Model Nikki Phillips and her plans to become the new June Dally-Watkins . . .

Enterprising model and jewellery designer Nikki Phillips plans on taking the 'good behaviour' guns on, having created a 2-day course she thinks will assist young women on their 'life journey' . . .
According to Ms Phillips, Nikkinc 'will become the go-to place for building your child's future career,'' goes the spiel.
Nikki hosted the opening of her new concept over drinks in The Passage, in Sydney's Darlinghurst last night, and says her courses will be fun-filled and interactive, focusing on developing confidence and esteem skills.
"Whether they (students) are interested in modelling, TV presenting or are just shy and need to create that confidence,'' she says.
"We pride ourselves on helping build that confidence whilst also teaching helpful skills that later can be applied to auditioning or interviewing for their first job.'
Nikki says she has called on a slew of 'celebrity' friends and business associates as instructors within her courses.
Visit http://www.nikkinc.com.au/ for more details.

Tell us the price son: Camilla, tigerlily, MJ Bale all flying the super-duper sale flag . . .

A couple of great sale details happening in Sydney from tomorrow, from kaftan queen Camilla, M.J Bale and tigerlily . . . .
Camilla:
Receive up to 30% off the Camilla Babylon Collection at Camilla flagship boutiques (Paddington, Bondi, Mosman) including camillaonline.com.au.
Sale starts today to Sunday 3rd of July. While stocks last. 02 8353 1812.
tigerlily:
It's the label end of season sample sale. Created by Jodhi Meares, there are cossies and beachwear for next to nothing from Thursday, June 30 from 8am-8pm.
Located on the Ground Floor, Unit 101, 267 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (entry off Great Buckingham St). (02) 8228 8000.
M.J. Bale:
Receive up to 70% off at the M.J. Bale Laneway sale. There will even be snags on the BBQ from 'designer' Woollahra butcher, Victor Churchill, and a local DJ playing some shop-happy beats. Friday 1st July to Sunday 3rd July from 10am-5pm. Located at the laneway behind 106 Queen St Woollahra. (02) 8208 8800.

Mercedes-Benz reclaims Australian fashion mantle . . . .

The Luxury German car giant has re-ignited their association with style, signing a multi-year agreement with Fashion Week producer, IMG fashion.

Today's media release:
IMG FASHION ANNOUNCES MERCEDES-BENZ AS NEW NAMING RIGHTS
PARTNER ACROSS ITS TWO PREMIUM FASHION EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA
IMG Fashion can confirm that it has reached a multi-year agreement with Mercedes-Benz to become the naming rights partner of the previously named Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, the nation’s premier fashion event, as well as its sister event the consumer-focused Sydney Fashion Festival.
Mercedes-Benz will initiate its association with the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Sydney (formerly known as Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival), in August this year.
IMG Fashion, which owns and operates both events, has enjoyed a strong and prosperous relationship with the incumbent naming rights sponsor, Rosemount, and together celebrated Australian Fashion Week’s 15th anniversary with the broader Australian fashion industry last year.
The partnership also helped to deliver the first edition of the celebrated Sydney Fashion Festival in 2008.
Commenting on Rosemount’s partnership, Simon Marton, Marketing Director, Treasury Wine Estates said, “Rosemount has enjoyed a rewarding partnership with IMG and fashion over the past 5 years. We are very proud to have played a significant role in the evolution of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week and to have successfully delivered the inaugural Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival. Whilst our association with fashion and style has played a big part in the success of Rosemount, we are embarking on a new brand direction which will see us engage with a broader consumer base. This change in direction brings new opportunities for the brand and a very exciting future. We wish IMG, Mercedes-Benz and the Australian fashion industry every success.”
Gavin Allen, General Manager Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific said, "As the founding naming rights partner of Australian Fashion Week in 1996, we are excited to once again align our brand with this premier industry event and continue to strengthen our brand’s global commitment to fashion. We look forward to a successful Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Sydney partnership, celebrating the continued pursuit of Australia's design excellence."
IMG Fashion partners with Mercedes-Benz around the world on a number of high profile fashion events including Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week’s in New York and Berlin. When Australian Fashion Week was established back in 1996, Mercedes-Benz was the original naming rights partner, with the title passed to Rosemount in 2006.
Peter Levy, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of IMG Fashion Worldwide said, “Rosemount’s energy and extensive commercial marketing activity around our events has helped to achieve a significant growth in the awareness of these important industry and consumer platforms. Partnering with Mercedes-Benz signals a new chapter and presents an exciting future for Australia’s fashion community. Mercedes-Benz is immensely experienced and knowledgeable in the fashion space and it certainly gives us great confidence in what the future will bring.''

Hard & tough for 20 days: One Shellac and I'm a Shelladdict . . .

Missy's musings . . . on beauty:

A whole lotta of pals, whose business is knowing about this stuff 24/7, have been going on about Shellac.
When I first heard about it I wondered how shellacing, which is essentially a high gloss varnish used on hardwood floors and smarty-pants furniture, could be a happening thing for your fingernails.
But, after a forty buck glossy manicure that lasted just on three (yes 3!) weeks, without a chip or a break, I am seriously impressed. And for someone who ruins any kind of mani the second I jump into the car, this is yet another way to downsize the time any of us want to spend on maintenance.
The only sign that the end of my first shellacing was nigh came the other night, when I started to slightly peel one off between clapping (and celebratory drinking)at the Sydney opening night of the musical Hairspray.
Shellac isn't about fakes nails, or talons or acrylic claws or stick-ons (many of those were on stage at the show, btw) but about an application process.


So how does it work?
Well, your nails are painted with a base, 2 color coats and a top coat and in between each coat (which is a mix of nail polish and a resin gel) your fingers are placed into a compact, supa-dupa drying and hardening UV light machine.
And honestly, there is no chance of smudging or ruining, as it hardens up in a few minutes, just like *that*
The color choice isn't as big as say, OPI or Miss Frou Frou, but there are enough choices to get you over the line, no matter what.
And what about getting it off to start all over again? Easy.
One of the nail 'technicians' put my nails in some acetone for a few minutes and it 'cracked' off, before she ever-so-nicely scraped the rest off, then buffed, polished and filed my nails. And even after the removal my nails were strong and in great shape.
And then I went through the re-application process again.
I went to USA Nails in Oxford Street, Paddington (in NSW) and for 40 bucks it was well worth having a go. And once you work out the cost per wear ratio . . . it's a good deal.
Oh, and for deets about Shellac practitioners all around Australia, call 1800 449 109

Packer, Zampatti, Hutton, Mini, The Biv & Laurent Perrier . . . what a swell champagne party it was . . . . . .

Gretel Packer with Winestock's Paul Stenmark and his wife, photographer Georgia Moxham
Terry Kaljo and Guillaume Sadourny

The Biv (aka Terry Biviano)

Deborah Hutton

Anthony Minichiello and Michelle Walsh

Carla Zampatti
A 'beautiful girl in the green dress' turns out to be actress, Jessica Tovey (all pics supplied)

SEPIA restaurant, SYDNEY:

Laurent-Perrier, touted as one of the finest champagne houses in the world, launched two new releases - Brut Millésimé 2002 and Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut - over a very smart dinner . . .

Tastings likes these are all very civilised and after all, who was it that said if you drink champagne all night, you'll never get a hangover? I think I just made that up.

The UB (That's the Ultra Brut) was described as a "pure and contemporary style with no added sugar, its delicate finish and subtle balance perfectly paired with chef Martin Benn’s 'Scallop Sushi'."

And yes, twas a swell dinner indeed with a cast list full of recognisable boldface names.

The addition of Gretel Packer (who seemed to be radiating) made the dinner even smarter, on the guest list to support one of dearest pals, Georgie Moxham, whose husband is Paul Stenmark (the MD for Winsetock, who import Laurent Perrier amongst a clutch of other fine wines.)

He said that Laurent-Perrier rarely releases a vintage, only doing it in their very best years, when the wine denotes extraordinary character and reflects the unique characteristics of the year.

Each exquisite course (there were four) was accompanied by a differing glass of Laurent-Perrier from the Millésimé 2002; to Grand Siécle and Rosé. And before you wonder, 'how the hell do they drink all of those without being wheeled out' . . . it's all in the food matching and the amounts served. See, very civilised.

Anyhow, faces included Ludovic de Lageard (he was in from France and is the Regional Export Director of LP) as well as designer Gail Elliott & Joe Coffey; ACP’s Deborah Thomas; Terry Biviano & Anthony Minichiello; Autore Pearls' Rosario and Jane Autore; Channel 10’s Natarsha Belling; Chadwick’s Martin & Michelle Walsh; Terry Kaljo & fiancé, Guillaume Sadourny; Melinda O’Rourke; ACP’s Peter Holder and Nikki Landa; InStyle's Chris Urankar , Maree Andrews; fashion stylist Donny Galella, the Champagne Bureau’s Elisabeth Drysdale & John Noble, food writers extra-ordinaire, Simon Thomsen (Daily Telegraph) & Sue Bennett (SMH) plus Fairfax media luminaries, S mag's Jo Casamento, PS's Andrew Hornery and VIP's Michael Idato . . .

A swell party indeed . . .