The Paris ready-to-wear shows that closed recently left clear indicators for how women should dress for spring/summer 2006: There was an air of romanticism and dignity in nearly every collection.
Every catwalk show was packed to the rafters – in contrast to past seasons, where many seats were left vacant. Many people feel that as designers are creating pretty, romantic and reasonable clothes for “real” women, interest is on the rise.
Nearly every designer had some version of the peasant blouse, often worn off the shoulders. Jean Paul Gaultier looked to Ukraine, etching his blouses with needlepoint designs and slipping a vest on top. Phoebe Philo at Chloe cut hers from English eyelet-embroidered cotton.
Look for the return of the shirtwaist dress. Nearly everyone had a version of this garment, which buttons down the front from a shirt collar and is belted at the waist.
At Chanel, they were loose-fitting and splashed with an oversized houndstooth check in black and white. At Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs sent out a double-breasted dress in mocha cotton with epaulets and patch pockets.
Smock dresses, tent dresses and loose-fitting shifts will be a cool, comfortable way to get through the summer in style. They can be as simple as an English embroidered cotton smock worn over frilly little shorts from Chloe, or as easy as the loose-fitting flesh-tone sheaths with a touch of black lace shown at Christian Dior.
Related Travel Information
Just south of Miami in the Gulf of Mexico, there sits a special place – a tropical island called Key West. This scenic Florida Island is the perfect destination for summer vacations.
Warm weather, perfect water temperatures, and exquisite marine life make for one-of-a-kind diving experiences. Key West, dubbed the “Land of Hemingway,” is famous for its rich history, artistic appeal, and breathtaking sunsets. The streets of Key West are lined with charming, Victorian bed and breakfasts. Throughout the area, trolleys stop to pick up visitors looking to experience the fabulous dining, shopping, and nightlife on renowned Duval Street.
Key West
It’s a vast and lonely planet out there. But for those bitten by the travel bug, the way is well-charted. There’s information galore and the road is mapped to the maximum. The Internet is gaining ground on the information highway, but the printed word remains a favoured travelling companion.
In Calcutta stores, travel books become popular in the holiday season. And as people venture far and wide, the sales pick up pre-summer.
If Oxford Bookstore has sold about 200 travel guides in less than four weeks, at Crossword, sales in this category is up by 40 per cent. And at Landmark,
BEIRUT: Lebanon is a place where diverse religious communities mingle in harmony, enjoying long, leisurely summer evenings at open-air restaurants along charming cobbled boulevards.
That, at least, is the Tourism Ministry's message to the Gulf, to be aired in 30-second television advertisements in a new promotional campaign beginning next week.
Long focused on luring Europeans to Lebanon's beaches and mountains, the Tourism Ministry is now looking eastward, worried that news of bombings and civil strife might deter deep-pocketed Gulf Arabs from visiting Lebanon this summer.
"Sure we're worried," said Pierre Achkar, the president of the Lebanese Hotel Association and an adviser to the
August is “Romance Awareness Month,” and Canada’s Romance Agent™ Leona Hamel is all for keeping your relationship hot and sunny year long! “Whether you’re working hard or enjoying some vacation time this month, your partner needs to feel appreciated—to feel loved every day! Summer is no exception,” says Leona Hamel, Romance Agent™. Adds Hamel, “There’s no time like now to reconnect, recommit, and re-energize your relationship!”
In her book The ABC’s of Tease & Please – A Romance Handbook, Hamel’s “sexy persona” LouLou L’Amour writes, “A relationship can never have too much romance.” Unfortunately, there are those (you know who
Dave Matthews Band along with Black Eyed Peas, Barenaked Ladies, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Ray Lamontagne, Jem, and Mike Doughty will be performing at the first-ever Dave Matthews Band Island Getaway presented by Verizon on Randall's Island, New York on Saturday, July 30th and Sunday, July 31st. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the New York City skyline, this two-day concert event promises to deliver an unforgettable summer "island getaway" music experience for fans.
There will be two stages hosting performances throughout the day with Dave Matthews Band delivering the closing performance on the main stage each night.