Keira Knightley is engaged!

James Righton and Keira Knightley © XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM

Keira Knightley said "yes". The Pirates of the Caribbean star and James Righton, boyfriend of one year, are engaged to be married. Keira's publicist Sarah Keene confirmed the news to the Associated Press.

Keira Knightley and James Righton

Keira, 27, and The Klaxons musician, 28, were first spotted together in April last year. Supposedly they were introduced to each other by mutual friend Alexa Chung. No details on their wedding planning have been released.

Keira Knightley and James Righton

Keira's engagement ring

Today the couple was spotted out and about and involving in some serious PDA (public display of affection): holding hands, cuddling and kissing. Keira also showed off her beautiful engagement ring: a thin gold band with a singular diamond. She wore another ring on her left hand as well: a Love ring by Zoe and Morgan.

Up until Friday, Keira and James have kept their relationship under wraps. They have been photographed together near their East London home, but have not graced a red carpet together. So the only photos available are 'leisure' photos of the engaged couple (something I'm usually against, but they're so cute together that it's okay for this time).

Keira Knightley and James Righton

Alexa Chung and Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner split up

Alexa Chung and Alex Turner © Pixsell

Alexa Chung and her boyfriend of four years, Arctic Monkeys frontman, Alex Turner have called it quits. Break up rumours started swirling around at the start of this month, when Alexa and Alex were in London for the iTunes Festival. The Arctic Monkeys performed and Alexa presented the Festival at the Roundhouse in Camden. However, the two weren't spotted together, apart from on stage. At the time, they denied their split.

Friends of the former couple now say that they're through, "Alexa has moved all her stuff out and is concentrating on getting her American TV career back on track. Alex has gigs in America next month, but none of them are on the East Coast." The friends conclude with, "They are very busy and have grown apart, but want to keep the news quiet."

Alexa her rep confirmed the break up, saying, "Sadly, Alexa and Alex have split, although they remain close."

Alexa Chung to host 24-Hour catwalk

Alexa Chung © Establishment Casting

Model turned tv-presenter and Mulberry lover Alexa Chung is asked to host a new US show. In the new show - working title 24-Hour Catwalk - designers will play off against each other. Lifetime will produce the show and executive vice president Rob Sharenow tells WWD, "The thing that is happening now in fashion culture is that every character and subset of skill is being explored, and there is going to be great shows coming out of that."

Fashion it-girl Alexa seems the right person to host the show, and she isn't a newbie to tv either. She starred in MTV's It's On With Alexa Chung and last summer she filmed Thrift America, where the 27-year old trawled flea markets, second-hand stores and garage sales across the US. 

Mulberry's value skyrockets, with a little help from Alexa Chung

Alexa Chung with the Mulberry Alexa.

The popularity of the Mulberry Alexa bag has increased the value of the fashion label by more than five times, in little over 12 months. The Somerset label saw its value go from £166 million/$267,82 million USD/€189,21 million to £1,03 billion/$1,66 billion USD/€ 1,17 billion.

Economic experts say that this success is due to expansion into Chinese and Latin American markets. However, the unbelievable demand for the Mulberry Alexa satchel is the biggest growth factor. 

The Mulberry Alexa bag comes in four different designs, together they accound for over 30 percent of the fashion label's sales. Prices for the Alexa bag, named after presenter Alexa Chung, start off at £525/$800/€650 for a Mini Alexa and go up to a few thousand Pounds/US Dollars/Euros for a large version made from ostrich leather.

The standard model, that sells for £785/$1200/€980, is sold out from Beijing to New York. Even though you can't get your hands on it immediately (or should I say thanks to its exclusivity?), Mulberry has become a fashion leader and a stock market celebrity.

The Alexa bags take five hours to make by hand. Since the increase has started to soar 60 extra manufacturing jobs have been created at the firm's factory in Somerset. Mulberry now employs 740 members of staff.

The Mulberry Alexa satchel can count many a celebrity as a fan. Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Claudia Schiffer have all been spotted with the bag. It's design was inspired by photos of Alexa Chung carrying a vintage Mulberry men's briefcase as a handbag.

The Mulberry Alexa satchel in Pumpkin Large Grain Nappa © Mulberry