William - Not Prince but Duke

HRH Prince William will now bear a new title - Royal Duke. The area where Prince William will take up Dukeship is not yet known and will be decided by the Queen within the next few weeks. Kate Middleton will also be given the title of Duchess, however it will be the same area as her future husband's Dukeship. If William becomes the Duke of Blankchester for example, Kate will become the Duchess of Blankchester.

Kate's Royal title will in fact be Her Royal Highness the Princess William of Wales, Duchess of Blankchester. Although this is her official title she will probably be called the Duchess of Blankchester. However, as with Princess Diana who was never titled as Princess, Kate could be referred to as Princess Kate.

Karl Lagerfeld Choose New Chanel Designer

Even though Karl Lagerfeld has no retirement plans just yet he is still keeping an eye open for a might be successor. "I have a contract for life so it all depends on who I would like to hand it to, at the moment I'd say Haider Ackermann." Lagerfeld told Numero magazine.

Ackermann, who was last year tipped as Martin Margiela's successor at the Maison, was invited to Chanel's latest show in Paris by Lagerfeld - and is understandably overwhelmed to be named as a possible Chanel helmer by Lagerfeld. "What can one possibly say to such a phrase?!" Ackermann told WWD. "Such a compliment! Honoured I feel, how can one not be?! In all honesty tremendously, immensely touched especially coming from Monsieur Lagerfeld."

Louboutin's Secret Past-time

As his company has soared over the past few years so has Christian when he gets the chance. It seems that the legendary designer has an obsession with heights, as is evident in his designs, but rather than a 6inch 'off ground basis' we're talking more along the lines of a couple of meters; he is a 20-year veteran of the trapeze.

"There's something about moving through space, being lifted through the air. I never wanted to lift weights, and dance is too choreographed, but the fact that this looks so effortless, and it's so hard - what it gives to people is beauty." he told the Financial Times.

In other surprising 'hobby news' it seems that  Helena Christensen's passions lie far from the catwalk. "I still haven't given up on my dream of being an archaeologist. I still see myself digging for some old bones in the desert somewhere." " the supermodel told the Telegraph.

Blake Lively - unveils Swarovski Star for Christmas

With Christmas around the corner, it's that time of year again when the Swarovski crystal star will sit atop the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Gossip Girl star Blake Lively (Serena) was given the honour to unveil this annual creation in midtown Manhattan.

"I'm so excited that I could be a part of this today. Every year I come with my nieces and nephews and we look at the tree, but I never thought I would be here unveiling the star," Blake said. "When I was growing up, my family would come to New York every year to see the tree," the California native added.

The star will sit atop the 74-foot-tall tree and contains a mindbogglingly 25,000 crystals. Naturally, Blake wore her Swarovski crystal-adorned blazer to the event.

Supermodel Kate Moss - Most Stylish Woman of the Decade

Supermodel Kate Moss has been lauded as the most stylish woman of the last 10 years by Vogue magazine.
The British beauty landed the Best Dressed of the Decade accolade from editors at the fashion publication, while Jessica Biel has been named the American Beauty.

Lady Gaga has been hailed as The Visionary, while Gossip Girl beauty Blake Lively has been branded The Bombshell. Other stars honoured for their fashion awareness include Marion Cotillard (Screen Siren), Sarah Jessica Parker (Haute Bohemian), U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama (The Independent) and Carey Mulligan (Free Spirit).

Vogue style director Alexandra Kotur says, "At every moment Kate Moss has looked chic and cool. No one has had more influence for the past decade on the way women have dressed than Kate Moss."

Record Diamond Sale - $45.75 million

On Tuesday, a rare pink diamond fetched 45.44 million Swiss francs ($45.75 million | R323 million | £28.62 million). The rectangular pink diamond, which weighs 24.78 carats and is about the size of a pinball, was the star lot among 550 on the block at the semi-annual jewellery sale in Geneva. London jeweler Laurence Graff is the new owner of this fabulous stud and commented ""It is the most fabulous diamond I've seen in the history of my career and I'm delighted to have bought it." The sale price was almost double the $24.3 million achieved by the blue 35.56-carat Wittelsbach-Graff diamond in 2008. That was also bought by Graff.

                                                            The Blue 35.56-carat Wittelsbach also bought by Graff

"This is the highest price ever bid for a jewel at auction," said David Bennett, the head of Sotheby's jewelry division, as the auction room in Geneva's luxury Beau Rivage hotel erupted into applause. "Everybody was surprised it went that high," Mart van Drunen, a jeweler from Amsterdam, commented after the sale. "He clearly wants to have all the rarest diamonds in the world."

Sotheby's said it sold jewels worth $105.1 million Tuesday, also a world record for a single sale. The auction included items once belonging to Christina Onassis, the daughter of the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, and Cristina Ford, the second wife of Henry Ford's grandson Henry Ford II

"I think this tells you a bit about the health of the market," Bennett told reporters after the sale.

France's First Lady - "Western Whore"

It seems that Carla Bruni might move up in al-Qaeda's hit-list. After yesterday's threat on her life, Iranian newspaper Kayhan has launched a personal attack on the ex-supermodel and France's first lady.

Kayhan claimed that Bruni is both an adulterous and lives a "vastly immoral lifestyle". This came after she and her husband French President Nicolas Sarkozy pleaded with Iran not to stone to death mother-of-two Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani over claims she was unfaithful to her husband and then helped kill him.

"Sarkozy speaks up to defend a murderous and unfaithful woman in Iran while it emerges he is apparently very unhappy with his own third wife Carla Bruni, because of her infidelity and vastly immoral lifestyle. Sarkozy, after having cheated and divorced his first two wives, then married the Italian Bruni who has surpassed him even in the area of infidelity." read the newspaper.

New Jackson Fashion Label

In most cases death is sure to be the end of an era, but in rare cases such as with fashion and music icon Michael Jackson it is exactly the opposite. It seems that Jackson will still be setting trends even after his sudden passing in June 2009.

The Jackson brothers are launching their first fashion label, called J5. The brand will consist of men's and women's T-shirts, footwear and eyewear. The style of the items will, of course, be retro as they plan to pay tribute to the days of the Jackson 5 and Michael's earlier days. Most of the merchandise will be replicas of the jackets Michael wore in the Thriller and Beat It music videos. "The jackets are incredible. They are the real thing. I didn't really think of them as tributes to Michael in the beginning, but that's what they are. They represent everything he stood for and everything he's done in this industry, 100 per cent." said Jackie Jackson.

The prices should start at around R210 (£19 | $31) for a for T-shirts and go up to R4,110 (£371 | $599) for a jacket. J5 has already been snapped up by Urban Outfitters and will soon be available on www.j5collection.com.

Burberry's Full Financial First Half Trading Update 2010

Burberry Group plc, the global luxury company, today reports on trading for the six months to 30 September 2010.
First half highlights*

• Total revenue up 17% underlying (up 21% reported)
• Retail revenue up 20% underlying (up 24% reported)
  • Comparable store sales growth of 9%
  • mainline stores up double-digit in both Q1 and Q2
  • Material improvement in gross margin
  • Outerwear and large leather goods drove about half of growth
• Wholesale revenue up 17% underlying (up 20% reported)
  • Up 21% excluding China, slightly ahead of guidance
• Licensing revenue down 3% underlying (up 9% reported)
• Further strategic and operational progress
  • Opened 20 mainline stores including two in India and first in Brazil
  • Chinese retail operations acquired on 1 September 2010
  • integration on track
  • comparable sales for acquired stores up over 25% in first half
  • Digital initiatives around shows in June and September increased awareness

• Looking forward, Burberry now expects
  • About 25% increase in H2 selling space, of which about 15% is China
  • About 10% increase in H2 underlying wholesale revenue excluding China
  • Mid single-digit % decline in full year underlying licensing revenue, with improvement in guidance due to higher growth from global licences

Angela Ahrendts, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"The momentum at Burberry continues, with 21% revenue growth and a material improvement in the gross margin in the first half. While mindful of our strong second half last year, we currently expect adjusted profit before tax for the full year to be in the top half of market expectations. Continued product innovation, digital and customer service initiatives, coupled with the recent acquisition of our Chinese retail operations, underpin our confidence in delivering long-term sustainable growth."

* Highlights exclude the business in Spain affected by restructuring
Underlying change is calculated at constant exchange rates
Adjusted profit before tax excludes exceptional items and losses from the business in Spain affected by restructuring
Certain financial data within this announcement have been rounded.

Revenue by channel of distribution

				% change
£ million	2010	2009		reported	underlying
Retail*#
- Q1	171	140		21	16
- Q2	195	154		27	22
Six months to 30 September	366	294		24	20
Wholesale*#
- Q1	87	58		51	46
- Q2	139	130		6	4
Six months to 30 September	226	188		20	17
Licensing
- Q1	24	18		36	14
- Q2	25	27		(9)	(13)
Six months to 30 September	49	45		9	(3)
Total excluding Spain
- Q1	282	216		30	24
- Q2	359	311		15	12
Six months to 30 September	641	527		21	17
Spain
- Q1	9	13		(27)	(25)
- Q2	23	32		(29)	(26)
Six months to 30 September	32	45		(29)	(26)
Reported total
- Q1	291	229		27	21
- Q2	382	343		11	8
Six months to 30 September	673	572		18	13

Q1 is the three month period to 30 June; Q2 is the three month period to 30 September
^*Q1 and Q2 2009 restated to exclude business in Spain affected by restructuring, which is planned to be discontinued from H2 2010/11. See appendix for more details
^#Burberry acquired its Chinese operations with effect from 1 September 2010. Excluding China in both H1 2009 and H1 2010 gives underlying growth of 16% in retail and 21% in wholesale

Retail/wholesale revenue by destination, excluding Spain*

Six months to 30 September				% change
£ million	2010	2009		reported	underlying
Europe#	224	205		9	12
Americas~	159	139		14	8
Asia Pacific	175	117		50	37
Rest of World~	38	28		34	31
Total excluding Spain	596	489		22	18

^* Excludes business in Spain affected by restructuring
^# 2009 restated to include continuing parts of Spain business
~ Central and South America have been reclassified from Rest of World to the Americas (2009: £4m)

The following commentary excludes the business in Spain affected by restructuring.
Retail
Retail sales increased by 20% on an underlying basis, up 24% reported (2009: £294m). New space generated 7% of the underlying growth, while China, which transferred from wholesale to retail from 1 September 2010, contributed 4%.
Comparable store sales increased by 9% in the first half (Q1: +10%; Q2: +8%), with mainline stores delivering consistent double-digit sales growth in both quarters. Burberry’s two core categories – outerwear and large leather goods – drove about half of this growth, with strong performances also from Prorsum, shoes and childrenswear. Digital catwalk show initiatives in June and September further increased brand reach and awareness. Replenishment, inventory and pricing strategies introduced during the second half of last year led to a material improvement in gross margin in this first half.
By region, Asia Pacific and Europe continued to deliver double-digit comparable store sales growth, with Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Italy and France among the best performing markets. As the Americas continued to focus on improving margins, comparable store sales in the region were broadly unchanged year-on-year.
In addition to those stores acquired in China, Burberry opened twenty mainline stores in the first half, including Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, London Heathrow Terminal 5 and two further childrenswear stores in Hong Kong. There was an 8% increase in average selling space year-on-year excluding China.
Wholesale
Excluding China, which transferred from wholesale to retail from 1 September 2010, wholesale revenue grew by 21% at constant exchange rates, slightly ahead of guidance. This largely reflects restocking by wholesale customers, following reduced demand in the same period last year.
Asia Pacific, the Americas and Emerging Markets all showed above average growth. Sales in Europe, still the group’s largest wholesale region, were slightly ahead of last year, despite the planned continued rationalisation of small specialty accounts.
Wholesale revenue including China increased by 17% at constant exchange rates, up 20% reported (2009: £188m). This growth included only five months of revenue from China in H1 2010 until acquisition, compared to six months in H1 2009.
Licensing
Total licensing revenue in the first half declined by 3% on an underlying basis (up 9% reported). Good growth from the global product licences was offset by the planned non-renewal of the final menswear licences and the Japanese leather goods licence. There was a strong initial response to Burberry Beauty which was launched in July on a limited distribution basis.
Outlook
Retail: For the second half, average selling space is expected to increase by about 25%. About 15% of this is from China (both acquired stores and new openings), with the balance of about 10% from other regions as previously guided. Burberry expects to open around ten mainline stores in the second half, of which about half are planned for China.
Wholesale: For the second half, against a period last year where demand had recovered, Burberry expects wholesale revenue excluding China to increase by around 10% at constant currency, led by Emerging Markets and Travel Retail. Rationalisation of European small specialty accounts continues.
For the second half, wholesale revenue including China is expected to be down by a low single-digit percentage at constant currency (2009: £189m). This includes no revenue from China in H2 2010/11, compared to six months in H2 2009/10.
Licensing: For the full year, Burberry now expects underlying licensing revenue to decline by a mid single-digit percentage (previously down by between 5-10%), due to a stronger than expected performance from the global licences, especially fragrance and watches. This will partly offset a broadly flat performance from the Japanese apparel licence and the non-renewal of the final menswear licences and the Japanese leather goods licence.
The yen hedge rate for the full year 2010/11 will give only a marginal benefit to reported numbers compared to 2009/10, with the exchange benefit already reported in the first half expected to reverse partly in the second half.
Spain: The restructuring in Spain remains on track.
Enquiries

Burberry		020 3367 3524
Stacey Cartwright	EVP, Chief Financial Officer
Fay Dodds	Director of Investor Relations
Jenna Littler	Director of Corporate Relations
Brunswick		020 7404 5959
Nick Claydon
Laura Cummings

There will be a conference call for investors and analysts to discuss this update today at 9am (UK time). The conference call can be accessed live on the Burberry website (www.burberryplc.com), with a replay available later today. Burberry will release its interim results for the six months to 30 September 2010 on 16 November 2010.
The financial information contained in this Trading Update has not been audited. Certain statements made in this Trading Update are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any expected future results in forward-looking statements. This announcement does not constitute an invitation to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any Burberry Group plc shares. Past performance is not a guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial advisor.
Further information on China

• Burberry announced the acquisition of its Chinese retail operations on 16 July 2010. It agreed to acquire 50 stores across 30 cities for a purchase price of approximately £70m in cash. The transaction is expected to add up to £20m to group operating profit in the financial year 2011/12.
• Burberry completed the transfer of 43 of the 50 stores in China on 31 August 2010, with the remaining seven stores expected to be transferred over the coming months.
• The integration of China since 1 September 2010 is on track.
• The acquired stores in China performed strongly in the first half, with comparable sales growth of over 25%. These stores were not included in Burberry’s 9% comparable growth in H1 2010 and will only be included from 1 September 2011.
• The acquisition of the Chinese operations will impact Burberry’s revenue performance by channel of distribution for 12 months from 1 September 2010, as the business transfers from wholesale to retail. The impact on H1 2010 and expected outcome for H2 2010/11 revenue is detailed above.

Notes to Editors

• Burberry is a global luxury brand with a distinctive British heritage, core outerwear base and one of the most recognised icons in the world.
• Burberry designs and sources apparel and accessories, selling through a diversified network of retail, wholesale, licensing and e-commerce channels worldwide.
• Burberry has five strategic themes to underpin its growth: leverage the franchise; intensify non-apparel development; accelerate retail-led growth; invest in under-penetrated markets; and pursue operational excellence.
• At 30 September 2010, Burberry had 164 retail stores, 171 concessions (excluding Spain), 45 outlets and 55 franchise stores.
• Burberry, which is headquartered in London, was founded in 1856. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BRBY.L) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.

APPENDIX - Spain restructuring
As announced in February 2010, Burberry is restructuring its Spanish operations. The global collection is being introduced from Spring/Summer 2011 across all channels. The local collection will cease after Autumn/Winter 2010. The table below gives revenue for the business in Spain affected by this restructuring.
Retail/wholesale revenue by origin – Spain

£ million	2010		2009
Retail
- Q1	6		8
- Q2	7		9
Six months to 30 September	13		17
Wholesale
- Q1	3		5
- Q2	16		23
Six months to 30 September	19		28

The group result excluding the business in Spain affected by restructuring is given below.
Restatement of FY 2009/10

	H1 2009			FY 2009/10
£ million	As reported	Excluding Spain		As reported	Excluding Spain
Retail/wholesale
Retail	311.6	294.8		748.8	710.1
Wholesale	216.1	188.3		433.6	377.5
Retail/ wholesale revenue	527.7	483.1		1,182.4	1,087.6
Cost of sales	(229.7)	(204.7)		(475.9)	(423.9)
Gross margin	298.0	278.4		706.5	663.7
Gross margin	56.5%	57.6%		59.7%	61.0%
Operating expenses	(250.0)	(226.8)		(568.8)	(526.0)
Adjusted retail/wholesale operating profit	48.0	51.6		137.7	137.7
Operating expenses as % of sales	47.4%	47.0%		48.1%	48.3%
Adjusted operating margin	9.1%	10.7%		11.6%	12.7%
Licensing profit	38.3	38.3		82.2	82.2
Adjusted operating profit	86.3	89.9		219.9	219.9
Spain	-	(3.6)		-	0.0
Restructuring costs	(4.2)	(4.2)		(48.8)	(48.8)
Reported operating profit	82.1	82.1		171.1	171.1

In FY 2010/11, Burberry will disclose the results of this Spanish business separately to aid investors’ understanding of the ongoing global business. These Spanish losses will be excluded from adjusted operating profit and profit before tax.

Full report courtesy of Burberry

Ex-supermodel/France's First Lady on al-Qaeda Hit-list

Former supermodel Carla Bruni has been identified as one of al-Qaeda's targets. Bruni, recently married to french President Sarkozy in 2008, had to step up her security more than ever. "Even though she is always flanked by armed officers, she will now also have her schedule altered randomly to prevent attacks," a security source told us.

The fears were sparked after Osama bin Laden issued a personal threat to kill French citizens in revenge for France backing the war in Afghanistan and their new law banning the burqa. - “It is a simple equation, If you kill, you will be killed.”

Her schedule is randomly changed and even her family and friends are not being told where she is going until she arrives. From now on, neither will she travel in the same car or other means of transport as her husband,” France’s Pure People website said.

On a less serious note, after her cameo in the new Woody Allen film, Midnight In Paris, Carla has been enlisted to interview legendary designer Jean Paul Gaultier for French television. The documentary, part of TV channel France 5's Empreintes series, is set to be aired in the New Year.

Images courtesy of One Page Social and British Vogue

Christian Louboutin - 11 New Stores

Yesterday morning, 8 October 2010, Christian Louboutin announced that he will be expanding his brand with 11 new stores. In a very bold move Louboutin has become the only luxury brand to be broadening its retail horizons. According to the Sunday Telegraph, Rolex is considering setting up shop in the lavish One Hyde Park, a new £1 billion London development.

Since the brand's launch in Paris back in 1991, his creations have kept the trademark shiny, red-lacquered soles that have become his signature over the past years. Louboutin fileed an application for U.S. trademark protection of this red sole design on March 27, 2007.

Included in this new expansion product of the brand, Australia can look forward to the first Christian Louboutin store in Australia which will open in Sydney's Westfield Sydney in 2011, adding to the existing 29 Christian Louboutin stores.

Vivienne Westwood to Redesign the Brit Awards Trophy

"Vivienne stands for all the things we want to inspire in tomorrow's generation of artists. She continues to be unique, innovative and not to mention massively inspired by music and vice versa" says Brits chairman David Joseph. The new design will be a more colourful version of the traditional silver statuette and looks to feature Westwood's signature draping. The award's revamp is intended to see "creativity being rewarded with creativity".

Courtesy of British Vogue

Where to be seen (NYC) - 8 Nov 2010

Tonight is the annual Guggenheim International Gala at the Museum for African Art on 1280 Fifth Avenue (between 109th and 110th Streets). Cocktails and auction viewing begin at 7PM. Dinner is at 8PM. Festive attire. The night’s honorees will be Ellsworth Kelly and Julie Mehret. Tonight promises to have some remarkable auction lots. The musical performance will be by the Cast of Fela which includes the likes of Kevin Mambo, Lillias White, Saycon Sengbloh, Corey Baker, Hettie Vyrine Barnhill as well as the legendary Patti LaBelle only to name a few.

Individual tickets start at $1,000. Gala tables start at $10,000. Funds raised from the gala support the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

Schöpfer Super Yacht - Infinitas

Schöpfer Yachts was founded in 2008 as a US based company dedicated to the pursuit of advanced yacht aesthetics and technology. They are among a new breed of yacht companies, which will secure strategic alliances with the world’s finest naval architects and shipyards. Schöpfer is known for the acclaimed Oculus which premiered last year and has taking that model up another notch with the Infinitas.

The Infinitas is a foot luxury yacht inspired by the infinity symbol which has been abstractly expressed within the yacht’s design. She was designed by E. Kevin Schopfer along with Sparkman Stephens of Naval Architects

Infinitas Specifications

L.O.A.: 300' - 0" / 91.5 meters
Beam: 56'-0" / 17 meters
Draft: 14'0" / 4.2 meters
Fuel: 65,000 gallons
Water: 28,600 gallons
Propultion: Diesel electric
Max Speed: 20+ knots
Cruising Speed: 15 knots

The Infinitas  is able to accommodate 16 guests and has 6 guest suites

17th Annual Living Landmarks Black Tie Gala

Last night in the Grand Ballroom of the Plaza, several hundred prominent New Yorkers gathered for a celebration at the 17th Annual Living Landmarks black tie Gala of the New York Landmarks Conservancy. They honored Graydon Carter, Howard Dodson, Larry Silverstein, Marlo Thomas and Phil Donohue, Jonathan Tisch and Bunny Williams with another Living Landmark, Our Lady of New York Liz Smith hosting the ceremonies and yet another Living Landmark, Peter Duchin and his orchestra providing the music for song and dance (with the incomparable Roberta Fabiano on the vocals).

This is an evening of great fun, with an extremely serious objective: saving our city. After the Landmarks Conservancy President Peg Breen welcomed the guests and introduced a video with interviews of each of the night’s Living Landmarks.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy since its founding in 1973, is the only private organization that provides both financial support and technical expertise in preserving and protecting iconic buildings and unique neighborhoods that define New York. Since it was created, it has either loaned or granted more than $35 million to help people save their homes, and their cultural, civic and religious institutions. Their work creates jobs, promotes tourism and enhances the quality of life in our great city.

Peg Breen told me that this year, with this evening, the Landmarks Conservancy had one of its most successful fundraising. And last night’s guests had a great time in return for their contributions and their patronage thanks to Liz and Peter and the Living Landmarks gang – it’s a big group now as you can see from the roster. 

Article and Images courtesy of NYSD