Reality star Kim Kardashian and basketballer Kris Humphries will divorce after 72 days of marriage.
   Neither side has stated the reasons, though the usual celebrity “sources” have speculated they were either Humphries’ unwillingness to participate in the Kardashian brand, or an argument over where to set up home.
   Kardashian filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, with the news confirmed by Keeping up with the Kardashians executive producer Ryan Seacrest.
   Kardashian said in a statement, ‘After careful consideration, I have decided to end my marriage. I hope everyone understands this was not an easy decision. I had hoped this marriage was forever, but sometimes things don’t work out as planned. We remain friends and wish each other the best.’
   Humphries’ statement was one of surprise. He stated, ‘I love my wife and am devastated to learn she filed for divorce. I’m committed to this marriage and everything this covenant represents. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it work.’
   Three million viewers watched the couple’s wedding on television.

You know the festive season is approaching when Absolut unveils another stunning gift pack. This time, the famous Swedish vodka has launched Absolut Mode Edition, a limited-edition 700 ml gift pack, paying tribute to the world of fashion.
   The stylized crystallic glass and a midnight blue textured silk cloth feature is inspired by fashion trends, and reinterpret the classic Absolut bottle in a very stylish way.
   In the past, Absolut has worked with Tom Ford, Versace, Stella McCartney, and Jean Paul Gaultier, and locally, with Adrian Hailwood, Lonely Hearts, Federation and Huffer.
   The Mode Edition packaging is expected to become a collector’s item. The gift pack will go on sale mid-November in New Zealand at leading liquor outlets, retailing at NZ$39·99.
   Absolut has published a cocktail recipe to coincide with the launch of Mode Edition, by New Zealand mixologist Chris Harrop.

Absolut Mode
45 ml Absolut Vodka
20 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 ml elderflower cordial
Top with soda
Build ingredients over ice in a tall glass, and garnish with a thin cucumber slice.

Mini has announced its sixth model, the Roadster, essentially a convertible version of its recently released Coupé.
   The Roadster is the first time Mini has released an open-top two-seater. Like the Coupé, it’s a three-box shape, with stowage area behind the seats, and sizeable boot (240 l compared with the Coupé’s 280).
   As with the Coupé, BMW is keen to emphasize that this is a different car with a different proposition. Publicity photographs feature a male model more regularly, as the company targets more male buyers (or, as its politically correct introduction states, more ‘demanding target groups’). It is 20 mm lower than the existing R55 Mini Cabriolet. Its manual soft-top is designed to be easily opened and closed, and with the saving in weight over an automatic system, the Roadster is expected to have healthier performance than the R55.
   The double rollover hoops help distinguish the Roadster’s appearance, as well as a more heavily raked windscreen and A-pillars.
   BMW calls the Roadster ‘spontaneous, open, irresistible’ in its PR materials. It has a wide range of customization options. The design language reflects the Mini brand, and, unlike the Coupé, the roof is not as controversial. In fact, it follows what BMW calls a design reminiscent of ‘classic British roadsters’.
   The Roadster’s bodyshell is stiffened at the rear to help with torsional rigidity, while the front has also been stiffened, resulting in a slightly higher front-axle load, aiding front-wheel traction. The company claims a lower centre of gravity for the Roadster compared with the standard Mini.
   The chassis, while shared with the other models, has a unique set-up. While stability control is standard, dynamic traction control and differential lock control are optional (standard on the John Cooper Works model). The active rear spoiler extends automatically when the Roadster hits 80 km/h (50 mph), but can also be activated manually.
   Engines include the John Cooper Works petrol unit with 211 PS (155 kW). The Cooper S Roadster delivers 184 PS (135 kW), while the base model has 122 PS (90 kW). The SD roadster delivers 143 PS (105 kW) and a claimed 63 mpg Imperial (4·5 l/100 km) with carbon dioxide emissions of 118 g/km.

Thomas Salme

Our Milano-based photographer, Thomaz—a.k.a. Thomas Salme—has introduced us to model Evgeniya Shcherbakova, with whom he has done some work.
   She has a fascinating history. While we’ve seen beauty contestants going for their master’s and Ph.D. degrees, Evgeniya Shcherbakova, 26, is an architect.
   Originally from Vladivostok, Shcherbakova won a 2011 pageant called Miss Runet held in Moskva, but she has represented her home town in Miss Russia in 2009. She has also won the top model award in Miss Supranational 2010.
   At the Miss Runet competition, Estet Jewellery’s president, Gagik Gevorkian, chaired the jury, providing jewellery to the winners. He also awarded Shcherbakova the title of Miss Estet, in his mind the contestant to best convey the Estet brand.
   According to her, she only had her hair and nails done for the Miss Runet competition, yet managed to take out top honours.
   Shcherbakova measures 35-25-37 (90-63-93), is 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) tall and weighs 119 lb (54 kg).

Thomas Salme

Above Evgeniya Shcherbakova photographed with the Aston Martin DB9 Volante and the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. Below Taking top honours at Miss Runet.

Above Alexa Chung, in Chanel, after winning the 2010 British Style Award.

The British Style Award is now open to public voting, raising funds for Save the Children.
   The award goes to the person ‘who most embodies the spirit of London and is an international ambassador for London as a leading creative fashion capital,’ say the organizers.
   Last year, Alexa Chung won the prize. She is among the nominees this year, along with Adele, Florence Welch, Stella McCartney, Lara Stone, Victoria Beckham, Emma Watson, and Vivienne Westwood, among others.
   Both Vodafone, as a sponsor, and the organizers of the British Fashion Awards, are encouraging voters to donate to Save the Children, either through its Just Giving web page, or Vodafone’s Just Text Giving. Texters can send an SMS message with the code BFAS99, followed by the donation amount, to the number 70070 (e.g. text BFAS £5 to 70070 if one wishes to give £5).
   Voting closes at midnight on November 9. Winners will be announced on the evening of November 28 at the Savoy.

Above Dunedin, New Zealand’s Undone is the latest new label to keep an eye on.

Elise Barnes and Rachel Webb are the talented designers behind young New Zealand label Undone. After studying fashion together at Otago Polytechnic, the two decided on a joint venture, after each being invited to show a collection at ID Fashion Week in Dunedin early this year. Taking elements from each of their polar opposite concepts, they are then Undone and modified into a joint creation. This is essentially the driving idea behind their label.
   The pair’s latest collection, A Dream within a Dream, is based upon the poem by Edgar Allan Poe and encapsulates both designers’ themes beautifully. The collection has aspects of romance and femininity with soft silks and detailing whilst also managing to be moody and androgynous.
   A duo to watch out for, you can view their full collections at their Facebook page or their WordPress blog.
   Meanwhile, every classic needs an upgrade: Napoleon Perdis has relaunched its best selling Auto Pilot skin primer in beautiful new gold packaging. Inside is the same brilliant skin smoothing formula, with ingredients of vitamin E, chamomile and yarrow extracts, just with a glamorous makeover.
   Use Auto Pilot as a cream cleanser to remove existing foundation and reapply to gain a healthy evening glow. A Napoleon beauty tip: mix primer with a touch of foundation for a DIY tinted moisturizer.
   The Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer retails for NZ$58 and is available at Farmers counters.
   Finally, OPSM tells us that it has scored an Australasian first: 80 per cent of its sunglasses can now be fitted with optical lenses. Launched earlier this month, prescription sunglasses can now be ordered via OPSM, with a starting price of NZ$249. Visit OPSM at www.opsm.co.nz or call 0800 696-776 in New Zealand to book an appointment.—Katherine Thomson

Ross Brown

The Sleeping Beauty has to be the most lavishly designed ballet that I’ve seen the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform in recent years. Unlike last year’s The Nutcracker, this version of The Sleeping Beauty hasn’t been cleverly transplanted into a 20th century setting, and it’s child-friendly with Catalabutte portrayed as a cat. However, there’s more than enough for traditionalists to revel in the performance, and the Vector Wellington Orchestra has faithfully interpreted the Tchaikovsky score.
   Beyond Greg Horsman’s excellent choreography, the pièces de résistance have to be the sets and costumes, the brainchild of designer Gary Harris.
   As revealed in Lucire several months ago, Weta Workshop’s hand in the costumes is evident, and despite having seen preview images, I was still impressed by witnessing them live on stage at the St James on Friday. Jon Buswell’s lighting gave the sets life and a real mood—the audience applauded when Act 1, Scene II’s christening set was unveiled. Those who have seen The Sleeping Beauty before will still get a few surprises from this version, which I won’t spoil here, though the programme lets one of them out of the bag.
   Three years in the making, and with the support of Meridian Energy, The Sleeping Beauty is a must-see for not just ballet-lovers but anyone who appreciates great design and music.
   It runs October 28–30 and November 2–5 here in Wellington, travelling to other centres around New Zealand till December 8 (see the website for more details).
   Just as fascinating, but in a different way, is the exhibition Behind the Mask: Rediscovered Portraits of Katherine Mansfield at the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace in Wellington. As usual, the insights into Mansfield’s life reveal more about one of the country’s most famous authors. The obvious portraits are shown—such as Anne Rice’s 1918 oil on canvas painting of the author, on loan from Te Papa—but those interested in early-twentieth-century printing will see works from Rhythm, published in 1912, on display.
   Mansfield was assistant editor on the magazine, and a caricature and drawing of her are among the exhibition, both dating from 1912. The exhibition runs till November 30—more details are at the Birthplace’s website.—Jack Yan, Publisher

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears dress by Yann Weber, glitter shoes by Walter Steiger, and Panache necklace and pony cuff bracelet by Swarovski.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears feather dress by Izmaylova and white gold and diamond ring by Vhernier.

Campari has released its 2012 calendar images, starring actress Milla Jovovich, and photographed by Dimitri Daniloff.
   The launch event was held at the Visionnaire Design Gallery in Milano, presented by the CEO of Gruppo Campari, Bob Kunze-Concewitz.
   The high-fashion, visually stunning calendar is entitled It’s the End of the World, Baby!, and no, it’s not to do with Jovovich’s Resident Evil zombie films. The reference is to the Mayan culture’s belief that the world, as we know it, will end on December 21, 2012, and a new transformative era will begin. Jovovich appears in haute couture gowns by Yann Weber, Stéphane Rolland and other designers, with a glass or bottle of Campari in each shot.
   The calendar’s imagery looks at various theories, including desertification, hurricanes and alien invasion, but in what the company calls a positive light.

Press conference


Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Top Milla Jovovich in Prada at the press conference earlier today, unveiling the 2012 Campari calendar images. Make-up by Simone Bellí, using L’Oréal Paris Studio Secrets. Hair by Franco Curletto for L’Oréal Professionnel. Above Bob Kunze Concewitz, Milla Jovovich, Dimitri Daniloff and Paola Maugeri toast the calendar images at Visionnaire Design Gallery in Milano.

More from the calendar

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears crumpled and hand-painted saffron organza draped long dress by Stéphane Rolland and rhinestone necklace by Paco Rabanne.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears wine-coloured radzimir draped long dress and leather gloves by Stéphane Rolland.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears a long satin crêpe black sweater dress veiled in black organza with black organza leaves by Stéphane Rolland, and the Move full pavé diamond cuff bracelet by Messika.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears dress made by Yann Weber, and rose gold necklace and bracelet by Vhernier.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears dress made by Yann Weber, and purple red ring and earrings by Swarovski.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears dress made by Yann Weber, black rhinestone sandals by René Caovilla; Pandora necklace; and move full pavé cuff bracelet in white gold and diamonds by Messika.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears patent leather shoes by Walter Steiger.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears glitter top by Manish Arora and rose gold ring Vhernier.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears coated satin dress and gloves by Yann Weber, and silk spiky necklace in black gold and white diamond by Messika.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears a Swarovski dress.

Dimitri Daniloff

Above Milla Jovovich wears brandy-coloured silk satin crêpe jumpsuit by Stéphane Rolland, rhinestone sandals by René Caovilla and earrings and ring in rose gold and corneliane by Vhernier.

Behind the scenes at the Campari shoot








Juan Carlos Garay

Above Behind-the-scenes images from the 2012 Campari calendar shoot.