Ksubi - adminstrator says there is 'a distinct prospect of the ksubi brand surviving and flourishing'

This is the latest media release from Grant Thornton Australia Recovery and Reorganisation, in relation to the current Voluntary Administration situation of the fashion house, ksubi.

" '20 January 2010'
Ksubi group update
Creditors of the ksubi group of companies (‘the Group’), placed into Voluntary Administration on 11 January 2010, met in Sydney today for the first time.
At the meeting, creditors were advised that the Group had continued to trade under the Voluntary Administrators’ control with a view to securing a purchaser of the business as a going concern. The Group has debts in excess of $8 million.
The Voluntary Administrator, Paul Billingham of Grant Thornton, also advised creditors that he had received numerous unsolicited expressions of interest in the ksubi brand since his appointment and had met with the Group's major customers who had expressed their desire to see an expedited solution that will secure the future of the brand.
The Voluntary Administrator advised creditors of a joint venture proposal that had been developed in recent days involving certain existing shareholders and the Group’s manufacturing partner, which is aimed at seeing the Group’s business continue in a new entity.
After considering the alternatives, creditors indicated their in principle approval to the proposal which will now be further negotiated and documented with a view to formalisation in the next few days.
The Voluntary Administrator and National Head of Recovery and Reorganisation at Grant Thornton, Paul Billingham, commented: “The relationship between ksubi and its manufacturing partner at both the operational and creative levels meant that to complete a deal without the manufacturer’s involvement would be problematic.
“Although we are a fair way from finalisation, the broad support of creditors, the Group’s lenders, its staff and customers to the joint venture proposal means that there is now the distinct prospect of the ksubi brand surviving and flourishing” Paul Billingham concluded."

So, was Madonna a 'teen' mum afterall? . . . at least it made us laugh . .

Yahoo!7 Sunrise - Weekend Sunrise

Grazia column: Hoyer on Hawkins-Gate posted from the mag's most recent issue . .

Can't anyone keep their clothes on anymore?
Fashion journalist and broadcaster Melissa Hoyer ponders the popularity of getting naked . . .

Naked backlash . . .

The whole Jen Hawkins thing (or more endearingly, Hawkins-Gate) is perplexing.
Having happily met and interviewed the model a number of times and even shared drinks with her at a Gold Coast night club opening (yep, we shared the high life) I don't understand why she felt the need to do that much-hyped magazine shoot.
Jen isn't anywhere near that age - 40-plus - where some women in the spotlight may want to say "I am happy with my body, warts and all', and prove it with such a risky shoot.
There no sagging, post-baby breasts or enlarged nipples; no stretch marks; no sun-provoked age spots; no thinning hair, no tuck-shop arms or even a pot belly - rewarding achievements for those who have them, by the way.)
It's a body of a bloody attractive twentysomething but one which - say those who know about such beauty things - may have already fallen prey to a bit of odd facial enhancement.
I have always found Jennifer Hawkins an extremely amiable, affable, if not a simple young woman - not in the stupid sense - but more in an uncomplicated kind of way - who is also very very self-deprecating.
Indeed, just after her Miss Universe win, she seemed self-conscious and nearly embarrassed by the fame and the prosperity) that came with it.
So the motive of posing naked, at this stage, mystifies even more.
The rationale of the cover shoot was about 'raising awareness', but of what? Awareness of the face that none of us look like tat?
Even Jen had to admit by the week's end that the 'cause' behind her shoot had been lost in the uproar.
Amid that uproar, however, among fashion commentators and bloggers alike, are claims Jen has become much more demanding in recent times for the jobs she is contractually required to do.
So, while those outside the industry may but the lie that is a 'natural' shoot, those within know the creative control she still would have had over it.
Burgeoning fame breeds the need and desire for perfection.
Huge contracts - like Jen has - give people a self-assurance and a confidence that a young woman working in retail earning $40,000 a year will find hard to attain.
By some accounts she has serious self-belief these days. But has she contributed to the body image debate? No.
While the UK's Daily Mail recently touted '2010 as the year that curves will come of age and the the next issue of V Magazine is packed with larger models, it won't be the way of the future.
You can be sure that at the Golden Globes and the Oscars, toned starlets will be wearing body-slimming garments. And as a woman with a seven-year post-baby belly, I won't be chucking away my tummy-holding Spanx . . . . .

The way some started the new year . . . doing morning television. Thank god for the early night . .

The Morning Show Videos - Yahoo!7 TV

Bugner, Miller, Ingham, Waterhouse, Hornery, Loucas, all on Gold Coast for the Magic Millions: it's a pic-fest so who cares about the words this time?

You may like to check out out my Magic Millions race-day wrap . . seen on Weekend Sunrise website

Yahoo!7 Sunrise - Weekend Sunrise

Armani's newest collection - a hotel in Dubai . .

The first Armani hotel (above) to open in Dubai this year

While we start packing our cossies and caftans for a wee trip to the Gold Coast, thought I would share with you some info that has just come through about the world's 'first Armani Hotel to open on March 18, 2010 in Dubai.'

According to the media info, the 'Armani Hotel Dubai, the first hotel to open under the collaboration between Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties PJSC, will be officially launched on March 18, 2010.'

Sure, while this is more a blatant flight of travel fancy than a usual blog, the release continues: 'Exclusively housed in the distinctive Burj Dubai tower, the world’s tallest building, the Armani Hotel Dubai is the first of a series of hotels, resorts and residences designed by Giorgio Armani to be opened around the globe and marks fashion maestro Giorgio Armani’s debut in to the world of hospitality.

'Defined by its unique location, highest standards of aesthetics and service excellence, the Armani Hotel Dubai will be the most exclusive destination in the city.
Apparently online bookings will go live on late January 2010, and prospective visitors can register online at www.armanihotels.com to receive further details about the hotel.
The press release added even further: 'The opening of the Armani Hotel in Dubai will be followed by the launch of the Armani Hotel Milano. Other properties underway include the first Armani Resort, planned for Marrakech, and the first Armani Residences villas, for Marassi in Egypt. Further Armani hotels, resorts and residences will open subsequently in key international destinations such as New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and London.'

Okay, could Sydney or even the Gold Coast be next on the Armani hotel agenda, perched somewhere near Palazzo Versace on the GC?

Whatever or wherever . . . it's certainly looks like a very large inn . . .

JENNIFER HAWKINS: so, what was she and marie claire really thinking? I speak to the mag's editor, Jackie Frank

ALL pictures courtesy of marie claire

If you didn't know by now, 'Jennifer Hawkins appears both naked and un-retouched on the cover of maire claire’s February issue, on sale this Wednesday, January 6, to encourage positive attitudes to body image and support the Butterfly Foundation.' so goes the media release.

So the point too all of this is?

Instead of re-printing the media release I was happily able to pose a few questions to marie claire editor and and publisher, Jackie Frank, today.

MH: How can Kate Ellis and her code of conduct (discussed with Kevin Rudd in Canberra a few months ago) make more of this body issue than just playing lip service to the issue?
JF: The board needs to look at areas they can affect. Apply pressure to the government that appointed them to put money where they can make a difference! Today Kate Ellis said that there has been money put into the health system. Well not enough!

People suffering from anorexia have to wait till they get to a critical weight to be admitted to a public hospital only to be released once they put on weight. With little if any support only to be re admitted again. It is an inadequate system! Money needs to be put into this area to help those in need. The only way a person can get adequate treatment is to go through the private sector at a cost of around 30k.

We ran a story on a beautiful girl who was caught in the trap of not affording the help she needed. Her father contacted us in desperation. She has since passed away. It's a tragedy.

MH: Should young school kids (both girls and boys) learn more about body issues and image? And to be happy with what they have?
More support needs to be pushed through the education system supporting and encouraging young children about loving themselves and embracing diversity.

MH: Many mags, especially many international titles, are responsible for feeding insecurities about our bodies. How can that change? And if there are dollars involved (in magazine sales) will it ever?

JF: Self esteem issues should be part of the education system.

MH: Air brushing, of course, will always be around, so what is publishing a not-air-brushed image proving when they are genetically gorgeous girls anyway! (Jen now and Sarah Murdoch, more recently in the Women's Weekly?)

JF: The idea of stopping mags air brushing is ridiculous as most young people are computer savvy and use photo shop on their own pics! They know how to do it themselves.

Yes, Jen is genetically blessed but no one has considered the point that Jen has made a living out of her body and that makes it even braver to put herself out on a limb imperfections and all.

Very few celebrities would do this and she deserves a pat on the back for putting that message out there. We are saying that nobody is perfect and even Jen has had her insecurities. Women need to give themselves a brake. We are hardest on each other!!

In a further conversation just now, Jackie went onto to tell me that her magazine has NOT gone about wanting every women to 'look like' Jennifer Hawkins, but to create an awareness of bodies, well, being the bodies we are born with.

She also said that in her November issue, she had 18 naked women in all shapes and sizes featured and THAT didn't raise a peak from ay section of the media.

And, that it does take a 'celebrity' body - in this case - a well-known clothes model - to raise an issue. That issue being one of self-esteem.

What I can see is that the main problem everyone is having is that the 'body' used as the 'example' looks a pretty darn flawless one to most of us. Retouched or not.

And let's face it it? A naked Jen on a cover of a magazine? Ummm, of course yhere will be a few bucks to be made out of this particular issue and in this day of justifying bottom lines and publishing CEO's wanting to make a buck, often any moral and ethical codes are put aside.

So, as a money spinner, it just may prove to be a stroke of marketing savvy.

But, it is nice to see the Butterfly Foundation (which helps those who may be experiencing body image issues lie anorexia) will benefit out of the signed 'sale' of the original naked Jen picture.

As for the printed story that goes alongside the pics, Jen doesn't give TOO much away, well, she does lives a pretty simple life but the most interesting part was WHY she said she did this shoot.

' "I would have been worried about what people thought, whether it was the right decision – a thousand different things… But over the past year and a half I’ve grown into myself, and I’m more confident and comfortable within the modelling industry. I did it for the experience… It felt quite sensual and sexy. I felt empowered”.
While naturally slim, and with a body most of us would call 'totally not the norm' – Jen tells marie claire about the hard work that goes into her success, which includes keeping her body in great condition through regular exercise and a balanced diet.'

Thoughts?

2010: a year of Hoyer Style Tips. An on-going blog from lips, frocks, bods, bad hair, de-cluttering & big shoulders. JANUARY 2010 . . . .

Why not? I thought.
Having observed 'style' and 'fashion' and 'pop culture' and 'people' for years, each day in 2010 I thought I'd impart some kind of do-able advice.
Some you may love, some you may just totally loathe.
Either way, I just hope I remember to update it each day.
And don't forget to throw any suggestions this way too.
For Twittering and Facebook folk, I'll be also updating each the tips there too . . . so feel free to contribute. (On Twitter the hashtag is #hoyerstylestips - ok, ok FB'ers, you don't need to take any notice of that.)

JANUARY 1 2010: 'If you haven't worn a piece in wardrobe for at least 2 years, chuck it! Salvo, sell or swap it. De-clutter!'
JAN 2: 'Take a good hard look at your hairstyle & make-up. Is it time for a radical overhaul? Get your friends to tell u the (perhaps) ugly (?) truth . . . '
JAN 3: 'Do not be afraid of red lipstick. Make it your
friend. Don;t use the tired old excuse 'But mum or
Aunty Pat used to wear it, or, so did Baby Jane and drag queens'. Embrace it! And test out a few. Chanel, Natio, MAC, Dior, Armani, Lauder and are some of the best deep, 'blue-red's'

JAN 4: 'In light of marie claire's HawkinsGate affair, just embrace your body shape. It was your parents 'gift' to you (like it or not) so do the best with it you can. Honestly. Stuff the naysayers . . . '

JAN 5: 'Slap it on! Bondi and our beaches well beyond are still a lather of croc-like skin. Remember: there are no plans to turn humans into an Hermes' Birkin bag. Yet.'



JAN 6: 'Whenever possible avoid wearing 'statement' reading glasses. Unless you are an eccentric art curator with a penchant for 'modern lines' the look can reek of serious fash-victim.'
JAN 7 : 'Nothing worse than always wearing top-2 toe-designer labels. Predictable. Boring. Bland. It's just waste of a potential home deposit (or the family trust bucks, ha!, if any of us were ever fortunate to have some).
JAN 8: 'No matter how ordinaire you think you look by a resort hotel pool, there is always someone who looks worse and even more sun burnt. Especially those who are perched on a pool bar stool. ALL DAY. Eeeekkkk. '


JAN 9: 'With hair pieces and extensions gaining more popularity with young (and older) chicks, make sure the hair is 'real'. Not something that look like it has been ripped off from your favorite Barbie. Not a good look doll!


JAN 10: 'Once upon a time we ALL looked in our full-length mirrors and thought we looked pretty damn good and hot. Just remember that moment when you ain't feeling that flash'
JAN 11: 'Avoid commenting about a woman's possible state of up-the-duffness (aka pregnancy) unless you are 100% sure she really is with child. And it isn't just men who make this etiquette faux-pas . . . '
'
JAN 12: 'Give yourself the 'Balmain' (from the fashion house not the suburb next to Sydney's Rozelle) big-shoulder treatment, at least once this year. Don't be scared'


JAN 13: 'Sure, we know a bit of sequined embellishment is all the thang, but be careful with your Bedazzler or too many trips to Spotlight. There us a fine line between haute-handicraft and horribly-home-made.'
JAN 14: 'Avoid spending a fortune on a fashion-now, straw Fedora hat that 1/ will be out as quickly as it is in, and 2/ you will probably lose anyway.' Take no notice of the 'Bargain" $50 straw fedora' sign, when you can pick them up for 20 bucks at a local market or mall.



JAN 15: The conquest for eternal youth is enticing, but women trying to look 30, at 50, often look 60. The aim is to 'maintain' with dignity.
JAN 16: As spooky as it is for some, who are so used to blow-drying their hair dead-straight, don't be too scared to go with your natural curls and waves . . . your 'new' but natural look may surprise you

JAN 17: Instead of buying a zillion handbags, season in, season out, invest, invest, invest in one spectacularly good quality everyday bag that you can throw everything in. Think of the good arm workout it will give you too . .



JAN 18: In celebration of the Golden Globes which are on AEST today, how refreshing it was hear (well, from at least one guest) that she was wearing her 'own' dress instead of reeling off a huge, pre-arranged list of sponsors. Sure, marketing is the reality of the red carpet but some discretion and subtly is kinda nice . . . .
JAN 19: Allow empathy and generosity into your daily vocabulary - as they are THE most stylish traits to possess. The Haitian disaster has bought them out in most of us but it shouldn't take a disaster of this magnitude to do so.
JAN 20: From one extreme to the other . . . .the fash-chicks are making sure this year is all about leather. Not in the S&M sense (well, for some maybe) but racks are full of leather skirts, dresses, biker jackets and jeans. Embrace you inner biker . . . .
JAN 21: All because you may have really long legs, don't always think wearing the shortest of 'Gosford' skirts make them look any better. Sometimes they could look (Why are they tagged Gosford? Because it's a suburb very close to The Entrance . . . another Aussie suburb)
JAN 22: The art of buying jeans: short legs are better in a boot cut; long ones do skinny legs much better; a larger bum needs jeans that are flat in the front and slightly higher waisted (but not waist-huggers as they could make your middle and hips look like one very large melon).


JAN 23: None of us have perfect bods (ok, some may think they have) but where poss, remember to look at your back view (in search of back fat) in the mirror at home. Sometimes we need to be cruel to be end up being kind to ourselves . . .

JAN 24: It may take a couple of weeks to be resolute about your new year resolutions but there's nothing worse than someone going on and on and on about what they plan to give up, or take up in a new year, and they never do anything about it. Commitment is stylish.

JAN 25: The hilarious brou-ha-ha over the 'interesting' choices of on-court attire worn by the brilliant Venus Williams. So one wore a pair of skin-colored under shorts that looked she had nothing on? Good on her. Don't let the self-proclaimed fashion police get in the way of personal sporty style!

JAN 26: Take time to hang out with people you really and genuinely like . . avoid those (which can be hard as you may perceive them as 'great' pals) whose main aim is to bring you down . . Use the 'people' delete button if necessary: it makes you feel a million times better . . .
JAN 27: Use the year to discover (or even rediscover) the great wads of style you can find online. Australian-based, pre-loved clothing sites like http://www.missmoneypenny.net.au/
and http://www.cocolee.com.au/ are doing great job.


JAN 28: If shoes are your thing (and yes, with many women they certainly are) there isn't one thing you will not be able find out on http://www.imelda.com.au/. Heels, boots, platforms or clogs, it's all there. And check out the insightful shoe blog from 'Imeldamatt'. An informed read. Shoes are a subject to the most stylish of fashion hearts: just take a trip into Cosmopolitan Shoes in Sydney's Double Bay or Miss Louise in Melbourne and you'll get what all the serious designer shoe fuss is all about

JAN 29: If there is one skirt shape that tends to suit most it is the pencil skirt. Sure, it isn't going to suddenly ridiculously slim you down, but it won't give you that added bulk a fuller skirt may give you. And if you are a bit conscious of any bumps, don't go too tight. Make it skim not constrict your bod!




JAN 30: Make sure to include a smidge of animal print in your new season wardrobe this year - there must be something you still have in the leopard print department that could do with another airing. And while you're at it, don't be scared to mash-up your prints. Throw the stock/standard rules out the rules and go print on print on print . . . .

Jan 31: OK, it's Sunday, so make sure you have at least one make-up free, hair un-done type day per week. Let the biggest organ you own - I'm talking your skin boys! - take a nice deep breath before getting back into that weekly grind of throwing eveything back onto your face . . . . . .

Chewing the fat on The Morning Show today: infidelity, mistresses, lazy kids and NYD hangover cures, of course . . .

Larry Emdur, Kylie Gillie, SkyNews' John Mangos and myself deliver our 'verdicts' and a chuckle on TMS's daily "Jury" . . . http://tiny.cc/zIGWo