The Independent - News RSS Feed

Bespoke boom: Demand surges for handmade shoes

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Bespoke shoemakers are cashing in on the growing demand for exclusive, good-quality women's shoes, fuelled by celebrity devotees such as Kate Moss and Freida Pinto. With sky-high heels de rigueur on Britain's streets, women are resorting to expensive measures to make their feet stand out from the crowd.

Weekly beauty calendar: Forever 21, Cosmoprof Asia

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Forever 21's beauty line launches the week of November 7, while thousands of exhibitors will gather at Asia's biggest beauty fair and NARS celebrates its 15 years. Coming up within the next four weeks: the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit, the British Hairdressing Awards, and the Miss International pageant.

Best-selling beauty products of the moment (US): product combination sets still all the hype

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

US beauty shoppers are willing to spend again, and combination sets are still hot, according to Sephora's lists of topselling products.

As populations age, demand for 'cosmeceuticals' expected to rise

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A study on the global cosmeceuticals industry released by market researchers Scientia Advisors on Tuesday says that the sector is growing rapidly and manufacturers need to add new ingredients to their product lines to sustain the growth.

Video tutorials: Dark makeup and glitter for winter

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here are five beauty looks that are hot this cold season. YouTube users show you how to create smokey or glittery makeup, dark lips, high buns, and crimped hair as seen on the runways.

Video tutorials: How to knit

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For obvious reasons, knitting comes back into fashion every winter but recently, the craft has enjoyed a popularity that goes beyond the annual return to a hobby, with so-called 'knitting cafés' sprouting up and glossy books being published on the topic. Here are five of the best video tutorials to get you started.

A new look for Barbie

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Is it just that Barbie and Hello Kitty are celebrating their big birthdays this year or are women increasingly regressing into childhood in the face of the grim economic climate? Barbie has released yet another beauty collaboration, this time together with New Look.

Pakistan fashion week begins under shadow of Taliban

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pakistan's fashion week began Wednesday with an opulent opening ceremony, against a backdrop of militant violence and security fears that delayed the event and kept away foreign glitterati.

Paul Mitchell heir opens first salon

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Angus Mitchell, son of the prominent hair salon chain's founder, has launched his first signature salon in Los Angeles.

Victoria's Secret announces new 'Angels'

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The US lingerie brand's model lineup for its next fashion show, due to be taped November 19, includes fresh-faced Chanel Iman and other newcomers, while Heidi Klum takes a pass.

New fashion iPhone apps: Bebe

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Now fans of the beauty label can browse all products available on bebe.com on their iPhone.

Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga to front cosmetics campaign

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Both pop icons have been making fashion headlines recently -- Lady Gaga through her collaboration with Hello Kitty, among many others, and Cyndi Lauper by getting her own Barbie doll and designing a t-shirt for H&M -- but next year, the two ladies will front a major beauty campaign.

Lady Gaga and Hello Kitty team up for styling extravaganza

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As part of the 35th anniversary celebrations of Hello Kitty, stylist GK Reid, pop phenomenon Lady Gaga, and toymaker Sanrio have released a series of photographs, showing Gaga in custom-made Kitty costumes.

Fashion photographer gets 'definitive' retrospective in Berlin

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

F.C. Gundlach, who built a reputation between the 1950s and 1990s for his fashion but also his travel and portrait photography, will be honored in a new German retrospective, opening November 20.

British Fashion Council launches new support scheme

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Similar to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in the US, the British Fashion Council (BFC) Vogue Designer Fashion Fund to foster home-bred talent has been announced November 3.

Anti-wrinkle bra comes to Europe

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Successful Dutch invention 'La Decollette,' a bra against vertical wrinkles on the cleavage, has been launched in Belgium, the UK, France, Spain and Germany.

Forever 21 to launch beauty line

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

US fast-fashion retail chain Forever 21 is ready to release its eagerly awaited 'Love and Beauty' range November 8.

Beauty brand publishes study on stem cell wonder cream

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The newly launched Absolue Precious Cells face cream by Lancôme -- the latest release amid the recent stem cell skincare craze -- promises to "help restore the potential of skin stem cells and bring back the skin of youth."

Designer tie-ups: A high street love affair

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

It is the one trend that refuses to die. Fifteen years after Debenhams sparked a retailing revolution with its diffusion collections by the celebrity milliner Philip Treacy and the designer Jasper Conran, the fashion for red carpet labels to seek tie-ups with high street stores is still going strong.

Harrods to open revamped menswear department

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:16:07 GMT

There's no sign of hard times at Harrods - the landmark British retailer re-opens its revamped menswear department tomorrow, after two years in the making.

Beauty label launches own tutorial channel

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Following the growing trend of online beauty tutorials on YouTube and other video portals, US brand Stila has introduced its own channel, stilabeautytube.com.

Supermodel's beauty line now available

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After former Project Runway contestant Christian Siriano designed a beauty range for Victoria's Secret, supermodel Heidi Klum is next in line -- her collection for the lingerie label has just been released.

Fashion Arabia draws 'serious buyers'

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Organizers of the Abu Dhabi expo said October 27 that they were happy with the event's turn-out so far.

Fashion rocks Brazil

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Some of the best-known figures in fashion and music teamed up for the fourth international Fashion Rocks showcase in Rio de Janeiro.

I would not make it as a supermodel today, Crawford says

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

US former supermodel Cindy Crawford says she would have little chance of making it big in the fashion business today with her curvy figure, a German celebrity magazine reported Tuesday.