Duchess' Auction

 TWO straw hats worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, before she joined the royal family, are expected to fetch between £1,000 and £1,500 each as they go under the hammer for the Passion for Fashion auction, hosted by Kerry Taylor Auctions. The Duchess hired the hats - both black and embellished with feathers - to wear to Prince William's Order of the Garter presentation in June 2008, and the wedding of event rider Harry Meade in October 2010. Hire receipts and copies of the milliner's diary entries marking Catherine's appointments will be available with each hat, which are made by Philip Somerville and Aurora. The auction will take place at Kerry Taylor's auction room in Bermondsey on June 26 at 2pm. Last year, the auction house also sold the sheer net dress worn by Catherine in a St Andrew's charity fashion show, which brought in £78,000.








HATTIE WEST 01 June 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/06/01-(1)/the-duchess-of-cambridge-hat-auction

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The Donatella Interview

"IF I could dress anyone I'd like to dress the Queen - she can handle anything," said Donatella Versace yesterday. "I'd put her in black - she never wears black - and add a little leather, maybe. A little rock 'n' roll." It was a timely and headline-grabbing statement during a live interview at the Oxford University Union conducted by Tim Blanks that went some way to confound misconceptions about this bombshell blonde, come-to-bed-accented designer who - far from the caricature she is assumed to be - proved herself to be grounded and friendly, funny and open, and one who has truly overcome adversity to put Versace at the top of the fashion pile once again. Insightful about the effect that the tragic 1997 murder of her brother had on her work, she admitted that the signature house iconography - so prevalent in her recent collections - had been out of bounds emotionally when she first took the reins of the brand that Gianni had founded. "At the beginning, after my brother's terrible death, all the iconography was like a sanctuary, so special, it felt untouchable," she said. "I had to find my own voice. It was only after his death that I realised how difficult the job was. With him it had been exciting and easy but all of a sudden it was completely different." "But you also have to remember that it was the end of the Nineties. For a while since then we all moved away from the bling we were famous for - it was too sexy, not in line with the general mood - but now, certainly in 2012, it's back; people are having fun with fashion again, so I had to find the courage to look at the past in a new perspective. Suddenly when I looked at his last collection, of 1997, I started not to be afraid anymore." Her own personal image, she says, is in part self-protection:

"Fashion is a weapon that you can use when you need it. I think my own look makes people think I'm tough but when they get to know me I'm very different. It's like armour that was useful to me in the first years after Gianni's death. It was difficult to live that pain in public - and to be compared to him when he was the genius and I was only ever the accessory. It was hard to hear people constantly say 'will she make it?' I don't mean to sound like a martyr - just to make the point that I used my personal image to hide all these emotions." To a rapt audience of students and a front row support team including her daughter Allegra, close friend Rupert Everett and favourite young British designers Erdem and Christopher Kane ("the best fashion designer in England - I learn so much from him, I hope he learns a little from me"), Versace admitted to a love of reality television: "I'm sure people don't have time to watch anything about me but I'd love to do a show - something with my friend Rupert Everett, wouldn't it be great!"; to being an eternal optimist and - afterwards - to having been very nervous up there "but I know Tim well enough to know that if I said anything stupid he'd make it better." She enlivened things by recalling the time she met Elizabeth Taylor who, in fact, stole from her - "My brother collected vintage jewellery and I was wearing a ring that he'd given me - Elizabeth said in this extraordinary breathy voice: 'Darling I love your ring, may I try it?' And she didn't give it back! She put it on and breathed, 'oh darling thank you, you didn't have to do that!' But I hadn't!" - and expressed nostalgia about her days as a rock groupie following Axel Rose around: "These days there is no time for that - I'd like to watch my son play [Daniel Versace plays the guitar for a band called Nucleus], but he won't have me in the audience yet." Asked about her decision to launch a line with H&M, Versace revealed that the collaboration had given her renewed confidence in her craft: "It gave me such self esteem because we saw this amazing appetite for the brand," she said.

 "H&M is a fantastic, incredible company - I had no idea how they'd make my designs come to life at those prices, but they did it without restricting me at all." And she has her own idea about how high fashion should take on the recession: "Some say the economy means that you have to persuade people to invest in clothes - to buy less things but more expensive things. I disagree - invest in jewellery, or a house, maybe, but not in fashion. Designers have to ensure that their brand stays in the real world - like we have, hopefully, with Versus - but then you have to work hard to make sure the creativity survives. In hard times you still have to be extreme. Fashion always has to be about changing and moving forward, to make people dream. My job now is to make our aesthetic evolve while remaining truly Versace - I want to make dresses that every woman wants: sexy and jaw-dropping - I always want it to be relevant but I also want it to be always about glamour." Asked afterwards how she planned to target the Queen as her next muse, Donatella was reminded of an outfit the monarch recently wore to meet British fashion designers at the Royal Academy - which some mistook for a Christopher Kane design. "Hang on, I have to go and ask him," she said, before rushing off to quiz her protégé about it. "No it wasn't mine," said Chris, "but lots of people asked me the same question". Perhaps a little Versace in the royal wardrobe isn't such a long shot after all.














DOLLY JONES 31 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/05/31/donatella-versace-oxford-union-talk-and-interview

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Dressing Watson

FORMER stylists to Vogue cover girl Emma Watson Katie Clark and Polly Judge have explained how they decided what outfits to dress her in. The duo styled the actress for two years, picking dresses such as the black Rafael Lopez dress that she wore to the London premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and the velvet Vionnet gown that she donned for a Claridge's party in November 2010. "For each event, we work closely as a team putting an inspiration board together, like the ones you see on our website home page," Clark said. "We collate vintage pictures with tear sheets and runway stills and from this we have a very clear idea of the look we want to achieve." As well as Watson, the pair have also dressed VOGUE.COM contributor Pixie Lott, Razorlight, and former Burberry boy George Craig. This month, Clark and Judge have launched their latest project: a new website, named Stardust Vintage, with pieces sourced from European flea markets; the wardrobes of private clients; and American clothing auctions. All items are curated into current season trends, making it even easier to find desirable treasures. Customers are also invited to email the duo with any personal styling queries. "We have always had a love of vintage and often use unique pieces within our styling for fashion shoots and personal clients," Judge told us. "During the years, we had amassed a great collection of clothing and accessories and felt the time was right to share them." For spring/summer 2012, the pair cites Fifties and Eighties florals; cut-off cowboy boots; and romantic lace and sheer pieces as the vintage world's key trends, while autumn/winter 2012-13 will see the rise of Russian-inspired military looks; animal print; and hand-stitched embellishment. Keen to impart their knowledge of retro dressing, the pair have revealed their ultimate tips to achieve vintage cool: Do keep in mind the key trends and colours as you buy - whether it's spots or stripes, Fifties and Eighties, pastels or florals - as it will make searching that bit easier. Don't go by the size on the label as vintage clothes can have very different sizing. If you are buying online make sure you read the measurements carefully. We always think it is a good idea to measure a piece of clothing you already have that is a similar shape and compare that with the item you wish to buy. Don't dress in vintage from head to toe! You don't want to look like you just stepped out of a period drama. Do remember the pieces may not be perfect, but they do have a history and a story and you will always look unique.













ELLA ALEXANDER 30 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/05/30/stardust-vintage-launches---emma-watsons-stylists

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Vuitton Jubilee

The German artist will offer a dedicated tribute to Her Majesty, who is often the subject of his work, featuring films and a photographic installation chronicling the royal's life. Known for his wit and sense of humour (Feldmann's recent exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery featured a portrait of the Queen with a red nose), the artist has also created one-off, special mementoes for the public to take away after visiting the store. The Maison will also be hosting two piano days on June 4 and 5 from 1pm, during which a selection of pianists will play works by legendary composers including Beethoven, Debussy, Schubert and Brahms.






 ELLA ALEXANDER 30 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/05/30/louis-vuitton-hosts-jubilee-art-exhibition

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The Diamond Queen

ASPREY is celebrating the Diamond Jubilee by collaborating with light artist Chris Levine, whose famous 2004 portrait of the Queen featured the monarch wearing the diamond diadem that she wore to her 1953 Coronation. Especially for the Jubilee, Asprey has recreated the diadem - entitled The Diamond Queen - and the finished product will be sold via sealed bids throughout the month of June. Proceeds will be split between two of the Queen's charities - The Woodland Trust and QEST. In the market for a crown? The finished product was made by laser-cutting and engraving a large sheet of platinum, decorating it with 1000 diamonds and attaching 25 freshwater pearls via tiny platinum screws. As an impressive finishing touch, a natural fancy intense yellow round brilliant diamond will be set into an 18-carat yellow gold collet at the centre of the diadem.





 LISA NIVEN 23 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/jewellery/news/2012/05/23/asprey-jubilee-diadem---christopher-levine

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Cannes Insider

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL may have wrapped up yesterday, but model and London It-girl Clara Paget was there to capture it all and has recorded her experience of her incredible week in an exclusive photo diary for VOGUE.COM. From walking the red carpet with Gemma Arterton and fittings with Gucci to relaxing with Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright, see Paget's account of what it was like to be part of one the film's most start-studded and glamorous events.









CLARA PAGET 28 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/05/28/clara-paget-model---cannes-film-festival-red-carpet-picture-diary

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Dior's Jubilee

DIOR is celebrating Selfridges' Jubilee-inspired Big British Bang from May 24-30 in just the way we'd hope it would - with the most chic of royal makeovers. The fashion house has set up an innovative nail machine at Dior's Selfridges counter so that, following a Dior Vernis Red Royalty manicure, customers can have their nails printed with either a regal crown design or a Christian Dior logo. Guests that book appointments can also choose from two royal beauty looks created by Dior's national make-up artist Jamie Coombes, before being escorted to the Dior Taxi - yes, there's a Dior taxi - for a professional photograph. Plus, if you arrive after 4pm, you'll be served Pimms. What better way to celebrate? To book please call the Dior Selfridges counter on: 0207 3183 696. A £20 booking fee will apply, redeemable upon purchase.









Lisa Niven 24 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2012/05/24/dior-jubilee-manicures-at-selfridges---nail-trends

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In Royal Fashion

Designer and VOGUE.COM blogger Henry Holland and his muse, Agyness Deyn, met the Queen last night at a star-studded event held at the Royal Academy of Arts, celebrating the arts and attended by the country's biggest stars - from actors and musicians to comedians and designers, including Paul McCartney, U2's Bono, Sarah Burton, David Walliams and Tracey Emin. "It was incredible - one of the most surreal and exciting experiences ever," Holland told us this morning. "Aggy and I met Her Majesty and had a brief chat about being a designer. She was lovely and personable and funny! Definitely one for the grandkids!" long-term friend and designer Henry Holland are among a host of fashion names who will meet the Queen tonight at an event held at the Royal Academy of Arts, named A Celebration Of The Arts. "I'm really excited," Deyn told us this afternoon. "I have always wanted to meet the Queen - I couldn't believe it when Henry called me about it. I rang my mum and said: 'Mum, I'm actually going to meet the Queen.' I'm not a royalist as such, but I love the royal family. I think the Queen's really cool. I love how she dresses - she always looks so demure." Over 850 of the country's best actors, actresses, directors, dancers, choreographers, artists, musicians, as well as designers and their muses, will attend the event. Expected names include Christopher Bailey, Giles Deacon, Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou, Erdem, Richard Nicoll, Bruce Oldfield, Zandra Rhodes, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Matthew Williamson, Sarah Burton and Manolo Blahnik. While many may be deliberating over what to wear, Deyn has her outfit sorted. "Henry's made me a dress," she said. "I thought that sounded like a good idea. It's the navy dress covered in sparkly stuff from his autumn/winter 2012-13 show."
















 ELLA ALEXANDER 24 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/05/23/agyness-deyn-meets-the-queen---a-celebration-of-the-arts

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