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"Music By Prudence" director Roger Ross Williams and producer Elinor Burkett 

Okay, so the buzz around the Sparkletts at Apparel News this morning was as much about the fashions at last night’s Academy Awards as it was about the “Kanye moment” during the acceptance speech for the Oscar-winning short documentary, “Music By Prudence.”

An image of a Zentai suit enthusiast from The Daily Beast

When I first saw the images in a recent Daily Beast story about men who lounge around in their brightly colored and printed head-to-toe Lycra suits, I figured it had to be a joke. After all, I’ve been around, I live in L.A., I’ve got some crazy friends, but this was the first I’d heard of Zentai suits.

But a quick Google search confirms it. Zentai is for real.

It's a really big hat. Made of chocolate.

It’s like a “Project Runway” challenge with no thoughtful supervision from Tim Gunn.

To celebrate the opening of a new theme park in Beijing, organizers of the World Chocolate Wonderland hosted a fashion show featuring chocolate hats, wigs (eww) and, as near as I can tell, a full gladiator ensemble.

Here’s one that came in via email today: a bracelet that turns into a purse hook.

MADRID—I’m adding more stamps in my fashion passport.

I’m still kicking myself that I missed the annual Christmas party thrown Dec. 18 by the Textile Association of Los Angeles. (In 11 years at Apparel News, this is only the second time I’ve missed the event).

Did you catch the recent interview with fashion designer-turned-filmmaker Tom Ford on NPR show Fresh Air? Host Terry Gross talked to Ford about his new (first!) film “A Single Man” and his career in fashion.

“Mad Men” actress Christina Hendricks

It’s going to be a cute, cute Christmas—if The Gap has anything to do about it.

This holiday ad is currently airing—and (to me, at least) it has all the makings of a viral success: adorable moppets—in clothing I covet for my imaginary Swedish vacation—singing a catchy jingle that has taken root in my brain. 

I sent it around the office today—which drove at least one reporter away complaining of sugar shock.

Fashion Group International will kick off the holiday season on Dec. 6 with a party—complete with saki tastings, sushi samplings, a silent auction and drawing for a week in St. Lucia.

The party is set for 3–6 p.m. at Agura in West Hollywood. Cost to attend is $30 for FGI members and their guests, and $45 for non-members.

For more information call (323) 687-4131 or e-mail fgila@earthlink.net.