Eagle Days at Old Chain of Rocks Offers Sightings, Activities

During winter months, the Mississippi River hosts one of North America's largest concentrations of bald eagles. They are drawn to areas of open water in search of fish, their preferred food.

The rapids to the south of the Chain of Rocks bridge create open waters which are ideal fishing waters for eagles.

Visitors are invited to view eagles through spotting scopes staffed by trained volunteers at any time during Eagle Days on the Old Chain of Rocks bridge Jan. 14 and 15 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

This is a unique opportunity to watch them fish, ride ice floes, soar overhead and roost in nearby trees.

The World Bird Sanctuary both days will present an educational program, repeated every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m., featuring a live eagle. Programming includes a hands-on exhibit of local birds presented by St. Louis Audubon, a full-size replica of an eagle's nest and warming tent activities including children's art courtesy of The Green Center on Saturday.

All activities are free. Both paid and free parking are available.

Eagle Days at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is produced through a partnership of The Confluence Partnership, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).

Visitors will also enjoy Lewis and Clark living history demonstrations at both bridge entrances. The Missouri bridge entrance will feature re-enactors from the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles.

Visitors can see how Lewis and Clark and their crew lived, cooked and traveled more than 200 years ago. Demonstrations will also include a flag raising at 10 a.m. and lowering at 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Illinois side will feature re-enactors from the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford. Both entrances will showcase life-size replicas of boats (called “pirogues”) used during the expedition.

Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly, wear comfortable shoes (eagle viewing occurs at the center of the Bridge, a half-mile walk from each Bridge entrance), and leave their pets at home.

Hot food and drink will be available on site for purchase.

If You Go...

To get to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge from St. Louis, take Interstate 270 east toward Illinois. Exit at Riverview Drive and turn right.

Turn left into the entrance of the Confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Park/Missouri Bridge. Parking at the Missouri bridge entrance costs $5.

Free parking is available at two satellite lots in Missouri, the St. Louis Welcome Center at Riverview and Interstate 270 and North Riverfront Park, off of Riverview south of the waterworks. A free shuttle will be available from both locations.

Sponsors to date include Dana Brown Charitable Trust, Trio Foundation of St. Louis, Edward Jones, Great Rivers Greenway, Illinois Conservation Foundation, Metro East Parks and Recreation District, Pettus Foundation, Missouri American Water, Cargill, American's Central Port, and ConocoPhillips.

2011 In Review

Epic fail award

Maybe there's no connection, but did anyone else notice the timing involved in the arrest of a Western Carolina University student on charges he used a toy gun to rob a bank across the street from campus in Cullowhee? The robbery came just days after of an announcement that WCU would institute a $399 tuition and fees hike. The kid had just that day been evicted from his apartment, too.

When police searched the apartment, they found the toy gun and the money — someone clearly hadn't watched enough bank heist movies.

The Captive audience award

To the graduation speaker for Nantahala School in Macon County, a cowboy preacher who tied up and blindfolded a student volunteer with ropes to make various points about the devil and sin.

This bizarre graduation spectacle was punctuated by the preacher's fire and brimstones sermon, all clearly and obviously and indisputably in violation of the separation of church and state to so overtly push religion in a school setting. Though Macon School Superintendent Dan Brigman initially defended the speech, he retreated from that stance when faced with a possible lawsuit with Freedom From Religion Foundation.

LeBron James award

Haywood County commissioners borrowed LeBron's mantra when they decided to sell out the county's landfill — kicking the home team to the curb for a chance at greatness.

The county turned over the keys to its landfill to a private, for-profit company. That company gets to sell off space in the landfill to other places looking for somewhere to dump their trash — interestingly, it gets to keep the money made off selling space in Haywood's landfill. Meanwhile, the company also gets a flat monthly fee for accepting the county's own trash.

Why would Haywood sell out for such a raw deal? Haywood County won't have to worry about replacing its aging fleet of landfill equipment or the cost of expanding the pit at the landfill in the future. It also won't have to worry about the large expense three or four decades from now to close out the landfill when it finally fills up.

Despite allowing a private company to sell off space in the county's landfill for a profit — something that could double or triple the daily volume of trash coming in — it won't fill up any sooner than the 40-year life it was previously projected to have when being used only for Haywood's own trash.

Maybe they should get the “fuzzy math” award instead?

99 percent award

There were no tents or campouts or long-lived protests for Occupy Sylva, who might better be dubbed Occupy Lulu's restaurant. Participants, mainly aging Democrats, rallied gamely one Saturday morning in October for an entire hour around the courthouse fountain on Main Street in Sylva before retiring into various downtown restaurants to do lunch.

The Occupy Sylva hour has given birth to Occupy WNC, which meets in the cozy warmth of a county government courtroom on Tuesday evenings.


One percent award

How does an annual salary and benefits of $185,000 sound? That's what the principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians makes, not counting a car. But a challenger for the chief's seat this year, Patrick Lambert, was willing to give up his own salary and benefits worth $446,000 annually as the director of the Tribal Gaming Commission for the honor of serving as the tribe's leader.

Lambert's salary at the Gaming Commission became public in the final weeks of the election. The big salary was justified as being commiserate with other top jobs in the casino industry compared to government service.

Dust Bowl award

Granted, there won't be any problem finding parking, but it sure promises to be lonely in Franklin's largest strip mall when Walmart moves a few miles away to a new location. A few of the strip mall's businesses are joining the exodus and following in the footsteps of the retail giant, but the rest are apparently left high and dry with an empty, hulking shell next door.

Walmart is planning a spring opening at its new location. The eight or so businesses left might consider planning a wake for about the same time.


Best idea

When Walmart abandoned its former store in Haywood County for newer, bigger digs across town, it left a hulking shell in its wake and a desolate strip mall with a shaky future. Haywood County commissioners, meanwhile, had been passing the buck for years on what to do about the antiquated Department of Social Services building, where 200 employees has been putting up with leaky roofs, frozen pipes, and quarters so cramped that closets had been converted into offices.

Haywood County bought the old Walmart building and repurposed it to house DSS and the health department and county planning offices, for a total cost of  $12 million — breathing new life into the strip mall and saving taxpayers millions compared to the cost of a brand-new facility.

Super Bowl award

Despite the hype, the hard-fought road to victory and the tears along the way, the game itself is always surprisingly anticlimactic — which Webster's defines as “lacking climax, disappointing or ironically insignificant following impressive foreshadowing.”

That pretty well sums up the first chunk of change Swain County spent from its North Shore Road settlement fund. After nearly 65 years of bitter fighting, Swain County got a $12.5 million federal payout to compensate the county for a 30-mile road flooded by the creation of Fontana Lake.

The money was put in a lockbox except for the annual interest it accrues. The county's first move when that first interest payment came through? Five commemorative granite pedestals in front of the county administration building honoring the key players in the fight.

Replicas of Columbus' ships dock in Punta Gorda

Rain could not keep visitors away from stepping abroad replica ships from the days of Christopher Columbus. The Nina and the Pinta are docked at Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda until January 2nd, 2012.

On deck and up high, the crew worked hard as the rain fell.

"It's really crazy that these ships made it into the New World. They were never inteded to cross the ocean," said sailor Andy Brittle.

The ships are a chance for history to come alive.

"I heard the sailers slept right on the wood and that would be horrible!" said young visitor Shelia Mary.

Mary and other visitors braved the rain for a glimpse into Christopher Columbus' shoes.

"It sounds like it would be a great adventure," remarked visitor Alan Adams.

While most wish a rainy day away, sailors out on the sea and encrusted in sail would welcome the water.

"What I learned on the ship is they actually enjoyed the rain becuase it gave them a chance to wash off."

The ships were built by hand and without any power tools. The vessels channel days gone by.

"That is kinda of the story of our season. Where we go, our 2 ships barely fit. There is no way the Santa Maria would make it," said Brittle."

Despite the Santa Maria missing, the lessons learned out on the ship's landing kept floating up.

"I think it was 32 on this one (the Pinta) and on the Nina it was 24," said Mary.

That rare and refreshing enthusiasm may be all the boats need to dry out.

Anyone wishing to visit the boats can do so from 9AM to 5PM until Monday, January 2nd.

Admission is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors, and $6.00 for students 5 through 16 years of age. Children 4 and under are free.

Town's fabled building lives again, at 1/4 inch to one foot

You can almost hear the rush of water tumbling back into the Occo-quan River after turning the paddle-wheel that powered the first automated grist mill in the United States.

The stones along the riverbanks look like they've been splashed. Mill Street looks muddy enough to mess up your shoes. The mill looks well used and worn and there is soot that stains the tops of the chimneys.

It also looks like just about every known picture of Merchant's Mill that was built in Occoquan in the 1750s and burned down in 1924. The miller's house, which stood beside it, still exists and is used as the Occoquan Historical Society's Mill House Museum.

Occoquan Town Councilman James Walbert has recently completed the model he built of the iconic structure, often viewed as a symbol of the town's historic beginnings.

"I was completely blown away by it," Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta said. "I could not have anticipated it was going to look so fantastic.

"He put a lot of work into to it," Porta said. "It is definitely a labor of love."

"Forty years ago, I would not have been able to do this," Walbert said. "The things I did on this model is the culmination of all my years of experience building structures."

Walbert built his first railroad model when he was 10.

"I've always made my own structures from scratch," he said. "This is in keeping with that. It is the same scale as my model railroads," which is ? inch to one foot.

Walbert said the idea of creating a model of the mill evolved over time. He credits former Town Councilman Leo Smith for planting the seed.

"Leo had a long term dream of trying to convince someone to build a full-size replica of the mill, especially with the historical significance with Washington," Walbert said.

Washington is believed to have used the automated operation of Merchants' Mill as the model for his grist mill. In recent years, the Mount Vernon Association recreated Washington's mill and it is open to visitors.

"It was one of those things that you talk about, dream about but getting someone to fund that would be difficult," Walbert said.

Since Smith is also a model railroader, they talked about making a model of the mill. The problem with that, Walbert said, was access to photos of it.

"You need pictures and you need to have them in front of you to think about it and all the pictures of the mill are at the museum," Walbert said.

However, Porta published a historical photo book of Occoquan early this year and it contained several photos of the mill, giving Walbert something he could work off of in his workshop.

"I had them right there at my finger tips anytime I wanted to think about building a model," he said. He also asked Porta, a member of the historical society, if the museum would be interested in having a model of the mill.

With the go-ahead, Walbert started planning and building in March. He didn't finish until the end of November.

"It was one of those things that I thought, 'Gee I could do that,' then I thought I would," he said.

Merchants' Mill was a stone, brick and frame building, 45 feet high and 75 feet long. From the street it was two stories, but on the riverside because of the bank it rose four stories.

Walbert used the photographs to take measurements for details such as window placement.

"I drew up the plans and I looked at the pictures, then I changed the plans and I looked at the pictures some more," he said.

"Take the windows and dormers: you mock them up and look at them from different angles; you look at the pictures and then you look at the model again. You move them around a little bit, you change their size," he said.

The windows were all framed with indi-vidual pieces. Then he deliberately used a thin white acrylic paint so the wood grain would show through. "The idea was not to make this mill look like it was brand-new. It had seen weathering," Walbert said.

The glass is clear acetate with wax paper behind it. "Wax paper lets the light in but you can't really see through it since there was nothing on the interior to be seen," he said.

"In those portions of windows and doors that are open, there is a box-like structure behind them painted flat black so the light doesn't go it. Through some of the openings, you can see some floor but it only goes back a couple of inches," Walbert said.

What took the longest and proved the most tedious was making the roof shingles. "They are individually textured and cut," he said, adding that he spread the work out over a month.

Walbert has a work area in his laundry room where he keeps his tools and a carv-ing bench. The model sat on a card table while he worked on it.

"I wanted it to look, at any angle, like any of the pictures of it," Walbert said.

"That was important to me."

While Walbert has a Ph.D. in mathemat--ics, he says modeling is simply "all 10th grade geometry."

He uses modeling as a stress reliever.

"Model railroaders are part artists, part engineer, part mathematician but all child," he said. "It has to be fun to do. This is a creative outlet for me."

He saw recreating the mill as a chal-lenge. "The more I thought about it, the more I said, 'I bet I could do that.' I very strongly believe that God has given me some talents and it much more fun, much more worthwhile to share those with other people," he said. "I could have built this and shoved it in a room somewhere in the house but that was not the intent.

The model was recently presented to the historic society. "They were just floored," Porta said.

Everybody who has seen it has suggest-ed he make more models of other historic town landmarks, especially Rockledge, Porta said.

6,000 weapons confiscated at county courthouse in 2011

Montgomery County Sheriff's Department deputies and Security Force personnel routinely seize guns, knives, razor blades or pepper spray from visitors trying to bring those belongings into the courthouse or other county offices.

Security personnel provide round-the-clock protection to county buildings and facilities 365 days a year and operate X-ray scanners at the courthouse, Domestic Relations Center, Family Court, Orphans Court and Youth Center.

On busy days, the courthouse draws about 3,000 visitors, and their purses, backpacks and briefcases must pass through a scanner.

Sheriff's Department officers recently showed off a sample of its confiscated collection of knives, blackjacks and everyday objects with hidden compartment capable of holding miniature weapons or illegal drugs.

Sheriff's Deputy Lt. Tom McDonald pointed to a small manicure kit affixed to a display board.

“You've got a lot of cosmetic cases that come into this building,” he said. “A lot of people don't think anything about it. They figure, it's just a pair of scissors, but you forget you have a serrated knife here.”

A 70-year-old man was carrying a walking cane that had a sword-like blade concealed inside.
“From now on we don't let anybody just walk in with their cane,” McDonald said. “The cane goes through the X-ray machines. When (this cane) went through the X-ray machine, we found a disturbing item inside. When it came up, (we) found a nice little sword.”

A confiscated ball-point pen and cigarette lighter hide small knife blades — and a large plastic comb concealed a sharp implement. Hollowed-out soda cans can be used to smuggle illegal narcotics or other contraband.

Security personnel have to keep an eye out for items that don't get X-rayed, such as shoes with secret compartments or plastic objects that could be used as weapons.

Derek Lam Sues Ivanka Trump For Taking His Shoe Design And Putting Her Name On It

Ivanka Trump is in trouble with Derek Lam. The socialite/heiress turned businesswoman has a few shoes in her Ivanka Trump Footwear Collection that are almost exact knock-offs of Lam's shoes. So his company is suing her.

Derek Lam CEO Jan-Hendrik Schlottman told WWD.

    “We have seen very similar copies before but we have never seen a shoe that perfectly copied…It's such an investment to make a shoe…we had to protest this.”

Meanwhile, he also admitted that Ivanka probably has no idea that her shoes are a direcy ripoff. Like a good Trump, Ivanka slaps her name on so many products that she likely was unaware that the designs were a direct replica of Lam's more pricy footware.

Celebrities turned fashion designers have a habit of knocking off more expensive products and selling them at a price point their fans can afford. And that's clearly the case here. Trump's shoe sells for $150. Derek Lam's retails for $780.

But the business of knocking off someone else's designs is a delicate process. And usually the one taking the design goes to the trouble of changing something about it to claim ownership. In this case, it just looks exactly like a lower quality version of the same thing.

The quest for cool

Athletics first captured my imagination because it looked cool. Simple as that.

As an 11-year-old glued to the 1980 Olympics on telly, I didn't really marvel at the speed and stamina of Seb Coe and Steve Ovett. Instead, I loved the way the looked, was fascinated by their personalities and also the tactics they employed. I liked their snazzy Nike shoes, Coe's 'double kick' finish and Ovett's wave to the crowd.

Other kids had pop stars. I had 'Covett' and the magnificent sport of track and field.

Yet looking back, I wonder now just how 'cool' they actually were. Their performances on the track have stood the test of time, but I'm not entirely sure their tight shorts, scruffy cotton vests and moody post-race antics are massively impressive with the glorious benefit of hindsight.

Not just Coe and Ovett either. Is Steve Cram really proud of those knee-high socks when he glances at the vintage coverage on YouTube? Is Linford Christie not a little embarrassed to see the skeleton suits and suchlike that formed his racing apparel?

British athletes ruled the world – they were fast, strong and handsome. But they were also fashion disasters.

This occurred to me recently when watching episodes of athletics action from around 1990 on the vintage TV channel ESPN Classic. It may have looked fine at the time, but looking back now the Lycra leotards make me cringe. When it comes to fashion and looking 'cool', I am afraid athletics has not stood the test of time very well at all.

Other sports have fared better. Images of Seventies footballers with sideburns and straggly haircuts might look slightly strange and old-fashioned to the current generation of youngsters. Yet (Kevin Keegan's curls aside) they generally still look pretty cool.

Cycling is another great example. Despite massive changes in equipment, the likes of champagne-swigging Jacques Anquetil, po-faced 'badger' Bernard Hinault, the 'cannibal' Eddy Merckx and aerobar pioneer Greg LeMond still look cool if you look at the photos and old television coverage today.

There are other examples, too, such as tennis. Images of Bjorn Bjorg v John McEnroe at Wimbledon in the early Eighties might look dated, with Borg's wooden racket and McEnroe's headband, but they still look stylish, even after 30 years.

I think modern sportswear also reflects this, with retro clothing companies such as Rapha and Fred Perry doing big business. Giant companies like adidas and Nike also often churn out 'old school' items, while replica football shirts such as the faded yellow Brazilian shirt from Pele's era or the azzurri blue top worn by 1982 World Cup winners Italy are big sellers.

Indeed, I still have some ancient Tour de France replica cycling tops that look great today, but unfortunately I cannot say the same for my old athletics singlets. Also, is it possible to buy vintage athletics clothing in the same way we can get football and cycling tops? I don't think so.

Of course not everything about the athletics of yesteryear is 'uncool'. The moustachioed Dave Bedford, complete with red socks and two fingers to the crowd, is one example of how athletics could be cool when it tried (or perhaps when it didn't try). Roger Bannister, with his heavy leather spikes and casual “I don't train much” mantra, is another example. In fact I would also say that running has also stood the test of time rather better than track and field.

Given all this, I wonder if the athletes of today will be remembered as being cool when we look back at them in 20 years' time. Also, just how 'cool' is modern athletics compared to more 'in vogue' sports and pastimes like mountain biking, surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, triathlon, basketball and parkour?

The answer – I hope – is that, yes, today's athletes will be remembered as being super-cool. For starters, the London Olympics is going to be an iconic event and perfect platform for track and field stars to shine.

Mo Farah will bring his goaty beard and killer kick; Phillips Idowu his piercings and (surely) golden haircut; Jessica Ennis her winning smile; Dai Greene his Spartan warrior shaved head; Paula Radcliffe her Samurai spirit and trademark red ribbon.

Katy Perry gets barbie dolled

Katy Perry's special-edition Barbie doll “sums up” her unique “personal style”.

The American songstress has had an impressive one-of-a-kind toy made by Mattel.

The doll sports a replica of the stunning cupcake-covered dress from Katy's hugely successful California Dreams world tour wardrobe. The candy-coloured dress is teamed with pink and purple heeled sandals with Swarovski crystal-encrusted fishnet tights.

The doll is completed with an electric blue wig – identical to the one Perry wore with her famous dress during the series of shows.

The intricately designed doll is testament to Perry's unique style.

“We hand-painted all the details and applied the crystals here in our design studio,” Peter Helenek, VP of design for Barbie at Mattel Inc., told WWD. “They create a look that sums up Katy and her personal style.”

Nicki Minaj also has a new Barbie. The rapper's replica doll features a long baby pink wig, complete with an impressively large rosy tulle dress and matching pink ankle boots.

Minja's doll comes completed with diamante cuffs and a Barbie necklace. Helenek says the attention to detail was paramount when creating the one-off collector's items.

“There are fans out there who look specifically [at the] shoes when buying [Barbies],” he revealed.

The dolls are on sale at Charitybuzz.com today. All proceeds will benefit Project Angel Food, which is a Los Angeles-based charity that delivers free meals to those with life-threatening illnesses.

Katy Perry's style shown in Barbie doll

Katy Perry's special-edition Barbie doll "sums up" her unique "personal style".

The American songstress has had an impressive one-of-a-kind toy made by Mattel.

The doll sports a replica of the stunning cupcake-covered dress from Katy's hugely successful California Dreams world tour wardrobe. The candy-coloured dress is teamed with pink and purple heeled sandals with Swarovski crystal-encrusted fishnet tights.

The doll is completed with an electric blue wig - identical to the one Katy wore with her famous dress during the series of shows.

The intricately designed doll is testament to Katy's unique style.

"We hand-painted all the details and applied the crystals here in our design studio," Peter Helenek, VP of design for Barbie at Mattel Inc., told WWD. "They create a look that sums up Katy and her personal style."

Nicki Minaj also has a new Barbie. The rapper's replica doll features a long baby pink wig, complete with an impressively large rosy tulle dress and matching pink ankle boots.

Nicki's doll comes completed with diamante cuffs and a Barbie necklace. Helenek says the attention to detail was paramount when creating the one-off collector's items.

"There are fans out there who look specifically [at the] shoes when buying [Barbies]," he revealed.

The dolls are on sale at Charitybuzz.com today. All proceeds will benefit Project Angel Food, which is a Los Angeles-based charity that delivers free meals to those with life-threatening illnesses.

There's still plenty of fun and inexpensive holiday stuff to do with the kids

It's easy for kids to get bored while waiting for Santa to arrive, so here are some suggestions for inexpensive to free events in the Orange County area that the whole family can enjoy.

A holiday classic.

Presented at Golden West College in Huntington Beach by Huntington Beach's Ballet Repertory Theatre, this is a great (and affordable) opportunity to enjoy an acclaimed production of The Nutcracker Ballet. Performances run through December 24, 2011. Check their website for details or to purchase tickets ($14 for children under 12 and $18 for adults with discounts for students, groups and seniors).

Not just flour and water.

You and your kids will be absolutely amazed at the award-winning Gingerbread Competition entries on display at the Science of Gingerbread exhibit at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. Houses? That hardly describes these edible edifices that are so creative and unique, you'll want to try your hand at making your own. Learn about kitchen science, participate in hands-on activities (including creating a cookie car to enter into the Gingerbread Derby) and even have your picture taken with Santa. This exhibit runs through January 1, 2012. Admission to the center is $12.95 for children (3 to 14) and seniors (62 and up) and $14.95 for adults.

Also showing through April 15, 2012 is Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination where you can build a robot, ride a hovercraft, see costumes and props from the movies and more. Cost for this special exhibit is $10 in addition to the general admission price ($8 if you buy your tickets online). For $5 more you can experience a virtual ride through space in a life-sized replica of the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.

Ride the rails

Southern California is rich in railroad history so there are plenty of fascinating places to take your kids to experience trains and their culture.

The Holiday Festival of Trains at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda features model and miniature toy trains and runs through January 2, 2012. Included in this extensive exhibit is a LEGO train metropolis “built with over one million blocks” and miniatures of the Polar Express and Thomas the Tank Engine as well as numerous famous Old West favorites. Admission to the Nixon Library is free for children 6 and under, $4.75 for children 7 to 11, $6.95 for students and active military, $8.50 for seniors and $11.95 for adults.

Santa will be at the Irvine Train Park nightly through December 23, 2011. Take a ride on the rails from the festive train station, through historic Irvine Regional Park all the way to the North Pole. Train ride tickets are $10 per person (children 2 and under are free) and there are additional activities for $4 per ticket. Some important information: It's highly recommended that you purchase your tickets online beforehand (there is a fee for this) if you want to ride at a specific time, as getting your tickets when you arrive there does not guarantee you a seat. Also, come early, dress warm and bring your camera.

There are numerous other train museums in our area. The Lomita Railroad Museum in L.A. County is relatively small and very inexpensive ($2 for children and $4 for adults), but fascinating nonetheless.

The Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, however, is 97 acres and contains the largest collection of trains, streetcars and interurban electric cars in the West. Admission and parking is free and open every day of the year (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 9 to 5. On the weekends you can buy an all-day pass to ride the trains for $8 for children 5 to 11 and $12 for adults. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes, bring your camera and expect to spend the whole day exploring this fascinating portal into the past.

Stuart Weitzman on Selling Shoes in a Recession, The Kate Middleton Effect

Stuart Weitzman rose to fame as a shoe designer after taking over “Seymour Shoes”, the company his father founded in the 1950s. Since then, he has become known for the pair of million-dollar shoes he creates for the Oscars each year, a celebrity fan base that includes Angelina Jolie, and his adventurous use of materials like Lucite and cork. Jones Apparel bought a majority stake in the company in 2010, but Weitzman has stayed on in a role that is largely unchanged. We talked with shoe guru about how the recession has changed shoppers, the "Kate Middleton effect," and his new Fifth Avenue store.

Women are so attached to your shoes. What kinds of stories do you hear from your customers about their collections?

One of my favorite stories was from a woman who wrote me from New Orleans after Katrina. She had raised her boat after the storm, and was ecstatic that her seven pairs of Stuart Weitzman heels, which had been perfectly sealed, had not been water logged. I hear from brides all of the time, threatening me that they need to find a certain pair of my shoes, or they aren't going to get married. Of course I help them. Women really love their shoes. [Laughing] Probably a little too much.

Some shoe designers don't like their footwear to be associated with comfort. What are your thoughts on that?

One of the most important things that happened with women's liberation was when the girdle was thrown away. And all of the effects from that. Now there is just so much choice [with shoes], which is a reflection that women want the decision, and they can't be told what to do, or to suffer for shoes that are beautiful. It's one of the first things I hear from women about my shoes, “Gee, these are so comfortable.” Even when I'm at a wedding, I'll hear from a woman that she is surprised she has been able to wear my shoes all night. I think comfort is crucial.

Where do you think women are right now in terms of the kind of heels that they like?

It's all about a woman's personality. Flats, high heels. There isn't a question that high heels are in fashion right now, and mid-heels aren't so much, but there are just so many options.

What does it take right now for a woman to buy a pair of shoes?

Women need to see something that's different from what they have [already]. This is probably why I don't make men's shoes  -- because they don't think like that. Half of the women who walk into my store are looking to replace a pair of shoes, and the other half are looking to buy a black pump and end up walking out with something completely different that they just had to have.

What Fall 2011 shoes have sold well?

Ankle boots, flat boots, man-ish kinds of loafers -- but feminized, with a tassel. Also, we have seen increases in spending on evening shoes.

Kate Middleton is a big fan of yours. Have you experienced the "Kate Middleton effect" like other retailers?

She has a pair of our Zipkin suede boots. They ended up in millions of papers -- because of her, not because of the boots. I really can't tell you we sold any more of them than we would have if she hadn't worn them. It was already a good selling item. There are occasions when a celebrity has a worn a pair of our shoes, and sales have skyrocketed, but it is usually more of a fashion shoe.

What's an example of when that's happened?

Jennifer Aniston has a pair of our espadrilles that she wore day in and day out during the past year. The paparazzi follow her around all day long. We noticed that she would change to a skirt, or jeans, but she would be wearing the espadrilles in all of these paparazzi photos. That influenced sales for sure.

Do you think the recession has changed shoppers at all?

I actually think it's helped industries like shoes, which have long been considered second fiddle in an outfit. Now women are using accessories -- shoes, a great bag, some jewelry -- to feel fresh. Accessories have gotten a boost from women who are looking to cut back spending on clothing.

Tell us about your newly opened New York City Fifth Avenue store.

It's always seemed like a far-fetched dream to have a store on Fifth Avenue. It's really exciting. We are getting a new customer in the store, a customer that might not have found us in our other stores. And a lot of tourists.

You seem to be in expansion mode right now with a string of store openings. Why is the time right?

Our collections are getting bigger and bigger. We aren't just the go-to for evening and party shoes anymore. Our flat business is doing really well. Our boot business is really important to us. Retail is where you have the opportunity to present your collection. When you're in a multifaceted retailer like Saks Fifth Avenue, they are only able to pick so much from your collection. Our stores are where we get to show everything.

What is Spring 2012 going to look like?

It's going to be a really colorful season. I feel like the shoe industry is single-handedly trying to lift people's spirits this spring. Don't read the paper, that's not going to do it. Don't watch the Dow, that's not going to do it. Walk into a shoe store. We are making shoes in bright colors like orange, fuchsia, turquoise, yellow. There will also be nice base colors this spring like soft blush.

ASICS Invites Gymnasts to Create the Ultimate Natural Shoe

33 members of the award winning GB Acrobatic Squad and Britain's Got Talent winners, Spelbound, spent the day in a London studio bent in eye watering positions to achieve an incredible human statue of an ASICS running shoe. The gymnasts contorted and supported each other to create this image captured by photographer Melvin Vincent to launch the latest collection of running shoes from performance sportswear brand ASICS.

The human shoe is a replica of ASICS' new GEL-EXCEL33, which is now on sale  at specialist running stores across Europe. The GEL-EXCEL 33 is the flagship model of the new ASICS 33 collection which is designed to allow all 33 joints in the foot to move freely giving the wearer a natural running experience.

The flexible gymnasts were directed by two choreographers to help the gymnasts mould themselves into the different shapes required to create the human shoe. To showcase one of the key properties of the shoe, called the 'Propulsion Trusstic' - which helps the foot transform from a flexible structure for shock absorption, into a powerful lever for forward propulsion - the gymnasts had to incorporate real athletic strength and skill by shifting their bodies into back breaking positions and strenuously lifting their team mates forward.

"This is a first for us" said Neil Griffith, choreographer and World Champion gymnastics coach, "we have worked for some interesting clients over the years but we've never been asked to create the shape of a running shoe before. Having 33 gymnasts involved and showing the human shoe move forward created some challenges but we are delighted with the result."

Filmed in HD, a behind-the-scenes film is available to view at http://tinyurl.com/7dwkvzn and shows the gymnasts back-flipping, somersaulting and throwing younger members of the team forward to show the explosive power the shoe offers the wearer.

Michael Price, Marketing Director of ASICS Europe B.V. comments: "The ASICS 33 collection is all about natural movement, flexibility and propulsion and so what better way to illustrate this than creating a human version of the shoe with some of the best gymnasts in the world."

Three photographs have been created to show the progression that the foot makes whilst the wearer is running and an accompanying film shows the gymnasts bursting forward at the end as the foot springs forward- highlighting the unique properties of the ASICS Propulsion Trusstic.

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Local briefs: Beverage containers benefit program

Pena's Disposal in Cutler is teaming up with CKidz Community Center by collecting empty beverage containers to help fund the Christmas Angels program, said Pena's Disposal spokeswoman Erica Gonzalez Ribeiro.

The program will provide a hot holiday meal, a food basket to take home, a visit from Santa, a jacket and shoes and a gift to open Christmas morning.

Recyclable beverage containers can be picked up at either home or office or taken to Crossroads Community Church services held every Sunday at the Visalia Convention Center.

Recycling containers provided by Pena's Disposal also are available for businesses.

For information contact CKidz at (559) 697-KIDZ or email ckidz@visaliacrossroads.com.

Senior agency looks for Santa volunteers

Home Instead Senior Care is teaming up with nonprofit agencies and local retailers to sponsor the Be a Santa to a Senior program, said Julie Swartz, a spokeswoman for Home Instead Senior Care.

The program collects, wraps and delivers gifts to lonely and needy seniors in Fresno and Madera counties.

Walgreens stores in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Sanger and Selma will have Christmas trees up until Dec. 20 with ornaments containing the names of seniors and their gift requests.

For more information, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.

Delta water accord wins support

Members of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley approved language Friday stressing the importance of sending enough water through the delta to protect fish and wildlife, finding ways to reduce the state's reliance on the estuary and recognizing the authority of local governments.

In addition to the eight counties in the Valley, all five delta counties -- San Joaquin falls into both geographic groups -- have endorsed the resolution.

Also ...

Japanese-American vets to get medals

The Central California District of the Japanese American Citizens League will award replica Congressional Gold Medals to local Japanese-American World War II veterans on Feb. 19, said Dale Ikeda, the event's co-chairman.

Veterans will be honored at the 2012 Day of Remembrance Luncheon at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building on Fourth Street, co-sponsored by the Clovis Veterans Memorial District.

The Day of Remembrance is a national observance remembering Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced internment of more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

A grant from the Nisei Farmers League is covering the cost of the medals and other expenses for the veterans.

Penner honored as top probation officer

Linda Penner, chief probation officer of Fresno County, was honored Thursday as Chief Probation Officer of the Year by the Chief Probation Officers of California.

The Chief Probation Officer of the Year award recognizes extraordinary and exemplary service to the field of probation. The award is not given every year, but is considered in years where significant leadership is exhibited.

Chief Probation Officers administer juvenile and adult probation programs for offenders sentenced to probation.

Visalia tree auction nets nearly $300k

Nearly $300,000 was raised for local charities on Dec. 2 by the 31st Visalia Chamber of Commerce Christmas Tree Auction, said Lisa Salazar, a public relations specialist for the Visalia Chamber of Commerce.

About 1,000 people attended the black-tie event at the Visalia Convention Center, Salazar said.

The Visalia Rescue Mission raised the most funds for its live auction tree, totaling $54,000. The highest-selling silent-auction item went for $1,000 and the most profitable silent tree brought in $1,100 for the Mt. Whitney High School Band and Color Guard.

Madera students ready to build house

The Madera Unified School District and Madera High School will host a groundbreaking Wednesday for a house to be built entirely by Madera High students, said district spokesman Jake Bragonier.

The groundbreaking for the Madera High School Community Housing Project will be at 308 S. J St., at 11 a.m.

The home will be built by Madera High students in the building trades and geometry and construction classes.

Marjaree Mason plans fundraiser gala

The first Marjaree Mason Center New Year's Eve Masquerade Charity Gala will be held in northeast Fresno on Dec. 31.

The gala will be at Copper River Country Club, 11500 N. Friant Road, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $150 per person and guests are asked to wear black-and-white attire.

Catching up with ... Corey Harris

Four years ago, Corey Harris did the unthinkable. He sold his Super Bowl ring. Strapped financially, saddled with business debts, the former Ravens' starting safety had no choice.

“I was struggling,” said Harris, who played on Baltimore's 2000 NFL champions. “I was at a place in my life where I needed to sell it. I'd made mistakes. Call it immaturity, ignorance or being distracted by the wrong things. Some people have to hit bottom before they can focus again. That happened to me.”

Now Harris, 42, wants to keep other athletes from doing the same. In Nashville, his hometown, he has established a sports education training program for youths from third grade on up. He gives them football, plus a playbook on life skills.

“We're going to partner with banks and businesses, to expose kids to money, credit and investments,” said Harris. “These are arenas where they need instruction, even if they're not going to play pro ball. And I feel like I'm a teacher, at heart.”

It's paramount, he said, for athletes to learn to choose their associates wisely.

“Problems like mine happen when you have people whom you trust, but who aren't qualified (to help), or people who are qualified, but whom you don't trust,” Harris said. “Those are bad fundamentals.”
A 12-year NFL journeyman, Harris played for six teams, none for longer than the Ravens (1998-2001). Fans remember his role in a rousing 38-31 defeat of Indianapolis in 1998, the Colts' first game in Baltimore since skipping town in 1984.

Harris juiced the crowd that day by returning kickoffs for 55, 49 and 47 yards.

“What I remember was that, on every return, I think, I was tackled by the (Colts') kicker,” he said. “The guys liked to kid me about that.”

A standout on special teams, Harris started several games at safety during the Ravens' march to the Super Bowl. In the 34-7 title win over the New York Giants, he threw two key blocks to spring Jermaine Lewis on the latter's 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

“The crazy thing was, I'd slept through most of the team meeting the night before the Super Bowl,” Harris said. “I woke up in the hotel in Tampa Bay and ran downstairs, with my heart beatin' fast. (Defensive coordinator) Marvin Lewis just looked at me and asked, ‘You OK?' There was no yelling. He showed true concern.

“Those were the kind of men that I'm proud to say I went to battle with.”

Few Ravens dressed sharper than Harris, whose flashy wardrobe wowed his teammates. One day, he'd wear platinum pants with a see-through sheer shirt; the next, it would be a red leopard print coat with mink-topped shoes.

“I never said I was the best-dressed guy on the team, only the most eclectically-dressed individual,” he said. “My clothing and my hair showed my entertainment side. I dyed my hair blond before the 2000 playoffs and kept it, until we won the Super Bowl.”

Then, the atmosphere in the Ravens' locker room was perhaps the most relaxed in football, thanks to Harris' efforts.

“I was ‘The Music Man,'” he said. “I'd get there four hours early, set up my portable Sony speakers and get my playlists together.”

Once, Harris ran late, prompting coach Brian Billick to walk past his locker with furrowed brow.

“He didn't hear anything, and he thought something was wrong,” Harris said.

A full-time starter in 2001, he left Baltimore that winter when the Ravens let him slip into free agency. Harris played two more years with the Detroit Lions and retired to Nashville, home of Vanderbilt, his alma mater.

Life was good. He ran a sports bar, a jazz club and a youth performing arts center. He established an independent record label and wrote a self-published novel, “S.L.O.W. (Secret Lives of the Wives),” based loosely on his private life as an NFL player. Harris has been wed three times.

Then misfortune struck, a time he calls “the fire in my life.”

What went wrong?.

“I didn't stick to the plan,” said Harris, who left it at that.

He now lives in Brentwood, Tenn. with his wife, Stacie, whose ex-husband, Chris Sanders, played for the Tennessee Titans. Harris' stepson, C.J. Sanders, is a high school football star and onetime child actor who played the young Ray Charles in the 2004 film, “Ray.”

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Grow your own Wembley and everything else a football fan could want this Christmas

we like to think we know a thing or two about football and like us, we imagine a fair few of you have friends and family that are football fans and you need to get gifts for them this Christmas, or maybe you just want to treat yourself to something special.

And if you are a bit stuck and need a bit of inspiration, we've compiled a handy list of the best football gifts available this winter. So why not take a look and get that perfect treat for a relative, a mate, or the most important person in your life – yourself – this Christmas. Go on, you deserve it.

Kicking things off is the Big Football Match Sound Machine, which lets you replicate the atmosphere in the stands wherever you are. Has someone made a cracking cup of tea at work? Have you just carved up the Christmas turkey and think you deserve the adulation of thousands? Then crack this nifty gadget out and get the big match atmosphere (minus the swearing and rude chants – you'll just have to make do with shouting them yourself) wherever you are. Heck, you can even use it at the game when you've lost your voice or have hot pie burning down your mouth – it's by far the greatest Christmas present the world has ever seen. And it's only ￡7.99 from Find Me a Gift – easy!

Of course, there are times when you have to keep the noise down, and the England flag in-ear headphones let you experience all the noise in a world of your own – and they make it clear to anyone around you (if the replica shirt, flag streaming from out your car and a face full of tattoos didn't already) that you're a bit of an England fan. Whack these in your iPod, fire up World in Motion, and get yourself in the mood for Euro 2012. Available from QVC for just ￡17.75.

Next year is a big one for football fans as there's the European Championships in Poland & Ukraine, but there's also the London Olympics, complete with its own football tournament – and the Royal Mint has released a special commemorative 50p coin, complete with a handy diagram to explain the offside rule if ever you need to remind the linesman after a howling mistake (please note that this should be done politely, rather than hurled at the official).

There are 29 coins, each featuring a different Olympic sport, and they all come in a snazzy package. Collect them all for a truly impressive haul, or just snap up your favourite (which would be the football one, obviously).

These limited edition coins will make a perfect stocking filler and really get you in the mood for the Games. Order them here.

Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj Barbie Dolls To Be Auctioned

Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry have finally made it to the big leagues, each being transformed into their very own Barbie dolls.

The pop superstars have both been made into one-of-a-kind dolls which  will be auctioned off for the charity Project Angel Food in an online auction with bidding starting at a cool $1,000.

The Katy Perry doll, made by Mattel designer Amy Lee, was inspired by the Kissed A Girl's scrumptious cupcake dress, and also features hand-painted tattoos, sparkling pink shoes and glittered candy cane mic.

Meanwhile, Nicki's doll, sees designer Stephen Sumner making a beautiful replica of the frothy dress from her Pink Friday album, with plenty of bling.

Do toning shoes work?

The buzz
The claims made about toning and wellness shoes are enticing: improve your leg and butt muscles simply by wearing them. On the Masai Barefoot Technology website, it says the Masai "sensor and balancing area" induces instability that your body instinctively tries to correct. "This correct action can help add more movement into everyday life and also lead to increased muscle activation and can help improve posture and balance."

Advertising for Fitflops features the slogan: "Firm up. Feel good."

A picture of Kim Kardashian advertises Skechers Shape-ups with the words: "The newest move in fitness ... is tying your shoelaces."

Toning-shoe sales in the US rose from $US17 million in 2008 to almost $US1 billion last year. But is firming up really as easy as putting on a pair of wobbly shoes?

What we know
In September, Reebok agreed to pay $US25 million to settle false-advertising charges after US consumer watchdog the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled that claims its EasyTone or RunTone shoes could strengthen hamstrings, calves and buttocks "just by walking" were unsubstantiated.

The ads claimed the shoes strengthened hamstrings and calves by up to 11 per cent more than regular trainers and toned the buttocks by up to 28 per cent more.

"There is no such thing as a no-work, no-sweat way to a fit and healthy body," FTC head of consumer protection David Vladeck said.

Reebok pulled advertisements during the investigation and is barred from repeating the claims.
Meanwhile, American publication Footwear News recently reported that the FTC and agencies in other countries were investigating claims made by Skechers about its Shape-ups.

The experts' verdict
Sydney podiatrist Brenden Brown, a spokesman for the Australian Podiatry Association, says claims made about these shoes are exaggerated.

"I have had half-a-dozen patients who have gone on to have injuries because these shoes are based on being unstable.

"I think they are an expensive fad."

Physiotherapist Holly Brasher, a spokeswoman for the Australian Physiotherapy Association, says research shows these shoes do change muscle activation during walking but the clinical relevance of this has not been determined.

Princess Diana's standby wedding dress and shoes sell for $84,000

A standby wedding dress and shoes which are an exact copy of the original gown and slippers Princess Diana wore to marry Prince Charles in 1981 sold at auction this week for $84,000. The replica items were made by the same designers who created the wedding dress and were intended for use as back-up just in case anything happened to the original dress and shoes.

Designed by David Emmanuel who was especially commissioned by Diana to create her royal wedding gown, the replica dress was never called into use on the actual wedding day itself, however it was seen by thousands when the dress was used on a waxwork model at Madame Tussauds for a special royal wedding display.

The ivory taffeta dress was sold by Madame Tussauds several years ago to an American collector who kept the dress in a private collection until its sale this week. The iconic gown sold for $48,000 yesterday with a fashion museum in Chile reportedly winning the bid.

The ivory slippers were designed to be an exact copy of Diana's wedding shoes so that either the left or right shoe could be replaced with one of the replicas should either of the slippers had been damaged or stained during the wedding day.

The replica shoes were never actually paid for by Princess Diana's mother, Frances Shand-Kidd, as she was unhappy with the final bill. The size 6.5 slippers, which feature the letters C and D on the soles, remained the property of the designer Clive Shilton, until this week when they sold for $36,000 at auction.

Vexed in Venice

Bar hopping with a bunch of gondoliers at Christmas wasn't Joan Juliet Buck's style.

When I peered over the Gothic staircase at dawn on my fourth day in Venice to see that the lobby of the Hotel Danieli was under 14 inches of water, I sent up thanks for my very first acqua alta. It meant the bar was out of commission. The bar's armchairs, stools and tables were already stacked all the way up the staircase. Our tribe began each day in the bar at 10: Peter O'Toole; his wife, Sian Phillips; her mother, known to all as Mumgee; their daughters Kate and Pat with their nanny Elizabeth; two writers in love, Harry Craig and Shana Alexander; and Joyce and Jules Buck, my parents. They and the O'Tooles had a movie company called Keep Films, and they were as inseparable in play as in work.

The acqua alta receded. Just before noon the furniture was back in the bar, and, sitting with their shoes planted on wet oriental carpets, so were the beaming grown-ups. The kids, the nanny and I held back. Wasn't it kind of chilly down here? I sneezed to make my point. Kate, who was 10, was happy: she'd been allowed to walk along the concierge's desk while the water was still high. I'd gone back to bed and missed the fun.

Peter and Sian's Venetian friends arrived, working-class stars of the tourist industry resting between summers: the Danieli's off-duty barman, Gastone de Cal; his pal the gondolier Gino Macropodio; their wives, parents, children and friends. There was a painter who made convincing Guardi oils, which, he swore, he never sold as the real thing. There was an aged gentleman called the Cavaliere, who was writing a cookbook about Venetian food with an exile from American wealth named Buzz Bruning, who had met his young wife, Leslie, as she chaperoned Finch College students through Italy. They lived in a house in the Sestiere di San Polo, where Buzz often cooked for the barman, the gondoliers, the Cavaliere and their families; that Christmas, he was preparing a bigger feast to include the 11 members of the Buck-O'Toole-Craig-Alexander party.

The group was some 20 strong by the time we hit the cold wind on the Riva degli Schiavoni, skirted the Doge's palace and headed into the back streets with a single mission: to stand at the counters of small Venetian bars and knock back little glasses of red wine called ombrette and eat little fried and breaded things called cicchete, and then walk up and down bridges and through the gray streets to the next bar, and the next, until lunchtime, which would happen at about 3 p.m. and be an exact replica of what came before, only this time seated and with larger portions of fish.

He takes the cake

Who says you don't have to work hard if you're the boss?

Flashing a smile and his famous Italian charm, New Jersey baker and reality TV star Buddy Valastro, aka the Cake Boss, worked up a sweat hugging hundreds of fans at a book signing sponsored by Rainy Day Books earlier this month at Unity Temple on the Plaza. Valastro, star of TLC's reality series “Cake Boss,” came to Kansas City as part of a nationwide tour that took him to 20 cities in 21 days.

A nationwide tour … for a cake baker?

Don't laugh. It sold out around the country. As one commentator put it, “we're in the golden age of cake television.” From “Ace of Cakes” and “Ultimate Cake Off” to “Last Cake Standing” and “Wedding Cake Wars,” cake programs are everywhere. In the last three years you could hardly turn the channel without landing on one of these sugar-soaked shows.

“Cake Boss” is arguably the most successful and highest rated of the bunch. Now seen in 180 countries, it has achieved near cult status, attracting throngs of giddy visitors to Hoboken, N.J., from as far away as Japan and Jakarta. The show centers on Carlo's Bakery (run by Valastro and his extended family) and the drama that ensues as they make their spectacular special-order cakes.

How much of a phenomenon is Buddy Valastro? His official “Cake Boss” Facebook page has 3.2 million “likes.”

On his page fans communicate with Valastro like they would a close friend. They share stories from their lives, leave compliments or tell him they're coming to visit. They even leave links for YouTube videos, where they tell him how much they love his show, or make their pitches for him to make them — or someone they know — one of his larger-than-life custom cakes.

“Hi Buddy,” wrote one fan. “I am from Hawaii and planning a trip to visit your store. Do you have anything for tourists like us to watch how the beautiful cakes are made? You are all so creative. It is always a WOW whenever I watch your show.”

But not everyone has positive comments. Some, like Rosemary Harding, leave sharply worded constructive criticism.

“Enjoy the show except all your screaming,” she said. “If I worked for you and you yelled at me the way you do the crew, I would walk out. There is no excuse for how you treat the other bakers. You should learn some manners and take a course in how to talk to others.”

But most of the comments are as sweet as one of the Cake Boss' creations.

Valastro is as popular with chefs as he is with home bakers.

Carey Iennaccaro, owner of Sprinkled With Sugar, a custom-cake business in Olathe, appreciates what the show has done for her industry.

Amy Winehouse's Back to Black dress to go up

Amy Winehouse's Back to Black dress to go up for auction alongside iconic pieces worn by Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn

Amy Winehouse's iconic Back to Black album cover dress is to go up for auction tomorrow alongside items worn by the late Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana's replica wedding shoes.

Amy's dress is expected to reach upwards of ￡20,000 with proceeds going to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

The Passion for Fashion auction starts at 2pm tomorrow (Tuesday November 29th) at the Royal Opera Arcade in London with preview pictures from La Galleria being released today.

In one picture Amy's father Mitch Winehouse poses next to his daughter's Disaya dress, as worn on her Back to Black album cover.

The chiffon dress was worn by Amy in 2006 and is printed with bands of graduated dark-red polkadots and a puff-ball skirt. It comes with a letter of authenticity signed by the designer.

Proceeds from the auction of Amy's dress will go towards her charitable foundation.

Auction house assistant Lucy Bishop is seen putting the finishing touches to other pieces up for sale – one of which is the dress worn by Audrey Hepburn to collect her Oscar in 1954 which is expected to fetch up to ￡60,000.

The so-called ‘Celebrity Section' includes a replica of the wedding shoes Princes Diana wore on her wedding day in 1981 as well as the Linda Cierach replica of the bridal gown worn by Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

Elizabeth Taylor's Balenciaga sari gown is expected to reach up to ￡50,000.

Kate Middleton's see-through dress -thought to have sparked the royal romance of the century - went under the hammer at Kerry Taylor Auctions back in March and sold for a staggering ￡78,000.

Kate famously wore the Charlotte Todd dress during a St. Andrews University fashion show back in 2002.

A wish list of accessories

It's not a question of acquiring the most toys, but the most interesting ones over the course of one's life.

My list isn't one of full of “needs” and not necessarily “wants.” I consider these items as “nice to have.” The methodology goes something like this: 1) Dream without limits; 2) Seek the unique; and 3) Maximize the “cool” factor.

So here goes:

10. 19th Century baseball — Talk about “old school” feel. Gripping this vintage ball across the criss-cross stitching led to the term “four-seam fastball.” Leather Head Sports' Lemon Ball is a replica of the predecessor to the modern baseball. Great to use for playing catch, or as a conversation piece on a desk or mantel.

9. Leather medicine ball — Nowadays, there are all kinds of classes, machines and free weights available for a vigorous workout. Medicine balls are still around as an option, but a leather-bound medicine ball preserves the retro aesthetic. Like the Lemon Ball, Leather Head Sports carries medicine balls that evoke memories of the early YMCA days, or even the store props used by Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers.

8. Model train set — Any man who has grown up with assembling layouts for running trains can rekindle his inner child as an adult. Lionel's Polar Express “O” gauge train set is popular restart. Careful … you might get hooked again.

7. Fountain pen — In a world of ball-points, the fountain pen is for sophisticated scribes. The caveat is to always keep it capped, or else ink stains quickly form inside the pockets of shirts, pants or jackets. Montblanc and Waterman are two of the best makers of fountain pens.

6. Bose Wave Music System with SoundLink — Bose not only raises the bar of sound through its components, it's a unifying force for PC's and small gadgets. The wireless function cements Bose's presence as a player (pun optional) in electronics.

5. The Apple triumvirate — iPhone, iPad, iPod. They keep getting better with every upgrade.

4. Bespoke footwear — Despite the high cost for a quality pair of handmade shoes, they become a sound investment that lasts for decades with proper care. In the U.S., Alden‘s shell cordovan line wears like iron. If you prefer English bespoke shoes and boots, the likes of George Cleverley, John Lobb, and Foster & Son deliver the desired results. Not least, if you're really into shoes, check out Berluti of France. Berluti's technique of adding customized colors to shoes adds another dimension to their uniqueness and undeniable artistry.

3. Swarovski Optik binoculars — Seeing really is believing. Looking through a pair of Swarovskis does not just offer a clear view from long distances, it's an experience. The resolution of these binoculars offer is without peer.

2. Patek Philippe timepiece — The ultimate in craftsmanship and luxury, Patek Philippe is a watchmaker that has three centuries' worth of history behind it. PP's pocket watches are especially riveting.

1. Aston Martin — The DB5 is the first Aston Martin model that appeared in “Goldfinger” (1963). Aston Martin has been featured in other James Bond movies, replete with bells and whistles beyond the scope of what's available to civilians. In any case, the DB5′s classic lines are nothing short of elegant. If you're fortunate enough to acquire an Aston Martin automobile, the only question is whether the steering wheel should be on the left- or right-hand side of the car. Either way, you're stylin'.

Relationship Tips From Ashton Kutcher

Having worked on glossy magazines, both weeklies and monthlies, for the best part of a decade, I'm well positioned to see the pros and cons of both. Working at a weekly is fast-paced and thrilling, but the stress forces you to transform gifted Hummingbird Bakery cupcakes into extra arse, and your friends and lovers only see you on Facebook. Working at a monthly, you occasionally get a lunchbreak, but you exist in a sort of seasonal timewarp whereby you're bored of Christmas by the time you finish the December issue in September, and you never know what month it truly is. However, the worst thing about a monthly is the gamble you take with your cover star.

And so we're dishing out a sympathetic arm-punch to poor Men's Health magazine, who interviewed Ashton Kutcher for their December issue back in October, when the star was still seemingly in a sound position to dish out cheesy wisdom about the secret to a long-lasting relationship. Now, of course, he's the most famous philanderer of the moment, and his wife, Demi Moore, has filed for divorce. Still keen to learn from the marriage master himself? "I think it's about working on the relationship and making it better...when it's good," preaches Kutcher in these now-outdated pages. "The goal is not to get into a relationship; the goal is to be in a relationship."

Another 'goal' is to not get caught shagging waitresses, but Kutcher didn't share this tip. Instead we get the following whinge: "I would just like a woman someday, somewhere, at some point in my life to say to me, 'You're a great listener,'" he moans. "Haven't heard it yet, and that's a superior compliment to get from a woman. But I'm going to work on it."

Hmmm, he might have to be patient for this one. The woman in his life is more likely to call him a "dirty big love rat" than a "good listener" right now.

Even more unfortunately for the mag, Kutcher's cover shot has him right next to an unrelated coverline blaring, "SEX SO GOOD...it's worth destroying your marriage for!" Okay, so we made up the last bit. But that's the inference. Oh, and Kutcher has been styled as a bar-room sleazeball who's about to ask 'suggestively' if you have any change for the condom machine.

To be fair, though (hey, so sometimes I feel like being fair - must be something to do with the moon) Kutcher wasn't the only bad bet this month: Kim Kardashian is on the cover of the December issue of US Marie Claire, talking about how great her marriage is: "We have a lot of trust, and I don't think either of us would do anything to break that," she lies, through gritted teeth. As every magazine editor knows, what a difference 21 days makes....

End This Womb-Watching Madness!

Another week, another female celebrity forced to declare that no, they are not pregnant, they just had a nice meal. This week, Katy Perry! "I like In-N-Out Burger and Taco Bell and if you want to make that pregnant that's your problem," said Perry. She's correct. Please can we stop with the womb-watching? It's totally creepy.

Lady Gaga Extends Evil Empire

Welcome to the season of cheap chocolate and rampant consumerism! May we unveil Lady Gaga's Winter Wonderland at Barneys in NYC, where crazed fans can spend $95 on a chocolate replica of one of her Alexander McQueen shoes.

Recession? Quoi recession?

Lady Gaga's Barney's Workshop, Rihanna's Collection, Janet Jackson's New Line And More

.On Monday evening, hordes of fans watched Lady Gaga grace Madison Avenue's Barneys flagship store in a custom Chael Eliza Doolittle-worthy dress, hoop-skirt and all. The occasion: a ribbon-cutting ceremony for her outlandish Workshop, which opened its doors at 11:59pm.  As you might expect, it was a scene that drew a rambunctious collective of determined young fans, infamous transvestites, fashion personalities, and celebrities from different parts of the pop cultural map. Nicola Formichetti, Blake Lively, Alan Cumming, and designers Prabal Gurung and Alexander Wang all came out to shop Gaga's wonky wares early, including our new workshop item of choice: the Linda Farrow Mickey Mouse shades, of "Paparazzi" fame, retailing for $425.

. Viewers shocked by Rihanna's profane shoes won't be thrilled to learn this, but she has designed some outfits for Armani, making December a particularly prolific fashion month for the singer. As her second fragrance, Rebelle, hits stores next week,  her capsule Armani Jeans collection also goes to retail at select vendors. Among the looks: some basic tees, two pairs of jeans, a leather biker jacket, a purse, and some lingerie open to wardrobe intepretation.

. Janet Jackson has quietly served as the face of Blackglama's fashion label for a few seasons, but she's ready to step up her role, collaborating with them on a 15-piece line of winterwear that's set to hit stores this month. Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's will carry the line, which offers the pop diva's spin on coats, vests, jackets, scarves, and gloves, all accented with the brand's signature mink – and leather, if you're nasty.

. Replicas of Bella Swan's famous wedding dress went up for sale the day after Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 broke records at the box office. Kristin Stewart's original dress was created by legendary designer Carolina Herrera, while the replica is sold by bridal retailer Alfred Angelo for $799. The same company has also produced replicas of Elizabeth Taylor's wedding gown in 1950's Father Of The Bride.

Christmas Collector's Editions: What You Shouldn't Be Buying

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (and Regular Sunday and Jewish-Sabbath Saturday in between) are almost upon us which means only one thing: It's time to heed Jim Cramer's advice and buy, buy, buy a fiscally irresponsible amount of videogames. After all, you've had a hard year, and all your cool friends are buying the latest, greatest -- well, at least the latest -- new games, and you've gotta fit in. But there's a fine line between being thrifty and plain old dumb with your money.

The good news, though, is that game developers know most customers don't care about that line, which is why they have embraced rolling out so-called "Collector's Editions" of their most anticipated titles. How exactly does one tell a Collector's Edition from the regular game? Well, if your game box is made out of vibranium alloy, contains a soundtrack CD, a cloth map, or some temporary tattoos, you may have purchased a Collector's Edition. This was likely very expensive. For a more concrete example, look no further than this $10,000 version of Fallout 3. Yes, 10,000 dollars. In bottle caps, that's almost enough money to afford the special chartreuse Nuka-Cola from the game.

To help you more wisely spend your holiday dollars, we, licensed doctors of capitalism-ology, are shining that little light thing doctors use to look in your ear on the types of extravagant, gussied-up, over-the-top editions of games you should probably skip.

Vamp it up! 'Twilight' wedding gown already for sale

Every generation's brides are inspired by a handful of style icons. Our grandmothers had Grace Kelly. Our mothers had Diana. We have Duchess Kate.

And now, Bella Swan too.

When a wedding is a cultural phenomenon, it's only natural to expect bridal copies ... fast and furiously. The “Twilight” saga is proving to be no exception.

Bridal design house Alfred Angelo just released its exclusive “Twilight” bridal gown on Monday. The gown, designed by Carolina Herrera, was seen by the public for the first time in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1,"  which racked up $139.5 million in domestic box office over the weekend.

The elegant gown boasts 100 buttons down the back and is made of lace and satin. At the  the Los Angeles premiere, Herrera said the design came from Stephenie Meyer's novel.

The design is about “the magic and the moment that is the wedding, and also about her (Bella's) personality, which is very important in a wedding gown," Herrera told the Associated Press. "She is this very innocent girl that is believing in her first true love and there is romance and there is fantasy and mystery. I took all that into consideration."

The replica
Unlike Kate's wedding dress (an Alexander McQueen original, the details of which were protected like the crown jewels until the big day), Bella's gown was shared with the design team at Alfred Angelo. Since the "Twilight" franchise licensed the design to Alfred Angelo exclusively, other designers will have to wait until after the movie to begin sketching and sewing.

The Alfred Angelo gown will be a replica of the one worn by Kristen Stewart's character in the film, available in sizes 0 to 30W, on sale for $799. Although the legendary Herrera designed only the gown in the film, not the knockoff, fans will be happy to know that she worked with the bridal atelier to ensure the accuracy of the copy.

As Twihards who stormed theaters over the weekend now know, the movie features both a real wedding gown as well as a fantasy wedding gown. Denise Walsh, VP of marketing for Alfred Angelo, said that while they are only copying the real gown, "we have a few beautiful styles in the Alfred Angelo line that look a lot like the fantasy dress (without the blood, of course!)." 

Something borrowed? Wedding poaching is on the rise

Emilie Spiegel, 26, a grad student writing her master's thesis about media constructions of young women in "Twilight" and "Hunger Games", said: "I'd totally wear the dream-sequence sweetheart neck dress in a heartbeat (get it? Vampires don't have those). But I think the real wedding dress would be really hard to pull off."

Bluebloods vs. vampires
Alfred Angelo is no stranger to re-creating iconic wedding dresses. Most recently, the design house — together with ostensibly every other bridal designer on the planet — crafted a copy of Duchess Kate's instantaneously legendary dress.  In fact, the design house has an even longer history of recreating iconic dresses: In 1950, they sold a replica of the “Father of the Bride” wedding gown Elizabeth Taylor wore in that film, a hit in its day.

The best little shoes for little feet

THERE'S a whole world of shoes out there for first walkers. Here are five of the best children's shoes around, as recommended by retailers.

1. Clarks Shaun sandal in colour choc/multi ($69.95): This style from the Clarks First Walker range has a closed-in back with a firm heel for support, says Danielle Elliott, of Ollie Ashenden in North Adelaide. “They have light, flexible non-slip soles that bend at the ball of the foot.”

2. Airflex Drew boat shoe ($69.99): Betts Kids Burnside manager Sianne Staker says this leather shoe is perfect for little feet adjusting to walking.

3. Airflex Flora shoe ($29.99): “These feature a Protect-a-Toe for long lasting comfort and flexibility,” Staker says.

4. Wiggles Crocs ($3): We found these cute Wiggles Crocs at Kidman Park Vinnies Superstore for $3. Vinnies state manager Lindsay Dunn says there's always a surge of donations at the change of season.

5. Clarks Tulip sandal, in Fuchsia ($79.95): This one is very popular, says Russell Ward of Ward's Shoe Store in Norwood. “You can get it in full and half sizes in narrow, medium or wide.”

Where do you shop for children's shoes?

Christmas 2011: Winter Sports Gifts

It's Christmastime, so it's time to start that holiday shopping. Don't wait until the last minute to buy your winter sports fan the perfect gift this year.

Here are some great gift ideas for your winter sports enthusiast:

Boston Bruins Pullover Sweatshirt

Made by Majestic, this premium pullover is perfect for your Bruins fan. It has a soft fleece lining to keep them comfortable and an embroidered Bruins logo on the front. Officially licensed by the NHL, this quality sweatshirt costs just $54.95.

USA Olympics Vintage Games T-Shirt

This long-sleeve T-shirt features a retro look and has "USA Olympic Games" printed in distressed screen print lettering. Lightweight, this is perfect for wearing around the house or under an Olympics sweatshirt. For just $20, whoever wears it will love supporting their favorite Olympic sport.

'47 Brand Anaheim Ducks Fitted Hat

This hat is a great choice for your Ducks fan because it comes in a variety of fitted sizes. They can show off their support for their favorite team by sporting this hat. With a simple embroidered logo, the hat costs $21.95, and it is also an official NHL product.

Arizona Cardinals Blanket Throw

Do you want your loved ones to stay warm this winter without turning up the heat? This large fleece throw is plush will do just that, and it is soft to the touch. Your Arizona fan will be pleased with this gift, which is only $34.95. This is the perfect gift because it sports Arizona's dark Cardinal colors and logo.

Dallas Cowboys Duffel Bag

This large duffel bag is perfect for your Cowboys fan on the go. For just $39.95, they will get a bag with an authentic Cowboys logo and tons of zippered compartments, including one for headphones and a ventilated one for shoes. This is also a great gift because it has a reinforced bottom for ultimate durability.

Boston Bruins 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Replica Trophy

Make your NHL fan feel like a Bruins champion with this replica trophy. Eight inches high, it's perfect for a top spot on the trophy shelf as a constant reminder of the 2011 victory. It has a high-quality, bright Bruins logo on the front (perfect to go with that Bruins sweater). For $47.95, this is a limited-edition collectible product, so be sure to buy this for your Bruins fan before the season is over.

These are all great gifts for your sports fan this winter season. Whether it's a sweater or a cap, he or she will enjoy sporting the logo of his or her favorite team.

Blessing' at George Washington Carver Museum

One friendship can change the world.

That's the idea behind "A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People" a traveling exhibit showing at George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center. The exhibit tells the story of the unique friendship between Karol Wojtyla, later known as Pope John Paul II, and Jerzy Kluger, who became the Pope's personal emissary to Israel.

The childhood friends grew up in the atypical Polish town of Wadowice, where Catholics and Jews co-mingled despite the 2,000 years of painful history between the religions. The Pope later made remarkable contributions to the relationship between the Catholic and Jewish faiths during his papacy, including being the first pope to visit a synagogue and recognizing the state of Israel.

"The story just touched me, and it crosses all boundaries," said Nancy Splain, the program chairperson. "We've had a Native American man come in who reflected on his own culture's past, and another person who lost family in the Holocaust."

The exhibit opened on July 15, 2005, at Xavier University in Cincinnati, and made its way to various Holocaust and Jewish heritage museums, and universities in 15 cities. Miryam Salter, a member of Temple Chai in Phoenix, invited Splain, a member of Shepherd of the Hills United Church of Christ, to see visiting scholar Rabbi Abie Ingber of Xavier University speak in 2007. Ingber talked about the exhibit, and the women were so moved by the story that they wanted to bring the exhibit to the Valley.

With no university or major museum to back the project, Splain, Salter and their friends partnered with the Arizona Ecumenical Council, and worked for four years to bring the exhibit here.

"This is truly a grassroots effort," Splain said. "We brought together a group of people from diverse areas of our community to bring the exhibit here."

The interactive exhibit features a maze of large wooden panels covered in pictures, stories, facts and quotes. Artifacts and television screens featuring interviews with historians, Wadowice townspeople and Holocaust survivors are spread throughout. The exhibition, which takes about 45 minutes to view, is divided into four sections.

The first focuses on life in Wadowice and the interaction between the Jewish and Catholic communities in the town. Visitors then enter the second section, the Krakow Ghetto, one of the Nazi-created Jewish ghettos during World War II. There, visitors will see bleak reminders such as shoes from the Holocaust Museum in Auschwitz, and will learn about contributions Poles made to help rescue some Jews.

"Overall, the Polish saved more Jews during World War II than any other country," Salter said. "Any Pole caught aiding a Jew was shot to death on site. Overall, six million Poles were murdered."

The third section highlights Wojtyla's journey from priest to bishop to cardinal, and how he maintained close ties with the Jewish community while serving as bishop. The final part of the exhibit celebrates John Paul II's papacy, and his historic visit to Israel, featuring a replica of Jerusalem's Western Wall. There, visitors can write a prayer and slip it in the wall's cracks, and the prayers will be taken to the real Western Wall. As guests leave, they can touch a bronze sculpture of Pope John Paul II's hand.

There is a section honoring Pope John Paul II's 1987 visit to Arizona, and a tribute to Phoenix's late Rabbi Albert Plokin, who was known as "everybody's rabbi."

The host committee members combed the Valley for a venue to house the exhibit, but because of the religious connotations, many public venues turned it down. The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center once was home to Carver High School, which until integration of schools in 1954 served only African-American students.

"The site of the Carver Museum has its own painful history," said Missy Shackelford, host committee chairperson. "Their mission statement, like ours, is to embrace each other, and practice tolerance, openness and respect toward one another."

Splain says everyone can learn from this exhibit.

"It shows the power of friendship," Splain said. "It doesn't matter your religion, your economic status, your ethnic or economic background. Anyone can relate to this exhibit because it teaches the importance of openness and respect."

Chris Isaak Rises to the Occasion on Beyond the Sun

Chris Isaak entered this world to the tune of "Blue Suede Shoes," which his mother was singing as he was born. And since that summer day in 1956, the music that grew out of Sun Studio has remained a cornerstone of Isaak's life.

This year, Isaak waxed his own versions of those early rock 'n' roll records right at the source -- the one and only Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn. The California-based crooner, best known for his sensual 1989 pop hit "Wicked Game," released Beyond the Sun in October. The labor of love pays tribute to musical heroes like Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and, of course, Elvis Presley.

Isaak gathered his band in Memphis for about a week for the recording sessions, which took place after the studio tours concluded for the day. His guests and spiritual advisors included Cowboy Jack Clement, the first hired engineer-producer at Sun, and Roland James, the longtime guitarist for Jerry Lee Lewis. Working quickly, the combo captured the immediacy and energy of that musical era.

Calling from California, Isaak chatted with CMT.com about setting up the band in Sun, giving due credit to producer Sam Phillips and playing the new album for his parents for the first time.

CMT: Sun Studio is such a small room. How long did it take to figure out where to stand?

Isaak: It's funny because we walked into the room, and my bass player said, "Where do I put the bass?" I looked down at the linoleum floor, and there's a hole where all the bass players have stuck their peg of their stand-up bass from the time of [bassist] Bill Black and [guitarist] Scotty Moore and Elvis on. I said, "Well, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us. Stick it right there."

When I took the tour of the studio, I was amazed by how incredibly well-preserved it is. It's not like a replica of Sun Studio. It is Sun Studio.

Yeah, I love the studio. It's a great-sounding room. It's the right size. It's probably not the right size if you wanted to cut Abbey Road, but if you wanted to cut those kind of early rock 'n' roll records, where it's just a couple of guys grooving and swinging, man, it's the best-sounding room ever.

Why do you think those early Johnny Cash records from Sun have stood the test of time?

I think there's a simplicity to those songs that made them bigger than country music or rockabilly or anything else. They're so simple that people can relate to them -- whether they're in a punk band, whether they're a 70-year-old guy listening to country or whether they're a pop fan. They just cut through. That is Johnny Cash's genius.

And I also give huge credit to Sam Phillips because most other producers would have had that band walk in and say, "Let's hear your band." [Isaak impersonates the Tennessee Two's simple boom-chicka beat.] Most producers would have said, "That's it?! We've got to get real players. Let's hire some guy to do all kinds of picking around you." And that would have ruined it!

Has fast fashion gone too far?

To mark the 150th anniversary of the tuxedo, Primark is releasing its own version for ￡40, complete with a wing-tipped collar (an extra ￡7) and bow tie to see you through the Christmas party season, any winter wedding you may be invited to, and beyond.

Considering suit hire somewhere like Moss Bros starts at over ￡50, this doesn't sound like a bad investment, especially if the fit is decent. It's not the only wedding-wear that's been given a fast fashion makeover recently, either. Duchess Kate's replica sapphire engagement ring is currently a bargain best-seller at ￡18 (plus 25 percent off) at M&S, Pippa's replica bridesmaid dress (and the emerald green Temperley gown she wore for the royal wedding reception) are available for ￡170 and ￡99, respectively, from Debenhams, and a ￡1000 copy of Kate's McQueen wedding dress has been on sale at House of Fraser since May.

So if you thought the demise of fast fashion was imminent, hold your breath. The demand to wear what our celebrity icons do, get a catwalk hit into our closets and try out trends (or formal wear) on the cheap is still prevailing. There's no point in trying to save up for an item you love anymore when you can just hop over to H&M and buy the cut-price version (or wait for your fave designer to collaborate on a line with the store). And when you think of all of the designers creating cheaper collaboration lines, from new couturier Giambattista Valli for Macy's to Karl Lagerfeld for everyone from Sephora to H&M, you realise that designers need the mass market nowadays as much as the rest of us.

Our need to consume the immediate - what's hot, now - and to emulate those whose style we admire means that shopping has become a rather desperate pursuit that is often about instant gratification rather than creativity, exploration or adventure. When we can (in theory, not that we could afford it) purchase a catwalk look minutes after it's debuted for the first time, it's no wonder the idea of waiting (to have something made, or saving up to afford something we really want or need) seems foreign.

Savile Row tailoring is steeped in history and in the one-of-a-kind, creating bespoke suiting for gentlemen the world over from the 19th century - it's the site where the tuxedo originated, created by Henry Poole in 1860 for the Prince of Wales. Which isn't to say that it doesn't belong on the high street, but perhaps its existence there means we've lost the capacity to respect something that was once a craft?

However, it seems a necessary evil; Savile Row may still exist, but the prices for a bespoke suit make it increasingly unapproachable for most people, and designer costs are extortionate, so where else are people going to get their formal wear? Moss Bros, Next, Austin Reed... why not Primark, too?

While one may lament that the tuxedo would receive the mass market, factory-made treatment, I think it's no more offensive than seeing replica glitter Miu Miu shoes on every shop floor. In fact, it's probably more useful to find a cheap ￡47 tuxedo on the high street than the more dubious items like printed harem pants and sequinned bra tops, which seem to be ubiquitous there.

Because yes, one of the best things about fast fashion is that it offers customers the chance to try something fashion-forward and risqué, to cover themselves in snake print and ponchos and PVC like the a/w 2011 catwalks showed (without the tragic cash commitment of spending hundreds of pounds on something that will quickly wind up in the bin before you can say 'next season').

But fast fashion stores are also where regular, normal people shop - those not particularly interested in the latest trends but who are just looking for a skirt or a jacket or a trouser suit for the office, or clothing for their kids, or something decent and inexpensive to wear to the holiday party. It's where most people shop because designer duds are too dear and eco-conscious clothes are, too.

Of course, the view that fast fashion is irresponsible and the antithesis to sustainable living exists. It's wasteful on the environment and promotes an unnecessary consumerism (the whole point of the high street is that you can afford more than just one 'investment' piece per season), and buying fast fashion means that you're endorsing something that's potentially (or highly likely to be) unsavoury: who is making these clothes and under what conditions?

The truth is, we don't like to think about the reasons that made it possible for our latest dress purchase to be so cheap (and many wear their cheapo high street finds with as much pride as their designer duds). Not only is it easy to ignore wear lots of our clothes come from, it's also still a lot harder to buy the 'right' kind of clothing.

It still feels like no matter how many sustainable eco-initiatives there are out there, ethically produced fashion is still only a viable option for some – those who have done the research and can afford to spend more money on that T-shirt or pair of jeans.

And eco-friendly tuxedos are still few and far between. The other options are high-end, Savile Row-fare or something designer, by someone like Tom Ford, who incidentally is completely against fast fashion (that's why he doesn't allow the images from his fashion shows to be released until moments before the clothes hit stores). "All of the fast-fashion companies that do a great job, by the way, knock everything off. So it's everywhere all over the streets in three months and by the time you get it to the store, what's the point?" he has said.

Well, for some, there isn't much of an option otherwise, so there is a point. Even if your Primark tuxedo falls apart after a few wears, you've gotten more out of it than a rental. Or, if your conscience won't allow it, there's always vintage (still sometimes expensive) or the charity shop route. You can shop knowing it's not harming the planet and is easy on the wallet, and there are often quite a few retro tuxedos milling about on those racks.