Fur Fury

Since the beginning of fashion times, stylish women the world over have debated stances on a deep philosophical issue.

To fur or not to fur, that is the question.

Lohan furs.

And during the week, a French woman with a pound of flour attempted to teach Miss Lindsay a lesson.



Strong anti-fur campaigners, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) applauded Lohan's fur foe.

Robbie LeBlanc from PETA's Europe branch said "There is nothing remotely 'fashionable' about the torture and death of animals killed for fur. Lindsay Lohan might be able to ignore images of bloody animals skinned alive for their pelts, but we hope a dash of flour will help her rise to the occasion and forsake fur once and for all."

PETA suggest that "fur is a bigger fashion faux pas than fanny packs" and that Kylie Minogue is a cold-blooded snake murderer for opting to carry a gold python skin handbag.

Although the Australian climate rarely requires the warmth of a fur coat, our country has not been immune to PETA criticism.

Last year PETA urged consumers to avoid the local wool industry due to the treatment of sheep on Australian farms.

An Australian spokeswoman for Animal Liberation (AL), agreed that Australia was not as big a fur offender as Europe.

"Both male and female apparel - it's everywhere," she said.

She argues that "to wear fur is morally bankrupt, and anyone who wears fur is demeaned by it. What's fashionable about anally electrocuted animals?"

Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld is a pro-fur designer and is often hunted down by anti-fur activists.

A few years ago at the American Fashion Awards in New York, protesters missed their mark, splattering Calvin Klein with tofu pie instead of their intended target, Lagerfeld.

Apparently, "tofu pies are the missile du jour of anti-fur activists".

At least Lindsay was able to shake the flour out of her hair.

I can't imagine tofu pie being a neat accessory for a party outfit.

Under the Influence

Tween stars turned mini fashion moguls Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, have released a new book to further their grown-up style pursuits.

"Influence" features photographs, quotes and advice from some of the world's leading fashion and film personalities.

Influential icons in the book include Chanel's Karl Lagerfield, shoe God Christian Louboutin, wrap-dress creator Diane von Furstenberg, and Missoni heir Margherita Missoni.

According to a press release from the stars, the coffee table book also includes "exclusive photographs of Ashley and Mary-Kate from world renowned photographer Rankin, and a wide variety of other never-before-seen materials and interviews from Mary-Kate and Ashley’s personal collections".

Slightly taller twin Ashley said that her and her sister aimed to fill Influence "with the most interesting, challenging, creative people we know - the ones who helped pave the way for us and our generation”.

Slightly scandalous twin Mary-Kate agreed suggesting that the book is something unique and that her and Ashley had "interviewed the people who have inspired us, with the hope that they will inspire and teach others”.

Although Mary-Kate and Ashley devoured the tween market with ease, their quest for fully-grown fashion domination has been slower, possibly due just to their youth and reputation as child-stars.

They are however, starting to make their mark.

Never missing an opportunity, the girls are often snapped with huge fashion names, such as their good friend Mr Lagerfield.

Stephanie Solomon, the fashion director at Bloomingdale's in the US, suggests that a new clothing line created by the twins "would sell even if they were unknown".

She says that the quality and innovation in the designs has meant that the "they are influencing fashion in a big way at the moment; they introduced kind of this masculine-feminine kind of way of dressing".

Whatever their critics say, it can most definitely be agreed that they have come a very long way since the days of Full House.

Sssh. It's a Secret.

The always anticipated Victoria's Secret runway show did not disappoint when it hit the runway in a Miami Beach hotel last night.

Mother of three Heidi Klum closed the show dressed to resemble a glittering Christmas bow with a red bra and giant pink wings.

Blowing kisses to the crowd, Klum flaunted a six-pack even her musician husband Seal would envy.

According to Victoria's Secret CEO Sharen Turney, the company is all about the "new sexy" and the theme of the show reflected this with "a return to glamour".

R&B singer Usher performed as part of the show's opening amidst 35 supermodels showing 68 outfits.

Costume designer Todd Thomas said the show was "a new take on holiday celebrations" and
"a celebration of sophistication and elegance".

Along with Klum, other notable women on the runway included Karolina Kurkova, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Doutzen Kroes.


Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr also strutted her stuff down the runway, which was decorated with palm trees.

Kerr is the first ever Australian model to be recruited as a Victoria's Angel.

Kerr wore a pair of multicoloured butterfly wings with an ice blue bra and panties set.

The wings worn by models throughout the show were created by Martin Izquierdo.

He was reportedly influenced by Greek mythology, butterflies and other aspects of nature.

Kerr loved Izquierdo's work suggesting that it added "a whole theatrical aspect" to the show.

Ed Razek, the show's executive producer and chief marketing officer said there is constant pressure for the show to constantly improve.

"It's the most watched fashion show in the world," Razek said. "You've got an obligation to do a better show every year."

Victoria's Secret was founded in San Francisco, California in 1977.

The company was intially designed to appeal to males wanting to buy their wives new lingerie.

When the show airs in the United States in early December, it is likely the interests of many men will be piqued.

Bond-age

The stars were out in force last night for the Sydney premiere of the latest James Bond film "The Quantum of Solace".

Current Bond Daniel Craig was joined by the film's "Bond girl" and former model Olga Kurylenko to flaunt the signature suave and sexy style of 007 on the red carpet.

Ukraine-born Olga Kurylenko, who plays "Camille" in the 22nd Bond film, wore this armadillo-inspired Colette Dinnigan number at the screening.

And in hardly ground-breaking fashion, 007 Craig wore a suit.

For almost 50 years, the traditional black dinner suit has been the uniform of the Bond.

From Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan, every Bond has donned a jacket and tie to fight the world's worst, and win the world's women.













Keeping Bond un-stirred, the classic dinner suit has become as much a part of the Bond film franchise as his Martini order, the guns, the gadgets and the scantily-clad ladies.

Men across the world are beginning to re-discover the power of the suit for everyday life.

Fashion website, The Sartorialist, often publishes photographs of international gents modernising the suit.

The necklaces may be more than Australian men, or James Bond for that matter, are prepared to use as accessories, but the idea of wearing suits for everday is one that men should pursue.

And in this era of global economic uncertainty, suit sales are predicted to rise.

During the financial turmoil of 2001, unlike the sales of luxury cars, quality suits were flying out the doors of American department stores.

An investment banker interviewed at the time suggested that "If you wear a suit, it looks as though you're visiting a client, and if you are not seen to be visiting enough clients, you get the sack."

So to keep your fashion funds flowing, follow Bond's lead and step into a suit.

Necklaces optional.

Here a Mo, There a Mo, Everywhere a Mo-Mo

Australian males are the best at getting themselves into hairy situations.

Leading the international race, more than 114,000 Aussie men have registered to officially take part in "Movember".

During the month of November, men across the globe are encouraged to grow a moustache, taking sponsorship pledges from family and friends and donating the money to The Movember Foundation.

The foundation was established in 2004 to help raise funds for and increase awareness of men's health issues.

Sitting on just below 15,000 hairy top-lips, Australia's closest mo-growing rival is the United Kingdom.

The United States, New Zealand, Spain, Ireland and Canada are also taking part this year.

All funds raised are donated to other charitable organisations, with a focus on prostate cancer and depression in men.

Australian participants have already raised over $4.5 million for local charities beyondblue: the national depression intiative and The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia


Although a popular fashion statement in the 1980s (see David Boon), the merits of modern moustache growing outside of the 11th month are somewhat debatable.

Some men can not only pull off the moustache, they are decidely more attractive with a top lip in full bloom.

Others however, should leave the facial hair to the attractive-from-any-angle Mr Depp.

Please take note Seth Green...



So if you see a moustached young man this month, throw him a $20 note.

You'll either be supporting men's health issues or providing incentive for the unkempt character to visit a salon.

It's a win-win situation really.

Bruni Buttons Up

Michelle Obama created a stir with her debut on to the fashion world stage.

The wife of French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni, however, has seamlessly made the transition from world fashion model to French first lady.















Also known as Mick Jagger's ex-lover, Bruni was "one of the most highly paid models of the 1990s, with campaigns for Dior and Chanel and some 250 magazine covers to her credit".

A Google Image search for Carla Bruni provides over 1.2 million photographs, the majority of which leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.

During the early half of this decade, Bruni followed in the footsteps of her parents and became a musician winning critical acclaim in France.

Referred to by Vanity Fair magazine as an "unexpected asset" to the French President, it has been surprising that Bruni has not caused Sarkozy more trouble, let alone assisted his political efforts.


According to the BBC though, Sarkozy "casts himself as a moderniser, championing a clean break with the country's traditional ruling elite".

It is possibly this push towards modernity that has allowed his relationship with Bruni to have minimal negative impact on his Presidential career.

Following in the footsteps of Australian-turned-Dane, Princess Mary, Bruni has filled her wardrobe with streamlined neutrals that let her past-life indiscretions fall by the wayside.

Before his marriage to Bruni, Sarkozy was criticised for being too "flashy" with his style and became known as “le Président Bling-Bling”.

Bruni was reportedly the one that brought Sarkozy to his senses and had him trade in his big gold Rolex for something more subtle.

Even though you may be able to afford it, buying overtly expensive fashion is never the easiest way to win over the general population. (As Sarah Palin learnt the hard way...)

Just as Princess Diana and Jackie Onassis before her, and Michelle Obama after, Bruni seems to be the super stylish woman holding together her political hero husband.

Fashions from the Land of the Panda

This year, Beijing Fashion Week brought in its 11th birthday with a focus on up-and-coming student designers.

Usually drawing significantly less press than western world Fashion Weeks, Beijing has had the opportunity to show off this year after its successful hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games.

More than 40 labels were expected to debut their new collections for the S/S 08-09 season.

Big ticket collections to launch during the 5th to the 12th of Novemeber included Cabbeen, NE·TIGER, 1436, ERDOS, GIOIAPAN, MarymaSeries, LeaSeong, Omnialuo, TANGYcollection, BeautyBerry and BRJ.

Asian fashion is often considered eclectic mostly due to the influence of the Fruits publications that feature the creative colourful ensembles of Japanese youth.

Having lived in the Chinese capital, I found that Beijing fashion was much more subdued.

There is a strong focus on layers and over-sized garments, with colours taking a back seat.

Although this student designed outfit would probably not be seen walking down the street on a local, it does encapsulate Beijing style.

As the country accumulates more wealth and opens up to foreign interests, the fashion industry in Beijing will see positive improvements.

In the style stakes, Beijing has long played little sister to fashion-savvy Shanghai.

Shanghai, described as "China's fashion center", had a Fashion Week that attracted Chinese and international designers.

Two young British designers, Louise Amstrup and Aminaka Wilmont have been selected to show at what the Week's Director John Walford describes as "a major international event (that) provides designers with a unique opportunity to break into this hugely important market".

They follow in the footsteps of Preen, a British design duo who made it big on the world scene after they broke the Asian market.

In one of the world's most populous nations, it is no wonder the fashion world is realising the importance of capturing the minds and wallets of a country ready to dip its toe into the sea of capitalist commercialism.