The Mayo - The Merrier

Winter is known for many things.Cold, dark and grey colours everywhere you look.Unless, you are fortunate enough  to encounter a fashion label called Mayo, we recently discovered during our time at the Autumn & Winter 2013 edition of 080 Barcelona Fashion Week.

Mayo

Mayo, is the brainchild of  Cork born Julie O´Connell, a graduate from the prestigious Limerick School of Art and Design where she successfully completed a BA (Honours) degree in fashion design, then saw her securing internships with Michail Gkinis (Tokyo), Dr Noki (London) and Krizia Robustella (Barcelona).

Mayo Collection : 2012 / 2013

´I like to think of my collection of the flawless fusion of casual meets couture´ Julie explained to us from her prime position within the Barcelona Fashion Week village.

Mayo : Barcelona Fashion Week

As well as producing new garments every season, Julie also aims to customise existing vintage garments, to revitalise the credibility and impact of the piece.Working closely with top vintage boutique ´Miss Daisy Blue´ vintage garments in Cork, Julie already has an outstanding array of  pieces to present  to her growing army of fans, in  both Europe and Japan.

Mayo: 2013 Look Book

There is no doubt 2013 will present the luck o´ the Irish to the European fashion market in full force. Julie´s current expanison into couture pieces and accessorisation has seen her secure places at both Barcelona and Milan fashion weeks for Spring & Summer 2014 runway shows.

Past Meets Future : Mayo Clothing

However, don´t take our word for it. Put on your vintage Jackie O´s and check out  www.mayoclothing.com and be transported to a world of bubble gum neon punk meets Harajuka glamour in a full range of garments ranging from dresses to seperates.

Custo Barcelona´s Debut At 080 Barcelona Fashion Week

This year, Custo Barcelona joins the 080 Barcelona Fashion catwalk held from the 28th to the 31st of January 2013 in Barcelona’s Design Hub’s building (DHUB). Custo Dalmau’s iconic brand joins the other 27 designers and brands that include Desigual, Mango and TCN, brands that will participate again in this eleventh edition of the event and will show their proposals for the autumn-winter season 2013/2014.

Custo S/S ´13 at New York Fashion Week

These are designers and brands that will show their collections during 080 Barcelona Fashion’s eleventh edition: Aldomartins, Alexis Reyna, Bóboli, Brain&Beast, Celia Vela, Cóndor, Custo Barcelona, Desigual, Escorpión, Katarina Grey, Jan iú Més by Punto Blanco, Javier Simorra, Josep Abril, Juan Pedro Lopez, Justicia Ruano, Mango, Manuel Bolaño, Martinez Lierah, Miriam Ponsa, Naulover, Shipper&Arques, Sur, TCN, Torras, Who, Yerse and Zazo&Brull.

New in 080: Barcelona Fashion Summit

One of this edition’s novelties is the celebration of the Barcelona fashion Summit,, a professional congress about today’s fashion business promoted by the Consortium for Trade, Crafts and Fashion of Catalonia (CCAM) and organized by the publishing group Modaes.es. Titled “Fashion 2020: Horizons of Fast Fashion Business”, the congress will be held on January 31. Its program includes experts and business managers of Spanish and international fashion companies.

River Viiperi For Barcelona Fashion Week

The 11th edition of the 080 Barcelona Fashion will count with the participation of Spanish male models Jon Kortajarena and River Viiperi, current Paris Hilton’s boyfriend. Miguel Ángel Herrera and Rafa Bodgar will also walk down this year’s catwalk. The Catalan fashion event will feature some international models too, including the French Clément Chabernaud —considered as world’s number 3—, the Belgians Baptiste Radufe and Arthur Gosse, Alexander Beck from the UK and Belorussian Eugenyi Savchenko.

Jon Kortajarena, the most international male model

Jon Kortajarena is one of the most well-known faces around the world and is also one of the most sought after models by the top fashion designers. The 28-year-old has been the face of top brands like Tom Ford, Etro, H&M and Karl Lagerfeld. On the catwalk, he has modeled for Chanel, John Galiano and Versace among others.

Mango, Brain&Beast, Josep Abril, Jan Iú Més for Punto Blanco and Miriam Ponsa are the brands for which Jon will model in this year’s edition of the 080 Barcelona Fashion.

River Viiperi, Paris Hilton’s Spanish boyfriend

River Viiperi

River Viiperi, 21, is considered to be amongst the top 50 male models of the world. He has participated in the best international catwalks —such as D&G, DKNY and Calvin Klein— as well as he has been seen in previous editions of the 080 Barcelona Fashion. In this year’s edition of the Catalan catwalk, he will wear the designs of Mango, Brain&Beast, Josep Abril, Jan Iú Més for Punto Blanco, Miriam Ponsa and Torras/Slazenger.

Andres Velencoso Is Mango´s New Face

Andrés Velencoso is the new ambassador for H.E. by Mango, the male line of the brand, for the next two seasons. Together with the international model Miranda Kerr the famous Catalan model will wear the designs for the new spring-summer 2013 collection. Velencoso replaces Gerard Piqué, the soccer player who has been the clothing company’s the front man for four consecutive seasons.

Andres Velencoso For Mango

Andrés Velencoso became known in the fashion world when he starred in Louis Vuitton’s 2003 campaign alongside Jennifer Lopez. Since, many brands have counted on the famous model for their image. Currently, Velencoso also is Kylie Minogue’s boyfriend.

David Beckham To Walk For H&M At Paris Fashion Week

He last walked the catwalk for their underwear launch at the H&M store in Regents Street in London last year - but kept his clothes on.

Fashion bosses have asked avid Beckham to  strip off and walk the catwalk in his pants next month.

His fashion label H&M want Becks to go down the runway in his boxers for their Paris fashion show.

Beckham, 37, has been a huge hit with his underwear range called Bodywear around the globe.

A year ago he debuted the range with an advert aired during the Superbowl, while Guy Ritchie has directed his new advert for the label.

Now Swedish fashion bosses are pressing their lead model to appear in their February 27 show.

The chain plans to present 25 looks from its autumn 2013 collection at the Musée Rodin.

He last walked the catwalk for their underwear launch at their Regents Street store last year, but kept his clothes on.

David Beckham For H&M

The H&M show is the first time in eight years that they have shown off their clobber on a runway.

Håcan Andersson, a rep for H&M said “We felt excited about the collection and we really wanted to show it.

“In the past we have done fantastic and spectacular events and fashion shows with our designer collaborations and we feel it is time to celebrate our own fashion.”

A Los Angeles source said: “H&M want to bring David out as a surprise guest on the catwalk and ideally in his range of underwear.

“David has caused such a stir in recent years with his look and gets so much great PR for the brand.

"If he accepts their invite then the value of this move would be worth millions.

“They are working through 25 looks and are hoping that their big star will make the finale appearance.

“David has yet to confirm to them if he will make the brave move.

"They hope he will attend either way. He has been a huge hit for H&M and is a VIP within the company.”

A spokesman for H&M refused to comment on Beckham’s possible appearance and his spokesman did not return calls.

Dolce & Gabbana Unveil New Perfume For Babies

The smell of a freshly washed baby is universally acknowledged as one of the sweetest scents in the world.

Clean hair and skin, a dusting of talcum powder and maybe some Johnson's Baby Lotion combine to deliver a homely, heady bouquet beloved of mothers and fathers.

But if you can't be bothered with all that bathing before bedtime Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana have bottled the smell so you can just freshen your little one up with a quick spritz

A perfume for infants might sound far-fetched but Dolce & Gabbana are just the latest brand in a long list to introduce a fragrance for babies.

Theirs is a unisex product packaged in a minimal black and white design in keeping with the brand's chic Italian style.

Dolce & Gabbana : For Babies

According to Stefano Gabbana the new perfume is inspired by the smell of a baby and is ‘designed to cuddle and pamper every little boy and girl’.

Burberry's £35 baby fragrance, available in a regular or a non-alcohol version, contains 'warm floral heart notes of cyclamen, orange blossom, lily of the valley and jasmine'.

Bvlgari's £20 Petits et Mamans is a fragrance 'created for the shared pleasure of children and their mothers. An exclusive fragrance and bath collection designed to give joyful and precious moments' containing Sicilian Orange, Bergamot, Brazilian Rosewood.

While L'Occitane's £18 Body & Hair Mom and Baby water is designed for mother and babe to share.

Even baby-friendly brands like Johnson's and Nivea offer a simple scent for mini-mes in Europe.

But does that make it OK? Or is this one step too far for the fragrance industry's marketing machine?

Chanel Spring Couture 2013

Unseen birds sang welcome in the dense forest of oak trees and pines, their moody majesty enclosed within the glass and steel might of the Grand Palais. Wide plank steps led to the circular amphitheater within. It would have made the perfect setting for a performance of its inspiration, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” But who needs Shakespeare with Karl Lagerfeld in the wings? The Bard de la Mode enthralled his audience with a masterful Chanel collection, one that hit that high mark of haute, the glorious fusion of lavishness and chic.

Chanel Spring Couture 2013

If the setup sounds romantic, so it was, with an undercurrent of mystery. The models wore piles of falling chiffon leaves in their hair, their eyes encircled with dramatic feathered lashes. And within the theatrics, Lagerfeld presented a clear, almost clinical fashion message: framed shoulders. This showed up in various treatments, most involving neat, structured capelets that created volume without bulk. He opened with tailored looks, including an exquisite group of pale ribbon tweeds and a black dress with an embroidered sequined yoke and collar, for a mock-layered effect. This proved to be a recurring theme. “It brings light to the face,” Lagerfeld said.

Chanel Spring Couture 2013

Specific though the shoulder focus was, Lagerfeld seemed not at all hampered by it. Rather, he made his lineup plenty diverse. Most day looks — including some exquisite ribbon tweeds — were short with volume to the skirts, but then out came a linear trio with skirts falling to midcalf. Either way, they looked great over thigh-high boots in lace, tweed and other fabrics with black seams up the back. As an alternative to waisted looks: two black-and-silver cloque shifts with a soupcon of Courrèges.

Chanel Couture Spring 2013

Evening was triumphant. Lagerfeld worked the shoulder shtick variously as floral fluffs on sleeves, a scalloped horizontal line in navy lace against a white underpinning: a flurry of white feathers atop a black sheath. There were billowing otherworldly confections and structured looks in remarkable floral embroideries intended to look like prints, such was the density and precision of the work.

Chanel Couture Spring 2013

The finale looked like the stuff of a provocative fairy tale — one perhaps tinged with a political statement from the self-proclaimed apolitical Lagerfeld. Ethereal met edge in a pair of cutaway feathered beauties, one pink, one dusty green, worn with black leather gauntlets and boots. And then out came twin brides, delicate and diaphanous in aged white gowns, the adorable Hudson (Lagerfeld’s godson) cast as their son-cum-ring bearer. This, as gay marriage, is debated fiercely in France right now. As they’ve long said in the theater, probably back to Shakespeare’s day, timing is everything. Timing, and a great dress.

Watch The Behind The Scenes Video Here

Valentino Spring Couture 2013

Parks are officially the hottest things in high fashion. After Chanel’s forest set and Dior’s undulating boxwoods, Valentino creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli also took their couture collection down the garden path.

This is neither a judgment nor a slight. Gardens are glorious, and the Roman duo nourished their theme with a distinctive Italian touch, from the spaghetti-like embroideries coiled on coats and dresses — echoing the curlicues on fancy metal gates and grills — to the imposing line of coronation robes that they built into minimalist gowns, a nod to the royals depicted in paintings by Italian masters.

Valentino Spring Couture 2013

When a model stepped into the room sheltered by a black, birdcagelike cape made out of fabric tubes, the audience burst into spontaneous applause. The show was breathtaking. Chiuri and Piccioli are cultivating an intoxicating, covered-up approach to fashion that seduces with fragility and feminine grace, not skin.

Valentino Spring Couture 2013

Valentino Spring Couture 2013

Yet the spare precision cuts were resolutely modern. Sculpted, just slightly off-the-shoulder necklines gave a futuristic gloss to otherwise prim luncheon suits and coats, some bearing hawthorn embroideries. One long-sleeve gown in a glossy wool was blushed with a faint rose color and was void of detail but for a high, budlike neckline that cradled the head, the fabric peeling open ever so slightly at the back like petals.

The designers went well beyond flowers for their garden escapade, using hedge labyrinths as a template for arranging strips of lace on a flaring Fifties skirt, or imagining dresses that could convey a park at night. They captured this idea poetically with a frothy bustier, the skirt a fog of black tulle embroidered with an outline of silvery birds flitting against a night sky. According to the program notes, it took 600 hours in the atelier. Backstage, Piccioli said he and Chiuri wished to convey lightness and the beauty of a garden, forgetting the labor that goes into creating the pieces.

Valentino Spring Couture 2013

At the end of the show, house founder Valentino Garavani — whose castle in Wideville, France, is said to boast more than a million roses — stood to his feet and embraced his two successors with visible emotion. They are tending to his fashion legacy magnificently.

Agyness Deyn Is Back

The newly wed model gets semi-naked in her first shoot in a long time

We pretty much thought that Agyness Deyn had given up modelling, swapping it instead for a happy life of  kissing in supermarkets  and studying Scientology with her new husband, Giovanni Ribisi. She's been pretty much off the radar since she got married to the actor last summer. 

But she's back with a bang doing what she does best - that's looking incredibly hot in photographs.

These totally hot  snaps for Interview magazine show the  Mancunian model in various states of undress, with her boobs on show throughout. Yeah, she's still got it.

Agyness Deyn

Although it turns out that we may not be seeing her angelic face in many more magazines, as Aggy's decided to swap modelling for acting, having recently appeared on stage in The Leisure Society and movie pusher.

"I felt I lost a spunk that I had when I first discovered it [modelling]," she told the magazine.

"It was like, 'I have to figure this out because I can't do it.' I can't do modeling disconnected.

"And I thought, 'What do I like? What do I love about modeling?' And what I love is that it's such a creative process, with a bunch of people, and I wanted that more, which is how the acting thing came about."

As long as we get to see more of lovely Aggy, we don't mind whether she's modelling, acting or juggling knives on Britain's Got Talent.

Surprisingly, Aggy's racy shoot didn't make the cover of the edge mag - that honour went to Girls star/writer/general mastermind Lena Dunham, who's riding high at the moment on the back of her Golden Globes win.

Interview Magazine

The new issue of Interview Magazine  is out now.

The World's Leading Cities For Fashion

Fashion Week kicked off in New York City this week. And shoppers in cities across the world celebrated Fashion´s Night Out  yesterday. So it’s a good time to look at the world's leading cities for fashion and fashion design, places with a disproportionate impact on what gets made, admired, and sold.

The Global Language Monitor  (GLM), a media-analytics company based in Austin, Texas, released this year´s rankings for the top fashion capitals of the world yesterday (see the table below). GLM’s rankings track language usage from the Internet, blogs, and news media, as well as social media platforms such as Twitter.

London, England, tops the list for the second year in a row, besting New York which lost the spot in 2010. GLM’s fashion director, Bekka Payack, explained that “London's two-year run has been has been propelled by the confluence of two rather extraordinary circumstances: the emergence of the former Kate Middleton as a top fashion icon, and the recent completion of what have been hailed as an extremely successful Summer Olympics.”

Fashion At The London Olympics

Barcelona tops Paris for third and Madrid is fifth, giving Spain two cities in the top ten. The United States also has two top ten cities, with Los Angeles taking ninth place, as does Italy, which has Rome in sixth and Milan in eighth. Italy is the only country with three cities in the top 20 (Florence is in 16th place).

Of the 55 on this year’s list, Antwerpen, Belgium, saw the biggest gain, climbing 33 places from last year to take 11th place. Mexico City, ranked 22nd last year, fell to 47th place in 2012, the largest loss.

The Top 20 Fashion Cities.

2012 Rank	City	2011 Rank	2011 to 2012 Change
1	London, England	1	0
2	New York, U.S.	2	0
3	Barcelona, Spain	7	+4
4	Paris, France	3	-1
5	Madrid, Spain	12	+7
6	Rome, Italy	13	+7
7	Sao Paulo, Brazil	25	18
8	Milan, Italy	4	-4
9	Los Angeles, U.S.	5	-4
10	Berlin, Germany	10	0
11	Antwerpen, Belgium	44	+33
12	Hong Kong, China	6	-6
13	Buenos Aires, Argentina	20	+7
14	Bali, Indonesia	21	+7
15	Sydney, Australia	11	-4
16	Florence, Italy	31	+15
17	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	23	+6
18	Johannesburg, South Africa	41	+23
19	Singapore	8	-11
20	Tokyo, Japan	9	-11

It's interesting to note the ascendance of London and New York to the top ranks of fashion, beating out the established centers of fashion and fashion design, Paris and Milan. London and New York rank as the world's leading financial centers and most economically powerful cities. What this seems to reflect is a shift in fashion away from historical centers of cutting-edge design and to the large markets, related industries, and global affluence found in these two superstar cities.

Paris Men´s Fashion Week : Grunge Fest

Paris, “It’s a whole new grunge movement in different parts of the city,” said Hedi Slimane, referring to his chosen home of Los Angeles and to the inspiration of his Saint Laurent men’s wear collection.

The French have the phrase for the designer’s remake of an ultraskinny look of coats with a superslim silhouette and jeans split carefully at the knees, the wispy fragments outlined with sparkling embroideries: “plus ça change...” or, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Mr. Slimane was back in the same groove of a downtown music scene that he played with in his years at Dior Homme, before he left to concentrate on photography in nightly haunts in Berlin, London and Los Angeles, where he now lives.

Saint Laurent, By Hedi Slimane, Autumn / Winter  2013 In Paris

This much-anticipated comeback collection had front row Pierre Bergé, partner of the late Yves Saint Laurent, and the YSL muse Betty Catroux, alongside the PPR chief executive François-Henri Pinault and his movie-star wife Salma Hayek. The result was much more joyous and less intense than in Mr. Slimane’s earlier shows.

A fair carousel, sleek, shiny and modern, whirled around as a backdrop to the display of pin-thin coats and trousers that might have been glued on the models’ skinny legs. But that linear silhouette, looking familiar from this designer, was soon broken up by androgynous, outsize Fair Isle sweaters and by bright check or animal print scarves.

The show was fun, energetic — and much more confident than Mr. Slimane’s debut as a women’s wear designer last season. The only question is whether this reprise of grunge is appropriate to a 21st-century world of financial turbulence. Imagine carefully folded scarves, a tailored camel duffel coat and even a hairy cape looking much more luxurious in the stores.

Saint Laurent already has one confirmed customer. Ms. Catroux, tossing her straw-blonde hair over her boy-band black leather jacket, was in fashion heaven.

The hammering against a wooden frame that echoed through the Thom Browne show was all about Amish people building a barn.

Thom Browne, Autumn / Winter 2013 , In Paris

But the designer’s collection was about building a wardrobe more wearable and sensible than some previous offerings. Built on a similar grid to the wooden frame of the house, the clothes were cut in straight lines, the square cuts reinforced by the use of checks, quilting and flat Amish hats.

Add dogtooth-check tailoring, with matching tie and socks, revealed by shorts, and this graphic collection highlighted Mr. Brown’s skill as a tailor — as seen in the navy coat that Michelle Obama wore during the U.S. presidential inauguration ceremonies in Washington on Monday.

Paul Smith got into his groove on the final day of the Paris men’s shows for winter 2013.

With no pretensions and an unexpected flair for color, the British designer made easy, smart/casual clothes that were enlivened by geometric effects from angular patterns.

Paul Smith, Autumn / Winter 2013, In Paris

But the story was in the mouthwatering color mixes: a turquoise jacket with mustard pants or Bordeaux jacket with blue pants and a sweater with a rainbow coalition of shades that were original, unexpected and upbeat.

John Galliano Confirms Fashion Comeback

John Galliano´s making his fashion return with a temporary residency at Oscar De La Rentas studio in New York. The designer, who was unceremoniously sacked at Dior in March 2011 fter making anti-Semitic remarks in a Paris cafe, will spend the next three weeks with de la Renta as he prepares for his forthcoming New York Fashion Week show.

"John and I have known each other for many years and I am a great admirer of his talent," de la Renta said. "He has worked long and hard on his recovery and I am happy to give him the opportunity to reimmerse himself in the world of fashion and reacclimate in an environment where he has been so creative."

Since his Dior dismissal, Galliano designed Kate Moss´s wedding dress in July 2011, and has also been mooted as the new creative director of Schiaparelli - rumours that were quickly dismissed. He has spent considerable time recovering from the addictions that caused his much-publicised drunken Paris outburst.

John Galliano Returns To Fashion

"I am an alcoholic," Galliano told the media. "I have been in recovery for the past two years. Several years prior to my sobriety, I descended into the madness of the disease. I said and did things which hurt others, especially members of the Jewish community. I have expressed my sorrow privately and publicly for the pain which I caused, and I continue to do so. I remain committed to making amends to those I have hurt."

The designer is widely thought of as one of the most talented and creative names in fashion. His shows for both his eponymous label and for Dior were known for their drama and theatrical beauty. He is delighted to be making his fashion comeback.

"I am grateful to Oscar beyond words for inviting me to spend time with him in the familiar surroundings of a design studio," Galliano said. "His support and faith in me is humbling."

Although de la Renta dismissed the idea that the move was part of plans to hire Galliano as his successor if he ever decides to retire, he welcomes any creative input the designer has to do with his work.

"While I'm working on a collection, I sit with all of my assistants around me," he said. "I'm not a loner. I listen to everyone. I wish the Virgin Mary would come and sit next to me. I love to be surrounded by people."

Anti-Defamation League - an organisation fighting anti-Semitism - strongly supported Galliano's decision to return to fashion design.

"We believe that individuals can change their hearts and minds as long as they demonstrate true contrition," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL's national director. "Mr Galliano has worked arduously in changing his world view and dedicated a significant amount of time to researching, reading and learning about the evils of anti-Semitism and bigotry. 

Along his journey to recovery he met with us on numerous occasions. He has accepted full responsibility for his previous remarks and understands that hurtful comments have no place in our society."

Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman is "delighted" at the news.

"Oscar de la Renta is the king of uptown style and John Galliano the prince of romantic glamour, so it should be a magical match," she said. "I am delighted John's returning to fashion."

Jean Paul Gaultier : Fashion Or Strip Show

Leave it to Jean Paul Gaultier to bring the Red Light District to fashion week.

Gaultier, who always brings a sense of humour  to his runway shows, showed his men’s fall 2013/14 collection last night in Paris–and instead of your run-of-the-mill runway walk, models, well, stripped. The models each emerged from a pink lit-up booth, complete with a stool, and plexi-glass curtains, like the kind you see in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

Changing Times For JPG

Once outside the booths, the fun really began: Models peeled off layers and layers of clothes to reveal…more clothes. Okay, so in the end it was kind of a let down (we only got a peek at one or two muscled chests) but, nonetheless, we thoroughly appreciated the show, even if it was a tease.

JPG: Fashion Or Strip Show?

All joking aside, it looks like Gaultier may really have had strippers in mind when designing the new collection, featuring rip-away pants, and easy-access zippers. Paging the wardrobe people of Magic Mike 2.

Beyoncé For H&M?

Beyonce Knowles is rumoured to be the new face of H&M. Last week, the singer was photographed in the Bahamas wearing tropical-printed swimwear on what is thought to be a photoshoot - reportedly for the high street store. One of the star's dancers, Kimberley Gipson, then Tweeted: "First day of trial in the Bahamas! H&M all set … go." The post was quickly deleted.

Beyonce 

The Swedish fashion giant could not be reached for comment, but the company rarely confirms or denies rumours - even if they are true. Reports in June 2012 that Lana Del Rey was the brand's new campaign star were confirmed a month after speculation first emerged.

Previous famous names to front the label's adverts include Gisele Budchen, Jerry Hall, Imogen Poots, David Beckham and Freja Beha Erichsen.

No Catwalk Show For Alexander McQueen This Season

Alexander McQueen will not hold an autumn/winter 2013-14 catwalk show this coming season - opting instead for an intimate presentation. Creative director Sarah Burton who is currently heavily pregnant with twins, will be on maternity leave during Paris Fashion Week - and will remain in her hometown of London.

The brand will hold a small private presentation for around 100 editors at a central Paris location in the afternoon of March 5. Commercial appointments will be scheduled for later that evening. A spokesperson for the label confirmed that Burton plans to reclaim McQueen's traditional Paris Fashion Week evening show slot for spring/summer 2014.

Alexander McQueen

Dolce And Gabbana Named Billionaires

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have been named billionaires for the first time, according toBloomberg's Billionaires Index. Their eponymous label  is valued at $5.3 billion (£3.3 billion), taking into account the €1.1 billion (£910,000,000), the firm made before tax and interest in 2011.

Dolce, who owns a 41.8 per cent stake in the brand, is thought to have a net worth of $2.2 billion (£1.3 billion), Gabbana controls a 40 per cent stake - accumulating in an estimated wealth of $2.1 billion (£1.3 billion).

Dolce & Gabbana

The designer duo join fellow Italian Sandro Veronesi, the owner of lingerie group Calzedonia Group, who is worth $1.9 billion (£1. 1 billion); LVMH  boss Bernard Arnault who is valued at $30.1 billion (£18.7 billion); and Zara boss Amancio Ortega, whose estimated $57.4 billion (£35.8 billion) fortune makes him the third richest person in the world - coming second only to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and Mexican business magnate Carlos Slim Helu.

Tom Ford To Host "Real" London Catwalk Show

Tom Ford has confirmed that he is to hold his first full-scale catwalk show during London Fashion Week next month. The designer has previously preferred to show his new collections within small private presentations, allowing no photographers.

"This is going to be for 500 to 1,000 people. Photographers, bloggers - a regular, real show," said Ford. "I want to show in London because I now have 100 stores worldwide. The company has jumped and I can no longer service the stores by not showing. So I have to love it and embrace it."

Although the designer has unveiled his latest offerings in London for the past few seasons - albeit with the utmost secrecy - the autumn/winter 2013-14 show will mark his first official on-schedule appearance in the LFW line-up. And the designer admits that he hopes to base himself in the capital for the foreseeable future.

"I hope it works here, because my dream goal is to raise my children here," revealed the American. "I'm very old fashioned, When I was little, I was brought up to say, 'Hello, Mr Ford', 'Hello Mrs so-and-so', 'Sir and ma'am'. I want that for my children… I'm only here 180 days [of the year], but I like the humour, the formality, the manners, the irreverence in England."

Tom Ford

The Texas-born designer also touched on the reason behind his decision to launch his own-name label back in 2005 - because he couldn't find anything both comfortable and stylish to wear.

"I literally could not find what I wanted to wear. I went to Anderson & Sheppard on Savile Row - which is great - but my suits gave me a backache. A backache. Savile Row tailoring comes from military heritage," he told The Times Magazine. "I try everything on. Just as I do with everything, I'm always aware of trying to make someone look as thin, tall and strong as possible. I'm a perfect production-model body, a perfect size 48."

Premier Launches First Modelling Style App

Premier Model Management  has launched the first ever modelling mobile phone app. The free-to-download app - named Premier Model Style - features fashion and beauty advice from top international models, photographers and industry experts.

"Models are compelling and relevant fashion and style opinion leaders," explained Premier's Managing Director, Chris Owen. "Carole [White] and I have always championed this concept at Premier and wanted to develop an app that showcases model style, trends and opinions."

The application features over 45 minutes worth of video content, including step-by-step hair and make-up tutorials, lessons in achieving the perfect model walk and a guide to future trends. Premier's Premier's Director of Scouting, Anthony Gordon, shares his wardrobe essentials, plus veteran supermodel Claudia Mason discusses the model-off-duty uniform. A whole host of Premier faces also feature.

Premier Model App

"The internet and modern mediums like social networks have been extremely influential in allowing an audience to interact with talent and it is these platforms that give models a very powerful voice in both online and retail fashion and style," said Owen. "We believe showcasing all of the above on an app is of huge interest to a vastly growing sector of fashion aware and media savvy youth."

The Premier Model Style app will be an on-going project updated twice a year after the international fashion collections. Download the app now at iTunes.

Valentino To Open First Menswear Stores

Valentino is launching its first dedicated menswear stores as part of an expansion of its men's business. The news comes as the brand prepares to unveil its autumn/winter 2013-14 menswear collection in Paris tomorrow - having previously been part of the Florence Pitti Uomo schedule - in keeping with the Valentino women's ready-to-wear show.

"Florence was fantastic, but Valentino is connected to Paris historically, it's always shown there and we want to offer a global vision of the brand," designer Maria Grazia Chiuri stated.

The Future Of Valentino Menswear

"Men's can now be associated with Place Vendôme, our headquarters and the brand," added fellow designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, emphasising an importance on having "the same execution" for men and women: "We didn't overturn the men's category, but changed it from within, with more interesting constructions and fabrics."

With new financial support from Qatar-based company Mayhoola for Investments - which acquired Valentino Fashion Group SpA in July - the label will open a string of new menswear boutiques, starting with Paris, followed by London and then Milan. Chiuri and Piccioli have enlisted the help of architect David Chipperfield to construct an aesthetic for the stores.

Wrangler Launches First Pair Of Moisturising Jeans

Wrangler will launch the first pair of moisturising jeans. Modelled by Lizzie Jagger  the pioneering skinny-fit style incorporates high-performance skincare ingredients to protect your legs from the dehydrating effects of denim.

The Denim Spa jeans come in three finishes - Aloe Vera, Olive Extract and Smooth Legs, which aims to prevent cellulite. Hydrating properties include of natural oils and butters, such as apricot kernel oil, passion fruit oil, rosehip oil, shea butter and monoi de Tahiti - a Polynesian ingredient made using Tiare flower buds soaked in refined coconut oil.

"They definitely feel cooler than regular jeans," said Lizzie Jagger in a film to promote the style. "After a day wearing them, my legs feel great - they come out feeling more silky than usual."

Lizzie Jagger For Wrangler

The Denim Spa Jeans launch on asos.com on January 28, priced at £85. The effects of the ingredients last up to 15 days, but a reload spray will also available to buy - meaning that the formula lasts between 67 and 95 wears.

Georgia Jagger Creates A Buzz For H&M

Georgia May Jagger takes on a Brigitte Bardot look in her new fashion campaign.

The stunning model – who celebrates her 21st birthday tomorrow – is the spitting image of the '60s icon as she sports a blonde beehive.

Georgia Jagger

She completes the look with smoky black make-up and pale full lips, like the sultry star of And God Created Woman.

Mick Jagger’s youngest daughter, from his marriage to Texan model Jerry Hall, is the new face of H&M’s Rock n’Roll Mansion collection.

Georgia For H&M Rock n´ Roll Mansion Collection

She showed off her shapely legs in a '60s-style shift dress, with black belt and shoes.
She brings her rock family credentials to the brand, posing with an electric guitar on some marble stairs, wearing a taupe cardigan and white ankle boots.

Georgia : Rock Credentials

And she perches on a drum-kit wearing skinny tie-dye jeans and a white shirt.

Georgia For H&M

A more candid shot shows the sultry star, dressed in white jeans and sleevless jacket, laughing as the stylist fiddles with her hair.

Georgia Backstage

The blonde beauty, influenced by her fashion and music upbringing, said she thought the two were inseparable.

She said: “I think music influences fashion and has done so for generations.

“Music creates a certain mood and then people dress accordingly. I think it’s all quite closely intertwined.”

And yesterday she tweeted: “I’m so excited to be the new face of H&M."

Georgia For New H&M Campaign

Rio Ferdinand Judges Britain´s Next Top Model

Rio Ferdinand  is to go from one beautiful game to another – as the Man United ace becomes a judge on Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model.

Rio, 34, will be the first footballer on the panel searching for a new queen of the catwalk on the Sky Living show.

The Reds defender is being lined up to help pick out the strikers alongside fellow judge Dannii Minogue, 41 and supermodel presenter Elle Macpherson, 49.

A source close to him told the media  “It will be hilarious to watch Rio on the show. He sees himself as a bit of style expert but he’s up for a laugh, too.”

Rio Ferdinand

But he’s no fashion minnow – Rio’s already shown his form on the catwalk at a charity gala, and has his own ­accessories range called #5 after his shirt number.

Programme bosses are hoping the centre-back will sign up to “share his fashion expertise” with the wannabe models on the show’s ninth series.

Rio has previously spoken of his life-long love of fashion. When he launched #5 in 2010, he said: “I always had clothes around as a kid growing up. When my dad went out, I’d put on his blazers and his brogues. I’d be thinking, ‘If only he’d had his name initialled on the inside.’”

The fashion reality show, made by Summed Up Productions, starts filming later this year and goes on air in July.

Last year’s judges were top British designer Julien Macdonald, 41, star of The Hills, Whitney Port, 27, and former Calvin Klein model Tyson Beckford, 42.

Spotlight On David Gandy

David James Gandy is a British model. He grew up in Essex in a working-class family. After winning a televised model-search competition, he became a successful male model. For several years, he was the lead male model for Italian designers  Dolce & Gabanna who featured him in their campaigns and fashion shows. The increase in Gandy's popularity and name recognition resulted in a broad portfolio of magazine covers, editorial photo shoots, interviews and industry awards. He has gone on to participate in fashion-related and personal projects such as writing a blog for British Vogue,  writing car reviews for British GQ,  mobile app development and charity work.

David Gandy For GQ (2011)

In his youth, David Gandy wanted to be a veterinarian but his grades were not high enough to meet the needed standards for that line of study. So, while studying multimedia computing, he went to work for Auto Express, delivering the latest Porsches and Jaguars to the track for testing. Before graduating from the Univeristy of Gloucestershire with a Marketing degree, Gandy's flatmate entered him (without his knowledge) into a modelling competition on ITV´s ´This Morning´ hosted by Richard and Judy.The 21-year-old Gandy won the competition which included a contract with Select Model Management  in London.

During the early years of his career, Gandy modelled for a variety of companies including: 7 For All Mankind, Zara, Gant U.S.A, Hugo Boss, Russell & Bromley, H&M, Carolina Herrera, Massimo Dutti, and others.In 2006, Gandy became the face of Dolce & Gabbana, annually starring in their apparel campaigns and fashion shows through 2011, working with female supermodels such as Gemma Ward, Scarlett Johansson and Naiomi Campbell  as well as male models including Noah Mills, Tony  Ward and Adam Senn.

David is best known for the 2007 advert of Dolce & Gabbana's fragrance ´Light Blue´with Marija Vuyovic which had 11 million online hits and saw a 50-foot billboard of him displayed in Times Square. He also modelled for their 2008 calendar, shot by photographer, Mariano Vivanco.He returned as the face of the second "Light Blue" fragrance campaign for 2010, but this time with Anna Jogodzinska.In 2011, the fashion house published "David Gandy by Dolce & Gabbana", a 280-page photographic coffee table book of images chronicling their years of collaboration.That same year, Gandy shot four magazine covers and five fashion editorial photoshoots. In 2012, he was featured on sixteen magazine covers, eighteen fashion editorials and modelled for Banana Republic, Lucky Brand Jeans, El Palacio de Hierro and Marks & Spencer. In addition, Gandy was named the brand ambassador for Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

In an industry dominated by skinny models, Gandy's muscular build caused some menswear fashion designers to move to a more masculine standard. He has been nominated for or received several awards in the modelling industry. In 2008, Spanish Glamour magazine named him "Most Beautiful International Male Face" at an event in Madrid, Spain. On 26 June 2009, Forbes magazine ranked Gandy as the world's third most successful male model, behind Matt Gordon and Sean O´Pry. In 2010, he was the first male ever nominated for "Model of the Year" by the British Fashion Council (BFC).

Short List named Gandy the "Face of Today" in 2011.The Evening Standard included him in their list of "London's 1,000 Most Influential People" for 2011 and again for 2012. For a second time, BFC nominated him for "Model of the Year" in 2012. Glamour readers voted Gandy one of the "100 Sexiest Men of 2012". At the end of 2012, Models.com ranked him #4 in the list of "Money Guys" and #5 in the list of "Top Icons".

May 2010, David spoke at the University of Oxford Union as part of a panel that included photographer Tony McGhee, Victoria & Albert Museum senior curator Claire Wilcox fashion consultant Frances Card and Dolly Jones, the editor of British Vogue. Prior notable speakers who have debated in the Oxford Union include Winston Churchill,  Queen Elizabeth and Mother Theresa. In September 2011, he was named the spokesman for the Martini´s “Luck Is An Attitude” campaign, launching their model-search competition on the Spanish steps of Rome, which were opened specifically for the event. Gandy was appointed to serve on the British Fashion Council's Committee to launch "London Collections: Men" as part of  London Fashion Week 2012.

During the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, he was the only male to walk the Union Jack -shaped catwalk, featuring British fashions, alongside models Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Jourdan Dunn,Lily Donaldson, Georgina May Jagger ,Karen Elson  and  Stella Tennant. For the occasion, he wore a gold bespoke uit by British designer Paul Smith. He was invited to the Oxford Union again on 19 Nov 2012 with Alex Bilmes, Editor of  Esquire to discuss "The importance of men's fashion."

2012 Olympics - British Models

Gandy released the "David Gandy Men's Style Guide" mobile app in 2010 which offered style and clothing advice to men and which ultimately hit Top 3 in the Lifestyle market. Gandy was the first male model ever interviewed on friday Night with Johnathon Ross which aired on 30 April 2010. Three months later, he made a short film with Helena Christensen called "Away We Stay".

Since Feb, 2011, Gandy has regularly written a blog for British Vogue  where he discusses his career, fashion/style, cars, antiques and life in London.He is also an official car reviewer for British GQ. In October, 2011, London´s Evening Standard  invited Gandy to be guest writer/editor of their Men's Issue. He was ranked #17 of the “50 Best-Dressed in Britain” by GQ Magazine in 2012. His body has inspired fitness-industry interviews, exercise videos as well as his own fitness app which was released in Dec, 2012.

David Gandy - Car Reviewer For GQ (2012)

Gandy participated in the "Fashion for Relief" fashion show on 19 Feb 2010. The event was organized by Naomi Campbell to raise money for victims of the Haitan Earthquake On 17 April 2011, Gandy was part of the "Oxglam" team who ran in the London Marathon to raise funds for Oxfam. Other members of the "Oxglam" team included model Agyness Deyn  and fashion designer Henry Holland.

In May 2011, Gandy modelled a shirt designed by fashion designer Katherine Hamnett.  Proceeds from sales of the shirt went toward the Environmental Justice Foundation’s "Save The Sea" campaign.On 23 March 2012, Gandy, along with model Kate Moss and designer Stella McCartney made a guest appearance in a special episode of the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous to benefit Sport Relief 2012.Three days later, the UK's Battersea Cats & Dogs Home announced that Gandy had been named the institution's first celebrity ambassador.

Suzy Menkes Fashion Honour

The International Herald Tribune’s longtime fashion editor Suzy Menkes was awarded Florence’s highest honor in a ceremony Wednesday in the city’s Palazzo Vecchio. In a comic moment just before the ceremony, the city’s 37-year-old Mayor Matteo Renzi invited Menkes to sit at his desk, then pointed at her and said, “The new mayor of Florence. The people of the city are very happy.”

Renzi described Menkes as “one of the most incredible representatives of fashion” and lauded her as a beacon of values and ethics “even in this moment of crisis in journalism.”

In remarks she had prepared in Italian and which were greeted with hearty applause, Menkes said, “I want to think of this award not as an honor to me but as a love letter to Italian fashion.” She also thanked Pitti Immagine chief executive officer Raffaello Napoleone, who she said encouraged her to come to Pitti the first time more than 20 years ago.

Suzy Menkes

Pitti Immagine chairman Gaetano Marzotto presented Menkes with a gift — a silver cup with a boar figure design on it. Praising Menkes’ “independence, correctness and professionalism,” Marzotto said, “You’re respected because you really write what you think.” He also highlighted her “fine humor” for “making us think fashion is important [while reminding us] it’s not everything.”

Others at the ceremony included Salvatore Ferragamo chairman Ferruccio Ferragamo and ceo Michele Norsa; Cameron Silver of Decades, and Idanna Pucci.

Bikkembergs Opens Flagship Store In Barcelona

Bikkembergs,  the fashion brand by Belgian designer Dirk Bikkembergs, has opened its first Spanish store in Barcelona, in Passeig de Gràcia, 99, in the very heart of modernist architecture and within one of the main fashion shopping areas of the city.

Looking more like an all-comforts and finely customized luxury apartment than a luxury boutique (such as Bikkembergs' Milan flagship store opened in 2009), this 600 sqm two-level shop is equipped with travertine walls decorated with elegant metal logos, precious wengè wood floors, crystal tables supported by marble footballs, and grass green curtains. It offers a comprehensive wardrobe with luxury and unique items as well as casual and comfortable ones : menswear, womenswear, kidswear that´s all gathered under one roof.

Bikkembergs Boutique : Interior 

The boutique was opened to the public on June 16, though it wasn’t officially inaugurated with a high-impact event until October 4. The Spanish market is not a new one for the brand, which has been cooperating with the shopping giant El Corte Inglés and about 200 high-prestige multi-brand stores scattered throughout the Iberian Peninsula for many years.

“The Barcelona flagship store continues our great and ambitious international expansion project,” explained Maurizio Pizzuti, President and CEO of the Zeis Excelsa Group, which acquired Bikkembergs in 2011. “Within the next few months, fourteen new stores in important cities, including Guangzhou, Paris, Istanbul, and Riyadh, will add up to the 30 existing points of sale, the last one opened in Beijing a few days ago.”

During the next month, the Flagship store will have a famous tenant, Ferran Alabau, number 10 of the Spanish football team CF Gavà. Ferran will live at 99 Passeig de Gràcia under the eyes of the public, as if he was at home. The shelves dedicated to the product display will also accommodate his personal belongings, his photos, his games and books, as well as carpets, trophies, old and precious furniture. An impeccable housekeeper will be there to keep Alabau’s temporary home tidy and well organized.

All this will convey a feeling of the athlete’s lifestyle and of course draws the public attention to Bikkembergs' new flagship.

Italian group  Zeis Excelsa manufactures and distributes - along with the Dirk Bikkembergs - Cult, Docksteps, Lofu, Sonora, and Virtus Palestre. Zeis Excelsa holds the international licences for Samsonite footwear, and distributes Harley Davidson, Merrell, and Sebago products on the Italian market.

London Collections: Stylish Catwalks Kick Off Fashion Week For Men

London Collections: Men emphasises the importance of supporting British designers and tailors and gives the world's most innovative talents a platform to exhibit and celebrate British fashion.

The three day event will host designs from emerging talents such as Lee Roach, Alex Mattson and Angelo Galasso.

Work from Savile Row in Mayfair, known for it's traditional bespoke tailoring, will also feature in the lineup.

Hackett Men A/W 2013 London

Topman Design, an in-house fashion collection from Topman, opened the fashion-fabulous event and many famous faces could be found in the audience.

Celebrities, including rapper Tinie Tempah and musician Mick Jagger, enjoyed front row seats and the after party was a weave of fashion-conscious celebrities such as Liam Gallagher and Jamie Hince.

However, fashion's hottest new star, Romeo Beckham, was not thought to be in attendance.

Mugler Launches First Bag Collection For Spring Summer 2013

Mugler is launching it's first bag collection for Spring Summer 2013 and in typical Mugler style, the bags are all about structure and geometry. The collection is a mix of different colours and fabrics, including embossed leather, snakeskin, mix metallic calf and rubbed crocodile.

This isn't the first time Nicola Formichetti has got some attention for his bag designs, as back in September he caused some stir with his ´Lady Gaga bum bag.´ We're not talking about that 90´s fashion faux-pas, This bum bag was moulded in the shape of Gaga's pert derriere. You can now purchase your own Gaga inspired bum bag, as the oragami style clutch bag will be on sale in several colours including an animal print, blue, orange and silver.

Mugler Bags

Creative Director Nicola Formichetti said about the collection: “This is now my 4th collection as creative director of Mugler, and following the evolution of the brand, I was interested in creating sculptured objects in 3D, a piece of the Mugler world that one can carry around, an element that completes the look.”

Mugler (and Gaga fans) will be excited to know that the collection will be available to buy in stores worldwide from February 2013.

Alexa Chung Turns Bond Girl

Alexa has rushed off to the sun with a bag full of leopard print and stripes, friends Grimmy, Pixie Geldof, music manager Aimee Phillips, Theo Hutchcraft from The Hurts and Pixie's fella George Barnett and most importantly her trusty iPhone. Alexa and friends have a first in instagram, and when they jetted off on their christmas jaunt to Puerto Rico they naturally brought us along with them via their instas.

Alexa Chung

The best instagram so far from the hol has to be when Grimmy dressed up  in Alexa´s holiday clothes and copied her effortlessly cool pose on NYE. But we now have even more pictures from their vacay which are giving us a serious case of Alexa Chung wardrobe envy.

Alexa has tried out a new hairstyle for the beach rocking some adorable Heidi plaits - anyone else got the urge to plait their hair, like, right now? The Chung is channelling the ultimate bond girl Ursula Andress with an ultra-glam beach look. She is wearing red lippie on the sand - can you get more Bond girl than that? We hope the folks at James Bond are following @chungalexa and take note of her ah-mazing beach look. Please give us an Alexa Chung James Bond cameo. Please.

Alexa Chung

Alexa's beach look is all about accessories, as she whipped out a pink sparkly bow headband to recline in the sea and wore a pair of statement pale pink sunnies to pose in front of a bright yellow wall. There is also a surfer vibe to her look, as she paired a string shell necklace with her leopard swimsuit.

Alexa Chung And Friend

But they don't only post #whati'mwearing instagrams, as Alexa & co clearly are a fan of the silly holiday snap. The gang took a picture of Pixie reading a book lying on the sand covered in drawings of the male anatomy. How very rude.