http://www.FashionTV.com/videos PARIS – FashionTV reviews the best of Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012!

We head backstage at Georges Hobeika where models like Josephine Skriver are getting thick lashes. Model Kendra Spears opens the show, a take on the orchid, the most romantic, feminine and coveted flower on Earth, according to Hobeika.

Alexis Mabille also does his take on the flower, but in a much more simplistic and statement-making format. Models’ faces are painted the same color as their dress and the tissue paper flower atop their head.

Versace’s asymmetrical and form fitting Grecian glamour queen look stunned atop a gold gilded staircase featuring models like Karlie Kloss and Arizona Muse in 15 striking designs.

Backstage at Zuhair Murad, we say hello to Constance Jablonski and then watch the stunning showcase, which is also parts sophistication, elegance, and power in beautifully detailed gowns. “Eighties is the inspiration for the collection this season,” says Makeup Artist Christelle Cocquet. In the front row, French former beauty queen Mareva Galenter and French-Morocccan singer Sofia Essaidi.

At Stephane Rolland, the designer was inspired by the art of French artist Michel Deverne, who created architectural and sculpted designs. Former supermodel Yasmin Le Bon finished the show in a stunning, statement making 110-pound gown.

Backstage at Maxime Simeons, models like Simona Andrejic get a tight, high ponytail and liquid liner. The Spring/Summer 2012 haute couture show is based on the Japanese movie Enter The Void and clothes are quite graphic, sculpted, and color blocked.

Valentino’s floral infused couture runway looked like something romantic out of The Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. It was the essence of bourgeois meets French countryside.

Alexandre Vauthier took on a disco-infused theme for his Spring/Summer 2012 collection where the models had lots of sexy skin showing with tassels, wraps and other loose looks that make them perfect for high-end nightlife escapades.

Elie Saab haute couture is a stunning display of peplum dresses, intricately hand beaded gowns, sleek sheaths, and dresses you know will be on the red carpet soon, maybe even at the Oscars. Colors range from white to coral to blue. James Bond star Olga Kurylenko is in the front row in a fitted yellow lace dress.

The Christophe Josse show featured 20 looks including 8 dresses, 11 gowns, and one ruched strapless wedding dress. The pieces were inspired by I.M. Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar and Zaha Hadid’s Galaxy Soho in Beijing.

Oversize sleeves and attention to detail were de rigour at Dany Atrache with cut fabrics, fringe on skirts, lifelike florals, and architectural cutouts. Tiers were prominent as were feathers and colors were subdued.

Gold sequins, lavish dresses, and stunning gowns were seen in bright colors and embellishments at Cengiz Abazoglu Haute Couture for Spring/Summer 2012.

On Aura Tout Vu was decidedly much more urban and mainstream with pops of color and a fiery woman that came to life on the runway in the form of black leather, reds and oranges, sequins, crystals, and flame motifs. At the end, a trail of smoke followed a model who’s dress bottom looked like one giant puff of ash.

Beth Ditto, Dita von Teese, and Douglas Little were on hand for the Jean Paul Gaultier show, which was a tribute to the rocker soul style of Amy Winehouse. Karlie Kloss led the pack in a bright orange wig.

Appearances: Sasha, Kate King, Irina, Josephine Skriver, Kendra Spears, Georges Hobeika, Juju Ivanyuk, Isabella Melo, Karlie Kloss, Daria Strokous, Maud Welzen, Sarah Blomqvist, Karmen Pedaru, Lindsey Wixson, Melissa Tammerijn, Mirte Maas, Zuhair Murad, Katryn Kruger, Constance Jablonski, Christelle Cocquet, Mareva Galenter, Sofia Essaidi, Ingrid Seynhaeve, Lilou Mikamoto, Linda Hardy, Zofia Reno, Sigrid Agren, Caroline Brasch Nielsen, Anna Selezneva, Haifa Wehbe, Stephane Rolland, Alana Zimmer, Martha Streck, Kasia Struss, Kaitlin Aas, Frida Gustavsson, Antonia Wesseloh, Bette Franke, Pier Pablo Piccioli, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Anais Pouliot, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Vlada Roslyakova, Alexandre Vauthier, Cora Emmanuel, Kati Nescher, Olga Kurylenko, Anja Rubik, Toni Garrn, Christophe Josse, Beth Ditto, Dita von Teese, Douglas Little, Jean Paul Gaultier

Benetton was forced to pull into a humiliating climbdown today as the clothing company was forced to pull one of its images from its new ‘Unhate’ campaign.
The Italian firm withdrew the photograph featuring Pope Benedict XVI kissing a senior Egyptian imam on the lips after the Vatican denounced it as an unacceptable provocation.

Benetton had claimed its ‘Unhate’ campaign, which was launched today, was aimed at fostering tolerance and ‘global love’ but would have known how much trouble they were likely to stir up.

The campaign’s adverts include digitally altered pictures half a dozen world leaders to show them kissing.

Read the full article and see photos of the Pope kissing the Imam, Barack Obama kissing Hugo Chavez, Angela Merkel kissing Nicolas Sarkozy (and a few more) @ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2062423/Benetton-Unhate-advert-Pope-kissing-imam-withdrawn-Vatican-calls-disrespectful.html

First stop, get a fantastic outfit. Get the latest fashion trends to hit the season. Juicy Couture, Versace, Armani, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein and Dolce and Gabbana are some of the top picks for a signature look. Get easy on the pocket with great selections from Forever 21, NY and Co. and Mexx.

Next stop; grab your bag to create a fashion statement that suits an outfit that is to die for. Monogram bags fro Louis Vuitton are absolutely perfect. Hobos and fashionable handbags from Coach provide a wide array of choices. Dooney and Bourke, Kate Spade and Jimmy Choo creations are great finds as well. You may also opt for Nine West totes and elegant clutches. The choices are endless.

Unleash the diva in you by grabbing the best shoes that can take you to places. If you think that purchasing a pair of Manolos is already too much for now, do not lose hope. The fashion fairy will bring you endless choices from Naturalizer, Nine West, Massimo Dutti, Salvatore Ferragamo, Aldo and many others. Depending on your budget, there are numerous signature brands that will suit you best. Whether you choose pumps, flirty platforms, stilettos, Mary Janes or flats, you can find amazing choices at a reasonable price.

A glamour girl will not be complete without the make-up to match a fabulous and gorgeous get up. Shu Uemura provides one of the best lines of make-up to suit every skin type and every skin tone. Lipsticks, eye shadows, mascaras, blushers and bronzers in the right combination will make you look every inch glam and chic. Other best picks for make-up include pressed powders from Maybelline, body shimmers from The Body Shop, lipsticks and other skin care products from L’Oreal.

To complete your fashion must-haves list, get hold of great accessories such as watches, jewelries and other fun stuff that create a good deal of impact to your over-all look such as bangles, chandelier earrings, necklaces and even hair accessories. Great choices for watches include the extravagant Rolex, or the fabulously simple but fashionable Tag Heuer, Timex, Ann Klein and Guess.

Celebrate being a woman with these top fashion picks. Being fashionable requires a bit of effort and shedding off some bucks. But with the number of top brands to choose from, you can chance upon great finds ranging from a few dollars to hundreds. The idea is to make it fun, fashionable and worth the money.

1. Black day dress

The little black dress is back, and this time it’s great not only for the evening. Wearing a black dress during the day can seem a little weird at first, but with a little imagination we can find some good opportunities to wear it.

Ralph Rucci, Carmen Marc Valvo, Badgley Mischka, Zac Posen, Aurelio Costarella, Vera Wang, Chris Han, Anna Sui, Richard Chai, Joanna Mastroianni, Dennis Basso, Derek Lam, Iodice, Rock and Republic, Nicole Miller – they’re all for this trend.

2. Floral print dress

It looks like spring isn’t spring without the floral print trend, and there can be no spring without the floral print dress. This is a very feminine dress that you can wear at any time of the day, and what’s best – it will never go out of style!

This year, the most beautiful floral print dresses come from Gucci, Blumarine, Dolce&Gabanna, Erdem, Moschino, Anna Sui or Oscar de la Renta.

3. One-shoulder dress

One-shoulder dresses are not something new, they have been in trend for the last few seasons. They’re still very in, as nothing makes a statement quite like a sleek asymmetrical silhouette. For a sexy look, choose a velvet, chiffon or satin dress in a bold color (like orange, red or pink).

Who’s proposing this trend? Lanvin (lots of bright colors and animal prints), Alexander McQueen (short dresses), Balmain, Balenciaga, Sophia Kokosalaki, Calvin Klein, Bottega Veneta, Emilio Pucci, Iceberg, Giorgio Armani and Versace.

4. Sport dress

Perhaps the most practical dress this season, the sport dress is easy to wear and accessorize. You can wear it with sport shoes, platforms or stilettos – it still looks great. This dress is perfect for during the day (when you’re not at the office), for the weekends or holidays.

Michael Kors si Max Mara are the ones suggesting this trend.

5. Bejeweled dress

If you’re searching for an elegant and precious evening look, choose a bejeweled dress. These sparkly dresses are perfect for glamorous events like parties or cocktails.

Alberta Ferretti, Burberry Prorsum, Derercuny, Dolce & Gabbana, Etro and Blumarine are all for this trend.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this article, where we examine another 5 trendy dresses for this spring and summer!

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Eco (or green) fashion is the most recent word that’s on everyone’s lips. Conscious consumers need to buy into it and fashion labels need to grab a touch of its selling potential. But what exactly is eco fashion, and most importantly, how can it help the environment?

Eco fashion is a term that may be used to explain any type of clothing that is made in a sustainable way (a way that minimizes the impact on the environment). It may also include fair-trade and ethical clothing, which frequently applies similar elements, as the link between peaople and their well being and health is usually inseparable from that of the environment. Here are a few of the most important ways that fashion and clothing can effect on the environment:

Insecticides employed in the cultivation of natural fibers – the cultivation of cotton uses large quantities of chemical insecticides, which have a number of environmental impacts that include health hazards to the people living in the neighborhood.

Chemical pollution / byproducts of textile manufacturing – chemicals from textile factories can enter the water and damage the flora and fauna, as well as pose a risk to the humans.

Textile waste – synthetic textiles are not bio degradable and represent a major dump problem all over the world. Even natural textiles produce CO2 as they break down.

Use of carbon-based fuels and production of CO2 – all produce and distribution of textiles uses traditional fules and produce CO2. The produce of artificial textiles is very fuel in depth.

There are a number of different eco fashion labels and initiatives that try to help minimizing some or all of these environmental impacts. They use natural organic fabrics like hemp, cotton, soy, bamboo, fabrics made using recycled materials, sustainable materials and the recycling and restyling of second hand garments. In the past, Eco fashion was considered clothing for the hippie, tree-hugging types, who did not care about style. But recently, Eco fashion has become extremely classy, with many of the top designers becoming concerned about the environment and trying to conceptualize sustainable lines, and also a massive amount of choice rising. You’ll find just about any eco fashion clothing item that you need, including recycled jewelry and organic cotton trainers.

The winter season means a ton of different things depending on where you reside: for Californians it can only mean a few degrees difference, for Kentucky residents it can suggest ice hurricanes, for residents of New York it can imply snow and rain, and for those even more north it can imply seriously deep piles of snow. It appears logical, then, that the perfect winter footwear would need to incorporate both obligatory elements based primarily on your location and any trendy elements. In the paragraphs that follow, I can let you know the best winter boots for you sorted by those made for mild winter environments to severe ones.

First let’s have a look at temperature. If temps fall below freezing on a constant basis in the winter months, you’d doubtless be reasonable to look for a boot with some type of insulation. Boots can be full of down like puffer jackets & coats regularly are, they can be lined with high-tech water-resistant materials built to keep feet dry and keep body heat, or boots can be coated with fuzzy materials like fur, fleece, shearling and pretend versions of each. If the temperature in your neighborhood stays above freezing, fortunate you! You have your pick of just about any boot out there! But try and stay away from most boots that are lined or filled as they’d become too hot and uncomfortable. Plenty of designer fashion boots are made with unlined leather or synthetic materials or an awfully thin leather lining. There are some sheepskin boots, like Uggs, that are lined but claim to keep feet at a cushty temperature if outdoors is hot or cold.

Secondly, nearly everybody has to cope with rain in the winter to some degree. If your rain isn’t all that cold, you will just need a couple of rubber rain boots to get you through the winter. If you do not think they are going to be warm enough, you can now find rubber rain boots that are covered with some of the materials I listed in the paragraph above. If your rain freezes constantly or you live in an area with ice tempests, you are going to need to look for a water resistant boot with traction. Look for rubber soles that have numerous raised areas so they aren’t fully flat on the bottom. If you fall head over heels in love with a boot with a totally unrealistic smooth leather sole, remember that cobblers can frequently add a rubber pad or re-sole a boot to make them less greasy in winter conditions. Heels should be wedges or non-existent (flat). Wedge heels have a solid surface area touching the ground from toe to heel, that means more of the shoe on the ground to hold than with other kinds of heels.

The third thing you need to think about is snow conditions. If you live in the snow and will have to stroll through it, you will need a boot that is tall enough to keep your feet warm and dry even after you sink into the snow piles some inches (or more). You may possibly also desire to make certain the boot is flat or has a particularly low heel to stop twisted ankles or other wounds. Remember that when snow falls and liquifies, it becomes wet just like rain, so keep the snow boots water-resistant too.

And fourth, let’s talk about boot styles. Now I have just discussed boots above but there are way more explicit categories to consider: ankle boots, mid-calf boots, knee boots and thigh-high boots. If you must deal with deep snow, you must most likely go for as tall a boot as you feel happy with and one that is as tight as feasible around your legs; If any snow falls in, your feet will be miserable and wet all day. If you only get some inches of snow or none whatsoever, you can select the boot height of your preference and style. Keep an eye out for ankle boots though if you typically see deep puddles, often even those are now not tall enough to keep your feet dry. If you like to wear your pants over your boots rather than tucked in, you could also need to make certain the boots are no longer too tall and poofy or you will spend the remainder of the day pulling your pants back down around them. Similarly if you tuck your pants into your boots usually be certain the boots are wide enough to fit everything in.

Now check mags, web sites, trend sheets and your fave stores for the colours and styles that are popular this winter season and incorporate those into your winter picks too! Color is the simplest way to remain on trend in the wintertime when you should consider being outside in real life, but frequently stuff like lace up detail, straps, studs, or perhaps precise brands can become all the rage and add a hint of runway fashion to your common-or-garden boots. Just because you want rough non-slip soles does not mean you won’t look fashionable and lovely. Have fun shopping!

Safari inspired outfits are hot fashion favorites again this spring/summer season. The earthy, natural colors are good for “Softs”, which can blend different shades of the same color to get the ideal look. Watch out for beige, taupe, sand, stone, cream, chocolate and coffee brown. If you would really like to go wild, what about adding a bit of muted animal print?

Safari isn’t exclusively for “Softs”; other groups can manipulate the safari look by adding different colors.

“Lights” can wear the lighter safari colors, like cream or sand, and team them with pastels. Pale apricot or pink with taupe or sand can be stunning on a blonde. These colors will not overpower your light skin complexion and hair.

“Warms” will look extremely up to date matching warm red or orange with taupe or khaki. The yellow undertones of the orange will give heat to the neutral colors and augment your natural skin tones.

“Cools” need to stick to neutral colors, mixed with colors with a blue undertone. Taupe and pink, as I discussed earlier, look good, but for “cools” the colors have to be much stronger.

“Deeps” will look fantastic in dark chocolate brown put along with pewter and a deep rich red or a dark sand. If the colors are dark and not pastel, they are going to look fabulous.

“Clears” look their best in contrasting colors, so take care that the neutrals you choose are on either end of the color spectrum. For instance dark black/brown with cream, or chocolate brown with pale sand. Zebra prints might be a dazzling look.

Now that you’ve got the colors sorted, what about the designs? Which styles are best for your body shape? With all the pocket detail round the hips and bust, the safari theme is ideal for the “Lean Column” type. “Hourglass” types can show their lovely waists off by belting in jackets, but they need to watch out for too many pockets – they can add inches to your silhouette! “Triangle” types can balance their narrow shoulders with lots of detail on the top half, but make sure to stay away from pockets round the hips on the skirt or trousers. “Rectangle” types will look great in safari galvanized skirts and trousers with pockets, but need to stay away from belted jackets. “Inverted Triangle” types can have lots of details on their narrow hips, but must minimize bulk around their shoulders.

Paying attention to the colors and styles, anyone can look great wearing “safari” fashions this summer, no matter what their coloring and body shape is. Just remember to adapt the style so that it also suits your personality. This will surely give you a individual look that compliments you without compromising on fashion.

Inspiration and originality makes the collections of different designers look unique, even if they have some things in common. But when two collections share not only the same concept, but also use the same patterns, designs and materials, this is an alarm signal that calls for plagiarism.

Giorgio Armani accuses D&G of having shamelessly copied the quilted trousers that the duo proposes for the next season, but which Armani originally put on his catwalk in June.

“Now they copy me. Tomorrow they will learn,” Armani told reporters following the show. “I would understand if they were nobodies. But honestly!”

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana seemed unimpressed with these accusations and insisted that there was no plagiarism involved, claiming that they didn’t even look at Armani‘s collection.

“We surely have plenty to learn, but certainly not from him,” they said in a statement released yesterday. “The Armani style was never a source of inspiration for us and it is years since we have bothered to watch his collections.”

Mary-Kate Olsen showed up at the “New Yorkers for Children Gala” wearing a puffy headband from the Marc Jacobs Fall 2008 collection. This hair piece is supposedly going to be a very hot accessory this year, but to me it looks like a raccoon’s tail wrapped around her head.

This trend will probably die as fast as the turban trend last year.