Above An earlier photograph of Stella McCartney, receiving the British Designer of the Year Award, presented by Salma Hayek.

At the Elle Sverige gala at Stockholm’s Grand Hotel last night, designer Stella McCartney took home the H&M and Elle Conscious Award, given out to those actively working on sustainability and fashion.
   Hennes & Mauritz, which is the principal sponsor of the gala, sponsors both the Conscious Award and the newcomer award.
   The newcomer award was won by Common Affairs, a Swedish menswear design duo.
   ‘Stella McCartney is a modern woman and designer who shows that exclusive fashion, sustainability and responsibility obviously belong together, and are an important part of a sustainable future for our industry,’ says Catarina Midby, fashion and sustainability coordinator at H&M and a member of the jury for the H&M and Elle Conscious Award. ‘There is a consistent collection and lifestyle, and a clearly communicated vision that inspires her most conscious fashionistas with clothes and accessories that are gentle on animals and the environment, with the highest level of fashion.’
   The newcomer award has been given out since the first gala in January 1998. This year’s prize is Kr 25,000.
   Common Affairs draws on its duo’s experiences at design school in London and working in Paris. ‘Together they create a modern metropolitan collection for men but which girls also like to wear. It is well tailored, simple and minimalist with clear sporting influences, cool and functional at the same time, and Swedish-produced with responsibility for people and the environment,’ says Ann-Sofie Johansson, head of design at H&M and chair of the jury giving out the H&M and Elle newcomer award.

Victoria’s Secret has launched its 2013 swimwear collection alongside its new swimwear catalogue, which hit mailboxes at the end of last week.
   South African native Candice Swanepoel appears in the Very Sexy Bandeau Bikini, a push-up design, on the first cover, photographed by Russell James. There will be four Victoria’s Secret Swim catalogues through 2013.
   ‘It feels amazing being on the cover of the Swim catalogue! Before I was a model, I used to see Gisèle [Bündchen], Tyra Banks and all of those iconic women on it. It is amazing that a little South African girl can get on the cover,’ said Swanepoel in a release.
   The first 2013 catalogue was shot by James at the Turks and Caicos Islands and Miami, Florida, with a collection inspired by old Hollywood and starlets.
   Swimwear trends at Victoria’s Secret include embellishment, prints and novelty fabrics, says the company.
   As part of the brand’s marketing, musical artists are providing soundtracks in the Angels & Artists series, with Bruno Mars kicking off the first collaboration. The first video, Bikinis and Bruno Mars, is shown below, and features Swanepoel and Doutzen Kroes, with Mars’s ‘Locked out of Heaven’.
   Upcoming catalogues shot in Tulum and St Barthélemy will follow. The collection is available via the traditional catalogue, at VictoriasSecret.com, selected Victoria’s Secret stores across the US, and via its Ipad and Iphone apps.

Top The new look for Lucire’s web edition home page. Deeper and cleaner than before. Since this screen shot was taken, we’ve made even more improvements.

Leading a redesign is always exciting, especially when there are more quiet news days at this time of the year.
   If you’ve surfed through our home page, or if you’re a Lucire Facebook fan who got word of it in one of our statuses last night, you’ll notice we are phasing in a new look. Only a few pages have it at the moment—we want to iron the bugs out and get feedback before it appears more widely—but we thought we had better get a few pages looking “more 2010s” and give you the sort of reading pleasure you had when you first visited the Lucire website in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
   The changes are numerous, but here are the highlights:

• first of all, we’ve made it easier for you to share to your social networks, and made those sharing buttons bigger if you’re browsing on a smaller screen. We haven’t optimized the feature pages for mobile yet, but the new look will make its way to these news pages, which, as many of you know, are. We’ll go from there;
• bigger type. As screen resolutions improve, the sizes we had specified type at in the 1990s and 2000s seem rather small. So we’ve addressed that;
• bigger pictures. It’s a recognition of better bandwidth these days. However, we haven’t forgotten that a lot of the planet isn’t on broadband, so we’re glad to note that the basic HTML files for the new pages are actually smaller by 1 to 2 kbyte and we’ve optimized the images for downloading where we can;
• fewer ads. We know they can be annoying. With the new look, we’ve largely retired the 160 by 600 skyscraper size. We’re hoping that despite fewer ads, you’ll be encouraged to visit more, so what we make from advertising should balance out;
• comment forms. Finally! While you’ve always been able to send your feedback, and comment on news articles, we haven’t built in any forms for individual feature stories. That will change with 2013 stories going forward;
• and, on the home page, an animation! This is just us having fun. But we think you might like the top stories in a slideshow. It’s nothing new for a lot of our competitors, and we’re playing catch-up there. Now that we have caught up, we hope you like the first five we’ve chosen.

   In addition to the home page, the ‘Volante’ index page has changed to the new look, as have two articles: Sarah MacKenzie’s 2013 BMW X1 first drive and Elyse Glickman’s 2013 Chicago dining guide.
   There are other little changes, such as the disappearance of the callouts, or pull quotes, and much more noticeable ‘continued’ links for multi-page articles. The links to Digg have gone, too.
   We’re still considering whether to remove the descriptions of each article from the home page, leaving only a byline, to make the look even more streamlined.
   It’s a familiar feeling. At the end of 2002, a similar redesign helped usher in the New Year for Lucire, with the first article on designer Megan Tuffery and her residence at the time, Bruxelles. Until then, there were some lavishly designed stories, and ‘Megan Tuffery’s Brussels’ was created to partly standardize the Lucire look and bring in some more lessons from print. Looking at the page now won’t be entirely representative, since it links to a stylesheet that has since been edited. However, if you do, think of much lower resolutions and much narrower browsers—1,024 by 768 pixels was the norm—if you want to re-create the effect.
   Interestingly, this latest redesign may be the first where web and cellphone viewing habits have driven the thinking more than old media.
   Back in 2002–3, that new look was also considered clean—but such is the nature of technology and changes that things get added, cluttering things up. We wonder how long the 2013 look will remain before it, too, needs a serious overhaul. Two years? Less?
   For now, please enjoy our latest efforts—and look forward to these news pages eventually following suit!—Jack Yan, Publisher

Occasionally, things come in, but, because it’s a heavy news day, we can’t get to it. For example, the EK Ekcessories’ items that went on sale in the UK late last year, but in fact, might be slightly more useful for the antipodean summer right now.
   Motorhead Ed Kalbach started a ski shop in Logan, Utah but, in the American entrepreneurial way, has grown his business to carry over 7,000 outdoor accessories. The item that caught our eyes was the Dri Cat case, albeit for the Iphone 4 and 4S presently. It’s a waterproof case with lanyard that allows you to use your Iphone at the beach or in the rain, and the silicone shield still lets you touch the on-screen buttons. It retails at £24·99.
   For stockists, call 44 1634 201-284; the products can also be found at www.ekekcessories.co.uk.
   Storm’s scented candles, meanwhile, have gone on sale with vanilla, whiskey and fig, and grapefruit and lime flavours, ideal for summer, retailing in New Zealand for NZ$49. There’s more information at www.stormonline.co.nz.
   Meanwhile, we know OPI gets us looking at nails regularly, but what about your feet? Its Feet range includes its Double Coverage (NZ$29·90), Callus Therapy (NZ$39·90) and a lacquer called Last Friday Night from its Katy Perry collection (NZ$24·90).
   In travel news, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, Kingscliff, NSW (20 minutes south of the Gold Coast Airport and 30 minutes drive from Byron Bay) is offering a summer special till March 29, including accommodation in a one-bedroom Spa suite, buffet breakfast for two at Season restaurant, full use of resort leisure facilities and unlimited in-room movies and wifi from A$188 per couple per night, with a minimum three night stay (some conditions apply and subject to availability). There’s more information at www.peppers.com.au.
   Meanwhile, in the main part of the website today: Elyse Glickman and Elva Zevallos look back at GBK’s 2012 American Music Awards lounge, where funds were raised for Hurricane Sandy and the American Red Cross.

Motoring news seems to be outnumbering fashion news: it’s been reported that among Miss France 2013 Marine Lorphelin’s prizes is a Peugeot RCZ, a very stylish Austrian-made sports’ car.
   Given that 40 per cent of the viewing audience watches the Miss France telecast on TF1 each year, it’s not surprising that the pageant attracts big prizes. Depending on the model, the car costs between €29,200 and €39,400 in France.
   Lorphelin says her plans are to serve her reign as Miss France before returning to university to study medicine.
   There are also a 50 m² apartment in Paris, jewellery, a diamond watch, two designer dresses, a video system, a trip for two to Mauritius, and beauty and gym treatments.
   Continuing the motoring theme, our writer Sarah MacKenzie headed to Queensland to test the 2013 BMW X1, which has had improvements throughout the range. Her story’s in the main part of the Lucire website. It’s not quite the first motoring piece in Lucire penned by a female member of the team—that honour goes to former Miss New Zealand Amber Peebles—but Sarah does thankfully break an eight-year domination by the boys.
   And if you thought, ‘I didn’t come to Lucire to read about cars,’ never fear: Paris editor Lola Saab looks at luxury jewellery from Van Cleef & Arpels at its current exhibition on at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris: cliquez ici, as they say in France.

WordPress has summarized the year of this news section, and told us something we know already: that our story on Marine Lorphelin being crowned Miss France 2013 was the biggest of the year. This also correlates with our Facebook fan page numbers.
   It also put France as one of the top countries accessing Lucire during December, though the United States remains number-one for our entire website. New Zealand, the UK and Australia were consistently in the top five each month.
   Last year, we did some quick arithmetic on the interest in Miss France versus its rival pageant, Miss Prestige National. In 2010, the ratio of readers for our Miss France story versus our Miss Nationale one was 2·7: that means, of Lucire readers, nearly three times as many were interested in Miss France than Miss Nationale. Last year, the ratio rose to 8·6. This year, however, the ratio is at 35·6 for Miss France versus Miss Prestige National—not great news for Geneviève de Fontenay and her committee, though if their online viewing numbers are healthy, then their sponsors will continue backing them.
   Our second most-read article was on We’ll Take Manhattan, and the interest in Bailey and Jean Shrimpton because of the BBC TV movie starring Karen Gillan and Aneurin Barnard earlier this year.
   The passing of Whitney Houston netted a lot of interest globally, and our article on celebrities paying tribute to her came in at number three.
   Interestingly, our Miss France 2012 article came in the top 10, as did a story on the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a dress by New Zealand-born designer Emilia Wickstead in May. A 2011 story on Keira Knightley modelling for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle also showed up in our top 10, making Knightley our most searched-for celebrity this year. Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jean Dujardin appear after our top 10, in 13th place.
   The formula remains similar, with pageants, celebrity and royalty gaining the most public interest.
   As noted on our Tumblr, a number of countries were absent from our readership this year. This includes numerous African states such as South Sudan, Liberia and Lesotho, where fashion is hardly a priority with daily struggles, and Turkmenistan, where the state still has a say on what is and what is not permitted. One reader pointed out that in our map, Kosovo was also missing from our reader countries.
   As to our latest articles, pop to the main part of the site, where our Paris editor Lola Saab has her spring 2013 must-haves from New York.

Top Miss New Zealand Sarah Munn, in the centre, with some of her fellow competitors at World Miss University in Seoul, Korea. Above Mary Katrantzou’s design for the Design Museum Christmas tree.

First View

Mary Katrantzou has designed the Design Museum’s Christmas tree this year, incorporating patterns from her autumn–winter 2012–13 collection.
   The collection included a collaboration with Swarovski and Lesage. The tree, measuring 3 m tall, will use Katrantzou’s patterns with a Christmas take on the theme.
   She said in a release, ‘The print was inspired by formal gardens and artful box parterres; these were layered and overlaid to create an intricate maze-like print reminiscent of a hand embroidered lace motif.’
   The tree will be on display at the Design Museum, Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD from December 4, 2012 to January 9, 2013. Design Museum exhibitions on show at this time are Unexpected Pleasures: the Art and Design of Contemporary Jewellery (December 5–March 30), Digital Crystal: Swarovski at the Design Museum (until January 13), Designers in Residence (until January 27).
   After three days of YouTube viewing, Miss New Zealand Sarah Munn is in the lead again for World Miss University’s public vote, with 4,316 at the time of writing.
   Despite having an early lead in the first hours after her video was uploaded, seven other countries quickly overtook Miss Munn as their populations began voting. However, thanks to Lucire readers (and those at our sister publications), Miss Munn’s own friends, and others in New Zealand and around the world supporting her, she overtook her rivals one by one to return to the top placing tonight.
   Contestants have worked at the Balsandong Cathedral bazaar and attended the Asian Women Leaders’ Forum. A Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Incheon Airport will take place on Friday and Saturday.
   Her video can be watched below or at www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Qb2XbFSUA.
   Finally, in ‘Living’ news, Oprah Winfrey has named the Nespresso Lattissima as one of her 68 favourite things of 2012 in the December issue of O. Nespresso in New Zealand is offering a NZ$75 cashback on a Lattissima purchase until January 6.—Jack Yan, Publisher, with Lucire staff

News: our full report from the British Fashion Awards, with videos and interviews, can be found here

As the British Fashion Awards take place tonight, we’ll bring you coverage as soon as videos and photography become available.
   Tonight’s first video, broadcast prior to the presentation of the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Savoy, features celebrities and editors praising the winner, Manolo Blahnik, CBE.
   Anna Wintour, Suzy Menkes, Kate Moss, Grace Coddington, Alexandra Shulman, Franca Sozzani, Lady Amanda Harlech, Anjelica Huston, David Bailey, Naomi Campbell, and Michael Roberts call him, among other accolades, ‘energetic’ and ‘deserving’ in the clip below.
   Menkes congratulates Blahnik not only on the award but on 40 years in business: it was 40 years ago when Ossie Clark invited Blahnik to design shoes for his collection. The following year, Blahnik set up a boutique in his own name in London.
   The video concludes with Bailey jokingly stating, ‘That’s enough, it’s just f***ing high-heel shoes.’