10 things to get excited about in 2011

As the year winds down, it's time to gear up for the fashion trends, people and happenings that will define 2011. Here's a rundown of things I'm looking forward to seeing, shopping, watching and reading.

1) Skirts falling. At last, some clothes for women who don't look to the Kardashians for style tips. The tyranny of the mini is over and skirts are falling. Midi, maxi and knee-length skirts were all over the runways for spring at Jil Sander, Michael Kors, Yves Saint Laurent and more. But they're going mass, too. I've got my eye on this sparkler from J. Crew's spring collection (left).

2) Tom Ford. He directs, he designs, he guest-edits magazines. Is there anything he can't do? The sultan of sex who defined fashion in the 1990s at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent is returning to women's wear at last.

Proving that he hasn't lost his talent to provoke, when he previewed his collection in September on some of the most beautiful women in the world (Beyonce, Lauren Hutton, etc.), he used the oldest trick in the Hollywood playbook, telling his select few guests, "No pictures please."

Of course, that only made us want him more. Since then, he's released photos on his terms in glossy magazine spread after magazine spread. But come Oscar week in February, he will roll out the red carpet for real, and throw a party for his new boutique on Rodeo Drive. No doubt the flashbulbs will be blinding. 

3) Fashion at the museum. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute hosts a retrospective of Alexander McQueen's work in May (with the requisite Vogue-sponsored gala opening). But first, L.A.'s Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the designers behind the Rodarte label, will be the subject of a show opening March 4 at the the Museum of Contemporary Art at Pacific Design Center.

 4) Fashion on film. Due out in June is the Madonna-directed film "W.E.," (after Wallis Simpson and Edward, the Duke of Windsor) about the love affair that cost him the throne. Arianne Phillips is designing the costumes for the notorious fashion plates, so I expect great things. Phillips has collaborated with Madonna on her past four concert tours, as well as designed costumes for films such as "A Single Man," "Walk the Line" and "The Crow."

On the other end of the entertainment spectrum, there's "The Muppets" opening Thanksgiving weekend. Since it's a Disney film, you know the fashion collaborations are going to be off the hook.

5) Royal aisle style. I still remember staying up all night to watch the Charles and Diana nuptials, and I know come April 29, I will be glued to the screen again watching Prince William and Kate Middleton. The gown, the flowers, the cake...the world is waiting in breathless anticipation. It should also be interesting to see if Middleton becomes an ambassador for British fashion in the way that First Lady Michelle Obama has been for American fashion.

6) The new political guard. If there is one person I'm eager to observe dressing for today's political stage, it's California Governor-elect Jerry Brown. In his 1970s heyday, he was a rake in double-breasted suits with sharp lapels. But now, almost nothing is known about what he wears.

Compared with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who favors suits by Armani, Brioni, Prada and Gucci, has been known to carry a Prada weekend bag and refers to himself as a "shoe queen," Brown is practically anti-fashion--which could almost be more interesting.

7) Shopping, high and low. Lanvin is opening its first West Coast store at Two Rodeo Drive any day now. And British chain Accessorize (think Claire's but so much better), which opened its first U.S. store in New York in October, will be rolling out locations across the U.S. throughout the year.

8) Designing, high and low. Following on the heels of 2010's hit Lanvin for H&M collection, designers continue to branch out. I'm most intrigued by Derek Lam's crowd source-designed collection for EBay. He will show his designs in February, and shoppers will vote on EBay to determine which pieces are produced. Karl Lagerfeld's collection for Macy’s is also one to watch. It hits stores in September.

9) The Gaga effect. Fashion editor and stylist Nicola Formichetti, a frequent Lady Gaga collaborator(yes, he was behind the meat dress), will show his first collection as the new creative director for the house of Thierry Mugler in March. Chrome hip fins? Metallic leotards? I can honestly say I have no idea what to expect, but I might wear a raincoat just in case.

10) New media move. While I will miss late night dinners and early morning pity parties with my best fashion week friend, Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post fashion editor Robin Givhan, I look forward to reading what she writes from her new perch at Newsweek and Daily Beast. Because if anyone can redefine how fashion and style is covered online, it's Robin.

Congratulations to the very talented, happy couple

Black Swan has brought Natalie Portman critical acclaim, awards nominations, a ballerina’s body – and now, it seems, a family.

A publicist for Portman confirmed that the actress is engaged to dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied, and that the two are expecting a child.

Millepied and Portman began dating last year, during the filming of Black Swan. Besides his day job as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet (and something of a dance-world heartthrob), Millepied choreographed the film and partnered with Portman for many of the on-screen dance sequences.

In June, he said, “I was blown away, especially by Natalie, who was amazing to watch.”

We agree. Congratulations to the very talented, happy couple.

Will Natalie Portman's Big News Equal Oscar Gold?

Now that the holiday season is coming to a close, a more angst-ridden season is upon us -- Oscar season. The contenders have been unfurling their respective campaigns for months. Nominations are expected on Jan. 25, after which Academy members will vote on the winners. In a perfect world, the best films and actors would win Hollywood's most coveted award, but Tinseltown is far from perfect. The two factors that really drive a good Oscar campaign aren't talent and honor but likability and buzz. With her perfectly-timed wedding and baby announcement, Natalie Portman is garnering both.

"Oscars season campaigning is every bit as political as an election, because like a national election, it is a competition for votes. The likability factor is a huge part of that, because talent and popularity are equally important. There's no way Mel Gibson could win an Oscar with his current reputation, simply because so many voting members of the Academy can't stand him," explains StyleList celebrity editor Ben Widdicombe. "Many big names coordinate their private lives to appear most appealing to industry voters during awards season -- like that actress with the huge smile who persuaded her actor boyfriend to stick by her side months after their relationship had actually ended so she didn't lose the glamor and synergy of being half of a celebrity couple. Once she had the little gold man on her mantelpiece, however, she quite happily shed the real man on her arm."

I think we know exactly who Widdicombe is talking about. Now that was a well-oiled campaign.

Very little generates more buzz or likability in Hollywood than baby news. Having a baby brings the most elevated celebrity to regular person level and elevates an unlikable celeb to best friend status. Ask Nicole Richie. Plus, being pregnant has been particularly stylish this year.

"If this past year has shown us anything, it's that pregnancy is fashionable. Victoria's Secret angel Adriana Lima confessed that she was approached to walk the runway pregnant, only to be turned down for the gig because she wasn't pregnant enough, and fellow Angel Miranda Kerr's naked pregnant belly was all over the pages of fashion glossies. And that's just to name a few. So news of Natalie's pregnancy should certainly keep the buzz going," says Fashionista Associate Editor Leah Chernikoff.

At age 29, Portman will most likely be competing against a much more mature group of women, among them Annette Bening and Nicole Kidman. Yet her terrifying performance in 'Black Swan' has critics and audiences alike singing her praises, so HollywoodLife Editor-in-Chief Bonnie Fuller doesn't think Portman needs a little pink baby to get herself a little gold man.

"Natalie is already the frontrunner for best actress because of her riveting performance in 'Black Swan.' I don't think her pregnancy will help or hurt her chances," Fuller says. "While it may not affect her chances for the Oscar, it will make the speculation about her gown choice all the more gripping!"

Ahhh, yes! The gown! Which designer will best accentuate a wee Portman baby bump?

"We'd be surprised if Portman didn't wear Rodarte on Oscar night. They designed the ballet costumes for 'Black Swan' and Portman is a fan of the Mulleavy sisters and has worn their creations to the Oscars before. Luckily most of Rodarte's spring 2011 dresses have got loads of ruffles and embellishments around the waist -- perfect for hiding a baby bump," Chernikoff says.

2010 year in fashion

The world of fashion is inherently memorable and dramatic, with its wealth of breathtaking creations, indelible images and personalities on parade. This past year gave rise to even more such moments. Style increasingly infiltrates all aspects of our lives: Shopping websites, mobile shopping applications and fashion blogs exploded. Celebrities of all stripes launched clothing lines, accessories or fragrances - and designers responded with lower-priced capsule collections. The Kardashians were unavoidable. Locally, the biggest fashion statement just may have been the ascendance of fearsome facial hair and the color orange as the San Francisco Giants progressed to the World Series, becoming heroes whose iconic style made headlines around the world. Here are some standout moments:

Jan. 25: Blogger Tavi Gevinson, 14, of Style Rookie, gets a front-row seat at Dior's Paris Fashion Week show, where her massive hair bow causes considerable consternation.

Fashion loses a visionary

Feb. 11: British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, 40, commits suicide a month before presenting his collection in Paris. Known for coupling British tailoring with French couture, he was internationally acclaimed for wildly imaginative clothing and fashion shows that doubled as performance art.

Feb. 19: Levi's collaborated with New York shopkeepers-cum-coolmakers Opening Ceremony for a Pantone-hued collection of cords and jackets, and rolled it off with a happening party.

'Mad' runway style

Feb 25: "Mad Men" TV fashions go international as Miuccia Prada focuses her fall 2010 collection on the early '60s sexy silhouettes and ladylike styles, inspired by the show's costume designer, Janie Bryant.

March 2: In a sign of San Francisco's retail significance, Bulgari opens a 13,000-square-foot West Coast flagship at Stockton and Geary streets on Union Square, with a caviar-and-Champagne party for 600 guests, attended by Nicola Bulgari himself.

 

Going fashion cold turkey could lead to a style renewal

Fashion detox. You've heard the puff. It's January: time to go through your wardrobe and get rid of anything you haven't worn for the past three/six/twelve months depending on how profligate you may or may not be.

As if we've got time to do that, what with all the leftovers we're busy eating. Wouldn't it be better, then, to bite the bullet and actually put on the stuff we don't like, safe in the knowledge that, in only a matter of weeks, it might actually be necessary to leave the sofa and going fashion cold turkey might lead to quite spectacular style renewal when the time comes?

This, it almost goes without saying, also provides more than a little entertainment for those indoors alongside.

"I hate those trousers!" said my son this time last year. Knee-length Spanx over grey woolly tights admittedly looked (and indeed felt) like a rockery. "And here comes your Tudor dress..." It's Prada actually although even I have to agree that it might be oversized to the point of comedic. Less obviously of interest:a puce cashmere hoodie with diamante studded heart dangling from its ties (a Katie Price moment); Christmas socks that play a heart-warming rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer every time I cross my ankles (the joke wears thin after the eighth play, let me tell you) and a chenille dressing gown the colour of an elephant that makes me look like one too. Yes, I know, I never should have bought it.

Christmas pyjamas? They're the men's plaid ones bought in a last-minute panic for my other half last century even though I knew he'd never wear them.

Christmas jeans? That'll be the skinnies stretched to the point where they're sheer at the knee. Lovely.

Best of all, though, is Christmas spent living in an army-issue Parka that's so huge it would fit an entire squadron, which makes it a breeze for me and my immediate family. It's got pockets big enough to contain the TV remote, two kilos of clementines and a cheeky Chocolate Orange and, as it's quilted, converts into a duvet in a matter of moments. Brilliant.

Of course, in a week I'll mostly be shelving it stepping out instead in head-to-toe new season Balenciaga. And, if you believe that...

Allie Crandell's rib-baring appearance sparks debate on fashion website

A former reality show star is at the center of a new debate over too-skinny models.

Allie Crandell, who appeared on MTV's The City, sparked debate on RevolveClothing.com when buyers began commenting on her – not the BCBG mesh dress she was modeling, Styleite.com reported.

"I can't believe revolve would think that this model is a good representation for them," one user commented. "If you want people to buy from your company, don't make them feel bad by showing your clothing on someone who clearly has no self esteem or respect for their body."

After the comments continued, Revolve issued a statement in the comments' section promising to work closely with Crandell and her agent to get her to a healthier size.

"She won't be appearing in any of our new product batchers or in any of our fashion editorial photos moving forward until the issue is adequately addressed," the company promised.

But customers didn't seem to be satisfied by the company's response, and Crandell's picture remained on the website as they kept promising to boycott the website.

This isn't the first time that Crandell's weight has sparked controversy. One of the most memorable parts of her time on The City was her showdown with PR maven Kelly Cutrone over her weight with Cutrone telling her she needed to add on some pounds.

Two months later, Crandell's agent told Life & Style magazine that he had thought Crandell was too skinny and the two had been working to get her to a healthier weight.

But according to the Revolve users she certainly hasn't gained enough.

"She is emaciated," one wrote.

Spain's master of haute couture makes final bow

The grandfather of Spanish fashion, 81-year-old Elio Berhanyer, has become the latest victim of the country's ailing economy. The veteran designer, a survivor of Spain's bygone era of haute couture who once dressed Ava Gardner and Cyd Charisse, was forced to close his Madrid atelier this month after a year of sluggish sales. His employees reportedly had not received their wages since September.

Mr Berhanyer's elegant prêt-à-porter line could not survive in these belt-tightening days, especially against competition from large international firms. Until now, the self-taught octogenarian had managed to churn out a collection for the Madrid catwalk each season while also updating his classic line. Just last year, Madrid Fashion Week paid tribute to his 50 years in the business with a special show.

"Without the crisis, the business needed an aspirin; with the crisis, it needed morphine," said Pedro Mansilla, a fashion historian who organised a retrospective of the designer's work at the Museum of Costume in Madrid last year, including his space-age mini-skirts, award-winning Iberia airline hostess uniform and a transparent tunic dress for Spain's first on-stage nude scene.

"Nothing was selling and rent in the area was very expensive. He lost €500,000 (£425,000) last year. What Elio does best is haut couture but what he was selling was prêt-a-porter, and those who can afford it prefer to simply shop at Prada."

In his heyday, Mr Berhanyer's futuristic look with metallic trimmings symbolised modernity and freedom for a generation of well-heeled Spanish women emerging from the enforced sobriety of the Franco dictatorship.

He began his career as a magazine illustrator in his native Cordoba and then stumbled into fashion while working as a window dresser for an Elizabeth Arden salon in Madrid. By the 1970s, he was designing collections for American department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Bonwit Teller and Neiman Marcus and dressing the future Spanish queen. His light, yet highly structured, creations, sometimes compared to the avant-garde work of Andre Courreges, appeared in glossies such as Harper's Baazar.

He once rejected an invitation to work with Cristobal Balenciaga in Paris. A mutual client had shown the master couturier Mr Berhanyer's work. But he preferred to forge his own design personality, believing at the time that Spain would eventually rival France as a fashion centre. He skirted ruin when Spain's haut couture houses closed, but rose from the ashes with his prêt-à-porter label.

"Elio is living history and a key figure in Spanish haute couture," said Modesto Lomba, president of the Association of Spanish Fashion Designers. "He has the affection, respect and support of the entire sector."

Mr Lomba blames the atelier's closure on poor management by his financial backer, the clothing firm Artesanos Camiseros. "This is not a failure of Elio Berhanyer, who has had a brilliant career for 50 years," he said.

Despite the closure and rumours of ill health, Mr Berhanyer is not expected to retire. He will continue to work on spin-off businesses, such as furniture, shoes and accessories, sold at a shop in Cordoba. He will also oversee the creation of a museum of his works and perhaps indulge in the occasional made-to-order bridal gown. Mr Mansilla hopes he gets the chance to stage a farewell show at the Madrid Fashion Week. "His financial backers will try to keep him working as much as possible," Mr Mansilla said. "Elio's flame will remain alive."

Store walks successful path

In May of 1975, Ron and Dodie Robirds of Sterling started their own business in a 10'-by-14' area of the Watkins' Clothing Store in the 300 block of Main Street. They re-designed and redecorated their area to fit the needs of the new shoe store.
In 1980, they purchased their current location, which housed Radio Shack and Smugglers Cove at the time. They remodeled the space in a two-week span and with the help of New Era Design and local contractors, added track lighting, custom designed fixtures, put in partitions and opened for business in their new location.
 
At the time, Ron was the manager of the Sterling Country Club, and as most aspiring entrepreneur couples, he kept his job. Dodie, with the help of long-time employee, Donna Artzer, managed the store and instead of paying themselves they worked putting money back into the business to make it successful.
 
The strategy worked because in 1983, Ron left his private club job and went into the shoe business full time.
 
In 1980, they added men's shoes and in 1990 added work boots, which now include Timberland, Wolverine and Bates brands.
 
In 1996, they purchased the building that was originally the Security State Bank and continued with their store on the west side of that building until last spring.
 
It was then that they decided to take out the middle wall and enlarge the store, adding a number of new areas for their customer's shopping convenience.
 
This past summer they added a line of children's shoes brands such as DC, Skecher, Merrell, K-Swiss and New Balance.
 
Throughout the years, The Shoe Tree has stayed on top of the latest in fashion, comfort and work shoes as well as carrying accessories such as handbags including Ameribag (the healthy back bag), socks and more.
 
One of the favorite accessories right now is the Smartwool Socks that have been going out the door by the dozens, said employee Petra Schreiner. Also employed at the store is Cody Antall.
 
There are also slippers to choose from and lots of shoes from Clarks, Shoes-n-Stuff, Famolare, Klogs, Dansko, Ugg, Ras Hommerson and more.

Fashion more than a pretty face in 2010

The past year in fashion was marked by the stunning loss of the industry's most captivating iconoclast and the dazzling return of its most charismatic star.

Together these two outsize personalities helped transform the 21st-century fashion industry into an irresistible world of Hollywood theatrics, sexual provocation and mesmerizing — and profitable — showmanship. Along the way, the two also crafted a host of exquisitely conceived and constructed frocks.

But the year was not defined by personalities alone. Ideas and issues also took center stage, giving rise to lively debate. Instead of merely giving folks pretty clothes, the industry asked consumers to rethink the very definition of "attractive," as well as who gets to pass judgment on the kind of women and men who measure up.

Former Gucci designer Tom Ford returned to the fashion fold this year after making a name for himself in the movie business with "A Single Man." He presented his first women's wear collection under his own name for spring 2011 in the intimate space of his Madison Avenue shop.

The clothes, shown on women of note such as Julianne Moore and Beyonce, exuded confident sexuality and controlled flamboyance. His audacious decision to bar photographers from the show flummoxed fashion folks, but ultimately heightened the anticipation of the clothes' arrival in stores.

It's bittersweet to declare Alexander McQueen's fall 2010 collection one of the best fashion moments this year. But his final work, shown to small groups of editors at the elegant headquarters of Artemis, the brand's holding company, was breathtaking. It was a tour de force of skill and imagination. Finding inspiration in the visual arts as well as in religiosity, the collection was touched with grace, melancholy and beauty.

Mississippi high school student Constance McMillen caused a national stir when she wanted to take her girlfriend to the prom, an event to which they both planned to wear tuxedoes. Their sartorial desires were more than the Itawamba County School District could tolerate, and McMillen was disinvited to the party.

With the help of the ACLU, McMillen, who is lesbian, took on the school district and won. She received some $30,000 and legal fees. When she was honored as one of Glamour's Women of the Year, she wore an Isaac Mizrahi tuxedo to the awards gala at Carnegie Hall. McMillen proved that while clothes don't make the woman, they can make a powerful personal statement.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton grew out her hair. It was a fine rebuke to the accepted adage that a woman of a certain age must cut her hair — a symbolic gesture that she is leaving sex appeal and youthful flirtatiousness behind. Clinton's flattering shoulder-length style was a reminder to women who have unhappily submitted to the scissors that they should not allow cultural assumptions to dictate their own perceptions about themselves.

When Essence, a magazine aimed at African-American women, hired a white fashion editor, the decision rattled longtime readers and gave many in the media world pause. But the uproar about the hiring of Elliana Placas sparked a conversation about diversity within the fashion industry and precisely what that means. And that is nothing but good news.

This was the year in which size mattered. A vigorous debate erupted over what it means to be plus size. How big is too big? What exactly is big enough? At the second Full-Figure Fashion Week in New York, plus-size women demanded trends and high style and took aim at a design industry obsessed with making them look thinner.

Actress Gabourey Sidibe settled into life as a fashion cover girl.
Designer Jean Paul Gaultier used extremes in size — from the fat girl to the waif — as inspiration for his spring 2011 collection. And Vogue Italia launched a website dedicated to curvy women. Chubby ladies didn't rule the runway, but they were no longer ignored.

'Tron' inspired light-up shoes

Footwear designer Edmundo Castillo has produced a pair of LED light-up sandals to pay homage to the latest Hollywood blockbuster "Tron: The Legacy," which was released Friday.

Made from the same electroluminescent material used for the costumes in the film, the "Light Sandals" will be sold at Saks Fifth Avenue for $1,650 (1,238 euros) from February 1. The Puerto Rican designer is a footwear industry veteran and formerly worked for the venerable Italian brand Sergio Rossi.

The Walt Disney-produced sci-fi film is a sequel to the original 1982 film "Tron." The updated version will include actors Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Garrett Hedulund, Michael Sheen and Olivia Wilde. In addition to inspiring a funky pair of light-up shoes, "Tron: Legacy" has even inspired a suite in the Ice Hotel in the Swedish town of Jukkasjärvi that is outfitted with futuristic, glow-in-the-dark neon decor. Eyewear company Oakley also produced special 3D glasses to celebrate the release of the film. Rendered with signature Oakley style, the new "Tron" Limited Edition 3D Gascan ($150, or 113 euros) is accented with graphics that salute the cinematic story.

Contest empowers young fashion designers

Budding "tween'' fashion designers had an occasion to celebrate when Sally Miller, creator of couture dresses and sportswear for girls 8 to 14, held her second annual Top Designer Contest here.

Many of the girls had met Miller at a Fashion Academy Inc. workshop, where Miller empowers girls' self expression and gives them inside knowledge about the fashion industry. At these sessions, the girls learn how to create, display and market their designs in a professional manner.

The party included a disc jockey, a photographer who snapped shots of the girls posing on the red carpet, and a videographer who chronicled the event.

During the evening, Miller said she expects to be opening her first showroom early next year in Manhattan. This will be in addition to the Milltown boutique at 30 N. Main St.

Miller also said that she is launching a new line of tween bras and underwear, Sally Miller Undercover, to meet the need for foundation garments that match any wearer's skin tone. One of Miller's regular models, Amber Palmer, who is black, was having trouble finding anything suitable.

"In this age group, all the underwear is made to match Caucasian skin,'' said Debby Palmer, Amber's mother. "We are so proud and happy that Sally is introducing this new line, which Amber inspired. It's filling a real need.''

Miller said the underwear will match tones from every ethnic group. The first roll-out at the end of February will be with Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com.

The climax of the evening was the announcement of an honorable mention and three winners:

First place … Samantha Patella, 11; Second place … Julianna Favale, who was not at the party; Third place … Katherine Kohler, 11; and Honorable Mention … Christiana Sallard, 14.

Samantha, who has been interested in fashion for about a year, had attended Miller's Fashion Academy in October at the Nordstrom in Paramus. She designed two outfits, a long adult dress and a coordinating shorter dress with leggings for teens. She said that what she loved most about the Fashion Academy Inc. was learning about all the different fabrics and which ones go together with each other and with each season.

"I didn't know there were so many!'' Samantha said.

She now is serious about making clothing design her career.

As the party ended, Miller told the crowded room, "My heart could not be fuller by what I have experienced with all of you incredible girls this evening. I cannot thank you enough for your continued support and inspiration.''

Not Your Average Scarf

Who doesn’t love the old reliable scarf? It’s possibly the greatest unisex accessory of all time. Scarves have even managed to become popular year round.

With "summer scarves" all the craze over the last couple of years, they have sealed their place in our closets. All hail the mighty scarf! So versatile, so timeless. There to warm our necks when we're cold, cover our heads when it's raining, accessorize our spring dresses, or choke out our boyfriends when they're getting on our nerves. So add another one to your collection with these fun unique styles, like this Diane von Furstenberg Dawn leopard scarf, $165. May the scarf live on year round and for eternity!

2011 top fashion weeks around the world

From Paris to New York to Tokyo: Here's a roundup of the top fashion weeks scheduled for 2011.

Men's ready-to-wear A/W 2011/2012
January/February
International

The fall/winter 2011/12 collections will be showcased in European fashion capitals, with Milan starting the presentations (January 15-19), followed by Paris (January 20-23). London Fashion Week, which presents women's and men's collections during the same period, will run from February 18-23. In New York, men's and women's ranges will be shown alongside each other from February 10-17.

Hong Kong Fashion Week A/W 2011/2012
January 17 - 20
Hong Kong

As the largest annual fashion industry gathering in Asia, the fair hosted over 1,700 exhibitors from 24 countries and drew more than 21,000 buyers from 92 countries in 2010. The event has steadily expanded its World Boutique section, which showcases designer labels from the U.S. and Europe. Various collections including women's wear, men's wear, children's wear, sportswear, lingerie, swimwear, evening wear, as well as fashion accessories, shoes and costume jewelry will once again be presented during Hong Kong Fashion Week.
http://hkfashionweekfw.hktdc.com/

Berlin Fashion Week A/W 2011/2012
January 19-22
Berlin, Germany

Germany's most progressive couturiers, including Kilian Kerner, Lala Berlin, Patrick Mohr, Perret Schaad, and Anja Gockel will showcase their collections during the 8th Mercedes-Benz Berlin Fashion Week, which will run concurrently with the capital's biggest street and urbanwear fair Bread & Butter (January 19-21).
http://www.mercedes-benzfashionweek.com/

New York Fashion Week S/S 2011/12
September 8-15
New York, US

The biggest American designers, such as Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren, will show alongside fresh talent, including Prabal Gurung and Alexander Wang, when the Big Apple kicks off fall's fashion month.
http://newyork.mbfashionweek.com/

Tokyo Fashion Week S/S 2011/12
September 17-21
Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo's Fashion Week wraps up the global fashion presentations and runway shows for the S/S 2012 season.
http://www.jfw.jp/

Artworld Gift Guide for the Holidays

Contemporary art is the world's newest social and economic currency. Culture and art have become luxury products merchandised and promoted around the globe like handbags and Italian loafers. With the internet enabling us to study, discuss and experience art in ways not imagined before, artists work across medium and disciplines. Painters become film makers. Photographers become sculptors. Actors become performance artists.

Indeed, contemporary art has become the cultural fabric and language of the world we inhabit, a rich landscape of creativity, choice and innovation.

Art is more accessible, more integrated in our lives and more utilitarian than ever before in history. What's best is that everyone can now buy real art made by recognized contemporary masters for modest prices. With works priced from $30 to $5000, this year's Artworld Gift Guide for the Holidays brings affordable and near-affordable works from some of the world's greatest contemporary art legends.

Coco Chanel's Best Fashion Designs Still in Style Today

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was one of the most influential fashion designers in the 20th century. Her designs freed women of long skirts and intolerable corsets that dominated fashions for decades. Coco Chanel's clothes were known for their comfort because they were often made of jersey, a fabric usually reserved for making men's underwear. Coco herself said, "Fashion fades; only style remains the same." Her words have proved true over 80 years later as Coco Chanel's timeless fashions are still going strong.

The Little Black Dress

Coco Chanel introduced her little black dress in 1926, a time when black was only worn for funerals and periods of mourning. American Vogue compared it to the hard-working Model T Ford, and ran a sketch of Coco Chanel's little black dress in their October 1926 issue. The original Chanel black dress was made of crepe de chine and featured long sleeves, a straight, knee-length skirt, and pin-tucks adorning the waist. Appeal for Coco Chanel's little black dress quickly grew because of its simple yet elegant design, and its ability for it to be dressed up or down. Now the little black dress is considered a staple in every woman's fashion wardrobe. Famous women like Princess Diana and Nicole Kidman are wearers of Coco Chanel's little black dress.

The Classic Chanel Suit

1925 brought the unveiling of Coco Chanel's signature suit, with straight lines, a boxy collarless jacket adorned with subtle trim, and a matching knee-length skirt. It was based on the design of a man's suit but with feminine details. Coco Chanel was known for using easily affordable fabrics, so her signature suit was made in tweed. Nowadays, Chanel customers can obtain a ready-to-wear Chanel suit, or have a suit custom-made in a variety of fabrics and colors.

The Sailor Striped Top and Bell Bottom Pants

Again, Coco Chanel broke all the fashion rules of the time and became famous for being the first woman to wear pants. This was legendary for this French designer because in 1799, Paris had actually passed a law banning

 
 women for wearing pants. Her first pants outfit was a blue and white striped sailor top and bell bottom pants, said to be inspired by the sailors that Coco Chanel saw in the French Navy.

Even though Coco Chanel died in 1971, the Chanel name carries on as one of the top selling fashion brands in the world. The latest Chanel designs can be viewed on their website.

Study finds people with moles may age better

It turns out that Marilyn Monroe and Cindy Crawford's moles may be worth more than their aesthetic value alone: a study presented in November shows that people with moles age slower and can appear up to seven years younger than their peers.

A study conducted by researchers at Kings College London that was first published in the Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Journal was presented last month to a group of doctors and scientists at the UK's Royal Society of Medicine Conference.

Scientists found that an abundance of beauty marks is correlated with stronger bones, firmer muscles, a healthier heart and eyes, fewer wrinkles, and even a nearly 50 percent reduction in the risk of osteoporosis. Scientists say the link stems from the fact that people with moles have longer telomeres - the region of DNA found at the end of every chromosome that serves as a plastic cap to keep chromosomes from unraveling and mutating.

As humans age, their telomeres naturally shrink. Shortened telomeres are responsible for causing all types of conditions associated with aging including wrinkles, hair thinning, arthritis, weight gain and loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, vision and hearing loss.

But in spite of these results, preserving your telomere length has to do with more than just possessing beauty marks. Other factors such as a poor diet, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity and psychological stress can also cause your telomeres to shorten faster than natural cell division alone. Meanwhile, exercising has been linked to longer telomeres.

Suddenly, heaping on mismatched layers in a bid to stay warm has become a look

When the weather gets cold it's tempting to give up on fashion and dress like a farmer by slinging on a heavy wool coat, an oversized knit, and hiking boots with chunky walking socks. The good news is that with a few essential tweaks, something not far off this look is actually very much on-trend.

Naturally, said twists are critical in order to avoid looking like an extra from Last of the Summer Wine or a yummy mummy at an urban farmers' market in her 'rus in urbe' uniform of Barbour and Hunters. The key to pulling off the country look is embracing the artful eccentricity (see Topshop Unique, below) and cosy fabrics the British are renowned for, exemplified by the Mitford sisters in sensible heavy wool skirts and great coats, and by model Stella Tennant wearing tweeds and Fair Isle knits in a shoot for November's US Vogue. Then give it a modern twist with some mismatched layering and unexpected proportions.

For a start, try layering different textures and masculine and feminine influences to keep the look fresh. Instead of teaming jumpers with skinny jeans, try a shortish cable knit with a knee- or ankle-length tube skirt or a chiffon maxi, worn with flat boots. Hiking-inspired boots with a heel will make skinny jeans more interesting, especially with some chunky wool ankle socks.

When it comes to woollies, texture is key. Cashmere never goes out of fashion but chunky home-knitted finishes such as moss or garter stitch have the edge this season. The British company Grannies Inc (granniesinc.co.uk) employs nimble-fingered grannies to knit accessories to order, while another company supporting the knitwear industry, and employing 'grannies', is The North Circular (thenorthcircular.com). For a bit of definition with an oversized cardigan or masculine tweed coat, simply put one of this season's skinny belts over the top, as seen at Prada, or for a more casual look, and one that's taken hold among the fashion crowd, buckle the belt, then knot it once. Suddenly, heaping on mismatched layers in a bid to stay warm becomes a look.

Western brands to cater to emerging markets

An increasing number of Western brands will launch new products or even new brands dedicated to consumers in emerging markets in 2011, according to the London-based trend-spotting firm Trendwatching.com.

Brazilian, Indian, and particularly Chinese consumers can expect to see more products next year that are specifically tailored to their needs, wants and desires, either for practical reasons (shape, size, features) or because of the deep-rooted desire for recognition (cultural pride, heritage, lifestyles).

The "made for China" trend is fueled by the astounding growth in the region. China is now forecast to become the world's top buyer of luxury goods by 2015, according to consulting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers. And according to figures released in June 2010 by the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales in the country rose 18.7% year on year to USD $183 billion in May 2010, following a 15.2% rise the previous year.

A study published by consulting firm McKinsey in September 2010 showed that affluent Chinese consumers prefer foreign brands: 52% of consumers whose annual income exceeds RMB 250,000 (USD 36,765) trust foreign brands more than Chinese ones while only 37% said they prefer homegrown labels. Now global companies are looking to strike the perfect balance between preserving their brand identity and tailoring their products to local tastes.

Some Western companies who have taken on the bet include French luxury house Hermès, whose recently launched Chinese brand Shang Xia sells ready-to-wear fashion, tableware, and home furnishings inspired by Chinese culture; US denim maker Levi's dENIZEN jeans brand, which is specifically tailored to fit Chinese consumers since they have narrower hips, smaller bottoms and shorter legs than Americans; and last but not least, Cartier - the number one luxury jewelry brand in China - whose new Panther de Cartier collection is crafted in jade, diamonds and jadeite and expected to be a hit on the Mainland since Chinese consider jade an auspicious stone.

Watchmaker Omega opens store in St. Johns Town Center

Swiss watchmaker Omega has added another luxury product line to the St. Johns Town Center when it opened the newest of its company-owned retail stores there on Friday.

The store exclusively offers the company's entire product line, including items that can only be found at an Omega location.

Aside from an assortment of men's and women's watch collections, the 162-year-old watchmaker also features leather products, jewelry and fragrance lines. The price tag on a standard-model Omega watch begins at about $2,500.

The 2,000-square-foot store is located in the southern portion of the shopping complexes on River City Drive between Juicy Couture and BCBGeneration.

The new Jacksonville location comes as part a wave of Omega retail store openings throughout the country, marking its initial retail presence in the U.S.

Nine stores are in the process of opening before the end of the year in locations such as Chicago and New York City's Manhattan borough. A total of 20 more are slated to open across the country in 2011, according to a company press release.

Omega's presence in the St. Johns Town Center adds to a list of luxury product makers that have come to Jacksonville's retail mega-complex. Tiffany & Co. is set to open a store in the town center on Dec. 10, adding to an upscale presence that includes names like Louis Vuitton, Coach and Cole Haan.

London fashion honours new stars – and some old ones

There was only one label to be seen in at last night's British Fashion Awards and it's a name that was at the heart of the event. Lee Alexander McQueen, who died last February, was London's brightest talent and guests were arrayed in some of the brand's most flamboyant creations as they gathered at The Savoy for the ceremony.

McQueen's label took the award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design, which was presented by the Prime Minister's wife Samantha Cameron and collected by his long-term assistant and current creative director Sarah Burton. "I was privileged to work with Lee for 15 years and I have never met such a brave and inspiring person," she said. "He will always be missed."

The other winners were proof that McQueen's single-minded spirit lives on. Designer of the Year, handed over by Bianca Jagger, went to Phoebe Philo, the woman behind the success story at French house Céline, whose clean and minimal collections since her appointment in 2008 have reinvigorated not only the label itself but also the wider scene. Philo, like McQueen, is a graduate of London's Central St Martins and was Creative Director at Chloé. She has spearheaded a movement towards quiet, luxurious clothing and easy feminine tailoring, which has put Céline at the forefront of the industry.

Similarly stylist Nicola Formichetti, who won the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, has re-imagined modern fashion with his work for Lady Gaga; it is thanks to him that the singer, when not wearing Argentinian beef steaks as a dress, often turns to young British designers for her surreal, headline-grabbing garb. Recently appointed Creative Director at Thierry Mugler, Formichetti is another Brit exporting his own radical version of cool to the rest of the fashion world.

Other famous faces included Alexa Chung, who secured the British Style award in a public vote. "It's an honour to represent British style," she said. Dutch-born Lara Stone won Model of the Year; she may not be British, but she married David Walliams in May, which makes her an honorary citizen at least. "Hopefully it will give me more recognition outside the industry," she quipped in her acceptance speech, "because usually when I walk down the street with my husband, people think I'm Matt Lucas."

Naomi Campbell won the Special Recognition award in honour of her 25-year career in the industry, and was tearful in a jewelled black chiffon and velvet McQueen gown. "It's overwhelming to be in your own country and to receive such an award," she said. "To be the first black model on the cover of Time and French Vogue is a huge step."

The Emerging Talent Awards went to design duo Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff for their ready-to-wear label Meadham Kirchhoff, and to jeweller Husam El-Odeh for his accessories. Neither are obviously accessible choices, but both are imaginative labels with creative potential and corporate savviness: El-Odeh works with cult Swedish brand Acne, and Meadham Kirchhoff is part of Topshop's designer collaboration scheme.

Nicholas Kirkwood won the Accessory Designer award for his futuristic, sculpted high heels, which landed him the role of creative director at Pollini. Patrick Grant was named Menswear Designer for his relaunch of extinct Savile Row institution E Tautz, Winston Churchill's outfitters of choice, as a cutting edge ready-to-wear range. There were gongs for bigger brands too – leather goods label Mulberry received the Designer Brand award, while Burberry won the award for Digital Innovation. The label streams its catwalk shows online and gave viewers the chance to order as they watched.

James Bond Wears Omega Watch In 007: Blood Stone Video Game

While this is not exactly a surprise, it is pretty neat. James Bond has been wearing an Omega watch for a long time (since maybe 1995). The brand was able to usurp Rolex - as was the watch chosen by Ian Flemming originally. In the upcoming James Bond 007: Blood Stone video game, the digitized version of the Daniel Craig will wear a prominent Omega Seamaster Professional Ref. 22005000 watch. It is part of the Planet Ocean collection and has a retail price of $3,950. I believe that this is the same watch he wore in one of the recent movies. Perhaps Quantum of Solace.

The watch is a good look for Band (and anyone really), and is thankfully not one of the branded limited edition models made for the fact that 007 wears an Omega. The Seamsater Pro is a 45.5mm wide model and funny enough looks smaller on the digital character's wrist than it should given the size of the case. Unless I missed something and Daniel Craig has massive wrists. So imagine you have never seen the watch, play the game, and then go check one one out! You'd feel a bit puny. But they are are always the 42mm wide Seamaster versions for ya.

I like that Omega and Activision (the game publisher) decided to go with this model. Not complex, holds a lot of Omega DNA, and also looks good in pixels. Do you think the one in the game shoots lasers as well? One can hope so. The watch is on Bond's character the entire game, and feels like a natural form of product placement. At the same time, the developers modeled the watch to be highly detailed - meaning it was not just part of the character but something Omega specifically sponsored. I also have a feeling that James Bond will always see the watch as reading 10:10. Otherwise for graphical performance purposes the watch on the wrist would be much more simple for all but in-game scripted scenes.

 

Lee Holmes has the lowdown on looking sharp in black tie

To tie or not to tie your bow tie, that is the question.

Starting from scratch and looping the fabric to form a bow may look simple, but in fact requires considerable sartorial acumen. While there's no shame in selecting the pre-tied option, make sure that it doesn't look too neat – a certain amount of ruffled insouciance is attractive. Fabric wise, there's a huge amount of choice, from cotton to silk, satin to velvet and even patterned like this polka-dot version from Alexander Boyd. Although bow ties seem to be getting bigger and floppier – think Alber Elbaz at Lanvin's signature style – this is not a look that will suit everybody and must therefore be handled with care.

Dress shirts

The best advice in this instance is to avoid wing collars like the proverbial plague as they allude to last-minute shopping and – worse – a rented tuxedo. The shirt should be white and ruffle free – any colour or superfluous embellishment is more Elvis does Las Vegas than modern metropolitan man.

Tuxedo jacket and trousers

As a general rule the jacket should be single breasted. Double-breasted tuxedos may be a trend that's spot-on for now, but the single-breasted variety is a timeless classic. Black is the traditional colour but midnight blue is an inspired twist. Those on a budget might invest in this brilliant version from Burton. White tuxedos are worn in warm climates, so unless cocktails at Raffles are on the agenda they are best avoided.

When it comes to lapels, they are currently wider, evoking old-school Hollywood glamour, but for a timeless style stick to a shawl collar. Trousers should always be plain, not patterned, although a satin trim down the length of the leg is acceptable. Pleat-front trousers, however, are not. Difficult to wear at the best of times for all but the snake hipped, they should never be worn at a dinner dance. As for turn-ups? Not even if your life depended on it.

Shoes

If it's your dream at this time of year to float around a dance floor like Fred Astaire, then by all means wear a patent leather lace-up with your tuxedo. However, a black calfskin version will do the job just as well. This pair from ASOS are a wise investment and when the party season is over you can always wear them with jeans.

Accessories

Most dress shirts require cufflinks and it's here that sparkle or colour can be added to what is essentially a monochrome look. A timeless silver cufflink is always the safest option, however. And what of the much-maligned cummerbund? Tuxedos look more contemporary without them, but for those who insist on wearing one, the pleats should be facing upwards – which is not only the correct way, but also provides the perfect hideaway for any raffle tickets.

And finally...

Only ever wear a tuxedo when the invitation specifies that you should. Arriving at an event and being the only man present in black tie, is among the most serious of fashion faux pas. Being mistaken for the maitre d' is not what any man about town is looking for, after all.

Frock around the clock

In the early 1990s, my party dress was a black lace Anna Sui tutu, writes Lucinda Rosenfeld. I’d found it on the floor at that mecca of all things brand-named and heavily discounted (and frequently ripped): Century 21. It had a flaring tulle skirt that ended at crotch level, a maillot-like top, and only one egregious pulled thread. It was part early Madonna, part Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, with a generous helping of Margot Fonteyn in Swan Lake. In keeping with the style at the time, I paired it with black suede clunky-heeled Mary Janes. I can still see myself wearing it at a soirée for a semi-obscure literary magazine, raving about David Foster Wallace’s cruise ship essay in Harper’s to some goateed aspiring novelist, pulling on my Rothman cigarette – and wondering who encapsulated the ethos of “downtown” more fully than I. By 30, however, I’d decided the dress was too young and jejune for the new grown-up, worldly-wise me.

Fast forward six months to New Year’s eve 2000. The latest boyfriend (and later my husband) had broken up with me a few months before but now he wanted me back. Fine, I’d told him. But he certainly wasn’t going to be invited at the last minute to the elegant dinner and birthday party I’d spent weeks planning and preparing for with my gay boyfriend B (I was born on the last day of the 1960s). What’s more, we’d already worked out the seating arrangement, as well as the boy-girl ratio, and Gay Boyfriend wasn’t the type who was going to be OK with an extra place setting being squeezed on to the end. He’d already informed a friend’s new boyfriend that he wasn’t welcome without a suit jacket.

I would, however, permit Now Husband to buy me a birthday drink beforehand, and then drive me to the out-of-the-way Upper West Side location where, in a relative’s empty penthouse (we were still the poor relations), B and I were throwing our party.

There was only one problem: where was I going to find the fortitude after two glasses of champagne to tell Now Husband that he couldn’t come up in the elevator with me? I knew that he had no other early-evening plans. But the man I eventually married can smell a party like those airport sniffer dogs can smell raw fruit. What kind of dress would give me the strength to slip away at the right moment?

A slip dress, naturally. Mine was a pale pink silk number with line drawings of flowers and tiny bows on each of the spaghetti straps. I can’t say for sure when I stopped feeling comfortable walking out of the house in underwear but, on my 31st birthday, I apparently had few qualms. I still remember pulling the dress off the rack and thinking it was the epitome of sensual delectability. At the same time, perhaps on account of its warm hue and floral accents, there was something sweet and even cheerful about it that saved it from being too vampy.

In fact, I felt positively slinky in that thing, that night – so slinky, in fact, that despite the sad face and many entreaties, I managed to slink out of Now Husband’s car on the corner of Broadway and 79th, and not look backwards. At least not for a few hours. (I married him five years later.) In that manner I think I finally made my point about not being taken for granted. Though part of the credit is clearly due to designer Tracy Reese. Moral of the story: never underestimate the need for a good party dress. Though for my 41st birthday this new year’s, I plan to shop for something a little more modest.

When most people think of the fashion scene in Virginia Beach they might think of Akademiks

When most people think of the fashion scene in Virginia Beach they might think of Akademiks', which was founded by Emmett Harrell , a native of the area, or the two labels started by Pharrell Williams,

Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream. There are many stores based in this area such as CREAM in Norfolk that are unique to this region that offer high-end urbanwear you would not find at a department store. Yet the average person does not realize that the metropolitan area of Virginia Beach includes six other cities, likewise, the area has a fashion scene that goes beyond hip-hop/urban fashion.

Portsmouth, VA is one of the cities in Virginia in where you can see the future of fashion in this region. RicLamar Clothing, a Christian owned company founded by Kendric Brown and Katrina Brown, mixes traditional dressmaking techniques with abstract couture ideas to deliver a unique interpretation of what a woman out on the town would wear; this label can be found at Linda's Especially For You in Portsmouth Virginia. It is unlike anything I have seen before as the designers take an aggressive approach in their use of color but have created clothing that is still elegant and flattering on any woman that puts it on. It is hard to categorize or put in a box, which is exactly the point. I was able to catch up with Mr. Brown to ask him a few questions about the catalyst for the label and his design ethos.

CHRISTOPHER KENDALLS: The first thing one notices when they visit RicLamar.com which is reinforced on the "About Us" link is the fact that this label is Christian owned. Tag lines such as "The Runway Is Out Pulpit" convey the message, but how do you feel the collections minister to the women that wear the clothing and those they come into contact with?

A festival for shoppers with stout wallets

Shoppers attending a humble furniture fair made a hasty exit when they accidentally stumbled into an adjacent luxury goods festival - the most opulent of its kind held in the country.

While the first day of the Luxury Festival at Impact Muang Thong Thani stadium drew its fair share of interested customers yesterday, some who had turned up for a nearby furniture fair and strayed into the "rich man's zone" looked stunned.

They left just as quickly as they arrived.

Organisers say that's a shame, because the festival is drawing its fair share of onlookers, not merely those with wallets fat enough to buy the high-end goods on display.

The festival has taken over Hall 8 at the stadium where luxury goods as diverse as brand watches, high-end mobile phones, yachts, helicopters, and personal jets are on sale, for rent, or display.

The festival, being held for the first time in Thailand, drew more than 6,000 visitors yesterday, said Wachira Jitsakdanon, managing director of Home Show Co, a co-organiser of the event.

One booth that offers personal plane services for businessmen travelling domestically and internationally drew many enthusiasts.

"Even state officials and politicians visit us to ask for details," said Sathien Kerd-arunsri, managing director of Innovative Pro Co, which runs the booth. An eight-seater domestic jet can be hired for 750,000 baht to 3 million baht a flight, while the services of a 12 to 15 seater international jet go for 3 million baht to 20 million baht a flight.

HIGH-END ON HIGH SEAS: A yacht named Princess, priced about 64.45 million baht, is one of the highlights of the Luxury Festival.

The company also offers helicopter flights from Don Mueang airport to the ancient city in Samut Prakan and the Gulf of Thailand. A half-hour trip costs 200,000 baht. "We have special promotions at the festival too," Mr Sathien said. "If customers buy 15 hours in the helicopter, we'll give them a discount from 3 million baht to 2.25 million baht," he added.

A booth selling wristwatches was also popular. Shoppers admired a Swiss-made Tag Heuer Monaco V4, worth 3.2 million baht. "Today most people were asking for details and looking around, though a few tried negotiating bargains," Ms Wachira said.

Luxury goods in this extreme price range are rarely displayed in fairs or exhibitions in Thailand. Organisers hope to stimulate consumption among the upper class. The event runs until next Sunday. Ms Wachira expects it will draw up to 100,000 visitors and inject 100 million baht into the local economy.