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 Valentino Garavani: Italy's Top DesignerThere isn't a lady of luxury anywhere in the world whose wish-list doesn't comprise an evening gown by him.Couturier Valentino Garavani is Italy's most famous designer, his popularity rivalled only by the Pope. And for this year's Festa Italiana, the annual cultural festival put together by the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce, Valentino is sending down his latest fashion collection (including his favourite red dresses). Valentino's show will be staged at the beautiful environs of the 200-year-old Asiatic Society in Mumbai, on December 5, and at New Delhi's Purana Qila on December 8. 'I love India and have been there many times, but this time I had previous commitments I could not possibly postpone,' says the 72-year-old designer in an exclusive email interview. 'A catwalk show is the most powerful and emotionally involving way of presenting my work.' The maker of elegant and glamourous clothes is quite the traditionalist. 'India's heritage is one of the most fascinating and inspirational of all,' he says. 'My 2002 haute couture collection was entirely inspired by India. But there have always been Indian themes running through all my collections. It's definitely a reference for my idea of beauty and grace.' Though he claims to not follow Indian fashion or other designers, Valentino says India should not fall p more www.exp... (1,467) added by Levent OZLER |
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 Clothes Make The Desperate HousewifeDressing the main characters for a hit TV show is a dream for any designer. But when the show is "Desperate Housewives," it's especially delicious.That's because costume designer Cate Adair has five distinctive women to clothe in the ABC show (9 p.m. Sundays, WRTV ). The women who live on Wisteria Lane include Lynette, a former career woman with four children under the age of 6; Bree, a perfectionist with a crumbling marriage; Susan, a divorced single mom and world-class klutz; Gabrielle, a former runway model who married for money and seeks solace in the arms of the lawn boy; and serial divorcee Edie. As they try to unravel the mysterious suicide of their best friend, who is the show's narrator, the women cope with marital strife, misbehaving children and menacing neighbors in a merry-go-round of fashion styles. From a fashion point of view, no show has gotten this much buzz since "Sex and the City." But the "Desperate" stars are much more varied -- and much less daring -- in their clothing tastes than Carrie Bradshaw & Co. The female leads typically have between five and 12 costume changes in each show, so Adair and her staff of nine stay busy. She already has filled two 50-foot trailers and several storage facilities with clothes, and the season isn't half over. The design team scours big department stores more www.ind... (365) added by Levent OZLER |
 47th Annual Ebony Fashion FairCrave a fashion fix but lost your invitation to the 2005 Ready-To-Wear show in Paris?No problem. Just keep Wednesday open: Couture is on its way. Thanks to the Ladies Civic League, the 47th Annual Ebony Fashion Fair will once again combine high fashion and a good cause — all for a $20 ticket and two hours of time. "I believe in the show. I think it's wonderful," said Sabrena Emmett, a league member who's on the fashion show committee. "This year is the 47th — I think I've been to 23." The show's appearance raises money for the league's philanthropy: scholarships for African-American students in Springfield. "Our basic mission is to encourage minority youth to reach their educational potential," said Carlene Ferguson, league member and show committee chairperson. "Our motto: Education is our business," she said. The Ladies Civic League began with a group of minority women who joined together in 1986 as Springfield's Ladies of the '80s. "I guess we weren't looking into the future," joked Ferguson about the original name. The group's first focus was to raise money for the United Negro College Fund. "And then we realized if we could raise funds, why not raise funds for the kids in Springfield," explained Ferguson, a charter member. After a few more name changes, the organization settled on Ladies C more www.new... (137) added by Levent OZLER |
 Extreme Textiles : Designing for High PerformanceIn spring 2005, Cooper Hewitt will present "Extreme Textiles: Designing for High Performance,"; the first museum exhibition devoted to the subject of technical textiles highly engineered materials designed for ultimate performance in extreme conditions.The exhibition, curated by Matilda McQuaid, Exhibitions Curator and Head of Cooper-Hewitt's Textiles department, will present over 150 extreme textile applications from a wide range of areas, including architecture, apparel, medicine, transportation, aerospace, and the environment. On view April 8, 2005 through Jan. 15, 2006, the exhibition will examine the broad spectrum of contemporary design through the lens of textile fibers and structures. "Extreme Textiles: Designing for High Performance" was organized by the Smithsonian Institution' s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Target is the lead sponsor of the exhibition. "The goal of this exhibition is to reveal the incredible breadth of areas in which textiles are being used, and to provide inspiration for new approaches to design," says McQuaid. "In addition, the exhibition will share the intrinsic beauty of technical textiles and acknowledge the enormous influence they have in our lives." The objects featured in the exhibition will be organized in terms of their high-performance characteristics more Extreme Textiles : Designing for High Performance added by Levent OZLER |
 Stores Have Designs on High Fashion GadgetsSome of the biggest fashion trends at department stores this holiday season have more to do with MP3 players than cashmere ponchos or fur-trimmed sweaters.With high-tech gadgets at the top of many holiday wish lists, department stores such as Marshall Field's, Macy's and Bloomingdale's have stocked up on such items as $299 iPod music players, $700 pink cell phones, and $300 digital cameras. It's a step backward for the big stores. Ten years ago, fearing competition from such stores as Best Buy and Wal-Mart, they abandoned electronics to focus on fashion. "It's a recognition that these new electronics have become the must-haves as opposed to a new sweater," said Wendy Liebmann, president of WSL Strategic Retail. May Department Stores has quadrupled its electronics offerings this season from a year ago at its Marshall Field's, Hecht's and Robinson-May stores. Meanwhile, Bloomingdale's has increased its electronics offerings by 30 percent from a year ago with digital cameras, camcorders and miniature iPods. Stores also are focusing on special, limited distribution items. Bloomingdale's, for example, has an exclusive deal with hip-hop fashion company Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons to sell a collection of cell phones, including a $699 diamond-studded hot pink Motorola version. more www.sun... (297) added by Senay TOPCUOGLU |
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