It’s the fashion-media bombshell of the week: Sarah Murdoch, the blonde beauty who’s helmed Australia’s Next Top Model for several seasons, has quit.
And, predictably, nobody is talking – about why, or about Murdoch’s replacement.
Murdoch, formerly Sarah O’Hare, is famously married into the Murdoch clan, whose recent fortunes on the world stage have been floundering in the wake of the News Of The World phone hacking scandal.
However, Sarah herself seems to have quit entirely on her own steam – and has simply commented that the decision was ‘very difficult’.
Unkindly, commentators are whispering that she – and the show- never quite recovered from the 2010 finale gaffe, where Sarah was the victim of crossed wires and read out the wrong name as the competition’s winner on live television.
However, it seems that on the surface there are no hard feelings between Murdoch and the show, with Foxtel releasing a kind statement thanking her for her time. It was made abundantly clear, too, that Murdoch did in fact walk rather than being pushed.
Perhaps RESCU’s own Alex Perry, one of Murdoch’s co-hosts, might have some insight into the situation. We’ll let you know any gossip. Meanwhile, whom do you think should step into Murdoch’s shoes?
Image: Sarah Murdoch.
In her trademark insouciant French drawl, Jane Birkin has set the record straight about the legendary Hermes Birkin.
To put it frankly, she’s not impressed.
She derides Hermes for ‘making a fortune’ from the bags – one sold for upwards of $200,000 at auction last week – and told Womens’ Wear Daily that she insisted they give a portion of the proceeds to her charities once she realised the sheer amount of money the company was reaping from the iconic design.
Birkins are by far the world’s most iconic bag. Long before there was an ‘It Bag’ concept, Birkins were the handbag of choice for celebrities and royalty. It’s rumoured that Victoria Beckham has one of the most extensive collections in the world.
However, the inspiration, who is a French icon of chic and was the lover of Serge Gainsbourg in the heady 60s, does not have time for such commercial silliness.
She calls the bag a ‘rather trivial piece of heavy luggage’ – and that, it seems, is that.
Still, we wouldn’t complain if we opened a trademark orange Hermes box to find one under the tree this Christmas, trivial though it is.
Image: Jane Birkin.
It’s long been a truism that the man in your life – husband, brother, son – will never have as many options as you do in fashion. And that’s been especially true in swimwear.
How many Australian men have looked and looked for something that isn’t floral-print boardies or a Speedo, and failed miserably?
Which is why Rescu. is celebrating the new menswear swim labels.
Our two favourites? Cate Young’s venture summer&salt, a breezy range of rash shirts, and label Malkin & Toad, whose preppy short swim-trunks are just the breath of fresh air Australian beaches need.
In a range of 1940s-style preppy cuts – they wouldn’t look out of place on a Rothschild diving off a yacht – Malkin & Toad swimsuits are in lovely minty colours, for the man who likes subtlety as opposed to garish pictures of palm trees.
The designer told Rescu. exclusively: “Malkin & Toad style is like Nantucket meets Portsea – timeless colours and detailing, yet fresh, distinctive and utterly wearable.”
Expect to see these popping up beside the Icebergs pool before long, accessorised by a cocktail and a very expensive haircut.
Image: Malkin & Toad.
Ah, Christmas Day – the ultimate in what-to-wear dilemmas.
Fortunately we’re not all doomed, like Bridget Jones, to wearing a horrible reindeer jumper – the climate makes that pretty impossible, thankfully.
But it’s still hard to find something festive without being tarty, comfortable without being completely style-less, and pleasing to conservative relatives – while still allowing you to eat your fill of Christmas treats.
Seems almost impossible, doesn’t it? Fear not – Rescu. is here to help.
The Grecian trend is always cool for summer, it’s flattering, you can wear a bikini underneath for a Christmas dip, and it’s capacious for a heavy Christmas lunch. Image: Draped jersey maxi-dress, $63 from Net-a-Porter.
We all have the one party where everybody must look ‘festive’ – and by ‘festive’ they mean ‘some combination of green, red and a fixed smile’. However, red’s one of the season’s big colours, so why not fasten on some jade earrings or an emerald-style bracelet and make the clash as subtle as possible. Image: Paul + Joe silk twill dress, $160 from Net-a-Porter.
Say what you will about Seventies fashion – and Rescu. can’t quite believe that Diana Ross is a fashion icon again – they did do some very good semi-formal wear. Chief among them? The wrap-dress with kaftan-style sleeves. It’s cheerful, easy to wear and flattering without restricting movement. Image: Tibi kaftan, $92 from Net-a-Porter.
The big jewels of a few seasons ago are long gone. Focus on delicate details and you can work a no-fuss, simple silhouette without worrying you look underdressed. Image: Embellished shift $180 from ASOS.
