Rio de Janeiro's winter 2012 fashion week got under way this Tuesday with a series of couture collection displays by designers like Alexandre Herchcovitch, Erika Frade and Alessa Migani. Herchcovitch started the event with his utilitarian-inspired collection in monochromatic hues. Known for his eclectic prints, the Brazilian designer has also showcased his work in global fashion platforms including the New York, Paris, London and São Paulo Fashion Weeks.

According to the AFP, Herchcovitch was the sole dark and serious note in an otherwise color-drenched day that included a sumptuous kimono collection from Patachou, rhinestone and silk flower-covered offerings from Acquastudio.

Truly enough, as compared to Herchcovitch's sober hues and patterns, other collections involved usage of bold shades, prints and designs. Patachou's collection had a distinct eastern influence, which includes kimono pattern wrap-dresses with glittering details.

A complete contrast to the other collections was the elegant ladylike creations by fashion label Acquastudio involving floral detailing and pastel hues, reportedly having a distinct 1950s influence. Take a look at the slideshow of the 2012 Rio de Janeiro fashion week.

The highly anticipated CES Press Conference at the Venetian presented revolutionary, bold new products, backed by celebrities and designers for technology consumers worldwide.  Nick Cannon, Earth, Wind and Fire, Diesel and Radioshack to name a few.

For consumers, 2012 will be a very special year.  This year sound technology combines high fashion and quality with cutting-edge designs.  Gracing the CES Press Conference stage early this Monday morn were brand new sound and home technology products by Monster. The company showcased cutting-edge patterns, shapes, materials and colors, which were all the love children of design and superior quality come together.

Major brand Diesel Jeans presented their models wearing brand new oval-shaped, feather and fabric-adorned head phones with a plethora of style change options including different and interchangeable color, and style head-bands, with varying headphone style options including platinum, silver, and diamond. The product is called, VEKTR, and offers both on-ear and in-ear options. The feathers and fabric may have been a runway addition, but only added to the beauty of the product.  The sound is to be more crisp and clear, with a specific focus on sound quality, taking note that in a pole, users voted sound quality even over look across the board.

The CEO of Monster guided us through a brand new product, called the “Monster Cable Press,” which contains the controls for the function of every electronic device in your home.  He started by saying how much money we are wasting today on energy costs, and that this product will, “revolutionize power management for the consumer.”  He tells the press to be aware of the “vampires,” that are sucking our money for our energy use, and shows us how to add each device in the home to the Monster power center, which plugs into the wall.  He then showed press attendees how to turn on the lamps, which were placed onstage with just the touch of one button he labeled, “light.”  It’s as easy as 1,2,3.  He shows us how to program the product as well as turning it on or off at a specific time that we desire, which saves money everyday.  The product comes with an easy installation kit so easy he says that, “Your mom can install it.”

After the speech, came the singer from “Earth, Wind, and Fire,” and CEO of Radioshack spokeswoman to back Monsters brand new, “Gratitude” in-ear headphones, with an SRP of $229.95.  The sound spokeswoman says, “Gratitude” was therapy for her during her battle and victory over cancer the last two years, upon which the press audience gave her much applause.

The next product showcased was a very fun, voice-operated speaker, speaker-phone, which comes in a variety of different colors, and voices, many of which humored the entire press conference. Whatever accent you want, the stereo talks it.  The sleek and compact ClarityHD™ Micro (SRP: $219.95) will provide today’s “multi-tasking” music lover with a high-quality audio solution for great sounding music, with the option of switching seamlessly to a conference or personal call – without, it boats, ever missing a beat.  Scheduled to ship worldwide in March 2012. There is no wifi required for the system to work, and connects with computers, usbs, and most other electronic devices.

Nick Canon also chimed in personally at the press conference this morning through satellite and TV screen, to tell us about his partnership with monster in creating the new “Ncredible” products.  The in-ear headphones called, “Nergy” clasp around the neck with a magnet, and a center connect around the chest displaying the new “Nergy” logo piece. Also showcased was Cannon’s on-ear headphones called, “Ntune.” All products promise advanced ControlTalk Universal, which provides easy music playback control for most Android and Blackberry devices, as well as hands-free calling with many smartphones. The products promise bigger, and better sound than ever.  Nick told press that he will be using the “Nncredible” headphones, with it’s comfortable and rounded look, in all his latest MTV and Nickelodeon productions, as well as his upcoming new feature film.

The press conference ended with excitement and anticipation for the products’ success, which look extremely promising.

MUSCAT: Designers from Oman, Lebanon, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Pakistan and Syria will participate in this year’s Muscat Fashion Week. This will be the finale event of the 2012 edition of Muscat Festival. The Muscat Fashion Week will be held from February 21 to 23 on an outdoor runway at the Riyam Park, which will be redone for the event.

The participating designers include Hanaa Wahaibi, Nawal Al Hooti and Dibaj from Oman, Abed Mahfouz from Lebanon, Siham Tib from Morocco, Kubra Al Qaseer from Bahrain, Amina Al Jassim from Saudi Arabia, Ayesha Depala and Kanzi from UAE, Mehwish Afzal from Pakistan and Hassan Mardash from Syria. An exhibition of clothes designed by these designers will be held for buyers from February 22 to 24 at the Ghalya Museum of Modern Art, Mutrah Corniche.

Malik bin Fahmy Al Hinai, Muscat Municipality Committee member responsible for Muscat Fashion Week said, “We are delighted to continue last year’s success, and once again we will do our part in highlighting the extraordinary talent the Arab fashion world has to offer.

The response we received from the first Muscat Fashion Week in 2011 was tremendous, and this fortified the strong demand for an international Arab Fashion Week.” Tickets will be on sale from February 21 at the Muscat Intercontinental Hotel, The Grand Hyatt, Qurum City Centre, Sabco Centre and Bait Al Baranda. Tickets are priced at RO10 for the front row and RO5 for a panoramic view. The timings of the show is between 7 and 10pm every evening.

“Arab fashion will take centre stage at the second Muscat Fashion Week. Following the success of last year’s event — the first ever of its kind — Oman will play host to fashion press and buyers from around the world as the international fashion spotlight turns to fashion talent based in the Gulf and South Asia,” organisers said.

“Focusing on established designers from the Middle East as well as new talent, the week collects the best of fashion from all around the Arab countries,” they added. Taking place over three evenings, the Muscat Fashion Week will consist of a number of boutique shows – exclusive, limited presentations – to make each night an experience.

“With renowned local Omani designers taking their designs to the catwalk alongside other top Arab and South Asian designers, this second Muscat Fashion Week will also present the international community with an outstanding example of the beauty of Arabic influenced fashion,” organisers said.

Last year’s edition received rave reviews from the international press who covered it. New York Times writer had written that “Despite the short preparation time, the production was as strikingly beautiful as it was effortlessly punctual.”

The designers who participated last year included Hanaa Al Wahaibi, Nadra Al Ajmi, Anisa Al Zadjali and Nawal Al Hooti from Oman, Robert Abi Nader from Lebanon, Amina Al Jassim from Saudi Arabia, Shrekahnth from India and Zolaykha Sherzad from Afghanistan.

"Friends with Benefits" actress Mila Kunis is the latest celebrity to become the face of Dior, the French fashion label said on Thursday. "I am absolutely thrilled to be working with Dior. The brand is iconic in so many ways. It defines fashion, elegance and sophistication," Kunis said in a statement. Kunis, 28, will be the model for the Miss Dior handbag collection in the brand's Spring/Summer 2012 advertising campaign, appearing worldwide this month.

The "Black Swan" actress is joining her Oscar-winning co-star Natalie Portman, who is the face of the Miss Dior Cherie perfume, along with Charlize Theron, who is the face of the J'Adore Dior fragrance and French actress Marion Cotillard, who models the Lady Dior handbags. Theron and Cotillard are also recent Oscar winners. French fashion house Christian Dior, part of LVMH luxury goods group, is a staple in the high-end clothing and beauty industry.

Jennifer Lopez waves to photographers at the inaugural BAFTA Brits to Watch 2011 event at the Belasco Theater.