Kelly Osbourne’s top fashion tips

Kelly Osbourne’s top fashion tips


Kelly Osbourne was a reality star, actress and musician before anyone took notice that she had a knack for style.

But lately the 27-year-old daughter of Ozzy Osbourne, currently with violet hair after stints of pink, lilac and gray, has earned the title of certified fashionista, dishing the designer dirt with Joan Rivers and co-hosts Giuliana Rancic and George Kotsiopoulos after major Hollywood red carpets on E! “Fashion Police.”

She also sat front row with Rivers at the Badgley Mischka show during the New York Fashion Week this past February.

“I'm in the process of branding, doing my own line. I will not just attach my name to something,” Osbourne said. “I want to be a part of every aspect of it. I want to do everything on it and even down to like making sure I know where the clothes or items are being manufactured.”

Now she's being tapped to kick off fashion-fueled events too, like this month's The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival along Chicago's Michigan Avenue. While there Osbourne shared three things she learned walking the red carpet that she considers top everyday tips for real women:

* Spray tans: “It just gives you that golden glow, a bit of bronze, like you've been kissed by the sun,” Osbourne said. “It makes you look slimmer and it makes you feel healthier. I always do that. I hate that I don't have one now.”

* Flatter that figure: “Even if you're a skinny girl, Spanx are a must,” Osbourne said, name-checking the shaping undergarments have become a red-carpet staple for women. “Nobody wants to see your belly button through your dress.”

* Pamper your feet: “Always pack a pair of ballet flats in your handbag because by the end of the night your feet are killing you. You want to keep going but you can't. I can't tell you how many times I've had to go home early because my feet hurt and I haven't had a pair of shoes to change into. Don't let your footwear ruin your good time,” she said.

And for those who must know what Osbourne was wearing in Chicago to meet with reporters last week: A long, flowing short-sleeved black dress with a rainbow leaf print by Issa (a British label that Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, has helped popularize) and a ring with a large purple stone and a jeweled leaf by Chanel.

Best of Summer: Big Fashion Trends!

Best of Summer: Big Fashion Trends!


Thought summertime fashion was all about a banging bikini bod? Well, think again.
Because this summer's hottest styles are not only bright, fun and totally fabulous, but clothing is almost optional as we dare to beat the heat in the sexiest of styles. 
From crop tops to short shorts to neon galore, there's still time to rock summer fashion like a star (and maybe snag something on sale!).
So, pull out that credit card, renew that gym membership, and get ready to channel your inner Miley Cyrus. Here are the top fashion trends of this summer season!

1. Crop Tops: Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, there's no denying this summer was the season of the crop top. The belly-baring style first crept onto our trending radar last summer, but it wasn't until Miley Cyrus' daily Pilates classes—and midriff to match—that the abtastic approach to summer fashion really took off.
Paired with a high-waisted skirt or supershort shorts, this trend looks fab on all our fave twentysomething stars with some of the most banging bodies in the biz.
And despite the fact the look can go from glam to trash (we love you, Kristen Stewart, but you've perfectly illustrated this point), we're still fans of the daring fashion.

2. Neon: Here at E!, we're all about a pop of color, but this summer's neon trend took color to a UV-level tone. From nails to hair to jeans to dresses to shoes to handbags and accessories, this ode to the '80s was everywhere this summer.
Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé and Katy Perry are just a few of the many celebs who love to rock this standout style. And whether it's bright yellow nails paired with an electric-blue top, a hot-pink dress with purple-colored tips or a bold red handbag with bright shoes to match, there are a million ways to test this trend.
Care to turn a few heads like Hollywood's hottest celebs? Then dare to add a pop of insanely bright color to your summer wardrobe. (Pair it with a crop top if you're really looking for attention.)

3. Dip-Dyed Hair: Extensions? Pshh. So last season. Now, it's all about adding some bright color to your tresses!
From Lauren Conrad to Nicole Richie to Ashley Tisdale to Christina Aguilera, countless celebs have jumped on the colored-tip trending train. This edgy 'do is a perfect way to change up your look without chopping off your locks.
If you're feeling extra bold, go for an all-over color à la Katy Perry, which looks totally fierce with all the neon shirts in stores this season.
Forget California blond! Celebs all over Tinseltown are proving blues, greens and even pinks are the ones who really have more fun.


4. Sheer: If you're not bold enough to bare your belly, then never fear—there's another summer trend for showing off your banging bod: sheer!   
Celebs like Kim Kardashian, Blake Lively and Rihanna have all sported this sheerly fabulous trend, which can easily be tailored to show lots of skin (Ri-Ri's a pro).
The sheer style is one of the easiest to rock, since it can go from cazh to glam and works well on every body type. Whether it's a see-through shirt with a neon bandeau or a long skirt with peek-a-boo detailing, we're fully obsessed with this subtle (or not) sexy trend.

5. Maxi/Mullet Dresses: Talk about a '70s comeback! This summer marked the return of the maxi/mullet dress. Whether you prefer the full floor-length style (maxi) or the short-in-front-long-in-back (mullet) look, this style was everywhere this summer.
From moms-on-the-go like Jessica Alba and Jessica Simpson to young stars like Emma Roberts and Demi Lovato, this trend can go from Saturday night out to Sunday brunch. If you're feeling really bold, add some sheer to your skirt for an all-over leggy look, or pair platforms with a mullet dress for a seriously sexy ode to the disco era.

Fashion is an "art" for Zoe Saldana

Fashion is an "art" for Zoe Saldana


Zoe Saldana wants to "continue growing" as a person.

The Star Trek actress - who has dated Bradley Cooper in the past - admits she has never been as content with her life as she is right now and wants to use her happiness to motivate her to keep learning.

She said: "What am I looking forward to next year? Honestly, to continue growing in every aspect of my life because it's been a long time since I've been this happy. I really want that to motivate me moving forward on every level." One area Zoe will always enjoy no matter her mood is fashion, but she admits she is not a particularly trendy person and does not wear things because they are of the moment.

She said: "I'm not really a trendy person when it comes to fashion. I never know what's going to catch my attention, so I really just dress in a way that expresses my mood and my feelings in any given situation."

However, she will always consider clothing as less about "luxury" and more about art. She told Gotham magazine: "My grandmother and great-grandmother were seamstresses their whole lives, so when my grandmother moved to New York in the '60s, she worked for design houses throughout the city. She really loved fabrics and textiles, so it was natural to my family. Fashion wasn't like a religion to us, but it is in my ancestry. It was never about luxury; it was about art."

The Fashion Whip: Michael Steele On What to Wear At The Conventions

The Fashion Whip: Michael Steele On What to Wear At The Conventions



Some fashionistas dream about Mercedes Benz Fashion Week - I dream about the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. Who will wear what? Will my "bundle" method of packing suitcases with shirt, tie and accessory combos make it safely to baggage claim? Will the political elite log in to check their online style albums? Many of my clients are moving from C-SPAN to Primetime for the next two weeks and the stakes are higher.

While most politicians are not aiming for a spot on the best-dressed list, there is a uniform for standing at the podium: navy suit, white shirt, red tie (sometimes blue). The conventions are Poliwood's Sundance Film Festival with lots of meeting, greeting, and speaking; outfits even get better as the week comes to a close. Like walking the red carpet, the RNC and DNC conventions are a time to shine, so don't re-wear last year's best threads!

I asked Michael Steele, fashion plate and former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, to share his top three style tips for speakers at this year's RNC and DNC conventions. Here is what the political analyst for MSNBC and partner at Purple Nation Solutions advises:

• "Wear a suit your mother would be proud to see you dressed in!" Your suit should reflect your style even if you're not stylish. Add a pocket square and accentuate with a nice tie. Michael says many politicians are partial to the "George Bush baby blue" tie in a solid light blue, calling it one of the prettiest shades of blue connoting softness and strength.

• "Adding a tie pin and cuff links will set off a nice suit perfectly!" Michael says this is definitely an occasion to wear cuff links (even if you're not a cuff links person). Michael encourages speakers to "frame your words with your cuff links and tie pin" to complete your powerful look.

• "Comfortable underwear and shoes are a necessity." You will spend at least 12 hours walking around - Michael advises to be comfortable and make sure your clothes "fit in a way that you don't feel trapped." Need we say more?

Be sure to add your American flag pin and leave your button cuff shirts at home. And, look out for a stylish Michael Steele - he will be the tall guy in wild colors, striped shirts, and a purple seersucker suit.

Badass LA Fashion Site Nasty Gal Picks Up A Badass $40M From Index Ventures For World Domination

Badass LA Fashion Site Nasty Gal Picks Up A Badass $40M From Index Ventures For World Domination


Nasty Gal, a site dedicated to selling “badass”, “unapologetically sexy” female fashion, has picked up a cool $40 million Series B round from Index Ventures, just five months after the VCs were the sole backers in its first, $9 million round. The LA-based company — which had sales of $28 million in 2011, is on track to make $128 million in 2012 says Forbes, and is currently on a growth curve of 10,000% (yep!) — says it will be using the funds to expand in every way that it can. Investments will be made in technology, operations (including a 500,000 square foot fulfillment center in Louisville, KY and a 50,000 square-foot office space), manufacturing, creative production — and preparing to go global.

Global is not a goal too far for Nasty Gal, which says it already has a customer base of 350,000 people across 60 countries. Already, the company says that 35% of its sales are coming from outside the U.S. It’s also not too much of a surprise, given that Index has its roots in Europe and has a strong track record on investments with a global remit.

There are a bunch of fashion sites that are picking up investment at the moment: among them, JustFab raised $76 million; Russian buying club KupiVIP picked up $38 million; fashion aggregation site Lyst took $5 million; and India’s Freecultr got $9 million from investors including Sequoia. And there are those rumors about Fancy being a target buy for one tech giant with a lot of money to spare. In all of these cases, the idea is to scale up and seize the moment as women (and men, but mostly women) increasingly flock to the web for their fashion fix.

This is what Nasty Gal is doing, too. But where it is perhaps set apart most from the others is in its focus on a look that speaks to a kind of high-fashion street style that is many avenue blocks away from the Gap, and a much closer to neighbor to UK fixtures ASOS and Top Shop.

Another is how Nasty Gal has continued to adhere to the one-off, second-hand clothles curation that helped founder Sophia Amoruso first make her name on eBay. These vintage pieces now site alongside a much-bigger range of clothing that Nasty Gal sources largely in LA. (This long piece in the LA Times notes that some 70% of the collection is made in Nasty Girl’s own backyard.)

As with any fashion e-commerce company that is going places, Nasty Gal is leaning heavily on social media to grow its business — an easy sell, given that its target customer base, 18-24 year-old females, matches up perfectly with some of the most dedicated, regular users of social media. Nasty Gal has 470,000 Facebook fans, 57,000 Twitter followers, 321,000 Instagram followers, and a “growing base” of Pinterest users.

It was its social media cred — and sticking to its straight-pricing guns — that brought Nasty Gal to Index’s attention, giving the VC hope that Nasty Gal will soar amongst many other would be fashion e-commerce stars.

“Until Nasty Gal, we hadn’t seen a fashion retailer with such a deep understanding of social commerce,” Danny Rimer, a Partner at Index Ventures, said in a statement. As part of this latest investment, Rimer has joined the board of Nasty Gal. This looks to be the most sizeable investment yet made out of the $442 million (€350 million) investment fund announced by Index in June.

So what will come next? It sounds more likely to be about leveraging social media to grow its ubiquity and engagement and less likely to be about any of the marketing services that have been the cornerstone of growth for other fashion e-commerce sites. The LA Times article noted that Nasty Gal “wasn’t resorting to gimmicky retail tactics like daily deals, monthly subscriptions or Hollywood partnerships.” (These are services we see across many of the other leading fashion e-commerce sites.)

“Girls are really addicted to the website and the clothes,” Rimer told the LA Times. “It’s more challenging to build a long-term business model based not on discounting and on celebrity endorsements, but rather just the quality of your product.”

Coco Chanel once said that in order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different, and that goes just as much for the world of technology as it does for fashion. Time will tell if Nasty Gal will be the one to prove it on both counts.

After a Fashion: The Wrap

After a Fashion: The Wrap


Austin Fashion Week has wound down, ending more than a week of parties, fashion shows, and related events. Attendance seemed bigger this year, and AFW continues to evolve. Evolution is a good thing in most cases, though often something can evolve in an unexpected direction that may not have the desired effect. Last week I ragged on the AFW launch party for being unrelated to fashion. It was geared to the sponsors and not the fashion crowd. But we already covered that, didn't we?

I did not attend any of the Driskill runway shows or any of the showcases around town because I, like many other designers, was working madly day and night on my own collection and could not afford to take the time off. But I'd never dream of missing the Austin Fashion Awards. Though held at the unlovely Austin Music Hall, the fashion awards were indeed the best AFW has pulled off so far. Kendra Scott's jewelry collection was absolutely stunning, styled large for the runway and paired with jeweled headdresses. The presentation was so cool, so beautiful, and so perfect that it set the standard for what all Austin Fashion Awards presentations should look like. Another collection shown by one designer was more of a mystery, however, with the entire collection designed from a bolt of cheesy Halloween fabric. Maybe the audience didn't know it, but any designer who has been in a fabric store more than once has seen this fabric and recoiled from its cheapness and ubiquity.

Not a great fabric for a show that had a large number of well-trained designers in the audience. Ross Bennett showed a collection that, as he told me backstage, was done in four days with two seamstresses. I understand that situation, but virtually every garment in this fairly cohesive collection had sewing problems. Puckered seams, visible hems, and wrinkled garments undermined what should have been a gorgeous collection, considering how long Ross has had to work on it, and considering its placement in the show. Ross' fame is because he was on a reality show, not because his design ability is so formidable. Unfortunately, the attention seems ill-deserved for what we've seen from him lately.

Nonetheless, he did indeed deserve the Rising Star award he was given. If he keeps working hard, he will be good someday and worthy of this early attention. AFW has begun to recognize that fashion in Austin does not begin and end with them. In addition to giving out five Rising Star awards, they also awarded five Trailblazer awards for those who made their mark on Austin fashion, long before the Ross Bennetts started propagating. I was especially proud of the winners of those awards, and pleased that AFW founder Matt Swinney can reflect on the past while looking to the future. It was a tremendous honor for me to give the final award of the night to my dear friend Gail Chovan.

As I said in my impromptu speech, "In the pantheon of beautiful women who make up my personal Fashion Hall of Fame, she is Goddess No. 1. She is the only real fashion star in Austin, a true trailblazer, and I'm so proud to call her my friend." Then it was on to the much-hyped afterparty. In a hellacious downpour that sent the beautifully dressed crowd running for their cars, the Austin Music Hall created the biggest trend of the night by providing clear plastic garbage bags for the attendees, as well as walkers with umbrellas to help people to their cars. Good work, Austin Music Hall! At the afterparty, Spectra, the work by Wes Lane at LIGHTfaktor, was dazzling, but the wet crowd coupled with the heat put a damper on the whole thing (pun intended). What was truly disappointing was René Geneva's much hyped fashion show featuring LED-lit dresses.

If I recall correctly, only one of the dresses lit up, while the others suffered some malfunction that sent out rather dreary clothes bedecked with tubes and wires that did nothing. After having seen the magnificent LED-lit costumes from Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, Geneva's attempt seemed poorly planned. Having seen enough bad fashion, Jacki Oh and I decided that we just needed to go to sleep and forget it all.

Downtown Fashion Business

Downtown Fashion Business


 Las Vegas makes millions of dollars from all the conventions that are held every year.

There is a group of young entrepreneurs trying to capitalize on all that business and bring it downtown.

The fashion industry trade show called magic going is expected to bring people from dozens of countries and benefit the Las Vegas valley to the tune of 100 million dollars. The group is hoping to breathe life into downtown by showing visitors what Vegas has off the strip.

Meghan Boyd's passion is fashion and she's behind a movement downtown to bring a budding Las Vegas fashion industry dream into reality.

"It's really great to bring in other businesses downtown, and to provide a space where they can collaborate and co work and spark creativity, and there's so much already happening downtown and we want to be apart of that," Said Boyd, founder of Las Vegas Fashion Lab.

Crews set up lights and prepared a back ally behind Fremont Street to play host to an event aimed at putting the Las Vegas' fashion scene on the map. Fashion models, make up artists and designers are putting on a show for around 700 bloggers, writers, and VIPs. They want to show that downtown could be a new fashion mecca.

"We think it's interesting enough to bring that crowd off the strip, out of the night clubs and into an ally and to party," adds Chris Ramirez, founder of Silver State Productions and co-sponsor of the event.

A new incubator business called Las Vegas fashion lab is set to open later this year. It's just a hint of what could become a huge player in the fashion industry.

The goal is to turn out clothes and create designs that capture the imaginations of locals around the world and into the heart of downtown Vegas.

Bright colours and loud noises: Welcome to PFF 2012

Bright colours and loud noises: Welcome to PFF 2012

Perth's fashion set aren't shrinking violets any more.

On September 19 the world's most isolated city will be awash with fluorescent green, neon yellow and hot pink, with a suitably loud score thanks to local indie-pop rockers San Cisco for the kick off of the 2012 Perth Fashion Festival.

"This year we are breaking with tradition, taking on new formats and events to spice it up," Festival director Mariella Harvey-Hanrahan said at Tuesday's program launch.


Celebrity hair stylist Brad Ngata produced the bright, bright coloured looks of the locks for the PFF 2012 program launch.
More than 150 designers will take part in the 14th annual event including One Fell Swoop, Morrison and Ae’lkemi.
Special guests and ambassadors will include Singaporean socialite and blogger Marie Choo, celebrity and L'Oreal Professional hairstylist Brad Ngata and Face of the Festival, Dior darling Nicole Pollard.

The highlights, which were unveiled today to fashion insiders and VIPS over a breakfast of champagne and fruit kebabs at the State Theatre Centre, will include a special trunk show by Flannel.

At "An Evening with Flannel" guests will be a served a three-course meal and French Champagne and take in the 1920s inspired showcase of the spring/summer collection Neronis styled by ex-Vogue fashion editor Meg Gray.

Boutique owner and stylist Zara Bryson will lead the charge of "Fashionably Loud" at Brookfield Place which will fuse models, music by rock stars of the future San Cisco and mode by Ellery, Belle Bijoux and Kitty Grace.

For the first time there will be shows which cater for those who are vision impaired. Some shows will also feature seeing eyes dogs on the catwalk.

Deputy Lord Mayor Janet Davidson said that past Perth Fashion Festival events had a $6 million impact within the City of Perth's retail precinct.

Perth Fashion Festival runs from September 19 through to September 25.

Chinese women are muses for fashion guru

Chinese women are muses for fashion guru


When Diane von Furstenberg was 22 years old and just starting out in the fashion business, she dreamed that one day she would sell a dress to every woman in China. As a child, she had read about the country in Tintin's "Blue Lotus" adventure book. She imagined it to be luxurious and enigmatic. In 1990, she became one of the first American fashion designers to visit, at a time when bicycles filled dirt roads.

Today, with five stores doing brisk business (and plans for four more this year) and more than 300,000 followers on China's Sina Weibo, she is becoming a household name here, a realisation of her 2010 resolution to be widely known in a country that has become more than a business destination.


"For me, it's not just 'Go there and sell,'" she says. "I have really good friends there, artists and writers and journalists. I've absorbed myself into the culture and have given it a lot of my time. I have real connections there."


Over the past four years, she has visited up to three times a year, she says. In 2011, she hosted the Red Ball, a glamorous black-tie party at a converted studio factory outside Shanghai owned by artist Zhang Huan. The fete was in celebration of the opening of Diane Von Furstenberg: Journey of a Dress, an exhibition spotlighting her career as both icon and fashion designer. The show featured newly commissioned works by Chinese artists Li Songsong, Zhang Huan, Hai Bo and Yi Zhou.


Then, in late 2011, Citic Press of China released Von Furstenberg's autobiography A Signature Life, translated into Chinese by TV personality and author Huang Hung.


"I am inspired by the whole country," Von Furstenberg says. "I identify very much with Chinese people. And if you are into textiles and silk well - people say the Chinese steal everything, but originally we stole it from them, didn't we? It's the crib of civilization."


She chose Zhang's factory as the location of her party because of its blend of gritty and modern aesthetics, she says.

Jennifer Hawkins talks weddings, fashion and her new role as agony aunt

Jennifer Hawkins talks weddings, fashion and her new role as agony aunt

At 29, Jen is genuinely knocked out and impressed by the advice she is asked to give young girls who look up to her as a role model, as they search for guidance on life, career, success. Oh, and boyfriends, of course.

Sitting down with me before her hugely-acclaimed Myer spring/summer season runway show last night, Jen was confident, fresh and genuine and I found her to be in her happiest headspace yet.

Jen also said she has no plans in becoming 'Jenni Everywhere', making sure each brand 'association', from swimwear, shoes, health, TV and fashion, all have integrity and a legitimate 'fit' in her mindset.

As for those much talked about wedding plans with fiancé Jake Wall, Jen says yes, they are definitely going ahead next year. And here's a paparazzi alert: she and her man may even choose to do it overseas. (You can check out her plans on our exclusive video.)

Meanwhile, Jen's 'male' Myer equivalent, the former rugby star Kris Smith, was brimming with just as much delight. The former partner to designer and TV judge Dannii Minogue (the pair separated in April) said their son Ethan has developed quite a fashion eye.

With both parents showing a penchant for all things stylish, it's no doubt the toddler has developed wardrobe 'taste'. Kris, 34, talks happiness and reveals his best Zoolander look too on our video interview.

On with last night's show and Jen opened the sleek spectacular at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion in an exquisite Toni Maticevski red gown, proving the perfect way to unveil the tribal, African-themed spring/summerlaunch.

Kris drew some appreciative looks from the 450 VIPs and fashion types when he paced the circular runway in a, well, taut-fitting Speedo swimsuit that revealed a six, or was that an 8 pack?


The show was inspired by landscapes of the Pilansberg National Park in South Africa where the spring summer campaign was shot and being quite a long show, it featured 170 looks on 48 models. The circular show space was made up of thousands of individual rope lengths that hovered high above the crowd.

The Myer parade drew an A-list crowd of celebrities and fashion types including Lauren Phillips, Olympian Alicia Coutts (and yes, I even got to touch her gold medal!), the always divine Danielle Spencer, former Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Campbel and designers Charlie Brown, Jayson Brunsdon, Aurelio Costarella, Wayne Cooper, Toni Maticevski, Arthur Galan and Leona Edmiston.

There were Sunrise stars Melissa Doyle, David Koch, Michael Pell and Edwina Bartholomew, Westfield styling guru Donny Galella, mag mavens Jackie Frank, Edwina McCann and Amy Molloy, Myer's Bernie Brooks and Judy Coomber and the always chic wife of Aussie cricket captain, Michael Clark, Kyly Clark.

Jen wore an exquisite Aurelio Costarella gown finale of the show saying it may inspire her bridesmaid (her sister) for the upcoming nuptials.

Jen also showed her successful Cozi swimwear range, showing off her runway ready body in a pink and orange Aztec-print bikini and sweeping leopard print sheer jacket . . the jacket, just in case there were any wardrobe malfunctions as the fashion star experienced at a Miranda shopping centre show way back in 2004.

Fashion weeks in flux

    Fashion weeks in flux



Nobody likes to talk about competition between fashion weeks in Montreal and Toronto. Only the blunt and the brave dare say it exists.

Most players do say that Canadian fashion would benefit from one strong stage on which to showcase the best design talent in this country. But few venture to say which stage that should be.

Now IMG Canada — a branch of the global talent management powerhouse for sports, fashion and entertainment — has bought Toronto’s fashion week, which early this year was renamed World MasterCard Fashion Week, with the unwieldy acronym WMCFW.

The purchase, at a price that has not been made public, leads to the question: How will this affect Montreal’s week?

Toronto will now have access to IMG’s extensive international network — talent, models, sponsors — said Joe Mimran, chair of the Fashion Design Council of Canada, which managed Toronto’s week for 13 years under Robin Kay, who has been retained as a consultant to IMG.

IMG, through its various divisions, runs fashion weeks in New York, Berlin, Moscow, Mumbai, Tokyo and Sydney, among other cities, and represents such top models as Kate Moss, Gisele Bündchen and Jessica Stam, as well as top athletes and entertainers.

“There is a real need to bring Canadian talent together — whether in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver — in one place,” said Mimran, mastermind of Joe Fresh and founder of Club Monaco. “It hasn’t been easy to accomplish,’’ he said, citing factors like government funding.

As for Montreal, observers have more questions than answers.

The IMG backing “will give a more international flair to Toronto. I’m very happy for Toronto,” designer Denis Gagnon said, adding that he isn’t sure what the effect will be for Montreal.

“It seems like globalization rules these days,” jeans mogul Salvatore Parasuco said in an email. “I hope we grow our Canadian identity globally with this.’’ He wondered, however, whether the deal is a good thing in the long term.

Jean-François Daviau, co-president of Sensation Mode, which produces Montreal Fashion Week, doesn’t know what the sale will change. MFW moves to impressive new quarters at the Arsenal contemporary art centre in Griffintown for its next edition and is naming a board of directors this fall.

“We are staying on course with our development plan. Things are going well in Montreal. We understand the reality of fashion in Canada,’’ he said, explaining that the reality includes many independent designers, retailers based in Montreal, and a structure unlike that of the U.S.

“We are focused very much on the local market with the aim of one day exporting.

“So the place for emerging talent is very important and we work hard to help them achieve a level that might one day allow them to show internationally.”

In Toronto, goals are similar: “Our goal is to promote Canadian talent, show their product and expand internationally,’’ Mimran said.

Mimran added that he hates to think of the two weeks as being in competition with each other. He noted that Canada’s fashion weeks will never be as strong as New York’s, and New York will never trump Paris. “Every week has to find its own place.”

He pointed to the gruelling schedule for international catwalk followers. “Yet it’s so important for each country to have its own expression of fashion.

“It’s part of our culture.”

In Montreal, Sensation Mode is producer of fashion week, with a mandate from Liaison Mode Montréal, an industry association. Each session of fashion week gets about $265,000 in government funding, part of the event’s budget of $1 million to $1.2 million per session. Fashion weeks are held twice a year: in September or October to showcase collections for the following spring and summer, and in February or March for the next fall’s lines.

IMG is privately held; organizers of fashion week report only to the owners and sponsors, Mimran said. He could not give a budget for the week, but noted it is high. It might cost $700,000 to build the tent at David Pecaut Square, where the event is held. There is zero government subsidy, he added.

IMG signed on as a consultant with the Fashion Design Council of Canada three years ago. As a result, the Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition reached out to young designers across Canada, with the prize being mentorship from established designers and a sponsored show at Toronto’s fashion week. Danielle Martin and Pao Lim of Montreal’s Martin Lim line won the first competition, in October, with their fall 2012 line.

“It can be great for Toronto,’’ Martin said of the IMG deal. “For designers, it would be great to have one fashion week. I would prefer it in Montreal.”

This season, the husband-wife team is not showing in Toronto, but is showing in Montreal on Sept. 4. “We can’t afford two fashion weeks,’’ Martin said.

It costs $1,500 to show in Montreal, said Gagnon. That includes makeup and hair, music and runway time. The fee structure in Toronto is based on many factors, but is adjusted so that the talent gets to show, Mimran said.

Gagnon said his numerous shows in Toronto were by invitation, with costs covered. “They don’t invite me anymore, so I don’t go,” said

Gagnon, who is showing in Montreal on Sept. 5.

Denis Desro, editor-in-chief of fashion for Elle Québec and Elle Canada, does not think the IMG deal will change much.

“Canada is a market unto itself. Do you think IMG knows more about the market than the people before?” Desro asked.

What bothers Desro and others is the timing of Montreal Fashion Week. It clashes with New York’s week and the Toronto International Film Festival.

“The major designers and buyers will choose New York,’’ Desro said. “If Montreal wants foreign buyers, it’s not a good route.”

Even major buyers here, from Simons, the Bay or Ogilvy, are obliged to be in New York, he pointed out.

Desro asked who and what we are doing the fashion week for. “Just to do fashion shows? To try to get buyers and journalists from outside? If it’s at the same time as New York, forget it. They’re cutting a good portion of the people who can support Montreal fashion.”

Daviau, of Sensation Mode, said the dates were chosen in collaboration with the “milieu” — designers, the industry and government. “We have to work with them to assure success.”

Last year, Sensation Mode met with all its partners to understand their expectations.

“We compared ourselves with other fashion weeks in the world. We tried to identify the strengths of our talent. The reality of the designers of Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver is similar,’’ Daviau said.

They came up with a strategic plan. “One conclusion — because fashion often works behind closed doors — is to open up with a broad board of directors with different expertise to give fashion week a new push.”

Daviau posed the question of why international buyers or media come to Montreal.

“It’s to try to find a hidden gem. That’s what we’re working on.’’


Montreal Fashion Week, spring 2013 edition, runs Sept. 4 to 7 at the Arsenal, 2020 William St. World MasterCard Fashion Week is set to run Oct. 22 to 26 at David Pecaut Square in Toronto.

Fashion’s Olympic moment

Fashion’s Olympic moment

Models had their moment at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, with the likes of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell bringing gold ballgowns, high heels and glamour on Sunday to the stadium that had been home to sneakers and sweat.

unusual moment seemed to stump even the NBC announcers, who identified Campbell and Moss and otherwise stayed silent for much of the tribute set to David Bowie’s Fashion.

For the record, the other models were Georgia May Jagger (daughter of Mick) in a gold dress created by reunited Spice Girl Victoria Beckham; Karen Elson, in a gold floral lace bustier dress by Burberry; Lily Donaldson, in a gown covered with hammered sequins and metallic thread by Vivienne Westwood; Stella Tennant in a Christopher Kane Swarovski-crystal catsuit; Lily Cole in an Erdem embroidered lace cocktail dress; David Gandy in a Paul Smith suit; and Jourdan Dunn in a jersey tube dress splashed with gold “paint” by Jonathan Saunders.

“I loved the contrast between the gold and white coupled with this refined column silhouette, which I revisit a lot,” Saunders said in a statement.

Campbell wore a gold metal embroidered dress and Moss wore gold sequins, both by Alexander McQueen. The models and designers represented the best of modern British fashion.

Could gold be the new black?

Gold, sneakers, models? Fashion's Olympic moment

Gold, sneakers, models? Fashion's Olympic moment

Models had their moment at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, with the likes of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell bringing gold ballgowns, high heels and glamour on Sunday to the stadium that had been home to sneakers and sweat.

The unusual moment seemed to stump even the NBC announcers, who identified Campbell and Moss and otherwise stayed silent for much of the tribute set to David Bowie's "Fashion."

For the record, the other models were Georgia May Jagger (daughter of Mick) in a gold dress created by reunited Spice Girl Victoria Beckham; Karen Elson, in a gold floral lace bustier dress by Burberry; Lily Donaldson, in a gown covered with hammered sequins and metallic thread by Vivienne Westwood; Stella Tennant in a Christopher Kane Swarovski-crystal catsuit; Lily Cole in an Erdem embroidered lace cocktail dress; David Gandy in a Paul Smith suit; and Jourdan Dunn in a jersey tube dress splashed with gold "paint" by Jonathan Saunders.

"I loved the contrast between the gold and white coupled with this refined column silhouette, which I revisit a lot," Saunders said in a statement.

Campbell wore a gold metal embroidered dress and Moss wore gold sequins, both by Alexander McQueen. The models and designers represented the best of modern British fashion.

Noted fashion photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta dies of heart attack

Noted fashion photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta dies of heart attack

Noted fashion photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta died on Sunday (August 12) following heart attack while doing a shoot at Alibaug, family sources said.

Mr Dasgupta, who was in his early 50's, pursued a variety of photography projects and was considered a major photography talent in the country.

He was doing a shoot for a company at Alibaug, about 150 km from Mumbai, when he suffered a heart attack.

His work was exhibited internationally, both in solo and group shows, and published in Indian, French, English, Italian and American magazines. He had also authored five books and was among those rare Indian photographers who did not hesitate in showcasing nude portraits.

Mr Dasgupta had worked with famous models like Lakshmi Menon and Lara Dutta. Lakshmi Menon was his muse before he entered into a relationship with the model.

"It's shocking news for all of us. He seemed to be fit and healthy. He was an inspiration to young photographers. He was fearless. He had the courage to do different things," said Editor at Better Photography magazine, K Madhavan Pillai.

Fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar said: "It is sad to hear about his demise. I got to know that he passed away in Alibaug this evening. He was doing a shoot for a company over there. He was a brilliant photographer and shot some really iconic images."

Actress Lara Dutta wrote on twitter,"I hear from twitter that Prabuddha Dasgupta has passed away. He shot me for the Femina cover right after I won Miss India. It was every woman's dream to be shot by Prabuddho! No one captured a woman like him. May his soul rest in peace."

"One of the finest photographers and a dear friend, Prabhuda, passed away. RIP. This has been a dark week," actor Farhan Akhtar said.

Fashion wins few medals in London

Fashion wins few medals in London

Designer Giorgio Armani predicted that the London Olympics would be the most stylish ever, but fashion experts say there has been as much bad taste as elegance on display.

From the Stella McCartney-designed British kit that omitted most of the red of the Union flag, to the US team's Chinese-made Ralph Lauren uniforms, couture has collided with controversy throughout the Olympics.

The opening ceremony offered up a riot of costumes and colours that gave a taste of things to come.

The striking yellows and greens of the Jamaican team's kit designed by Cedella Marley, the daughter of reggae great Bob Marley, won many fans, while the Czech Republic's striking outfits provoked mixed reactions.

Fashion journalist Carolyn Asome in The Times newspaper said the Czechs sported "the most hideous plastic blue boots known to mankind," while Hadley Freeman in The Guardian awarded them her fashion gold medal for the Games.

Even when the temperature went up on Thursday, Czech athlete Zuzana Hejnova donned her boots to collect the bronze in the medal ceremony for the 400m hurdles.

The Mexican team added a ring of authenticity at the opening ceremony with their multi-coloured ponchos -- which Asome said were in keeping with this season's trends.

Armani himself was roped in to design the outfits for his homeland, Italy.

The Spanish athletes were however the first to malign their own red and gold kits complete with go-faster flames, which were provided -- for free -- by Russian sportswear company Bosco Sport.

"It's not at all Latin, it's clearly more Eastern European," canoeist Saul Craviotto grumbled on his Twitter account, next to a photo of him trying on his uniform.

Russia's 1980s football shirt-style outfits were also designed by Bosco.

The US delegation -- decked out in Ralph Lauren as they had been during the 2008 Beijing Summer Games and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics -- raised eyebrows with their very French-looking berets.

But while the rest of the uniform looked patriotic enough there was a furore in the United States when it emerged ahead of the Games that the uniforms were made in China, stirring up an inevitable debate in this US election year.

For outfits worn during competition itself, the French won style points -- if not medals -- by bringing in luxury fashion house Hermes for their equestrian team, who wore navy and red blazers made of a special fabric to aid movement.

The beach volleyball outfits of all the participating teams have attracted much attention for their sheer skimpiness, particularly in the sometimes British summer.

The Stella McCartney-designed vests for the British team received the "gold medal for riskiness" from L'Officiel, a French fashion magazine, for their variation on the Union Jack.

McCartney -- whose father Paul of The Beatles fame performed at the opening ceremony -- had "clearly kept white and the blue as the dominant colours, minimising the presence of red, only using it on the shoes and collars," the magazine noted.

British athletes have kept quiet about their outfits, but during their biggest gold rush since 1908 many of them have been notably keep to drape themselves in a real Union Jack after their victories.

Meanwhile the British opening ceremony outfits, consisting of white tracksuits with gold collars and armpit patches, attracted flak at home as they were produced by high-street brand Next.

"Britain, you suck," wrote Hadley Freeman in The Guardian.

The dot and the (fashion) line

The dot and the (fashion) line


Morsi also asked Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi to replace the commander of the military police, a force that has been heavily used since the ouster 18 months ago of Hosni Mubarak. He also fired the commander of the presidential guards and named new chiefs for security in Cairo and the police's central security, a large paramilitary force often deployed to deal with riots.

The attack raised questions about the readiness of Egyptian forces in the area, particularly after Israel warned the country earlier of an imminent attack.


Jerusalem: Blurry eyeglasses look to keep women out of sight
It's the latest prescription for extreme ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who shun contact with the opposite sex: Glasses that blur their vision, so they don't have to see women they consider to be immodestly dressed.

The ultra-Orthodox have separated the sexes on buses and other public spaces in their neighborhoods. Their interpretation of Jewish law forbids contact between men and women who are not married. Now they're trying to keep women out of clear sight altogether.

The ultra-Orthodox community's unofficial "modesty patrols" are selling glasses with special blur-inducing stickers on their lenses. The glasses provide clear vision for up to a few meters, but anything beyond that gets blurry.


Shawal, Pakistan: Taliban threaten to kill Pakistani cricket star
The Taliban have threatened to kill a Pakistani cricket star turned politician if he holds a planned march to their tribal stronghold along the Afghan border to protest U.S. drone attacks.

Although the Pakistani Taliban also oppose the strikes, which have killed many of their fighters, spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said they would target Imran Khan because he calls himself a "liberal" - a term they associate with a lack of religious belief. He also warned they would attack anyone who participates in upcoming elections.


Paris: Paris dismantles Gypsy camp, families vanish
French authorities started dismantling a major Gypsy camp in Paris on Wednesday, after warning nearly 100 people living there that their ramshackle homes would be cleared.

The residents of the encampment vanished the night before the police action, despite offers of more permanent housing

Police spokesman Frederic Rose said the settlement on public property was illegal. Rose said it was the largest of several camps of Gypsies, or Roma, in Paris.


Sao Paulo: Brazil Senate approves affirmative action bill
The Brazilian Senate has approved an affirmative action bill that reserves half the spots in federal universities for high school graduates of public schools, with those seats distributed according to the racial makeup of each state.

The bill that was approved late Tuesday bill now goes to President Dilma Rousseff, who is expected to approve it.

The Senate says the reserved spots will be distributed among black, mixed race and indigenous students proportionally to the racial composition of each state.


Santiago, Chile: 3 buses burned as students stage protest
Police used water cannons and tear gas Wednesday to break up a protest in Chile's capital by thousands of students demanding free education. Three buses were set ablaze during the demonstrations.

Demonstrations demanding education reforms have swept Chile for more than a year. The government says the latest one in late June was the most violent with 472 demonstrators arrested and 36 police officers injured.



Morsi also asked Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi to replace the commander of the military police, a force that has been heavily used since the ouster 18 months ago of Hosni Mubarak. He also fired the commander of the presidential guards and named new chiefs for security in Cairo and the police's central security, a large paramilitary force often deployed to deal with riots.

The attack raised questions about the readiness of Egyptian forces in the area, particularly after Israel warned the country earlier of an imminent attack.


Jerusalem: Blurry eyeglasses look to keep women out of sight
It's the latest prescription for extreme ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who shun contact with the opposite sex: Glasses that blur their vision, so they don't have to see women they consider to be immodestly dressed.

The ultra-Orthodox have separated the sexes on buses and other public spaces in their neighborhoods. Their interpretation of Jewish law forbids contact between men and women who are not married. Now they're trying to keep women out of clear sight altogether.

The ultra-Orthodox community's unofficial "modesty patrols" are selling glasses with special blur-inducing stickers on their lenses. The glasses provide clear vision for up to a few meters, but anything beyond that gets blurry.


Shawal, Pakistan: Taliban threaten to kill Pakistani cricket star
The Taliban have threatened to kill a Pakistani cricket star turned politician if he holds a planned march to their tribal stronghold along the Afghan border to protest U.S. drone attacks.

Although the Pakistani Taliban also oppose the strikes, which have killed many of their fighters, spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said they would target Imran Khan because he calls himself a "liberal" - a term they associate with a lack of religious belief. He also warned they would attack anyone who participates in upcoming elections.


Paris: Paris dismantles Gypsy camp, families vanish
French authorities started dismantling a major Gypsy camp in Paris on Wednesday, after warning nearly 100 people living there that their ramshackle homes would be cleared.

The residents of the encampment vanished the night before the police action, despite offers of more permanent housing

Police spokesman Frederic Rose said the settlement on public property was illegal. Rose said it was the largest of several camps of Gypsies, or Roma, in Paris.


Sao Paulo: Brazil Senate approves affirmative action bill
The Brazilian Senate has approved an affirmative action bill that reserves half the spots in federal universities for high school graduates of public schools, with those seats distributed according to the racial makeup of each state.

The bill that was approved late Tuesday bill now goes to President Dilma Rousseff, who is expected to approve it.

The Senate says the reserved spots will be distributed among black, mixed race and indigenous students proportionally to the racial composition of each state.


Santiago, Chile: 3 buses burned as students stage protest
Police used water cannons and tear gas Wednesday to break up a protest in Chile's capital by thousands of students demanding free education. Three buses were set ablaze during the demonstrations.

Demonstrations demanding education reforms have swept Chile for more than a year. The government says the latest one in late June was the most violent with 472 demonstrators arrested and 36 police officers injured.

Dhoble effect? Fashion week party cancelled

Dhoble effect? Fashion week party cancelled

The city’s biggest annual fashion event, Lakme Fashion Week (LFW), ended on a dull note on Tuesday night. The much-celebrated after-party, which is attended by the crème de la crème of the fashion fraternity, was cancelled to avoid a run-in with assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Vasant Dhoble.The organisers, instead, decided to hold a small cocktail party before the 10.30pm grand finale.

Dhoble, who heads the social services branch  (SSB) of the Mumbai police, has been conducting raids on pubs and restaurants, which are violating rules under which they have been granted licences.

The LFW organisers had sought permission from the police to extend the 1.30am deadline to 3am, but were refused. “The last show usually ends at 11.30pm. What is the point in starting the finale party at midnight and then starting to wind up by 1am?” said Anjana Sharma, head of fashion at IMG Reliance, the organiser. “We tried our best to get permission, but were turned down.”

According to Sharma, the venue of the after-party – China House at the Grand Hyatt in Kalina – which recently reopened after renovation, has also undergone a facelift. “At China House, not more than 14 people can be on the dance floor at any given time. To make sure that there is no trouble from the cops, they [China House] have spread furniture all over the dance floor, and stationed a bouncer nearby to restrict the number of dancers,” she said. “Earlier, they used to have a dance floor on the same level as the bar. The hotel was told by authorities that it qualifies as a dance bar.”

Many from the fashion fraternity are also disappointed. “Everyone is puzzled as this is the first time ever that there is no after-party for LFW,” said Mumbai-based model Siddharth Rawal. “We will have to hold house parties to celebrate.”

Parties planned by sponsors have also been hit. Designer Pankaj Ahuja of Pankaj and Nidhi, who showcased his creations for the first time in Mumbai, said: “A sponsor wanted to throw us a party before our 10.30pm show. But with Lakme hosting their party at the same time, we had to cancel our plans.”

Usain Bolt defends Olympic 100-meter crown in breathtaking fashion

Usain Bolt defends Olympic 100-meter crown in breathtaking fashion


As the cameras flashed and the night sky lit up, Usain Bolt sprinted by his competitors. He kept running, screeching past the history books, lapping the sport’s icons and leaving the bar-stool debates in his dust. It really didn’t matter what numbers appeared on the stopwatch at the conclusion of one of the memorable races in Olympic history, and it didn’t matter that 80,000 witnesses spilled into the London streets in stunned amazement.

The Unbelievable Usain Bolt Show at these Olympics was never intended to be a one-night engagement.

This is where I want to become a legend,” the Jamaican promised Sunday night, “and that was one step.”

Bolt, 25, finally left Olympic Stadium after midnight, and he had no plans to go out on the town, no time to celebrate his Olympic record in the men’s 100 meters. Pushing aside all those doubts about his health and his work ethic, Bolt had just posted the second-fastest 100-meter time the world had ever seen. Yet he insists his legacy is tied to defending both his Olympic titles — in the 100- and 200-meter races — an improbable feat that perhaps no one but Bolt would even imagine.

He’s halfway there. His finish in 9.63 secondsSunday blew away a talented field. Not only did the victory make him only the second sprinter to win the 100 meters in consecutive Olympics, but it means Bolt’s racing résuménow boasts the three fastest performances in history. With the world tuned in and Prince William and Prince Harry in attendance, Bolt left no doubt who is king.

“A lot of people doubted me,” he said. “There was a lot of people saying I wasn’t going to win. There was a lot of talk. For me, it was an even greater feeling to come out, defend my title and show the world I’m still No. 1. I’m still the best.”

He left no doubts about that Sunday. The others had the misfortune of being born in the wrong era. Jamaican Yohan Blake, 22, took silver with a time of 9.75 seconds, and American Justin Gatlin, who recently returned to the sport after a four-year drug suspension, won bronze in 9.79, edging countryman Tyson Gay by 0.01 of a second. Those times would’ve been good enough for gold in any Summer Games that didn’t include Bolt.

The Americans never really stood a chance. Nobody did. After some pre-race showmanship for the crowd and the cameras, Bolt burst out of the blocks quickly and had an edge on the field by the race’s midpoint. Even the other sprinters felt his dominance.

“You can’t miss him,” Gatlin said. “When his legs lift, you feel it, you see it.”

It was different this time for Bolt. While winning gold in Beijing introduced him to much of the world, repeating in London tasted sweeter, he said. The critics and uncertainty fueled him, as both his mind and body were in question. Bolt pulled out of his most recent race last month citing a hamstring injury and was disqualified for a false start last year at the world championships. It was clear that repeating as an Olympic champion would be no simple task.

“When you get to the top, you there, you know it’s good and you’re working and you’re enjoying it,” Bolt said. “Sometimes you lose sight of what’s going on around you. Because, yeah, you know what it takes to get there, but sometimes you lose sight because everybody thinks you’re doing great and you’re doing well.”

The turning point for Bolt apparently came in June at the Jamaican trials, where Blake beat him in both the 100 and the 200. If Bolt couldn’t win his own country’s title, how could he win the world’s?

“Yohan gave me a wake-up call,” Bolt said. “He knocked on my door and said, ‘Usain, this is an Olympic year. Wake up.’ ”

With Bolt both healthy and hungry, the stage was set for a historic race.

Seven of the eight participants in the race broke the 10-second mark. At the 2008 Games, just six sprinters in the final did. At the 2004 Games — where Gatlin took gold — the number was five.

Gatlin ran six-tenths of a second faster Sunday than in his gold medal performance in Athens and barely won bronze over Gay.

“I’m just so glad to be a part of history,” Gatlin said of Sunday’s race.

And everyone in the stadium seemed happy to witness it.

For Bolt, however, the story of the London Games isn’t over. The 200-meter final, his signature race, is Thursday, and only when he defends that title, he says, will he feel accomplished here.

“People can talk a lot,” he said. “You can say anything you want. Showing up and doing what you got to do is a different thing. To me, it was all business.”

Marilyn Monroe, already a film and cultural icon, emerges as fashion star on anniversary of her death

Marilyn Monroe, already a film and cultural icon, emerges as fashion star on anniversary of her death


Sunday marks 50 years since the death of Marilyn Monroe, who a half century later remains the ultimate icon of popular culture.

Monroe, legendary for her calculated design of wholesome goodness and sex goddess - going from brunette pin-up girl Norma Jeane Baker (born "Mortenson) to the silver screen's blonde of all blondes - has had her life, loves and death endlessly studied, chronicled, investigated, dissected and put back together in books, movies and television.

Now fashion visionary can be added to reasons for our enduring fascination with her.

"No one since Marilyn has quite mixed sex and fashion like she did," says Christopher Nickens, co-author with George Zeno of the newly published "Marilyn in Fashion" (Running Press, 2012).

She did, after all, wear the most famous dress ever on film: a white halter with an accordion pleated circle skirt by William Travilla. The dress billowed above a New York subway grate in "The Seven Year Itch" revealing her panties, much to the disappointment and anger of her husband, baseball great Joe DiMaggio. Many said it was the beginning of the couple's marriage breakdown. Last year, Debbie Reynolds, who owned the dress, auctioned it for $5.6 million at a Profiles in History auction in Beverly Hills.

Later came Monroe's notoriously sheer gown, adorned with 4,000 rhinestones, that she wore as she breathlessly sang "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy on his 45th at Madison Square Garden. She promised to dress with decorum. Instead, she wore no bra or panties under the Jean Louis gown she bought for $5,000. In 1999, it sold for more than $1.26 million at Christie's Auction House in New York.

Never snobbish about clothes, Monroe mixed off-the-rack outfits and costumes from her movies with selected high-end labels, Nickens said.

She even bought a couple of Gene Tierney's castoffs that were designed by Tierney's husband, Oleg Cassini, who later became Jacqueline Kennedy's official first lady couturier.

Monroe wore Ferragamo shoes, J.C. Penney denim, sweaters and carried Louis Vuitton handbags. She lounged in capri pants and Emilio Pucci tops. She often went sans undergarments and wore a stripper's G-string under sheer designs.

"In her own way, she was a feminist," Nickens says.

She sought up-and-coming designers, but on the screen she was dressed by the best costumers: Travilla, Louis, Dorothy Jeakins, Eloise Jenssen and others who created memorable movie looks for her, including Travilla's hot pink strapless number for "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Madonna later copied it for her "Material Girl" music video in 1985.

But Monroe's most loved garment was her terry-cloth bathrobe, Nickens says. She wore it so often that she had a standing order for the $18.67 garment from Bullock's Wilshire, a defunct Los Angeles department store.

She played to her curves with form-fitting silhouettes "instead of the styles of the time that included layered petticoats over voluminous skirts topped by Peter Pan collars," he says.

And she kept fit for her skin-tight wardrobe by working out with weights, decades before the fitness craze. " 'It helps me keep what I've got where it belongs,' " Nickens said, quoting the star.

For more than 25 years, Nickens has written about Hollywood legends, including biographies of Bette Davis, Marlon Brando, Natalie Wood and Elizabeth Taylor, who never had much of an opinion about fashion, he says.

"She wasn't all that interested," he says about Taylor. "They'd put a dress on her but she always over did it. She'd throw on a hat and two more necklaces."

Monroe loved hats. And necklaces, naturally in diamonds - a girl's best friend. Later in life, she wore wigs. She wore one at her own funeral.

At 36, Monroe was found dead in 1962 in her bedroom in west Los Angeles. Her death was ruled "acute barbiturate poisoning" and listed as "probable suicide" even though murder theories, too, are rumored.

Pippa Middleton trashed by fashion designer: 'She should only show her back'

Pippa Middleton trashed by fashion designer: 'She should only show her back'

Lagerfeld has been a long-time fan of Middleton's sister Kate and also of Victoria Beckham, but he just doesn't seem to have the same feelings for her. During the launch of Lagerfeld's beauty boutique in London, he went out of his way to praise Kate even though so many believe her to have a "boring wardrobe."

View slideshow: Pippa Middleton - What do you think?

.Pippa Middleton is beautiful to many, but not to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Photo credit:  Getty Images .."She knows pretty well what to wear and what to do. She has a divine silhouette so she can wear anything. She has a sense of what’s right for the moment because you can not dress like a mad woman in those situations," Lagerfeld said.

Now, when it came time to discuss Pippa after Kate, Lagerfeld's words weren't nearly as friendly. Actually, they will probably be looked at as a huge slap in the face to her.

"On the other hand, her sister struggles," continued Lagerfeld. "I don’t like the sister’s face. She should only show her back."

Many are probably not going to agree with Lagerfeld's assessment of Pippa, but to each their own. Most likely this will develop more backlash for him than it will gain him support, but it won't really hurt anyone all around.

Fashion sales on wheels inspired by food trucks

Fashion sales on wheels inspired by food trucks



The first time the brakes went out in her trailer/store, Joey Wolffer ran a stoplight and worried what would happen to her high-end accessories inside. Two years later, she has a close relationship with a mechanic, knows the best spot to park in New York's meatpacking district and has a devoted summer following in the Hamptons.

Wolffer transformed a greasy potato chip truck into a 1980s glam bohemian den she named "Styleliner." It is stocked with limited-edition accessories, like a $430 crystal and fringe necklace, from her world travels.

Friends were always asking Wolffer where she got a piece of jewelry, and the former trend director for Jones Apparel Group said she was looking for a way to introduce some favorite designers to the U.S. market, along with some of her own creations. She bought the truck with money she inherited and set up shop.

Styleliner is among a handful of mobile retail stores in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Portland, Ore., and across the U.S that are hawking vintage accessories, sexy shoes and denim to die for in their haute wheels. Owners say they're taking cues from the food truck industry, which glamorized street cuisine, garnered a cult following and even spawned a hit TV show.

"I wanted relationships with customers. I wanted to get out there and work with people and meet new people all the time," said Wolffer, who made a profit her first summer in business in 2010.

The boutiques on wheels can only accommodate a few customers at a time, providing a more intimate shopping experience than a crowded department store. Styleliner can fit about five customers at a time.

"The old door-to-door salesman is too difficult in today's world, but we're seeing an uptick in bringing the product to the consumers," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at New York-based NPD group.

It's also a cheaper way for startup companies to break into the business quickly.

When former fashion editor Sarah Ellison Lewis wanted to open a funky shoe boutique in Austin, Texas, she had sticker shock every time she saw the price for a store lease. So for a quarter of the price she bought a 30-foot trailer, decorated it with vintage wallpaper photography and reclaimed wooden benches and leased a parking spot between a chic hotel and popular brunch spot.

The 36-year-old stylist specializes in smaller hard-to-find designers of men's and women's shoes.

Bootleg Austin's customers — about 50 a weekend — love to paw through her well-curated collection that includes black ankle booties with gold buckles, polka dot flats and gold metallic lace-up sandals.

The trailer was turning a profit in nine months, said Lewis, who predominantly sells from her leased space, but will embark on a 20-city tour this fall.

"This was about being an entrepreneur and doing it in a strange and audacious way and the trailer brings out all these great stories from people that I love," said Lewis. "I wanted to do something that was also really friendly and really warm. I'm really sick of retails being cold and stark and snotty."

Experts say traditional stores want to collaborate with mobile retailers, not compete with them. The trend comes as brick and mortar stores are struggling to get customers excited about shopping in a struggling economy.

"It's an opportunity to get (customers) into the parking lot and go to the mobile truck, and we believe there's overflow traffic that goes right into the store from there," said Mike Gatti, a senior vice president of the National Retail Federation.

"We're not hearing really any complaints about them."

Customers are also drawn to the novel experience and personal attention they get from mobile retailers.

"People love it. You are now back to the social aspect of shopping," said Cohen.

In Portland, Ore., shoppers sift through vintage dresses and men's ties on a tricked out double-decker bus.

The Fashion Truck features cute and affordable clothes from its Boston-based trailer.

A chevron print shift dress sells for $48.

And it's not just retail. Experts predict consumers will see more industries, including medical and home furnishing, hitting the road.