Although New York Fashion Week tends to get more press, Los Angeles’ burgeoning fashion scene should not be ignored. Last week’s Fall 2008 LA Fashion Week saw celebs, editors, and the local fashion cognoscenti congregate for a left coast style summit. These are a few of TrendCentrals favorite shows, designers and trends of the week:

 Unusual Presentations:Perhaps one of the biggest trends of last week’s Fall 2008 LA Fashion Week festivities was the proliferation of designers who chose to forgo the commercial backdrop of Smashbox Studios (the longtime “official” location of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) and instead presented their collections at more inspired sites around town. Gen Art treated its loyal crowd of fashion enthusiasts to a taste of old Hollywood glamour by hosting their annual New Garde event at the Park Plaza Hotel, near downtown LA. Overlooking MacArthurPark, the historic building’s elegant staircases, vaulted ceilings, and restored grand rooms provided the perfect atmosphere for a trio of talented, up-and-coming designers to show their latest creations. Rather than utilizing a traditional runway, all three collections were shown via live fashion installation: models stood frozen in place—and strategically placed—like mannequins on display in a high fashion department store. Rising talent Jesse Kamm, best known for her limited edition, handcrafted pieces did not disappoint with a smart safari-themed collection of dresses and separates featuring fierce prints and wearable fabrics. The other two designers’ collections were decidedly more avant-garde: JMary favored one color (black) for her collection of sleek outerwear and sophisticated frocks, while beautifully tailored black and white pieces from Le Sang Des Betes evoked sharp contrasts.

Gen Art wasn’t the only show to attract the fashion flock to the Eastside. Jared Gold set up both a runway and a pop-up shop at LA’s historic Union Station, where guests were able to purchase select pieces and looks straight off the runway. And while the shows and events hosted by BOXeight weren’t as numerous as last season (when they easily rivaled Smashbox as “the” place to be), they still managed to attract sizable crowds with collections from Endovanera and The Battalion at their downtown headquarters.

 
Old Glamour: Prolific LA-based designer Sue Wong celebrated Prohibition Era style by hosting a ’20s and ’30s themed fashion fete at her recently renovated 1920s estate in Los Feliz. As always, Wong’s creations boasted intricate beadwork, vibrant colors and lush fabrics. While many of the gowns were reminiscent of flapper style, there were also some beautifully draped creations that would have been fit for a Grecian goddess. Ashley Paige presented a collection of “couture” bathing suits clearly inspired by the same era—and while swimwear collections are usually better suited for spring/summer, many of the pieces could easily double as ultra-femme underthings when temperatures drop. 
 

Tailored Streetwear: While the whimsically inspired, ubercreative off-site shows certainly improved the typical LA Fashion Week festivities, Culver City wasn’t a total wash. A handful of notable designers, including Suh-Tahn, Elmer Ave, and Orthodox turned out some sophisticated streetwear looks for men and women, where old school masculinity and debonair style were overarching themes.

 and for the Totally ’80s trashy look : Lauren Conrad, Nicky Hilton, and the Pussycat Dolls may have attracted the mainstream media, but it was another celebuspawned collection that brought high fashion accolades from industry tastemakers. Co-designed by Marissa Ribisi (Giovanni Ribisi’s sister and wife to Beck) and friend Sophia Banks, Whitley Kros introduced color and creativity to the runway with the debut of their blast-from-the-past-inspired collection. Trend Central loved the color block prints, vibrant DayGlo-hued separates, and swingy scarves and cardigans but we think otherwise!
 
 

Exfoliation is a key part of any skin beautifying treatment. But forget salt scrubs, rubs and foot files. Why not try something far more efficient: the toothless mouths of hundreds of tiny, voraciously feeding fish?
“Doctor fish” - so named for their ability to produce healthy, glowing results from even the most crusty or diseased epidermis - are the key ingredient in a spa and skin treatment becoming increasingly popular across Japan,Singapore, China, Turkey and Europe. The idea is that you immerse your feet, hands or, if you are brave enough, your entire body in a warm pool that swarms with hundreds of hungry minnow-sized feeders. The fish zoom in on your most crusty, flaky or scabby skin and away at it to reveal the fresh layer beneath. According to the spas and their enthusiasts, you emerge refreshed, healthy, buffed and glowing.

Experience the fish for yourself

Singapore: Kampong Fish Therapy  Nibbles Fish Spa Manicure & Pedicure

Japan: Ooedo Onsen

Ireland: Kangal Spa Skin Therapy Ireland

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Perfume or makeup “jewelry” is this winter’s must-have. Mark Jacobs must have remembered the perfume rings Avon in the 70’s made for women and little girls. Because it gives you a bit of designer luxury for a fraction of the price, all while making you smell and look good. This month marks the launch of Marc Jacobs’ Daisy solid perfume ring, a youthful, fresh floral scent housed in an adorable cocktail bauble. It’s convenient—you can do fragrant touch-ups anytime without suffocating the masses—and substantial finger candy. Plus, we all know it feels good to say you’re wearing Marc Jacobs.

Sheer Blouse: Fall isn’t necessarily a time to bare skin but that doesn’t mean you can’t show it off. Get in on the mix-mash trend by pairing a sheer blouse with a chunky knit sweater. 
  

Plaid: Plaid can be incorporated into a wardrobe in more ways than just a grungy flannel shirt. You’ll be seeing all kinds of plaid, ranging from tartans to buffalo checks, in dresses, coats, jackets, and pants.

Floral Print: Fall isn’t traditionally thought of as a season for garden party prints but that didn’t stop a number of designers from sending floral patterns down the runway. Pair a floral mini with a pair of tights and boots once the temperature drops. 
 
 

Velvet: No longer relegated to holiday party dresses for little girls, luxurious velvet pieces were all over the runways. Try trading in your jeans for velvet pants or your silk evening dress for a velvet version instead. 

Band Jacket: Prep school blazers may be all the rage now but try a different uniform look for fall with a tailored marching-band inspired jacket. The latest take on military detailing, these are an easy way to sharpen up an outfit either as a layering piece or outerwear. 
 
  Fitted Ladylike Dress: No longer will we be asked when our due date is when having a baby is the last thing on our minds. We can finally say goodbye to less-than-flattering sack dresses, as figure-flattering dresses are back. While they’re not as unforgiving as the secondskin bandage dresses so popular among celebs, these retro ‘50s style dresses acknowledge curves while still being conservative, thus being perfect for the office.
 

Source:Trendcentral

The latest trend in yoga doesn’t involve contorting into pretzel shapes or even breaking a sweat for that matter. In fact, you can even do it at your desk, while sitting in traffic, or on a crowded subway platform. Called Face Yoga, this low impact “work out” isn’t intended to burn calories, but is supposed to exercise one’s facial muscles. A growing anti-aging trend, Face Yoga is being touted as a safer, pain-free, and low (to no) cost alternative to invasive wrinkle- and line-eradicating needles and knives.

Face Yoga’s “positions”, which include The Satchmo, Surprise Me, and Puppet Face, are reputed to smooth and lift one’s complexion, resulting in a youthful glow. If you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, check out The Yoga Face, an instructional guide written by Face Yoga trendsetter Annelise Hagen, who now even teaches the practice at NY Health and Racquet Club

Source:TrendCentral

I inherited many great things from my father (fast metabolism, winning sense of humor, hard-to-pronounce last name) so I can’t blame him (too) much for the thin, fine blonde hair that somehow beat out my mother’s thick red mane. As much as I trim, blow-dry, and tease, there isn’t much that will pump up my locks. After a week of torturing my hair (and myself) in an attempt to make it Fashion Week–ready, I was exhausted. So, when I took my seat at the Derek Lam fashion show and discovered a huge Kiehl’s gift bag containing a bottle of Rice & Wheat Volumizing shampoo for “lifeless” hair, I was intrigued. I tested it out and instantly noticed a difference. While most volumizing shampoos make my hair feel sticky or heavy, this one left no sign of residue and made my hair feel clean and soft with no extra weight. The shampoo gave me a thicker head of hair, and after my third compliment of the day and the (really, really rare) approval of my beauty-editor pal, I could tell it was noticeable. Plus, the shampoo left my hair with a subtle citrus scent.

Source: Doria Santlofer

Gap’s first collection helmed by new creative director Patrick Robinson was recently presented and hip fashion bloggers and others on the pulse are loving it. We may see a turnaround in Gap’s reputation among young people come Fall.

Into Gap? Take a look at the video all is revealed in his must have spring designs and listen to him dish out advice on how to wear them.

There’s a new name to know in the teen fashion scene and it’s Kira Plastinina . At the tender age of 15, this Russian style setter already has her own retail store, fragrance, apparel designs featured on Fabrika Zvezd (a Russian American Idol-type show) and a profile on MTV Russia. And in the coming months, she’s bringing it all to the US.

While she lives and works in Moscow, the influence of American TV, American fashion magazines, and her Anglo-American education provides her designs with a mix-mash of global teen pop culture. A potential hit among fashion hungry American teen girls, the look is glamorous and fun, with pieces and details such as mini bubble skirts and short shorts in metallic pink and gold, cropped puffy jackets, sparkly tees, sequins, and bright halter dresses. Pink, bright, and sparkly, the Kira Plastinina look has even caught the attention of Paris Hilton, who attended her show during Moscow Fashion Week last October. Adding to the teen appeal, prices will compete with other fast fashion retailers such as H&M and Zara, and styles will be updated every two weeks as well.

With stores set to open in major shopping hotspots—NYC’s Houston and Broadway and LA’s Third Street Promenade—Kira could soon become a household name.

Source: Trendcentral

We may not be able to replicate her iconic personal style (thank goodness you’d rather - skip the skinny jeans and her taste in men), but James Brown London suggests we can at least try to have locks as cool as Kate Moss. A new line of hair care products created by her longterm stylist,  James Brown, Ms. Moss’ childhood neighbor-turned-hairdresser to the stars, has introduced this product line inspired by his most famous muse. Created from his twenty years of experience making manes look beautiful, the minimalist potions are each designed to offer multiple benefits, thus reducing the number of bottles cluttering your bathroom.

If perfect-looking hair is what you’re after, look elsewhere though: this stuff is intended to make your hair look more rock ‘n roll

Image: Source Trend Central

1. CHRISTOPHER KANE, 25

Why he’s good: He has demonstrated versatility by sending out dresses in styles that range from clingy, Herve Leger–like bondage straps to ruffles and reptile prints.
Important pieces: Faded, shredded denim (it’s back) with python-printed chiffon blouses.
Pedigree: Kane hadn’t even graduated yet from Central Saint Martins (where everyone on this page studied) when Donatella Versace asked him to consult in 2006. Career-catapulting publicity followed.
Tidbit: The Scottish designer carried on—to great reviews—even though 23 pieces were stolen from his spring 2008 collection just before the show.

2. MARIOS SCHWAB, 30

Why he’s good: The quiet, unassuming Brit is body-obsessed, using surgeonlike precision to cut his figure-hugging dresses.
Important piece: He dares to turn a pretty, slim floral day dress into something darker with peel-back layers that reveal a magnified viscera print beneath.
Pedigree: Born in Greece, he spent his high school years in Austria before heading off to London to study fashion.
Tidbit: Not that he’s necessarily kicking himself over the decision, but Schwab once turned down a job at the all-wonderful Lanvin.

3. GILES DEACON, 37

Why he’s good: London’s biggest young star right now, he had editors raving over his little black dress in the spring 2007 collection that was trimmed with metal S&M spikes.
Important pieces: Full-skirted, slightly retro dress printed with bloody deer; a classic purple prom dress with a cotton candy–like tulle swaddle under the skirt.
Pedigree: After graduating, he worked at Bottega Veneta and Gucci before going solo.
Tidbit: Designed the cover of his former girlfriend Beth Orton’s 2003 Other Side of Daybreak album.

4. JONATHAN SAUNDERS, 29

Why he’s good: Not overly arty like his British peers, Saunders toys with sleek, minimal, and graphic lines. No flowers and frippery.
Important pieces: His long, lean gowns accented with random blocks of black, white, and color.
Pedigree: While still an undergrad, Saunders created now seminal bird-of-paradise prints for Alexander McQueen’s spring 2003 show.
Tidbit: The Glasgow native (and son of Jehovah’s Witnesses) is relocating to New York next season to get more exposure.

 5. FIONA SINHA, 28, AND ALEKSANDAR STANIC, 28

Why they’re good: While other Londoners do punk and theatrical kookiness, Brit-born Sinha and Croat Stanic prefer tailored femininity.
Important pieces: Six gorgeous bright blue looks, including two sack dresses, stiff jackets, and a puffed skirt.
Pedigree: They met at school and have been together design-wise and romantically since.
Tidbit: After their first show in 2004, megabacker Aeffe signed them up and, some say, pushed them to a tough-girl aesthetic, which didn’t gel. By spring 2008, they had dropped Aeffe and returned successfully to their own prettier ground

By Nandini D’Souza Published Nov 26, 2007