Giorgio Armani has released its winter 2010 eyewear collection, all with a slight ’50s–’60s retro style, paying tribute to designs in its archives. The first collection comprises thirteen men’s and one women’s models. (Below are the men’s styles first, with the women’s style at bottom.)

Left Jean-Luc Colonna d’Istria of Merci. Right Medinge director and MIP dean Pierre d’Huy translates for Dominique Benoît of Pictet et Cie. Below The Brands with a Conscience certificate, designed by UffindellWest.

The Medinge Group had a slightly smaller Brands with a Conscience ceremony today at the Management Institute of Paris, reflecting the international nature of the winners. Many were scattered around the globe and unable to attend the ceremony, though two of the European winners made it to the French capital to collect their awards in person: Jean-Luc Colonna d’Istria of Merci and Pictet et Cie.’s Dominique Benoît.
   Stanley Moss, CEO of the Medinge Group, noted that it was remarkable that in a year of financial crises, there were two winners from that sector that were doing good. Apart from Pictet, the Co-op Bank received a Brands with a Conscience award.
   The seventh annual awards’ programme also honoured Alibaba Group, Marks & Spencer (for its Plan A initiative), SAP and Selco Solar Pvt. Ltd. Muna Abu Sulayman won the Colin Morley Award and a letter from her was read out in absentia by Medinge member Simon Nicholls.
   Medinge founder Thomas Gad noted that the Awards had become so successful that they had spawned at least one imitator.

Photographed by Thomaz

While Lamborghini released news of its Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni in the middle of last year, this is the first time we’ve been able to get our hands on it. Or, more accurately, our occasional contributor Thomaz, who recently took a few shots of it.
   Unlike most of us when we take pictures of cars, he turned his snapshots into a full-fledged shoot, which, while not quite the sort of fashion editorial that might appear in our print-edition pages, do show off the vehicle well.
   The Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni is named for the company’s famous test driver, who has worked on every model the Sant’ Agata car manufacturer has put out since 1973. Power output is 550 hp, with a top speed of 320 km/h. Production is limited to 250 units worldwide, which makes this the rarest of the Gallardo models.

Above, from top The venue at the Friedrichstadt Palast, Berlin. The Trio Style Nite team. On the stage. Below Trio creative director Reinhard Olschowsky.

While we did not attend Berlin Fashion Week, we did get some images courtesy of Trio Hair & Company.
   Last Friday, to conclude Berlin Fashion Week, Michalsky held his Style Nite.
   Michalsky did what he did best: be the showman. His autumn–winter 2010 show featured a stage-musical production on German history. Trio worked backstage on the hair.
   Trio also worked on the hair for Lala Berlin and Kaviar Gauche.

Check out this great promotion from Blue Cactus (in which we’re involved, too), where you can win an NZ$8,000 prize package, as explained by our fashion editor Samantha Hannah. If you have a friend who you’d love to makeover, you can nominate them for the Blue Cactus Hairdressing Ultimate Makeover, which includes NZ$1,950 of hair care from Blue Cactus, NZ$1,850 of products from L’Oréal Professionnel, NZ$1,482 of gym memberships from Exodus, NZ$500 to spend at Harry’s Designer Clothing Boutique, NZ$347 worth of deluxe accommodation package from Ohtel, and more.

When Kathryn Leah Payne, Christchurch fashion designer, emailed me a few months ago with pictures of her début collection, I couldn’t contain my excitement. Her 1980s-inspired Jackal and Hide autumn–winter 2010 range is unique, with a twist of sexy sophistication and lots of leather. But it is her meticulous attention to detail and exceptional tailoring that caught my eye. Needless to say I jumped at the chance to view her range last week and learn more about this talented designer.
   After graduating Christchurch Polytechnic in 2000, award-winning Payne decided to try her hand at leather jewellery and accessories’ design. You may remember seeing her designs in Workshop and other boutiques around New Zealand. But, she became interested in wider industry opportunities and went on to cut her clothing design teeth in London. Working with reputable designers, Caroline Charles, whose celebrity client base included Princess Diana, Ringo Starr and Mick Jagger, and British fashion house Bolongaro Trevor, was invaluable for Payne. Caroline Charles shared Payne’s love of vintage, beautiful tailoring and detail, while Bolongaro Trevor taught her a lot about the business. Now she’s equipped with the necessary skills and experience to grow her eponymous label, she is ready is to take on the New Zealand fashion world once again.
   So, what can you expect from this 17-piece collection? A dress, corsets, pants, jackets, shrugs, leggings and sleeves with most garments featuring something a little different. Her chosen fabrics are a lambskin leather, viscose, merino jersey, wool crepe, denim, possum fur and vintage silks. The colour palette is dark: ‘I quite like dark, vintage-looking fabrics and fixings that have a tarnished look,’ and there is nothing to ‘flashy’, which adds to the sophisticated look.
   It’s definitely a standout collection for me, especially knowing Payne ‘hand paints and hand makes’ a lot of her work, and she ‘likes to play with three-dimensional shapes that are different and unique’. A very time-consuming process that makes each piece in her collection unique and limited.
   My favourites include the Swan Skirt, Owl Corset, Jackal Pants and Fantail Jacket—the five images shown above.
   It’s fabulous to have this clever and very creative designer back in New Zealand!—Samantha Hannah

Jane Iredale has introduced its Sample Starter Kit, a good way to get introduced to mineral make-up. The kits are available in Light, Medium and Dark, and feature Amazing base, the best selling PurePressed base, Lip Drink, lip colour, a PurePressed blush, eye shadow, under-eye concealer, lip plumper and three application brushes.
   The kits are available nationally in the UK at £19·95. For stockists, call 44 20 8450-7111 or visit www.janeiredaleuk.eu.

Italian designer Daniela de Marchi’s Anemone ring uses silver, bronze and copper, which allows for more distinctive shapes, according to her.
   Using a patented process called Dropage, where heat is used to bring wax to a liquid state, then brought back to a solid one in tiny spherical drops, forged individually. Burnishes and varnishes give over 20 different colours, matched to gemstones.
   De Marchi can be reached on 39 02 8699 5040 or through her website at www.danielademarchi.it.