Paris Spring 2009: Hermès

I am in love with the cactus desert sands of the Hermès runway! Designer Jean Paul Gaultier took the Hermès collection for Spring 2009 straight to the wild wild West and it was a pleasure to watch. The runway show was opened by none other than supermodels Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell. The equestrian heritage brand, Hermès which is well identified by the sophisticated world traveler is safe in the creative hands of the talented designer Gaultier. The classic house scarf was creatively twisted into a bandanna and ponchos were made elegant by square-cut cashmere knits and day dresses. The much desired accessories of the brand were stunning including the soft suede riding boots, the riding gloves, the exotic crocodile clutches, the canvas and leather suitcases and the fringed Birkin bags.

* Hermès Paris Spring 2009

Naomi Campbell’s Fashion For Relief Show

Many celebrities walked the runway for Fashion For Relief, a fashion show organized by supermodel Naomi Campbell to raise money for the charity The White Ribbon Alliance fund to promote safe childbirth. The clothes from the runway were later auctioned. The celebrities walking on the runway included designer Vivienne Westwood, model Chanel Iman, hot Tyson Beckford, Elizabeth Jagger, girl group the Sugababes and Miss Naomi Campbell of course.

Vivienne Westwood walked with a big smile down the runway wearing her own design. Naomi Campbell showed her supermodel walk down the runway a couple of times. She opened the show wearing a stunning Zac Posen green dress which raised $50,000 in the auction and then changed into an Yves Saint Laurent black outfit. Naomi also paired with young model Chanel Iman as they both wore the same Azzedine Allaia design dress; Naomi’s in black and Chanel’s in white.

The Fashion For Relief Show was presented during London Fashion Week for Spring 2009 at the National History Museum on September 17, 2008 in London, England. You can watch a short clip from the Fashion Show, although the quality is not very good. For more detailed pictures look below.

Fashion For Relief

Naomi Campbell to Settle Down in Brazil?

Naomi Campbell just signed up to launch a clothing line through 284 which is a new label from the Sao Paolo-based posh retailer Daslu. Campbell describes her collection as one for “strong women” and is hoping that “everybody will like it.” But is she going to settle down in Brazil? Apparently, her Russian billionaire boyfriend Vladimir Doronin has bought the supermodel an $18.5 million penthouse apartment in Sao Paolo. It is said that Vladimir bought Naomi the apartment after she told him that she wanted to settle down in Brazil as it is “her favourite country.” Wow, he must be really smitten!

Uniqueness of Jewellery: M.C.L. Design by Matthew Campbell Laurenza

Matthew Campbell Laurenza is an up-and-coming jewellery designer, with his designs already spotted on stars such as Rihanna. The 31-year-old, Chicago born man is greatly inspired by his Native American and Italiano lineage and gets influenced by “moods which people and places seem to project onto me” as he loves to travel around the world. He uses natural, high-quality stones to create eccentric bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings. Matthew designs each jewellery piece uniquely, and so you can be sure that no one else will have your special jewellery!

He uses a blend of rich, bright colors and you will surely fall in love with them! His signature style is combining sterling silver with red, white or turquoise enamel, and decorating the pieces with colored sapphires, rubies and other semi-precious stones. And for all the men out there, Matthew will be launching his first men’s collection which will include cuff links, bracelets, rings and necklaces. You can purchase the stunning Laurenza designs at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and other select retailers around the world, as well as you can visit his website at www.MCLdesign.net. His exquisite bracelets can range from $1,570 to $2,255, while most of his rings start at $270.