The Sartorial Network: Opening Ceremony founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon ...

It is a big leap from running a shop and designing a relatively small and very niche collection of womenswear and menswear to heading an established brand with at least six collections a year. Kenzo Takada, the Japanese designer who founded his company in Paris in 1970, retired in 1999. Last summer the surprise announcement was made that Opening Ceremony would be taking over. Lim and Leon are very matter-of-fact when I ask them how it came about. They were approaching their 10th anniversary and wanted another challenge. Having worked on successful collaborations over the years with specialist brands such as Pendleton and Stetson, as well as with cutting-edge designers including the cult LA label Rodarte, they thought the time was right to apply what they had learnt to something bigger. 'We put the word out,' Leon says. 'We wanted to do something like this, which is working on a brand from the inside out, dissecting the business aspect and the entire vision. Kenzo was the most exciting for us because of the rich history.'

MAC Rodarte makeup named for Juarez is not pretty - Chicanísima ...

More than 500 women have been murdered in the Mexican border city of Juarez since 1993. The city also saw 1,500 people killed so far this year, and 5,700 since 2008, mainly because of the war against drugs. The border town is full of maquiladoras, or factories where migrants, including many young women from other regions of Mexico to earn a living. "Our collaboration with MAC makeup developed from sources of inspiration on a road trip we took last year in Texas, El Paso to Marfa. The ethereal nature of the landscape influenced the development of creativity and desert palette of the collection.

Into the outfits

1. People spend hours looking, debating and trying to determine what to buy their loved one for Mother's Day. Should, I get her jewelry, a restaurant gift certificate, or just a simple card explaining my appreciation? Look no further because I have
2. Another French connection, choreographer Benjamin Millepied, teamed up with Rodarte, the costume designers for “Black Swan,” for his new “Two Hearts.” Dressed in black and white, the dancers looked like a crossword puzzle in motion.
3. Rodarte and Carolina Herrera. The dresses are guaranteed “nearly new,” meaning they have only been worn once or twice. If the bride so chooses, Nearly Newlywed will buy back the dress after the wedding, guaranteeing at least 30% of the sale price.
4. He's prolific on Twitter, tweeting several times a day and giving an insight into a life that comes across as both incredibly glamorous - "Walking by @ysl store, had to run in & buy a Stefano Pilati suit before its gone next season.
5. Even top designers and major labels are buying into this, requesting fashion bloggers to be at the front row of Fashion Week and other star studded events. This movement is creating a new breed of entrepreneur; where a simple love of fashion can be