IN the 47th annual production of the Ebony Fashion Fair, the elegance and panache that have come to be synonymous with the show again will be highlighted during its dramatic debut on September 8 in Tinley Park, III.

Fashion-conscious attendees around the country will witness a unique display of stylish, colorful and appealing attire for women and men. This year's theme, "Living It Up" directs the focus on the one-of-a-kind, spectacular collection of apparel that is featured in the world's premier traveling show, which will include stops in 176 cities by the time it ends on May 15 in Montreal, Canada.

The often-cited, award-winning show features the designs that were selected by the show's producer, Mrs. Eunice W. Johnson, wife of EBONY Publisher John H. Johnson. Included among the designs are those of internationally famous fashion designers, some of whom are African-Americans. The show also highlights items from the collections of the top fashion houses in the United States and Europe.

Noted nonprofit groups sponsor the fashion show in each city, and the following are the chairpersons who help to coordinate the shows in their respective areas.

The Fashion Institute of Technology has appointed three new members to the industry advisory board of its graduate program in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management.

The new appointments are Stephen Mormoris, senior vice president of marketing for Coty Beauty; Catherine Walsh, senior vice president of American Fragrances for Coty Prestige and Laurie Palma, senior vice president of fragrance and Internet marketing for Chanel. Mormoris and Walsh will share the Coty board seat.

When Kalim went to school in the Indian state of Bihar, many in his small town could barely afford proper clothing, let alone worry about being fashionable. But he dreamed of striking patterns and flashy colors, even doctoring his drab school uniform. Despite initial resistance from his orthodox Muslim parents, he attended the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Hyderabad. Last year Kalim, 25, won in a TV reality show called "Lakme Fashion House," created to spot India's top talent, for his elaborate designs in green, gold and turquoise brocade. He won praise from judge Donatella Versace, as well as a six-month internship at her house in Milan. With his clothes already on sale in Dubai and India, Kalim now has his sights set on London and New York. "I am sure my outfits will be very popular overseas, since they have a nice blend of Indian and ...

NEW YORK -- Oscar de la Renta, Kenneth Cole, Perry Ellis, and ... George? Wal-Mart staked its claim among high-end fashion designers earlier this month during New York's Fashion Week by showing off its hottest fall juniors' apparel at a Times Square fashion show. The show, which was also sponsored by top teen fashion magazine ELLEgirl and television show "America's Next Top Model," is the latest effort in Wal-Mart's effort to revamp its image.

"This show is meant to share with our customers and the community at large what's new, fun and in stores," said Celia Clancy, Wal-Mart's vp of product development. "It's just one spoke in the wheel of our strategy in terms of being relevant and fresh with our consumer."

Wal-Mart also just launched a fall ad campaign in this month's Vogue, signed a multiyear music deal with country crooner Garth Brooks that might include exclusive products and teamed up with pop group Destiny's Child for a holiday promotion. In addition, Wal-Mart will launch an exclusive ELLEgirl shoe line, called Dare2B. The shoes will debut with seven styles in 300 stores this month and expand to 500 stores in November. And the retailer isn't just stopping there, said Raol Vazquez, vp of marketing for Walmart.com.

Fall is taking a muted approach for 2006, playing off the neutral colors popular this spring: dark blues, greens, blacks and heather greys are combining with power suits, sweater dresses and dramatic outerwear for next season's fashion. Based on attendance at New York Fashion Week and at the MAGIC show, here are some key trends for women's wear for fall 2006, broken down by category:

* Outerwear: Capes, capelets, hooded trench coats and toggle coats were seen on the runways of designers like Marc Jacobs, Derek Lam, Lacoste, Tuleh and Cloak. At MAGIC, long, wool jackets and pea coats with exaggerated collars were seen in nearly every fashion show. Blazers made out of velvet and corduroy also made prominent appearances.

* Ready-to-wear: Sweater dresses, both at MAGIC and at FashionWeek, were huge. The runways of BCBG, Lacoste, Y-3, Michael Kors and others all had their own interpretation of this piece, which seems to be taking over where last year's wrap dress left off. Vests and power suits (minus the giant shoulder pads) were also key items on the runway.

MAGIC had its own touches of elegance at its show: one of its fashion shows ended with an eveningwear segment, and dress designer Badgley Mischka had a booth for the first time at MAGIC this year.
Bubble skirts made appearances again oil the Calvin Klein, Doo Ri, Twinkle and United Bamboo runways. Not many of these skirts appeared at MAGIC; instead, some vendors seem to be trying to reinvent the bohemian peasant skirt that has been popular in seasons past.

Fashion is finally moving back to age-appropriate dressing, and the youth contemporary section of MAGIC had its own inspiration: the rock rebel culture. Denim mini skirts, off-the-shoulder slouchy shirts and embellished, tattoo-inspired tops pervaded the collection of contemporary offerings, at booths ranging from Everlast to Free People.

* Details and silhouettes: In the youth sector, some hardware (in the form of studs) and embellishment (in the form of embroidery) is still being seen on denim pieces like jackets and pants. Fur as accents on outerwear, or as an entire jacket, loomed even larger this year than in the past. MAGIC showed several fur outerwear pieces on its runways, and traditionally all-denim companies, like Silver Jeans, introduced fur-trimmed bomber ski jackets in an attempt to cash in on this style.

On the runway, plaids, chevron detailing and Asian-inspired looks were also important. Low-rise paints are being replaced with high-waisted ones, as seen at the Calvin Klein, Zac Posen and Richard Chai shows.

* Accessories: Leggings and stovepipe cigarette pants will be important in both the teen and women's markets. Cropped leggings were spotted at the Pepe Jeans booth at MAGIC and on the runways of nearly every designer this season.

Look for small and square sunglasses to replace this season's bug-eyed look. Chain handles will bc the latest look for handbags. Hats will be hot this season again too, ranging in style from berets, to newsboy caps to floppy chapeaus.

FOR 48 incredible years, the Ebony Fashion Fair has enjoyed the distinction of being the world's premier traveling fashion show, exhibiting the elegance and flair that have been celebrated and applauded by millions. And that tradition continues when the show makes this year's dramatic debut on September 7 in Tinley Park, III.

The 48th annual show, which again will feature a unique display of colorful, stylish and cutting-edge attire for women and men, will travel under the theme, "Fit To Be Fabulous," and the tour will include stops in 179 cities by the time it ends on May 19 in Toronto, Canada.

The spectacular collection of apparel featured in the award-winning show includes designs that were selected by the show's producer, Mrs. Eunice W. Johnson, wife of EBONY Publisher John H. Johnson. Included among the designs are those of internationally famous fashion designers, some of whom are African-Americans. The show also highlights items from the collections of the top fashion houses in the U.S. and Europe.

Noted nonprofit groups sponsor the fashion show in each city, and the following are the chairpersons who help to coordinate the shows in their respective areas.

IF YOU WATCH the fashion pages, you already know that last year's must-have item was designer Roland Mouret's "Galaxy" dress, the curve-accentuating retro number in which Scarlett Johansson strode down the red carpet at the 2005 Oscars. Thanks to a thriving knock-off industry, today you can stroll into the U.K.'s TopShop or browse eBay for bargain copies so close that even Edith Head would have trouble telling the difference.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America is hoping a new proposal to extend copyright protection to clothing designs will compel the most blatant borrowers to, well, knock it off.

Traditionally, fashion has been exempt from American copyright laws, on the grounds that clothing is primarily a functional rather than creative good. The Design Piracy Prohibition Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) would change that, creating a limited three-year term of protection for original clothing designs. Instead of working under the traditional copyright framework, where terms are far longer, the bill would amend a statute granting similar short-term protection to boat hull designs.

Southern Methodist University law professor Susan Scafidi regards the proposal as a "creative and self restrained effort to correct a cultural imbalance": the exclusion of fashion from America's intellectual property rubric--an exclusion, Scafidi argues, that's partly rooted in the fact that fashion has historically been "gendered female, considered a craft and not an art." Meanwhile, the fact that the fashion industry has remained so vibrant for so long has led many to wonder whether the law governing books and movies should look more like the law governing fashion, rather than the other way around.

If you're feeling a little drab with your outfits, don't worry. Whether you're planning a family outing, attending a formal party or dinner, or just going out for a night on the town, you can spruce up any of your outfits with stylish fashion jewelry. Don't spend more money on new clothes - accessorize the outfits you already have with lovely fashion jewelry. Here are some great tips to help you achieve the look and feel you want with almost any outfit.

Fashion Jewelry Necklaces - Slender the Neckline

Necklaces can enhance the look of your shirt, sweater or dress by adding color, brightness and beauty. You can even make your neck and upper body appear thinner by wearing certain types of necklaces. For example, if you have a solid colored shirt or dress with a rounded neckline, wear a necklace of medium length that hangs in a V-shape. The V-shape will make the neckline appear narrow and will also draw attention away from the arms and shoulders. For a larger person with broad shoulders, this is a thrilling discovery! It's the easiest weight-loss program around!

For shirts or dresses with a V-shaped neckline, a medium to short necklace that's more rounded looks nice. Again, wearing opposites near the neck draws attention away from other areas, so a slender look is achieved once more. The type of slide you choose also makes a difference. Use a slide that matches or complements your outfit, but choose the size and shape carefully. Fashion jewelry necklaces and slides look different on everyone depending on the person’s neckline size and body shape. Even the shape of the face should be considered.

Some types of fashion jewelry necklaces include beads, pearls, diamonds, chains (rope or regular), twist, multi-chain, braided, etc. There are also many themes to choose from in slides, including animals and nature, elegant designs, bead assortments and more.

Bracelets and Earrings

Once you find a necklace, choose a bracelet and earrings to complement the necklace. Or, you can buy all of these in a set. Bracelets help make your ensemble complete. Earrings help bring attention to your face and away from your upper body and shoulders. Some earrings shine and glisten while others are plain and simple. Either way, they make great additions to your apparel.

Traditionally, the standard for pearl jewelry has been to use white or near-white cultured pearls, freshwater pearls, or natural pearls that are perfectly round. The white, round beauties have been treasured because, in the world of pearl jewelry, they are rare. Increasingly, however, women are appreciating the uniqueness and versatility of pearls in a variety of shapes and colors - just as nature makes them. If you've always thought of pearls as white and round, it's time to think again.

Pearl Shapes

Round - Traditional round cultured pearls are often used for pearl bridal jewelry, the traditional pearl necklace, and other cultured pearl jewelry, like pearl stud earrings.

Rice - Rice pearls are small and shaped irregularly, and have crinkled surfaces.

Potato - As its name implies, potato-shaped cultured pearls have irregular oblong shapes.

Oval - Shaped like an egg, these saltwater or freshwater pearls are usually white.

Mabe - This pearl is flat on one side, giving it a dome shape.

Keshi - Also known as poppy seed pearls, these are tiny freshwater pearls.

Button - This round freshwater pearl is flat on one side.

Coin - Like the button pearl, except it is flat on both sides.

Baroque - These freshwater pearls are completely free form, having no pre-determined shape.

Circle - Also called the ring pearl, this saltwater pearl has concave, concentric lines.

Pearl Colors

Freshwater pearls, which are often used for fashion pearl jewelry, grow in virtually every color of the rainbow. They are an affordable - though no less beautiful - alternative to traditional white, round saltwater Akoya pearls. Black Tahitian pearls, which are also saltwater cultured pearls, have overtones of peacock and silver and are most often have semi-round, baroque, and circle shapes.

Pearl Fashion Jewelry - What's Hot Now

Freshwater pearl jewelry offers women an incredible variety of accessory options. This season, look for multi-strand keshi (seed) pearl necklaces that combine different colored pearls, such as pink, peach, hazel, and brown for a stunning fashion statement. For formal occasions, multi-strand necklaces featuring a single color of keshi pearls - such as gray or black - are the perfect accessories.

Black Tahitian pearl bracelets and shimmering oval freshwater pearl bracelets are adorning the wrists of fashionistas this season, while brides are selecting classic Akoya pearl stud earrings as well as fashion forward freshwater pearl wedding jewelry that incorporates light pink or golden pearls.

Do you have a passion for fashion? Do you like to keep up to date with the latest trends? If so then you probably spend a large bulk of your monthly income unnecessarily. Yes I did say unnecessarily. What you are probably unaware of is the fact that you can keep up to date with the latest fashion trends without having to spend vast amounts of cash. How? The answer is high street fashion wholesalers.

High street fashion wholesalers supply all the leading brands and designs but at a fraction of the cost. You may wonder how they can afford to do this and the answer is that the majority of high street fashion wholesalers purchase their items at such low prices that they can afford to sell them cheap and still make a profit. You can find high street fashion wholesalers by doing a quick internet search. There are literally hundreds of them so shop around and compare their prices so you get the best bargains.

Have you ever browsed through the listings on Ebay? If so then you are fully aware of the great deals you can get on designer labels and high street fashions. You may think that the sellers of these items are crazy or even stupid, but the fact of the matter is that even though they are selling their fashions for such low prices they still make extremely good profits.

These high street fashion wholesalers are members of an elite group. They have listed of wholesalers where they can purchase their goods for ridiculously low prices. It’s not only clothing, they can purchase any item they like. You’ve seen it for yourself on Ebay and other auction websites. The high street fashions that they offer are legitimate items with the quality you expect, the only difference is that the prices of these items are much lower than what you are used to paying.

If keeping up with high street fashions is draining your bank account, then maybe it’s time to do something about it. If you purchase your high street fashions from wholesalers then you are taking the first step to revitalizing your bank balance and keeping up with the fashion world at the same time. You can also learn the secrets of high street fashion wholesalers by joining this elite group and who knows maybe you too could become one.

Most Vegan women like myself dread of the thought that over 35 million beautiful, intelligent animals are killed just for their fur or leather on their backs (and that’s only the wintertime!), but that doesn’t stop us from being every bit as stylish as our carnivorous counterparts. Except for the fact, that we only want cruelty-free fashion, we have the same desire to collect dozens upon dozens of sandals, sneakers, loafers, flip-flops, knee-high boots, and other footwear for our shoe wardrobe. Ten years ago, this would have been a challenge – one that would seem almost impossible as all vegan shoes practically looked the same.

Nowadays, finding cruelty-free shoes isn’t as hard as it sounds. Now more than ever, companies are beginning to cater to those with a cruelty-free fashion sense and are now offering a wider variety to choose from. As this trend continues to emerge, the only challenge you will have is figuring out how many shoes do you really need. You’ll have to begin asking yourself how many of them do you really love, and how many fit well, complement your fashion style and are versatile enough to serve multiple purposes.

Here are 5 fall/winter fashion shoe styles to help you create a cruelty-free shoe wardrobe so all encompassing, so perfect, that no matter what the occasion is, you'll have just the right eco-friendly shoe

1. One pair of weather-protective footwear.

If you could only buy one boot in your life, an eco-friendly, air-seal range boot like the 14-Eye Boot from Vegetarian Shoes is the one to go with. If you spend a good amount of time outdoors, go with two pairs. Air-seal range boots sporting steel tipped toe and a sole made from rubber tires will provide you with that everlasting quality you need and want.

2. One or two pairs of fashion boots in a medium or dark neutral.

These leather alternative boots are classic enough for work-wear yet sexy enough to add an edge to jeans and an everyday tee. Top-of-the-calf boots with a flat heel are one of the cold weather season’s hottest looks, but are surprisingly in-demand even as the weather grows warmer. For those of you who love the Engineer boots, but want something a little more fitted, the Biker boots are perfect! When you’re feeling a little “rebel”, wear them as biker boots. When your style is more classic looking, just take off the buckle, instantly providing you with simple, comfortable boots that go with everything.

3. One pair of chic looking boots

Almost knee high boots like the Aurora, give you a chic look with straight skirts and classic-cut trousers. They can be worn with bare legs or opaque winter stockings. Plus, they work well with formal and near-formal wear, they add sophistication to jeans, and instantly dress up a denim skirt and cardigan like nothing else can. You can also get the same look with Alta style that is only 11” from the top of the shoe to the bottom of this eco-friendly fashion footwear. The upper is made from the highest quality synthetic micro-fibers while the lining is usually comprised of extremely soft synthetic micro-fibers or fleece.

4. One pair of neutral-colored casual boots for the weekend

A woman can never go wrong with classics such as the Amy boot. Your weekend casual cruelty-free boot should have an extremely soft and flexible sole making it extremely comfortable for all day wear. Make sure your casual eco-friendly boots exteriors are made of “leather" like synthetic micro-fibers giving you that stylish look, while the interior is made of a soft cotton lining and a generous foot bed that will accommodate your feet.

Custom kicks are in high demand at the moment with a lot of websites and also a lot of people on EBay selling them. However all these custom kicks have one thing in common, they are priced well out of the market. Of course there is that one rich person who will still but them but these rich people seem to be about one in a million so you might never see this rich person when you open up your custom kicks business. There are cheap countries that do sell these custom kicks at very cheap prices. However if you do want to buy these custom kicks from these cheap countries then you will have to travel half way around the world to get them. The countries that specialize in selling these cheap custom kicks are in the Asia area with countries like Honk Kong and China offering cheap customer kicks for you to buy. They might be cheap but that does not mean that you are compensating on the quality of the custom kicks. But who is going to travel half way around the world just to buy some custom kicks? Because as soon as you come back you will need to fly over there again because you will sell out very quickly. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just sit at home and get a list of websites that offer you these cheap custom kicks at cheap prices? Well there is a website that allows you to do just that.

Some Wholesale sites have newsletters. When you sign up you are not just going to be left on your own with a list of suppliers. Instead this website will make sure that they do keep in touch with you through their newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you informed on any changes in prices or if any new companies are being added to their ever increasing list of suppliers. You will also get a couple of bonus sellers who specialize in selling custom kicks as well as other types of hip-hop clothing and jewelry. This list of other companies should be kept safe just in case you want to expand your business and gain some more money whilst you do this.

There are so many extra that you can get from doing a simple google search that you will be overwhelmed with what they are offering you. The list of extras is endless and if you do sign up to their newsletter then you will be kept up to date on the latest happenings at this business. The time to buy and sell is now so make sure that you do not pass up this opportunity to get yourself bulk custom kicks at cheap prices.

Michael Jordan sneakers or as they are popularly known, Jordans are the label name for the sports shoe line launched by Nike in the year 1985, in the honor of the basketball super star of that time. Nike had always been a promoter of sports and the launching of that new line was meant to emphasize that point. People at that time were looking at wholesale Jordans as a way to promote their superstar, rather than wear designer label shoes. Whether bought at retail shops or as wholesale Jordans are still one of the most popular sneaker brands in the world.

In the mid-eighties, when the sneakers were launched, young boys would work hard to save money so they could buy a pair of wholesale Jordans; wholesale – because they were more affordable and within the reach.

While we are on the topic, did you know that each sneaker of Nike, is made with a purpose – such as there are special models for football, for hockey, for basket ball and so on. The sneakers for basketball always have cotton shoelaces so that it does not open during the game. Hence, you should always buy those sneakers, which suit your purpose – not just buy wholesale Jordans as most people do, just because they look so great. If you are not in any sport, please be informed that there are special sneakers for walking and/or jogging. Each year brings some innovation to the to the designer sports shoe.

First it was lights (and the shoe had batteries as well) that were flashing everytime you put your foot down – attractive but totally useless otherwise. Then, came comfort improvements such as shoes with built in spring that reduce foot stress while walking. When people look for wholesale Jordan they are looking for comfort, for fashion and for durability. Fortunately, this sneaker model offers it all. Though it comes pricey, the shoes are great value for money and are always in great demand even now, more than 20 years after it was launched.

Today there are more than 20 models of Michael Jordan sneakers, the last model being introduced to the market in February 2005. Each and every one of these sneakers were a runaway success. These sneakers whether from retail shops or as wholesale Jordans, sold like hot cakes, and still are. The beauty of it is that these sneakers are now sold over the net as well. People nowadays choose this way of purchasing a lot of goods, not only sneakers, because of the great convenient the Net offers, i.e. just browse on your computer at home, choose your brand, particulars, charge your card and presto! You have got it delivered at your doorstep. It is easy convenient and extremely satisfying to shop over the Net.