Prada seem to have taken pole position yet again with their new Spring/Summer 09 advertising campaign. Photographed by the highly acclaimed Stephen Meisel and Heidi Slimane, the collection is Classicism with an edge.

The women’s collection has been shot to look like an ancient stone bas-relief.
Like the mythological characters, the models are positioned as though they are all interconnected, creating a dance-like effect. With porcelain skin against the brilliant gold and python print, Meisel shows just how integration between ancient and contemporary is done.

For the menswear, Heidi Slimane captures timeless classicism with black and white and poetic stillness. It certainly helps having the sons of Punk Band, The Clash, as models. They’re not professionals, which gives the brand a rebel- like quality. With the mix of elegance and wickedness, it’s clear that Prada will be attracting a lot of attention with this new campaign.

www.prada.com

When Christmas rolled around again, cinema-goers were expecting the usual Harry Potter release, filled with magical effects and festive cheer. When the latest instalment was delayed, and we were handed Twilight instead, a fantasy vampire movie based on novels by Stephanie Meyer, few would have anticipated chart-topping success, let alone the spawning of a media phenomenon - but here it is.

Twilight topped the box office on its opening weekend, taking £2.5 million following a massive $49.6 million in the US the week previous. The London premiere caused quite a commotion, with hundreds of teenage fans turning out to catch the attentions of leading man Robert Pattinson, who has racked up a host of awards in recent months declaring him the hottest new talent around (LA Times, Forbes, Entertainment Tonight…). The cast have featured in glossy editions of Vanity Fair and In Style, with the boys also taking a spot in Vman magazine.

More surprising, however, is the creation of a Twilight fragrance - yes, a movie-based perfume - which is now available at US store Hot Topic, or at Play in the UK. It is also rumoured that SJP will be following her fragrance Covet with her very own Twilight. Catching a whiff of a trend here…

www.twilightthemovie.com

When the third Miu Miu shop opened this year in New York, the avid fans gave a sigh of relief. House prices may be plummeting, Woolworths may be going under but Miu Miu remains bullish in the retail world.

Who would expect otherwise though, when Miu Miu is one of the 220 stores managed by the Prada Group. Formed by Prada in 1993, it’s no wonder that Miu Miu retains a sensual and sophisticated touch throughout its collections. Patrizio Bertelli, Prada’s chairman and chief executive officer, told WWD, “Miu Miu, with its strong and independent identity, has reached a worldwide success and recognition. In just a few years, the growth registered in all its sectors confirms its position as one of the global reference brands in the luxury industry.”

It also seems that nothing will be spared to entice those weak shoppers to swerve in their direction this holiday. Although Christmas might be over Miu Miu is keeping their innovative window displays for a while longer to sway shoppers their way.

The window display designed exclusively for New York - 11 East 57th Street- shows a slightly grander piece than the other stores, with decorations from unique and elegant objects.

Each piece is created especially for the New Store and aims to provide a preview for the Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2009 Resort Collection.

Miu Miu
11 East 57th Street
New York

One of London’s hottest clubs will be bowing out on the brink of 2009 - following in the footsteps of Boombox, which held its huge farewell party last NYE, Paper is set to close for good after ringing in the new year.

Paper is now a grand three years old, the creation of the team behind Grill Room who brought fashionable life back to the cellars of the Cafe Royale. Comprised of a restaurant, an upstairs bar, Glass, which features fine cocktails and bar food, and the main downstairs club, the 400 capacity venue has been host to a large number of events and parties in its time, from Anna Wintour’s American Vogue party in London Fashion Week to Keira Knightley’s 21st birthday. With its numerous hidden rooms and gathering spaces, including the Cigar Room with its secret entrance on Regent Street, Paper has proved a perfect spot for incognito celebrities to let loose for an evening.

It’s not the only glossy VIP venue to be losing its place on the London club scene - Chinawhite has recently departed, and Dolce is soon to follow. Clearly the steep alcohol mark-ups and entry charges are suffering in the financial no-man’s land - but does it also speak volumes about new tastes in entertainment? Only time will tell if such clubs will be replaced by their younger, flashier models, or if they are to be rehauled completely. In the mean time, get yourself down to Piccadilly and party like it’s 2005. For guestlist go to www.paperclublondon.com

The hotel which was home to some of rock’n'roll’s most infamous debauchery is set to be rebranded and glossed over by hotel giant Hyatt. The West Hollywood hotel is set to reopen on January 8th with a luxurious boutique feel under the label Andaz, a sub-brand within the company offering design-driven environments, vibrant social spaces, and friendly yet attentive service.

The hotel first opened in 1963 as Gene Autry’s Hotel Continental, the first high-rise on the Strip. Its location, close to noted celeb hangouts of the ’70s such as Whisky a Go Go and House of Blues, meant that it drew much business from bands on tour, leading to inevitable partying and the scene of Keith Richards’ television-out-of-window moment. Since then the hotel has hosted press and launch events for musicians ranging from Ray Charles to John Mayer. The rebranded Andaz aims to maintain such a “cultural playground”, reflecting “the colorful lifestyle of the neighbourhood”, says Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian, in the form of pieces from local artists, impromptu music gigs, and the opportunities for parties afforded by the carefully-designed social spaces throughout the hotel. Design and interiors have been under the control of New York firm Janson Goldstein LLP, promising sophisticated colour palettes, three-dimensional design, and functional and eco-conscious elements.

WWD also reported recently that the staff uniforms for the hotel are to be pieces from the collections of local brands Velvet and Vince. The uniforms are not dictated but rather chosen by the individual staff members, allowing variety and personal style to shine throughout the venue. It’s looking to be quite an addition to Sunset, and Andaz will be following it up with planned openings on Wall Street and Fifth Avenue, and Andaz Austin later in 2010. Eager Londoners can get a taste at the Liverpool Street venture, though no package will include sweet LA sunshine.

www.westhollywood.hyatt.com