New model for fashion shows skips live models

NEW YORK — The future of fashion - or at least fashion shows - debuted recently at Grand Central Station.

Target staged a model-less fashion show, featuring high-definition, faceless holograms wearing clothes and accessories that are part of the retailer's holiday offerings.

It was staged in little vignettes, beginning with one female hologram prancing around her bedroom trying to decide what to wear and ending with a rapid-fire series of silhouettes wearing favorite looks of Target's big-name designer collaborators including Isaac Mizrahi, Liz Lange, Mossimo Giannulli, Erin Fetherston and Keenan Duffy.

Without live models, the show began on time and with little hubbub, both unheard of with the typical runway show. The clothes all fit and there were no hair and makeup mishaps. The perfection of it all was the highlight - and the lowlight.

"A show like this spreads the mission statement that fashion should be democratic," Mizrahi said. "It allows someone to see the clothes and envision themselves in it. Models can be intimidating."

Fetherston said she liked that there was a narrative weaving the looks together instead of a parade of outfits. "I love when you've got a story," she said. "And it's nice that the customer can see this instead of only editors."

As a way to highlight the products, the holograms were a very effective tool, Lange added. "It's not 'Look there's Gisele (Bundchen) on the runway!' It's a 'Look there's that Liz Lange for Target outfit!' "

Still, Mizrahi doesn't think it spells the end of the traditional fashion show because people thrive on the drama that comes with the catwalk.

The virtual fashion show was on a loop, replaying for commuters throughout the day.

Prehistoric women had passion for fashion

A Neolithic figurine showing the head of a goddess, found in the Plocnik archaeological site near the town of Prokuplje, in southern Serbia

By Ljilja Cvekic

PLOCNIK, Serbia (Reuters) - If the figurines found in an ancient European settlement are any guide, women have been dressing to impress for at least 7,500 years.

Recent excavations at the site -- part of the Vinca culture which was Europe's biggest prehistoric civilization -- point to a metropolis with a great degree of sophistication and a taste for art and fashion, archaeologists say.

In the Neolithic settlement in a valley nestled between rivers, mountains and forests in what is now southern Serbia, men rushed around a smoking furnace melting metal for tools. An ox pulled a load of ore, passing by an art workshop and a group of young women in short skirts.

"According to the figurines we found, young women were beautifully dressed, like today's girls in short tops and mini skirts, and wore bracelets around their arms," said archaeologist Julka Kuzmanovic-Cvetkovic.

The unnamed tribe who lived between 5400 and 4700 BC in the 120-hectare site at what is now Plocnik knew about trade, handcrafts, art and metallurgy. Near the settlement, a thermal well might be evidence of Europe's oldest spa.

"They pursued beauty and produced 60 different forms of wonderful pottery and figurines, not only to represent deities, but also out of pure enjoyment," said Kuzmanovic.

The findings suggest an advanced division of labor and organization. Houses had stoves, there were special holes for trash, and the dead were buried in a tidy necropolis. People slept on woolen mats and fur, made clothes of wool, flax and leather and kept animals.

The community was especially fond of children. Artifacts include toys such as animals and rattles of clay, and small, clumsily crafted pots apparently made by children at playtime.

COPPER AGE

One of the most exciting finds for archaeologists was the discovery of a sophisticated metal workshop with a furnace and tools including a copper chisel and a two-headed hammer and axe.

"This might prove that the Copper Age started in Europe at least 500 years earlier than we thought," Kuzmanovic said.

The Copper Age marks the first stage of humans' use of metal, with copper tools used alongside older stone implements. It is thought to have started around the 4th millennium BC in south-east Europe, and earlier in the Middle East.

The Vinca culture flourished from 5500 to 4000 BC on the territories of what is now Bosnia, Serbia, Romania and Macedonia.

It got its name from the present-day village of Vinca, 10 km east of Belgrade on the Danube river, where early 20th-century excavations uncovered the remains of eight Neolithic villages.

The discovery of a mine -- Europe's oldest -- at the nearby Mlava river suggested at the time that Vinca could be Europe's first metal culture, a theory now backed up by the Plocnik site.

"These latest findings show that the Vinca culture was from the very beginning a metallurgical culture," said archaeologist Dusan Sljivar of Serbia's National Museum. "They knew how to find minerals, to transport them and melt them into tools."

The metal workshop in Plocnik was a room of some 25 square meters, with walls built out of wood coated with clay.

The furnace, built on the outside of the room, featured earthen pipe-like air vents with hundreds of tiny holes in them and a prototype chimney to ensure air goes into the furnace to feed the fire and smoke comes out safely.

"In Bulgaria and Cyprus, where such workshops have also been found, they didn't have chimneys but blew air on the fire with straws, exposing man to heat and carbon dioxide," Sljivar said.

COLOURFUL MINERALS

He said the early metal workers very likely experimented with colorful minerals that caught their eye -- blue azurite, bright green malachite and red cuprite, all containing copper -- as evidenced by malachite traces found on the inside of a pot.

The settlement was destroyed at some point, probably in the first part of the fifth millennium, by a huge fire.

The Plocnik site was first discovered in 1927 when the then Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was building a rail line from the southern city of Nis to the province of Kosovo.

Some findings were published at the time but war, lack of funds and objections from farmers meant it was investigated only sporadically until digging started in earnest in 1996.

"The saddest thing for us is always the moment when we finish our work and everything has to be covered up with earth again," Kuzmanovic said. "That's the easiest for the state, conservation is very expensive and the land owners want to work in their fields."

But there was some hope that the latest excavation would be preserved due to its importance, Kuzmanovic added.

"We dream of uncovering the entire town one day, and people will be able to see prehistoric life at its fullest," she said.

For a table on Europe's prehistory, click on

(Editing by Ellie Tzortzi and Sara Ledwith)

© Copyright 2007, Reuters

Witness: O.J., Cronies in "Military Invasion Fashion"

O.J. Simpson, a packed courtroom, people hollering his name outside the courthouse, a media throng… What's familiar about this scenario?

The first day of what will likely be a two-day preliminary hearing to determine whether O.J. Simpson and two others should stand trial on robbery-related charges kicked off Thursday in Las Vegas, with one of his alleged victims testifying that the ex-footballer and his armed cronies burst into his hotel room in "military invasion fashion."

Sports memorabilia collector Bruce Fromong, the first of eight witnesses scheduled to appear, said in court that he didn't know who he was supposed to meet with on Sept. 13, the day Simpson allegedly stole $80,000 worth of items from him and fellow collector Alfred Beardsley, only that an "anonymous buyer" was interested in his stuff.

"When he came in, he kind of stopped, he looked at me and I looked at him," recalled Fromong, who said that he's known the Naked Gun actor for at least a decade.

"There was a lot of hollering and yelling and O.J. was yelling, particularly at Alfred Beardsley, saying, 'I thought you were a good guy, I thought you were my friend. You stole from me,'" Fromong testified.

Simpson and two others, Clarence Stewart Jr. and Charles Erlich, are facing 11 felony counts of armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping, assault, conspiracy and coercion stemming from their run-in with Fromong and Beardsley in Room 1203 at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino.

A run-in that, according to Simpson, who could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted, did not involve guns.

Three of Simpson's accused accomplices, however, have either agreed to plea, or have already pleaded to, lesser charges and plan to testify that the former star running back told them to bring weapons.

At least two of the dealmakers, Mike McClinton and Walter Alexander, were carrying guns, according to police. Charles Cashmore is the other man who has agreed to turn states evidence. A search of McClinton's home turned up two guns that fit the weapon descriptions given to police.

Fromong told the packed courtroom that one of those men pointed a gun at his face and said, "I'll shoot your ass."

After about five or six minutes, Simpson told his five-man crew to grab the memorabilia. Which they did, hauling the goods, including the Heisman Trophy winner's signed All-American ball, away in Palace Station pillowcases.

"O.J. was screaming, 'This is all my s--t. This all belongs to me,'" Fromong said. "You stole this from me. Let's pack up. Let's get out of here."

Prosecutors also played some of the tape made by memorabilia dealer Thomas Riccio, who testified Thursday that he contacted Simpson to set up the meeting with Fromong and Beardsley. Riccio, who reserved the hotel room in his name, was granted immunity after turning his recordings over to authorities.

Simpson has maintained that he only planned to confront Beardsley and Fromong, who suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized for a short time following the meeting, because he had been told that they had items that had been stolen from him by his former licensing agent, Richard "Mike" Gilbert.

"You have proof that these items were legitimately obtained by Mr. Gilbert," Simpson attorney Gabriel Grasso challenged Fromong during his cross-examination.

"I have no idea how Gilbert obtained these items," Fromong replied, referring to the cache that also included a number of non-football treasures, such as a bunch of baseballs autographed by Pete Rose and a framed photograph of Simpson with late FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.

Like Simpson, he was contacted by Riccio, Fromong said.

(Gilbert has told the Los Angeles Times that Simpson gave him a number of things, including the suit he was wearing when he was acquitted of the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, when Gilbert was helping him clean out his Brentwood mansion.)

Simpson could be seen shaking his head during portions of Fromong's testimony. Grasso also read back a portion of the collector's statement to police, in which he quoted Simpson as saying, "Get my s--t. Leave the other stuff alone."

The hearing is scheduled to continue Friday. Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joseph M. Bonaventure will likely render his decision about a trial next week.

Be a Model

The site is the result of months of work and was officially launched in October 2005. The features of this website include a Modelling Article of the Day along with important resources. The site doesn't target one particular aspect of modelling as a career, but will focus on a variety of modelling opportunities. Visitors to the site can subscribe to the AtoZ Modelling Newsletter, or can use the site as the portal to other links pertinent to the modelling industry.

East-Asian countries to commence fashion forum

China, Japan and Korea will together conduct a forum of fashion originality on November 17 in Fumen town, Dongwan city and Guangdong Province of China. The event is expected to reflect high grade and high-level of global fashionable dress industry.

The theme largely revolves around fashion and development of textile industries. While Japanese experts will promote their domestic fashion internationally, Korean specialists will endeavor to enlighten guests about their small and middle clothing enterprises.

Professionals from China will also partake in the event discussing about the possible development and improvement of the fashion industries.

Most importantly, popular Chinese garment enterprises like Yishion Company will talk about the ways in which local apparel brands can be promoted.

Apart from the pioneers of China Textile Industry Association, China Clothing Association, Japanese Fashion Association, Korean Fiber League, leaders of reputed garment enterprises and local Governments will also take part in this forthcoming forum of fashion originality.

Casablanca - Amine Bendricuich and Morocco's underground fashion scene

Fri, 13/07/2007 - 2:33pm

‘Play it again Sam,’

Oddly enough Humphrey Bogart never went to Casablanca. They filmed the whole damn thing in LA and pretended they were in Casa. Fifty odd years later and you still won’t see many white faces here.

Amine Bendricuich

Casablanca may be the biggest city in Morocco but its not for tourists, they all schlep off to Marrakech or Fes for some of that medieval market magic or up to Tangier looking for a sniff of the old school sleaze that made it the home of William Burroughs who remodeled the city into Interzone in the classic Naked Lunch.

Today Casablanca is one of the biggest cities in Africa- a noisy messy sprawl of seething life, stink and noise.

In Casablanca music is the law. Its everywhere, get in the taxi and the driver will speak at a thousand miles an hour in French and crank up the radio blasting out the Chaabi- a pop form of all Moroccan music’s mashed together. He grins and batters his hands on the steering wheel; this is upbeat music, the sound of the city that crackles with its own energy.
Casa is a music city, it oozes the stuff. Every taxi, every street corner is buzzing with electric noise.

There is a nascent hip-hop scene and, curiously, a death metal scene.

Its also very modern.

There is a fashion scene here of sorts.

On the street the main look is sports casual- lots of football shirts whilst the girls wear their clothes tight. There are also some people pushing the margins...

Amine Bendricuich...

(His myspace is www.myspace.com/stounamine )

...Is a whiz kid. Everywhere I go round the city I see him, at every gig at every event.

He has his own distinctive look as well, a new millennium Moroccan; Amine is a real cool kid who has his finger on the pulse in Casablanca. If there is a fashion scene here he’s going to know!

‘The fashion scene in Morocco... well, I think that's a little bit early to speak about a fashion scene here, because it's really the first beginning of it’s creation and development. Moroccan people wear a very large panel of clothes, people are still very influenced by the occident, or completely the opposite- I mean they wear traditional djellabas, or caftans, or gandouras, which is become more rare. Concerning the street fashion, we have it now since 4 or 5 years ago. It began with festival " le boulevard des jeunes musiciens" which gave to the youth a free space of free expression in music, art, and fashion. But its still a young street fashion scene, which needs to grow up, with the Moroccan people who have their own sense of style, but they need to personalize it more, because now, it's a kind of Moroccan copy of European style, but fortunately that there is more and more exceptions, that encourage people to dare to be different.’

This is cool. There is nothing worse than the Macdonaldsisation of the world’s culture, When I was in Istanbul it was great to see the girls making the headscarves all colourful and in their own style. In Morocco Anime is a walking talking example of updating your own culture. His own personal style is highly individual, hip and very Moroccan. He is a man with a mission.

‘I want to make the Moroccan people look MORE'ROCKIN,‘ he laughs, adding, ‘because I believe that we have a big creative potential here, all we need is to dare more, cuz as I told you, and as you seen, we have a big Moroccan musical scene, and fashion and music are very related to each, but till now, our singers and musicians, who are supposed to be precursors in street fashion, are just satisfied with European like looks expect for some artists like Haoussa or Zwm. So I’m trying to give that new urban scene some products and designs which can make them have their own local style.‘

It’s an interesting balance but one that he seems to be pulling off. Amine is a man of the world. His mix n match approach is reflected in his outlook.

‘I got a scientific baccalaureate, and then I started my fashion studies in Tunisia for 3 years. I’ve been in Paris a few times, and then I went back to Tunisia to finish my studies. When I get my diploma, I was invited to Germany, to participate to the CPD " Collection Premiere Düsseldorf ", I sold some of my stuff in a concept store there, but I stopped, cuz I didn't have the money to continue producing clothes, and the demand became greater than my capacities, so I retuned to Morocco, because I think that it's easier to be a success in Morocco, and then get exported to foreign countries. It’s also a way to show Europeans that we can make great things around here, and we're not producing human bombs as people think over there! and that we're very creative, and they have to support this creativity, because if the occident is the present, we are the future.’

Its this forward looking thinking that is typical of so many of the people that I meet in Casablanca. This idea of finding their own way in an overcrowded fashion scene.

‘You have to know one thing which is: my clothes are Moroccan because I am Moroccan, creativity is international, for example: when Gaultier used the British kilt, nobody said that he's British or he's making traditional British clothes, but everybody said that it's Gaultier style. So for me the most important thing in clothes is to have a space where I can put my lines and structures, which are more important than the clothes. I’m just trying to have my personal touch, and to preserve my universe, and always try to make my clothes useful, in the sense that. There is always a message or a concept on ‘em that can participate in making things better.‘

Go to Amine’s website and give him some support- he’s smart and hip and we need to make these connections in this fucked up world!

John Robb

Dutch Fashion Awards

Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Mercedes-Benz is cooperating with the Dutch Fashion Foundation and will celebrate Dutch fashion talent with the new Dutch Fashion Awards. With the Dutch Fashion Awards, Mercedes-Benz aims to put Dutch fashion design on the map together with the Dutch Fashion Foundation. The new event will launch on 1 November at the Beurs van Berlage in the heart of Amsterdam. New talent will be showcased and seven fashion designers have been nominated. Every designer is carefully selected besides having a Dutch nationality, graduated from a fashion academy and produced five collection under it's own brand name - the jury will be looking at the uniqueness of the brand and the potential to grow globally. Striving for the price of £16.000 and international success will be the following pre nominated designers; Spijkers en Spijkers, Jan Taminiau, Francisco van Benthum, Mada van Gaans, Klavers van Engelen, Jeroen van Tuyl and Dryl van Wouw. Prior to the nomination ceremony, a fashion show will present all the finalists. Further more, several Dutch fashion designers will give away the Best Dress Award. The contesters will be judged by an international jury which includes Colin McDowell fashion director of Sunday Times Style and creative director of Fashion Fringe, Bernadette Wittmann Glittenberg, project manager for BREAD & butter, Barbara Franchin, founder and director of the ITS International Talent Support festival in Triëste, Maria Luisa Poumaillou, owner of several high profile Parisian fashion stores and Valentina Maggi, head-hunter for Floriane de Saint Pierre & Associés. The jury will pick a winner, who will be the most promising and break through on the international fashion market. Not only press and invitees will enjoy Holland's fashion talent, the Awards will be also open to the public. Image: Jan Taminiau SS08

What is Fashion Week?

What is Fashion Week?
As the premiere venue for fashion in the United States, New York Fashion Week kicks off the new season twice a year.

What is it like to attend Fashion Week?
Sure, it's fun (just look at Betsey Johnson and Pat Field living it up in the photo!), but Fashion Week means work for the attendees, too. Find out what goes on behind the scenes at Fashion Week.

What do people wear at Fashion Week?
If you think getting dressed for a regular job is tough, try getting dressed for Fashion Week! With so many fashionistas under one roof, you'll see everything that's going on in fashion at once. Lots of eyes are on the fashion editors to see what they're wearing.

Spring fashions blossom on Paris runways

By JOELLE DIDERICH, Associated Press Writer Thu Oct 4, 6:10 PM ET

PARIS - In the new world of fashion marketing, it's all about flooding the zone.

Brands like Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent, which showed their latest ready-to-wear collections in Paris on Thursday, have understood that glossy magazine advertisements are no longer the most effective way of reaching their audience.

They are using methods like street pamphleteering, Web sites and linkups with other firms to trumpet their presence.

McCartney has inked deals with Adidas for sportswear, LeSportsac for bags and Bendon for lingerie, as well as creating limited editions for high street retailers H&M and Target in Australia.

"Without visibility today, a luxury brand is not a luxury brand," said Cedric Charbit, general merchandise manager of women's fashion at the French department store chain Printemps.

"So I think it's pretty smart, and it speaks to Stella McCartney's audience, which rejects the current codes of the luxury sector because they are too ostentatious and too obvious," he added.

The British designer's spring-summer collection featured floaty floral dresses and paisley-patterned all-in-ones with a '70s feel. Models emerged in front of a wall of green plants wearing billowing silk separates in gentle tones of sky blue and dusty beige.

McCartney used techniques like block-printing and quilting to give her outfits a hippie-luxe feel. But her training on Savile Row, the London hub of made-to-measure men's suits, was also evident in a cream single-breasted tuxedo suit.

Her pragmatic approach to dressing is beginning to pay off. Figures released this week showed her label posted its first profit in 2006, a year before the deadline imposed by its parent, Gucci Group.

The results show it is possible to succeed at the top-tier luxury level without using leather or fur, providing you are a little creative. McCartney is a vegetarian and recently staged an online animal rights protest in the Internet-based virtual world Second Life.

Yves Saint Laurent is also busy online. The company this week unveiled a revamped Web site — http://www.ysl.com — with an online store for U.S. shoppers and special features like short films.

Meanwhile, its creative director Stefano Pilati has launched Manifesto, a pamphlet-style advertising supplement handed out on the streets of New York, Paris, London and Milan last month.

"I initiated the Manifesto campaign because I wanted to speak more directly to people. The advertising campaign is not enough," Pilati told British daily The Times in a recent interview.

"Magazines publish only the handbag adverts, because that is where the money is, but what about my designs?"

Though the brand derives much of its income from "It" bags like the Muse and Downtown, they were conspicuously absent from the catwalk on Thursday, putting the focus on the impeccable lines of masculine tailored jackets.

These came with or without sleeves in traditional English wool and were paired with boxy trousers cuffed just above the ankle. With its sober palette of navy, white, gray and beige, it was hard to picture this as a summer collection.

A stunning one-shouldered evening gown in rippling jewel pink silk made for a welcome splash of color.

By contrast, Italian designer Giambattista Valli sent out dresses so bright, you had to wear shades. Models swept past in neon pink swimsuits and fluorescent yellow gowns that included a sleeveless number covered in tiny ostrich feathers.

Though Valli launched his line only two years ago, he has made his mark by dressing starlets like Mischa Barton and Victoria Beckham for the red carpet. Sales in North America are growing by some 90 percent each season, according to industry paper Women's Wear Daily.

"You feel like a princess in his stuff, it's unbelievable," said actress Jennifer Morrison, of the hit U.S. TV show 'House.' "And it's incredibly comfortable, which is kind of an added bonus because that's not always the case."

Pink is fast shaping up as the key color for next spring.

Croatian designer Ivana Omazic sent out a fuchsia satin dress with a matching oversized clutch and strappy sandals in her collection for French label Celine.

Soft white jackets featured corset boning to add shape to the waist, while a twisted silver choker gave a wispy scarlet silk dress an unexpected edge.

Paris fashionistas fret over strong euro

By Anna Willard Wed Oct 3, 9:38 AM ET

PARIS (Reuters) - Jeannie Lee is a fashion buyer for an exclusive U.S. store and is in Paris this week wondering whether her American customers will pay for European designs made expensive by the strong euro.

"As an American buyer in Paris, some things just don't make sense commercially any more because the exchange rate is so high," said Lee, who works for top Los Angeles store Satine.

She is in the French capital to spot the latest trends and to stock up on clothes to sell next summer, but she is wary.

"We have to be careful ... For example, yesterday we saw this really cute line of underwear that was retailing at $250. Cotton underwear. It just doesn't work by the time you've brought the exchange rate in."

Comments like hers are worrying European designers.

In the last year, the euro has risen around 10 percent against both the dollar and yen, climbing to fresh highs over recent weeks and putting some European luxury goods out of reach for all-important American and Asian shoppers.

The European currency has also strengthened against Britain's pound, which industry experts say has made British buyers think twice about splashing out on European goods.

"It is certainly a problem," said Didier Grumbach, head of the French fashion federation.

"We have fewer problems in Europe because of the single currency but it certainly is (a problem) for the U.S. and UK."

FRENCH HANDBAGS

Luxury goods accounted for 20 billion euros ($28.34 billion) of French exports last year so it is no surprise the government is also worried.

Politicians, including President Nicolas Sarkozy have warned repeatedly about the danger to France's economy from the strong euro and pressed the European Central Bank for lower interest rates to hold back its rise.

Complaints have also come from French companies of all shapes and sizes.

"The situation is abnormal," Bernard Arnault, told Reuters at a fashion show for Christian Dior, which he owns. "We would of course prefer if it (the euro) were weaker."

Arnault's company represents the very top end of the luxury goods market catering to the richest clients who will stay faithful to a handbag or a pair of shoes even if it becomes more expensive. This gives his company the freedom to raise prices if necessary, as it did twice in Japan in 2006.

Slightly lower down the designer food chain is where the real problems lie.

"Unfortunately, what is suffering is not so much the (traditional) luxury lines, but more the contemporary lines," said Lee.

Grumbach said clothes and accessories targeting a younger audience are also having a hard time.

"When a product is very expensive and has always been expensive often 10 percent more doesn't make any difference. But for the medium range product or those targeted at young people, it's a problem," he said

Who hasn’t heard of the New York Fashion Week?

Who hasn’t heard of the New York Fashion Week? It’s that one week every year when New Yorkers and wannabe New Yorkers tear themselves away from their power lunches, power walks, and high-powered careers - all in the name of fashion.
It’s a must to be seen, and it’s not unheard of for average New Yorkers - from waitresses to Wall Street bankers - to do whatever it takes to get the coveted tickets to the multitude of fashion shows occurring all over the city. There is a hierarchy of sorts, with seats closest to the runway often reserved for the crème de la crème of New York society. Yes, we all know that New York is a jungle and with Fashion Week, the city becomes even more so. The turnout is predictably particularly appalling among the bigger fashion shows of the more popular designer brands. People flock to the spectacle put on by Roberto Cavalli, Dolce and Gabbana, and Ralph Lauren, to name a few, not only to see the season’s latest designs, but to hobnob or at least catch a glimpse of the rich and famous.

It’s a Jungle Out There
If the ruckus in front of the runway in these shows is ghastly, you should see the riot backstage. Here, you can find models in varying stages of nakedness, disgruntled production assistants - fashionably called P.As - and harassed make-up artists and hairdressers. With the high level of tension, it’s a wonder that they haven’t started killing each other. Not only that, the possibility of theft increases tenfold while in the presence of yet to be seen designer creations. Not surprisingly, designers safeguard their precious masterpieces by hiring the best and most expensive security team that money can buy. Naturally, this includes video security.

It’s Not Tacky If I Can’t See It
Days before the event, the latest and most high-tech video security systems are surreptitiously set up all over the show’s premises. New York being New York, a video security camera in its full glory is considered tacky and offensive. Of course, the security teams would have already anticipated this. Video security cameras are often hidden behind clothes racks and mirrors, or disguised as cute, little, seemingly innocent pots of makeup or inconspicuous accessories that will never see the light of a runway. This way, the sanctity of fashion is guarded without offending any inflated egos.

It’s Not a Man Thing
Video security cameras pick up both routine and out-of-the-ordinary activities. Possibly one of the best jobs in the world is watching the surveillance footage from the video security cameras. You get to see models expose their young, nubile bodies as they change from one glamorous outfit to another. However, because these watchers are trained professionals, you can be sure that the video security provider has chosen the most un-sexual man - or woman - for the team. This way, the models’ privacy is safeguarded. But they really need not bother. Models are not bothered by nudity. Still, good video security providers go the extra mile to uphold their integrity and reputation - even if it means keeping that juicy surveillance footage to themselves.

Excellent video security can reduce the jungle that is New York during Fashion Week to a harmless petting zoo. Versace, anyone?

Yes, video security and Versace mesh. Read more about video surveillance, from hidden cameras to nanny cams, when you visit video-surveillance-guide.com now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nahshon_Roberts

IN SCENE the HIGH FASHION

From the 8 to the 14 July eternal cities agghinda in order to accommodate the fashion week roman: AltaRomAltaModa. The calendar is introduced rich of events, paraded, debates and extensions, with particular attention to those technical competences and workings that have rendered celebre the Made in Italy in the world.
(04/07/2007) precious Dresses like jewels, location magical representative of the contemporary and modern culture, maison historical and emergent designers, competitions, extensions, performance: the eleventh edition of AltaRomAltaModa is by now to the blocks of departure, ready to conquer with the creativity of designer coming from from all Europe. Virtual Crocevia, limbs and trades, ideas, embroiderys, colors: the eternal city agghinda and accommodates the high fashion from the 8 to the 12 July near the Auditorium Park of Music MAXXI and the National Museum for the Limbs of XXI the Century.

To open `the dances’, as a result of the press conference of presentation of the kermesse, the competition dedicated to the emergent young people and realized from AltaRoma in collaboration with Vogue Italy: “Who is on Next”. A competition who is a point of reference for research purposes of new tendencies let alone springboard of launch for the designers of the future. Moreover, this edition becomes rich of a new field, that one of the jewelry shop sponsored from Leo Cut with its diamonds to 66 facets that will give the occasion to create one own collection to the winner of the competition.

Before paraded in program (than Public square of the Campidoglio, capolavoro architectonic of Michelangelo), that one of Gattinoni designed from Guillermo Mariotto will be carried out in the imposing (photo). In fact, Honorable Maria Pia Garavaglia, Vice Mayor of Rome, has intentional to honor the historical one maison inviting it to parade in the evocative public square in order to celebrate the 60 years of activity of griffe the Gattinoni, between most long-lived in the panorama of the international fashion. The footbridges roman will see under the reflectors other historical ones maison like Sarli, Raffaella Curiel, Lorenzo Riva and Renato Balestra.

Designers do not lack by now assert to you to international level, Ettore Bilotta, Gianni Calignano, Patrizia Pieroni, Stretch Couture place side by side to you from some libanesi designers like Abed Mahfouz, Farhad King, Tony Ward and Ella Zahlan. And then the academies, the future of the made in Italy, those places in which the young talents they come form to you and address to you towards the world of the job and spur to you to cultivate the own ambitions. In scene the Koefia Academy, the Advanced Institute of Design, the Altieri Academy, the fashionable School Ida Ferri, the National Academy of the Sartori, the Real Academy of Custom and Fashion, the Academy of Fine Arts Lorenzo from Viterbo.

They land to Rome also two designer Indian in order to introduce their collections of Haute Couture, one paraded collective of the best Dutch designers emerged (organized from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dutch and from the Dutch Fashion Foundation). The culture of the lusso and the creativity, instead, will be expressed through the Tricouture plan that will see three interpreters of style very: the master of the use of the mesh Saverio Palatella, the young talent Giovanni Cavagna and the Swedish artist Sandra Backlund. Moreover, for the second time on the footbridges roman he will parade also the High male Fashion with the creations of Osvaldo Testa and Alberto Annibali, two generations to comparison that boast a common denominator: the woven ones rigorously to the male one.

Not the social engagement can lack, and therefore AltaRoma accommodates the final work of the formation plan “In order To resume Filo - Covered formative in order to exit from the uneasiness’. Devised from Stefano Dominella, financed from the Office of the Councilman of Parity of the Province of Rome, coordinated from the Institute of Formation of the C.C.I.A.A and accommodated from the fashionable School Ida Ferri, the course is finalized to taken advantage of the professional formation of girl, victims of marginalization and violence, coming from from Italy and the European East, received in `house-family’.

Milan Fashion Man: more than 50 paraded and more than 30 presentations in order to show the fashion dell´uomo that it will be.

Milan, 23/27 june 2007: more than 50 paraded and more than 30 presentations in order to show the fashion dell´uomo that it will be. The collections for the spring/summer 2008 go up in footbridge. From saturday to Wednesday, to the un´attenzione search that it knows to concentrate itself also on the week end, a well-known little favorable moment to from Milan paraded ones. The male fashion anticipates of a day of the week regarding the traditional domenicale start, decreasing, between saturday and Sunday, some aces of the Italian fashion and not only: Burberry, Versace, Van Noten, Emporio Armani, McQueen, Prada…
Just Dries Van Noten is the colpaccio put to sign for this season from the Room of the Fashion: after years of absolute fidelity to the public square slow combustion stove, the designer Belgian it has chosen to try, in order once, l´emozione of the stage meneghino. A single debut, but excellent. To it the “second times” of Haute and Roen are added, than evidently they have drawn it appeal to and giovamento dall´esordio of slid January, and an important return, that one of Salvatore Ferragamo.

This the calendar of the five male paraded days of from Milan: To open the long paraded series of is the show of Jil Sander, in calendar for 11:00 of saturday 23. To follow, in the course of the day, Custom National Homme, Gaetano Navarre, Missoni, Burberry Prorsum, Gianni Versace, J. Lindeberg, Denis Simachev, the Belgian pair Les Hommes and Dries Van Noten: l´attesissimo from Milan debut of the designer Belgian will happen to hours 21: oo, d´onore timetable for what it is announced l´evento of this edition of from Milan male fashion.

Sunday 24 they come down in track, nell´ordine, Bottega Veneta, Antonio Marras, Frankie Morello, Gianfranco Ferrè, Salvatore Ferragamo - of return on the male footbridges after some seasons - Vivienne Westwood, Carl Pignatelli Outside, Emporio Armani, Neil Barrett, Daks, Prada and Alexander McQueen.

The day of monday 25 sees to ollow itself in footbridge Dsquared2, Valentino, Dirk Bikkembergs, Alexander Dell´Acqua, Biagiotti Man, John Richmond, Moschino, Krizia Man, Gucci, Gazzarrini, Giuliano Fujiwara, Intuitive and Roberto Cavalli.

Tuesdays 26, penultimate day of paraded, are the Marl time, Iceberg, Trussardi, Cleave, Etro, D&G, Messori, Calvin Klein Collection, George Armani (only brand with double quantity show, to 17:00 and 18:00), Belstaff and Haute.

Last five paraded in progamma for the morning of Wednesday 27: Romeo Gigli, Enrico Coveri, Byblos, M+F Girbaud and, in order to conclude, Roen, the Japanese brand that has toed make one’s debut with succeeding to just Milan five months ago.

Many, however, also the presentations: between more the waits they signal Pringle of Scotland, Bally, Moncler, Nicole Farhi, Brioni, John Varvatos (that it has announced for the next season just the return on from Milan footbridges), Aquascutum and, as far as the footwear, Sergio Rossi and Cesar Paciotti.

WHITE Milan Womens wear and Accessories Show

I have to say the frequent updates of fashion shows and trade events was something that I contemplated for awhile, mainly because I thought many of you wouldn’t see why it can benefit you as a designer entrepreneur. According to the emails I have been receiving and comments many of you definitely appreciate it, because many of these shows I wasn’t even aware of and wish I knew about when I started there are so many options to choose from and no longer are we stuck to 1-2 trade shows depending on what style of clothing we design. Back to WHITE Milan.
WHITE is a trade event that will add menswear to the mix after the next show, but formerly catered only to the womens wear and accessories market. There is not much information available on the WHITE trade show in Italy on the website. The next trade show is in September 27-30, 2007 where they are displaying Spring/Summer 2008. The edition after the September event is when the menswear category will be added in January 14-16, 2008 displaying Fall/Winter. For more or less information visit the online destination.

Titanium Jewelry Expands in Popularity and Accessibility

Titanium lends itself to settings that are impossible with other materials, opening the door to creativity and optimum style. Titanium jewelry and other white metals such as tungsten and palladium have been quickly earning the respect of jewelry designers, due to its light weight characteristics, durable strength and malleability.

A growing trend in titanium jewelry has emerged with as much strength and malleability that the metal itself is known for. As fine jewelry designers look more towards white metals for unique and stunning jewelry pieces, one online retailer has anticipated this growth trend by opening its virtual doors to the global population.

Titanium-Jewelry.com, a leading online retailer of titanium rings and unique titanium jewelry designs for men and women, now accepts international orders on custom and fine jewelry designs made of high grade titanium alloys. Shoppers from around the world, looking for a high quality titanium ring, necklace, watch and many other titanium jewelry collections, can now shop online at www.Titanium-Jewlery.com. Beautiful titanium jewelry designs made for the fashion savvy man or woman can be purchased via the web and shipped domestically or internationally.

The sleek look and phenomenal quality of jewelry constructed of white metals has created a diverse fan base for titanium jewelry collectors worldwide. Titanium jewelry and other white metals such as tungsten and palladium have been quickly earning the respect of jewelry designers, due to its light weight characteristics, durable strength and malleability. Originally, geared toward men’s fashions, many designers actually prefer titanium for women’s jewelry as well.

Since titanium lends itself to settings that are impossible with other materials, it opens the door to creativity and optimum style. Additionally, traditional settings can be far more prominent and durable. For example, a titanium ring with a tension set diamond or gemstone can offer more visibility to the stone as opposed to a silver, gold or platinum setting. This allows more of the stone to be exposed to light offering greater brilliance and shine, while ensuring maximum security for the stone.

Designers are able to carve a niche in distinct consumer markets. Many ocean enthusiasts are drawn to titanium jewelry because it doesn’t deter them from doing the activities they love most. Because titanium is extremely resistant to corrosion, it retains its beauty even under harsh environments such as salt water. Offering sleek beauty and hypo-allergenic qualities, it’s also a favorite among people with sensitive skin or who are prone to metal allergies.

Anticipating a growing market, Titanium-jewelry.com enhanced its order processing system this month to include shipments going to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France and Italy among other countries. Since titanium and tungsten jewelry are growing in popularity on a global scale, the market for titanium jewelry is just barely hitting its prime. There are so many possibilities and unlimited potential for growth in terms of designs and demand. With the new international ordering system, Titanium-jewelry.com can now reach a larger audience of titanium and tungsten jewelry enthusiasts.

Just as there are limitless qualities offered in titanium jewelry, shoppers can now shop with no boundaries or restrictions.

About Titanium-Jewelry.com
Titanium-Jewelry.com provides a wide selection of titanium rings and jewelry unique style for men and women. As a complement to Yates & Co Jewelers, the brick-and-mortar counterpart to Titanium-Jewelry.com, customers have relied upon receiving the highest quality products from the most respected titanium jewelry experts in the field. Titanium-Jewelry.com guarantees their jewelry is made from ultra high grade titanium alloys and provides unparalleled customer service and accessible expertise in titanium rings and jewelry, equaling the best possible online shopping experience. Founded in 1988, Titanium-Jewelry offers the best selection of custom fine jewelry with unique and original designs, antique and estate pieces plus a complete line of titanium jewelry for men and women. For more information, please visit www.Titanium-Jewelry.com.

Sam A. Brown is a long time fan of the titanium ring. As a personal shopper, Sam has come to rely on Titanium-jewelry.com as a key player in the overall satisfaction of client wish lists.

By Sam A. Brown
Published: 8/7/2007

Cool Mens Watches

Most watches are not all that impressive. They basically serve a simple purpose by telling the time and getting us where we need to be at the prescribed hour. Oh sure, some may be jazzed up, or all sparkling with diamonds and such, but still just a watch.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Especially with mens watches, you have the opportunity to stand out and make a statement – even look cool! And unlike the diamond studded variety, one doesn’t have to break the bank.

The next time you want a watch for yourself or want to get one for a guy, why not forego the usual fare and investigate special purpose watches, such as those for aviators, or even better, check out dive watches. Yes, those specifically made for scuba diving.

They make a statement by alluding to what you might be up to when you’re outside your usual environment, whether that be home or work.

By the way, I’m not talking about getting some huge wrist mounted instrument. While those can be had, there are a great many models that while being much less obtrusive, still have features that make them noticeable.

So instead of looking down and seeing that same old boring timepiece, or more likely not even noticing it because it’s so everyday bland, you could be sporting a watch that says something – one that smacks of adventure or extreme sports.

Heck, people might even perceive that you’re a bit daring, nay even a risk-taker who embraces challenges and things unknown. At the very least they’ll get the idea there’s another side to this person they think they know.

It doesn’t even matter that you don’t dive – still looks cool. Besides after getting one, you may become intrigued enough with the idea, that you take up diving, which would complete the picture. At the very least, you can swim and enjoy other water-sports with it.

Anyone buying a gift for a husband, son, uncle, nephew, friend, or any other guy should pay attention here. A watch is a great and very practical gift idea, but if you really want to blow them away with something they may not have thought about, think beyond the ordinary mans watch and get them a dive watch.

It solves the problem of not only finding something they’ll both like and use, but they will never see it coming, and absolutely love it. Needless to say, the gesture will be most appreciated.

Bottom line, guys like cool stuff! Actually most everyone does, and whether they admit it or not, most guys like to show off, at least a little. This way they can show off, yet still remain subtle about doing so.

To read more about mens watches, and especially those for outdoor enthusiasts, or to check out some dive watches like those described here, and understand those watch features & what to look for, visit our dive watch website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Allen

Top Five Fall Fashion Trends for 2006

by Melissa Kagan (see more from this expert)

Fall shopping can be exhilarating. New fashion trends, new styles, new colors. This year's scene stealers are a mesmerizing mix of repeat performers like fur, the military movement and metallics. But there are also some new kids on the block, like plaids and the ultimate '80s. And layering is back but in a non-grunge kind of way. Clearly it's not affordable to go for every item the magazines have declared as must-haves, so we've narrowed down the newest and latest to the top five fall fashion trends for 2006.

• It's a Plaid, Plaid World
• All Things '80s
• Horsing Around
• Pump Up the Volume
• Lady in Red

It's a Plaid, Plaid World

The fashion world is mad about plaid for the fall season. Normally reserved for private school uniforms and lumberjacks, this Celtic print has a grown-up flair for fall. In fact, many of the big designers even showed it in the form of elegant eveningwear and chic capes on the runway. How can you wear it? How can't you wear it is more like it. The old-school rules of wearing one pattern at a time don't apply anymore -- you can, but you don't have to. Pairing patterns, like animal prints, plaids, tattersalls, paisleys and checks, is now considered modern and edgy. Can you go overboard? Sure. Make sure the colors in the prints go together, accessorize with colors that are in the pattern you're wearing and lastly, try to keep one print larger than the other so they aren't both bold. Other than that, have fun!

Shop for plaid skirts.

All Things '80s

The fabulous '80s are staging a comeback for fall 2006. Especially in the form of leggings, booties and off-the-shoulder sweaters. For those of us who are, ahem, young enough to remember this glitzy era, our first initial reaction is to cringe. Visions of Madonna and Jennifer Beals appear dancing and grinding before our eyes. But this time around, it's more than a passing teenager trend. This time, it plays into the modern layering trend that is making its mark in the fashion world. Key looks include, well, absolutely anything you can think of over leggings. To narrow it down a bit, we mean belted sweater dresses, off-the-shoulder tops, miniskirts and animal print jackets to name a few. All accessorized with look-at-me accoutrements like studded clutches, booties, gold jewelry, wide cuffs and gloves with grommets. Chances are, more women than not will try incorporating at least a hint of this look into their fall ensembles. Will you be one of them?

Shop for leggings.

Horsing Around

Giddyup into the fall fashion season with some equestrian-inspired classics. And it's not just the obvious form-fitting jodhpurs that we're talking about. Horsy bits such as chain-link prints on bags and tops, riding boots, tweedy trousers and houndstooth vests are all in the style saddle this year. Pair a tie-front top with a buckle-front cropped jacket or wear your must-have leggings with riding boots and a suede car coat. And have we mentioned capes? They are the essential toppers of the season whether you sport them with a full on equestrian ensemble or belted with ladylike skirts and heels. It's up to you how which pieces you'll purchase. But no matter what you choose, they'll add horsepower to your wardrobe.

Shop for riding boots.

Pump Up the Volume

Fall fashion is all over the place this season when it comes to silhouettes. On one hand, skinny styles rule, with leggings topping the must-have list. But on the other cashmere-gloved hand, trapeze dresses, bubble skirts and voluminous toppers have emerged as strong points as well. But how do you pull these looks off without looking like a cartoon character gone wild? Proportion control. The key to making these trends work is knowing how to supersize on top while keeping the bottom streamlined or vice versa. Pair a fitted knit with a large ball skirt or an airy cocoon coat with leggings. Can you wear full leg pants with a fitted waist and a short swingy jacket? Absolutely -- if it looks good on your particular body. Play with volume and see what looks best on your figure by covering up one part of your body with billowing shapes while accentuating another with fitted forms. Isn't that what dressing to look your best is all about?

Shop for bubble skirts.

Lady in Red

Each new season brings with a must-have color of the moment. This fall it's red. This uplifting hue first made a blip on the "fadar" (fashion radar -- and yes, we made that up) for spring but it has evolved into the color du jour for this season. The little red dress has replaced the little white dress which replaced the little black dress last year. Got that? But don't reserve this crimson color for evening. Reds can stop traffic during the day as well. Add accent to otherwise dull greys with scarlet slingbacks, clutches and belts or pair a red skirt with a graphic black and white jacket. Give your leggings a break for the day and pair your colorful clothing with dark hose. We think this color has longevity so don't worry about falling into the trend trap by stocking up on hot items that won't do next year.

Costume Jewelry - The Vintage Stuff is Worth Some Serious Dough!

Fashion jewelry made its first appearance in the U.S. following the conclusion of World War I. First purchased in French boutiques by American GI’s fighting in the war, superbly crafted yet inexpensive costume bracelets, pendants, and necklaces were purchased in record numbers. New designs featuring a host of semi-precious stones and unique materials caused a rapid rise in popularity allowing the poorer Americans to feel rich. Soon after, American companies quickly dominated the market. Some of the most popular manufacturers of vintage costume jewelry include:

• Trifari
• Florenza
• Weiss
• Eisenberg

Authentic costume pieces are basically any type of jewelry not featuring any type of precious metal or gemstone yet produced in large quantities. This cheap yet beautiful alternative soon found its way into jewelry collections across the nation. Essentially, the jewelry was a thrifty alternative to the relatively excessively priced fine pieces made of out precious metals and featuring gemstones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires, or perhaps even pearls.

Virtually any vintage fashion jewelry was readily available for anywhere between $1-10 prior to World War II. Some manufacturers were forced to go out of business during the Great Depression, but surprisingly, a lot of the companies survived and did quite well after World War II. The hay day for the jewelry came in the 1950's and 60's spurred on heavily by advertising on television. Today, high quality costume pieces are more popular than ever and make great gifts for young girls, teenagers, and even adults just looking to add some diversity to their jewelry collection.

While cheap to buy when first released, vintage costume jewelry pieces produced between 1920-1970 are often seen as treasured collectibles in today's frenzied market. Incredibly, there are many pieces being sold in flea markets for a few bucks while being worth hundreds! There are three main things that help determine the value of authentic vintage pieces:

• Rarity
• Stone/Gemstone Quality
• Craftsmanship

Although there were a number of manufacturers, they produced jewelry in varying quantities. For instance, major players like Florenza and Coventry unleashed thousands of copies for every design. Some of the smaller manufacturers like Barclays, DeMario, and McClelland produced much smaller volumes and as such pieces made by them are both rarer and worth more money on the marketplace. Indeed when all other factors are held even, the DeMario necklace will almost always be worth more than a similarly designed Coro version. You definitely need to do your homework, however, because even the large players produced some designs in small quantities making them more valuable than typical pieces from the company.

In many cases, the quality of the stone plays the largest role when it comes to determining value. While none of the stones would be considered "precious" in the traditional sense, there were companies that crafted pieces consistently using high quality stones and semi-precious gemstones, such as:

• Eisenberg
• Bogoff
• Weiss
• Hollycraft

One place renown for using exceptionally high quality stones is Eisenberg. It is hard to find a piece at a flea market that is not already high-priced unless you happen to stumble upon an unsigned one. You want to locate those pieces produced by Hollycraft, Weiss, and Bogoff because they tend to be under-priced on the market and thus make a better investment. Besides the materials used, the quality of metal and craftsmanship will help determine how valuable a piece is on today's market Manufacturers known to consistently craft superior pieces were:

• Danecraft
• Trifari
• Kramer
• Monet

Jon Kreps is a jewelry expert specializing in vintage cameos, indian jewelry, and authentic costume jewelry. To learn more about cameos or other vintage jewelry, visit http://www.vintagetemptations.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Kreps

The Newest Fashion Trend in Hip Hop Jewelry

The hip hop jewelry industry has always been known for it’s innovation in jewelry, sometimes good and other times bad. However, the newest fashion trend is starting to catch on and that trend is the custom belt buckle.

Custom belt buckles are simply a belt buckle that allows the person wearing it to customize it to their own taste. There are two very popular forms of custom belt buckles and they are custom name plate buckles and LED scrolling text buckles.

Custom name plate belt buckles allow a person to pick out several letters that they want to appear on their buckle. They can choose to display their name, their initials or any other message they would like. These belt buckles are becoming very popular and are being worn by an increasing number of celebrities. The most popular form of these custom name plate belt buckles is the iced out version in which the buckle is lined with stones in order to give it that “bling” look.

LED scrolling text belt buckles have become extremely popular and are being worn by more and more people. The LED belt buckle is a small rectangular buckle which has a LED screen built into it. The person wearing the buckle can then input any message that they desire and can have it scroll across the LED screen. These LED scrolling text belt buckles usually let the users input up to 8 different messages and can be programmed to either scroll the text or blink the text on the screen. The scrolling text belt buckles can also be bought with an iced out buckle frame and are one of the most popular hip hop jewelry items on the market right now.

Hip Hop jewelry is always pushing the envelope on fashion trends and often goes too far. But the newest trend of custom belt buckles seems to have become very popular and is one of the most often bought pieces of iced out jewelry. The LED belt buckles and custom name plate belt buckles appear to be here to stay.

If you are interested in getting your own custom hip hop belt buckles take a look at the latest LED Belt Buckles and see if one fits your style. Or if you are more interested in a custom name belt buckle start designing one today. For all your iced out bling jewelry needs feel free to browse our large selection of hip hop jewelry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kurt_Howard