Adut Akech is Estée Lauder’s newest brand ambassador, joining the beauty company’s current roster of models, including Ana de Armas, Anok Yai, Bianca Brandolini d’Adda, Carolyn Murphy, Diana Penty, Grace Elizabeth, Karlie Kloss, Kōki, and Yang Mi.
Her campaigns for make-up and skin care will begin in July.
Akech was named model of the year at the Fashion Awards in 2019 and featured on the Time 100 Next list the same year.
South Sudanese by ethnicity, Akech was born en route to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Her family then settled in Adelaide, South Australia, where she joined a modelling agency and walked in Melbourne Fashion Week. In 2016, she was cast as a catwalk exclusive in the Yves Saint Laurent spring–summer 2017 show, making her fashion week début. Akech has regularly walked for major labels and appeared in campaigns. She has modelled in editorials in at least seven international editions of Vogue, and covered at least three; she has also appeared in I-D, Elle Hrvatska, L’Officiel Singapore, Numéro, and many others. She recently began working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to promote causes supporting refugees around the world.
‘To be part of the Estée Lauder family is a dream come true. Estée Lauder has such an amazing heritage, and the story of Mrs Estée Lauder continues to be an inspiration to women around the world. Like her, I hope to inspire girls everywhere to never give up on following their dreams,’ said Akech in a release.
‘Adut is one of fashion’s biggest and most influential stars,’ said Stéphane de la Faverie, group president for the Estée Lauder Companies, and global brand president, Estée Lauder and AERIN. ‘We believe her incredible story, personality and beauty will help us continue to inspire and connect with our consumers and establish her as a beauty icon of her generation.’
Chiara Ferragni, who has regularly featured in Lucire’s pages in both print and online, is the new global ambassador for GHD.
Ferragni, who originally came to the industry’s notice as a blogger, has since branched out into designing and Instagramming (where she has nearly 24 million followers). As a fan of GHD, she said in a release: ‘I’ve used GHD for years and have always shared my good hair days with my community. I’m so pleased to announce that I am the international brand ambassador for GHD.’
It marks the first time GHD has appointed an international brand ambassador. The announcement coincides with the 20th anniversary of the brand.
‘We are thrilled to welcome Chiara Ferragni as GHD International Brand Ambassador during our 20th anniversary year—she is the ultimate global fashion trendsetter who speaks directly to the social media generation and our digital-savvy consumers,’ said Jeroen Temmerman, CEO of GHD. ‘With Chiara’s unparalleled global appeal and GHD leading technology, we are confident this new partnership, and impending new product launch, will help GHD to deliver more good hair days around the world.’
GHD’s chief marketing officer Montse Passolas added, ‘Chiara Ferragni is an entrepreneur with an undeniable spirit, attitude and unique sense of style—she perfectly embodies the essence and energy of GHD. Chiara was a natural choice for GHD to become international brand ambassador. Chiara loves the brand and genuinely uses it to style her hair, so that it is always flawless and in great condition. She relies on ghd for safer for hair heat styling and long-lasting sleek results.’
Travel planners report that Lisboa qualifies as a super-hot destination now that the first COVID restrictions have lifted. We love the city of Fado, strong coffees and pastéis de Nata. It’s also home to a sensational national art museum with the famous triptych Temptation of St Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch, Dürer’s Der heilige Hieronymus im Gehäus (St Jerome in His Study) and works by the likes of Velasquez, Raphael, Zurbarán, plus a vast decorative arts collection. Portugal is still a travel bargain, and it’s a country filled with brilliant history and the most gracious people. The airport is easy and fast. Lucire has previously covered properties from the Lisbon Heritage Hotels group, whose five capital city offerings we highly recommend. The three downtown properties which have a decidedly cosmopolitan air about them include Heritage Avenida Liberdade Hotel, Hotel Britania and Hotel Lisboa Plaza.
Of exceptional interest are Solar do Castelo, which overlooks the city from a prime location next to the Castelo de São Jorge, only a walk up the hill from the famous Fado bars neighbourhood; and As Janelas Verdes, with its harbour views and optimal location less than 100 m from the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.
Lisbon Heritage has just won a national prize for best promotional video in the tourism category. It can be viewed below and gives the flavour of choice from this exceptional group.—Stanley Moss, Travel Editor
Above, from top:Temptation of St Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch. Der heilige Hieronymus im Gehäus by Albrecht Dürer.
New Zealand- and UK-educated, France-based Karnit Aharoni, profiled earlier in Lucire, has shown new entries for spring–summer 2021, inspired by her grandmother and the photographs of her from the 1930s. Aharoni has chosen to combine the 1930s inspiration with the wild west, on the basis that we currently live in times of change and chaos, and there’s anticipation about what’s to come.
The fabrics are 100 per cent natural and environmentally responsible, sourced from Italy and France, and the clothes are produced in France and Portugal. The shoot was helmed by photographer Greg Alexander in Paris, with Sebastien Vienne art-directing. Hair and make-up were by Carine Larchet (for La Roche–Posay) and Eugène Perma, with Angline of Élite Milano modelling.
‘I believe what we are going through at the moment are changes which would have happened anyway, even without COVID,’ said Aharoni. ‘I keep walking the path I’ve started with … small quantities, responsible production and partners, season-less pieces.
‘I am a woman and I come from a line of very strong women. My grandmother was an incredible person as well as my mother, both very strong and creative. I also have two sisters, two daughters, and friends. I’m always sensitive to their feedback, comments and needs. It’s the contemporary femininity.’
Protest Sportswear shows that you can’t stop imagination from travelling to exotic locales, whether you’re destined for the backyard or the beach. And for summer 2021, it’s the shores of Bali and Hawai‘i that beckon, with the Dutch brand’s range of dresses, bikinis and other essentials.
Key to this season are a number of designs. There are great prints as one would expect from Protest, this season with some small floral designs and textured prints. There’s a larger tropical print with its MM Offshore bikini, and some eye-catching stripes. Protest sees layering as part of the summer look, with the Leni tiered dress and the Hope layered skirt. The Heaven bikini has ruffled straps, while the Kitty bikini has a button-down front. They’ve used Lurex on straps for shine, to lift the two colour palettes they’ve employed: earthy tones (sandstone, clay, and warm yellow, contrasted by coral) and candy tones (pink, mint, and icy tellow, matched with black, white and grey).
Visit Protest Sportswear at protest.eu, or find them on Instagram at @protestwomen.
Pressology, founded in San Francisco by cell and molecular biologist Sally Nasser, is a conscious plant-based Ayurveda beauty brand using USDA-certified organic formulations to heal and enhance the skin. Ingredients include Moringa oil, lentils, turmeric and jasmine, and the products are all made in San Francisco by strong women of colour.
Nasser has a background in Ayurvedic medicine and holistic self-care, and says that from a young age, she understood how clean, organic ingredients worked with the natural harmony of the human body. She was sceptical of the ingredients used by many beauty companies and their long-term effects, and began developing her own products using natural ingredients from her parents’ kitchen. She believes in a holistic, whole-body approach, and that what you put on your skin is as important as what you put in your body.
Items include Pressology’s jasmine rose water, where the jasmine helps with relaxation; its Golden Hour botanical serum with omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 and vitamins; Moringa Meltdown, a cleansing oil; Moringa Mask, a facial treatment with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents; and, what we think is the key product in this launch range, the red lentil enzyme, a facial treatment that fortifies and strengthens skin.
To take things a step further, Pressology donates 1 per cent of its annual sales to environmental causes, and gives back to Project Night Night, which provides sleep-time essentials to underprivileged babies and children. Find out more and order at pressologyskin.com.
