More Gold Than Midas at Dolce & Gabbana

Summertime looks are spilling onto Milan's winter runway.
Perhaps designers are taking a cue from the unpredictable and increasingly mild winters, filling their collections with looks once reserved for warmer weather. The February temperatures were decidedly springlike during Milan Fashion Week, which was in its fifth day Sunday - affirming designer's choices .
Even functional daytime dresses can be sleeveless. Shorts are having their winter incarnation. Lightweight jackets are replacing bulky coats. Don't even think about mountain parkas or ski wear - they are not for the well-heeled urban girl.
Fur is more of an accent than a necessity, turning up as oversized collars, on shawls and as hats. Shoes are open toed,Spyder has Online Canada Goose Parka Jackets Shop a large choice of innovative running apparel. or even variations of sandals. Bare legs are perfectly acceptable.
If the temperatures turn, however, there are plenty of layering options - clearly a trend - from knitwear to coats to capes to long vests.
Black velvet, black lace,I am happy to report that Woolrich Outlet Shop UK have managed to take a few resident geese. black chiffon and more gold than even Midas could muster are the basic ingredients of the dramatic Dolce&Gabbana winter collection.
Dramatic, as well as theatric.
Front row guest, British actress Helen Mirren, on her way to pay her compliments to the designing duo backstage, described the clothes as both "decadent and opulent" and said she loved "every bit" of the show.canada goose jackets
However, the actress best known for her role as Queen Elizabeth II, in "The Queen" which earned her an Oscar as best actress in 2007, did not dip into her theater closet for reference, but rather said the show "spoke to my Russian roots." Mirren's father was a Russian nobleman.
For another front-row guest, Italian actress Monica Bellucci, the show was "molto Siciliano," a reference to the Dolce&Gabbana fashion vision.
Either way,While fashionistas Online Belstaff Jackets Shop Sale from show to show to see the latest designer creations.Footwear included highest quality Fjallraven parka Jackets in the back extending down to the thick heel. there was definitely an aristocratic feel to the collection, from the dainty gilded head dressings that framed the models' demure hairdos, to the dainty little buttoned booties that adorned their feet.
Styles ranged from coats to capes, from long sheaths to ballooned shorts, from pleated skirts to ruffled tops. But no matter the cut, gold - whether beaded, sequined, embroidered, or simply worn as jewelry - made the difference.
To lighten the look, the designing duo interspersed white or pretty Victorian floral patterns into the basic black palette.

Preview: Alexandra Owen winter '12

Wellington-based fashion designer Alexandra Owen has created a fresh new silhouette for winter 2012 - and a renovation of her store shows it off in style.

Owen's shift in design direction, which challenges traditional notions of the female silhouette, was inspired by her visits to New York last year.

"It has been a big shift this season. In New York I was seeing the street culture, looking at the way women wear clothing, looking at how it ties into their lifestyle, and most importantly - being a customer again for the first time in ages" she said.

"As a collection I wanted it more pared back, less pretentious, with a woman's lifestyle in mind".

Mid-century couture shapes were a starting point for the new season's look, with 'S' curved backs, accentuated necklines and an unusual dropped sleeve. While the shoulders and neckline are seemingly the focus point of most of the garments, they draw the eye in to focus on a defined waist, giving off a somewhat equestrian and regal silhouette.

"I'd wanted to achieve a beautiful 'S' curve throughout the back of my jackets for a while. I wanted to get that interesting shoulder silhouette without doing a leg of mutton sleeve or anything that felt dated. I ended up taking a 1950's inserted sleeve and making it a bit more modern, a bit more severe than the original vintage shape" she said.

Owen's passion for her craft and endless pursuit of perfection lends the brand airs of a couture design house and her new store feels like a gallery of carefully curated garments.

"While the old store was charming and intimate, this season's collection was bigger,canada goose jackets and I wanted the garments to be enjoyed without it feeling cluttered. I like the clothes to have room to breathe, and I try to lay it out so you can look at a piece and see how it works into outfits on the rack."

North Face jackets 'using feathers taken from force-fed geese'

A major outdoor clothing brand has been using down from force-fed geese to fill its quilted winter jackets, it has emerged.

The North Face, an American company whose outdoor clothing is worn by the likes of Barack Obama, Angelina Jolie, Sharon Stone and Elle Macpherson as well by numerous BBC reporters, has been found to use down from Hungarian geese farmed for foie gras.

Despite the company assuring customers in the past that the down used in their jackets would never come from a force-fed goose,canada goose jackets animal rights campaigners found that the down came from Hungarian farms where geese are fattened using the force-feeding method to make foie gras from their bloated livers.

The technique used to artificially fatten the geese means that for three weeks, the birds have a metal funnel inserted into their throats down which grain is poured, far in excess of the quantity a goose would normally consume.

As a result, their livers swell. The resulting organ is harvested and sold to upmarket stores and restaurants.
The sale of foie gras is banned from many UK supermarkets and department stores, all of whom
Cold weather gear: BBC news reader Evan Davis wears a North Face jacket to report from Switzerland
But while many North Face fans who buy the brand's quilted jackets would not dream of eating foie gras, they are unwittingly supporting the trade by wearing feathers acquired from farms who use the intense feeding method.

Previously the company, which reports annual sales in excess of 900m, had claimed in its literature that the feathers used in The North Face products were taken from 'the very best source - small family-owned farms in Hungary.'

A 2010 brochure issued by the firm stipulated its animal welfare standards - and specifically mentions that the brand would not use goose down from a supplier that force-fed geese.

It said: 'We use only the finest grades of grey goose down from the very best
source — small family owned farms in Hungary.

'At no time are the geese live-plucked for their down. Along with banning live-plucking, force feeding - for foie gras - has been banned in the supply chain of The North Face down material for many years.'
With a very different story emerging, many North Face buyers will undoubtedly be rethinking their position.
One, 33-year-old Jane Daley, said she would now feel uncomfortable wearing the down ski jacket she bought from The North Face last year.

'It has left an unpleasant taste in my mouth, there's no doubt about that. I am passionate about animal welfare and have never touched foie gras. To think I've been wearing a jacket filled with the down of a force-fed goose horrifies me.

Getting down with down-filled puffy coats

If there is one winter trend that has swept the country by storm from Manhattan fashionistas to Southern Cal beach bunnies, it is the puffy coat. I don't mean the older version "Michelin Man" puffy coats. Those coats were so swollen with duck down feathers that wearers waddled instead of walked. And forget about wearing one on a plane. You'd need to buy the coat its own seat. No, what I'm talking about are the new thin, trim,canada goose jackets stylish versions that come in a host of vibrant colors: hot pinks, blues, greens and purples along with good old dependable black.

Legend has it that the first down jacket was invented by Eddie Bauer (yup, the same guy as the eponymous store) in 1935, after he almost froze to death on a winter fishing trip in Washington state. He created the Skyliner, the first down jacket with individually sewn quilted compartments filled with fluffy goose down. It was warm, light and breathable, just the way they are today. The typical jacket in today's market has about 800 fill of goose down. The coolest feature of these puffy cover-ups: They squish down to fit into one pocket or a tiny stuff sack, perfect for packing and travel.
Davin Dahl, assistant attorney general at the Office of the Colorado Attorney General, selected a black puffy jacket from Mountain Hardwear. Dahl likes the fact that the jackets are light but warm and fit conveniently into a tiny stuff sack.
Photos by Marie Griffin Dennis/Style Matters/The Colorado Statesman

Style Matters Tip: When shopping for puffy outerwear, remember that high quality down is usually 550 fill or better. The higher the number, the better the down. There's lots more to learn about down, but Style Matters was pretty much done with the topic — short attention span. However, should you, stylish reader, want to pursue this topic further.
Michael Cunningham, an environmental protection specialist at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, originally wanted a black puffy jacket, but settled for the more flashy blue from Patagonia. Good choice! Style Matters much prefers the blue.
Photos by Marie Griffin Dennis/Style Matters/The Colorado Statesman

Style Matters went downtown and wandered around the Capitol to catch people wearing trendy puffy coats during the recent cold spell. Here's some of the stylish denizens that were happy to pose for us during their lunch hours.

Why do people dress up their pets?

In the US and UK the market for clothing for pets is growing. But is it a sensible bit of indulgence or an inappropriate fad, asks Helen Soteriou.

Anyone going into a park during the recent cold weather might very well have seen dogs wearing winter coats.

Clothing for pets is a booming market with spending expected to break the 30m mark in 2012 in the UK, according to market research firm MTW Research.

In the US, the trend is even more pronounced. While in the UK a retailer like Argos might sell only functional winter jackets for dogs, at a US retailer like Target you can buy everything from a colourful polo shirt to stegosaurus-themed fancy dress costumes.

There is a long tradition of very specific functional clothing for animals. Ancient Greek armies would put leather boots on the feet of their horses to protect them against snow. Police animals can be dressed in fluorescent covers.

But now less functional clothing is becoming a boom industry, with boutiques offering all manner of exotic outfits.
Louis is a dog. He is also the face of two pet boutiques in west London's Notting Hill, run by his owner Andre Carless.

A fashion designer by trade, Carless initially used fabric off-cuts to make T-shirts for dogs. When he moved into co-ordinated ranges for men and dogs, the dog range took off and encouraged him to specialise.

"Louis is the inspiration for everything I do," Carless states. "I kept making things for him and people kept asking me 'where did you buy that?' and I knew people were interested in that."

The pet clothing market is broadly divided between "practical" and "indulgent" items.

The RSPCA's position is that clothing is appropriate for animals in some circumstances. For old, bald, thin, tiny or ill dogs a layer to provide warmth or waterproofing in cold weather may be beneficial.

Greyhound and whippet owners have long used coats for them in very cold weather in much the same way a horse owner might use a blanket.

"There can be clear benefits from animals wearing some forms of clothing such as for warmth and waterproofing," says the RSPCA. "However, functionality must always come before fashion and the clothing must have a clear welfare benefit when dressing animals."

The market ranges from highly indulgent products to what is termed "functional pampering", says David Lummis, senior pet market analyst at research firm Packaged Facts.
"The more interesting products of recent years are those geared toward senior and other special needs pets, meeting real needs such as protecting the paws, and keeping the pet warm while treating joint conditions."

You can find "therapy jackets" for pets with aches and pains including hip dysplasia and canine arthritis, he says.

In 2012, MTW Research estimates that sales of pet clothing will top 30m for the first time, hitting 35m by 2015.

But spending on pet clothes is not all functional and it's not all aimed at dogs.canada goose jackets Carless stocks products ranging from sun visors which can be worn by cats that have sight problems to cashmere jumpers ideal for hairless cats who feel the cold.

Some people are buying items only to momentarily dress up their animals for a photo shoot.

US firm Kitty Wigs offer wigs for cats. They come in three different colours - Pink Passion, Silver Fox, and Electric Blue.

Owner Julie Jackson and her muse, a lilac-point Siamese named Boone, offer purely indulgent items, which she says are strictly photo props. Her website advises "if your cat's not initially interested, don't force it" and suggests starting with a can of food to encourage co-operation from the cat.

But do cats and dogs really love the attention or does the clothing craze say more about the owners' needs?

Putnam City North Students Work to Make Wishes Come True

A silent auction is the first of many events Putnam City North High School students are staging to help wishes come true for Allie, a 4-year-old, and Dylan, a 14-year old, two children with life-threatening illnesses. The fund-raising efforts for the most part take place in what students know as "Heisman Week." "We participate in Heisman Week to inspire students to make a difference in the lives of people around us. It's also a way to spread the joy of serving and helping others," says Hayley Parker,canada goose jackets the treasurer for Students United of North, the school's student council. To help Dylan and Allie, Putnam City North students have several plans in the works to raise $20,000.

Silent Auction The first part of the fund-raising plan is a silent auction to be held Friday, Feb. 10, during home basketball games against Edmond North High School. Bidding in the silent auction will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will close at the end of halftime of the boys' game. Anyone in attendance at the games is welcome to bid. The silent auction features several dozen items. Sports fans will have the ability to bid on items such as Thunder tickets, a round of golf, and footballs signed by Sam Bradford and Bob Stoops.For people looking for some special food, the auction includes numerous restaurant gift cards, food for 25 people from Bubba's BBQ, a catered dinner for eight from Ned's Catering, a gift basket from One Smart Cookie and a shopping spree at Crest Foods. The auction will also include coveted items such as Northface jackets for men and women, Oakley sunglasses and a night at the Colcord Hotel accompanied by brunch or dinner at Stella's. Kathy Kutch, student council sponsor, says students worked hard to get items for the silent auction, but that their parents also deserve thanks. "None of this would have been possible without the support of parents of students in our Leadership classes. They have made all the difference," Kutch says.

FBI joins armed robbery investigation in Schuylkill and Carbon counties

The FBI has joined state and local police in the investigation of two 18-year-old men identified as suspects in a rash of armed robberies in Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

The two men, Jose W. Nunez, of 666 N. Locust St., Hazleton, and formerly of New Jersey, and Tysheed L. Hargove, a New Jersey native who is homeless, are in Schuylkill County jail under $100,000 bail on charges unrelated to the robberies.

amaqua police took them into custody after a 12-mile chase that started when a police officer noticed their car, a Ford Mustang, did not have a license plate.canada goose jackets They have been charged with crimes related to the chase and possession of a stolen, .9mm handgun police found in the car.

Two rear-seat passengers initially detained for questioning were released.

FBI spokeswoman Special Agent Nancy Norris-O'Dowd said the FBI has been asked to assist state and local police in the investigation because the crimes occurred in multiple jurisdictions. She said it is possible the men could be charged under the Hobbs Act, a federal law that makes crimes effecting the interstate commerce of businesses a federal crime.

Since Jan. 20, eight gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets have been robbed in Carbon and Schuylkill counties. Police have said they believe all except for the Redner's Warehouse Markets robbery on Jan. 31 in Nesquehoning were committed by a group of people working together.

The Redner's robber was the only robber to use a knife and not wear a mask. In the other seven robberies, the robbers wore black jackets and ski masks and displayed a handgun. One robber wore a distinctive black North Face brand jacket with gray shoulders and a red ski mask. No one was injured in any of the robberies.

The robberies occurred in Tamaqua, Rush Township, Mahanoy Township, McAdoo, Nesquehoning and Kidder Township.

Nunez and Hargrove have not been charged in the robberies, but Tamaqua police identified them as suspects and said state police would be taking charge of the robbery investigations.

Norris-O'Dowd said FBI agents from the Scranton field office will be meeting with state police in Hazleton this week to review the case and decide how to proceed.

Since the suspects already are in jail, Norris-O'Dowd said it seems to give the investigators a little more time to assess the situation rather than filing charges immediately. She said state and local police remain the lead investigative agencies in the case.

State police have not released any information about the case since the men were taken into custody by Tamaqua police Sunday night.

Tamaqua police filed the charges under which they are currently being held.

Clothing and bags for hire: the crisis elegant least for a day

Abba Franco

ROME - running Legends tell of a stylist in the fashion industry, ie those involved in the choice of clothes in the photo, that would take borrowed items from their wardrobes and magazines would change so look every day, just like Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada. Not everyone, however, have the opportunity to attend this sort of paradise griffatissimi. Thus, until recently the only way to show off his own arm to an object of desire was an investment in your bag, designed as an accessory with leather handles and more or less fine, with both credit card and fearful risk of accumulation of too many precious bags in the closet, the fruit of love as intense as fleeting.

To avoid these problems and just enjoy the pleasure of showing off an it-bag, shoulder bags and clutch bags need not be purchased at stratospheric figures, but can be leased with average costs of 50 to 150 euros for seven days. Some online sites offer this service after the example of American models and have tested well among aficionados mostly women aged thirty to fifty years, affluent professional women, pleasantly obliged to always have an image edited.

Gaia Lucariello, creator of borseinaffitto.it has also led to an outlet mall and a boutique virtual charters for up to three months and has turned her hobby into a business, as well as Antonella Amato vanitylady.it site, which has recently completed a years, with fifteen hundred users and a growing fleet bags. Eliana Lulani, real estate entrepreneur and founder of affittoborseegioielli.it, has experienced the hard way in America as it may be useful to borrow an outfit for an evening gala unexpected and now rents handbags and jewelry design in silver. Myluxury.biz, founded in 2007 by a passion for handbags and related musician Lorenzo Herrnut-Girolamo, also offers a service to clean and recondition your bag, while Francesca Valley bagandco.it allows users to bring their own equipment and leased to pocket a percentage of the rental.

Industry research has shown that the luxury goods is expected to experience more that the true possession, that the variety is preferable to the unused amount. Chanel 2.55 bag, Louis Vuitton Neverfull bags Balenciaga and more popular,canada goose jackets that in a society so allergic to the enduring and eternal love towards the leathers are also fixed points of the rental, smart and politically correct alternative to compulsive shopping.

5 Street Styles In Fashion This Winter

Free Shipping on Orders of $100 or More. Shop the Official Site Today!

Street style fashion is the real fashion that gets tested on the roads. You see fashion models walk the ramp in clothes that are designed by the most creative of designers, but do you see women on the streets sporting whose clothes. Fat chance! All leading designers have launched their winter collections, but it is the winter fashion trends doing the rounds in colleges, offices and trains that makes the fashion scene vibrant.

A casual look that you can carry fashionably everyday is what most women want and for that there are some cool street style, but fashionable looks that are hot this season.

Street Styles That Are In Fashion For Winter:

1. The Muffler Look: Have you ever considered the wooly muffler your grandmother wears as a very chic fashion accessory. If the winter fashion trends of the season are heeded, then it is actually hot property now. The thicker and the woolier the muffcanada goose jacketsler, the more fashionable it is. Wrap it around twice on your neck and it goes with everything from t-shirt to halter top.

2. Black Stockings Or Slacks: As the temperatures are falling street style fashion for women has taken a wise turn. They has finally resisted showing off their long limbs and covered them in a sexy way with black stockings or slacks. Your street clothes on top of the slacks or stockings could be anything, but the ultra mini skirt is your best pick. That is how street fashion incorporates the practical aspect of fashion.

3. Long Belted Jackets: There was a time when long overcoats were considered bulky, ill fitting and shunned by fashion gurus but now you will see the skinniest of models sporting oversize overcoats tightened at the waist. This new drive towards long loose coats falling of the slender body and accentuating the tiny waist is a fresh winter fashion trend for the year.

4. Get Skinny Get Tight: While the tops are getting looser, the bottoms tend to sit tight on you. You will rarely see any street clothes for winter being worn with loose pants or what we previously called jump suits. Skinny jeans, leggings, tight leather or corduroy pants with loose sweaters is what you will see around.

5. Blazers: It is been a while since you saw women wear blazers with wide lapels; not since the 70, I think. Not the power suit Armani's of the corporates or Tuxedos for red carpets but now this is a semi casual look for women to sport colourful blazers cut to perfection for their hourglass bodies. The cut of the blazer makes it a 'women only' street clothing. You will see them wear it with leggings, slacks or even skinny jeans with a body hugging inner.

Warm Winter Is Bad News for Retailers

As winter approached, retailers ordered clothes for cold weather, arranged their stores for cold weather and then just started hoping for cold weather.
Winter is here, but the cold weather by and large is not. Nationally, last month was one of the warmest Decembers on record, and so far January temperatures are above average,canada goose jackets according to Planalytics, a research firm that tracks weather's effect on businesses.

The relatively warm weather is erasing a lot of demand for winter hats, coats, and gloves — and making some retailers sweat the bottom line.

On Saturday, the outdoors store REI took the unusual step of making artificial snow in a Manhattan park, hoping to encourage people to buy snowshoes and winter jackets.

Home Depot has cut down on items like salt for de-icing, and many of its stores have replaced snow removal equipment with storage products in storefront displays.

Even drugstores are being affected because flu infections are down. The higher temperatures have "helped slow the incidents of flu compared to last year," Deborah Weinswig, an analyst for Citigroup, wrote in a note to clients. Walgreen's, for instance, has given 5.3 million flu shots this season, it said this month, compared with six million a year ago.

Though some winter resorts received a sprinkling of snow over the weekend, and Seattle is having a snowstorm, those pockets of cold have not provided much of a salve for retailers, who are running out of time to sell their winter inventory. In the ever-confusing retail calendar (the one where Christmas sales start in late October), spring begins on Feb. 1, leaving stores with just a few weeks to sell all their cold-weather gear.

Planalytics said that demand for boots in December was down about 20 percent from a year ago, according to its data, while demand for snow-removal gear declined 70 percent in the second week of January from that week last year.

Kevin Scott, senior vice president for merchandising services at Home Depot, said there has been an upside to the warmer weather — outdoor paint, outdoor lights and windows are selling well — but "we'll take a little more snow, I think, as anybody would."

Unlike merchandise pegged to Christmas or back-to-school shopping tied to the calendar, cold-weather gear is bought mostly when it is needed. And retail reports from December suggest relatively few people see the need.

For December, Kohl's had " sluggish sales in cold-weather categories." The discount chain Fred's said it was "affected significantly by unseasonably warm weather throughout the month" of December. Stage Stores reported "our cold weather initiative was not as successful as anticipated due to the negative impact from warm weather."

Bon-Ton reported that "cold-weather categories, which are highly profitable and represent approximately 25 percent of our business in December, were down midteens on a percentage basis." The TJX Companies, the parent of T. J. Maxx and Marshalls, decided to "clear cold weather apparel in this unseasonably warm winter."

Scott Jaeger, an analyst with the Leisure Trends Group, a market research firm, said that while overall sales in 2011 had risen 8 percent, sales of outdoor gear in December fell 2 percent from the previous December. "This year they can get outside and enjoy things without having to buy the insulated coat," he said of shoppers. "They didn't need hats and mittens. They didn't have to update the wardrobe or update the skis, because they were not necessarily going skiing. "

Some retailers are strategizing on how to make the best of the predicament.

"We're pushing things like cold-weather camping, mountaineering, trail running, as well as road cycling, mountain biking," said Jill Layfield, chief executive of Backcountry.com, an online retailer.

She said that after several winters of unpredictable temperatures, Backcountry had decided to bring in more all-weather sports items. Still, she said, she brought in lots of snow-sport items, because "premium selection, having it in stock, is critical to meeting the standards of service that our customers expect. We always bet big, then we adjust course."

This year, Ms. Layfield said, Backcountry was starting with offers of free shipping and "bounce back" offers (like a gift certificate when customers return to Backcountry) around winter gear, and soon would move to discounts. "The time we can break price, and the industry breaks price, is anywhere from early February to April, depending on the category," she said. "I think that will get moved up, if there's not a change here soon, by maybe a couple weeks."

On Saturday, REI spread artificial snow over a Manhattan park so passers-by could try cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The store also held an ice sculpture contest. Luckily, Saturday was one of the few days this winter that reached freezing in the city.

"We plan for a solid winter," said Tim Spangler, senior vice president for retail at REI. "We often joke that planners in our business are paid to be wrong: you either bought too little, because the winter overperforms, or you bought too much, because it's warm."

Mr. Spangler said possible solutions included "promotions, markdowns, moving inventory around to other parts of the country where it's selling quicker."

That last tactic is a little harder this year, he said. "I wish I could tell you there's one area in the country that's really, really cold and it would make sense to move everything there," he said. "Outside of Anchorage, Alaska, there's not."

Military, Front and Center

Is it the bitter, battling winter following the Arab spring that has created a march of the military in men's fashion?
A soldierly influence was an undercurrent in the winter 2012 Milan season that closed Tuesday. The idea of smartening up and shaping up may be a response to Europe's gloomy economic situation.

But the drum beat of military styles is definitely present, with the rising designer Umit Benan devoting an entire collection to the dismantling of a boot camp and its army gear. With rear vision, the black leather storm trooper coats sent out by Raf Simons for Jil Sander earlier in the season now seem more comprehensible.

There was a moment Tuesday when a Giorgio Armani army walked the runway in velvet jackets topped off with berets and the pleated fatigue pants that dominated the show.
"I don't want it to be thought of as military," Giorgio Armani said backstage about his models' headgear. Instead, he said, the show was about softening the silhouette with the pants and with fabrics whose essence could be understood only by touch.

A double-breasted coat turned out to be knitted, while a tailored jacket was, in fact, in malleable jersey. Zippers were inserted in shirts and vests to create a sleek surface in tweedy materials. And what seemed like patterned ski sweaters were screen-printed.

The collection, with its mostly gray colors, was inspired by the Dolomites mountain range of northern Italy.

The clean, precise and systematic Armani style is so pervasive that it is evident in the new rooftop hotel the designer has opened, with an aerial view of Milan, on the floors above his Emporio store.

That absolute integrity of design — simplicity enriched with architectural precision and surface treatments — is what the designer stands for. And what his show defined. Nothing would have seemed really "new," as in a jarring note, to the impressive front row of actors and cinéastes. But there were enough ideas, especially the printed-on knit patterns, to refresh the Armani style.

Donatella Versace is on a roll — and her dynamic, colorful Versace men's wear show proved her new confidence in the brand's heritage.

"It is all thanks to H&M. I realize that what young people want is real Versace," the designer said backstage while greeting Milan's leading soccer players who were seated front row. She was referring to a collaboration with the fast fashion chain and her reworking of some iconic pieces.

In this upbeat show, each Versace characteristic seemed to be pushed to its extreme. There was denim with loads of silvered chains threaded across the fabric; eye-popping color, first in sunshine yellow and grass-green shades for fur collars, then blood orange appearing for a tailored coat.

Versace prints? There were joyous psychedelic patterns on military overalls, with that over-the top decoration calmed by rich,wholesale canada goose outlet but plain, velvet.canada goose parka

Sexual drive? A semi-transparent black lace shirt came out as the show tipped toward night and the vast Medusa Versace logo gleamed from the backdrop.

It was a show that returned the vibrancy to Versace that the brand needs to look ahead.

For the Turkish-born Umit Benan , war was not an undercurrent but the soul of his show.

Imagine a last day in camp after a battle truce, as the designer announced the theme to the audience. The "models," men picked off the street, went about their personal duties: One took a shower before getting dressed; another was given an arm tattoo on stage; a guy in camouflage pants did pushups; another had the same fabric — in fact, an abstract chevron — for his uniform and took charge behind a desk.

The clothes,authentic canada goose jackets as they walked the runway, were strong, martial but wearable, not just on a military parade. The silhouettes ranged from bulky to slender, while the belted jacket, a current trend, was executed with perfect proportions. A felted jacket, molded to the body, proved the designer's cutting skills.

The Joy of Dog Sledding in -60 Degree Weather

Back in the day it was about necessity and ease, about coping with impossibly deep snow and impossibly great distances. It was about getting from point A to point B. It was about getting out to ice flows to hunt walrus or seal and it was about safe guarding a town from an outbreak of diphtheria.

But in the age of snowmobiles, dog sledding is about something else.

"It's for the love of the dogs, that's why they do it," says New England Sled Dog Race Chairwoman Susanna Colloredo-Mansfeld.

The New England Sled Dogs races had been originally scheduled for this coming weekend, Jan. 14-15, at Appleton Farms. But last week, since there's no snow on the ground, organizers announced that the races have been moved back to Feb. 4-5.

Introduced to the sport a quarter century ago by the daughter of Arctic explorer and Hamilton native Norman Vaughan, Colloredo-Mansfeld speaks from personal knowledge. She has experienced windburn behind teams racing across snowfields in Jackson Hole, Wy. and Quebec, Canada.

Like others who have held tight to an anchored sled as a team is harnessed, Colloredo-Mansfeld knows of the dogs' love of the sport. Even so, she marvels at it. The stories never get old and new ones come with every race.

Taking time out from a event organizer's meeting last month, Colloredo-Mansfeld and Robert Henrici relayed a story about a veterinarian who had volunteered to help out on the Yukon Quest race, a race generally described as the toughest dog sled race of all.

"People ought to know that there are vets. There are checkpoints and there are vets. It's very carefully overseen," Colloredo-Mansfeld said, stressing the care given to the sled dogs.

Telling the vet's story she continued,"He was from Wyoming (and was used to the cold)."

He was standing there in Sorrel boots, warm gloves, and a warm jacket at night.

"I'm standing on a river bank and it's fifty or sixty below zero," he told Colloredo-Mansfeld. "I'd never been so cold in my whole life."

He was dropped off all alone at the checkpoint.

"And he waited there in the dark and finally he saw a light coming," Colloredo-Mansfeld continued.

"He said, ‘Down the river came a headlamp'", added Henrici.

And a native man went by the vet.

"And he had a truck driver's hat on, his parka open, his shirt open, no mittens," said Colloredo-Mansfeld.

"And a cigarette in his mouth," tossed in Henrici.

The passing man told the vet: "Gad it's cold out here."

"‘So the vet says why the hell do these people do this?' And his next sentence is, ‘They do it for the love of the dogs. And the dogs do it for the love of their handlers.' It's a real partnership."

Together Colloredo-Mansfeld and Henrici went on to tell of how before each race each musher goes to each dog in their team and makes eye to eye contact to connect on an emotional, personal basis.canada goose jackets

"It's the love between them that drives those dogs," said Henrici.

Khadi with a modern twist

If you try to find out one thing common among the designer collections displayed recently on the runways,canada goose jackets you will notice irrespective of the season or the theme, khadi in some way or the other was the part of the creations.

We need not look for the reasons for it, we all know that in the last few years khadi has emerged as the most fashionable fabric. Not just that, it is predicted as a must have for all the fashion conscious. And therefore there are multiple brands coming up with chic and glam collections to stuff the wardrobes with the more elegant and sophisticated stuff — all in khadi. The recent add-on to the list of existing khadi stores is Ekmatra, Sarvoday Ashram. The store was launched in Lodi Colony recently.

The store has an interesting range of dresses, shawls, jackets and even cushion covers. "Khadi dresses and tunics are necessarily a part of wardrobes today. Keeping in mind the popularity of the fabric, we launched the store with our winter collection — fusion of traditional and contemporary," said Manoj Chaturvedi, chairman Ekmatra, Sarvoday Ashram.

The collection includes a range of salwar kameez, kurtis and tunics in different shades. Besides that, there are Nehru jackets, bandhgalas and kurtas for men . "The collection is designed keeping in mind the demand of our urban customers. There are designer bags, bed sheets and bed covers as well," he added.

What should I be wearing at the start of 2012?

Precisely what you have been wearing since October because we are still in the same fashion season, autumn/winter. Yeah, that's right: fashion's so mofo badass it doesn't pay attention to anything as parochial as the changing of the year and other events on the Plebby Calendar, as opposed to the Fashion Calendar. Shame on you, Samantha, for even considering altering your wardrobe before spring/summer starts. Shame on you.

Being a kind-hearted sort, though, I shall save you from your embarrassment and pretend that what you really wanted to know was what trends are coming up this year. Well, I can unexclusively reveal that these include such perennially unflattering looks as pastel, bright yellow and boxy jackets, as well as "tribal", a look that is truly the crudité platter of the fashion buffet: always offered, rarely tempting.

One upcoming trend I can get behind is something magazines are calling "1920s glamour", which basically means knee-length dresses with dropped waists, which is nice. The only niggle I have with it is that fashion-magazine editors around the world have unilaterally decided that this trend has emerged in response to Baz Luhrmann's upcoming film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, starring Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, who I can accept, and Leonardo DiCaprio as the eponymous lead, who I cannot. Once again, Baz failed to consult me about the casting, which is really his loss because if only he had done this before I'd have saved him from casting the sexless and tuneless Nicole Kidman as Satine, the all-sexy, all-singing Satine in Moulin Rouge. But I digress. As usual.

My objection to this tenuous fashion linking to The Great Gatsby is that it is a spectacular missed opportunity because the film that magazines should use to illustrate this trend is The Artist. Bérénice Bejo as the female lead, swishes about in 1920s frocks in such a manner that it made at least one member of the audience suffer palpable pangs of regret to not have lived in the 1920s (pesky Great Depression aside). But then,canada goose jackets of course, The Artist doesn't have famous American or British actors in it, unlike The Great Gatsby, so heaven forfend it should be used to illustrate anything in the American or British press, no matter how good it is.

Obviously, one can't blame "1920s glamour" for lazy xenophobia so go with this trend, Samantha. Try not to do it too literally (ie don't wear a round-the-forehead headband, Bat for Lashes-style), but allow yourself some fun (a long cigarette holder is excellent for swatting impertinent suitors on the shoulders), and then go and see The Artist. Follow these rules and you will feel that all is right and well in the world in 2012.

Who are the upcoming fashion icons I should be copying these days?

Charlotte (13), London

Charlotte, you're a young 'un so I won't be too stern with you. Instead, I shall take you under my benevolent wing, heavy with wisdom and experience, and tell you that you should not "copy" anyone's style, least of all anyone referred to as a "fashion icon." My dear child, anyone who labours under the term "fashion icon" is almost certainly barely half as intelligent as a 13-year-old who reads a broadsheet newspaper. All those interchangeable French actresses, daughters of half-forgotten British pop singers and American actresses who all seem to be called "Jessica" or "Kate" and yet have never appeared in a single decent film who magazines tout as "fashion icons"? Charlotte, they are all swines before the pearl that is you.

If you want to take fashion inspiration from anyone, take it from the glorious Betty White, who turns 90 tomorrow. Betty is probably best known in Britain for playing Rose on The Golden Girls, although she really is so very much more than that. She is one of the great female – never mind fashion – icons America has to offer. Everyone of taste and discernment should mark Betty's birthday by wearing a matching pastel "pant suit", as Betty calls 'em. A fashion icon should be so much more than just a skinny twentysomething with a smart stylist: it should be someone who you actively admire and, Charlotte, if you start now taking inspiration from Betty White as opposed to someone who just happens to have a famous parent you will lead a happy and colourful life.