Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert: 'Runaway' Brides Dress

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Giorgio Armani wanted modern dress for Charlene

Giorgio Armani wanted Charlene Wittstock’s wedding dress to be “completely modern”.

The Italian designer created the South African beauty’s gown she wore to marry Monaco’s Prince Albert II on Saturday and says he was conscious for the dress to be different from Albert’s late mother, Princess Grace.

Writing for vogue.com. Giorgio said: “The idea was to go for a completely modern look, without an obvious sense of nostalgia or revivalism. I felt this was appropriate given that there would inevitably be comparisons with Princess Grace, and though such comparisons are of course a sign of admiration, each person has their own individual and unique style, and style is an expression of the times.”

 

Giorgio says former Olympic swimmer Charlene was a pleasure to work with and the perfect muse, saying: “Charlene is without a shadow of a doubt very beautiful. Tall and slim, she is sporty and at the same time has a natural elegance about her. Dressing her is such a pleasure – she knows how to wear my creations with the nonchalance and confidence of youth. I believe Charlene has the ideal figure to show off great dresses, because they highlight the fine curves and beautiful structure of her back and shoulders.”

The dress took 2,500 hours to create, including 700 hours for the embroidery alone, and featured 40,000 Swarovski crystals, 20,000 mother of pearl teardrops and 30,000 stones in gold shades.

Kate Moss Still John Galliano Muse

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John Galliano considers Kate Moss his “biggest muse”.

The troubled fashion designer – who created the oyster silk wedding dress worn for her nuptials to rocker Jamie Hince last week – was “never” going to let her down, despite his personal problems, including his recent sacking at French fashion house Dior for proclaiming he “loved” Adolf Hitler.

A source said: “Kate is his biggest muse and he was never, ever, going to let his friend down. He did Kate’s 21st birthday dress, her 30th birthday dress and Galliano’s show was the first she ever walked for. So this wedding day ties up a lot of things beautifully.”

British designer Alice Temperley recently revealed she thought the 37-year-old model would set a trend with her dress, whatever she chose to wear.

She said: “I am certain she will look absolutely stunning, unique, beautiful with a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll twist. I would love to see her in something vintage looking, romantic and slightly bohemian.

“However, whatever she chooses, she will look fantastic and I am sure women will want to wear something similar to their weddings for years to come.”

 

Katy Perry's 'Goldilocks' perfume

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Katy Perry claims her Purr fragrance is “like the Goldilocks of perfume.”

The ‘California Gurls’ hitmaker claims people can tell from their very first sniff that the “cute” scent is “just right” and matched perfectly to her wild, fun loving, loud and convivial nature.

She said: “It’s like the Goldilocks of perfume. It s not too much, it’s not too forgettable, it’s just right. It’s basically me in a bottle. I think a lot of people go up and they go, ‘That’s definitely Katy Perry. This is definitely Katy Perry’s perfume.’ ”

Katy is topping charts with her debut perfume, Purr, as well as with her songs, as the scent has been number one every week since it was launched in Canada.

Speaking on TV show Entertainment Tonight Canada she added: “It’s been out for nine weeks and it’s been number one for nine weeks.”

Katy also gave advice on the best way to apply the scent.

She said: “I usually spray and walk through. I never spray directly on

“I’ve heard that you’re not supposed to spray directly on the skin. Then it’s not so concentrated, because everybody knows sometimes when a woman walks into a room, she can smell like her grandmother.”

The ‘Firework’ singer also spent a long time researching the scent’s lavender cat-shaped bottle.

She added: “I would go into endless department stores all over the world and look at what was on the shelves.

“I remember some of the Galliano perfumes that were like snow globes. I was like, ‘Well, when the perfume is finished I just want to keep this on my mantle, because it’s such a fun little bottle.”

Duchess of Style: Kate Middleton Wows On Royal Tour

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Hit: Elegance personified Duchess Catherine

Catherine certainly knows how to make an impression and once again she wows in the style stakes as she and Prince William arrive in Canada in this gorgeous lace dress, which highlights her enviable figure while remaining classy. The Duchess has brought 30 outfits with her on the Royal Tour, so far they have all been as stunning as this one.

Lady Gaga is hooked on 'Antiques Roadshow'.

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The 25-year-old singer – who is well known for her eccentric tastes – is obsessed with the British TV show where people bring in their valuables to find out their value, and friends have now bought her a DVD box set of classic episodes so she can watch them on the road.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “Lady Gaga is really into her antiques so British pals thought she might be interested in the programme.

“It went down a storm and Gaga hasn’t stopped watching the DVDs. She loves how the old people think their antique is a bit of old tat but ends up costing thousands. It’s right up her street.”

The ‘Judas’ hitmaker herself has some expensive items in her closet – she was given the red shoes worn by Judy Garland in 1939 movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’ as a present from her management earlier this year.

It is not the first time Lady Gaga has been linked to a love of television – she has previously confessed she adores watching cookery shows when she has some down time.

She said: “When I get time off, I like to watch cooking shows, I’m really obsessed with them. I’m a really good cook now, just from watching those shows. My specialty is Italian.”

Daniel Craig's Former Fiancee Still Not Over Him.

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Daniel Craig’s former fiancee has banned anyone from mentioning him in her presence.

The James Bond star split from Satsuki Mitchell – who he got engaged to in 2007 – last November, and she was stunned to learn he had married actress Rachel Weisz in a secret ceremony last month following a whirlwind romance.

Satsuki’s father, Christopher Mitchell, said: “His sudden marriage came out of nowhere. We heard about it like everyone else, by reading the newspapers. She doesn’t mention his name now and tells me off if I do.”

According to Christopher, Satsuki had realised their relationship would never have worked out but had only just begun to get over her split from 43-year-old Daniel when the news broke about his marriage.

He told the Daily Mail newspaper: “Satsuki has only just reached a happy place. She has since said, more than once, that the break up was the best thing for her.

“She knew he was not the man she wanted him to be and there was something wrong in the relationship.”

Christopher is worried about the impact Daniel’s marriage will have on his daughter because he became concerned she had developed an eating disorder when they split up last year.

He said: “I have suggested to her on a number of occasions that she might have a disorder. Yet whenever we’re together she eats like a horse.”

Daniel and Rachel – who first went public with their romance in December when they spent Christmas together at a cottage in the English countryside – tied the knot in front of just four people, the actor’s daughter Ella, 18, the actress’ four-year-old son Henry and two friends at a pal’s house in New York state.

Rachel, 40, split from Henry’s father, ‘Black Swan’ director Darren Aronofsky last year, announcing in November they had been separated for some time but remained “close”.

The couple star together in upcoming horror movie ‘Dream House’ – to be released in September 2011 – which they shot throughout 2010.

Emma Watson Hysterical At Harry Potter Ending.

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Emma Watson “cried” uncontrollably when finished filming the last ‘Harry Potter’ film.

The actress – who was just 10 when she first played Hermione Granger in the wizard franchise – couldn’t control her emotions when she had to hang up her Hogwarts outfit for the last time when shooting on ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2’ wrapped.

Speaking on UK TV show ‘Daybreak’, she said: “It was so strange … I kind of felt quite numb, I couldn’t really – it doesn’t seem like your feeling anything. And it was when they said, ‘That’s Emma down and Rupert wrapped,’ on ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’, and it just hit me and it was incredibly emotional obviously.

“I cried, cried, cried, cried, cried – it was really emotional and overwhelming.”

Although she is sad the ‘Harry Potter’ movies have come to an end, Emma, now 21, is looking forward to taking on new roles – as long as they don’t require so many years of her life.

She said: “I mean it’s so funny, when I’ve signed on for other projects, other things, people don’t really understand why I get quite jumpy and quite concerned and I think it’s because I’ve signed on for one thing and it turns into a 12-year project. And I realise that everything else won’t be like that, but I just can’t believe what it turned into.”

Emma – who starred in the movies alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint – will always be proud to have portrayed witch Hermione and isn’t worried about being typecast in the future.

She said: “If I’m going to be associated with anything, I’m so thrilled that it would be her and it would be this.”

Royal Tour: Prince William Beats Duchess Kate in Boat Race

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The Duke of Cambridge beat his wife – who used to belong to the Sisterhood boat crew – by 10 lengths as they each joined a team to race across Dalvay Lake on Prince Edward Island in Canada on the fifth day of their tour of the North American country.

Before the contest the prince was asked who he thought would triumph, and he joked: “We are of course.”

But Kate quipped: “He’ll be lucky.”

The royal couple – who tied the knot in London’s Westminster Abbey on April 29 – hugged and congratulated each other following the race.

Kate steered her team’s boat, while William’s boat led from the start and it was clear from the beginning his vessel looked more likely to win.

The duke and duchess arrived at the event via horse-drawn carriage and were greeted by thousands of supporters, and some had camped overnight to get a glimpse of the royal couple.

Earlier in the day, the prince – who flies Sea King helicopters in the RAF (Royal Air Force) – took part in a dangerous helicopter manoeuvre on the lake, landing a Canadian military helicopter on the water for the first time.

The couple – who will leave Canada for California on Friday – also took in Province House, where the idea for the country was born.

William said in a speech, which he partly spoke in French, it was “quite a moment” to be stood in front of the building where the “Canadian federation was forged”.