New York Times Gives Berlin Fashion Week Two Thumbs Up

During these economic times fashion weeks have been receiving disappointing reviews from newspapers and online news websites around the globe. From designers feeling the return on their investment was null and void due to the lack of buyers to the press feeling that the events were put together badly, fashion weeks around the world have been falling short.

However, recently the New York Times (NYT) gave Berlin Fashion Week the seal of approval by writing a great editorial and praising the shows; calling the entire fashion week full of "raw energy".

According to the Mayor of the city that Berlin Fashion Week was held, "Berlin ist arm, aber sexy" or "poor, but sexy." which is the same reason the the NYT gave Berlin such a great review. According to them:

"Scattered slabs of concrete, still daubed with their original graffiti, are pertinent reminders that 2009 marks 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. But the cultural revolution that came with the fusion of the city’s East and West is even more visible as arty photographs in smart spaces, music pulsating from abandoned government buildings and fashion that reflects this hot, hip and happening city.

From the discomforting sight of homeless people from public shelters as models at Patrick Mohr’s show, to the gritty glamour of the Boss Orange line strutted through a former electricity plant on the city’s outer fringes, Berlin Fashion Week, which closed last weekend, had a distinctive raw energy."

Fashion is art, and in times of struggle the creativity of designers should flourish.

Source: New York Times
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Facebook's Next Top Global Model

Using the power of Web 2.0, Sonnet Models is launching a global modeling competition using Facebook.

The competition allows voters to choose the winner of the "Sonnet Face of the World" competition. With 33 locations and available modeling contracts with Elite, Scene and Click as well as Diva, the competition is definitely worth entering.

The interesting part of the competition comes from Sonnet's searching technology used with Facebook and other social networking applications. According to sonnet:

"Although simple and intuitive, the application is also incredibly powerful. By gathering millions of consumer opinions from around the world, the patent-pending sorting algorithms will allow modeling agencies to instantly find the best models - even if they have to meet very specific criteria. Finding a model who appeals specifically to women in Miami aged 35-40 may seem like a difficult task, but a simple search on Sonnet will locate the best candidates in seconds."

The application can be found at http://apps.facebook.com/sonnetmodels.

Source: Sonnet Models
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Forbes Names World's Most Stylish Cities

Yesterday Forbes reporter Lauren Sherman names the World's most stylish cities. New York and Madrid got major props, but who got the coveted number one spot? Here's the breakdown:

10 Barcelona

• Fashion PR firm XXL brings Stella McCartney and Tom Ford press samples on sale
• Contemporary furniture style
• Funky Architecture
• Amazing boutiques

9 San Francisco:

• Amazing number of second-hand vintage boutiques carrying hand me downs Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel
• Product and Industrial Design Communities
• Apple headquarters

8 Madrid:

• Historic architecture
• Famous Madrid Fashion Week
• Amazing designers

7 Tokyo:

• Famous designers like Comme des Garcons Rei Kawakubu and Yoji Yamamoto
• Influential street fashion

6 Los Angeles

• CFDA Designers including Rodarte and Band Outsiders
• Modern architecture
• Amazing bodies
• Hollywood glam

5 Rome

• Garden design and architecture
• Fashion inspired movie history
• Neoclassic buildings

4 London

• Amazing street fashion
• Emerging designers
• Central Saint Martins where Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen graduated
• Affordable shopping spots like Topshop

3 New York

• 5th avenue and lower east side shopping
• Affordable vintage
• New York Fashion Week
• Art galleries
• Fashion icons like Anna Wintour, Calvin Klein and Chole Sevigny

2 Milan

• Flashy designers frequent there like Roberto Cavalli and Versace
• Contemporary design scene
• Milan Fashion Week

1 Paris

• Haute Couture
• Book French Women Don't Get Fat
• Audrey Hepburn
• Chanel and Hermes became famous

Source: Forbes.com

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Fashion's One Stop Global Shopping Site

Finally, a company that takes emerging designers from around the world, puts them under one umbrella, and allows you to purchase their products globally.

Noblivity.com has come to the spotlight by using the web to deliver must have and one stop global shopping. So what kind of global shopping can you expect?

Britain
Noblivity recently teamed up with UK based Elves and Kresse. The accessories line will be featured this month in vogue Magazine and the British are excited about sharing their fashionable accessories with the rest of the world.

Italy
Noblivity also teamed with Italian designer Paola Davoli to bring a unique knitwear collection featuring bold prints and bright colors.

United States
Nobilivity is teaming with Terra Tee Collection which features eco friendly tees inspired by charity.

Source: Nobilivity

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Paris Hilton Almost Arrested In Dubai

We just talked last week about how Paris was in Dubai filming for the Dubai version of "My New BFF". Right after the much publicized press conference, Paris found herself in major trouble with Dubai officials after she was seen in her bikini on the beach enjoying herself and posing sexually.

It actually got so bad that she had to hire a team of experts to avoid getting arrested during her stay in Dubai. According to sources, Paris was terrified that she would get into trouble and her bosses warned her that an arrest is likely and has happened to many tourist.

The rules are strict in Muslim countries, and celebrity or not you have to respect those rules!

Source: WayOdd

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Paris, The New Face of Dubai

Image by Randi Sokoloff / The National

Reality TV has really taken over the world. Fashion icon, Paris Hilton was in Dubai this week, and for the next 2 weeks, to shoot Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF. If you haven't seen the American version of Parish Hilton's BFF, then you can't fully understand the impact the heiress has over young adults.

The show features contestants who dutifully flock and compete to become Paris Hilton's best friend. However, the popularity of the reality TV show isn't the reason most believe Paris is in Dubai. Apparently, she's Dubai new PR because of the recent negative media reports and the property market which has crashed.

Paris' new tag line...."Dubai: It's hot!" We are not sure where this is going, but we'll keep a close eye out for any breaking news.

Source: The National

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Happy 35th Birthday Hello Kitty

Usually, our global fashion stories include real people, places and unique pieces. But one global fashion icon turned 35 and we couldn't' resist giving her a shout out:

Happy Birthday Hello Kitty!

Hello Kitty turned 35 years old and she has a great plans to celebrate. She'll be going back to her British roots and will launch a checkered pink series collection which will include:

• Handbags
• Trinkets
• Shawls
• Kitty Bear

The new collection will be launched in September in Japan, even though her birthday isn't until November 1st...but like the diva she is, she'll celebrate all year. If you never understood the Hello Kitty phenomenon, then you'll understand after you read this.

The British embassy in Tokyo threw an early birthday party for Hello Kitty. But why Britain? Why did the Japanese choose this as the place for their number one selling icon? According to Yuko Yamaguchi, Hello Kitty designer, London was a place that Japanese girls have been admiring since the 1970's.

Definitely a great choice for a global fashionista!

Source: Brisbane Times

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