Victoria Beckham Enters E-Commerce

VICTORIA BECKHAM has launched an e-commerce website today. While the label's former digital home served as a way of showcasing lookbook pictures of recent collections, the designer's latest site is the first time the brand has offered online shopping.

"My new website has been in the making for a very long time," said Beckham. "It was so important that the concept, tone and look of it were true to me and my aesthetic and that the shopping experience was the very best that it could be for my customer. The site will be ever evolving featuring never seen before insights into my world through the medium of film. I'm incredibly excited with what I have created and the unique access to the brand I am now able to offer."

The site is divided into two sections, Look and Shop. The first option gives users the chance to watch show footage, documentary content and browse collection inspirations and latest news, while the second category features the designer's handpicked selection of spring/summer 2013 pieces.

The website will sell Icon - a line of ready-to-wear dresses inspired by the label's most popular designs and available exclusively online - in addition to accessories, eyewear, denim and Beckham's contemporary line, Victoria, Victoria Beckham.  Customers will be able to shop from the UK, USA and Europe, although there are plans to expand to additional regions in the future.

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 ELLA ALEXANDER |  26 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Vera Wang Charges Customers Try-On Fee

VERA WANG has started charging shoppers at the label's new Shanghai bridal store a fee for trying on gowns. Customers are required to pay 3,000 yuan (£317.70) for a 90-minute time slot. 

If a purchase is made the cost will be deducted from the final price, but it is otherwise non-refundable. The boutique, situated in the Huangpu district, showcases around 80 dresses priced between 30,000 yuan (£3,177), to 300,000 yuan (£31,770).

The Global Times reports that the policy aims to "protect the copyright of the designer", as a statement from the company read. Photos are also forbidden.

The luxury label has become a popular choice with many high-profile brides-to-be, with Victoria Beckham and Kate Hudson both having worn the brand's gowns for their respective nuptials.

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 ELLA ALEXANDER |  25 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Beyoncé For H&M Confirmed

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES has partnered with H&M for summer. The singer stars in the Swedish retailer's new campaign, modelling pieces inspired by her individual style. The singer also gave "personal input on the pieces seen in the campaign", confirmed a representative for the brand. 

The print and billboard images - which see her reclining on beach sun lounger and posing in swimwear by the sea - were shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin in the Bahamas earlier this year. The adverts will introduce the star: "Beyoncé as Mrs Carter in H&M" - tying in with the name of her upcoming world tour.

"I've always liked H&M's focus on fun affordable fashion. I really loved the concept we collaborated on to explore the different emotions of women represented by the four elements - fire, water, earth and wind," said Knowles. "It was a beautiful shoot on a tropical island. It felt more like making a video than a commercial."

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 SARAH KARMALI |  21 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Keira Knightley To Play Coco Chanel

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY will star as Coco Chanel in a new film directed by Karl Lagerfeld celebrating the 100th anniversary of Chanel's first ever store in Deauville, France. The Vogue cover girl currently fronts the brand's Coco Mademoiselle fragrance campaign.  The short will be screened in Singapore at the label's next cruise collection in early May.

The designer will recreate Deauville's original small seaside town charm through retro sets, based in Paris. French actress Clotilde Hesme has been hired to play the role of Chanel's aunt, Adrienne.

Other famous faces to appear in the film include model Stella Tennant, muse Tallulah Harlech and Lagerfeld's youngest catwalk star, toddler Hudson Kroenig, who will play a young nephew.



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 ELLA ALEXANDER |  19 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link

Mila Kunis On Endorsing Brands She Believes In

MILA KUNIS only ever wants to work with brands and companies that she truly believes in. The actress, who is the new face of ethical coloured gemstone specialists Gemfields, says that endorsing a product that you don't believe in is "the hardest job in the world".

The 29-year-old was announced as the jewellery company's spokesperson earlier this year, after she was approached by CEO Ian Harebottle. Despite not looking to endorse anything at the time, the actress agreed to commit after "falling in love with the people" that work at the family-run company.

"There's a difference being part of a family-owned company and being part of a conglomerate - you feel as though you're a part of something, and you don't work for them, you work with them," she told us. "You don't want to endorse something that you don't believe in. I've done that before and it's just one of the hardest jobs to do. Why do it? I believe in this company and I believe in what they stand for. Lesson learned, absolutely."

The Oz The Great And Powerful actress - who has previously starred in campaigns for the likes of Dior and Gap - confessed that she felt less pressure working with a smaller and more tight-knit company like Gemfields.

"Pressure gets taken off you if they trust you and you trust them - then you're able to play around a bit and have some fun. I think pressure gets put on when there's a nervousness about where you stand and what you do and who's the boss," she said. "That's when things become a little uneven. I think when you have the same goal, you want to achieve it and make each other proud and happy."

Kunis admits that she waited until she was able to ensure that Gemfields was a transparent and ethically inclined company before signing up to work with them - and has since paid a visit to their mines in Zambia.

"That was absolutely the most important thing. Anything that has to do with stones I think you want to be a little cautious about," she said. "They opened their doors wide and just said,'Go ahead'. It was great. They've been so great at letting me be a part of anything and everything I've been able to. I chose them in the same way that they chose me and I have honestly never worked for a better company."

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 SARAH KARMALI |  19 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Blooming Marvellous

LIBERTY LONDON is famed for its heritage floral prints, and for spring/summer 2013 they have once again been reincarnated by way of an exclusive collaboration with denim genius AG Adriano Goldschmied.

The 13-piece capsule collection comprises chambray shirts and shirt dresses, cut-off shorts, lightweight playsuits, and AG's bestselling Legging Ankle style - all of which are emblazoned with three of the prestigious department store's most distinctive designs.

But we're not talking your run-of-the-mill printed denim here - far from it. Using a new denim printing technology, an innovative dye-lift process removes the indigo pigment from the fabric, leaving behind the impressioned floral design. The effect is one that ties AG's vintage design aesthetic with Liberty's enduring patterns perfectly.

"Liberty's timeless floral prints and AG's peerless fit, fabric and finishes have resulted in a sublime marriage of floral print and denim," explained Samuel Ku, creative director of AG.

Understatedly chic, the collection will no doubt prove a huge hit with the discerning fashion pack, who are always keen to add a touch of statement to their denim portfolio.  

The collection launches in full on March 21. Get a sneak-peak preview here.

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SCARLETT KILCOOLEY-O'HALLORAN |  18 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Disneyland Paris To Hold Catwalk Show

SISTER BY SIBLING has created a one-off costume inspired by  Cinderella's famous ball gown, to be showcased during a Disney catwalk spectacular. The British label is one of many international brands enlisted to help celebrate the extended 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris, which will stage the fashion show later this month.

The Sister by Sibling design trio - who specialise in knitwear - have created a costume inspired by the character's three mice friends; Jack, Gus and Mary; with each mouse representing one of the three - Sid Bryan, Joe Bates and Cozette McCreery. The final dress is a knitted mini featuring hand-embroidery, worn with Katie Grand for Hogan high-tops with customised sparkle.

"Revisiting Disney's Cinderella as an adult has been an amazing experience and to be asked to design for Disneyland Paris from this starting point was a joy," they said. "Sister by Sibling immediately felt an affinity with the three mice within the story: friendly, helpful with an inner strength and a familiar easy-going humour. And so, with the help of Jack (Sid), Gus (Joe), and Mary (Cozette), Cinderella will go to the ball and this ball will be rockin'!"

An array of designers have been chosen to represent their respective countries, with Sibling by Sister selected from the UK. As previously announced, Alber Elbaz of Lanvin has redesigned Minnie Mouse's spotty frock on behalf of France; while Philip Treacy represents Ireland; and Luisa Beccaria, Italy. Russia's designer of choice is Alexander Terekhov; Germany's is Michalsky; and Spain's, Custo Barcelona; while the Belgium representative is Jean-Paul Knott; and The Netherlands designer is Olcay Gulsen for Supertrash.

It will be announced later this week which Disney character each designer has been responsible for redesigning an outfit for. The catwalk show will take place on March 23, 2013.

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SARAH KARMALI |  12 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Harrods Partners With Dior On Store Takeover

HARRODS is partnering with Christian Dior on a huge-scale store takeover this spring. The famed department store will become a tribute to the French fashion house - featuring never-before-seen exhibitions, displays and in-store activity.

The Brompton Road store windows will be transformed by Dior's instantly recognisable colour scheme of grey and white - with the theme a blend of "French Savior Fair and British charm". Iconic London post boxes and telephone boxes will feature prominently, featuring a series of exclusive limited edition Dior products and silhouette cut-outs, while Royal Beefeaters will wear costumes designed by the house's creative director, Raf Simons.

"Like the house of Dior, Harrods is reputed for astounding and satisfying its elegant women all over the world," said Sidney Toledano, president and CEO of Christian Dior. "The inspired collaboration with Harrods not only draws attention to Monsieur Dior's relationship with the fabled department store but also affirms the house of Dior's continued high standards via creation and discernment."

Inside the store, and Harrods' fourth floor will become "the ultimate Dior experience". Visitors will first come face-to-face with a reconstruction of the façade of 30 Avenue Montaigne - the famous Paris Dior headquarters - before exploring a host of different displays; focusing on everything from the house's Lady Dior handbag to its instantly recognisable scent, J'Adore.

Sketches and mini-mannequins help bring past looks to life, while the Stars in Dior installation features the actual dresses worn by famous faces including Emma Watson, Marion Cotillard and most recently, Jennifer Lawrence. Finally, the Café Dior pop-up restaurant will serve a host of dishes to reflect Monsieur Dior's love of good food - from lobster club sandwiches to Dior cupcakes.

"Our archive team at Harrods unearthed wonderful images of Christian Dior visiting Harrods in the Fifties and this is a beautiful part of the exhibition. Equally stunning dresses worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Margaret and Lady Diana alongside contemporary designs by Raf Simons are a real highlight," said Marigay McKee, chief merchant at Harrods. "The Dior at Harrods windows will also highlight exclusive product created especially for the collaboration, in a truly inspirational presentation which celebrates Dior's love of London. We hope our customers will experience a fascinating journey through the store, unveiling intricate details of Dior's rich heritage and that they will be inspired and delighted by the collaboration."

The Harrods Dior takeover will run from March 16 to April 14, 2013. See a preview of the exclsuive products on offer in the gallery feaured left.

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SARAH KARMALI |  12 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Exclusive: Celia Birtwell For Uniqlo Collection Revealed

UNIQLO has unveiled the fruits of its long-awaited Celia Birtwell collection for the first time today, ahead of the official launch on March 21. From dresses and cropped trousers to shorts and scarves, the range comes covered in the famed British designer's whimsical and witty prints.

"Uniqlo has grown over the years for me," Birtwell told us of her decision to work with the Japanese high street label. "I've always thought that they are very good at doing men's basics and at designing simple shapes. We had a very peaceful initial meeting, which was very appealing. I did think though, 'They could really do with a good print.' And that's how it began."

Uniqlo first became interested in Birtwell after seeing her Topshop collaboration, which first launched in 2006. The collection started out as solely T-shirts, but soon led to a larger-scale project.

"I showed them my archive and a selection of new designs and we went from there," said Birtwell. "Uniqlo were charming people to work with and had very sympathetic take on print. I like to amuse myself with my prints and they were receptive to that."

 Birtwell first became widely-known in the Sixties, when she worked with then-husband Ossie Clark as a textiles designer - together dressing some of the decade's most famous, from the Rolling Stones and Jimmy Hendrix to Twiggy and Marianne Faithful. She hopes that her Uniqlo range will bring her work to a new audience.

"It's very young and fresh," she said. "There's an accent of youth and something for every generation. There's understated prints and bolder ones, I hope it will cater for a broad range of people, in the same way my Topshop line did."

The project is also in keeping with what Birtwell sees as one of the most appealing aspects of Sixties style and fashion - low prices.

"Fashion is such a big business now," she said. "There was a real innocence about it then and an element of post-war austerity. No one would have paid £1,000 for a bag. It was much more democratic - things had to be affordable."

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ELLA ALEXANDER |  11 MARCH 2013  |  Article Link 

Kate Hudson to Design for Ann Taylor

Kate Hudson is once again the face of Ann Taylor, starring in the label’s spring 2013 campaign, shown above. And, starting this season, her role for the brand will become even bigger—she’s designing AT’s first-ever celebrity capsule collection! “Working with Ann Taylor has been a great creative experience and there is a really wonderful connection,” Hudson said. The clothes, due out this summer, will be inspired by her red-carpet style (which is fabulous, as we all know). While we wait to see the star’s creations, check out her latest modeling gig above, showing off clothes that will land in stores this February. “Putting these outfits together has been incredibly fun—they have such youthful energy and flair!”

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Instyle.com | Jan 24, 2013 | Article Link

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Transforming Experiences

PARIS — “Disembodiment,” said Hussein Chalayan backstage, competing with the other single word printed on his program: “Rise.”

In his many shows, the designer has turned complexity into an art form. But this time he made things appear simple and it produced a powerful collection.

Even those “tricks” from Chalayan legend — the tables turning into dresses, for example — were transformed in the show Friday into a simple and beautiful gesture: a model walking toward the camera in a short, draped dress, and then pulling at the silk at the neck until it flowed over into a long dress. No gimmicks. Just lovely either way.

It is tough to be a visionary when “next” is translated into a fast-fashion parade. But with this show Mr. Chalayan reached a goal that has so often escaped him: a modern wardrobe of interesting clothes but simple, sporty jackets and pants.

As one of the first designers to bring high tech to high fashion, he also knows when to back-off. The digital prints were all the more effective for being sparse and often seeming to blend with the swirling digital backdrop. Every single piece of clothing seemed a desirable fashion offering connected to the real world.

“She’s the Parisian woman,” announced Roland Mouret, referring to that legendary creature’s smoky hose and favored black, white and animal prints — and using her as a showcase for his new range of handbags.

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SUZY MENKES | March 1, 2013 | Read More. Article Link

Beyoncé Leads New Gucci Empowerment Campaign

BEYONCÉ KNOWLES, Salma Hayek and Frida Giannini have launched a new Gucci global campaign for female empowerment, Chime For Change. The initiative aims to raise funds and awareness in support of projects for girls and women around the world, through sharing "powerful stories" about inspiring females.

"I have always felt strongly about equal opportunity for women. Girls have to be taught from early on that they are strong and capable of being anything they want to be," said Knowles. "It's up to us to change the statistics for women around the world. I'm honoured to be in the company of women who live fearlessly and set an example for the next generation of young ladies."

The campaign will be officially announced at the TEDxWomen luncheon today by Salma Hayek, who will present a short film detailing the aims of the scheme - narrated by the actress, and set to new music by Knowles (watch below). The video is the first in a series of ten Chime For Change short films featuring inspirational women's stories.

"I am proud to be joining the growing international movement on behalf of girls and women around the world," said Hayek. "I believe that by working together we can change the course of history to ensure that girls and women are empowered to realise their potential and thrive."

The Chime for Change campaign is also joined by an advisory board of experts and global advocates - including Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Jada Pinkett Smith, Francois-Henri Pinault, Gordon and Sarah Brown and Arianna Huffington. Gucci has a history of supporting women's rights movements - including a seven-year partnership with UNICEF in support of girls' education - as well as founding two female film awards; the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award and the Gucci Award for Women in Cinema with the Venice Film Festival.

"This is the emergency and the opportunity of today," said Giannini. "We have reached a significant moment in the history of girls' and women's empowerment and now is the time for change. I think it is essential for girls and women to see and celebrate what is possible. I hope that through Chime we can help the voices calling for change to become so loud that they cannot be ignored."

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SARAH KARMALI | February 28, 2013 | Article Link

Terry De Havilland To Open London Store

TERRY DE HAVILLAND will open a pop-up store off Carnaby Street in the Newburgh Quarter in April. The boutique is the footwear designer's first standalone retail space since he closed the doors to his renowned Cobblers to the World shop in 1979. Fans of the label include David Bowie, Bianca Jagger and Kate Moss.

"I'm thrilled to be opening a shop in the Newburgh Quarter," said de Havilland. "It's an area that epitomises the spirit of London style and I can't think of a more perfect place to be.  It's been over 30 years since I last had a flagship store and I can't wait to show it off."

The store will remain open until mid-July and will sell styles spanning de Havilland's six-decade-long career - from bespoke platform wedges featuring psychedelic prints to mixed metallic Seventies sandals. The interior - to be created by Harper Downie architecture firm creative director Graham Erickson - will be inspired by the silver décor of Andy Warhol's New York factory.

"I've got plenty of surprises up my sleeve, including a small range of designs that are being made right here in London," added de Havilland. "It's the start of a whole new chapter for me - bring it on!"

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ELLA ALEXANDER | February 28, 2013 | Article Link

British Vogue Nominated For Cover Of The Century

BRITISH Vogue's December 2001 cover, featuring Kate Moss, has been shortlisted by the Professional Publisher's Association (PPA) for the prestigious title of Cover of the Century.

The cover in question is entitled Royal Salute and stars Moss in an embellished tulle dress by Giorgio Armani, wearing a replica Coronation crown and holding a sceptre. The image, which was shot by Nick Knight and styled by Kate Phelan, was designed to fuse fashion with symbols of power in the lead up to the Queen's Golden Jubilee the following year.

The award is one of a number of events planned to mark the PPA's centenary in 2013 and will be voted for by the general public before the winner is announced on November 21. Voting is open now and closes on September 30 - you can vote here.

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SCARLETT KILCOOLEY-O'HALLORAN | February 27, 2013 | Article Link

Manolo Blahnik Open To High Street Collaboration

MANOLO BLAHNIK would be open to the idea of collaborating with a high street store - providing that the project was "something exciting." 

"If someone asked me to do high street and I really liked it, then why not?" he told us. "But it would have to be a challenge, I don't just want to do it for commerce or for business, I've never really been into money that way. But if it was something exciting and I could really collaborate with someone marvellous then yes, of course."

Blahnik has famously worked with some of the biggest names in the industry - most recently creating the catwalk shoes for Victoria Beckham's latest New York Fashion Week shows.

"She's a dream to work with. I love people who really work, and she does. She works like she's possessed," he said of Beckham. "It's really incredible and she's really exciting to work with. And it's good that she's in England now of course. Everybody should move to England!"

A firm fan of Great Britain (his home has been Bath now for many years), the Spanish-born Blahnik is an untiring advocate of our home-grown talent - and in particular, a fan of the 2013 CDFA/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund winner and fellow footwear designer, Nicholas Kirkwood.

"I like what he does very, very much and he was very kind to me - last year, I was in New York and someone came up to me and said: 'You must meet this boy, he says you are the reason he is doing shoes', and I thought, how flattering," explained Blahnik. "He has a real vision of himself. There are so many youngsters emerging that don't yet have their own personality - they're too young to be fully formed - but he's got this incredible thread of thought."

Another designer that he is an open supporter of is John Galliano. The two have been friends for many years, with Blahnik one of the few to speak out in support of him following the Dior dismissal.

"I adore John, and I think whatever he does is great," he said. "He is just brilliant. He can do whatever he wants to do now - whatever he ends up doing will be fantastic, he's always so full of creativity. Unfortunately this has been a bad period of his life and he's not been well, but he'll always come up with something extraordinary."

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SARAH KARMALI | February 27, 2013 | Article Link

David Gandy Shows Support for International Women’s Day

DAVID GANDY will show his support for this year's International Women's Day action on March 8, by participating in a panel discussion at the Women: Inspiration & Enterprise's annual symposium. The famous model and vogue.co.uk contributor will join political aide Alastair Campbell, designer Ozwald Boateng and Capital London radio presenter Dave Berry to talk about how men communicate in business. WIE creator June Sarpong and WIE contributor Margherita Taylor urged Gandy to take part.

"I hugely respect both Margherita and June and they inspire me with the projects and events they are involved in and their drive," said Gandy. "So of course, I jumped at the chance of joining the other people on the panel and supporting WIE."

The WIE event, which will be held at the Hospital Club, will bring leading names from politics, fashion, business and entertainment together to hold a series of talks and workshops to help inspire and empower women. Tickets are available now from wienetwork.co.uk and cost £250 per person.

"I'm really interested to hear the panel's stories of how they have become successful in their field," added Gandy. "Whenever people share their experiences you learn a lot - something that may resonate with you or inspire you.  There are many women in my industry who have built fantastic careers in modelling and continue to do so. They inspire me and I've learnt a lot by observing them and admiring what they have achieved. Hopefully, between us as a panel, we will be able to share things which may be of interest to the people in the audience or help them in the future."

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ELLA ALEXANDER | February 27, 2013 | Article Link

David Bowie Hires Tilda Swinton For Music Video

VOGUE cover girl Tilda Swinton stars in the video for David Bowie's new single, The Stars (Are Out Tonight). The track is taken from his highly-anticipated new album, The Next Day, which will be released on March 11.

Swinton appears as Bowie's wife, alongside Gaultier favourite Andrej Pejic and Burberry model Saskia De Brauw - who play a celebrity couple determined to split the happily married pair apart. As the song goes on, Swinton takes a more androgynous guise - bearing a resemblance to the pioneering musician in his younger years.

Floria Sigismondi served as director, while US cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth shot the video. The track "at once captures a 21st-Century moment in its convergence of age, gender and the normal/celebrity divide", as a statement on Bowie's website read.

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ELLA ALEXANDER | February 26, 2013 | Article Link

Iran Photoshops Michelle Obama’s Oscars Dress

IRANIAN news agency Fars doctored pictures of Michelle Obama at the Oscars in accordance with the country's restrictions on images of the female body in the media. The company photoshopped the US First Lady's silver Naeem Khan dress so that it covered her chest and shoulders.

Obama wore the dress to present the Oscars' Best Picture category, via a video link from the White House. Current rules implemented by Iran's media censors state that women on Iranian state television should wear a hijab that covers their hair, arms and legs. The rules vary for foreigners.

Photoshopping foreign celebrities and political figures is a tact that has been used by the Islamic censorship regime before, with film actors sometimes being edited frame by frame to protect their modesty and on occasions even deleted from a scene altogether, The Guardian reports.

In May 2011, an H&M campaign starring Gisele Bündchen was altered in the Middle East, after being declared too risqué in Dubai. Images of the supermodel wearing a playsuit, a halterneck top and a dress were photoshopped, so that T-shirts and vests were layered underneath to make the pictures less revealing.

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ELLA ALEXANDER | February 26, 2013 | Article Link