Abby Brammell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj642Uy1qnIendofvid
By Tamara Abraham and Arthur Martin

Brushed up: Zara Phillips in the Musto collection adverts. A photo shoot source admits that 'post-production' techniques were used


Introducing Zara Phillips... clothes horse.

Princess Anne's 29-year-old daughter adopted a variety of poses to publicise her new range of equestrian clothing.

And it seems that even members of the royal family are not immune to that modern fashion phenomenon - the airbrush.

The normally rosy-cheeked Miss Phillips admitted yesterday that the moody images had probably been subject to a degree of change.



Royal model: Zara poses in jackets carrying her initials and eventing number


'They usually airbrush out the horse's dribble on your arm,' she joked.

But while a source close to the project said a 'post-production' process had been used to sharpen the images, he insisted they had not been subject to the kind of heavy manipulation often carried out when celebrities appear on the cover of glossy magazines.

The pictures were taken during a day-long photo shoot at 12th century Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire.

Miss Phillips, who is 11th in line to the throne and is engaged to England rugby star Mike Tindall, modelled a range of outfits from the Musto brand.

The cheapest item in the range is a long-sleeve riding top that costs £35.

The most expensive is a fleece-lined riding jacket at £200. A hooded top is £60, as is a micro fleece. At the launch of the collection, the reigning eventing world champion was asked if she felt comfortable with the title of 'athlete, princess and model'.


Horse not included: Zara, who is an ambassador for Musto, also appears in the brand's new winter advertising campaign


'Athlete is good - I think the others can just get dropped,' she replied. 'I am not a princess anyway, so I find that quite weird to be labelled that.'

On modelling, she said: 'I start off not wanting to do it in the morning and it gets better through the day. There are always some pictures I don't like.'

The Musto collection was two years in the making, and spans the label's equestrian, shooting and country lifestyle ranges.

Musto said Zara had been closely involved with the project at every stage, from design through to testing the final products in the field.


Natural choice: The Queen's granddaughter posed for the images in an appropriately aristocratic-looking country estate


'I tried and tested everything,' she said. 'With design, the products were already there - I just tweaked a few things, like put in a longer cut for the riding jackets, so it won’t expose the back if you’re riding in the elements.

'It’s less to do with mainstream fashion and more about practicality and engineering something that works in training, but which you wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in, in public.'

Each item from Zara's line, which will go on sale next month, will bear her initials and eventing number - 176 - by way of a logo.


Natural beauty: Zara, as she usually looks, at the launch of the Musto line


The Queen's granddaughter, who is already an ambassador for Musto, also appears in the label's upcoming advertising campaign.

On its website it said of the collaboration: 'Zara has been wearing Musto products for as long as she can remember.

'It seemed only natural that the 2009 World Eventing Champion should design a range of technical clothing which is both functional and stylish.'

Zara, who is hoping to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London, said that she was excited about news that Stella McCartney would be designing the new kit for Team GB

'Hooray! Nicer outfits,' she said.

But she admitted that she is yet to find the right horse to compete with.
She was forced to miss the previous two Games after her horse, Toytown, suffered injuries.

She said: 'I’m really excited for 2012. It will be awesome to ride at home, but I just have to get there first.'

Musto, which was established 45 years ago by British Olympic sailor Keith Musto, is one of the world's leading sailing and country sports brands.

It is renowned for developing high-performance fabrics that can withstand extreme weather conditions.


World champion: Zara competing in 2007 on her beloved horse Toytown


source: dailymail
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