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Denim is breaking away from its casual image to play a new role in this spring's fashion scene, appearing frequently in elegant dresses and suits.

Many top Western fashion brands have included denim in their spring and summer items, its popularity bolstered in part by the advanced technologies of Japanese textile manufacturers, who have turned out such products as soft, flexible denim.

Denim abounds at the stores of these elite brands right now, and has been the subject of many feature stories in fashion magazines this spring.

Gucci used bleached denim for a military-style jacket accentuated with gold buttons and wide-leg pants with turned-up bottoms, while Fendi presented a three-piece suit using denim. A blouson with a stand-up collar was worn on a shirt, combined with loose pants.

Michael Kors combined a short jacket with creased pants, both using navy denim in a fetching combination. Leather patches that doubled as pockets of the jacket also added to the look.

So why is denim in fashion now?

Thick cotton denim will immediately remind many people of jeans. Jeans became popular work clothing in the 19th century as the Gold Rush swept through the United States. Around 1970, jeans became a symbol of freedom and resistance among young people.

The history of denim is being featured in an exhibition titled "250 Years of European Mode" currently at the Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum in Tokyo until May 13.

"Today, designers are turning out sophisticated denim fashions that overturn the fabric's casual image. Underlying this trend is the development of new technologies and materials," said museum curator Kayo Murakami.

The denim used for luxury brand clothing is the fruit of advanced technologies, which have led to soft, flexible denim textiles. They are comfortable to wear and create a flattering silhouette. These technologies have also added subtle hues and delicate textures to denim, making it possible to meet the increasingly diverse requests of designers.

For example, a new long dress by Bottega Veneta used a soft denim manufactured in Japan, impressing observers with its elegant drapes. A jacket by Etro used a thin denim that looked splendid decorated with geometric motifs.

The denim used for a pair of pants by Dolce & Gabbana has been processed to look well-worn despite being new. Ornaments themed on flowers and heart shapes were stitched on.

Burberry Prorsum presented a jacket using a flexible denim manufactured in Japan. The waist was cinched and its lower part was decorated with wool ornaments.

Christopher Bailey, chief executive officer and designer at Burberry Prorsum, said the jacket was meant to surprise people by giving a denim cloth a feminine silhouette.

Denim is being used for many shoes and bags, too. Christian Louboutin has produced wedge sole sandals using denim, and a bag by Stella McCartney features impressive appliques on its denim base.

Clothes are getting more and more casual lately, as consumers don't want to look overly fashion conscious. Denim is an indispensable material for designers, therefore, with its free, relaxed feel. Why not incorporate elegant denim style into your look?

Hot Japanese denim

Many denim textiles used by luxurious brands are products of Japanese textile manufacturers.

Kaihara Co. based in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, has manufactured 2.8 million meters of denim each year - enough to make about 2.5 million pairs of jeans - since it introduced computer-controlled spinning and weaving machinery. About one-third of its products are exported to Western countries.

Elastic types are particularly popular.

The company's outstanding dyeing techniques can also create delicate colors, enabling the firm to manufacture more than 100 "blue" denim textiles, each a different hue.

Some denim textiles are valuable for their rarity, as they can only be manufactured on old-fashioned weaving machinery that needs to be delicately adjusted by craftspeople.

Today Japanese denim has become a product that represents Cool Japan, along with anime and washoku Japanese cuisine, attracting the attention of Western luxury brands.Read more here:bridesmaid dresses australia

The back

Back acne is often dubbed 'bacne' and can be a real pain in the, well, back.

"Back acne (bacne) tends to be more prevalent in men, but is evidenced in both sexes and is commonly caused by irritation of the skin," Dr Anita Sturnham, from the NURISS Skincare & Wellness Clinic, explained.

"Anything that repeatedly rubs against the skin, such as backpacks, rough massages, tight fitting clothing, weight lifting machines which press on the shoulder area can irritate the skin and aggravate acne in that area."

So if you're struggling with impurities in this area, consider what your back comes in contact with. Wear loose, cotton clothing and go easy on the weight machines or massages for a few weeks to see if things improve.

Arms

If you suffer from raised pimples that look like goosebumps on your arms, it's likely you have keratosis pilaris. There's no need to panic, as it's very common and completely harmless. It just means that you have too much of a protein called keratin and it's building up under your skin. Cream that contain salicylic acid, lactic acid or urea are usually the best way to go. Priori Hand & Body Revitalizing Lotion has rave reviews from keratosis pilaris sufferers, who say it really helps with smoothing the affected area. Ameliorate's Skin Smoothing Body Lotion also goes a long way for those with bumpy arms.

Chest

Spots on the chest are often associated with lung problems. If you smoke or don't spend much time outdoors in fresh air, you could notice blemishes on your torso. Kicking the cigarette habit is step one for smokers, while city dwellers should consider a trip to the countryside or seaside. Also try and keep your diet healthy and balanced.

Shoulders

It might not seem obvious, but spotty shoulders could point to a digestive problem. If you've noticed a change in your bowel habits, feel constantly worried and also suffer from pimples on your shoulders, try drinking a lot of green tea and upping your fibre intake. Of course you should see a doctor if these problems are extreme and/or consistent.Read more here:formal dresses melbourne

Running a business is tough. It's ok to fail and it's ok to ask for help.

That's one of the messages 10 of Australia's leading female entrepreneurs will be spreading at a conference coming to Brisbane for the first time next month

The League of Extraordinary Women (LEW) has been hosting the Run the World conference in Melbourne since 2013, but is bringing it to Brisbane to help women running their own business to connect and learn from each other.

There's no shortage of business conferences and groups in Brisbane, and even several specifically targeting women. In fact, the Australian Women's Leadership Symposium will be in town just two weeks after Run the World.

But LEW CEO Chiquita Searle says there's nothing else with a sole focus on women running their own businesses or with such a warts and all attitude to sharing business insights.

"I think the biggest thing we've found is that women who are starting their own businesses might have come from a corporate background and they go out on their own and the thing that affects them most is the loneliness, the isolation, the doubt, the fear," she said.

"If you don't have friends or a family member who also run their own business you can struggle to actually find someone to talk to and to actually share that burden and get advice from.

"We find that by providing women or speakers who are successful in their businesses, who come along and tell it like it really is, there's no pretense it was an overnight success story.

"They actually say it was really bloody hard the last 10 years... but I got through and this is where I'm at now so if I can do this you can do it."

Miss Searle herself came close to throwing in the towel with her corporate-wear business when she was living hand-to-mouth trying to keep it afloat. She has since put it on hold to focus on the league but says it taught her valuable lessons.

Speaker Jane Lu will focus heavily on failure, having launched fashion website Showpo off the back of a failed business venture, $50,000 in debt and still living at home with her parents.

Other speakers include Renegade Collective founder and editor-in-chief Lisa Messenger, The Content Folk founder Nicole Kersh, Nads founder Sue Ismiel, and Charlton Brown General Manager Petrina Fraccaro.

From Brisbane originally, Miss Searle said the city's entrepreneur potential was undervalued and it was the second-largest base for her organisation's 20,000-strong supporters.

Run the World (yes it's named after the Beyonce song) is on May 26 at QUT Gardens Point with tickets on sale now.Read more here:evening dresses australia

I loved working at a bridal salon in Beverly Hills. I remember, on my first day, reverentially running my fingers over the skirt of an Elie Saab and gasping at a one-of-a-kind Valentino gown.

As a fashion enthusiast, it was my personal paradise. I loved trying on couture dresses that I would never otherwise touch or even see.

Before this, the most expensive clothing item I’d ever worn was a pair of $80 Guess Jeans.

I was immediately seduced by this new world, so much so that it took hindsight to realize what a crazy place it was. Not until recently did I reflect on how wealth, fame, and physical beauty were used as a currency, with one’s value rising with the combination of the three.

The salon was definitely skewed toward that trifecta, as reflective of its geographical position in Beverly Hills. It typically wasn’t bothersome—the salon was there to make money and that was the best way to do it.

But one thing that perplexed me was the way plus-sized women were excluded from the experiences offered to their skinnier counterparts. It didn’t make sense to me because they were a lucrative demographic.

To be fair, my salon wasn’t specifically to blame—it was merely reflective of the bridal industry’s attitude toward full-figured women. It basically equated this. Skinny=yay!/Not Skinny=there isn’t much here for you. Through my time there, I noticed, over and over again, the ways the bridal industry fails brides who are larger than a size 16.

Sample Sizes

Designer bridal salons carry one sample of each gown and it is clipped to each specific bride’s dimensions. I was an expert at wielding our industrial-strength woodworking clamps around the zippers of the gowns, molding them to my customer’s body.

The sample sizes were 8-12. But keep in mind. That’s 8-12 in bridal sizes which then translates to streetwear sizes of 6-10. That means plus-sized women couldn’t try on gowns the same way, if at all. I remember once telling a woman,

“So we will need to open up this bust cup through a special order. These seams on the side will come over about three inches.”

I went on, trying to explain to this woman how the B-cup, size 10 bridal gown would look in her proportions. I did my best, trying to help her visualize something that did not yet exist.

Our salon featured about 300 gowns and, out of all of them, there were about 12 in a size 16 or larger. Trunk shows (where a designer sends a curated selection of their upcoming gowns or bestsellers) were even worse. Once, as I unpacked gown after gown for a show, I noticed that most of the sizes were 2-6.

You knew a gown was tiny when it didn’t fit the mannequin.

Some of them were even runway samples, which basically means they were tailored for a professional model (i.e.,: a marvel of nature who is 5’9 and has a 24 or 25 inch waist).

Sometimes brides ordered a gown without trying it on because they loved the way it looked even though they couldn’t put it on. It’s a crazy thing to expect of any bride. Those appointments stand out in my mind. We would sit down together and slowly work through what would suit her figure, personality and style.

Other times, I would hold the dresses up in front of the brides, trying to approximate a sense of how it would look, the same way you would hold up a paper dress on a paper doll. I hated it when the bride’s mother or friend would obsess with finding a flattering gown, often at the cost of the bride’s personal taste. I felt like I failed when a bride settled on a gown solely because she looked skinny in it.

Wrong Perspective on Styling

Consultants tried to skip appointments with heavier brides, simply because there wasn’t much to show them. However, I always admired these women who came to our salon, determined to find a gown despite the challenges. I appreciated them because they were intelligent, vibrant women who were grounded in themselves and their relationships. I have to say it—usually they were nicer than the other brides. And they had great taste.

I actually preferred these appointments. I loved the brides and I learned so much about fashion and body types. For example, most salons will automatically grab the nearest ball gown or A-line for these brides in an attempt to cover them up in tent-like gowns. That, in my opinion, is the completely wrong way to approach plus size brides.

Proportion should determine silhouette, not size. I had a gorgeous green-eyed bride with the blackest hair I had ever seen. She was a size 20 and her figure was beautifully balanced. When she tried on a mermaid gown (which was only possible because the seam was split all the way down the back from a previous customer), and turned to the mirror, she gasped.

“I didn’t know I could wear this!” she said. The gown had ruched organza through the torso and hips and exploded into a profusion of ruffles at the bottom. I slipped a silk flower into her long, wavy hair and she looked like a vintage princess from Spain. I was as awed as she was. And I can promise you this—every eye on that salon was on her, not the other cookie-cutter thin brides around her.

If a bride wasn’t proportional (and super skinny brides were just as often disproportional as others), I marveled at the ways fashion compensated. With the appropriate use of structured bodices, crinoline, and tailoring, any woman could look absolutely exquisite. And that’s the strange thing about fashion. It can be exclusive and inaccessible for many yet, when used correctly, it redefines the figure, playing up strengths and downplaying perceived weaknesses.

Limited Size Charts and Extra Fees

While I loved styling these brides and celebrating with them when they found the one, I dreaded ringing them up. From that point on, I couldn’t hide the fact that the bridal industry is downright cruel to anyone who is a size 18 or up.

First of all, any bride who fell in a size 18 or up would be slapped with a surcharge. This could add anywhere from 10% to 15% to the bride’s order. 15% of a $7500 gown is a whopping $1,125! In what universe is that OK? Yes, it does take extra fabric to make larger sizes, but $1,125 can buy you a plane ticket to Europe.

Even the belts were sometimes too small to fit a bride’s waist. They could be extended. For a fee.

Other times, certain size charts didn’t extend past a size 20. I remember explaining to a bride that the gown she loved wasn’t cut in her size.

This size chart didn’t go past 20.

“You can lose the weight,” her friend immediately interjected. “Just do whatever it takes. This is important.”

I also had a bride who absolutely loved a certain gown but it wasn’t stocked in her size. She ordered two of the same gown. Two.

“Do you feel OK doing this?” I asked her. She nodded and said,

“I know what I want but I can’t find it my size. This is the only way.”

Our seamstress pieced it together into one. It turned out beautifully but it was ridiculous that she had to resort to this, spending double.

Oftentimes, if we called the designer, they would recut a pattern for a bride but it came at an even larger cost. I wondered why the size charts were so limited, especially when they already ran small. Did the designers have a certain image for their gowns? Did they only want skinny girls wearing them? These questions plagued me and once, when a designer came in for a trunk show, I asked him.

“Its fashion, darling.” he replied flippantly. “Just fashion.”

Alterations

The attitude pervading alterations was “She will lose weight.” This was applied to every single bride, no matter her size.

It wasn’t the seamstresses’ faults—in fact, they were loving women who prided themselves on their craft. After seeing brides lose weight time and time again, they delayed alterations so they wouldn’t have to take in the gown twice. So much so that it became a rule: Your gown wasn’t taken in until two weeks prior to your wedding date.

This was fine except it basically assumed that, if you were a good bride, you would actively cut down for your wedding. It boggled my mind. After all, these brides’ partners proposed to them as they were and, theoretically, loved them the way they were.

Despite this, the whole alterations department was structured around the idea of weight loss and it was often perpetrated by the brides themselves. I heard them say these phrases over and over again:

“I have a personal trainer for the wedding.”

“I’m cutting out all carbs.”

“I have time. I can still drop 10 pounds.”

“Take my gown in more. I’m going to lose weight so make it smaller then I am right now.”

ADVICE

If you are a full-figured woman, please know that there are lots of amazing options out there for you and you will look stunning on your wedding day. Here are some things that I hope will be helpful:

1) Go for structured gowns.

Gowns with boning in the bodice will define your gorgeous shape. Thin dresses without internal structure will cling to the form and show every little curve.

2) Don’t automatically get an A-line or ball gown.

Request an experienced consultant who will understand your particular figure. Mermaids can be insanely flattering on plus-sized brides, especially if there is fullness at the bottom to balance the dramatic silhouette. If you do go for an A-line, consider one with a slight dropped waist or slimmer skirt. The idea isn’t to cover you up. It’s to showcase your best assets—and everyone has them!

3) Consider ruching.

Ruching is flattering on everyone. But ruching isn’t one size fits all. Make sure your gown has well-balanced ruching that isn’t too wide. Also, if it draws to one side, go for it! The asymmetry is insanely flattering.

4) Look for silhouettes that define your waist.

Anything that pulls in at your natural waist or lower is flattering. Belts with beaded appliques in the center also draw the eye inward.

(Also: avoid too many pleats in the skirt, gowns with abrupt, horizontal seams. You want a gown that flows beautifully from top to bottom (if there is a straight seam right at the hips or knees, it can widen) shiny fabrics, and overly huge skirts.

5) Finally, MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY.

At the end of the day, don’t get too caught up with rules and the do’s and don’ts. You know yourself. You know your style and your body. Do what feels right to you. The most beautiful brides I’ve seen were comfortable and confident.Read more here:white formal dresses

The Asian Cultural Expressions club held the ACE:32 Muse Fashion Show last Friday. This fashion show marked the 32nd anniversary of the fashion organization and showcased 11 collections total, with four musical performances and raffle prizes throughout the event.

This year, ACE partnered with the Museum of Chinese in America to raise awareness for Chinese heritage in the Unites States today, expanding on Chinese aesthetics as well as their fashion interests.

Many student designers from outside NYU contributed to the show, from Judy Greco’s classical, feminine pieces inspired by Italian landscapes and previous Dolce and Gabbana collections to Dalton Taylor’s edgy, boxy clothes inspired by Ghesquiere’s work for Balenciaga.

CAS senior Lindsey Lee said the show offered a variety of traditional and avant-garde silhouettes.

“The show itself was very diverse,” Lee said. “It was cool to see my classmates walk the runway and see what they have accomplished.”

In addition to the innovative student designers, other more well-established designers also took part of the show such as Henri Bendel and Jill Stuart. These collections included brightly-colored spring handbags and clutches, as well as evening gowns. Bendel’s show was particularly interesting because it featured female and male models, with the women choosing which man they wanted to walk with based on the handbags they held.

All of the models were NYU students, many of whom had never modeled before, including CAS sophomore Jacky Wong.

“This was my first time modelling,” Wong said. “I walked in three shows and my favorite was the Henri Bendel show because the guys and girls were able to interact with each other on stage and it gave more chemistry to the show.”

The models clearly had fun on the runway and raved about their experiences after the show.

“This was my first time modeling, and it was like what you see on TV,” CAS sophomore Daniel Lee said. “Everyone was so busy practicing and changing backstage, it was crazy. But overall, it was a great experience and I want to do it next year as well.”

Steinhardt sophomore Lina Chabria said the models also influenced how the show was produced.

“I loved modeling for the show,” Chabria said. We got to chose our own outfits from the brands that we walked for and I got to make some great friends with the models from this experience.”

Other performances included Steinhardt sophomore Sam Kang, artist MC Jin, Brooklyn artist Sandflower and the NYU Breakdance Club. College of Nursing sophomore Lisa Huang said she particularly enjoyed MC Jin.

“I loved how MC Jin was able to engage the audience, he did a great job making the crowd laugh and dance,” Huang said.Read more here:evening dresses australia

Forty shows were presented over five days in São Paulo. The season left us with a feeling that Brazilian fashion is not surrendering to the economic crisis. By looking within—to local culture and to brand archives—designers are defining the fashion of the future. Giuliana Romanno left her all-black collections behind this season, focusing instead on a diverse range of blues and mixing them with sunny yellow and off-white. The tailoring was soft and the mood breezy.

Lenny Niemeyer is the queen of Rio beachwear. For her first-ever show in São Paulo, she looked at Brazil’s legendary Carnival tradition. The references were there—Carmen Miranda, for starters—but they weren’t so literal as to turn off the jet-setter clientele that Niemeyer caters to. Veteran designer Luiz Cláudio ofApartamento 03 is also new in town, but his years of experience have yielded a brand that is unique for its craft. Gloria Coelho, by contrast, embodies the spirit of São Paulo, which is assertive, urban, and above all, Latin. Latex minis and metallics mixed with neutrals were her key pieces this season. Coelho represents the “Paulista” woman who wants to feel sexy and desired, even as she gets older.

Speaking of Paulistas, it’s very hard to redefine the fashion sense of Brazilian women, and that’s why Vitorino Campos is proving to be the man of the hour in São Paulo. The young designer from Bahia is swapping the overt sexiness, for which so many Brazilian fashion brands are known, for an emphasis on color and contemporary shapes. Campos’ neo-tropical girl is casual, cool, and only a little bit naughty. She feels comfortable in monochromes and if she’s showing leg, her top is covered. Campos’ starting point was the relationship between Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe, which Smith chronicled so movingly in Just Kids. It was interesting to see how such an American tale could be interpreted for Brazil in the 21st century. It is as if Patti Smith went to Bahia 30 years ago.

As the setting sun casts an orange glow over the Sao Paulo slum of Paraisopolis, a dozen aspiring models sporting towering heels strut up and down an improvised catwalk.

"Posture, attitude! Walk straight, stop. Again, walk!" shouts their coach, who is teaching the teenagers the tricks of the trade as part of a project to spread the glitter of the Brazilian mega-city s famous fashion week, which wraps up Friday, to some of its poorest residents.

They are far from the cameras, footlights and glamour of the main event, the largest fashion show in Latin America, which has launched careers like that of supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who strutted Wednesday in her final runway show.

But these teens are taking the idea of couture into their own brightly manicured hands.

The project, whose name roughly translates as Fashion From the Fringes (Periferia Inventando Moda), was launched by Alex Santos, a 24-year-old fashion student from the slum who wanted to bring some of the glitz of Sao Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW) to his own community.

"A year ago, I went to a show by the designer Joao Pimenta that SPFW held in a poor neighborhood. And I had a revelation," Santos told AFP.

"I thought, Why don t we create these events ourselves? It s great for SPFW to come here and hold shows, but we can do the same thing."

That is how Fashion From the Fringes was born at the municipal education center in Paraisopolis, which, with about 100,000 residents, is one of Sao Paulo s largest favelas, or slums.

As part of the project, Santos organizes runway shows, talks on fashion, and modeling workshops that include lessons on self-esteem, like the one these local teens -- mostly girls, but also a few boys -- are taking part in.

Pimenta, the menswear designer whose show inspired the project, is now its sponsor.

"Brazilian fashion will be stronger when everyone is included," Pimenta told AFP.

"Fashion can go anywhere, without regard to class or skin color. And inspiration can also come from unexpected places."

"I ve wanted to be a model since I was a little girl. And now, with this workshop, I m taking it seriously," said 16-year-old Gabriela Freitas, a tall, slender girl with large eyes and flowing hair that reaches her waist.

"I learned to improve my posture and how to walk on a runway. I never thought I would be able to do something like this, but now I see that yes, it s possible."

For other participants, the workshops are less about a future modeling career than the life skills they learn.

"I m black, I come from the slum. I live in Paraisopolis with my mom and my grandma and I know that everything will be harder for me," 19-year-old student Denisse Sena said matter-of-factly.

"All my steps to get ahead start from that situation, and this workshop is helping me develop myself better."

Like many of Brazil s favelas, Paraisopolis shows the country s contrasts: it is a violent, impoverished enclave surrounded by the wealthy district of Morumbi, a neighborhood of towering high-rises and glisteningshopping malls.

Two workshop participants already scored a modeling job with Pimenta, who had them photographed on the streets of Paraisopolis for a recent advertising campaign.

Brothers Anderson and Ebson Conceicao da Costa, 16 and 18 years old, were at the workshop with their sister when the designer discovered them.

"We learned and saw a lot of different things," said Ebson.

"If you re born in a place like Paraisopolis, you usually don t get those kinds of opportunities."Read more here:long evening dresses australia

In times of economic meltdown, you either go big or go home. The 20th anniversary edition of São Paulo fashion week kicked off yesterday with a show list bolstered by the absence of Fashion Rio, but brands in both cities are facing style and consumer transitions. Traditionally, Brazilians shop for luxury goods abroad. With the downfall of the country’s currency, the thinking is that consumers will shop more at home. It’s a scenario playing out on the runways, with designers stepping up their game to appeal to a high-end clientele.

Animale, the Rio label led by the young designer Vitorino Campos, put on one of the most anticipated shows of the year. Summery cuts and tailored pieces were predominant. The inspiration was a mid-century coastal town, with fishnet skirts and floral sets in tailored silks. A key silhouette was the all-white elongated vest or suit. The languid style provoked an immediate reaction in the first row and should be a hit of the season.

Designer Patricia Bonaldi showed her secondary line, PatBo. Her main collection is a success oversees, selling in more than 15 countries, but she prefers not to show it at fashion week. “With PatBo I can be more creative and try different things, as my client is so faithful and knows what she wants when buying Patricia Bonaldi,” explained the designer. Mod dresses and handmade 3-D flower prints dominated the ’60s-inspired collection. The color palette was vivid, with Yves Klein blue, orange, and soft pink playing off shades of white. The constructions were heavy yet playful. Bonaldi, who is known as an eveningwear specialist, seems eager to speak to a trendy, young consumer.Read more here:plus size formal dresses australia

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is putting its spin on spring at the 36th annual Hatsume Fair this weekend.

"We have a lot of freedom with this one. It's not tied to a traditional Japanese holiday," said Samantha Levine, the Morikami's marketing and events manager. "Every year we try to change things up a bit."

Premiering this year is the Sake Stage, a live culinary venue. Cooking and beverage presentations will cycle throughout the event. Sake specialist Midori Roth will teach sessions such as Sake 101 and A Day in the Life of a Sake Brewer.

Chef Roy Villacrusis will demonstrate the art of sushi. He's known for his unique style of Asiatic cuisine.

"It's my personal take on Asian ingredients. Not necessarily Asian food, but using Asian ingredients," Villacrusis said. The Jupiter-based chef will prepare sashimi with simple sauces that can be duplicated at home.

He will also be joining Roth and Shingo Kurito from Japan's Kizakura Brewery on the Sake Stage for a food and sake pairing panel.

"Sake is still up and coming. People are familiar with wine, so we'll explain and contrast it with wine for a better understanding about sake and how you'd pair it with different dishes," Villacrusis said.

At the Kirin Beer Garden and Sake Station, festival goers can sample Echigo craft beer and Dewatsuru Sakura Emaki Rose, a pink rose sake made with rare purple rice that gives it the essence of cherry blossoms.

Teetotalers will find outdoor tea demonstrations along with unique fare from Asian and American caterers. Vendors return with aisles of artisan wares.

Another new attraction are the character meet and greets with anime and pop culture figures. Karaoke debuts to share the Morikami's three stages with martial arts demonstrations and taiko drumming performances.

The weekend's highlight is its fashion show and costume contests. On Saturday, cosplay (costume play) rules the catwalk. Sunday, fashion categories such as Lolita, steampunk and Morikami-inspired styles compete.

"It's less about characters and more about people wearing their interpretations of Japanese street fashion, which is huge in Tokyo," Levine said. "People really get into it and ham it up."

Even those who don't dress up enjoy seeing what others are wearing, she added. And for the museum, it has been able to reach the elusive teenage demographic.

"At the end of the day, it's about building awareness of Japanese culture," Levine said.Read more here:MarieAustralia formal dresses perth

For him clothes are like white canvas, where he portrays his love for art which he has developed and treasured since his childhood. Designer Rajdeep Ranawat, who will be showcasing his spring/summer 2015 collection ‘Sketches of the Orient’ at the India Runway Week this weekend, has imbibed his designing sensibilities for the collection from the oriental culture and has fused it with baroque look.

“The collection has oriental flowers like peony and cherry blossom, which have been in-twined with baroque architectural motifs, says the designer who will be showcasing the contemporary collection on the second day of IIFD India Runway Week.

The collection will introduce the new vision of contemporary aesthetics and will bring together the unusual multicolored prints and fabrics. “For summers, I have tried to keep the silhouettes very simple yet very contemporary in their feel by doing placement art work of prints and creative use of Japanese architectural line art. Moreover lots of graphics have been engineered to the pattern of the garment,” says the designer.

Rajdeep is famous for his sensible use of English colours. Keeping the legacy alive, the colour story of the collection will revolve around softer tones with shades of white, peach and blush. The shades and cuts will be very bohemian and comfortable.

When it comes to summer dressing, selection of correct fabric is inevitable for Rajdeep. As he says, “comfort is a combination of fabric and cuts, and we as a label strive for best in both the terms. Take the example of our current collection where we have used sheer georgette and crape. Modernity and sporty look has been added to the collection which can be clubbed with matching printed jeggings and treggings.”

The collection on runway will start with western and younger look and gradually it will go down to more sophisticated dressing dedicated to resort wedding and will conclude with radiant embroidery collection which has been designed for resort wedding or Indian brides for summer. “Lovely pastel shades of mint, sage, peach and ivory will be very prominent in bridal wear along with anarkalis that will be clubbed with net jackets. And the showstopper outfit will be the epitome of Indian bride with a lehanga depicting the signature style of bridal wear that the label offers,” reveals Rajdeep.

The collection will be an amalgamation of three elements or category. “We will be combining the affordable prêt and ready-to-wear, luxury and bridal wear, so that every genre of customer can relate to it and can choose his statement piece for the season.”

The collection will also see a glimpse of men’s’ line which he will be launching later this year. He muses, “this time, men will be majorly used a prop, but later this year we will be launching an exclusive range of men’s wear which will be again Rajdeep’s signature style.”

Rajdeep who is looking forward to diversify the label later this year and at the beginning of next year says, “Soon we are going to launch the men’s wear collection and an extended range of home furnishing too. And most probably by the beginning of next year we will be landing in kids wear too.”Read more here:unique formal dresses