the richest in fashion top 200

Not only is the fashion industry one of the world's greatest environments to work in, it is also an industry in which you can become very rich. The FashionUnited Top200 most wealthiest fashion professionals lists 200 people who have made at least 70 million US$ up to 41 billion US$ while working in fashion.

Investing in clothing and starting a fashion company can be unpredictable and risky, the 200 richest in this list have mastered the game. Most of the people on the list are company founders, from New York to Hong Kong, who have created new brands and sold billions of articles over the past decades and made many people feel good wearing their clothing.

The richest in fashion is Bernard Arnault, CEO of Louis Vuitton Mo?t Hennessy, whose US$41 billion comes Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Kenzo, Marc Jacobs, Celine, Tag Heuer, Fendi and Bvlgari. Zara founder Amancio Ortega is runner up on the list with US$37,5 billion, note that his fortune increases fastest
of all due to Inditex' success. Third on the list is the Dutch Brenninkmeijer family who run the C&A clothing chain.

The richest woman in fashion is Miuccia Prada ranked number 18 and made her US$ 6.8 billion fortune with Prada.

The person who made the biggest fortune in the shortest time frame is Sara Blakely with a US$1 billion net worth. Blakely founded Spanx in 2000, a multi-million dollar undergarment company. Blakely turned 41 in February 2012, making her the youngest female self-made billionaire in the world according to Forbes. She's the number 89 on the Fashion Richlist.

Vente-privee.com's online business grew Jacques-Antoine Granjon and Micka?l Benabou fortune to  984million US$ in only 10 years time making them the highest ranked tech entrepreneur although nowadays vente-privee.com sells more than just apparel.

Sex and the buggy... Not sure Carrie would approve as Sarah Jessica Parker dresses down for day out with twins

Sarah Jessica Parker looked rather dressed down at the weekend compared with her fashion-mad alter-ego Carrie Bradshaw.
But then it’s not easy pushing a bumper baby stroller in Manolo Blahnik shoes.
The 46-year-old Sex and the City star was spotted on a girls’ day out with her 21-month-old twins Marion and Tabitha in New York City.

Push me mummy! Sarah Jessica Parker enjoys a day out with her twins Tabitha and Marion in New York City

Her daughters with husband Matthew Broderick were born to surrogate mum Michelle Ross six years after the couple had their first child, James Wilkie Broderick, now eight.
And she made sure to have a special mother and children bonding day on her day off from shooting a romantic comedy in New York.

Looking like an every-day mother in grey jeans and a black and white cardigan, Parker took the girls to the Greenwich Village playground in Manhattan.
She pushed her children on the swings and let them have fun on the slide during the sunny day in the Big Apple.
Sarah Jessica is currently filming the sequel to Valentine's Day - New Year's Eve.

In it she plays a mother who relies too heavily on her daughter for company.
Her on-screen daughter is being played by Little Miss Sunshine actress Abigail Bresen, 15.
New Year's Eve is packed with an A-list cast of actors, including Robert De Niro, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel and Halle Berry.
The Gary Marshall directed film is based around the lives of several couples and singles in New York who intertwine over the course of New Yerar's Eve.
It is set to be released in the UK on December 9.

"Stilleto Strut" raising money for Star Children's Charity

Ladies, it's time to get those spring pedicures and new heels for the annual "Stiletto Strut" at Neiman Marcus Willow Bend and just in case you've got a budget badger, remind him that those new stilettos are for charity.

Shoe-lovers of Collin County are counting the days until the April 14 Neiman Marcus Willow Bend Stiletto Strut benefitting Star Children's Charity.Ê The annual event boasts big names and large donations for the children's charity that donates funds to several Collin County children's charities.

"We are strutting for the children of Collin County," Jan Richey, co-chair and Star member, said. "Each day the demand grows for services to meet the safety, health and well being of our children.Ê Neiman Marcus Willow Bend and Star have partnered to create a fun event to raise much needed money to support the nonprofits of Collin County who serve children.Ê It is an honor to chair the Stiletto Strut with my dear friend, Maureen Steitle."

The evening is dedicated to raising funds for the children of Collin County through Star Children's Charity, which provides significant financial support to improve services for medical, education, enrichment and safety through children-serving, nonprofit organizations in the county.

Beneficiaries of Star Children's Charity include Boys and Girls Club of Collin County, Children's Medical Center at Legacy, CITY House, Plano Children's Medical Clinic, The Samaritan Inn and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. Sponsorships and ticket reservations for the Stiletto Strut are available at www.StarChildrens.com or by calling 972-943-3344.ÊÊ

Get a pair of summer shades that fit perfectly at the sunglass fit event, or grab a snazzy sketch to take home by the stiletto sketch artist. A party photo booth will also be on hand to capture new looks after the Chanel makeovers and participants will have a chance to win $1,800 worth of designer shoes from Neiman Marcus during the designer shoe raffle.

A runway workshop will also take place to help obtain the perfect strut and swagger, not to mention the celebrity shoe auction featuring shoes from Magic and Cookie Johnson, Victoria Snee and others.

Participants will have a chance to mingle with celebrity co-chairs Victoria Snee of 102.9 and The Beauty Buzz with husband, Jeff Crilley as well as Lev Glazman, founder and creator of FRESH in Cosmetics.

Beauty experts and authors Sandy Linder and Lois Joy Johnson will be on hand at the Lancome counter in cosmetics where guests can receive a complimentary copy of their book, "The Make Up Wake Up" with any $100 Lancome purchase.

This year, men are also welcome to hang out in a special lounge while the women enjoy a little pampering and a lot of high fashion. Men can relax in the "Loafer's Lounge," which includes casino tables, a sports viewing center, cigar rolling, a Robert Graham Men's Fashion presentation, and complimentary men's facials in The Man's Store.

"Neiman Marcus Willow Bend is excited to partner with Star Children's Charity on our second annual Stiletto Strut event," Marcus Wyss, Vice President and General Manager for Neiman Marcus Willow Bend said in a release. "We know women in Collin County love designer shoes and we have the best selection from vendors like Chanel, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Prada, Gucci and more. ÊThe event will be an evening of fashion and fun while raising money for seven Collin County non-profit agencies.

The lowdown on high heels

After teetering on vertiginous stilettos, women may get some relief as designers have lowered their heights for their 2011 Fall/Winter collections.

Spiky heels and stilettos haven't disappeared from the catwalk, but designers showing their newest lines at New York Fashion Week featured plenty of lower, stacked, chunky heels, wedges, booties and coloured socks.

“They're quirkier. I think they're more wearable and cooler,” said Dana Schwartz, the director of communications for Jill Stuart about the shoes and the look.

“It goes with the current trend of longer hemlines, blouses and more done-up, sophisticated silhouettes. The shoes counter that to bring it back.”

New York designer Stuart paired bold, abstract animal prints, strong colours in rusts, red, oranges, black and aubergine and below-the-knee skirts in a collection inspired by the forest and a dark, wintry fairytale with wedges, booties and socks crumpled around or above the ankles.

The chunky shoes offset the feminine looks and gave the collection a quirky touch.

“It adds playfulness to the overall look,” Schwartz added.

Dark coloured socks were an added touch and accompanied nearly every outfit, including tapered trousers, elongated skirts, as well as softer shifts and feminine dresses.

Adam Lippes, the founder and creative director of ADAM, also featured socks in his fall collection, but instead of sturdier shoes he matched them with Manolo Blahnik high heels for a funky yet feminine look.

White, brown and black socks worn with strappy ankle-tie stilettos added the finishing touch to a button-topped pleated skirt, silk printed dresses, a strapless black lace gown and a gold embroidered dress in the collection inspired by a visit to the National Museum of the American Indian in Manhattan.

“It (the sock) really draws a lot of attention to the shoes,” said Erin Conroy, a spokesman for Italian shoemaker Via Spiga.

Wedged booties, stacked heels and combat boots also completed New York-based English fashion designer Charlotte Ronson's sombre grunge, outdoorsy look that featured chunky sweaters, military jackets, wide-leg trousers and maxi and miniskirts.

“Part of it is the comfort factor,” Conroy said. “For women who are seeking comfort, the wedge is a great solution because you don't have to give up the height to be comfortable.”

For Emmanuelle Alt, the new editor-in-chief of French Vogue, who will be presiding over the Paris shows, shoes are the most important element of an outfit.

“You can wear just about anything as long as you have beautiful shoes, but you can't do the opposite,” she told Elle Decoration in 1977.

Fans of super-high platforms weren't disappointed by designer Christian Siriano, of Project Runway fame. He opted for drama with shoes not for the faint-hearted. His towering clunky designs included snakeskin, studs and buckles.

But Siriano's shoes were a bit too challenging for one model, who tumbled on the runway during his New York show.

Manolo Blahniks vs. Cheaper Heels

When it comes to high-heeled shoes, most women are willing to tolerate pain for for fashion.

But does paying top dollars for high heels make a difference on comfort?

Consumer Reports ShopSmart tested basic heels ranging from $30 a pair all the way up to $575 a pair to find out.

The shoes on display at the Manolo Blahnik boutique are top of the line and you can easily spend a small fortune there. Anywhere from several hundred to thousands of dollars.

To find out if high-end, expensive shoes are worth the high price, Consumer Reports ShopSmart rounded up more than a dozen testers to try out three different pairs.

"We covered up all the labels so the women couldn't tell which were the less expensive pairs of shoes and which were the expensive ones," says Mandy Walker of Consumer Reports ShopSmart.

The shoes included a $30 pair of Mossimo's from Target, $69 heels from Nine West, and a $575 pair from Manolo Blahnik.

The women walked a defined course twice a day for a week in each pair of shoes. They filled out a ballot each time.

Most of the women thought two pairs looked and felt pretty good, but not the $30 pair from Target.

"I was holding onto the wall when I was walking around the building testing them," says Cathy Cotters, a Consumer Reports tester.

"These shoes were the most uncomfortable of the ones that we tested," says Lisa Gill, another Consumer Reports tester.

To size up how well each shoe was made, ShopSmart went extreme by cutting the shoes in half.

"Overall the Manolos were a better-made shoe," says Walker. "The materials they were made of were superior, and many of the women liked the styling, too."

However, in the blind tests more women thought the $69 Nine West shoes were more comfortable.

ShopSmart says the smart money move with high heels is to make fit the deciding factor.

"Determine the style you want, what your budget is, and if they feel good when you walk around in them, buy them," says Walker.

Consumer Reports ShopSmart says good leather heels need special care. It's best not to wear them two days in a row. That gives the shoes time to dry out. And avoid wearing them in bad weather. Step in a puddle with oil, gas, or road salt, and you can ruin them.

Film star at fashion launch

A HOLLYWOOD filmstar brought a touch of glamour to Bicester Village on Wednesday.

British actress Thandie Newton was at the shopping village to officially launch this year's British Designers Collective, which runs for the next six weeks.

It's billed as a not-to-be-missed opportunity for shoppers to survey the freshest brands in British fashion and pick up key pieces from their previous seasons' collections at an affordable price.

Miss Newton, who a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress in 2006 for her role in the film Crash and has starred opposite Will Smith and Eddie Murphy, is a well-known ambassador of British fashion and supporter of UK designers.

She said: “I am delighted to be working with Bicester Village supporting young British designers. The British Designers Collective is such an innovative way of giving new talent such an important ‘window'.”

Set in a specially designed, neon-coloured boutique in the heart of Bicester Village, the British Designers Collective is a collaboration between Value Retail and the British Fashion Council

to introduce emerging designers to a wider audience, who get to see a new generation of designers under one roof and snap up some bargains.

This year's British Designers Collective brings together a mouth-watering collection of some of the hottest names in British fashion, all at the usual Bicester Village reductions of up to 60 per cent off the recommended retail price.

Participants include multi-award-winning Jonathan Saunders, with his signature graphic prints and Felicity Brown's high-voltage glamour, and there's easy-to-wear luxury from Holly Fulton. There's also sequined knitwear from British-based designer Markus Lupfer, razor-sharp tailoring from Todd Lynn and well-cut dresses by Preen.

Other participating designers include Emma Cook, Felder Felder, Goat, Jean-Pierre Braganza, Marios Schwab and Osman.

Accessories include Georgina Goodman's shoes (Georgina has been hailed as the ‘future of footwear' by Manolo Blahnik), Jane Carr's hand-finished scarves, Fiona Paxton's hand-beaded jewellery and statement jewellery by Lara Bohinc.

Consumer Shoe Index

I've always considered shoe catalogs to be a relatively safe pleasure, if only because a new pair of shoes — unlike new clothes — can be counted on to provide a jolt of fashion without leaving one breathless with anxiety. Or so it used to be until the appearance of Bergdorf Goodman's spring shoe catalog. From the first item on, which is a crazy quilt of a Dries van Noten sandal that rings in at $920, it is clear that one should beware all enterprises requiring new shoes. Which is not to say that there isn't the occasional bargain, such as a Manolo Blahnik ballet flat for $665 (!) But if you're looking for the kind of footwear that will knock somebody's socks off (e.g., Azzedine Alaïa's bootie, above), the new normal hovers around $2,000. And then there's Alexander McQueen's gold T-strap wedge, set on a heel that's five and a half inches, and calls for an outlay of $3,495. If you think too hard about any of this, it can make you weep.

Scarves with real-world design making it big

HE'S a 57-year-old architecture professor who makes scarves in his garage during his spare time – not the classic CV for a designer selling his or her wares at a top London department store.

But Richard Weston's creations can now be found alongside those of Alexander McQueen and Manolo Blahnik on the shelves of the 136-year-old Liberty store after appearing on a television talent show to find the UK's next top designer.

Professor Weston, an expert in modern Nordic architecture who has taught at Cardiff University since 1999, makes the scarves in a studio at his home in the Vale of Glamorgan village of Dinas Powys.

Based on the patterns found in naturally-occurring crystals and fossils, his designs now sell for up to ￡210, with Liberty expecting his range of scarves to turn over ￡170,000 over the course of this year.

"It's lucky I'm used to not thinking in the box," said Prof Weston. "Being involved in architecture, it's something you get used to."

The designs for the scarves are based on the high-resolution scans of minerals, fossils and stones, making the images unique.

"You can't beat nature at doing certain kinds of things. If you want subtlety of colour and intricacy of pattern and variation, nature is it," he said.

He picked up his first mineral in 2003 when a chunk of ammonite in the window of a crystal shop in a Cardiff arcade caught his eye.

He used a scanner to transfer the swirling pattern to his computer, and was stunned by the result.

He said: "I started off buying cheap pebbles for ￡5 or ￡6, and each time they became more and more interesting. I'd pick up minerals and stones every time I went on holiday, or to a conference. I've got about 40 boxes at the moment."

After his initial fascination with creating electronic images of microscopic patterns in various crystals, it was two years before Prof Weston discovered that new technology would allow him to print the images onto fabric.

In 2005 he sponsored students at Newport Art College to use silk emblazoned with his designs in their end-of-year fashion show.

Then, in early 2010, his interest was pricked by an interview with Liberty's managing director Ed Burstell on Radio 4's Today programme.

The newly-appointed Mr Burstell wanted to find the next big thing in retail by holding an open day at the store.

Prof Weston added: "It was a kind of X Factor for design, so I signed up.

"I had a terrible cold and missed the first audition but I applied for the next round, and it was lucky I did because it was then discovered that there was going to be a programme filmed at that round."

The programme would end up as the BBC's Britain's Next Big Thing, which airs in April, hosted by Dragons' Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis.

But, despite Prof Weston catching the eye of Liberty's buyers, he had a lot of work before the end product was suitable for sale on the prestigious shelves of its store in Great Marlborough Street, just off London's Oxford Street.

"At first I was making long narrow scarves, because people said that square ones would not sell," he said.

"But Ed Burstell said immediately that he wanted the biggest squares possible.

"But it was so difficult to get square silk prints with a design, and to get them hand-rolled was impossible. I could get it done in China, but they wanted large quantities."

Prof Weston ended up travelling to Lake Como in Italy to source the perfect silks on which to print his scans of minerals, a trip that will be shown on Britain's Next Big Thing when it is aired from April 12.

"They are at the forefront of digital printing, and they offer an all-in service, something which, sadly, is not available in the UK."

But, despite his success, the academic is still not convinced he is ready to commit to fashion for good.

"I did say to someone the other day, ‘I think this is the rest of my life beginning'," he said.

"In terms of my professional career, I've spent nearly 30 years in academia. And, as an architect, I still want to build, I still want to design. But now I've got this whole other thing starting in scarves – and even in fashion, heaven help me."

Spanish cuisine the latest 'it' food

GIRLS, put on your favourite pair of Manolo Blahnik strappy sandals, grab your partner and step out Spanish style.

From falafel to fettuccine, from French to Finnish, from fresh to fast, food is a fad, subject to the fate of fashion - and following the latest trend allows for fearless fun and fine feasting, flamenco style!

It's sexy, sultry and just a little bit spicy and, according to renowned Brisbane food critic, Jan Power, Spain is the new 'it' place for fabulous and fashionable food, well on its way to being the number one international cuisine in Brisbane.

"Spanish food is the new fashion; it's quite glamorous and it's always been there but now people are discovering it's really worth it," Ms Power said.

"Spanish food is very popular in Brisbane and as we have a similar climate and similar personalities it works because we always need a change in fashion.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.

End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.

"I'm a total fan of Spain, they do everything well, eating to them is a total social component and something to share."

The Mediterranean diet appears to be in sync with both the Queensland climate and its health conscious, trendy population. The ingredients used in Spanish cooking are known to be fresh, natural and nourishing, with liberal use of herbs, oils and spices delivering scintillating flavours.

Brisbanites are jumping on the Mediterranean bandwagon with nine Spanish restaurants currently operating within a 5 kilometre radius of Brisbane's CBD. Additionally through the popularity of television programs such as Masterchef Australia and My Kitchen Rules, people are becoming more adventurous and trying new delicacies at fine dining eateries and backstreet cafes or even sharing tapas and sangria on their backyard deck.

Cooking classes around Brisbane including Mondo Organics at West End are incorporating classes solely devoted to the craft of learning Spanish cooking, with Chef Paul Horne sharing modern recipes for sophisticated tapas.

Language and Latin dance schools also have more people learning Spanish and the sexy, seductive and sultry moves of the Tango and the Samba. Latin dance teacher Anthea Tert, who's been dancing for 33 years, says the Spanish way of life is taking over as the international flavour in terms of music, culture, food and dance.

"I teach private classes and there has been a huge growth in popularity in the past two years as there are more people wanting to learn just for fun," Mrs Tert said.

"Spanish music is very rich, it makes you feel like dancing and it has a special way of reaching people internally," she said.

Brisbane is following the international rise in popularity of Spanish cuisine. Recent results from the 2010 San Pellegrino's World's Best 50 restaurants, found restaurants in Spain hold four of the top 10 positions worldwide.

Owner of Pintxo Spanish Taperia Tapas Restaurant in Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, Melissa Telecican, attributes Spanish food's popularity with an assortment of various taste sensations and its unique social atmosphere.

"People like having variety and trying lots of different things and as the food comes out gradually on a tapas train it makes it ideal for the individual, couples or larger social groups," Mrs Telecian said.

"We have Spanish tourists drop by for an authentic meal, however, we mainly cater to Brisbane locals, particularly those who have travelled to Spain and are passionate about the food and culture.

"I opened the restaurant after a trip to Spain, realising there were Spanish quarters in both Sydney and Melbourne yet there was a market for Spanish food in Brisbane that had yet to be discovered," Mrs Telecican said.

A patron dining at Pintxo, Jason Quinell, said he would definitely be back.

"It's my first time trying Spanish food and I love it," he said.

As Spanish cuisine is sizzling hot right now, step out before summer ends, sangria in one hand, flamenco fan in the other and adopt a fearless fixation for the 'latest' fashionable food.