Fashion agenda: Fashionistas head Down Under

August may traditionally be known as the calm before the storm in the fashion world but there are still some events to get excited about before September's New York Fashion Week, including the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Sydney.

Apps agenda: Darwin Festival, BBC Proms, Stockholm Fashion Week, Gamescom

A roundup of the essential apps needed for keeping up-to-date with major events in art, music and more for August 13-19.

Elie Saab channels inner sultan at Paris fashion week

PARIS (Reuters) - Byzantine opulence and splendour worthy of a sultan's harem greeted guests at Elie Saab's fashion show on Wednesday, as the Lebanese designer beloved of the Hollywood set presented a fantasy collection spun from embroidered tulle and lace. Saab, who is known for his red carpet creations, said he was inspired by Constantinople for his autumn/winter 2012-2013 Haute Couture collection, and indeed the gold, shimmer and sparkle overflowed in the pillared Paris reception hall on the Rue Cambon. ...

Lakmé Fashion Week: Five quickfire questions for celeb makeup artist Kapil Bhalla

As fashionistas descend on Mumbai for the Winter/Festive edition of Lakmé Fashion Week, makeup artist to the stars Kapil Bhalla -- one of the event's special guests -- chats with Relaxnews and reveals the biggest beauty secret he believes his countrywomen have to share.

Fashion world mourns style icon Anna Piaggi

Designer Stefano Gabbana has led a pouring out of Twitter tributes to renowned style icon Anna Piaggi following reports of the 81-year-old's death in the Italian press.

Alexander McQueen unveils frenetic Fall 2012 fashion film

It appears that for Fall/Winter 2012 designers are attempting to outdo each other in the psychedelic stakes, with Alexander McQueen the latest label to unveil a trippy '80s inspired campaign video.

Olympics: Fashion wins few medals in London

Designer Giorgio Armani predicted that the London Olympics would be the most stylish ever, but fashion experts say there has been as much bad taste as elegance on display.

Millionaire Fashion Designer Wants Your Funding

Crowdfunding can be a great way to get a charity or creative project off the ground if you're starved for cash. Now, apparently, more established business owners are turning to it too.

Fashion agenda: Britain Creates 2012, Lakmé Fashion Week

The Olympic Games aren't traditionally associated with fashion but visitors to London with an interest in style will be glad to hear about the ongoing Britain Creates 2012: Fashion & Art Collusion project in the UK capital. Meanwhile, fashion weeks in destinations ranging from Mumbai to Copenhagen are coming up.

Dolce&Gabbana summer fashion sings of Sicily

These are happy boys. Happy that it's summer. Happy to be Sicilian.

AP Photos: Mumbai's fashion week

India's cultural capital of Mumbai is in the thick of the fashion world with Lakme Fashion Week, wrapping up five days of runway presentations on Tuesday.

Fashion Designer Nicole Miller Wants to Talk to You on VYou

Fashion designer Nicole Miller is expanding her social media presence to video, becoming the first designer on VYou. Miller, a self-proclaimed social media fanatic (the designer is a regular poster to Instagram and Facebook) is using VYou to interact more with her fans and show the authenticity behind her label.

Qatari royals buy Italian fashion icon Valentino

MILAN/LONDON (Reuters) - Italian fashion house Valentino has been snapped up by the Qatari royal family for 700 million euros ($857.5 million), the latest purchase of a top European luxury brand by an emerging market investor. The luxury label loved by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Audrey Hepburn said on Thursday that Mayhoola for Investments S.P.C, an investment vehicle backed by a leading Qatari, had bought it from UK-based private equity fund Permira and minority investors the Marzotto textile entrepreneurs. Valentino did not disclose financial details of the sale or name the investor. ...

London Fashion Week: Jonathan Saunders creates bespoke visuals

This year's BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund winner Jonathan Saunders has collaborated with London Fashion Week to create his own bespoke visuals to promote the event, marking the launch of a new annual designer team-up.

Beauty agenda: Lakmé Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Sydney

Fashion weeks in destinations ranging from Mumbai to Sydney makes August an exciting month for beauty junkies, with special guests at Lakmé Fashion Week including beauty expert Kapil Bhalla -- who has worked with top celebrities such as Shilpa Shetty.

Fashion Week Countdown: A Super Sabbatical