The wedding of the year

While WAGs are not generally famous for being avant-garde in their fashion choices, Coleen McLoughlin is proving herself to be way ahead of the curve. In what will surely be the most hotly-debated nuptials of 2008, the now former Ms McLoughlin chose Marchesa, whose debut bridalwear collection will hit shops this summer, to design her wedding gown. The label, designed by Georgina Chapman (wife of Harvey Weinstein) and Keren Craig, is famous for its opulent red carpet creations and party dresses worn by the likes of Sienna Miller and Anne Hathaway. But while Coleen\'s confection of frothy layered chiffon was reminiscent in its extravagance of their red carpet numbers, the designers are hoping in future to find their niche by designing gowns which fall into a more casual category. As Chapman told Women\'s Wear Daily back in April: "We have found a trend of women who wanted something a little more simple...Nowadays, there are women who are so used to wearing jeans and tops during the day that it\'s a huge leap to get into a dress and corset." One thing\'s for sure, with the amount of coverage given to the Rooney nuptials, the Marchesa wedding collection is sure to be a smash hit in the U.K.  

Picture: Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman

Viva Valentino

Although it\'s barely a year since his retirement, Valentino is already the star of a fashion design retrospective. Valentino: Themes And Variations, an exhibition featuring 225 examples of the Roman fashion legend\'s work, opened this week at Les Arts Decoratifs in Paris. With retro hits including the wedding dress designed for Jacqueline Kennedy\'s wedding to Aristotle Onassis in 1968, and the famous black vintage gown Julia Roberts wore when she won her Oscar in 2001, the designer is a fitting subject for the French fashion museum, which has never before devoted such a show to a living Italian designer. For the opening party, famous and glamorous friends including Claudia Schiffer, Charlotte Casiraghi and Natalia Vodianova turned up to add to the glamour. With the documentary about the designer (made by Matt Tyrnauer) set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August, it would seem that, even though Valentino may have retired, he certainly hasn\'t slowed down.

See pictures from the Valentino autumn/winter 2008/9 fashion show on handbag.com 

Picture: Valentino at the retrospective of his work at Les Art Decoratifs in Paris

Olsens launch jewellery line

Love them or loathe them, there\'s no denying the Olsen twins are a fashion force to be reckoned with. After the success of their upmarket fashion line, The Row (which sells at Harvey Nichols in the UK), the diminutive pair have now announced they have created a jewellery collection, due to go on sale in September under their clothing label Elizabeth and James. Robert Lee Morris, a respected jeweller in the fashion world who was worked for the likes of Calvin Klein and Karl Lagerfeld during his 40-year career, has been entrusted with the design. "We both have a love of accessories and they\'ve always been important to us from Day One", Mary-Kate said in an interview, adding, "We don\'t follow the trends of other people. We\'ve never had stylists, we do our own thing," which perhaps goes some way to explaining their fashion appeal. The line will mix classic pieces, such as a chunky cuff and sculptural ring in solid silver, with more trend-led, playful elements, like attachable charms, so that the wearer can customize the pieces to their own taste.

Picture: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Kate Moss\'s new campaign

After what might politely be termed a fallow campaign season, Kate Moss seems to be back in the game. As well as starring in a series of short films shot by Nick Knight for Agent Provocateur, she has also been hired by pal Stella McCartney for her Autumn/Winter 2008 campaign. Photographed by Mert Atlas and Marcus Piggott, the ads also feature model Frankie Rayder, wife of Red Hot Chilli Pepper Flea, and longtime friend of Moss. "It was nice shooting outside", said McCartney when interviewed about the shoot, "seeing the girls tottering on their heels in the grass and over the rough terrain." Meanwhile, Nicolas Ghesquière, has chosen his muse Charlotte Gainsbourg to star in his Balenciaga campaign, shot by David Sims. "For me, she is one of the most inspiring girls in the world", Ghesquière was quoted as saying. "She\'s really representative of what France is today...so modern in her choices and her way of being. She\'s so iconic for me." Gainsbourg takes over from actress Jennifer Connolly, another Ghesquière favourite.

Picture: Frankie Rayder and Kate Moss at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001

Nicole\'s new shoes

She may have had her Chanel No.5 contract whipped from under her nose by Priceless star Audrey Tatou, but Nicole Kidman has not been ignored by other designers. Salvatore Ferragamo, the famous shoe brand this year celebrating its 80^th anniversary, has been commissioned to design no less than 18 pairs of shoes for the actress to wear in her latest film, the epic Australia, in which she co-stars with fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman and which reunites her with Baz Luhrmann, who directed her in Moulin Rouge! as well as her appearance in the Chanel No. 5 advert. The pairing between the Italian luxury goods house and the A-lister is more apt than might at first be thought. As well as inventing the wedge heel, the late Salvatore, who died in 1960, made his name in Hollywood by designing shoes for hits like The Postman Always Rings Twice and Some Like it Hot. Heir James Ferragamo, who now heads up the shoes and leather goods department, met with Kidman in person for her fittings, and even made a cast of her foot for the Ferragamo archives. Chanel or no, Kidman now certainly has her place in fashion history.

Picture: Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in \'Australia\'

Fashion honours

It\'s been a winning week for the fashion industry. Glenda Bailey, editor in chief of US Harper\'s Bazaar, picked up an OBE from the Queen, as has Anna Wintour,  both as part of the overseas list for services to British journalism and fashion in the US. Meanwhile, Manolo Blahnik, the designer repeatedly crowed over by Carrie Bradshaw, has further been immortalised with a permanent plaque on one of the most famous fashion streets in the world: Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Blahnik is the 12^th honouree to receive the prize; previous winners include Donatella Versace, Tom Ford and Mario Testino. We don\'t doubt there are many real-life Carrie Bradshaws out there who will make the pilgrimage and pay their respects.

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Picture: Manolo Blahnik