Fashion Week: Tadashi Goes Environment, While Anne Klein Celebrates Spring

One celebrity fashion designer devotes his collection to the environment while another celebrates the rites of spring. NY1 Cheryl Wills bring us the latest designs of Tadashi and Anne Klein.

Jacques Cousteau would be proud. Tadashi Shoji's spring 2008 collection is all about the deep blue sea and the wonderment of the natural environment.

The Los Angeles-based designer revealed a tidal wave of flowing dresses and gowns that he says reflects the fluidity of water.

Shoji is the official fashion designer for the Miss Universe Organization and beauty queens at his show said his spring collection is one of his best yet.

"It's always fresh,” said Miss USA Rachel Smith. “I really enjoy his brilliant colors that he uses.”

"I love Tadashi's clothes because regardless it fits me perfect,” said former Miss USA Tara Conner. “Tadashi is such a sweet person, anyway, that there's good vibes that come from it."

When is the last time you've seen bamboo on a dress? Only Shoji could pull that off.

"It's a hand-woven bamboo corset bustier and – look at this – seaming, maybe a hundred different seams,” said designer Tadashi Shoji. “Feathery, real chiffon. Feather-like leaves.”

From a nod to the environment to a burst of spring, we check out Anne Klein.

Spring is most definitely in the air, as Anne Klein's spring 2008 line comes into full bloom. The venerable designer makes a comeback of sorts with playful prints and sensual suits that are impressive by day and sensual by night.

Klein says it her inspiration came quite by accident.

"There's blooming dresses – actually it all happened because my husband was painting in his workroom, in his studio and he got some of the paint on some of the dresses and I said, ‘Oh my God! That's so beautiful,” said Anne Klein creative director Isabel Toledo. “It came alive."

Anne Klein’s 2008 collection is very much alive and well for the sophisticated woman who knows how to transform a power suit into anything she wants.

– Cheryl Wills

Source: New York 1 News

Natalie shares details of her love match exclusively with HELLO!

The 28-year-old Thai sports ace proved especially romantic when it came to plighting his troth, presenting Natalie not only with a three-carat diamond ring, but also a pair of matching earrings and a necklace. He and the former Miss Universe Canada are to wed in November in Thailand, where they will be based Photo: © HELLO! Thailand

Former Miss Universe Canada Natalie Glebova and her Thai tennis champ fiancé, Paradorn 'Ball' Srichaphan, have invited HELLO! inside their spectacular Thai home as they speak to the magazine about their engagement and upcoming autumn nuptials.
After a whirlwind romance the 25-year-old beauty accepted her hunky beau's marriage proposal on April 13 during a romantic vacation to Bali. And when it came to plighting his troth the 28-year-old sports ace proved especially romantic, presented his love not only with a three-carat diamond ring, but also a pair of matching earrings and a necklace.

"He has a great heart," says Russian-born Natalie, whose life changed forever when she was crowned Miss Universe in 2005. The glamorous pair are to tie the knot this November in Bangkok, and both are keen to start a family together in their new Thailand home.

For exclusive photos and a revealing report on the high-profile couple's romance, pick up a copy of Issue 51 of HELLO! magazine, on sale Thursday, September 13. The issue also includes 25 photo-packed pages on the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, so be sure not to miss it!

Source: Hello Magazine

Priyanka Chopra approaches SC on row with ex-secretary

The dispute related to a payment of Rs 1.37 crore which her secretary claimed the actress owed to him . (TOI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Apprehending that her former private secretary P Jaju might appeal against her acquittal in the criminal intimidation case, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has urged the Supreme Court not to pass any orders without hearing her.

The actress made the plea in a caveat application filed through counsel P Narasimhan, but kept it under wraps for inexplicable reasons.

Though no official information was coming forth from the actress' side, it was stated that the actress had filed the caveat against the special leave petition (SLP) sought to be filed by Jaju against her acquittal by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

An Indore Bench of the High Court had recently acquitted the actress of the criminal intimidation charges levelled against her by Jaju, who alleged that Priyanka and her father Ashok Chopra, got him threatened with dire consequences through underworld don Chhota Shakeel over a financial dispute.

The dispute related to a payment of Rs 1.37 crore which Jaju claimed the actress owed to him; a figure disputed by Priyanka.

Following her acquittal by the High Court, Jaju decided to file an SLP in the apex court, prompting the actress to file a caveat.

Speaking to PTI, Narasimhan admitted that the caveat has been filed but expressed inability to give any details on the matter.

Her Supreme Court counsel Sudarsan Rajan also declined to give any information on the issue on the ground that he was under strict instructions not to speak to the media on the issue.

Source: The Times of India

Bulgarian Model Wins International Teen Beauty Pageant in Dominican Republic

The 15-year-old Bulgarian beauty Emili Mariyanova grabbed Miss Teen International 2007 title at "Miss Bellezza Mundial" contest. Photo by Visages Model Group

A 15-year-old Bulgarian beauty has won Miss Teen International 2007 title at an international pageant, which took place in the Dominican Republic.

Except the grand prize, Emili Mariyanova got several special awards, "Beautiful Face" and "Traditional Costume" among them.

The Bulgarian grabbed the title, defeating about 90 participants from all around the globe in the age group from 15 to 17.

The contest "Miss Belleza Mundial" is not Emili's first catwalk performance. The beauty queen has previously took part in numerous fashion shows in the past six months.

Source: Sofia News Agency

Kids learn all about environment at PDI

MANILA, Philippines -- Two jeepney drivers who learn about the benefits of alternative fuels. Three boys who thoughtlessly destroy a fairy’s garden and then discover the importance of the environment.

These were the characters in the stories featured at yesterday’s Inquirer Read-Along session which focused on the environment.

Featured readers were the reigning Little Earth Angel of 2007, Denise Mikaela Abuan, and returning storytellers from the Sophia School in Meycauayan.

Abuan, a student at Roosevelt College in Montalban who turned 11 in May, read “Hari ng Kalsada,” a brainchild of the Sustainable Energy Development Program (SEDP) of the US Agency for International Development and US Department of Energy.

Abuan said she believed even children her age could help the country in small ways.

“We can plant trees [and] separate biodegradable waste from non-biodegradables,” she said with a shy smile.

The Little Earth Angel pageant is part of the Miss Earth Foundation activities and involves children aged 7 to 10.

Storytellers from Sophia School, returning for the third time to the Inquirer Read-Along, read Rene Villanueva’s “Si Emmang Engkantada at ang Tatlong Haragan” (Emma the Enchantress and the Three Bums).

Teachers Ann Abacan, Doray Carable, Ellie Carable, Lorna Mendoza and Osang de la Vega used the chamber theater format to bring the story of three wayward-boys-turned-environment-lovers to life.

Chamber theater is a method of adapting literary works to the stage with minimal sets. In the Sophia School’s production, each teacher read the part of a character.

After the reading, Teacher Ann asked the children: “Do we need a fairy to teach us how to take care of our environment?” to which the children replied a resounding, “No.”

“We choose stories where children will learn a lesson. In this case, the lesson is helping the environment, which people seem to have forgotten,” said Teacher Osang.

“Hari ng Kalsada,” written by Dhee Paredes, an information, education and communication specialist at the SEDP, was originally in English and was first read by US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney during the National Earth Day celebration on April 20. It was translated into Filipino by Paredes herself to better capture the hearts of Filipino children.

Thinking that a more visual medium would be more effective, Paredes decided to turn the story into a comic book, with her brother-in-law, Radel Paredes, a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s sister publication, the Cebu Daily News, doing the illustrations. A cinema ad version of the story will be launched by Artistshop Co. Inc. in October. TV commercials and coloring books based on the story are in the pipeline.

Paredes said their organization decided to tap younger audiences through Inquirer Read-Along and other media in order to better disseminate information about biofuels and environment protection to the younger generation.

“It is important that children understand what biofuels are for,” said Paredes.

Coco-biodiesel, or coconut methyl ester (CME), and ethanol are considered to be ecologically benign fuels.

The Biofuels Act of 2006, passed in January 12 this year, provides that at least 1 percent of biodiesel be mixed with the diesel fuel sold in the country.

Other contributors to the program were Krispy Kreme donuts and Hands On Manila.

The Inquirer Read-Along program, which aims to impart the love of reading to children aged 7 to 13, is held on the second and fourth Saturday of the month at the Inquirer main office on Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City.

The next session will be on Sept. 22 and will feature Ms Philippines-Earth 2007 Jean Harn and Ms Earth-Water 2006 Catherine Untalan, also of SEDP.

Interested parties may call Ellen Caparros or Girlie Refran at 897-8808, local 329. Those interested in donating books for the program may e-mail inquirer-readalong@inquirer.com.ph. Eliza Victoria, Inquirer Research

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Manawatu the best

By JUDITH LACY - Tribune

Miss Manawatu Claire Kirby thought she'd made too many mistakes to win another crown last Sunday - she was wrong.

She was named Miss Earth New Zealand at a dinner in Auckland and will represent the country at the international Miss Earth pageant, to be held in Manila, Philippines, on November 11.

The 19 year old's win was a double bonus for Manawatu with 2006 Miss Manawatu Rachel Crofts second.

Miss Kirby, who works at Passion Deli & Cafe in Feilding, told The Tribune she didn't think she had a chance of winning as she thought her hair and make-up didn't look the best. She also felt she'd made a number of "mistakes" including running late for the swimwear parade and, feeling flustered, struggling to undo the knot she'd tied in her sarong. The seven contestants also had to model ballgowns and cocktail dresses and give a three-minute speech - Miss Kirby spoke about her trip to India last year. Contestants were interviewed by the judges and asked about the message they would take to the environmentally themed pageant.

In the audience were Miss Kirby's family, Miss Manawatu franchise owner Kate Balfour and Miss Manawatu judge Diane Bate.

Miss Kirby will spend about three weeks in the Philippines preparing for the pageant and attending events.

Miss Crofts also won the best ballgown award. Two previous Miss Earth New Zealand winners have come from Manawatu - Rachel Tucker (2004) and Tiffany Pickford (2005).

Source: Manawatu Standard Tribune

Miss Earth 2006 to hit Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Miss Earth 2006 Hil Yesenia from Chile is scheduled to visit HCM City to attend the International Travel Expo HCM City 2007 from October 5-7.

Miss Yesenia will spend around 5 days in the city and take part in community events as well as exchanges with audiences. Three other beauty queens from Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam are also scheduled to participate in the fair.

The beauties’ detailed schedule is yet to be announced.

Miss Earth is one of the most prestigious beauty titles in the world. In 2006, Hil Yesenia became the first Chilean to be crowed Miss Earth. With the height of 1.8 m, she has taken part in other international beauty pageants including Miss World 2003 and 2004 as well as Miss Earth 2004.

Source: Vietnam Net Bridge and Lao Dong