In its eleventh year, the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival features both established and emerging talent, plus shows from the larger retail chains.

The unique aspect? Alongside the industry-only fashion shows, the general public are invited to join in through both ticketed and free events.

With 100 plus events the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival will attract a total audience of more than 190,000, making it the largest consumer fashion event in the world.

This year the Festival's theme is "modern chic" and it will be launching the autumn/winter collections of designers including Alice McCall, camilla and marc, Fleur Wood, Bettina Liano, Lisa Ho, Sass & Bide and many, many, more.

For more information on all aspects, including which shows are open to the public, visit the LMFF's official website www.lmff.com.au

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In a coup for Australian beauty company Model Co. their innovative Lip Lights (yes truly a lip gloss fitted with a light and mirror for perfect out-on-the-town application) has been included in the Vanity Fair Oscar's Bag which is being handed out to all nominees, presenters and Hollywood A-Listers heading down the red-carpet. Now what better way to spread the goss about your gloss?

Apparently Victoria's Secret has given gifts to the six best actress nominees as well. Two of these treats include a Very Sexy Diamond Collection Lip Gloss adorned with diamonds and pink sapphires (you wouldn't want to leave that in the ladies accidentally), an Angels Secret Embrace Strapless bra which is covered with a white gold chain with fourteen diamonds weighing close to four carats and a pave diamond pendant at the centre of the cleavage...

The other hot present in LA is the creation of private retreats where celebs are being indulged in the finest foods, drinks, entertainment and treatments in the company of their friends. These on-the-spot treats will no doubt help keep clear away from any issues that gifts (cars and diamond rings!) have caused in the past with some income tax declarations.

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Set to debut in late 2007 it is a first for Kate Moss - a signature fragrance. This undoubtably further cements her status as the most desired fashion icon of our day. Kate seems to have a hidden magic that makes us want to look like her, have an attitude like her, and now, share a perfume with her!

The yet-to-be-named fragrance will initally launch in Europe, the Middle East and Australia with subsequent plans to extend to the United States, Canada and Latin America.

We'll keep you posted as to what it will be called and when it hits the shelves.

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Gold is one of the hottest colours for the season. And it really doesn't matter where you wear it. Or push it for that matter as Gwen Stefani proves. She was snapped recently pushing baby boy Kingston in a glowing golden pram, quite akin to a portable throne!

As for Kingston he was wrapped in a camoflague print blanket and matching beannie. Too cool. Gwen certainly knows how to make motherhood look super glamorous. Now let's see how long it takes for these trends to hit the streets.

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In this day and age we don’t get many opportunities to dress up, let alone don a ladylike hat (aside from talking our nearest & dearest into getting married). This shortage of events heads the raison d'être ladies love the races.

So right now South Australian gals are rubbing their hands with glee as the Adelaide Cup Carnival, sponsored by Westfield, begins on 21^st February 2007. Now of course the racing is top notch, but the real sport? It’s all about the fashion. And without a doubt the place to be will be the Westfield Fashion Marquee.

To add to the fashion fun there will be a fashion parade in the Tapestry Marquee at Magic Millions Race Day, February 21^st2007 and also in the Fashion Marquee on Adelaide Cup Day, 12^th March 2007.

PLUS WIN TICKETS TO THE ADELAIDE CUP AND A $250 WESTFIELD GIFT CARD
Westfield is giving you the opportunity to win tickets to Adelaide Cup Day on 12^th March. Simply visit Westfield Marion, Tea Tree Plaza or West Lakes, spend $50 or more on new season items at any Westfield fashion store and you are eligible to enter. The prize also includes a $250 Westfield Gift Card to ensure you are in a winning mood on the day. See the Concierge Desk at the above Westfield centres for details*.

* Competition closes March 9th, 2007, terms and conditions apply.

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The Australian fashion media went into an absolute frenzy when it was announced that Stella McCartney, award-winning international designer and daughter of ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, has teamed with Target. Stella's limited-edition collection is part of Target's Autumn/Winter 2007 range, which will be available in stores on March 12th.

"Stella Steel", as she is known to journalists worldwide, started designing for label Chloe and now has an eponymous line with the Gucci group, has done something similar in Europe and North America. In late 2005 she teamed with H&M, a hugely popular fashion retailer famed for bringing runway inspired, yet affordable, fashion to their customers, designing an autumn/winter range for them to sell.

To get their hands on Stella's H&M range fashion hungry consumers were lining up on the streets outside their stores before the doors opened. In the mayhem that ensued all the items sold out in under an hour, with items even being pulled of store mannequins.

Undoubtedly Stella's 42-piece Target range will generate the same popularity as her H&M collection, so make sure to mark March 12th in the diary - it might be a good morning to take off work!*

* If you want to get a sneak peek Australia's marie claire magazine has a feature on Stella and the range in their March 2007 issue

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Playing the part of Andy Warhol's muse, party girl Edie Sedgewick, in the biopic flim 'Factory Girl' certainly put actress Sienna Miller in a revealing frame of mind. Attention seeking was Edie's trademark, so when Sienna turned up at the afterparty of the film's New York launch in what appeared to be Le Mystere control top panties with nothing over the top it was to be expected .

According to press reports Sienna has stocked up on Le Mystere the week earlier in Los Angeles after forgetting to pack her "knickers" for the trip. Perhaps she simply wanted to show off her new purchases to the Hotel Chelsea crowd? That and a guarantee of plenty of publicity for herself and the film. She succeeded on both counts.

What's concerning the fashion industry is the follow-the-leader syndrome that Sienna triggers. Let's face it, if she looked pretty silly in this outfit how tragic will the rest of the population appear?

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