DELUXE: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Kenza for Sports Illustrated

We almost couldn’t believe our eyes when these scorching images of Kenza hit our inboxes, brightening our day in the dreary London rain.

The shoot, for the prestigious US publication Sports Illustrated, got us in the mood for summer and already contemplating our bikini diets. To see Kenza’s full story with the Sports Illustrated team, as well as some exclusive behind the scenes images check out:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011_swimsuit/models/kenza-fourati/

Balloon Dresses

Recently, as you have seen, the balloon dresses are back in fashion It is interesting as fashion are cyclical and always repeats the above. In this case, are balloon dresses which again take to the delight of his followers?
When you know which balloon dresses selected will take into account various characteristics, since it will not get a dress the same balloon long sleeve a balloon sleeve dress cutting.

Beautiful Balloon Dresses With Cute Mode

Charming Balloon Dresses On Blue

Elegant Balloon Dresses With Gold Color

Depending on the season in that we decided to go with other colors. If you are in spring summer season it is best to choose colors yellow, white or orange. On the contrary, if we are in the season Autumn Winter colors we use blue, red or black.

Sweetly Balloon Dresses With Simple Ribbon Combination

Amazing Balloon Dresses

Simple Balloon Dresses With Cute Design

Sexy Gray Balloon Dresses

Sunday, February 27, 2011

New York Fashion Week AW 2011...Xiao

Xiao Wen Ju - so, so cute all bundled up against in the cold in her anorak and fur hat. Xiao is from China but her English is excellent.....I was waiting to take her photograph while she was being interviewed (about her fav beauty products, music etc) and she was as sweet as she looks!

New York Fashion Week AW 2011...Mary Kate

Completely love the sparkly, denim, fur combination on Mary Kate Steinmiller (Teen Vogue's Fashion Market Editor).

London Fashion Week AW 2011...After Topshop Unique

I know it's a bit blurry but sometimes the emotion/moment is more important than how sharp the photo is.
Sometimes ;)

London Fashion Week AW 2011, Junior Street Style...Yizhen

The cutest little girl at LFW, Yizhen (I hope I spelt that correctly!)

Her Daddy said she picked out everything she was wearing....she also proudly showed me her little collection of business cards she had been given at Somerset House. Starting early, huh?!

New York Fashion Week AW 2011...Yasmin

The gorgeous, lovely Ms Yasmin Sewell.

ELITE MODEL Q&A

Elite: Who is your favourite photographer you have worked with?

Shauna: Christian Bragg

E: What was your first modelling job?

S: Hair & make-up test

E: What is your favourite film?

S: The Incredibles or The Lion King

E: What is your nickname?

S: Shaw

E: Guilty pleasure?

S: Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice-cream…and brownies

E: What is the best thing about the agency?

S: The Welsh invasion!

E: Best thing about London/Paris/Milan?

S: London - Definitely the sunny weather HA.

E: What did you want to be when you were younger?

S: A secret agent of course.

E: Marmite: Love/Hate

S: HATE

E: Who is your celebrity crush?

S: Johnny Depp

E: If we took you to Starbucks right now what would you order?

S: Caramel cream Frappachino

E: What song is most played on your ipod?

S: Knockin' on Heavens Door - Guns n Roses

E: What did you have for breakfast today?

S: Cheerios

E: How would you describe your style?

S: Kind of messy

E: What's the best freebie you've ever got?

S: T-shirts with funny slogans on

E: What's your Facebook status at the moment?

S: My roommate is trying to teach me French…key word being 'trying'

E: How much is a pint of milk?

S: 50p

E: What is your fashion week survival strategy?

S: Get lots of sleep

E: Describe yourself in 3 words…

S: Fun, sarcastic happy

E: If you had a million pounds what would you spend it on?

S: I'd get an Audi R8

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Maria Sharapova Australian Open 2011

One person resisting the temptation to talk about Maria Sharapova in the past tense is the player herself. yesterday, the Russian once again disappointed those who insist on regarding her as the queen of the court, albeit one whose lustre has faded. Instead, after going out in the fourth round in two quick sets to Andrea Petkovic, she was a persuasive advocate for putting tennis in perspective.

"There's a lot more in life than hitting a tennis ball," she said. "We can talk about so many cases around the world. We're all pretty fortunate to be able to do what we do, win or lose. Obviously wins bring you a lot of smiles and laughter – but this is sport. It's your career and your choice."

She acknowledged that Petkovic, who is ranked No33 in the world, 17 places below her, had played her off the court in winning 6-2, 6-3. The German looks in fine shape for her first quarter-final here, against Li Na of China. However, when asked how she was coping with her decline, Sharapova bridled.

"I have done many things in my career," she said. "I've won many matches and been No1 in the world and also had an opportunity to say that I've had enough. I could do many other things in my life. I have enough money; I have a great family around me. But when I was away from the sport [all] I wanted to do was to wake up in the morning and not put my ballerinas on, but to put on my Nikes and go out there and run and play. When it was taken away from me, I realised how much I loved it. When you go through it every single day, you almost forget. Then you take a step back and say, 'I miss this.' I really wanted it."

Sharapova joins Venus Williams, Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic, Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic in the ranks of former world No1s to leave this Australian Open before the quarter-finals. Hers, though, was a departure that cut a little deeper with the faithful.

She understands why she has been elevated above the herd. She knows her smile, blonde hair and marketable allure are part of the deal. She has played her part in it. She lives the life in California, on the circuit, where ever she wishes, and is engaged to a New Jersey Nets basketball star, Sasha Vujacic.

Those assets and the lifestyle are in place. It is her tennis that has gone missing, her serve wobbling like a broken windmill after struggles with a shoulder injury and long periods of disillusion, her confidence ebbing by the match. She wants to find all that again.

"I could sit here and pinpoint every single bad thing that I did," she said. "There are many things that didn't work. I didn't get my first break point until it was a set and 5-1. That's not the type of tennis I want to be playing, especially on the return.

"I didn't put any pressure on her serve whatsoever. I wasn't up love‑30 or anything on her service games. That's not the way to play a match. But you can also look at the good things throughout the week and try to improve on that. Last year I was gone on Monday. I stayed here a little bit longer this year. This is the beginning of the year. I always look forward to many things, whether I lose easy, whether I win easy."

She reflected also on the remarkable achievement of Francesca Schiavone and Svetlana Kuznetsova, who were engaged in their marathon match nearby.

"It just shows that, no matter what, if we're in the fourth round or the first, in the final, that is why they put the nets up in the morning is to play that match. It doesn't matter what you're seeded, ranked, who you're playing. That's why they open up that tennis can and have those umpires and the net goes up and the match is in front of you. No matter who the favourite is, you got to finish it."

She is determined to finish it her way. Sharapova is 23.

Maria Sharapova Australian Open 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

Looks of the Day

The Model Sanctuary

Our boys and girls escaped the madness of London Fashion to kick back at the Model Sanctuary in Convent Garden. They were treated to massages, facials and manicures, as well as complementary food and smoothies. So we'd like to say a massive thank-you to the Model sanctuary for keeping the Elite lovelies in tip-top condition for fashion week!