NEW YORK (AP) ― David Beckham says he’s in the underwear game for the long haul, with the second set of abs ― sorry, ads ― for his branded collection with H&M launching Thursday.The English football star’s ads will coincide with a “statue stunt’’ planned by the retailer, with larger-than-life Beckhams going up in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. New products will be added to the collection later this year.Beckham, 37, said he’s pleased with consumer reaction.“I’m very happy that so far p

Monthly subscription boxes a way to sample wide variety of cosmeticsIt’s like receiving a Christmas gift anytime of the year. A cheerful-looking black box with white polka dots tied up in a hot pink ribbon arrives at the office. You begin unwrapping the box with anticipation. You are a little girl once again as you rush to explore the goodies that lie within. The monthly delivery from Memebox, one of the largest beauty subscription services in the country, is jam-packed with cosmetic products ra

LONDON (AP) ― There was no mystery as to which team Varun Pemmaraju was supporting: His American flag was tied around his neck, the Stars and Stripes floating like a cape behind him.“I was going for the Superman, Captain America-look,’’ said the beaming 19-year-old computer science and chemical engineering student from San Jose, California, as he stood a stone’s throw from Olympic Stadium. “I thought America was a little under-represented.’’Patriotism and the Olympic games have long gone togethe

ATLANTA ― In his early 20s, budding entrepreneur Jim Buckley decided to go into the export business for one main reason ― he wanted to travel. His wanderlust soon evolved into a retail savvy that has earned him acclaim as one of the most successful retailers of vintage garments in the South.This year, Atlanta-based Clothing Warehouse is celebrating 20 years as purveyor of threads from eras past. The store has served as a resource for retailers looking for inspiration and for locals seeking a loo

 A revolutionary discovery is rewriting the history of underwear: Some 600 years ago, women wore bras.The University of Innsbruck said Wednesday that archeologists found four linen bras dating from the Middle Ages in an Austrian castle. Fashion experts describe the find as surprising because the bra had commonly been thought to be only little more than 100 years old as women abandoned the tight co

The Ministry of Culture and its affiliate Korea Creative Content Agency announced the names of five designers for its ambitious project aimed at promoting South Korean fashion overseas. The list of designers for the Concept Korea Fashion Collectives includes Lie Sang-bong, Song Jung-wan, Choi Bo-ko, Kim Hong-bum and Kye Han-hee. The five will hold presentations and other events to promote their works during New York Fashion Week, the ministry said.Designers are given the opportunity to participa

NEW YORK (AP) -- French fashion house Louis Vuitton is again putting a bit of Japanese culture on the arms of its customers.The brand, best known for leather goods, was to formally unveil Tuesday a new collection created in collaboration between Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs. The theme is bold, graphic polka dots -- a signature of the artist -- offered in a frenzied series of sizes and colors.Jacobs and Kusama started with inspiration of "obsession and seriality,"

PARIS (AP) ― The final day of Paris’ haute couture shows was like a glittering fashion encyclopedia. Wednesday’s shows went from the Renaissance-feel of Valentino’s shimmering blue silk capes to the 19th century, where couture’s enfant terrible Jean Paul Gaultier, paid homage to the black top-hatted dandy.Elie Saab went decorative with Imperial motifs of the Ottoman Empire. And, nearer to the present day, Givenchy reworked house founder Monsieur Hubert de Givenchy’s little black dress, made famo

A model wears a creation by fashion designer Donatella Versace during her Women's Fall Winter 2013 haute couture fashion collection, for fashion house in Paris, France, Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP-Yonhap News)Versace got the haute couture ball off to a bold start Sunday night in Paris, as the Italian house sent out creations of aerial chiffon, body-hugging leather and rich crystal embroidery.For the

PARIS (AP) ― Day Four of Paris menswear shows had one overriding message: We’re tastefully playing it safe. Fashion collections at this time of year are often about anticipating summer and celebrating color. But in Saturday’s strong line-up of shows there was a clear emphasis on hues that tended towards the muted and soft.Subtle shows from Kenzo and Hermes featured wide-ranging and inventive palettes, but it was tonal balance that was the key.Dazzling color, prominently in previous seasons, appe