High Paid Careers: Supermodels

Only an elite few women make it to the ranks of the supermodel. These women are mostly known by their first names, and can command many millions for an advertising campaign or for promoting a new perfume or fashion brand. Faces come and go out of fashion like the clothing brands they promote, but who is on the top of the catwalk league?

Gisele Bundchen

At the very top of the model pecking order is Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen, who earns an estimated $45 million per year. Her success is due not only to her catwalk and catalogue modelling assignments but also due to her endorsements of products as diverse as shampoos and flip flops. She is married to a well-known American football player and has a son, Benjamin. Although at 32 Gisele is coming to the end of her modelling career, her high profile and budding acting career should keep her in the public eye for some time to come.

Kate Moss

One of the most enduring supermodels is Kate Moss, the girl from Croydon who was famously discovered standing in a queue at an airport. Kate was at the peak of her fame through the 1990s when her elfin, almost emaciated look was highly fashionable. She still works as the face of Rimmel cosmetics and has designed her own line of hourglass dresses and other items for Top Shop, and her total earnings are estimated to be around $10 million per year.

Natalia Vodianova

Natalia is not a household name in the way that Kate or Gisele are, but she shot to fame at the age of just 15 when she enrolled in a modelling academy and was immediately snapped up by top agencies. She is one of the hardest working catwalk and fashion magazine models, and has worked with top designers such as Stella McCartney, Chanel, Calvin Klein and Versace. Her “look” is sporty and athletic rather than overtly skinny, and she looks equally good in clingy hourglass dresses as in jeans, and it is this versatility which leads to her earning upwards of $8.5 million annually.

Adriana Lima

Another Brazilian, Adriana Lima’s career began when she won a modelling competition sponsored by a large US modelling agency. She is best known as being the face of lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret, which is huge in America but has yet to make a large scale impact on the UK market. Adriana also promotes Maybelline cosmetics and has two children with her basketball playing husband.

Doutzen Kroes

Another Victoria’s Secret model is Doutzen Kroes, who was born and raised in the Netherlands. She also promotes L’Oreal products and fronts high profile advertising campaigns for brands such as Valentino and Gucci. Since having her first child she has taken a step back from the catwalk work and has recently done campaigns for jewellery brand Tiffany. Since moving to New York to further her modelling career she has also been taking acting lessons and hopes to start taking on movie roles as her modelling career declines.

If you’re looking for great catwalk-inspired clothing then look no further than online retailers like Peppermint UK.  From a dress for hourglass figure, to fashion-forward footwear, you can find all of the latest trends being stomped on the catwalk by highest paid supermodels such as those mentioned above.

Kate Middleton Pregnant. Now for Her Fashion Choices

It’s officially been confirmed that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is pregnant. The speculation surrounding her fashion choices lately and her constantly touching her stomach went into overdrive with the couple eventually spilling the happy beans. Now, not only will the world be waiting to meet the new little royal, but with Kate considered a fashion icon, her clothing choices she will be closely monitored, as she will soon be sporting a baby bump.

Dressing HRH

The news of the pregnancy came a little earlier than the royals would have liked because Kate was taken to hospital earlier this week due to acute morning sickness. Once she’s back to her royal duties it will be just a matter of time that fashion houses will be designing maternity outfits for Kate Middleton to comfortably showcase her pregnancy. All Kate’s outfits have been selected by her and she has made a point of never endorsing designers, rather preferring to wear classic and chic designs by the likes of Stella McCartney and several other high-end brands.

Kate Middleton and Prince William were recently at St Andrews where Kate was seen in one of her many stylish dresses, wearing heels, and playing hockey with the students. The lady does not protest too much to doing any form of sport, pregnant or not. Clearly not wanting everyone to know their fantastic news just yet, the couple happily went about their royal duties and nothing was out of the ordinary, apart from the twinkle in Kate Middleton’s eye. Even then she couldn’t stop herself from wearing a dress that gave nothing away across her midsection.

Her recent fashion choices appear to have been anything chic that would not tell the story of an impending birth. Recently the Duchess was seen looking effortlessly chic in a Matthew Williamson dress, which had a flap across the front that gave nothing away. Kate Middleton knows her dresses, designers and how to keep the public guessing.

The royal pregnancy has the public waiting with baited breath and it’s been said that the royals are extremely delighted that William and Kate will be parents. Considering William’s protective nature surrounding Kate Middleton’s introduction to the life of a royal, it’s easy to believe their little one will have all the necessary love, nurturing and protection possible. If it’s a girl, there’s no doubt that the little Kate Middleton’s will be among the best dressed and most popular celebrity babies ever.

Vida Denning is a freelance writer who is a huge Kate Middleton fan. Her choices of formal jackets for William and herself as well as her dresses are turning her into an icon. All fashion fans are waiting to see her stylish maternity choices in the near future.

Lance Armstrong to Lose all Titles. Is it Fair?

Today USADA (US Anti Doping Agency) has won a fight against Lance Armstrong, worlds most famous cyclist, to strip him of all titles and ban him for life from ever competing again. These news are rather shocking, given that ban span over a decade back, making Lance worlds most penalized athlete.

Up until today most of people know Lance Armstrong as the only athlete to ever win 7 Tour de France competitions. America’s best also scored a bronze and silver Olympic medals. He is also known for his charity Livestrong, largest private contributor to testicular cancer research. Since the foundation was formed in 1997 it raised over $500 million. Oakley Livestrong collection of sunglasses was among the main tools of that.

Today we learn more about the Lance Armstrong doping scandal that apparently was in investigations for years, somehow staying under the press radar, mainly due other great deeds of this great athlete and a public figure. It all came to an end after numerous appeals have been lost. Today Lance has dropped a fight citing according to Yahoo News:

“There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ For me, that time is now,” Armstrong said. He called the USADA investigation an ”unconstitutional witch hunt.”

But USADA found its reasons. Organization that was formed in 2000 to uncover “cheaters” of sport, was on Lance’s tail since the beginning. It all started in 1999 when after winning Tour de Frace Lance’s urine contained a very small, acceptable amount of anti-inflammatory drug. USADA put Lance on a hot list of potential offenders. Next serious allegation came in 2004 when he was denied $5 million bonus by a sponsor for winning Tour de France that year because of media speculations that he “might have” used banned substance. There was no proof, but clearly $5 million was worth a fight for a sponsor. Rumors took over with some testimonies from former teammate and his ex wife that he allegedly confessed to cancer treatment doctors that he used steroids in the past. The fact that these were just rumors from people having obvious motive to undermine his reputation, was not taken into account.

Oakley LIVESTRONG RADAR PATH

Last Tour de France performance was in 2009 when he came third. All of this after fighting a deadly cancer.

Can a man of the Lance Armstrong profile be really taking banned drugs for years, continuously passing all kind of doping tests? How can one year where he clearly passed the test be put as a proof for all next years when tests came out clean? And what power does USADA over Tour de France, a private competition run over Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). By the way ASO has yet to come out with a statement regarding this.

Lance is trying to finish this with class saying ”I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999,” he said. ”The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense.”

”Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances,” he said. ”I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in underserved communities.”

We surely hope that this will not affect the reputation of Livestrong collection of Oakley sunglasses. Maybe Livestrong Oakleys will soon become a collectible?

Oscar 2012 Glasses Get Your Own

Further to our article about spotted eyewear trends at 2012 Oscars we would like to offer a few suggestions in case you want to get same look. In the end of the day rich and famous got some serious image makers work with them to create  undeniably cool and modern look.  Trends are narrowed down to men glasses since no woman was wearing glasses to Oscars. If she would, she would be most discussed in photo-blogs and press.  May be one day we will see Angelina Jolie or Salma Hayek wearing cool glasses with their dresses. For now, men lead the group.

So, in our last post we discovered that there were two 2012 glasses trends: Round Retro and Plastic Geek. These trends have been slowly picking up in the past 5 years, but looks like this year they dominate the market by large.

If you want some round retro, check these out:

GUCCI 3518	GUCCI 3148	Tom Ford TF5150

If you are after plastic geek, go for one of these:

GUCCI 3205	GUCCI 1005	GUCCI 3517
Tom Ford TF5147	Tom Ford TF5163	Tom Ford TF5164

Fall Eyewear Styles

Here are ten reasons why fall is an amazing season for sunglasses:

1. Sun is not as bright in the fall as it is in the summer. Lenses of lower intensity will be more comfortable. You can finally try gradient fills and softer lens colors.
2. Fall/Winter 2011 sunglasses collections for most brand names are released. They are paired with Spring/Summer 2012 clothing collections that were released as well.
3. Fall sunglasses are perceived more as a fashion accessory as oppose to must have functionals due to less intensive sun in the fall. You can experiment more with shapes and designs of glasses to dress up your overall fall look.
4. Fall is back to work, back to school, back to intensive driving and travelling for many people. A new pair of glasses or prescription sunglasses is absolutely must-have for many
5. Have you lost your fav pair of sunglasses somewhere on the beach this year? No worries, fall is a great time to get a new pair.
6. Many movies have been released over the summer. Sunglasses that were pre-released through films are finally out, just like Cameron Diaz Prada PS 01LS from “Bad Teacher”.
7. Summer is over, Winter is approaching – a vacation season for many. New swims, new beaches, new sunglasses
8. Fall’s winds may be heavy, but a good pair of sunglasses will protect your skin, eyes and makeup even in the most severe twists.
9. Fall is time to start thinking about ski season, that in some regions start as early as October. New pair of designer ski shades like this Gucci 1653 is waiting for you.
10. You’ve been working a summer job so hard earning extra money. Now is time to spend it. Nothing beats designer sunglasses by price/satisfaction ratio

Check new frames by typing Fall/Winter 2011 in Search to see all new models for Dior Fall Winter 2011, Gucci Fall Winter 2011, Boss Fall Winter 2011, Tiffany Fall Winter 2011, Bulgari Fall Winter 2011 and others.

Why High Collar Shirts are So Hard to Find

Ever since Karl Lagerfeld reinvented himself and lost 90 pounds 10 years ago he started to wear high fashion clothing and with years progressing his style turned into a focal point of media and press. In fact Karl Lagerfeld is the most photographed designer in the world and the most known. He explained his weight loss “I suddenly wanted to dress differently, to wear clothes designed by Hedi Slimane”. Hedi Slimane is a French fashion designer who is currently working on releasing his own label. Among his notable employers are Dior (Dior Homme collection), Prada and Gucci. Perhaps Slimane was the one to come up with a high collar shirt design that Karl has been wearing over and over again.

But if you try to purchase a shirt like that you will run into trouble. Shockingly none of the big man labels are carrying them. Not even Harry Rosen, not even Chanel itself. Why? What is so hard about it?

Well, partially is that a true high collar, one that goes all the way to the chin, must be custom made. Historically all men shirts were custom made. Collars were detachable. Karl’s shirts are made that way too. There was an episode in the beginning of Private Confidential biographic documentary where it is shown that Karl has a massive drawer with probably couple of hundreds of such collars. When inquired from Chanel store manager in Toronto it was confirmed that shirts are indeed custom made for Karl. Just look at the variety? Collars and cuffs are often of a different color to create contrast. Sometimes they are of the same fabric as the shirt on the outside and have inner lining on the inside. Until Hedi Slimane or another men designer will start including these shirts into ready-to-wear collections all we got is to enjoy pictures of fashionable Karl.

Karl Lagerfeld – Master of Sketches

Designers are artists. Most of them are classically trained and all of them possess high skills for drawing. Every outfit design starts with a sketch. Every productive designer produces thousands of sketches per season and as you can imagine only a fraction of them turn into life on a runway or ready to wear stores. I find watching the sketches just as fascinating as watching their collections. We are happy to announce a “Sketches” series where we will show famous designers ‘sketches and analyze them.

To start off, we are pleased to present Karl Lagerfeld. There is a particular interest to his sketches because of his background. In one of his interviews he confessed that he went to school to become a cartoon artist. He also said that sketching for him is like writing text for other people. His loyal team that has been working for him for over 20 years can look at the drawing and know what exactly he wanted an outfit to look like – shapes, fabric type, colors and details. Everything that could be described in pages of text is on one simple drawing. Karl says that he does not understand why other people need text. Well Karl, perhaps other people don’t have drawing skills… Interesting fact about him is that likes to wear Dior Homme glasses.

By looking at Karl sketches we can actually read cartoony style. Karl is one of the few designers who always adds background and a border to his sketches – an extra step that makes them really look like drawings. Ok, enough is said, enjoy the gallery. If you have more photos of his sketches, please let us know; we would love to add links here.

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For Coco Chanel Book

Models That Jumped

Ruslana Korshunova, 20

Ruslana Korshunova

This week new details of Ruslana Korshunova death have surfaced up. A Russian model, who jumped out of the window 2 years ago in New York, is now believed to have been allured to end her life by a secret Russian sect “Rose of the World.” While police has closed the case shortly after she died, her family and friends never believed that she could commit suicide. She was in good spirits for weeks before the incident, she left no suicide note and her body was found further from the building than expected. According to friends she was frightened by an elite prostitution agency that followed her and she threatened to call police. Speculation is now renewed since her manager has found a recording of her attending psychological sessions at the “Rose of the World” sect. The sect has been closed in the United States due to criminal investigation started after several students reported to police their wrongdoings. Korshunova was a face of Nina Ricci, Dior, featured in Vogue magazine and appeared in many runway shows.

Anastasia Drozdova

Her friend, Ukrainian model Anastasia Drozdova has also jumped out of the building a year after Korshunova in 2009 in

Anastasia Drozdova

Kiev. She has also attended “Rose of the World” along with Korshunova. Girls believed that the organization can help them with daily troubles and enlighten them to find meaning in life and advance careers.  Anastasia’s mother has found notes in her room with sporadically written notes suggesting she is not physiologically stable. She lost weight and was behaving weirdly after attending the sect according to her mother.

Lina Marulanda

Lina Marulanda, a famous Colombian model, was found dead on April 22, at the age of 29. She commited suicide by jumping out the window of her apartment. Friends reported that Lina was depressed because of a recent separation from her second husband. Lina Marulanda had

been a successful model and a TV host. According to her closest friend, Lina Marulanda had been seeking professional psychological support as she was going through an emotional crisis.

Cibele Dorsa

Lina Marulanda, 29

Cibele Dorsa was a Brazilian model. 36 year old Cibele has jumped out of her Sao Paulo apartment. Few years before the accident Cibele was involved in a tragic car accident that killed her friend and left Cibele in a hospital with heavy injuries. After recovery she got engaged with E! Brazil TV presenter Gilberto Scarpa who jumped out of same window two months earlier. Cibele couldn’t find terms with the tragedy and her overall unhappy life. She left behind her daughter and a suicide note.

Tom Nicon

Tom Nicon, a male French Fashion model has jumped out of his Milan apartment in June of last year. He was 22, led very active modeling life and on the day of his death was to appear at the Versace runway showing. According to friends’ reports Tom was fighting depression after splitting with his girlfriend. Days before the accident he left threatening messages for former girlfriend suggesting the intent to end his life. Tom was on the peak of his career modeling for big labels such as Burberry, John Varvatos, Versace, Hugo Boss and others.

Sahar Daftary

Sahar Daftary, 23, a crowed Face of Asia was a famous Muslim model. She jumped of her Manchester apartment. Just like Korshunova, Sahar did not leave a suicide note that prompted her family and friends doubt that she ended her live

Tom Nicon, 22

voluntarily. The prime suspect, her former lover was first arrested, but then cleared of all charges. Boyfriend was in the apartment at the time of accident and called police asking for help. Sahar led an active life, attended university and was from a wealthy family.

Lashawna Threatt

Lashawna, 30, an American print ad model died just on May 29, 2011. She died by accidentally jumping out of the window while playing a wrestling with her best friend in a W Atlanta-Midtown hotel room. Both girls tripped near the window and plunged down in an eyewitness of a number of their friends. Lashawna was celebrating her birthday. She is survived by a teenage daughter.

John Galliano is Yet to Apologize and Other Loud Scandals

It has been over a month since John Galliano anti-Semitism and anti-Asian scandal broke out. Perhaps this was the loudest scandal in the fashion world in the last 25 years and given the breadth of news coverage this story tops as the loudest ever. Since February 25^th when first news came out many things happened for John. He was fired by Dior practically on the spot after his arrest for the drunk-and-offend behavior. His collection presentation at Paris Fashion Week was cancelled. New evidence in form of video (posted here) from another similar incident was uncovered and again blew out the press. John Galliano has checked into a rehab to get treatment for alcoholism and anger management. But what everyone was waiting for has not happened yet – an apology! John has very vaguely admitted his alcohol issues through the lawyer. Just before the video was made public, he denied that incident has even taken place. He never gave an official interview explaining himself or issuing an official statement of apology. Is now too late?

While wondering how far this can go we dug several similar incidents where our beloved celebrities have saved their shaky reputation by apologizing on time.

Mel Gibson

On July 28, 2006 Mel Gibson was arrested for speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. During the arrest he has made anti-Semitic remarks that included a file language and blaming Jews for “all the wars in the world”. Gibson was released on bail the following morning at 9 am and very same day, on July 29, 2006 issued a sincere lengthy apology admitting his wrongdoings, unacceptable behaviour and acknowledging that what he said was wrong. He said “… I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said and I apologize to anyone who I have offended …”. A few days later, on August 1, 2006 Gibson apologized again specifically for anti-Semitic remarks and offered to meet with leaders of the Jewish community to affect healing.

Since the unrest Mel Gibson has given many interviews discussing his health and anger issues. While his life was never the same and his career was recovering very slowly, people today seem to have forgiven him and no longer bring the anti-Semitic issue to the table when discussing his other, very turbulent personal or career affairs. His new movie The Beaver with Jodie Foster is scheduled to be released to theatres on May 20, 2011.

Prince Harry

On January 13, 2005 The Sun, a popular British Newspaper has published a photo of Prince Harry wearing swastika to his friends’ costume party. This was a beginning of the loudest anti-Semitic scandal of the modern Royal Family. Just two days later, Price Harry issued an official apology “I am very sorry if I caused any offence or embarrassment to anyone. It was a poor choice of costume and I apologise.” Despite, there have been threats to deny the Price enrolment to the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as well as world-wide criticism of Harry’s behaviour and even overall association of the Royal Family to Nazis. New historical facts were publicized including Duke of Windsor visit to Germany as personal guest of Hitler in 1937. The Queen herself had to step in and apologize on the Families behalf. Harry was still accepted to Sandhurst and successfully graduated since. However, just in 2009 a new scandal broke out when a voice recording from 2006 military training was unveiled. On the recording Price Harry issues very offensive anti-Arab statements in the address of his Pakistani Army colleague. Apology was issued immediately. Today Price Harry is very active charity campaigner splitting the time between army duties and humanitarian activities. After the announcement that he is set to be a best men at his brother’s wedding, Harry’s reputation is on the steep recovery.

Miley Cyrus

In February of 2009, a group picture of Miley Cyrus and friends posing slanting their eyes went viral. Despite that she was not the only one doing the grimace and even there actually was one Asian in the centre of the group, Miley Cyrus undergone a massive media criticism for the photo. Organization of Chinese Americans found the photo officially offensive and one lady sued Miley for $4 billion dollars. Just two days after the photo was released Miley apologized in her own teen way “I’ve also been told there are some people upset about some pictures taken of me with friends making goofy faces! Well, I’m sorry if those people looked at those pics and took them wrong and out of context! In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity!” Her life went on since and reputation recovered through her active charity campaigning for cancer, a new music album “Can’t Be Tamed” and movie appearance.

A Few More
There have been more racial scandals in the past 25 years, among them Michal Richards making most obnoxious racial statements to date, made in his November 17, 2006 live comedy performance. Apology issued at David Letterman show. Sharon Stone has been involved in anti-Asian scandal when she, despite her presumably Mensa-level IQ score, offended Chinese people days after worst earthquake of decade, in 2008. She offered her explanation to the reason of the earthquake by saying that it is bad Karma because “they” (Chinese) are not nice to her friend Dalai Lama (Tibetan). She has not apologized and her Dior ads were torn down from Chinese malls immediately and movies banned from Chinese cinemas.

Given these few stories we wonder when John Galliano will step out and issue his sincere and official apologies. Now it’s been almost 2 months and even though his collection of Galliano prescription glasses released in Spring of 2011, perhaps by legacy agreements, his other creative business halted.

John Galliano Offensive Video Released to Public

Since last Friday fashion press has been discussing rumors about John Galliano allegedly offending Asian-Jewish couple for which he was fired the next day. We covered the initial news, House of Dior reaction which was essentially Galliano’s suspension from the job, and Galliano’s reaction to everything in prior articles.

As of today more information surfaced up, particularly a video, now available on YouTube where John Galliano says that he loves Hitler and that lady talking to him is ugly. On this video, John appears very drunk and not aggressive and in fact, quite playful.  But what he is saying is very clear. What is surprising is that he speaks English and is dressed apparently differently than on last week’s eventful night. This makes it obvious, that the video is from a different night. Has John been saying such things repeatedly?

It is also unclear whether the beginning and end of this video was cut. It is quite possible that John was responding to something when he said that he loves Hitler.

As we suspected Natalie Portman, Jewish, did not wear Dior gown to Oscar night on Sunday. She issued a statement earlier: “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today.”

Out of many stars expected to wear Dior, only Nicole Kidman was the one wearing a gown from 2009 collection.

Stay tuned for more news. Again, check John Galliano sunglasses and Dior Glasses and Dior Sunglasses collections to see what controversial talent has put together last year.