Have you ever had an interest in fashion? Do you think you have what it takes to be a top fashion designer? Do I sound like one of those commercials that support a higher education in the fine arts that you see late at night while watching reruns of the Cosby Show? Well good.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, April 28 the Academy of Art University in San Francisco presents runway collections of the graduating class of 2006 with special guest Daniel Vosovic from Season 2 of Project Runway.

Mr. Vosovic will be signing autographs and give a few words before the show that will take place in three tents that emit an air of New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park- complete with 15 pretty faces from Elite Models New York and a 184-foot runway! WOWZERS!

Maybe if we ask, Daniel will do a little dancing for us (check out his moves at the end of this “dirty Diana” clip):

Located at 601 Brannan Street at Fifth Street - and it’s FREE! Click here for more information.

So the trendy Brit retailer, Topshop has taken on a new designer - and her name is Kate Moss.

The world can always use another “celebrity designer.”

That said, I am very glad that designer Jeff Banks has the same opinions as me when it comes to celebrity designers - except he is more upfront about it.

Check out how he ragged on Moss (and Madonna) for their “fashion design” skills.

(Courtesy of The Press Association Newsdesk, Lancashire Evening Post)

Fashion designer Jeff Banks has launched a stinging attack on the high street trend of featuring ranges by celebrity “designers”. Banks questioned how much creative input famous faces such as Kate Moss and Madonna had in their clothing ranges at Topshop and H&M.

And the former presenter of BBC television series The Clothes Show asked: “Can Kate sharpen a pencil or draw a matchstick man? I wouldn’t put money on it.”

Commenting on Moss’s input into her range, which goes on sale next month, Banks said: “I’ll bet she just grabbed one of her many Prada bags, rifled through her wardrobe… and turned up at Topshop’s head office in Oxford Street for a quick hour’s briefing with the in-house designers and buying staff.”

He said: “I’m not against celebrity endorsement, but to claim the product has been actually designed by the celeb simply beggars belief.”

A spokesman for Topshop hit back at the comments, saying: “Kate Moss has had a huge input in the range from every level, from the design concept of the garments to the fitting and the logo.

“The fashion industry may be a different place to one Jeff Banks is used to. Top designers like John Galliano don’t cut patterns, they have pattern cutters. That’s the industry.

“Kate Moss isn’t a full-time member of staff and she isn’t a trained fashion designer, however we see her as a fashion icon. Most brands have made quite a lot of money out of copying what she wears.”

Banks was also critical of the ‘M by Madonna’ range of clothes which went on sale at H&M in March.

He said: “I think she’s a very talented singer. Have clothes played an equal measure in her success as her ability to hold a tune? Sure they have. But can Madonna design clothes? I’d like to see the sketches and watch her cut a pattern.”

That was way harsh Banks - but it’s so true.

I can appreciate nostalgia. I also can appreciate a reinvention of an old trend. But then there are times when it has to go back into the old fashion time capsule. I’m talking about metallics.

Gold Frame Clutch from Target.com, $14.99

Sure, pages of fashion mags are telling you to grab all the gold lamet you can - but that’s only because it’s endangered of becoming out of style. Or maybe I am just saying that because I don’t like the trend.

That said, I am going to keep going with this shiny trend - and you should too. But before you buy all the metallic your closet can handle, keep this one picture in mind:

I think I made my point.

Fake luxury goods are nice to look at and they do give you a sense of glamour, but when it comes down to it, there is no fashionable soul with a “Goach” bag. In fact, what is the point of buying a fake? It’s like you’re trying to buy style - which we all know cannot be done.

Thanks to our friends at the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition, spotting a fake can be a little easier with some of these tips:

Check the price tag: If you find a price that is too good to be true, it probably is. For example, if you find a Louis Vuitton bag for $100, it’s probably made out of scraps of pleather.

Where did you buy it? Chinatown, trunks of cars, flea markets and some internet sites - all of them are inevitable hotspots for knock off goods.

Is it packaged in Saranwrap? Come on now, this is a dead giveaway. If the packaging is sloppy - I don’t think I need to tell you it’s bogus.

“Prado” instead of “Prada”: Unless you are totally clueless or failed spelling class in the third grade, having a “Channel” purse is a dead giveaway on the authenticity of a luxury good.

Was it a cash only transaction? Did the guy with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a ratty old Hawaiian shirt who sold it to you not charge you sales tax? Better yet, did he demand cash only? I don’t think I need to tell you that the whole deal was a farce.

Let me see some I.D.! Make sure the person selling the goods has valid I.D. Otherwise, you are S.O.L.

Assembly required: I don’t think the fashionistas at Gucci intended their products to be in a Do-it-yourself package.

So…on my birthday I decided to spend it chillin’ at Bloomie’s with the fabulous folks at Gola. (do you like how I said “chillin’” to recognize the fact that I am trying to maintain my coolness as I grow older?)

It just so happened I was helping them celebrate the UK-based shoe’s own little birthday with Gola at 101: Faces and Memories of Centenarians. Remember when I did a little thing about it a couple days back?

The photo exhibit of people peppered throughout the store was very curious. The subjects pictured were of the age 100 and up. There was even one man who was 109. These dandy gentlemen and fine ladies told stories of their lives and basically made my life sound so boring…wait a minute…my life IS boring.

What amazed me the most was how none of the folks pictured looked a day over 70 or 80 - I was just hoping I looked as good when I turn 100 - if I even get that far.

Then there were the was the wonder of the actual GOLA shoe.

Now I have to admit - I’ve only seen Gola in passing at boutiques and select stores. In other words, I have admired from afar.

While I was chatting it up with VP of Gola, North America, Steven Weinreb, he showed me the latest line of sneakers…or should I say vintage?

Reminds me of those days when I used to breakdance on the street corner with my b-boy crew while “Give it all you Got” by Afrorican blasted on my boombox.

These sherbert-coated retro goodies are the result of a recreation of the 1982 sneaker that was popular back in the day. Weinreb informed me that they followed every single protocol to make the sneaker as if it were 1982. The only difference is that they have a new variety of colors - very tasty.

The exhibit continues through April 23, but you can get Golas anytime you want at www.golaclassics.com.

Located at the Men’s Department in Bloomingdale’s, 4th Floor, 845 Market St., San Francisco.

The queen of all prom queens, Jessica McClintock

Here is more of my interview with prom dress maestro…

Dino-Ray: What do you remember most about your prom?

Jessica McClintock: I was always the romantic. We always were looking forward to what boy was going to the prom.

DR: You have been designing prom dresses for years. Do girls recognize you?

JM: Every year I go to 5 or 6 proms and talk to the girls. They find out who I am and they come run up to me and show me my dress that they are wearing.

DR:With your dresses, do you follow your own design instinct, or do you tend to follow the trends?

JM: Once you are in a successful business, that’s where you should listen and watch carefully. If your successful in one style, you try to build on it. Whatever the fashion is, its going to influence. I once did a Marie Antoinette collection. Ilove the idea of flirtation – low necklines with décolletage.

DR: What can we expect to see this year at prom?

JM: Sexy, soft dresses, lots of new short (dresses).

DR: What if someone shows up in the same dress?

JM: It’s funny, I’ve been to many proms and I don’t often see the same dress twice. Last year I did, and there were two of my dresses but in different colors - so that was good.

DR: What can we expect to see this year at prom?

JM: Sexy, soft dresses, lots of new short (dresses).

For more info on the lovely purveyor of promenades, visit www.jessicamcclintock.com.

P.S. I love her New Victorian collection…

Ok, I am into fashion statements, but….

Miss Mexico, Rosa Maria Ojeda, poses with a floor-length dress, belted by bullets and accented by sketches of hangings during Mexico’s Roman Catholic uprising in the 1920s during a presentation in the city of Tampico, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006. The dress has outraged Mexicans who said it was inappropriate for the world’s most important beauty contest. (AP Photo/ Milenio Diario de Tampico, Julio Nevero)

I am all about freedom of speech, making a political statement and all that jazz, but if you’re gonna do it, do it in a less literal way. Doing it in a subdued manner makes it more witty and it draws less attention to you. This dress looks like it was made purely for shock value. In turn, there’s a question of taste in both the political and fashion realms. This get-up looks like she broke into the Alamo and grabbed whatever she could find to make it into an outfit.

One thing good that can come from this is that bullet belt - she may have started a new trend. But as for the rest of that stuff - come on now!

Ok, so a couple of weeks (or months?) ago, Drew Barrymore hosted Saturday Night Live and did this little skit called “Body Fuzion.” I have been watching the ’80s softcore porno-tinted clip over and over and each time, it gets funnier and funnier:

Man…this will never get old…”OR AIR!” HAHAHA - Amy Poehler kills me!

I am just waiting for the day when this type of workout gear comes back in vogue - headbands, bright graphics, non-functional spandex - I love it. With all these ’80s trends making their way back into the 21st century, don’t be surprised if you see me in a nice leopard print unitard at the gym.

Ok, I am not really a princess, but bridal designer Kirstie Kelley can make you (not me) into one with her new collection of Disney-princess inspired bridal gowns:

Disney offers princess gowns to brides
By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL
AP Fashion Writer

NEW YORK _ So many brides say they want to look like a princess on their wedding day _ and now we’re about to find out if they mean really mean it. The Walt Disney Co. has teamed with bridal designer Kirstie Kelly to create a collection of gowns inspired by the favorite Disney princess characters, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Ariel from “The Little Mermaid,” Belle from “Beauty and The Beast” and Jasmine from “Aladdin.”But Kelly is quick to point out that “inspired by” doesn’t mean gowns that look like they came from the animated movies, which have been translated many times over into dress-up costumes for little girls. Instead, the designs attempt to channel the personality of each princess in terms suitable for a
real-life, modern woman.

“We wanted women to feel like they had something in common with these princesses. We had to identify who the princesses are now and who does the everyday girl relate to,” Kelly said during a telephone interview prior to the gowns’ runway debut Sunday during Bridal Fashion Week in Manhattan.

A mood and fashion sensibility was assigned to each princess-themed gown: Cinderella is for the classic glamour bride; Sleeping Beauty is about pretty romance; Snow White is sweet elegance; Ariel is sultry allure; Belle is stylish sophistication; and Jasmine is bohemian chic.

“It actually touches on every type of wedding,” explained Kelly, who also has her own bridal couture label. “For the destination wedding there’s Ariel or Jasmine, but if you’re having 500 people in a ballroom, you’re definitely the Cinderella gown.”

When she got married several years ago, she would have gone for the Cinderella look, Kelly said, although now she would lean the slimmer shape, such as the Jasmine gown.

Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products Worldwide, said that when the company began developing the marketing concept of the princesses six or seven years ago, the company discovered that the demographic wasn’t limited to the 2- to 8-year-olds Disney was expecting. “We’ve been blown away how strong the demand is for princess thematic things in almost every stage of a woman’s life,” he said. Adult women buy into a sort of lifestyle role play, he explained. As a brand, Disney has a built-in reputation for quality and trust, Mooney added, so it doesn’t start from scratch when it enters categories such as cruise travel, better furniture or wedding gowns.

The decision to go into the bridal market was largely made because of that princess dream so many brides talk about, Mooney said. “Every bride wants to be Cinderella but she also wants to be classic, feminine and beautiful. Kirstie has allowed a woman to enter the princess fantasy but in a way that’s absolutely appropriate for the event.”

Plus, 1,500 couples do say “I do” at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida each year.

The gowns will be sold at bridal salons. Kelly said Disney identified a void in the mid-tier level of gowns for brides who want to spend between $1,100-$3,400.

Women often start their gown shopping with the idea that they want to be different from everyone else, but they change their tune once they start trying on dresses. “Looking like Cinderella is probably something they never considered before they got engaged, but then the traditional side almost always comes out. It’s hard to resist romance and sparkle,” Kelly said.

That said, bridal retailers are always looking for the new thing that can help their store stand out _ and that’s what gives Disney a good chance at the market, said Carley Roney, editor in chief of TheKnot.com.

“As to consumers, the success of this line all depends on the dress design,” she said in an e-mail to the AP. “The Disney brand has a strong, positive, emotional meaning for a surprising number of people _ consider the couples who choose to get married at Disney. But I see these `Disneyphiles’ as being a relatively small group. As to the women who have no real Disney brand loyalty, if the dress designs are strong enough, they will probably overlook the brand association.”

Roney envisions suburban brides on the younger side as the target customer. And, while a lot of women toss around the words “fairytale” and “princess” about their weddings, she thinks they’re talking more of an ultra-luxurious celebrity wedding.

But Disney’s Mooney points out that a woman’s first impression of love often comes from an animated character and it’s hard to completely erase that from her mind. “If you think about who the first person who teaches you about love, romance and Prince Charming is, it probably happened between the ages of 2-5 and included Disney.”

Here are some of the dresses:

Last night (“last” meaning April 12), I, once again, was part of the lovely fashionable social scene of the San Francisco Bay Area. This time, it was much more of a visceral event (with great samosas from Roy’s and a never ending flow of Beard Papa cream puffs).

SF courtier, Colleen Quen and industrial designer Rick Lee fused their artistic minds to create an art exhibit called “Ouroboros” – a visual interpretation of the five elements, the endless powers of creation and the natural cycle of life.

The show is a marriage of two creative minds – and when I say marriage, I really mean marriage. The couple is a one-two punch when it comes to design. Quen offers a fashion voice of whimsical structure and bold femininity, while Lee serves up a hearty helping of sleek, razor-sharp modern industrial art that seeps into your mind like a futuristic whisper.

Their lofty art space was one-part happy hour and two parts art. The main space showcased their “Ouroboros” display, an organic stream of conscious that was clean and melded together flawlessly:

The entrance of their space was walled with cut-outs of Quen’s patterns, which served as a creative room divider.

Lee’s crafty/technological Night Owl” lamps give a nudge of humor but is an appreciated piece of design. That said, can I have one for my bedroom?

Owl

Serpentine

Raindrops

Quen gave a couture rendition of seasonal elements. By far, the intricate “Owl” piece is a eye catcher - it’s menacing, yet red-carpet ready and glamorous. The “Serpentine” is sly and bounded with beauty and “Raindrops” is a voluminous representation of droplets, yet it’s not literal. Two pieces not shown were the “Black Heart” a wonderful gown that can be worn by a more mature and fashionable Queen of Hearts from “Alice in Wonderland” and a quaint “Scallop” piece for a soulful Pollyanna-type.

Placed in the center of the space, is an artistic whirlwind for the eyes by Lee. First, the mirrored mesmerizing spectacle, “Stormy Night Mobile” (also placed in various sizes throughout the studio) is something I wouldn’t mind staring at before I go to sleep. One side is a mirror, the revers has a silkscreen pattern of intricate images that compliment the “Dune Seating Sleeper Rug Unit” - a hand-woven rug that manipulates the eyes and functional - it can be a curvy conversation piece sofa or lounge sleeper.

The “CNC Table Group” reminds me of those “put the shape in the right slot” toys I used to play with when I was younger - except more sophisticated. Lee realized the four seasons into a set of modern tables. The “scraps” were smartly molded into wall art with a “waste-not-want-not” mentality. Brilliant and Earth-friendly - you can’t get better than that.

Quen also gave us an impromptu fashion show of her latest collections, which I can never stop dissecting:

More to come…

The installation continues through April 19. By appointment only. At 7 Heron St., San Francisco. Visit www.colleenquencouture.com or www.rickleedesign.com.