Mary-Kate, Fashion Star

Last fall, soon after Mary-Kate Olsen enrolled as one of only two self-made multimillionaires in the freshman class of New York University, she was seen dashing around Greenwich Village wearing floppy hats, huge sunglasses, dust-catcher skirts and street-sweeping cable-knit cardigans.

As fall turned to winter and edged toward spring, Ms. Olsen, 18, pushed her version of ashcan chic to emphatic extremes, an evolution charted by glossy magazines that snoop on stars in everyday activities. The look became dottier and dottier, until it morphed into a kind of homeless masquerade, one that was accented by subtle luxuries like a cashmere muffler, a Balenciaga lariat bag and of course her signature carryout latte from Starbucks.

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Design award shortlist mixes beauty and humour

The wallpaper adorned with pink Japanese orchids in the style of William Morris seems to represent the epitome of Victorian chic. But on closer inspection an extra layer of varnish within the dainty pattern reveals an image of two naked women, limbs entangled.

The subversive print by the Glaswegian company Timorous Beasties has been described as "William Morris on acid". It is showcased at the Design Museum in London alongside three other short-listed contenders for the Designer of the Year award. The works range from a kettle and toaster to Penguin classics costing £3.99 and the redesign of an inner-city school in south London

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Few Fashion Flops at Oscars

NEW YORK -- Joan and Melissa Rivers are singing the praises of the Oscar fashions, saying the simple, colorful gowns hit the right note.

Usually, the mother-daughter duo come off the red carpet and dish about the best and worst dressed, "but there was no worst!" Joan Rivers said Monday on NBC's "Today" show. They are the fashion commentators for the TV Guide Channel.

"The women were beautiful," added Melissa Rivers.

Cate Blanchett's yellow one-shoulder Valentino gown, which had a wide maroon sash, was a hard look to pull off, but she did it. "To wear maroon and yellow, and to look gorgeous ... that's a fashionista!" Joan Rivers said.

Among their other favorites from Sunday's Academy Awards show in Los Angeles were Catalina Sandino Moreno, who wore a white hourglass slip gown with thick beaded straps by Roberto Cavalli, Renee Zellweger in a red strapless Carolina Herrera gown and Salma Hayek in a blue Prada gown with black beading and bows.

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