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Congratulations to Karen Walker and husband Mikhail Gherman. They're expecting their first baby in December. At this stage there's no mention of a maternity, baby or children's clothing range but that's probably putting the chicken before the egg. It usually happens that a designer gets pregnant, finds it hard to get decent maternity gear, designs her own, then goes into babywear when a similar problem occurs dressing junior.
Hair's the thing
If your crowning glory isn't doing quite what you want, don't worry, because the new generation of ghd hair straighteners is in the country. Ghds are the hairdressing tool that has changed the life of many an owner of curly or frizzy hair. Believe it or not, the new ghds are even better. They heat up faster, then beep to tell you they're ready. Plus the irons are mounted on rounder tongs so it's easier to put curls in. And a great instructional DVD comes with the new straighteners. Possibly best of all is that these clever babies turn themselves off if you haven't used them for half an hour. Sadly, one thing hasn't changed and that's the price tag, but believe us - and every hairdresser you know - they're worth it. Around $380 from professional salons.
Our gear over there
It may not mean much to dedicated followers of high fashion, but New Zealand sportswear label, Canterbury, has just done the equivalent of put on a show during Paris Fashion Week. It's signed a deal with British football club, Portsmouth FC, to supply uniforms and other items. This is the rugby stalwart's first foray into football gear and the design won't be announced until next month because apparently they're using advanced clothing technology that will feature first in shirts worn at this year's Rugby World Cup.
Face this
The success of Australia's Next Top Model has spawned yet another fashion reality television show. The bastard love child of Project Runway and The Apprentice, the show is to be called Face On and will involve budding makeup artists being taught by Aussie makeup artist and cosmetics line founder, Napoleon Perdis.
Britain-bound
Dunedin-based label Silkbody, which specialises in sleek and minimal insulating layers made from silk, has scored an English agent that could lead to its wares being sold in around 800 stores throughout Britain.
Model's novel
Here's a blast from the past. Paulina Porizkova, the beautiful former model who was once a face of Estee Lauder, has written a novel and by all accounts it's not half bad, so you can forget any comparisons with Naomi Campbell's Swan. Called A Model Summer, it's about Jirina, a 15-year-old Swede with a Czech background, who is discovered by a modelling agency and shipped off to Paris. It is not autobiographical, although there are some parallels with Porizkova's life. She lives in New York with rocker Ric Ocasek and their two sons.
