Sportscraft's Kristy campaign

THIS is the "hero" image from the new Sportscraft campaign starring Kristy Hinze, the soon-to-be host of hot fashion-designer reality series Project Runway.

The autumn/winter '08 Sportscraft campaign - which will launch this month in fashion mags and on billboards - was shot in December and features the Aussie star with a German male model, known simply as Norbett, all set against the background of a lush Richmond polo field.

In our exclusive photo, Kristy wears the new Ponte tuck shift dress ($199.95), with a wool beret ($49.95) and cashmere gloves (also $49.95).

Ponte is a new fabric with revolutionary silhouette-enhancing benefits - which really means it just holds you tight in all the right places, camouflaging your curves.

The former Queensland schoolgirl and now face of Sportscraft, Kristy will be in Australia in February to launch the clothing label's 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Aussie athletes' uniforms.

She will also be at the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, which starts on March 2, before completing her Project Runway duties in May.

Ksubi netted

KSUBI'S signature tongue-in-cheek style has elevated the brand to cult status and assisted in gaining global recognition for the label.

So it comes as a surprise that the label will join many other fashion houses in going online by launching its first website on February 18.

The decision to promote and make available Ksubi product online was encouraged by demand, and gives a visual narrative into the brand's history, projects, collections and stockists.

And, most significantly, classic Ksubi, from denim, fashion, eyewear, books and limited-editions objects, can now be purchased online.
Visit www.ksubi.com

Debut for Tilly

LAST year's star of Fashion Week, designer Lee Mathews, has just introduced Tilly, the little sister clothing label to her designer collection that has taken up residence next door to the original Lee Mathews Workshop on Barrenjoey Rd, Newport.

Designed in conjunction with her industrial antiques specialist and artist husband Guy Mathews, Tilly was created to expand the range of basics to include fun day dresses, smock tops, denim skirts and shorts in playful colours, and quirky limited-edition hand-printed fabrics.

The autumn/winter 2008 signature collection for Lee Mathews will also be shown at the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Bulgari empire

BULGARI, the contemporary luxury brand, has just opened its first Brisbane store, in dedicated space on the ground floor of David Jones.

Designed by the company's in-house architects, the store will sell Bulgari jewellery, watches and accessories.

The Rome-born label has gone from strength to strength here and internationally, with two Bulgari hotels - in Bali and Milan - both the toast of the smart-traveller set.

The brand will showcase its latest collection of chic Monologo rings on Tuesday, February 12 in their Castlereagh Street offices.

Absinthe minded

ABSINTHE aficionados - cutely called part of the Absinthesalon - are just about to become the latest trend.

Thanks to Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Winona Ryder, who all apparently vouch for it, true and traditional absinthe is currently riding a wave of worldwide resurgence.

Every bottle of absinthe sold across Europe is unique, with each revealing its own artwork.

Artful addition

A FASHIONABLY arty new magazine is hitting the stands this week and it's already got everybody talking.

Out on Wednesday, Art World is the new art lovers' bible - a bimonthly glossy that will profile Australian art, artists and writers as well as bringing in international expertise and profiles.