The Fashion Den: 2010

Tuesday, 15 June 2010

Ward Aboard

SUPERMODEL Gemma Ward has reportedly secured a role in the eagerly anticipated fourth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, On Stranger Tides.

The international Vogue cover girl will play a mermaid in the action blockbuster, revealed the Australian Daily Telegraph, starring opposite actors Johnny Depp, Megan Fox, Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush. Filming is due to start in Hawaii this week, with a release date set for next year.

Perth-born beauty Ward, who has appeared on over 30 Vogue covers and boasts campaigns for fashion giants Prada, Balenciaga, Hermes and Louis Vuitton, has not modelled since the death of her close friend Heath Ledger in 2008. Ward is reportedly considering enrolling at Yale University to study Drama.

Gemma Ward

IN a week that the young Australian model has suffered criticism for gaining weight, Gemma Ward's agent has announced she has no intention of returning to modelling. The Perth-born beauty and former Vogue cover girl has not modelled since the death of close friend Heath Ledger in January 2008.

"Gemma hasn't committed to returning to modelling at any time soon", a spokeswoman for New York-based modelling agency Vivien's told Australian news website NEWS.COM.AU, before adding that Ward had the agency's full support.

Several blogs - including international fashion commentator Bryan Boy - posted images of Ward in New York last week, looking healthy in a leopard print coat and shorts, and suggested her weight gain could have opened up a career as a "plus size model".

Victoria Beckham's Cartoon Fashion

Victoria Beckham is adding yet another string to her singer/designer bow - by becoming a cartoon character.

Beckham has been animated for a special episode of SpongeBob SquarePants called The Clash of Triton. The 30-minute episode will be shown in the US on July 5 on Nickelodeon.

"I was so thrilled as my children love the show," Beckham, who plays the role of Queen Amphitrite, tells this morning's Metro. "When I told the boys I was going to be on the show, they were so excited. I had such a great time recording the voice of Queen Amphitrite. How fun to be queen for a day!"

Cristiano!

GIORGIO ARMANI has unveiled its latest underwear campaign featuring a rather muscular-looking Cristiano Ronaldo. The football star is appearing for his second season as the face of Armani's autumn/winter 2010- 11 adverts.

The campaigns for both Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans were shot in Madrid and can be seen from July everywhere from London to New York to Paris to Tokyo. The campaign will make its debut in Via Broletto, Milan on Thursday.

September will also see the release of a cinema and online commercial featuring the footballer, to showcase Armani's latest collection. It certainly makes the World Cup seem more appealing.

BASSO & BROOKE are set to launch a printed interiors range. The pair, who recently made their mark dressing Beyonce and Michelle Obama, have designed a set of digital prints, applying them to a collection of bespoke furniture and home products.

"Interiors are something we've always been interested in right from the start," the pair told us. "We've always thought of our label as a lifestyle brand. As a print label, it's a natural extension - any surface can be printed."

The prints, inspired by Turning Leaf wine, feature vibrant, multi-coloured leaf art work. Although Chris Brook and Bruno Basso didn't design the furniture they had a huge input in the style of furniture used in the collection.

"We like the mix of tradition and technology, and chose to use traditional hand-carved French furniture and update it using digital print and hi-pop wood finishings," the designers said. "It's the mix of familiarity and novelty, which is what we wanted to achieve with our collaboration with Turning Leaf as a whole."

Although the designers are not prepared to abandon the fashion world just yet they do have a future interiors project in mind.

"One thing which is something we really want to do is a hotel suite or restaurant interior and give it a total digital print experience."

The collection will be unveiled today at The Shop at Bluebird on the King's Road, London and will be on sale there throughout the summer.

Burberry Benefits

ANGELA AHRENDTS, ceo of Burberry, was paid almost £3.2 million last year after earning her maximum bonus allowance.

According to the Financial Times, Ahrendts, who became the label's ceo four years ago, was paid £3.16 million in the year to March 31 2010 after she received a bonus of £1.82 million.The bonus forms 200 per cent of Ahrendts' £910,000 annual salary.

Stacey Cartwright, the brand's finance director. received £1.47 million last year - more than double of what she earnt for the previous annual period. Cartwright received a generous bonus of £780,000, accounting for 150 per cent of her £520,000 salary.

The news comes after Burberry reported a 23 per cent rise in profits. Sales are thought to be up 7 per cent, reaching £1.28 billion. The company plans on further expansion this year, with new stores opening in Brazil, Mexico and India.

Blow's Auction Cancelled.

The planned auction of Isabella Blow's wardrobe has been cancelled after a private bidder, thought to be Daphne Guinness, bought the entire lot. The collection, which includes pieces from Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy and John Galliano, was planned to take place in September at Christie's.

"The reaction to news of the Isabella Blow collection has been a tribute to the dedication and style of a true fashion muse," said Patricia Frost, Christie's director, vintage fashion and textiles, to WWD. "The executors are delighted that their sister's estate can now be settled, and are very confident the collection has found the perfect home."

The sale, which was organised by Blow's sisters, was to include over 90 McQueen dresses, 50 Treacy hats and portraits of Blow by photographer Mario Testino and Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld. A coffee table book that was to accompany the sale will still be published in September.

Thursday, 13 May 2010

Sean Opry

Sean Opry reigns supreme in the latest issue of Numero Homme. The charismatic southerner’s charms are on full display as he strikes a pose for Greg Kadel. With his wild hair, steely gaze and unwavering poise Opry is a force to be reckoned with.

H&M new models

With the recent downturn in the financial market, many brands look to get the most bang for their buck, mixing the top models with the rising stars and hoping to appeal to the widest possible market. Swedish giant H&M and the American company, INC roll out new images just in time for the holidays.

IN MEMORY OF AMBROSE

Louis Vuitton

Ad Campaign: Lara Stone for Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2010

Brodarte

What! Can it be! Rodarte has finally come out with a men's collection, available only at Opening Ceremony! Oftentimes when labels begin designing for men they lose a lot of what makes their women's collection so outstanding (hint: Alexander Wang...Elizabeth and James...) but Rodarte has successfully been able to maintain the essence of their brand while also making the clothing masculine enough for a menswear audience. These threads don't come cheap though, with each sweater costing $2,670. The price doesn't shock me, however, and I don't think it's an unreasonable amount considering that the garments are all hand knit here in the U.S.A and use some really exceptional and high quality fabrics (including superkid mohair, alpaca, and viscose).

Company of We

Based out of New York City, the Company of We was founded by partners Jayzel Samonte and Christoper Crawford as the answer to high priced menswear in a tough economic climate. In their own words, Company of We was "launched in 2009 to alleviate the Bergdorf Blues—a malady inflicted from a growing inability to justify the price tags lurking within those synonymous lilac shopping bags." In my personal opinion the design, quality, and fit of their garments rival that of high-end menswear labels such Band of Outsiders, Rag & Bone, and even Thom Browne!

Ironically, Company of We has garnered so much press and attention (in addition to a tremendously loyal fan following--myself included) that the line has been picked up by some of the finest upscale retailers like Sak's Fifth Avenue, Fred Segal, Holt Renfrew, and more! Check out their Fall 2009 campaign below and visit the site to buy (honestly, guys, the merchandise couldn't possibly be more affordable).

Cole Mohr

Cole Mohr has just recently started modelling for H&M new catelogues. He models all over the world, in New York, Copenhagen, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Hamburg and London. He was just nominated #22 out of the top 50 male models. If there are two things I love in this world it's (a) Cole Mohr, only one of the best male models of our generation, and (b) oversexed photographer Terry Richardson, the only man in the world with the ability to make a bag of garbage look ridiculously seductive. At first, the pairing of Richardson and H&M seemed a strange one....a low to mid range fast fashion retailer and the same guy who shoots for Purple, V, and French Vogue? REALLY??? But fortunately (and not surprisingly) the images that resulted from the project proved me wrong. The campaign is very exciting and very rock and roll. A+

‘So Young, So Cool’ is Steven Meisel’s celebration of youth in the February 2009 issue of Vogue Italia. The editorial features a large group of ‘it’ models and personalities, including Ash Stymest, Luke Worrall, Cole Mohr, Michael Pitt, Eliza Cummings, Daisy Lowe, Lydia Hearst, Jamie Bochert, and Pixie Geldof (who is the cover star). The styling is by Karl Templer and makeup by Pat McGrath.

When a photographer wants a model who can tap into all that is brooding and foreboding there is a very short list of girls he or she can rely on. The name at the very top of that list is none other than Jamie Bochert, her mysterious look lends itself to the extremes of fashion.
Greg Kadel gives Bochart free reign to unleash her dark side within the pages of the latest Numero. Armed with a cigarette holder and heaps of attitude Jamie looks completely at home in the hypnotic world Kadel creates.