Petal Pushing, Shu In

Shu Uemera came out with graphic compacts designed by artist Mika Ninagawa. She uses kaleidoscopic color and has published more than 40 photography books, represented by the same Tokyo gallery that introduced Takashi Murakami the designer of the colorful Louis Vuitton bags. The compacts are stockd with megawatt Tokyo "cool eye" colors, lipsticks and glosses in lollipop shades, a makeup box and cosmetic case that are works of art, and a set of edgy, purple tipped eyelashes. She has also designed prints for Celine.

Valentino's Rock n' Rose

Valentino's signature color is red, but his perfume package is pink with black lace. The fragrance is floral with some spring green notes. After twenty minutes the rose scent is intensified. A gift set includes body lotion, shower gel, and the eau de parfum. It retails for $68 at Macys.

Jessica's Fancy is not in the Bronx

Jessica Simpson has introduced a fragrance called Fancy. Her all ready established cosmetics and bath and body line has done well, but it is time for a new scent. She became an aunt the other day when sister Ashlee had a baby boy named Bronx. Hope Fancy smells better than the Bronx, the borough that is.

Dylan Lauren is as Sweet as her Father Ralph

Dylan Lauren opened Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC, right in midtown near Bloomingdales

and Lexington Avenue. There have been recent renovations to make room for more sweets.

She sells old styled candy, clothing, body products with flavors, pillows, and other accessories.

She graduated from Duke University with a major in fine arts and decided to go to candy and

design tradeshows to create this candyland fantasy. She parterned with Jeff Schwartz, from

FAO schweetz. The business has been around for sometime and since then stores have been

opened in the Hamptons, Orlando, Houston, and there are plans for some international venues

such as Tokyo. The irony is there is a dentist's office right above the Manhattan location, so

be careful of your sweet tooth. She also has candy for diabetics and markets to adults as well.

Do not be surprised to see birthday parties and charity events which are held often. Gift

baskets for all occasions and a store decorated with candy encased in the stairway and a huge

chocolate looking bear make it all the more appealing. Creativity flows in the Lauren family.

The question is how do you fit into Ralph's clothing after eating at Dylans.

Aerosmith daughter "Goes Crazy" for perfume

Givenchy presents Liv Tyler as the fun and free spirited model for their new perfume.

She is in a black and white photograph, standing on a bed with a black colored tuille

skirt and brassiere. The ad copy reads Very Irresistble Givenchy and very elegante,

very fun, very you. The bottle is a towering glass and pink color that would bring out

the femme fatale in every woman.

Weighty Matters

The fashion industry sems to be sending mixed messages about weight. After the death of

a Brazilian model from anorexia , the agencies and other industry members expanded the

BMI ratio and requirements for modeling. An Italian model did a public service announcement

concerning her battle with anorexia and sent out the message do not be too thin. Then someone

made a video of Victoria Secret beauty Karolina Kurkova having too much cellulite. It seems

that between the media, public opinion, and the fashion industry women are on both ends of the

scale.

Bloomingdales meet the Beatles

This holiday season Bloomingdales is offering a sales promotion that will make customers

want to go back to Beatle's nostalgia. If one makes a purchase of a certain amount , they

will receive a CD. Another musical link to fashion is Dereon sportswear, outerwear, footwear,

and legwear which features Beyonce in their ads. Her new album release is announced as

coming to stores at the bottom of the Dereon picture. The link between fashion and music

is a wayof bringing to creative worlds together. It is constantly used at fashion shows and in

music videos. Think George Micheal's "Freedom".