Front-row seat for fashion
Maybe your invitation to the Ralph Lauren show got lost in the mail.
No matter. You can watch highlights of New York's recent fashion week in the comfort of your own home today on "7th on Sixth - Inside Fashion Week," a TV special airing at 2 p.m. on WBAL-TV.
You'll see celebrities: Lauren Hutton is the host, and actress Sela Ward translates runway trends into real life. You'll see designers: Donna Karan, Anna Sui and Marc Jacobs show beautiful spring clothes for women and men. And there are bonuses for tuning in: makeup artists, models and pros reveal what's hot, new and very now.
All this and no crowds. It sounds like fashion heaven.
Magazine magic
December's fashion magazines are so chock-full of goodies it feels as if Santa made an early visit to the newsstand. Here's what caught our eye:
* Newcomer Madison retells the story of the wives of Henry VIII as a spellbindingly beautiful fashion spread with cheeky cutlines: "Catherine of Aragon thought Christian Dior was to die for."
* Baltimore-native-turned-Hollywood-star Jada Pinkett Smith recounts past holidays for In Style. "My childhood Christmas in Baltimore was about baking, singing, togetherness. It still is. This year Will [Smith's] family and mine will meet back East and trim the tree and make gingerbread."
* Marie Claire does a masterful job covering holiday dress choices - from COOLWEAR's sequined velvet bargain ($44) to an exquisite Dolce & Gabbana gown with hand-painted flowers ($5,030).
* And Harper's Bazaar looks toward spring, asking readers to rethink pink. Although it's "soft and wimpy, ... Bazooka bubble gum, ballet slippers, Barbie dolls," pink was all over the runways recently. "It's the color we most want to think about right now."
Avon Fifth Avenue
For 100 years, Avon has been coming to you. Now you can go to Avon.
The beauty giant recently opened its first store, spa and salon. Located on New York's Fifth Avenue (in the chic Trump Tower), the four-story complex offers a full range of services from haircuts and facials to salt glow body treatments and peppermint pedicures.
The decor is decidedly luxurious as well - with brushed brass fixtures, a sweeping staircase and terrazzo floors.
Look for a new line of products sold exclusively at the spa, including masks, shower gels and candles.
More Chanel, less money
For fashion fans who will blow their family fortune for anything with the Chanel logo, there is cause to cheer.
Chanel will introduce a new sports line called Beige next fall. It is expected to be at a lower price than Chanel and have a sportswear slant. Designer Karl Lagerfeld (above) reportedly said that he selected that name because Coco Chanel was called the "queen of beige" in the '20s.
Knight Ridder/Tribune
Pub Date: 12/06/98