Specialty Margins Swell in Qtr

 Three specialty chains — Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Limited Brands Inc. and Chico’s FAS Inc. — reported improved bottom-line results Wednesday as higher sales were supported by...

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Bridget Foley's Diary: Pull Up a Chair

Sean John and I share a certain aesthetic. Yes, that Sean John. I learned that on Tuesday while perusing the aisles of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Javits Center, which I hit...

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As Milestone Nears, CFDA Plots Growth

 NEW YORK — In the past two years, Diane von Furstenberg introduced a new tradition to the CFDA Awards. As president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, she has taken...

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Why women look up to find love

Tall men attract the ladies because they remind them of our violent ape-like ancestors, according to a new theory.

A study shows men hit harder when they stand on two legs than when they kneel down, and when directing punches downwards.

This might explain why early humans began walking upright, and also why women prefer tall men, say US researchers.

Professor David Carrier, from the University of Utah, said: "The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that our ancestors adopted bipedal posture so that males would be better at beating and killing each other when competing for females.

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Toupee or not toupee?

"Anyone you see on the red carpet, they've all got hairpieces." This remark, from a beauty PR, seemed a slight exaggeration - I think we'd detect it if men were up to it, too - but it does seem that hair is the latest zone of a woman's appearance to have traversed into the realms of fake plumping-up. At the Met Ball, as I found myself looking down on Madonna in the dinner throng (she is tiny) and admiring her Thirties movie-star tresses, someone hissed in my ear: "It's probably a wig, you know."

I can think of a time in my life when I'd have been shocked and disapproving about the idea of hairpiece-wearing. In the Eighties, the rule of wash 'n' wear - the idea that hair should be "natural", that all it needed was "a good cut" every six weeks, and that it would look best that way - held such sway I even remember thinking hairdryers were a chichi, bourgeois old-lady thing. To have false anything - eyelashes, hair colour, tan, let alone breasts - seemed faintly disgusting to a generation of fine young feminists.

Now, I'm more of the laissez-faire opinion that what is acceptable in beauty is just a matter of fashion, not morality. I still can't ever see myself going under the knife or having part of my bottom injected into my face to improve my looks, but I can't think of a way this new hair thing is offensively invasive.

In the history of hairstyling, the last time "switches" - hairpieces that come with clips for attaching to hair -were in widespread use was in the late Sixties and early Seventies. But from that period there are so many photographs of coiled-up hair, modelled by the likes of Veruschka, I've always secretly found inspiring that now I'm thinking, well, why not? Using fake locks as transformative accessories is only part of fashion play, and a potentially lot of fun on a night out - just so long as they don't fall off into your soup.

fashion.telegraph.co.uk

Snap Up Miss Selfridge's £85 Limited Edition Dress

After watching Penélope Cruz and Rachel McAdams swish down the Cannes Film Festival 2011 red carpet in their sheer embellished Marchesa gowns, we’ve decided we want a high street version of our own. This limited-edition number from Miss Selfridge ticks all the right boxes. With its sheer underlay (no peekaboo mishaps) and Marchesa-style tattoo embroidery, it’s a wardrobe winner – and all for under a hundred quid.




www.look.co.uk

Kate Moss launches new Mango collection in Paris

As the new face of the Spanish high street label, Moss joined acclaimed photographer Terry Richardson at a fashion show in Paris to launch the A/W11 collection. The model looked chic (although a little tired) in a signature white blazer, bejewelled top and satin trousers.

Moss shot the accompanying ad campaign for the new Mango collection alongside Richardson in Paris last month. As the new face of Mango, the model follows in the footsteps of Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz, who have previously starred the brand's campaigns.

Moss's appearance at the Mango launch came after she returned to her hometown of Croydon to shoot the new Rimmel make-up advert. The star wore a red mini dress as she was airlifted on to the roof of the Whitgift shopping centre's multi-storey car park via helicopter for the sunset shoot.

There's less than two months to go before the model marries long-time boyfriend Jamie Hince. The couple are planning to wed on July 2 at an undisclosed location, but sources have claimed it will be near her £2million Cotswolds home.

Moss is said to have contacted a string of rocker friends to perform at the wedding, which has been billed as a 'mini-Glasto'. It is reported she has asked The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Primal Scream, Kanye West, Duran Duran and Beth Ditto to perform.

www.lovestyle.com

Burberry Sunglasses

Previewed during the Burberry Prorsum S/S11 show, the new foldable 'Burberry Brights' eyewear is a continuation of the brand's foldable concept, which includes packable trench coats and rainwear. Available in a myriad of colours, including fuchsia, beetroot, lime, pollen, citrus and spearmint, these snazzy new shades are the perfect accessory for those who shy away from head-to-toe block colour but want to channel the trend in a smaller, more sophisticated way.

Available to buy now from selected Burberry stores and Burberry.com


www.lovestyle.com

Penélope Cruz Steps Out In Another Mesmerising Dress

Over the past week we’ve fallen head over heels for Madrid’s hottest export Penélope Cruz thanks to her uh-mazing Pirates Of The Caribbean wardrobe! From fabulous fishtail frocks to smouldering hot pencil dresses, this lady can just about pull off any dress style or length. Last night she continued her whistle-stop tour for the new Pirates Of The Caribbean film and hit Germany in a striking red Armani Privé dress that almost looked like liquid, showing off her fab post-baby figure to perfection. Forget Johnny Depp, if Penélope Cruz keeps upping the style ante like this she could become fashion’s leading lady! SD

www.look.co.uk

Hair Trends 2011: Plaits and Braids

The plait obsession continues, from complicated forms at Alexander McQueen to classical at Hermès and Valentino.
The fashion world has fallen in love with the plait all over again, women are so lucky if they have long hair. Tried to do a French plait yesterday and looked very irregular, need a bit of practice. There are so many different ways to wear it! Celebs show us how it’s done for evening wear to the one side. Also there is the messy way with only one or two plaits and the favourite look is a long plait to the side.

Let's see the gallery "how to wear Plaits and Braids this season":

Alexander McQueen

 The Colour Room, Poul Mitchell

 Alexis Mabille hairstyles

Hermes and Valentino hairstyles