Hard (Fashionable) News: a baby spice is born and a royal invasion hits the West coast

David and Victoria Beckham welcome daughter!

The dashing couple attend Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding with Victoria's visible baby bump.

On Sunday, July 10, 2011, fashionable celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham announced the birth of their fourth child, and first girl, Harper Seven Beckham. Harper arrived "happy and healthy", weighing in at 7 lb 10 oz, at 7:55 am Sunday morning at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles via cesarean.

David, the famous footballer (i.e. "soccer player") and Victoria, former member of the British pop girl group Spice Girls turned designer, have been married since 1999 and in addition to the new bundle of joy, the couple also have three sons; Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, 8 and Cruz, six. When asked, the boys said they "are excited to welcome their baby sister to the family" as told by a spokesperson for the Beckhams.

The proud parents with their daughter's now band of older brothers: (l to r): Brooklyn, 12, Cruz, six and Romeo, 8

A source close to the family said that David is so happy that he's been "crying with joy. They are all so happy." David has also kept fans and well wishers updated on the couple and baby status via Facebook.

The child's name is already under scrutiny. According to one report, a close friend to the couple said: "Harper is an old English name something Victoria has always liked. Seven is a very lucky happy number and the baby was born just after 7am, in the seventh month." Others speculate the "Seven" is thought to be a reference to David's team number when he played for Manchester United and England.

David posted this picture of Victoria on Facebook days before she gave birth to their daughter.

Whatever the case, fans of Victoria's "posh" style can now rejoice in knowing their is someone to inherit all of her fashion sense and closets of amassed high-end fashion. Victoria, 37, hinted through several interviews that she would love to have a daughter.

"Everyone keeps asking me if I would like to have a little girl and I think, at some point, if I am lucky enough to have another baby that would be great. If I am blessed enough."

Its also being reported that the two proud fashionable parents are "stunned" by how much Harper looks like Victoria did when she was a baby.

Harper shares her birthday with Kate Hudson's new son. Congrats to both families!

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Prince William and Kate visit California in one whirlwind weekend

Another stylish British couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, made their royal debut stateside this past weekend when they visited California over a three-day weekend. From the moment they touched down on Friday, July 8 around 4 p.m. at LAX, they seemed to captivate the U.S. country and media once again.

They were first met by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Gov. Jerry Brown. They were then taken to the Beverly Hilton hotel for Variety's Venture Capital and New Media Summit to discuss the U.K.'s latest technology innovations and new media, as well as met with several representatives of different companies digital departments. Next, they attended an outdoor reception held at the British Consulate-General residence.

The next day, the couple attended a charity polo match at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria.

The Duchess of Cambridge in Jenny Packham

William went on to play in the game and and scored four goals!

Later that evening, the two dazzled at the BAFTA Awards. Celebrities came out in droves to rub elbows and tiara's with the couple at the black-tie dinner to promote up-and-coming British entertainment talent.

William opted for a classic black tux whereas Kate chose a lilac Alexander McQueen gown and earrings borrowed from the Queen

Their next, and last day's visit, was spent at the Inner-City Arts Academy, a non-profit organization geared towards helping to develop underprivileged children's artistic talents, set up in the city's Skid Rowe where there is a condensed homeless population.

After speaking with Cynthia Harnish, the academy's president, on the issue of poverty-related challenges faced by many students at the school, they sat in a visual arts studio at easels and spoke to the students while painting.

They then moved on to the ceramic studio where they left their impression, literally and figuratively.

The pair created a joint tile, complete with their initials and date, that will be glazed, fired in the kilns and installed in one of the campus walls.

Their final stop before returning to the UK was to meet members of the group ServiceNation: Mission Serve which helps military veterans find jobs. Mission Serve is organizing a hiring fair for 1,500 veterans and military spouses with 200 companies looking to hire, and a service project that will benefit 1,000 military-connected kids.

The couple also helped pack care packages for military children at the "Mission Serve: Hiring Our Heroes" event.

Kate Moss ties the knot!

On July 1, England - and the world - watched as yet another stylish Kate tied the knot. Supermodel and fashion icon, Kate Moss, 37, married rocker fiancé Jamie Hince, 42, in Southrop, England at St. Margaret’s Parish Church. The bride chose close friend John Galliano to design her wedding dress with floor-length veil. (Galliano could certainly use the positive publicity in the midst of his current legal woes.) The cream bias-cut dress had a sheer skirt and was sprinkled with rhinestones and detailed with gold leaf embroidery. For hair, she chose Sam McKnight, for makeup she went with Charlotte Tilbury. Manolo Blahnik designed a custom-pair of heels for the occasion, complete with blue lining on the inside for her “something blue”. The groom went with something blue of his own, a custom-designed suit from Stefano Pilati for YSL.

Moss had a total of 15 bridesmaids, with her chief bridesmaid being her eight-year-old daughter Lila Grace, who wore Stella McCartney. Lila's father - and Moss's former partner - publisher Jefferson Hack was just one of the 300-person guests in attendance. Other notable attendees included Naomi Campbell, Vivienne Westwood, Stella and Mary McCartney, Jude Law, Jade Jagger, Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie and US Vogue Editor Anna Wintour. Wintour will revisit the lavish affair, which reportedly cost £1million, via Vogue's annual (back-breaking) "September Issue" with photos taken by world famous fashion photographer, and friend to Kate, Mario Testino.

After the ceremony Moss had three wardrobe changes, all designed by Stella McCartney - an oyster silk chiffon dress for her first dance, a micro mini bodycon dress for the after party and lastly a three piece off-white wool suit as her send off outfit. The three-day affair, nicknamed 'Moss-stock' by locals, included performances by Beth Ditto, Snoop Dogg, Shirley Bassey, Iggy Pop and Bryan Ferry.

Best wishes to the newlyweds. May their life together be long, happy, healthy and fashionable!

Not to be outdone by her own wedding, Moss also had this to celebrate.

The Trial(s) of Galliano...

Last Wednesday fashion designer John Galliano had his first court appearance in Paris stemming from his indictment in mid-March of this year for spouting off racial slurs. He was caught on two separate occasions saying unsettling remarks, once in February of this year by a couple at a bar and the other by a woman late last December at the same bar in Paris, who recorded the incident. Shortly after his second outburst, the video from the first emerged, giving Dior cause to announce that they had suspended Galliano following his arrest over the anti-Semitic tirade. This all occurred just before Paris Fashion Week for Autumn/Winter 2011/2012.

So how did John Galliano get to this point you wonder?

Galliano was born to simple means in London where he faced discrimination for being gay. He went to Central Saint Martin’s art college and set up a studio after graduation. After a lot of partying and not being smart with his limited funds, he ended up on the streets of Paris waiting for his break. He received just that in 1993 from the editor of American Vogue, Anna Wintour, who propelled him into stardom over night. His runway looks are known to be outrageous and ostentatious, and celebrities flock to his designs for many red carpet appearances. He worked for Givenchy and has his own eponymous clothing line, but is best known for his work with fashion mega-house Dior where he’s been since 1996. According to The Telegraph, he's earned the company more than 600 million euros a year in sales.

Galliano claims that the stress and severe pressure of the fashion world caused him to go into a downward spiral. He told the court that "after every creative high, I would crash, and the alcohol helped me escape." He said he also began to pop an ever-rising number of sleeping pills and barbiturates -- so many that he completely lost track of his consumption. "I only just discovered in rehab what a lethal mix it was," said Galliano, who underwent a two-month-long treatment in Arizona after the incident. Asked by Business Week whether he'd managed to break the addictions, the designer responded, "Yes, I'm still in recovery but I'm feeling much better."

Looks from his Dior 2010 collection

Galliano has stuck by the claim that he does not remember saying anything racial in nature on both occasions by admitting to being addicted to alcohol and Valium. He is faced with charges of “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity” which under French Government, he could receive up to six months in jail and up to $32,175 in fines. The prosecution is asking he just pay a fine of no less than $14,400 without jail time. Both parties that claimed to be the victim's of Galliano's verbal attack are sticking to their stories. In court, he had to face the racist rant captured on video:

"In the video, I see someone who needs help, who's vulnerable," Galliano said in a statement. "It's the shell of John Galliano. I see someone who's been pushed to the edge."

A verdict has to be reached by September 8th of this year.

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Mulberry’s Profits Multiply

In 1971, Roger Saul and his mother Joan started the British lifestyle company Mulberry. The luxury brand has seen much success and growth over its 40 years, but this has to be one of their largest year's yet, reporting their sales have quadrupled over the last 12-months.

The company's fame started with their handcrafted leather goods - handbags expressly - but now includes womenswear, menswear and most recently women’s shoes. They now have stores in the UK, all over Europe, America, Australia and Asia - where a lot of demand for the brand is being seen as of late.

In 2009, Emma Hill debuted her first collection with Mulberry as Creative Director. She was living in New York working with big design houses such as Calvin Klein, Gap, Chloe, Marc Jacobs, and Marc by Marc Jacobs. She told the Sunday Times in February of 2009, “ I can tell when a bag has been designed by a man, because it’s usually too heavy. Women design lighter bags because we know what it’s like to carry them.”

This year, after their 40th anniversary, Mulberry announced that their profits have quadrupled over the past year. The increase in sales came from opening 9 stores around the world, and just an accelerated growth internationally and online. Many credit the rapid growth with the company's new "It" bag, the "Alexa" satchel, seen above with the design house's inspiration for the bag and name, Alexa Chung. Another bag deserving much credit for the company's boost in sales is the Bayswater handbag, seen carried by many a starlets and socialites.

Godfrey Davis, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the company told Women’s Wear Daily “Strong demand in all markets has continued into the new financial year and the outlook for the Mulberry brand is positive. While we remain cautious about the global economic environment, we are focused on accelerating our international expansion."

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