Louis Vuitton unleashes their brand-new physical objects involving want.

Louis Vuitton, it can be well-known, will be the treasure inside LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) overhead plus the absolute range involving the two generation along with collection ended up nothing at all or else a new affirmation involving electrical power. A new standard bank involving wire crate elevators and also a spin out of control stairs ended up center point with a catwalk element shiny dark-colored, element every bit as inky, high-shine.

Your outfits reproduced the idea correctly: shimmering patent-leather guitar neck bits, corsetry, collars along with cuffs ended up played out off of versus uptight, uniform-inspired made of woll tailoring along with every bit as rigorous, absolute pen dresses.

Your staples in the dominatrix dungeon ended up most found along with right way too: whips, handcuffs along with markers ended up appliqued on many methods from armed service limits for you to nighttime wear.

Block-heeled the courtroom sneakers plus much more which are laced on the leg ended up with rubberized rainwater shoes or boots, finish a new search that's powerful via head over to feet, specially while donned by simply supermodels Naomi Campbell, Ruby Valletta along with Kate Moss – your second item throughout hotpants along with using tobacco a new cig. Your bring back to your catwalk of such, the supreme supermodels, is actually a new perception pertaining to painful sight.

Towards the end on this thirty day period HBO can be screening process a new television set re-make in the Joan Crawford basic, Mildred Pierce, themselves taken through the John L Cain new placed in Depression-era The us.

Your eponymous steer, on this occasion played out with the United kingdom celebrity Kate Winslet, can be less likely to get pretty consequently effectively as well as in fact while strangely enough dressed up because types with the Miu Miu demonstrate that will was held after inside morning nonetheless they talk about much the same heart.

Below, a new 1940s neck range ended up being overstated in manly made of woll spencer using hard, bright collars that will certainly not satisfied in the centre. That they searched better pertaining to the belief that we were looking at donned certainly not using pants nevertheless around blank lower limbs.

A new boyish thrive even so, what you previously juxtaposed using crepe their tea clothes that will evidently got his or her root base in this very same interval nevertheless came up inside sludgy shade colour scheme Miuccia Prada features nowadays built her very own, along with throughout paper, along with stitched using sprigs involving glowing silver precious metal cherry bloom, green field bouquets along with silver and gold wild birds throughout airfare. Took out via menswear yet again, along with a lesser amount of nostalgic, ended up sportswear-influenced made of woll blouson surfaces along with pants using elasticated waists along with hems. That they searched specially okay donned using previous institution soccer limits.

Throughout one on one compare on the hard-edged glamour containing centric the growing season plus the This particular language manner cash especially, below ended up being a new sweetly mournful along with softly lovely figure, your ex idiosyncratic lure merely combined with by simply smoky doe sight, crumpled bows, massive purple velvet gran bags along with glittery Jane Nara sneakers.

Luvali Convertibles shopping bags three-in-one sacks meant for Single parent's Daytime.

Single parent's Daytime is certainly Tuesday, Could possibly 8, together with Enemies together with Critics publish any clarion make a call for amazing, reasonable, small enterprises (ultimately female-owned) terrific merchandise to be able to picture this year or so.

Some of our neighboring into the Northern, Canada, is home to Luvali Convertibles, a good hip bone together with posh small company during Ontario run by just a woman together with boy squad what person set up shopping bags that do three times requirement: A couple of numerous appearance utilizing an individual container.

Luvali sacks are known for your a variety of designs, behaviours together with textures the fact that is useful for all dress. Luvali Convertibles happen to be multi-function sacks the fact that connection to different reversible slips for the painless improve during subject. Every one move has got several complimentary behaviours.

Buy behaviours that have already interesting leaders for example Pure cotton Snack, Kimono Houndstooth, Mayan Lipstick together with The phoenix airport Fondue.

Shirley Durk together with your girlfriend boy Jacqueline are definitely the Canadian strong duo parents together with boy what person have a passion for structure, a good hard drive to develop in addition to a really enjoy meant for being employed alongside one another. Your cunning products and services happen to be convertible, reversible together with changeable.

Mayan Lipstick layout

Shirley related to the reasoning behind to develop the designer purse. "While loading for that precious holiday vacation, people were definitely encountering many shopping bags together with many boots or shoes! Some of our luggage basically wouldn’t shut down. As expected, an alternate suitcase set was initially demanded seeing that having an individual designer purse your decide one fashion footwear basically wasn’t a plan. It had become at that moment that many of us notion, 'Why possibly not set up an individual designer purse utilizing interchangeable slipcovers which can improve in your clothes, an individual's atmosphere or simply the season?

Luvali these days produces a wide range of shopping bags, utilizing loads of reversible "slips" to convert away terrific sized sacks going with daytime that will overnight, in your holiday vacation or simply school.

Income involving pants sky rocket -- nevertheless accomplish many of us put them on effectively?

beers involving to locate pants convey more when compared with bending considering that on this occasion recently, while Great britain liked your warmest end of the week in the calendar year thus far.

Bob Lewis described that will income got over bending involving The month of january along with The spring because of your the latest spate involving warm weather, nevertheless explained your good results ended up being in addition due to their selection of designed pants, who were proving to be common amid adult men in search of a new "preppy look".

Your shop explained adult men ended up significantly corresponding designed pants using lace-up sneakers along with t shirts, in lieu of shapeless athletics pants.

Shiny McCormack, go involving menswear acquiring in Bob Lewis, explained: "It's your preppy search which in turn adult men are incredibly very much looking for. It's actually a considerably more elegant search as opposed to overcome pants.

The net manner keep Asos in addition found a new income bounce, revealing a new 110 percent climb throughout income involving to locate pants, even though Scars & Spencer installed assert to your forty five percent climb. Tony a2z O'Connor, go involving menswear design and style in M&S, explained: "The catwalks ended up awash using pants pertaining to adult men pertaining to spring/summer 2011. Your chino small will be the excellent on-trend object while donned which has a nautical striped blazer along with polo for the sharpened summertime search.

Great britain basked inside coolest morning in the calendar year in Thursday, using conditions rising above throughout Chicago. Manchester plus the South-east found conditions involving 22C, while using high temperature send supposed to very last until eventually the center of this specific 1 week. Brian Cameron ended up being a couple weeks ago witnessed having combining dark-colored pants, bright socks along with bright training companies while they holidayed together with partner Samantha throughout Granada plus the lower How to speak spanish heaps.

United kingdom adult men get customarily been recently pilloried pertaining to corresponding his or her pants using incorrect sneakers, along with a couple weeks ago america designer Ben Kia, men whom is aware of one thing as well as a pair of with regards to hunting very good, criticised adult men whom don pants along with sandals inside area. They explained this sort of dress ended up being "never appropriate", it doesn't matter how scorching the elements ended up being, in addition to for the playing golf the courtroom as well as your beach front.

Review shows seven throughout 10 men and women may not don true hair

Seven throughout 10 men and women may not don true hair even with the idea setting up a return for the catwalk, as outlined by analysis right now.

Inside poll to the RSPCA, ninety five percent of individuals explained they will usually don true hair along with 93 percent imagined solutions must be evidently branded while true as well as false hair. Over fifty percent instructed your pollster TNS that might certainly not obtain a specific thing with no this sort of labelling.

Your RSPCA, Britain’s most significant canine charitable trust, explained it turned out “disappointed” countless makers applied true mink, sibel along with raccoon doggy furs around this year’s manner demonstrates throughout Manchester, The big apple along with Milan.

Burberry, Giles Deacon along with Julien MacDonald most applied true hair in Manchester Manner 1 week throughout March, using Mr MacDonald’s types sashaying along your catwalk throughout sibel along with goat hair.

Your RSPCA unveiled their poll mainly because it presented this specific year’s Very good Organization Accolades, which in turn honor foodstuff along with manner firms to bring the meaning position in direction of wildlife.

Shelly Vella, manner representative pertaining to Multicultural and also a decide, explained: “One in the cons for you to our employment can be discovering much hair major your intercontinental catwalks every single time. It turned out a thing My spouse and i thought to be solidly beyond manner nevertheless it’s crept into acceptance which has a vengeance. ”

Modern day year’s celebration, accolades received for you to Brand-new Search, George in Asda, Scars & Spencer, Sainsbury’s plus the natural and organic field system Abel & Cole.

Your Co-op gained your People’s Alternative prize, financed with the Unbiased, pertaining to increasing well being pertaining to village wildlife, which include only using free-range ova throughout own-brand foodstuff.

Pertaining to the 1st time recently, Govt stats discovered throughout March, 50 percent involving BRITISH ISLES ova ended up installed by simply wire crate no cost chickens, high on fortyfive percent 4 seasons ahead of.

Alice Clark, RSPCA village canine scientist, explained: “The RSPCA is convinced that every chickens must be retained throughout effectively been able free-range as well as barn devices. Were pushing those people inside foodstuff full price industry for you to create along with boost his or her canine well being plans and type in the meal group of the excellent Organization Accolades. ”

Chicago as a fashion industry is under the radar manufacturing hub

One Midwest city that’s having much success is Chicago. For the past three years, Chicago’s fashion scene has been bustling with trunk and fashion shows displaying clothes by local designers and much of this buzz is because of the success of Chicago’s fashion incubator which began in 2008.

"Our programming has been so successful because of the support of the community to be totally honest," said Lara Miller, director of Chicago’s Fashion Incubator.

"Chicago as a fashion industry is under the radar manufacturing hub. People don’t realize how much manufacturing is actually here. But there’s quite a lot of that available to young designers," she said.

Donaldo Smith is one of those young designers who just finished his year as a designer in residence at Chicago’s incubator. In addition to helping him gain visibility, he said the incubator helped him learn the business side of the fashion industry to help build his contemporary men’s line, Killian Gui.

"I had done a couple garments in the past, but I didn’t have a full brand. I know the incubator really helped me to turn it from a hobby into a business," Smith said.

Stephanie Kuhr also recently finished her year at the incubator. She was a little unsure about costing structure for Dottie’s Delights, her line of vintage lingerie and foundation wear for women.

Kuhr said the incubator helped her create a budget and stay within it.

"It’s probably what makes or breaks a new designer because it’s a big question, it’s a huge deal to make sure that you’re paying yourself enough and covering all of your cost indirect and direct," she said.

Because fashion is a global industry, designers don’t necessarily have to be in places like New York, Paris or Milan to be successful. Because of this, Miller said people in different cities around the Midwest and elsewhere have reached out to her for advice and guidance about starting an incubator in their cities.

But Chicago isn’t the only place with these incubators. Around 2005, Detroit made an attempt at a fashion incubator, but by 2007 it was closed.

Sarah Lapinski who was a contributing designer to the Detroit incubator said the right infrastructure wasn’t in place for designers to continue to grow. Aside from location, there was one other major hurdle for Detroit’s incubator: "People don’t really shop in Detroit. It just doesn’t really happen," Lapinski said.

But there is hope in other Midwest cities, like Cleveland. Valerie Mayen who was a contestant on Season 10 of Project Runway is the founder of Buzz and Growl, an incubator like program in Cleveland slated to open this summer. The main goal of Buzz and Growl is to provide designers with space and professional equipment.

Mayen said people associate fashion with runways and overseas production, but for Cleveland that’s not a realistic venture. “We’re hoping that we can to help designers to grow to start their own small businesses that are legitimately providing their full time income.” said Mayen.

Who knows, maybe some day one of those designers will dress Chicago’s most famous contribution to fashion, First Lady Michelle Obama.

Vivienne Westwood continue to slices a large huge the front costume.

The style Museum around Tub remains to be concerning the following nation's best-kept insider secrets.

And working with a excellent long-lasting collecting design plus digital photography training, dating back to as long as 1600, a gallery is currently dwelling so that you can showcases with wedding dresses, the repair with Helmut Lang, plus, for any extra over the years oriented, 17th-century work gloves.

The following year's apparel destroys a mildew to some extent while it appeared to be picked out using a creator to get at the first try – milliner Stephen Jones. Her preference is actually a spring/summer 2010 Vivienne Westwood Yellow metal Labeled apparel.

Westwood, who seem to converted 85 built clothes moved consumer, continue to slices a large huge the front costume, plus all of when building the girl's politics ideas was feeling. At the moment, a grande dame with Indian design is definitely serious about preserving planet earth including a DIY/make-do-and-mend conceptual that is definitely when unique plus ground breaking while it is definitely wonderful. Food items to get assumed, in that case, including a , 000, 000 distance from the a of course status-driven conceptual this is constantly on the take control of, albeit extra discretely as compared with there are executed.

"I appeared to be shocked to check out the fact that design doyenne, Vivienne Westwood, wasn’t available while in the group, inches Jones suggests. "For people, the following apparel connotes a junction around the girl's style and design oeuvre; the ultra-modern washboard hems this the woman appeared to be the earliest to set-up 40 issue around the girl's punk attire... The study of your ladylike style and design constraints of your Indian Noble Relatives this were only available in 1985... A bicoloured taffeta covered inside of a radically exceptional style which will inspiring ideas during decorum nonetheless which has an base libido that is definitely at the heart with Westwood's layouts.

The girl is definitely, Jones argues, "possibly the very best creator one's times". Plus they've never improper.

Really does an appropriate rearfoot occur!

Every single day divorce lawyers atlanta area you will see these people. Logically dressed up girls, donning accommodates as well as sets apart combined using incongruous sporty training companies when they speed to function.

Cannot be seen nevertheless evident on the onlooker are generally his or her suitable sneakers, doubtless high heel sandals, secreted in a very handbags as well as carry, set for the rapid exchange before commencing every day involving operate. Consequently many people look to experience a "can't are in these people, are unable to get with no them" regards to each of our elegant sneakers currently.

On the other hand, trading reports, generally there looks like it's an immediate link while using level in the high heel sandals plus the revenue flight in the firm, in relation to sneakers makes. Jimmy Choo put up a new 190 percent enhance throughout revenue this specific The month of january; Alfredia Louboutin can be widening by simply cracking open outlets while far off while South america along with Asia, along with Kurt Geiger believed the idea distributed 15 sets involving sneakers a few minutes 2010 – using five-inch high heel sandals proving to be the most famous alternative.

While girls obtain straight into more and more towering variations, precluding the risk that this women base need to center Darwin-style, what are innovations throughout shoemaking technological innovation in order that readers involving manner could even now transfer coming from a for you to N with no the application of four door easy chair, as well as at the least, a huge handbags that contain homes? Really does an appropriate rearfoot occur, as well as will be the notion comparable to "anti-wrinkle cream"– the extremely hard proposal, nevertheless one particular way too seductive for you to write off fully?

"As considerably while distinct variations get, wedges offer superbly effectively, and perhaps they are a lot popular currently, and folks similar to these people as they are cozy even though even now supplying you with that will level. Yet another comfortable fashion has to be coated podium push – yet again, you've still got that will level nevertheless, due to podium feet, your viewpoint your current base is positioned in is just not while sharp, consequently the number of force can be a lesser amount of. Currently we've got Alexander Wang's summertime sneakers throughout. These are substantial nevertheless get much extra padding along with extra padding inside inside that you just experience just as if you happen to be going for walks in confuses. Generally you'll be able to explain to no matter whether a new sneaker are going to be comfortable as well as not simply by simply hunting inside.

The idea brought about your ex to secure a new obvious one certain selection of the sneakers, your R-Flex, that happen to be sensible high heel dress shoes which has a accommodating rubberized lone. Small explained they 1st got the thought 12 rice, traveling to a new sneaker manufacturing area "that ended up being making convenience sneakers, virtually orthopaedic sneakers, the place that the seller spelled out he wanted a fix to generate your sneakers additional accommodating, that may supply true convenience if your sneakers may come with your pure activity in the walk". Small considered this specific problem for many years, then when the firm gotten a number of further expenditure that they apply it handling your previous trouble. "After samples along with exams inside manufacturing area, I ran across your techie strategy to create sneakers while accommodating along with comfortable as being a ballerina. Many of us branded the idea.

Kay Barron, Grazia's manner reports along with capabilities publisher, is often a self-confessed rearfoot drinker, the other that's consequently recognized pertaining to donning "skyscraper" high heel sandals for hours on end, features perhaps prepared a new first-person part refined the contest involving donning homes for the 1 week alternatively. Barron can be serious about your R-Flex selection. "The Raphael Small sneakers are generally very accommodating along with comfortable – astonishingly taking into consideration precisely how substantial these are. My spouse and i applied these people for the total morning through Manchester Manner 1 week along with there were zero using ache, as well as numb toes and fingers! inch Just as one pro in high heel dress shoes, Barron can be accurate with regards to your ex shoe-buying guidelines. "It's certainly not related to your level, a new iron wedge or otherwise not, as well as your company. It can be most a new problem involving harmony along with submitting involving bodyweight. A new well-made sneaker so that unwanted weight to get propagate equally upgrade . cozy for you to stay set for extended, when compared with one particular the place that the force can be most on your ball in the base. Along with consider us, I had created for you to don a lot of toe-curlingly distressing sneakers ahead of I ran across the ideal match.

loving hats is all about restoring a sense of glee to everyday dressing

With regard to a few of the participants, the actual event is going to be their own very first which needs a good loath. As well as caps, as soon as consigned towards the world associated with moms from the bride-to-be as well as chicken celebration covens, happen to be energised like a class with a clean team associated with enthusiasts and also the outpouring associated with exhilaration within the upcoming festivities.

'My caps appear to match a brand new era associated with hat-wearers that did not believe they might actually adore caps, a Victoria Give, the milliner that clothes Paloma Belief, as well as who's these days putting on the kiss-shaped beret within electrical red chiffon, stated. 'I experienced a customer associated with the actual Regal Wedding ceremony are available in today. Your woman strolled within the doorway as well as your woman stated, "I'll get one of these couple of points upon, however I'd in no way put on the loath. inch Inside 5 min's, I'd the woman's transformed.

The main brand new influx associated with theatrical mind equipment testing comes from powerful part versions, Piers Atkinson, the person at the rear of Ould - Dello Russo's huge cherry headpiece as well as Rihanna's spiked beret, flower prosper, cherries, and so on, advised. 'It's excellent to possess individuals such as ADR reducing the swathe like a figurehead [for hat-wearers] within the style business, a he or she stated. 'Hats tend to be ornamental. They are such as small scuptures, small caps; they are about revealing in an exceedingly celebratory method!

James Servant, the actual innovative at the rear of Woman Gaga’s Phone loath, offers magicked luxurious playthings, classic phones as well as t towels in to sculptural caps. The woman's styles frequently develop from tests along with origami methods. In order to Servant -- the near-daily hat-wearer -- caring caps is about rebuilding a feeling associated with joy in order to daily outfitting. ‘A excellent loath provides self-confidence like a declaration item since it convey a good guarantee associated with distinctive style’ your woman stated. ‘It’s a simple approach to add on which has immediate spectacular impact... which, or perhaps a amazing method to conceal a poor locks day time. ’

Not really you need to proceed the entire Coo in order to accept caps. It is a issue associated with getting a complementing form for the encounter, along with a small braveness as well, Give stated. Your woman provides loath employ with regard to neophytes and people unclear regarding splashing on a complete buy.

Atkinson indicates beginning little, along with among their studded headbands, for instance. 'Or choose the actual cherries! a he or she states. 'But in the event that you are going to make use of the loath, after that all of those other appear must be as much as the begining -- the perfect tote, extremely pumps and also the winning attitude.

Stylist Nura Khan understood she’d discovered an ideal framework on her brand new headpiece whenever your woman had been asked towards the classy country side wedding ceremony associated with 2 buddies previously this particular springtime. Your woman capped the woman's ensemble (peach man made fiber Charles Anastase clothing, pailette-covered Stella McCartney small, Marni system pumps) along with T. Cruz Esquire’s Beak Overhead, the dark made of woll describe of the tiara. ‘I believed it might include an additional prosper to complete my personal ensemble having a truly enjoyable, contemporary loath, ’ your woman stated, observing which putting on the modern loath to some conventional wedding ceremony do need a way of measuring boldness. ‘There’s absolutely no component of “I simply put this upon. ” In the event that you’re putting on the loath, you’re correctly decked out. It’s the actual cherry on the top. ’

King Victoria's wedding dress gives tips in Middleton's

Your recognized silk-and-lace bridesmaid wedding dress donned by simply King Victoria gives a number of signs with what Kate Middleton will certainly don while the girl guides along your aisle The spring 30, regardless of whether very much features improved considering that Victoria's low-key marriage ceremony throughout 1840.

Victoria don't need betrothed looking at are living TELEVISION SET camcorders using a huge number of reporters along with photography lovers camped outside the house. Along with the girl tied up your knot in a very reasonably smaller individual religious organization, certainly not your cavernous slot provided involving Westminster Abbey.

This means a smaller standard costume similar to Victoria's just will not likely accomplish, explained Joanna Marschner, elderly curator in Britain's Ancient Royal Palaces, which in turn covers Victoria's wedding dress and also other clothes donned by simply prior royal birdes-to-be.

"The costume has got to climb on the situation, " explained Marschner. "It should be major, they have for you to withstand your range in the place along with withstand your critique coming from all those people sight. They have to handle the morning, they have to convey a thing with regards to each of our occasion, possesses to get the selection in the woman. The girl should be cozy within it. "

Even with powerful awareness, your personality involving Middleton's developer plus the kind of your ex costume get always been a new tightly placed magic formula. Construction administrators declare Middleton would like to amaze fiance-to-be King Bill while the girl measures beyond your ex Rolls-Royce for you to corner your Abbey patience.

Marschner may not create just about any prophecies, apart from to convey that this developer ought to admiration your decorum linked to Westminster Abbey. This means a new bustier wedding dress or possibly a low neckline are generally less likely — Middleton probably will ought to loose time waiting for the nighttime wedding celebration in Buckingham Construction in case the girl would like to don a thing additional disclosing.

Really the only normally acknowledged criteria can be that this developer are going to be United kingdom. Equally Victoria applied Uk wide lace top along with man made fibre woven throughout Manchester to demonstrate assist pertaining to United kingdom sector, Middleton people too much to handle force to train on a United kingdom developer.

Awareness features devoted to Dorothy Burton, inventive representative with the dominant Alexander McQueen property, Sophie Cranston, your lesser-known inventor in the Libelula brand as well as Bruce Oldfield, a new dominant favourite in the delayed Romantic Diana.

Deciding on Cranston has to be opportinity for Middleton for you to success smaller sized, cheaper community makers, Joss explained.

Victoria in addition was required to create a number of politics selections while assembling your ex marriage ceremony clothing.

Burberry's offers benefited through powerful need within The far east exactly where

Luxurious products organizations still dollar the actual list recession in spite of worries concerning the effect associated with final month's Japoneses earthquake about the field, along with Burberry as well as France's LVMH defeating marketplace anticipation.

Burberry, the actual 155-year-old company most widely known because of its purses as well as trendy examine styles, stated income within the 2nd 1 / 2 of the entire year experienced increased through 30% in order to £860m, also it needs complete 12 months earnings at the very top finish associated with Town predictions associated with £279m in order to £300m. The actual team offers benefited through development within The far east, exactly where this required complete manage associated with procedures previously operate through franchisees within Sept. This opened up 9 brand new shops within the 6 months in order to 03 – which range from Beijing in order to Ny – as well as programs additional growth within 2011 through growing promoting room through as much as 13%.

Leader Angela Ahrendts stated: "Burberry experienced a powerful complete towards the 12 months, powered through the style, electronic advertising as well as list endeavours, in addition to great earlier improvement within The far east. Consequently, all of us anticipate modified revenue prior to taxes for that 12 months to become round the first class associated with marketplace anticipation. As the luxurious business encounters worldwide problems within the 12 months forward, all of us stay assured within our team's capability to outshine.

The organization stated it's higher-end Prorsum manufacturer as well as wear-to-work Burberry Birmingham variety had been especially powerful entertainers.

the style trade can take become aware of

Each individual new season, after the sizzling hot wasteland the sun collections on Indio additionally, the does sound belonging to the Coachella favorite songs festival night because of the ticket throughout ready, humming fanatics Determine allow though think about a single thing: How to define they both having on?

Simply because much of our designer critic Interpreting booth Moore stuff it at a modern guide, "never your head that favorite songs. inch O . K ., as expected Coachella talks about that favorite songs; that's a favorite songs festival not surprisingly, though Moore didn't be more best. That brazilian bikinis, cut-off pants, tanks and even edge which use grown to be festival staples not get a de rigueur clothing prefix, though frequently the style trade can take become aware of in favorite songs trade big-wigs additionally, the clear Coachella sort of ones own fanatics.

Kelly Osbourne is some of the cool festival customers around the Empire Polo Clubhouse from where the situation occured. That 26-year-old retired real truth video starlet contains various substantial designer chops given that the co-host in I! channel's Designer Criminal arrest through Joan Rivers additionally, the unique facial skin in Madonna's Components Daughter fashion sections. Your lady was wearing an entertaining and even flirty deep blue polka dot clothing, gray and even black colored loafers through socks together with a floppy hay baseball cap. Osbourne will wear that old classic screen-print along with a awareness in today's glamour and even the presented socks deliver the start looking which will unsecured personal Osbourne way-out turn.

Lavender may be a timelessly posh hue

Irrespective of whether damaged as being an accessorize or simply all-over, lavender may be a timelessly posh hue designed to get into character all wardrobe.

People love the brands for Tracy Reese sauntered affordable any runway during '70s-inspired frocks published wholly for lavender together with Chanel's watercolor t-shirt dress up that would be greatest during food outfits.

Together with Dictator can get this blue reign: any paler, even more subdued hue regarded pretty regarding Kelly Osbourne together with Christina Hendricks -- several most women what person won't be concerned to signify within their curves.

Especially individuals well-known men or women, any springy protect is certainly completely wearable: there was love to combine a good certain flirty bra and panty set in a good flimsy gas tank, or simply dress in the scarf as the headband, a good accessory -- the opportunity happen to be infinite!

Any wives of your Blogger Networking won't be concerned to mix it all away -- Arielle for An item Navy blue brought your girlfriend single parent's old dress up an advanced " spin " utilizing lots more glistening jewels. Slinging guardedness into the a blowing wind, any blogger put in floral-printed boots or shoes -- earning for that posh afternoon wardrobe.

Kate Hudson's glam Elle ENGLISH take care of appearance stimulated individuals to incorporate any hue towards some of our wonder habit -- people could not believe that it had become right that will pebbles some sort of insanely elaborate smoky total eye into the office environment, which means that people want an innovative protect for improve -- Essie's "Lilacism" fingernail improve.

A Private coach Classics re-issue group

Together with the '70s movement moving forward for on the autumn, a timing of your re-issue feels recommended. Holli Rogers, Net-a-Porter's shopping for director, shared with WWD, "While people supplement today's movement popular on the wide-leg denim jean combined which includes a superb stack-heeled sandal, all these baggage will be hence convenient, they should glance good by using essentially every regular glance.

A collaboration as well can come at the moment if sellers, blog owners plus individuals equally will be clambering to get timeless decorating plus tradition companies. Significant sellers for instance J. Crew were enrolling in problems by using old-school Usa plus Euro music labels just like Minnetonka, Belstaff plus Timex to consider prospects tradition supplement, oftentimes by using present day adjustments. In a similar fashion, the usual site A consistent Toned benefits a strong "American variety, inches strategies so that you can tradition companies designed in the states.

With the following pursuit of timeless, practical Americana, hot Private coach bags--the primary types this are now being re-made by label--have turn into a popular investment during flea sells plus traditional suppliers in just recent ages, seized right up by way of in-the-know design and style setters plus extras graphic designers hunting for idea types.

Mother's Fat

That they declare guiding every single profitable gentleman is an acronym ladies. In the matter of Eileen Kors, it can be the new mother, Joan, a new ex - style along with Kors's perennial muse. Currently they have made a new handbag worth holding not simply your ex budget along with sun glasses and also your ex brand.

Your Joan, which in turn occurs in a range of hues and is also decently costs three hundred dollars $398, complies with Joan's rigorous criteria: "I often seek out the outside bank account pertaining to our mobile phone along with recommendations, inch the girl affirms, "and I like a new scoot drawing a line under. "But the girl brings, "I surely might not head staying shocked which has a crocodile variation! inch Joan affirms the girl strategies for you to observe Mom's Morning for the Rest of the world Sea-coast which has a incredible design involving peonies along with evening meal using Eileen. The highest surprise he has been ever before granted your ex? "Not the need to go on a spree to the prior 40 several years.

Heart Tennessee Vogue Full week kicked down

Heart Tennessee Vogue Full week kicked down that has a press connected with stilettos in addition to swipe connected with lipstick a couple weeks ago.

This inaugural affair presented the possibility intended for novices for getting the legs drenched in addition to study this cogs and wheels connected with vogue full week.

"It's hustle and bustle, inch claimed Optimum, exactly who unveiled Types By means of Optimum in relation to a few months before. "It's consistent on-the-go, although it truly is fulfilling. You must have some sort of appreciation for doing this. I adore, in excess of whatever, if a person positions during one connected with the types in addition to happiness.

On 5 legs 7 inches width, Aubrey Vorderberg seemed to be explained to your lover seemed to be far too limited to help type with Nashville Vogue Full week. Although she actually is a wonderful peak to help type intended for Heart Tennessee Vogue Full week.

"I'm finding out each of the very little factors, including the amount of time period assumes size in addition to rehearsals, although it truly is many about to possibly be more than worth it, inch this 14-year-old type claimed.

Both equally enjoyed within a vogue photography in addition to online video media capture Thurs . on Anastasia's Sepcialist with town center Murfreesboro over the shop's trunk indicate, that is likewise component of vogue full week. Various manufacturers were being included, as well as Topic, Judith Walk in addition to Elizabeth Bray Bracelets.

This getting connected with resourceful intellects thrilled Shannon Perry-Rawls, manager on the Gulls Home Hair and facial salon.

"Creativity ought to be endorsed with Murfreesboro, inch your lover claimed. "This is usually many simply just a component of more substantial windows connected with vogue.

Your lover brought various items to possibly be raffled over the Thursday vogue indicate, in conjunction with shawls by hoda donates by Talk about Magnificence Source manager Keith Sanford.

"He's giving to help the retail outlet, and so the retail outlet can certainly offer, inch Perry-Rawls claimed. "I'm undoubtedly enthusiastic intended for small establishments for getting concerned (in Vogue Week) in addition to complete a label intended for independently.

MTSU seemed to be slated to help coordinator it is vogue indicate Exclusive morning, and then Heart Tennessee Vogue Week's lavish vogue indicate end with Thursday on Within the Crud nightclub with Murfreesboro's block.

Instructions were being likewise mastered by means of affair organizer Sharon Cumberbatch, exactly who claimed she actually is superior organized with the impending a long time.

"Now persons employ a superior feel about what exactly vogue full week need to be, inch your lover claimed, putting of which she'd including far more fashionistas for getting concerned future season.

which often sets up Milan vogue full week

Milan provides extended said the spot on the list of leading trend capitals with the planet, yet appointment setting fears have got fashionistas inquiring whether it's shedding effect.

Although leading brands just like Giorgio Armani, Gucci and also Versace provided that their particular almost all on the autumn/winter 2010-2011 catwalk displays and also earned extensive reward for traces, the particular discuss regarding trend few days provides centered on the particular extensive plan regarding the cramped appointment setting.

Organizers have been still left scrambling to match the particular key brands directly into several nights out from the Feb . twenty four - Drive 1 run after potent trend editor, Vogue's Anna Wintour, reportedly mentioned the lady designed to be able to cut short the girl attendance to attend Paris, france , trend few days and the particular Oscars inside L . a ..

Equally neighborhood and also global media have got written about the particular "Wintour effect" around the northern Italian metropolis and also just how developers have been bowing to be able to calls for with the global media.

Mario Boselli, the particular chairman regarding Italy's Countrywide Holding chamber regarding Trend -- which usually organizes Milan trend few days -- mentioned Italian developers usually confirmed these folks were not necessarily aware of their particular strength "and as an alternative offer to the strain with the overseas media. "

"I consider the particular huge maisons must communicate upwards. We have been more compact yet there were to be able to plan our own present consequently with all the appointment setting, " Maurizio Modica, one of many developers with Frankie Morello, advised Reuters. "The effect regarding Anna Wintour? It's really a fact. "

Milan provides extended relied about the position with the identical huge identify brand names that were about for decades and also whose efforts are usually lapped upwards around the globe. Yet principal compete with trend capitals Nyc and also Paris, france , have got more time daily activities because of this time of year. Market observers furthermore take note there were handful of globally identified younger developers to be able to come out the following in the last several years.

a futuristic-looking black color in addition

A couple Big apple learners with the eyes intended for vogue include scooped in place cash payouts within a famous nation's pattern match.

Jessica Madlinger in addition to Natahlia Hall-Bourdeau, both equally golden-agers on Manhattan's School intended for Skill in addition to Pattern, picked up minute in addition to finally area respectively from the 2011 Cornell Pattern Honors by means of developing a costume intended for "a party within the moon. inch

Many people overcome at the very least three hundred different learners nationally. "It simply just style of reached everyone, inch claimed Madlinger, teen, by Maspeth, Queens, whose receiving sketch indicates an attractive silver, magenta in addition to lime strapless attire having black color ladies high heel sandals.

"I tried using to manufacture a pattern that had been rather one of a kind, inch your lover claimed. "It simply just style of reached everyone.

Madlinger in addition to Hall-Bourdeau, on the Bronx, will probably am Cornell College or university that few days to see this Ivy League school's major student-run vogue indicate dwell.

Hall-Bourdeau's formation is usually a futuristic-looking black color in addition to scary lilac attire that has a mermaid trail.

This receiving pattern, by means of Tiffany Zhang some sort of younger by Piedmont, Calif., has become made into a costume which will be utilized within the catwalk by means of on the list of products.

"Those a couple are simply just geniuses with regard to the skill power in addition to vogue, inch claimed the vogue pattern educator, Eileen Farrelly-Moyotl.

to fairy-tale aspect of marriage ceremonies

Any time Kate Middleton taking walks straight down the particular aisle afterwards this kind of calendar month to be able to marry President William, the particular would-be brides to be observing on the market will, without doubt residence inside on her outfit.

Bridal market insiders assume the girl outfit being copied often times above when people receives the initial looks.

Several designer wedding dresses abandon any legacy of music over and above the particular next-day knockoffs: Princess or queen Diana's fantastic outfit, Acceptance Kelly's exciting a single, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's basic aquarium — and also specifically California king Victoria's white-colored basketball outfit — altered just how brides to be fitted regarding many years to come.

Middleton's probably will belong to in which group.

"Kate's outfit will probably be a significant outfit, a single which is to be mentioned for your sleep of energy, " claims Millie Martini Bratten, editor-in-chief regarding Brides to be mag.

Diana's outfit aided establish the particular grandeur regarding trend inside the early on 1980s, Martini Bratten claims, yet Middleton's could be a lot more influential due to the fact females relate with the girl being a 29-year-old using a produced perception regarding type, weighed against the particular 19-year-old Diana, whose outfit probably has been picked simply by committee.

Furthermore, images regarding Middleton's outfit can right away become published on the web regarding debate and also judge, records Darcy Miller, editor inside key regarding Martha Stewart Marriage ceremonies. "It's awesome simply how much brides to be are usually inspired by what other folks use, specifically royals, superstars, presidents' daughters. Just before Chelsea Clinton's wedding party has been above, each new bride observed in which Vera Wang outfit and also needed several model than me, " Miller claims.

Superstar red-carpet seems are usually used for your aisle, claims Marchesa co-founder and also artist Georgina Chapman, yet lots of women are already contemplating their particular illusion gowns for some time and don't start any penny. "Wedding gowns are usually as opposed to any attire, " the lady claims, due to the fact brides' selections "are usually a smaller amount trend-driven, plus more professionally dedicated to just how they wish to appear and feel on their special day. "

Nonetheless, any princess or queen keeps distinct sway due to fairy-tale aspect of marriage ceremonies.

"A royal aspect helps it be a lot more dreamlike, plus a special day can be your time and energy to appear to be any princess or queen, " claims Kimberly Lee Modest, key trend strategist with the bridal tag Priscilla regarding Boston, which usually produced gowns for your daughters regarding Presidents Johnson and also Nixon.

also afterwards responded to inquiries from your market

Tim Gunn, co-host regarding Lifetime's "Project Runway, " published "Tim Gunn Would like One to Ensure it is Perform, " any trend present and also meet-and-greet in which enticed about 1, 000 folks Wednesday mid-day inside the Neiman Marcus-Bloomingdale's courtyard with Trend Tropical isle inside Newport Seashore.

Gunn, that is furthermore the chief imaginative specialist regarding Liz Claiborne Inc., offered commentary through the present together with methods for early spring 2011 type, and also afterwards responded to inquiries from your market.

Choices around the runway integrated the newest coming from Liz Claiborne, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade Nyc and also Blessed Brand name Denims. Parts from your display have been available for purchase with Trend Tropical isle retailers following your function.

Ginny Head of hair regarding Huntington Seashore mentioned the lady found out about the expensive vacation event Wednesday morning hours, and also in a hurry for the shopping center.

"It's my favorite present, " Head of hair mentioned since the lady continued to wait inside series to fulfill type specialist Tim Gunn, "I consider it is possible to trim a whole lot. "

Gunn is taking care of his / her subsequent publication, "The Trend Sort, " which will be a great anthology with the historical past and also lineage regarding diverse attire.

Market associates which put in no less than $150 with some of the a few brand name retailers about Wednesday have been invited to adopt a photograph together with Tim Gunn and also show up at a great right after get together which included a bottle of wine and also puddings.s

The combined the two ends in please-touch natural leather bags

A new handbag collaboration which has a television demonstrate? Yeah, many of us were coming our sight too. That may be until many of us heard your name in the designer... plus the show.

Los Angeles-based ladies handbag line Hammitt is often a cult favourite with starlets similar to Angelina Jolie due to the hand-crafted Italian leather development. And HBO's "True Blood" is often a cult favorite due to the, well, sexiness. The combined the two ends in please-touch natural leather bags using studs along with detailing encouraged by characters for the show. By way of example, the Eric definitely seems to be a clear-cut black crossbody, but made sideways shows itself to get pierced using silver bullet-like studs. The Sookie carries a sweet, old-fashioned appeal, most ladylike closures along with gathered dreary suede, nevertheless its gussets cover edgy rivets.

The totes hit stores this summer to coincide while using new time of Genuine Blood. And you'll bet we shall be settling our enamel into one particular.

Danielle Nicole began to make her own handbags

Danielle Nicole can be a hot fresh handbag designer operating out of New York who's an vision for producing edgy and also on-trend handbags which can be high top quality and cost-effective. Her designs may also be animal helpful, making Danielle Nicole any designer for your modern fashionista.

Being a 17-year-old freshman selling student, Danielle Nicole started out purchasing totes and tearing them apart to find out how these folks were constructed. She has been determined to find out how the particular bags have been made in order that she can design her own handbag and learn how to engineer that for design.

Danielle Nicole’s layout talents have been quickly identified while she was at school. As a result of her reputation, she has been accepted to be in a esteemed class which usually took her in the handbag companies of Paris, france ,, Milan, Venice and also Rome. It has been while the lady studied inside Europe in which Danielle Nicole was able to witness specialist craftsmen at the job and understand the feel and fabrications found in luxury totes.

Upon returning to the usa, Danielle Nicole began to make her own handbags in the home. She identified the tile flooring in the girl apartment being the best hard surface area for hammering, much for the chagrin regarding her downstairs friends and neighbors. Despite a couple of noise problems, she continued to be effective on producing and developing handbags. Her dedication for the craft regarding handbag creating has generated the high-quality popularity her tote line loves.

“I’m associated with every step with the process; each bag will be personally checked by myself. ” Danielle Nicole operates hard to make certain every individual handbag adheres to be able to her good quality standards. Hardly any, if virtually any, handbag designers travel to their production facilities, as can Danielle Nicole, to inspect each handbag which is made so that you can ensure good quality standards are usually met.

Danielle Nicole’s layout talents ended up her a properly sought-after internship together with Bergdorf Goodman in which she worked on the getting side with the business along with being your own shopper. Bergdorf Goodman, which is well known for having high-end artist fashions along with hot, fresh, up-and-coming developers, instantly identified Danielle Nicole’s imaginative talents, and the lady was asked to design cosmetic bags for your department retailer.

Consumers adored Danielle Nicole’s models so Bergdorf Goodman questioned her showing them the girl handbag series, and the others is high end handbag historical past. Her totes hit retailer shelves with Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Sixth Avenue and also Bloomingdale’s, in order to name a couple of. Danielle Nicole’s high-end totes were gaining popularity and the girl friends wished they are able to afford this kind of luxurious carrier. This instigated Danielle Nicole to find out a dependence on luxury handbags that were high inside quality and also style, yet lacking in price.

There exists a vintage element arriving as properly

Fortunately that your options for bikinis in 2011 tend to be fashion driven than in the past.

"It's in regards to the detailing, and also swimwear in which looks specific, " Gregg Andrews, trend director with Nordstrom, explained to StyleList. "The information are just like those you would find inside couture dressmaking – ruching, accumulating and ruffles. " An extra benefit of the elements is they can work to suit your needs. "These strategies are complementary – they could disguise humps and bulges, inches Andrews extra.

"Draping and also ruching, particularly in the one-piece, establish the midsection, " mentioned Cynthia Maxwell, frolic in the water trend director at jc penney. "They disguise the abdomen areas in which we'd somewhat not be viewed. " And also conversely, "ruffles help make her seem very shapely. inches

Macy's vice-president and also women's trend director Nicole Fischelis arranged. "Draping and also asymmetry is very important, " the lady told StyleList. "It's concerning strapless, one-shoulder matches, deep jump necks, inches and, the lady added, "one-pieces remain very crucial. "

There exists a vintage element arriving as properly. "There are usually lingerie-inspired information like bra pot seaming and also metal rings around the bands, inches Andrews explained. "There's any skirted result that we have been seeing plus a high-waisted bottom what a little bigger. It features a 1940s think that a vintage Vargas pin-up lady. "

And there's the particular classic nautical seem. "It's any crisp nautical or perhaps South regarding France seem with beating – fruit and white-colored, red and also white and also royal and also white, inches Andrews mentioned. "The beating go from inch as a result of pencil beating. "

With Macy's, Fischelis sees the flexibility a tankini gives. "You can easily infuse trend. I point out play together with color and also patterns, inches she mentioned. "Wear any striped top using a solid bottom part, or use a striped top using a printed bottom part. "

Tankinis with jc penney certainly are a fashion staple who have even infiltrated the particular junior location. "The girls just like the idea they are wearing any two-piece as well as the mom's that way they're nonetheless covered, inches Maxwell publicly stated.

The nights of throwing over a hoodie and maneuvering to the seashore are above. Fashionable frolic in the water cover-ups and also complementary pieces come in such requirement at Macy's, "whether it's really a maxi-skirt or perhaps -dress, or even a peasant top or tunic, inches Fischelis contributed, that it really is INC brand name has extra it being a new group. "We have numerous stores inside warm regions that individuals have any strategic policy for the kids. "

The continuing popularity with the maxi outfit has transferred it in to the cover-up group at jc penney, Maxwell mentioned. "And crochet, wide lace, anything together with open perform looks actually modern, but nevertheless gives several coverage, the lady added.

the fashion world will be watching

Though Arcade Flame and Kings of Leon usually are jamming onstage, fashion in addition to lifestyle companies will likely be vying with the attention connected with festival-goers offstage, having branded cooling down tents, beachfront balls, Coachella "survival kits" for the Empire Polo Clb grounds, plus pool area parties having bottomless cocktails and his or her live new music at lodges and locations offsite.

Brands post clothes to help celebrities early in advance in hopes they are photographed using them, spread promotional objects, and mentor social functions with with regards to generating regular and web 2 . 0 coverage, in addition to, eventually, gross sales. At duration, design teams do you have, studying the best way festival-goers dress so as to turn thoughts around in addition to sell these individuals next season.

All it's developed all around a pageant initially conceived choice to corporatized dwell music ordeals with excessive ticket charges. And is it doesn't idea of their indie spirit which enables Coachella so easy for fashion brands like H&M, Lacoste, Levi's, Havaianas in addition to Ray-Ban.

"Coachella is usually underground, definitely not rebel, but fewer mainstream compared to a traditional show format, inch says Darin Skinner, Guess' senior citizen vice web design manager of outlets, including Gary the gadget guy by Think, the Think brand's more radiant sibling. "That's how we see Gary the gadget guy by Think. The entry side on the herd, definitely not the herd.

In on the list of brand's main marketing initiatives on the year, G by means of Guess will likely be sponsoring an event for 750 to 1, 000 family and friends at a 8 1/2-acre real estate in Indio, which boasts its very own private sea and a airport. Skinner has also hired some sort of "delta force" connected with models to help ride about the festival with G by means of Guess-branded motorbikes, distributing 5, 000 Coachella your survival kit fanny features.

they will still have got street-style cred

What with all the velvet settees, sunshine buffering in from the windows, and stay folksy music by way of a Fine Madness, yesterday's Banana Republic show on the Bowery Motel was really intimate. In accordance with creative movie director Simon Kneen, that has been intentional: "The assortment has a great deal texture. We needed everyone to find out it upwards closer as compared to usual—more 3-D as compared to 2-D.

The artist captured many Fall styles. There have been tissue-thin natural cotton turtlenecks (like the people we saw monthly back with Celine) layered under tunic blouses; vintage plaid and also herringbone styles in outdoor cooking with charcoal shades, which seemed best over a slim couple of jodhpur-y jeans; and "Dunaway-esque" cloches and also brogue heels in order to complete the seems. As for your texture Kneen was desperate to highlight, it found most clearly in the nubby traditions sweater worn using a winter white-colored brocade pad skirt. Any camel, double-face made of wool topcoat, that your creative director called a deconstructed accept the trench, has been a standout. Although it has been could've recently been the Alana Zimmer aspect, we wished to nab the particular model's basic, dove dull leather bomber together with shearling dog collar and slouchy Lurex beanie.

Around the boys' part, it has been about toughened-up tailoring. Any double-breasted fit jacket or perhaps leather peacoat worked well well together with comfortable but polished made of wool drawstring slacks. To top all of it off: "bad boy" fedoras. Like plenty of other pieces on this show, we now have seen these elsewhere just before, but they will still have got street-style cred.

Spring styles come to Montevallo

The promise of spring and that of beautiful new fashions brought more than 130 lovely Montevallo ladies out to the March 24 style show, luncheon and silent auction sponsored by the local branch of the American Association of University Women.

This year’s show provided the inspiration they were looking for. Guests came a bit early to view and bid on the unusual treasures available through the silent auction: original oil and water color paintings; handmade jewelry, needlework, ceramics and woodcrafts; books; garden art; plants; metal work; hand-painted china; Easter items; CDs; specialty foods; and gift certificates. The delicious box lunches, furnished by Southern Sweets, preceded the parade of fashions.

An especially exciting feature of these annual style shows is that community friends and acquaintances are the models. This year, they gracefully strolled down the walkway clothed and fitted by Belk. Ed Robertson accompanied them with soft piano music.

The lovely models were Barbara Belisle, Misty Bennett, Zara Bennett, Pat Bird, Glenda Cairns, Gale Carson, Phyllis Chase, Eleanor Davis, along with Pat Elder, Brenda Hines, Elaine Hughes, Phoebe Hurst, Erin Jolley and Judy Morgan. Others were Carrie Parrott, Inez Sawyer, Nita Terrell, Taylor Welch, Mary Lou Williams and Lea Ann Webb.

There’s no doubt that 2-year-old Zara, cute little daughter of Misty and Joe Bennett, was the twinkling star of the show. She was as entertained by the audience as they were by her, and every time she walked past Joe, who was sitting at a table close to the walkway, she laughed, waved to him and cried, “Hey, hey, Daddy.”

“The style show was extremely successful this year,” said Faye Roberts, “and that happened through real community effort and cooperation. The proceeds totally supported our scholarship and enabled us to contribute significantly to ‘Reading is Fundamental’ and our national education programs.” Roberts, along with Barbara Broadhead, coordinated the event.

s creative director and the driving force of Fashion Week El Paseo

“This is surreal” was the spontaneous reaction that popped from the lips of Susan Stein when she walked into this year's expanded big white Fashion Week tent a few weeks ago.

As creative director and the driving force of Fashion Week El Paseo, Stein's words were not only correct but were a prophecy.

The enlarged tent just off El Paseo on Larkspur was only the beginning. After five-years, this year's Fashion Week took off with dramatic increases in attendance, income, merchant participation and economic benefits for the entire valley.

Our team of stylish society reporters, armed only with bulging closets and overflowing shoe racks, worked tirelessly throughout the week to bring you these gems and glimpses from the more than 18 fashion week events held in at least five venues in seven days, as well as more than 40 in-store El Paseo events.

The two best events to attend if you were short on time or money were the opening and closing shows.

Opening: March 20. Saks Fifth Avenue drew a sold-out crowd of more than 650 to see the best of the best from famous designers around the world. Top trends: vibrant color, longer skirts, 1970's-style pants, trench coats, open-weave knits, flap bags and stacked bracelets. Cuistot provided an elegant after party.

Closing: March 28. Designer Oliver Tolentino's runway show was over the top impressive — flattering, wearable, vibrant colors and designs with inventive and eco-friendly fabrics on great models who strutted and twirled, nonstop, two at a time, for more than a half hour. What a portfolio! And what a great after party at Ace Hotel.

Most of this year's major events made generous donations to a charity. One of the more successful evenings was The Girlfriend Factor reception, “Wine, chocolate and Shoes,” that raised substantial funding for its women's scholarship fund.

That event preceded The Fashion Runway Bar, an event that has been part of Fashion Week for six years.

The runway was packed with fashions from 17 El Paseo merchants and designers including Tommy Bahama's, White House/Black Market, She She, V&G Hip Wear, Cactus Flower Shoes, El Paseo Jewelers, Chelsea Taylor, bebe, Tink, Josie's She She Kids, Don Vincent, BbOne and Eileen Fisher.

up-and-coming-brands

My son has a game called Snail Race in which you roll a multi-coloured dice and six different coloured snails move up a course towards the finish line. Weirdly, it seems that the green one always wins and I have no idea why.

It reminds me of the great "up-and-coming-brands" race that continues season after season on the High Street battlefield. But here, unlike with the snails, it's very difficult to predict who will win.

Let me explain. In menswear right now there are a number of hot brands jostling for position in the race for eternal demand. Some will achieve it, but many more will fade and wither away, eventually to be bought by a big, dull "brand house" or worse still, disappear altogether.

Obviously you can shorten your odds as a brand if you have more than your fair share of cash. But that normally means that you have sidled up to someone who makes their decisions on a calculator. Also, you have a better than average chance if you have a truly unique product. But, to be honest, there are very few Coco Chanels in the world. So what is it, apart from luck, which makes a brand succeed?

For most of these brands it's getting to the time where they need to move out of the greenhouse and into the garden, but this stage is the most dangerous and it's where many of them ultimately flounder.

What really makes a difference in my view is the tireless drive of the people or person who runs the business. Energy and enthusiasm is a finite resource in most people's cases and it tends to run out when they realise that the race is a marathon not a sprint. It's the people with mental stamina who ultimately win because they keep producing ideas which keep their brand fresh many years after their competitors have run dry.

Clever collaborations can really add something for both brands

It's a well-known fact that the power of two can be stronger than one. Look at Posh and Becks: she's a former Spice Girl and he's a footballer, but together they are a world-class, international lifestyle brand peddling everything from high fashion to sugary drinks.

So it is on the High Street, as more and more brands are collaborating with each other to gain those valuable extra column inches. Collaborations of course are very clever but, as with every good idea, we always end up taking it too far.

As with pop-ups, we must look to strip out what was originally clever about them and then apply these principles to our own brands. Here are a few of my totally unscientific rules for those who are thinking of collaborating:

1. Both brands need to have equal respect in their marketplace. You won't see Kate Moss designing baguettes for Silvio's Sandwich Bar in Charing Cross.

2. The idea of two people coming together must add something that otherwise wasn't there.  Jil Sander at Uniqlo, for example, is perfect. Uniqlo gets great design and fashion credibility, Jil Sander gets the power of a big retailer to bring her product to a massive audience. Both are respected equally but for different reasons. There is one collaboration currently that is between a sock brand and a hotel, and I can't for the life of me understand why I need a hotel's input into the design of my socks - or vice versa for that matter.

3. Be careful not to collaborate with people who are, shall we say, promiscuous with their collaborations. Some brands will jump into bed with anyone - and we all know what that behaviour does for your reputation. A certain T-shirt brand (named after a country famous for Edam cheese) has collaborated with more people than have actually bought the products.

4. Finally, don't collaborate if it makes the price of your product significantly higher for what is clearly the same thing as you usually sell, as the punter will get pissed off. A designer and a footwear brand recently did a shoe that was identical to the original except for a tiny cloth tab at the back. The price was 50 per cent more, which made it obvious that the designer was pocketing about 49.9 per cent of the difference.

Basically, clever collaborations can really add something for both brands, keeping them fresh and interesting, but poor ones can at worst, actually damage your brand.

McGinley to contribute new designs for her Artist T-shirt line

French designer Agnès Troublé, founder of the Agnès B. fashion label, has always been a big supporter of the arts. This week, there is new proof with the opening of her SoHo store and gallery.

Located in the same district as her first US store, inaugurated in 1980, the new store at 50 Howard Street, New York combines men's and women's clothing with rotating exhibitions by up-and-coming artists as well as those that have already been featured at her Paris gallery, Galerie du Jour.

It feels like the entrepreneur's vision has come full circle after she started 'importing' exciting New York artists and presenting them in Paris.

Spring beauty releases

Here are some of the stand-out beauty product releases hitting counters this spring.

One of the most talked-about new nail polish lines this spring is Illamasqua's Toxic Nature: the name already suggests a mix between natural hues - the peachy Purity or grey mauve Stagnate - and toxically radiant ones such as the "acidic lime shimmer" Radium or neon orange Gamma. A bottle is $25.

http://www.illamasqua.com/

If you're more into the current grunge trend, you will like Chanel's latest varnish set to become yet another "it" nail polish: the smoky metallic Black Pearl sells for $25.

http://www.chanel.com/

Speaking of pearls: shimmering beads were the inspiration behind Dior's new Montaigne collection, a 13-piece range of pearly grays and baby pinks for eyes, lips, and cheeks (priced around $58).

http://www.dior.com/

Staying within a softer color palette, MAC Cosmetics' spring range called Quite Cute (from $13) is all about pastels. The brand will also launch the Bronze Everyday powders, skinfinishes, and legsprays (priced from $22 to $31) as well as its Primed for Perfection line ($23-$36,50).

http://www.maccosmetics.com/

Everyone who is still looking for the perfect shade of lipstick will rejoice at 25 new choices courtesy of Guerlain, which will release its new Rouge Automatique collection, with each shade named after one of the house's fragrances. They sell for $45 each.

http://www.guerlain.com/

This spring's hottest color, orange was worked into a whole range by Estée Lauder called Orange Crush. Get ready to stand out from the crowd with orange lipstick or eyeshadow, priced at around $20.

http://www.esteelauder.com/

be overly audacious in my shopping habits

"What do you think of dungarees?" I ask my friend Lucy – we are both in the throes of last month's Paris collections and it's a loaded question, obviously. And, no, they're not denim. I might, on occasion, be overly audacious in my shopping habits, but I'm not insane.

Back in London two days later and they arrive. They're cut in fine black cotton. And they are big. They are very big. It's safe to say that I could probably fit my entire family in them, perhaps with sofa, which gives new meaning to the concept of one-step dressing. Speaking of family, my son (aged 11 and quick to judge where my wardrobe is concerned), is in stitches.

"What are those?" he shrieks. Interestingly, even at such an early age, Western men seem to think that anything that doesn't cling to the body doesn't really fit. For his part, my other half has always looked upon my love affair with the Japanese design aesthetic with a certain degree of scepticism, inevitably opining, with none of the wisdom of Confucius, "But isn't that too big?".

What other way to wear dungarees is there but oversized, though? Unless, that is, you happen to be Kiki Dee. To my mind, they are a less prissy and more dignified alternative to a sundress. I like the idea of pulling something on over a vest and a pair of sandals without feeling that I'm fit for nowhere but the beach. If my dungarees were purple, people might call me Tinky Winky (not good) and if they were indigo and I wore them with a hoodie, say, I might be more Salt-n-Pepa circa 1990 (a fine fashion reference if ever there was one).

As it stands, I think the look is more late-Eighties workwear/utility in flavour – think the aforementioned Yohji but also Katharine Hamnett, Helmut Lang, Martin Margiela... And I like that.

She thinks the way to green fashion is to incorporate good practices into everyday routines

Rachel Roy wants to take on packaging. When she first launched her shoe collection and received her very first pair from the manufacturer, she says she was immediately unhappy with the amount of paper used to wrap them. She worked with the factory to reduce the paper by 50 percent.

Might there be a slightly greater chance for damage during shipping? Yes, says Roy, but she is convinced — and she thinks shoppers will agree — that the risk is worth it.

Greer, of the NRDC, wants designers to come to this initiative armed with questions, personal pet interests and a can-do spirit. "We're hoping to give designers a menu of options of where to start — and we don't expect to do them all at once — and any of them would be fine with me."

She ticks off potential jumping-off points: rail freight and ocean shipping containers instead of airplanes; fabrics that can be machine-washed in cold water instead of hot (or instead of being dry cleaned).

These aren't quick and easy fixes and will require more of a commitment, including a financial one, to adopt, but once things start changing, Greer hopes the movement will be sustainable.

"What the fashion industry has done to date is the occasional green item, and that doesn't affect the majority of the way they make their stuff. `Green' materials doesn't really affect how it's manufactured," Greer explains. "What we're hoping for is that this is a new chapter, a much bigger chapter," rather than a one-off.

The industry's ability to think out of the box is what's needed most, because some solutions aren't yet developed, Greer says.

The industry, while competitive, also knows how to come together for a cause, observes Hilfiger, noting its fundraising history for breast cancer and AIDS charities. The environment is next on the radar, he says.

"It's part of being a good global citizen," Hilfiger says, "and fashion is a global business. ... If we can all get together, all of us, I think we have enough influence."

Hilfiger says everything is on the table, from reusing water bottles at the office to LED lighting in stores. A big thing will be rethinking travel, but he's willing to do that, too. (If he weren't, his 17-year-old daughter would get on his case like she has about recycling everything at home.)

Rachel Roy's father insisted on a no-waste food policy all her life, she says, so composting — or even feeding scraps to her dogs — has always been the norm. She thinks the way to green fashion is to incorporate good practices into everyday routines.

"It's an overwhelming subject, like most important subjects in our lives. The way I've approached it is very natural, one step at a time. I ask what's in my immediate path and what can I do to leave a situation a little better than I found it?" Roy says.

Your morning fashion and beauty report

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at age 24 already have four fashion labels -- The Row, Elizabeth and James, Textile Elizabeth and James, and Olsenboye.

Miami Heat star LeBron James is in a deal with Audemars Piguet. James will be a celebrity representative for the watchmaker, while the company will support the basketball player's charities.

Designer Roland Mouret and model Claudia Schiffer will be among the judges for "Fashion Fringe," the British competition that nurtures young designers who compete for a cash prize and mentoring from established pros. The pair replace John Galliano, late of Dior, who was honorary chairman last year. "Fashion Fringe" is taking applications through May 4, and three finalists will produce collections to show at London Fashion Week in September. Past prize winners include Erdem and Eun Jeong.

Alexander McQueen is releasing a limited edition skull-print scarf to coincide with the opening of the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" exhibition at the Met in NYC. The scarves will sell for $495 and be in the brand's stores in May.

New L.A. label Sol Angeles celebrated its launch this week with a party Tuesday night attended by Kardashian queen mum Kris Jenner. The line's soft tees will be on sale at Fred Segal.

Cynthia Rowley is making over her menswear line, and renaming it too. Mr. Powers is named for her husband, gallerist Bill Powers.

Anne's outer beauty is matched by inner beaut

There's a new jet-setting socialite in town who's bringing her signature style and love of anything and everything fabulous with her.  An international fashion icon, Anne steals the spotlight as the glamorous relative of the Count of Paris, who traces his lineage back to the French Monarchy. Anne, perfectly coiffed and beautifully dressed, frequently graces the pages of top fashion magazines and society pages. Anne worked as a fashion buyer for an influential designer label.  She also has a background in investment banking where she mixed and mingled with the power elite.  These high-profile experiences have influenced Anne's already impeccable taste.

Anne has tackled London and is taking the New York fashion world by storm. Anne prides herself on her ability to look put-together at every occasion and is featured on international best-dressed lists.  Her love of beauty trends is reflected in her ever-changing lip color, and there is always a Dior or Chanel tube in her purse.  Anne is throwing a lavish party this spring, sure to make society headlines around the world. The dazzling array of stars combined with the New York power elite is sure to make this event the most highly anticipated ticket in town.

Anne's outer beauty is matched by inner beauty as she raises money for several charitable causes near and dear to her heart.  Anne's royal lineage and high-profile status lends international cachet to the world's leading fashion brands.  As a special consultant to fashion magazines and a muse to many top designers, Anne provides the creative direction that sets the trends for seasons to come.  Fashion insiders predict that Anne Yap is the royal one-to-watch on the international fashion scene.

a parade featuring the festival designer award finalists

The L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival is all about glamour, but unlike most red- carpet fashion events, this one isn't just for the style police.

The festival, now in its 15th year, may be for the people, but it's still taken seriously. The celebrities are in attendance, wearing their sponsored frocks and smiling for the cameras, and the shows are extremely polished.

The only real difference between something like this festival and the preview shows of most major fashion weeks is that what you see at the festival is what has just been delivered to stores. If you see something you like, you can go out and buy it.

The only exceptions at last week's extravaganza were the opening event, Fashion Full Stop, and a parade featuring the festival designer award finalists.

This year, the prize went to new menswear label Song for the Mute, whose mostly black, mostly wool collection beat off competition from well-known Australian designers Arnsdorf, Bassike and Ellery.

Fashion Full Stop, which celebrated decades of Australian fashion and music, was slick, fast, colourful and noisy. Former Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian and Mark Seymour (of 80s rock band Hunters & Collectors) were among performers who shared the stage with models in the infamous mini dress worn by Jean Shrimpton to the 1965 Melbourne Cup, whimsical designs by Akira Isogawa, Michelle Jank and Willow, and evening gowns by red- carpet designers Alex Perry and Toni Maticevski.

Perry's own show, a glitzy affair showcasing his trademark glamour gowns, was an exclusive preview to his spring-summer collection, Cuban Princess.

Menswear label Jack London also held its first stand-alone show, presenting its winter collection, Urban Warriors and Dandy Lions, at the Prahran Town Hall. Jack London designer Karl Bartl was influenced by the "hard Mods and punk style of the Skins/Lemonheads" and stayed true to the label's signature classic tailoring with a rock 'n' roll edge.

Spontaneous applause erupted when a model walked out wearing a sequinned camo blazer and leading a bulldog named Chops.

Sequins aside, it was mostly an incredibly saleable collection, with camel trench coats, straight pants that sat above the ankle, skinny ties and khaki duffle coats.

Anna Wintour's fascination with the young starlet

The term fashion faux pas seems to be completely unknown to "Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively. Whether she's sitting front row at a runway show, splashed across the cover of a magazine or making a red carpet appearance, Lively never ceases to impress the most discerning fashion palettes. This will be Lively's hat trick edition of Frugal Fashion, proving the 23-year-old has a serious knack for dolling up on the red carpet and that maybe there is a little something to Anna Wintour's fascination with the young starlet.

Lively stars in the latest DC Comic-turned-film venture "The Green Lantern," out June 17, as the feisty siren Carol Ferris opposite Ryan Reynolds. When she hit the red carpet for CinemaCon in Las Vegas -- the annual gathering of cinema owners and operators (formerly called ShoWest) -- was she attempting to hide her future as the film's star sapphire villain under her all-white, angelic disguise? Or did Lively's wardrobe choice have a little something to do with the weather? The comic fan in me votes for the first option, but feel free to decide for yourself.

Lively looked ready for summer in an all-white lace uber-mini and sheer top ensemble by Dolce & Gabbana, white blazer with black trim and cream colored suede booties with cleavage.

Bob Dylan has a far more influential status than other foreign performers in China

Although he turns 70 in May, Dylan was spry and in good voice, rocking the harmonica and the organ with a verve that had the mostly Chinese crowd up and clapping. He moves to Shanghai for another show tomorrow.

The performance came against a backdrop of heightened political tension over the disappearance of controv
"Bob Dylan has a far more influential status than other foreign performers in China, and the social and cultural impact is greater," said Wei Ming, manager of the concerts' promoting company, Gehua LiveNation.

"Beforehand, we thought that his audience would be small, that not so many people would be into Dylan here in China, but we were completely wrong. It's not a niche audience, he has a mass following here in China," Mr Wei said.

Given that he wrote the 1960s protest classics "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changin'", you could be forgiven for thinking Dylan would have a problem in China.

However, given that much of his music attacks US foreign policy, his repertoire would traditionally garner sympathy in Beijing. Dylan stuck to a varied set list mixing his newer work and his older work, but there was nothing that could have ruffled official feathers too much, even at a time of heightened suspicion about dissent.

"This is an absolutely commercial deal; there is no political element," Mr Wei said. "We are always organising international musicians to play in China. We did The Eagles, now Dylan and in May we will invite Avril Lavigne to come and play in Beijing and Shanghai."

Beijing has been clamping down on any form of protest because of fears of spillover from the protests shaking North Africa and the Middle East.

However, Dylan has become a lot less political in recent years, and the government has allowed some older, less risky rock standards to play in China, such as The Rolling Stones.

Retail sales continue to generally come in ahead of our expectations

We continue to see signs that the U.S. economy is on the mend, but visibility beyond the summer months appears severely constrained.

Consumer cyclical firms are still planning for top-line gains but are bracing for margin pressure, particularly in the second half of the year.

Most luxury goods stocks are still expensive, even after the recent pullback, but some warrant a closer look.

We continue to see signs that the U.S. economy is slowly improving, and while our expectation for a modest recovery among consumer cyclical firms in 2011 remains intact, the group is by no means out of the woods.

On the positive side, retail sales continue to generally come in ahead of our expectations, and traffic growth has been impressive. Costs have remained in check, driving record corporate profits in some cases. The unemployment picture has also cleared up a bit, and many expect job prospects to become more favorable in the coming year.

However, we remain balanced in our view and note that the impact of holiday shifts, year-ago government stimulus, and mounting input cost pressures could lead to a couple of choppy quarters and, ultimately, margin compression as the year unfolds. As such, we still project mid-single-digit top-line growth for much of the sector, but we see early signs of incremental slowing in the second half of the year.

more expensive boutiques in the booming top end of the retail market

Burberry's new 820sq m flagship quietly opened for business on the weekend and already trade has been brisk. One Burberry sales assistant who asked not to be named said it was "like Christmas in here on the weekend".

The new store at 343 George Street is three times the size of the brand's previous store and stocks the complete Burberry range. Prices range from $195 for a men's tie to $6795 for a leather biker jacket. The classic women's trench, for which the brand is best known, costs $1875 and a child's quilted jacket is a snip at $250.

The Burberry boutique is part of a boom in luxury store openings in Sydney this year that has included the first Bottega Veneta store in Australia in the Westfield Sydney development, which also houses new stores by Diane von Furstenberg, Hugo Boss, TAG Heuer and Salvatore Ferragamo.

In July, Prada will open a flagship store at the entrance to the Westfield complex, which will be flanked by Prada's sister brand Miu Miu.

Gucci will move into a two-level store on Castlereagh Street later this year, as will Ermenegildo Zegna.

The luxury store openings are a sign of growing confidence in the top end of the retail market.

"Our new Sydney store is the most ambitious and expensive boutique we have ever opened," TAG Heuer chief executive Jean-Christophe Babin said.

"After just two months of operation, it was already our No 1 store in the world."

Not to be outdone, Louis Vuitton will relocate to George Street in a store that will have 1200sq m of selling space from November.

The Louis Vuitton store on Castlereagh Street will then be refurbished and re-emerge as a Christian Dior boutique.

Hermes is expanding its store on Elizabeth Street with an extra 85sq m and Chanel will overhaul its Castlereagh Street store later this year.

The luxury store openings are further evidence of significant market segmentation in the retail sector. While the middle and lower ends of the market have been hit by rising fuel prices and interest rates and a mood of uncertainty, the top end is booming.

In contrast to retailers such as the Colorado Group in Australia, which was placed in voluntary administration last week, American Apparel in the US, which is on the brink of bankruptcy, and Swedish retailer H&M, which reported a 30 per cent drop in profits for the first quarter, luxury is booming.

As a staff photographer at the legendary Picture

Ingrid Bergman's pose suggests elegant decorum and shows little evidence of the furore which had recently enveloped her failed marriage to the Italian film director Roberto Rossellini. This photograph of the actress sitting in period costume was taken in 1956 on the set of Jean Renoir's Elena Et Les Hommes.

This exemplary snapshot in time is one of many taken by 97-year-old renowned British photojournalist Thurston Hopkins, a selection of which will be exhibited at the Getty Images Gallery in London from 15 April. The show draws on pictures developed from Mr Hopkins's personal negatives, including rare images of Joan Crawford and Alfred Hitchcock.

"As a staff photographer at the legendary Picture Post magazine, Mr Hopkins had the rare opportunity to witness first hand different countries and communities," said the gallery's director Louise Garczewska. The photographer worked at Picture Post until its demise in 1957. He joined the magazine after working in the RAF's photographic unit.

Austrian actress Julia Arnall is also shown leaning against a shop window smoking a cigarette and Diana Dors is pictured scantily dressed on location.

a sudden change in Atlantic currents

Scientists have identified a massive volume of freshwater floating like a cap on the Arctic Ocean, which they believe could suddenly flow into the North Atlantic and affect the warm Gulf Stream that keeps Britain mild in winter and cool in summer.

Studies have shown that a surface layer of fresher water in the Arctic Ocean has increased in volume by about 20 per cent over the past two decades. Scientists believe this is the result of melting sea ice and an increased flow of rivers from Siberia and Canada carrying large volumes of meltwater from permafrost regions.

In the Canada Basin area of the Arctic to the west of Greenland, for instance, scientists are monitoring a huge pool of icy meltwater more than 7,500 cubic kilometres in size, which is about twice the volume of Africa's Lake Victoria. This pool of cold freshwater, which is less dense than the saltier seawater on which it floats, is being kept in its place by circulating winds.

The scientists are concerned that a sudden change in wind patterns might send this fresher water south via the Labrador Current into the North Atlantic where it could interfere with the complex "thermohaline" ocean circulation. These currents, which keep the warm Gulf Stream flowing towards Britain and the rest of north-west Europe, flow between the sea surface and the seabed and are controlled by the relative saltiness of seawater.

"In the past we know that a sudden change in Atlantic currents has happened because of a relatively sudden release of freshwater into the North Atlantic. We can imagine that it could happen again," said Benjamin Rabe, of Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven.

"If that amount of freshwater is going to be suddenly released it would influence ocean currents, for instance the thermohaline circulation of the North Atlantic. I think we should definitely look at this further. The thermohaline ocean current has only been monitored for a few years," he added.

"There is a suspicion that if the Arctic continues to store up low-salinity surface water, it's just a matter of time before it ships it further south and into the North Atlantic where it may impact the intensity of the thermohaline circulation. This is what happens when we simulate this in computer models," Dr Toole said.

"What we are seeing is a build-up of fresher water in the Arctic and that this build-up of liquid freshwater is bigger than we've seen over the instrumental records which extends over several decades. It's difficult to say what the consequences of that may be," he added.

The erratic behaviour of Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce today

Listeners were left baffled by the erratic behaviour of Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce today - until it emerged the show was being hosted by comedian Rob Brydon.

Brydon managed to get through almost the entire programme before eventually dropping hints that it was an April 1 wind-up.

Listeners took to message boards wondering whether Bruce was drunk.

Brydon had still not owned up by the end of the show when he handed over to the next presenter Jeremy Vine, who he called Tim - the name of Vine's comedian brother.

Some listeners were fooled by the switch. One tweeted: "Ken Bruce has been really annoying this morning totally unlike him but I for one am not impressed. There, I've said it now, rant over."

Others saw through the gag and praised Brydon's appearance.

And the funnyman himself dropped a hint during the show, when he posted a message on Twitter which said: "Loving Ken Bruce on Radio 2 this morning..."

Brydon repeatedly burst into incomprehensible rambles and cracked ribald jokes, far removed from Bruce's usual patter.

And at one stage he chatted to afternoon presenter Vine and grumbled he was "boring".

The programme also included a spoof interview in which Brydon interviewed Sir Terry Wogan - another impostor who turned out to be Peter Serafinowicz.

The real Bruce said after the show: "It's been wonderful to be able to listen to the radio - tuning into someone entertaining in the morning for a change. I'm offering him a contract to share the honours on a regular basis."

And Brydon said: "They were big shoes to fill but I loved the challenge of being Ken for the whole show. I'd seen Being John Malkovich and wanted to take it to the next level. Happy April 1, everyone."

Joel is by no means the first popular musician to cancel an eagerly awaited book

He sang about the delights of being able to "forget about life for a while", and that's exactly what Billy Joel has decided to do after suddenly pulling the plug on a revelatory autobiography which was already written, was in the final stages of being edited, and had been scheduled to hit the world's bookstores in the middle of June.

In a statement released by HarperCollins, his cuckolded publisher, the 61-year-old singer said he'd suddenly had second thoughts about raking over the gory details of his career. All manuscripts of The Book of Joel, a handful of which are already rumoured to be in the hands of reviewers, will now have to be retrieved and pulped.

"It took working on writing a book to make me realise that I'm not all that interested in talking about the past, and that the best expression of my life and its ups and downs has been and remains my music," Joel said. The seven-figure advance he was given after signing his original $3m book deal three years ago is now expected to be repaid.

Joel's decision represents a huge blow for HarperCollins, which had already revealed the cover art for the book and had been busy promising journalists that it would provide an "emotional ride" which would "contain details he has never revealed before". The firm had been counting on it making a splash on a par with that of Keith Richards, whose autobiography has spent recent months at the top of the hardback best-seller lists.

The singer's romantic life has included three failed marriages. His first was to Elizabeth Weber Small, who was married to Joel's (then) bandmate Jon when their relationship began. A second, in the 1980s, was to supermodel Christie Brinkley, the subject of "Uptown Girl". His third ex-wife, Katie Lee, is a television presenter 30 years his junior. Other notches on his bedpost include Elle Macpherson, whom he dated in the 1980s and who inspired "And So It Goes". Joel has also experienced lifelong struggles with depression, substance abuse and alcoholism, which led him to attempt suicide in the early 1970s.

Joel's publicist, Claire Mercuri, would not elaborate on the reasons for his withdrawal from the project, saying only that, "he feels that his music really speaks about his life better than anything else".

Joel is by no means the first popular musician to cancel an eagerly awaited book. Mick Jagger backed out of a deal in the early 1980s, saying he couldn't remember anything interesting. More recently, Sean "Diddy" Combs didn't bother to complete a memoir that he was supposed to write for Random House and ended up being sued.