Fashion Watch: The week’s news so far.

With awards season well underway now, and the Oscar anticipation at fever-pitch after the nominations were announced earlier this week, the fashion world has turned into a panel of Project Runway judges, critiquing red carpet dresses with sharp claws and piercing eyes. So while you can all look forward to my various (not quite) acerbic red carpet comments as the BAFTAS and the Oscars approach, I have some more conventional fashion news this week that is not awards-related. That’s right, I am giving my critical eyes a rest from all the awards bling (I couldn’t bear to do a Grammys review, it wouldn’t have been very positive). So instead we have new magazine covers, new model hosts and some hot new designers…

Britain’s Next Top Model Host
Have we Brits found our Tyra finally? Taking over from Lisa Snowdon as the host of Britain’s Next Top Model is none other than uber-super model Elle Macpherson. She may be famously known as The Body but she seems to have fashion brains as well: she is also going to be producing the show, as well as keeping up the good work with her underwear collection and modelling agency. Macpherson said of her new gig, “I’m really enthusiastic…we are looking forward to finding the face that can represent the next generation.” Let’s hope that as the new face of BNTM Elle can bring some much-needed super-glamour to our version of Tyra’s hit show.

Hot New Covers
Wow! After the dirge of safe magazine covers in January and February, the new issues hitting the stands this week are really excelling themselves. First up, we have none other than the super of supers, Cindy Crawford, showing those young frail models how it’s really done of the cover of Harper’s Bazaar UK. Inside the issue she says that at 43, she thinks she is ‘holding it together pretty good’. Truly a supermodel understatement we think. Across the pond lazing on the cover of Vanity Fair are the next generation of Hollywood women, a famous cover that has previously featured everyone from Julianne Moore to Nicole Kidman, on its first Hollywood cover in 1995. This year sees Bright Young Things including Carey Mulligan, Amanda Seyfried and Rebecca Hall in beautiful dresses in true, Hollywood glamour style.

CFDA Fashion Incubator Award
The prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America is the US equivalent of the British Fashion Council, home to those that can give the most help and advice to young designers starting out in the big bad world of fashion. Similar to the BFA’s New Generation prize, the CFDA has announced nominees for its Fashion Incubator Award, which will bestow the winner with publicity and half-price rent on studio space in New York. The nominees may not be recognisable now, but whoever wins will surely be on everyone’s lips come fashion week. Those nominated include CFDA/Vogue funding winner Sophie Theallet, who is already causing waves with her beautifully cut dresses and luxurious fabrics. The full list is: 1. Alice Ritter 2. Bibhu Mohapatra 3. Prabal Gurang 4. Sophie Theallet 5. Rachel Dooley 6. Grant Krajecki of Grey Ant 7. Warris Ahluwalia of House of Warris 8. Joel Diaz with Jolibe 9. Alison Lewis 10. Dao-Chi Chow & Maxwell Osborne of Public School 11. Yuvi Albert & Danna Kobo of Ruby Kobo 12. Justin Guinta of Subversive Jewellery.

London Fashion Week countdown
Yes we know, it only feels like yesterday since the frantic show reports from September, but it’s that time again and although by the end of the week you want to crawl under a dark rock, we of the selective fashion memory are getting excited all over again. Fashion East, the platform for young new designers to showcase their talents, gets more and more press attention every season, with Victoria Beckham attending September’s show. For the new season, the line-up includes Michael van der Ham, Heikki Salonen and milliner Nazir Mazhar – the man responsible for Lady Gaga’s extravagant orb head-dress. The million dollar question is: will she attend Fashion East and lend him her support? There’s one head-dress lover you wouldn’t want the misfortune to sit behind…