From top Starfish’s Bounce Boléro runner dress. The Springer frock. Four ways of wearing the Starfish Swirler.

Starfish’s summer 2010–11 collection, Free Radical, is inspired by one of New Zealand’s modernist artist Len Lye’s fascination with art that moves, the mystery of motion and the celebration of energy that is life.
   Lye’s ideologies are evoked through the collection’s unique kinetic mix of colours, prints and texture. Motion expressed through the beautiful swing crop cardigans, tunics that swirl against one’s body, flowing draped dresses, playful flounces and bold prints.
   Flirty and feminine flounces and peplum shapes mix with 1950s silhouettes and relaxed masculine tailoring to create the uniquely Starfish look for the next season.
   Beautiful greys, whites and cinnamons mix with jewel tones of sapphire blues and ruby reds and Starfish’s own unique colours (locally dyed to Öko-Tex standards) of Hot Spark, Atomic Orange and Energetic Emerald to create a rainbow palette of colour for the upcoming season.
   A specially designed spot print by Amy Van Luijk is featured throughout the collection and is an interesting interpretation on Len Lye’s animated film Free Radicals. This is juxtaposed with diagonal strip leggings and pencil skirts.
   Pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion once again, Starfish is able to offer its customers two unique garments, the Swirler, and the Flip and Twist Top. Each of these garments can be worn in a multitude of ways offering a unique investment piece.
   And, as always, the Starfish collection is created using natural fibres, organic cottons, hemp silks, and locally produced fabrics. It is manufactured locally, ensuring that you know that your clothes are creating a lesser impact on the environment.
   A few pieces which should become summer staples in your wardrobe are the Quick Step Slip, a linen dress with Flounce detailing in Ruby Red; the Bounce Boléro with its cute ruffle detailing; the Free Flow top with silk spot print contrast sleeve detailing; Tizzy Trouser for its easy-wear comfort; and the Springer Frock in Energetic Emerald for its pop of Kiwiana summer colour and flattering elastic ruffle waistband detailing.
   Keep an eye out for this again amazing collection from Starfish. With colour this bright and designs this fabulous you wouldn’t want to miss a beat.—Sopheak Seng

The Lucire team had a good chance to catch up with Dunedin designer Charmaine Reveley at Coco Wellington (138 Willis Street) on Thursday. We were among the first media to interview Reveley when she was at the Dunedin Fashion Incubator in the mid-2000s. Showing her autumn–winter 2010 collection, Free Fall, Reveley’s work has strengthened both in terms of design integrity and execution. The buyers we spoke to agreed, including one who had been purchasing since her first seasons.
   Afterwards, Reveley, the Coco crew, and Lucire publisher Jack Yan and fashion editor Sopheak Seng had a very filling dinner at Siem Reap. A main can easily feed two there, as we discovered first-hand.




Tanya Sooksombatisatian

Although the Geo Skincare brand has been around for the last ten years at health and beauty spas, only through popular demand has this exciting range of organic skin care products become available at selected pharmacies in New Zealand.
   The Geo Skincare treatment range is made up of 22 products, including six designed especially for men.
   Our favourites are the Daily Cleansing Milk; Hydra Gel; Night Repair Cream; Hydrating Hand & Body Cream and Daily Moisture for men.
   Geo Skincare products use only organic ingredients derived from natural products such as avacado, cocoa butter, carrot, chamomile, kowhai, cucumber, juniper berry, lime, grapeseed, macadamia and a combination of pure extracts of oils and minerals (silica) found only in New Zealand’s unique geothermal regions. All are certified organic through Assure Quality, and are biodegradable.—Sopheak Seng

One of the few women who can legitimately lay claim to the supermodel title is Gisèle Bündchen. And to show off her post-baby figure, she has modelled for Italian label Calzedonia. The images were released earlier this week, and some media have reported that the shoot took place in February, two months after delivering baby Benjamin.
   Calzedonia’s summer 2010 swimwear range centres around four themes: cutty fruity, colour follies, seashore and digital print.
   The company says its trend for the season is glamour mixed with originality. There are more complex prints, fewer bright, primary colours, and more muted shades such as light blue and grey for the single-colour designs.
   A video from the shoot can be seen at Calzedonia’s Italian website.
   Bündchen also modelled for Calzedonia’s summer 2009 line.






Calzedonia

HSH Prince Albert of Monaco II, 52, is engaged to his long-time girlfriend Charlene Wittstock, the Prince’s Palace announced today.
   Miss Wittstock, 32, a South African, is a former Olympic swimmer.
   No date has been set for the wedding, although by protocol it would have to be at least six months from the date of the engagement.
   The pair met in 2000 when Wittstock competed in Monaco. She competed in the Sydney Olympics, representing South Africa, the same year.
   The Grimaldis have often been the subject of fashion-watchers thanks to the iconic status of Prince Albert’s late mother, Princess Grace.
   Grace Kelly: Style Icon is currently running at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, covering the Princess’s fashion.
   On June 19, the Prince and Miss Wittstock had appeared at the wedding of Sweden’s HRH Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling.
   Prince Albert’s father, HSH Prince Rainier III, married actress Grace Kelly in 1956. She was killed in a car accident in 1982.

Angela Scott

Miss Universe New Zealand 2010, Ria van Dyke, has had her first photo shoot—if you do not count press ones—with Angela Scott. These are stunning shots, confirming many of the positive comments found here at Lucire’s web edition as well as other pageant-oriented websites.
   Ria’s win is drawing extra support from companies in New Zealand. Beauty on the Strand of Parnell, Auckland, has joined as a pageant sponsor, providing her with sun-tanning and face products.
   Kim from the Strand Wellness Centre, Parnell, is proudly advising Ria on how to obtain optimum nutrition and vitality on her journey to Miss Universe.
   The Miss Universe New Zealand official website is now being updated regularly as Ria gets ready for her international competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, during August. Similarly, the pageant fan page on Facebook is getting regular updates, with images from the last four years having been uploaded.
   According to Lucire’s publisher, Jack Yan, who served as head judge this year: ‘We have not seen such positive public comments—nearly universally—for any Miss Universe New Zealand in the four years I have been on the judging panel for the pageant. These photographs show that Ria’s intelligence and sincerity are matched with outward beauty. She is, to date, our most popular Miss Universe New Zealand this century.’

Redken gives us that cutting-edge fashion again with its latest range of products. Taking inspiration from the runway and transforming it into “real way” is the key idea behind its latest hair styling foursome, Style Connection.
   Using these newly developed products can accentuate your cut and transform your hair into a catwalk-ready look.
   Four products make up the new range from Redken: Redken Matte Sponge is perfect for getting that roughed-up finish; Redken Woolshake is a favourite of stylists for its ability to add extreme volume and texture; Redken Velvet Gelatine is a “must-have” for blow dries, adding body and bounce while giving a high-shine finish; and Redken Vinyl Twist will give your curls shape, structure and flexibility while still making it light.
   Each product has its own individual scent, with delicious top notes of bergamont, mimosa flower, fresh ginger and citrus. Not only will your hair smell good but look good as well.
   The range is recommended and used by top stylists Richard Kavanagh (who has coiffed many a model on the fashion circuit) and owner of Blaze Salon, Redken artist Mana Dave.—Sopheak Seng

Victoria & Albert Museum

Above Zémire evening ensemble by Christian Dior, autumn–winter 1954–5. Cellulose acetate, with the skirt lined with layers of silk and net.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, Tenn. is showing an exhibition entitled The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947–1957, from June 18 to September 12.
   The highlight for the exhibition is this week, when former New York Post fashion editor Libby Callaway speaks to model Karen Elson about her experiences on the catwalk and ‘the art of wearing haute couture.’
   The talk takes place on Thursday, June 24, at 6.30 p.m. and is free at the Center’s auditorium.
   The Golden Age of Couture looks at the immediate postwar era with the launch of Christian Dior’s New Look in 1947, which sparked an era of creativity for couturiers. The exhibition was curated by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. It has already appeared in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and Canada. The Frist is the only US venue; Museums Sheffield follows in 2011.
   Highlighted designers include Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy, and Pierre Balmain, Hardy Amies, Charles Creed, and Norman Hartnell. Photography by Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon, and Irving Penn appear in the exhibit.
   Garments include a Givenchy blue cape (1957), identical to the one worn by Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face. A rare find is a red version of Dior’s Zémire (1954, above). The bodice and long jacket with full length skirt, previously known only through archive photographs, were recently discovered in a cellar near the Seine and have been cleaned and repaired.
   The end of the era in 1957 was marked by Dior’s death, with fashion moving from fitting rooms and ateliers into boutiques.