The Ultimate Muse..

The Ultimate Muse

LADY Amanda Harlech has worked with two of fashion's greatest living legends - Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano - and despite the latter's fall from grace earlier this year, the pair still have a good relationship.

"I still keep in touch with him as a friend," Harlech explained. "I wish I saw more of him. I know from friends that he is getting stronger and getting better - that's all good. I'm sure he will come back. It's interesting that they haven't found anyone to fill his role at Dior."

Harlech still serves as a sounding board for Karl Lagerfeld to bounce off ideas.

"Karl doesn't have a muse - he has a very close knit family who are incredibly loyal," she told Sunday Times Style. "Working with him is always very different and it always depends on what time of year it is, the collection we're working on or whether it's a photographic shoot. A week before a show Karl shoots the dossier de presse. It might go on until three in the morning, and the next day we work until 9pm. It's those days, during the run-up to the show, that you really lock down the look."

Harlech's interest in fashion developed at a very early age, when she worked with yet another now established fashion designer - Jasper Conran.

"As a child, I was always fascinated with dressing up," she said. "Jasper Conran lived on the street as me and he was very good at making clothes. So we did dressing up. We also went to the theatre and to the ballet. The happy transformative powers of dressing up - that is something I do remember."

YOU SHOULD SEE: Inside Harlech's new exhibition...

YOU SHOULD SEE: What Tallulah Harlech wore every day for a month...

Source: VOGUE - ELLA ALEXANDER 12 December 2011

Vicky is a Working Woman

Working Woman

VICTORIA BECKHAM has revealed the secret to maintaining a perfect work-life balance.

"I am absolutely obsessive about diary-keeping," she explained. "I can tell you what I'm doing next June. It's the only way I can make this all possible. The first thing I do in the year is get everyone else's diary - David's, the children's - so I know when all his football games are, where they are, what the kids have to do, when the parent-teacher conferences are, and then I build my work schedule around that. Of course, some things are out of my control: if I have to be in New York for fashion week, I'll miss something."

Another high-profile woman in fashion to talk about how her commitment to family life is Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts, who was this weekend named number eight in theFinancial Times' 2011 Top 50 Women in World Business chart.

"I'm nearly always at home at the weekends; that's important for every working woman today, not just me," she told the Financial Times. "I don't encourage people to come in at the weekend and work, I encourage people to go home and create great families."

SEE BECKHAM'S HAIR HISTORY

YOU SHOULD SEE: What Beckham won at the British Fashion Awards...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Beckham's career advice...

Source: VOGUe - ELLA ALEXANDER 12 December 2011

All About The Boys

All About The Boys

MENSWEAR is growing twice as fast as womenswear in the luxury sector, analysts have revealed - and the shift is being driven by China.

Consultancy Bain & Co revealed that the luxury menswear market, which makes up 40 percent of the global market, is worth €180 billion (£150 billion) - and is currently growing by 14 per cent per year, whilst womenswear is only growing by eight per cent.

"China is the world's biggest luxury goods market in terms of growth," Reuters reports, "with sales rising on average about 20 to 25 per cent a year, and men make up three-quarters of that market, estimated to be worth about €23 billion (£20 billion) overall."

Bernard Arnault's LVMH has already tapped in to the consumer mood, announcing ambitious plans for its Berluti label - and even placing Arnault's own son, Antoine, in charge of the growth. Not to be left behind, luxury conglomerate PPR i nvested in luxury menswear label Brioni in November - and has designs on an Asian expansion within the coming year. Both will have a way to go to catch up with the continent's favourite menswear labels - including Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Dunhill and Ermenegildo Zegna, which makes just under half of its  €1 billion turnover in Asia.

"At this pace, Chinese consumers will, in the medium-to-long term, make up 70 percent of the global luxury market's growth," Bernard Malek, a partner at Roland Berger, told Reuters.

YOU SHOULD SEE: The latest menswear shows...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Fashion's most influential men 2011...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 12 December 2011

New At Net

New At Net

NATALIE MASSENET has hired a new Net-A-Porter managing director; former vice president of sales and marketing Alison Loehnis - but far from allowing Massenet to take her foot off of the retail pedal, the appointment will let her focus on the site's international expansion.

"Alison's appointment will allow me personally to focus on the global growth of the group and the time to develop innovative and groundbreaking new platforms for the business," Massenet said. "Alison is an exceptional talent who is part of the DNA of the Net-a-porter brand. Her appointment alongside those of our other managing directors [for the Outnet and Mr Porter] is a vital part of our growth strategy to create an unbeatable global online luxury retail and media group."

Focusing on global launches, like the exclusive unveiling of Karl Lagerfeld's new Karl line; translating the site in to different languages; and bringing new designers on board are all top of Massenet's forthcoming agenda.

Loehnis played a key role in the launch of the Outnet and Mr Porter - and will be looking to hire for several senior roles to shore up the marketing and buying teams following her promotion.

YOU SHOULD SEE: The new Karl collection...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Who celebrated Net-A-Porter's 10th anniversary...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 12 December 2011 

Best Dressed Of The Week

Best Dressed Of The Week - 09/12/2011

ANGELINA JOLIE wore a colour other than black this week. Non-fashion watchers may not be moved to tears of joy by this news, but those of you who care about such things will understand the gravity of the statement. White was the colour, if you're interested - a Stella McCartney suit - and jolly pretty she looked too. Not exactly Lady Gaga, but groundbreaking in its own little way.

SEE THE PICTURES HERE

Breaking ground elsewhere was the Duchess of Cambridge, wearing Zara and dancing with Prince William to Gary Barlow; Jennifer Lopez, playing football in 8-inch stilettos; and Sarah Jessica Parker, who stepped out sporting aqua legs befitting her style maven status.

But which outfits had the "wish I was her" factor this week? Michelle Pfeiffer reminding Hollywood that she is still one of the world's sexiest women as she approaches her 57th birthday; Emily Blunt and Jessica Hart rocking full-length jewel tone gowns; and Michelle Obama - looking the happiest and most beautiful she's been since Beyoncé sang At Last to her and President Obama at the Inauguration - in cobalt blue Vera Wang.

SEE THE BEST DRESSED HERE

YOU SHOULD SEE: Michelle Obama's style evolution...

YOU SHOULD SEE: How Angelina went from bad girl to Brad's girl...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN & ELLA ALEXANDER 09 December 2011

MICHAEL (Rich) KORS

Billion Dollar Boy

MICHAEL KORS' initial public offering this week is set to value the New Yorker's label at more than three and a half billion dollars - meaning a sale could net him a personal fortune of more than $111 million.

The sale marks the next step in Kors' incredible 30-year rags-to-riches tale, after taking on new investors when he reached bankruptcy early Nineties - and market insiders are confident that the price tag is in no way unreasonable.

"It's a marvellously successful company, and I think an IPO will be very successful," Laurence Leeds, chairman of Buckingham Capital Management, said. "They're putting a high valuation on the company and it deserves a high valuation. The company is very well run, is extremely successful, has a splendid track record and excellent management." 

But the sale won't mean a departure for Kors: the designer has a contract which means he will be employed by the firm until his death, he becomes disabled or he is dismissed "for cause" - and dictates that Kors "shall have creative and aesthetic control of the products produced and sold under or bearing the 'Michael Kors' and related trademarks, including exclusive control of the design of such products, provided that the exercise of such control must be commercially reasonable". The contract is reported to include a minimum salary of $2.5 million for life for Kors, WWD reports, plus bonus and other perks, such as a car and driver and health club membership.

YOU SHOULD SEE:  The latest Michael Kors show...

YOU SHOULD SEE: All the details from Kors' recent wedding...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 05 December 2011

SARAH JESSICA PARKER Girls

SJP's Girls

SARAH JESSICA PARKER has spoken about having "tried and tried and tried" to get pregnant after son James Wilkie - and her surprise at finding out she was set to have twins, rather than just one baby, via a surrogate.

"No we didn't [know]," she confessed. "We understood that it was a possibility, but we didn't spend a lot of time on the math and science of it. We were just hopeful that we would have one healthy child. It was a wonderful shock getting two; the cherry on the sundae… [but] going from one to three children is a much bigger adjustment than becoming a mother in the first place. One child in retrospect seems a cake walk compared to where I stand today."

WATCH SJP ON VOGUETV

Despite her joy at the birth of the two-year-old girls - Tabitha Hodge and Marion Loretta, known at home as Kitty and Babe - who are biologically Parker and husband Matthew Broderick's, she acknowledges that having children by surrogate isn't necessarily straightforward.

"It just wasn't meant to happen the conventional way," she toldStella magazine. "You don't know them as well as you do a child you've given birth to. But you do have an immediate love and affection for them and what is instinctual happens."

YOU SHOULD SEE: SJP's latest looks, straight off the catwalk...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Our exclusive SJP interview on VogueTV...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 05 December 2011

Model Men

Model Men

STORM'S most handsome boys star in a new app that promises the perfect boyfriend. EntitledPerfect Man, the app introduces its user to four different men - each of whom will answer your questions and tell you how beautiful questions.

There's Poet Man (Liam Bergin), who is also a boxer in his spare time; Famous Man (BB), an actor, model and singer; Business Man (John Pearson), think the silver-haired Henry from Mad Men, and finally Photographer Man (Greg Kheel), who will tell you how "smokin'" you are. And if none of those categories appeal, its creator Sarah Woodhead has plans to add a muscular Builder Man and a heroic Fireman. Upon choosing your favourite man, users will be given a more extensive introduction via a short film where your dreamboat will shower you with entertaining - yet flattering - compliments.

"The Perfect Man app is designed for anyone who loves gorgeous men," Woodhead told us. "By engaging with the Meet Me or Ask Me buttons the different stereotypes of men will make you laugh and feel good and even blush a little. Best of all, this app is easily gifted to friends for a perfect pick-me-up, cheap thrill or simply to put a smile on your friend's face."

To buy the app click HERE.

YOU SHOULD SEE: David Gandy's latest news on his VOGUE.COM blog...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Inside Vogue's new app...

Source: VOGUE - ELLA ALEXANDER 05 December 2011

VOGUE'S Secret Book

Secret V Address Book

VOGUE's Secret Address Book, available for only one more week with the December issue, contains the trusted, go-to specialists loved and depended upon by the Vogue team - but getting the information wasn't always straightforward.

"Extracting secrets was never going to be easy as editor of Vogue's Secret Address Book," Jo Craven told us. "Fashion land is a place where one's skills at being insouciant, effortlessly chic and well-presented are paramount regardless of the effort every single one of us takes. So asking where exactly a senior editor gets their tailoring done, or the ulitimate late night takeaway starts sounding impertinent. Be reassured no phones were hacked in the creation of this latest Vogue supplement, yet still we found the secret addresses of boutiques and bakeries, lash bars and lingerie stores and my personal favourite, the ultimate moth-zapping system."

From life's necessities: food, drink, and fashion; to its little luxuries, like swimming pools and master bakers, the supplement has it all - yet it was the simply-constructed, cardboard moth-killing device that impressed Craven most.

"Few of us in our wardrobes escape the wrath of moths, but finally it is time to chuck out the useless cedar balls, and bring in the serious sounding 'Kill Germ Moth Traps' which have a Claridges-style black and white stripe on them, and do for the British Museum's antique clothing, so will do perfectly for mortals too," she explained.

So is there anything missing from the book?

"There were only a few casualties; a failure on my part to track down the sawmill where one Vogue editor had wooden shingle tiles cut for her garden shed, apologies," she confessed. "Every single entry - and there are more than 400 - comes from a trusted source, so hold your copy tight; now you too can know just about everything."

The December issue - complete with Secret Address Book - is available now from newsagents.

YOU SHOULD SEE: What's inside the December issue...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Cover girl Gisele's style evolution...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 30 November 2011

Calvin Klein Wedding?

A Calvin Wedding?

SOME of fashion's biggest names attended the Americans for Marriage Equality at the Calvin Klein Collection flagship in New York this week - and the label's creative director revealed he might consider taking the plunge himself.

 "Yeah, I would. It would be fun. A huge ceremony," Francisco Costa said about the prospect of marrying his partner of 21 years John DeStefano. Meanwhile, DeStefano had more practical preoccupations: "We have to figure out who's going to propose to whom first," he said.

Anna Wintour, Julianne Moore, Karen Elson, Robert De Niro, Courtney Love, and artist Jeff Koons also attended the event, which launched the Human Rights Campaign's efforts to launch a nationwide drive for a gay marriage bill, following the introduction of a similar law in New York earlier this year.

"I think it's a very basic human rights issue," Vogue cover girl Moore told WWD. "Everybody has the right to marry the person they love and be represented as a couple and family.…It's something that people will look back on in years to come and say, 'I can't believe it took so long for us to recognise this.' It'll be like segregation and giving women the right to vote."

YOU SHOULD SEE: The latest Calvin Klein Collection show...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Which designer married his partner this year...

YOU SHOULD SEE: What Anna Wintour said about marriage equality...

Source: VOGUE - LAUREN MILLIGAN 30 November 2011

The British Fashion Awards Winners

The BFA Winners

SARAH BURTON of Alexander McQueen won the prestigious Designer of the Year accolade at the2011 British Fashion Awards, which took place at London's Savoy Hotel this evening.

SEE ALL THE AWARD PICTURES

Victoria Beckham took home the Best Designer Brand prize, beating off competition from Tom Ford, Stella McCartney and Burberry, but that's not to say McCartney herself was left empty handed - her label received the Red Carpet Award.Stella Tennant was named Britain's Model of the Year.

In terms of new designer names, Mary Katrantzou was given the Emerging Talent Womenswear Ready-To-Wear honour, with Christopher Raeburn winning the category's menswear equivalent. Christopher Kane was announced as the winner of the Awards' debut New Establishment prize.

The full list of winners:

Designer of the Year: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Designer Brand: Victoria Beckham

New Establishment Award: Christopher Kane

Menswear Designer: Kim Jones

Accessory Designer: Charlotte Olympia

Red Carpet Award: Stella McCartney

Emerging Talent Award - Ready-To-Wear: Mary Katrantzou

Emerging Talent Award - Menswear: Christopher Raeburn

Emerging Talent Award - Accessories: Tabitha Simmons

Model: Stella Tennant

BFC Outstanding Achievement: Paul Smith

Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Sam Gainsbury

British Style Award: Alexa Chung

YOU SHOULD SEE: All the red carpet pictures...

YOU SHOULD SEE: The full BFA nominee list...

YOU SHOULD SEE: What Paul Smith told us about his award...

Source: VOGUE - ELLA ALEXANDER 28 November 2011

British Fashion Awards - New Establishment

New Establishment..

ERDEM, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders have been nominated for the British Fashion Awards' inaugural New Establishment accolade - which recognises designers who have created a new movement in British fashion and a "sustained" impact on the way the country's women dress.

These three designers were chosen for their impressive London Fashion Week shows, their business growth, their prevalence on the red carpet and the international headlines driven by their collections.

Another fashion name honoured for its industry weight is Liberty, which has been awarded Time Out's Best Shop honour for the third time.

"The jumble of wood-panelled rooms, creaky floors and odd carved animals make shopping at Liberty feel wonderfully intimate - and just a little bit whimsical," said Time Out shopping and style editor Dan Jones. "Wandering through its different departments, you feel as though you're exploring a stately home - with the best gift shop ever. The edit of stock is perfect, from contemporary fashion to the haberdashery (Florence Welch Liberty print fabric anyone?), and the service is great."

The full list of BFA winners will be revealed tonight.

YOU SHOULD SEE: The full BFA nominee shortlist...

YOU SHOULD SEE: Christopher Kane's latest catwalk show...

Source: VOGuE - ELLA ALEXANDER 28 November 2011