LARA CELEBRATES HER 26TH BIRTHDAY

It was always going to be hard to eclipse her splashy made-for-TV 25th birthday party, but Lara Bingle gave it a serious shake as she turned 26 on Saturday.

Bingle turned on what looked to observers to be a bondage-themed bash at an eastern suburbs restaurant.

Leather-clad guests descended on Potts Point hot spot Fratelli Paradiso for what looked like a promised night of debauchery.

The usual suspects including Max May, Pip Edwards, new galpal Vicki Lee and one half of Romance Was Born duet, Luke Sales, were among 20 guests celebrating with the former reality TV starlet.

Two notable absences were Bingle's on-again off-again bestie Hermoine Underwood and her boyfriend, New York-based DJ, Nick Cohen.

Bingle's pals spent the night uploading saucy images on their social media sites, some of which included the model getting up close and personal - having "naughty birthday kisses" - with her new BFF Lee.

A Fratelli Paradiso source said despite their less-than-subdued attire, Bingle and her posse were on their best behaviour.

"It was a fantastic night," he said. "Everyone was very well behaved."

It was a far cry from the lavish dinner-party thrown at Carriageworks, Eveleigh last year, arranged by girlfriend Cara Landsman, and reportedly partly paid for by the TEN Network.

It was there that Bingle introduced her then new-love designer Gareth Moody, to her mother Sharon. That romance ended in January.

Bingle then kicked on at Barrio Chino, in Potts Point, where swimmer Stephanie Rice celebrated her 25th birthday.

Source: The Daily Telegraph
Published Date: 24th June 2013

BINGLE COTTONS ON TO NEW SWIMWEAR GIG

Lara Bingle is set to reprise her role as Australia's hottest swimwear star.

Bingle has been collaborating with Australian chain Cotton On on a new swimwear range, which will be launched later this year.

Insider can reveal that the 26-year-old model, whose contract as Speedo's swimwear face ended in 2010, has been chosen as Cotton On's muse for the collection and will shoot a campaign next month at a secret overseas location.

"I've been living on protein and vegetables for the last few weeks to get ready for it, but I'm feeling really good," Bingle told me.

She plans to send a few pieces to girlfriends Teresa Palmer and Phoebe Tonkin in Hollywood for feedback.

"It's nice to receive something like that - I love supporting friends' brands and projects."

Source: The Sunday Telegraph

Published Date: 23rd June 2014

BINGLE DOES HER BIT FOR BOWEL CANCER

Lara Bingle says she's yet to take a test for bowel cancer despite having a family history of the disease.

The Bowel Cancer Australia ambassador, who in 2008 lost her father Graham to the disease, said it was rare for people her age to be diagnosed but it was important to be vigilant.

"I'm a little young still but I've been asking my brother to get scanned for a long time," Bingle said.

Bingle was supporting Red Aussie Apple Day as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness month in Martin Place yesterday.

Source: News.com.au
Published Date: 20th June 2013

INSIDE LARA'S CLOSET

Lara Bingle’s just returned from a whirlwind trip to visit her boyfriend, New York-based DJ Nick Cohen, and spend time in the Hamptons with one of her besties, model Elyse Taylor, when we meet to rummage through her wardrobe and discover just what it is that makes this Aussie beauty a style icon.

Since she was a teenager, Lara’s had that It girl aesthetic – something you can’t quite put your finger on, but you know it’s there.

It has a lot to do with her easygoing energy and, of course, how she puts herself together…

Today, the stunning 25-year-old is dressed casually in her signature colour, black, with a Saint Laurent bag over her shoulder and her fingers and ears adorned with jewellery by Dior and Karen Walker. And despite still unpacking her Louis Vuitton suitcases, Lara’s full of energy and happy to take us on another journey – this time through her favourite wardrobe pieces, the heady scents that adorn her bathroom shelves, a vast array of high heels and ankle boots, and the books and magazines she gets her inspiration from.

It’s quite the collection!

What’s your favourite piece in your wardrobe right now?
My Balmain jacket. It’s an investment piece that goes with everything. It’s the perfect blazer!

Which emerging designers are you into?
I love Christopher Kane, J W Anderson and Ryan Storer’s special pieces.

Has your style changed over the years?
As I’ve matured, I have started to invest in more classic, timeless pieces rather than buying current collections.

Where do you love to shop most?
The Balenciaga and Céline stores in Paris; Dover St Market in London; and Jeffrey in New York’s Meatpacking District.

Do you have pieces that tell a story?
I value the pieces in my wardrobe that tell a story over the designer items. I love my mother’s teenie leather pants from the ’80s and my vintage tees that I wear to music festivals. Putting these items on makes me smile.

GET LARA'S LOOK!
Rock signature pieces such as distressed denim with a fitted jacket for It girl groove



For the full interview, and more pics of Lara’s impressive wardrobe, pick up a copy of this week’s OK! magazine, on sale now!

Source: OK Magazine

LARA TALKS 2013 BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

After losing her dad to bowel cancer in 2008, Lara Bingle has committed herself to helping raise awareness about the disease, which kills 77 Australians every week. June marks Bowel Cancer Awareness month, so we sat down with Lara to talk about early detection, screening and what her personal experience with the disease has taught her. Keep reading.

This year’s Bowel Cancer Awareness Month campaign is skewed at a younger audience — can you tell us a bit about it?
"Although bowel cancer predominantly affects people over 50, young people are not immune. So it's really important to educate a wider audience. Bowel cancer not only affects the person that is sick, but also the people that surround them. With the campaign, you can essentially team up with me or another familiar face and send a birthday greeting to anyone special in your life who’s aged 50 and over. It has a life-saving wish attached to it and it’s all about getting more people to screen for bowel cancer. Just jump online and send the e-card from jointhebowelmovement.org."

What’s the most important thing you've learnt from your personal story with bowel cancer?
"I’ve learnt that bowel cancer is preventable and very treatable, if caught early. I’ve learnt that screening and acting on symptoms may have saved my dad’s life. This is our second biggest cancer killer and it affects 14,000 families every year but so many people know so little about it. I’m doing what I can to try and change that and I hope others will too. Our parents do so much for us, so think about asking them to do one more small thing for you, if they won’t do it for themselves — a simple, painless fob [faecal occult blood] test."

Is there an easy way to get checked?
"If your dad’s anything like mine was, and doesn’t regularly go to the doctor, the easiest thing is to grab a Bowel Screen Australia test kit from a pharmacy. It’s simple and painless, with a total cost of less than $40. If they’re 50, 55, 60 or 65, they’ll get a free kit in the mail from the Government. Anyone who has symptoms of bowel cancer needs to see a doctor immediately."

What’s the most positive story to have come out of your time as ambassador for Bowel Cancer Australia?
"When I started working with Bowel Cancer Australia and talking about losing my Dad, it had a very strong response from the community because people realised that it can happen to anyone. Having a personal connection to this cancer got people talking about it and that was a big positive because education, awareness and early detection is very important."

For more information, visit www.jointhebowelmovement.org

Source: PopSugar Australia

WHAT'S LARA DRIVING AT?

What was Lara Bingle thinking when she got behind the wheel of her now infamous black Mercedes G350?

The car was parked but seeing the model and reality TV star behind the wheel was rather unexpected given she's been banned from driving until September 17 after a series of misdemeanors.

Last year alone, she was busted six times for speeding.

The controversial Bingle admitted to Confidential she'd been in the driver's seat but denied she'd driven her Merc through Double Bay where these shots were taken.

Bingle, 25, said she was simply "minding" the car while she waited for a friend.

"I slid over from the passenger seat to look after the car," she said yesterday. "I have an arrangement with a car service, Uber, who support my transportation needs so of course I wouldn't be driving."

So what freaked Bingle when she saw a photographer capturing her movements?

And coincidentally, a friend arrived moments later in a silver Maserati to pick her up.

Either way, we're glad she wasn't driving because it could have landed her some serious jail time.

Bingle last appeared in Waverley Court on September 18, 2012, before Magistrate Robbie Williams after being busted driving on a suspended licence. She pleaded guilty, was fined $3749, disqualified from driving for 12 months and placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond.

She is not allowed back behind the wheel until September 17.

Source: The Sunday Telegraph
Published Date: 9th June 2013

ARTICLE: EVOLVING CHAIN OF LARA'S BEST FRIENDS

Lara Bingle's girl crushes are clearly a wonder to behold.

The former reality star, model and businesswoman forms attachments to her female buddies that first appear to be set in concrete before they very slowly disintegrate.

In fact, they might as well have been built on the sands of Elouera beach.

"Lara changes besties like she does lip colour - it's hard to keep up really," commented one social observer.

Her new bestie is a quirky, platinum-haired artist/fashion designer, Vicki Lee.

The former student of posh, eastern suburbs private school Kambala, Lee and Bingle have become inseparable over the past nine months. Lee has become the new Hermione Underwood in Bingle's life - the blonde publicist who was almost her twin.

During her recent trip to New York, where she attended current boyfriend DJ Nick Cohen's brother's wedding, Bingle was positively pining for Lee, counting down the hours until they were together again, tweeting "Next 20 something hours ... see you on the other side @VickiLee".

Bingle, 25, even cut short another New York trip to attend the launch of Lee and her boyfriend Ted O'Donnell's exhibition IS/WET in Alexandria in March.

She tweeted to the couple "I am so proud of you".

All very lovely, but how long will it last?

Unfortunately, when it comes to her female besties, Bingle might as well have taken a leaf from the Paris Hilton guide to BFFs. Hot today, tepid tomorrow.

Hilton famously moves on fast from her friends, who have included everyone from Nicole Richie to Kim Kardashian.

Bingle fans will recognise Lee from the picture of her meeting Lara at the airport on May 30. Bingle threw her ams around the designer as if she had just returned from a spell in the deepest Congo and not from New York. While she was away, the two Skyped each other just to stay in touch.

It's the sort of behaviour pattern most usually seen in teenage girls, but then one of Bingle's best attributes is her sunny, playful manner.

Was it just so long ago that Bingle's bestie was Underwood, whom she met back in 2007 on a flight to LA?

PR and party girl Underwood became a mini celebrity herself when Bingle turned to her during her 2010 break-up with fiance Michael Clarke. They were inseparable, along with Bingle's other bestie, make-up artist Max May.

Quickly promoted to Bingle's manager, it was Underwood who had a major role in her 2012 Channel 10 reality series Being Lara Bingle. But when the professional relationship fell apart during the filming of the series, so did the personal one.

The two blondes now see each other only occasionally, and in the company of Lee.

Prior to Lee there was Christine Centenera, the-then fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar, who turned Bingle around style-wise and started dressing her in Louis Vuitton.

Centenera, now senior fashion editor at Vogue, sent Bingle's career soaring with her makeover, but as fast as their friendship blossomed, it quickly faded from sight, as did Bingle's styling.

Perhaps Bingle becomes clingy with her besties because she was sister-deprived, having only had one brother, Josh.

Or perhaps she keeps her buddies tight after leaving school early, because of her successful modelling career. I imagine there was some jealousy from her schoolmates.

Either way, with the men in her life stepping into a constantly-revolving door, it is her close female friends that are the most constant.

At least for a while.

Source: The Sunday Telegraph
Published Date: 9th June 2013