>>DESIGN CONTEST - DORCHESTER COLLECTION

I recently received the latest information from the PR for the Dorchester Collection fashion contest. The 2012 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize carries an endowment of €30,000 and will be awarded to the gifted designer of ready-to-wear or premium accessories to help establish their brand. This year's entries must be based in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg or Switzerland; have an established design business: and have operated their brand for a minimum of two years. Application details are available for download on the Dorchester Collection website (www.dorchestercollection.com) and registration is open until May 31, 2012. Dorchester Collection hotels are in major fashion capitals worldwide and their unique heritage contributed to the establishment of the Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize in 2010 - the first award of its kind developed by a luxury hotel company.  The prize rotates around the Dorchester Collection hotels: The 2012 host venue Hotel Plaza Athenee ,  is steeped in the fashion history, making it an ideal locale for the year's ongoing events. Inspired by its elegance, Christian Dior, who set up his couture house nearby, named several designs after the hotel, including the "Plaza" and the "Athenee"suits. Dior's groundbreaking couture collections were often photographed at Hotel Plaza Athenee,  which he considered his "second home".  Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize Featured on America's Next Top Model: British Invasion 2011 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize Grand Final event in spotlight on "America's Next Top Model: British Invasion" on April 25, 2012 April 26, 2012 (London) - Scenes from the 2011 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize Grand Final event, filmed at The Rodeo Ballroom at The Beverly Hills Hotel, were featured on America's Next Top Model: British Invasion. The episode aired on The CW on April 25th from 9:00-10:00pm ET/PT. The episode featured scenes where the models go to castings for the opportunity to open a fashion show for one of the 2011 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize finalists. Kelly Cutrone and Nigel Barker joined guest judge Georgina Chapman of Marchesa, also a 2011 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize Judge, as well as Tyra Banks on the judges' panel for elimination. The  models  chosen  in  the  casting  took  part  in  the  Grand Final event of the 2011 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize including a spectacular runway presentation in front of fashion's elite. After a tense deliberation, siblings Phoebe and Annette Stephens of Anndra Neen were determined to have best evoked the spirit of individuality, luxury, style and craftsmanship that characterize Dorchester Collection's iconic hotels. Their work also demonstrated critical distinction and the potential for future commercial success and as a result, they were awarded a US $40,000 prize and the opportunity to display their work at Dorchester Collection's iconic Hôtel Plaza Athénée during Paris Fashion Week in 2012, host of this year's Fashion Prize. To view a clip of the show, go here.