Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve And Rankin Launch Search

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve and world-renowned photographer kick off their European-wide search at Venice Film Festival.

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Last night: 30th August 2014, celebrities from around the world gathered at the glamorous Vanity Fair Party at Venice Film Festival. The star-studded event saw iconic photographer RANKIN and JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD LABEL RESERVE join forces in the ultimate search for a new generation of rising stars.

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Present on the night were a host of glamorous, hand-selected Rising Stars from across Europe, including Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie from Great Britain who dazzled in a beautiful Vivienne Westwood dress, accessorising with black patent Christian Louboutin shoes and a David Morris diamond ring, Blanca Suarez from Spain and Marie Nasemann from Germany. All were in attendance at the Westin Europa and Regina to see an exclusive exhibition showcasing iconic RANKIN photography where, for one night only, the display celebrated legendary moments of both yesterday and today’s talent from the world of film as JOHNNIE WALKER’S European search for a rising star began. Other attendees on the night included Paolo Stella and Eleonora Carisi from Italy, Manos Gavras from Greece and Bejna Bruijning from Benelux.  The guests were welcomed with a JOHNNIE WALKER Gold Label Reserve Apple Cooler Cocktail, specially created for the event.

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The luxury, celebratory Scotch whisky and RANKIN have collaborated to create the ultimate photobooth, which is inviting aspiring and talented individuals to step inside to be in with the chance of winning a money-can’t-buy prize. The winner, selected by RANKIN, will get to share their legendary moments of celebration with the world, as they star in an online JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD LABEL RESERVE campaign in 2015. The photobooth, exclusively designed by RANKIN and unveiled on the night, will feature in a number of events across Europe as part of the six-month competition.

Throughout the evening RANKIN himself was seen eagerly stepping inside the photobooth with a host of the evening’s Rising Stars including Gwendoline Christie, offering guests exclusive advice and styling tips on how best to have their photograph taken by the booth. Attendees were seen enthusiastically uploading their ‘styled’ photo strips onto Instagram in the hopes of winning a one-on-one shoot with Rankin.

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Rankin said: “Over the years, I’ve been lucky to capture many celebrities on their rise to fame. Now, in collaboration with Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, I’m looking for a new generation of rising stars, who embody the spirit and passion it takes to succeed, in whatever they put their mind to. Putting down the camera, I’ve designed a photobooth which is a new and different way of shooting for me. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Through special treatments and lighting, I will capture the celebratory moments of today’s rising stars – I am really looking forward to seeing the results.”

Flying the flag for Great Britain at the star-studded celebration was Gwendoline Christie who said: “I am delighted to attend this evening’s Vanity Fair Party to support the launch of this exciting collaboration to find Europe’s next Rising Star. I feel very passionate about supporting the next generation of talent and it’s fantastic to see a project that shows such support for this.”

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The luxury photobooth will be appearing in bars, clubs and events across Great Britain from September 2014 to February 2015.

Step into the luxury photobooth designed by RANKIN and pose for four glamorous photos

  •          Upload an image of your photo strip to Instagram and hashtag with #GoldCelebration
  •          Johnnie Walker will then be in touch with a link to enter. Once the online form is completed you will be entered automatically into the competition
  •          Share the image and ask your friends to like it
  •          The five images with the most likes on the closing date will be shortlisted as a Rising Star and asked a series of secret questions on their achievements
  •          Rankin and his team will take these answers, along with the picture entry to select the final winner
  •          The competition opens on 30th August 2014 and ends on 15th February 2015

Visit www.johnniewalker.com for more information.

JOHNNIE WALKER® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ is an indulgent, luxurious and multi-layered blend with a smooth balance of sweet fruits and creaminess that evolves into deeper honeyed tones before finishing in lingering waves of wood, fruit and light, sweet West-coast smoke.When John Walker first established the family business in 1820 he began a lineage of blending expertise that continues unbroken to this day. Carefully honed skills have been handed down from generation to generation, with the result that today’s JOHNNIE WALKER® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ is testament to almost two centuries of blending excellence.JOHNNIE WALKER® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ has been personally crafted by the JOHNNIE WALKER® Master Blender as a celebration of his art. He has handpicked prized casks from selected reserves – each matured to perfection – to create a bold blend of intense flavours which is every bit as luxurious and indulgent as its name suggests.

 

 

‘Gentleman’s Wager… A Bet In Which Nothing Is Wagered’

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With the prospect of an exquisite mixture of two of the finest Hollywood actors and the world’s leading luxury Blended Scotch Whisky, the elegant Bulgari Hotel & Residences in Knightsbridge played host to an intimate group of VIPs and influencers who attended the UK premier of JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™’s ‘Gentleman’s Wager’ Screening on Tuesday evening before its official launch to the public on 30th July. Laura Bailey, Clara Paget, Camilla Rutherford, Natalie Pinkham, Izzy Lawrence, Natalie Coyle, Sam Hoare, Noelle Reno, Lord Harry Dalmeny, Alistair Guy, Yasmin Mills, Ozwald Boateng, Jemma Powell, Beatrix Ong and Joanne Sykes were among the VIPs who were welcomed with Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Gentleman’s Wager’ cocktails, innovative and refreshing, breaking down the barriers of whisky-drinking to bring it to the forefront of summer consumption. Cute little canapés of saffron aranchini, fresh burrata with black olive condiment, salmon rillettes, dill and capers made the perfect accompaniment alongside the pinnacle offerings from Johnnie Walker.

Before the screening commenced, guests were invited to taste the Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Perfect Serve’… straight, no ice. Relishing the enjoyment of this fine blend, the main event was introduced, the silence only pierced by the Propercorn popcorn served for the screening itself. Created by JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™, the world’s leading luxury Blended Scotch Whisky, ‘The Gentleman’s Wager’ stars Jude Law and Giancarlo Giannini and tells the story of a wager between two men which results in a truly rare experience as part of their quest for personal progress. Commenting on his involvement, Law says: “The film is about improvement and progress and this is something I try to do in my work and my everyday life. I had to learn new skills shooting this film that combined with the places we visited and shot in, alongside working with Jake and Giancarlo, (this) made it a truly rare experience.” Such is the game of perception and reality…. CLEMXBLUEKELLY_FR

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Understated charm appeared to be the dress code with VIPs opting for sophistication on a warm summer evening in the heart of SW7.

 

Laura Bailey wore a classic pink Louis Vuitton waistcoat paired with culottes, Clara Paget’s gorgeous summer offering was from the Peter Pilotto collection and newly-engaged classical singing sensation, Natalie Coyle, wore a muted nude dress from ASOS, choosing instead to accentuate her beautiful engagement ring given to her a few weeks ago during a holiday in Santorini by her fiancée Zafar Rushdie (son of Salman). Noelle Reno looked stunning in a red V cut French lace dress by Adriana Minari whilst Ozwald Boateng dictated style with key pieces from his own collection.

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Only sublime, rare whiskies at the pinnacle of perfection are used in the blending of JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, with only 1 in 10,000 casks containing whisky of sufficient character to deliver its remarkably smooth signature taste. Each is hand selected by the JOHNNIE WALKER Master Blender himself, part of an unbroken lineage of Master Blenders stretching back over 190 years – it is the ultimate expression of whisky making today and an remarkable achievement for the modern era. Presented in individually numbered bottles, it is reminiscent of the 19th century style of whiskies. The Master Blender uses his decades of experience to select some of the rarest casks from the JOHNNIE WALKER reserves for their quality, character and flavour to create the powerful, complex, smooth character of BLUE LABEL. BLUE LABEL has a mellow, rounded nose, with a dry smokiness (a JOHNNIE WALKER signature flavour) mixing with raisin sweetness. It is best savoured with the palate cleansed and cooled by iced water. One sip reveals a velvety mouth-feel, then an explosion of flavour. At once you’ll discover hazelnuts, honey, rose petals, sherry and oranges. Subsequent sips reward you with more hidden secrets like kumquats, wispy aromatic smoke, sandalwood, tobacco, and dark chocolate. With just a little hint of ‘The Italian Job’ in the opening sequence of ‘Gentleman’s Wager’, the short film combined inquisitiveness with a smooth solicitous lust for grasping what appears unattainable… epitomising the brand, JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL.

A preview of ‘The Gentleman’s Wager’ film can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/johnniewalker

The Bulgari Hotel & Residencies, 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 1D

Thanks to Harriet at Quintessentially

#GentlemansWager @JohnnieWalker_

Images ©Shane Finn at www.visual-devotion.co.uk

www.corinne-modelling.co.uk

Downton Abbey Stars Turn Out To Support Medical Detection Dogs

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I met up with some of the stars of the hit British series Downton Abbey who turned out in force to support the young UK charity, Medical Detection Dogs, in London last week. On a gorgeous evening the stars gathered on the bank of Westminster Bridge to board a glass-covered boat for a ‘Doggie Paddle’ dinner and charity auction cruise up the Thames.
The charity, which trains dogs to detect cancer and alert diabetics to dangerous falls in their sugar levels, has already won the patronage of HRH Duchess of Cornwall. The Duchess became a patron in February and together with the Prince of Wales, hosted the dogs and their trainers at St James’s Palace in March.
Cast members of Downton Abbey, including Jim Carter, who plays the stoical Mr Carson, Phyllis Logan, aka Mrs Hughes, and Rob James Collier, the errant under-butler Thomas Barrow joined members of the charity and the excited dogs who thoroughly enjoyed the attention they were receiving… this was their night in the spotlight and the ferocity of the wagging tails was a good indication!
The event attracted celebrity supporters Matthew Kelly, Vikki Michelle, Julie Peasgood, Carol Harrison, Sally Farmiloe-Neville, Joan Hooley, Robert and Babs Powell, Debbie Arnold, Ciara Janson, all of whom had a strong passion for the charity and were thrilled to attend.

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Lesley Nicol, best known as the redoubtable Mrs Patmore, has been a keen supporter of the charity since first hearing of its work. Nicol commented: “Medical Detection Dogs has become a passion for me. They are relatively young, and the work they do is absolutely awe-inspiring and I want everyone to know exactly who they are and what they do.  As far as I am aware there is something like a three year waiting list for assistance dogs – and that is before what they do has really become widely known! Can you imagine what will happen when it has?”

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“So obviously it’s vital to give them the means to expand their work as soon as possible. These dogs are literally transforming and saving lives, on a daily basis. And if you are poorly, and there is this opportunity out there, three years to wait, is a very long time! The bio detection work – the other part of what this charity does – continues to amaze and impress people when they see the dogs at work. The fact that they can train them to detect early signs of cancer, and in doing so, sometimes remove the need for invasive and unnecessary procedures, and of course save lives – is amazing and seriously deserves our support I think.”

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Jim Carter adopted the role of auctioneer for the charity auction and succeeded in raising £11,000 for a holiday on a luxury yacht and £4,000 for the chance to visit the Downton cast on location in the famous Ealing Studios, amongst other prizes. A silent auction was also held where Frank Lampard’s signed football boots, a holiday cottage for a week and three magnums of Italian Prosecco went to the highest bidders. One lucky guest won a £6,000 diamond at the bottom of their champagne glass, but chose to donate his winnings back to the charity.

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After dinner, the stars and guests watched a demonstration of the dogs’ work to detect the odour of cancerous cells in urine samples. The sight of the dogs’ swift and accurate detection of the malignant samples left the audience momentarily speechless, before breaking into rapturous applause.
All proceeds of the night will go towards the charity’s work in advancing the early detection of cancer and saving the lives of diabetes sufferers by providing them with a dog to alert them to dangerous rises and falls in their blood sugar levels.

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Being the fashionista that I am, I couldn’t leave the event without my glam radar kicking in, so I asked a couple of stars to tell me about their eveningwear. Sally Farmiloe-Neville wore a striking vintage-inspired silver-grey dress from the Gill Harvey Collection, and Vikki Michelle described her very flattering couture dress by Debra of Chigwell.
To find out more about Medical Detection Dogs’s work visit their website: http://medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk

Images: Shane Finn at Visual Devotion

www.corinne-modelling.co.uk

 

Déjà Vu Boutique (Ipswich) – Been Here Before? Certainly Worth A Return Visit!

It’s widely understood that fashion is fickle but this little gem in the heart of Ipswich bucks the trend.  Mandy Errington is the creative force behind Déjà Vu, a ‘chic and unique’ shopping experience renowned for being Suffolk’s ‘top-to-toe unique boutique’.

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Déjà Vu attracts the right kind of attention, with one-off pre-loved, vintage, exclusive designer and brand new fashion, inspiring every budget and taste.  Offering a bespoke, personal service along with fashion tips and advice, you can treat yourself to a makeover which will guarantee that you leave the boutique looking good and feeling great.

With elegant suiting and sensual fabric, the boutique gives a flavour of empowerment, cleverly thought out space with walls covered in beautiful designs which exude style, an un-intimidating and relaxed atmosphere showcasing simple shapes to exquisite timeless elegance, clothes that won’t date or dictate a period.  Accessories maketh woman, so Déjà Vu guarantee to coordinate heels, bags and baubles to suit your summer wardrobe with soft, feminine details – a bow or a chain trim… Deja Vu redefines mademoiselle chic.

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The only dilemma is which items to choose – there’s a bewildering array of perennially stylish couture, handbags that epitomise understated chic, desirable heels and the ultimate in décolletage decoration complete the range of covetable trimmings.  Déjà Vu source individually so there’s less chance of seeing the same outfit duplicated.  Mandy is particularly thrilled at becoming a stockist of Covert Cases, a seriously gorgeous range of funky-coloured iPhone and iPad covers with prices starting at £10.

The boutique has an enviable eco-friendly image, with an energy efficiency rating as high as I’ve ever seen associated with a commercial premise through sensible use of lighting and heating.

I was impressed with the spacious changing room and the fact that if you fall in love with something that isn’t quite the right fit, an adjacent alteration service, Star Alterations, is at hand with quality adjustments to make the fit perfect.

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With the help of Mandy at Déjà Vu, you can easily shed 10 years with a wardrobe change but your make-up can easily be a tell-tale giveaway.  Déjà Vu  have recently introduced ‘Zoya’, a vegan-friendly nail polish range, made with no harsh chemicals and available in a choice of luxurious colours and finishes, but was one of the initial ambassadors for a range of make-up by Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics, conceived by a professional aesthetician, Pauline Youngblood–Soli.  The range is all about quality, from light-reflective foundations that give the smoothest, sheerest coverage for all skin types and colours to lipsticks and eye-colour which are adaptable for subtle or strong colour-ways.  The products are pure, contain no fragrances, oils or talcs, ideal for post-treatment application, actively helping to soothe and heal the skin.

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We’d all like our make-up to look as if our skin had been re-touched, but that doesn’t always mean we’re willing to use invasive products to achieve it.  A signature look is all about detail and Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics epitomises this with their 100% chemical-free skin-transforming make-up, packaging with a reassuringly expensive feel and sleek-mirrored compacts for applying your make-up whenever and wherever.

Mandy chose to create the smoky eye, a catwalk favourite from the last few seasons brought bang up to date with a subtle use of colour rather than black, as Mandy showed when she created my summer-inspired smouldering look.

Mandy Errington is a perfectionist, she’s not happy until you are… in the current environment of high street too-big-to-care brands, she has an ethos all independent boutiques should aspire to.

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www.dejavuboutique.co.uk

Facebook: DejaVuBoutiqueIpswich

@DejaVuIpswich

10 Norwich Road

Ipswich

IP1 2NG

Tel: 01473 404592

Images © Shane Finn – Visual Devotion

 

Moda 360: International Designers Gather In New York To Show Collections

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Designers from around the world are joining international artists to show their work at Moda360 at The Carriage House, 149 E. 38th Street in New York, June 30 -July 1.

Capsule runway presentations will take place in the art gallery setting, with exhibits of apparel and accessories set off by the resident artists of the Carriage House and a New York furniture designer and a UK textile artist. Hollywood celebrity stylist Melissa Laskin will combine pieces from all the collections to create a special collective runway with the theme “Well-behaved women rarely make history” (Leslie Ulrich Thatcher). International videographers will show their creativity in a continuouloop of videos played at the event. Moda 360 is a unique, and growing, platform combining art, fashion and video to show the art in fashion, and the lifestyle in art.

Tickets for Moda 360 are available, and a special ticket is available for both Moda 360 and the Friends of the Congo fundraiser reception on June 30.

Participating artists and designers include:

Tee Njoroge – NCIIRA
Tee Njoroge, is a 22 year old London based graduate who is currently working on building her fashion brand called NCIIRA. Her work is highly inspired by architecture, shapes and structure. The brand’s aim is to empower and represent the inner strength and confidence of an individual through their way o f dressing. The designs are a mixture of elegant edgy, feminine, bold and daring.

Sara Hegazy
Sara Hegazy is Dubai fashion designer and a student at London College of Fashion Student. In her short career, she has been nominated MENA’s Next Top Designer, and was appointed first fashion designer and consultant at Asfour Crysta International & Egyptian Fashion Entrepreneur. She launched her international brand SARA HEGAZY and was the first Egyptian couture brand on the London Fashion Week catwalk in 2013. Currently, she is launching her fourth collection, “Cleopatra” which enjoyed a successful pre-launch at Asia Fashion Jewelry International Fair in Hong Kong.

Eva Cammarata
Eva Cammarata is a London womenswear designer. Born in Sicily, Eva graduated in Italy but earned a Master Degree in Womenswear Design at the “Istituto Marangoni London Campus” and a MA in Digital Fashion at the prestigious London College of Fashion. Eva began her career working at Giles Deacon and Erdem, and in 2010, launched her eponymous brand, showcasing in Paris, London and New York. Eva Cammarata is an ethical luxury label, using organic and biotech fibres tha moisturise the skin of the wearer. Eva’s collections adhere to impeccable quality and sustainability through the entire manufacturing process, producing in UK and Italy, and reflecting her commitment to the environment and fair trade.

Melissa Laskin – Elvislaskin, abstract artist
Melissa Laskin has enjoyed success in a multi-hyphenate career: stylist-designer-artist. She achieved tremendous success as a Hollywood stylist, working with A -list celebrities and media outlets, as well as creating looks for well-known advertising campaigns. While recovering from a serious car accident, Melissa began painting, creating bold abstract art. She quickly translated her artwork into a successful line of t-shirts, tunics and dresses, in contemporary silhouettes she was unable to find elsewhere for styling. Her eye for color and composition continues to bring her success with her artwork featured in art galleries around the country, and her elvislaskin collection sold in prestigious boutiques.

Designer, Juan Pablo Martinez
Juan Pablo Martínez studied Fashion Design in Bogotá in the early nineties and then moved to Milan to study pattern making and sewing. After completing his studies, he moved to Paris to practice design at the Atelier Chardon Savard, and worked wit Christian Lacroix at his Prêt-à-Porter studio. In 1999, Juan Pablo returned to Bogotá and opened his own atelier, designing and creating men’s suits. After 12 successful years in tailoring, Juan Pablo felt the need to pursue fashion differently, with  focus on sustainable fabrics and fair labor. His collections combine the exquisite tailoring found in the finest menswear with sustainable fabrics sourced in Colombia, recycled cotton PET from recycled plastic bottles, and baby alpaca hand woven by local artisans. The inspiration for his collection marries his passions: hard rock music and draping over the body; the Trucker Jacket meets Madame Vionnet.

Natacha Arranz Atelier
Natacha Arranz was born in Valladolid, Spain, and studied Fashion Design at Saint Martin School of Art , in London, with post graduate study in fabric techniques at the University of Barcelona, and in cinematography and aesthetics at the University of Valladolid. Natacha designs prêt-à-porter, haute couture and millinery in her atelier and teaches fashion design in “La Escuela de Diseño.” She is an award winning designer, winning first place in Castilla y León. Valladolid (Spain), the Youn Designer’s award in Zaragoza (Spain), and the Creativity Award from the El Corte Inglés. Valladolid (Spain), as well as winning t he “Prêt-à-porter Award” at Miami Fashion Week.

SoniaM
Sonia grew up in Italy, where beauty and style is part of the culture, surrounded by creative people, and both of these have instilled in her a sense of aesthetic sensitivity and judgment through an understanding of visual and structural values. In 2003 she graduated from Central Saint Martin’s as a textile designer specialising in knit. During her final year she experimented with unusual yarns such as wire, copper, Lurex, paper and plastic and is still using these materials to design accessory pieces for Fashion and Interiors. Since graduating SoniaM has accumulated a vast spectrum of experience working for LFW – London Fashion Week – from 2005 to 2010 with various fashion designers styling their catw alk shows and for UFFR – United

Fashion Forum Russia – styling catwalk shows at the Victorian & Albert Museum and for LFW off schedule show. From 20010 till 2013 SoniaM was the Head Stylist for FF – Fashions Finest and AFWL – Africa Fashion Week London – creatin individual and unique looks on the catwalks.

Josephine Adebolu – JoDeLyn London
JoDeLyn London is a contemporary jewelry collection designed and handmade by Josephine Adebolu. She produces a catwalk and diffusion range of exquisite contemporary jewelry pieces and uses them as a means to communicate and express her passion for identity and individuality. Josephine is a graduate with honors in Silversmithing & Jewelry. Her main inspiration comes from the contrasts that exist in textures, colors and materials in nature, cultures and everyday life. She combines different contrasting qualities; rough with smooth, light with dark, hard with soft, resulting in unpredictable and beautiful possibilities. She creates bold, stunning statement jewelry that ind ividualizes and distinguishes the wearer from
others.

Laura Buffa – Alter Equo
Laura Buffa launched Alter Equo in response to the emergency of the waste collection system in Rome. Rome is scattered with discarded plastic bottles that become first hand ma terial for the Alter Equo sustainable fashion project. The bottles are cut into shapes that are revealed in the plastic or cut out according to the designs previously imagined and sketched. The shapes are then worked with heating tools, allowing the plastic to react to heat according to its chemical weight. Finishing touches are semi precious stones (quartz, amethyst, carnelian, pearls) or rhinestones. “We are artisan women combining business and sustainability. We know our action is just a drop in the ocean yet we care for the environment and try to preserve it. We get inspired by the shapes and colors of the bottles to create PET plastic jewels, eco designs and home complements. We manage to find the “soul” even in a disposed plastic bottle, the symbol of massive consumerism.” Laura Buffa

Foldi Kinga – Baharat
Baharat is an haute couture and luxury prêt à porter brand. Designer Foldi Kinga is an award winning designer and costumer who handcrafts collections with an to detail, using traditional as well as unique techniques and often build upon a particular traditional decorative technique such as origami, pleating or lace-making. The designer pursues ethical principles, creating her designs in collaboration with local artisans and using left over sartorial material in the Baharat jewelry collection. The silk jewelry is crafted from two layer laminated silk, with each component part cut and ironed by hand, and strung together to create a shimmering rainbow of color.

Bethany Walker – Mixed Media Textiles
Bethany Walker is an exciting emerging Mixed Media Artist best known for her ‘signature’ combination of materials – cement and textiles. Bethany has developed her individual hand techniques, each piece is individual and creates intrigue with its integral shape, colour and relief. Bethany’s work explores connections and contrasts in the urban environment – things we all observe daily but often overlook. The dynamics of the graphic and organic; the old and the new are an endless source of inspiration for the ar tist. Endeavouring to break new ground, Bethany is pushing the boundaries of contemporary textiles – blurring design disciplines, breaking preconceptions and traditionalist viewpoints to create pleasantly stunning pieces.

Manny Flaherty – Furniture Artist
Founded in 2010 by Manuel Flaherty, Mi Mesita is a small furniture company dedicated to producing high quality, hand-made furniture that is accessible and affordable. Using traditional building techniques and domestic woods, Mi Mesita creates furniture t hat will withstand the test of time, both structurally and aesthetically. As a New Yorker, all designs take into consideration the limited space available in many NYC homes. Even in a little apartment, one
should be able to decorate with unique, beautiful, functional, and quality long lasting furniture. Each piece is hand built, and all designs are customizable to meet your needs.

Teo González – Artist, abstract art
Teo González was born in Quinto de Ebro, Zaragoza (Spain), in 1964. He studied under Jordi Teixidor before moving to Southern California in 1991. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Art from California State University, Bakersfield. He has lived and worked in Brooklyn since 1999. His work has been included in museum shows worldwide at institutions such as the Kemper Art Museum in Saint Louis, Missouri; the Borusan Contemporary in Istanbul, Turkey; the Katonah Museum of Art I Katonah, NY; the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Esteban Vicente in Segovia, Spain; and has been included in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, NY; the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles,

CA; the National Gallery and the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC; the Museo Pablo
Serrano in Zaragoza, Spain; the San Diego Museum of Art in San Diego, CA; The Achenbach Foundation in San Francisco, CA; or the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe, NM, among others.

Cristóbal Gabarrón – Artist, abstract art
Cristóbal Gabarrón was born in 1945 in Mula (Murcia), Spain, receive d his first training in Valladolid before pursuing his early artistic career in France and Italy. His current works are carried out primarily in Spain and the United States. Far from the aesthetic conventionalisms, of isthmuses or vanguards, Gabarrón’s work only understands life. His vision of art is clearly anthropocentric. The individual human life, and the coexistence and the development of human values, are the pillars on which his art and his personal convictions rest. The Olympic Mural for the Barcelona Olympic Games and the Encounter Mural for the Universal Exhibition of Seville (1992), the great sculptural project “Atlanta Start” (1996), the materialization of the wor “Hope for Peace” (1986) and the Official Poster for the Millennium Summit and the Millennium Chapel (2000-2001) are important milestones in his career, while beginning a fruitful creative period, which still remains today, marked by his collaboration with international organizations, such as the IOC or United Nations.

Tickets can be purchased via the links below….

Moda 360 tickets

Friends of the Congo fundraising evening tickets
press/buyers/magazines registration

General information: moda360intl@gmail.com

Moda 360: A Complete Revolution of Fashion

Moda 360, will take place at The Carriage House Center for the Arts in New York City, June 30 – July 1, bringing together art, fashion and video for a new concept in fashion presentation. Online showrooms Bel Esprit and Showroom International are partnering with Fashions Finest, a London fashion business producing high quality runway shows during London Fashion Week to create a unique, off-season platform for independent international designers.
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Designers from the US, UK, Italy, Colombia, Dubai and other countries will present their work through exhibits and unique runway presentations in the art gallery setting of The Carriage House. A special collective runway presentation will be styled by celebrity stylist Melissa Laskin, combining pieces from the participating collections for looks with attitude. The theme of this special presentation is a quote from Laurel Ulrich Thatcher, “Well behaved women rarely make history.”
Moda 360 is thrilled to announce VIP Ambassador Audrey Smaltz. Ms. Smaltz has an illustrious career in fashion, beginning as a model, then transitioning her behind the scenes knowledge of the industry into the first fashion backstage company, The Ground Crew. Audrey has worked with all the major fashion houses, providing back of the house services to ensure that the runway shows run seamlessly. She has been recognized by industry for her professional support of designers and her incredible personal style. Audrey Smaltz is an inspiration to independent designers, and Moda 360 is honored to welcome her to the front row of the runway presentations.
Moda 360 was created to give independent designers promotion and support outside of the fashion calendar, giving them an innovative platform to present their collections to an audience that might miss them during busy fashion and market weeks. Moda 360 is committed to supporting emerging artists in all media, featuring the videos of international filmmakers at the event, on the Moda 360 website and video channels. Videographers from the UK and Colombia are collaborating with participating designers to create films featuring Moda 360 designers.

Moda 360 brings a charitable element to the lineup with a special cocktail reception on June 30 benefiting Friends of the Congo, an organization promoting awareness of the conflict affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and also the spirit and power of the Congolese people as they overcome adversity and strengthen the economic and social structure of their country and their national culture.
For more information about the event, cocktail reception and after party, visit the website www.moda360intl.com. Fashion professionals may register to attend on the website, and links for tickets for the public events are available through the website as well.
Read more: http://www.moda360intl.com/schedule.htm

 

Karpo… A Restaurant of Choice

Deep in the heart of King’s Cross, right opposite St Pancras Station is Karpo brasserie, the ideal place to rest, relax and recharge in an unpretentious setting… everything a restaurant should be. Draped in an anti-camouflage montage of colour, this restaurant is no shrinking violet.
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Serving cuisine with a global influence, the standards of service are uncompromising, with a highly developed sense of noblesse oblige, each and every customer is valued as a welcome friend by Massimo, the front-of-house manager. The light streams in through a roof window onto a vibrant wall of foliage creating the perfect backdrop to the non-conformist tables and chairs, different styles and textures, refreshingly breaking up the dining area with slices of beautifully turned wood and marble… there were no ‘bad tables’.
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Karpo have created a pleasingly uncomplicated menu that discards unnecessary fripperies , keeping to the bare essentials in terms of ingredients and cooking processes. We were tempted with the brunch menu offering a selection of superb egg dishes ranging from Benedict through to plain and simple poached egg, but the deep fried cod cheeks and polenta with wild mushrooms came a close second to our choice of confit duck leg, sausage and lentils (£12) and Cumberland sausages, mash and gravy (£10). It was pleasing that Karpo chose to ignore the zeitgeist of listing every supplier on the menu, just occasional references of where the menu was taking us.
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The duck was cooked to perfection with the sausage and lentils adding a twist of colour and texture, an adequately-sized portion, nicely washed down with a glass of house wine (Chardonnay, £4.75 glass). The Cumberland sausages, mash and gravy were presented in an uncomplicated way, you just can’t sex this dish up, the taste reminiscent of good ‘ole home cooking… but better. I rounded my meal off with lemon posset with handpicked lavender (£5), daintily presented but with a potent citrus kick! English breakfast tea was served… properly. The tea was presented and a healthy amount of tea leaves were allowed to brew in a teapot instead of the usual ‘coquette of the teabag’ ritual most restaurants resort to. Attention to detail was uppermost and it was reflected in the taste.
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It was refreshing not to be asked ad nauseam if everything was ok, the well-mannered hosts discreetly sashayed around the tables keeping a close eye but not interrupting the quiet intimacy of the couples or the vibrant interactions of business people wooing clients in an appropriate setting.
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And this is the defining point about Karpo, when we visited, customers looked relaxed as if they genuinely wanted to be in this establishment rather than ‘this’ll do’ as a need to just ‘grab a bite to eat’. People brought people to eat here… and that’s good enough for me.
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Karpo Restaurant
23-27 Euston Road
King’s Cross
London
NW1 2SB
Bookings for up to 8 via email: reservations@karpo.co.uk
Website: www.karpo.co.uk
Telephone: 0207 843 2221
Facebook: karporestaurant
Twitter: @karporestaurant

Open for breakfast 7:00am to 11:am Monday to Friday
Neighbourhood brunch: 8:00am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
All day menu runs from 12:00pm to 10:00pm weekdays, 5:00pm to 10:00pm Saturdays/Sundays (till 9:00pm Sundays)

Imagery by Shane Finn at Visual Devotion

Lusardi: My Miracle… The Cream of Luxury Skincare

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When Linda Lusardi launches a skincare brand, you sit up and listen. Known for her youthful appearance and elegant style, it was inevitable that she would create a skincare range that reflects her personality… and Linda takes no prisoners when it comes to putting her name to a product, it has to be top notch. But this isn’t Linda’s first step into developing a skincare range, in fact, she launched her initial skincare range ten years ago, but this additional range was launched about two and a half years ago. When I asked why she felt the need to set her mind on a new skincare venture, she told me that it started just through the frustration of not finding anything for herself that was in the price range she wanted. With Ideal World (www.idealworld.tv), her team sourced the manufacturing base for La Prairie, Crème de la Mer and Bulgari in Switzerland, and using the same technicians and chemists, brought to the market products that were on the same level of quality both in their ingredients and packaging but at an affordable price point. But one vital ingredient is key to Linda’s range… edelweiss. Mixed with glacier water, hyaluronic acid and almond oil, it is a key ingredient due to its natural protective qualities.

Linda explained that because millions of pounds aren’t being expended for endorsement by a Hollywood celebrity to put their face on the products, advertising in glossy magazines and selling it in Harrods, she’s able to keep the profit margin down and bring it at a high street price that you would pay for a normal cream in Boots, but you’re getting a really luxury range with expensive active ingredients. The range was showcased at the Anti-Ageing Health and Beauty Show at Olympia in May, Linda told me “The women trying it just loved it, it’s just a divine cream and if you’re spending that amount on a cream now on the high street, then you’re not going to be getting the amount of ingredients in there that you’re getting in mine. On screen (Ideal World), I battle to try and say you’re getting exactly the same quality of product as those ones that are charging like £100 or £300 a pot, but it is hard to convince people that what they’re getting is the same, if not better.”

Linda has a strict daily beauty regime, at night to remove her make-up she uses the Caviar Cleanser and Radiance (£17.99 120ml + £4.99 P&P) and a hot large muslin cloth (sold with the product) which is slightly abrasive to the touch, exfoliating and cleansing with almond oil and beeswax as well as the caviar, glacier water and edelweiss. So it moisturises, cleanses and exfoliates all in one go, then applying Recharge Night Cream (£29.99 50ml + £5.99 P&P) and Restore Eye Serum (£24.99 15ml + £4.99 P&P). In the morning she doesn’t always use the hot cloth cleanser but might just use the cleanser on its own without the cloth, just to wake her face up and cleanse, then Eye Serum and Line Lift Serum (£24.99 30ml + £4.99 P&P), which both contain a tightening agent that really lifts the face and makes it plump up and makes it feel fuller, disguising the lines but still putting all those lovely ingredients in as well. An important product is the Outstanding Caviar Neck and Decollete Cream (£24.99 50ml + £4.99 P&P), which is used night and morning, perfect for tightening those important areas which are often forgotten. A swift application of 12hr Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream (£24.99 50ml + £5.99 P&P) and off she goes! Most day products have a UVA/UVB filter, which is very important for me, the sun is extremely damaging and this range makes sun protection a priority.

We remember Linda Lusardi as a former model, she is an actress, TV presenter… the list goes on, and recently appeared on ITV’s ‘Dancing on Ice’. She told me “I didn’t think I’d get to the show because I did break my foot in about the second lesson so I had a Beckham boot on for six weeks, I was filming Emmerdale, hobbling on my boot and then they said no, you’ve still got time to be in it, you’ll just have to catch up!” Linda made it to week seven, a braver woman than I! But would she consider ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ if approached? Linda said “Oh, I’d aboslutely love to do it! I’d love to be able to dance like that because I’m quite agile and I’d just love to be able to move in those beautiful dresses.”
Watch this space…

The complete Lusardi: My Miracle range is available exclusively at www.idealworld.tv
Linda is appearing as Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the New Theatre in Cardiff later this year.