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Viktor and Rolf opened their first ever UK exhibition at the Barbican gallery last night, aptly named the House of Viktor and Rolf. The sumptuous collection showcased the iconic work of the Dutch Duo which is now highly acclaimed by fashionistas for its quirky style and humorous irony.
The exhibition included every signature piece which Viktor and Rolf have ever innovatively created. Dolls modelled the designs, varying from miniature to life-size, the miniature worked better fitting perfectly with the doll house theme and adding to the intricate and charming nature of the designs. The beautifully laid out exhibition was centred around a giant doll house on three levels. They exhibition invites you upstairs to have a closer look with life-size dolls, film and cute vintage binoculars to spy on the miniature dolls living in the doll house.
With out a doubt this collection confirms Viktor and Rolf’s impeccable eye for art as well as fashion and their unique understanding of the silhouette, cut and fabric.
Guests at the launch included Viktor and Rolf, of course, dressed in matching dapper grey patterned suits with patent high shine grey loafers, Erin O Connor, Grayson Perry (complete with his own twin miniature doll), Mischa Barton, musicians Amber and Nisha from 'the broken hearts' and the lovely Gok Wan.
The Exhibition runs from 18th June 21st September, book tickets online here.
Words and photography by Rhiannon Jones
As the first real test of the marketability of your clothes, Graduate Fashion Week is one of the key moments of any fashion student's calendar. After all, who can forget Stella McCartney's legendary graduate show, in which she outshone her classmates by enlisting Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell to model her wares?
So, we can imagine that Jessica Au, is feeling pretty hopeful about her career today after picking up the River Island Gold award for her designs. Judged by supermodel Claudia Schiffer, designer Julien Macdonald, Elle Editor-in-Chief Lorraine Candy and River Island CEO Richard Bradbury, the prize includes a cheque for £20,000 and, of course, a shed load of publicity.
Her bold prints also won her a second award for textiles. The judges heaped praise on Jessica, with designer Zandra Rhodes saying that her prints had "taste and fab scale. Jessica’s collection was dramatic and totally wearable"
Accessorise the outfit above with a French martini cocktail and a Miami pool.
We love it when a sleb weighs in all heavy, acting all concerned about the world and imparting advice on matters they have about as much working knowledge of as they do of how to operate a petrol pump, knock up a meal, or book an airline ticket (ie. zero.) How they do make us laugh. Most recent ridiculous Celebrity intervention has to be the breaking news that J Lo, latina hot bod and bonafide, puffed up, scented candle demanding Diva of the very worst sort, deigned to drop in on the offices of Barack Obama to dispense a little advice on healthcare.
Unfortunatley, Obama was not there to receive her words of wisdom - insightful though we're sure they were. However, her spokesperson has issued a statement telling us she met with members of his staff. What expertise do you imagine she brought to the table here? What ishoos can she shed light on, pray? The tribulations of having your lipgloss applied for you? How best to demand an amount similiar to a small country's national debt for your first baby pictures? Or the difficulties of raising twins on a gazillionaire's budget in a mansion staffed by more maids than you can throw a cashmere nappy at? The whole thing is all about as authentic as her spray tan. Oh, just stick to what you know, J Lo, and go flog another perfume.
Over the weekend I popped into Fred Perry to check out their latest Blank Canvas project, which has literally just hit the shops. The brand has invited a selection of cutting-edge British designers to add their own personal style to some classic Fred Perry products. Up at the moment is the trademark polo shirt, which has been radically revamped by designer duo &Son.
When I walked into the Newburgh street store my eyes were immediately drawn to an array of vibrantly coloured polo shirts, all screaming out for attention. Electric hues clash violently in designs inspired by the naval camouflage of World War One and Two. It might sound surprising but the Admiralty actually commissioned a innovative camouflage, aptly known as the ‘Dazzle’, to disturb and distort the enemy’s vision. &Son have taken this concept to the next level by introducing a brilliant colour palette for your eyes to feast on.
It would take a brave man to wear the glowing orange and fuschia number, but Fred Perry are keen to please all and there is a more muted version version for those less daring fans out there. Head down to any Fred Perry store to check out the &Son collection and be sure to keep tabs on the Blank Canvas project - next up is Anne-Sophie Back's take on Fred Perry dresses and knitwear.
www.fredperry.com
Posted by: Dana Sawdaye
There's nothing we like more on the Style blog than a good top 10, and as far as top 10s go, the Forbes Celebrity 100 is pretty much as good as it gets (mostly because it's a top 100, rather than a top 10).
Taking into account each celeb's pay, number of column inches and even the number of Google hits they get, Forbes has carefully calculated the world's most powerful celebs.
And let's face it, if you're looking to have a bit of global domination nowadays, you're more likely to find it by launching your own fragrance than running for Parliament. So here's it is:
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Tiger Woods
3. Angelina Jolie
4. Beyonce Knowles
5. David Beckham
6. Johnny Depp
7. Jay-Z
8. The Police
9. J.K. Rowling
10. Brad Pitt
Also, have a look at the video interview with Heidi Klum (number 78) where she details the frightening number of clothes and beauty launches that she's been involved in.
You may not have heard of Issa's 'Lucky' dress but you will most probably have already seen it on the big screen. Charlotte dons a red version in SATC : The Movie and, if you haven't seen the film yet, I am simply baffled. I can only ask - 'Why not?' (Some of my friends have already been twice. What are you waiting for?...)
'Lucky' has also been a regular in the gossip mags; it is the dress to be seen in on the party circuit. Scarjo wore her black number at the Moet/Nick Knight party in London in October 2006 which cemented her position as one of the most fashion forward in tinseltown. Earlier this year, Emmanuelle Seigner strutted her stuff in a white cotton 'Lucky' at the Oscar parties and Hilary Swank wore a specially commissioned chiffon version of the dress for the promo of her film 'P.S. I love you'.
The versatility of this garment has no bounds. Both Kate Middleton, queen of the preppy look, and Alice Dellal, queen of grunge, have donned 'Lucky' too. What other dress could connect such polar opposites? It seems the sheer range of colours and materials available renders criticism redundant. I could wax lyrical about this dress all day but that would be foolish when there is a waiting list to join.
The new A/W versions of the dress will be in stores in two weeks and there is already a month long waiting list. Join the queue to snap up a £307 cotton 'Lucky' or a £323 denim version by calling Harrods on 020 7730 1234.
Don't be put off by the credit crunch, this dress will be a life long investment.
The legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent died yesterday aged 71. His initals have long been immortalised, those three simple letters forever signifying the mark of timeless classics that are recognised, loved, hunted down, worn and wanted worldwide. Throughout his colourful career, Saint Laurent confronted expectation with his clothes and shocked with his controversial ideas. A doer rather than a say-er - he was a discreet genius who let his clothes speak for themselves and rarely commented on his work in public.
Over the next few days we'll be posting up some of his biggest moments, here are some to start:
· Having been taken on by Christian Dior in 1954 at the age of only 21, he took control of the fashion house after Dior's death in 1957. At a time when no one thought it possible, he was hailed as the saviour of french fashion after his first collection, paving the way for a whole new look, for a whole new woman.
· The launch of Rive Gauche helped democratise fashion. Up until then, high fashion was about haute couture, about appointments in fashion houses. YSL gave birth to modern day ready to wear as we still know it today.
· The launch of ‘le Smoking’ – the most famous, classic tuxedo jacket for women – really was revolutionary. Immortalised by those such as Charlotte Rampling that oozed the sort of sex appeal he peddled, it looked so, so modern, and so, so chic. Never has anyone looked as cool - still today - at their wedding as Bianca Jagger did in her simple white Saint Laurent tuxe.
· The Africa collection of1968 brought ethno chic as we know it to the fore. The fringed, woven and beaded dresses that sashayed down his catwalk paved the way for the boho style we love today.
· The 1976 Ballet Russe collection with its elaborate brocades, romantic peasant skirts and gilded Cossack boots can almost be taken to be a uniform for the late 70s hippie vibe. Look to Gucci for Autumn Winter to see the very same girl.
· Although not the first to release a perfume, Saint Laurent was definitely the first to create such a grand event around one, crystallising the phenomenon of the fashion house fragrance as we know it today with the launch of the controversially named Opium, and celebrating in style with a specially commissioned chinese Junk organised to sail down the Hudson.
His Picasso collection celebrated the union between fashion and art that continues to fascinate fashion designers to this day - think of SS 08's painterly trends that dominated the catwalks at Chloe. Saint Laurent did it first.
· Saint Laurent retired in 2002 and his final collection revisited some of his best and most impressive fashion moments, highlighting the garments that we will forever remember him for. It was a sad, sad moment for fashion. As is today
Throughout the week we'll be posting up more of our favourite Saint Laurent moments. Let us know what you think are yours.
posted by: Dana Sawdaye
The Fashion in Film festival has been running since May 10th - aimed at exploring the links between fashion, cinema, crime and violence. Screenings of some of the most iconic films of the century are running across London.
To celebrate, Oasis has created this fashion film with director Jean Francois Carly and actress Anna Brewster - with slightly unsettling music and creepy appearances from a little white mouse.
Meanwhile, there's still time to catch some showings, including Follow Me Quietly and The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, a full calendar is available on the website.
See some images from the films in our slide show on the Fashion page.
It was as if they saw the economic downturn coming - the budget self-assembly clothing company Clothkits has relaunched.
The retailer, which clad countless children and families in the Seventies and Eighties, is selling patterns and fabrics for children and women created by host of fresh new designers. And the most expensive garment is selling for £46, perfect credit crunch chic.
For those of you who weren't born then, or living in another country, here's how it works. You get the catalogue, they send fabric with the pattern printed on it, you cut it to your size and then sew it together.
Our favourite part of their website is the archive, where you can peruse the original looks, try to spot some of your old outfits, and even upload your own snaps of the original designs.
Not that we're taking sides, but when we came across this picture of the Chelsea football team decked out in Giorgio Armani suits ahead of tonight's Champion's League final in Moscow, we had to have a bit of a swoon.
But most eye-catching was the quote from the designer about the outfits: "The theme of superheroes is very much at the forefront of my mind at the moment. I hope that my suits have a similar effect to the Batman cape for the Chelsea team as they head to Moscow."
Mr Armani, next time we urge you to deck them out in real fashion-forward batman capes. Please.
Roll up! Roll up! Legendary designer Roberto Cavalli is in London in a fortnight and proferring his services to Style readers for one night only. On 27 May, Roberto will be speaing at the London College of Fashion about his life and loves - fashion, women and, of course, cigars. You may also pick up some sartorial tips so prepare to be inspired to sex-up your summer wardrobe...
Cavalli's decades of experience in the fashion industry, decadent lifestyle and troupe of famous friends (Posh, Bono, J-Lo to name but three) guarantees that he has tales to tell. Roberto has been labelled fashion's godfather of glitz and glamour not just for his clothes and riches but for his blingtastic personality. He is a classic Scorpio - passionate, emotional and wilful. Rest assured, he will not hold back.
I have a feeling that Cavalli may attempt to flout the smoking ban during his time in London...
Click here to book your tickets to see Roberto in action at LCF from 6.30pm on 27 May 2008
[Image from: http://affordableluxurees.blogspot.com]
Many of you have been driven to comment on Laurie Gottlieb's tough love piece, Marry Him! - encouraging women to abandon all thoughts of a knight in shining armour, and settle now for Mr 9/10, lest they wind up, fat, forty and alone.
Well, what if you're a girl who, quite rightly, won't settle for less, and never mind the consequences? What if you're a girl who has been brought up to fend for herself and speak her mind and be honest about who she's in love with? What if, most importantly, you're a girl who's never met a Mr 9/10, or even a Mr 6/10, or a Mr 2/10, in spite of countless, open-minded dates? Single girls attest the dearth of decent men - 'keepers' - on the dating circuit, so why should Ms Gottlieb suddenly assume that there's this huge pool of nearly perfect men for all of us to draw on? There isn't. Not that I'm fussy - no transgender version of the Princess and the Pea this. It's just... Mr 9/10 doesn't seem to exist.
Just where are all the decent men?
A wardrobe clear-out for most people involves piling a few battered Topshop buys and some hastily-purchased Primark items into a carrier bag and strolling them down to the local charity shop. Meanwhile, the only superfluous footwear has been reheeled so many times the only way to avoid committing fashion crimes against charity shops is to throw them in the bin.
For Daphne Guinness, on the other hand, it seems to involve hiring a van, carefully cataloguing each item and shipping it off to be auctioned for charity.
Daphne, who used to be married to a Greek shipping heir, yesterday auctioned off 250 designer lots for the Womankind charity. Up for grabs was everything from sky-high Christian Dior wedges to an Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche dress. Meanwhile, assorted Chanel knitwear or hauls of 25 bags were up for grabs.
A pair of Alexander McQueen boots sold for £3,600, and a black-silk wrap over Dolce and Gabbana evening coat went for £5,000 - well above their estimates. The final figure from the auction has yet to be calculated, but the charity says they estimate the final donation could be as much as £50,000.
All the lots have gone, but you can still take a peek at them here, they are are quite frankly, fascinating and throw up so many questions.
First of all, how much time does this lady spend shopping to have developed such an enviable collection? How many rooms of her house are dedicated to clothes? We want to see the storage solutions - surely shoes like the one above deserve their own display cabinet? And if these are her cast-offs, can we see the items she's decided to keep?
If this has got you in the mood for bidding, you can log on to Prada.com, where they're selling off the prototypes of their Spring/Summer Collection. Sadly not for charity, but covetable all the same.
It's official, if you're a brunette like Carla Bruni, you're more likely to marry a successful man than your blonde counterparts. Experts at LOVE@LYCOS the dating channel of Lycos.co.uk analysed the WAG's hair colour of the world's top 100 billionaires to determine if there is a predominant hair colour wealthy men seen to go for. The majority by a long way were brunettes, with 62% of billionaires marrying women with brown hair.
The results went on to show that fair haired ladies come in a poor second with only 22% of the world's top billionaires marrying blondes. Women with black hair lag behind in third place, enticing on 16% of the world's wealthiest, whilst carrot-tops come in last.
BRUNETTES MARRIED TO THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL MEN
CARLA BRUNI WIFE OF FRENCH PRESIDENT
DARIA ZHUKOVA GIRLFRIEND OF ABRAMOVICH
SARAH LARSON GIRLFRIEND OF GEORGE CLOONEY
CATHERINE ZETA MARRIED TO MICHAEL DOUGLAS
ANGELINA JOLIE GIRLFRIEND OF BRAD PITT
So with wealthy men showing such a considerable preference for brunettes, it will be interesting to chart the number of women requesting a change of colour at their local hairdresser! (by Sara Hassan)
So, according to the news today, Leona Lewis can't afford to buy a house in Hackney. Not. One. House. Nevermind that she's the first British female to top the charts in America for over 2 decades. Nevermind that this small achievement comes on the back of having the fourth biggest selling album ever in UK history. And nevermind that she is an instantly recognisable, properly paid up, fully fledged pop star. And they're supposed to get paid handsomely. Very handsomely, in fact.
But no. In spite of all of that, inspite of all the hard earned money millions and millions of people are spending on hearing her top C - she still can't afford to buy a house. Not. One. House. Newspapers are reporting that Leona and her boyfriend tried to buy somewhere near her parents' home in Hackney, but when the seller found out who their bidder was they raised the price from £500,000 to £600,000 - meaning Leona and the boyfriend couldn't afford it. Her Dad has also been quoted in the past as saying that "It's a myth Leona is a millionaire. She earns enough to live on, but that's it."
Is it just me, or does something seem very wrong here. Either Leona needs to get herself a new manager/lawyer/money counter/stylist/dog walker/spiritual streamliner/personal juice de-pulper (or whoever it is that makes the decisions around these people these days) - because if she's not getting her hundreds of thousands of millions, then who the hell is, quite frankly. Or she's trying to be all frugal, and keep her New Look shod feet on the ground. Which is not on either. If this girl really is going to be the next big Whitney, she's going to have to start flexing that Amex. She shouldn't be balking at a mere hundred grand. She should be tipping the owner a nifty hundred to clear out by lunchtime. And she should be buying 10 houses. With special outbuildings for her resident Scientologists, hair straigteners and chihuahuas. And they probably shouldn't be in Hackney.
 Paris is just the best place to see some really fantastic fashion and set designs...Designers splash out on production to create the most novel shows and backdrops. The finale of the Chanel show was just amazing....Karl L pulled out all the stops and created a Chanel merry-go-round (complete with gilt over sized quilted bags and jewellery). At the end of the show all the models posed and danced around. Front row celebs included the Olsen Twins, Mario Testino, Rihanna as well as Claudia Schiffer. By Sara Hassan
 OK...so my make-up artist mate who has just finished doing the shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris gave me the best beauty tip ever!! She told me about a cream called Homeoplasmine by Boiron which is normally an antiseptic, healing ointment used for skin irritations, burns and chapped skin. Well on top of this it has to be the best lip gel ever and beats Liz Arden's 8 Hour cream hands down!! Can be purchased in any French pharmacy for just 6 Euros! By Sara Hassan
OK...so my make-up artist mate who has just finished doing the shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris gave me the best beauty tip ever!! She told me about a cream called Homeoplasmine by Boiron which is normally an antiseptic, healing ointment used for skin irritations, burns and chapped skin. Well on top of this it has to be the best lip gel ever and beats Liz Arden's 8 Hour cream hands down!! Can be purchased in any French pharmacy for just 6 Euros! By Sara Hassan
Ahhh, J Lo, J Lo, J Lo. We tried out hardest to buy the, "no, i'm not preganant, I'm just bloated," rumours. We tried to ignore the, "white linens, yellow m and ms, fuschia candles and ugly people," backstage requests. We even - well, some of us - tried to share your joy in the beautiful moment of your shopping splurge, cashmere covered, one big photo-op pregnancy.
But you and your wierd looking husband have gone one step too far this time. You as Princess Jasmine, him as Aladdin, complete with wafting carpet set against starlit sky? Surely too much even by your winsome looking, stomach patting, singing whilst holding hands, jazz handed standards - no matter how much disney paid you. Ask Jordan and Peter, even they couldn't pull it off.
You can take the girl off the block...
Boys and girls, we bring you ... Kirsten Dunst, shot by hot photographers Mert and Marcus, for the new Miu Miu ads, just this second released. Miu Miu say: "An utterly absurd combination of elements interlace with one another, blurring the line between on-stage and backstage, public and private, fantasy and reality, performance and intimacy. These dichotomies highlight the multiplicity at the core of Miu Miu..." We say: doesn't she brush up well? And (please!) when will we be able to buy those bewitching red shoes in the third image?
So you've seen the pictures - if not where the hell have you been? and head to sky showbiz now to take a look - and ogled the 6am drunken stares. Kate Moss's 34th birthday bash (started yesterday lunchtime, still going - good on 'er) is turning out to be as big a do as all the ones before. And you've got to hand it to her, the starry starry outfit is good. The all in one and cover up are from Chanel. The hair is courtesy of her bf and hairdresser James Brown. And the shoes, they're thanks to Terry de Havilland.
£380 available at www.asos.com and www.terrydahavilland.com.
So now all you need is a champagne delivery to your home, 2 suites at the Dorchester, more famous friends than you can throw a freebie at and the, erm, stamina to carry on going for 34 hours and counting. And you too can party for your birthday like Moss.
nFashion Space is a brand new website launched by London College of Fashion, Holly Bellm graduate who wanted to create a good space for talented fashion individuals to launch their fashion careers. It's an international 'social trading' site for anyone who works or plays in the fashion or arts industries. You can sell items in a personalised shop, expose your brand, purchase items from up-and-coming designers or even swap your own items. Its also has events, news, blogs and articles to keep you updated. So don't delay, register and log-in to this fab site. www.fashionspace.com
By Sara Hassan and Fashion Theory Year 2
 You have to check out La Senza as they have some seriously fab underwear at the moment and some of their pieces are so fashion forward it was like stepping into an Agent Provocateur store..... I was so so impressed when I last visited the Oxford Street branch. Choose from sequin embellished black knickers, gorgeous satin nighties, neon (Nu Rave inspired) bras and knickers. And guess what, they even have the gorgeous Petra Nemcova modelling their new 'Precision Fit' range (the first bra on the high street with padding tailored specifically for your size!)....go to La Senza now to get your new season knick knocks! www.lasenza.co.uk
Sara Hassan
 As editor of Style's "I am what I am column", I operate by the truism: if you don't ask, you don't get.
Early in December, I approached Benazir Bhutto's people for a telephone interview for said column. A couple of days later (10th December) I received what appeared to be a predictable response to such fanciful ambitions: "Ms Bhutto is on the election campaign trail and it would be most difficult for her to do a phono [sic] interview. However...." A 'however'? What could this sop be to send me away, I wondered. Only a ready-written column - an event which usually only occurs when people are begging to be featured in "I am what I am". What a scoop! But why didn't we run it in the magazine? Because "I am what I am" aims to focus on more personal insights - these really only surface in interviews, not least when dealing with politicians. Still, while carefully spun and polished, the column serves as a tragically poignant testament to Bhutto's unfailing courage and commitment to her cause and country. And so, in unedited form, here follows Benazir Bhutto (21.6.1953 - 27.12.2008): I am what I am.
"I am a daughter of the East who has lived and been educated in the West.
I am a Muslim who believes that Islam is a religion of tolerance and pluralism, is rooted in democracy, and demands equality between the sexes.
I believe that the values of Islam and the West are congruent, and that the two civilizations can successfully live and work together.
I fully understand that extremists and dictators have tried to hijack the message of my religion, and I am devoting myself to insuring the [sic] moderation and democracy prevail.
I am the first woman ever elected Prime Minister of a Muslim country and I am extremely sensitive to the responsibility that places on my shoulder for all the woman [sic] who have come before me and all the girls yet unborn.
I am a wife, a mother and a daughter and try desperately to balance the family and professional demands on my life - not always successfully, I'm afraid.
I am an author and a lecturer, and try to use my writings and speeches to promote the values I care most about, not least of which is the political and economic empowerment of women.
I am the leader of Pakistan's largest national political party and spend enormous effort building electoral and governing coalitions with other democratic parties and devising strategies to challenge dictatorship and martial law.
I am a private person, and despite my public personae, I cherish quiet moments with my family, reading novels and history, and walking through gardens, when I can forget, even for just a few moments, the enormous political responsibility that falls upon me.
I am at [once] both blessed and not so blessed to have led a life that saw such huge triumphs and yet exacted such a terrible personal toll. This life has given me an extraordinary opportunity to change the lives of my people and serve as a bridge between East and West."
So today we read of shocking antics and allegations of rape at the Manchester United lads' Christmas Party held last Monday. Cue streams of indignant reports on the sordid state of moral depravity found in our sporting heroes and shocked statements from girls at the bash, complaining of being treated like "pieces of meat." Well, quite frankly, what did they expect? Conversation?
They'd pitched up to a christmas party given by a bunch of footballers who'd already had a boozy lunch in a casino and swerved by a pub and a lap dancing club before stumbling into the hotel they'd hired - bedrooms and all - for the evening's main event: a party to which their WAGs were specifically not invited. And on top of that, you're talking about a bunch of hosts best described as overpaid, champagne fuelled lads not famed for their sharpness of wit or steadfast moral values, and whose colleagues the world over are no strangers to accusations of rape and roastings and other such venerable, hotel corridor friendly pursuits.
Clearly any accusations of rape must be taken seriously, and one can only feel sympathy for the poor girl involved and hope that if any crime was committed, those involved are charged. But for the rest of the silicone pumped, money hungry wannabe WAGs that might turn up to a footballers' party described as being filled with "wall to wall babes," the ones that have since come out of the woodwork with feigned surprise at their party role as token totty, their complaints should fall on deaf, or at the very least sceptical, ears.
Stupid girls for going to the party in the first place, and stupid footballers for thinking they can get away with inviting a hundred people to it and expect it to all go quietly.
 Check out Jimmy Choo's new range of eyewear. Designed in conjunction with Safilo group and inspired by 70's and 80's styles, they are going to hit the shops in February. So get saving that Christmas money girlies!! www.jimmychoo.com
Sara Hassan
 www.koodos.com is an online retailer offering men's and women's clothing and accessories at up to 80% off! Pick from labels such as Chloe, Balenciaga, Cavalli, YSL....all you have to do is sign up FOR FREE and you then get access to exclusive private sales before anyone else. I love these Marc Jacobs studded courts with an original price of £275...can you believe Koodos are selling them for £190! Superfine jeans too will be coming soon to the site,...but you have to hurry as stock is limited! For more information, visit www.koodos.com. By Sara Hassan
 Ans: Grow a beard like Robbie Williams.
 Cartier have come up with an ingenious idea to help city workers. To accomodate their hard-working, high earning city folk they have introduced a service called 'Cartier Comes to You' where Cartier come to your desk over the Christmas period. Once you have informed them as to what designs you like and who you are buying for, a personal shopper then brings a selection to your desk...Once a selection is made, a salesperson will then bring your chosen gift, wrapped and delivered to your office within 24hrs. Treat yourself to this new charity 'LOVE' bracelet...a fab stocking filler! All you need to do is e-mail cartiercomestoyou@cartier.com or call 0207 408 9191
By Sara Hassan
 Heimstone is the brainchild of parisian twentysomethings Alex Petit and Delphine Delafon. Alix and Delphine collectively cut their teeth working with some top French designers such as Vanessa Bruno and Chere Michel Klein before deciding to go it alone. Having showed their first collection at TRANOI, last March, the line is launching in Selfridges, London as well as their stand alone boutique in Paris. The tres chic collection includes baby doll, shift dresses in silks and velvets and linens. Prices start at £200 and I personally love it!!! Pop to the new Womens Designer Room on 2 at Selfridges. By Sara Hassan
 Check out this new shopping website...it's called www.giveortake.com and offers discounts of 5% to 10% off on some great fashion brands like All Saints, My Wardrobe, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Yoox. At the end of the month, you can decide whether you want to keep your savings in the form of a cheque or donate that money to one of the 60 charities that Give or Take work with. by Sara Hassan
We lavish endless time and money on our shoes - well, some of us do anyway. So why expect them to suffer the kind of toxic substances you wouldn't dream of massaging into your own skin. Enter the new shoe wonder product - edible coconut shoe cream. Yes, cult eco shoe designers Po-zu have come up with a coconut substance that cleans shoes and can also be used as a lip blam, hair conditioner, skin moisturiser, cooking oil or even just a snack. We think this win's best prize so far for, "pot of strange coconut stuff with most possible functions."
PO-ZU’s ‘edible shoe cream’ goes on sale 26th November at Terra Plana and The Natural Store, RRP £5.00
http://www.po-zu.com/english.html
Or to be precise, Marios is now 100,000 Euros richer, Gareth - sadly - is not, thanks to the Swiss Textiles Federation who this weekend awarded Marios the Swiss Textiles Award (and the opportunity to get his hands on 10,000 Euros' worth of Swiss fabrics). Swiss textiles, you might well ask - wassall that about, then? Well, superior silks, cottons and lace are one of Switzerland's biggest exports (lots of them head straight to the couture houses), along with watches and precision instruments (and, probably, bored Swiss people). 
So, up against Pugh, plus Ann-Sofie Back, Bless, Ute Ploier and Felipe Oliveira Baptista, Marios ably fought off the competition, as well as the models' "Swiss bumps" that some designers complained about (caused possibly by the country's other big export, Emmental), and even the rival PR's threat to pepper his collection with itching powder. And his five co-competitors were just the finalists - he was originally up against over 100 designers, who were whittled down to six by a seriously powerful committee of fashion industry bigwigs including Suzy Menkes and Jane Shepherdson. He did however have Swiss efficiency on his side, as the catwalk show that re-aired the six designers' S/S08 collections was - fittingly - so precisely on time you could set your Rolex by it. But key for Marios was getting his hands on some quality textiles: "Fabrics aren't very accessible to younger designers - they're very expensive and it's really hard to buy small quantities. Fabrics is what I really wanted from this." Watch for the fruits of his courtship with the Swiss Textiles industry in his next collection...
 YSL have done it again and created some fab separates for spring summer. Check out Sarah Jessica Parker wearing the YSL Spring Summer orient blue light wool sleeveless jacket and pearl beige wool wide pants on the set of her Sex in the City movie in
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