Buy Monica It had to happen. Monica Lewinsky, the world's most infamous woman, has launched a career in fashion. Big news in New York during the spring 2000 shows was Lewinsky's decision to sell a line of handbags on the Internet. The former White House intern apparently took to knitting and sewing while she was sequestered in a Washington apartment waiting for the impeachment thing to be over. She made a few bags, which her friends loved, and was encouraged to turn her hobby into a business. Only in America ...
Pashmina sale Good news for people who can't get enough of those pashminas: prices have come down low enough for them to be seen - almost - as a non-luxury item. A sale-cum-exhibition focusing on silk pashminas and pure pashminas will be held by India-based Iqbal Menon at the Mandarin Oriental on September 23-24. Menon promises innovative embroidery and beading, and some interesting mirror-work will also be on show. Prices range from $800 to $3,800 for the more extravagant versions.
New faces Last season, the fuss was all about 'the last fashion collections of the old millennium', now it's 'the first season of the new millennium'. No one expects any great epiphanies on the catwalks (the Milan shows are this week), but everyone is interested in the new faces of 2000. With the exception of Naomi Campbell, who still makes the occasional catwalk appearance, the other supermodels are long gone: Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen have opted for motherhood; Claudia Schiffer is off doing her own thing. (Schiffer's long-standing romance with multi-millionnaire magician David Copperfield has apparently hit the skids: she's been seen holidaying with a fashion designer who works with Valentino. Copperfield has been spotted hanging out with a Chilean TV star.) Kenzo bows out After 30 years in the business (as of next month), fashion designer Kenzo has announced his retirement. The Paris-based Japanese designer, who eschews minimalism with his ethnic-inspired, colourful clothing, will take his final catwalk bow after his ready-to-wear show in Paris on October 7. Word has it he will be designing costumes for the theatre. No news yet about a successor.
Back to Jacques Back in Hong Kong, hairstylist Roland Boutin, who left hair and beauty salon Jacques Dessange to take up a position at Il Colpo, is returning to Jacques Dessange. He will be working at the new branch to be opened in Sogo, Causeway Bay. It will reportedly be located on a floor dedicated entirely to beauty - like so many Hong Kong women - and will offer head-to-toe service.
Cause for concern Cosmetics giant Estee Lauder continues its crusade against breast cancer by declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Its sales staff will be handing out pink ribbons - which have become the emblem of the oh-so-socially-aware - instead of those little perfumed cards whenever you venture close to an Estee Lauder counter. Apparently, the tactic is 'highly effective in creating awareness in the US', but whether it will work so well here is anybody's guess. Lauder and its sister companies, Clinique and Origins, are also helping to put together gift packs for women recovering from breast cancer, in a project with the Hong Kong Cancer Fund. Now that's useful.
