Ralph Rucci's Rich Rewards

Ralph Rucci is a designer with intricate and architectural pieces. He has

just produced a documentary "Ralph Rucci": A Designer and His House" starts a

week of fashion programming on the Sundance Channel on September 22. Then on

October 23, Rucci will be honored at the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt ninth

annual National Design Awards Gala in NYC. In 2002, Rucci became the first

American designer since Mainbocher to be invited to show his fashions under

his own name at the Paris couture collections in Paris. He is creative and his

womens line is named Chado, after a Japanese tea ceremony requiring 331 precise

actions.

Orange Ribbon Awareness

Anorexia and Bulima have been two of the more common disorders among females,

but self injury is a newer and more secretive problem. Females, as well as males,

have this issue, but it is reported more often in the female population. Some of the reasons

for this problem are past abuse, not being able to cope with pain effectively, and low self

esteem. Some celebrities who have spoken out about self injury are princess Diana, Angelina

Jolie, Christina Ricci, and Fiona Apple. The Orange ribbon is a symbol, giving awareness

to this disorder. As well as websites and books such as The Bright Red Scream and The

Luckiest Little Girl in the World written by psychologist Steven Levenkron.

Zen is not just Buddahism

Shiseido has a new fragrance that is symbolic of their Japanese origin. A gold cube shaped

bottle with a clear top has a very traditional, yet new age design. A Japanese woman

with a flowing golden gown that curves throughout the ad is paired with long red gloves

and sash that is acrobatic looking. The fragrance balances the meditative scent with

sensation and emotion.