Italian Fashion Watch

The trade association of the Italian luxury industry, Altagamma, has decided to re-elect Leonardo Ferragamo as the chairman of the board for another three-year post.

Altagamma members include Alberta Ferretti, Brioni, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Max Mara, Loro Piana, Tod’s, Versace and Valentino.

The executives elected as Altagamma board members were Niccolo Branca, Jacopo Biondi Santi, Patrizio Di Marco, Andrea Illy, Matteo Marzotto, Vittorio Missoni, Matteo Montezemolo, Laudomia Pucci, Carlo Rivetti, Francesco Trapani, Santo Versace, Ermenegildo Zegna.

It commemorated its 15-year anniversary with a revision of its mission to the following: “To affirm the excellence of Altagamma member companies and to promote, together, Italian Lifestyle and Culture around the world.”

The group’s long-term goal is to continue globally defending and promoting the cultural and economic heritage of the highest level of Italian lifestyle.

Altagamma is also active in research studies. Last summer, the producers association announced global figures showing that consumers spent $94 billion annually on luxury goods with 26% or $25 billion spent on Italian goods.

The ‘Austin Powers’ actress – who is marrying Indian businessman Arun Nayar next year – is said to be planning her bash for February and wants to make sure it is a unique night.

During the show, guests will be able to choose dresses to wear to Hurley’s nuptials.

A source told Britain’s Grazia magazine: “Elizabeth wants Donatella to provide some dresses so her friends can choose stunning outfits for her big day. She wants it to be an intimate gathering, with lots of champagne and nibbles.”

Hurley’s no-expense-spared bash – which is expected to be attended by a galaxy of stars, including Victoria Beckham – will apparently involve pampering sessions, beauty treatments and a lavish meal at a top restaurant.

The source added: “She has budgeted for about £3,000 a head and is expecting to foot a large part of the bill.”

Italian fashion house Versace plans to build 15 luxury resorts around the world in its latest effort to woo the super-rich, its CEO told Reuters on Wednesday.

Under an agreement with Australian property developer Sunland Group, Versace will design and furnish the 7-star hotels, which will all be modelled along its historic headquarters in Milan.

Versace already owns a hotel on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Versace chief executive Giancarlo Di Risio has overseen a comeback from a loss-making group with a messy mix of labels to a sleeker, profitable luxury brand with a focus on exclusive products for the very wealthy.

“The hotels close the circle of super-luxury: clothing, yachts, private jets, and now resorts,” he said.

Mr Di Risio declined to say how much Versace stands to gain from the hotel deal.

But the first in the series will open in Dubai in 2009, offering guests a swimming pool with live exotic fish and specially cooled sand.

Versace made its name as a label of choice for publicity hungry celebrities, mad for the revealing dresses in shock colours that were a hallmark of designer-founder Gianni Versace.

But after Versace was murdered in the 1990s and his sister Donatella took over, the company floundered and came close to bankruptcy.

The American Film Institute’s annual festival got off to an appropriately glitzy start on Wednesday evening when a roll-call of big names turned out for a gala screening of the political drama Bobby.

In years gone by the high profile designer’s daughter has earned a reputation for being publicity shy, but her confidence seems to be growing of late. Just last month she was spotted rubbing shoulders with J Lo and Jessica Simpson at a special event honouring movie heart-throb Johnny Depp, and she looked equally at ease when she arrived at the AFI bash on Wednesday. Onlookers also noticed that the millionairess, whose slender appearance has provoked concern in the past, was looking both stylish and less gaunt in a pretty lavender gown.

Allegra wasn’t the only one making an impression. The Matrix hunk Laurence Fishburne, who also appears in Bobby, was likewise in attendance, along with As Good As It Gets actress Helen Hunt.

Versace is already present in china, with stores in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. However, the fashion empire plans to invest over 10 Million Euros (US$12.5) to open nine more shops in the larges country of the world.

The Chinese economy is developing at an incredible rate and analysts say that by 2010, almost 250 Million Chinese will be able to afford luxury items.

With this in mind, Versace want to make sure it grabs a good share of the market early on.

Donatella Versace, the company’s creative director, is confident their “more contemporary, modern” trend will succeed in attracting more Chinese customers.

Very soon, Versace will send to specialty stores all over the world its new Fragrance, the Bright Crystal.

The company, known for its feminine products, will use the already know style in the way it presents it products.

The bottle of the new Bright Crystal is extremely elegant. It has a beautiful pink shade with clear lines. On top of that, the cover is made in a glittering crystal.

Of course, the packaging is as imposing as what’s inside it.

“The perfume heralds a whole new era at Versace,” says Andrea Sgariboldi, Versace’s export director. “It’s all about elegance, glamour and all things that Versace has always stood for.”

Allegra Versace, Donatella’s daughter and Gianni’s niece, is a rather more intimate character, preferring to keep a low profile when it comes to the media.

However, this time, she could not resist attending this LA party where Hollywood’s super stars such as Johnny Depp and Jay Lo would be present. She just had to meet them.

Jessica Simpson also attended the party, accompanied by her stylist, Ken Paves. Brooke Shields came with her husband, Chris Henchy.

Allegra Versace inherited half of his uncle Gianni Versace’s fashion empire when she turned 18. I’m wondering what will happen when she will actually take her mother’s place in the company.

Being young, with lots of fresh ideas will definitely be an advantage.