Porsche Polo Diaries: where fashion meets sports
2014 March 13. | Szerző: shannon
With the Porsche National Polo Open for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup underway at the Lahore Polo Club, Porsche Centre Lahore presented the Porsche Polo Diaries Fashion Show featuring 17 of Pakistan’s leading design houses.
HSY opened the night with structured black, sequined jackets over long dresses. He brought a rugged sensibility to his outfits and paired riding boots under his maxi dresses. Cropped jackets and riding pants were all the rage for men throughout the night. Wish HSY had added more colour to his collection to make it pop for a daytime sporting event though.
Tony & Guy kept up with international make-up trends and gave the models popping bright orange lips. Ladies, orange lipstick is a must have this spring, be it daytime or night time; there is a shade out there for everyone. It was also interesting to see Shamaal Qureshi take inspiration from the Polo pony tail for the hair dos. Flattened out, rolled up braids gave the styling a truly sporty feel.
Maheen Karim went retro chic with her capsule collection and psychedelic prints on silk. She used greens, whites, blues and the occasional pop of red in her prints. From classic Parisian dresses to rompers and harem pant jumpsuits, Maheen Karim brought her own sensibility to the sport.
The House of Kamiar Rokni made preppy sexy with his capsule collection. His silhouette, based collection had a very dominatrix feel to it with sheer net and organza backs, paired with bustiers peeking out.
Sonya Battla missed the memo on what Polo fashion is all about and her collection failed to show anything even remotely close to preppy chic aura around the sport.
Nida Azwer was a breath of fresh air as she reinvented herself and brought to us sports day chic. Embellished hats added the oomph factor while the best piece of the collection would have to be her white belted jacket.
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Munib Nawaz is a costume designer at heart and his entire collection focused on the riding pants he had designed. While the velvet jackets were a bit much, they added a bit of drama to the evening.
Fahad Hussayn showed structured pleated dresses styled with fur baleros. The highlight of his collection would have to be the Carrie Bradshaw-inspired feathered head dresses.
Faraz Manan upped the game with sheer embellished capes that are perfect for the Lahori spring. Sania Maskatiya, however, sadly missed the mark. The collection seemed too haphazard and not well put together. The collection lacked the design house’s sport signature sensibility.
Trust Ali Xeeshan to add some much needed drama to the evening. While his Faberge prints that have been a bit overdone around the globe, his creative head gear is what made his capsule stand out.
Wardha Saleem’s 1970s-inspired polka dotted collection had one or two fun elements and a whole lot of problems. While her motif of a bird carrying a polo stick was cute, the ill-fitted outfits just did not hit the spot.
Zara Shahjahan’s decision to pair floppy beach hats with blinging evening gowns was a creative choice that we just did not understand. Deepak Perwani’s capsule exuded his natural style and sensibility. The beautiful prints took the runway by a storm, and with actual polo players walking down the ramp in sleek tailored velvet jackets, this collection was very Deepak and extremely Polo-centric.
Forever 21 Bohemian Dreams 2014 Lookbook
2014 March 11. | Szerző: shannon
Festival season is upon us! The Forever 21 Bohemian Dreams 2014 lookbook brings several chic options for the occasion and beyond, focusing on colorful, head-turning ensembles with a cool effortlessly chic flair. As usual, the label knows exactly what makes young fashionistas tick and the newest set of images beautifully prove it once again. The label focused extensively on cool tribal prints and brought many youthful pieces inspired by Morocco into the spotlight, making us more than willing to indulge in a little harmless daydreaming in the process, especially given the fab summer vacation themed background the label chose for the new ads.
The new Forever 21 festival inspired lookbook has many cool affordable pieces with a huge statement making potential, which is why it can serve as a great source of inspiration for those looking to revamp their festival ensembles and experiment with a fresh style perspective. What can fashionistas indulge in for the new season? Lots of cool pieces: printed jumpsuits and chic rompers, cool maxi dresses and flirty short dresses, fringed cardigans, harem pants, ripped denim shorts and open knit vests are just some of the cool items the high street retailer suggests for the upcoming days.
No less impressive are the accessories that the brand is highlighting in the new lookbook. Fun bangles, metallic rings, cool statement necklaces, floppy hats, flat gladiator sandals or funky round sunglasses are among the elements which can give a stunning allure to any casual look for spring or summer. The coolest thing about the new looks presented in the Forever 21 Bohemian Dreams 2014 lookbook is that they are remarkably easy to put together.
If there’s one style lesson the new Forever 21 bohemian inspired lookbook brings, it’s definitely having the courage to experiment with vibrant tones, conspicuous prints and contrasting textures as it is almost always a surefire recipe for memorable and attention-grabbing looks.
Nasty Gal Anti-Prom 2014 Lookbook
2014 March 8. | Szerző: shannon
The Nasty Gal Anti-Prom 2014 lookbook is filled with edgy suggestions for those who aren’t too fond of the traditional idea of prom and all the typical cliches it involves. The brand continues with its anti-prom tradition proving that even the most seemingly innocent motifs can have a cool edgy vibe with the right accents and a bit of creative, outside the box thinking. If last year’s anti prom lookbook from the label brought edgy leather accents and plenty of casual staples with a casual flair, the new line adopts a more interesting approach, taking cool dresses and styling them into fun but unexpected outfits.
The new Nasty Gal anti-prom dresses are bolder than your average dresses for the occasion as they feature bold cutouts and deep necklines, so they are definitely not for the fainthearted. However, even girls who aren’t comfortable with revealing dresses can find plenty of cool ideas worth experimenting with in the new line. The cool accessories featured in the new ads are another easy way to add a touch of edginess to your prom look without too much effort.
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Cool lucite earrings, rose adorned clutches, oversized bows, black lug sole boots or an everyday black foldover clutch might not be the first accessories that come to mind when thinking about prom outfits but they can sure be a great pick if you’re striving to win the spotlight. Plus, many of them can easily be worn long after prom night is over, which is a definitely plus. The beauty looks the label put together are no less worthy of careful analysis.
Simple but chic manis, cool purposely messy hairstyles paired with sweet, feminine makeup looks which create an almost ironic effect or bold brows paired with even bolder makeup tones are just some of the ideas that can help you explore a chic tough girl vibe for the big night. One last thing we can’t help but love about Nasty Gal is that the brand has the coolest party slogans: “Prepare to dance, scream, laugh, raise hell, and have the best night of your life in Nasty Gal Prom Collection 2014!”
Costume designers honor ’12 Years a Slave,’ ‘Behind the Candelabra’
2014 February 25. | Szerző: shannon
The Costume Designers Guild members honored their own at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom on Saturday night, handing out awards for outstanding costume design in seven categories as well as a handful of honorary recognitions.
Among the high-profile attendees (many of them tapped to awards) included Mindy Kaling, Tony Hale, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Debra Winger, Kerry Washington, the evening’s host Joshua Malina (“The West Wing,” “Scandal”) and a va-va-voom Raquel Welch, who recognized the importance of costume design by quipping: “Face it, if [costume designer] Sir Carl Toms hadn’t put me in that fur bikini in ‘One Million Years B.C.,’ I wouldn’t be here — there wouldn’t be a Raquel Welch.”
In a possible preview of Oscar night, Patricia Norris won for excellence in period film for her efforts on “12 Years a Slave,” a category that included fellow 2014 Academy Award nominees Michael Wilkinson for “American Hustle” and Catherine Martin for “The Great Gatsby.”
Norris’ son took to the stage to accept the award on her behalf. “She said, ‘Go have a good time, I’m not going to win,’” Robert Norris said before reading a brief just-in-case list of thank-yous from his mother. “I can’t wait to give this to her. Thank you.”
The night’s other categories and winners included:
Excellence in Contemporary Film
Suzy Benzinger for “Blue Jasmine”
Excellence in Fantasy Film
Trish Summerville for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”
Outstanding Contemporary Television Series
Tom Broecker for “House of Cards”
Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television Series
Caroline McCall for “Downton Abbey”
Outstanding Made for TV Movie Or Miniseries
Ellen Mirojnick for “Behind the Candelabra”
Excellence in Commercial Costume Design
Nancy Steiner for “Call of Duty: Ghosts Masked Warriors”
April Ferry, whose costume design credits include “The Big Chill” and this year’s “RoboCop” remake, was the recipient of a career achievement award, Sharon Day received the distinguished service award and Judd Apatow was honored with the guild’s distinguished collaborator award.
After a montage of film stills and behind-the-scenes photos from his various movies and TV shows (“The Ben Stiller Show,” “Bridesmaids,” “Superbad” and “Girls” among them), Apatow noted that he had been wearing a Lacoste shirt “in every single shot.” “If that doesn’t get me a free box of [expletive] I don’t know what does,” he joked.
Amy Adams was the final honoree, receiving a crystal award in the shape of a crocodile (the iconic Lacoste logo), which was presented to her by “American Hustle” costar Jeremy Renner.
“My daughter’s obsessed with alligators right now,” Adams said, “so I’m going to put this in her room while she’s asleep and she’s going to freak out.”
Adams went on to share a light-hearted laundry list of things she’d learned from costume designers over the years, from “the actual start date of a movie” to “always wear undergarments to a fitting,” ending with profuse thanks to costume designers, costume house Western Costume “and [‘American Hustle’ key costumer] Honah Lee [Milne], who helped me keep my dignity when, at the end of the day,” Adams said, “there wasn’t a shred of it left.”
Gel vs acrylic nails
2014 February 22. | Szerző: shannon
You want salon-perfect nails – but should you go for gel or acrylic?
There’s something about having gorgeous nails that just makes you feel much more glamorous. Particularly if you bite your nails, giving them that extra bit of TLC could break the habit and make you feel proud of your talons again. But with so many different ways of keeping them chic, what’s the right method for you? We’ve taken a look at some of the most popular so you can see just what’s at your fingertips when it comes to nail care.
Acrylics
The good:
Let’s face it – they look awesome. Acrylic nails are sturdy, shiny and what celebrities are made of. If you want to feel like an A-lister, head down to your local salon for a full set and you’ll come out feeling you’re stepping onto the red carpet. You can also get your beautician to add any array of gemstones, studs and stickers. If you end up taking off the original colour and paint over it at home, nail varnish also stays on acrylics for much longer than natural nails.
The bad:
Simply put, they’re not great for your nails. You also need to think about the upkeep. Acrylics often need filling in every 3-6 weeks, which means a dent in your wallet. The nail bed can also get damaged and the acrylic nails can create a great breeding ground for fungus underneath (yuck). However as long as you clean them properly, you shouldn’t experience too many problems. It’s also important to get them removed professionally or you could damage your nails a lot.
Gel
The good:
The polish is applied under a UV light, which cures and hardens it and means that it lasts for around two weeks. Gel nails also look very natural and aren’t as talon-like as some acrylics, which means contact lens wearers won’t have as many near-misses when they insert their lenses.
The bad:
UV rays can be harmful for the skin, which means you should definitely apply some sunscreen to the backs of your hands before going for a gel manicure. An acetone finger bath is also needed for removal, which isn’t that kind on your nails.
Now that you have all the facts, it should hopefully be easier to pick the method right for you.
The Detox Diet Fad :: Is it for you?
2014 February 14. | Szerző: shannon
The detox diet is all the rage right now. Detoxing, or cleansing, is supposed to rid the body of toxins, clear out the digestive tract, and sort of reset the system. Thought to be good for the skin, the colon, the blood, and, of course, as a means of weight loss.
Here’s the real deal on detox, though. The thing you don’t often hear. You have to choose the right detox diet for YOU. Yep, as with so many other things in life, this is not one size fits all.
How do I know? I took on a detox this week. I’ve been working out like crazy, really watching what I eat since the first of the year, and just haven’t seen as much of a difference in how I look as I’d like. I was so focused on my stomach not being perfectly flat and thinking about how I looked that I forgot to think about how my body felt.
Well, the detox brought my attention to that in a great big hurry.
So I took on the 3 Day Cleanse from The Plan author Lyn-Genet Recitas. Looks simple enough, you get to eat so you won’t be starving, and c’mon, it’s 3 days! Since I am not at all a picky eater and love my veg, I thought it would be a breeze. Honestly I was more concerned with having to prepare extra food than the actual eating of it.
Until I started eating it. The first day was ok. I was definitely full, not particularly satisfied, but for sure thought I’d have no problem getting through 2 more days of it. Until right around lunch time of day 2, that is. After my second lunch in two days of husky greens with chickpeas, cucumbers and lime juice vinaigrette, I felt sick to my stomach, had a headache, and the thought of eating more ultra fibrous veg for dinner made me want to vomit. I decided I would just skip dinner and look forward to day 3, when I could have a few crackers and a little chicken.
By around 3:00 the afternoon of day 2 I’d decided I didn’t need a detox anyway, like a smoker convincing themself that a cig isn’t really that bad. Detox ditched.
Rather than feeling light and free and happy, I spent the next two days getting my digestion back on track, battling a raging sweet tooth that hadn’t made an appearance in a while, and feeling (and looking!) downright exhausted.
Here’s my take away on detoxing. Be sure that the detox works for your body, your system, your individual makeup. You know your body. If you need warm foods, don’t do a raw food cleanse. If you are an eater, avoid juice cleansing. There are lots of different detox diets out there, choose the one that feels right. Detox can even mean eliminating refined sugar or cutting back on caffeine.
Bottom line is this; I had a good thing going with my style of healthy eating and regular exercise. Even though I was not seeing radical results, I felt great and am in reasonable shape. The whole detox thing really threw me off track. Don’t go with the fad or what works for someone else. Do what makes you and your body feel good.
How to Choose Necklace Lenght
2014 February 7. | Szerző: shannon
A necklace can elevate your look immensely or it can draw attention to areas that you don’t want highlighted. Whether you’re shopping for a necklace online or in stores, find out how to choose the necklace length that’s right for your body and style.
The first thing you need to do is measure the circumference of your neck. Use a soft measuring tape and make sure it’s a snug fit to determine your size. Once you’ve gotten that out of the way, you can start looking at the right length for you. Keep in mind that the clasp also adds lenght to the necklace. The standard lenght of the connector is three-fourths of an inch, but the clasps can sometimes be longer and they’re not included in the overall lenght.
Finding the Right Necklace Length
Based on the circumference of your neck, you should always add at least two inches when purchasing a necklace that wraps tight around the neck. If the size of your neck is bigger, adjust the following sized based on the fact that a standard chocker is 16 inches (for a 14 inch neck).
14-16 inches. The choker, also called a chain or strand is supposed to wrap loosely around the neck, never restricting your neck when you take deep breaths.
18 inches. Usually called princess necklaces, these pieces of jewelry are designed to sit on the collarbone.
20 inches. Siting just below the collarbone, a 20 inch necklace is called a matinée and is usually the standard length for adding lockets and pendants.
22 inches. Landing at the top of the bust, this also falls into the matinée category.
24 inches. A necklace this long should be at the center of the bust or just below it.
28-38 inches. Hanging below the bust, a necklace in this region is either an opera necklace (30 inches), or a lariat (36 inches). The term rope refers to lariats without a clasp.
40 inches or more. At this length, necklaces hang below the navel and are usually worn wrapped around the neck, either two or three times.
Now that you know how to choose necklace length based on the look you’re going for, you should also learn more about what types of necklaces work for you, based on height and body type.
How to Choose Necklace Length Based on Height
The length of your necklace has a flattering effect when it’s proportional to your body. That doesn’t mean that petite women can’t wear longer necklaces, but it’s always something to consider when you choose the right length for you.
If your height is below 5’4’’, don’t go longer than 20 inches. If you want to elongate your frame, stick to this size and wear it over a V-neck dress or top.
Women with a height between 5’4’’ and 5’7’’ can pull off any length of necklace, from chokers to lariats.
If you’re 5’7’’ or taller, try to avoid tight chokers. The most flattering look is usually a longer necklace.
How to Choose Necklace Length Based on Body Type
Since necklaces can accentuate your bust and even your whole frame, it’s important to keep a few rules in mind when you choose the right one for you.
If you’re a column or a banana body type and you want do draw attention to your bust line, go for a necklace that hits above the top of the bust and below the collarbone, usually 20-22 inches. For a more flat chest, choose a longer and thinner necklace.
For an apple or a pear body type with full figures, stick to necklaces that hit above the breast line. Go as high as 18 inches, but don’t go too far in the opposite direction, by choosing a voluminous choker.
How to Match a Necklace to Your Outfit
A deep V-neck isn’t always compatible with a long necklace. For formal attire you should stay on the collarbone or above. When you’re wearing jewelry over a top with a turtleneck, either dress or blouse, go for the longer variety of necklaces. Never wear chokers over a turtleneck, go for a brooch at the center.
For pearl necklaces, two looks are considered the best. If you’re looking for pearl for a formal outfit, stay above the collarbone. The long pearl strands, for a less formal occasion, are usually even longer than 48 inches, allowing you to wrap them around multiple times.
How to Choose Necklace Length for Girls
Children’s necklaces usually only come in two standard sizes, 14 and 16 inches. For younger children with thin necks, 14 is the right call, but for preteens, you’re better off measuring or going for 16 inches.
Cleo de Nile Monster High Makeup Tutorial
2014 January 23. | Szerző: shannon
Cleo de Nile is the freakishly fabulous mummy ghoul from Monster High.
Here’s how you can copy Cleo de Nile’s makeup look for a costume party or for Halloween!
What you’ll need:
– darker foundation and powder
– eyeshadow primer
– purple and red eyeshadows
– ivory eye pencil
– white cream eyeshadow (optional)
– black liquid liner
– false lashes
– black eye liner pencil
– white eyeshadow
– red lip pencil and lipstick
– bronzer
Cleo de Nile Makeup: Face
Use slightly darker foundation to mimic Cleo’s mocha skin tone. Blend well into the skin to create an even canvas and set it with powder.
Cleo de Nile Makeup: Eyes
Prep eyes with a primer on both upper and lower eyelids, then use a purple eyeshadow on the upper eyelid and blend the edges with a burgundy red color. Use a clean fluffy brush with a rounded tip to create a smokey eye effect.
Define the area under the eyebrows by tracing a line with an ivory pencil. Create the effect of big, doll-like eyes using the same pencil on the lower lash line. You can even go over with a white cream eyeshadow to open up eyes even more.
Draw an exaggerated cat eye with liquid eyeliner and square out the outer corner. Add burgundy eyeshadow under the lower liner using a small, stiff brush.
Apply two pairs of false lashes on both upper and lower lash lines. Draw on Cleo de Nile’s strong eyebrows with a black eyeliner pencil, then highlight the brow bone with white eyeshadow.
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Cleo de Nile Makeup: Lips
Line the lips with a red pencil and fill them in with a burgundy lip color. Create an ombre effect by applying black eyeshadow to the outer edges and blend with the burgundy color.
Cleo de Nile Makeup: Finishing Touches
Draw on Cleo de Nile’s blue beauty mark on the left cheek or use a stick-on rhinestone. Then add bronzer to the cheeks, temples and jawline to warm up the skin.
Complete your Cleo de Nile look with an Egyptian style wing with long dark hair and straight across bangs.
The Czech Fashion Model Karolina Kurkova Seems to Be Everywhere
2014 January 16. | Szerző: shannon
The crowd in Central Park had swelled to 60,000 as Karolina Kurkova, the Czech fashion model and former Victoria’s Secret Angel, waited backstage at the second Global Citizens Festival, a star-studded concert last September. Scheduled to go on after Alicia Keys and her performance of “Girl on Fire,” Ms. Kurkova sang along with gusto from the wings.
After the applause died down, she stepped out in front, statuesque in a white Proenza Schouler leather skirt and Manolo Blahnik stilettos. Her blond hair whipped as she leaned into the microphone and spoke with the brio of a cheerleader and the confidence of a politician.
“Hello global citizens, the world is on our shoulders,” she called out.
After introducing Janelle Monáe, she hit the V.I.P. tent with Archie Drury, her husband, and their 4-year-old son. She yelled hello to Russell Simmons and Amy Sacco, and hugged Gayle King. She goofed around with fans, stealing their caps and mugging for selfies with them. Then it was on to Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the United Nations, whose office had arranged a photo op. She greeted him like family.
“You’re so tall,” he said.
“And I’m not even wearing my heels,” she replied.
Perhaps not, but she is definitely flying high these days. Ms. Kurkova wants to be more than just another pretty face who has graced countless magazine covers. With a budding TV career and a regular presence on the charity circuit, her fame now extends beyond the runway, and she is poised, as Anna Wintour once said, to be the “next supermodel” and a bigger celebrity.
In an industry with looming expiration dates, Ms. Kurkova, who turns 30 in February, appears here to stay. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has worked on sitcoms and reality shows, lunches with royals, walks runways and red carpets, and was on People magazine’s “Most Beautiful” list in 2004. Even those who don’t know the difference between Prada and Pucci may recognize her from NBC’s “Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” where she is a playful and regular guest. “Jay knows I’m fun,” she said. “I always want people to have a good time.”
Clearly word has gotten around. As Ms. Kurkova said, “I’m the girl who gets asked to do things.”
It has been some time since the supermodels ruled catwalks and popular imaginations, a time perhaps best personified in George Michael’s 1990 video for “Freedom ’90,” which featured Linda, Naomi, Christy and Cindy — no last names necessary, thank you. Since then, models seemed to have receded back into the fashion fishbowl, though there are notable exceptions. Milla Jovovich and Amber Valletta took to acting. Padma Lakshmi remade herself as the host of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” as have Heidi Klum with “Project Runway” and Tyra Banks on “America’s Next Top Model.” And if you marry Tom Brady, as Gisele Bündchen did, well, touchdown.
But few outside the fashion bubble have heard of today’s top models, which according to the industry website Models are led by Joan Smalls, Saskia de Brauw, Liu Wen, Karmen Pedaru and Cara Delevingne.
And while Ms. Kurkova doesn’t even crack the site’s list of top 50 models, she continues to be a presence in and beyond the field. Maybe that’s what happens when you beat out Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson on the E! network’s 2008 list of the world’s sexiest women.
“Everyone has a different idea of beautiful,” she said with a self-deprecating smirk.
Her road to semi-supermodeldom began in Decin, a small city in the Czech Republic, where her father was a basketball player and her mother was a bank administrator. She worked very hard at school, especially on her English, knowing it would help get her out of town. “I was a girl with big teeth, and the tallest in my class, who coped by being funny,” she said. “I mean I was always drawing attention but not always for the right reasons.”
That changed when she was discovered by a modeling scout in Prague after a friend submitted some pictures. From Prague, she quickly moved on to work in Milan, where Miuccia Prada gave Ms. Kurkova a contract with Miu Miu before she turned 16. To improve her career prospects, Ms. Kurkova moved to New York in 1999, and in 2001, she became the youngest model to appear on the cover of Vogue. It was the first of several covers.
“Distinctive” and “instantly recognizable” is how Ms. Wintour described her in a fashion documentary on A&E.
Ms. Kurkova’s career took off with appearances on runways and in advertising campaigns for Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Versace and Christian Dior. Mario Testino called her a model who could “fit into any moment.” Marc Jacobs noted her “angelic look with a dark side.” In the first few years of her professional modeling career, she ended up on 52 magazine covers and was named model of the year at the 2002 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards.
But there was something else that set her apart from other models. Beyond her towering physique, aquiline nose and perfect credentials, Ms. Kurkova also showed that she had charisma and a bubbly, witty and disarmingly gracious personality. She was game for anything.
Soon, she was getting speaking roles on NBC’s “Chuck” and “30 Rock,” and CBS’s “Person of Interest,” as well as the 2009 action film “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” She also co-starred last year in “The Face,” Oxygen’s reality show about modeling, but left after one season. Insiders assume she couldn’t handle Naomi Campbell, the show’s star, who called her a “complete idiot” on the air. Ms. Kurkova doesn’t comment. But last year, Mr. Leno pushed her on the air about working with the notorious, phone-throwing supermodel.
“Being the mom of a 3-year-old prepared me for a lot of things, I guess,” she said with a sheepish grin.
“Meow,” Mr. Leno shot back.
In addition to TV, she now appears with socialite regularity on the charity circuit, not just as red-carpet eye candy, but as a presenter and member of various committee lists including the Novak Djokovic Foundation, New Yorkers for Children and the Semper Fi Fund.
Every move is considered and many meetings are taken in a crucial career moment that requires both pollinating and mining for gold.
“Models need to be more proactive these days,” said Scott Lipps, the founder of One Management, who handles her career. He noted that she had started to focus on her social media presence substantially, with nearly 168,000 Instagram followers, up from 15,000 a year ago. “Karolina is a real businesswoman who knows she has to tap into pop culture.”
Her husband, Mr. Drury, 42 and a former Marine, helps strategize. So does her publicity agency, Rogers and Cowan. “The important thing is to do everything to ensure your staying power,” said Rod Aissa, an Oxygen executive who is producing a second season of “The Face.” Terron Schaefer, a Saks Fifth Avenue executive who appears on NBC’s “Fashion Star,” agreed. “Karolina wants to do more, which is why she’s everywhere,” he said.
Everywhere is putting it mildly. Last winter, when Jay Z needed a co-host for his party after his Carnegie Hall benefit, he asked Ms. Kurkova. When someone was needed to sit next to Prince Harry at his polo charity event in Connecticut in May, she was there to kiss and chat. The next week, she was towering over actresses on the red carpets of Cannes as a “friend” of the Swiss watch company IWC Schaffhausen. In September, at the United States Open tennis tournament, she hit the Moët & Chandon V.I.P. suite before sitting with Kate Upton in the private box of Mr. Djokovic. Right after that, she was omnipresent during Fashion Week in New York, walking the runway for Michael Kors and posing with Jim Carrey at the Marchesa after-party, and then in Milan, where she could be spotted on runways and on guest lists of events like the amfAR benefit for AIDS research and a Condé Nast charity concert at La Scala.
Then, after presenting at the Global Citizens concert in Central Park, she and her family were off for meetings in China and an appearance at a Dubai Cares charity event sponsored by Italian Vogue.
She knows it’s necessary to keep the momentum going. “She’s not at the point where people on the street know who she is,” said Albert Watson, a cover photographer for Vogue and Rolling Stone. “But she’s a much better model than Kate Moss ever was. Sometimes notoriety is what you really need to become known.”
Scandal-free and without a diva’s disposition, Ms. Kurkova, who now lives in Miami, will have to rely instead on her charm and ability to accept as many invitations as possible. And even if the jet lag can be overwhelming, especially with a toddler in tow, she isn’t complaining.
“You have to keep showing up because just being in magazines isn’t enough,” she said.
On a sunny day last fall, she was walking along the West Side Highway in TriBeCa, where she keeps an apartment, chattering away and gesticulating wildly, as is her way. Although gorgeously dressed, taller and far blonder than anyone in sight, she was not drawing any stares or smiles. But as a sign of her relevance, two paparazzi aimed their long lenses at her from a distance. She didn’t seem to mind.
“They have to make a living,” Ms. Kurkova said.
She would know.
Related article:
http://www.kissydress.co.uk/bridesmaid-dresses-colors-for-african-skins
Fashion forward
2014 March 17. | Szerző: shannon
Recently, Alannah Hill likened the end of her partnership with her eponymous brand to “a death”. Kit Willow, who was ousted from the label she began, said “my heart was broken”. Collette Dinnigan and Ksubi have shut their shops. Lisa Ho’s company collapsed spectacularly (although it is set to revive in a different incarnation). Is this any climate in which to hold the rebranded Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival?
Well, yes. Behold, Melbourne’s new fashion saviours, a group of up-and-coming designers, models and innovators who offer the promise of change and new invention. VAMFF’s Graeme Lewsey, the chief executive of the festival, recognises the challenges facing the fashion industry, but has responded by shaking things up. A breakfast called “I will survive: the challenges in establishing and protecting your business” is a sign of the times. There is still the usual fabulous glitz afoot: Eva Longoria is the hostess of a Vue de Monde cocktail party, wearing her L’Oreal Paris Global Ambassador hat, and Cara Delevingne is rumoured to be flitting around events as an unofficial guest following her girlfriend Michelle Rodriguez’s visit to the Grand Prix. But what should get fashion-watchers really excited is the range of new blood that will be seen on the runway.
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This year’s VAMFF will introduce previously unheard-of fashion figures. Adele Varcoe is an artist who creates faux fashion performances to explore the psychology behind fashion. Thea Baumann is an inventor who has created ”appcessories” – fashion accessories that work with social mobile apps. And then there are the initiatives designed to showcase new talent. Future Runway presents the work of year 11 and 12 students, while tertiary students strut their stuff at the National Graduate Showcase. The Tiffany & Co National Designer Award is the most prestigious of the bunch, presenting a new designer with a kick-start that includes a $10,000 cheque and pop-up store at Westfield Doncaster. Past winners include Dion Lee, Josh Goot, Toni Maticevski and Yeojin Bae.
One of this year’s entrants, Christina Exie, is an RMIT graduate who won reality TV show Project Runway. What she does differently with her “luxury avant-garde” brand is to host a global store from Melbourne. Via the internet, she sells her garments to Kuwait and Russia. She hasn’t restricted her brand’s sales to Australia because, “I use heavier fabrics, and also the price point of my clothes – $80 for a basic top to $3000 for a customised jacket – means that there’s a very small amount of Australians who are willing to invest in the garments I make”. She represents the new breed of designer who prefers to make investment pieces for a greater good. “A lot of people want to produce, cut and sew garments whose only use is to make women feel better, but the garments are ultimately useless – they go into landfill. We need to be smarter, and ask if these garments have another use. Can they be recycled or re-used? There are a few designers who’ll produce things that will never be thrown away.” Exie plans to be one of them.
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Another of the Tiffany & Co award finalists is Strateas. Carlucci. Mario-Luca Carlucci and Peter Strateas started their Australian label unconventionally – by debuting their collection in Paris. “We’ve been focusing on the international market,” says Carlucci. So far, that includes selling to stores in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Italy and China. “We wanted to give it a red-hot shot, and thought, ‘Why build it locally and slowly? Let’s go straight overseas and see how it fares.'” To do so, they “steered away from what was known as the Australian ‘look’ – people think of Australia as being a surf culture, and relaxed, easy and lighter”. ”We use Australian merino wool, a lot of leatherwear, a lot of suiting.”
They attribute their success to the internet, because “back in the day, people had to be in the front row of a fashion show or see it printed in a magazine six months later [to know what was in fashion]”. ”Now you can watch a show in New York on your iPhone at the same time. A brand like us in Melbourne can be seen as an international brand, even though it just happens to be based out of a Brunswick studio.”
That said, there are still up-and-coming designers who prefer their wares to look Australian. Pageant (also Tiffany & Co award finalists), a men and women’s sports luxe label, is the brainchild of Amanda Cumming and Kate Reynolds who display their nationalist pride through using local factories and also teaching fashion design classes at RMIT. “In the Australian fashion industry, everybody’s trying not to reference where they’re from, but celebrating that is really important to us,” says Reynolds. Their innovative approach sees them collaborating with unexpected partners, such as local filmmakers and videomakers, and referencing art through their designs. Art and fashion seem to be closer bedfellows than ever: even the well-established designer Megan Park, whose label has been going for 18 years, collaborated with photographic artist Nairn Scott and illustrative artist Dylan Martorell in 2013 to develop her prints.
But all these designers recognise that their audience has changed. And expanded, no pun intended, according to plus-size designer Kate Millett, whose Bombshell Vintage label will be showcased in VAMFF’s Curvy Couture Roadshow. At that event, customers can meet designers who focus on size 14 upwards. Millett’s retro-looking label began when “my plus-size friends said that they couldn’t find vintage anywhere for their size”. She realised that vintage lines – promoting hourglass shapes – often suited plus-size customers. But it’s her inclusion in VAMFF that makes her realise that times really are changing. “There are so many beautiful women out there of all sizes. On the catwalk, there’s a resurgence of body diversity that I’m glad to see,” she says, adding that runways still need to embrace women who might be larger and shorter than the traditional model. “If the majority [of current plus-size fashion] is in dark colours and act as a hiding mechanism, people draw the conclusion that those women want to hide and be concealed. But I’ve met so many women who want to wear bright colours and glitter and spandex and be noticed. I want to change the perception of what plus-size fashion means, and what a plus-size woman is. It’s about loving your body and not reflecting what other people think your body should look like.”
The modelling world is changing, too. Melbourne high school student, Shanali Martin, 17, was the runner-up of the most recent Australia’s Next Top Model TV show. With an Australian father and Fijian-Indian mother, her looks are exotic. “I’m not as diverse as a brunette who can go for a few more things for me, but when I get a job, it’s because they want me for my look,” Martin says.
Even that, though, is no longer enough. “A model isn’t just a coat hanger any more. With the advancement of technology and Instagram, people are personalities now.”
That’s a sentiment shared by Georgia Geminder, 20, a student of criminology at university. She is the official ambassador of the 2014 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix, and will also be walking in VAMFF. “The internet has changed the face of modelling worldwide. I know a lot of girls at the agency who get booked weekly because of Instagram.” She says that it’s hard to strike a balance between being a public face and a private person, especially as she’s the granddaughter of the late billionaire businessman, Richard Pratt. “You want to put yourself out there and promote what you’re doing, but … as I’m getting more exposure, I have to be careful with things I post and how I present myself to the world, because people can manipulate [those images].”
Melbourne-raised and New York-based model Paris Roberts, 20, will appear exclusively on the Mimco runway during VAMFF as its campaign’s new face, and says that social media doesn’t just keep people being interested in you; it almost supersedes the way you look. “It’s not just about being physically attractive; you have to have something that other people can connect to. If you can connect with people, you may not be the most amazingly beautiful person, but you can still attract [consumers], and clients will find that attractive.”
The key to success in fashion, it seems, is to not let others define you. Take Stef and Jess Dadon, sisters in their 20s whose blog, How Two Live, has defied expectations. What began as a clothes diary has translated to 93,000 followers on Instagram, landing them prestigious advertising campaigns with the likes of Mimco.
Stef and Jess will talk about blogging at a VAMFF workshop. And this, perhaps, is how the future of fashion will evolve. Industry insiders are no longer content to play particular, confined roles. They see themselves as change-makers, rather than trend-setters.
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