The Heart Truth campaign has seen the Coca-Cola Company create newly designed packaging for Diet Coke to commemorate the soft drink manufacturer’s fifth-year support of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) campaign, to promote heart disease awareness. Diet Coke has also participated in numerous awareness-raising programmes to aid the campaign over the last few months.
   Lucire has covered many of the Heart Truth’s Red Dress shows since their inception in 2002, and the latest, for fall 2012, will see five Diet Coke fans join the celebrity models on February 8.
   Diet Coke ambassador Minka Kelly (above) will be on the catwalk this week in a custom Diane von Furstenberg red dress.
   Fans had showed their support on Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram, hashtagging photographs of themselves with #ShowYourHeart. The five best photographs were selected, and Kelly chose one grand prize winner—who got a shopping spree with a style expert—from them.
   Extending the Twitter campaign, Coca-Cola will donate $1 to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) for every re-Tweet of the Diet Coke Heart Truth post on February 8, with an upper limit of $100,000.
   Coca-Cola will release a special Diet Coke package for February featuring a promotional graphic (left), while over 6,000 million packages will feature the Heart Truth logo through the year.
   Von Furstenberg has also created a limited-edition collection of Diet Coke aluminium bottles, featuring her prints, for sale at her stores and at dvf.com through February. Proceeds go to the FNIH, in support of the Heart Truth and women’s heart health research and educational programmes.
   Diet Coke will also promote heart health programmes with Subway, which will donate $50,000 toward heart health research and educational programmes. Subway will donate up to an additional $50,000, for every photograph uploaded to Twitter with the hashtag #SubwayHeartTruth.

Possibly New Zealand’s only restaurant and dance studio opened in Kaikoura today.
   Passione, an Italian pizza restaurant, and Soul Studio had their gala opening in the centre of the seaside town at 5 p.m. today (January 4). Full trading hours begin January 5.
   The restaurant–studio is the brainchild of a young couple and owners Piera Fromm and Sebastian Burgin.
   Burgin will run the restaurant and Fromm will manage the upstairs studio for dance lessons including hip-hop, modern, stretching, zumba, kids’ dancing and capoeira, a Brazilian martial art dance.
   The couple are from Switzerland but have been living in Kaikoura for a number of years.
   Artworks by Fromm’s mother, internationally acclaimed artist Ruth Stirnimann, will cover the walls of the restaurant.
   ‘We both love movement and we completed our dance studies together in Switzerland. Sebastian also has a real taste and knowledge for food,’ says Fromm.
   ‘So we decided to follow our dreams and turn them into reality. I will help out in the restaurant and at times Sebastian will also be helping with dance lessons upstairs.
   ‘We feel the dance studio offers Kaikoura a place of movement where people can let out there creative energy and stay fit and healthy. Passione and the Soul Studio will work towards a vibrant lifestyle with fresh yummy food downstairs.’
   The Passione restaurant chef is Englishman Dave Burt who trained in French food and is experienced in Italian kitchens.
   Fromm’s brother Livio will teach capoeira in the studio is also the master Italian pizza maker. Their mother Ruth Stirnimann will provide holistic healing lessons to make it a family affair.—Kip Brook, Word of Mouth Media NZ

Kip Brook is an occasional contributor to Lucire, and a London bureau chief correspondent.

For our readers on RSS: also online today, our feature on Dublin and County Kildare, penned by Elyse Glickman.

Moreish is the latest range of beauty and skin care products by New Zealand company API, using argan oil as the core ingredient.
   Argan oil is renowned for its nourishing, regenerative and anti-ageing properties. Known as ‘liquid gold’, argan oil is the cold pressed, extra virgin oil extracted from the kernel of the Moroccan argan fruit. Rich in vitamin E, Omega 9 and antioxidants, the rare oil has been used for centuries by the Berber tribeswomen who harvest it to nourish their skin, hair and nails in the dry desert heat.
   ‘Argan oil is already known as an ingredient that nourishes and hydrates hair. Now it can do the same for your skin. It protects skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes,’ says Moreish brand manager, Emma Duncan.
   Moreish also contains pohutukawa extracts, grown wild and hand-harvested in the East Cape, and a unique blend of antioxidants naturally extracted from kiwifruit skins and grape seeds, which help to brighten the skin, reduce redness and improve elasticity. It uses no parabens, phenoxyethanol, petrochemicals, and synthetic colours or fragrances. The range uses recyclable packaging, and is not tested on animals.
   The purchase of Moreish products helps to improve the welfare of the Berber women of Morocco; ensuring the women have educational opportunities, retain their traditional skills, earn an income and improve their quality of life.
   Moreish supports local New Zealand charities, and asks people to visit www.moreishskincare.com to suggest a charity that supports women and families. It will receive 50¢ from each pack of Moreish skin care sold this year; Moreish will select a different charity, based on consumer suggestions, every year.
   The range comprises 15 facial products to suit all skin types, including night and day creams, cleansers, masks, a salvation balm and pure argan oil. It is available from selected pharmacies nationwide, including Amcal, Unichem, Care Chemist, Radius Pharmacy and Life Pharmacy.
   The star products from the range would have to be the salvation balm and argan oil, which softens your skin and can be used to nourish cuticles and smooth split ends—two multi-purpose products perfect for the home cabinet.—Sopheak Seng, Fashion and Beauty Editor

Summer Rayne Oakes, who has a long association with Lucire, tells us that her short film, Extinction (eXtinction to give its official capitalization) can be viewed for a very limited time (a total less than two days from the time of this post) on Dailymotion. You can view the film at this link.
   This important work highlights what we realistically face on our planet in our lifetime, and why looking after it sustainably and sensibly is the only hope for humankind. Beautifully photographed, Extinction puts forth powerful arguments in its short running time—and we would be wise to heed its message.
   In the beauty department, Billie Goat Soap has launched a natural soap range made from goat’s milk, with a pH level close to our own skin. Goat’s milk is high in vitamin A, B6 and B12, while it naturally contains a high amount of antioxidant selenium and lactic acid. Both the plain and milk and honey soaps retail for NZ$13·50 each.
   Meanwhile, Stanley Moss has reviewed another very fashionable Parisian hotel—pop over to the main part of the site to see his story on 7Eiffel, located in the vicinity of the École Militaire and Invalides.

MAC’s make-up artists in New Zealand are contributing to the World Aids Day cause in a different way: by painting, gardening, and doing general maintenance to the premises of Positive Women, a local organization helping women with HIV.
   They’ll also spend time with Positive Women members on December 1 and give them makeovers to celebrate the day, while others will participate in collecting on the street in Auckland and Wellington.
   The New Zealand crew will be part of an 1,800-strong, 30-country effort by MAC.
   This is the third year of MAC’s World Aids Day Volunteer Initiative, running from November 28 to December 2 this year. It complements MAC’s Viva Glam products, from which 100 per cent of the selling price (not including sales’ tax) goes to the MAC Aids Fund.
   In New Zealand, funds have benefied Positive Women’s Digital Storytelling, Body Positive’s Rapid HIV Testing campaign, and the INA HIV and Aids Foundation. Further grants of US$50,000 and US$30,000 will be made this December to Positive Women and INA respectively.

Peugeot SA

Above Miss France 2011 Laury Thilleman’s successor will be decided by a panel led by French actor Alain Delon, the pageant confirmed yesterday. Below left Karen Gillan, photographed by Suki Dhanda: one of the photographs exhibited by the National Galleries of Scotland next month. Bottom Jennifer Cohen and Noah Flom tie the knot.

The Miss France jury has been announced, and, in the wake of its victory over Geneviève de Fontenay’s Miss Nationale, the pageant has decided to up the glamour stakes. Former heart-throb Alain Delon returns as head of the jury, and is joined by another actor, Francis Huster, as vice-president.
   Singer Lorie, former Miss France Linda Hardy, Star Academy entrant Essaïdi Sofia, and sports journalist Denis Brogniart are the other members.
   While many galleries show older works, the National Galleries of Scotland is celebrating its modern-day celebrities with a photo exhibition that features Sir Sean Connery, David Tennant, James McAvoy, Gerard Butler, Karen Gillan (above left), Armando Iannucci, Paolo Nutini, Tom Kitchin and John Byrne. Gillan’s image, photographed by Suki Dhanda, is being used by the Gallery to promote the exhibition on its website. Hot Scots, with 18 works, runs from December 1 to April 1 at the Contemporary Gallery at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh.
   Finally, the team at Lucire wishes fitness guru Jennifer Cohen all the best for her recent nuptials. She tied the knot in Seal Beach, California on November 20. After the nuptials she changed into her trainers to boogie with pals, with the help of new husband Noah Flom, shown here acting his part in their own version of the Cinderella fairy tale. Congratulations, Jenn from everyone at Lucire.—Stanley Moss, Travel Editor, and Lucire staff

Stephanie Osmond

Earlier this month, Bees Blessing launched its new range of all-natural cordials at the Empire in Petone, New Zealand, serving food and drinks, and demonstrating recipes (including lemon honey mojitos, cucumber socks fizz and spiced syrup marinade).
   The new range comprises New Zealand’s only honey-sweetened all-natural cordials, says the company, which makes its own pure honey from hives at its 22 ha Kau Whero Farm in the Mangaroa Valley, and sources more from local suppliers.
   Offerings include mulled lemon and honey, and strawberry cordial, alongside more traditional fare such as lemon, honey and ginger, cider vinegar and honey, and elderflower. To top it off, they are all hand-made.
   The family business—a New Zealand success story—has grown from selling honey at local farmers’ markets to innovative marinades, dressings and cordials, free from additives and preservatives, retailing at boutique retailers nationally (such as Commonsense Organics and Moore Wilson in Wellington).






Stephanie Osmond and courtesy Bees Blessing

Business Wire

Evelyn Lauder, senior corporate vice-president of the Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., and the head of its fragrance development, passed away yesterday at her home in New York City with her family by her side, the company has announced.
   Mrs Lauder was 75, and died of complications of non-genetic ovarian cancer.
   She is survived by her husband Leonard Lauder, her son William, her son Gary and his wife Laura, and five grandchildren.
   In a statement, William Lauder, executive chairman of the Estée Lauder Companies, said, ‘My mother carried the torch of our company heritage and the values that were passed to her by my grandmother, Mrs Estée Lauder. My mother and father were life partners as well as business partners. They nurtured the culture and growth of the Estée Lauder Companies, and as we grew, my mother was our creative compass and pillar of strength. Together my family and the company celebrate the beautiful person she was.’
   President and CEO Fabrizio Freda said, ‘Evelyn embodied the heart and soul of the Estée Lauder Companies. She was one of the pivotal architects of our vision, values, and culture. She was dynamic, creative, smart, endearingly warm, generous, and incredibly gifted at connecting with people. Her enthusiasm was contagious.’
   Evelyn Lauder was born in Wien, and first caught sight of the Statue of Liberty as she and her parents arrived in the US, having fled the Nazi occupation. She attended New York City public schools and Hunter College, and was a public school teacher for several years.
   While a freshman, she was introduced to Leonard Lauder, the older son of Estée and Joseph Lauder, and married in 1959. She joined the family business that year.
   Evelyn Lauder is credited with spearheading many new product developments at the Estée Lauder Companies. She created the Clinique brand name in 1968.
   In 1989, she became senior corporate vice-president and head of fragrance development worldwide, and led the development of best sellers Beautiful and Pleasures.
   Her philanthropic work saw her serving on the boards of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Central Park Conservancy, and the Evelyn and Leonard Lauder Foundation. In 1992, she co-created the Pink Ribbon, now recognized as the worldwide symbol of breast health, and launched the Estée Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign (www.bcacampaign.com). She founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in 1993, which has raised more than US$350 million and supports 186 researchers globally.
   Mrs Lauder was also a published photographer, with her work represented in numerous collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.