Milan wool prize prized

Victoria's Secret angel Erin Heatherton wearing the Lover "Valentine" dress.

Gucci creative director Frida Giannini will join five other global fashion luminaries to judge the International Woolmark Prize in Milan in February.

Italian Vogue editor in chief Franca Sozzani, Style.com editor at large Tim Blanks and Vogue China editor at large Angelica Cheung will also jet into Italy to cast their eyes over the best designs in wool by five finalists selected from 48 designers in 24 countries.

Sydney designer Christopher Esber will vie with fellow finalists including America's Altuzarra and Sibling representing Europe for the prestigious award to be announced on February 21 during Milan Fashion Week. The winner will receive $100,000 and the chance to be stocked in top retail stores around the world, including Colette in Paris, Italy's 10 Corso Como and David Jones in Australia. Angels lend Lover wings

Lover has been receiving a lot of love from the Victoria's Secret angels. Candice Swanepoel, Erin Heatherton and Adriana Lim are among the ambassadors for the American lingerie giant who have donned designs by the Sydney label for recent red-carpet appearances.

Angels Behati Prinsloo and Alessandra Ambrosio have also been snapped wearing Lover to events, after Swanepoel bought the Lover Rosebud halter dress from luxury etailer Net-a-porter.

"Candice purchased the dress and wore it to a Victoria's Secret event," says Lover designer Susien Chong. "The other Victoria's Secret angels fell in love with the dress and started to track us down and request styles. It was very organic and unplanned."

The appearances are a massive marketing boost for the brand, but while the Victoria's Secret angels are more high profile than the average Lover customer, Chong says all her female customers share a similar approach to getting dressed.

"Lover is known for lace and more specifically for creating garments that define classic femininity with a modern twist," says Chong. "Ultimately that is what women will always want to wear."