CaliforniaApparelNews.net

The retail world is taking note that the American shopper is in search of bargain-basement prices.

With that in mind, Nordstrom Rack is on a buying spree of its own, shopping for several new locations in Southern California. The off-price chain has several new spots planned for the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, where, for many, shopping is a favorite pastime.The off-price store will be joining several full-price Nordstrom stores in the area.

Heidi Klum is one of the hosts of “Project Runway.”

For those who are dying to be on “Project Runway” but never made it to the finals, there's hope.

Like everything in life, “Project Runway” has now become a video game that can be played on a Nintendo Wii or your personal computer. For only $39.99, you too can be cutting patterns, dressing models, watching them strut down the catwalk and showing how your imagination is something to be reckoned with.

Calling all wanna-be lingerie designers.

For the third year in a row, German lingerie maker Triumph International is holding a lingerie design contest that can launch a student's career.

A range of looks from Tadashi Shoji at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (left) and Boy by Band of Outsiders at Milk Studios (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz/Photo by Band of Outsiders)

The sun may be shining bright in California right now, but Fall/Winter 2010 was on the minds of Golden State designers who unveiled their latest creations at New York Fashion Week, with some shows starting as early as Feb. 10.

Eco-fashion shows are nothing new on the Los Angeles runways. Think leaf-strewn catwalks and organic cotton.

But  for the first time, a Los Angeles ecological youth movement is presenting a fashion show highlighting eco-friendly designers.

It’s shades of Sonny and Cher over at the L.A. vintage store The Way We Wore.

Our global culture and its evolving nature are on everybody's minds, including fashion designers.

At Hong Kong Fashion Week, that concept was front and center at the runway show of Hong Kong-based deisigner Ika, who has been a staple of the catwalk crowd here for years.

Andreas Kronthaler, creative director for the Vivienne Westwood label and husband of the venerable English designer, was dressed as you would expect a creative director to be. Plaid pants, polka dot shirt, tweed blazer and a navy-blue hat to accent his blue eyes.

Hong Kong has never been known to be a city shy of fashion designers who put their stamp on world culture.

Althea Harper

For the upcoming Los Angeles Fashion Market starting Jan. 15, the organizers of the Focus show at the California Market Center are bringing a bit of the "Project Runway" vibe to the event.