La Renta

Annie Keller has been a model, fashion show coordinator and figure skater. She's lived in Boston, Chicago and Palm Springs. Through these moves, there's been one constant in her life: a love of classic, glamorous clothing.Now as the owner of Adjustable Comfort Inc., a Baltimore-based line of ergonomic beds, she is even more conscious of dressing well."I'm trying to disassociate myself from those fast-talking TV salespeople," says Ms. Keller, who's in her 30s and lives in Roland Park. "In this business, people feel more comfortable if you look like you're stable, reliable and not too flashy."

Season after season, when fashion designers reveal their visions for the moment, there often is some synchronicity, a common thread that wends its way through more than one collection. Because, invariably, the style oracles will look at the world around them, the mood of American shoppers, and their creativity and guesswork will lead them to some unified conclusion about a feel, a look, a symbol that the public will want. This spring, the "It" in fashion is the color white. This most pristine and simple of fashion statements is dominant in collections from classy Calvin Klein to girly Anna Sui, from sleek Marc Jacobs to the ever-elegant Oscar de la Renta.

Oh, God, it's true. Bell-bottoms are coming back.Much to the amazement of those of us who remember wearing them the first time around, we seem to be on the cusp of a 1970s revival that brings us the return of the lovely platform shoe, the crocheted vest and that timeless classic, the Greg Brady striped and zippered shirt.I know. They say everything comes back sooner or later.But the 1970s? The era of leisure suits, Quiana and Earth Shoes? If any fashion era deserved to be buried once and for all time, wouldn't you think this would have been it?

NOW HERE'S a little flash! Bill and Hillary Clinton have their eyes on the ball when it comes to 2008, but in the meantime, has anyone noted that they bought a piece of beach property in the Dominican Republic right next to the beautiful domain of designer Oscar de la Renta and his wife, Annette? Struggles pay off The Supremes -- Mary Wilson, Flo Ballard and Diana Ross -- used to sing "Nothing but heartaches ... nothing but heartaches," way back when. Heartaches by the number actually then came to all three women.

Calling all upper crusts."Mr. and Mrs. Oscar de la Renta and the Thirteen/WNET Gala Committee invite you to salute a cast of legendary talent," read the invitation to a black-tie fund-raising dinner and dance at New York's Plaza Hotel on behalf of the city's public-television station earlier this summer.Peter Duchin and his orchestra would provide the music for these society swells. Table cost: $1,000 to $25,000.Studio photographs of the evening's five honorees bannered the invitation below their names: Brooke Astor, a prominent philanthropist; Joan Ganz Cooney, head of Children's Television Workshop, which begat "Sesame Street"; Beverly Sills, opera's transcendent super-diva; Gay Vance, wife of former Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance; and Charlayne Hunter-Gault.

We asked 20 famous designers to name the single most important fashion influence of the century. Here's what they said:Tommy Hilfiger: RockTodd Oldham: MuicHan Feng: MinisRalph Lauren: FilmGeoffrey Beene: HollywoodChristian Francis Roth: ElectricityBetsey Johnson: MTVNicole Miller: LycraCarolina Herrera: USAJohn Bartlett: DiversityMark Badgley and James Mischka (Badgley Mischka): GlamourOscar de la Renta: T-shirtsjeans Chanelinthe'20sDiane Von Furstenberg: FreedomGene Meyer: ManhattanIsaac Mizrahi: UndressDonna Karan: JeansTom Ford (Gucci)

Like their counterparts in the ready-to-wear business, New York's furriers did not stage big fashion shows during last week's fall openings. The recession has taken its toll on all areas of fashion, particularly the luxury level. But fur manufacturers are anything but discouraged."Business has been coming back sensationally," said Stanley Schulman, the president of Alixandre Furs, which makes Valentino and Calvin Klein furs. "One reason is that store inventories have bottomed out, just as people with money are beginning to spend again.

Diane Von Furstenberg's show at Lincoln Center attracted a slew of big names, including Oscar de la Renta , Bravo's Andy Cohen and fashion maven Sarah Jessica Parker . But Sergey Brin from Google was probably the most interesting. During the Zang Toi show, little did attendees know the fashion arsenal assembled just feet their front row seats. Perched in an enclosed glass suite, former Vogue Associate Publisher Lottie Oakley and  Ivan Shaw , director of photography at Vogue , guided American Express cardholders through the ins and outs of the fashion industry.

NEW YORK - In the crazy mixed-up world of fashion, it's not even spring yet, and today, top designers here will finish up a week of unveiling what they will be selling - and what you will be wearing - in the fall. While many of the looks that were fashionable last year will return this fall - tweeds, brocades, plaids, fitted blazers and lots of layers - there are some trends to watch this year. Fuller skirts, embellishments and sweaters of all kinds, some even paired with ball gowns, have been seen on the runways.

Thursday, New York attracted a slew of celebrities -- especially at Fashion's Night Out events held throughout the city. NBA player Tyson Chandler, R&B singer Olivia from "Love & Hip Hop," and stylist June Ambrose with her daughter all front row at Arise Magazine Presents "African Icons. " Actor Bradley Cooper and NFL star Victor Cruz were spotted seated front row at Tommy Hilfiger. Later in the evening, "It girl" rapper Azealia Banks rocked the house during her performance at MAC's Soho store.