Fashion Week El Paseo™2012 Wows Record Audiences - The Largest West Coast Fashion Week Featured Nightly Runway Excitement and Glamorous Fun

The 2012 Fashion Week El Paseo™, produced by Palm Springs Life magazine, which took place March 16-24 set a new

record for fashion excitement and runway thrills during the 7th annual event held in the dazzling Southern

California desert resort city of Palm Desert.

Palm Desert, CA (PRWEB) May 15, 2012

The 2012 Fashion Week El Paseo™, produced by Palm Springs Life magazine, which took place March 16-24 set a new

record for fashion excitement and runway thrills during the 7th annual event held in the dazzling Southern

California desert resort city of Palm Desert.

For nine exciting days and nights, Fashion Week El Paseo™ presented the best of West Coast fashion design with a

stellar line-up of high energy runway shows by celebrated designers, festive pre-event receptions, and one-of-a-kind

trunk shows throughout the week.

Fashion Week El Paseo™ has established itself as the premier West Coast consumer-driven fashion experience

showcasing the newest collections by top designers, as well as fresh cutting-edge style by emerging designers. The

event has grown in attendance and media coverage throughout the past seven years with 2012's attendance reaching

11,140, an increase of 19.2% from 2011. This represented an economic impact to the local community of $2,940,960.

In addition, the promotional value to the community in public relations, broadcast, and print/online advertising was

valued at over $1,801,367.00.

"The economic impact, excitement, and enthusiasm generated by Fashion Week El Paseo™ clearly reached a new benchmark

in 2012," said Ruth Ann Moore, City of Palm Desert economic development manager. "We are thrilled to be the host

city for this major West Coast fashion event."

Fashion Week El Paseo™ also raises funds for local nonprofit organizations, benefitting nearly 23 charities with

nearly $100,000 accumulatively.
The 2012 Fashion Week El Paseo™ featured numerous notable highlights including:
The Best of Saks Fifth Avenue's Spring 2012 Collection
Featured Designer Lloyd Klein -- The Parisian Los Angeles-based designer debuted his "LKLA" and "LKBH" collections

of contemporary sportswear and presented his evening couture, followed by a trunk show the following day.
The Stars of Project Runway - This thrilling event featured seven Project Runway winners and all-stars from the

wildly popular TV show Project Runway. A public trunk show by all seven designers kept the Project Runway excitement

going through the next day.

Debut 2012 of The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) - This runway show featured the next

generation of emerging designers from FIDM in Los Angeles.
Featured Designer Anthony Franco -- This talented designer, who has dressed Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz,

presented his striking new men and women's wear collection for Spring 2012.

Mark Zunino, Designer of the Week - Fashion Week El Paseo™ concluded with a dazzling runway show by couturier Mark

Zunino who presented a spectacular collection of evening wear that evoked timeless Hollywood glamour.

For more information on Fashion Week El Paseo™ visit www.fashionweekelpaseo.com. Follow us on Facebook :

facebook.com/fashionweekelpaseo and Twitter: twitter.com/elpaseofashion
Fashion Week El Paseo™ was presented by Integrated Wealth Management with the sponsorship support of the City of

Palm Desert, El Paseo Merchants Association, Land Rover of Rancho Mirage, Bebe, Time Warner, El Paseo Jewelry and

Valley View Dental.
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Palm Springs Life is the essential lifestyle magazine for the greater Palm Springs communities, offering richly

drawn celebrity profiles; intelligent features on contemporary culture, art, architecture, and lifestyle trends; a

who's who on the desert's vibrant social scene; and the ultimate guide for what to do, where to go and what to wear.

Palm Springs Life has enriched the lives of residents and visitors from around the world for more than 50 years, a

rare feat in publishing.

Palm Springs Life is published by Desert Publications Inc., which also produces lifestyle magazines and visitor

publications in Pebble Beach, New Mexico, Houston, Newport Beach, and other West Coast destinations.

'Fashion Star's' Jessica Simpson will launch her own maternity line

While some may have criticized Jessica Simpson's fashion choices throughout her pregnancy, the star is stepping up

to create her own line of clothing to give mothers-to-be more fashionable options for staying stylish throughout

their nine month journey to motherhood.

The pop and reality star, who has most recently served as a mentor on "Fashion Star," just gave birth to her baby

daughter, Maxwell Drew, two weeks ago, but announced yesterday her plans for her new collection, which will be named

Jessica Simpson Maternity.

Short, sweet and straight to the point.

The brand will be carried at Destination Maternity, Motherhood Maternity and Macy's stores in the fall. The press

release announcing the collection describes it as “breezy, everyday pieces aimed at the modern mom-to-be who wants

to maintain her fashion edge throughout her pregnancy.”
Simpson was criticized for some of her fashion choices throughout her pregnancy, including  wearing caftans, and

while the collection will feature maxi dresses, no word on whether we'll see any caftans. We are hoping not.

However, the line willfeature of vintage 1970s feel, with very reasonable prices starting as low as $36. Obviously,

Simpson has the everyday mother in mind with the price tags at least.

2013 BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon Debuts, Confirmed For U.S.

BMW has revealed the wagon variant of its latest-generation 3-Series and at the same time confirmed that this new model, just like the previous two, will be sold in the U.S.

The vehicle goes on sale in Europe later this year but won’t hit U.S. showrooms until spring 2013.

Powertrains and pricing will be announced closer to launch but expect to see a similar specifications to what is already offered with the sedan.

This means the base model in the U.S. is likely to be a 328i powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and rated at 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. A 335i powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and rated at 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque should also be offered for power hungry buyers.

Customers will also be able to choose from three different trim levels including the Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line. For the enthusiast who wants an even sportier Sports Wagon, the M Sport Line will also be offered. No word yet if BMW plans to launch a true M version of the new 3-Series Sports Wagon or an ActiveHybrid model like with the sedan.

Also like the sedan, the latest 3-Series Sports Wagon is slightly larger than its predecessor, most notably its wider track which is 1.46  inches wider up front and 1.85 inches wider in the rear. The vehicle’s length has also been increased by some 3.66 inches. This has increased room for rear-seat passengers as well as boosting cargo capacity by 10 percent.

A net as well as an additional strap along the right side panel can be used to help secure cargo. On top of this, four tie-downs are integrated into the cargo floor. A net along the left-hand panel will also be available. A pair of coat hooks and an addition 12-volt outlet add an extra measure of flexibility.

The rear seats can be folded down in three sections in a 40:20:40 split. The large, through-loading facility allows the new 3-Series Sports Wagon to carry four adults and longer items, such as skis or snowboards, at the same time. Also available are roof-rails as well as a full glass panoramic sunroof.

Queen to celebrate London fashion

The Queen will celebrate London fashion, wildlife and high achievers as she travels across the capital as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK.

The Queen, joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, will visit the boroughs of Bromley, Merton and Richmond.

The royal couple's day will begin at Queen's Gardens in Bromley where they will be taken around the display - London as a Global Centre of Fashion - meeting designers based in the capital.

Guests attending a Jubilee Road Street Party will also welcome the royal visitors to the borough before the Queen and Duke meet local business people.

The royal party will then travel to Mitcham to attend a British picnic-themed reception at St Mark's Church of England Academy, where groups of achievers from 13 south London boroughs will be gathered.

Later the Queen and Duke will be joined by Princess Alexandra when they visit the Wild London festival in Richmond Park, celebrating the capital's woodlands, parks and gardens.

Afterwards the royals will have afternoon tea in Holly Lodge Gardens and unveil a plaque for a new holly tree, and will meet young and adult riders from Riding for the Disabled.

Copyright © 2012 The Press Association. All rights reserved. 

Michael Phelps eyes rewriting history at London Olympics

DALLAS — Michael Phelps knows what’s on his schedule this summer.

Just don’t ask him to share it.

“Can I ask a question? Why is it such a big deal what I’m swimming?” Phelps said Sunday. “You guys ask me every time.”

Yes, four years after winning a record eight gold medals in Beijing, Phelps remains the indisputable star of the U.S. Olympic team. His lone availability at the USOC’s media summit drew a full house, with reporters eager to know everything from what he plans on swimming at the London Olympics to whether he’s climbed the famed “Incline,” a training trail at the base of the mountains near Colorado Springs, Colo.

No wonder he and coach Bob Bowman are determined to keep a few things to themselves.

“If we say what he’s going to swim and he changes it, then we have to have another one of these to explain why,” Bowman said. “The other part of it is I don’t know that we need to give the competition any more ammunition than they already have.”

The Olympic trials are June 25 to July 2 in Omaha, Neb.

Phelps’ appearance at the media summit came the day after he finished second in the 200-meter butterfly at the Charlotte Grand Prix. He also finished second in the 200 freestyle in Charlotte, and has raced the 100 free, 100 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 200 individual medley and 400 IM at previous Grand Prixs this year.

In Beijing, Phelps won gold medals in the 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 free, 200 IM and 400 IM, as well as three relays.

“I have goals that I want to accomplish. I know it won’t be eight (gold) medals again,” he said. “If you want to compare me to that, that’s your decision, not mine. I’m going out to accomplish the things I have in my mind and my heart.”

While Phelps’ pursuit of Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in a single games dominated the lead-up to Beijing, it’s his rivalry with fellow American Ryan Lochte that’s causing a buzz ahead of London. Lochte beat Phelps in both the 200 free and the 200 IM at last year’s world championships, losses that Phelps admitted Sunday helped him find motivation in the pool again.

But the closer the Olympics get, the more Phelps turns his focus inward.

“Clearly, whenever you have two athletes of that caliber, it creates interest,” Bowman said. “Honestly, I don’t know the rivalry does anything for Michael because his main competition is himself. I think he’s spurred on by having people to race, I think he likes that. But I think his primary measure of success is, did he hit the time he wanted to hit.”

With 16 medals overall, Phelps is two shy of the Olympic record set by Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina from 1956 to 1964. Phelps recently had the opportunity to meet Latynina, and the two spent a few hours together, talking and joking. Latynina also gave him a medal she’d won at a meet with the United States in the 1950s.

“Really cool,” he said. “Probably one of the coolest things I’ve received thus far.”

Phelps has said repeatedly — and did so again Sunday — that he is finished after London. He told Bowman long ago that he didn’t want to be swimming past 30, and he would be 31 at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

But provided he stays healthy, Phelps is all but assured of breaking Latynina’s medal record in London, etching his name even deeper in Olympic history.

“Records are always made to be broken,” he said. “I think it’s kind of cool there’s a possibility to rewrite history or be up there with some of the greats in Olympic history.”

WA fashion takes world stage

Western Australian style will be shown on the world stage, with Perth Fashion Festival organisers heading to Singapore for Blueprint, a two day trade show at the Audi Fashion Festival later this month.

Blueprint is a one-stop fashion trade show for East-West exchange, created to highlight up and coming international and Asian designers.

Amongst these will be WA's hottest design talents One Fell Swoop and one of Australia's most coveted designers, Yeojin Bae.

"Perth Fashion Festival has provided me with the perfect introduction to the Asian market. I am thrilled to be showcasing my collection at Blueprint 2012 as a result of the relationships I built with the Singaporean fashion buyers and Blueprint trade organisers that attended PFF in 2011," Ms Bae said.

Last year was the first that PFF Director, Mariella Harvey-Hanrahan attended the Audi Fashion Festival, opening the gateway to international industry peers.

As a result, there was significant interest in WA designers and the 2011 PFF was visited by Singaporean fashion buyers and Blueprint trade organisers.

Ms Harvey-Hanrahan will be joined this year by fellow West Australians, renowned photographer, Russell James, and One Fell Swoop designers Nina Ergic and Daniel Romanin.

Daley's diving partner Waterfield pulls out of Euros with neck injury

Tom Daley's synchro platform partner Peter Waterfield has pulled out of next week's European Championships due to a neck injury.

Waterfield did not join the British team when it travelled to Eindhoven on Friday as a precaution to ensure his fitness for this summer's Olympics.
The injury is a blow to his preparations for the Games, however, with the European Championships the last international meet before London.'I didn't go to the Europeans as i have a neck injury, so had an injection in it yesterday and have another on Thursday,' the 31-year-old, who won silver in the

synchro platform at the 2004 Athens Olympics, wrote on his Twitter page.
'To make sure I'm all good for the games!'
Waterfield missed two months at the start of the year with side complaint but returned to take a bronze medal in a stunning display in the inidividual platform at the World Cup in London.

His performances alongside Daley since have been mixed after recieving criticsm following their seventh-placed finsh at the February World Cup.
They followed it with silver in the second leg of the World Series before rounding out the competition with a third placing in Tijuana, Mexico late last month.