacquer, textured aluminum and mohair.
In addition, the vehicle has bespoke luxury accessories, such as a four-piece leather luggage set and a hand-sewn leather wallet for the owner's manual signed by (Victoria) Beckham.
The special edition "Evoque" costs 80,000 pounds ($129,000), twice the cost of a regular model. Only 200 will be made, the first of which will be rolled out in China as early as October.
Beckham has begun to make a name for herself as a designer, and in 2011 picked up a British Fashion Award.
Still, the singer-turned-designer said she "doesn't want to run, before she can walk" with her collection.
"I mean, each season, I add more retail partners to my list of retailers but because it's important for me, as a brand, to keep things quite small. I want my customer to feel quite special when she finds one of my dresses or handbags. I don't want it to get too big too quickly."
($1 = 0.6205 British pounds)
(Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Ed Lane)
Source:Reuters
Cara Delevingne stars in first Instagram high-fashion shoot
British model Cara Delevingne can be seen in the pictures, where she showcases fashion and jewelry from the likes of Mary Katrantzou and Van Cleef and Arpels and is joined by an array of cute animals including kittens and baby chicks. Check out the images on SHOWstudios Tumblr blog or at http://showstudio.com/.
Instagram hit the headlines when it was purchased by social network Facebook earlier this month, although the fashion industry was one of the earliest adopters of the now ubiquitous photo app. It has catapulted street style photographers such as takinyerphoto and thomas_k into the limelight as well as being embraced by brands including Kate Spade New York.
Source:AFP Relax News
Sunday, April 22, 2012
One to watch: Gisele Bndchens five-year-old niece designs a clothing line
While Gisele is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme, Dudas clothing range was designed and produced with eco-friendly materials. Germano Costa, the commercial and marketing director of Brandili Textil (parent company to Brandili Mundi) explained to Forbes April 16 Dudas design process.
She told us about her preferences on prints, cuts and details, and based on the briefing we received from her we came up with a collaborative collection. The pieces were all approved by Duda, whose romantic inspiration will no doubt catch girls eyes, said Costa.
Dudas parents, Raquel Bndchen (Giseles sister) and Paulo Borges, were present at the shooting for the lines campaign; watch the making-of here to see Duda in action: http://youtu.be/tYc-917jH28
The five-year-old is the latest in a spate of youngsters being cited to watch as supermodels of the future, with Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford's 10-year-old daughter with former model Rande Gerber being unveiled as Young Versace's new face back in January. Meanwhile, Kate Moss's 13-year-old half-sister Lottie caught the world's attention as one of the bridesmaids at the supermodel's wedding back in July 2011 and has already been photographed by fashion photographer Andrea Carter-Bowman.
Source:AFP Relax News
Voting open for Vimeo Awards, videos from labels including Mulberry and ksubi in the running
The fashion category has shortlisted 12 videos which showcase a fashion, beauty collection or trend with moving image, including the Amanda Boyle-directed Mulberry short film "Skirt," which tells the story of a man and womans relationship through their possessions and interaction with one another. Offerings from Australian fashion label ksubi, fashion short maker shootmefashion.net and director Martin de Thurah are also in the running.
The significance fashion films have today is highlighted by the increasing numbers of awards dedicated to them. Already this year Prada scooped the Best Online Video for its Spring 2011 campaign at the Fashion 2.0 Awards, while talked about fashion films have included short film "The Cartier Odyssey" by jewelry house Cartier and a Cabaret-themed video "Club Nouveau," starring designer Gareth Pugh as Liza Minnelli.
Source:AFP Relax News
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Altuzarra launches J.Crew capsule collection
Collections from the runners up -- jewelry designer Pamela Love and Shane Gabier and Christopher Peterss label Creatures of the Wind -- are also available for preorder, ahead of official launches on May 17 and June 14 respectively.
Organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue magazine, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund helps rising fashion talents with the combination of a cash prize and mentoring.
Previous recipients include Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Derek Lam, and Thakoon.
This is the second time the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has partnered with J. Crew, with designs by honorees Billy Reid, Prabal Gurung, and Eddie Borgo hitting its stores last year.
Source:AFP Relax News
Benetton founder steps down for son
Benetton and his family turned the company into one of Italy's best known brands with more than 6,500 stores in 120 countries and a reputation for controversial advertising and bold colors, but it has struggled against new competitors.
"The baton passes to my son Alessandro, who will become chairman," Benetton, who turns 77 in May, said in an interview published in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
"After a run of 47 years, on Tuesday I will resign from the duties I hold in the company I founded with my siblings."
A company spokesman confirmed the remarks made in the interview. Alessandro is currently deputy chairman.
Benetton has suffered from the emergence of more-flexible rivals such as Inditex's Zara and Sweden's H&M . In January the family announced it would delist the company after a buyout of minority shareholders.
An industry source told Reuters in February that Alessandro was set to take charge and that the buy-out would give him room for possible asset disposals or alliances and help revamp the group to accommodate other family members.
In the interview, Benetton said his 48-year-old son had shown in the two years as deputy chairman he had the passion needed to run the group, now more than 90 percent controlled by the family.
Benetton scrapped its 2011 dividend after sluggish consumer demand in Southern Europe and the rising cost of raw materials such as cotton led to an almost 30 percent fall in net profit.
(Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
Source:Reuters
Fashion agenda: Hyres International Fashion and Photography Festival, Fashion Week Australia
April 24
London, UK
This prestigious ceremony organized by London's Design Museum looks at creations across a host of categories including architecture, furniture and fashion, with the winner from each section and an overall winner announced at an awards ceremony April 24. Fashion nominees include London-based designer Mary Katrantzou's and French label Cline's Autumn 2011 collections and Sarah Burton's wedding gown for Catherine Middleton. Contenders will be on show at the Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum, which is running until July 15.
http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2012/designs-of-the-year-2012
Hyres International Fashion and Photography Festival
April 27-30
Hyres, France
The 27th edition of this parallel fashion and photography event will begin April 27, with one of the most anticipated elements being the annual competitions, which have in the past recognized design talent such as Viktor & Rolf. Creatives nominated in the fashion category include Narelle Dore, Ragne Kikas, Daniel Hurlin and Kim Choong-Wilkins, who was also cited as One To Watch by Londons Vauxhall Fashion Scout this year.
http://www.villanoailles-hyeres.com/fr/actualites
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia
April 30-May 4
Sydney, Australia
Formerly known as Rosemount Australia Fashion Week, this upcoming Spring/Summer 2012 edition welcomes new sponsor Mercedes-Benz. While big-name Australian designers Dion Lee and Josh Goot recently pulled out of the event, labels still on the schedule include Romance Was Born, Zimmermann, Jayson Brunsdon, Akira and Ellery.
http://australia.mbfashionweek.com/
Christian Louboutin
May 1July 9
London, UK
In honor of Christian Louboutins 20th anniversary, Londons Design Museum presents the first UK retrospective of the acclaimed French shoe designer, showcasing his work and inspiration over the past two decades. The creators design process will be at the core of the exhibition. Other fasion retrospectives that have already kicked off this year include the Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs expo which opened at Pariss Les Arts Dcoratifs and The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier at the De Young Museum in San Francisco.
http://designmuseum.org/
Met Ball (the Costume Institute Gala)
May 7
New York, USA
This annual ball celebrates each year's opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute, founded in 1948, and is dubbed the fashion industry's Oscars thanks to the extravagant red carpet creations guests wear for their arrival. Stars to have made the best dressed lists last year included Beyonc Knowles in Emilio Pucci, Madonna in Stella McCartney and Diane Kruger in Jason Wu. The gala precedes the opening of the Costume Institute's expo Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada: On Fashion, which will run May 10 to August 19.
http://www.metmuseum.org
Barcelona Bridal Week
May 8-13
Barcelona, Spain
Following on from New Yorks recent bridal shows, the 22nd edition of Europes most prestigious bridal fair, Barcelona Bridal Week, launches May 8, welcoming over 230 brands from across the globe in the realms of bridal, groom, ceremonial wear and even communion attire. Newcomers for this edition include Carlo Pignatelli, Hannibal Laguna, Zuhair Wall, ZM Woman, Joana Montez and Patricia de Melo.
http://www.moda-barcelona.com/en/index.asp
Source:AFP Relax News
After Gaultier for Madonna, Armani unveils wacky Gaga tour creations
"Collaborating with Lady Gaga is always an exciting experience for me. I admire the way she uses fashion as a scenic element and as a means to build a character," said Armani, who also created looks for her 2010 Monster Ball tour.
"She is an artist of many talents and great intelligence. Creating stage costumes for her is a stimulating and creative exercise."
While Gagas Born This Way Ball kicks off April 27 in Seoul, Korea, Madonna starts the MDNA Tour May 29 in Tel Aviv, Israel. The songstress confirmed that her long-time collaborator Gaultier, who came up with the iconic pieces of her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour, is helping out with costumes.
I worship and adore [Jean Paul Gaultier]. Hes creating one of my costumes, and kind of godfathering the costumes for a section of my show, with all my dancers, the singer recently told WWD.
Im really happy hes doing it, because hes such a genius. And Ill probably wear something that Riccardo [Tisci] from Givenchy makes. But the rest of it is going to be what my costume designer Arianne Phillips creates with me.
Source:AFP Relax News
Cannes Film Festival 2012 most stylish yet? Jean Paul Gaultier rumored to be on jury
I cant confirm it, but I am not denying it either, Jacob told WWD April 19.
Italian director Nanni Moretti is chair of the jury for Cannes 2012, with the rest of the members to be announced early next week.
Gaultier could bring a wealth of movie experience to the panel as he has designed costumes for an array of pictures, most famously Luc Bessons 1997 sci-fi adventure The Fifth Element.
Meanwhile, fashion fans can look forward to seeing some of their favorite style icons on the red carpet as Nicole Kidman will attend for The Paperboy, Kirsten Dunst and Kristen Stewart for On The Road and Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska for Lawless.
Source:AFP Relax News
Coachella fashion: Instagram users show whats inside their suitcase for this weekend
Short, ripped denim shorts, lightweight patterned shirt, black and gold belt, and fabric sandals or black leather boots.
http://instagr.am/p/JoaJgSGQ38/
packing for my California (six flags & coachella) trip! :D
Cut-off denim shorts, black tank top with cut-out back, three pairs of sunnies (just in case), black pouch bag, pink bikini top, white hat with black ribbon, straw wide-brimmed hat, grey graphic T-shirt, black moccasins with white trim.
https://instagr.am/p/JgKmrXwAli/
#Coachella
For the guys: knee-length denim shorts, black cotton tank top and black Ray Bans.
http://instagr.am/p/JoInsoAjVa/
Packing for #Coachella
Three outfits: simple knee-length red dress with belted waist, flat beige straw-look sandals with cross-over ankle straps and wide-brimmed straw hat; red and white striped bustier, red hot pants and red open-toed patent leather wedges; blue and white graphic patterned short skirt, flowing mustard see-through top, black top hat.
http://instagr.am/p/JoWhi8h33-/
ShootPreview #style #fashion #black #coachella #instahub #instamex #instagood
Black skeleton t-shirt, denim jeans, black leather ankle boots with silver studs, black leather jacket, retro tortoiseshell sunglasses.
http://instagr.am/p/JoTa8FMHQO/
ShootPreview #style #fashion #coachella #instamex #instahub #summer
Ripped black denim short shorts with studs, see-through white lace top with tassels, heart-shaped sunglasses, silver hoop earrings, and brown suede leather ankle-length cowboy boots.
http://instagr.am/p/JoTIZ-sHQK/
Ok time to pack peeps #coachella bound :) #editingtime
Flower patterned blue and white skirt, ripped denim short shorts, straw hat with blue ribbon, denim shirt, white lace skirt, and a blue and white striped singlet.
http://statigr.am/p/173426487947876074_1679532
Getting #coachella ready
black and red mirrored sunglasses, liquor flask, flower and feather headband.
http://statigr.am/p/173340007120163655_31449275
Source:AFP Relax News
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
New York Spring 2013 bridal trends: vintage Hollywood, bold color and cropped tops
The catwalk trend for peplums has also translated for wedding gowns, with peplum skirts adding interest at Angel Sanchez and Amsale.
Going for a more traditional aesthetic were labels such as Jenny Packham, whose collection was inspired by Hollywood icons such as Vivien Leigh and Bette Davis, and the vintage glamour of 1930s Paris with lashings of silk chiffon, draped satins and French lace.
Lace was also big at Romona Keveza, Temperley London and Kenneth Pool, while traditional Spanish-style lace gowns with demure high necks were seen at Oscar de la Renta. The latter also offered a more modern wedding style in the form of cropped tops, floral patterns and shorter skirts.
Also earning a prize for innovation was Reem Acra, whose runway finale saw a model remove her tiered tulle skirts to reveal a cropped tube dress.
And while in terms of color the usual delicate tones such as ivory, champagne and platinum ruled the runways, designers experimented with less conventional shades.
Last year Vera Wang famously showcased gowns in midnight blacks, while for 2013 she presented dresses in scarlet, crimson, vermillion and dahlia. It's a celebration of love, explained the designer. Red frocks appeared on the runways at Romona Keveza and Oscar de la Renta too, while the latter also showcased dresses in cool blues.
Source:AFP Relax News
One to watch: Gisele Bndchens five-year-old niece designs a clothing line
While Gisele is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme, Dudas clothing range was designed and produced with eco-friendly materials. Germano Costa, the commercial and marketing director of Brandili Textil (parent company to Brandili Mundi) explained to Forbes April 16 Dudas design process.
She told us about her preferences on prints, cuts and details, and based on the briefing we received from her we came up with a collaborative collection. The pieces were all approved by Duda, whose romantic inspiration will no doubt catch girls eyes, said Costa.
Dudas parents, Raquel Bndchen (Giseles sister) and Paulo Borges, were present at the shooting for the lines campaign; watch the making-of here to see Duda in action: http://youtu.be/tYc-917jH28
The five-year-old is the latest in a spate of youngsters being cited to watch as supermodels of the future, with Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford's 10-year-old daughter with former model Rande Gerber being unveiled as Young Versace's new face back in January. Meanwhile, Kate Moss's 13-year-old half-sister Lottie caught the world's attention as one of the bridesmaids at the supermodel's wedding back in July 2011 and has already been photographed by fashion photographer Andrea Carter-Bowman.
Source:AFP Relax News
Voting open for Vimeo Awards, videos from labels including Mulberry and ksubi in the running
The fashion category has shortlisted 12 videos which showcase a fashion, beauty collection or trend with moving image, including the Amanda Boyle-directed Mulberry short film "Skirt," which tells the story of a man and womans relationship through their possessions and interaction with one another. Offerings from Australian fashion label ksubi, fashion short maker shootmefashion.net and director Martin de Thurah are also in the running.
The significance fashion films have today is highlighted by the increasing numbers of awards dedicated to them. Already this year Prada scooped the Best Online Video for its Spring 2011 campaign at the Fashion 2.0 Awards, while talked about fashion films have included short film "The Cartier Odyssey" by jewelry house Cartier and a Cabaret-themed video "Club Nouveau," starring designer Gareth Pugh as Liza Minnelli.
Source:AFP Relax News
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Altuzarra launches J.Crew capsule collection
Collections from the runners up -- jewelry designer Pamela Love and Shane Gabier and Christopher Peterss label Creatures of the Wind -- are also available for preorder, ahead of official launches on May 17 and June 14 respectively.
Organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue magazine, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund helps rising fashion talents with the combination of a cash prize and mentoring.
Previous recipients include Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Derek Lam, and Thakoon.
This is the second time the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has partnered with J. Crew, with designs by honorees Billy Reid, Prabal Gurung, and Eddie Borgo hitting its stores last year.
Source:AFP Relax News
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