Starworks Group has developed the concept, designed, art directed and produced ‘The Journal’, a new publication by Smythson. The Collaborators issue is a new visual direction for the brand and celebrates the Autumn Winter 11/12 collection. It features three recent Smythson Collaborators: fashion designer, Jonathan Saunders; style blogger, Susie Lau; and contemporary art curator, Janice Blackburn. Photography is by Nigel Shafran.

The Journal uses a bespoke typeface which drew influence from a typestyle found in Smythson’s archives. Starworks Group worked closely with Smythson’s creative consultant, Samantha Cameron, and the creative team at Smythson on the concept development and art direction.

Starworks Group handled all press surrounding Nicola Formichetti’s temporary concept store with BOFFO Building Fashion and Gage/Clemenceau Architects, which opened during New York Fashion Week. During the two weeks Nicola’s was open, Starworks Group hosted four events including the store’s opening day and press preview, the launch party with Thierry Mugler Parfums, an Emerging Chinese Designers’ Exhibition and a press preview of UNIQLO’s new line UNIQLO Innovation Project (for which Formichetti is the Fashion Director).

As the Creative Director of Thierry Mugler, Fashion Director to Lady Gaga, the Haus of Gaga, Uniqlo and Vogue Japan, as well as contributor to V Magazine, Dazed & Confused and Another Magazine, Formichetti has created some of the most memorable imagery, performances, and moments in recent pop culture history.

Under Formichetti’s direction, the 1300 square foot space was transformed into a mirrored prism. The store housed a collection of limited edition pieces available to purchase such as Thierry Mugler menswear and womenswear, Nicola’s iPhone cases, jewelry, candles, t-shirts and exclusive designs by emerging international designers. Nicola’s also featured installations from Formichetti’s past and present creations and collaborations.

Last week, High Gloss magazine joined the ranks of a growing list of online shelter publications, a digital space design world that includes title like Lonny, Rue and Ivy & Piper.  Founded by one of our favorite design bloggers, Paloma Contreras of the popular blog La Dolce Vita, the High Gloss Team also includes editor Erin Gates of Elements of Style, editor and stylist Shannon Wollack of Life.Style., editor and director of advertising Kyle Knight of Knight Moves, editor and stationer Lauren Rauter of Rock Paper Scissors, and art director Ashley Steen of Orchard 11.

The bimonthly publication features colorful, photo-heavy pages crafted by the High Gloss Team, special contributors, and some serious photographers (our friend Grey Crawford shot interiors for their first issue!).  The interactive mag’s clickable pages allow you to easily buy while you read – so no more turning down page corners or placing sticky notes next to products you’ll never go back to. Instead, you can simply click on any of the items featured within the magazines’ collage-like pages, and you’ll be re-directed to the product’s site for an instant buy. How dangerous!

Fashion pundits may well be predicting a rise in the sales of sapphires following Prince William’s choice of engagement ring for Kate Middleton, but diamonds will always have an irresistible allure. Should the future Princess Catherine be hankering after a stunning rock (or two) then His Royal Highness could always splash out and buy the Steinmetz Yin Yang – the World’s largest pair of identical cut diamonds – which were unveiled earlier today at the Guggenheim Museum during Bloomberg  Link’s Hedge Funds 2010 event.

The spectacular stones weigh 35.61 and 35.77 carats  respectively and were cut from two individual rough diamonds, each  initially weighing over 100 carats, which were discovered in Southern  Africa, and cut by Steinmetz, creators of the world’s finest diamonds.  The resulting gems are Flawless both internally and externally of the  highest colour D colour and are also Type IIa, a classification reserved  for less than 2% of diamonds in the world.

“More than a year  was spent by a team of Steinmetz craftsmen to finish the perfectly  matched pair of Round Brilliant cut stones” commented Nir Livnat,  Chairman of Steinmetz Diamonds, “We strive to have the rarest most beautiful diamonds available in the  marketplace.”

The historic diamonds are likely to be destined for the collection of a true  connoisseur. According to market specialists, these rare gems are likely  to value in excess of $25 million and are available for  sale through Sotheby’s Diamonds, the partnership between esteemed  auction house Sotheby’s and Steinmetz Diamonds. That’s supposing they aren’t bought a private client first; the Bloomberg  Link Hedge Fund event was attended by some 300 international financiers and investors who gathered to hear talks from influential industry figures. If one them wasn’t tempted to blow their bonus then we can’t think of a more perfect owner for these peerless stones than the future Queen of England. After all, nothing says I love you quite like a diamond.