Gear up for high fashion

Estonian supermodel Carmen Kass

Models at yesterday's press conference for the Audi Fashion Festival, which runs from April 28 to May 2. There will be at least 12 runway shows, with tickets to at least seven shows made available to the public.

GET set for high-octane glamour when the Audi Fashion Festival (AFF) returns next month.

The five-day event, now in its second year, will welcome more designers from top labels and runway stars such as Estonian supermodel Carmen Kass.


The line-up, announced at a press conference yesterday, includes five designers from three labels - Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten of DSquared2, Roberto Cavalli from Italy, and Marjan Pejoski and Sasko Bezovski of cult British label KTZ.

Only avant garde British designer Gareth Pugh graced the inaugural event last year.


The $2 million budget for this year's AFF, from April 28 to May 2, is also nearly twice that of last year's, said organiser Tjin Lee, managing director of Mercury Marketing & Communications.

The events company launched AFF to succeed the Singapore Fashion Festival, which was put on hold when the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in 2008 that it was due for a makeover. This year, AFF comes under an umbrella event, Asia Fashion Exchange (AFX), which aims to develop local talent, draw tourists and shape the city as a fashion hub.

Playboy Model

Paula Sladewski has been found gruesomely murdered.

The 26-year old, a former Playboy model, has been identified by Miami authorities as the individual "burned beyond recognition" in a trash bin on Sunday.

Labeling the murderer a "monster," police are asking the public for any help they can provide on tracking down the culprit.

"It's so horrific. It's a dastardly act," North Miami police spokesman Lt. Neal Cuevas told CNN. "It's the most heinous thing that a person can do to another person."

Sladewski hails from Michigan. Her boyfriend, who has not been named, is considered a person of interest because he was vacationing with her in Florida.



The couple arrived in Miami on Thursday to celebrate New Year's Eve with a Lady Gaga concert. Cuevas said Sladewski's boyfriend confirmed they went to Club Space on Saturday and remained until early Sunday morning, at which point an argument ensued.

He was thrown out of the club, Sladewski stayed, and that was the last time her boyfriend saw her alive.

Said Sladewski's sister:

"She loved life, she was full of life. She went on a lot of vacations. She was a great person. I couldn't imagine anything like this happening. We can't even give her an open casket. We can't even see her again. She did not deserve to die in this way."

The Icon of Style

She was discovered at the age of 14 by Sarah Doukas (the founder of Storm Model Management) in 1988, at JFK Airport in New York City, after a vacation in the Bahamas. Moss's career began when Corinne Day shot black and white photographs of her for British magazine The Face when she was 15, in a photo shoot titled "The Third Summer of Love". Moss then went on to become the anti-supermodel of the 1990s in contrast to the supermodels at the time, such as Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Naomi Campbell, who were known for their curvaceous and tall figures through out the 90's.


Moss was born in Addiscombe, Croydon, South London, England. She attended Ridgeway Primary School, then Riddlesdown High School. She was not noted for her academic success, although she did excel at sports



She ushered in the waif look in 1993 (which prompted much speculation over her weight) with a highly publicised campaign for Calvin Klein, including posing nude in ads for its perfume brand, Obsession. Her depiction in photographs also drew criticism from United States President Bill Clinton who spoke out against the growing heroin chic trend

Yes, I enhanced my breasts

REIGNING Miss Singapore Universe Rachel Kum has finally come clean. Yes, her breasts did get a boost.

In an exclusive interview with The New Paper, the 24-year-old beauty queen with a 34B-24-33 figure, admitted that she had her bosom augmented.

She also revealed that she had botox treatment to make her face look slimmer, said the TNP report on Tuesday.

Sexiest show in town

THOSE Victoria's Secret babes know how to put on a cracking show.

The models, including MIRANDA KERR in this cheeky outfit, strutted their stuff on the catwalk donning the latest VS lingerie.

The annual show took place at The Lexington Armory in New York and was kicked off by the BLACK EYED PEAS with a performance of Boom Boom Pow.

All the box office Secret girls appeared, such as ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO and MARISA MILLER.


HEIDI KLUM made her first appearance on the catwalk since giving birth just five weeks ago.

The German beauty was due to host the show but delighted the packed-out crowd by taking a turn on the runway.

The previous day, the models descended on Times Square dressed identically in black jeans and leather jackets to promote the event.

Thankfully for fans of the ladies, they were back in traditional attire for the catwalk - with some outrageous accessories thrown in.

US babe Miller wore the most expensive outfit.

The Sports Illustrated favourite, left, sported a $3million diamond-encrusted bra.

Costume designer PATRICIA FIELD said: "It's always a spectacular.

"Victoria's Secret does that extra thing I like."

Brit babe ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY, below, made her Victoria's Secret catwalk debut.

She recently became the first ever UK Angel and proved she could compete with the the VS big-hitters last night.


Rosie Huntington-Whiteley on the runway for the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at The Lexington Armory in New York.

Rosie, who wore a blue two-piece and wings, even helped close the show.

Black Eyed Peas singer FERGIE kept with the lingerie theme for her performance

She showed off her toned pins in a green corset and leotard with a long skirt flowing behind.

The Angels will soon have another addition to their flock.

Victoria's Secret have been running an online talent competition to find their next runway queen.

The winner, who will be chosen by the public, will feature in the televised version of the show on December 1.

Korean model found dead

Ms Kim became a fashion week regular in New York, Milan, Paris and London and most recently appeared during Seoul fashion week in October. -- PHOTO: AP

SEOUL - A TOP South Korean model who was a fixture at fashion week in Paris and London was found dead at her apartment in Paris, an official said on Friday.

Ms Daul Kim, 20, was found dead on Thursday by French police, a Foreign Ministry official in Seoul said. The official declined to provide further details and asked not to be named, citing ministry policy.

Media reports called it an apparent suicide, but officials have not confirmed the cause of death. Her Seoul agency, Esteem, said her family and agency officials were heading to Paris.

Raised in Seoul and Singapore, Ms Kim modelled in Asia before making her fashion week debut in Paris in 2007, modelling for Chanel, Dries van Noten and Maison Martin Margiela, among others, her agency said. She became a fashion week regular in New York, Milan, Paris and London and most recently appeared during Seoul fashion week in October, according to Esteem.

Known for her thick mane of hair - sometimes dyed blond - and her quirky sensibility, the 5-foot-10 (178-centimetre) model was celebrated for her sense of style. She was featured recently in a commercial for designer Christopher Kane's line of clothing for British retailer Topshop.

Ms Kim also was an accomplished painter and video filmmaker who had a solo show of her artwork in Seoul. She often listed 'collecting forks' as a hobby. Bloggers in South Korea mourned her death, speculating she felt the pressure of high-fashion modelling and a loss of identity. -- AP

Guide to bikini hotness

MARISA MILLER has been teaching wannabe models how to look hot in a bikini.

After all, there are few better exponents of the art.

The Victoria's Secret beauty was invited to be a mentor in the next series of America's Next Top Model.



She showed her students several poses, like sticking her bottom out and rolling around in the sand.

We wish our best-looking teachers had done that at school...