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.