The cast includes Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, and Manolo Blahnik - oh my! (Sorry, I couldn't resist) Betsey Johnson is also amongst the 20 designers and she already knows a thing or two about the beloved and iconic movie. She once designed a collection starring the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy (played by her daughter, Lulu). For the Oz-inspired shoes this time around, Betsey's designs will feature a slipper made into a high heel, “as high as I could go, as sparkly as I could go and as fun and full of polka dots and a tulle bow as I could make them." Contrastly, Jimmy Choo's sketch is far more "cowardly" showing a tame red snakeskin pump with a caged toe. We can expect the unveiling of the ruby slippers at Saks Fifth Avenue next year.

The Warner Bros. Studio is pulling together 19 designers for a project to commemorate The Wizard of Oz's 70th anniversary.  The list of designers will be recreating Dorothy's ruby slippers and its proceeds will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.  The shoes will officially be revealed in Saks Fifth Avenue September 4th, beginning the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.   The auction for The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Collection is set to hold in fall 2009.  The nineteen designers:

A. Testoni (design sketched below)

Abaete

Alberta Ferretti

Betsey Johnson (sketched below)

Botkier (sketched below)

 Christian Louboutin

Diane von Furstenberg

Giuseppe Zanotti

Jimmy Choo (sketched below)

*these will be soooo sexy*

 L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani (sketch below) 

Lisa Pliner

Manolo Blahnik

Moschino (sketch)

Oscar de la Renta

Roger Vivier 

Sergio Rossi (sketch below)Stuart Weitzman 

Tibi (sketched below)

 Tuleh

Oriunda de Montecristi, Arlenis proviene de una humilde familia del pequeño poblado de Copey, perteneciente a la provincia antes mencionada. De su infancia, la verdad es que no sé mucho. Pero, conociendo las condiciones socio-económicas de ese lugar, sé que no fueron del todo agradables. Nació y creció en el seno de una numerosa y humilde familia, quiénes en la medida de lo posible le ofrecieron todo cuánto tenían a su alcance.

La verdad no recuerdo cuándo la conocí específicamente. Pero, sé que a los 14 ya compartíamos en los pasillos del colegio. "La Flaquis" como siempre solía llamarla, siempre resaltaba entre la multitud. Su esbelta figura, causante de tan popular apodo, y esa simpatía hacían de ella una colegiala alegre y divertida, aunque con un toque de timidez en ciertos momentos. Cualidades que me encantaban porque me sentía súper identificada con ella en ese aspecto. ¡Cuántos recuerdos!

Recuerdo la noche de su graduación, agosto 2006. Fue la última vez que la vi, antes de que diera sus primeros pasos dentro del mundo del modelaje. Ese año participó en el Dominican Ellite Top Model según ella "por pura curiosidad", en el que obtuvo muy buen puesto y desde entonces, poco a poco se ha dejado sentir en ese ámbito. En febrero de este año su rostro figuró en la portada de la revista Pandora, y para entonces su nombre estaba sonando entre una que otras agencias importantes.

Su debút internacional, por así decirlo, vino de mano de Luis Menieur quien se encargó de llevarla a N.Y. y literalmente hacer de ella toda una modelo mundial. Desde que firmó con Marilyn Agency en marzo de este año, éxitos y más exitos le han caído del cielo literalmente. Apariciones en las pasarelas de Banana Republic, Christian Dior y Oscar de la Renta; múltiples ediciones de Vogue, en sus versiones americana e italiana,  y últimamente un contrato para ser el rostro de Lancôme.

Quién lo diría, hoy por hoy, hablar de Arlenis Sosa es sinónimo de éxito y fama. Es la primera dominicana en participar en 7 ediciones de Vogue, y está considerada como la Top Model #48 a nivel mundial. Sin lugar a dudas se está perfilando como una de las modelos más cotizadas de los últimos tiempos, y todo de manera impresionante, puesto que apenas tiene unos pocos meses de lleno en el mundo del modelaje.

En estos momentos, ella se encuentra en el país. Cuando me envió un mail la semana pasada diciéndome que quizás podríamos hablar un rato, no le creí que tendría tiempo para hacerlo. Como diría mi prima, "Osea, ahora es toda una famosa", pero tal como lo prometió, mi celular sonó a la hora acordada el sábado en la noche. Hablamos de todo un poco, lo mucho que ha significado este cambio para ella y su familia. Y claro que lo es, sin lugar a dudas ha sido un giro impresionante para toda la familia Sosa Peña. Según me comentó tiene muchos deseos de prepararse, porque está consciente de que "el pellejo se cae y se gasta". Fue una conversación corta de 5 minutos 34 segundos, pero bien que valieron la pena.

¿Qué le aguarda a la querida flaca de ahora en adelante? No sé. Pero estoy segura de que muchos más exitos están al doblar la esquina. Sé que el mundo del modelaje está asociado con muchas cosas negativas, -drogadicción, anorexia, depresión-, y por lo tanto espero que posea la suficiente sabiduría, temple, apoyo e inteligencia para evadirlas y no convertirse en una víctima más de ellas. Su deseo de prepararse, como bien ha mencionado son muestra clara de que tiene los pies bien puestos en la tierra.

Mientras tanto, en Copey, el Simón Bolívar y  toda la Línea estamos de fiesta. Y claro, Nikkei Life no podía quedarse atrás. ¡Bravo Arlenis! Mil Bendiciones para ti y mis mejores deseos en todo cuanto te falte por experimentar. Enhorabuena!

Relacionados:

"Arlenis Sosa - Nueva Promesa de la Moda" / Listin Diario

"Model of the Moment: Arlenis Sosa / Sugarshock Beauty Blog"

"Arlenis: Illuminated Beauty" / Models.com (Incluye Video Entrevista)

NOTE: Image belongs to Vogue July: "All Black Issue" edition.

Stepping out in a 50s-style Oscar de la Renta dress for a photo-shoot in New York City yesterday, Lopez’s dress appeared to be a tad too tight for the new mom after her stylist failed to do the zip all the way up.

Betsey Johnson, who isn't afraid of a bit of theatrics and who in fact based a whole collection on the Wizard of Oz, complete with scarecrow, lion and tin man, has went all out with platforms, sparkles and bows with a shoe that looks deliciously camp!

Jimmy Choo has went for a more subtle caged toe style, very elegant but still capturing the theatrical element required when one designs the most famous pair of shoes in the world.

The ruby slippers, which will also be getting restyled by Oscar de la Renta, Diane Von Furstenberg and Manolo Blahnik, will go on a big tour around the States to show off all their beauty and will then be auctioned off.

The makeover forms part of a big campaign by Warner Brothers who have asked several designers to update the look of many of its characters, so far we have seen DVF create a new outfit for Wonder Woman, so I can't wait to see what other exciting things are to come of it!

[gallery]

xxangela

Famous fashion icon Oscar de la Renta is part of the chair committee inviting supporters to attend the New Yorkers For Children 2008 Fall Gala.

The annual gala will be held at one of New York's hot spots, Cipriani 42nd street, and will include the usual elements to liven the party, cocktails, dinner, a live auction and fantastic entertainment.

Liv Tyler, Naomi Watts and LeAnn Rimes are just some of the past supporters attending the event.

The New Yorkers For Children 2008 Fall Gala is on September 16.

When doing a post about wedding gowns I love, It's hard to know where to begin. Because, contrary to my acidic tone on this blog, I actually like a lot of stuff.  I mean, just look at Dorothy Dandridge up there in her Oscar de la Renta gown. I've pretty much spent my life wishing to have occasion (and funds) to wear such a dress. Unforch, my wedding is not such an occasion. But whatever. Let's look at the pretty things after the jump.

(WARNING! This post is very long, b/c I felt like if I edited the images down any, I'd be cheating you guys. Who doesn't love pretty dresses? Prepare to glut yourselves on the gorgeousness.)

More from darling Oscar.  The one on the left looks like a great Westernization of the Korean hanbok. So I covet it.

TEASER!! Seeing as how a lot of you have been bugging me about finishing my epic White Whale dress story, I'm'a give you a little hint: The above dress (Also Oscar) has the most direct design influence on the dress I actually chose. Stay tuned!!

Carolina Herrera knows what she's doing. This is another hanbok-redux

Jane Austen WHAT? I want this dress.

The dress so nice I posted it twice! Who loves you?

Now, these dresses are from long ago, so the designers escape me. The one on the far left is DIVINE.

Notte by Marchesa. This WAS available at Neiman Marcus. I liked it so much, I almost ran over to NM's and bought it even though I already have a dress. Thank GOD they had already stopped carrying this dress.

Now, let's take a quick break from gowns and discuss courthouse-y type dresses:

These lovely frocks are by Stephanie Ray Couture. She specializes in 50s style tea-length wedding dresses. You know you want one!

It's a mod, mod, mod, mod world! These are oldies, too, so I'm not sure what designer. But trust you can get stuff like this from ABS by Allen Schwartz.

Gowns again! I pretty much only posted this b/c of the middle dress. I think the t-shirt silhouette of the top gives it a playful, modern vibe.

I love a good pleat. The layering of the skirt on here makes me drool.

OK, we can't talk about wedding dresses without talking about Vera Wang:

As much as I hate Avril Levigne, her gown is perfection. It's sweet, flattering, and feminine with lots of unexpected detail. In other words, it should have been illegal for "sk8er grrl" to wear this.

Ooh, ooh, OOH!! OOOOOH! I hate satin, don't get me wrong, and this dress is not made for anyone with an ounce of fat on their body, but still. Just look at it. It's timeless.

Not even a whole season of Rami Kashou could break me of loving Grecian draping. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Nina Gracia! Have fun over at Lifetime, sellout!

Look. People marry in all sorts of circumstances, and the way I see it, there's nothing wrong with getting married while pregnant. Wear this dress while you do it, and all the better!

Vera! The details! Ugh. It hurts my heart with all the pretty.

But you know, I've heard a lot of people complaining about Vera's newer, looser silhouettes for bridal gowns. Naysayers are flapping their heads about Vera's masterful creations looking like "nightgowns." Eff you, haters. Vera's been at this a LOOOOONG time, and homegirl got dead sick of doing fucking A-line pouf dresses with corset tops for all you plebes with no taste. Let the woman design, because you know what? Ten years from now, everyone's wedding dress is going to look like a "nightgown" compared to the prevailing Princess Di-style of overdone, heavy satin costumes that characterized the 80s and 90s. Even David's Bridal can't keep that traditional, stale wedding gown silhouette alive. You think about that.

See, check Vera out, she knows. She's all,

"Yeaaah, bitches."

"Uh-huh. Yeah, BITCHES!"

"Unh! YEAH BITCHEZZZ!"

"That's enough."

Moving right along, Melissa Sweet:

Simple, classic, and with lovely details. Mmmmm.

This dress is achingly popular with brides. So much so, I've actually had the pleasure of seeing this dress on no less than 5 real women. But, it's really shitty, b/c this dress does not work on anyone who's not an overtall stick insect. Seriously, if you even have a hint of a chest, this dress makes you look needlessly juggs-y. And the hips? Oh. It's too depressing to even talk about. I love this dress as a fantasy. But the reality? Nah.

This is a very Clair Pettibone-ish look for Sweet. I like it much better than Pettibone, as there appears to be some structure in the top, whereas Pettibone's dresses don't allow you to wear any form of support under the dress, yet the dress offers none of it's own. So yeah, if you have boobs, it's a no-go. I really hate designers sometimes.

Oh, and Claire Pettibone? J. Crew did it first. Sorry.

Here are a couple more lovely, affordable dresses J. Crew has offered in the past. I think the one on the right is still available, too!

And finally, to end on a high note, Lela Rose:

It's the littlest things that make the biggest impression.

Texture, texture, texture! See kids, it's not about beading or Swarovski crystals.

It's not about over-the-top. It's about show-stopping details.

It's about classic-meets-contemporary. It's about simplicity with an edge. Loooove!

Let me know what you think about my picks, or tell me I'm a crazy fool with no taste - in the comments!

• - Ursäkta mig, jag bara måste få säga att du är OTROLIGT vacker..
• - Eh? Jaha, ja tack så mycket då får jag väl lov att säga :) ( Hade god lust att säga, tyvärr kan jag inte säga detsamma men glad Midsommar, men gav fan i det..vet ju helvete inte va dem är kapabla till att göra, heh)

Jag hinner knappt gå en meter då nästa a-lagare är framme och säger samma sak ( Dem måste ju ha en komplott eller nått)

• - Gud vad du var vacker, helt förträffligt vacker..
• - Haha, ja tack ska du ha, det va snällt sagt. Jag vänder då mig om och då petar fanskapet mig på armen, vänder mig om på nytt;
• - Va är det nu då? hahah...
• - Har du en cigg eller två? Frågar då alkisen..
• - Jahajja, så det va därför du fjäska så för mig, Ledsen men har inga rök på mig.
• - Nähä, jaha, okej..men trevlig midsommar då säger a-lagaren snopet och drar iväg.

Ja det är ju synd att det inte är rätt person som säger så :( Fan jävla oflyt hela tin...heh...

Har vart och inhandlat hela tre parfymer nu också.. har ju redan en drös där hemma men tröttnar så snabbt..så tänkte lika bra att köpa upp sig, heh;) Blev dessa tre...[gallery]

Men nu ska jag bort till Laggarhult och dricka öl så det slår härliga till..Puss å Kraam

Miches vende sus tierras

DIARIO LIBRE, 17 Junio 2008

"Aquí todo el mundo vendió o ofreció a está organizando sus tierras para vender", dice el síndico del municipio de Miches, César Hernández. Según el edil, la idea generalizada de cambiar la tierra por dinero comenzó hace unos dos años, cuando llegaron al lugar los planes de desarrollo turístico de la zona, de la mano del empresario venezolano Gustavo Cisneros.

Cuenta que con la intención de construir un complejo inmobiliario que incluye campos de golf, hoteles y aeropuertos, el empresario empezó a adquirir terrenos en Miches, dando en consecuencia, un valor insospechado a las parcelas de los campesinos. El precio de la tierra pasó de los cuatro (4) dólares el metro cuadrado, a los 16, 20, 30 y hasta 50 dólares por los que se venden hoy día.

Para Hernández la situación es un verdadero caos. "Lo que está pasando aquí es que nuestro municipio ha caído en la gracia del Grupo Cisneros que está haciendo inversiones, pero por el otro están los campesinos que nunca se ocuparon de sacarle papeles a sus terrenos y eso ha generado conflictos legales por la propiedad". Asegura que en una misma porción de terrenos suelen aparecer hasta cinco dueños.

A esto Hernández le suma la aparición, según dice, de gente que investiga en los tribunales dónde nadie tiene títulos y se están apropiando para luego medir y vender como si fuesen dueños de toda la vida. Se lamenta de que las expropiaciones incluso lleguen a las zonas protegidas como las lagunas, el cayo y los manglares.

Miches está conformado además por los distritos municipales de El Cedro y la Gina. Este último se caracteriza por una extensa franja de mangles que bordea la playa, estimada por las autoridades en más de cinco mil tareas. Gabriel Núñez, representante de Medio Ambiente en la zona de Miches, asegura que el área protegida no corre peligro, y que ellos tienen la situación controlada. Indica que de las aproximadamente cinco mil tareas de mangle, los grupos de campesinos llegaron a marcar más de mil para venderla.

"Ellos se pegaron a los manglares, pero con los guardaparques y las autoridades de Medio Ambiente los paramos a tiempo". Lo mismo dice de las lagunas Redonda y Limón, localizadas en el Distrito El Cedro, donde asegura las personas midieron hasta dentro del agua. "Han medido dentro de las lagunas, pero no han podido vender, porque nosotros no le damos el permiso para que saquen papeles y entonces los Cisneros no le compran si no tienen títulos".

o

Los "jorocones" de El Cedro

o

"Jorocones le dicen a toda esa gente que ahora tienen casas y yipetas". La explicación aporta Juana León, una señora de 78 años, residente en La Colonia de El Cedro. Esta comunidad, bañada por las aguas de Playa Esmeralda, vive un gran apogeo económico. "Aquí se vendió y todo el mundo tiene millones. Tú ve gente que apenas andaba en un burrito y ahora andan en yipetas y están construyendo casas ", comenta la señora.

Aunque no se conoce la cifra exacta de cuánto se ha vendido, Justino Pérez, otro residente de La Colonia, recuerda un estudio que se realizó en la comunidad, en el cual se calcularon unas 35 mil tareas aptas para la venta.

"Yo estimo que se ha vendido el 75% de esa cantidad", dice. Justino es uno de los que logró vender su propiedad, unas 700 tareas, al Grupo Cisneros.

"Aquí dicen que el dinero llegó como piedra, y sí llegó bastante, pero no se ve tangiblemente". Dice que todavía la comunidad no cuenta con medios de sustento para que las personas puedan sustituir el trabajo de la tierra y que el dinero por lo regular se invierte en otros lugares.

o

Compradores

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El síndico de Miches y los residentes en el poblado de la costa del Este aseguran que además de Gustavo Cisneros, en la zona han comprado tierra Shakira, Julio Iglesias, el actor Vin Diesel, el modisto Oscar de la Renta y el empresario George Nader.

leer el articulo completo >>>

o

I've been working a lot lately, supporting myself quite well. I didn't need to take a third job after all. The money I make from nannying (20-35 hours/wk) goes into savings to pay for next semester, and my income from S. goes towards basic things like groceries and entertainment, and I still have quite a bit of that left over at the end of every month, being the frugal girlie I am.

Classes are going pretty well, nothing too difficult or time-consuming. I finished my midterm two hours early and went to the S. Halloween party for underprivileged kids to help out a bit. And who did I see there but... Erik. And Karen!

Karen and I...
- met at the Beate Couture show
- gabbed about how much we loved Beate's dresses and those tiaras in the other room
- decided to walk back to school (only about 40 blocks, not long enough of a distance to warrant spending $2 for a ride on the subway)
- were joined by Gerard
- were left by Gerard when he heard the Catholic and decided he needed to go to church
- joked about how Americans would never do it as spontaneously as he had (Gerard is from Vienna)
- bonded in the remaining blocks
- swapped contacts at Penn
- never got around to getting in touch again

As much as I really wanted to spend time with Erik, I knew that Karen lives even further out of the city than he does and that our chances of seeing each other again before I leave for the West Coast would be very slim. Oscar de la Renta would be making an appearance at his Bergdorf's Trunk Show so after I dropped off stuff and picked up stuff and we tied black and orange balloons with crazy stickered faces to the front of my building and I got my camera and went to the bathroom... we took the subway uptown.

We were so deep into conversation that we missed the stop at 59th and ended up having to walk down from the next stop. The walk was enjoyable, though.

By the time we made it to Bergdorf Goodman, it was about 3:30 and the window display said that Oscar was going to be there from 2 to 3, not 3 to 4 as she had thought. We went up to the fourth floor nonetheless.

Oscar was long gone, but there were refreshments and the trunk show was still going on with models floating about in gorgeous, lacy gowns and representatives stalking their prey, asking if they could be of any assistance. Karen was obviously disappointed, but she had gotten to see DSquared a few days ago and thus was able to be somewhat consoled by all the Pucci they had.

We browsed all of the fourth floor and most of the accessories on the first (avoiding the furs, of course). I was amazed that many of the $300-700 knits they had I would easily be able to replicate if I had a bit of cashmere yarn. Right now, though, I'm fine with having a few man-made fiber scarves so I can keep prices down for my target customer. I'm carried in [omitted] now, in case you didn't know. ;) I need to check in the boutique Monday to see how my mohair knits have been selling and drop off my cobalt chunky scarf once I make the pin for it.

We went to Louis Vuitton and admired the staircase (a very nice example of modern design), then, still slightly undecided about where to go from there, took the bus back downtown.

In the 30 minutes we had left, Karen and I browsed around Jack's. She was looking for a garment bag, I was looking for a can of peanuts- neither were found. We left the store empty-handed and headed for the wig shop down the street for some silliness before she had to catch her train.

I didn't get back until about 5:30, at which point I was about to collapse. My feet were rejecting the heels I was wearing, and I was off of the sugar high I had initiated before my midterm. I threw off my boots and passed out on the bed to wake up about 9:00, make myself some soup, and call Erik.

Erik and I met through working together at S., though we were usually working on different tasks and really didn't talk until Krystle introduced us and the three of us decided to go to a Lock and Key party the next night. Everyone we were going to go with ended up canceling because of schoolwork or fatigue, so it was just Erik and me in the end. He was going to meet me in front of my building at midnight.

I was five minutes late after doing my hair and swishing on some mascara, and was worried when I didn't see him out there. I walked up and down the block and waited about 15 minutes, but still no Erik. He had been drinking a bit beforehand, so I was worried he might have passed out on the train from New Jersey. After one last check and no call from him (his cell phone plan ran out the day before), I went upstairs and decided to turn in for the night.

The next afternoon, he left me a long, detailed, and incredibly sweet message. So sweet, in fact, that I had no choice but to take him up on his offer to go out again. He had showed up 45 minutes late, not seen me, and waited 1 1/2 hours in the lobby hoping that I would turn up. He had left my number back in Jersey and I never gave him my apartment number, so after a while he decided to go for a drink at everyone's favorite crappy no-card bar, a little something Mike likes to call "raging at THE TEMPEST."

He had a few drinks (then passed out on the train on the way back) and I got to work on my paper that I was planning on putting off until the last possible moment, and we went out the next night. A great organic and vegetarian meal, enthusiastic conversation, and Upright Citizens Brigade do two happy college students make. He was sweet, charming, a good conversationalist, somewhat handsome... I figured he must be gay or swearing off relationships (he actually was doing a bit of the latter, but that's another entry).

As you may already know, men I usually fall for must be gay or fit at least three of the following criteria:

- very, very preppy
- full of themselves
- complete jackass
- immature and uneducated
- emotionally abusive
- married, engaged, or in a serious relationship
- two to five times my age (T.W. was older)

Erik is refreshingly and wonderfully none of these. Swearing off men for a while was worth it, seeing as though it's reformed me. Two nights later, we snuggled up to Gosford Park (the parallels to my life as a nanny were an interesting way to look at one of my favorite movies) and I realized how attracted I was to him (it hit me gradually).

Somewhere between him half-jokingly saying, "I'd like to kiss you, but I'm afraid you'll slap me" and desperately hunting around for my panties before Jenn came back the next morning, it struck me that carrying on with a guy that I work with may not be the best idea. Luckily, he had the same thought and we developed a plan while we were still between the sheets.

Right now, only my roommates, Karen, and a few of his friends in New Jersey know. We're very secretive about our relationship and keep copy room rendezvous to a bare minimum. Nikki, in all of her super-intuitiveness (and the fact that she's friends with both of us), probably knows something's up, but has no proof. Everybody else has no clue.

Tomorrow morning I have work, then we might meet up for a little bit before I have to nanny at 5:30. As soon as I get off of work, I'm hopping in a cab for Elisabeth's party. Erik may or may not join me for the night. We have tentative plans to go apple-picking upstate on Sunday, and then there's the big parade at 7:00.

Well, I better be getting in the shower. GB.