When two giant egos met: the scorching biography of Kate Moss reveals the behind-the-scenes story of her extraordinary deal with Sir Philip Green.
In September 2005, things were going well for supermodel Kate Moss. She was being courted by Swedish high street chain H&M and she had already signed a deal to advertise a clothing range by her friend, designer Stella McCartney, for the same company. But then the ‘Cocaine Kate’ story broke.
A grainy video, secretly shot at a recording session for Babyshambles, the band fronted by her then boyfriend Pete Doherty, appeared to show her preparing and then snorting cocaine. Both H&M deals were promptly withdrawn.
Kate’s contract as the face of Coco Mademoiselle perfume was due to expire that October and Chanel decided not to renew it. Burberry cancelled a new campaign with her. As more brands called off lucrative deals, she was advised to take action.
A week after the scandal, her model agency Storm issued a statement from Kate saying: ‘I take full responsibility for my actions. I also accept that there are various personal issues that I need to address and have started taking the difficult, yet necessary, steps to resolve them. I want to apologise to all of the people I have let down because of my behaviour, which has reflected badly on my family, friends, co-workers, business associates and others. I am trying to be positive, and the support and love I have received are invaluable.’
Hardly an emotional outpouring, it had been carefully scripted by Storm boss Sarah Doukas and checked by lawyers to ensure it was an acknowledgment of error, not an admission of guilt. It worked. The next day Rimmel announced its relationship with Kate would continue.
Kate flew to Arizona and checked in at The Meadows rehabilitation clinic for a 30-day treatment. If there was an element of pragmatism about the move, there was certainly no proof that Kate did anything but take this phase in her life seriously.
French Vogue did not ditch its plans to have Kate as guest editor and cover girl for its December 2005/January 2006 edition. The truth was that the ‘bad-girl thing’, as UK Vogue editor Alexandra Schulman described it, was what ‘everybody knew they were buying into’ with Kate, and the magazine embraced it. Across a picture of Kate ran the words: ‘Kate Moss, Scandaleuse Beauté.’
An editorial in French Vogue said: ‘She is the top model of the century and, though perhaps not a model daughter, for women and designers alike she is, nevertheless, the most inspirational icon and muse.’
By the end of the spring, the Crown Prosecution Service had concluded that the video footage, although an ‘absolutely clear indication’ that Kate had been taking drugs, was not enough to guarantee a successful prosecution.
All the while new contracts kept rolling in. In 2005 Kate’s annual earnings were estimated at ?11m. One year on from the scandal, she was on track for ?30million.
On May 15, 2006, Kate was among guests at a charity auction. One of the many items she had donated - a kiss - went to billionaire businessman Sir Philip Green, who paid ?60,000 for the privilege and then donated it to the person he outbid, Jemima Khan. The kiss was a 60-second, lingering smooch, with Kate sweeping Jemima’s hair back from her face and clutching her neck. Two weeks later, Kate bumped into Sir Philip as he was leaving a restaurant. ‘That was a bit of fun, wasn’t it?’ Kate said. ‘I suppose it all depends on your idea of fun,’ he replied.
As Sir Philip was about to move on, Kate said: ‘I’m a girl from Croydon, you’re a boy from Croydon, why don’t we do something together?’ This vague flirtation intrigued Sir Philip. ‘What do you have in mind?’ he said. ‘I’ve always wanted to do my own clothing collection,’ Kate replied. Sir Philip handed over his number, saying: ‘Call me.’
A few days later, Kate’s PA called Sir Philip and said Kate wanted to come in for lunch the following day, would that be all right?
Much to Sir Philip’s surprise, Kate turned up at his Arcadia Group Headquarters in Oxford Street - from where he runs Topshop, Topman, Burton, Wallis, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins - without an entourage. And so the fifth-richest man in Britain, worth ?4.9billion, and the most famous model in the world sat down for a chat.
They talked for two hours but Sir Philip remained unconvinced. He did not believe Kate had the desire, drive and potential to build a long-term brand. He wanted Kate to know the project was not just some three-hour photoshoot to publicise a handbag.
By August, even after several meetings, there was still no deal - Sir Philip had serious reservations about Kate’s commitment. He called her to his office again and told her he wanted her to make herself available to his designers, to do interviews to promote the brand, to promise to do anything required to make the venture a success. Kate gave him her word and asked if, finally, they were going to sign off the deal.
Sir Philip’s response was blunt: ‘No.’ There was one more thing she had to do before he would sign: attend Topshop’s fashion show. The daytime show, held the day before London Fashion Week, was viewed with disdain by some fashionistas.
Kate said she couldn’t go - she had a birthday party to attend in Gloucestershire in the morning. But for Sir Philip this appearance was nonnegotiable. He would have a helicopter ready to collect her at 1.30pm.
Photographs of Kate and Sir Philip side-by-side at the Topshop show appeared in newspapers the day after the event, and the speculation was she would be announced as the face of Topshop’s spring campaign.
But three days later Sir Philip and Kate announced the launch of the Kate Moss Topshop collection. The terms of the deal had been carefully worked out, giving Kate a financial as well as creative incentive to ensure her line’s success - a ? 3million down payment and a healthy percentage of royalties.
They started work on the collection the very next day. Kate had wanted to come into the offices at 2pm. Sir Philip said 1.30pm. She turned up at 1.10pm and called to tell him she was early. Both Sir Philip and Kate were used to being in charge.
He found making decisions by committee tiresome, while Kate insisted on signing off each and every piece personally. He provided her with designers, buyers and merchandisers. She brought her own team.
It seemed no coincidence that, as his relationship with Kate strengthened, Sir Philip made certain it never extended to meeting Pete Doherty. If anything were likely to taint a brand that relied on the spending power of teenage girls and their parents, it was glad-handing a notorious drug addict.
Doherty was not invited to the launch of Kate’s first collection on April 30, 2007, and Kate’s on-off boyfriend was permanently off within a year.
A week after its launch, Kate’s collection had generated sales worth more than ?3million. Work on the next collection began immediately.
In December 2007, Sir Philip was listed No1 in the fashion industry bible, Drapers’ ‘Power 100′. He was praised for his influence, innovation and industry knowledge, but in the main he was praised for signing Kate, a move that paved the way for a full-blown launch of Topshop in America this year.
Kate was No6 on the list. She was, according to the magazine, now ‘more brand than model’.
source: thisismoney.co.uk
October 19th, 2008
BABELICIOUS David Jones fashion plate Miranda Kerr has hit back at rumours that her relationship with actor Orlando Bloom is in trouble.
The Victoria’s Secret supermodel, who flew into Melbourne on Thursday night for yesterday’s Caulfield Cup, is sublimely happy with her man (who is shooting a movie and cannot be with her for this very short visit).
“People can write whatever they like,” Kerr said.
“It doesn’t make any difference to us.
“We know what the truth is, along with our families and close friends. I don’t even bother reading some of those reports.”
In the meantime, with several top international publishing firms vying for the rights for Treasure Yourself, Kerr’s beauty guide directed to young women, she has decided instead to go with a “herbal” publishing company.
“It’s a great alignment with my personal belief system,” Kerr comments. “Hay House is allowing me to present the book exactly as it should be done with a hard cover and beautiful illustrations that people will treasure forever.
“I have spent two years writing this book which will encourage young women to love themselves whatever their size.
“The most important thing is to eat heathily and to treat your body with respect.
“Now we are in the final editing process and I expect that it will be available in the first half of next year.
“It’s very exciting.”
Big news for Langdon
TELEVISION presenter Michael Willesee and his TV reporter fiancee Allison Langdon chose a private spot in Noosa’s National Park to tie the knot yesterday.
After a ceremony amid the trees a reception was held overlooking the sparkling tropical waters from Ricky’s River Bar and Restaurant.
The romance between Langdon and Willesee, son of veteran journalist Mike Willesee, has been going strong since November, 2006 when they hit it off on a night out at a Darlinghurst nightclub.
Before they got together, Sky News presenter Willesee had gained a reputation as a long-time bachelor, squiring several high-profile women about town including Rachel Friend, Fiona Argyle, Jessica Rowe, Jacinta Tynan and model Anneliese Seubert. Langdon is a reporter and newsreader for the Nine Network.
source: news.com.au
October 19th, 2008
Friends and family of a Manitoba-born fashion model are asking questions about how the 26-year-old died in Italy.
Hayley Marie Kohle, originally from Beausejour, Man., northeast of Winnipeg, died Saturday in Milan.
The Italian police are investigating and Ottawa is providing consular assistance. So far, her family has heard only that she fell from a seventh-floor window.
Quinn Adams says Kohle was full of life, and she still can’t believe her close friend is dead.
“Just absolutely fabulous. She could light up a room,” Adams said.
“She was a model. She had everything going for her, she was ready to be a supermodel. And when somebody dies like that, it’s going to be suspicious, I think.
“We don’t know a lot of information, whether it was suicide, whether she was pushed, whether she accidentally fell.”
Liz Crawford, one of Kohle’s first modelling coaches in Winnipeg, agrees: “How does a girl fall from the seventh floor window of a model apartment? I don’t know. I mean, you know, it’s a little unusual.”
Modelling industry needs more regulation: coach
Crawford was behind the Worker Recruitment and Protection Act, which was passed in Manitoba last spring requiring licences for employment agencies, individuals recruiting foreign workers and anyone who recruits or represents models or entertainers.
The modelling industry in general needs to be better regulated, Crawford said. She hopes other levels of government will help protect models from finding themselves in situations they’re not prepared to handle.
“My concern … for a lot of the girls that come in, is just, you know, how well educated are they before they go off and do this?” she said.
A memorial service for Kohle will be held on Monday in Beausejour.
source: cbc.ca
October 17th, 2008
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