Strictly Come Julien?

• 03 September 2013
• Ella Alexander

A SPOKESPERSON for Julien Macdonald has declined to comment on reports this morning that he is taking part in the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. The British designer is said to be in talks with the BBC over competing as a contestant in the reality television show, which sees glitteringly dressed stars battle it out to become the show's best dancer. The winner receives a cash prize of £100,000, although all competitors are given £25,000 just for taking part.
It wouldn't be the first time that the designer has appeared on the programme, having previously appeared on It Takes Two - Strictly's sister series - in which he offered his view on contestants outfits. It's an area that's long been an interest for Macdonald - he wanted to become a dancer prior to deciding on a career in fashion. And can you imagine how well his glamorous, sequined creations would work as costumes? This is one rumour we have high hopes for.

The Three Musketeers

Return To Fashion East

• 02 September 2013
• Ella Alexander

ASHLEY WILLIAMS, Claire Barrow and Ryan Lo will show on Fashion East's spring/summer 2014 catwalk in September. This marks the second time that the trio have been chosen for the line up.
"We chose to give these three designers another season as we felt strongly they have huge potential and we wanted to really show our support for them and belief in them," said Fashion East founder Lulu Kennedy. "Their very different aesthetics and collections make for a great group show, plus, as people they are just the cutest trio imaginable!"
The designers were selected by a panel of industry experts, including Vogue fashion editor Francesca Burns. Established in 2000, the Topshop-sponsored initiative aims to provide emerging fashion names with a platform from which to show the international press their collections.
"I am very happy to see these three return to Fashion East this season," says Burns. "Each designer has so much to offer and it is very exciting to watch them develop season by season under the Fashion East umbrella. This is such an important part of London Fashion Week with an incredible legacy and I can't wait to see what's next for these guys!"

Previous Fashion East stars include House of Holland, Roksanda Ilincic, Gareth Pugh and Meadham Kirchhoff.

Thieving Burberry Accountant

Thieving Burberry Accountant Faces Penalty

• 03 September 2013
• Ella Alexander

A FORMER Burberry and Hackett accountant has been ordered to repay £113,658.17 that he stole from the brands while still working for both companies. In February 2012, the employee, Victor Navarro, was found guilty of fraud and imprisoned for 21 months.
Navarro used the money he embezzled from both brands to buy sports cars. He stole £82,200 from Burberry between 2007 and 2010, when he worked for the label as an accounts clerk. He also used cash that the fashion house owed to a supplier to buy a BMW X5, maintaining that the brand was "funding a company car for him", reports The Telegraph.
He resigned from Burberry, before moving to Hackett where he stole more money. The repayments must be paid within six months or else he will face a two-year jail sentence. Compensation will be given to both Burberry and Hackett.

Mouret's Man Of The Moment

• 03 September 2013
• Lauren Milligan

ROLAND MOURET is hosting an exhibition at his Carlos Place atelier, in association with London gallery East of Mayfair, showcasing the work of Puerto Rican illustrator Antonio Lopez - and Mouret's admiration for him goes deeper than just purely aesthetics: he was a part of his teenage dreams.
"When I lived in Paris in the Eighties, it was my dream to be drawn by him!" Mouret laughed. "We were at the same parties, and he was drawing all the people you wanted to meet; all the models, all the beautiful girls. When I was a model, I hoped, 'Maybe, one day, I'll be drawn by him," but I was at the same agency as his boyfriend so after that, he always drew him. So I missed out. He really was the first one to bring that notion of street culture to life with his illustrations. There was a fantastic notion of movement in every drawing and it was really challenging our ideas; pushing it to try to find this elegance. There was a real Latino spirit, a modernity, which I love. He loved boys and girls with character and strong faces: a power shoulder; a V-shape in the body; that athletic attitude. When you love his work, you connect with all of it; I couldn't choose a favourite piece."
But, if you can manage to choose, the work might be a good investment it seems.
"I think that his work will continue to experience increased popularity for its ability to capture specific cultural eras whilst remaining timeless and genuine," East of Mayfair gallery director Janina Joffe explained. "His creations - made together with partner Juan Ramos - feel powerful and relevant nearly 30 years after his death, and exemplify the importance and value of fashion illustration as an art form before fashion photography largely took its place."

The Age Debate:

The Age Debate: Miuccia Prada’s Thoughts

• 3 September 2013
• Lauren Milligan

Picture credit: PA Photos

MIUCCIA PRADA has revealed the reason that she doesn't use older models for her campaigns and catwalk shows: because she isn't daring enough.
"Mine is not an artistic world, it is a commercial world," the 64-year-old explains when asked why her models are never from nearer her own age bracket - and that of many of her customers. "I cannot change the rules… Let's say I'm not brave enough. I don't have the courage."
Prada is known for sending the careers of many of her young campaign and catwalk models stratospheric, as the tastemaker's seal of approval often prompts other brands to enlist them too. She does note, from a personal perspective, that - "No one wants to age, and I really think we should find a solution. Especially because we live so much longer."
But despite conforming to the fashion industry's expectation that she use young models, Prada reassured that she will continue to break any other aesthetic rule that takes her fancy."I have to do it," she told The Sunday Telegraph Magazine. "There is an understanding that, when I do a show, no one will tell me what to do. Once, at the beginning of my career, I tried to listen to others and it was all wrong."

Julien Macdonald Takes Strictly

• 03 September 2013
• Ella Alexander

Picture credit: GoRunway

JULIEN MACDONALD will take part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, it has been confirmed this morning. The Welsh designer joins model Abbey Clancy, broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor in the annual dance contest which starts on BBC1 on September 7.
"I like the fact I can have the sparkles and the crystals, and the glamour that I've spent my life putting on other people," he said. "I'm loving the rhinestones and lace, and the crystals. I just want more and more. I'll probably look like a Christmas tree by the end of it!"
The winner will take home a cash prize of £100,000, although all competitors are given £25,000 just for taking part. Macdonald - who wanted to be a dancer prior to becoming a designer - has previously appeared on It Takes Two, the sister show, offering his take on contestants' outfits.

Why Vogue Changed Jonathan Saunders's Life

• 03 September 2013
• Lauren Milligan

JONATHAN SAUNDERS has revealed that there was one dress that changed his design life for good - and Vogue had a big part in the transformation.
" This dress, from my first collection in spring/summer 2004, was inspired by things I loved and felt good about - basically colour and print. I never imagined people buying it!" he told the Telegraph. "I was completely shocked when Vogue shot it on Natalia Vodianova for a cover. What happened next was a complete baptism of fire. Suddenly all these stores put in orders. The dress had been printed by hand in my Brixton studio, where I was living a very spit and sawdust existence. I had two months to produce a huge collection. I can remember screen-printing on Christmas Day. Of all these five items, this is my favourite because it was the beginning of everything."
Saunders chose four other key items from his past collections, including spring/summer 2012's famous waffle knit, but two of the other four were also Vogue cover pieces.
"I love matt and shiny textures together. With this skirt I wanted to put a modern twist on the idea of a 1970s disco girl," he said. "The collection felt youthful and graphic. Collections work when they feel relevant to the time. The skirt made the cover of Vogue in May 2013 - on Beyoncé. So it's a bit of no-brainer why it is an important piece to me."