Fashion Trends & Tours in Italy

Giorgio Armani chose to broadcast his summer collection show in Paris live on the internet.
The designer explains: “Now through the democracy of the internet we can provide a front row seat for everyone”

Armani said his broadcast  was the first time an haute couture show could be followed live online.
It seems fashion editors welcomed the internet broadcast.

The trousers were one of the highlights of Giorgio Armani’s summer collection in Paris.
Katie Holmes, who watched on from a front row also including other Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett, said she loved the Armani’s show which included floor-length dresses with large sequined ribbons at the shoulders.
(source).

Surprise at the Fashion annual gala, hosted Monday night by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Instead of celebrating the well known fashion designers, the American fashion industry has awarded top honors to young designers.

- The winners -
- Brazilian-born designer Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein received the womenswear designer of the year award.
- Menswear designer of the year was named Thom Browne, famed for his tailored suits with abbreviated proportions.
- Tom Binns, who gained notice for his iconoclastic jewelry, was named designer of the year for accessory.

A crowd of new designers also competed for the Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Awards, given for womenswear, menswear and accessories. More about the Fashion gala evening from The Washington Post

After saying goodbye to low-rise jeans, women had hoped in a new and more comfortable trend.
It seems they will have to suffer for a while more.

After “straight-leg jeans”, followed with narrower versions as “cigarette leg” and “pencil leg”, fashion designers are introducing a still slimmer version the “super skinny” jeans.

Designers such as Dolce & Gabbana and celebrities as Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman and Keira Knightley are helping to drive the trend.
Also women want jeans that won’t hide the their expensive footwear.

In order to achieve that goal, millions of women can also choose to feel physical pain.
However millions of other women are hoping skinny jeans will not be the only style they find.
Browse Designer Jeans

The women’s fashion week in Milan ended Saturday. A few themes and features of the collections fall-winter 2006-2007 showed by Versace, Fendi, and Roberto Cavalli.

- Donatella Versace, showed a collection based on geometric silhouettes, avoiding the fur trimming and embroidery so heavily featured in most of the shows seen in this fashion week. A-shaped high-collared coats belted at the waist, and triangular shaped mini dresses for the daytime, and seductive silk gowns for evening, have mostly underlined the Donatella Versace show.
British actress Elizabeth Hurley was Donatella Versace’s special guest.

- Roberto Cavalli showed a soft feminine collection. The look was well-mannered with the silhouette caressing the body; the colection featured many coats trimmed in chinchilla, and light chiffon gowns decorated with bird feathers and sequins.

- Fendi collection was inspired by 14th century Italian art. It featured voluminous cashmere cape coats, micro-pleated bubble skirts and a swathe of Fendi furs, from chinchilla to ermine, sable and shearling lamb. The famous Fendi bags underlined the luxurious mood of the collection.

Napoleon and Josephine have inspired Dolce & Gabbana for the Autumn/winter 2006/2007 collection.

Military and masculine tailored look was the main theme of D&G’s collection.

Jennifer Lopez, the singer/actress who was Dolce & Gabbana’s special guest, said :

“It was everything you expect from Dolce & Gabbana - sexy, powerful, ethereal”

The show has featured models in decorated empire dresses, embroidered with gold and draped from a high waist, in tiny Napoleonic brass- buttoned jackets, in floating Josephine gowns.

From Dolce & Gabbana a kind of femininity that is different from before; military look, but in a romantic way.

I found an interesing article,written by a fashion writer from Associated Press, Daniela Petroff, about the latest wearing habits of the Pope.

She writes:

…wearing Gucci sunglasses and bright red Prada loafers, the vintage styles have turned Benedict into something of a fashion celebrity.

and in other excerpts

Called a “caumaro,” the long forgotten head-covering dates back to the Middle Ages and figures in many famous papal portraits, including one of Julius II by Raphael

she points out

The 78-year-old Benedict lacks John Paul’s natural charisma, and the trappings of Vatican splendor may be a way to compensate.

But those who know Joseph Ratzinger dismiss any notion of vanity in the pope’s dressing habits.

“He wouldn’t know Gucci from Smoochi”, said Marjorie Weeke, a former official at the Vatican’s Social Communications office.

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