Archive for June, 2007
Way back in a more grubby and innocent era of downtown New York, supermodels didn’t buy many combined-unit East Village apartments. But those days are long gone, so it’s hardly surprising that Gemma Ward, American Vogue’s youngest-ever cover girl, has bought a three-bedroom co-op on East Sixth Street between Second and Third avenues that was originally three units.
According to city records, she paid $1.525 million. Only two and a half years ago, gallingly, an apartment two floors up sold for $290,000.
Indeed, the building hasn’t always been a million-dollar place. “It was one of these East Village tenement things,” said listing broker Karen Donica, the younger half of mother-daughter realty firm Custom Brokers. But a cement backyard was dug up and greened, and now “there are lanterns in the garden and beautiful planting …. People just go down there and have a drink, and read a book.”
After an open house, there was a bidding war for the apartment. Did Ms. Donica tell the seller—a former Web developer for MTV Networks named Bernard Meisler—that one of his potential buyers was 19-year-old Ms. Ward?
“No. I did tell him, let’s say, that she was young, whereas the other [potential buyer] was not young.”
“They were both equally qualified,” the broker said about the bidders. “It didn’t really matter that she was a supermodel.”
Incidentally, this reporter also didn’t know that Ms. Ward was a supermodel before a brief barroom encounter last summer. (There was a conversation about her Australian accent, and then she excused herself: “I’m going to go to the bathroom. O.K.?”) In person, Ms. Ward looks like an archangel from Neptune.
June 12th, 2007
Eva Herzigova has become a mother for the first time. The Czech-born supermodel gave birth to a baby boy, who she has named George Marsiaj Herzig, in Paris on June 1.
Eva, 34, and her Italian boyfriend Gregorio Marsiaj are said to be “delighted” with their new arrival.
A spokesman added: “The whole family are well, Eva is delighted, and they will be leaving on a holiday shortly.”
Just a few weeks before giving birth, the catwalk beauty revealed she was having a baby boy, but admitted the couple were struggling for a name.
Speaking at last month’s Cannes Film Festival, she said: “We are having a boy! I am so excited. I cannot wait for motherhood.
“We haven’t chosen one name but we have a little list of names we like. I think you have to wait until that moment and see what names suits. I don’t think you can say beforehand.”
Eva also vowed she wouldn’t rush to regain her famous figure, saying: I’m not one of those celebs who die to get back into shape.”
June 12th, 2007
Helena Christensen has split from her boyfriend Jack Huston. The former supermodel is said to have ended her relationship with actor Jack, who had a minor role in “Factory Girl,” after dating him for a year.
Since the break-up, Helena - who quit the catwalk seven years ago to focus on her photography career - has been spending lots of time with her friends Gwyneth Paltrow and her Coldplay star husband Chris Martin.
The Danish beauty has reportedly struck up a close bond with Chris’ bandmate Guy Berryman - the band’s bassist - who separated from his childhood sweetheart and wife Joanna earlier this year, sparking rumors of a new romance.
A source said: “Guy is ten years younger than Helena but she always goes for younger men. She thinks Guy is a real charmer and she loves spending time with him.”
Helena’s agent denies there is any romantic connection between her and Guy, saying: “Helena is happily single. She’s known Gwyneth, Chris and Guy for ages and they enjoy hanging out. But there is no relationship.”
Helena, 38, has a seven-year-old son, Mingus, while Guy has a seven-month-old daughter, Nico. Guy’s split was revealed when he moved out of the home he shared with Joanna last month.
June 11th, 2007
Roberto Cavalli has quite a pairing of His and Her’s fall 2007 advertising images, starring the controversial couple of the moment (well last few years), Kate Moss and Pete Doherty. While Kate is rather experienced in front of the Cavalli camera, this was Pete’s first high end fashion advertising campaign, though the pair are not photographed together. Nonetheless, Cavalli thought he was a perfect choice. “Kate Moss and Pete Doherty perfectly embody everything that’s contemporary and they’re poetic, creative and wild,” said Cavalli. “They go against mainstream and have an innate and fantastic sense of style.” The shots intend to highlight Doherty’s slightly ambiguous spell and his status of contemporary icon, he added.
“For his extreme lifestyle, at first Pete seems like a very bad role model, but his debauchery does not interest me at all,” added Cavalli. Gosh, if only the people behind the upcoming launch of Kate’s fragrance though the same about Pete.
June 11th, 2007
On Sunday, Paris Hilton accepted her first guests since returning to jail .
The hotel heiress’ sister, Nicky, and her ex-boyfriend Stavros Niachros spent less than an hour with the blonde beauty reports US Magazine
“She’s being strong,” Nicky Hilton told reporters as she emerged from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility’s medical center just after 1 p.m.
Hilton is rumored to be adjusting to her new isolated digs in the jail’s medical ward.
Nicky Hilton and Niachros were allowed to enter the jail without waiting on line reports TMZ
Paris’ parents, Kathy and Rick Hilton, are expected to visit her tomorrow, friends said.
“[Kathy] is holding up very well under the circumstances,” a source said. “As a whole, the family is very strong and very united where Paris is concerned.”
June 11th, 2007
Shrinks at the Twin Towers jail psych ward have reported that Paris Hilton may be bulimic and could have carefully hidden her addition to self-purging for over a decade.
The petulant heiress has spent two nights under 24 hour observation in a closely-monitored ward where her bodily fluid samples were analysed after traces of both emetics and laxatives proved to be the only substances other than nicotine, alcohol and cocaine in her system.
“She’s been making herself sick for some years now in a bid to keep the pounds off her ass,” sources close to the jail’s toxicology department said today.
“Purging and substance-abuse bingeing are frequently major contributory factors to a toxic personality that only thrives on feelgood hormones which constant attention provides.
“Treatment usually necessitates complete retro-engineering of body and soul.
“We have the former and are now on the lookout to see if the lady has any of the latter before a course of treatment can begin.”
June 10th, 2007
Celebrity heiress Paris Hilton has been taken screaming from a Los Angeles court after being told to return to jail to serve out her sentence.
The celebrity heiress was ordered to attend the hearing rather than listen to the proceeding by telephone.
Hilton left jail on Thursday, just three days into a 45-day sentence for violating probation on a driving ban.
Her release from detention, on unspecified medical grounds, had sparked widespread criticism.
Hilton attended court to hear the case for her “reassignment” to house arrest.
She arrived in handcuffs and cried throughout the court session.
The judge said that she would have to serve her full 45-day sentence.
“It’s not right!” she shouted in response, before calling out to her mother, who was at the court.
‘Severe problems’
Hilton will stay for a few days at a treatment centre at Twin Towers jail in LA for medical and psychiatric examination to determine which jail she will be sent to, sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore said.
LA county sheriff Lee Baca defended his earlier decision to release Hilton on medical grounds, saying “this lady has some severe problems”.
He suggested that her problems were psychological.
“I’m just going to keep her in a better facility for her condition, meaning one that has a more intense form of medical support, and will watch her behaviour so there isn’t anything that is harmfully done to herself by herself,” Mr Baca said.
She had been held at the Century Regional Detention Centre in Lynwood, California, in a special unit for celebrities, public officials, police officers and other high-profile inmates, and has so far served five days of her sentence.
Specific details of her medical problem have been withheld for “privacy reasons”.
June 9th, 2007
Leonardo DiCaprio’s supermodel girlfriend has put an end to speculation the couple plan to wed, by claiming she doesn’t believe in marriage.
Israeli beauty Bar Rafaeli, who has been dating the Titanic star for over a year, also reveals she isn’t pregnant, despite reports to the contrary.
“The truth is I don’t believe in marriage,” she told Italian Vogue magazine. “A couple doesn’t need a contract.”
Rafaeli herself was previously married when she was 18 to a man double her age and did not serve in the Israeli army.
June 9th, 2007
Model Christy Turlington has teamed up with jewelry designer Roberto Coin to be their new Ambassador.
Italian jewelry designer Roberto Coin chose supermodel Christy Turlington Burns as the fresh face of the company’s new advertising and promotions.
Turlington has graced the covers of more than 1,000 top fashion magazines and has also been involved in a variety of charitable causes, including (PRODUCT) RED, which raises funds to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and CARE, which combats global poverty.
Five percent of the net profits from jewelry pieces featured in the campaign will be donated to Youth AIDS, a program that spreads the message of HIV/AIDS awareness to the world’s youth population.
June 7th, 2007
Claudia Schiffer is launching her own range of jewellery.
The German supermodel is designing a collection of trinkets which are due to be available later this year.
Schiffer - who has two children, four-year-old son Caspar Matthew and daughter Clementine de Vere Drummond, two, with her film producer husband Matthew Vaughn - said: “I’ve been very busy designing all the pieces.”
The 36-year-old beauty, who lives in London with her family, is not the first supermodel to turn her hand to designing.
Kate Moss and Elle Macpherson have released their own clothing lines, both of which have been commercial successes.
Moss received a reported ?3 million from British high street chain Topshop to create a range for its stores.
Before the range was launched in May, the catwalk beauty admitted she isn’t a natural fashion designer but agreed to work with Topshop because she was tired of high street retailers copying her style.
June 6th, 2007
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