By
Katie Nicholl

PUBLISHED:

16:59 EST, 21 April 2012

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UPDATED:

16:59 EST, 21 April 2012

Newly-engaged Angelina Jolie is likely to plump for a Versace wedding gown.

The 36-year-old actress is expected to marry Brad Pitt in France later this year.

And the Italian fashion house is the early frontrunner to design her frock for the big day.

Causing a stir: Angelina turned heads in this Versace gown that was slashed to the thigh, which she wore to February’s Oscar’s

Angie caused a sensation at the Oscars in February when she turned up wearing a Versace gown that was slashed to the thigh.

Now she has hired her favourite Hollywood stylist, Jen Rade, to help find a wedding dress with the same  wow factor.

‘Versace is top of the list,’ I’m told.

Bitter Pill: Law cannot perform on stage this spring because he is filming Steven Soderbergh’s new thriller

Could actress Ruth Wilson’s triumph at the Olivier Awards for her role in Anna Christie lead to a reunion with Jude Law in a Broadway version of the play?

That’s certainly the desire of the producers, who hope that a New York run could lead to a double triumph for the show.

However, sources close to Law say he cannot perform on stage this spring because he is filming Steven Soderbergh’s new thriller The Bitter Pill.

A source adds: ‘Taking Anna Christie to Broadway has been discussed but never firmed up. It has not gone away as an idea but it can’t happen imminently.’

Both Law, who won an award when he starred in Hamlet on Broadway three years ago, and Wilson are keen for the project to materialise. In the Eugene O’Neill play, Law plays a barge stoker who embarks on an affair with Wilson’s character.

The romance appears to have spilled over into real life – my spies recently spotted the couple enjoying a night out at the Groucho Club in London.

Survivor: Dame Maggie Smith’s character will not be killed off

After fears that Downton Abbey star Dame Maggie Smith is to be written out of the next series of the hit ITV drama, fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

As I reported last week, Dame Maggie will star as the Dowager Countess in every episode of the third series and a Christmas special, but she will not be killed off.

Carnival Films, which  co-produces Downton, insists the veteran actress will be in it for as long as she wants  to continue.

‘There’s no truth Maggie is leaving. Series three is filming with her,’ says a spokesman. Devotees will be delighted and now await news about series four.

Agyness Deyn is turning her back on modelling to concentrate on her Hollywood career.

The  29-year-old has set up home in LA’s trendy Los Feliz district and a pal says: ‘Agyness says her modelling days are over.

‘She is thinking of taking up directing and has been writing a screenplay with a chum that she plans to take to studios this year.’

Agyness also has a leading role in a film called Pusher, which comes out in the autumn.

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Here’s how to enter: Plan your design; alone or with a friend, grab some Charmin toilet paper, tape and/or glue and/or needle and thread (that’s all you can use)!

Next, make the dress on your model or mannequin and take some digital photos (front, back and side). Video clips are welcome but not necessary.

“Each year, the contest gets better and better. We are all excited to see the fantastic entries!” said Laura Gawne of Cheap Chic Weddings.

Official contest rules along with lots of other wedding cost saving tips and information can be found at www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com.

Last year’s grand prize winner Susan Brennan created a playfully sophisticated dress, which was inspired by her love of flowers.

All photos and video are to be submitted to Cheap Chic Weddings at TPdresscontest@gmail.com by June 1, 2012 at 11 p.m. EST. There is no entry fee. The judging panel at Cheap Chic Weddings will judge the digital photo entries.

For more information please visit www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com

AS an undergraduate, Nicholas Ball was delighted to get the chance to work as an intern at Alexander McQueen’s, the world-famous fashion house which created Catherine Middleton’s wedding dress.

Sarah Burton, now the creative director, produced a design that Nicholas says was simply fabulous, fashionable and fairytale.

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   Above and top, Nicholas Ball at the bridal store he runs with his mother, Ruth Gray, the House of Capulet, in Babington Lane, Derby. He designs and makes wedding dresses – a process which takes around six months. Top right, Nicholas at work on a sketch for a gown with lace samples. Below right, Catherine Middleton’s “gorgeous” dress.

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“I thought the dress was gorgeous, quite demure, very Grace Kelly. In fact, Grace Kelly’s wedding dress is my all-time favourite,” revealed Nicholas, as he relaxed at The House of Capulet, the bridal store in Babington Lane, Derby, he runs with his mother, Ruth Gray.

He says his own designs are quite bold and dramatic but at the same time very feminine. His inspiration comes, in part, from designers such as the late Lee Alexander McQueen and Vera Wang.

“Yes, Lee’s dresses were flamboyant but the cut was beautiful,” Nicholas said.

Though he is not tempted to adorn his hand-made gowns with skulls, a favourite of McQueen, Nicholas was delighted when Sarah Burton praised his design for a print featuring a skull as the centre of a flower.

Nicholas is currently putting the finishing touches to a gown featuring gold silk Duchess satin with pale gold lace and Italian organza.

“I must admit I seem to have very expensive tastes. I fell in love with some intricate lace. It was divine, so I rang to inquire how much it cost per metre and when they said £500 I was speechless. It was a little out of my price range!

“Obviously, the quality and quantity of the lace and silks I use reflects in the price of the dresses,” says the designer, whose gowns start from £1,000, with bridesmaids’ dresses starting from £300.

Providing a bespoke wedding and bridesmaid dress service means he can cater for the growing number of brides-to-be who want to be more experimental.

He puts it down to Facebook and Twitter, which have made fashion more accessible.

“I have always wanted to design red carpet gowns, where it’s a woman’s special moment in the spotlight. All eyes are on her,” he said.

Now the 30-year-old is out to build on his own label, Nicholas Ball at the House of Capulet, alongside the gowns the store stocks including Ellis, D’zage and Phil Collins.

Even as a youngster he was keen on drawing and was studying for a BTech National Diploma in general art and design when a fashion lecturer spotted his sketchbook drawings.

“She encouraged me to do a diploma in fashion in a year rather than two years,” he said.

He applied and was delighted to be offered a place at the prestigious Surrey Institute of Art and Design to study for a BA Hons in fashion.

“It was while was studying for my degree I did the internship. It was very intimidating at first. It seemed so glamorous to all us interns,” Nicholas said.

“I just enjoyed discovering what the real world of fashion was like and how it all worked. It was fascinating and exciting.”

Designer and couturier Lee Alexander McQueen was four times British Designer of the Year and International Designer of the Year.

“He had a reputation as being a bad boy of fashion but when I met him he was lovely,” says Nicholas.

“He was planning the opening of his London store and came up with the idea of having pole dancers in the window for the launch. He wanted us interns to create see-through rain coats for the dancers to wear.

“He came into the studio one day, saw one of the macs, put it on and twirled round the studio laughing and having fun,” says Nicholas.

He chuckles recalling another incident when castings were being held for the catwalk models and pole dancers.

“One runway model, at her first professional audition, saw the pole dancers and ran out of the studio in horror. Someone had to chase after her and explain the mix-up.”

His duties included manning reception as well as scouring London for vintage feather boas and haggling over the costs.

“Sarah Burton, the head designer, would do initial sketches and we would come up with fabrics, patterns, print designs, and work out where the seams would fall.”

After university Nicholas designed and sold clubwear online, a million miles away from his dreams of creating red-carpet glamour.

He reveals how a twist of fate gave him his chance to shine. “My mother went into a store in Derby to buy her wedding dress.

“She jokes that she went in for a dress and came out with the lot. She found out the owner was selling the business, decided to buy it, and asked me if I would like to help her.”

A new sign was needed. Nicholas got out his sketchbook and created The House of Capulet.

Weddings are very much part of family life. Ruth makes wedding cakes and has her own chickens providing free-range eggs for her baking.

It’s a busy time as the business is moving to larger premises on Babington Lane later this year.

“I will be able to put my dresses in the window. They’ll be lit up at night to great effect. I will also have more room to display them,” Nicholas said.

It takes about six months from showing the bride-to-be initial sketches and suggested fabric swatches to the final fitting.

Nicholas does the sewing, though he hopes to employ a seamstress so he can spend more time designing.

He is also keen to help the next generation and has two undergraduates from the University of Derby, Emma Henson and Nicola Moody, working with him.

“I want them to be interested in the whole process and to give them the change to design, for example, a prom dress which could feature in the House of Capulet’s range.”