Her face is iconic worldwide. Everywhere you go, you can find Hello Kitty on nearly every product imaginable – dolls, pencils, candy, and even laundry baskets. In fact you can quickly scan my room and count more than a handful  of Hello Kitty items (and much more with a thorough search).  As such, it was a surprise for us to discover that this iconic character has never been in her own comic book/manga/graphic novel. Well this is going is going to change very soon.

Viz media ( the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America) has joined forces with Sanrio to develop an original graphic novel series as well as a limited edition single-volume comic. The single-volume comic Hello Kitty: Fashion Music Wonderland will include an exclusive cover by Jacob Chabot and will feature art by Victoria Maderna, Ian McGinty and Chabot. The stand-alone comic will debut at the 2013 Comic-Con Show in San Diego.  The graphic novel series Hello Kitty: Here We Go will be released Fall 2013 and will be rated A for All ages.

“Hello Kitty has places to be and friends to meet! Join her as she explores an underground realm, chases an unsavory cake thief around the world, climbs the Himalayas, travels back in time, and discovers that sometimes, the best place to get away from it all is between the pages of a good book.”

Monique Lhuillier has been a household name in bridal gowns since she first launched her company in 1996. With the opening of her New York flagship store in November, the Filipina-French designer has firmly established herself as the leading lady of eveningwear. Lhuillier’s gowns regularly grace the red carpet and, based on the look of her Fall 2013 ready-to-wear line that she debuted last Saturday at New York Fashion Week, this year should be no different.

Courtesy of elle.com

For Lhuillier, Fall 2013 was all about the contrast from day to night. White, black, green, and gold dominated the designer’s color palate, making for a dramatic appearance. However, this boldness of color was balanced by delicate art deco details. Must-have items from daywear included the feather printed crepe seamed pants with contrast waistband, the black web lace blouse, and the brocade printed crepe cap sleeve gown.

Courtesy of elle.com

The second half of the show took a page straight out of The Great Gatsby. Embroidery, lace, and fringe strutted down the runway. Lhuillier hit the mark with her black and emerald embroidered tulle long-sleeve illusion gown which perfectly blended sensuality with sophistication. The gold feather lace draped strapless high-low gown with exposed tulle and the black and nude deco embroidered tulle long-sleeve gown were also highlights. However, the outfit that stole the night was Lhuillier’s cigarette lace pants with tulle overlay. With the Oscars just a week away, I hope to see some celebrities donning these on the red carpet.

Courtesy of elle.com

Bollywood’s Filmfare Awards — often referred to as the Oscars of the Hindi film industry — was filmed back in January in Mumbai, but the show aired on February 17, 2013, courtesy of Sony Entertainment Television Asia.

Co-hosted by Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan, the show celebrated the 100th anniversary of Indian film and featured performances by Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Usha Uthap, and more.

Top winners included Barfi! (Best Film, Best Actor – Ranbir Kapoor, Best Debut – Ileana D’Cruz, Best Score, Trendsetter of the Year) and Kahaani (Best Director, Best Actress – Vidya Balan, Best Cinematography, Best Editing). The Filmfare Critics Awards went to Gangs of Wasseypur (Best Film and Best Actress – Richa Chaddha) and Paan Singh Tomar (Best Actor – Irrfan Khan).

Audrey’s favorite looks from the red carpet are below:

Priyanka Chopra in Armani Privé.

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Typically speaking, a mouth full of metal often make us think of those awkward adolescent years that we would actually rather not think about. This does not seem to be the case, however, for Asia who has its teenagers dishing out $100 just for a pair of fake braces. This fashion statement has been spreading throughout Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

So why fake braces? While we may find this fad strange, further inspection helps us understand why such a trend has surfaced. Fake braces appears to be first and foremost a status symbol.  Often, dental care in these areas is considered a luxury. Braces can run for about $1,200 – a very difficult price for many average families. So while we have our fake designer bags, they have fake braces. Furthermore, fake braces remain to be fashion statement. Mickey Mouse and Hello Kitty are two of the more popular designs available in fake braces. Even we can find some relation to this trend with the obvious rise of Geek Chic. Some of our biggest stars embrace the culture such as Katy Perry in her music video Last Friday Night.

Geek Chic Fashion

Katy Perry in her ‘Last Friday Night’ Music Video

As expected, such a item doesn’t come without its share of  risks. Reminding us of another peculiar trend Big Eye Contacts (unprescribed contacts which made the eye appear bigger than it actually was), fake braces have caused a number of health concerns. Some of the braces contain lead and they all are huge choking hazards because of the amateur methods of placing the braces in ones mouth. Vice.com informs us that fake braces have led to the deaths of two teens in Thailand. Governments have been cracking down on this dangerous item and vendors of this product may be charged up to six months in prison and a $1,3000 fine.

Photo Courtesy of Astonish World.

While New York Fashion Week is the stage for the world’s best designers to showcase their latest work, some of the more exciting moments come from discovering emerging talent in the fashion industry.

We’ve been taking notice of up and coming fashion designer Ann Yee — check her out in Steve Madden’s “Meet the Makers” video series.

For more information about Ann Yee’s collection, please visit her site.

Find Meet The Makers online at: Steve Madden’s Mag, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Check out the Steve Madden x Ann Yee video below the cut!

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Blanc de Chine proves that you don’t need to be “under the tents” at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to bring in the buzz and the crowd. The luxurious Chinese brand showcased their Fall/Winter 2013 collection at their Fifth Avenue store on Sunday (February 10) to a fashionable crowd that included Chinese-American singer Baiyu.

Blanc de Chine kept their inspirations close to the homeland. Menswear was inspired by the robes in the Tang Dynasty, while the womenswear was inspired by the flying Apsaras, the female spirit of the clouds and water and the symbol of Dunhuang art. Both influences were beautifully expressed throughout the collection, notably in the womenswear. Female models walked the runway in elegant and airy pieces, varying from flowy dresses to sleek pants and sheer camisoles in earthy shades of blue, green, brown, gray and black. But the one look that seemed to embody the essence of the Apsara was the navy long dress with sheer cape, bringing to mind the fabric and ribbons that would support the windless Apsaras when flying in the air. What made the afternoon more special for Blanc de Chine was that their fashion week date fell on Chinese New Year, treating the guests with wine and dumplings.

To check out more of Blanc de Chine, blancdechine.com.

Photo Courtesy

An exciting day for Asian Fashion is headed our way! The Asia Fashion Summit is held annually and invites global fashion thinkers, entrepreneurs, industry practitioners and many more individuals to analyze various aspects of global fashion. The conference aims to open dialogue about topics ranging from fashion influences to industry trends and innovative business approaches. They claim that the top three reasons to attend the summit are as follows:

“1. Hot Topics.
Look forward to a host of comprehensive topics that provides delegates a 360-degree view of the fashion business landscape.
2. Expert Insights.
Gain business insights from the world’s formidable fashion insiders as they converge to share and discuss emerging trends and compelling issues.
3. Networking Platform.
AFS provides a perfect platform for participants to interact and expand business network.”

 

Asia Fashion Summit 2013 will be held in Singapore on May 15-17, 2013. To learn more, click here.

Asian Fashion Summit 2012

Chocolates, hearts, roses, and love in the air- yup, it definitely feels like Valentine’s Day. Although we’re accustomed to a number of Valentine’s Day traditions, we may not know where a lot of these traditions come from. In fact, many of us don’t even know the actual origin of Valentine’s Day itself. In honor of this holiday, we plan to explore everything from chocolate covered strawberries to cupid.

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Our boys are back and just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Do  you find yourself looking through a magazine and wishing to see more body types instead of the typical thin? Well you’re in luck.  A new Japanese Fashion magazine, La Farfa, is Japan’s first publication to focus specifically on pocchari - which can be translated to a heavier set body. The magazine is expected to hit shelves on March 21st with comedian Naomi Watanabe as the first cover girl. We hope this is a positive step into a more accepting society!