Very blond, well-boned, expensively jeaned buyers have been pouring into East Village apartments for so long that it’s hard to find new excuses to complain about the area’s über-gentrification. But then again, it’s hard to remember when someone as upsettingly young as Lily Donaldson, the 21-year-old Vogue cover girl, spent anything like $2.2 million on a neighborhood apartment, especially one that happens to be as far east as Avenue B.
Her new two-bedroom place on Tompkins Square Park around East Eighth Street could be the most expensive co-op ever sold on the block, The New York Observer reports.
She has Brazilian cherry wood floors (“that glow with the setting sun,” according to it's listing), two bathrooms with original pedestal sinks and cast iron tubs, a 40-foot-long living room with six windows facing three directions, and, of course, a dressing room off one of the two bedrooms.
On the downside, the building is massively nondescript and un-frilled, plus the apartment needs work. “I’d put money into it,” Mr. Davis said, “I’d bet she will, too.”
Ms. Donaldson was “the highest bidder and very qualified. The board liked her and approval was unanimous, which is always a concern when you’re dealing with a young model,” the broker said. “You’re never sure how a board would see her.”
The reason why Agyness Deyn was dropped as the face of Burberry can now be revealed.
An insider at the fashion house told me that celebrity snapper Mario Testino – described as the company's advertising visionary – is fed up with the hype surrounding the elfin model who aimed to topple Kate Moss as the queen of British fashion.
Asked why Agy had been dropped less than a year after pinching the role from her rival, the checked-cap mole told me: 'She was just a flash in the pan. Last year she was quirky but now she is challenging Moss in the fame stake
s by positioning herself everywhere. That kind of popularity just hasn't sat well with Mario, who is looking for something different'.
Deyn, real name Laura Hollins, has long played the fame game.
She is a regular on the celebrity circuit and has made several high-profile showbiz appearances, including presenting a prize at the NME music awards and collecting the model of the year gong at the Elle style awards. She has also just made a pop music video.
But the 26-year-old's attempts to eclipse Moss in the popularity stakes seem to have backfired – as well as losing the Burberry contract she also failed to make a list of the top ten richest models, in which Moss came third. To make matters worse, it seems Testino is not just looking for a new face – he wants a younger one, too.
The snapper – famed for his photos of Princess Diana – is thought to want to replace Deyn with 21-year-old Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
The Devon beauty, a D&G underwear model, has reportedly already been booked to front Burberry's autumn campaign.
Asked why Agy had been dropped less than a year after pinching the role from her rival, the checked-cap mole told me: 'She was just a flash in the pan. Last year she was quirky but now she is challenging Moss in the fame stakes by positioning herself everywhere. That kind of popularity just hasn't sat well with Mario, who is looking for something different'.
Pictured, Rosie at dinner hosted by Jefferson Hack in New York this month.
Monday night saw the rich and famous strutting their stuff on the red carpet at the entrance to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, in aid of fashion's biggest event - the Costume Institute Gala, complete with superhero theme.
Many a celebrity was in attendance, including the Beckhams, Julia Roberts, Eva Longoria, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise - but what really matters around here, the models, are the ones who really stole the show.
A good amount of the industry's most prominent models were there as guests of the top designers. The best dressed of the night included regular guests Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady, wearing Atelier Versace and Tom Ford respectively (pictured); Jessica Stam in Proenza Schouler; Karolina Kurkova in Vera Wang; Natasha Poly in Phi; Liya Kebede in Jonathon Saunders and Kate Moss in Stella McCartney.
Relative newcomers to the guestlist included Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, looking stunning with new bangs and in Burberry Prorsum (pictured); Lily Donaldson, also in Burberry Prorsum; Doutzen Kroes in threeasfour, Anja Rubik and Coco Rocha, both in Pucci and Jourdan Dunn in Bill Blass.
Overall the night was an overwhelming success on the model front, and witha wide choice of afterparties to keep them going into the early hours, it's really no suprise!
Smiling model mum-to-be Alessandra Ambrosio has been spotted taking some well earned rest this week with friends and boyfriend Jamie Mazur at Coachella music festival in California; she has also been spotted shopping several times in Los Angeles at both Kitson and Ed Hardy. The baby is believed to be due around early September.
(Pictured here; Richard Habberley, Tatiana Fontes, Alessandra, Jamie Mazur and unknown)
Monday brings the Metropolitan Museum's annual Costume Institute Gala, one of the biggest events on New York's fashion calendar. Designers attend, accompanied by models, and it's generally one very glitzy affair! So, which models are attending this year and in aid of which designer?
So far we have news of Anja Rubik, Coco Rocha, Joy Bryant (Pucci), Sasha Pivorarova (Rag & Bone), Kate Moss (Stella McCartney), Gisele Bundchen, Isabeli Fontana, Molly Sims (Versace), Caroline Trentini (Philip Crangi), Jourdan Dunn (Peter Som), Iekeliene Stange (Oscar De La Renta), Jessica Stam (Proenza Schouler), Helena Christensen, Karen Elson (Marc Jacobs) Lily Donaldson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Burberry) plus Natalia Vodianova, Chanel Iman, Stephanie Seymour, Lauren Hutton, Raquel Zimmermann, Amber Valletta, Karolina Kurkova, and Carolyn Murphy. Hopefully we'll be able to get some pics up, and more info on who attended, later in the week.
Miranda Kerr may look the goods but she still needs her beauty sleep. And rest is what the Gunnedah gal caught up on yesterday, after jetting into town from New York - with some special baggage in tow, boyfriend Orlando Bloom.
After celebrating her birthday in the Big Apple on Sunday, the star couple spent most of their first day in Sydney together holed up in her five-star city hotel suite.
While she's preparing to meet the fashion press - to be introduced as David Jones's new ambassador at a gala dinner tonight - it's believed Bloom is nervously bracing himself to meet her father, John, for the first time.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star has already won over Kerr's mum, Therese, recently treating her to a luxury shopping trip along Beverley Hills' famous Rodeo Drive. But the prospect of presenting himself for review with his new love's dad could well have inspired Bloom's afternoon dash to DJs menswear department yesterday, where shoppers spied the actor trying on suits.
Kerr may be pocketing the big bucks from her new endorsement deal with the retailer, but it was her actor beau who spent up during a two-hour trawl around the Market Street store. Excited customers reported the star snapped up a suit and other accessories.
While he could be out to impress dad, the rumour sweeping social circles was Bloom could be a late starter at Royal Randwick this Saturday, for the Australian Jockey Club running of the David Jones Doncaster Day. Sydney's VIP racing set, with invite-only access to the glamour marquees, are likely to be among the first to rub shoulders with the hot Hollywood pairing. Kerr is also expected to make appearances at next week's annual frockfest, again on duty for DJs.
Yes, I know in the some parts of the world summer hasn't even come around yet but already we are getting confirmations of who will be advertising for what in the F/W 08 season. Here's just I few we've learned so far concerning the girls we usually report on......
Abbey Lee Kershaw - CK Jeans, Gucci
Anja Rubik - Oscar De Le Renta
Carmen Kass - Micheal Kors
Cintia Dicker - Tom Ford Eyewear
Daria Werbowy - Dior
Flavia Oliviera - Tommy Hilfiger
Isabeli Fontana - Versace, Belstaff, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino
Izabel Goulart - Armani Exchange
Jessica Stam - Luisa Cerano, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani
Karlie Kloss - Bulgari Fragrance, CK Jeans, GAP
Kate Moss - Roberto Cavalli
Lily Donaldson - Gucci
Naomi Campbell - Yves Saint Laurent
Natasha Poly - Dolce & Gabbana, Jil Sander, Blumarine
Natalia Vodianova - Versace
Raquel Zimmerman - Fendi
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - D&G Underwear, Burberry
Suvi Koponen - Calvin Klein Collection
Remember these aren't all the campaigns, and some models are likely to be confirmed for more as we near the winter months so watch this space...
I know we've been awash with baby stories lately but you know you secretly love 'em! As we expected rumours are doing the rounds and already there is speculation regarding Alessandra Ambrosio and her pregnancy. According to undisclosed sources she has apparently told friends and family her and boyfriend Jamie Mazur are expecting a girl, due in September.
Sorry, I couldn't resist with the title! It's just too obvious. The first pictures surfaced yesterday of brazilian hottie Gisele, boyfriend/all star quarterback Tom Brady and his son - John Edward being carried by Gisele outside Bridget Moynahan's California home. Not sure about everyone else but we're loving how Gisele looks with the baby! Hopefully it won't be too long before she has one of her own!
Brazilian model and mother-to-be Alessandra Ambrosio was out shopping earlier this week with her long-time boyfriend Jaime Mazur on Roberson Boulevard in West Hollywood. We got the EXCLUSIVE shots of the two shopping in stores like Curves and Stella McCartney, and even stopping for a restroom break and some coffee at the local Starbucks. The baby must have been kicking while they did some browsing, because Alessandra kept grabbing her growing tummy throughout the trip. Alessandra has to be one of the most beautiful pregnant ladies we’ve ever seen! All women have an inner glow that makes them shine when they’re pregnant, but that light must be bursting from Alessandra’s pores.
Also, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the girl who turned 27 yesterday!
Very blond, well-boned, expensively jeaned buyers have been pouring into East Village apartments for so long that it’s hard to find new excuses to complain about the area’s über-gentrification. But then again, it’s hard to remember when someone as upsettingly young as Lily Donaldson, the 21-year-old Vogue cover girl, spent anything like $2.2 million on a neighborhood apartment, especially one that happens to be as far east as Avenue B.
