What's News

The UK Beauty Awards 2010 shortlist has been revealed. This year there are a total of 13 awards with Best New Skincare and Best New Bodycare divided into luxury and mass market sub-categories. Notable additions including Best New Men’s Grooming Product and Best New Beauty Appliance. All of the products have been nominated by beauty PR agencies and then shortlisted by a prestigious panel of experts composed of beauty editors, journalists and industry professionals. DIARY and handbag.com are hosting voting over the next month allowing beauty industry professionals and consumers to choose the winners. Clothes Show London will take place at Earls Court from 25-27 June 2010. For more information or to buy tickets visit clotheshowlondon.com.

TO REGISTER YOUR VOTE CLICK HERE!

New York based designer Moises de la Renta has designed a limited edition collection of T-shirts for MANGO. Designs include embellishing the shirt with jewels, precious stones and tulle and giving it a customised air, combining with creating graphic illusions by employing symbols combined with transparencies and patchwork effects. Aged 25, Moises de la Renta, the son of Oscar, is already an established designer and recently had the honour of seeing Michelle Obama wear a dress from his Autumn 2009 collection. With his debut collection of t-shirts for MANGO, Moises was inspired by traditional romantic themes: patchworks with summer flowers in sombre colours, such as rose, violet, grey and black, to graphic illusions which combine transparent effects, with shiny gems and adornments in between. This collection will debuts in stores in the next couple of weeks, with prices ranging from £25.00 - £45.00.

The winners of the tenth annual Weblog Awards were announced on Monday. The awards known as the ‘Bloggies’ are in 30 categories including Fashion, Music, Travel, Food and Entertainment among others. Shortlisted in the Fashion category were The Sartorialist, The Cut, Libertylondongirl and The Cheap Chica's Guide to Style but these all lost out to Cupcakes and Cashmere. Postsecret was named as best Topical blog with BritishBeautyBlogger, Zen Habits, Booklicious and Letters of Note in the shortlist. A full list of winners and nominees in the Bloggies 2010 can be found here.

Jane Cunningham, the beauty journalist behind BritishBeautyBlogger, will be presenting another CEW (UK) Mentoring Event on 10 March following the success of the first event last month, discussing topics including how to find the best beauty bloggers, what makes a good beauty blog and why it is essential for PRs and brands to be involved in this media.

DIARY asked Jane what her top tips were for PRs communicating with bloggers:

1. Read the blog before sending out a release.

2. Attach decent images or offer product for review.

3. Follow up communication: don’t disappear once the product has been reviewed.

4. Don’t send out products ‘en masse’ – the blogosphere gets flooded with reviews of the same product which isn’t what bloggers or blog readers like to see.

5. Don’t nag for a review.

6. Ensure your product is appropriate to the blog: an 18 year old can't do justice in a post to an anti-wrinkle cream.

Fashion label From Somewhere has joined forces with F&F at Tesco to create a diffusion line entitled ‘From Somewhere to F&F’. Taking inspiration from signature From Somewhere’ styles, the six piece collection will be made using obsolete jersey stock, damaged end of rolls and pre-consumer textile waste.  Celebrity fans of the From Somewhere label include, Lauren Laverne, Emilia Fox and Peaches Geldof. From Somewhere to F&F has been produced in a ‘green factory’ in Sri Lanka with the purpose of the collection being the reduction of unnecessary textile production by using pre-consumer waste. Launching exclusively online at www.tesco.com/clothing today (01/03/2010), From Somewhere to F&F has been designed to flatter female curves using panelling and contrasting bold colours. The range is available in sizes 8-18 with prices starting from £16.00.

CH Carolina Herrera has launched a new bag inspired by the Matryoshka, a set of Russian dolls created in 1890. The soft basswood, used for the dolls, is replaced by tattoo napa leather, while the number five for the number of identical dolls is maintained in the different sizes available to suit every occasion. From oversize to handbag size, the multicolored palette was inspired by the watercolors originally used to paint the Matryoshkas: from white to mauve with a spectrum of metallic tones in between, crowned by royal blue.

This Spring/Summer William & Son has launched a new range of heart shaped duffle bags, featuring a detachable pochette and pocket mirror, handmade out of ostrich leather, available in black, green, red, coral and orange priced at £2650.00. The heart shaped purses are priced at £225.00 and are available in black, red, orange and green.

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Project X Designs, which launched last year, has recently introduced a range of in-house designed, limited edition, customised Rolex Daytona’s in numbered batches of 24 watches per design. A ‘Pre-Blackened’ range of customised Rolex, Panerai and Audemars Piguet watches featuring the latest in Blacked-Out Carbon coating technology have now been introduced and are available for delivery. The new range is priced between £6950.00 and £12000.00. All watches may be viewed on the website or by personal appointment at the Project X Showroom in Mayfair, London W1. Project X Designs has also added an exclusive limited edition Rolex Submariner to its range available this month. Stockists include Watches of Switzerland in the UK and the luxury Italian lifestyle retailer ‘de Corato’ in New York, San Francisco and Palm Beach stores.

The Zepii V60 by the London Electric Scooter Company is aimed at urbanites after a safe, stylish, efficient, low cost and green way to commute to work. The Zepii V60 comes in nine colours: Graphite Grey, Electric Blue, Classic White, Purple Haze, Gold Star, Cherry Pink, Yellow Mellow, Sky Blue, and Cherry Red. The Zepii V60 electric scooter has a distance per charge of 40+ miles, a restricted top speed of 30mph and has a fuel cost of 1p a mile. Prices start at £1350.00. The Zepii V60 is available to buy online from www.zepii.com

High res images and press releases can be downloaded through MediaBox. (Journalists - your MediaBox username is your email, and there is a password reminder link on the login page if required. Contact sarah@diaryd.com if you have any trouble logging in!)

Maidenform has introduced DecadenceTM, a new collection of bras, briefs and co-ordinating shapewear containing its extreme high touch fabric. The collection includes a demi and a wire-free bra, both available in black, white, latte, and berry print, a boy-short, a brief and a thong in matching colours and for the first time, a co-ordinating three piece tailored Shapewear range including a full brief, boy short and hi cut brief. The collection has been designed and finished with delicate detailing and is available from selected House of Fraser stores and ASOS.com.

High res images and press releases can be downloaded through MediaBox. (Journalists - your MediaBox username is your email, and there is a password reminder link on the login page if required. Contact sarah@diaryd.com if you have any trouble logging in!).

Bespoke curtains, blinds and fabric expert Prêt à Vivre transfers the trend for floral prints in fashion to home designs by launching the new Hampton fabric for 2010. The floral effect can be achieved in the home through the personal service, design and fitting available from Prêt à Vivre. The designs can be introduced in window dressings and soft furnishing from bedheads, to cushions, tie-backs and blind pulls. A combination of accessories and heavier fabrics such as linens and cottons can be co-ordinated with bright florals. Prêt à Vivre showrooms: 20 All Saints Road, London, W11 and 160 Wandsworth Bridge Road, London, SW6. Tel: 08451-305161.

International model and on-off-girlfriend of Leonardo DiCaprio, Bar Refaeli is the new face of Passionata’s new Spring/Summer 2010 collection. New styles this season include the Oh La La in pink, orange and green which is available as a T-shirt or half cup bra teamed with panties or a string. Passio Cherie in black, talc and violet comes as a half cup, push or T-shirt bra. A basque with suspenders can be teamed with a Brazilian brief, shorty, string or French knickers. The Pretty Daily collection contains an everyday T-shirt bra with a soft microfibre lined cup decorated with tulle and encrusted lace. Choose from a Brazilian brief, string or shorty in shades of prune or white.

Velvet & Gold is a new service offering women ‘at home’ make-up tutorials with professional make-up artists from £30.00 per hour. The Velvet & Gold network of make-up artists currently operates in London, with plans to go nationwide later in the year. Each session consists of a review of current products, application methods followed by a one-to-one tutorial on a chosen make-up look. Velvet & Gold is headed by Chloe Butcher, known for her work with Girls aloud, who currently works with make-up houses including Esteé Lauder, Clarins, MAC, Eyelure Lashes, Bobby Brown and Clinique. Chloe is currently devising her own make-up range.

Kirsten Goss introduces the Rock and Rock Collection. These oversized necklaces are made with semi-precious stones on sterling silver. Kirsten has designed three acid bright colour-ways using Lapis, Chrysoprase, Sea Bamboo and Pyrite. Kirsten Goss designs and crafts in-house using specifically sourced semi-precious stones. Each piece is crafted by hand and inspired by seasonal collections. Kirsten Goss collections can be purchased from boutiques in London, Durban, South Africa, as well as pop-up shows in the US and Johannesburg and online.

High res images and press releases can be downloaded through MediaBox. (Journalists - your MediaBox username is your email, and there is a password reminder link on the login page if required. Contact sarah@diaryd.com if you have any trouble logging in!)

For Spring/Summer 2010 Camper offers flats, heels, sandals, ankle boots or moccasins moulded in quality leathers. The colour palette ranges from beige and brown tones to reds, electric blue and classic black. Colibrí (Hummingbird) is a new line of moccasins; Casi Janis is a sandal with thin strips dyed in blue and yellow to create a handcrafted look. Its padded leather-lined insole absorbs humidity and cushions impact; Slippers, an ankle boot in velvety leather, with no lining has a two-piece TPU island sole providing flexibility and resistance; Leia is a thin open-toed sandal in electric blue suede; Ariadna and Rachael, the two heel lines, are returning again this season.

Mai Ikuzawa, C.E.O of Bow Wow International, London and Tokyo based design and marketing consultancy, has been appointed art director for luxury accessories brand Corto Moltedo. The company takes its name from the son of Laura and Vittorio Moltedo, founders of Bottega Veneta. The appointment includes new season’s look books, global website and brochure campaigns. Bow Wow International’s diverse client base includes, film, music, fashion and art and is currently involved with Nick Ashley on a new fashion project and Beetle Capital Partners, a new natural capital asset management platform, aiming to generate superior returns from sustainable investment in a global economy with increasing constraints on natural resources.

Ports 1961 has now launched in to Harvey Nichols (with Paris to follow later this year). Fleure  is the name of the new Spring collection which is designed by Tia Cibani. The new range celebrates nature through Japanese-inspired floral prints, a pale and subtle colour palette, juxtaposition of textures, plays on proportion and sculptural silhouettes. Items on offer include jersey T-shirt dresses, asymmetric skirts, loose trousers and simple sheaths as well as cocktail dresses, elegant column gowns, organza duster coats and back-draped cocoon dresses. Ports 1961 is also worn by a number of celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock and Eva Longoria.

The CH Carolina Herrera lifestyle brand has opened its first ever London store. The new store situated at Mount Street, London W1, carries the brand’s collection for women, which ranges from casual sportswear to tailored suits and evening separates. The classic menswear range has a contemporary feel, which runs from tailored suits and dress shirts to knits. The fashion lines are further complemented by limited edition footwear for men and women and accessories including neckties, scarves and shawls. CH Carolina Herrera is also renowned for its handbags in leathers and printed canvas, both bold and subtle, and luxurious leather goods and speciality item, from CH Carolina Herrera logo suitcases to key-rings, toiletry kits to buck skin driving gloves. Home interior items, children’s clothing ranges and a number of limited edition gift ideas will complete the wide-ranging collections.

The second branch of Franco Manca pizzeria has opened in Chiswick, London W4. Owner Giuseppe Mascoli has joined forces with entrepreneur Sami Wasif. This partnership, together with the financial backing of Cesare Ponti (first cousin of Mascoli and owner of the Italian bank of the same name) is planning to expand the Franco Manca brand, both as a restaurant and as a food producer. The first phase of this programme will see the launch of seven more restaurants in London over the next three years. 

To celebrate the opening of the Maison Moschino hotel, Moschino has launched a new travel line 'Lost & Found'. The range features a trolley case, document case, laptop bag, shopper bag, cosmetics pouch and a mini messenger bag all in the ‘superstitious’ print. The collection will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Far East from June 2010 priced between €300.00 and €450.00.

Amanda Wakeley has launched a footwear range with designer Camilla Skovgaard. There are two styles, brown suede and zebra ponyskin, priced at £350.00. The new styles are available from the Amanda Wakeley boutique now, and also online at AmandaWakeley.com

Bastyan is a new womenswear label that takes its name from its founder and designer, Tonia Bastyan. Tonia made her name in the 1990s as one half of Press & Bastyan, and for the last few years has been working on the label which has a vintage aesthetic and has given her a loyal following. For this coming season Bastyan presents a muted colour palette where subtle greys and ‘Bastyn blue’ dominate. Tonia has used the idea of draping to contrast with the sharper tailoring, this includes a light grey, one-buttoned single-breasted blazer with black leather lapels and also mesh-backed sleeves on a classic looking black blazer. There is also a petrol blue cowl neck dress studded at the neck and hem and a crepe de chine low-neck dress with chain mail cuffs. These designs are coupled with an extensive collection of denim, tunic dresses, separates and new and bold modern classics. The collection for Spring/Summer 2010 will be available from 1 March at Brown Thomas and nationwide through House of Fraser, with prices ranging from £60.00 to £350.00.

The Archer Adams menswear shop and label has recently launched in Marylebone, London W1. Archer is a former music talent manager and creative director. Manufactured in the UK, the Chiltern Street shop carries Archer Adams designed menswear - unusual leather jackets, outerwear, tailoring and accessories. To coincide with London Fashion Week, Archer Adams has launched a Venetian wool chauffeur's cap collection in electric blue, lavender, bright orange and Sicilian lemon. In addition to the Archer Adams label, current brands exclusive to the London store include: Aero Leather Clothing: handmade leather jackets, Portland General Store: a USA-based range of mens skincare products and fragrances, Iron Heart: a handmade Japanese denim clothing brand and Drumhor: luxury cotton knit polo shirts from Italy.

H&M is launching its first ever range of skincare with certified organic ingredients. Debuting in stores at the beginning of March, the range of everyday essentials includes shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand cream and lip balm, all of which are based on natural and organic ingredients and are certified by Ecocert. The products, accompanied by make-up and toilet bags made from organic cotton, are available in the fragrance combinations of raspberry and melon or lavender and mint. The shower gel contains the juice of organic apples, while apricot seeds are key ingredients in the body scrub. The lip-balm has the key organic ingredients of jojoba and beeswax, and all of the products are scented with natural perfumes derived from essential oils, sold in recyclable packaging. All the products are priced between £3.90 and £4.90.

With the rise of mobile internet, brands are seeking to exploit new media to promote themsleves with tweets, blogs and apps. This zeitgeist has resulted in the greatest level of access to London Fashion Week yet, keeping fashion professionals and enthusiasts informed in real-time with all that happens on and off schedule. DIARY recommends BlackBerry users download the official London Fashion Week app courtesy of news provider Viigo. For iPhone users make sure you grab trendtracker from trendstop.com and the WGSN News app.

Oliver Bonas is set to open a new shop scheduled for March. Situated at 16/17 Kingsgate Parade, Victoria Street, London SW1, this will be it's 26th shop since the first store opened in South West London in 1993 and its largest - covering 3500 sqft. Oliver Bonas sells a unique collection of eclectic lifestyle products including clothing, jewellery, homeware, furniture, cosmetics, quirky gifts and books. The extra floorspace has allowed Oliver Bonas to dedicate a large space to the iconic furniture range from Kartell. In addition to Victoria a second store on 19 Northcote Road, London SW11 is set to open early March focusing on clothing, jewellery and accessories.

London Style* is to sponsor and launch the Hub@FTM based at the Fashion and Textile Museum (FTM). Hub@FTM is a new networking community for creative businesses, offering events that celebrate and support London’s cutting edge design talent. The Hub@FTM is a new concept in socialising and sharing information and knowledge for creative designers working in the jewellery, fashion, accessories, homeware and furniture arena. The creation of this new network is central to the London Style project which is providing funding to allow designers to join at no charge. This club will offer a lively and interactive format during an evening discussing the latest industry news, talking to people in similar businesses, exchanging ideas, discussing trade issues and opportunities and sharing experiences with like-minded individuals. Membership of the Hub@FTM includes quarterly events at the Fashion and Textile Museum, featuring a private view of the current FTM exhibition, wine and nibbles and the opportunity to connect with other designers and industry professionals. For free membership of the Hub@FTM and to book a place at the first event, you need to register now at info@ftmlondon.org or download an application form www.ftmlondon.org. Places are limited. The first event will take at The Fashion and Textile Museum on Wednesday 24th March. (See DIARY dates)    

Hair colourist Lisa Shepherd has opened a new salon in London, her fourth overall. Lisa has been resident hair expert on Channel 4’s makeover show 10 Years Younger for the last three series and has won many awards, including ‘colourist of the year’ three years running. The new salon is located in Mortimer Street, just off Oxford Street and has a 1000sqft interior to be fitted out with a yellow glass cube entrance, bright red pod furniture, an open colour ‘bar’ and a client area equipped with TV internet access, self service refreshments and DIY make-up area. The salon will be headed up by director Jason Cocking, who has worked with Lisa for 10 years.

Please send all press releases to holly@diaryd.com