Calling all Pittsburgh-based designers and models! Seeking something to do this Saturday afternoon? Check out this week's 'Setting the SEEN' video for suggestions.
Pittsburgh Fashion Week and Style Week Pittsburgh are holding auditions for their respective events. Plus, SEEN editor Natalie Bencivenga has the scoop on this week's top parties and charity events.
Check it out in the video below. Until next time, we'll be seeing you!
The streets of east London looked more vibrant and outlandish than ever this weekend, when the world's biggest student fashion event - Graduate Fashion Week - opened its doors at Brick Lane's Truman Brewery, a new location in the beating heart of modern British fashion.
Now in its 23rd year, GFW is best known for the wackiest of its students' creations: the gimp masks and cellophane-wrapped naked bottoms most likely to make the front pages of newspapers. But for the event's organisers the showcase has a rather more sensible purpose: to ensure that BA fashion students find work after graduation.
Over four days, the work of 1,000 students from 42 universities is displayed in 21 catwalk shows, while dozens of talks and seminars are held, from advice on PR from Vivienne Westwood to tips about buying and merchandising from the event's sponsors, George at Asda.
'Everybody wants to be a designer,' says GFW chairman Rob Templeman. 'But there are more than 800,000 16- to 24-year-olds out of work in the UK, so it's important to remember that there are lots of good careers available in the industry.' On the final day, prizes will be awarded, including the top 'gold' prize of £10,000 and the opportunity to design a collection for George. The event also offers the chance for students to meet industry scouts. 'We very much encourage other retailers, suppliers and manufacturers to attend,' says Fiona Lambert, vice-president of George. 'There are some incredibly talented young people out there and they need opportunities.'
GFW was conceived to give fashion students from outside London a chance to showcase their work in the capital. Although graduates of the MA courses at Central Saint Martins College and the Royal College of Art do not show at the event, it has spawned more than its share of successes, with previous award winners including Matthew Williamson, Julien MacDonald, Burberry CEO and creative director Christopher Bailey, Stella McCartney and Giles Deacon.
The new east London location looks likely to boost awareness even more. 'Ticket sales are up by 20%,' says Templeman. 'We get around 25,000 attendees most years, but this year we are projecting at least 30,000. Brick Lane is the centre of the creative district. It's also a lot more accessible than Earl's Court.'
Certainly, for Fashion East founder Lulu Kennedy - who discovered designers including Jonathan Saunders and Richard Nicoll - the move seems significant. 'I never made it over to GFW when it was miles away in west London; I tended to look at images online,' she says. 'But now it's based at the old Truman Brewery, which is where my studio is, I'll definitely be checking out shows. It's exciting to have it in east London, which makes loads more sense, as this is where fashion is actually happening.'
While GFW may not have the prestige of the Central Saint Martins MA show - which runs in London Fashion Week - its breadth and diversity of talent has long been taken seriously by the industry. 'This is the germination of the seeds of future fashion. That's the deal,' says Gordon Richardson, creative director of Topman. 'It's crucial.' Former GFW winner Julien Macdonald says: 'Winning GFW launched my career, and it was a proud moment because the competition is there.'
The award's first winner, Christopher Bailey, now one of the most powerful people in British fashion, agrees: 'We have the most exceptional design talent coming out of our colleges and I salute their energy, their talent and their well-earned and deserved global reputation.'
Last year's 'gold' award winner, Lauren Smith from Edinburgh College of Art, won £20,000 and the chance to design a collection for George. She describes the experience as 'beyond amazing'. The money is still in the bank and Smith is considering putting it towards launching her own business when she finishes her MA.
The upcoming fourteenth edition of the Catalan catwalk event 080 Barcelona Fashion will be once again held at a major historical site located in the Spanish city.
Staying true to its previous years' trends of staging the runway event at some of the phenomenal flagship sites of the city, the forthcoming instalment is slated to take place at the newly renovated Hospital de Sant Pau from June 30 to July 4, 2014.
With the primary aim to serve as a common platform for local garment manufacturers and designers, the event will see lines of Spring/Summer 2015 clothing from several leading local labels such as Mango and Brian & Beast.
Held twice a year, the last January Autumn/Winter 2014-2015 edition of the event, which was held at the Mercat del Born, a famous building in Catalonia, attracted more than 42,000 people.
The soiree was opened by the popular Catalan firm Mango, which featured two collections-a rock star-inspired Rock it up men's fashion line and few creations from its newly launched plus-size women's brand Violetta.
Also clothing labels Brian & Beast and TCN as well as designer labels like Sita Murt featured their fur and wool heavy creations.
Built between 1902 and 1930 by the Catalan modernist architect Domènech i Montaner, the European modernist enclosure Hospital de Sant Pau was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997.
The group of men and women arrested after Apopka Police busted a dogfighting ring Tuesday night will make their first appearance in court this morning.
Officers caught the crowd of about 40 people engaged in an active dogfight at 209 W. 7 th Street around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, rescuing more than 30 wounded and malnourished dogs - mostly pit-bull mixes.
A total of 26 people were taken to Orange County Jail. Two of them have prior cases involving animal cruelty or violating county nuisance animal ordinances: Adell Dawson, 39, and Benjamin Ponder, 26.
Records show that Dawson and another arrestee, Mona Cumberland, live at the Apopka home, which officers called 'filthy' and 'deplorable' because of the pungent stench of animal feces and festering dog wounds.
Two children - who also live at the home - were removed and placed with their grandparents, according to police. The Department of Children and Families were notified, police spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Walsh said.
The 34 dogs rescued from the dogfight are being treated by Animal Services.
The group's court hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
This is a developing story.
twalden@tribune.com, or 407-420-5620
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(Photo : Getty Images/Slaven Vlasic)
is skipping out on New York Fashion Week this September and will instead show in London.
According to WWD, Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, the English design duo behind the brand, have decided to take their spring 2015 show to London to celebrate Marchesa's 10th year in business.
'We had been speaking with the British Fashion Council. We felt it was a good way to celebrate our anniversary,' Chapman said.
The date of the London Fashion Week show and the venue it will take place in have not yet been determined, but it sounds as if Chapman and Craig have something special planned.
'It will be a different experience. All our English friends and family can get an opportunity to celebrate with us,' Chapman said.
But New Yorkers who look forward to attending the Marchesa show every season shouldn't worry - the brand will be back in the Big Apple next year to present its fall 2015 collection.
'It's a one-off celebration in London, and then we are back [in New York] in February,' Craig said.
Earlier this year, Marchesa announced its plans to launch a collection of fine jewelry. In April, Chapman and Craig revealed that they had signed a licensing deal with Prestige Jewelry. The design duo's debut jewelry collection, which is slated to launch for the holiday season, will be created to complement Marchesa's bridal collection.
'Our bridal business is growing rapidly over the past few years, so it seems like a natural fit to offer jewelry in the market,' Chapman told WWD.
The line will be made up of 20 styles. Engagement rings and wedding bands will be the focus of the collection, but stud earrings, pendants and solitaire stones will also be included. Prices for items in the collection will range from $2,000 to more than $20,000.
What do you think of Chapman and Craig's decision to show their upcoming collection for Marchesa in London instead of New York? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
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British brand Marchesa will mark its 10th anniversary this year with a first show at London Fashion Week. The brand, previously a mainstay on the New York fashion week schedule, will show its spring/summer 2015 collection in September in a one-off move to London. The brand, designed by Georgina Chapman and Karen Craig, will provide a welcome injection of glossy glamour to the London schedule.
Marchesa is all about red-carpet worthy design - an association boosted by Chapman's marriage to movie producer Harvey Weinstein in 2007. Chapman, a former model, is sleek and elegant - and no stranger to the red carpet herself. She channels this into Marchesa. The London front row may be used to a mix of hip streetwear and tweedy tradition but with Marchesa they will get a taste of modern Hollywood glamour. Expect A-list celebrities, big name models - and big hair-dos.
Chapman and Weinstein's places at the fashion table are already set - Weinstein is pals with Anna Wintour and recently bought the dormant fashion house, Charles James. The timing has Wintour's fingerprints all over it - James is the subject of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's spring exhibition, and the theme of this month's Wintour-curated Met Ball. No further details have been announced but Chapman, as you might expect, is creative consultant.
While it is tempting to grumble about nepotism, Chapman designing James actually makes a lot of sense. The designer, often called the first American couturier, was all about elegance, ladylike dressing and dream-like gowns that cost thousands when he designed in the 1940s and 50s. Chapman's sensibility fits right into this tradition. Her husband may be financing it, but, as an expert in glamour both on and off the red carpet, she would be a savvy fit to design it.
Picture credit: Indigital
MARCHESA will show its spring/summer 2015 collection at London Fashion Week this September, instead of in New York as usual. The move comes as the brand's British founders and designers, Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, revealed that they have been in talks with the British Fashion Council to find a way to celebrate the label's tenth anniversary.
'We felt it was a good way to celebrate our anniversary,' said Chapman. 'It will be a different experience. All our English friends and family can get an opportunity to celebrate with us.'
British fans should not, however, get too used to the idea. Craig told : 'It's a one-off celebration in London, and then we are back in New York in February.'
The label will relocate from New York to London Fashion Week for one season only to celebrate its 10th anniversary
BY Bibby Sowray | 29 May 2014
Photo: Isidore Montag
September's London Fashion Week will welcome a new, very impressive name to the schedule; Marchesa.
The brand, founded by British designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, usually shows at New York's bi-annual fashion showcase, where its studio is based, but will relocate for one season only to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the brand.
'We had been speaking with the British Fashion Council,' Chapman told WWD. 'We felt it was a good way to celebrate our anniversary.' Craig added: 'It's a one-off celebration in London, and then we are back [in New York] in February.'
IN PICTURES: Marchesa spring/summer 2014 in pictures
'It will be a different experience,' added Chapman. 'All our English friends and family can get an opportunity to celebrate with us.'
Chapman and Craig met as students at the Chelsea College of Art in 1994 and established the label, which is named after Milanese Marchesa Luisa Casati, from Chapman's London flat in 2004. Their red carpet-worthy gowns quickly became popular with Hollywood starlets and they are now a mainstay at awards ceremonies such as the Oscars. They produce ready-to-wear and couture lines, as well as bridal wear and more affordable secondary line Notte.
Chapman is married to movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and will act as a creative consultant when he relaunches the Charles James brand.
After an eye-popping debut at E3 2012, has remained one of the most talked about new video game IPs of the new (as well as former) console generation. Following in the footsteps of Ubisoft's other major open world game series, Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs promised to a rich and timely story focused on the dangers and utility of networked technology while also iterating on established sandbox gameplay mechanics.
Unfortunately, a delay from holiday 2013 to May 2014 stole some of the title's momentum, as many gamers intended to purchase the title alongside new Xbox One and PS4 consoles. However, even if enthusiasm for the game took a slight dip during those added six months, actual launch sales for Ubisoft's hacker vigilante title remain strong - so strong that Watch Dogs has set a new 24 hour sales record at the studio.
The sales report comes directly from Ubisoft in an official press release. The publisher neglects to share actual sales data but ensures gaming enthusiasts that the new IP has topped every prior Ubisoft game in day one copies sold.
Commenting on the milestone Ubisoft CEO and co-founder Yves Guillemot expressed his gratitude to the development team as well as reiterated his confidence in the Watch Dogs brand going forward:
'Watch Dogs is an amazing achievement and our teams should be proud that the creativity, innovation and long hours they invested in making this game are paying off. It's great to see so many players enjoying the game, and it shows that Watch Dogs has cracked the code for developing a new blockbuster IP and a thoroughly new-gen experience.'
Considering that Ubisoft is responsible for a number of record-setting franchises, including the , , Splinter Cell, and Assassin's Creed series, among others, it's impressive to see the publisher once again raise the bar with Watch Dogs.
That said, the game still has a long way to go before it beats-out similar records for first month or first sales - especially since the title launched to mixed (albeit mostly positive) reviews along with a host of online connectivity issues. At the time of this writing, Ubisoft Uplay servers are still getting hammered - causing intermittent network issues on consoles as well as downright game-breaking obstacles for PC players. Without a doubt, the situation should settle down as less players are online, at the same time, attempting to connect to Ubisoft servers; yet, for a game that promised next-gen multiplayer concepts and online features, the launch has been anything but smooth.
As a result, while there's plenty of reason to expect that Ubisoft is already in the process of developing Watch Dogs 2, there's no guarantee that Watch Dogs will continue to knock down publisher records. 24 hour sales figures often set the stage for how a game will perform but do not always give a clear idea of whether or not a highly anticipated title will have strong legs. A lot of (albeit not all) launch day buyers were the same people who had pre-ordered Watch Dogs prior to its delay - gamers who were committed to the IP regardless of review scores and launch hiccups. Though, positive word of mouth is essential in convincing less-eager gamers - those who might still be deciding between Watch Dogs and other summer offerings (like surprise hit Wolfenstein).
Even the game's Creative Director, Jonathan Morin, acknowledges that some of the game's success (so far) can be attributed to players that have stuck with the title since its announcement:
'I once said that the buzz around Watch Dogs was driven by the incredible passion of our early fans. Today we broke the record for the biggest first day sales in Ubisoft history. I can never say it enough: thank you everyone! We love you all for your passion and your creativity.'
Without a doubt, Watch Dogs is poised to be very profitable (Guillemot asserts the publisher's investment is already ' paying off') but it will take more than above average reviews to turn it into a record setter. Still, if nothing else, the launch sales figures (coupled with Guillemot's comments) are a strong jumping off point for the series - ensuring that the publisher will continue to invest in the IP. That's good news for everyone, even those who are disappointed with the first Watch Dogs title, since Ubisoft should feel confident in building on the existing foundation (and fixing lingering drawbacks) in the next installment.
The Assassin's Creed series faced a similar challenge - after the first game is often referred to as a 'proof of concept' more than a fully developed game. Like Watch Dogs, the first Assassin's Creed was an innovative and creative technological achievement, one that was held back by an underdeveloped protagonist and head-scratching (not to mention repetitive) design choices. Fortunately, Assassin's Creed II addressed many of the hurdles facing its predecessor - and, as a result, remains one of the most enjoyable entries in the series to date.
We've got a long wait before a Watch Dogs sequel hits store shelves but, like Guillemot, we're excited that in a sea of sequels, spinoffs, and remakes, gamers are supporting a fresh IP - even if there are still a few wrinkles to smooth out.
If you're still deciding whether or not to pick up Watch Dogs check out the 101 gameplay trailer for a taste of everything the game has to offer as well as read our Watch Dogs review.
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Watch Dogs is now available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The Wii U version is aiming for a fall 2014 release.
Follow me on Twitter @ benkendrick.
Source: Ubisoft
Wednesday, 28th May 2014 20:57 GMT By Catherine Cai
Despite the glitches on PC and the restrictive UPlay DRM, Watch Dogs has managed to set a Ubisoft sales record. The relentless Watch Dogs PR and marketing campaign paid off, apparently.
According to the UbiBlog, Watch Dogs has managed to outsell any other Ubisoft title in day one sales. Curiously, Ubisoft didn't have any Watch Dogs sales numbers to share.
Regardless of the numbers, this is huge. An original IP has managed to outsell Ubisoft favorites like the Assassin's Creed franchise and the Rayman franchise. Of course, the caveat is that with all the negative reviews that Watch Dogs has been racking up lately due to UPlay issues and PC glitches, the high flying sales numbers might not keep up.
I support laws in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago and over 40 other communities around America that prohibit sales of dogs and cats (and sometimes rabbits, too) in pet stores. The presumption is that most of the animals sold at pet shops come from puppy mills or other unscrupulous sources.
Below are statements presenting first the views of Patti Strand, president of the National Animal Interest Alliance, followed by my own take on this controversial issue. The mission of NAIA is to promote animal welfare, strengthen the human-animal bond, and safeguard the rights of responsible animal owners, enthusiasts and professionals through research, public information and sound public policy. According to Strand, the bans on pet store sales of dogs and cats don't represent rational public policy.
STRAND:
Proposals around the country to ban the sale of commercially bred puppies in pet stores have great surface appeal, but they are profoundly misguided, fraught with unintended consequences and don't work. History shows that banning anything the public wants produces underground markets, not solutions. Laws limiting consumer choice to rescue and shelter dogs will grow the burgeoning black market in dogs where animal abuse is rampant.
No decent person condones cruel or neglectful treatment of animals, and there's no doubt that unacceptable commercial breeders and pet stores exist. But black sheep are present in all groups and professions and we don't ban entire industries because of them. We regulate them.
The Chicago City Council, and (governing bodies in) other communities around the country, have pre-judged all pet stores and commercial breeders to be unscrupulous, and as a consequence passed laws requiring pet stores to obtain their pets exclusively from rescues and shelters. Apparently, legislators where these laws to prohibit pet store sales of dogs and cats have passed consider rescues and shelters to be as uniformly wholesome as they simultaneously view pet stores to be corrupt. Pet stores bad: Rescues good. It's a simple formula with only one possible policy conclusion.
But the issue is much more complicated than the formula implies. The verifiable truth -- despite considerable propaganda to the contrary -- is that both groups include good and bad operators and both should be thoughtfully regulated.
Instead of a well-researched policy designed to improve animal well-being and help consumers distinguish good pet sources from bad and decrease pet shelter euthanasia, the measures around the country -- which are labeled consumer protection -- require stores to swap their purpose-bred dogs obtained from regulated breeders for random-bred dogs of unknown origin, temperament and health, from an unregulated chain of supply.
Significantly, infectious diseases and parasites are commonly found in this unregulated marketplace, and zoonotic diseases (which people and pets may share), including rabies, have recently surfaced in the unregulated dog rescue channel.
At the National Animal Interest Alliance, we support all people who work to improve animal treatment and care, and we support reasonable laws to accomplish that goal. But successful laws focus on solving problems, not scapegoating easy targets.
DALE:
The only difference between the situation in 2014 and say, 20 years ago, is that today there are far fewer independent pet stores which sell commercially-bred dogs, cats, or rabbits. The old time Ma and Pa pet shop owners have mostly retired, while today's new generation of independent pet store owners feel it's ethically wrong to sell these animals. Not to mention, as one pet store owner told me: 'Even if I felt it was morally justified, the economics don't pay off.'
Today, most pet stores that sell commercially-raised animals are chain-like operators, such as Petland stores, with big bucks behind them to oppose the legislative bans. I maintain that if polled, the overwhelming majority of pet store owners actually agree with me, as clearly the general public does.
I suppose I could argue back and forth about the percentage of dogs sold at pet stores which come from puppy mills. Let's say that number is as low as 10 percent (and, of course, it's many times that), isn't that enough to say 'stop'?
For decades, I've heard pet industry officials say, 'We'll regulate ourselves.' Naturally, they don't want to be legislated, but sadly, they've been unwilling or unable to regulate themselves.
As for the black market for animals surfacing online, that's already going on. Last fall, changes in the federal Animal Welfare Act mandated restrictions on selling animals online. So, it's not as easy as it once was, and there will almost certainly be future restrictions. At least when potential pet buyers go online, they do so with forethought, while most dogs, cats, or rabbits sold at pet stores are often impulse buys.
It's hard to resist that puppy in the window. We've bred dogs for thousands of years with Neotony tendencies: big round eyes, large foreheads and other appealing characteristics, which aren't too different from those of human babies. And just as with human babies, we're hard-wired to respond with a surge of hormones like oxytocin, which make us feel warm and fuzzy when we see a puppy.
Besides, you don't avoid creating laws because there may be ways around them. We have speed laws for drivers, though people can buy devices to determine if there are police nearby.
Responsible breeders selling a pet, or an animal shelter or rescue agency adopting out an animal should make inquiries about the perspective buyer or adopter; if they don't, it's a red flag. (And I agree that not all rescue groups are legit). Still, a pet store will only ask one question: 'Will that be cash or credit?'
Tags: ban on selling dogs cats rabbits, dog breeders, NAIA, National Animal Interest Alliance, neotony, Patti Strand, pet store sales, pet stores, puppy millers, puppy mills, Steve Dale, Steve Dale archives
I dare you to cut off your coat sleeves this spring. Well, perhaps you shouldn't cut them off of your existing outer-layer, but definitely try a sleeveless coat for the transitional season.
When a full-on coat is cumbersome, but a jacket is too short for the occasion, go for this new spring fashion trend. On a practical level, a sleeveless silhouette will keep you the perfect temperature as the wind whips one moment and the sun beats down the next. From a styling perspective, the outerwear piece I have come to affectionately call the coat-vest, looks pretty kick-ass.
From Michael Kors, Dior, and Oscar de la Renta, draw inspiration for your springtime work look. You don't even really have to take it off when you go inside, since it's not that heavy of a layer. Try a trench, peacoat, or belted silhouette, but definitely go sleeveless this spring. For fall and winter layer it over a sweater, shirt or dress. Scroll through the below if you're on the hunt for a new spring coat.
ABC Family is making its new original series Chasing Life, available to viewers two weeks early via its authenticated WATCH ABC Family service beginning today through Monday, June 9th.
The premiere of Chasing Life can also be seen early on all participating TV providers' On Demand Services starting Tuesday, June 3rd and on the Chasing Life Facebook page starting on Sunday, June 8th.
WATCH ABC Family service makes it possible for fans who verify with a participating TV provider to watch a live feed of the network and the most recent episodes of their favorite ABC Family shows on demand anytime, anywhere via desktops, smartphones and tablets. The app is available for free in the App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, and the Windows Store.
Chasing Life is the story of one twenty-something's life that is about to change forever. April (Italia Ricci) is a smart, charismatic and quick witted twenty-something aspiring journalist. When not pursuing the latest scoop, April tries to balance her ambitious career with her family, which includes her widowed mom Sara (Mary Page Keller), rebellious little sister Brenna (Haley Ramm) and her grandmother (Rebecca Schull). We meet April at a pivotal moment in her life: she's landed a fantastic opportunity to impress her hard-nosed Boston newspaper editor and an office romance with her super-sexy co-worker Dominic (Richard Brancatisano) is just beginning to blossom. In an unexpected twist of fate, April lands in the hospital where her estranged uncle, George (Steven Weber), works as an oncologist, and she learns the devastating news that she has cancer.
The series follows April through her journey in the face of this daunting revelation, during a time in her life when the challenges of finding love and success would be enough to keep any girl occupied. But April is determined to fight and refuses to give up her dreams and goals. Along the way, she'll find new reserves of strength and passion within and discover that facing death may really be the only way to truly live.
Indie Series Award nominee Swati Kapila appears in the pilot. Watch it here.
Chasing Life is adapted from the successful Televisa Spanish-language Mexican television series and is a co-production of BV Family Productions, Lionsgate, and Televisa in association with ABC Family. The series stars Italia Ricci ( Unnatural History), Mary Page Keller ( NYPD Blue), Aisha Dee ( I Hate My Teenage Daughter), Richard Brancatisano ( The Elephant Princess) and Haley Ramm ( X-Men: The Last Stand). Steven Weber ( Wings) and Rebecca Schull ( Wings) guest stars. Patrick Sean Smith ( Greek), Susanna Fogel ( Life Partners), Joni Lefkowitz ( Life Partners) and Aaron Kaplan ( Friends with Better Lives, The Neighbors, Terra Nova) serve as executive producers.
Ben tries to get Emma to walk the walk on an all-new episode of 'Baby Daddy,' airing tonight, May 28 at 8:30pm ET/PT on ABC Family. In 'Baby Steps,' Ben can't wait to see Emma take her first steps and tries everything to get her to toddle before he has to go to work. But when even the bribery of food doesn't motivate his daughter to move, Ben reluctantly gives up and leaves. However, as luck would have it, Emma makes a beeline for Uncle Danny as soon as her father is out the door. As Bonnie, Tucker, Danny and Riley scheme to make sure Ben doesn't miss this major milestone, everyone reminisces about how far they've come as parents since the tot entered their lives. Over the past three seasons, Baby Emma has been portrayed by three sets of twins: Ali Louise Hartman and Susanne Allan Hartman (Season 1), Zoey Beske & Mila Beske (Season 2) and Ember Husak & Harper Husak (Season 3). 'Baby Daddy' stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau ('Kyle XY'), Derek Theler ('90210'), Tahj Mowry ('The Game') with Melissa Peterman ('Reba') and Chelsea Kane ('Dancing with the Stars,' 'Jonas LA'). The series is created and executive produced by Dan Berendsen ('The Nine Lives of Chloe King,' 'Sabrina, the Teenage Witch' and 'Hannah Montana: The Movie'). 'Baby Daddy' is a multi-camera comedy that shoots in front of a live studio audience in Los Angeles. Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 97 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today's families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relatable programming about today's relationships - told with a mix of diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a combination of network-defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. For 2014, ABC Family has launched the 'WATCH ABC Family' authenticated service which allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on demand access to such popular series at home and on the go via a wide array of devices. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with '13 Nights of Halloween' and '25 Days of Christmas.' ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - There will be five names on the Democratic primary ballot when voters head to the polls a week from now, but both polli...
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Move over New York and Paris, the first New Mexico Fashion Week kicks off Thursday. It's being held at the Albuquerque ...
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Move over New York and Paris, the first New Mexico Fashion Week kicks off Thursday.
It's being held at the Albuquerque Apparel Center in the First Plaza Galleria downtown.
Award-winning designer Melissa Lea Beasley hopes to turn that part of downtown into a fashion district. She hopes to use money raised this week for a fashion school.
Fashion Week will showcase clothing and accessories by New Mexico and southwest designers.
Omaha Fashion Week tickets for August's event will be available to the public Sunday, June 1st on OmahaFashionWeek.com. The fall event will take place August 18th - 23rd under a large, white tent in the Capitol District located in Downtown Omaha where over 36 regional designer Spring/Summer 2015 Collections will be presented.
The weeklong affair is broken down into nightly categories.
The agenda is as follows: Monday, August 18th: Bridal and Children's Wear Showcase Tuesday, August 19th: Ready-To-Wear Showcase I Wednesday, August 20th: Avant Garde Thursday, August 21st: Ready-To-Wear Showcase II Friday, August 22nd: Evening Wear Showcase Saturday, August 23rd: Finale Showcase TBD
OFW is also expanding its independent designer shows for designers who are ready to produce their own show, such as Buf Reynolds and Dan Richters in August 2013. More detailed information on independent designer shows is forthcoming in June! Designers will also be competing again for a spot inSaturday night's Finale lineup as well as a large designer prize package, which will be awarded at Saturday night's Finale show. Lastly, OFW SaturdayNight Finale is VIP tickets only and limited number of Corporate VIP Boxes available. Guest enjoy a pre-party from 6-8p, with runway show starting at 8p each night of the week.
Tickets go on sale to the public June, 1st, 2014 and are available at http://ift.tt/1k05l5n.
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ABC Family is making its new original series 'Chasing Life,' available to viewers two weeks early via its authenticated WATCH ABC Family service beginning today through Monday, June 9th.The premiere of 'Chasing Life' can also be seen early on all participating TV providers' On Demand Services starting Tuesday, June 3rd and on the 'Chasing Life' Facebook page starting on Sunday, June 8th.WATCH ABC Family service makes it possible for fans who verify with a participating TV provider to watch a live feed of the network and the most recent episodes of their favorite ABC Family shows on demand anytime, anywhere via desktops, smartphones and tablets. The app is available for free in the App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, and the Windows Store.'Chasing Life' is the story of one twenty-something's life that is about to change forever. April (Italia Ricci) is a smart, charismatic and quick witted twenty-something aspiring journalist. When not pursuing the latest scoop, April tries to balance her ambitious career with her family, which includes her widowed mom Sara (Mary Page Keller), rebellious little sister Brenna (Haley Ramm) and her grandmother (Rebecca Schull). We meet April at a pivotal moment in her life: she's landed a fantastic opportunity to impress her hard-nosed Boston newspaper editor and an office romance with her super-sexy co-worker Dominic (Richard Brancatisano) is just beginning to blossom. In an unexpected twist of fate, April lands in the hospital where her estranged uncle, George (Steven Weber), works as an oncologist, and she learns the devastating news that she has cancer.The series follows April through her journey in the face of this daunting revelation, during a time in her life when the challenges of finding love and success would be enough to keep any girl occupied. But April is determined to fight and refuses to give up her dreams and goals. Along the way, she'll find new reserves of strength and passion within and discover that facing death may really be the only way to truly live.'Chasing Life' is adapted from the successful Televisa Spanish-language Mexican television series and is a co-production of BV Family Productions, Lionsgate, and Televisa in association with ABC Family. The series stars Italia Ricci ('Unnatural History'), Mary Page Keller ('NYPD Blue'), Aisha Dee ('I Hate My Teenage Daughter'), Richard Brancatisano ('The Elephant Princess') and Haley Ramm ('X-Men: The Last Stand'). Steven Weber ('Wings') and Rebecca Schull ('Wings') guest stars. Patrick Sean Smith ('Greek'), Susanna Fogel ('Life Partners'), Joni Lefkowitz ('Life Partners') and Aaron Kaplan ('Friends with Better Lives,' 'The Neighbors,' 'Terra Nova') serve as executive producers.Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 97 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today's families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relatable programming about today's relationships - told with a mix of diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a combination of network-defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. For 2014, ABC Family has launched the 'WATCH ABC Family' authenticated service which allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on demand access to such popular series at home and on the go via a wide array of devices. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with '13 Nights of Halloween' and '25 Days of Christmas.' ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.
Twice a year, the most prominent designers from Pakistan gather in London to present their latest collections at Pakistan Fashion Week (PFW).
The event celebrates the creativity, energy and style of Pakistan, making it a fierce contender in the global fashion industry. With Pakistan's naturally rich heritage, combined with modern European influence, PFW promises to be an exquisite cultural fusion.
Taking place between May 30 and to June 1 at the Russell Hotel in London, PFW will feature 30 of the most distinguished Pakistani designers, showcasing their collections across 3 stunning shows, while 45 glamorous models strut along a 70 ft long runway.
The event is organised by designer Adnan Ansari, under his banner Riwayat, which means 'traditions'. Riwayat is dedicated to promoting Pakistan's cultural achievements in fashion, music and literature.
Having had a successful stint of fashion shows every six months, PFW is rapidly getting bigger and better. For 2014, the theme of PFW is Weddings of Asia, emphasising bridal couture for the fashion conscious bride and groom.
DESIblitz are proud on-line media partners for Pakistan Fashion Week: Weddings of Asia. Watch our coverage of PFW 5 here:
For 2014, the 3-day show will see 6 acts in total, including the collections of Al Zohaib, Stush, Waseem Noor, Mona Imran, Zeeshan Bariwala, Ayeshah Aijaz and Zaheer Abbas.
The Weddings of Asia exhibition launching on the first day will also offer visitors to shop some of the catwalk designs at their own leisure, and even have the chance to meet some of the designers.
Kicking off PFW Weddings of Asia will be Poshak Mahal presenting their Five Star and Bashir Ahmed collections. With their new Lawn collection of ready to wear clothing, the designer label will show off their artistic flair with a variety of print work and embroidery.
Shariq Textiles is a leading fashion brand in Pakistan. Since their launching in 2009, they have been presenting collections to suit every taste and style. Their last collection showcased feminine cuts in pastel colours and ethno prints.
Aasmee collection is a new fashion brand, launched by Asma Afzal in Lahore. The creativity in her designs and her passion for fashion will definitely not remain unnoticed at Pakistan Fashion Week. For the upcoming fashion event Aasme promises to: 'Take all my knowledge, learning and passion to help secure a great team in which in turn we will give you first class customer service.'
Marium D Rizwan has graduated from the prestigious Asian Institute of Fashion Design and was recently awarded 'Best emerging talent in fashion' at the Lux Style Awards. Her last collection boasted elegant clothing in beige, crimson and olive, adorned with crystals and lace. The designer asserts: 'I believe in simplicity and it reflects in my designs.'
Moazzam Abbasi is one of the established names in Pakistani fashion. For 15 years, he gradually made a name, by working with the most prominent labels in the industry. His last collection featured a selection of clothing, blending Eastern and Western style in neutral colours. Celebrity fans include Zeba Bakhtiar and Hadiqa Kiani.
Rana Noman offers glamorous bridal attire lehangas, sharers and ghararas with long shirts in vibrant colours and embellished with embroidery and lace.
Rizwan Ahmed has graduated from the Asian Institute of Fashion Design. One of his major accomplishments is a dress, inspired by Lena Kaprinsky's painting 'Rose Garden'. The show-stopping garment won the admiration of the artist and now has a separate blog in her website.
It was printed in Australian newspaper to represent the first Pakistan Fashion Week, called Yet Another Outfit. For the upcoming show, he is expected to wow the audience with more extravagant designs.
Of the designers showcasing, undoubtedly, one of the most significant is Zainab Chottani. Her exquisite collections have achieved global success in London, Manchester, New York, and Dubai.
Although she is primarily associated with bridal fashion, the Asian designer has proved that she can create equally innovative pret-a-porter. Her garments feature intricate embellishments and her unique way of playing with colours and textures.
Nauman Arfeen is famous for blending Eastern and Western style for his brand Naushemian. His creative path started in the early 90s, when he began to wrap turbans. Since then, the head accessory has become his trademark piece. The last collection featured fashion forward menswear and traditional womenswear in vibrant colours.
Showcasing alongside Rani Eamn is Hamna Amir. The jewellery designer is going to awe the public with the quality of her craftsmanship.
Hamna is associated with extravagant necklaces, waist gold chains, gold and chaandi maatha patties, chaandi tiaras, baazu bunds, slave bracelets, and, most significantly, the historic Mughal-era inspired chain necklace.
Lajwanti is a bridal fashion house, famous for showcasing bridal and party wear. Their collections feature traditional Indian attire in pastel colours, complemented with rich embellishment and eye-catching accessories. It recently launched a pret-a-porter clothing, as well as a line of accessories, footwear and lifestyle.
Indian based Vavci launch their first store in 2013. Since then the eponymous brand has become a staple in menswear. The designers present both ready to wear and Haute Couture. The collection feature a selection of high quality menswear that combines Eastern traditions with Western tailoring.
The Pakistan Fashion Week 'Weddings of Asia' will showcase an array of distinguished designers. The talented craftsmen will treat the audience to a fine selection of innovative pret-a-porter and glamorous bridal wear and haute couture. The dramatic outfits promise to turn into a fashion staple. Not one to miss, PFW will take place between May 30 and June 1.
Images courtesy of Riwayat Facebook page
The first episode of ABC Family's new drama Chasing Life is now streaming via the WATCH ABC Family app, as first reported by T he Hollywood Reporter. The show, which will premiere on ABC Family on Tuesday, June 10, will be streaming through Monday, June 9. The episode will also be available On Demand through several cable and satellite providers. The network will also release the first episode via the show's Facebook page on Sunday, June 8.
 
ABC Family is making Chasing Life available two weeks ahead of its television debut.
Based on the Mexican telenovela Terminales, Chasing Life follows an aspiring journalist, 24-year-old April Carver ( Italia Ricci), who finds out she has terminal cancer.
Beginning Tuesday, the first episode of the series will be available for preview on the free WATCH ABC Family app through Monday, June 9. Additionally, the premiere can be viewed early on-demand through participating television providers starting Tuesday, June 3. The show's official Facebook page also will show the episode, beginning Sunday, June 8.
It's common for networks to debut new shows on digital platforms before they make their respective premieres on TV. The most recent case? Last week AMC teamed with Tumblr to offer consumers an early look at the 1980s tech drama Halt and Catch Fire prior to its June 1 kickoff.
Chasing Life, a Lionsgate/Televisa production, comes from executive producer Aaron Kaplan ( GCB, Terra Nova), Patrick Sean Smith ( Greek), Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz, who wrote the pilot.
Mary Page Keller, Aisha Dee, Richard Brancatisano and Haley Ramm co-star, along with Scott Michael Foster, Steven Weber, Augusto Aguilera, Rebecca Schull and Andy Mientus.
Chasing Life debuts Tuesday, June 10 at 9 p.m. on ABC Family.
John Galliano's eponymous brand will miss out on Men's Fashion Week.
The fashion house - which was helmed by disgraced designer Galliano until he was fired for making anti-Semitic remarks in 2011 - is expected to miss out on the Paris event next month and won't be showing their spring 2014 collection.
The brand, spearheaded by British designer Bill Gaytten, is absent from the preliminary calendar released by the French Fashion Federation, which features more than 50 shows over five days from June 25 to 29, WWD reports.
The reason behind the absence is thought to be financial struggles linked to Italian fashion manufacturer Ittierre SpA, which recently asked the Court of Isernia for help in avoiding bankruptcy.
John Galliano is currently looking for a new manufacturing partner and is expected to return to the men's schedule next January.
Meanwhile, former head designer Galliano has finally landed on his feet following his dismissal from his namesake company and his creative director post at Dior three years ago.
The 53 year old has started a role as L'Etoile's new creative director, making his grand return during a special catwalk event in Russia last week.
He will be in charge of creating communication strategies and brand images for the cosmetics company, as well as developing make-up and accessories collections.
Tags: John Galliano
First American to win since 2006 upstaged by son Ryden as he talks about his engine concerns after the red flag
Ryan Hunter-Reay was supposed to have been the focus of every photographer Monday during the traditional day-after shoot for the Indianapolis 500 winner, but his Mini-Me upstaged him.
Dressed in a bright yellow racing suit just like Dad's, 17-month-old Ryden Hunter-Reay hammed it up for photographers, posing and playing while his father reaped the rewards for winning Sunday's 98th Indy 500.
'He wakes up every morning and says, 'vroom, vroom, vroom,' ' said Hunter-Reay, 33, between Monday's photo shoot and the awards banquet later in the day. 'It's going to be a handful to deal with him, but he's so much fun. Every time I come back to the motorhome after practice, I get a big 'Dada.' It brightens up your day, no matter how it goes.'
Short on sleep and bleary-eyed, Hunter-Reay posed with team members and family with the Borg-Warner Trophy at the yard of bricks that serves as the finish line for the famous race. There, about 20 hours before, he'd reached the bricks 0.0600 seconds ahead of Helio Castroneves in the second-closest race in Indy 500 history.
Unfortunately for Hunter-Reay, he had to wear the same suit Monday that he'd worn the day before, when it was covered in milk during the traditional post-race drink.
'It smells like milk and sweat,' Hunter-Reay said, 'which is an awesome combination if you've ever tested that out.'
This Indy 500 was made memorable by an unexpected but crowd-pleasing decision on the upper floors of Indianapolis Motor Speedway's pagoda. With eight laps remaining, the race was red-flagged, allowing time to clean the debris from Townsend Bell's crash and setting up six dramatic laps to the checkered flag.
The decision, made by IndyCar race director Beaux Barfield and his crew of stewards, was unprecedented at Indianapolis but not unprecedented in the Verizon IndyCar Series.
In 2012, Hunter-Reay went through a similarly hair-raising experience. Just as Hunter-Reay was about to close out his first series championship, a similar decision was made during the final 10 laps of the season finale in Fontana, Calif. A red flag flew after Tony Kanaan crashed. On the restart, Hunter-Reay had to stay in the top five to secure his title.
RYAN: Hunter-Reay win an American original
At Indy, Hunter-Reay, who was leading when the red flag was displayed, wasn't happy about the call at the time, mostly because he was concerned with how his Honda engine would respond to being shut down and then fired up again after 480 miles of hard racing.
'I was worried about it,' he said. 'Any time an engine runs almost 500 miles and you shut it off and have to start it again ... that can be detrimental to everything involved. It started right back up and had full power, if not more power than we had at any other time during the race.'
Barfield has said the red will not be used in response to crashes in the final few laps as to create a NASCAR-like two-lap race to the end. Last year, IndyCar received criticism -- mostly from fans accustomed to NASCAR's green-white-checkered finishes -- about Kanaan's win under caution. That yellow, however, came with three laps remaining. An ensuing red would have led to a green-white-checkered finish.
But Bell's crash Sunday occurred on Lap 191 of the 200-lap race. If situations arise in IndyCar races in which a red flag offers a live conclusion with more than just two laps left, race control can use discretion -- and the red flag. So, instead of watching cars idle around the track for nine laps to the race's inevitable conclusion, fans saw six green laps in which Hunter-Reay and Castroneves traded the lead four times.
The red flag also led to a scene most fans will remember as the race-clinching maneuver, a grass-cutting dive inside Castroneves in the entry to Turn 3 on Lap 196. It wasn't the winning move -- they exchanged the lead two more times -- but it will stand as the signature moment in an entertaining Indy 500.
'I thought that was the move to win,' Hunter-Reay said. 'I thought that was going to be it, for sure. It surprised him. It threw him off his rhythm a little bit, and that's what I was trying to do. I looked right and went left -- and there wasn't a whole lot of room -- and I made it stick. But you also need to be racing a great driver on the other side to be able to do something like that.'
The end result was a race whose ABC broadcast achieved a 4.0 overnight rating (last year was 3.8) and -- most important to a proud Floridian -- an American winner at Indy for the first time in eight years.
'I'm a hard-charging American, and I've had to fight every step of my career for this ride,' Hunter-Reay said. 'I'm proud to be here. ... I'll be a great and honest champion. I'll fly the flag for our sport. You always get the real deal with me. I'm definitely not going to fake anything.'
Details have been trickling out about the victims of a mass killing perpetuated by Elliot Rodger in Isla Vista on Friday night. All of them have been identified as students at the nearby UC Santa Barbara. Three of the victims killed were stabbed to death in Rodger's apartment, two were shot outside a sorority house in Isla Vista and a third was shot at a deli store. (This tally does not include information about other victims who survived the horrific attack).
Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, 20, San Luis Obispo
Michaels-Martinez was a sophomore English major at UCSB who planned to study abroad in London and go to law school after graduation, his father told ABC. He was a residential adviser in a dorm last year, and friends described him as the kind of guy who was welcoming to strangers. He enjoyed playing sports; his father carried a photo of his son as a child wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform, and nicknamed was 'mini-Sammy Sosa.' He was the only son of his parents.
So far Michaels-Martinez's family has been the most outspoken about the tragedy. Richard Martinez told reporters that he believed that our country's lax gun's laws and powerful gun lobby played a crucial role in Friday night's shooting: 'The talk about gun rights. What about Chris' right to live? When will enough people say: 'Stop this madness! We don't have to live like this! Too many people have died!' Martinez told the Los Angeles Times that he'd like to meet up with Rodger's father to talk about preventing tragedies like this in the future, 'I lost my son. He lost his son. We have that in common.'
He was the last of Rodger's victims, and he was shot to death inside the IV Deli Mart. (CNN has a surveillance video that shows other customers in the store responding to the shooting.) One student Alyssa Hopper who bravely stayed behind to give Michaels-Martinez CPR realized that she recognized the face as she tried to revive him: 'I was giving him CPR, looked down and recognized his face. He was the first person I met at freshman orientation.'
Veronika Weiss (Facebook) Veronika Weiss, 19, Westlake Village
Weiss' parents described her as a tomboy, who played four sports while she was in high school and was a standout water polo player who managed to get straight A's, according to the Los Angeles Times. She was good at math and her father Bob Weiss said she aspired to be a 'financial wizard.' He said she was 'wise and mature beyond her years' and he sometimes even went to her for advice. Her mother and grandmother belonged to the Delta Delta Delta sorority, so she went ahead and joined it, too, when she arrived at UCSB.
Authorities told the Los Angeles Times that after stabbing his roommates in his apartment, Rodger knocked on the door of the Alpha Phi sorority a few blocks away but no one answered. He opened fire on three women nearby, including Weiss and Katie Cooper-both members of Tri-Delta.
It took a while for sheriff's officials to confirm the names of the dead after Friday night's shooting, but Weiss' family knew that no new was bad news. When a riot broke out at Isla Vista earlier this year, Weiss called her parents to let her know that she was all right. When news of the shooting spread, her parents rushed to campus. They used Weiss' 'Find my iPhone' app and noticed that her phone was in the middle of one of the crime scenes.
Katie Cooper (Facebook) Katie Cooper, 22, Chino Hills
Cooper was just a few weeks shy of graduating from UCSB with a degree in art history. Her family has a sign on their door in Chino Hills, letting the media know that they're not giving interviews. One neighbor who spent time with the Coopers looking at old photos said Cooper's mother was 'very angry, furious,' that her daughter's legacy was going to be linked to the mass killing.
But neighbors and family friends described Cooper to the Riverside Press-Enterprise as 'the kind of the girl that brought sunshine on an overcast day.' They describe Cooper as a tall, athletic girl who was a graceful dancer.
Like Weiss, she was a member of the Tri-Delta sorority, and she was fatally shot outside the Alpha Phi sorority. Her parents found out about the shooting on Saturday morning. Her aunt Stacy Simmer told The Daily Mail, 'Katie was the apple of all of our eyes...She had a 4.8 GPA and did a lot of charity fundraising for St Jude's Children's hospital.'
Hong was studying computer engineering and was a roommate to Rodger, but things were rocky between them. Sheriff's officials said that Rodger had at one point reported his roommate for stealing $22 of candles, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Rodger made a citizen's arrest, and Hong was charged with petty theft. He ended up pleading guilty, but the roommates continued to live together.
Friends of Weihan Wang told ABC 7 that Hong planned to move out of the apartment, because Rodger had been acting 'strange.' They planned on waiting until the end of the semester to find a place. One neighbor described the students to ABC 7 this way: 'They were really good kids. They were so quiet. They were extremely smart.'
Rodger described how he planned to stab his roommates before moving on to a sorority house in Isla Vista, and it appears that's exactly how it went down. Hong was one of three men who were found stabbed to death in Rodger's apartment.
Wang was a sophomore at UCSB, who was majoring in engineering. It's not clear whether he was a roommate of Rodger or just visiting. Only Chen and Hong were listed on the lease.
Chen was Rodger's other roommate, but there's little information about him. The San Jose Mercury news says Chen graduated from Leland High in 2012 and had been a camp counselor for the YMCA. He was slated to graduate in 2016, according to his Facebook page.
Watch Dogs and Mario Kart 8 are the two major releases this week and of course Toys R Us has a sale revolving around both, even though they are actually separate.
By purchasing Watch Dogs this week, you can save 40% off any other PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, or Xbox 360 game of equal or lesser value. In the same way, if you purchase Mario Kart 8 when it releases on Friday or on Saturday, you can save 40% off any other Wii U game.
If you are interested in either of these sales, make sure to make it to Toys R Us before the sale ends on Saturday.
Andina
Award-winner Claudia Bertolero was among the several Peruvian designers who showed collections at Miami Fashion Week.
(Photo: Claudia Bertolero/Facebook)
Peruvian fashion designer Claudia Bertolero has bagged the 'International Rising Star Award 2014' for the most promising designer at the recently concluded Miami Fashion Week.
At an event in Lima, Magali Silva, Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism and President of the Board of the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Export and Tourism (Promperú), congratulated the Peruvian delegation that participated in the Miami Fashion Week.
'Thanks to such events, Peru can show what it has to offer in fashion design. Peru's textile and garment exports reached US$ 1.918 billion last year, and both Promperu and the Ministry of Foreign Trade are engaged in finding new markets to offer Peruvian products to the world,' Minister Magali Silva said.
At the 16th edition of Miami Fashion Week, Claudia Bertolero was presented the 'International Rising Star Award 2014' by Beth Sobol, the fashion week organizer, and Lena Hansen, editor of People magazine (Spanish), fibre2fashion.com reported.
Minister Silva revealed that during the Show Case Peru, the Peruvian delegation showed creations that captivated the audience. There were collections made of organic cotton and crochet detailed embroidery. Designer Ana Maria Guiulfo presented summer clothes and fabrics in bright colours like fuchsia, lime green and bluish shades.
'We welcome the participation of our designers, who introduced our garments made from cotton fibre and alpaca at the show, said Minister Silva.
Miami Fashion Week is an annual event which brings together about 10,000 people from the textile, apparel and fashion industry. The event sees significant participation of designers from Spain, Italy and Argentina, in addition to the US.
Elliot Rodger left behind a 107,000-word 'story' of what the shooting suspect called his 'twisted world.' While he e-mailed it to his parents and a therapist the day he allegedly went on a terror rampage, investigators and journalists soon found it.
The central theme of 'My Twisted World: The Story of Elliot Rodger' is his intractable virginity, which he blamed on 'the cruelness of women.'
Here are five revelations from this disturbing document:
Elliot Rodger grew up on the edges of Hollywood but was not quite a part of it.
His father, Peter Rodger, aspired to make films, but he mostly directed commercials. His mother 'dated George Lucas for a short time' and was a friend of Steven Spielberg's, he wrote. His stepmother, Soumaya Akaaboune, acted in a few movies and was a regular on the French version of 'Real Housewives,' produced in Los Angeles.
These connections got him into a few 'Star Wars' premieres and the premiere on March 12, 2012, for the first installment of 'The Hunger Games,' for which his father worked as a second-unit director.
Rodger wrote that the movie was 'entertaining' and the premiere 'was an extraordinary experience,' but he said he 'felt very bitter that I wasn't able to bring a girl with me as a date. The majority of men at the event had a date with them, and I felt so pathetic for not having a date. If only a girl at my collage had been attracted to me; I would have gladly brought her to the premiere as my date.'
He attended a private Katy Perry concert the night before, thanks to wealthy friends who gave the tickets to the Rodger family. Elliot wrote about how seeing how rich families enjoy life made him resent that his 'damnable mother' had not 'married into wealth instead of being selfish.'
'I couldn't help but feel a bitter form of envy at all of the rich kids at the concert. They grew up in lavish mansions, indulged in excessive opulence, and will never have to worry about anything in their pleasurable, hedonistic lives. I would take great pleasure in watching all of those rich families burn alive. Looking at all of them really drilled in my mind the importance of wealth.
'Wealth is one of the most important defining factors of self-worth and superiority. I hated and envied all of those kids for being born into wealth, while I had to struggle to find a way to claim wealth for myself. I had to be ruthless, and do whatever it takes to attain such wealth. After all, it was my only hope of ever being worthy of getting a girlfriend and living the life of gratification that I desire.'
Rodger lamented being 'a kissless virgin.'
Dale Launer, who wrote and directed several movies about relationships, tried to teach Rodger how to get a girlfriend, according to Rodger's writing. Launer, a friend of Rodger's father, wrote 'Blind Date,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'Ruthless People.'
'He wanted to help me overcome my troubles because he is a so-called expert with women. He even showed me pictures of all of the gorgeous women he has dated in his life, and there were a lot of them. This man truly lived.
'A few men who are successful with women have offered me help and advice about this in the past, but nothing ever came of it. I suppose they want to help because it would be a boost to their already big egos, and also because they feel sorry for me. People should feel sorry for me. My life is so pathetic, and I hate the world for forcing me to suffer it. I feel sorry for myself.
'In truth, there is nothing men like Dale can really do to help me attract girls and lose my virginity. They can't mind-control girls to be attracted to me. My brief friendship with Dale would, however, spark a few more interesting e-mail conversations where I confide to him about how cruel I think women are by nature. He would only be amused by this. Of course he would be amused. Women were never cruel to him. They gave him sex and love all his life.'
CNN e-mailed Launer's rep for comment Sunday evening but has not heard back yet.
Rodger became convinced that winning the Megamillions lottery was his destiny. He began obsessively playing it and even drove to Arizona from California four times to buy Powerball tickets. 'I saw winning the lottery as the only way out,' he wrote.
'I knew I was always destined for great things. This must be it! I was destined to be the winner of the highest lottery jackpot in existence. I knew right then and there that this jackpot was meant for me. Who else deserved such a victory? I had been through so much rejection, suffering, and injustice in my life, and this was to be my salvation. With my whole body filled with feverish hope, I spent $700 dollars on lottery tickets for this drawing. As I spent this money, I imagined all the amazing sex I would have with a beautiful model girlfriend I would have once I become a man of wealth.'
After repeatedly not winning the lottery, Rodger saw that his plan for his 'Day of Retribution' against the world 'was more real than ever before.'
'Without the prospect of becoming wealthy at a young age, I had nothing to live for now. I was going to be a virgin outcast forever. I realized that I had to start planning and preparing for the Day of Retribution, even though I hadn't yet had any idea of what day that would be.'
Rodger began practicing shooting at a gun range in Oxnard, California, after failing to win the $120 million Megamillions lottery in September 2012, according to his writing.
The new hit console game, Watch Dogs, is already a huge success. The game is still in pre-order status and is not expected to be released until May 27th. The Ubisoft success follows a character using his smartphone to hack into and control the city of Chicago. The company's next-generation approach to Watch Dogs, along with many other unique and alluring factors have put the game on record as having the most pre-sale copies sold for a next-generation video game.
GameStop, the retailer experiencing the extreme excitement generated by Watch Dogs, has officially stated that the game is breaking its pre-sale records. Ubisoft, the company behind the creation of Watch Dogs has declared that the game has not quite earned its top pre-sale spot, though it is, so far, sitting in second place. The early success of this game has prompted 3,500 U.S. GameStop locations to open their doors on the night of the 26th to allow ample time for fans to pick up their pre-ordered copy. Ubisoft originally planned on releasing Watch Dogs earlier than the spring of 2014, but decided to delay release in order to perfect the game. The delay proved to be a good decision.
Watch Dogs' premise is based on its main character, Aiden Pearce, who is attempting to hack into the main operating system of Chicago-the Central Operating System (ctOS). The corrupt system is controlled by the government of Chicago and contains all of the important information within the city, including resident information.
Pearce is a former thug turned skilled hacker who is determined to protect his family from corruption and his past. The ctOS appears to be a beneficial system at first glance. It is a video monitoring system which links the entire city, from transportation to infrastructure. Through this monitors traffic, however, flow violence and much more. This allows for constant eyes everywhere, which in turn allows the city to adequately protect citizens and ensure that everything is working at maximum capacity in terms of efficiency.
This setting is incredibly intriguing for many gamers, and is a large reason why Watch Dogs has broken pre-sale records. The player has a chance to discover a real city with severe corruption problems. The user is given free reign and an intriguing character armed with the ability to manipulate an entire technological system from a single smartphone. Pearce is a vigilante, though not the kind that people are used to encountering, and is running from a dark past. He is extremely capable of manipulating technology, and seemingly does so in order to save his loved ones and the city he inhabits.
Because the game is yet to be released, reviews are sparse. The first person, however, to publicly review the game-Conan O'Brien-has touted that the game will blow gamers' minds and is bound to be a massive success. He focuses his review on the incredible roam and power given to Pearce, as well as the unique ability within the game to hack into all technology, even personal homes and other phones.
Due to the current success of Watch Dogs, it is likely the game will make waves in the next-generation gaming world. The game's hook is unique and extremely involved, with intense game play that will draw players in and never let them go. Judging from pre-sale success, Watch Dogs will continue to break records as it makes its way to gamers' personal consoles.
Opinion by Courtney Heitter
