spring 2009 fashion collection

The collections were hijacked by headlines of impending economic doom, but credit crisis or not, the shows went on. As ever, they produced enough sartorial derring-do (geometric construction, goddess dressing, a gloriously trashy eighties revival) to tempt even the most prudent among us to unlock our wallets. And failing that, there were even some real-life notions, including a few fresh takes on dressed-up athletic wear. Here, the season's top trends.

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Fashion Designer Gets Ideas for New Collection from Chinese Cultural Show

TORONTO—For fashion designer and businessman Mr. Liu, Divine Performing Arts continued to be a well-spring of inspiration.Mr. Liu attended his second Divine Performing Arts show at John Bassett Theatre on Thursday night, the same theatre at which he first saw the dance company perform last September.“The show makes you more alive in the boring Toronto winter,” he said. "It’s my pleasure to be here again.”Last September Mr. Liu was also impressed by the show, describing it as “spectacular.”"I was surprised—honestly. I can only say—stunning, I must repeat again—I’m stunned. It’s beautiful, they are very professional, the dancers are excellent, the costumes are beautiful and I loved them" he had said. At that time he said the costumes gave him many ideas for his next collection.“I’m going to design more Chinese style dresses and outfits. They looked fantastic. Tonight I’m going to go home and go back to my office and just close the windows, close the doors, and just start drawing,” he had said.And it seems that that is exactly what he did.After attending Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour on Thursday, Liu was asked if he had gone forward with the inspiration he got from the previous show. He said he had.“To be honest, I did get some ideas from that [show],” he said. "I already added a lot of Chinese elements in my next two seasons of the fashion.”Liu has three fashion lines in Tokyo, and many high-profile retailers carry his designs. He is not sure whether his next two lines will premier in New York, Tokyo, or perhaps even Toronto, but he promised that people would be able to see the influence.“Like this time I really liked the chopstick dance [Mongolian Chopsticks] and to be honest, I'm not just seeing the dance, I am seeing the costume too, and of course the beautiful ladies. The design is very nice, it gives me a lot of ideas,” he said, mentioning the colour combinations and materials in particular.“But like I said, if you see my next two fashion shows coming in spring and summer for 2009 and fall and winter 2010, you will see a lot of Chinese style ideas from me.”The dance Liu referred to, Mongolian Chopsticks, shows the vivacity of ethnic dance from China’s hinterlands. The charm of the region’s sprawling plains is mirrored by the passionate warmth of the dancers, who use bundles of chopsticks to greet guests.Mr. Liu humbly says he doesn’t feel quite worthy of the title of fashion designer despite his success and shares credit with some of the other designers he works with. Besides clothes he also designs accessories and jewelry. The Ontario Ministry of Education has also included Mr. Liu among seven Canadian designers that will be studied by students in a new fashion course for grades 11 and 12.Mr. Liu said this year’s show seemed softer than the show he saw in September. He added that the dancers have obviously practiced a lot to gain many difficult skills.“The dance step, the dancing skill is amazing,” he said."I really liked the spring dance, especially when you go outside and see all the snow, and it's so cold but then when we come here it’s such a nice place and we see all this color and spring time,” he said.That dance, Welcoming Spring, features quick footwork, crisp movements, and stunning bursts of color.Mr. Liu said Asian dance has a unique way to express an ancient culture that has a lot of depth."Don't get me wrong I am not saying the European dancers are not good, they are professional. I see a lot of performance shows, because I love these kinds of shows. But this is just different, because of the cultural difference. You can see, especially the Chinese dance, is very unique and the way that they dance is different from other dance,” he said.When asked how he would rank the show, Liu said it was “very good.” Divine Performing Arts takes it’s inspiration from 5,000 years of Chinese culture and has many ethnic Chinese dances and dances depicting Chinese myths and legends. There are also dances that deal with issues in contemporary China as well as musical soloists and a live symphony orchestra that blends traditional Chinese and Western instruments.The dance company will take to the stage six more times in Toronto before moving on to Montreal and New York.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts International Tour.

Fashion news: Taken For A Ryder

SHE was famously arrested for failing to pay for $5,500-worth of designer clothes from Saks Fifth Avenue in 2001 - now Winona Ryder is at the centre of a new fashion-related controversy after reportedly "losing" $125,000-worth of borrowed Bulgari jewellery.
According to a report in French magazine Voici the actress claims she handed the diamonds, which she had borrowed to wear to an awards ceremony in Spain last week, to her hotel's front desk in an envelope to be kept in the venue's safe. But they have since gone astray and, with hotel bosses unable to locate surveillance footage to corroborate the story, Bulgari executives have asked police to investigate.
Both Bulgari and the Ryder camp are yet to comment publicly on the claims.

Fashion news: Happy Wintour

FASHION royalty came face-to-face with actual royalty today when American Vogue's London-born, New York-based editor-in-chief,

Anna Wintour, travelled to Buckingham Palace to be appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

With her award affixed firmly to her smart suit (which hails from Chanel's autumn/winter 2008-9 collection), the fashion maven smiled for reporters and photographers following the ceremony.

"It's a great honour. Many of my American colleagues are not quite sure what it is," she said. "I've worked very hard to support British fashion in the States through the exhibition called Anglomania, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and my support of designers like Alexander McQueen and John Galliano."

One of the most famous forces on the international fashion scene, Wintour was named in the Queen's 2008 Birthday Honours for services to the industry; her distinguished career has seen her spearhead both British and US Vogue, as well as various other titles.

Glimmerrocks launches host of colors in gemstone engagement rings

Glimmerrocks has launched a wide range of gemstone engagement rings. These are hand-selected so that quality standards are ensured and matching of colors is accurate. When making and selecting gemstone engagement rings,

NEW YORK, NY, November 26, 2008 /Fashion News Articles/ -- Glimmerrocks, known for engagement rings expertise, has introduced colored gemstone engagement rings, enhancing their already rich collection of diamond engagement rings. The website receives innumerable quarries and orders from the couples regarding purchasing of high quality engagements rings of all varieties as per their requirements and life styles. More varieties of colored gemstone engagement rings from Glimmerrocks are the result of the customers' ever increasing requests for the gemstone studded rings. The customers are more quality conscious now and are very particular that the ring must be specific to their choice. While traditional choice has been of sapphires and rubies, the website has noticed a trend of the orders for variety of other gemstones as well. Going by the orders with the website, it can be said that the customers are interested in the rings with colors. To fill the order, Glimmerrocks has launched a range of gemstone rings. Few of the popular rings with our customers include gold oval pink quartz and pink sapphire ring, white gold diamond and frosted chalcedony ring, checkerboard cushion cut citrine ring in white gold, oval cabochon checkerboard blue, square checker board cushion lemon quartzes ring, oval million cut blue topaz ring, cushion cut Amethyst and Citron ring and many more. The engagement rings are set in 14K and 18K white gold.Gemstone engagement rings from the collection of Glimmerrocks have a reputation for pure color of the stones. Along with the dominating main color, a slight hue such as purplish-blue or greenish-blue in sapphires range of engagement rings add to the overall glitter of the ring. Similarly, pink sapphires have purplish-pink and rubies come in slight purplish-red hue as well. As far as clarity of gemstone engagement rings is concerned, though elsewhere flawless gemstones are rare to find, at glimmer rock, the rings with fewer inclusions are being offered to the customers at affordable prices. Of course, gemstones with no or few inclusion of trace material will be priced very high and can be unaffordable for most of the couples, though such gemstones too are available with the site. http://www.glimmerrocks.com The customers of Glimmerrocks have also valued the site for its engagement rings of high-quality gemstone cuts that is responsible for spreading the colors evenly so that the trace materials, or inclusions, are less visible and brilliance of the stone is more evident. Great quality of a gemstone lies in its symmetrical cut and there must not be any scratches and nicks on the surface. The site is well equipped for ensuring gemstones of high quality cuts and colors.

Pakistan cricket signs $140.5 million TV deal

LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) – Pakistan cricket officials on Sunday signed a five-year, 140.5 million dollar television rights deal with the Gulf-based Taj Entertainment Network, the cricket board said.
The deal, described as "excellent" by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer Salim Altaf, allayed fears that broadcasters might bid less for Pakistani cricket because foreign teams have been refusing to tour the country over security concerns.
"It is an excellent deal which will run from 2009 to 2013 for a period of five years and will start from our home series against India," Altaf told AFP.
The Taj Entertainment Network, which operates TEN Sports and is owned by Gulf-based businessman Abdulrahman Bukhatir, also held Pakistan cricket broadcast rights from 2004 to 2008.
Altaf said the deal was not threatened by the prospect of no international cricket in Pakistan.
"The process of bidding is based on the optimum situation, which is that all teams will tour Pakistan as per schedule and if teams do not come to Pakistan we have the option of playing at a neutral venue," Altaf said.
The deal includes Pakistan's upcoming home series against India which has been thrown into doubt amid fears over security.
India is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on January 4 to play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.
"We have been preparing for the series in Pakistan and hope that India will tour," Altaf said.
But the cancellation of the Indian Junior hockey team tour earlier this month raised doubts the cricket tour would proceed as planned.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India last week said it has sought government clearance for the tour.
Many foreign teams have refused to tour Pakistan over security concerns since the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States seven years ago.
Pakistan had to relocate its two home series -- against Australia and the West Indies -- to neutral venues in 2002.
Australia's full tour to Pakistan in March this year and the International Cricket Council's (ICC) September Champions Trophy, which Pakistan was due to host, both fell victim to safety fears.
The ICC rescheduled the tournament for September-October next year, but said Pakistan's home series against India will be a test to determine whether Pakistan will again be named host.

Sexy Olivia Newton John's secret to looking young at 60.

It’s been 30 years since she hit our screens in Grease wearing those impossibly tiny black trousers but Olivia Newton-John seems to have barely changed.

In recent years she’s had a string of personal blows, including cancer, divorce, the disappearance of her partner and her daughter’s anorexia.
But now, just after celebrating her 60th birthday, Olivia Newton-John is happier than ever and says that her secret to staying
so young-looking is simple – her recent marriage.

guess I’m lucky,” she smiles. “Genetically, I’m like my mum and she looked great right up until her death in 1989.
“But I think the real secret is that I am very, very happy. I have a wonderful new husband and we’re very compatible. I’m having the best time and I’m in a great place emotionally.”
Olivia married health guru John Easterling, 56, in June this year in a mountain-top ceremony in Peru.

They met 15 years ago through mutual friends. Olivia’s dog had just had puppies and she gave one to John. Then, two years ago, he turned up at one of her shows and brought the dog, who’s now 13 and called Sherlock.
“I loved the dog and then I grew to love John,” she giggles. “John and I are so well matched and have so much in common. He makes me smile all the time and that’s so important.”
Sherlock also plays a part in helping Olivia stay young and fit, as taking him for walks around their Florida neighbourhood is part of her daily fitness regime.
“I try to do something each day that involves getting out in nature,” says Olivia. “Walking Sherlock is perfect. I play tennis and go to the gym three or four times a week, too. I feel great and certainly don’t worry about being 60. It’s just a number.
“I feel alive, fit and active. I have no plans for retirement. My only concession to getting a little older is that I like to have a cat-nap in the afternoon. After that, I can push on through anything.”

There’s no denying the star still has an enviable figure but could she get into Sandy’s skin-tight black trousers now?
“I’ve still got them,” she laughs, “But I’m not saying if they fit. I’ve never tried them on again and I don’t want to.”
Olivia, who likes to describe herself as a “thriver” rather than a survivor, has been through a succession of ordeals since her breast cancer in 1992.
“In those days it was still known as the ‘Big C’ and I was very scared,” she says. “I found the lump when I was checking myself.
“A mammogram and needle biopsy both came back clear but, because I was aware of my own body, I knew something was wrong and
got my doctor to do further tests.
“My self-checks and instinct saved my life. I can’t think about what might have happened if I hadn’t been so vigilant.”
Olivia’s father died the same weekend she was diagnosed and her 11-year marriage to actor Matt Lattanzi, which was already crumbling, fell apart soon afterwards. She later fell in love with cameraman Patrick McDermott but three years ago he disappeared after a fishing trip off the Californian coast.
There was no evidence of an accident and it emerged he had massive debts, prompting stories that he’d faked his death. Olivia eventually had to admit he was never coming home. Then last year, her 22-year-old daughter Chloe, a singer and actress, developed anorexia, from which she has now recovered.
“Nobody escapes with nothing,” says Olivia with a shrug. “I’ve been through cancer, divorce, loss and bereavement but they are things most humans go through. And Chloe is fine now.”
She adds: “Grease changed my life in the most amazing way and I’ve had such an amazing life. When things go wrong you’ve got to believe you will get through them and focus on the positive things in your life.
“I’ve had bad moments of depression but I’ve always reminded myself I have a lot to be grateful for.
“When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was terrified but I made a decision I was going to be all right. I had a young child and I had to live.”
Counselling and therapy helped her through the tough times. “For the first five years I worried about the cancer coming back but not any more,” she says. “I don’t allow myself that thought.

Dresses for Parties and Glamorous Fun

The good news about dresses is that women of all sizes can wear them and look a million dollars for parties and gatherings all year round. Indeed, a classic party dress will stand you in good stead and of course you can opt for on-trend styles if being fashion forward is more your thing.
The key to finding a party dress to wow and dazzle is understanding what cuts best suit your body shape as well as choosing accessories to compliment your glitzy garments.
If you have an hourglass figure, a V-line dress will flatter your chest and make the most of some of your best assets. Opt for fabrics that mould to your chest as opposed to swamping it, and balance your upper and lower half by adding texture below the waist. Halter neck dresses are another great buy for curvy figures as they balance out proportions and boost all the best bits.
If curves are what you’re lacking, cut-out fabrics work better. Angular body shapes can be softened with necklines that add interest to your chest area. Add a little oomph to curves on your lower half by picking an ensemble that’s flared at the bottom.
Bold prints also work wonders on svelte-hipped girls who want to create curves, and tulip-shaped skirts on party dresses will cinch in your waist and add volume to hips which is precisely what you want to do. And if you want to add volume up top then use ruffles to create the illusion of cleavage. Smock topped dresses can achieve this too.
Everyone has body parts they want to flaunt and those they want to draw attention away from. If your upper arms are one of the areas you want to keep under cover then choose a V neckline with a cap sleeve for the perfect fashion fix.
Pear-shaped girls should choose fabrics that skim the hips. A classic strapless dress can be worn to parties all year round and if they are fitted down to your waist and then flared out in an A-line, this creates the perfect shape for your body.
Furthermore, if a stripy dress is what you’re after then vertical stripes are slimming on everyone but especially good for petite women who want to appear taller. As it goes, if you are a tall woman and you want to draw attention across the body rather than up then horizontal dresses are best suited.
The accessories worn with party dresses finish the outfit so think carefully about these too. Wearing heels adds instant glam to party outfits, therefore select a style with pointed toes if you want to elongate your legs.
Belts can be used to dress your outfit up or down and create a different look if you have more than one party to attend. In addition, belts worn high on the waist accentuate an hourglass figure and vintage buckles and clasps add a touch of chic detailing. So, what are you waiting for; it’s time to go shopping!

Celebs Turn Back Time

Thanks to our unstable economy, we've all had to cut back on our spending, but that doesn't mean we can't still be stylish. The latest episode of "The Thread" has some great ideas on how to create new looks on the cheap by using what we already have hanging in our closets.

In addition to these tips, "The Thread" reminded me that daylight saving time is coming to an end this weekend, which means we get an extra hour to sleep come Sunday! In honor of turning back the clocks an hour, "The Thread" selected several celebs in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, who have managed to turn back time thanks to their beautiful skin. See which stars made the cut!