How the Runway Took Off

Came across this interesting piece by Amanda Fortini at Slate.com. It's a brief history of the fashion show.

Fashion scholars have penned histories of the high heel, the corset, and the little black dress, but no one has yet written a definitive history of the fashion show. The omission is curious. The problem may be that the fashion show, like any performative enterprise, is by nature ephemeral. Or perhaps it's that the fashion crowd, always in pursuit of the next thing, lacks the archival impulse: Why hash over yesterday's clothes? Whatever the reason, as Valerie Steele, chief curator and director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, told me: "The topic of fashion shows remains to find its historian."

Read the full article here.

'Geisha' fashion takes hold in the US

Products associated with big-budget Hollywood film 'Memoirs of a Geisha' are already hitting the stores even before the movie hits theaters. The items inspired by this movie are made of rich velvet and satin and invoke a world of luxury. In a confluence of art and commerce, the romantic epic depicting a young girl blossoming into a legendary geisha has also become a style - one found in Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, and high-end department stores. Based on Arthur Golden's bestselling novel, "Memoirs of a Geisha" tells the story of a young girl who was taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. She transforms as she learns the arts of the geisha, including dance and music, wearing kimono, and elaborate makeup and hair. The film acknowledges that her life is sometimes dark. But what shines through on the big screen are the colors and costumes, images nothing short of glamorous.

The Banana Republic limited-edition collection appeared in select stores and online in November. It includes a silk floral kimono top ($88), Asian tassel necklaces ($58), and a satin kimono dress ($168). At Bath & Body Works a special display is dedicated to products such as a Rice Face Wash ($32), Flower Petal Mask ($35), and Shimmer Powder with Crushed Pearls ($38). The products can also be found online and in stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Sephora.