Coco Chanel spied for Nazis: book

NEW YORK (AFP) -- French designer Coco Chanel spied for the Nazis during the German occupation of France in World War II, according to a new book on sale Tuesday.Anna Mouglalis stars as Coco Chanel in the film "Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky"  (MCT)"Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret

Aug. 17, 2011

‘No one can fill his space yet’

It is hard to believe that a year has already passed since Andre Kim’s death, Toh Shin-woo, chairman of Model Center International, told The Korea Herald on Thursday. Photos of Kim and files and documents related to the late fashion designer’s shows were still easily spotted in Toh’s office in Daech

Aug. 11, 2011

Building on Andre Kim’s design legacy

Late designer’s son and longtime business partner carry on business The clothing brand that was run by Andre Kim declined somewhat after the designer’s death last year but its loyal customers still look for it, the brand’s vice president said.“I cannot say exactly how much the sales have droppe

Aug. 11, 2011

Demi Moore adds her style stamp to Ann Taylor ads

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― As a young teenager, before the fame, kids, paparazzi and front-row seats at fashion shows, Demi Moore regularly passed an Ann Taylor store at a local mall, taking note of the clothes.In the years since, she’s been a red-carpet rebel, jeans-wearing mom, bikini globetrotter and Ver

Aug. 3, 2011

Tatoos gaining popularity, but still on shady side in Korea

There are no signs indicating that a three-story building in the fashionable Hongdae area in western Seoul is home to a busy tattoo parlor. After walking up three flights of stairs to Tattoo People, one is greeted only by a large, black door, and, before walking through it, is required to change into slippers and make as little noise as possible as not to disturb the artists who may be inking skin

July 25, 2011

Quality and money-wise, Leyii takes firm stand

Project Runway Korea contestant Lee Seung-hee, now a creative director, started late but aims for topThis is the fourth in a series of articles on up-and-coming Korean designers. ― Ed.Women’s wear brand Leyii’s founder and creative director Lee Seung-hee’s last year was hectic ― participating in eight foreign shows including Tranoi and Prt-a-Porter in Paris, Train in New York and Fashion Weeks in

July 20, 2011

'Air-conditioned clothes' help Japan beat heat

TODA (AFP) -- As jackets go it looks far from fashionable, but its Japanese maker cannot meet sky-rocketing demand for "air conditioned" coats with built-in fans.Kuchofuku Co. Ltd -- whose name literally means "air-conditioned clothing" -- has seen orders soar amid power shortages in Japan after the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami.As parts of the nation sweat out an uncomfortable summe

July 19, 2011

Warming up to active wear

Female fast fashion brands open new lines of exercise wearLOS ANGELES ― With women willing to spend $100 on a pair of cute yoga pants, retailers are racing to make workout clothes that are as much about style as sweat.Athletic clothing has traditionally been relegated to the gym, where women would huff and puff in un-glamorous get-ups ― think oversized men’s T-shirts and baggy sweatpants.But now t

July 18, 2011

Designer incorporates Asian philosophy in designs

More artist than designer, Sheen targets customers who understand his philosophyThis is the third in a series of articles on up-and-coming Korean designers. ― Ed.The studio-office in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul, which Sheen Jehee designed himself, was just like his collections ― calm, with careful twists like the geometric lighting. The only unexpected thing was a shelf full of foreign-language tex

July 13, 2011

Mobile is the next interface: Alfio Pozzoni

Alfio Pozzoni at a workshop in Seoul last week. (Kim Myung-sub/The Korea Herald)Consultant at Benetton communication research center talks about iconic stores of future People receive so much input everyday that it is difficult to attract them with something, Alfio Pozzoni told The Korea Herald. “That is why we have to continuously make improvements in term of contents and surprises.” Pozzoni, Spe

July 10, 2011

Funky U.S. designer pursues distinctive style

Jeremy Scott. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)We knew sneakers could fly when touched by Jeremy Scott, and now it seems so could jeans and hoodies. In line with the winged sneakers that marked a hit, especially among teenagers here, the U.S. designer added little wings on clothes as well for the 2011 F/W line of adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott. “There’s an optimistic symbol about it (wings), an u

July 7, 2011

Designer stitches his way up from scratch

From Dongdaemun Market to New York, Choi pushes his limits with General IdeaThis is the second of a series of articles on up-and-coming Korean designers. ― Ed.Choi Bum-suk’s office in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul, made one want to go on a treasure hunt. Fabric samples, buttons and photos were strewn around everywhere with shelves jammed with books, files, little objects and even old shoes found in t

July 4, 2011

So you want to be a Playboy photographer

KANSAS CITY, Missouri ― Playboy model hopefuls from as far as Florida and Canada line the halls of a Kansas City, Mo., studio, fanning themselves, trembling in their silk robes and waiting for their moment with Jodi Vander Woude.“I promise this will be painless,” Vander Woude assures them.Vander Woude is a photographer for Playboy Enterprises. Every month, she travels across the country doing cast

July 4, 2011

Indian ‘holy hair’: keeping the West fashionable

CHENNAI, India (AFP) -- Strong religious belief and spirituality coupled with sky-rocketing demand from fashion-conscious Western women has made India the world-leader in the hair extension trade.The South Asian country has long been the world’s biggest exporter of human hair and companies involved in the sector estimate that the business is now worth up to 8.5 billion rupees (nearly $200 million)

June 27, 2011

Global Smurfs Day celebrated worldwide

People attend a world record attempt at a photocall to highlight the release of the film "The Smurfs" in 3-D at the O2 Centre in london on the june 25, 2011. Simultaneous Smurf gatherings took place in 12 countries, all to be counted as part of a world record attempt which they broke. (AFP-Yonhap News)  (Xinhua-Yonhap News) (AFP-Yonhap News) <한글 기사> 4천여명 스머프날 기념 코스프레..기네스 경신지난 53년간 사랑을 받아온 만화 '개구쟁

June 27, 2011

Summer isn’t a season for fashion to take a break

NEW YORK (AP) ― The resort season is not a time for fashion to take a vacation. Resort collections, which hit stores during the all-important Christmas holiday shopping season, are a growing part of designer businesses as consumers move toward styles they can wear year-round.The idea that people fully switch their closets between seasons is outdated, agrees Ken Downing, senior vice president and f

June 22, 2011