By Dave Graham

BERLIN (Reuters Life!) - A car expert says he has tracked down Hitler's favorite Mercedes to a garage near the town that helped the Austrian-born Fuehrer become a German citizen.

Classic cars specialist Michael Froehlich said he found the bullet-proof touring car after charting its postwar travels from Austria to Las Vegas and back to Munich, where Hitler burst onto the political scene with a failed putsch in 1923.

"It was the best car in the world at the time. Better than the Bugatti, Bentley, Rolls Royce or whatever," Froehlich told Reuters from his office in Duesseldorf. "It was his favorite car: the one he used most often, which he used for parades."

After being commissioned by a Cypriot buyer to find the vehicle, Froehlich discovered it had been bought by a farmer near Braunschweig, where in 1932 local Nazi officials got Hitler a civil servant's job so he could claim citizenship.

"I thought it was an interesting job, but on the other hand I wasn't too thrilled, because my parents and grandparents suffered greatly under his regime," Froehlich said of the commission.

The dark blue car, which Froehlich said had spent decades in the basement of the Imperial Palace Casino in Las Vegas, was recently sold by the heirs of a Munich brewing tycoon before he traced it "in under two months" to northern Germany.

Froehlich said reports the buyer was Russian were mistaken, and rejected the notion that past owners of the vehicle with the number plate "1A 148 461" were admirers of the dictator.

"They weren't Nazis from what I can see, I think it's something they saw as a business investment," he said. "I can well imagine that an old Hitler banger has a certain value."

Froehlich declined to name the car's price tag, or give details about the buyer, but said the 1935 edition custom-made vehicle could fetch "more than 10 million euros ($14.91 million)."

Though he had not yet had outside confirmation of the car's authenticity, the owner's paperwork left no doubt, he added.

"The Mercedes sales register shows this 770 K model was ordered for the Fuehrer and Chancellor of the Reich in 1935," he said.

Only 88 of the series were ever made and the Braunschweig car showed all the special modifications made for Hitler, who had to be driven because he had no "Fuehrerschein" -- a German word made up from "driver" and "license" -- Froehlich said.

"He was a Fuehrer without Fuehrerschein," he said.

Maybe this season's designers have something to teach Wall Street. Unlike economists and politicians, far from gloom mongering, designers are thinking less about the world catching America's financial cold, and more about making women feel inspired and strong enough to withstand the pressures.

The mood in Paris, while more sombre than usual for spring summer, is confidant and focused on longevity. These are clothes that fortify, cheer up, and are not going anywhere without a fight.

Givenchy's Gothic glamazons look ready to take on the world in latticed bodices and leather patched denim. Balenciaga's armour-like foil jackets and rubber trousers look ready for lunar landing. McQueen's sculpted leather corsets, carved silhouettes and crystal embroidered all-in-ones look invincible. Positive thinking comes in the form of power and protection.

Maybe it is not a coincidence that elements of Eighties and Nineties power dressing have surfaced. And while we have seen references to Alaia-esque cinched silhouettes in previous seasons, far from cheery florals, summer looks to be a season of rigorous tailoring, exposed zips, leather bodices and broad, padded shoulders.

At Christian Lacroix, there was no wading around in uncertainty or worry. Bright prints looked cheerful and little dizzy rather than sweet. Ruffles were moved to the back of the dresses and jackets and shoes. Matador-like trousers and cropped jackets embellished with pieces of mirror like embroidery look fierce and regal. Giambattista Valli offered pure escape in the form of Fifties hoop skirts in natural white and pale yellow prints, and his signature finale of voluminous ball gowns.

Layers of transparency, cut-outs, mesh and fringing are all big trends for spring/summer 2009. The parallels here seems obvious; aside from the need for lighter-weight clothes in summer, the work with layers of transparency reflects the feeling of precariousness and the need for more market transparency. Far from delicate, sheer layers are architectural and show the structure of the body.

The multifunctional all-in-one has been seen everywhere and in some interesting applications, including a sequin-covered evening dress/trouser hybrid at YSL, Stella McCartney's blush coloured silky all-in-ones and short shorts at Vanessa Bruno.

Instead of waiting for the penny to drop, quite literally, designers are being proactive and hopeful, and at the very least offering inspiration and protection.

Maybe this is a more constructive approach for those in finance. Clearly, there is much work to be done to right the markets, but when consumer confidence and the collective mood has immediate implications, maybe Wall Street should also focus on inspiration and protection.

THE riddle for finding the ultimate party dress has been solved. Just in time for Christmas comes the reintroduction of the ruffle shoulder dress from Poltock & Walsh.

"Due to unbelievable demand we have brought back the ruffle shoulder dress from spring/summer 2009 in a hue of nightshade blue with smoky blue ruffles," explains Katie Walsh, one half of the London-based label alongside Fiamma Poltock. "We love these colours, they are so effortless yet chic. And it's such an easy dress to throw on and feel pretty" - exemplified by Alexa Chung earlier this year when she wore a pearl-hued version of the dress to the Glamour Women of the Year Awards.

The dress will be available, made to order, for two weeks only from this Thursday at the Poltock & Walsh pop-up shop at Amwell Street's Trypolar concept store.

And if that's not reason enough to pay the shop a visit, the fact that there will be 50 per cent off the label's autumn/winter 2009-10 collection - which promptly made its way into the wardrobe of Kate Moss who bought 6 pieces - and that Katie Walsh will be on hand to impart her design wisdom, surely is.

The dress is priced at £448, available in sizes 6 to 14 from 57 Amwell Street or studio@poltockandwalsh.com. Open from 10.30 to 8pm on Thursday November 26 and 10.30 to 7pm from Monday to Saturday. The Poltock & Walsh pop-up shop will close on December 12.

EVER since Balmain went mad for military influences two seasons ago (in fashion terms, we're talking autumn/winter 2009-10), its presence has been felt - from epaulettes to shoulder pads and Cheryl Cole's X Factor outfits, even - and now is your chance to get in on some of the authentic action. Angels, the famous costumiers, is holding its very own uniforms sale.

Following on from the success of last year's first public sale, the Oscar-winning wardrobe supplier is once again opening its doors, this time to sell over 250,000 items dating from 1900 onwards.

Pieces from the likes of The Great Escape, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers will be up for grabs - displayed over three large rooms.

There will be an admission charge of £5 per person with a fixed rate for items - £20 for all coats and helmets and £10 for caps among them.

The sale takes place on November 28 from 8.30am to 5pm at 3 Boundary Road, Wembley, HA9 7ND.

MOST women in their late Thirties or early Forties would not relish getting naked in the same studio as a supermodel, but the issue is less problematic if you are a supermodel yourself. Claudia Schiffer has spoken about her naked cover shoot for i-D

magazine, alongside fellow models Eva Herzigova and Helena Christensen and has asserted it wasn't difficult.

"A great photographer doesn't stop you or give you boundaries," the 39-year-old supermodel said of the shoot with photographer Kayt Jones. "It's about flow and chemistry - you just go together like a wave," the News of the World reported.

The cover sees the trio pictured nude wearing only thigh-high leather boots - and it is not the first time they have been naked together lately. Two of the three - Herzigova and Schiffer - happily bared all earlier in the year along with Naomi Campbell, after much persuasion by photographer Mario Testino, for a shoot for the new Dolce & Gabbana fragrance collection (read the full story - and see the video here).

WHEN rumours start - like for example that Louis Vuitton favourite Madonna is to be the next Dolce & Gabbana campaign star - there is only one place to go for a confirmation: Twitter. Stefano Gabbana himself has Tweeted that the Material Girl will be the brand's next face and the designer is delighted with the images.

"The campaign with Madonna is beautiful (4 me)," Gabbana Tweeted yesterday, before adding, "I can't say anything about [it]!!!"

The designer, who happily Tweets on any subject - from lunch with Anna Wintour to his love of plastic, couldn't resist Tweeting throughout the shoot.

"On the shooting with Domenico......We are at the last shot...M [Madonna] is simply beautiful...We're very, very tired but very happy as well....To have Madonna in our campaign is a dream come true."

SEE THE DOLCE & GABBANA CATWALK ARCHIVE

IT'S never been easier to warm your neck - and your heart - thanks to Tonic (the feel-good/do-good website) and Citta (a non-profit dedicated to providing assistance to marginalised or indigenous communities). The two organizations have joined forces to create a limited edition pashmina scarf, designed by Lucy Barnes and hand-knitted by members of the Citta Himalaya Women's Centre in Nepal, with proceeds funding the new Citta Jaisalmer Women's Centre in Rajasthan, India, which will provide local women access to classes on health, hygiene and nutrition for themselves and their families.

Even more heart-warming: Thandie Newton, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, David Byrne, Susan Sarandon and other notables who have changed the world with their words were asked to select a word that holds special meaning in their lives, and the Nepalese seamstresses embroidered the chosen words onto each scarf in Sanskrit, allowing them to learn a valuable new skill they can use to fund their independence - and allowing the wearer to snuggle up in a scarf declaring their "strength" (chosen by Queen Latifah), "resolve" (Sting) and ability to "surrender" (Thandie Newton).

"I'm hoping that Citta can work with more designers to help them make exquisite, unusual products and also provide a way for very poor communities to make a fair living, have access to basic health care and educate their children," Lucy Barnes told VOGUE.COM. "I think this is also very important to the consumer - that production be ethical and environmentally sensitive throughout the whole process, from sketch to finished design in the store. If we demand it, en masse, it will happen."

The scarf, available exclusively at www.tonic.com, will retail for $100 and will help 100 women in need

THE London Evening Standard has unveiled its third edition of The 1000; an annual publication celebrating the 1000 people most responsible for shaping and changing London. As always, the fashion industry's key players figure prominently, with Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman ranking within the city's most influential figures.

Also ranking highly in the list are designers Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Sir Paul Smith and Burberry's Christopher Bailey. New additions this year include Tom Chapman, who founded Matches with his wife over 20 years ago; Christopher Kane; Harvey Nichols buying director Averyl Oates; shoe designer and VOGUE.COM blogger Rupert Sanderson; designer Erdem Moralioglu; new Halston helmer Marios Schwab - as well as models Lily Donaldson and Naomi Campbell.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR PICK OF FASHION'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE

IT'S one of those quests that is not easily satisfied - where to find a great wedge heel boot? Seems that the wedge, although dominant last year, has stayed in women's minds as something highly comfortable and practical to raise height and remain chic in winter months.

Dermatology guru Dr Frances Prenna Jones has been searching and Samantha Cameron also confides she's been on the hunt too. Now if her uptake is as anywhere near as influential as that Zara shoe, then that's a sure run of sales.

Here some clues: consider a crepe sole - hard wearing and has bounce, as seen at Burberry; black looks great from knee to heel - a sold architectural piece - try Chanel for a blow out; brown suede looks divine with an autumn/winter country mood - a cord jacket and pale jeans topped with a Maison Michel fedora.

SEE THE BEST WEDGE BOOTS OF THE SEASON

“The first Gap item I bought was with my first-ever paycheck,” Ugly Betty’s Becki Newton remembers. “I was scooping ice cream at Carvel, and when I got my paycheck, I went to the Gap and bought a black dress with little sleeves and white flowers on it.” While she’s come a long way from Carvel, the actress still supports the all-American brand; she was among the revelers last night at the Nylon-hosted launch party for Gap’s 1969 Jeans Shop in New York. The bilevel store—the retailer’s first in Soho and a permanent version of the 1969 Jeans pop-up shop in L.A.—was packed to the gills, and the crowd was in a shopping mood. (The party featured 30 percent off the entire collection, with a percentage going to Feeding America.) Emmy Rossum had a chance to stock up on scarves and admire the costume jewelry before the band TV/TV took the stage for a live set. Upstairs, Robert Verdi was more in the 1969 mind-set. “I was 1 in ‘69,” the stylist mused about the retailer’s founding year. “Which means that number also marked my fashion debut.” We guess fashion plates are born, not made.
—Bee-Shyuan Chang

Speaking as someone who likes a bit of boy-ness in my wardrobe, I’m always pleased when menswear favorites go femme. Think the boyfriend jacket, the boyfriend jean, and now the boyfriend shoe. The Generic Man’s Brandon Day and Kevin Carney kept hearing that the ladies loved the kicks they made for dudes, so they decided to produce identical styles on a women’s last. Now in their second season, they’re jazzing them up a bit more, offering feminine tweaks like patent piping and Pop colors like yellow and purple that you won’t find in the men’s range. Works for me. I may like boy style, but as a wise woman once sang, I enjoy being a girl.

$290 to $365, available at Bird, shopbird.com, and Stuart & Wright, stuartandwright.com, both in Brooklyn.

New Delhi, (BollywoodWorld.com) Known for her ethnic Indian wear, the iconic Ritu Kumar has been around in the fashion industry for 40 years. Yet she has not designed for any mainstream Bollywood movie, the reason being she has neither the time nor the patience.

“The way things are in Bollywood, I don’t think I have the time and patience for all that,” Delhi-based Ritu Kumar told IANS in an interview.

“For a typical Hindi movie, you have to be on the sets all the time. There are last-minute changes or else the director or the actors are not happy with their costume and you have to change it then and there only. I don’t have time for all that,” she said.

In her 60s, Ritu Kumar has been associated with artisans from Bhuj in Gujarat for a long time and is known for her designs in India and abroad.

Even though she has designed for her son Ashvin Kumar’s film “Little Terrorist”, which was also nominated for the 2004 Academy Awards and her cousin Deepa Mehta’s “Bollywood Hollywood”, she says they were different types of films.

“For these movies, we did our homework and research and I didn’t have to be on the sets all the time. The concept was given to me and the characters were discussed in advance. So it was easy and convenient for me to design for them unlike for a regular Bollywood movie,” explained Ritu Kumar.

However, she doesn’t rule out the possibility of working in a period film.

“I would very much like to do a period film and that would require a lot of research to design for the characters of the movie. I don’t want to look like a fool after designing for it,” said Ritu Kumar.

“I have no problems in doing extensive research for the characters of the period film but devoting an entire day on the sets is out of question as I have to look after my label also,” she said.

Pakistan: Fashion Week fascinates Karachiites, Fashion Week Pakistan continued with full glamour and lights on its second day in Karachi. Countries’ top models displayed bright dresses by top fashion designers.
Thirty famous designers from across the country are participating in Fashion Week Pakistan which continues in Karachi. The event aims at highlighting Pakistani culture and local dresses and to get attention in international market. Miami International Fashion Week and Croatian Fashion Week Dubai will choose one Pakistani designer each for their events. This will help introducing Pakistani fashion on international scale. Event organizers said that event was a big success in current law and order situation in the country. They hoped that this event would prove to be a milestone for fashion industry in Pakistan. Tomorrow will be the last day of event.

Unlike hair trends and clothing trends, sunglasses trends seldom undergo any major change and flux. Looking back on the last 5 years, it's really only the re-emergence of oversized sunglasses which have caused the biggest whisk.

Retro look is expected to generate tremendous response from those who observe fashion from close quarters. In fact, the style gurus are predicting a revival of sorts for designer sunglasses this year. The latest trends in sunglasses are already indicating a spurt in demand for the 70s, 80s, and 90s look. The John Lennon round sunglasses are, in particular, the latest trend.

Next to finding jeans that make your butt look perky, shopping for sunglasses is undoubtedly one of the biggest chores on your to-do list for all seasons. You can’t live without a pair of fetching sunglasses frames especially on days when you don’t want to bother with eye makeup.

It is currently said that, in today's fashion conscious world, a woman cannot have just one pair of sunglasses. Rather, she needs an entire sunglasses wardrobe so that her sunglasses aren’t out of step with her clothing choice for the day.

Sunglasses don’t undergo changes as much as the rest of the accessories but it still is a must have accessory!

Belts are considered male accessories by definition. However fashion is more or less defying that definition. Belts are as much becoming a female accessory; in fact belts are becoming quite the fashion trend.

Belt is the easiest way to incorporate fashion in your most boring dress. However be careful about where you place your fashion belt in your dress. A skinny belt on a full body is a fashion blooper. Make sure your belt is well placed and is an effective fashion accessory. Invest in a good belt that will go with a few dresses and will not wear out quick. Fashion can be economical too. Your first belt should be basic so you can adjust to your new fashion accessory.

Fashion statement is best made with belts on the waist this season, so give it a shot. If your belt is right it will not only compliment your figure but give your dress the right fashion look.

Buckle up your waist with a belt; and strike a fashion pose this season.

Trends change very often, that is why; it is so much fun keeping up with trends. Trends change to surprise you, trends give you reason to experiment even. Trends feed our basic need for change. Bags are an important trend target. Trends for bags change so often that we are never out of an excuse to buy yet another bag.

Ongoing trend for bags gives you reason to change your bag day and night. However what is best about this trend is that you can finally use that bag you used once and never got the chance to use again. The bag that you liked so much but couldn’t buy because you didn’t have a matching outfit go buy it. This new trend lets you use any bag you want till it shines. Radical bags, bold bags, shiny bags, glittery bags; red bag with purple outfit is the trend. Any size, any shape you want till your bag shines and till it’s a bold color you are right with the trend. Insignificant bags are taking the backseat for now at least.

Matching shoes with matching bag is the safe philosophy, rebel and let your bag speak loud and bold and shiny

VERSACE is set to cut 25 per cent of its workforce, around 350 jobs, as part of a restructuring plan initiated by the brand's new chief executive officer Gian Giacomo Ferraris. The strategy aims to streamline all aspects of the Versace business, returning it to profitability in 2011.

Ferraris has targeted "non-core" areas of the brand, such as logistics, insisting that such areas can be outsourced at better prices without compromising on quality. Most of the redundancies will be in the Milan head office although there will also be losses at several Italian-based factories.

Ferraris assured WWD that he plays no part in the creative process, but did confess he advised Donatella Versace to ramp up the brand's heritage of sexiness, prints and colour in her spring/summer 2010 offering - which she duly did (see the evidence here).

The job cuts follow Versace's withdrawal from Japan earlier this month (read the full story here), although the company insists that the rest of its 85 standalone stores will remain open. Versace follows brands including Burberry, Cartier and Swarovski in making layoffs due to the recession. Chanel also cut 200 jobs earlier this year as part of a similar consolidation measure.

Stoneage is one of the well-liked Fashion brands of Asia, and was established in 2006. In such short span of time, it has gained a remarkable recognition and is becoming an entity of Fashion Crescent in the Asia.

The utmost reason for such success is that Stoneage has maintained a standard quality in its production. The excellence in designs, fabric and other materials use under this brand name is the proof of its sensation. Besides them the effective and huge media campaigns always gives this brand a fresh boost.

Recently Stoneage has launched another classic anthology of some garments, wallets, and other accessories etc. this Stoneage Fashion campaign is for October 2009. The outstanding jeans, shirts, scarf, glasses, and some leather products provides you the total Stoneage looks; from head to toe.

So enjoy the latest & eye-catchy collection of the Fashion brand Stoneage, to give you a stunning and sleek look.

Fashion Potpourri,

The third day of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) witnessed a flurry of passes raw by participating designers. Sanchita, Namrata Joshipura, Manish Gupta, Vineet Bahl, Sanskar by Sonam Dubal, Pashma, Vineet Bahl, Little Shop of Jason and Anshu Antonio and Varun Bahl – all you need to offer a commercial for the track – stylish, well finished and clothing design for sale. Sanchita showed a collection of perfectly finished creations. Black linen dresses, tops blue shirt with dhoti pants, satin dresses Jersey Combo teal, et al shone forth. Namrata Joshipura well done collection of stylish clothing consisted of dresses, sequined tops, dresses and gold net ‘dome of jackets and skirts. Collection of Sonal Dubal had white sun dresses, pleated dresses, sequined pants and dresses embroidered with white flowers Chanderi patch. Another label that never fails to the audience is small shop and this time also had some offers most stylish of the ramp. While Vineet Bahl lineup included silk tulle tops with appliqués medallion, draft silk chiffon dresses and georgette caftan dresses and Manish Gupta offers a variety of textures and styles outside of whites. Varun Bahl collection was very pretty, feminine and relaxed in its appeal. The creations seemed comfortable and yet he had an attractive sexy. The designer played with layers of sequins and networks to make their elegant and very wearable clothes. Pashma was another label that there were some interesting differences in silk clothes, cashmere and linen – the creations were very well done. Earlier in the day, in two different shows, some young designers submitted designs. Lot, design duo and Gaurav ritika had the additional advantage that is needed to move them forward in their creative path. Joy Mitra had some interesting pieces in his collection too. Jai Parvesh should move away from its unsuccessful effort to be spicy and start doing something that is pleasing to the eye. His ill-equipped bathing suits, I thought, can only be harmful to the user, especially when exiting the water. Users who looked AM-PM by Ankur and Priyanka Modi, Nikhita Tandon, Nimirta Lalwani, Raman Vij, Umesh Vashisht and Preeti S Kapoor. The third day also ended with a promissory note.

Tue Oct 20, 2009

TOKYO (Reuters Life!) - Move over Michelle Obama. There's a new first lady turning heads in the fashion world: the Japanese prime minister's wife, Miyuki Hatoyama, has been voted one of the nation's best looking women celebrities in jeans.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's 66-year-old wife won the "Best Jeanist" award for wearing jeans "in a classy but innovative style," according to the Japan Jeans Association.
"Thank you. I've been long aware of this award and wished I would win it someday thinking 'I'm also a jeans lover.' So, I'm very grateful for giving me this honorable award today," Miyuki said after winning the award at the Japan Fashion Week.
The prize is offered to celebrities who best represent what the organizers call the "spirit of jeans."
Defining the winner as pioneering, strong, environmental and energetic, a panel of judges said the first lady wore jeans in a neat and innovative way that was appropriate for the aggressive nature of jeans.
The new Japanese first lady has made headlines in the past for tales of her alien encounters: in a book published last year, she wrote about an extraterrestrial experience some 20 years ago when she said her soul rode on a triangular-shaped UFO and went to Venus while her body was asleep.
Miyuki, also known for her culinary skills, spent six years acting in the Takarazuka Revue, an all-female musical theater group. She met the U.S.-educated Yukio while living in America.