Anna Scholz Blog

Victoria’s Secret has long been known for its more voluptuous models.  However, abcnews.go.com reports that Victoria’s Secret has recently been criticized after a photo shoot in St. Barts revealed an unusually thin Alessandra Ambrosio.

That said, it would seem that there’s no perfect weight in the modelling world. Ambrosio has come under fire for being too skinny, but her colleague Coco Rocha says she’s still being told that she’s too large for the industry.

And to confuse matters more, just last month, Ambrosio was swapped into Prada’s 2010 Milan runway show — along with several of her Victoria’s Secret colleagues — to replace the skinnier models scheduled to walk. The last minute swap apparently was in backlash against the overly thin models on the catwalks of New York Fashion Week in February. So it would seem that, to some in the industry, Alessandra Ambrosio does represent a fuller figure. Thus, the debate continues…

The abcnews.go.com article goes on to say that the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in New York has discussed changing the sample size from size zero to size four to allow curvier models to walk in high fashion shows. The sample size has not been changed yet.

Discussions over too-thin models were sparked in 2006, when Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston died of a generalized infection due to anorexia. As a result of Reston’s death the organizers of Madrid Fashion Week instituted a minimum Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18. According to The Associated Press, Reston’s BMI was 13.4 at the time of her death and she weighed 88 pounds.

[For photos from the Prada show, see our previous blog post in "Latest News."]

For the full abcnews online article mentioned above: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/alessandra-ambrosio-highlights-skinny-curvy-model-debate/story?id=10056119&page=1

Nicole and Adelheid Grundy wrote us this from Down Under:

“We are two delighted Anna Scholz shoppers (mum and daughter) here in Australia and so excited that we get the shipping now.” (Editor’s note: The Anna Scholz website recently began shipping worldwide.)

“So here is Mum in her Anna Scholz kaftan top, feeling very bright and breezy at our Christmas Day.  She recently received another beautiful top and I got the silk shirred dress,  and am waiting for it to get a little cooler to wear my heart sleeve pink jumper- yum!…[We are] just in awe of every season and the newness and [that] we can feel big, beautiful and very fashionable just like the skinny girls.”

I flew to New York City in February with our sales manager, Darren, to show the Autumn-Winter 2010 collection. We didn’t have as much time for shopping and dining out as I had hoped because of the heaps of snow that suddenly fell from the sky!

I love New York City– it gives me energy, inspiration and some kind of unique buzz. I love the different unique neighbourhoods like Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, the Lower East Side, Nolita and Soho. I also adore the museums, luxurious department stores and unique little boutiques…but there is simply not enough space to list them all…

Here are just a few of the highlights for when you’re next in the Big Apple:

Coco de Mer– Erotic Luxury… Sexy, playful and over the top. I must admit, I did spend quite a while in here, so much to check out…

http://www.coco-de-mer.com/

If you feel like a quirky brunch/dinner, try Freemans

http://www.freemansrestaurant.com

One of my favourites for the best ever Vietnamese food is Mekong

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mekong-new-york

And for the most lively brunch/ dinner and beautiful people watching (I feel like I’ve truly arrived in NY when I go here), try the coffee shop in Union Square

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/coffee-shop/

Breakfast at Café Colonial is also fab

http://cafecolonialny.com/

And–calling all dessert lovers–My all-time favourite is Rice to Riches. They serve divine rice pudding in many flavours (also check out their website for all the hilarious slogans)

http://www.ricetoriches.com

and for the best frozen yogurt in town, you must go to Forty Carrots in Bloomingdale’s

http://www.yelp.com/biz/forty-carrots-new-york

OK, I could go on and on and on….!

I flew to New York City in February with my sales manager, Darren, to show the Autumn-Winter 2010 collection to buyers. We had many adventures along the way– well, those that weren’t impeded by the massive snow storm that descended upon the city!

We caught up with friends and took in some art in the Museum of Modern Art. It was my first time seeing MoMA since it had been remodelled. I always love the paintings and sculptures at MoMA but thought it was all presented rather boringly. I am so much more impressed with how the Tate Britain and contemporary museums in Berlin display their artworks in a more modern, innovative style/space.

Even though I was a little disappointed with MoMA itself, my friend Oliver and I had fun deciding which paintings most represented us.

Designer Oliver Steinhaus and me

Our sales manager, Darren, proving man's place is in the kitchen!

We also found a little gallery on the lower East side called Sloan Fine Art with cool, modern cuckoo clock designs (ah, reminds me of home in Germany!).

And just when I thought we’d finally have time for some shopping, bucket-loads of snow began falling from the sky!

… all the snow resulted in mayhem at JFK Airport. Our flight was cancelled and we holed ourselves up in the very comfortable and stylish Hotel on Rivington in one of my favourite areas in NY (the Lower East Side).  I highly recommend it.

http://www.hotelonrivington.com/

Luckily, the hotel was just opposite another NY gem… Economy Candy!

To read more about my adventures in NYC, check out the “Latest News” and “Anna’s Favourites” sections of the blog.

We went last night to the fabulous Saltoun Supper Club

It’s a restaurant in Arno and John’s home in Brixton, where Arno Maasdorp cooks the most amazing, original and tasty food.

The presentation was a delight, service impeccable, dinner a taste sensation and the atmosphere superb!

Dinner with my nearest and dearest!

Mum, Cliff & Sharon, Frank & Flora, Lucille & Martin

http://www.eatwithyoureyes.net/

These are some of our favourite pieces in the current collection.  They would make fabulous gifts for your mother  — let her know how special she is!

I visited the Big Apple in February to show the Autumn-Winter 2010 collection to buyers.  I also managed to take in a few sights, see some friends and get delayed on my return in the massive snow storm!  An epic journey overall. Here are some of my favourite photos (and a sneak preview of the upcoming collection).

Laura from Lola& Gigi, Me and Jaclyn from Voluptuous Vixen

It’s a pleasure to sell to women who have a passion for fashion!

Our beloved customers, Deborah Gregory and Shubhani Sarkar

Catching up with my dear friend Jessica Svoboda, the designer behind the eponymous Svoboda denim line.

Our press event

We had a lovely meeting with members of the press and bloggers. They all enjoyed feeling the silk jersey!

Aimee from Madison Plus looking lovely

Me with Erica and Aimee from Madison Plus

Lisa from Beauty Plus Power modelling our best-selling leopard wrap dress

Deb Malkin from Re-Dress rocking it in the digital print

To see more of my adventures in New York City, check out the “Anna’s Diary” and the “Anna’s Favourites” sections of the blog.

Sanne Graven from the Netherlands shared her incredible story of survival and triumph over adversity with us:

Sanne performing with her band

“I am 39 years-old,” Sanne wrote. “I’ve had breast cancer for 6 years now, also in my bones and brains. I’m very lucky I’m alive. I still do many things I love.”

Last year Sanne created a foundation called Cancer & Talent. The purpose of the foundation, Sanne explains, is to give cancer patients the space and possibilities to use their own talents to feel their lifepower again, to help them feel alive. A survivor’s talent can be anything: organising, feeding animals or artistic expression– however they wish to express themselves.

The above photos are of Sanne at the Cancer & Talent kickoff in April of 2009. She created a band called Sanne en de Manne (Sanne and the Men). She took singing lessons and sung 8 of her favourite numbers. She wore two different dresses by Anna Scholz during her performance. “It was fantastic!” describes Sanne.

To read more about Sanne’s amazing organisation, visit: www.kankerentalent.nl

I really love the large prints at the Oscars this year… very fresh and bold!

Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab Haute Couture

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Dries Van Noten

Zoe Saldana in Givenchy Haute Couture

Anna Kendrick in Elie Saab Haute Couture

These are a few of my favourite looks strutted down the red carpet for the Oscars last Sunday. What were your favourites?

Helen Mirren in Badgley Mischka

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa

Demi Moore in Atelier Versace