Rising fashion stars nominated for upcoming Walpole Awards

Relaxnews – Wed, Nov 2, 2011

• A model poses at the Victoria Beckham Spring 2012 presentation

Nominees for the annual Walpole Awards for Excellence have been revealed, with relative newcomers such as singer-turned designer Victoria Beckham in the running, along with established names including Lanvin and Tom Ford.

Organized by British luxury organization Walpole in association with Coutts, the awards are now in their tenth year, with an aim to honor brands exemplifying excellence in design and craftsmanship both in Britain and internationally.

Victoria Beckham, whose eponymous dress collection debuted at New York Fashion Week in 2008, will compete with promising fashionistas of the future in the Emerging British Luxury Brand category. Accessories brand Charlotte Olympia, luxury jewelers Annoushka, parfumer Ormonde Jayne and British-Asian creator Osman Yousefzada are also in the running for this gong.

In the International Luxury Brand category nominees include Hermes, Tom Ford and Lanvin, as well as Ermenegildo Zegna and St Regis Hotels.

This year’s ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Banqueting House in London’s Whitehall.

Winners at last year's Walpole Awards for Excellence included Burberry, which scooped British Luxury Brand, while Swiss watch brand Hublot was named International Luxury Brand.

British-Canadian creator Erdem took the Emerging British Luxury Brand prize, going on to have success in 2011 partly thanks to ardent fan Catherine Middleton; the Duchess famously chose a navy blue dress by the designer when she landed in Ottawa during her and husband Prince William’s first official trip to Canada earlier this year.

In fact, so mighty has his ascent been that Erdem is nominated in the Designer of the Year category at the upcoming British Fashion Awards 2011, which follow hot on the heels of the Walpole Awards on November 28 and are considered the UK’s leading fashion ceremony.

Taking place at the London Fashion Week Headquarters and hosted by the British Fashion Council, the awards also mark another opportunity for certain Walpole Awards nominees to claim a prize. Charlotte Olympia has been nominated in the Accessory Designer category, while Victoria Beckham and Burberry will compete in the Designer Brand category along with Stella McCartney and Tom Ford.

For the full list of Walpole Awards nominees visit http://www.thewalpole.co.uk/walpole-events/walpole-awards/view-event.aspx?nodeId=6708.

Meanwhile, nominees for the British Fashion Awards can be seen here: http://www.britishfashionawards.com/news_detail.aspx?id=344

Kardashian, Humphries wed in TV-friendly ceremony

Associated Press - August 21, 2011 4:03 AM PDT

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2011 file photo, reality TV personality Kim Kardashian, right, and her fiance, NBA basketball player Kris Humphries, arrive at the Kardashian Kollection launch party in Los Angeles. Kardashian and Humphries are expected to wed on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 in Montecito, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)Associated Press

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Kris Humphries has officially caught up with Kim Kardashian. The basketball pro and the reality star are husband and wife.

Kardashian, 30, and Humphries, 26, tied the knot Saturday night in the exclusive Montecito area near Santa Barbara, Calif., Kardashian publicist Jill Fritzo told People magazine and E!

The ceremony will be televised as a two-part special on E! in October.

It is the first marriage for Humphries, who last played for the NBA's New Jersey Nets, and the second for Kardashian, star of E!'s "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." She was married to music producer Damon Thomas from 2000 to 2004.

People and E! reported Kardashian wore an ivory gown designed by Vera Wang. Her stepfather, Bruce Jenner, walked her down the aisle in front of 440 guests, including Demi Lovato, Mario Lopez, Eva Longoria, Sugar Ray Leonard, Alan Thicke and Lindsay Lohan.

Kardashian's gown had a tulle skirt, basque waist and Chantilly lace, and was matched with a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, the media outlets reported. The bride planned to wear two other Wang dresses before the night and the party were over.

Her sisters and TV co-stars Kourtney Kardashian, 32, and Khloe Kardashian, 27, served as co-maids of honor.

The groom wore a white peak lapel tuxedo jacket, black tuxedo pants and, a white shirt and a white bow tie, all designed by Ermenegildo Zegna.

Kardashian and Humphries began dating late last year and announced their engagement in May. He proposed on bended knee with a 20.5-carat ring by spelling out "Will you marry me?" in rose petals.

Since the couple's engagement, the pending nuptials have provided constant fodder for the media and the Kardashians, who posted updates about the wedding on their blogs and websites.

The waves of hype that preceded the ceremony didn't seem to faze the bride. Earlier this week, Kardashian said she was "totally calm" about the much-hyped ceremony.

"I think that freak-out moment kind of already passed," she said at a party Wednesday to launch her new clothing line at Sears.