Introducing the Burberry babes of 2008

'Hot' lists are de rigueur at this time of year but if you want to know who is truly boiling for 2008, there is arguably no more accurate a barometer than the Burberry advertising campaign.

According to its latest campaign for this spring, those whose star is in the ascendant include Coco Sumner, daughter of Sting, Merlin Ferry, son of Bryan, actors Alex Pettyfer and Eddie Redmayne, golfer Liam Wade and musicians Will Cameron and Jack Bevan.

Oh, and not forgetting model Agyness Deyn, linchpin of the campaign for the third year running, who is joined by a supporting cast of new young British models including Laura Fraser, Edie Campbell and Alice Gibb.

Deyn, who models silk trenchcoats, skinny dresses and a military-style coat, is starting the year on a high after a stellar 2007 which saw her crowned Model Of The Year at the British Fashion Awards.

Photographed by Mario Testino, the colour images are a departure from the black and white shots that were the brand's trademark in the days when Kate Moss led the campaigns.

The fashion house's designer, Christopher Bailey, said: "Movement, energy and character are the defining spirit of this new campaign. I wanted to work with an eclectic and talented group of the best British musicians, actors, models and sportspeople who are new additions to the Burberry family."

A keen music fan, Yorkshireman Bailey prides himself on his support for young British music talent. Last month he launched a new Burberry perfume, The Beat, at a rock venue in Camden with a live performance by The Fratellis.

Of course, the real star of the show is not the lead singer of a band, or even crop-haired model Deyn - it is the new Burberry It bag.

Following in the footsteps of the Manor, a favourite with Victoria Beckham, and the Knight, beloved by Sienna Miller, is the Warrior, a crescent-shaped titan sprinkled with metal studs in keeping with the tough lines of the new clothes.

With a starting price of £1,595 for the basic leather version, those women hoping that handbags might be cheaper this year are in for a disappointment.

If there is a recession looming, nobody told Burberry's customers, who bought with such alacrity that the firm posted a 31 per cent rise in profits last year.

Top performers were handbags costing between £800 and £2,600, which only 18 months ago accounted for five per cent of all handbag sales, a figure that has now risen between 50 and 60 per cent.

So strong is the demand for ultra-expensive bags that the new Warrior will also come in gold alligator, with a price tag of £13,000. There will also be lizard and python versions costing up to £11,000.

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Audi Joburg Fashion Week Autumn / Winter for Soweto and Sandton in March

Audi Joburg Fashion Week - the country's first annual autumn/winter fashion week proved a huge success when it debuted previous year. The second edition of this world-class fashion week takes place in Soweto and Sandton over 4 days from March 5 to 8, 2008.

Soweto proves once again that it is one of South Africa's creative powerhouses as the thriving metropolis plays host to the first day of the fashion week collections on Wednesday March 5.

The showcasing of the much-anticipated autumn/winter collection will be hosted at Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Soweto before moving to The Pavilion Room at the Sandton Convention Centre from March 6 to 8. The event will feature the ranges of some of the country's top designers including Sun Goddess, Stoned Cherrie, KlukCGdT, Gavin Rajah, Hip Hop and Sonwabile Ndamase. More designers to be announced soon....

Audi Joburg Fashion Week, launched and produced in 2007 in a pioneering move by African Fashion International, closed a long-standing gap in the South African fashion calendar, giving the country's top established designers the opportunity to showcase autumn/winter collections and trends at a major fashion week run to international standards.

African Fashion International also recently welcomed the introduction of newly appointed creative director, Deon Redman.

AFI Chairperson, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe said: "The launch of the Autumn/Winter Audi Joburg Fashion Week this year was indicative of a maturing local fashion industry and is another step closer to ensuring that South Africa is taken seriously in international fashion circles.

"Confirming their commitment to the 2008 Autumn/Winter Collections Rudi Venter, Audi Marketing Communications Manager, said: "This is our second season as sponsor of Joburg Fashion Week Autumn/Winter and it has been very exciting to be able to see the best South African designers bring new ideas to life in a world where there is very little originality. And we too place great store on leading the way. At Audi we call it Vorsprung. "

Source: Dexigner

Introducing... Isla Moda - the island completely devoted to fashion!

Stop Press! Get this - there is going to be an island built that is completely devoted to fashion! We can't believe it either. Dubai Infinity Holdings (DIH) has announced plans to develop the world's first fashion island - Isla Moda (see artist's impression below).

The multi-million dollar island, which will be located on the man-made 'The World' archipelago, will boast fashion themed residential villas, haute couture boutiques and luxury hospitality facilities.

Other services include style concierge for clothing, perfumery, fashion makeovers and a design consultation, allowing residents to create their own living environment with custom made furniture, art and technology.

Top fashion designers from each continent are said to be involved in the development which aims to increase tourism by attracting the world's fashion elite. Residents will even be granted ‘VVIP’ (Very Very Important Person) access to exclusive global events, services and products.

In addition, Isla Moda will become a hub to host fashion shows and product launches. Designers will also be offered their own studios to work in while they're on holiday. The first set of villas, known as the "winter collection" are expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year.

I can just picture the likes of Naomi Campbell and Giorgio Armani playing neighbours in their exclusively designed villas. Meanwhile where do I sign up to be a VVIP? My passport is already trembling with excitement at the prospect...

For more travel news make sure to visit Lost Weekend - our new travel blog!

[Source / Source]

Brian Bailey's ten tips for a fashion makeover

Brian Bailey, National Post

10. Go to a good bra-fitter and give yourself a lift! Know the correct fit of your bra and that it will change every few years. If you try on clothes in a bra that doesn't fit, no dress will work. You might as well wear that comfy, this-will-do dress you have in the closet, and save yourself the bother of trying on fabulous clothes.

9. Always shop wearing good lipstick.

8. Take a prep moment to make sure you have the right foundation body-slimmer, which will keep things where they need to be and smooth out the edge of those delightful curves. Buy the size that doesn't turn you into a sausage.

7. Shoes can kill a dress. A smart pump never works in the evening if the heel is thick, so if you need a pump, lose the stocky heel - unless you want your calves to look the same way.

6. If you've never worn jersey, try that on first, it won't add bulk to your figure. If you have curves, start to love them, but keep them smooth looking with the addition of a body-slimmer. Non-jersey fabrics use darts to give the dress shape, but this also adds bulk - use body-slimmers!

5. A gentle A-line will make your hips look smaller and your waist the focal point. Even if you don't have hips, this shape does amazing things.

4. When buying colour in a dress, be prepared to spend money: If the dress is inexpensive and colourful, chances are it looks the price.

3. Another great black dress is never a mistake. By alternating your shoes, scarfs and shawls it can be a limitless source of outfits. Changing the shoe from something bright and colourful to metallic to a barely-there strappy sandal changes everything - shoes are the accessory for 2008!

2. If you feel like crap the day you're going dress shopping, save yourself the trip. No dress works miracles.

1. Unless you're under 18, leave your pearls at home. They're the most ageing accessory in the world.

Bundchen Denies She Only Accepts Euros

Euros? Dollars? Pounds? Gisele Bundchen insists she's perfectly happy with them all, again denying reports that the Brazilian supermodel is shunning the weak U.S. dollar in favor of European currency.

Bundchen _ known to U.S. sports fans as the girlfriend of quarterback Tom Brady _ has been struggling for months to knock down recurring reports that she insists on being paid in euros, which have been rising against the dollar.

"The story of the euro is a lie," she told the Brazilian newspaper O Globo in comments published Wednesday. "I work with many international companies, I earn salaries in different currencies, that's all."

Frustration is running high in Brazil over the weak dollar and its harm to South America's largest economy.
The Brazilian real has nearly doubled in value against the dollar over the past five years, making local exports more expensive to Americans.

Bundchen, one of the world's richest models, was the main attraction at the Fashion Rio Week on Tuesday. She exhibited three outfits and drew wild applause in a puffy beige mini-dress.
O Globo said Bundchen set ground rules for the interview: no questions about her boyfriend.

The Associated Press

The Death of Hollywood Glamour?

The Town's Most Glam Season May Be Scrapped Because of the Strike

Well, it's award show season again. Or is it?
The Writers Guild of America's strike, which has forced the cancellation of the Golden Globes and threatens the beloved Oscars, has put a big fat dent in this normally joyous season of guilty pleasure TV.

The Globes will be given out at a closed-door ceremony, but no red carpet or show will be televised for the fans. What fun is that? Do we really care who won? Or does our enjoyment come from the sadistic critiquing of stars' fashion choices?

To paraphrase (and butcher, frankly) the old "if a tree falls in the forest" saying, if an actor wins an award but we can't praise her gown, has she really won? And to pull out another tried-and-true adage, isn't this show business? Shouldn't the show go on?

Now, I don't purport to know the business of Hollywood. I know the business of fashion and trashin', and trust me when I tell you the fashion houses and tabloid rags are taking a major hit.

Without the pictures of primped, posing stars, the Hollywood shutterbugs will have to keep chasing the usual suspects to Starbucks, courtrooms or rehab in order to earn a living. And designers of jewels, shoes and glamorous gowns and tuxes will have to find a new way to hype and promote their couture creations.

Normally, an event like the Golden Globes is a hornet's nest of hairspray and high-end frocks with stars shamelessly pandering to the press for attention and approval for the look they didn't create or probably even pay for. The reality is that most of those on the red-hot red carpet have not personally spent a penny of their own overinflated salary (that's what the studios are for) on their looks. In fact, they haven't even spent much time pulling it all together. Typically, we're talking about a simple speed dial call to the publicist and we stylists are off and running to serve our prestigious clientele.

Source: ABC News

Victoria Beckham 'worst-dressed celebrity'

Victoria Beckham, who markets sunglasses and jeans under her own designer label, has been judged the world’s worst-dressed celebrity by a leading fashion guru.

Acid-tongued Richard Blackwell, who was designing dresses for the rich and famous when he started the list in 1960, attacked entertainment’s biggest stars in his compilation of fashion disasters for 2007. It is the second time Mrs Beckham has made an appearance in the list’s number one slot.In 1998 she featured along with her Spice Girl band mates who were derided by Mr Blackwell as "the only spices on the planet that have no taste."

And the 85-year-old LA-based designer still had plenty of venom to heap on the mother-of-three this year.

He said: "Forget the fashion spice, wearing a skirt would suffice! In one skinny-mini monstrosity after another, pouty Posh can really wreck-em."

Other stars listed for their fashion disasters included singers Amy Winehouse, Fergie, Kelly Clarkson and Jessica Simpson, Bond girl Eva Green and actress Lindsay Lohan.

Missing from the list was Britney Spears, who has made it many times before.

"I felt that it was inappropriate at this time to make comment, when her personal life is in such upheaval. I hope 2008 is a better year for her," Blackwell said.

His best-dressed list for 2007, which is not ranked, included Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Reese Witherspoon, Jemima Khan, Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Helen Mirren, Katie Holmes, Katherine Heigl and Prince William’s girlfriend, Kate Middleton.

Richard Blackwell started his own clothing line, The House of Blackwell, in the 1950s and dressed actresses Jayne Mansfield and Jane Russell as well as first lady Nancy Reagan, among other famous names.

He was an important designer and during the 1960s he became the first in history to present his line on a television broadcast; and the first to make his line available for plus-size women.

The emergence of casual-wear in the 1980s brought an end to his fashion-line.

He is now best known as a fashion journalist and for producing his annual best and worst dressed lists every January.

The top 10 roll-call of fashion dishonours is:

1. Victoria Beckham - singer/fashion designer. Posh has remained top of the tabloid agenda this year with her move to America and role in reforming the Spice Girls. But despite writing a fashion guide David’s wife, seen stepping out in a neon dress and matching acid-yellow shoes this week, has had her fair share of wardrobe disasters. Mr Blackwell said: "Forget the fashion spice, wearing a skirt would suffice! In one skinny-mini monstrosity after another, pouty Posh can really wreck-em."

2. Amy Winehouse - singer. The soulful singer, one of the most photographed stars of 2007, is characterised by her slew of trucker tattoos, towering hair-do and thick black-eyeliner. Mr Blackwell said: "Exploding beehives above, tacky polka-dots below, she’s part 50’s carhop horror."

3. Mary Kate Olsen - actress. With sister Ashley she is one half of the hugely successful Olsen twins, who have starred in TV shows and films as well as having their own clothing and make-up line. Mary Kate has been a regular in the fashion magazines, singled out for her bohemian style and ultra-skinny figure, but it’s not to everyone’s taste. Mr Blackwell said: "She resembles a tattered toothpick-trapped in a hurricane."

4. Fergie - singer. Stacy Ann Ferguson, solo singer and member of the Black Eyed Peas group, has raised many eyebrows with her wardrobe of garish and revealing outfits. Mr Blackwell said: "Yes, when it comes to couture chaos, guess it’s all in a name!"

5. Kelly Clarkson - singer. Clarkson shot to fame after winning the American Idol talent show in 2002, but is regularly derided by fashion critics for her style, particularly her affection for cropped tops. Mr Blackwell slammed her for: "belly-baring bombs".

6 . Eva Green - actress. The French star of Bond film Casino Royale was noted by Vogue for her "killer looks, intelligence and modesty", and has modelled for numerous fashion brands including Armani and Dior. She is known for her quirky gothic style, but clearly not everybody is a fan. Mr Blackwell’s opinion is that she is "Stuck in neon nightmares".

7 . Avril Lavigne - singer. The Canadian Grammy award-nominated musician is famed for her punk-rock style popular among teenagers, and is often pictured wearing black. Mr Blackwell criticised her for "Gothic make-up courtesy the mad spatula."

8. Jessica Simpson - singer/actress. The blonde country and pop artist is admired for her pneumatic figure, and is not afraid to show it off. She garnered more attention for her tiny hotpants than her acting skills as Daisy Duke in her first film, The Dukes of Hazzard. But she has also had her fair share of criticism for her skimpy clothes. Mr Blackwell said: "She’s a global fashion curse."

9. Lindsay Lohan - actress. Child star Lohan, now 21, has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons in the past 12 months. The hard-partying actress has been in and out of rehab and was caught with cocaine by police and then arrested twice for driving under the influence. Style critics say her lifestyle has taken its toll on her appearance. Mr Blackwell said: "Fashion frenzy strikes again."

10. Alison Arngrim - actress/comedian. Best known for her "bad girl" role in US televison show Little House on the Prairie, the stand-up comic is accused of being frumpy. Mr Blackwell said: "Looks like a 1940’s fashion editor for the Farmers Almanac."

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