The première of Madonna’s new single ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’’ in Piccadilly Circus did not go particularly well: not only was the video late, but it ran without sound.
The music video, which features Nicki Minaj and MIA in cheerleaders’ outfits, was directed by Megaforce. It makes references to a lot of Madonna’s past work and is meant to be tongue in cheek.
Despite the malfunction in London, fans were generally very positive toward the new video when it hit the internet.
Less contentious is the news that Back to the Future might head to Broadway. Broadway has, in recent years, been very kind to film-to-stage adaptations, including The Producers and Xanadu, which arguably did better there than in the cinemas in 1980.
Writer–director Robert Zemeckis is in negotiations to pen a new script for the stage, according to ITN.
Silician designer Maria Francesca Paternò has released her bridal and haute couture collection for 2012, entitled Ouverture.
The self-described ‘fashion engineer’ mixes a number of cultures, along with poetry and art, as part of her inspiration.
The collection features one-shoulder necklines reminiscent of ancient Greece, long and flowing skirts, and a nostalgic use of silk, satin and lace. Paternò’s cocktail dresses have vivid, vibrant colours. She employs only the highest quality materials and techniques.
Paternò’s atelier is named la Via della Seta, or Silk Road, paying tribute to her love of the material.
The advertising campaign was shot in Barcelona by Toni Mateu.
Paternò was mentored by designer Gianna Baragli, and had worked for several notable companies beginning in the 1970s. Her website describes her gowns as works of art ‘brought to life with sentiment and feminine sensibility.’
Top Beth Ditto with John Demsey, Group President, the Estée Lauder Companies Inc., in Paris. Above The Feeling Alive collection from Jane Iredale.
Beth Ditto is MAC’s latest collaborator, with her collection to be released in June. Along with Vanessa Paradis, Catherine Deneuve, Dita von Teese, Christian Louboutin, Juliette Binoche and Grace Jones, Ditto attended the Gala Sidaction dîner de la mode in Paris on January 26 as part of the MAC Aids Fund’s work, and to make the partnership public.
Jane Iredale is launching a make-up collection called Feeling Alive, with two eye glosses, two Lip Plumpers, a lip-defining pencil and a rosy bronzer available from March. It’s a perfect beauty collection for the winter months.
We’re wondering how many ‘unique’ shopping events Auckland can take later in February. In the spirit of Vogue’s Fashion Night Out—we’ve already been covering New York, Tokyo and Berlin editions—an event called Shop One Night hits New Zealand from February 23 at 5 p.m., running till midnight in the Britomart precinct, and has been realized by ShopWhatsNew.co.nz.
The following evening, to kick off the New Zealand Fashion Festival, a shopping event called First Light takes place at Auckland’s High Street, O’Connell Street and the surrounding lanes. Karen Walker reveals her spring 2012 collection, while Ruby launches its Liam collection, all complemented by a shopping experience in the area. More details are at www.highstdistrict.co.nz.
The winner between these two events: shoppers, who get more fashion than they would normally get on two days in Auckland.
Finally, we hear that Bodyhaven Spa in the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor in Wellington is offering a Valentine’s couple’s massage for NZ$160 per couple for an hour, with bubbly and a copper tub soak, or pamper yourself for NZ$99. Call 64 4 495-3255 extension 8542 or visit www.bodyhaven.co.nz.
[Updated with photographs, official quotations] As revealed last year, Hennes & Mauritz is launching a line of David Beckham underwear. The range has just been launched in London, with Beckham himself there for the proceedings.
The footballer went to H&M’s Regent Street store to launch the David Beckham Bodywear line, which will hit 1,800 physical stores and the internet on February 2.
The range will feature briefs and vests, but also T-shirts and pyjamas. New items will be released each season.
In the evening, Bianca Jagger, Emma Bunton, Jessica Ennis and other celebrities toasted the launch at a separate event. Live music was provided by the James Pearson Trio, followed by a set from DJs Mani from the Stone Roses and the Queens of Noize.
‘I am very proud to launch my Bodywear collection for H&M in London. It was amazing to see the product at the in-store launch after so many months of development and meet with fans. I loved the pop-up gentlemen’s club, which felt both traditional and brand-new. It’s the same mix I hope men will find in the Bodywear collection. It was an amazing evening to launch my new collection,’ said Beckham in a release. ‘The début of David Beckham Bodywear is a very special moment for us at H&M. It marks the beginning of a new kind of long-term partnership for H&M, one based on quality and excellent design to H&M prices. I am very excited to see how our customers will receive the David Beckham Bodywear collection,’ added Karl-Johan Persson, CEO of H&M.
‘Lots of people have worked with H&M, so why not David Beckham? I think it’s a really good idea. It means that now everybody can have a bit of him,’ said the International Herald–Tribute’s Suzy Menkes.
The David Beckham brand was developed by Beckham and business partner Simon Fuller in 2011.
København native Stine Riis, a 28-year-old graduate of the London College of Fashion, has been announced as the winner of the first Hennes & Mauritz Design Award. Her winning collection, called Decadence & Decay, was shown on the catwalk at Stockholm Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week earlier today.
The win sees Riis receive €50,000 and 15 of her designs sold in selected H&M stores in Sweden, the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands in September.
Stine calls her style ‘tailored future elegance’. She sees the construction of the garments as being part of the design, while ensuring the clothes are comfortable.
The competition jury featured Christopher Kane, Hilary Alexander, Kristopher Arden Houser, Susie Lau, Margareta van den Bosch, and Ann-Sofie Johansson.
‘I am still overwhelmed. Showing at Stockholm’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has been such a great experience. I can’t believe so many people came to see my collection! This award gives me the confidence and financial back-up I need to pursue my dream of building my own brand. I couldn’t have imagined a better start to my career as a designer,’ said Riis in a release.
Alexander complimented Riis, calling her entry ‘a polished, well-cut collection of strict tailoring in contrasting materials including leather, wool, metallic and bonded fabrics. Her silhouette was lean but flowing, and particularly effective was her use of colour: a slim blue and orange bi-colour top, for example, or a blue coat stamped with white.’
The H&M Design Award People’s Prize, decided online by visitors to the Awards’ website, was won by Anne Bosman. She receives a one-month internship at Christopher Kane in London.
Students at fourteen colleges in six countries competed for the prize.
The first official image from Skyfall, the 23rd Eon Productions James Bond picture, has been released on the movie’s website at 007.com.
The photograph sees Daniel Craig as James Bond, in a scene set in Shanghai.
The film sees Craig joined by Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Ben Chaplin, Albert Finney, and Ralph Fiennes. Sam Mendes directs.
The plot is a closely guarded secret, but the official statement from Sony, released in January, read: ‘In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.’
Regular scriptwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, with Gladiator’s John Logan, penned the script, which has no connection to an Ian Fleming novel.
The James Bond films celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. In 1962, Dr No, the first big-screen Bond movie, was released, starring Sean Connery, Ursula Andress and Joseph Wiseman. Skyfall will be released October 26 in the UK and Éire, and November 9 in North America.
Keira Knightley’s question: do the British like spanking?
We already mentioned the sado-masochistic scenes in her new movie, A Dangerous Method, back in October. According to the actress, spanking was never mentioned after the original première, and only slightly at the Toronto Film Festival. But, now with A Dangerous Method having a gala première in London at the Mayfair Hotel yesterday, it’s being brought up regularly.
‘In England it’s got mentioned all the time. I don’t know what that says about us! We obviously like spanking, I don’t know!’ she said.
The period drama, directed by David Cronenberg and based on the book A Most Dangerous Method by John Kerr and a stage adaptation by Christopher Hampton (who also penned the script), deals with the birth of psychoanalysis and stars Viggo Mortensen as Sigmund Freud, with Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross.
Knightley wore Burberry to the première, accessorized by jewellery from Chanel, and Christian Louboutin heels.
Hot on the heels of her début at New Zealand Fashion Week last year, Deryn Schmidt has become a household name synonymous with feminine fashion. Having showed as part of the new generations show at Fashion Week, her collection was one of the most sought after and highly praised by both local and international media and buyers, but here at Lucire we have known all along that she was destined for greatness.
With Joy of Life, Schmidt recalls the bygone era of the 1940s’ postwar glamour. Sharp tailoring mixes with soft, flowing feminine lines to create a modern interpretation of the uniforms of yesteryear. A very French influence is noted in the collection with the easy wear glamour and joie de vivre way of dressing.
The collection embraces the freedom and celebration of women, and is about expressing your identity as women. Beautiful silks, wools and cashmeres mix with merinos silk cottons, linen. For the first time, the Deryn Schmidt brand also introduces New Zealand leather and velve,t adding to the brand’s tactile ethos, ensuring that garments will be treasured pieces that can be enjoyed today as well as years to come.
Wartime black and greys are brightened up with juicy berry shades of currant, boysenberry, cranberry and oranges. Honey and mustards also add pops of colour to liven up your winter wardrobe.
Our pick of the collection would have to be the Belle dress. Schmidt’s signature skill of being able to drape fabrics beautifully against he body is evident in this dress, hand sewn pleats fall effortlessly skimming the body while giving you the feminine lines of the ’40s. The bliss dress is also a wardrobe must as well, the perfect shirtdress, it is flattering and the drawstring waist nips in and flows out beautifully.
For winter, Schmidt’s exceptional tailoring is evident in the many coats that will be sure to sell out. Our two favourites would be the Exuberant jacket, which is a swing jacket featuring only the finest wool cashmere but pieced together with New Zealand leather, it recalls the fighter jackets of wartime pilots. The Identity coat, a masculine military style pea coat will also be another must-have. Its beautiful wool cashmere will have you sinking into it, while the contrast panels skim and flatter your figure.
The new collection will be available in stores and online from February onwards.—Sopheak Seng, Fashion and Beauty Editor