Rachel Hunter and the Russian oligarch

When a Russian billionaire comes to town and invites you to his private party at The Hilton, you don't say no. I didn't. Neither did Auckland's who's-who like Gilda K, Carol Hirschfeld and hubby Finlay Macdonald, fashion star Colin Mathura-Jeffree and media couple Bill Ralston and Janet Wilson.

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One hundred personally invited guests attended the swanky cocktail party for the launch of Russian Standard Vodka on Thursday night and to meet its dashing owner - self-made billionaire Russian oligarch Roustan Tariko who was snapped by Spy getting very up close and personal with our Shavaughn Ruakere.

His fortune last year was estimated in Forbes magazine's World's Richest People at US$3.5 billion. With five personal chefs on his staff (including one Kiwi), the man can have anything. From vodka to banking and insurance, Tariko interestingly began his empire importing Kinder Surprise and Ferrero Rocher chocolate.

Pity Rachel Hunter wasn't at the party. The single gal would have definitely caught the eye of Mr Russia. The buxom blonde flew into Auckland that morning and was Spy-ed being picked up at Auckland Airport by her agent and driver Andy Haden.

The jilted bride-to-be, who was due to tie the knot with Jarret Stoll on August 14, flew in on Thursday morning for a whistle-stop trip. She was home to undertake scheduled work commitments for her designer range of clothing at The Warehouse, including a range of four charity T-shirts that were unveiled at a Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser at SkyCity on Friday night.

Is she sticking around for Fashion Week? Alas, no. Hunter left yesterday, I'm told. You may remember Our Rach launched her swimwear range Lola at New Zealand Fashion Week in 2007, taking to the catwalk not in a bikini, but with a microphone to banter with John Campbell about the collection. This year, she'd be wise to do the same if she wants to relaunch her image, save forever being lambasted as sadly single, a la Jennifer Aniston.

Despite looking impeccable on Friday night in a silk purple dress and perfect coif and sticking around long after most of the guests had departed, Rachel's eyes appeared tired and sad. She arrived with her mother Janine and her agent, but she was steadfastly refusing to talk about her split from Stoll.

It's no secret Pamela Anderson is Fashion Week's big draw card this year. The former Baywatch star will be showcasing her new collection (in collaboration with designer Richie Rich) of animal and eco-friendly clothing that was reportedly originally planned to debut at New York Fashion Week last week.

Anderson is expected to strut the catwalk to profile the range that has been described by Rich as "very sexy with a dash of smile, but also very wearable". Diplomatic Immunity star Lesley-Ann Brandt and Shorty St hunk Ben Mitchell will strut the catwalk in Pammy's show too.


The top ten list of things we're looking forward to most at Fashion Week

1. Pamela Anderson and her plastic assets on the runway, ironically promoting clean and green attire.

2. The Zambesi retrospective show celebrating 30 brilliant years in the industry.

3. Sitting next to Brian - love you long time New Zealand - Long. It's been 365 day since the LA stylist-turned-Miami-publicist was here last time as a delegate, though we're still not sure why he keeps getting invited back.

4. Seeing the boys from Huffer and Stolen Girlfriends Club (Steve, Dan, Marc and Luke) remain living proof of the fact that the hot, straight fashion designer is not extinct.

5. Viewing Petra Bagust's latest kiddie-inspired get-up.

6. MIKATE tweeting from the front row at Trelise.

7. More bored looking All Blacks accompanying Dan Carter to the front row, who, aside from a hottie girlfriend, is not shy to display his inner Euro-trash style. No wonder they loved him in France.

8. First daughter and all-round fashionista, Steffi Key, hopefully making a low-key appearance at one of the shows.

9. Checking out the great Fashion Week coverage on nzherald.co.nz/fashionweek, with live blogging by Simply You's Natalie Bridges and Catherine Smith, backstage interviews by Noelle McCarthy and footage from the shows.

10. Having a flute (or several) of champers at the Moet & Chandon lounge and toasting Kiwi fashion.

 

- Rachel Glucina

 

Photo: Rachel Hunter make a quick visit to New Zealand. Photo / Richard Robinson