Icelandic Fashion Label Gydja Collection Releases New Hekla Fragrance for Women

Icelandic fashion label Gydja Collection recently introduced a new fragrance for women to its already popular range of perfumes. The label's new perfume is named after one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, Hekla, and is made with water extracted from the streams that cascade down the volcano's slopes.

Sigrun Lilja Gudjonsdottir, the founder and head designer of Gydja Collection, said, "Both of our former fragrances, EFJ Eyjafjallajokull and VJK Vatnajokull, have been a tremendous success and due to this I wanted to add a third fragrance to the Gydja Parfum range. We chose to name the fragrance Hekla because we extracted and utilised water from streams that rundown from the volcano's slopes. The reasoning for this was to capture minerals that gather in the water as it filters down through the lava rock adding a unique touch to the fragrance."

Sigrun Lilja continued, "Also, for us Hekla symbolises strength, power, and persistence, which are all great qualities we want to promote to women through our products. It is wonderful to be able to offer a perfume that not only smells beautiful but that also encapsulates the power and force of the Icelandic nature all within one glass," continued Sigrun Lilja.

To place emphasis on the use of Iceland's natural elements, the bottle is accompanied by a small piece of lava rock sourced from the base of the Hekla volcano that is attached via a small keychain to the bottle. According to Sigrun Lilja, the fragrance marries the four elements -- earth, water, air, fire -- together: the lava rock symbolises the earth; the water used to make the perfume is sourced directly from Hekla; the air is the oxygen that blends with the fragrance when sprayed, and the fire rises up from the core of the volcano.

"Once the water is extracted from Hekla, it is shipped to Grasse in the South France, the world's capital of perfume, where it is produced by professional perfume makers. The fragrance is sweet, feminine, and full of sweet vanilla and woody undertones. It is also an Eau de Parfum which means it provides a long-lasting fragrance for all to enjoy," explained Sigrun Lilja.

Furthermore, in previous years with the release of Gydja Collection's other perfumes, the company has held large events for the grand unveiling of its products; however, this time around the label has instead decided to give the amount of such costs in the form of bottles of the Hekla fragrance to Maedrastyrksnefndar Reykjavíkur, a foundation that helps single mothers, for gifts this Christmas.
"It's good to be able to help single mothers who are not able to make ends meet and are in need, especially at this time of year in the run up to Christmas. We want to help them by making our contribution and also by helping to distribute the gifts along with members of the Maedrastyrksnefndar Reykjavíkur," commented Sigrun Lilja.

Charity Meets Fashion: A Benefit Honoring The World's Children

Mariam Kinkladze and Honor Vitae, a non-profit organization that improves the welfare of children worldwide will partner with Toilet Hackers, an organization dedicated to improving sanitation and hygiene internationally, and the William Talbott Hillman Foundation to present Charity Meets Fashion, a special holiday celebration and fashion show in NYC on December 17, 2012.

Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen will host the ticketed event. Celebrities, including Vanessa Hudgens, Rose Mcgowan and Jack Huston, will join donors, supporters and members of the press to learn about Honor Vitae and enjoy an evening at the newly renovated Affirmation Arts studio and gallery. The event will include a DJ, open bar, hors d'oeuvres by Iron Chef Jehangir Mehta, and the highlight, a premiere fashion show by menswear designer George Nazgaidze,of the country of Georgia, where Honor Vitae has assumed patronage of 50 children.

Montreal Fashion Week Reveals Partial Fall-Winter 2013 Program

Groupe Sensation Mode has announced the partial program for the fall-winter 2013 edition of Montréal Fashion Week (MFW), taking place February 4 to 7 at the Arsenal. The initial list includes 13 hand-picked designers and more than 30 are expected for the complete F/W 13 program. This international spotlight on creativity is presented in collaboration with P&G Beauty & Grooming and is held twice a year, bringing together industry influencers from across Canada.

The first designers that have registered for MFW fall-winter 2013 to date are: Mélissa Nepton, Harricana, Ralph Leroy, L''autre couture de Luko Marion, RUSH COUTURE by CLAUDETTE FLOYD, Nisse, Pedram Karimi, Matière noire, COKLUCH, Symbiose by Hinda A., Maryline Baril, Jennifer Glasgow Design and Voyou.

The event serves as a launch-pad for designers to showcase their upcoming seasonal collections and is known for its quality program that stands out from other fashion weeks around the world. In addition to runway shows, MFW also presents a series of exhibitions, conferences, artistic performances and fashion films during the four-day event. Carly Stojsic of WGSN will present a conference looking at macro-trends for the 2014 spring-summer season, with others to be announced.

"Our team is very excited about the upcoming edition of MFW," said Chantal Durivage, co-president and co-founder of Groupe Sensation Mode. "The success of spring-summer 2013 left us inspired and so we have kept the stand-out elements and are working on adding new ones. One of these additions is the creation of a new room for the small collections that will feature a more intimate format, giving the designers a greater level of creative freedom."

The Target Emerging Designer Award will also make its debut at MFW in Feburary. The five designer finalists will show their creations at a fashion show, with the grand-prize winner announced at the end of the event. The winner will be presented with a $25,000 grant and the opportunity to create an exclusive collection that will be sold at Target stores in Québec.

Advance tickets for Montreal Fashion Week are on sale now at www.montrealfashionweek.ca. Pre-sale tickets are available until December 24 with the following promotional packages:

Groupe Sensation Mode created a Designer Selection Committee six years ago in response to the needs of a constantly evolving fashion industry. This Committee meets before each fashion week to select the new talent that will present their collections at the next MFW. The members are responsible for evaluating applications submitted with a view that meets MFW participation standards and criteria. This season, the Committee members include: Marie Geneviève Cyr, professor at New York''s Parsons The New School For Design; Martina Djogo, decoration, fashion and trend reporter at Elle Québec; Jean-Claude Poitras, multidisciplinary designer and design columnist; Andrew McNally, professor at Collège LaSalle and fashion writer; and Ariane LaSalle, program and creative director at Groupe Sensation Mode.

Fashion Island shooting: 'Luck was on our side,' police say

The gunman who fired more than 50 rounds at the busy Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach was described by police as a "destitute individual" who decided “this was his way of venting his life problems.”

Marcos Gurrola, 42, used a semi-automatic handgun to fire more than 50 rounds into the air Saturday afternoon before he was taken into custody, authorities said. No one was shot, although authorities said one person was hurt fleeing the scene.

As investigators worked Sunday to determine a motive, Newport Beach Police Deputy Chief David McGill characterized Gurrola as someone who was "unhappy about a lot in life and decided this was his best way of releasing his tension."

"It's just one of those things where you scratch your head and go, 'Really?'" McGill told The Times.

Gurrola — who remains in Orange County Jail on a charge of shooting at an inhabited dwelling — appeared to be unemployed, McGill said. McGill could not confirm reports the suspect was living in his car, but said the vehicle had "a lot of personal items" inside.

Court records did not indicate Gurrola had a criminal history but state records showed he was a registered guard/patrol person with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. That license expires in January.

Lt. Jon Lewis stressed there was "no connection" between Gurrola's alleged acts and a shooting Friday at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school where a gunman killed 20 children and six adults.

Gurrola allegedly began shooting outside a Macy's about 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Given the Newtown shooting, McGill said he was "terrified" when he got the initial call.

All he thought, he said, was, "Oh my gosh, here we go."

Some officers were already in the area — part of an effort to curb theft at the mall during the holiday shopping season — and police were able to find the suspect almost immediately, McGill said. Gurrola allegedly put his gun down and his hands in the air and was arrested without incident.

McGill said Newport Beach police train for active shooter scenarios at various locations and had specifically been in contact with mall security in recent months. They started monthly meetings about eight months ago and have a “great relationship” with security, both at the mall and at individual stores like Macy’s.

That relationship proved important Saturday, he said, adding that Newport Beach police knew their counterparts at the mall personally and how they would respond.

He commended his officers for following their training and reacting like they were trained to.

“They all see thousands of people running away from a madman with a gun, which is what we want them to do, and my guys are the guys running toward him," McGill said. "Our guys did exactly what they are trained to do.”

But, McGill said, given recent events — the Connecticut shooting, along with a Tuesday shooting at a mall outside Portland, Ore., where a gunman killed two people and wounded another — Newport Beach police recognize just how badly the situation at Fashion Island could have ended.

"It scares the heck out of me. ... The police — we keep preparing and keep preparing because this makes us nervous. We can't be 100% prepared but we're constantly working on it," he said.

"Thank God he pointed up," he added. "Luck was on our side."

Fashion books boost style IQ

Coco Chanel once said, “I don‘t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little — if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that‘s the day she has a date with destiny. And it‘s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”

Help the fashionista in your life be prepared for her destiny with a book of style. There are many options to choose from for the Chanel-loving woman in your world. Buy her the book written by Jemma Kidd about beauty secrets, or one on defining the art of dressing, or a book on the life and legacy of Alexander McQueen. There are several options of style reads to make this time of the year a chic one.

“A to Z of Style,” by Amy de la Haye ($19.95, Abrams): The latest volume in this clothbound fashion series, “A to Z of Style” brings together the secrets of style from the world‘s greatest fashion designers, their famous clients and other figures from the world of fashion in this illustrated dictionary.

Beginning with A for Accessories and ending with Z for Zips, this guide preserves wisdom of fashion‘s big names from Chanel on perfume to Christian Dior on elegance to Elsa Schiaparelli on hats. Whether you have lots of it, or just a little, style is something that evolves: a lifelong work in progress, with some over-the-top moments, and some more terrible ones we‘d like to forget. But it is our faux pas that forge our style and make us more self-assured and confident, and help us understand who we are, suggests de la Haye. Like many other areas in life, it‘s the mistakes that make us progress. With time, we realize what works for our personal style — and what doesn‘t.

“Jemma Kidd Make-Up Secrets: Solutions to Every Woman‘s Beauty Issues and Make-Up Dilemmas,” by Jemma Kidd ($24.99, St. Martin‘s Press): International make-up artist, business woman, award-winning product designer and former model Jemma Kidd reveals her sought-after makeup secrets in her new book.

“With all my experience in beauty and make-up, the advice and tips in this book are invaluable,” says Mary Greenwell, Chanel Ambassador and make-up artist. “It has taught me things I thought I knew — so worth reading, even for the most seasoned expert.”

Included is the best foundation for your skin type and skin tone, great ways to turn high-fashion looks into something you can use for everyday and make-up to make you look younger.

“Alexander McQueen: The Life and the Legacy,” by Judith Watt ($35, Harper Collins): This is a rarified, intimate look at the personal and professional life of the fashion world‘s most visionary designer. Written by Judith Watt, a leading fashion historian and personal friend of McQueen, the book features never-before-seen photographs of some of his most intricate garments, and images from private collectors, like Daphne Guinness and Isabella Blow.

“Audrey: The 60s,” by David Wills and Stephen Schmidt ($40, Harper Collins): Audrey Hepburn is unparalleled as an iconic photographic subject. Regarded as one of the most beautiful and best-dressed women in history, her appeal is timeless. She defined a decade with her elegant style. From her little black dress in “Breakfast at Tiffany‘s” to her high-fashion spreads in Vogue, her legacy is seen everywhere. Her personal style is a rare constant as subsequent generations discover her anew and look to her as a template for chic that no one else, except perhaps Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, represents.

“Tim Walker Story Teller,” by Tim Walker, Robin Muir and Ruth Ansel ($75, Abrams): This stunning photography collection from world-renowned fashion photographer Tim Walker showcases his signature style with some of the biggest names in fashion and contemporary culture. Included are many A-listers in fashion and Hollywood, including Alexander McQueen, Tilda Swinton, Helena Bonham Carter and Alber Elbaz, among others. Walker is one of the most exciting photographers of our time with his flamboyant style — often tongue and cheek but always exquisitely executed.

“The World in Vogue: People Party Places,” edited by Alexandra Kotur ($75, Abrams): This one-of-a-kind book of 300 photographs of some of the most celebrated actors, artists, models, first ladies and social figures draws on stories that have appeared in the pages of Vogue over the past four decades and photographs from never published stories. Richly illustrated in black and white and in color, the book contains a stunning look at portraits, houses, gardens and parties of celebrated figures from many worlds.

“Empress of Fashion: A Life of Diana Vreeland,” by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart ($35, Harper Collins): In 1936, when few women of her social status worked, Vreeland was thrilled by a offer a job at Harper‘s Bazaar. Hired for her dramatic international sense of style, grounded in an appreciation of Parisian haute couture, she was thrust into unfamiliar territory — covering the New York fashion industry. Today, nearly 40 years after ending her magazine career at Vogue and nearly a quarter century after her death in 1989 at age 86, Vreeland is internationally recognized as a catalyst for American fashion. Stuart reveals the resilent, diligent, determined dreamer beneath the famous lacquered face. This biography says Vreeland brought pizzazz to American fashion, championeding clothes that flattered and liberated the natural female body and made fashion accessible to every woman — regardless of her figure or finance — as a personal choice and statement.

“Diane von Furstenberg and the Tale of The Empress‘s New Clothes,” by Camilla Morton ($21.99, Harper Collins): This empowering new story styles a feminine twist to the classic tale of ‘The Emperor‘s New Clothes,‘ as it draws parallels with Diane von Furstenberg‘s story. Morton, a fashion writer and internationally best-selling author, celebrates the story of the fashion designer and weaves a cautionary tale for the empress in all of us. This is the third book in the Fashion Fairy Tale Memoir series.

“The Style Mentors: Women Who Define the Art of Dressing Today,” by Elyssa Dimant ($30, Harper Collins): Profiling more than 80 contemporary women with great style, Dimant, a fashion historian and expert in contemporary fashion studies, offers role models for the here and now. Each of the book‘s eight chapters addresses a signature look with proven fashion longevity — icon, maverick, bohemian, gamine, siren, minimalist, rocker and classic — and demonstrates how to achieve it by analyzing the style of those who wear it admirably. The book shows how to incorporate that know how into a current personal look. Included throughout are a wealth of dos and don‘ts, lists of wardrobe and accessory essentials and sage tips on fashion and beauty.

“Vogue: The Editor‘s Eye,” edited by Eve MacSweeney ($75, Abrams): Vogue, the world‘s most influential fashion magazine, is celebrating its 120th anniversary this fall. To commemorate the milestone, Conde Nast and Abrams Books have created a stunning volume chronicling the history of Vogue, as seen through the eyes of eight of the magazine‘s iconic fashion editors. The book celebrates the pivotal role Vogue‘s fashion editors have played in shaping America‘s sense of style, featuring a forward from Anna Wintour.

With world-famous photographers such as Richard Avedon and Annie Leibovitz and model muses such as Suzy Parker and Linda Evangelista, the most memorable collaborations between photographer and model have become pop-culture touchstones that have far outlasted their context and influenced fashion for generations.

“Hollywood Sketchbook: A Century of Costume Illustration,” by Deborah Nadoolman Landis ($75, Harper Design): In her book, this author and Academy Award-nominated costume designer opens the doors to the dynamic world of costume illustration, revealing the world‘s most sumptuous illustrations and behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most beloved costumes of all time. A comprehensive introduction contextualizes the rigors of costume illustration and highlights the contributions each of the featured artists made to the history of the art form. The book is authoritative, yet accessible in tone, and contains a dazzling array of first-person anecdotes that inform and enhance the images.

“W: The First 40 Years,” edited by Stefano Tonchi, with Christopher Bagley and Joseph Logan ($75, Abrams): This book takes a remarkable journey through four decades of W, one of the most innovative and provocative fashion magazines in the world. Since 1972, its unique blend of unparalleled access, cultural smarts, high glamour and visual panache has kept it consistently in the vanguard of what‘s new, hot and noteworthy not only in the world of fashion, but in art, design, style, beauty, celebrity and society. One of its greatest legacies is stunning photography with the best from past and present featured on these pages.

“Vogue Weddings: Brides, Dresses, Designers,” edited by Hamish Bowles ($85, Knopf): In nearly 400 stunning photographs, a breathtaking and inspirational look at the weddings and wedding dresses that have appeared in the pages of Vogue throughout the magazine‘s 120-year history.

From grand royal weddings in storied castles to weddings by the sea or in the countryside, we see the glamorous nuptials of Grace Kelly, Kate Moss, Sofia Coppola, Carolina Herrara Jr., Plum Sykes, Audrey Hepburn and others. The Wedding Designers Guide offers 10 designers celebrated for their stylish and romantic designs, from Vera Wang to J. Crew. This book is not only informative and rich with historical detail, but also presents a collection of dramatic and inspirational images.

Meet Denmark's Newest, Youngest Fashion Billionaire

Danish fashion executive Anders Holch Povlsen is the latest billionaire to join Forbes’ worldwide ranks. At age 40, he is also one of the youngest in the world.

Danish Billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen

Holch Povlsen of Denmark took over his family’s fashion retailer at age 28. He is now the CEO and sole owner of Bestseller, the $3.2 billion (sales) fashion player, which sells apparel and accessories to women, men, teenagers and children in 46 markets in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Canada. The company markets the items under 10 brand names, including Mamalicious, Name It and Vera Moda, and employs 12,100, one fourth of whom are in Denmark.

Anders’ parents, Troels Holch Povlsen and Merete Bech Povlsen, opened the family’s first store in 1975 in the small Danish town of Ringkobing. The couple are still involved in the business – Merete is its chairman and Troels sits on the board – but they gave up ownership to Anders, possibly in 2012. Though the company website says the business is family owned, a spokesperson confirmed that Anders, the eldest of their two sons, is the sole owner, with a 100% stake. He would not provide any more details or specifics, citing the family’s desire for privacy.

British Billionaire Strikes Deal With Retail Investor; Aims For Big U.S. Expansion

Forbes figures the company is worth at least $1.8 billion, based on a multiple of its earnings, which declined 48% in the latest fiscal year to $210 million. The family also has an interest, along with two Danish partners in China, in Bestseller Fashion Group China, an independent company that designs its own collections for approximately 5,000 stores in China.

Anders, who is married with three children, has been getting attention lately for a series of land purchases in the Scottish Highlands. One British paper, The Telegraph, estimated that he now owns 120,000 acres, making him one of the Highlands’ biggest landowners behind the Prince of Wales, British billionaire Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, better known as the Duke of Westminster, and a few others.

Quebec Fashion Conquers Brussels in December

The Groupe Sensation Mode (GSM) team takes off for Brussels, Belgium today, where they will hold a fashion display highlighting the creations of eight Québec designers. The showcase takes place December 13 and is in partnership with the Brussels Louise Association, an organization that holds annual public events in Brussels'' chic Louise district during the holidays. Québec is being featured this year and GSM was invited to promote Montréal as a fashion leader and cultural tourism destination.

Groupe Sensation Mode helped produce the official opening ceremonies for the association''s event, which will begin with the illumination of the district''s Place Stéphanie with an art installation called "Polar spheres" created by Québec artist Bernard Duguay. The luminous display won the hearts of Montréalers in 2010 during its debut at Place des Festivals. After the ceremonies, delegates from Brussels will make their way to the Sofitel hotel to attend a cocktail reception celebrating the launch.

The fashion portion of the inauguration was designed and produced by GSM, which sought to present a broad selection of local creations that represented all that Montréal fashion and arts have to offer. Eight of Quebec''s designers will attend, including DUY, m0851, Mackage, Ève Gravel, Arielle de Pinto, ça va de soi, Marisa Minicucci, and Harricana.

Models from Dominique Models Agency of Brussels will showcase the designers'' creations on two runways in an avant-garde setting with a Montreal signature. Model Amélie Lens, known for Martin Margiella''s H&M campaign, will take part in the fashion event.

"We have been at work preparing for this event for months," said Chantal Durivage, co-founder and co-president of Groupe Sensation Mode. "Leading the creative process for this presentation has been an amazing experience and we intend on using this opportunity to increase our visibility and show off the talented designers of Quebec to everyone in Brussels. We look forward to the results that will come from the business meetings that we have ahead of us in Brussels."

The strong Québec presence at the event this year is an opportunity for the Brussels Louise Association to promote itself with unique programming, while also commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Délégation générale du Québec in Brussels.

"The Louise District is lined with the biggest names, the most prestigious fashion houses and the greatest gourmet restaurants in Brussels," said Claire Hajadj, Director of Communications for Brussels Louise Association. "We have developed an exceptional and progressive partnership with Groupe Sensation Mode, which strengthens the prestige of our event in the eyes of our clients."

Several Quebec government organizations approached Groupe Sensation Mode, a Canadian leader with ties to Belgium, to add a fashion component to the event. This opportunity has been made possible thanks to the support of Élaine Zakaïb, Minister for Industrial Policy and the Banque de développement économique du Québec, Pascal Bérubé, Minister for Tourism, the Ministère des Relations internationales, de la Francophonie et du Commerce extérieur and the Délégation générale du Québec.

"We are pleased to support this event and to have this tremendous opportunity to highlight Québec creativity and the talent of Montréal''s designers," said Christos Sirros, Québec Delegate General in Brussels. "This evening will mark the culmination of a year spent celebrating 40 years of Québec''s presence in Brussels. It is an exceptional opportunity to underscore its representative role to the people of Belgium, to European institutions and, most importantly, to nurturing the strong ties that bind Québec and Brussels."