Modelling blog

Lydia Hearst, daughter of Patty Hearst, newspaper heiress who was kidnapped in 1974 by US guerilla group Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) has been announced as the new face and body of lingerie brand Myla.

The model is to front Myla’s new 1940’s-inspired autumn/winter lingerie collection, due in the shops on Monday. Lydia, 23, was awarded supermodel of the year, 2007, at the Michael Awards, often dubbed the ‘fashion Oscars’, and she has been photographed by Mario Testino and Terry Richardson.

Lydia’s mother, Patty was 19 when she was captured by the SLA, as daughter of William Randolph Hearst, newspaper magnate, she was being used to bid in exchange for their imprisoned members. Shockingly 2 months later it was announced that she intended to join her captors. She even posed with a rifle for an SLA poster and called herself Tania. She was sent to prison for seven years in 1976 for her involvement in a bank robbery, although at the time she claimed she had been brainwashed by the group. She went on to serve two years but received a full pardon from president Clinton in 2001.

Patty wed her bodyguard boyfriend Bernard Shaw in 1979 and gave birth to Lydia in 1984.

Jodie Marsh’s latest outfit worn out on the town is the latest in her attempts to leave nothing to the imagination. She attended a fashion party at Studio Valbonne in London on Friday wearing yet another hideous outfit. After the horrendous silver catsuit that she wore last week, I didn’t think it could get any worse, but she totally out-did herself on Friday by flashing both bum cheeks and boobs at the same time, in the cheapest, tartiest ‘dress’ she could possibly lay her hands on.

The perm-tan model showed of most of her tattoos in the piece of fabric that was draped around her neck, with the ‘tail’ her seemingly newest unsightly addition.

Why does she do it? She got her hair cut, dare I say it, nicely, and then dresses herself up as a lap dancer to step out the door. She probably has the potential to scrub up pretty well, and yet she insists on wearing monstrosities like this one.

She appears to be at war yet again with Jordan to see which one can go out in the worst outfit. She donned the eye-watering skin-tight silver and black catsuit to BB8 winner Brian Belo’s 21st birthday. Then there was Jordan, never to be outdone in the awful clobber stakes, despite the slightly more demure look she has been sporting lately , who turned up to her new book launch wearing a ridiculous sequinned, feathery, jewel encrusted, boob squashing outfit, which could only have been designed to grab the headlines.

La Senza has scored (pardon the pun) by enlisted Danielle Bux, Gary Lineka’s girlfriend to front their new ad campaign.

Bux, a former air hostess, is set to model the new range of bras and knickers from La Senza for women with fuller figures.

Lineker, 47 has been dating the 28 year old year old since October. He split up from his wife of 20 years, and mother of their four children, in August 2006. The former England International and Match of the Day presenter met Miss Bux when a friend set them up on a blind date.

Lineka has taken Bux on several luxury holidays, where pics of her on bikini clad on the beach are likely to be the reason she caught the eye of La Senza bosses. Also the reason why Lineka appears to have a year round tan! La Senza have previously used Gemma Atkinson of Hollyoaks fame and Czech model Petra Nemcova to front their ad campaigns.

So you will be able to a face to the name of the brunette model in the windows of La Senza in future months. She will also be fighting off strong competition from ex Spice Girl Mel B, who is now the face (and body) of Ultimo.

Older girls are in demand for modelling agencies - proving that grey is the black. More mature faces are being chosen to to front major advertising campaigns from cars to perfumes. Claudia Schiffer, 38 has been selected for Chanel and Ferragamo, and Christy Turlington, 39 for Escada. Naomi Campbell, 38, recently replaced Kate Moss, 34 as the face of Yves Saint Laurent. But these ladies aren’t exactly ‘unknowns’ - they are all former supermodels, famous for modelling all over the world and have earned millions doing so, so should we be surprised by the fact that they are still getting work?

But it isn’t just the super-duper models in the older age bracket that are getting the work, apparently the market has exploded across the board and thanks to far more women these days in the work force, they have the spending power and want to see people more their own age advertising the products. This age-group of models is now the fastest growing with designers and marketing experts desperate to snap them up for ad campaigns, catalogues and magazines, at both ends of the high-end low-end fashion scale.

Elle Macpherson has already successfully defended her title ‘The Body’ from the likes of Heidi Klum, but now Jessica Simpson is stepping up to steel her lingerie label.

Macpherson has built up a multimillion dollar underwear business over the past 20 years named Elle Macpherson Intimates which has become one of the most successful celebrity fashion lines ever. Simpson is planning on launching her own lingerie range called Jessica Simpson Intimates.

So Simpson is hoping to cash in on what has made ‘The Body’ so much money, and with Macpherson’s lingerie business now worth $150 million who can blame her? The Simpson range is due to be in stores in the US next year and has projected targets of making $30 million in it’s first year.

Poor Elle, Jessica has muscled her way in on her drawers, by basically copying Elle’s business model of bra’s, undies and nightwear, and only coming up with a couple of new pieces that weren’t in Elle’s range - girdle shapewear. I suppose when you are nicknamed ‘The Body’ you never have to think about fat pants!

Lingerie boutique Sheen have raised eyebrows this week by selecting a set of disabled models, unrobed, to pose in their lingerie shop window for new TV show Britain’s Missing Top Model, to be broadcast on BBC Three on 8th July at 9pm.

The new show, mirrors the format of US hot show America’s Next Top Model, but there is a twist, the contestants are all disabled. One unlucky girl will be sent home each week, after being set a number of assignments, the loser determined by a panel of judges.

In the first episode, the contestants are posing for Sheen, only in their underwear including Panache sets. Sheen bosses Jackie Upton and Anita Kane who launched the business in 1999, have described filming the episode as great fun. They agreed to do the show because they pride themselves with their firm belief in finding the right fitting bra for all types of women.

While the models were being filmed in the shop window, shoppers, builders and general passes by would stop to see what was going on. It has caused quite a stir in modelling circles and has been a great opportunity for Sheen to showcase their community spirit. Website here

British designer John Galliano has revealed his latest collection for Christian Dior in Paris, paying tribute to vintage Dior, at their Autumn Winter couture show this week. The collection was heavily inspired by the iconic fifties model Lisa Fonssagives, and focussed on her key looks; corsetry, hourglass shapes, full bosoms and wasp waists.

He used tulle skirts and feminine ruffles with nipped-in structured jackets, and sheer skirts and platform heals to add a modern twist.

Supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, wife of the French president is quite possibly Galliano’s most famous customer of the moment, and is likely to be seen in this latest collection from him, after she was seen wearing a variety of Dior designs when she visited the UK this Spring.

It looks as though Kate Moss is already embracing this sheer fabric trend, when she left nothing to the imagination a few nights ago as she stepped out with her boyfriend Jamie Hince and daughter Lila Grace, in a sheer polka dot maxi dress to a photograph exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey. The see-through dress (worn without a bra) was a daring choice for the fashion-gutsy Kate to make while visiting the predominantly muslim country.

Everyone wants to hear a piece of gossip about celebrities, and what they wear underneath acquires a new importance. When one finally gets on stage, what one adorns underneath gains a new weight altogether, and people want to talk, act, and dress up the way celebrities do. This concept is gaining a newfound popularity everywhere, and people want to wear lingerie which celebrities dress up in. One wants to think of oneself, and make others think the same, as sexy, desirable and attractive. To feel so, wearing a good piece of lingerie, just like celebrities do, make anyone as confident, and self-assured as the celebrities.

In all the departmental lingerie stores such as M&S, the employees have people coming up to them asking for celebrity big bras. It is a totally new concept, and these stores have a whole new line of celebrity lingerie lined up. This includes all the luxurious materials, like satin, silk, and cotton, and different colors too. All in all, this lingerie makes the person wearing it feel glamorous, sexy and as stunning as the celebrities, and makes life tons more exciting, similar to the stars!