Cara and Kate's Love Cover-Off

LOVE magazine issue 9 has treated us to two cover options, one featuring a ‘cleaned up’ Kate Moss and the other featuring a ‘scrubbed up’ Cara Delevigne.  Provacatively photographed by Mert & Marcus and styled by Katie Grand, both ladies look stunning.  Which cover is your favourite?  Mine is Kate’s... No, wait… It’s Cara’s… Kate’s… Cara’s…
 
Below:  To celebrate her LOVE cover, a masked Cara Delevigne recorded this hypnotic video showing her lip-syncing to my most favourite guilty pleasure, Shania Twain’s 'That Don’t Impress Me Much’  whilst stroking a little grey kitten.  I just love this girl.  Simples.

All I Want For Christmas Is....

All I want for Christmas is you... And this... And maybe a few of these... Oh, and this too...

Above Clockwise (L-R): Brilliant Books from Amazon...  'Kate: The Kate Moss Book' - £50.00 £42.50, Tim Walker's 'Story Teller' - £45.00 £24.30, Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld's 'The Little Black Jacket' - £65.00 £55.25, Mel S.Elliot's 'Colour Me Good Ryan Gosling' - £7.50 £6.00, Camilla Morton's 'Diane Von Furstenberg and the Tale of the Empress's New Clothes' - £12.99 £8.83, 'Grace' by Grace Coddington - £25.00 £21.25.

Above Clockwise (L-R):  Sophia Rogge Silk Scarfs - £190.00 or £270 for personalised, Plates from Anthropologie - £16.00 - £26.00, Anya Hindmarch Studded Leather Cosmetic Case - £225.00. 

Above Clockwise (L-R):  Movies and Music from Amazon... 'Moonrise Kingdom' (DVD) - £11.99, 'Homeland' Season 1 (DVD) - £24.97, 'The Hunger Games' (DVD) - £10.00, Rihanna's 'Unapologetic' (CD) - £8.99, Jake Bugg (CD) - £7.99.

Oh... And World Peace. 

Kate: The Kate Moss Book

Rizzoli have released a Kate Moss coffee table book featuring a collection of photographs, chosen by Kate Moss herself, spanning the supermodel’s lengthy 20 year career.  Edited by her ex-boyfriend Jefferson Hack and close friend Jess Hallett, contributing photographers include Hedi Slimane, Juergen Teller, Terry Richardson, Mario Testino, Corinne Day and Karl Lagerfeld, to name just a few!  The 488 page book, which will be on EVERY fashionista’s Christmas list this year, is a ‘highly personal and complete retrospective of Kate Moss’s career, illustrating her evolution from girl to supermodel to photographic icon,’ which is also reflected by using 8 different covers (below) depicting this transformation.  This book is the ultimate roundup of the ultimate British supermodel. Dear Santa…

Below (L-R): Kate Moss attending a book signing wearing SS'13 Marc Jacobs, attending her book launch at 50 St.James Street Mayfair. 

'Kate: The Kate Moss Book,' RRP.£50.00
(Currently available here from Waterstones for RRP.£39.50)

Frieze Art Fair 2012

Last weekend I went to Regent’s Park for the tenth Frieze London, one of the world’s leading contemporary art events.  With so much art displayed along a dizzying grid, the whole exhibition felt like one giant creative speed dating afternoon, as I whizzed around briefly flirting with each of the 175 gallery’s presentations.  Below are a few of my favourites pieces… 

Above: Is it a Door? Is it Art? No... I's Frieze. Easy Mistake. Kate Moss by Mario Testino. 

Above (L-R): Robert Indiana's Love and Art (1972-2000).

Above:  Art appreciating art...

Above (Clockwise): 'I am the One I've Been Waiting For,' Harland Miller (2012), Untitled, Loris Greuad (2012) and 'Inthistogether' Darren Almond (2010).

Above:  My favourite of the day. A portrait on old cassette tapes by Gregor Hildebrandt.

Above (L-R):  'A Balloon For Britain,' Scott King (2012) and 'Oh No' Doug Aitken (2012). 

LFW - The Mulberry Willow

Known for its British eccentricity, Mulberry transformed Claridges into an English country garden for its SS'13 show.  With astro turf, a sprinkling of gnomes and pastel-layered cream cakes, the quintessentially English summer mood was perfectly captured.  With the world’s most perfect FROW, Alexa Chung, Kate Moss and Lana Del Rey, the scene was set for the sophisticated, 1970s inspired, softly coloured collection to be unveiled.  The star of the show was the latest addition to the Mulberry family, the Willow.  The tote bag comes in three sizes and has a detachable clutch (a clote?!) which makes it perfectly practical and suuurely (with its 2 for 1 allure), a more than justifiable purchase?!  Mulberry’s creative director Emma Hill said, “everyone likes something that you can take off or add on, well I always do.  I think it’s the kid in me that likes Transformer toys when you can turn something into something else.” 

With Mulbabes Lana Del Rey showing off her Mulberry Del Rey, and Alexa Chung clasping her Mulberry Alexa, did Kate Moss feel a little put out and pouty that the Mulberry Willow had not been named after her?  Her declaration after the show, whilst holding said black snakeskin Willow (below) would suggest as much, “I wanted this one to be the Mulberry Moss bag but it’s not, it’s the Willow. But I love this one because it doubles as a clutch. It’s genius.”  Keep those fingers crossed for next season Kate...

Super Girl Power at the Closing Ceremony

There was some SERIOUS Girl Power in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday night when we were not only treated to an awesome Spice Girls reunion but also to a strutting swarm of stunning Supermodels. 


Ever since Stella McCartney signed up to design the Team GB outfits (unsurprisingly, the most coveted by all other athletes) fashion was always going to play a part in London 2012.  Soooo… Who wore who?

The Spice Girls

Victoria Beckham looked very ‘Posh' in a stunning, custom-made Giles Deacon dress with black Christian Louboutin stilettos.  Ginger Geri Haliwell paid homage to her infamous Brit Award’s Union Jack dress wearing this Suzanne Neville peplum dress, an Olympic inspired tiara and Isabel Marant gold Dicker boots. ‘Baby’ Emma Bunton wore her signature pink in a dress by Maggie Cook with glittery heels.  Melanie C wore a white jumpsuit from JD Sports with some Sporty silver wedged trainers. Melanie B wore a nude cat suit embellished with amazing gold detailing by Lenanese designer Zuhair Murad – definitely more sexy than Scary!  A-Zig-A-Zig-Aaah.

The Supers

This army of British Beauties were a glittering mirage of gold medal hues in outfits created by iconic British designers.  A totally immaculate vision paying tribute to British fashion and it's  Midas Touch. 


The Supermodels were styled by Lucinda Chambers, Vogue UK's fashion director, who nervously spoke from backstage on the night, "It's incredible that Britain, such a tiny country, has such a broad range of talent in fashion, and that's what we wanted to show. We're known for bonkers fashion, but what I hope came across is that these designers make beautiful clothes… that people would want to wear."

Above:  Kate Moss in a mermaid-like, gold and silver Alexander McQueen dress.

Above (L-R): Karen Elson glamourously glistening in Burberry and Naomi Cambell looking beyond radiant in Alexander McQueen.

Above (L-R):  Stella Tennant glitters in a Christopher Kane tuxedo while Lily Cole is effortlessly ethereal in Erdem.

Above:  Lily Donaldson shimmering in Vivienne Westwood

Above (L-R):  Georgia May Jagger shines in Victoria Beckham, David Eye-Candy Gandy wears a suit by Paul Smith and Jourdan Dunn models a Christopher Kane dress and a feathered headpiece by Stephen Jones.

18 carat Fashion Fabulous.

These images appear in Vogue's September Issue - Out Now.

Kate Moss: The New Face of Rag & Bone

This autumn sees the American label Rag & Bone returning to its British roots...

After opening it’s first European flagship store on London’s Sloane Street last week the brand has revealed they also plan to show their A/W’12 collection at London Fashion Week and are using British supermodel Kate Moss as the face of its first ever print campaign. The British Rag & Bone designer David Neville, who moved to New York with fellow designer Marcus Wainwright to focus on the label, commented, “Although we are essentially a New York brand, our English roots have always influenced our aesthetic, and casting Kate was another nod to our heritage.” 

Photographer Craig McDean shot the campaign on a derelict North London street using minimal make-up, natural light and a hand-held camera.  The pictures scream COOL.

Marie Curie Cancer Care Fundraiser

On Tuesday night I attended Heather Kerzner's star-studded fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Marie Curie Cancer Care is best known for its network of 2,700 nurses, who provide vital and free end of life care to patients with terminal illness in their own homes, or in one of its nine hospices.

The beautiful ballroom at Claridges, filled with celebrity florist Rob van Helden’s heavenly pink peonies and red roses, looked almost as stunning as the glamorous guests, including Kate Moss and Jamie Hince, Ronnie Wood, Yasmin Le Bon, Holly Valance and Nick Candy, Tamara Beckwith, Geri Halliwell, Sarah the Duchess of York and Princess Beatrice.

Above:  Wearing a Nanette Lepore velvet dress and turquoise Chanel shoes.  Below: (clockwise) David Bailey and Sarah the Duchess of York, a rocking Ronnie Wood, Holly Valance, Richard Dennen and Kelly Eastwood, a papping Kate Moss, Matthew Freud with Heather Kerzner, Kate Moss and Jamie Hince. Photographs by Christopher Jackson.

During the lavish dinner, Heather Kerzner and model Saffron Aldridge movingly expressed their own personal gratitude to the Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses. Matthew Freud followed, cheekily referring to his infamous scuffle with Hugh Grant (“it’s nice to attend one of Heather’s parties and not get punched… although the night is still relatively young!”) went on to introduce ‘When I Die: Lessons from the Death Zone’, an intimate short film (below) he co-produced about his friend Philip Gould’s final days.

An auction followed, led by the charismatic Lord Harry Dalmeny, that raised over £620,000 for the Marie Curie Cancer Care. The amazing lots included an opportunity to have your portrait taken by David Bailey, a private party at Annabels, and an absolutely stunning George Pragnell Diamond Daffodil ring.  The ring, shown below, in the shape of a daffodil (the Marie Curie’s emblem) was designed by the jeweller’s grandson, Charlie Pragnell, in recognition of Marie Curie’s outstanding work.  I was allowed to wear the stunning ring, with its rare and glittering orange-yellow diamond centre for around five minutes before I was reminded I had to give it back... They were a happy five minutes. ‘My’ beautiful daffodil ring was later auctioned off for £50,000. Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Kate Moss took to the stage to model a last minute donation from Ronnie Wood; a painting of Rod Stewart by the Rolling Stone himself. The piece was auctioned off for £12,000 after Lord Harry Dalmeny managed to push the bidding past £10,000 by saying that Kate Moss wouldn’t even get out of bed for so little… Reaslising he’d got his supermodel’s mixed up (“Oh, no, that’s not you – that’s the other one!”) Kate went on to confirm that she would indeed rise from bed for less than £10,000. Damn recession.

We were later entertained by the legendary Grammy award winning R&B artist Sam Moore, who was joined on stage by Ronnie Wood in a surprise set that included 'Stay With Me' and 'Mustang Sally' (which was directed at Wood’s new girlfriend… Sally!) 

My place at the front of the stage allowed me the perfect view of Ronnie Wood’s studded Louboutin loafers, and in what must be the most glamorous mosh pit ever, I spent a good part of the evening dancing next to Kate Moss.  Just your average Tuesday night…

After a hugely fun and successful night, Heather Kerzner commented, "I am so impressed by the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care it was natural for me to lend my support. People don't like to talk about death, but we all have to face it and I wanted to help bring money and attention to this incredible charity whose nurses, like angels, bring peace to terminally ill patients and their families during this devastating time."

Below: In the Marie Curie Photo Booth with Katy Wickremesinghe and with Charlie Pragnell (wearing the stunning George Pragnell Daffodil Diamond ring he designed.)

Lucien Freud Exhibition

With tickets being likened to gold dust, I was lucky enough to recently visit The National Portrait Gallery‘s Lucien Freud exhibition.  Showcasing more than 100 of Freud’s portraits, the vast range of paintings are divided into different time periods, allowing visitors to follow the progression of his style through the revered artist’s legendary 70 year career.

Having not been too familiar with Lucien Freud’s work before this exhibition, which was curated with the help of the artist himself before his death last year, I feel I have now had the best of introductions. 

I was really amazed at Freud’s ability to produce almost tangible portrayals of his sitters by using an enormous amount of paint to create a magnificent 3D, structured effect.  The artist’s merciless love of human flesh is also clear to see and there is, what seems to be, room after room of creamy, contorted, lifeless, and thickly applicated painted bodies. I did eventually find the enormous and iconic portraits of Leigh Bowery and Big Sue’s swirly, fleshy and mountainous naked bodies a little, for want of a better word, over-baring.

Left: Reflection (self portrait) 1985.

Below:  Lucien Freud was the father of some fourteen children and my favourite portraits displayed in the exhibition were those of his pregnant girlfriend Bernadine, Pregnant Girl, 1960-61, and of his new born baby daughter Bella Freud, Baby on a Green Sofa, 1961.

With art lovers flocking to see this show, more than aware that they are unlikely to ever see another exhibition of Lucien Freud’s portraits as good as this, a new record has been set for visitor numbers at the National Portrait Gallery.  The exhibition closes on May 27th and the gallery has just announced that the show will remain open until midnight from May 24th-27th to help cope with the demand. Tickets are on sale today only - here.

Above:  An unlikely friendship blossomed between Lucien Frued and Kate Moss after he painted a life-sized nude of the supermodel whilst pregnant with her daughter, Lila Grace, in 2003. Kate Moss later described the artist as ‘the most interesting person’ she had ever met, while Freud moaned about how the model had aaalways been late for her sittings. This photograph was taken of the two friends in 2010 by photographer David Dawson.