Madonna to front new Dolce and Gabbana campaign

Madonna will front the new campaign for Dolce and Gabbana, it has been confirmed.

Speculation had been rife the 51-year-old singer would be the face of the Italian duo's autumn/winter 2010 womenswear range, following the success of her adverts for the fashion house last year, and now Stefano Gabbana has spoken of his excitement.

He tweeted: "Madonna.....she's always the BEST!!!! I'm going on the set of the woman campaign... The shooting is going very well!!!!...She's beautiful....Love this!!! (sic)."

Speaking from the campaign's headquarters in New York, he added: "A lot of paparazzi during the shooting!!! (sic)."

Madonna's favourite photographer, Steven Klein, is thought to be shooting the adverts.

As well as appearing in last year's campaign, it was recently revealed she is to design a collection of sunglasses which bear the letter 'M' on the arm.

Gabbana said: "We're so excited. This further strengthens our relationship with Madonna, and it was a very constructive experience for us. She is very exacting and a professional who seeks perfection in everything she does, and this was no exception."

Madonna will also star in the advertising images for the eyewear line, which were shot by Klein and will be released next month to coincide with the launch.
Source:3news

Banana Republic Fall 2010 show in New York

Model walks runway at the Banana Republic Fall 2010 show in New York on Thursday, April 22, 2010

Stuck in a snowdrift, but still need to show up to work looking chic? Here's an idea from Banana Republic, courtesy of their Fall and Holiday 2010 collections, shown in New York on Thursday, April 22: Go ahead and mix up your suit with your hiking socks and boots, or throw on a pair skinny corduroy leggings underneath that silk dress. It's the blended beverage theory of dressing: a healthy mix of fresh ingredients, with a few dry staples as well.

"We have a re-invention of the modern wardrobe with that whole mix of what you need to work, to play, what you need to go out on a date," said Simon Kneen, Banana Republic's creative director and EVP of design. "Formal mixed with sportswear, mixed with casual, mixed with dressy."

For women, that meant a dressy boucle jacket paired with a utilitarian, everyday cargo skirt, or a military-inspired cardigan layered over a slinky silk blouse. And pants were skinny, whether in stretchy wools, denims or corduroy, the better to tuck into clog boots or contrast with a chunky heeled oxford.

"The skinny leg is definitely important with that big volume on top, whether through layering, like a jacket with the cardigan," explained Kneen.

For men, the mix included classic blazers worn over cargo pants or sport coats worn over denim, and boots with worn with everything, with pants legs tucked into thick socks.

"Quintessential modern pieces, but mixed in a modern way," said Kneen.

To drive home the mixed up aesthetic, Banana Republic opted to present both the Fall and Holiday collections in the same runway show, instead of showing the Holiday later in a separate presentation as in season's past.

"Holiday is a very big moment for any retail business, so for us, it's an important one to recognize," said Kneen. "And we're just so in love with the collection this year, that we thought it was worth getting out on the runway."

The Holiday collection this season, meant a trip to the Himalayas for inspiration, which showed up in a range of thick sweaters in soft heather grays and vegetable colors.

"The region is made up of so many different cultures that come together," said Kneen. "Ancient and modern together, which we're loving."

Latest Fashion Trends 2010 - Best round frames Sunglasses

Latest Fashion Trends  2010 Best round frames Sunglasses: Square sunnies? So last decade. This summer, it's all about circular frames - and the rounder the better.

Amber Le Bon (centre) has been taking notes with her Yoko Ono-esque pair, neatly sidestepping the dippy-hippie look by wearing it with a tough biker jacket and ubiquitous check shirt. Proving she's way ahead of the fashion pack, Lady Gaga (right) has been rocking hers since 2008, while Chloe Sevigny, another fashion-forward dresser, (left) dons some squoval retro specs to a polo match last May in New York. Feeling inspired? Check out our gallery of the best round frames and make the most of the glorious sunshin.

Latest photos of round frames Sunglasses for 2010:
These bright white pair have a touch of Riviera cool £10

Classic black equals Audrey Hepburn-chic £250,Cutler & Gross at Milletre

Rich browns and blue lens jazz up these by Cutler & Gross £250, Cutler & Gross at net-a-porter.com

If round is too much, opt for these easier-to-wear squoval frames £79

The subtle curves...the tortoise-shell print...we like this lots £29.90

Go oversized with Miss Selfridge's pair £10.

Go for a bold print and super-size the frames - if you dare £205

Chic marble and winged frame meet in these retro sunglasses £118, Retro Super Future at bunnyhug.co.uk

We like the quirky spotty print on these sunglasses £16

Mary-Kate Olsen is surgically attached to her round frames from Chanel - no surprise she has designed these with her sister, Ashley, for their clothing label, The Row £179

The Gucci pop-up store lands in London

Music producer Mark Ronson and Gucci's Frida Giannini (centre) collaborated on a limited edition of trainers for the pop-up store. Nick Rhodes (far left) and Simon Le Bon, made a surprise appearance on stage with Ronson?s band, Chauffeur.

Volcanic ash could not keep Frida Giannini, Gucci's creative director, away from London and the after-party she hosted with Jefferson Hack at Ronnie Scott’s last night.

Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes made a surprise appearance on stage with Mark Ronson’s band, Chauffeur.

Friendly Fires also did a short gig, and the mainly film-fashion crowd included Poppy Delevigne, Jonny Borrell, Bryan Ferry, Dominic Cooper, Bonnie Wright, Pam Hogg, Margo Stilley, The Misshapes, and the PPQ designers, Percy Parker and Amy Molyneux.

The party celebrated the opening of the Gucci Icon-Temporary, the pop-up store in Covent Garden, for which Ronson and Giannini collaborated on a limited edition collection of trainers, starting in price from £395.

Gucci icon pop-ups first opened in New York in October, followed by Miami in December and, now, London. Tokyo follows in June.

Juicy Couture hires hip designer Erin Fetherston

Juicy Couture hires hip designer Erin Fetherston: The New York-based designer has been appointed creative consultant of the brand famed for its velour tracksuits.

Juicy Couture, the American clothing label that made tracksuits sexy, has hired the hip, New York-based designer, Erin Fetherston as its creative consultant and guest designer.

One of Fetherston’s first projects will be to reinvent the label’s iconic low-slung, drawstring trackie-pants and zippered, hooded top, which came in pastel-toned velour, fleece or cashmere, and even drew Madonna as a fan. The tracksuit celebrates its 10th birthday next year.

Fetherston, a tall, model-like blonde, who grew up in California, graduated with a BA from Berkeley, and then headed for France, where she studied fashion for three years at Parsons School of Design Paris She launched her own line there in January 2005, before relocating to New York, where she is regarded as one of the city’s bright young stars.

Championed by the photographer Ellen Von Unwerth, the celebrity crowd who love her naughty-but-nice, boudoir-romantic signature, in organza and chiffon, include Kirsten Dunst, Cameron Diaz, Winona Ryder, Zooey Deschanel, and Anne Hathaway.

Fetherston, who will continue to work on her own collections, will begin her collaboration with Juicy Couture next month and will be working with the team on the resort 2011 collections, and introducing a few "limited edition" pieces.

“We are delighted to partner with Erin Fetherston,” said Edgar Huber, president of Juicy Couture. “Not only is she a gifted designer with technical knowledge of fashion craftsmanship, but she has the California roots, trendsetting approach, and individual sense of style to make her an ideal partner for Juicy Couture. I’m confident that her vision will resonate with the millions of Juicy Couture fans across the globe.”

“This is an incredible opportunity,” said Fetherston. “It’s very impressive that Juicy Couture has become a global brand in such a short period of time. I’ve always related to its fun-loving and modern spirit and its distinct design point of view.”

Juicy Couture was founded by Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, the wife of Duran Duran’s John Taylor. Although initially famous for its tracksuits, which ultimately became a celebrity uniform, the brand has evolved and produces a full range of clothing and accessories, as well as perfumes. The company is now owned by Liz Claiborne. Its London store opened on Bruton Street, in the West End, last October.

Latest Eco Fashion and Style

•  something surreal: (Lara Miller Kelleigh Flip)

•  a decorated leg: (Stella McCartney)

 

* a (non)leather jacket: (BB Dakota Blanche Black Pleather Jacket)

    * something sexy: (Bgreen lacy legging)
    * something faux: (Mat & Nat Royksopp Purse)
    * something draped (Edun Uhuru Drape Dress)

a strong shouldered jacket: (Ajna 2009 Fall collection by Beryl Man)
 over-the-knee boots: (Stella McCartney’s Fall 2009 Fierce boots)
 color (Sublet Bianca Dress)
 something studded: (English Retread Small Beetle Purse)

De Beers Millennium blue vivid diamond beats pre-auction price

A De Beers Millennium Blue diamond exceeded pre-auction estimates when it sold for US$6.3 million (£4.1 million) at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong this week.

The 5.18ct fancy blue vivid diamond was the first of the De Beers Millennium Blue diamonds to go under the hammer since they were sold to private collectors at the turn of the century.

The diamond exceeded pre-auction estimates that had given the rock an estimated sale value of US$5.8 million (£3.8 million).

De Beers Diamond Institute president Andrew Coxon was the visionary behind the collection and personally selected the roughs and worked with Steinmetz to ensure that they were cut with maximum beauty.

Talking of the sale, Coxon said: “The timeless beauty of a De Beers selected Millennium Blue diamond will be remembered long after its near record-setting price has been forgotten. Personally, I wish I could have bought it back for De Beers, but professionally speaking, I sincerely congratulate the new owners and I am happy that the new owners appreciated this particular De Beers selected diamond.”

Japanese men shun shorts for skirts

Skirts are the surprising fashion trend in Tokyo this spring - all the more so because it is men who are wearing them.

Men wearing what is traditionally regarded as women's attire - ranging from miniskirts worn over jeans to longer, figure-hugging varieties worn with trainers or sandals - have become a regular sight in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, long regarded as being on the leading edge of Japanese fashion.

Japanese designer brand Comme des Garcons has had mild success with its range of skirts for men, as has Vivienne Westwood, although the choice is limited and the items are pricey for the average man who might be tempted to buy a skirt.

"We are finding that the majority of our customers are young men, in their 20s, who want to stand out," Naohiro Yamamoto, who works for venture clothing firm Zooee Corp., told Relaxnews.

"These are the sort of people who are bored with existing fashions, are desperate for a new 'look' and realize that they can be fashionable in a skirt," he said.

Zooee opened an online clothing shop - called Cross Gender - in February and Yamamoto says the company has been "very surprised" at the demand.

He declined to give a sales figure since the online store began dispatching orders, but confirmed that the venture was already reporting a profit.

Skirts designed for men range in price from Y4,980 (€39.85) to Y12,000 (€96) and many have been designed by Yamamoto, who is a keen skirt-wearer himself.

"I have eight skirts and I like to wear them on weekends and holidays," he said. "The first reactions from friends was that they actually looked much better than they had thought.

"There is this image that men who want to wear skirts must be into 'costume-play' - dressing up like characters from animated films or television shows - or that they want to be a woman, but then they see my fashion sense and have a better image of skirts," he said.

Zooee Corp. is planning to expand its range and offer men's skirts overseas, through its internet site in the near future.

Italian fashion Demand for coloured jewellery brand Ti Sento

Jewellery buyers are becoming bolder when selecting colourways, according to Italian fashion jewellery brand Ti Sento.


Ti Sento UK sales manager Judith Wade said she has noticed a shift in UK buying patterns, with retailers buying in a selection of colourways rather than favouring a single colour as has been the trend in past seasons. And feedback from retailers has been that shoppers are buying a selection of different colours of jewellery and then mixing and matching them together.

Wade said: “This season we are selling out of coral, turquoise, tortoiseshell and mother of pearl; there doesn’t seem to be a preference. Retailers are buying it all and consumers are buying it all.”

Wade said she was unsure of the reason behind the shift in buying behaviour, but said that it could be attributed to the warmer weather or a braver, less frugal consumer and retailer mindset as a result of the improving economy.

Latest Wedding Dress Skirt and Train Styles 2010

The variety of wedding dresses found online and in shops can be overwhelming. However, designers use certain style elements that a bride can hone in on for a look that flatters both her body and her personal style. Once she determines the style and details that she likes, the process of shopping can be more focused.

Wedding Gown Skirt Lengths

    * Ballerina – This is a full skirt that comes just above the ankles.
    * Full length or floor length – With this length, make certain that the toes of the shoes show. The back hem should be short enough that the heel of a shoe won’t get caught when stepping backwards.
    * High-low or intermission – The skirt is hemmed short in front, usually mid-calf, and angles to floor length in the back.
    * Mini – This skirt ends right above the knee (or shorter).
    * Street length – The hemline of this skirt covers the knees.
    * Tea length – Longer than street length, this ends a few inches below the knee or right above the ankle.

Bridal Dress Train Lengths

    * Sweep or brush – This train just brushes the floor or the top of the shoes. This doesn’t bustle well, a consideration for the reception and dancing.
    * Chapel – This train extends 3 ½ to 4 ½ feet from the hemline. The longer the train, the more embellishments may be called for.
    * Cathedral – The train extends nine feet from the waist.
    * Court – This train attaches at the shoulders with a separate piece of fabric and falls to the floor.
    * Detachable – This extra fabric attaches with hooks either around the waist, creating the feel of a long dress over a short dress, or it attaches at one point at the back.
    * Royal cathedral or monarch – Measured from the waist, this train can reach lengths up to 25 feet long.
    * Watteau – The additional fabric of the train attaches at the shoulders with pleated fabric that sweep into a train.

Wedding Dress Bustles

The bustle gives a new look to the dress at the reception. This can make the dress heavy to move in when dancing.

    * Floor length – The train is hidden underneath the dress creating an even hemline.
    * French – The hemline is picked up and attached to several ties, creating a two-layered scalloped effect.
    * Traditional – Symmetrical layers are formed in the back as the hem is brought up and attached to loops on the dress.
    * Wristband – Difficult to manage for hours at the reception, the train is attached to a loop that becomes a bracelet around one wrist.

Skirt Details

Have some details to the back of the dress because this is where guests’ attention will be focused during the ceremony. Consider bodices with details such as a halter neckline, a scooped back, or a strapless gown to add interest to the back of the skirt.

    * Bustle – See above.
    * Draping – Fullness is added to a slim skirt with extra fabric that is gathered at the side or back seam.
    * Flounce – This is a wide ruffle around the bottom of the skirt.
    * Petal – This is an overskirt in a different fabric.
    * Pleats – Fabric in an accordion-fold over all or part of the skirt.
    * Streamers – Strings or ties trailing down the back of the gown.
    * Tails – These panels extend behind the dress like a train.
    * Tiered – This skirt consists of fabric layers of various lengths.

Although the skirt (and train) of a wedding gown can provide the most dramatic detail at the ceremony, the bride should also consider the ease of movement she’ll have when it comes to moving around the reception hall, greeting guests, and dancing. Select a dress and veil that will be comfortable and easy to move in for several hours.

Stepping Gingerly Into the Heat - Shortage woman Clothes

This is the new economy, as they are often reminded, & there’s something mechanical & method about how people put themselves together for these first hot days. As I went around the city — Herald Square, the West Village, Union Square — I sensed that women were glad to be outside but not sure what to put on their feet. They were not ready for sandals or perhaps they had found some spring clothes they liked but not yet the right shoe.

In the elderly economy, a furnace blast of heat would have brought out the latest spring clothes. Fueled by massive spending, stores had the goods early, & three of the discombobulating aspects of spring dressing was how suddenly spiffed-up everything looked in New York, as if all the city’s doormen had hosed the sidewalks tidy of winter garments.

I thought a woman I saw in the West Village had the right idea. They had on a pair of slim linen shorts in a faded brick red with a white cotton shirt & a pair of laced-up espadrilles. I also saw a woman in a sleeveless, draped black cotton jersey dress with a sharp pair of toeless ankle boots with a modest heel.

So they were wearing knee-high boots, probably the same knocked-around pair they wore last week with a raincoat. You could imagine how they arrived at this choice. (Hey, we’ve all been there.) They had an adorable light-colored dress or cotton miniskirt they wanted to wear on a pretty day, but then they thought the familiar boots would be comfortable & spare them from looking excessively dressed for spring. So plenty of complications, so plenty of ugly boots.

In the park at Union Square, plenty of women were in shorts & baby-doll tops, in stripped-down mode, & I saw a quantity of women trying to make a beach tunic or a massive scarf work. Stripes, though plentiful, were looking passé.

There is no shortage of cotton jersey. At Macy’s, it was odd to leave the giddy flower show on the main floor & ride the escalators up to the crammed racks of denim & cotton jersey daubed with every kind of sparkle & ruffle — odd because the point of the displays appeared to be consume, consume! & not smell the flowers & enjoy.

Latest Handbag Styles and Types – Totes, Clutches, Satchels & Hobo Bags

Fashion doesn’t stop with dresses, blouses, skirts and slacks. Having the right handbag is just as important in a woman’s wardrobe as any other apparel item. It’s more than an accessory since it can be a signature piece or a fashion statement.

Since most women have multiple-layered lives, they own more than one handbag for the different roles they play. Moms of young children are likely to have a tote for carrying around an endless supply of snacks, books and toys. Young, twenty-something women are likely to have the bag de jour – whether it’s a cross-body satchel or hobo style bag. Business women may carry a satchel, tote or briefcase-style carryall.
Tote Style Handbag

The tote bag is typically square or rectangular shaped. It can be made in a variety of materials, including canvas, nylon, leather or any other durable fabric. It has an open top with handles that can be worn on the crook of the arm or shoulder.

Tote bags come in all price ranges, from discount to high-end designer. Some of the brands of tote bags include:

    * Juice Couture
    * Dolce & Gabbana
    * Mossimo
    * Michael Kors

Hobo Handbag

Hobo bags have unstructured, crescent shaped styling with a strap that can be worn over the shoulder. Sometimes the strap is adjustable. They may come with a zippered, snap or flap closure.

Men’s shoes - Andy Warhol’s Ferragamos

You can’t buy these shoes without knowing the story behind them. Sure, they’re elegant, in an Old World, spaghetti Bolognese, “Where’s Michael?” kind of way. “But what’s with those specks of paint?” someone might ask you. “What kind of an animal would paint while wearing full-grain Italian calfskin shoes?” Although there are many expensive men’s shoes that now bear his name, Salvatore Ferragamo (1898-1960) designed only one style for men in his lifetime, and you’re looking at it.


Andy Warhol owned a pair and, naturally, he painted in them. And then Warhol died. And then, in 2006, the Ferragamo family bought those paint-specked Warhol shoes at an auction. And now, authorized copies are available for $990 at the Ferragamo flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York.

Rubber Soles - Dr. Martens celebrate 50th anniversary

By the time Britain’s skinheads completed their devolution from hard-edged dandies to racist hooligans, their cherished Dr. Martens boots had gone viral. Before long, the list of D.M. devotees would span the length of the screw-up spectrum: “Mods, glams, punks, ska, psycho-hillbillies, grebos, Goths, industrialists, nu-metal, hardcore, straight-edge, grunge, Britpop” and on and on, says Martin Roach, D.M.’s de facto historian. Now, Dr. Martens is marking its 50th anniversary. To celebrate, the company has commissioned covers of 10 “cult” songs from acts like the Human League, Buzzcocks, the Pogues and even the Cold War Kids. (Full details here.) The songs and music videos drop on Thursday at drmartens.com. For an exclusive-to-T taste, watch profiles of three of the cutting-edge acts involved in the project.

Veronique Branquinho for Camper - Men’s derby shoes

Veronique Branquinho’s announcement that she was closing up shop because of the recession was one of the ones that had fashion insiders bemoaning the most. But the queen of Antwerp cool seems to be enjoying a new chapter of her career.

Since shuttering her label, Branquinho has taken on the artistic director post at Delvaux, releasing a collection of classic women’s bags, and she has also entered a long-term collaboration with the Spanish shoemaker Camper. “Of course it’s a new situation, but it’s not necessarily a bad one,” Branquinho said. “Working for other companies is actually quite liberating in the sense that you can focus 100 percent on creativity.”

In Camper’s case, this translated into very pure and modern lines. Her men’s derby shoes, which go from $390 to $425, play up subtle textures and color combinations while offering functional alternatives — wearers can sport one style with the heel up, or tamped down like a slide. As for fashion in general, the forward-thinking Belgian still has faith in the talented underdog. “Today it’s very hard for a young or independent designer to compete with the big groups,” she said. “But I believe that there will be always a place for creativity and quality.”

Korean Fashion Week 2010

“I think they’re confused,” says the blogger Hong Sukwoo as he slowly drinks his strawberry juice with a straw in the ornate Las Vegas-meets-grandma marble lobby of Seoul’s Imperial Palace Hotel. Sukwoo is talking about Korea’s younger generation, the K-pop kids now in their late teens and early 20s who have plenty of disposable cash and a burning desire to be unique, but who barely have a clue who they are. Sukwoo, at the ripe age of 28, already considers himself part of an earlier “not so beautiful, but perhaps more thoughtful” generation. For the past four years, he has been filling his Your Boyhood blog (yourboyhood.com) with the photos he takes of Seoul’s jeunesse dorée and essays that read like sad, disjointed poems (at least when you try to decipher them with your computer’s instant translator). For him the blog is still in the early stages of a project he imagines will take him about 10 more years: to record the passing youth of one of Asia’s — and the world’s — speediest fast-track cultures. “Young Koreans haven’t found their own style yet, so they’re copying images they find on the Internet,” he says. “It’s a form of stylish cosplay.”

Sensing my lack of comprehension, he quickly summons the Wikipedia definition on his iPod Touch: “Cosplay is a kind of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Any entity, real or virtual, may serve as the subject including inanimate objects, and gender switching is common.” Says Sukwoo: “Young Koreans understand taste, but what they’re wearing isn’t really them.”

This explains a lot about Seoul fashion week’s fall/winter 2010-11 edition, which featured a parade of boys in lipstick, baby-faced thugs, Russian toy soldiers, escort girls stumbling down the runway in glittering sleep masks, mountain climbers in three-piece banker’s suits, party princesses sporting diamond-studded teddy jackets and cartoon sweaters and “I Dream of Jeanie” pants, the homeless simultaneously wearing everything for present and future use on their backs, chic young Navajo professionals, Asian hillbillies acting out toilet jokes in fringed leggings and hoodies with animal ears, enough zippers to change one piece into five different looks, and an army of trench coats that made the Seoul runways last week seem like one big open casting for a fashionable remake of “Casablanca.”

Just down the hill, in the 10th-floor glass box above the two-year-old Korean branch of her 10 Corso Como shop, Carla Sozzani was holding a press tour of the opening of an exhibition of Guy Bourdin’s films curated by Shelly Verthime and Nicolle Meyer, his longtime model. The store and 10CC cafe, where Seoul’s elite come to nibble tea cakes and eyeball each other, is a co-production with  Lee Seo-Hyun, the vice president of Cheil, the fashion arm of the Korean giant Samsung. Sozzani says she makes four or five trips a year here to percolate the store’s mix — Tom Binns baubles, the Olive Oyl-shaped Alaïa dresses she wears and, soon to arrive, limited editions from Seoul’s hottest young women’s labels, Johnny Hates Jazz and Jain Song.

Most Expensive Wedding Dress - Fashion Designer Cosmina Englizian

Designer Cosmina Englizian entered the Book of Records – Guinness World Records for achieving the most expensive wedding dress with over 59.000 Swarovsky crystals..

Bianca Elena Constantin, Romania Miss Universe 2009, was the undeniable star of the E-Mariage Wedding Fair, which was chosen to wear a wedding dress that is worth no less than 30,000 euros.

The dress is encrusted with 42,000 Swarovski crystals and entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive wedding dress in the world. Cosmina Englizian, creatoarea preţiosului obiect vestimentar, a ales-o pe Bianca Elena Constantin să poarte această rochie după ce a văzut-o în catalogul de mireasă al brandului american Alexia Designs. Cosmina Englizian, fashion designer precious object, the Bianca Elena chose to wear this dress Constantine after he saw the bride catalog Alexia Designs American brand.

Contractul Biancăi cu renumita casă de rochii de mireasă americană a început în 2009, imediat după participarea la concursul Miss Universe. Bianca contract with renowned American wedding dress house began in 2009, soon after attending the Miss Universe contest. Anul acesta Bianca a devenit modelul preferat şi al tîrgurilor de nunţi din străinătate, participînd la Harrogate, Marea Britanie - cel mai mare eveniment de acest gen din Europa - şi Chicago Bridal Show din Statele Unite. This year Bianca has become the preferred model for weddings and fairs abroad, participating in Harrogate, United Kingdom -

the largest event of its kind in Europe - and Chicago Bridal Show from the United States. În viitorul apropiat, Bianca Elena Constantin va călători în Asia, unde se va ocupa de promovarea brandului Alexia Designs. In the near future, Bianca Elena Constantine will travel to Asia, which will handle brand promotion Alexia Designs. Ea va fi protagonista unor prezentări de modă de mare anvergură ce se vor desfăşura în

Hong Kong şi Shanghai. It will be the protagonist of large-scale fashion shows that will be held in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Anul acesta, Bianca va înmîna titlul de Miss Universe România 2010 următoarei cîştigătoare a concursului, a cărui preselecţie se desfăşoară pe site-ul www.missuniverseromania.com. This year, Bianca Romania handed the title of Miss Universe 2010 winning the next contest, whose selection takes place on site www.missuniverseromania.com.

Most Expensive Jeans - Denim Jeans Fashion Trends 2010

Levi Strauss would be turning in his grave.
That's because the days of paying only $20 for a great pair of jeans are almost nonexistent. With details such as custom fitting and gem embellishments becoming more and more popular, denim makers are asking - and getting - prices never seen before.
But steeper prices - styles by popular brands such as Rock and Republic and 7 for All Mankind start around $150 a pair - aren't affecting consumer demand. In fact, premium denim jeans (those that cost $60 or more) claim only a small share of the jeans market, but have experienced the fastest sales growth over the past several years. In 2005, the number of premium pairs sold doubled over the previous year, and in the first eight months of this year, they've risen 33%, according to a report put out by NPD, a market research firm.

Despite their current rung on the fashion ladder, jeans had a more utilitarian beginning. During the California gold rush, a young immigrant named Levi Strauss landed in San Francisco hoping to start a dry goods store similar to his brother's in New York City. When he realized he needed work pants that could withstand any amount of wear and tear, the blue jean, made of a thick canvas-like material called denim, was born.
Today, jeans cost way more than the dollar they sold for in 1873. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most valuable jeans are a 155-year-old pair of Levis 501, bought by an anonymous bidder on eBay (nasdaq: EBAY) for $60,000 in 2005.
While vintage jeans may be in high demand and come with large price tags, newer pairs embellished with rivets and rhinestones are just as coveted. Department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue have seen an increase in the sale of Roberto Cavalli's bejeweled premium denim (price tag: $1,185), a favorite of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce Knowles, as well as $500 pairs made by Luxirie for LRG jeans and encrusted with Swarovski crystals.
Apparel companies such as Diesel and PRPS, known for selling jeans in the $150 to $200 price range, have introduced premium lines of hand-dyed "selvege" denim, made on looms that produce a tighter weave and heavier fabric. These $675 Diesel Denim Gallery jeans are sold in only three stores (two in New York, one in Japan) while PRPS sells their $475 jeans at Atrium in New York.

Factor in custom-made denim and the price skyrockets. Makers of the $4,000 APO jean use a choice of silver, gold or platinum rivets and replace the buttons with diamonds of the customer's choosing. Both the man-hours and luxe materials add to the price.
"They definitely are not for everyone," says Kingman Lam, chief executive of APO jeans.

Designers also use hard-to-find denim when making a custom pair. Earnest Sewn fans flock to the designer's New York City headquarters to have a pair of jeans made to their specifications and with denim and detailing that may not have hit the market.
"In certain instances, people in the denim know will find out we are receiving reams of Japanese denim that weren't mass produced or haven't been available to the open market," says Scott Morrison, chief executive and designer. "People get excited and usually come in to get jeans made within days of us getting the shipment."
The jeans, which cost between $800 and $1000, are typically made of hand-dyed raw denim without a hint of stretch. While they are at it, Earnest Sewn customers also weigh in on rivet size and color, with some opting for 24-carat gold plated buttons.
Jeans, like anything else in a person's wardrobe, have inevitably evolved to encompass any person's desire, from the very basic to the completely elaborate," says Morrison of the exploding popularity of high-end denim. "It's just a matter of what someone wants - and we try to provide that for them."

Most expensive perfume - Fragrance

At 47,500 pound sterling, it is the world’s most expensive perfume. Indeed, the best things come in small packages. The fragrance, created by renowned British perfumer Arthur Burnham, is held in a 4 in bottle made with platinum, 24 carat gold, rubies and diamonds.

Longest Catwalk at Pattaya International Fashion Week 2010

Fifty models of different nationalities along with 14 ambassadors' wives will parade on a 1.5-kilometre ramp along the beach.With the aim of reviving tourism, the Bt20-million-event, being held from April 8-11, is being hosted by Pattaya City, Ministry of Commerce, Intellectual Property Department and Elite Model Management Southeast Asia, Rakchart Management and Central Festival Pattaya.

"The government is focusing on the importance of a new approach to the economy through creativity, or "Creative Economy" to boost the country's competitiveness and increase the value of our products," said Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot.

"Creativity helps to create differences in products, making them unique and more wanted in the global market," Alongkorn said yesterday at a press conference at CentralWorld.

"Pattaya brings in Bt50 million to Bt70 million profit each year for the country's economy. We hope the event will boost the tourism business here," Itthiphol Khunplome, the mayor of Pattaya said.

Edward Kitti of Rakchart said that Pattaya has a market for trendy fashion, as well as the availability of products in shopping malls. "In organising a fashion show, which will be broadcast on many international channels, it is hoped that the world will get to know Pattaya better through fashion, as well as restoring tourists' confidence in Thailand as a holiday destination," he said.

The world-record catwalk will take place on April 9 with 50 models as well as 14 ambassadors' wives wearing Thai silk costumes made from Royal Peacock Silk from HRH Queen Sirikit's Support Foundation. The costumes will be designed by Praepetch, Viengthaisilk, Polini, Niramon, All Lit Up, Puvasa, Asada, B-Bee Za, Tiara and Happy Heart. The aim is for wider recognition of Thai silk throughout the world. As well as Thai brands, some international brands will also be showcasing their Spring/Summer 2010 Collection; Esprit, Mango, US Polo, Dapper, Charles & Keith, Castro, Promod, Guess, Jaspal, Chaps, Speedo, Bossini and Triumph.

Under the Creative Thailand Economy project, a design contest will be held for young designers together with a fashion show on jewellery and hairstyling and mini concerts.