It was the modern bohemian woman on parade. Veronique Branquinho mixed and matched eclectic references, from wooden African bracelets to Obi-style dresses with belts. The soundtrack included Marilyn Monroe's sultry One Silver Dollar from the Western River of No Return, which played as cowboy boots and denim studs peppered the looks. Stetson cowboy hats in Shetland went too far, but overall it was a strong collection for the up-and-coming designer - reined in only by its feminine silhouette proportions and textural contrasts that unified the show. The graceful, slouchy style, now a Branquinho signature, was seen on several of the dropped-waist looks, often in beige and fawn.

The no-holds-barred sex appeal for Anthony Vaccarello is not for the faint-hearted. The third Belgian designer to show on Paris fashion week's first day served up a black-and-white ode to the early '80s in a show that featured micro skirts, chainmail, a lot of skin and lashings of sensual leather. Strong retro shoulders, asymmetrical, diagonally cut skirts, upturned lapels and cowl collars set the fashion time dial firmly back to the era of the New Romantics. This was fused with the innate sexiness of his variations on the Little Black Dress. The best look was a black kimono-style top, which billowed in great contrast to the tight, bright shiny black mini. Subtle this was not, but then, subtle isn't glam-loving Vaccarello's thing.

Anne Hathaway has taken the unusual step of apologising to fashion fans for switching her Oscars dress from Valentino to Prada at the last minute.

Paris fashion week kicked off with a bold, “masculine'' collection for women in neutral colours by experimental South Korean designer Moon Young Hee. The Paris-based designer sent out an eye-catching collection of voluminous trousers, ruffle-covered tops and floor-length skirts. A master of layering, known for her fluid, feminine designs, she limited herself to a restrained palette of black, white, grey and ecru.

A handpicked selection of what’s new in fashion, food and beauty right now. See this week’s issue of Viva for more.

With 11 days of fabulous events taking place during a celebration of all things fashionable, there's no excuse not to be involved in the Fashion in the Big Little City festival.

Kiwi fashion designer Karen Walker is venturing into children's wear for the first time through a partnership with a Japanese retail giant that will see the collection sold around the globe.

Architecture, the patterns of painting movement "art brut" and the surrealistic colors of Dutch Master Brueghel were all inspirations behind Cedric Charlier's diverse fall-winter 2013-14 show in Paris. The first pieces, among the collection's best, mixed up sharp geometric panelling alongside oversize coats with fluid, rounded shoulders. Ensembles were made up of several layers, like square navy skirts on top of knee-length leggings with a rectangular bib form hanging down. There were also some great structured sheaths in silky navy and black leather. It's a far cry from the more fluid looks seen in Charlier's last collection.

Check out the dames who've decided to ditch long locks and rock a shorter style.

Armani's latest winter collection came almost all in black, with accents of gray, navy and red. The chic-yet-simple collection spoke to a contemporary woman, who in the designer's own words is "a little man, a little woman, and a lot of both." Admiring front-row guests included singer Janet Jackson and a scattering of royalty: Charlene Wittstock, wife of Prince Albert of Monaco, and Tatiana Blatnik, wife of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark. The collection featured ultra-feminine long skirts in velvet or sequined chiffon, worn with tiny double-breasted or flared jackets. But the look also came with wide pants, complete with decorative suspenders. Evening pants were paired with dazzling sequined tops. Armani had more pants, including jumpsuits and Bermuda shorts, in his collection than most designers this round, where ladylike skirts and dresses were the preferred look. Armani's only concession to eccentric show stoppers were his funky Russian-inspired felt and furry hats, worn with every outfit.

The stars of the Oscars hit up the Vanity Fair and Elton John after parties.

As Life & Style Editor I have the heroic task of picking the most smashing red carpet looks, and deciding who was not so visually pleasing. So here you go. For all the red carpet banter check out the blog and tell me what you think of my picks on Twitter.

Stars walk the red carpet at the 2013 Oscar awards.

Thousands of people attended the International Tattoo and Art Expo at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton over the weekend. The popular annual event draws some of the best tattoo artists from around the country each year.

Herrera has become almost as synonymous with the Academy Awards as a weepy acceptance speech.

The Salvatore Ferragamo show concentrates on shapes. All in black, white and navy blue, with no prints or bold shades, the clothes have to speak for themselves. Massimiliano Giornetti, designer for the Florentine brand best known for its accessories, gives his winter styles a voice through sculpted silhouettes and carefully chosen fabrics. A few examples: a wide Alpaca jacket is worn with an A-line short skirt in pony leather; an oversized cashmere pullover is paired with a dainty slip with beaded hemline; and a classic overcoat becomes even more classy when worked in shiny silk. Even fur and leather are worked to highlight the artistry of the collection, starting with suede stitched in smocking, or beaver shorn to look like satin. The famous Ferragamo shoe next winter is a knee-high boot with pointed toe and relatively low stiletto heel, cut out at the instep and laced up the barelegged back. The latest Ferragamo bag is a shopper with metal inserts.

A gift bag is estimated to be worth $45,000 is given to Oscar nominees and includes an array of luxury items.

The Weekend Herald takes a look at the cost of going to the Oscars.

Yolanda Bartram has body painting in her blood. Her mum was a trained theatre artist in the Netherlands, using a young Yolanda as a canvas. Life & Style Editor Nicky Park visited Yolanda's Auckland studio to watch her paint a wolf on to the bare chest of Hannah, a 19-year-old "exhibitionist". “For me it’s normal to paint naked people but I guess a lot of people would find it strange,” Yolanda said. “I like to think I’m a collector of images. I have things in my head that I like to see.” · You can check out Yolanda at work at The International Tattoo and Art Expo, happening this weekend in Hamilton. Visit the website for more info.

Fendi is to fur what Ferrari is to cars. Yet given current concerns about animal rights, the brand has moved from the lavish fur coats that were all the rage in the 1980s to a more discreet way of interpreting fur as fashion. Fendi creative director Silvia Venturini, daughter of one of the company's five founding sisters, opted for wisps of fur used as hair decorations, bracelets, or charms hanging from Fendi bags. Fur also appeared as inserts in a skirt or a dress, or sheered and fashioned into a cozy, but not showy, jacket. Long fur, usually goat, also seen on other runways during Milan's preview showings, was used to make up a skirt or a cape.

Russell Crowe teased Anne Hathaway about her red carpet wardrobe malfunction as he presented her with a prize at the Costume Designer Guild Awards.

Lindsay Lohan has been accused of ruining a borrowed designer gown after allegedly hacking off the bottom half of the dress.

Rihanna has celebrated her birthday by signing a massive new deal with MAC Cosmetics.

Mila Schon has turned to a new team of international designers to usher in a new era for the label. The first collection, cold weather clothes for next year, had an ingénue appeal, with flouncy and feminine looks. The design team created volumes with ruffles and blousy effects that projected an easy-to-sketch silhouette. Fur-and-wool coats had tiered ruffle necks. Sheer black spandex turtlenecks finished with a flourish with long, bell-shaped ruffles that start at the elbow. Ample skirts, short and long alike, promised sashay to any walk. Miniskirts and short coats showed off leather high-heeled boots that disappeared beneath the short hemlines. But hemlines on coats, skirts and pants also were left to trail.

The Gucci woman next winter is a playful mixture of demure and daring. "She seduces with her dangerous femininity," writes creative director Frida Giannini in her show notes. For example, while the season's pencil skirt has a proper several-inches-below-the-knee hemline, the slits up the front and back are not necessarily ladylike. Or take the little black dress, a cocktail-hour must — until Giannini ups the ante with fetching see-through lace, leather inserts and low-cut backs and necklines. In the constructed collection, jackets are generally small, with either a soft or well-defined shoulder. Coats are cut close to the body, except for a single mannish coat in cornflower blue with a black Astrakhan collar. Skirts are worn high for a delicate take on the waist, and the tapered and short pants are more sweet than sexy. However, the recurrent fishnet tights complete with black seam underlined the fetching mood of the collection.

The latest Alberta Ferretti winter collection could be labeled minimal Victorian. There were many of the elements of 19th century fashion, from the high collars, wide skirts, rich fabrics and austere embroidery, but on a paired down silhouette. A simple sheath takes on yesteryear allures when it comes in rich velvet and prominent jeweled embroidery. On the other hand a suit with hoop skirt and peplum jacket, is updated by making the skirt a little narrower and the jacket smaller. Eveningwear keeps old-age accents, but is cut in a contemporary long and slim style. Fancy fur wraps are reversible with a cozy felt lining, which in a minute can turn posh into pedestrian.

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada has sent down a colourful collection at Madrid's Fashion Week.

With international Fashion Week season in full swing, it's hard to keep up with the myriad looks coming down the runway.