September 2007

'ONE FOR THE BRISTOL CITY'

To celebrate the promotion of Bristol City FC to the Championship League, The Wurzels, Bristol City Manager Gary Johnson and members of the First Team Squad were on hand to launch the club's anthem 'One for the Bristol City' with a signing at the Bristol Virgin Megastore for hundreds of eager fans.

Bristol City FC are fully behind this re-wurzelising of their anthem, which also includes a live version of 'Drink up thy Zider', released for the first time on this format. Both tracks are belted out by thousands of home fans at Ashton Gate on match days.

Contact Alex or Natalie for more information:
alex@borkowski.co.uk
natalie@borkowski.co.uk

LITTLE BLACK DRESS’ EXHIBITION INCLUDING AUDREY HEPBURN AND ELIZABETH HURLEY CLASSICS

Today, Harrods unveiled a unique exhibition honouring the fashion institution that is, the ‘little black dress’ (LBD).

Proving that it’s more than just a fashion accessory, the exhibition pays tribute to the seductive, understated allure evoked by this timeless garment throughout the decades, and showcases world famous pieces including the Givenchy classic made for and worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1963 movie ‘Charade’ (donated by the Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons, Ireland), as well as the infamous Versace safety-pin dress which was made legendary by Elizabeth Hurley at the ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ premiere in 1994.

Celebrating all types of the LBD, from feathered evening dresses and sequinned bustiers to flirtatious baby-dolls and appliquéd minis, the display which is on during the storewide Timeless Luxury promotion, features the hottest current season designs from the world’s best in fashion including Chloe, Gucci, Oscar De La Renta, Yves Saint Laurent and Vivienne Westwood.

Proving that the Little Black Dress is the pinnacle of dramatic understatement – the true girl’s best friend, these dresses are displayed along with legendary and memorable images of celebrities Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Catherine Deneuve and Marilyn Monroe who wore, and still today wear the LBD well.

The love affair with the Little Black Dress began in 1926, and over the past 80 years designers have consistently returned to make the LBD their own. To commemorate this occasion, Harrods and Versace are for the first time, making the Versace safety-pin dress available on a made-to-order basis during the Timeless Luxury promotion.

Commenting on the exhibition, Marigay McKee, Fashion and Beauty Director at Harrods says: “The Little Black Dress is not just a fashion accessory – it’s an institution and we’re delighted to be paying homage to such an iconic fashion symbol during our Timeless Luxury promotion”.

William Doyle, CEO, Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons in Ireland: “We’re honoured to be a part of the Little Black Dress exhibition at Harrods and are thrilled to be donating one of our most treasured pieces”.

For more information, contact:
Jackie Antas, Natalie Ashworth, Joanne McNally at Borkowski, 0207 404 3000
jackie@borkowski.co.uk
natalie@borkowski.co.uk
joanne@borkowski.co.uk

About the LBD exhibition at Harrods:

Dress it up; dress it down, this classic piece affords a pervading, effortless style that has seen it become every woman’s wardrobe staple and celebrated by designers in a way no other costume has achieved. This exhibition pays tribute to the seductive, understated allure evoked by this timeless garment throughout the decades.

Our love affair with the Little Black Dress began in 1926. It was the age of the party-loving Martini-sipping Flapper, and fashion was gasping for modernity. Coco Chanel responded with a black dress. Previously, black was a colour worn only at funerals, but Chanel’s creation was both feminine and sophisticated. Vogue was quick to see its staying power, and labelled it the ‘Ford’ because, like Ford’s T Model car, it had a long-lasting universal appeal. One of Chanel’s contemporaries was puzzled, however, and inquired whom she was mourning. The designer simply replied: “You, monsieur.”

By the 1940s, the Little Black Dress was captivating a vulnerable male audience on celluloid. A provocative black-satin gown by French designer Jean Louis had wrapped itself languorously around Rita Hayworth in 1946, and in 1958 an off-the-shoulder number held Marilyn Monroe’s curves in a mesmerising clinch. Fashion designers have consistently returned to make the LBD their own; Rive Gauche added yoke-studs; Versace gave it safety pins. But none have ever trumped the success of French couturier Hubert de Givenchy, whose simple cocktail dress reached iconic status in 1961 when then little-known actress Audrey Hepburn wore it in the opening scenes of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

From feathered evening dresses and sequinned bustiers to flirtatious baby-dolls and appliquéd minis, the Little Black Dress is the pinnacle of dramatic understatement – the true girl’s best friend.

About the little black dresses in the exhibition:

Yves Saint Laurent (Autumn/Winter 2007)

A stretch flannel classic with detailing in jersey, Yves Saint Laurent’s instant classic was first presented as part of Saint Laurent’s Autumn/Winter collection in 1966.

Yves Saint Laurent first introduced the Little Black Dress in his first haute couture collection for Summer 1962, and from the first Rive Gauche collection during Autumn/Winter 1966.

The black dress became one classic because it was introduced throughout collections since the beginning in versions day, evening and cocktail and that it is still case today.

It's composed of stretch flannel (97% virgin wool and 3% elastan).

Gucci (Autumn/Winter 2007)

Designed by Frida Giannini, this black silk creponne dress falls beautifully on the body. Its simple, classic cut is embellished with encrusted jewels and crystals.

The old-world glamour expressed through this piece, with its low v-neck line and cinched waist, is inspired by the 1940s model and photographer Lee Miller. One of the first female combat photographers to capture Paris on film in WWII, Miller was also famed for her surrealist images and photographs of leading figures including Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Fred Astaire and Marlene Dietrich. Her determined character, unique style and strong features earned her a reputation as a legendary beauty.

Owning a reputation for its inspired interpretations of this timeless classic, Gucci has evolved the ease and elegance of the Little Black Dress to encompass a more modern aesthetic, creating garments which articulate a powerfully straightforward style.

Oscar de la Renta (Autumn/Winter 2007)

Black silk faille sleeveless dress with asymmetrical cowl neckline.

Oscar de la Renta owns a rich history of dressing the world’s leading women – from first ladies to film divas, evoking a style which is equally strong and feminine. This designer’s unique range of accessories perfectly complement his coveted interpretations of the LBD, which allow the women who adorn them to exude a sexy, subtle and assertive demeanour.

Vivienne Westwood (Gold Label Classic Collection, Autumn/Winter 2005)

"You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes."
So says Vivienne Westwood – and this maxim is perhaps most fully expressed in Westwood’s inspirational Little Black Dresses, which are imbued with femininity and elegance whilst presenting a new and challenging aesthetic.

This black corset dress cuts a distinctive feminine silhouette with sculptural draping and innovative tailoring techniques. Cut from a fine 'duchesse carreau', it combines the lustruous shine of a silk duchess satin with the crisp matt qualities of a radzimir taffeta, and is shot black with subtle tones of aubergine and marron.

Chloé (Spring 2008)

Created by Paulo Melim Andersson, the house's new creative director, this little black dress is quintessentially Chloé: the T-shirt-based construction of this dress demands a super-cool attitude, and the girl has to feel very confident wearing a keyhole back. Easy and unfussy; this day dress needs no further accessories to be sexy.

Chloe's history of hiring young, inspired designers - from Karl Lagerfeld in 1966 to Stella McCartney in 1997 – has evolved a all-encompassing range of LBDs, from the 1960s ‘Le Style’ movement to the more recent emphasis on a urban yet sexy aesthetic.

For Spring 2008, the Chloé girl sneaks down to the beach at night for a secret rendezvous with her surfer boyfriend. She's chic and sophisticated but relaxed about herself – and loves sea, sex and sun.

Givenchy, 1963.

Worn by Audrey Hepburn in Charade, 1963.
Loaned by Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons.

With her understated style, innate elegance and ability to captivate an audience while retaining an aura of mystery, Audrey Hepburn was born to wear the Little Black Dress.

This two-piece Givenchy cocktail outfit features a fitted sleeveless top and skirt, both crafted from black wool moss crêpe, trimmed with imitation jet pailletes and lined with black silk. The ensemble was created for Hepburn’s character in Charade, Regina ‘Reggie’ Lampert.

This outfit is worn in one of the film's key sequences as Reggie begins to realise the complicated situation she has been drawn into following her husband’s murder. Hepburn wears this outfit in the scene when she and Cary Grant go to the Black Sheep Club, where she encounters the first of her husband's accomplices, Herman Scobie played by George Kennedy. The film’s ‘bad guy’, Tex Panthollow, played by James Coburn, threatens Hepburn’s character, by throwing lit matches in her lap – a small burn mark can be seen on the front of the skirt.

A truly stylish relationship was born when Givenchy met the then little-known Hepburn in 1954. She arrived at his Parisian store wearing a gondolier's hat with red ribbon that read ‘Venezia’, and expressed her passion for Givenchy’s collections. Charmed by Hepburn, who became a life-long friend, Givenchy subsequently designed the outfits for her forthcoming films, including the ubiquitous LBD worn by Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Versace (Atelier Spring/Summer 1994)

The Little Black Dress is coveted for its ability to create an understated impact, but few pieces have rivalled the imprint that Versace's ‘safety-pin’ model made on the national consciousness.

Actress Elizabeth Hurley donned this plunge dress, secured by gold safety pins to the premier of Four Weddings and a Funeral in 1994, which starred her then-boyfriend Hugh Grant.

Versace was the master of pure Italian luxury, creating sexy yet sophisticated interpretations of the LBD which transformed this iconic garment's image from demure lady's apparel to the sartorial choice of those who favoured a versatile, edgy look.

About Timeless Luxury:

During Timeless Luxury, Harrods reveals the unique and unexpected stories behind the world’s most coveted designers and innovators, and illustrates how our perception of luxury has evolved over the past century – from cutting-edge technology to the little black dress.

To commemorate this occasion, Harrods and Versace are for the first time making the Versace safety-pin dress available on a made to order basis during the Timeless Luxury promotion.

LITTLE BLACK DRESS WITH A LARGE PRICE TAG

ARTS Dress
18 Sep 2007 - 11:13
By Sri Carmichael, PA

For a touch over GBP10,000 - and perhaps a few hours in the gym - women can look like actress Liz Hurley from today.

The plunging black and gold safety-pins Versace ensemble she donned for the 1994 premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral is on sale for the first time at Harrods.

"That dress", as it became known by the world's media, is one of a breed that walks tall through the fashion world.

The "little black dress" wields an intoxicating power to make you look richer, chicer and thinner and London's emporium of luxe has put on a dedicated exhibition to honour its potent sartorial force.

The frock that propelled Hurley to stardom is not the only famous LBD showcase at the store.

The simple black shift worn by Hollywood starlet Audrey Hepburn in the 1963 movie Charades is on display, still striking amid modern versions of the style staple.

From the first heady days of the world's love affair with the LBD in 1926, when Coco Chanel rescued black from the preserve of more sombre occasions, the dress has weathered the whims of fashionistas to become a universal symbol of elegance.

Martin Buckley, marketing manager at Harrods, said: "The little black dress is an institution we're proud to pay homage to.

"Every designer since Coco Chanel has taken the concept, given it a twist and tried to put their stamp on it.

"As the Hepburn dress proved, however old the design a little black dress will always be a stunning classic."

Designer Christian Dior said in 1954: "You can wear black at any time. You can wear it any age.

"You may wear it on almost any occasion; the 'little black frock' is essential to a woman's wardrobe."

Mr Buckley agreed the LBD's versatility was what made women fall in love with it and designers lavish their best talents on its creation.

"Its simplicity is what women love - it can be worn for a cocktail party but also during the day. Its use is constantly evolving.

"Women have grown to trust it because there are very few situations where it wouldn't work."

He added: "You can change the look of it very easily with a dash of colour on your shoes or some accessories.

"It's a girl's best friend."

A string of models today paraded this season's LBDs at the department store.

The exhibition is part of Harrods Timeless Luxury promotion.

Hurley's safety-pin dress costs GBP10,690 and will be delivered two months from the date of order.

Harrods top 10 little black dresses:

1. The lengthy Balenciaga - black short sleeved dress with tie - GBP1,225

2. Versace strapless cocktail dress - GBP1,410

3. Dolce & Gabbana - black satin bustier dress GBP1,550

4. YSL - sleeveless A-line with embroidered bib - GBP1,645

5. Givenchy - bell-sleeved - GBP959

6. Chloe - button front detail - GBP935

7. Tibi - black drop-waisted short sleeved dress - GBP369

8. Paul & Joe - black short sleeved dress with collar - GBP229

9. Diane Von Furstenberg - black strappy dress - GBP629

10. Moschino - bubble dress with bow - GBP829

MBO CREATES UK'S LARGEST INDEPENDENT ENTERTAINMENT RETAILER

Zavvi Entertainment Group has today completed a management buy-out of the Virgin Megastores UK and Irish chain from Virgin Group, creating the UK and Ireland's largest independent entertainment retailer.

The team led by existing Virgin Megastores Managing Director, Simon Douglas, and Finance Director, Steve Peckham, will continue to operate all of the existing one hundred and twenty five UK and Irish stores under the name Zavvi, as well as the company's recently revamped online offering.

The buyout is fully supported by the Virgin Group board and Zavvi will continue to be supplied by EUK, the company's primary supplier.

The buyout will enable the current management team, who between them have a wealth of retail experience, to develop a business completely focused on selling entertainment product. As part of the management buy-out, all UK Stores will be re-branded Zavvi by November 2007 with the website and Irish stores following in January 2008.

Commenting on the acquisition, Simon Douglas, Managing Director of the new company said, "For over 30 years Virgin Megastores has benefited from being part of the Virgin Group and from the unstinting support of Sir Richard Branson.

We are delighted to be given the opportunity to build on that legacy. We have a workforce of 2,500 people who are absolutely passionate about the products we sell and we will continue to harness that passion and energy and together with an independent ethos and modern outlook, we will deliver a new brand that lives and breathes entertainment and delivers high quality enthusiastic service to existing and new customers."

"This deal secures an exciting future for Zavvi and for all our staff, with a real belief that despite escalating competition there is still very much a place on an increasingly homogenised high street for an independent entertainment specialist that puts customers, product, service and personality at the top of the agenda."

"With today's announcement, we believe Zavvi is well placed to thrive in the challenging market place."

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman and Founder of the Virgin Group says, "As Virgin has grown over the last 30 years into the world's largest branded venture capital organisation, we have developed successful businesses across the globe in a range of new areas including transport and travel, telecommunications, media, financial services, leisure and healthcare. Our most recent investments have also included renewable energy and clean technologies in line with the Group's desire to become one of the world leaders in that field along with sustainable transportation and travel.

In the last six years we have been withdrawing from entertainment retailing which is no longer viewed as core to the Group's future. We now choose to franchise our global entertainment retail operations, rather than own them, and this was the last significant Virgin wholly-owned retail business in the world. With that in mind we have agreed to a management buyout with the excellent management team led by Simon Douglas and Steve Peckham."

"The Virgin brand will continue to be represented in-store through the Virgin Mobile and Virgin Media in-store concessions.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the retail team all the best with their new venture."

For interviews or further information, please contact:
Emeka Njodi or Alex Wilkinson at BORKOWSKI PR
020 7404 3000
meka@borkowski.co.uk
alex@borkowski.co.uk

For Virgin Group, please contact Jackie McQuillan or Will Whitehorn
0207 229 4738
jackie.mcquillan@virgin.co.uk
will.whitehorn@virgin.co.uk

NUTS TV LAUNCHES

NUTS TV LAUNCHES WITH CAMPAIGN TO ENTERTAIN DESPERATE BRITISH MEN FIGHTING FEMALE EXTINCTION FOLLOWING OUTCRY FROM OVER 150,000 MEN ACROSS THE UK

Did you know that over one hundred and fifty thousand British men live in towns and villages facing ‘female extinction?’

Alston, Cumbria, is currently one of the worst effected areas with ten men to every woman, but there are others across the UK in danger of a similar fate. Alston resident Vince Peart, the founder of ‘Villages in Crisis,’ a society that helps men in areas with low female populations find female partners, has been inundated with emails from others in his situation.

NUTS TV will be celebrating its launch with a nationwide campaign to help Britain’s needy men and has created a UK map identifying ten towns and villages in need of some much-deserved entertainment based on over one hundred and fifty thousand responses. These ten towns are:

1. Bere Alston, Devon
2. Wolsingham, Weardale, County Durham
3. Girvan, Ayrshire, South-West Scotland
4. Hythe, Dover
5. Elvaston, Thulston, Derby
6. New Forest, Hampshire
7. Shenstone, Lichfield, Staffordshire
8. Hexham, Northumberland
9. Long Preston, Settle, Yorkshire
10. Donegal, Northern Ireland

In response to the crisis, NUTS TV will be creating an emergency service, ‘NUTS TV AID’ and airing a special report for the channel’s ‘Rude News’, which is dedicated to covering ‘weird and wonderful stories from around the world.’ The public will be asked to email emergency@nuts.tv with their thoughts on which area most deserves NUTS TV AID and should receive the ultimate NUTS TV experience. Headed up by NUTS TV presenters, comedy duo Dan Wright and Steve Marsh, NUTS TV AID will give the winning area’s men a night to remember, replicating the channel’s shows with a mixture of sport, gadgets, music, comedy and girls.

Joe Talbot, Director of Programming at NUTS TV commented, “The concept of NUTS TV is one of cutting-edge programming that is both user-generated and representative of what our audience is talking about at the pub or in the office. The country-wide issue of female extinction and lack of entertainment for men is one we feel is essential to address, and as such have developed NUTS TV AID to launch the channel with. NUTS TV, with its live programming strands covering all the topics essential to the men of Britain, is the perfect antidote to female extinction and we are really excited to be able to bring NUTS TV to the area which deserves it most.”

“The issue of female extinction is one that affects thousand of people across the country,” said Villages in Crisis Founder, Vince Peart.

“The problem isn’t just the lack of women but a lack of women that choose to socialise locally. Most girls my age would rather drive forty five minutes to the nearest city for a night out than embrace what’s happening on their own doorstep. It’s great that NUTS TV is launching this campaign and giving men in areas like Alston a bit of fun and an experience to remember.”

Images of a Bristol Britannia plane being loaded by NUTS TV presenters, Dan Wright and Steve Marsh with girls, up-and-coming indie band Laser Crabs, a hot tub and other entertainment are available on request. A map featuring the ten affected is also available.

For further information please contact:
Sabrina Lynch, Natalie Ashworth, Alex Wilkinson at BORKOWSKI
on 020 7404 3000
natalie@borkowski.co.uk
natalie@borkowski.co.uk
alex@borkowski.co.uk
meka@borkowski.co.uk

ABOUT NUTS TV
The channel, a spin-off from publishing company IPC's weekly men's magazine Nuts, launches on 12th September. NUTS TV will broadcast 20 hours of live TV per week, from 9pm to 1am on Freeview channel 42.

It is being launched by Turner Broadcasting System. All shows will be made by ETV and the schedule will target young men with programmes about sport, gadgets, cars, music, comedy, news, and girls.
Dan Wright and Steve Marsh, are among the faces of NUTS TV, which launches next week.

For more info on NUTS TV go to www.nuts.tv

ABOUT NUTS TV PRESNTERS, DAN WRIGHT AND STEVE MARSH
Dan Wright and Stephen Marsh burst onto the comedy scene in 2001 and quickly made a name for themselves as a young, slick and original duo

Such is their chemistry, that it was only a matter of time before TV spotted their potential. They have presented ‘Big Brother’s Big Mouth’ on E4 and recently starred in ‘Celebrities Uncensored’ on FIVE. Prior to this Dan & Steve presented and starred in their own evening sports show for SKY, 'Fanzone' and hosted 'TV Land', a quiz show on Nation 217. On Cbeebies the versatile pair is best known and loved as ‘Big Cook Little Cook’ which has gained a cult following amongst adults too.

ABOUT VINCE PEART
Villages in Crisis founder, 24 year-old Vince Peart, lives in Alston, Cumbria – reported to have ten men to every woman. Two years ago, Vince set up the Alston Moore Regeneration Society to help find a partner for himself and his friends.

The society’s website, www.villagesincrisis.com, has received 150,000 messages of empathy and complaints about the lack of women in their own towns from men in the UK and across the world.

FLIGHT PATH,

The Bush Theatre and Out of Joint present

Flight Path by David Watson

FLIGHT PATH, a new play by David Watson, directed by Naomi Jones, opens at The Bush Theatre on 17 September 2007 (with previews from 12 September). Following performances at The Bush Theatre FLIGHT PATH will tour the UK. This is the first co-production between The Bush Theatre and Out of Joint.

Designed by Polly Sullivan with lighting by Natasha Chivers and sound by Carolyn Downing, the full cast is; Cary Crankson as Jonathan, Will Knightley as Sean, Mossie Smith as Susan, Scott Swadkins as Danny, Jason Maza as Joe and Ashley Madekwe as Lauren.

Being eighteen is tough. For Jonathan being eighteen means everyone expects and demands the best from him. When he decides to rebel the shockwaves turn everyone’s world upside-down. FLIGHT PATH is a funny and touching drama about brotherly love, loyalty and friendship.

FLIGHT PATH is David Watson’s second professionally produced play. His first, Just a Bloke, was staged at the Royal Court as part of their Young Writer’s Festival when he was seventeen. He is twenty two.

Naomi Jones has worked with Out of Joint for four years, alongside the company’s artistic director, Max Stafford-Clark. She was assistant director on Duck, The Permanent Way, Talking to Terrorists, Macbeth and O Go My Man. She also directed Machinal for the Oxford School of Drama at BAC, and One Million Tiny Plays at the Clerkenwell Theatre. This is Naomi’s first full production with Out of Joint.

www.bushtheatre.co.uk / www.outofjoint.co.uk

FLIGHT PATH Listings at The Bush Theatre, London, W12

Previews - Wednesday 12 – 15 Sept 8pm - £13, £9 concs.
Press Night - Monday 17 Sept 7pm - £15, £10 concs.
Saturday Matinees - 22, 29 Sept & 6 Oct 3pm - £10
All other perfs. - 8pm - £15, £10 concs.
Closed Sundays

FOR TOUR DETAILS PLEASE CONTINUE…

FLIGHT PATH TOUR UK DATES 2007

9 - 13 Oct Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The Door) 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
15 - 16 Oct Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells 01892 678 678 www.trinitytheatre.net

18 - 20 Oct Sherman Theatre, Cardiff 029 2064 6900 www.shermantheatre.co.uk

30 - 31 Oct Theatre Royal, Wakefield (At the Arts Centre) 01924 211 311 www.wakefieldtheatres.co.uk

2 – 3 Nov Mill Studio, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford 01483 44 00 00 www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

6 - 10 Nov Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh 0131 228 1404 www.traverse.co.uk

Post show discussions:
At each venue there will be a free post-show discussion with the director and company.
· Bush Theatre: Wednesday 26 September.
· All other venues: first performance.

For all press enquires for FLIGHT PATH at The Bush Theatre please contact – Giles Cooper – 0207 404 3000 / 07917 167 809 giles@borkowski.co.uk

For all other enquires regarding the tour of FLIGHT PATH please contact – Jon Bradfield - 0207 609 0207 / 07968 762 339 jon@outofjoint.co.uk