Christian Dior couture opens Sydney CBD store

Christian Dior couture opens Sydney CBD store, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Christian Dior couture opens Sydney CBD store...


Australia is now home to yet another exclusive luxury brand.

Christian Dior couture chief executive Sidney Toledano is delighted to have cracked the competitive Sydney market.

Today marks the opening its first flagship boutique in Australia in Sydney. The multi-level store is designed to replicate Dior’s renowned boutique on Paris’s Avenue Montaigne.

The boutique is located in the former Louis Vuitton store on the corner of King and Castlereagh streets.

In recent months, Chanel, Canali, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci and Bottega Veneta have either set up for the first time in Australia, opened in more locations, or revamped existing stores.

The brand's CEO Mr Toledano appeared unfazed by recent reports of China’s economic slowdown.

“The world has changed over the last three or four years and the centre of gravity of the global economy is moving towards Asia . . . We are developing our business in this part of the world,” he said.

In December, Dior reported that sales for the half year to October 31 were up 18 per cent at £632 million ($954 million) and said margins had improved.

The luxury French label’s history in Australia goes back to 1947, when David Jones reproduced four garments designed by Christian Dior as part of its “Paris fashion for all” line.

Since 1999, Dior has opened small boutiques in DFS Galleria in The Rocks as well as David Jones in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

The bottom level of the store stocks Dior’s complete range of bags and accessories while the first floor houses ready-to-wear clothing by creative director Raf Simons, as well as an array of shoes, jewellery and watches.

There is a salon on the third floor, accessible only by lift, for VIPS looking for a more exclusive shopping experience.

Men have access to a dedicated Dior Homme boutique, which has a dedicated entry off King Street. Suits, sportswear, denim, leather goods, accessories and footwear are spread across two levels.

“There is a big demand in the world for very high quality, innovative product and brands with real history. The new generation, and in this part of the world I notice even more, they want to know what the history of the company is,” Mr Toledano said.

“They go to the store and want to see it, feel it, understand it ... We want every member of our staff to know all the information so the customer understands what we do. This is our global, long-term strategy.”

Advertised celebrity list included:

ISABEL LUCAS, TINA ARENA, MEGAN GALE, COLLETTE DINNIGAN, GEOFF AND SARA HEUGILL, ZACH & JORDAN STENMARK, MATTHEW MITCHAM AND DIOR’S NEW “FACE”, AUSTRALIAN MODEL NICOLE POLLARD, WHO IS BEING FLOWN IN FROM PARIS TO ATTEND THE EVENT.

Websites

Christian Dior
www.dior.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters Australian Premiere

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters Australian Premiere, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D movie premiere; Sydney, Australia...

Hansel & Gretel enjoyed its Australian red carpet premiere tonight at Event Cinemas, George Street, in front of a news media pack of dozens, hundreds of Australian fans, and dozens of security to help control all of the excitement.

"Hansel & Gretel" is a 3-D action flick that reimagines the fairy tale characters as gun-toting badasses played by Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton.

The $50 million film arrived nearly a year after its originally release date. It's off to a decent start with numbers and buzz, but has attracted quite the mixed popcorn bag of reviews. Most fans have rated it with a CinemaScore of "B". Approval rating is 18%.

Here in Australia Paramount Pictures has got right behind the project, and one would think is hoping that the Australian market will generally be more positive and receptive to the film than its friends in the United States and Europe.

If you are a big Hansel & Gretel fan, you will likely want to see this movie. If not...

Promo...

After getting a taste for blood as children, Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) have become the ultimate vigilantes, hell bent on retribution. Now, unbeknownst to them, Hansel and Gretel have become the hunted, and must face an evil far greater than witches...their past.

"CANDY COATED CARNAGE"

ONLY AT THE MOVIES FEBRUARY 7 (AUSTRALIA)

Actors: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton
Director Tommy Wirkola
Producer: Kevin Messick

Cast:

Jeremy Renner as Hansel
Cedric Eich as Young Hansel
Gemma Arterton as Gretel
Alea Sophia Boudodimos as Young Gretel
Famke Janssen as Muriel
Pihla Viitala as Mina
Derek Mears as Edward
Robin Atkin Downes as Edward (voice)
Thomas Mann as Ben
Peter Stormare as Sheriff Berringer
Rainer Bock as Mayor Englemann
Bjørn Sundquist as Jackson
Monique Ganderton as candy witch
Zoë Bell as tall witch
Joanna Kulig as redhead witch
Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as horned witch
Thomas Scharff as Hansel and Gretel's father
Kathrin Kühnel as Adrianna

Websites

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters official website
www.hanselandgretelmovie.com

YouTube: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters - Mini Trailer 2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsRF2SYFjyk

Paramount Pictures
www.paramount.com

Paramount Pictures (Australia)
www.paramountpicturesaustralia.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Waratahs rugby union player Drew Mitchell gets bodypainted

Drew Mitchell, a photo by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer on Flickr.

Via Flickr:

Waratahs rugby union player Drew Mitchell gets bodypainted for team bet; Human Statue Bodyart creates body painted footy player at Bondi Beach, Sydney

This afternoon Drew Mitchell got bodypainted at his Bondi Beach pad to pay off a lost bet to his NSW Waratahs rugby union club.

Mitchell was bodypainted up in the Waratah's light blue colours - the jersey design up top and the team shorts down below. Corporate logos for the likes of HSBC were also detailed.

As you would expect his team mates got a good laugh about it too.

It's understood the famous footy player did some fund raising at Bondi Beach in his new "outfit" for the day.

Don't be too surprised if other football (union, league or other) clubs and players soon take up bodypaint like a duck to water, as other entertainment and sporting sectors have.

Good on ya Mitchell for being a good sport and well done on your on and off field endeavours.

Now go and paint the town sky blue!


About Drew Mitchell...

Mitchell made his international debut for the Wallabies against South Africa in 2005, after being selected after a season with the Queensland Reds in which he scored 11 tries and was named Australia's rookie of the year.

His international career stalled after Australia's autumn international tour in 2005, and he didn't feature for the Wallabies again until Wales visited in 2007. By this time Mitchell had switched to newly formed Western Force and impressed enough to gain a place in the Australia squad for the 2007 World Cup in France. He scored seven tries during that tournament.

Mitchell's domestic future again had a period of speculation when he was approached by the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies ahead of the 2010 Super Rugby season. Mitchell eventually signed for the NSW Waratahs, replacing Sam Norton-Knight.

Mitchell dislocated his ankle and broke a bone in his leg after he collided with Scott Higginbotham of the Reds during their match on Saturday, 23 April and was initially ruled out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. However, he subsequently made a full recovery and was included in Australia's tournament squad. He made one substitute appearance against Ireland and in two starts scored one try against the USA and two against Russia. He injured his hamstring in the final pool stage match of the 2011 World Cup, and missed the remainder of the tournament. Last year, in the lead up to the 2012 Super Rugby season Mitchell suffered an ankle problem, and missed the Waratahs pre-season games. He did not play any games in the first half of the competition, making only five appearances all season.

Websites

HSBC Waratahs - Drew Mitchell
www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad/PlayerP...

HSBC Waratahs official website
www.waratahs.com.au

Human Statue Bodyart
www.humanstatuebodyart.com.au

Human Entertainment
www.humanentertainment.com.au

Human Statue Bodyart blog
humanstatuebodyart.blogspot.com

Human Statue Bodyart Facebook
www.facebook.com/humanstatuebodyart

Lucha vaVoom, Big Day Out

Lucha vaVoom, Big Day Out, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Lucha VaVOOM headlines the ‘El Jimador Mexican Wrestling Bar' At Big Day Out 2013; Sydney, Australia

Red hot extreme Lucha Libre pro wrestling and more is what Sydney got at today's Big Day Out in heatwave continues.

The action and lucha heat matched the heatwave conditions.

Sadly, not many lucha wrestling masks were sold (they don't feel so good at the best of times, let alone in the heat), but drink sales were at fever pitch, as was crowd participation, with even a couple of fans having an impromptu "match" before official bell time. Interestingly, the Lucha promoter didn't seem to mind. There was also the good old Mexican wave done by what must have been about 500 fans, many of which also screamed out Ric Flair trademark "Wooooo"! calls (with and without wrestling chops to the chest).

The Lucha's will be in Australia for about a week, as part of Australia's Big Day Out festival touring Australia, and then they will work they was back to LA in the U.S of A.

The megastars of Los Angeles based Lucha VaVoom rumbled to fever pitch at the music festival and fans lapped up the mix of Mexican lucha libre wrestling, burlesque dancing and "post-punk vaudeville", as The Daily Telegraph called it.

Inspired by the Mexican pseudo sport whose champions are household names, the sequin and lycra-clad luchadores flip and fly in the wrestling ring in good (technicos) VS evil (rudos) matches. Headline stars such as Cassandro, Crazy Chicken, Dirty Sanchez and Chocolate Caliente are very good pro wrestlers, and heavily inspired by punk and cabaret, but the look of things.

Co-founder Rita D'Albert worked with rock bands for years before forming this unique act a decade ago.

"I think crazy Mexican wrestling is a pretty natural progression from rock'n'roll," she said. "It's theatrical, it's got energy and a lot of rock shows don't have that anymore."

Media Man and Wrestling News Media have seen a lot of pro wrestling in their day and were overheard "WWE might be generally more technical than Lucha VaVoom, but this LA Mexican troupe is all over them for extreme stuff - the kind that put the legendary and original ECW on the map. Judging by today, Lucha VaVoom looks to have a fantastic and extreme future in Australia. As WWE superstar Ryback would say, "Feed Me More". Oh, dream match we want to see - WWE's Rey Mysterio VS any of these guys. It will probly never happen, but we can dream.

Today lucha sports entertainment was certainly a dream come true for many Australian pro wrestling fans who like their pro wrestling more on the extreme, colourful and musical side. WrestleMania look out!


Press Release...

LUCHA VaVOOM TO HEADLINE THE ‘EL JIMADOR MEXICAN WRESTLING BAR’ AT BIG DAY OUT 2013...

LUCHA VAVOOM HEADED TO BIG DAY OUT 2013...

Direct from the US, the Lucha VaVOOM troupe will be putting on a show quite unlike any other at BIG DAY OUT 2013. Lucha VaVOOM is non-stop, action-packed surrealism where Mexican masked wrestlers perform breathtaking acrobatic feats in a fast-paced, fun-filled, character-driven style. Known for their far-out flamboyance, its quick, exhibition-style, one-fall Lucha Libre matches designed for maximum enjoyment and action.

The ultimate distraction, Lucha VaVOOM like a little sexo with their violencia; in between matches the finest handpicked burlesque acts from around the world wow the crowds with their unique striptease skills including raucous aerial acts, pogo-stick peelers and hula-hoop hotties. Their insane antics have Jack Black proclaiming “Lucha VaVOOM is the shit!” and it’s easy to see why.

Celebrating their tenth anniversary, Lucha VaVOOM have only got crazier over time. Rooted in history, they draw inspiration from the bizarre world of sixties Mexican Lucha Cinema. The troupe has been considered one of the most outrageous shows on earth having performed sold-out shows all around the world, they have taken to the stage alongside the likes of legends such as Jon Stewart and Dave Chappelle, as well as appearances on Jimmy Kimmel, Attack of the Show, Carson Daly and A Current Affair. Los Angeles Times said the Lucha VaVOOM show “has the pacing of a prison break” and BIG DAY OUT 2013 punters are set for something spectacular with the crew perform in a dedicated area. Here’s what the press have had to say:

“Lucha VaVOOM has a big future.” TIME MAGAZINE

“… It’s enough to make even the most jaded Hollywood insider jump up and yell ‘Smackdown.” ROLLING STONE

“…a raucous and irreverent extravaganza of burlesque, comedy and classic Mexican luchadore wrestling.” THE HUFFINGTON POST.

“Lucha VaVoom is the most exciting, bonkers show I’ve seen in ages.” THE FACE (UK)

“A madcap mix of Mexican wrestling, comedy, and vintage burlesque. I love, love, love it.” VANITY FAIR

“…a weird mix of cabaret, burlesque, Mexican Luchador wrestling with a live DJ, crowd interaction and commentary…depending on the night, people like Drew Carey turn up to do commentary for it. It is the most bizarre experience. The entire audience is dressed up and it’s like Halloween, everyone is in some weird costume. It was the greatest night of entertainment I have probably seen in my entire life.” ROVE MCMANUS

Lucha VaVOOM will be appearing at the El Jimador Mexican Wrestling Bar at all 2013 Big Day Out dates.


Mexican Masked Wrestling + Burlesque + Comedy = Lucha VaVOOM...

Lucha VaVOOM is a non-stop, action-packed scream-a-thon, where Mexican Masked wrestlers flip and fly, performing breathtaking acrobatic feats while battling evil luchadores. Historically speaking, Lucha VaVOOM brings the bizarre world of 60’s Mexican Lucha Cinema to life. Brave, masked wrestling crime fighters save the world from evil brains, vampires, the Bermuda Triangle etc; always with an obligatory stop at the local go-go club.

In-between matches, the finest, handpicked burlesque acts from around the world astound; at Lucha VaVOOM, we like a little sexo with our violencia. Raucous aerial acts, Pogo-stick peelers, hula-hoop hotties; we’ve got it all!

But wait there’s more! Our color commentary is handled by comedians Tom Kenny, Dana Gould and Blaine Capatch. Other guest commentators include Fred Armisen, Brian Poussein, Patton Oswalt, Greg Proops, Jeffrey Ross and Bobcat Goldthwait. Even Jack Black sat in, proclaiming “Lucha VaVOOM is the sh*t!

It all began in August 2003 as a one off event. The overwhelming crowd response convinced Rita & Liz to do it again, and as soon as possible.

Ever since, Lucha VaVOOM has played at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles three times a year -- Valentines Day, Mid-summer, and Halloween. From there, Lucha brought it’s circus to Toronto, where they did two nights at the Koolhaus and made every newspaper and TV news program, including Much Music.

In 2005, Lucha VaVOOM was asked to be a part of the first HBO Las Vegas Comedy Festival, where they performed alongside Jon Stewart, Lewis Black and Dave Chapelle. That same year they performed at the famous Sony E3 party at Dodger Stadium, where they took the spotlight away from the Pussycat Dolls.

Lucha VaVOOM has gone on to perform in Chicago, San Francisco and Amsterdam, with more cities on the way.

They’ve also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, CBS National News, G4's Attack of the Show, Channel X in Britain and A Current Affair just to name a few.

Websites

Big Day Out
www.bigdayout.com

Big Day Out - Lucha VaVOOM
www.bigdayout.com/mexican-wrestling-bar

Lucha VaVOOM official website
www.luchavavoom.com

Media Man Int
www.mediamanint.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr - Lucha VaVOOM
www.flickr.com/photos/evarinaldiphotography/sets/72157632...

Wrestling News Media
www.wrestlingnewsmedia.com