Porcelain dolls and little green men (and women) were just some of the disparate influences found on the runways during day four of Sao Paulo Summer 2009 Fashion Week, where minimalism took a back seat to more baroque concepts in dressing.

Sao Paulo Fashion Week

Renata Espinosa June 21st, 2008 @ 12:04 AM - Sao Paulo

Those in search of a crash course in understanding haute couture, it’s sense of timeless refinement and opulent self-indulgence should get themselves over to the rather remarkable retrospective of Valentino that opens to the public on Tuesday in Paris.

Entitled “Valentino, Themes and Variations,” the 14-week show covers the couturier’s career since launching his own house back in the Fifties.

By Godfrey Deeny June 15th, 2008 @ 1:03 PM - Paris

They said a long goodbye to Yves Saint Laurent in Paris Thursday, with a funeral attended by France’s president, scores of designers and thousands of mourners watching outside.

Thousands of fans clapped the coffin into the church, where the designer’s life long partner Pierre Berge spoke of the love that once dared not speak its name, in a poignant homage that had an almost gospel quality with its frequent refrain of “Je me souviens,” or I remember.

by Godfrey Deeny