Jolanta Jekabsone

Name: Jolanta Jekabsone
Nationality: Latvia
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Haircolor: Blonde
City: Milan
Country: Italy
Fax: 39 02 99989047
Eyes: Light Blue
Experience Year: 2 Year
Shoe size: 39
Dress size: 40
Height: 177 cm
Contact Person: Federico Della Fonte
Agency Name: Bandits Milano Models

Thanks to fashiongear.fibre2fashion.com

Britain's Missing Top Model: Shining a spotlight on disability in the fashion industry

With a plethora of modelling reality shows out there, the BBC's Britain's Missing Top Model, which starts on Tuesday, provides a welcomed insight into the lives of eight disabled models. Set to a similar structure of Britain's Next Top Model, they compete to win a modelling contract and a photo-shoot in at top glossy, not Vogue but British Marie Claire. Contestants include a woman with one arm, another who is deaf, and a model who is wheel-chair bound due to a degenerative neuro-muscular disorder.


Just as the NY Mag points out, the series is an opportunity not only to witness the inequality models (both disabled and able-bodied) face on a daily basis, but it also paints a picture of how industry folks, such as editors, photographers, and agents, really feel about models with disabilities.

Take for instance, Marie Claire editor Marie O'Riordan, who also doubles as a judge on the show. She says: "When I first heard about the programme, my immediate thought was would it all be women in wheelchairs and I knew that if it was going to be some sort of freak show, I didn't want to be involved. But I very quickly realised there are many disabled people who are not in wheelchairs, and that is just one of the many preconceptions we all hold about disability."

Blindly ignorant, or refreshingly honest? I am inclined to think the latter. As the Daily Mail, highlights, 'whether the winner will go on to have a career when the cameras stop rolling remains to be seen'. That is true, but regardless of this fact, it is the recognition of the struggle alone, in an industry so rooted in the notion of appearance, that is the real winner.

Britain's Missing Top Model, part of BBC 3's Beauty Season, starts on Tuesday, July 1 at 9pm.
Thanks to www.catwalkqueen.tv

Hilary Rhoda

First Name: Hilary
Last Name: Rhoda
Nationality: American
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Date of Birth: April 6 1987
Place of Birth: Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
Height: 5'11" ; 180cm
Measurements: (US) 34-24-34 ; (EU) 86.5-61-86.5
Dress Size: (US) 4 ; (EU) 34
Shoe Size: (US) 8 ; (EU) 40
Mother agency: unknown
Agencies: IMG Models - New York
Advertisements: Abercrombie & Fitch, Balenciaga, Belstaff, Bergdorf Goodman, Blanco, Bloomingdale's, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana Cruise, DSquared2, Donna Karan, Emanuel Ungaro, Estee Lauder, Etro, Givenchy, Gucci Cruise, Hollister, Just Cavalli, Lancome, Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus, Pedro del Hierro, Peek & Cloppenburg, Pucci, Ralph Lauren Blue label, St. John, Valentino, Zara,
Magazine Covers: Australia: 'Doingbird' - #13 2008
Canada: 'Flare' - December 2007
France: 'Vogue' - August 2006; 'Numéro' - May 2007; 'Elle' - May 5 2008
Italy: 'Vogue' - June & September 2006; 'Vogue' - February 2007
Korea: 'W' - March 2006; 'Vogue' - November 2006 & January 2008
Spain: 'Vogue' - October 2007
UK: 'Dazed & Confused' - June 2006; 'Harpers Bazaar' - December 2007
US: 'Vogue' - May 2007 Fashion Shows: Spring/Summer 2006: {Balenciaga, Chanel, Hermes, Jenni Kayne, Lanvin, Rochas, Rodarte, Valentino, Wunderkind, Yves Saint Laurent}

Haute Couture - Spring/Summer 2006: {Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier}

Autumn/Winter 2006: {Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui, Badgley Mischka, Balenciaga, Belstaff, Carlos Miele, Carolina Herrera, Celine, Chanel, Chloe, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Daks, Derek Lam, Donna Karan, Emanuel Ungaro, Emilio Pucci, Giambattista Valli, Giles Deacon, Givenchy, Hermes, Isabel Marant, J. Mendel, Just Cavalli, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Cole, La Perla, Lacoste, Lanvin, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Luca Luca, Luisa Beccaria, Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Matthew Williamson, Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, Nicole Farhi, Nina Ricci, Oscar de la Renta, Paco Rabanne, Pringle of Scotland, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, Ralph Lauren, Rochas, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sophia Kokosalaki, Stella McCartney, Tuleh, Valentino, Versace, YSL Rive Gauche, Zac Posen}

Haute Couture - Autumn/Winter 2006 : {Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino}
Spring/Summer 2007: {Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Anna Sui, BCBG Max Azria, Balenciaga, Belstaff, Bill Blass, Blumarine, Borbonese, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, DKNY, Derek Lam, Donna Karan, Dsquared2, Emanuel Ungaro, Emilio Pucci, Etro, Fendi, Giambattista Valli, Givenchy, Hermes, J. Mendel, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld, La Perla, Lanvin, Loewe, Luella Bartley, MaxMara, Michael Kors, Miss Sixty, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Phi, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, Ralph Lauren, Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, Valentino, Vera Wang, Versace, Viktor & Rolf, YSL Rive Gauche, Zac Posen}

Haute Couture - Spring/Summer 2007: {Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino}

Autumn/Winter 2007: {Anna Sui, Balenciaga, Bill Blass, Carlos Miele, Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam, Designers for Darfur, Donna Karan, J. Mendel, Luellla Bartley, Malo, Matthew Williamson, Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, Ports 1961, Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, Zac Posen}

Haute Couture - Spring/Summer 2008: {Christian Dior}
Hobbies: Field hockey
Notes: - Her real name is Hilary St Claire

Thanks to fashionmodeldirectory.com

Julia Alexandratou

Julia Alexandratou is a beautiful and highly sought-after Greek model, actress, and pop singer. She was born on 24 November 1986 to a Kefalonian father, an engineer, and an English mother, a model.
First Name: Julia
Last Name: Alexandratou
Nationality: Greek
Ethnicity: Greek/English
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Date of Birth: November 24 1985
Place of Birth: Glyfada, Greece
Height: 5'9" ; 175cm
Measurements: (US) 34-23-35.5 ; (EU) 86-59-90
Dress Size: (US) 6 ; (EU) 36
Shoe Size: (US) 8 ; (EU) 39
Childhood

Julia Alexandratou was born on November 24, 1986 to a father who hails from Kefalonia, named Zisimos Alexandratos and a mother who hails from London, England, named Allison Hunt-Alexandratou. Her father is a highly-educated mechanical engineer, while her mother is a former model. She also has a sister three years her senior, Artemis Alexandratou.

From a very young age, Julia's beauty and talent were revealed. Along with her mother, she modeled in numerous magazines and children's fashion ads. She has modelled since the age of 4 and has also participated and won in countless pageants. At age 7, she was enrolled in ballet lessons, and later on in vocal and acting training, and she exhibited great potential. Julia entered the Miss Young pageant in 2002, and conquered the first prize, at the age of only 15. During times where there were familial problems, Julia lived in London with her mother for a couple of years. After these times Julia pulled back from her artistic training.

Career

In 2006, Julia returned to the entertainment industry with her participation in the 17th Miss Star Hellas pageant which took place on April 9,2006 (semi-final), and April 11, 2006 (finals). Julia was considered to be the favorite to win the competition, as the judges had all given her all perfect 10 points in all four rounds of the competition, a first ever in the entire history of the pageant, and still to date. Julia also made history on the night of the semi-finals, where she was awarded both of the 'special awards': a crown for 'Miss Diva', and then another prixe of a pearl necklace for 'Miss Lux'. One contestant being the recipient of both titles had never occurred before. However, at the end of the semi-finals Julia seemed to be uncomfortable with some of the arrangements, and had mad a facial gesture after receiving both titles. One the night of the finals, she remained the favourite and maintained perfect scores, but in the time period where the judges had given their opinions, actor Kostas Sommer had responded I think it's obvious that number 9 [Julia Alexandratou], has definitely been distinguished from the rest of the ladies, except for certain behavioral issues. Sommer's comment was later castigated by the Greek media, as soon after, Julia lost the first title to Olympia Hopsonidou winning Miss B' Star Hellas. Soon after the event, the Greek network Antenna that had held it, and its producers received much harsh criticism for 'robbing' Alexandratou of the title, and it was often thought to be a publicity stunt by the network.
After the competition, Alexandratou had exclaimed I've worn a lot of crowns in my life. I really didn't need another one. Many people took this as ego, but Julia had later expressed that what she meant was that I like the work of a model but I am not crazy about it, and that she was eager to pusrue other things. Julia was to participate in the Miss International pageant in Tokyo, Japan, but she did not, supposedly due to budget cuts, or her own will.
Julia made her first appearance after the competition on a live show of Fame Story4, and was a guest singer the Greek song titled "Mono Yia Sena" ("Only For You") by former Fame Story3 contestant Andreas Constantinidis, which was featured as the first single on his debut album and she also appeared in the video clip. The song became one of the biggest hits of the whole year and also had great success on the video charts, ringtones, and download charts. After her participation, she was frequently questioned if she was going to pursue a career in music. A few months later, Julia was a co-host to the hit show Megalicious Chart Live! alongside Mad TV presenter Themis Georgandas. She did many television appearances, and in the course of one year, did over 10 magazine covers on magazines such as Nitro, Diva, and Celebrity. Losing the pageant seemed to have sky-rocketed her fame, and the publicity seemed to never end for the youg artist. Her subsequent fame and popularity, led to her hosting her own show, called Music Bee, with her friend Stathis Aitiatoglou. Originally, the show was highly-anticipated and had an informative theme of music news in Greece and abroad. Unfortunately, the ratings soon dropped, but this was rumored to be because of conflicts with her network on payroll, as well as Antenna trying to change her public image and conflicts in her personal life, and it was speculated that she herself had left the network.
In 2007, she released two singles on her own, "Stohos Einai Ta Lefta" ("The Target Is The Money") and "I Vasilissa Tis Pistas" ("The Queen Of The Dance Floor"). She also made her film debut in a comedy by Nikos Perakis, playing a singer named Areti. She starred alongside actors such as Giorgios Kimoulis, and the film premiered in December, with good critiques. Recently, rumors of recording a studio album and a Hollywood film deal have existed. There has also been talk of Julia pursuing an international career, in both film and music.

Magazine Covers:

Greece: 'Nitro' - ? 2006; 'Esquire' - ?; 'Celebrity' - ? 2006; 'Ego' - ? 2006; 'V Men' - January 2007; 'DownTown' - 5-7 July 2007
Source: Fashionmodelsdirectory - Wikimedia Foundation, Inc

Supermodel Karolina Kurkova has been attacked by the Brazilian media

Supermodel Karolina Kurkova has been attacked by the Brazilian media for appearing too fat on the runway.

Karolina Kurkova Supermodel
Czech Kurkova was slated in the country for appearing in a bikini with what critics called "back fat, love handles and cellulite".

Kurkova, 24, is best known for being a Victoria's Secret Angel whose superfit physique has graced the pages of fashion magazines around the world.

But her recent appearance at the Cia Maritima show during Sao Paulo Fashion Week had fashion critics up in arms.

An article in a Brazilian paper about the leggy 5'11" Kurkova described how "shocked" the audience was when she appeared looking uncharacteristically chubby with "cellulite on her butt."

Kurkova is one of the world's highest-paid models, according to Forbes.

In addition to Victoria's Secret, she has featured in campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel and Balenciaga.

The fashion industry has been under fire recently for its promotion of skinny models and pledged to adopt a more healthy image for young girls who often force themselves to become thin in the battle to secure a place among the top tier.

In 2006, Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston, 21, made headlines when she died of anorexia on the eve of a Paris photoshoot after subsisting on a diet of apples and tomatoes for several months. At 5'8", she weighed just 39.9kg.

In 2007, Uruguayan fashion model Eliana Ramos, 18, died of a heart attack believed to be related to malnutrition.

The shocking deaths prompted a public outcry and heavy criticism of the fashion industry for promoting unattainable standards of beauty.
Source : News Limited

Vishal Retail opens five news showrooms during last week

Vishal Retail Ltd has informed that the Company has opened five new Showrooms, during last week at below mentioned locations:

1. B-10/7B, B-10/7A & B-10/7, Kaunkund Ward, Sheerpur, Sonarpura, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh : Area covered (approx) of 5300 sq. ft.

2. Shop No.1, Plot No. E/1A, Sector-12, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra : Area covered (approx) of 1440 sq. ft.

3. CM-66-67, GIDC, Near Adani Store, Gunjan Area, Vapi, Gujarat : Area covered (approx) of 16000 sq. ft.

4. HPCL Store - Asia Highway Services, Jalandhar Road, Bhoura, Ludhiana : Area covered (approx) of 1535 sq. ft.

5. HPCL Store - Auto Care Centre, Opp.: Mansi Apartment, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat :
Area covered (approx) of 1225 sq. ft.

The tally of total number of stores of the Company has reached 117 stores spread across India, spreading across an area of 23,10,000 sq. ft (approx.)

Vishal Retail Ltd

Woman looks confident & romantic in Herchcovitch’s collection

The women who wear Alexandre Herchcovitch will find a collection filled with romanticism for the summer of 2008/09.

The silhouette is not close to the body, the looks are also ample.

Opting for light fabrics, at times even transparent, the stylist created little overalls, short dresses, blouses and bermudas.

The sleeves are leg-of-mutton; the balloon appears discretely, as do tiny flowers as prints.

Pleats are present in the collection, but the tiny ruffles are what add volume and graciousness to the pieces.

The color chart for Herchcovitch’s woman’s fashion uses light hues of yellow, green and pastel. Black is seen throughout the collection, as is shine.

Thanks to fashiongear.fibre2fashion.com

SIFA launches soothing summer wear

SIFA is one of the most sought after fashion house in Vietnam, as it constantly introduces trendy garments for its valuable clients. The most recent addition in the creative collection is the stunning summer wear.

The entire range comprises of simple and stylish designs that have become quite popular among the young fashionistas who have strong sense of individuality.

This collection includes knee length dresses, capries, trousers and shirts that are made from frabics like cotton and khaki which are perfect for summers.

Soothing shades of blue, yellow, green and pink dominate this summer collection. These trendy dresses are fast depleting from the designer store as it is making the young girls look all the more beautiful.

Thanks to fashiongear.fibre2fashion.com

Fibre2fashion launches fashion portal

Fibre2fashion.com introduces “FASHION GEAR – Constant Witness to Fashion Dynamism”; it’s a new step in the progressive direction from the B2B dot com‘s side. The launch of “Fashion Gear” was done on June 13, 2008; and now the logic behind the name of fibre2fashion has come to totality and wholeness. The long awaited connection of fibre2fashion with the fashion industry has been blessed with eminent existentialism.

Thereby, bestowing its users with an altogether new segment of business within the defined industry line, Fashion Gear serves as a separate portal by itself. Coming to its users as a discrete and independent division of fibre2fashion, Fashion Gear serves the user community with empowerment through information, updates and data, and a channelized medium to source and promote.

The Fashion segment is more suitably a people’s establishment or industry. Due to the individualistic nature of existence within this industry, there is comparably more and boundless scope of opportunities for individual aspirants seeking career bounces under their fashion belly. And such establishment has incidentally conceived professional careers and business spaces beyond limits. The organizing has overall been done in form of 9 different categories namely - News, Articles, Jobs, Fashion & Culture, Events, Designer Dreamz, Face of the Week, Directory, and Illustrations.

Thanks to fashiongear.fibre2fashion.com

Paris Hilton Profile and Biography

Born: February 17, 1981
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius (known for being independent and intellectual)
Parents: Hotel chain heir Richard Hilton and socialite/actress Kathy Richards
Lives in: Hollywood Hills
Drives: According to the terms of her release, nothing anymore.
Height: 5' 8”
Education: Attended several High Schools but eventually earned a GED.
Religion: Known to have dabbled in Kabbalah, although she recently caused a stir by carrying around several religious and self-help books, including the Bible.

Model/actress/socialite Paris Whitney Hilton was born February 17, 1981, in New York City. Thanks to her great-grandfather Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton hotel chain, Paris is the shared heir to a family fortune estimated at $300 million. The daughter of Rick and Kathy Hilton, Paris grew up alongside her younger sister, Nicky, and two brothers, Baron and Conrad, in their homes in Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria, Beverly Hills and The Hamptons.

After graduating from high school, Paris pursued a modeling career, appearing in such national publications as GQ and Vanity Fair and on runways for various New York designers. She soon became a well-known jetsetter, courting media attention for her outrageous lifestyle. Whether it was a short-lived romance with Leonardo DiCaprio or boxer Oscar de la Hoya or a rude remark in a public bathroom during a night of partying with her sister, Paris frequently received bad press for her socialite antics. A notorious sex tape starring Paris and her ex Rick Solomon, which was released on the Internet, didn’t help matters.


In 2001, perhaps in an effort to clean up her reputation, she turned from modeling to acting, appearing in Ben Stiller’s spoof Zoolander, an adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic The Cat in the Hat and 2004’s Raising Helen with Kate Hudson. But it was her turn as herself in the 2003 Fox reality show The Simple Life that earned her the most publicity. Starring Paris and her best gal pal Nicole Richie (daughter of legendary pop icon Lionel), the show followed the girls on their misadventures while trying to get along on a working farm. The show was such a hit, that Fox followed it up the next year with The Simple Life 2: Road Trip.

In May 2005, Hilton announced her engagement to Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis. The couple called off the nutpials in October. She has also been romantically linked to Greek shipping fortune heir Stavros Niarchos III and actor Josh Henderson.

The latest installment of Hilton's reality series, The Simple Life Goes to Camp, premiered in 2007. But her return to television was overshadowed by her legal problems. Arrested in September 2006 for driving under the influence, she had received probation for that offense. But she then was caught in February 2007 driving with a suspended license and charged with violating her terms of her probation. In May she was sentenced to 45 days in jail. This was later reduced to 23 days. Hilton reported to the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California, on the night of June 3. Earlier that evening, she had appeared at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards.

After serving only three full days in prison, Hilton was released early in the morning on June 7. She was reportedly released early for health reasons. To finish her sentence, Hilton ordered to spend 40 days in home confinement.

Legendary Fashion Designer Yves Saint Laurent Dead At 71

One of the most influential and inspired designers in the world, French couturier Yves Saint Laurent, passed away at his Paris home Sunday evening at the age of 71, a longtime friend and associate of the designer said.

According to Pierre Berge, the famed fashion icon, who retired from haute couture in 2002 but was still involved in the foundation he had created with Berge, had been ill for some time. Berge said the designer "knew that he had revolutionized fashion, that he had revolutionized the second half of the 20th century. His designs accompanied the evolution of women," but refused to provide further details.

According to People.com, the designer fell ill and entered a Paris hospital last week, reportedly slipping into a coma Wednesday evening. In October 2006, Saint Laurent slipped and fell outside a Paris restaurant during Fashion Week, suffering slight scratches but reminding fans of the perennially fragile designer's advancing age.

Throughout his almost 50-year career, the innovative designer, born Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, in Oran, Algeria, on Aug. 1, 1936, liberated women with his pants suits and simple, yet chic, silhouettes. Known for designs inspired by artists including Picasso and Mondrian as well as his creations for French actress Catherine Deneuve in the film "Belle du Jour,'' Saint Laurent always saw himself as an advocate for women.

Saint Laurent's best-known creation was the 1966 women's tuxedo pant suit, "Le Smoking", which combined traditional masculine tailoring with a feminine silhouette. Other signature pieces included safari jackets, peasant smocks and the Mondrian-print mini-dress which he debuted in 1965.

A towering figure of 20th century fashion, Saint Laurent was widely considered the last of a generation that included Christian Dior and Coco Chanel and made Paris the fashion capital of the world, with the Rive Gauche, or Left Bank, as its elegant headquarters.

Starting his career early at the age of 17 when he moved to Paris to study fashion but ended up working for Christian Dior three months later, Saint Laurent took the fashion world by storm in 1958 when, at age 21, became chief designer of the House of Dior, making the line famous for his trapeze silhouette. The trapeze dress — with its narrow shoulders and wide, swinging skirt — was a hit, and a breath of fresh air after years of constructed clothing, tight waists and girdles. His success was deemed crucial for the French economy, with billboards and headlines giving him credit for having "saved" France.

"Dior fascinated me. I couldn't speak in front of him. He taught me the basis of my art. Whatever was to happen next, I never forgot the years spent at his side," Saint Laurent said of his mentor.

Shortly after making a name for himself in the fashion world, he was conscripted to serve in the French army during the Algerian War of Independence. Following a brief but harrowing service during which he was hospitalized for three months after having suffered a nervous breakdown, he returned to Paris in 1962 only to find out he had been replaced at the House of Dior.

His departure from Dior determined him to partner up with Berge and established his own label, YSL, at a time when the world became avid for originality and women suddenly had more economic freedom. His name and the familiar YSL logo became synonymous with all the latest trends, highlighted by the creation of the Rive Gauche ready-to-wear label and perfume, as well as astute licensing deals for accessories and perfumes.

He often sought inspiration on the streets, and shaped his style "through women" as he once said, "That's where its strength and vitality comes from because I draw on the body of a woman."

In his own words, he said he felt "fashion was not only supposed to make women beautiful, but to reassure them, to give them confidence, to allow them to come to terms with themselves."

Embroiderer Jacques Lesage, who worked with Saint Laurent for fifty years, beginning at Dior, said, "He invented everything. He reinvented everything."

Aside from the revolutionary outfits he created, he was also the first to use black women on the catwalk. In fact, Saint Laurent is responsible for Saint launching British model Naomi Campbell's career, doing her first campaign for them in the 1990s. Campbell is set to replace fellow supermodel Kate Moss as the new face of YSL.

Thanks To efluxmedia.com