Miss France

Above The 33 contestants for Miss France 2014 in swimwear.

Without an active guerre de Miss being played out in front of the French media, the proceedings seem a bit quieter for Miss France 2014.
   Now that Miss France and its former director, Geneviève de Fontenay, have settled their legal dispute, with de Fontenay’s rival pageant, Miss Prestige National, taking place in January, French media have focused more on the smaller things. In the lead-up to the Miss France final on December 7 in Dijon, they have reported that its current CEO, Sylvie Tellier, has said that it was highly unlikely de Fontenay would ever be back.
   Meanwhile, Miss France host, Jean-Pierre Foucault, made a remark about the host city that was instantly slammed on the social networks—after which he had to apologize.
   Foucault had said that he had not planned to sleep in Dijon because he did not want to find himself ‘waking up in Dijon’.
   The only thing that seems to have been controversial was the involvement of the Miss France jury chairman, veteran actor Alain Delon, in right-wing political activity. Delon was replaced by Québecois singer Garou.
   There is some speculation over the reigning Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, and what she might do after her reign ends on the 7th.
   A medical student, Lorphelin may return to university, though her predecessors tended to wind up on TV shows, including Sophie Thalmann, Malika Ménard et Laury Thilleman, appearing on the likes of Splash and Danse avec les stars (the French version of Strictly Come Dancing). French magazine Closer notes that one of the few exceptions is Tellier herself, who won the pageant in 2002.

Rindoff Petroff/Castel

Cartier: le style et l’histoire opens on December 4, showcasing the renowned brand in a retrospective organized by the Réunion des Musées Nationaux–Grand Palais.
   The Cartier Collection has been shown in 25 exhibitions worldwide since 1983, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the British Museum, Lisboa’s Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, and Beijing’s Palace Museum.
   The VIP private opening on Monday at le Grand Palais was attended by many of the names that Cartier has touched. Guests included HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Archduchess Eleonore von Habsburg and her daughter Princess Francesca von Habsburg, Kristin Scott Thomas, Joely Richardson, Monica Bellucci, Tomo Kurata, Lea Weller, Ora Ito and Emilie Marant, Patricia d’Arenberg, John and Laviana Elkan, Hubert de Givenchy, V. V. Brown, Adelaide de Clermont Tonnerre, Guillaume Cerutti and his wife Marjorie, Henri de la Croix de Castries, and Maharaja Tikka de Kapurthala.
   The exhibition runs till February 16 at the Grand Palais, Paris, and features 600 creations, including high jewellery pieces, mystery clocks, watches and precious objects. Some will be shown alongside private loans, displayed for the first time. Archive material and documentation accompany the exhibition.

Rindoff Petroff/Castel

Pascal le Segretain

Above President of Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Jean-Paul Cluzel, and president of Cartier, Stanislas de Quercize. Kristin Scott Thomas and Joely Richardson. L’Archiduchess Eleonore von Habsburg and daughter Princess Francesca von Habsburg. Monica Bellucci and HSH Prince Albert II. Tomo Kurata and Lea Weller. Ora Ito and Emilie Marant. Patricia d’Arenberg. Archduchess Eleonore von Habsburg, Princess Francesca von Habsburg and John and Laviana Elkan. HSH Prince Albert II de Monaco, Archduchess Eleonore von Habsburg and her daughter Princess Francesca von Habsburg. Hubert de Givenchy. V. V. Brown. Adelaide de Clermont Tonnerre. Guillaume Cerutti, CEO of Sotheby’s France and his wife Marjorie. Henri de La Croix de Castries, 5th Comte de Castries, and his wife. Maharaja Tikka de Kapurthala and guest.

Rindoff Petroff/Castel

Thomas Deron

The grand opening of Frimousses de Créateurs of UNICEF France was held on November 25 at the Petit Palais in Paris. The event was a great success and managed to attract more than 1,300 guests to the première of the 11th edition of Frimousses de Créateurs that displayed a unique array of dolls and artwork donated by various artists and designers.
   The highlight was by far the artwork that ranged from what seemed to be dolls on the Eiffel Tower, intricate figures dressed in ribbon and old-fashioned teddy bears from everyone’s childhood. What made the event more mesmerizing was the enchanting lighting that lit up the tall arched ceilings and luxurious setting designed by scenographer and curator Frédéric Fontan that managed to sprinkle the perfect touch of fairy dust to the night.
   All the artwork will be on auction for charity today (December 2) at the Four Seasons George V in Paris. There is much passion and anticipation for the upcoming auction with support from celebrities such as TV entertainer Sébastien Folin who will be the auction host, along with international auction house Artcurial directing the auction. All the profit from the auction will be dedicated to the children of Darfur as UNICEF France continues to support those in need.—Christine Min

Thomas Deron

After Alain Delon quit as the honorary chairman of the Miss France jury over a falling-out surrounding his right-wing political activity, there was a question mark over his successor. Metro has revealed that singer Garou will take Delon’s place as Miss France leads up to its final on December 7 at the Zénith in Dijon.
   Garou, a Québecois singer, is already well known to French TV audiences, being one of the judges on the French version of The Voice, on TF1, the same channel as Miss France.
   He will join singers Sylvie Vartan, Elodie Frégé (Star Academy) and Vincent Niclo, comedian Titoff, 13 heures presenter Jean-Pierre Pernaut and his partner, Nathalie Marquay (Miss France 1987), who, along with the French public, will decide on the successor to Marine Lorphelin, Miss France 2013.
   The final will be MCed by Jean-Pierre Foucault. The very lengthy telecast sees the candidates in various tableaux, this time with a Disney-esque and fairy-tale theme. Sets themed on Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Snow White are planned for the final.

Julien Hekimian

Suzy Menkes, OBE will receive the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) Special Recognition Award this year, for her 25-year-long career at the International Herald–Tribune.
   Menkes has been style editor for the newspaper, now rebranded as the International New York Times, since 1988, and is hugely respected by her peers and the fashion industry.
   British-born, she is a graduate of Cambridge University, where she read English literature. Menkes was the university newspaper’s first female editor. Her official biography notes that she previously worked for The Times, the London Evening Standard, and The Independent.
   As style editor, Menkes resides in Paris and holds the Legion d’Honneur in France. She has authored a number of books on fashion and the Royal Family.
   In the BFC’s release, the industry praised Menkes, who tends to have a warm relationship with the industry, known for her fairness and journalistic integrity.
   Stephen Jones, OBE, whom Lucire publisher Jack Yan interviewed in issue 31, said, ‘Suzy is fashion. Suzy is the bench mark by which all others are judged. Few come close in authority, experience, judgement and hairdo.’
   Chris Moore of Catwalking.com noted, ‘To say Suzy Menkes is to say fashion. It’s an honour to have worked for her to 25 years.’
   Sarah Mower, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and a contributing editor to Vogue, said, ‘Suzy is the fastest mover in the west—or east. I have only ever beaten her to the race backstage about three times in 15 years. The brain under that front-roll is a phenomenon. I’m in awe of the agenda-setting pieces she pens between Milan and Paris which both interrogate fashion’s motives and put it in its rightful cultural and economic place. Besides that, she’s the greatest defender of journalistic integrity, the greatest inspiration and the naughtiest wit I know.’
   Simone Rocha said, ‘It is an honour to be reviewed by Suzy, her words are always astute and sincere. She has a true understanding of the beauty of fashion and her words make you believe in it.’
   Susannah Frankel, fashion director at Grazia stated, ‘There are so many people reviewing fashion today but Suzy is still the person who, for me, best brings the clothes themselves to life. She is, of course, also brilliant at putting fashion into a broader cultural context but, if I miss a show, and read her commentary it’s almost as if I can see the collection in front of me. She makes that seem easy but it’s anything but. Add to that the fact that she is as sharp as a knife, as generous towards and interested in newcomers as she the big guns … Suzy is an incredible journalist and an incredible woman.’
   The British Fashion Awards, hosted by the BFC, takes place on December 2 at the London Coliseum. Nominees this year include Marc Jacobs, Anya Hindmarch, Victoria Beckham, Mary Katrantzou, Raf Simons, Nicholas Kirkwood and Cara Delevingne. Tickets are available through www.britishfashionawards.com/tickets.

Sylvie Tellier, via Twitter

Above Miss France CEO Sylvie Tellier at the mayoral reception at the Palais des Ducs.

After touring Sri Lanka, the 33 Miss France 2014 contestants arrived in Dijon after a 30-hour flight on Saturday. The final will be held at the Zénith at Dijon on December 7.
   The interest from French media steps up a notch, especially with the welcome at the Palais des Ducs, where contestants met François Rebsamen, the mayor of Dijon, as their first official event in the city.
   Rebsamen goes so far as to call Miss France ‘the only event where the whole of France unites’ in his public address.
   The reigning Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, along with the organizing committee, have also arrived at the Bourgogne capital. The Holiday Inn Toison d’Or Dijon is providing accommodation.
   The Miss France telecast will be broadcast live on TF1, and tends to attract a 40 per cent share in France.
   The rival pageant, Miss Prestige National, set up by former Miss France organizer Geneviève de Fontenay, will not have its final until January 12, at the Lido de Paris. Both sides had reportedly reached a settlement after three years of battling for national attention, in the so-called ‘guerre de Miss’. As Lucire noted last year, the rival pageant was fighting a losing battle, with 36 times as many readers interested in Miss France 2013.

The New Zealand Winemaker of the Year was announced earlier this week as being Hawke’s Bay winemaker, Chris Scott. Scott took out the esteemed prize given by Winestate magazine. He boasts a passion for chardonnay and red-blend winemaking, and with the support of a distinguished team behind him, he has been crafting award-winning Church Road wines for 13 years.
   Mr Scott gives credit to the whole team stating: ‘Our vineyard team have an outstanding knowledge of the region and the individual vineyards, and deliver outstanding fruit year after year. Our cellar team has a dedication to wine quality that far exceeds what anyone could hope for. I know everyone at Church Road is extremely proud of the wines we make and this win reflects the passion and commitment of the entire team.’
   Michael Cooper, the Winestate editor for New Zealand says, ‘Church Road Winery has for decades produced some of Hawke’s Bay’s, and New Zealand’s, greatest value wines. It also shines at the top end of the market, crafting some exceptional chardonnays, pinots gris, sauvignon blancs, syrahs and cabernet–merlot blends.’
   The Winestate New Zealand Winemaker of the Year award is awarded to the winemaker who receives the top score from their best 10 different wines, which are judged throughout the year.—Anna Deans

The Body Shop provides all you need to achieve the ultimate sun-kissed party look this holiday season. The perfect base coat to this look is its all-in-one BB Cream, a colour-adapting tinted cream which provides 24-hour hydration. Step two of this stunning party look consists of creating the perfect smoky eye. This immaculate smoky eye has been made super easy to create with the use of only two products, the special edition 4-Step Smokey Eye Palette and the Carbon Eye Definer. These products both come in either brown for the hazel- or brown-eyed or Icy Plum for the green- and blue-eyed ladies.
   Step three consists of creating a luminous and glamorous lip. Choose your favourite of the wide range of Colour Crush lipsticks. Lipstick is about complementing your skin while showing your personality: red screams vixon where as baby pink evokes understated and girly. What’s your colour?
   The last dazzling touch is the return of the Sparkler. The Sparkler consists of a beautiful bottle full of tiny iridescent sparkles, designed to be spritzed on the skin and hair to illuminate the body. As an added bonus, the Sparkler has been infused with the glorious scent of Japanese cherry blossom. Spritz this over your face body and hair to finish off and perfect this sensational party-ready look.
   Don’t hesitate to be the star of the show this summer and sparkle through holiday season with the Body Shop’s new additions to their holiday collection. All available at your local Body Shop retailing from NZ$24·75 to NZ$50—what a steal!—Anna Deans