Where's Gemma?

According to Fashionologie, Aussie model Gemma Ward "has not done with modeling yet". I must say I have been wondering where she disappeared to for the past two years. The last time I saw her was standing in the loo line at the Gramercy Park Hotel. I was wedged between Gemma and some other Glamazon - it was New York Fashion Week after all - and for some ungodly reason, I was wearing flat shoes. What was I thinking?! So Gemma towered over me with her sky-high Louboutins and long, long straw-blonde hair which she kept flicking over her shoulder and into my face (perhaps she was trying to connect with a fellow aussie?).
Then she was suddenly gone;  from the bathroom, the catwalk and the pages of Vogue. Her famous wide-eyed alien look morphed into Sasha Pivovavora to the point that I honestly could not tell if I was looking at Ms Russia or Ms Australia:

I thought that Gemma was perhaps devastated when she realized she had a doppelganger. But no. Apparently she has been grieving the death of her friend Heath and taking time out to star in a film and do some shakespearian acting classes (as you do when you're a top model). The good news is we will see her on the catwalk again next year! So in homage to her earlier work, I turn to this fabulously kitsch Vogue US shoot by Norman Jean Roy in the December 2007 issue:

And also by Norman Jean Roy but this time more sophisticated for Vanity Fair in 2006

Images: 1: fashionindie.com, 2/3: Corinne Day, 4-8 Norman Jean Roy at fashionologie.com, 9-11: Norman Jean Roy at vanityfair.com

The humble gumboot no more

I love it when it rains in New York. Whether it's a drizzle or a downpour, suddenly the streets are full of gumboots! Now where I grew up, gumboots were seen solely in winter on the farm. They were usually black and if you were really stylish, you could find one with a red stripe around the base:

Here, gumboots or "rain boots" as they are called, are a fashion statement. Farewell poor old black rubber boot, and hello plaid, stripes, fluoro and leopard print. You can choose from a high heel boot, platform or flat. There is lace up, zip up or buckle up. Rubber, patent or PVC. And don't even THINK of purchasing them from a grain store. Why not own a pair from your favorite designer? Gucci, D&G, Chloe and Dior all offer very stylish options - at a price of course. Even famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo collaborated with Hunter this year to design a mock croc boot! Yours for the bargain price of US$395.

I guess we can thank our fashion icon Kate Moss for bringing the humble gumboot back into the spotlight. Who can forget that shot of Kate looking effortlessly chic in her Hunters at Glastonbury:

It's all in how you wear them. So next time you see me jumping over a puddle in Fifth Avenue, I might be wearing one of these:

Burberry: US$195

Chloe: US$195

DKNY: U$125

Gucci: US$270

Dior: US$445

Stuart Weitzman: US$95

Target: US$19.99

Images: net-a-porter, bluefly, Bloomingdales, Target, DKNY, style.com