Despite Lungta De Fancy designer Mai Marimoto being on her way to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the brand, penning a book and branching out into lingerie in the next coming months, the Central Saint Martins graduate remains a humble and fuss-free designer with a true passion and talent for her work – and a desire to please every one of her shoppers.

And, since we mention it, those shoppers happen to include some of fashion’s most famous faces from Lady Gaga to Victoria Beckham and Rihanna (and even a royal, too).

The appeal, it seems, is her ability to meet every girl’s needs.

You can find Lungta De Fancy in London’s New Bond Street, Knightsbridge and St Christopher’s Place, which is where we caught up with the designer last week as part of the fabulous Thank You Thursdays shopping event.

Find out what Mai Marimoto told us about her inspirations, her plans for the label, and those Lady Gaga shoes…

How do you manage to balance getting the maximum out of your creativity and keeping the prices down to (relatively) affordable prices?

I understand that every customer is special so I wouldn’t mind if someone came up to me and said ‘I love this’, but it needs to be a bit different here so each item can be individual if that’s how a lady wants it. Every lady is something special and everyone has different figures. For three of our stores we do free alterations so we like to make sure it fits the client perfectly before their special event. Like this client that’s come in today – she thinks the dress is a little too long so we are fixing it to how she likes for no extra cost.

London isn’t the only place you have a store, so where would you say you get the most clients?

In London there’s lots of different cultures – Arabic clients, English clients. I’d say my clients are about 50%. 50% live in London and the other 50 are from the rest of the world. Obviously with Arabic ladies they like their arms covered so I add the sleeves, so it gives everyone the chance to wear the designs, which is why maybe they come here.

Do you show at fashion week?

We did presentations in Paris and New York last season… next season we are going to do New York.

Where did you get inspiration for everything in this store?

Everywhere. The collections have always been different to the last collection, every collection you can see the signature. If you look through, I do things very structured, classic, feminine, girly, ruffles. It’s very feminine and romantic.

Many items are custom-made – where are they manufactured and are they of a limited quantity?

They are made in Italy. My stores carry one-off pieces and there are very limited quantities because if I go to a party I don’t want to see another girl wearing the same dress.

So lets talk about the shoes that Lady Gaga wore…

These (pictured) are versions of the ones Lady Gaga wore, she wore the boot version, and they were made in Italy. They’re very comfortable, they don’t look comfy but they actually are. Obviously for the days you run around town you wouldn’t wear these but for a party, these are fine. These are £455, and the ones Lady Gaga bought were £750. She drove past our Knightsbridge store the other night and told her PR that she wanted them.

What other famous women have you dressed?

In the past we’ve had Rihanna, she wore an oversized cardigan, then we had Victoria Beckham, who wore a dress just before she got pregnant, and we had Princess Beatrice who wore my dress the day before Prince William’s wedding. It looks so much better on, obviously. She’s been a good customer for many years, she wears some of my stuff for Ascot.

The other day we heard Victoria Beckham saying that she’d only design something that she’d wear herself – is that your sentiment?

Mostly. I think it makes it more personal. I think there’s something for everyone but I like everything that I design.

Are you branching out into anything else?

I am doing a book, and I am working on a lingerie brand under the same name. We are aiming to launch in February, and if not, the second line will be out in July. We do a silk pyjama set – Japanese kimono style – and we’ve done all the sketches already. It’s always nice to wear something pretty underneath because if you have a lovely dress on it definitely makes a difference. We’ve used some really amazing silks and lots of bold colours like you see in the store. We try to make them match the dresses.

Click through our gallery below for highlights from Lungta de Fancy…

[Show as slideshow]

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At 20 years old, Valerie van der Graaf is, perhaps, a little older than some of her peers just making a name for themselves in the modelling industry – but then again, they haven’t just landed the most prestigious place on one of fashion’s most iconic calendars.

The Dutch model, who was discovered on Facebook aged 15 and has since landed campaigns for Hilfiger Denim and Topshop, has just scooped the biggest gig of her career – the cover girl of Lavazza’s 20th anniversary calendar for 2012 – and with bouncy blonde hair, strong brows and curves to die for, we don’t suppose she’ll struggle to score more.

We caught up with Valerie at Lavazza’s 20th anniversary launch to chat modelling life, dream designers and shopping…

Tell us a bit about your involvement with Lavazza…
I was really honoured to be chosen as one of the cover girls for the Lavazza calendar. It’s amazing and really good for my career, and it’s great to work with the photographer [Ellen von Unwerth].

Would you want to do it again?
Yes!

What were Lavazza like to work with?
They are lovely. It was a really great day because the team were so creative, it wasn’t like shooting for a product.

What do you think the calendar means to people?
The calendar is art and I love the pictures of the 2011 calendar. I see them at airports and you can’t really get away from them. I think everyone knows about it in some kind of way.

Who’s your favourite photographer?
I would love to work with Mark Seliger. I loved his calendar for 2011, it’s beautiful.

How did you first break into the modelling industry?
I was 15 and a modelling agency in Holland found me on a social network online. Someone came across a picture of me and sent me a message.

Did you think it was all legitimate?
I looked into it with my mum and we called them and organised a test shoot and that’s how it all started.

The Netherlands seem to have a habit of churning out successful models, is there something in the water over there?
It’s probably because we’re all really tall [laughs], and because of all of the milk we drink!

What do you think the secret to your success is? Do you think you have a certain look?
I don’t know, I’ve been lucky to work with certain photographers. Hopefully curves are getting more popular again because I’m lucky with that!

How do you prepare for shoots? Do you have any rituals?
No I don’t really prepare for the shoot, I just get my hair and make-up done.

Is getting your hair and make-up done your favourite part of the shoot?
It’s not my favourite part, I like shooting with the photographer because if they’re really nice, it can be a lot of fun and the day can be over like that.

What do you think is the most important part of the actual shoot is?
For me, it’s the photographer. If he or she is very energetic and nice then this helps a lot. Sometimes photographers who are abrupt get good pictures but it can be a little more difficult. I like it when there’s chemistry.

Do you ever get starstruck when you meet a well-known photographer for the first time?
Sometimes, yeah. At the beginning I didn’t really know a lot about fashion because I was 15, so I didn’t really know who they were. Now they [representatives] tell me if they’re really famous and if I have to be good [laughs].

Are there are designers or brands that you dream of working with?
I’d love to do Victoria’s Secret, I’d love that.

Is there a secret to striking a perfect pose?
No, I think it’s just the moment. Spontaneous pictures are the best – it can’t happen twice. Sometimes the photographer really likes one picture but if you try and do it again, it doesn’t work.

What does it mean to you to be the cover girl for the 2012 Lavazza calendar? Does it mean you’ve made it?
I’m so happy they chose me, it’s really good for my career. But I don’t know, we will see later (laughs).

What’s it like as a model always seeing pictures of yourself?
Something like this [the Lavazza calendar] is pretty weird because it’s really big. Sometimes I’ll see little pictures on the internet and it’s like, ‘okay’ but this is going to be on people’s walls so it’s quite weird. It has something to do with how we worked, too. If it’s a nice day then I’m happy with the pictures, if it’s a terrible day then I’m not really into the pictures.

Have you ever had a shoot where you feel too much has been asked of you?
Most involve really nice people. Sometimes they can be harder, especially in places like Paris. They’re a bit harder with fashion there, but in London they’re very nice and human. In Paris they sometimes think you’re just stone so they don’t get you your food so you have to ask for it all the time. If I don’t get my food by 2pm I can’t do anything anymore, I just need food as a human being!

The nature of your job means you’re always on the go – how do you stay stylish?
It depends, if I have a casting I’ll wear a dress but if I have to get a plane to another country then I’ll make sure I’m comfortable.

Do you have any tips for aspiring models? What would you say to yourself at 15?
Just enjoy everything, every minute. You never know when you’re too old, when you’re out of fashion or when you’re not what they are looking for anymore, so make the most of it. It’s so nice to have the opportunity to travel and live in a great city, it’s the best. I live in London and it’s the greatest city.

What are your favourite places to shop in London?
Topshop! I like the high street – I love New Look and I wear all the high street brands. I like vintage shopping too – Brick Lane, Notting Hill and Portobello.

Do you get recognised a lot?
No (laughs), but I love it that way.

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Looking for a lesson in stylish sojourning? You’re in luck. Whether you’ve lapped up a last minute long weekend or booked a big break on the beach, we’ve quizzed some of the best qualified in the travel business to bring you a ruddy good guide on how to get the most from your holiday.

First up? Our friends at boutique travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith – home to some of the sleekest stays on the sphere.

Editor-in-chief Juliet Kinsman is the original voice behind the boutique hotel guide and, instinctive about what makes a stay Smithy, her travel and interiors articles appear in publications such as Conde Nast Traveler to the Financial Times.

The daughter of a career diplomat, she’s had a taste for travel since childhood stints in Africa and America; her heart belongs to NYC and her London home, Kensal Green, which celebrate on her blog Park-Life.org.

She’s a self-confessed connoisseur of coffee, cheap-chic cottages and compound adjectives – a girl after our own heart – and, by her own admission, if she had a penny for every Smith hotel she’d written she’d have enough to by her own hip hideaway.

Need we find a better brain to pick? We caught up with Juliet to find out her top tips for travelling in style this summer…

1. Finding flights

Barely a day goes by where I don’t use Skyscanner for figuring out who flies where, how long it takes and what flights are available at what price.

Visit www.skyscanner.net

2. How to pack

Less really is more. Especially if you’re flying: pack either everything or a few essentials into carry-on hand baggage. A key for me to minimising wardrobe and maximising glam is dresses: it sidesteps the ‘which top with what bottoms?’ worry of separates – particularly irksome if you end up in a hotel room with no decent full-length mirror.

(Douse tissues in your favourite fragrance and layer them in your packing – everything smells so fresh, you don’t mind giving a dress an extra wear if need be.)

Tallulah & Hope does fabulous luxury kaftans (pictured above) you’d feel as comfortable wearing on a beach as at a special occasion: dress them up with heels and statement jewellery. Travel Wardrobe Care makes great suitcase accessories that keep clothes organised and crease-free. If you have carry-on it makes finding things easier: keep electrical goods, lingerie and hair paraphernalia all in separate compartments. And it helps avoid airing your dirty laundry in public if you get stopped and searched!

Visit http://www.tallulahandhope.com/ http://www.travelwardrobecare.com/

3. Soundtrack

I love Stereomood for music in a hotel or villa via my laptop and WiFi. They curate great playlists which blend under-the-radar new tracks with great classics suited to every setting; my favourites are Roadtrip, Sunday Morning and New York.

Visit www.stereomood.com

4. All-climate ready

Make it easier to adapt to a temperature change at the other end and feel your best in transit with a kitten-soft cashmere Travelwrap. It saves lugging a woollen coat to a beachside hotel just because the weather at home is cold, plus it saves you from those dreaded on-board lunges from freezing to sweltering. At £229, it’s an investment piece but it almost gets better with each wash! (And now they help me keep travel documents safe in style thanks to their leather accessories range: I love the lime-coloured Companion, £94.)

Cashmere Travelwrap, £229, available at thetravelwrapcompany.com.

5. Download

Our new Mr & Mrs Smith app is as fun as it is practical – and free! It guarantees you plan the perfect trip (find your dream hotel for your date/budget/destination) and helps you set your mood with music, play cheeky games of Truth or Dare, and it even provides get-out-of-work excuses in ready-to-use email form.

Mr & Mrs Smith: Plan & Play, available for free download from iTunes.

Follow Juliet on Twitter @julietkinsman and at @Smithhotels – and make sure you check out Smith’s brill blog, too.

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They might be making waves in the music industry right now, but it’s more than just their dulcet tones that are making us fall in love with The Pierces.

Already knocking up gigs at Glastonbury in the midst of their UK tour, the sister duo are fast becoming a dominant force in the music scene after a decade of underground sounds under their belts. But more than that, these girls have got serious style credentials to boot.

An artful blend of folksy boho and Sixties insouciance, Allison and Catherine’s signature ethereal look is catching the eyes of some of the most discerning fashion fans, too.

And when they’re not swaying in floor-sweeping maxis on stage, their flouncing between festival garbs and big name designers (their newest video, It Will Not Be Forgotten, features looks by Oscar de la Renta, Elie Saab and Temperley).

With two festivals in the bag and another on its way, we caught up with Allison and Catherine as they prepare to support Coldplay at London’s iTunes to quiz them on their style inspirations, their festival wardrobes, and the trick to staying stylish on the go…

How would you describe your style?

Comfortable, Sexy, and Piercey

Who are your music style icons?

Debbie Harry, Stevie Nicks, and Melanie Safka

Does fashion play an important part of who you are and what you do?

On a certain level I suppose it does. We enjoy fashion and it plays a part in everyone’s life whether you embrace or reject it. It says something about who you are or how you want people to perceive you…so yes, we put some thought into it.

How does your music influence your style (or vice versa)?

These songs are quite dreamy and mystical and I think our wardrobe has followed suit.

In your new video, In Will Not Be Forgotten, you both wear some beautiful pieces. What’s your favourite look?

I love the black dress with the cape that Allie wears in the beginning!

Oh dear….I loved all my looks…I can’t choose just one!

What are your favourite labels?

We are mainly vintage and high street girls. We love finding unique pieces at vintage and charity shops that you can cut up and recreate. We mix those pieces in with things we find at All Saints, Topshop, and ASOS. They all have amazing stuff and it’s affordable! We do love some designer pieces as well like, Isabel Marant, Alberta Ferretti and Anna Sui.

You’ve been hitting the festival circuit this year – what’s inspiring your festival wardrobe?

Versatility! One minute it’s hot and sunny then the next it’s pouring! I love a stretchy little knit dress with a nice flowy shawl or kimono top over it. You get the best of both worlds and it’s practical to layer up with the ever changing weather. Throw on some boots and load on bracelets and necklaces and you are set!

As girls on tour, what are your top tips for looking stylish on the go?

Dry shampoo, Johnson & Johnson face-wipes, hats, and great accessories!

What’s on your summer playlist?

Lykke Li, Florence & The Machine , Adele, Laura Marling, Alice Gold, & Lissie. This Summer is all about the ladies!!!

What item of clothing can you not live without?

BDG black, highrise, cigarette jeans! They are stretchy, comfy, and awesome.

Visit Thepiercesmusic.com

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It’s 11.37pm on the night before D-day (that’s D for Diane (yes, Von Furstenberg, keep up)), and so far I’ve successfully managed to throw four fifths of my wardrobe on the floor in elimination. That’s the problem when you’re going to meet an icon.

After deciding that panic buying a wrap dress wouldn’t be the best idea if I want to be able eat for the rest of the month, I settle on a vintage shirt with an abstract leopard print in the hope she’ll appreciate my colour effort.

I tug at my denim skirt the whole way on route the next morning. Is it too short? No, DVF loves a bit of leg, right?

Right. I arrive at Harrods‘ Penthouse and immediately spy Diane, dressed in a lime silk piece with an oversized blazer and legs that shoot mine right out the room and back onto the tube.

“You look incredible!” I gush. As far as opening lines go, it’s not the worst, but it sure as hell isn’t the coolest. She smiles, appreciatively, and gives a look that might have been shy if it wasn’t for her assuring confidence.

We’re here at the launch of her new jewellery collection for H.Stern, and after looking at the line and gushing some more, I catch Diane on the sofa.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” She says, as I ask her about her new jewellery collection. “It’s all about these beautiful rock crystals.”

She points to the ring on her finger and offers me her hand. The large mirror-like crystal set in polished gold is indeed beautiful.

“Look,” she says, “I’ll show you the bracelet,” and reaches for a fabric pouch that looks like a pencil case. Great! I’d seen her reaching for that earlier to show someone else and I’d wondered all morning what was in it.

She gets out the bracelet that I’d been admiring through the glass earlier and takes my hand to put it on. I spy her glance at my Mawi ring. It catches her eye for a second, but she doesn’t say anything. Did I commit the cardinal sin of wearing another designer to meet the iconic Diane Von Furstenberg? I realise she’s still clasping my wrist. Phew, I think she just wants me to take my ring off so the bracelet will fit over my hand.

“I want you to get an idea of how it feels,” says Diane. She just about eases the bracelet over my wrist – God, have I got fat wrists now, too? – and fastens the clasp.

“It’s so light!” I exclaim. Diane nods and smiles. “Oh, it fits so nicely!”. I twist and turn my wrist this way and that to see how each of the three stones catch the light and how the chain strap moves. Diane reaches for my hand to take it off and flips it over. “Look, it’s got my mantras enscrawled all over the back, too.”

The characters are based on Diane’s own handwriting, and it’s core to the new Sutras collection. She’s been working on jewellery with H.Stern for several years now, but this packs a powerful message.

“I was inspired by India, its mantras and 18th century art,” she says of the eight-piece collection. “It’s about beauty and strength and empowerment.”

There’s eight pieces – pendants, bracelets, earrings and rings – which all feature insirational words from Diane’s personal sutras: love, life, laughter, freedom, harmony, confidence, truth.

They’re precious pieces, but there’s a statement strength that’s apparent in each item. I wonder what type of woman Diane thinks can carry them.

“In anything I do, whether it’s perfume or jewellery or clothes, it’s to make the woman be the woman she wants to be.” She notes that they’re expensive – a polite way of saying not everyone can afford them – but her answer is inspiring nonetheless.

She’s so passionate about her jewellery I’m surprised she doesn’t have her own collection sitting in her accessories line, but she’s more than satisfied with what she offers with H.Stern.

“Well, the reason I chose H.Stern – I’ve wanted to work with them for 20 years – is the fact that it’s very rare to find such quality in fashion jewellery,” she says. She explains that the design process is different for jewellery, and I get the impression that their collaboration is very much a mixture of Diane’s design and H.Stern’s craft.

“Anything that’s trendy, the quality suffers. The quality of these pieces is beautiful,” she says, stroking the stone in her ring. “I mean, you can swim in them.”

I’m not sure whether she’s serious about the swimming part, or whether it’s one of her clever metaphors, so I laugh, shyly and nod. But it doesn’t matter – I feel so comfortable around Diane that I’m not embarrassed if I fumble, which I seem to be doing quite a lot, as it happens. It’s that sense of female empowerment that runs so central not only to Diane’s designs but her way of living that creates an air of calm.

“It’s about being the woman you want to be,” she says, when I ask her what femininity is to her. “I think what symbolises femininity is strength. Sometimes women can face things in life, from someone else – their mother or their father – or in nature. Something happens that creates an insecurity that you forget from time to time, but that makes you go like this [she indicates sadness with her head in her hands]. But then, gradually, it fades, and you move on and overcome it, and I think it’s the power of her mind that creates strength.”

I could sit and listen to her forever, but I’m aware that time is precious for Diane, who’s flown over from New York especially to launch her fragrance and jewellery collection in the UK. I press on, asking what her favourite piece is.

“This doesn’t leave my wrist,” she says, pointing to her chunky gold chain bracelet from a previous collection. “I wear it everywhere, so I think this is my favourite piece.” She’s not exaggerating, either – I recognise it from pictures, and it just so happens to be my favourite piece from the entire collaboration, too. It’s a bold piece, and I wonder if that’s how she prefers her jewellery.

“Well, I think jewellery is many things. I think jewellery is something for women to feel confident in, I think jewellery is also protection, I think it’s good luck – it’s many things,” she says. “And then I also like jewellery that I wear that can cause some damage!” She taps the ring on her finger and indicates something big and sharp.

Literal protection, and there was me thinking she was speaking about spirituality. We both laugh, and I move on to ask her about her love for colour. Big, bold shades are her signature, she must have a favourite this season?

She shakes her head. “I love every colour.” Every colour? Even murky greys and questionable-looking browns?

“When people ask me what it is I love about colour, I say this to them: ‘imagine looking out into a garden and only seeing black and white’.” She gives a knowing smile, like that of an angel or some other wise ethereal creature from a fantasy film, as though she’s just opened my eyes up to the beauty of the world.

And with that, my five minutes with Diane Von Furstenberg is up. I thank her for her time, we pose for photographs, and I leave Harrods with a strange sense of ease. I doubt Diane will remember me past our goodbye, but I feel as though I’ve just had a lesson in philosophy, and yes, the world’s a little brighter this morning.

Diane Von Furstenberg for H.Stern launches this month exclusively at Harrods.

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There’s a reason they call Elle Macpherson ‘The Body’, and when she walked into London’s Soho Hotel to introduce the all-new series of Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model this week, we saw first-hand why.

Trim and toned from tip to toe, towering over just about every person in sight as she stood, taught-armed, long-legged and plump-pouted in her Prada dress, she looked insanely perfect (and we mean insane).

She was in town on Tuesday to host an exclusive screening of the new series of BINTM (that’s not a typo, the show’s changed its name to include Ireland), and along with her panel of judges – Julien Macdonald, Grace Woodward and Charley Speed – Elle invited us to watch the first episode at Soho Hotel’s swanky cinema room.

We caught up with Elle and the others after the screening, along with London’s finest fashion press, to put a few questions to the iconic supermodel about the show, the industry and her success. Here’s what she and her fellow judges had to say…

What sets this series apart from the rest?

Elle: The most interesting thing is that there are actually three or four episodes that are live on the road so we see the elimination process. The girls are such amazing characters – some of those girls are so fun, they’re interesting, they’re beautiful – and so you really get to see the girls and learn about their personalities, and as we see them throughout the series we see how they blossom. I love watching the journey, and seeing the great landscape of this beautiful country – it’s a lot of fun.

There’s a lot of rivalry between judges in shows like this. Do you ever find yourselves not being able to come to a mutual conclusion?

Julien: The great thing is the four of us are all completely different, so we’re all actually looking for different things from the models. We tend to agree, and a lot of the time we disagree for various reasons, but I think all of us have different knowledge of the fashion industry and we can bring that strength to the programme. And it makes it fun – you get to see the real us.

So what happens if you can’t come to a decision? Does it get deferred to Elle?

Elle: Yeah! I listen to the replies. They’re great perspectives and that’s why having a varied panel is really good for the girls and the show – and for me, it helps guide my choices as well.

Julien: Elle’s the head mistress, she tells us all off.

Elle: I just play that role, it’s good for business.

Once the girls get in the house and the bickering starts, that’s usually the juiciest part of the show – is this year the same?

Charley: No, no, no! It’s not, though, really… actually, it is, isn’t it? They’re quite feisty this year, I think they all live in very close proximity to each other so it’s bound to get heated – it’s definitely worth watching.

You’ve got some great guest judges this year. Do you have any highlights or a dream guest judge?

Elle: We had some really interesting people – we had Tyson, who was a supermodel in my era; we had Sophie Ellis-Bexter who was really interesting for the girls to see because she’s successful in being unusual – she’s not a stereotypical beauty, and she gave great feedback.

Grace: Jasmine Guinness rocked! Some of the stuff she said about her experience working with models over the years, I think the girls were really like, ‘wow, she really knows what she’s talking about’.

Elle: I’d like to have someone like Lily Cole come on because she’s somebody who managed a career and also finished school – she’s just graduated from Cambridge. What I wanted to be able to say to the girls is ‘here is a girl who’s very successful, she’s unusual, but she didn’t give up her education’. I think she’s a good role models for girls, I’d like to have her on next year. It’s making sure they have a back-up plan – this is a really fun business, if we’re successful we get to travel the world and it’s great to learn about personal grooming, about the business and learn about yourself, but I think it’s really important that girls have a back-up plan as well.

Julien: Also we don’t just pick typical models. This time there’s a variety of shapes, sizes and ages. I think for me, definitely as a fashion designer, this has changed the way I perceive and see women – it’s a fantastic learning curve for all of us.

As a fashion designer, Julien, would you consider using any of the girls from this series at your catwalk shows?

Julien: I would, actually. I think last time it would have been no! The superwoman [one contestant] is very, very interesting. I think you’ll follow the journey of that girl through the entire programme, and she is really special. She actually broke all of our hearts at the end, it was a very emotional rollercoaster, and you see a real woman competing against young girls. Jessica’s a real woman, she’s of a certain age, her body is really athletic, she’s not a stereotypical model in terms of the fashion industry, and she’s somebody that changed the way that we perceived things. You’ll be enchanted and engaged with her, she’s a really special person.

Elle, you’re a very successful business woman, have you ever thought about opening your own agency?

Elle: For the moment I’ve just really loved this experience of executive producing and hosting the show, and I have a lot going on. Elle Macpherson Intimates is 25 years old this year, and I’m really running my business as I keep it today, hoping to expand within the business that I’m doing. So more television – hosting and producing – expanding Elle Macpherson Intimates so that it’s really, truly a global brand, which it’s fast becoming, and working on my other projects. So opening up a modelling agency? I don’t think so – but I’ve loved scouting for girls in this competition.

Often one of the funniest bits for viewers is watching the contestants give you a bit of back-chat – how much does that influence your decision?

Elle: Has anyone met Naomi Campbell? [Laughs]. I think it’s really important to remember that we’re also making a television show, so having girls that are beautiful, that have a personality, or have an attitude, or a sense of humour is really important because she [the winner] needs to be watchable. You want to tune in to see her week after week, and [watch her] go through the challenges with courage, with a sense of humour, with imagination. So yeah, I look for girls that are ballsy. She needs to stand out in the casting, and she needs to carry the show, from a producer’s point of view.

As a supermodel who’s stood the test of time, what’s the key to longevity in this business?

Elle: I think it’s sound business choices, choosing partners that really resonate with you. For example, I am global spokeswoman for Revlon, and working with a company like that, their brand values and my brand values are very similar, so we carry each other and help each other in business. Having great management I think is very important – people that I trust, that I can run ideas by, who are supportive, that can help guide me in choices that I’m making. I can’t do it by myself. It’s a real team effort, in the same way that the show’s a team effort. I couldn’t do it without my fellow judges, and I certainly couldn’t do it without my producers and Sky supporting us, and you guys for writing about the show. So understanding that it is about cooperation and a team effort, for me, has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in maintaining a business through 30 years.

Did you have a favourite challenge for the girls this time?

Elle: The makeover was really fun because we actually divided the girls into teams so Julien had three girls, Grace had three girls, Charley had three girls and I had three girls, and we weren’t allowed to tell each other what we were going to do with them. So there was a lot of competition between what girls we were going to have and what we were going to do with them, and that was really, really fun.

Julien: Elle did the most dramatic makeover, believe it or not. I was like, ‘I can’t believe you did that to that poor girl, Elle,’ and she goes, ‘well, she looks better now’.

All the girls in Glasgow were in bikinis and in London they were allowed to wear clothes – was that a deliberate decision?

Elle: Can I give the honest answer to that? We started off putting the girls in bathing suits, and when I saw the first lot come in – we’d already been filming – and I was just like, ‘I can’t do this to them, it’s not fair’. I’m really interested in the whole personality of the girl and often that’s projected in how they dress, and it just felt appropriate. It’s very uncomfortable for a girl to stand in front of people like this, naked and freezing cold, so we just said, ‘no, it’s not fair’.

What do you think is lacking in the modelling industry at the moment? Do you think there’s space for a particular type of girl that you’d like to see filled?

Grace: There’s lots of talk about more diversity, especially within the catwalk. In magazines you see all sorts of shapes and sizes of girls modelling, there is lots of talk about diversity, and I think that we cover that in the show.

Julien: To be honest, it’s like a model army. I’ll see 500 girls for my show and I’ll pick 20, and that is the harsh reality – all those girls are absolutely stunning but there’s 20 that shine out like superstars. I think what is missing is girls that are different and women that represent Britain and Ireland – I think this show proves that you can be different and be a successful model. It’s variety that is missing. Agencies just have pillars of girls and they tend to all be the same, or the same genre, so I think it’s time to see some real women on the catwalk. And that’s coming from me!

BINTM will hit UK screens on Monday 4th July at 9pm, exclusively on Sky Living. Heads up: it’s funnier, fiercer and feistier than ever.

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The last time we spoke to Louise Roe was back in 2008 when, unbeknownst to her, she was eyeing up TV jobs in America that would become her biggest career move to date.

But that was three years ago – now, she’s a regular on the fashion circuit in the US, after hosting countless TV shows and appearing on endless others.

When she’s not reporting live from the Oscars’ red carpet or fronting royal wedding coverage for one of America’s leading entertainment channels, she’s supporting brands, penning articles, appearing on the party scene with aplomb and dishing out style advice.

Which reminds us – she’s just become a new ambassador for Weight Watchers. To celebrate the lifestyle brand’s ProPoints plan (the most successful to date in its 15-year history), Louise has shared some of her best-kept style secrets to help women look and feel fabulous no matter what their shape and size.

We caught up with her at the press launch yesterday to find out more about the collaboration, her top style tips for the season and who, out of Britain and LA, has the best style…

Filmed on a Flip Cisco UltraHD www.theflip.com

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