Gabrielle Union's Wedding Dress

When Gabrielle Union, 41, started looking for dresses for her wedding to Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, 32, she had a specific idea of what she wanted to wear. But once she met with designer Dennis Basso at NYC’s Kleinfeld bridal salon, she found that all her preconceived notions went out the window.
“Like most brides to be, Gabrielle came in with her stylist Jason Bolden with a clear vision,” Basso tells PEOPLE of their first discussion in May. “But everything changed when she tried on gowns! Together [we all] decided that she wanted to be surprising. She came in wanting sexy, and to accentuate her amazing figure, but that evolved.”
Key to Union’s vision: keeping up with her very stylish groom. “She talked about Dwayne being so fashionable and really wanting to parallel that with her gown,” Basso says. “We looked at swatches, took measurements, even considered what flowers she would carry. It was an amazing collaboration.”
The result was a strapless, high-slit number with plenty of special design elements. “We literally built the entire bodice and corset specifically for her,” he says. “The entire dress is hand beaded with pearls and crystals. She wanted something that glistened without looking too ‘cha cha cha,’ still chic. The material was flown in from Italy. The skirt is perfectly draped to accent her shape and the slit gives the opportunity to show off the shoes and her great legs!”
Union wanted to surprise her husband-to-be with her gown, and Basso says he thinks it will be worth the wait. “Literally, she looks like a living doll — her waist is extraordinarily tiny in this gown!” he says. “Gabrielle was all about creating a fashion moment.”
Adds the actress: “Dennis, Jason and I worked together to choose the perfect fabric, silhouettes and finishing details for not just one but two gowns. The two looks are near opposites and play off one another — Dennis Basso was able to capture both my unassuming and womanly sides through his sketches.”
While we wait to get all the scoop on her second dress, tell us What do you think of Basso’s sketch? Do you love the design?

Angelina Jolie’s Wedding Dress: Bride Wore A ‘Stunning,’ Traditional Look

The star said ‘I Do’ in a secret wedding, where she wore a traditional white gown that had a twist of Angie’s signature sense of style.
Although we weren’t quite sure if Angie would ever wed her longtime partner, Brad Pitt, they finally decided to take the next step in their relationship on Aug. 23 in France. And considering the fact that Angelina Jolie knows how to rock the red carpet, it comes as no surprise that she looked “stunning” on her wedding day! So, what did she wear?
Angelina Jolie’s Wedding Dress:
A source tells E! News that the Oscar winner wore a white dress on her wedding day. Although the designer behind Angie’s special dress has yet to be revealed, an insider told the outlet that the gown was “very traditional, but very Angie, it was comfortable but plain white floor-length antique lace and silk.”
Aside from her exquisite engagement ring from Brad, Angie added a sentimental accessory to her look. She “definitely wore something that once belonged to [her mother] Marcheline Bertrand. A small gold locket with a photo of her mom inside it,” the source said. The bride also wore a veil — and apparently her big reveal proved to be very emotional! “Brad lifted it [he] gasped because she looked so stunning.”
Aside from Brad and Angie, their children looked just as stylish and chic for the special day. “The boys all wore tiny matching cream linen suits which were just like Brad’s [tux] while the girls had each chosen a dress to match their own individual style and they had them specially made,” the source said.
Although Angie has such a distinct sense of style, we’re think it’s so sweet that she selected a traditional look for her big day — we’re sure she looked stunning! We can’t wait to see what signature Angie twist she added to the style.

Kristen Stewart ‘Vanity Fair’ France Cover

The actress looks flawless as she morphs into a high-fashion cover girl, yet again! Did you love it?
If you aren’t sure how you feel about Kristen Stewart‘s short new ‘do, (which also includes red highlights!), I’m confident that’s going to change once you see her on the cover of Vanity Fair France — the 24-year-old looks absolutely breathtaking! The star, posing in a sleeveless white stunning Chanel Couture creation that’s decorated with crystal embellishments, looks like a total screen siren as she poses staring intently into the camera — her cool, confident gaze makes the shoot even more stunning.
Kristen Stewart’s ‘Vanity Fair’ France Cover — Stuns On September Issue:
Although she seemed to slip out of the spotlight and off the radar, the talented actress was actually hard at work. Not only did she shoot a slew of new films, but she also landed a major high-fashion campaign — and she’s ready to step back in front of the camera to promote her upcoming role in the Clouds Of Sils Maria. Kristen looks more mature and insanely chic and oozes a newfound sense of confidence as she poses on the September 2014 issue of the magazine.
Sure, KStew may love to dress down, but she looks flawless when she gets glam — in fact, this just might be one of her most stunning shoots to date. Her beautiful blue eyes sparkle as an icy blue shadow offsets the red highlights in her hair, which is swept to one side. She rocks a black manicure and an exquisite ring on her index finger, which matches the embellishments on the dress perfectly.
Kristen is in demand and we can’t get enough of it! The star was also spotted onthe cover of Interview, where she showed off a darker look. Personally, the Vanity Fair France cover is definitely my favorite.

2014 MTV Video Music Awards Liveblog

9:47: Common takes the stage to talk about Ferguson, because when MTV wants to be able to borrow credulity, it scrounges up Common's phone number and gives him a call. He calls for a moment of silence, which he receives, before everybody goes back to screaming for Drake, the winner of the Best Hip Hop video. Drake isn't here, as he is still in a fugue state from his time filming the "Anaconda" music video.
9:43: So during this commercial break (in which Rita Ora just told us to not go anywhere "OR I'LL KILL YOU"), can we reflect on that bizarre bit of ad-libbing Taylor added to her "Shake It Off" performance?
She's not here to be bitten by snakes.
9:38: Kim Kardashian West emerges in her caftan to introduce her very good friend Sam Smith, currently Public Enemy Number One for his hatred of Grindr. He sounds slightly overwrought, but he looks good enough to never need to use a dating app anyway.
9:34: The Newsroom's Jeff Daniels and The Majestic's Jim Carrey are out on stage now. At one time, Jim Carrey could not have been more in the heart of the MTV demographic. That time was called "your misspent and departed youth." Jeff Daniels was never at the heart of the MTV demographic, Dumb and Dumber. The sight of Jim Carrey actually throwing himself onto the ground for the approval of an uncaring Millennial horde is just the saddest thing. They're presenting Best Pop Video, and it does to the unintelligible pop deliciousness of Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea's "Problem."
Only Ariana accepts the award, for whatever reason that makes Iggy look furious. Will Ariana shout out her brother, currently held captive in the Big Brother house?? She will not.
9:33: Looks like we're doubling down on Jay Pharoah, who comes out as Jay Z to pimp the Artist to Watch home vote (even though I thought that's what 5 Seconds of Summer won out there on the red carpet).
9:26: Time for Best Male Video, which is completely unsurprisingly won by Ed Sheeran. How many rounds are we going to go on the "Who is this Ed Sheeran?" thing before we give it up and realize that a ginger moppet Brit with the Taylor Swift seal of approval is NOT A SURPRISE when it comes to his success.
9:21: Out of a cloud of smoke and dark magic appears Lorde, to introduce just her bestest friend in the world Taylor Swift. What is a liveblogger to do if he doesn't care for "Shake It Off" nor for Ms. Swift's chronic insincerity during "comedy" bits? Well, he scans the backup dancers for So You Think You Can Dance alums. I see you, Jasmine Harper! (He also lives for Miley Cyrus's ambiguously judgmental stares, right.) Say this for Taylor, between the giant lit-up "1989" and the fireworks and the frantic choreography, she's certainly able to craft a performance that looks a lot like A Moment.
9:14: Jay Pharoah's bit of stand-up about the women of the VMAs probably did not do much for his hopes of hosting anything on MTV some day.
9:12: Katy Perry wins Best Female Video over four videos that were actually well-made and not total embarrassments, so that's the tone we're setting for the rest of the night.
9:08: Stage charisma is the watchword during the opening performance, as Ariana Grande kicks things off with a dead-eyed "Break Free" that's void of any kind of presence or personality. This gives way to Nicki Minaj who gets more out of one pair of batted eyelashes than Ariana will all evening. Nicki's only problem is getting drowned out by the over-mixed audience. Well, that's her only problem until she has to re-emerge during the "Bang Bang" performance, which sees her rush the stage having to hold her dress together, as that costume change was just too quick for everyone.
9:00: THE SHOW BEGINS
8:59: At some point, I think it was probably Sean Combs at first, arriving at the red carpet in some kind of flashy vehicle became a thing that had to be topped. Puffy sailed up in a yacht, eventually, so nobody can top it. Katy Perry, doing what she always does, just rolled up in a burn-orange car of some sort. The show is about to start, though, so we don't have to think about her much.
8:47: Pre-show host Christina Garibaldi looks like every contestant on Survivor who doesn't make any big moves and let's the better players carry them into the jury phase before getting cut loose and suddenly acting all indignant about people who lasted longer.
8:44: "Boom Clap" just got used in an ad for The Fault in Our Stars Extended Edition. Maybe they'll just do this in every commercial break with every song that just got performed. (Honestly, it would probably work.)
8:40: Charli XCX is your second red-carpet musical performance of the show with a very canned-sounding "Boom Clap." Remember when SIlverchair performed the pre-show in like '96? Remember Silverchair?? They were Australian like Iggy Azalea and they sang about eating disorders.
8:38: Third-place X-Factor finishers Fifth Harmony are your first red-carpet musical performance of the show. Remember when No Doubt performed atop the Radio City Music Hall marquee in like 1995? These girls do not.
8:32: Sway just took an hour and a half to set up a "surprise" appearance of Usher in the bleachers with the fans. MTV screws up the Usher retrieval so he's just kind of stranded there among normals for a bit. What if he had to stand there all night? Rubbing shoulders with reg'lar folk?
8:30: They kick it to Sway "with Usher," but instead he's there with Jennifer Lopez. I'll take it! J-Lo just singlehandedly showed up Iggy's ice-glam gown by a factor of 100, which makes the fact that she's announcing a video of the "Booty" remix featuring Iggy (and directing by Hype Williams) all the funnier.
8:28: Teen Wolf's Dylen O'Brien assures us that The Maze Runner, in which he stars, "is just gonna be awesome." He's wearing sunglasses, thus robbing us of his sweet, soulful eyes.
8:26: "I heard Nicki just beat that shit!" Miley says, of Nicki Minaj's Vimeo record-setting "Anaconda" video. A discussion of Miley's deficits in the ass department ensues. "It's not about twerking, it's about music." A year removed from "Blurred Lines" last year, Miley is getting something of an elder stateswoman vibe, which is crazy.
8:25: Thus far, a lot of Sway's job at this pre-show is to remind the talent (Miley Cyrus, in this case) that Lucy Hale is here and they should speak to her.
8:18: The question of how to dress for the VMAs is an open-ended one, since meat-dress avant garde stands toe-to-toe with dressed-down casual and also glammed up glitz. Iggy Azalea is wearing a silvery-white Versace dress that wouldn't be out of place on the red carpet of a real award show like the Oscars, so good for her for taking this seriously.
8:14: "I think like we might be best friends," says Lucy Hale to previous pre-show host Taylor Swift, not realizing what a can of worms that just opened. Now Taylor has to add Lucy to her spreadsheet of Best Friends and calculate how best to cultivate that friendship through Instagram shout-outs and Ice Bucket Challenges. Or she would if she didn't just look at Lucy like she was struggling to remember her name. Meanwhile, Taylor is dressed in a pale blue onesie with letters all over it, which is in keeping with her 1989 theme, I guess because it's when she was in her infancy?
8:12: We have InstaGLAM correspondents on the scene now: Becky G and Ingrid Nilsen. Becky G has that song "Shower" that your hipster friend really wanted to become Song of Summer. Ingrid Nilsen is a YouTuber who goes by "missglamorazzi," which is a lot.
8:07: Pretty Little Liars star (and apparently a "singer" as well) Lucy Hale is co-hosting these red-carpet festivities. She just handed 5 Seconds of Summer (#5SOS!) with the first award of the night, the Artist to Watch award. With exposure like this, a full hour removed from the actual awards show, you have to imagine they will go far.
8:05: Red Carpet Show time! The show proper doesn't start until 9pm, because the youths can stay up hella late. Jason Derulo is making a big deal about getting the fans outside to do the Wave. "The first Wave in MTV history," which is probably true, but only because nobody's made a big deal about the Wave since 1978.
It's the show you've all been waiting for that isn't the Emmys! The MTV Video Music Awards are broadcasting from Inglewood, California, and we're ready for as much crazy as these young artists can provide.
On tap to perform: Ariana Grande, Jessie J, and Nicki Minaj will be opening the show with their "Lady Marmalade" spiritual sequel "Bang Bang." Grande and Minaj will also perform their own hits – "Break Free" and "Anaconda," respectively – while Beyoncé will accept the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award.
We're joining a red carpet already in progress now, but if you want to get caught up on the action before the show proper begins at 9 p.m. ET, read the full list of nominations, plus our dissection of each category from July. If you're all set for this year, take a trip to the past with our ranking of all 30 prior VMA ceremonies. We also checked in on those involved with 2009's "Imma Let You Finish"-Gate and the authors who crafted thinkpieces about Miley Cyrus' "meltdown" last year.

Laura Dundovic stuns at fashion show as she shows off gorgeous looks in vibrant citrus colours

She's been seen working hard on her health and fitness regime in recent weeks.
And on Wednesday Laura Dundovic was in top form at Kookai's Sydney Carriageworks Fashion Show.
Not only was her slim physique impressive as usual, but the 26-year-old Miss Universe Australia winner stunned on the red carpet in her colourful and vibrant ensemble.
She's a winner! Miss Universe Australia Laura Dundovic at Kookai's Sydney Carriageworks Fashion Show
Her ravishing Kookai dress featured a mixture of purple and orange leaf designs, a standout eyecatching among the mostly monochrome outfits worn to the show.
Laura teamed her garb with a pair of purple heels and lipstick and blush is rose shades.
Her beautiful blonde locks were worn wavy, and complimented the sparkling gold YSL purse she carried.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the event, Laura said she's expanded her exercise regime in recent months.
'I used to be all about running...it's equally important to be concentrating on things like flexibility as well so I do yoga now,' she explained before adding 'I also do dancing on the weekend - so for me exercise is never a chore.'
The beauty pageant winning bombshell was joined at the event by the likes of Demi Harman, Anna Heinrich and Laura Csortan.
White and black was the name of Demi's game, as the Home And Away star sported a silky striped top over a black skirt.
In following with the theme, her white heels featured black ankle straps. Demi added some colour to her stylish look with a touch of red lipstick.
She posed happily with television presenter Laura Csortan, who wore a long sleeved white jumpsuit.
Sporting a similar design to Laura was former Hi-5 star Casey Burgess - though she traded in sleeves for longer leggings.
Also opting for an almost all white look was The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich - who appeared at the event unaccompanied by Tim Robards.
She wore a patterned skirt underneath a sleeved top - and, ever a stickler for detail, donned painted white nails to the event. Only her black stilettos kept her outfit from being completely white.
Like Dundovic, 2008's Australia's Next Top Model Demelza Reveley and 2013 Miss World Australia Erin Holland added some colour to the night.
Demelza wore a green skirt, while Erin wore a bright baby blue dress.

HEIDI KLUM'S CREATIVE ARTS EMMYS DRESS WAS DESIGNED BY A 'PROJECT RUNWAY' CONTESTANT

As a dedicated fan who’s watched every single episode of Project Runway since the first season debuted back in 2004 (and I don’t even mean watching it in an ironic, love-to-hate-it way), I couldn’t be any happier to type this next sentence: Heidi Klum wore a Project Runway contestant’s dress at the 2014 Creative Arts Emmy Awards and looked utterly, completely, drop-dead gorgeous in it. (And no, it wasn’t created by Season 13’s fäde zu grau.)
Though I typically wouldn’t assume that an electric blue, all-fringe number would land atop any awards show’s best-dressed list, that certainly was the case for Klum at Saturday’s Creative Arts Emmys (an awards show at which Orange Is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba took home an Emmy, just so you know!). Designed by Project Runway Season 13 contestant Sean Kelly, the ’70s-inspired, V-neck, and plunging-back gown — which was made up entirely of ombre fringe, to boot — flowed like a dream over the supermodel and Lifetime host’s curves.
Naturally, Klum’s glamorous, bold, and precisely made gown can only mean one of two things: Either the 25-year-old, Brooklyn-based Kelly has some Christian Siriano-like talents, or Klum’s best Project Runway critiques are finally falling on eager-to-please ears.
Though the dress is certainly impressive from the front — making Klum look more statuesque and stunning than she already is — it was the back that really made this dress a red carpet masterpiece. Featuring a down-to-there cut and two teeny-tiny, matching blue straps, the backside of the gown is where Klum really gets to “make it work,” as the lovely Tim Gunn would say.
And speaking of Gunn, the two Project Runway stars seemed to have quite a blast together on Saturday’s red carpet, with Klum twirling around (constantly) in her fringed Sean Kelly number and Gunn playing along nicely with his adorable faces and charming reactions.
Though the Project Runway Season 13 winner has yet to be revealed, we can all rest easy knowing that if Kelly takes home the top prize, there’s at least hope that we’ll see more fabulous designs like this one strolling down the red carpet.

See Designer Sketches of Amal Alamuddin's Dream Wedding Dress

Everyone—and we do mean everyone—is eager to see what dress Amal Alamuddin will wear next month when she weds George Clooney. Including, of course, some of the world's top Lebanese Haute Couture designers. And being that their lives' passion is fashion, we asked a few of them to sketch what they think the British-Lebanese lawyer's dream dress might look like. The results? Breathtaking!
Designer Reem Acra created a look straight out of a fairy tale: A strapless princess dress with crystal embellishment along the bodice and skirt. The gown seems perfect for Almuddin's happy ending with the Oscar winner.
Georges Hobeika
On the other hand, the 36-year-old would look equally as stunning in this satin and lace dress created by Georges Hobeika, which features beading and laser-cut organza flowers on the skirt bottom.
"He was inspired by Amal's style tendencies along with her elegant and sophisticated demeanor and Italian wedding setting," a rep for the designer told E! News exclusively, adding that the feminine style reflects "Amal's poised confident character." If Clooney's gal wants to have a Kate Middleton moment—this is it.
Georges Chakra
Finally, designer Georges Chakra dreamed up this gorgeous draped gown with cathedral veil and delicate gloves. Considering Amal's ultra modern tastes this dress seems right up her alley…or should we say aisle?
What do you think Amal will wear on her big day?

Spot the Pattern in Dolin O'Shea's Little Black Dress Book

Dolin O'Shea, a Bay Area patternmaker who spent years at Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, has a new book for all you fashion lovers and DIY enthusiasts. Famous Frocks: The Little Black Dress ($29.95, Chronicle Books) features a famous LBD from each decade, including Coco Chanel's jersey dress in the 20s and Kate Moss's sexy lace mini-dress of the millennium. (And yes, you'll find Audrey in the middle.)
Unlike the usual fashion tome, Dolin's book comes with step-by-step instructions and sewing patterns to make the looks she features. We had a chance to chat with Dolin, so we quizzed her on everything you want to know about her new book, vintage shopping, and tips on buying clothes that fit.
Tell us more about the projects in your book, Famous Frocks. How good of a sewer do we need to be to make the dresses?
Most of the LBD projects in the book are fit for an intermediate sewer, but there are a few really good beginning sewing projects. The boat neck A-line dress featuring Princess Diana is the easiest one to sew and a classic shape. The next easy project is the knit fabric wrap dress as worn by Liza Minnelli. Three of the variation projects are separates and would be great for a beginner: Joan Crawford's A-line skirt, Grace Kelly's pencil skirt, and the Anjelica Huston bias cut blouse.
What are your favorite old movies?
I love all of the Thin Man movies which have great dialogue and gorgeous 1930's fashions. Of course I have to mention just about all of Audrey Hepburn films, but Sabrina and Funny Face are two of my favorites. Another 1930's gem is The Women. For some of my favorite elegantly simple 1950's style, I would love to have the entire wardrobe of Kim Novak's character in Bell, Book and Candle.
What are some of your favorite vintage pieces you have collected over the years?
I love collecting vintage 60's coats. On a visit to Port Townsend, Washington, I found a small vintage store that looked interesting. I was browsing through the racks and spotted this amazing turquoise/green/blue plaid fabric. I pulled out the garment to get a closer look, then spotted those recognizable brass toggle closures. I looked inside for a label and there it was "A Bonnie Cashin Design."Sigh! That by far has been my favorite score and I always get compliments on that coat.
Where are you favorite places to shop vintage in the Bay Area?
I'm making a lot of my own clothes lately and I love vintage shopping for inspiration. Here are some places I frequent:
1. The Alameda Antiques Faire: This happens on the first Sunday of each month. There is a bit of everything there, so if you are in the market for more than vintage clothes, this would be the place to go.
2. The Vintage Fashion Expo: This event happens twice each season (spring and fall) in SF. It is so fun while at the same time a bit overwhelming because of the amount of amazing clothing and accessories. My favorite is to drool over the vintage Chanel. Talk about eye candy!
3. Black and Brown: This is a vintage and consignment shop in San Jose, that I like to browse in. I have found some great pieces of clothing here.
4. Mercy Vintage Now: I have only been to this place once, but am dying to go back again the next time I am in Oakland. They have a great selection of high-quality clothes and accessories.
These days it seems like vanity sizing has gone into overdrive. You have spent 20+ years as a patternmaker, what is a tip that most of us need to know while shopping for clothes?
Buy what fits the biggest part of you best. For example, buy a shirt or jacket that easily closes over your bust. If it is too big at your waist or too long, you can get it altered. We are all guilty of letting our ego get in the way, but try not to shop by a specific size or number. Those sizing numbers don't mean a whole lot since there is no standardized sizing in the US. You can be many different sizes in all the different brands. This is even more important when you are taking the time and money to sew garments for yourself. You will have much more success with finished projects if you use your actual body measurements of the pattern you are making, rather than the number of the size. Just remember, you can always take a garment in if it's too big, but you can't always let a garment out if it is too small.

Afghan Brides Dress To Impress, Fueling An Unlikely Business Boom

Afghans live in one of the world's poorest countries — but you wouldn't know that from their lavish wedding ceremonies. Families sell possessions and borrow money . This wedding culture is part of the reason there's been a boom in women's dress shops in my neighborhood in Kabul, the Afghan capital.
It's still one of the most jarring contradictions in Afghanistan: watching women wearing headscarves, or full, head-to-toe blue burkas, walking down the street past store windows full of glamorous, low-cut gowns.
Within the last year, a mini-mall opened up at the end of my street, and it quickly filled with more than a half-dozen shops selling elegant wedding dresses and party gowns. There are now about 20 dress shops within a block of my house.
It's typical for businesses to cluster together the way dress shops have in this upper middle-class neighborhood. Kabul's Butcher Street, Flower Street, and Toilet Street didn't get those names by accident.
Mubin Raufi runs the Romez Store in the small shopping center. Surrounded by mannequins decked out in shimmering green, pink and white gowns, he says he's been in this business for six years. He moved to this neighborhood within the last year when the mini-mall opened.
"This area is known for shops that take custom orders, and women come here because they know they can shop comfortably and order whatever they want," says Raufi.
And if customers aren't comfortable with a man helping with their purchase, some stores have a woman they can call to come help instead.
Raufi says most of his customers bring catalogs or pictures of dresses, and he works with them to refine the designs – often adding a bit more covering since some of the samples are a little too risqué even for the segregated wedding parties where most of these dresses are worn.
Once the customer finalizes the design, Raufi has the dress made in a local factory. He says one of the reasons people shop in this neighborhood is because they know the dresses are Afghan-made.
As we talk, a family browses through the shop but leaves without placing an order. Raufi says business is down right now because of the uncertainty caused by the unresolved presidential election, and the ongoing audit of the ballots cast nearly two months ago. Still, he says this is a very good business.
"This is a clean way to earn your bread for your family," he says.
And shop owners say that selling these high-end dresses is far more lucrative than selling day-to-day women's clothes. Despite the fact that women buy fewer of these dresses, the profit can be more than ten times that of a typical women's outfit. And there's plenty of demand for dresses that can cost up to $900 – roughly three times the average monthly wage in Afghanistan.
Conservatively dressed and wearing a headscarf, Hadiya, who like many Afghans gives only one name, is perusing the shops for her wedding dress.
"It's in every Afghan woman's nature to want a better dress than what other women are wearing," says the 28-year old bride-to-be.
And that, she says, means buying the most expensive of dresses.
Farida, a 23-year-old teacher, agrees.
"Of course there is competition among families to buy the most expensive dresses," she says. Farida, who is helping a friend find a wedding party dress, says she's proud of the quality of Afghan dresses and says they are worth the money.
Down the street is one of the newest businesses in the neighborhood, Woman Palace. Like the other shops in the area, and most Afghan businesses in general, it's run by a man, 27-year-old Said Nasibullah.
For three years, Nasibullah has run a construction and logistics company. But with the drawdown of foreign troops, that business has been in decline.
"So I decided to open a separate business serving the women of Afghanistan," he says.
Nasibullah got the idea from his trips to Dubai, where he saw malls full of women's clothing stores. Woman Palace also sells handbags and high-heeled shoes in addition to party dresses suitable for private functions, some of which look like they wouldn't cover very much.
"Some customers say that the dresses are too short, but the majority like our clothes," he says. "It shows progress."
But Nasibullah says he doesn't expect to see women wearing these clothes out on the streets any time soon.

Designers Race to Dress 'House of Cards' Power Couple for Emmys

The race to dress Washington's best-dressed couple is on.
As Hollywood turns to the Emmys on Aug. 25, the first lady is once again a sought-after fashion commodity. But it's Robin Wright, the nation's first lady on the political drama "House of Cards," who is on fashion labels' radar, along with her co-star Kevin Spacey.
Brands are usually most interested in dressing younger stars. But this year the 48-year-old Ms. Wright and the 55-year-old Mr. Spacey present a perfect storm of temptations for any fashion label. To begin, they're both nominated for best-actor Emmys for their roles as the machiavellian Frank and Claire Underwood. That means that one or both could appear on the Emmys stage, giving some designers' duds global exposure. (Netflix expects to release the third season of "House" early in 2015.)
Ms. Wright's power wardrobe—anchored in sleek black and gray tailored suits and dresses—has made her a valuable fashion influencer, particularly for young professional women. Her character's clothing and haircut are closely followed on blogs and social media, where some women post photos of themselves at their desks in Claire-like outfits. It's a public reaction the actress welcomes, though she says it took her by surprise. "When my publicist told me that people were blogging about it—the hair and the clothes," Ms. Wright says, "I was like, really? Wow!"
The actress's potent strong-woman air has made her particularly influential, leaving some designers faintly gaga.
"I just love her," Jason Wu said over lunch recently. He expressed a desire to dress Ms. Wright in either of the labels he designs, his eponymous line or Hugo Boss. "We're talking."
Among the many designers also in the running to dress Ms. Wright is Ralph Lauren—whom she names as one of her favorites. She has worn the label on past red carpets, including last year's Emmys. It's also possible that she could move further upscale. Now that her character has become the first lady, Ms. Wright has been requesting more Christian Dior for the show, says the show's costume designer, Johanna Argan.
Burberry is a likely candidate for Mr. Spacey, who wears the label on the show as well as on red carpets including the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
Burberry lauds its good relationship with Mr. Spacey and Ms. Argan, but most other brands were cagey when asked if they're sending clothes for the Emmys. Fashion labels are loath to admit that they're trying to dress a star for the red carpet, for fear of being embarrassed if they're not chosen. Stars are notorious for changing their minds at the last moment—often deciding on a stylists' rack of potential looks a few hours before an event.
House of Cards isn't nominated for an Emmy for best costumes. Contemporary costuming is often overlooked in awards, and this year's costume nominees are for historical period pieces ("Mad Men," "Downton Abbey") or fantasies ("Game of Thrones"). But the Emmy snub hasn't affected the impact of "House of Cards" on current fashions.
Designer Narciso Rodriguez—another Robin Wright fan—says clients have contacted him about looks such as a gray flannel dress that she wore on the show. The designer, known for his minimalist designs, says dressing Ms. Wright as Claire Underwood has "brought a renewed interest into this part of my work, which is the foundation of my business."
Mr. Spacey, too, is a new fashion icon. Esquire Magazine has encouraged politicians to "dress like Frank Underwood, don't behave like him."
Ms. Wright, who works closely with Ms. Argan in selecting her character's clothes, says she understands why her character's body-skimming outfits have proven so intriguing.
"It's powerful and it's sexy. What man doesn't like that in a woman?" asks Ms. Wright.
Mr. Rodriguez, who spent hours in his archives working with Ms. Wright and Ms. Argan, says the costumes resonate because of their discipline. "The consistency in dress and style makes it even more intoxicating," he says. "There's greater strength in being subtle."
Ms. Argan says people chase her down on Twitter to find out about the fashions. Many of these fans are men. "They say, 'I want to buy that for my wife,'" she says.
"Everything Frank and Claire do is very calculated—what they wear, it's like a chess game," says Ms. Argan. "The structure in Claire's clothes is her armor. Think Lady Macbeth."
Because Ms. Argan buys most of the clothes off the rack from department stores, the brands aren't always aware of their involvement until episodes are released. That's another reason that fashion brands often prefer red-carpet dressing to working with film or television studios: Red-carpet photos get wide distribution and usually credit the designer.
Ms. Argan says that the fashion label Theory once called to find out which Theory dress Claire had worn in an episode. "I was like, I don't have the tags anymore," she says.

A wedding dress fit for three generations

Here's a Remarkable Rochester story that began in Japan, went on to Buffalo and then came here.
In general, it's about love and marriage. More specifically, it's about saying yes to the dress, again and again.
Let's start with a small notice in a Buffalo newspaper. Three paragraphs. The first lets the reader know that Jean Wydysh and Donald Chappell were married on Aug. 2, 1947, at St. Francis Xavier Church.
The third paragraph gives the names of the people in the wedding party. It also says the bridal couple has left for Chicago, where Donald is a student.
And the middle paragraph? Here it is:
"The white silk eyelet material from which the bride's dress was made was brought to this country from Japan by the bridegroom, who returned last May. It was fashioned with a round, shirred neckline, puffed sleeves, full skirt and long train. Her Juliet cap was of the same material. She carried white roses."
Flash forward 67 years. Jean Wydysh Chappell of Webster fills in the story of the dress.
She and Donald, who is deceased, had met roller-skating and dated before he left Buffalo for the Navy during World War II. He hadn't proposed, though it may not have been necessary.
"We didn't have a marriage plan; we were just kids," Jean says. "But we always knew it was going to happen."
And Donald, who served in occupied Japan after the war's end, must have had marriage in mind when he brought home 25 yards of silk — silk that was perfect for a wedding dress.
"I don't know why he did this," Jean says, with a smile. "He never explained."
Didn't have to. The proposal came. The wedding day arrived. And there Jean was in a gorgeous dress, full skirt, long train, the works.
As the paper noted, the couple then went off to Chicago, where they would live for three years before returning to Buffalo and then moving here after Donald took a job with Haloid, the precursor to Xerox Corp.
All the while, the dress was tucked away in a box in the Chappells' home until their daughter Joanne and Richard Seeley were planning their wedding.
"It was in storage, in a box with tissue paper, in a closet," Joanne says. " I pulled it out. Thank God for Webster Cleaners. They did some magic to bring it back. To restore it."
After a few alterations, the dress was ready for Joanne's wedding on Aug. 2, 1975, her mother's 28th anniversary.
Then the dress was put away in the same closet in the same house for nearly 40 years, until it was called into service again.
This Friday, Aug. 8, Cristin Seeley, Joanne's daughter and Jean's granddaughter, will be in the dress for her marriage to Dan Coleman in a ceremony at the Memorial Art Gallery. "I always assumed I was going to wear it," Cristin says.
Who's next?
"Who knows," Joanne says. "But each time someone resurrects the dress, a new chapter is added to our family history."
On Remarkable Rochester
Retired Senior Editor Jim Memmott reflects on what makes Rochester distinctively Rochester, its history, its habits, its people. Contact him at: (585) 278-8012 or jmemmott@DemocratandChronicle.com or Remarkable Rochester, Box 274, Geneseo, NY 14454.
Remarkable Rochesterians
A group of retirees from the Eastman Kodak Co. suggested adding the names of this extraordinary (and long-lived) couple to the list of Remarkable Rochesterians found at RocRoots:
Hilda Conrady Kingslake (1902- 2003): Born in London, England, she followed in the footsteps of her father, a professor of optics, studying under him and launching a career in research. In 1929, she came to Rochester, her husband, Rudolf, having been recruited to join the faculty of the University of Rochester. She continued her research, publishing extensively and establishing an international reputation.

Rudolf Kingslake (1903-2003): Brought to the University of Rochester by the school's president, Rush Rhees, the native of England came to Rochester in 1929 with his wife, Hilda. He founded the university's Institute of Optics and continued his connection to the school after he became the head of the Lens Design Department at Eastman Kodak Co. in 1937. He would serve as the president of the Optical Society of America and was published widely.

Wedding: Christine Elizabeth Altman and Brandon Paul Spencer

Mr. and Mrs. James Coley Altman, Jr. of Greenville, SC have the honor of announcing the marriage of their daughter Christene Elizabeth to Brandon Paul Spencer of Charlotte, NC. The ceremony was held on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 5 o'clock in the evening at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. The service was officiated by Pastor Ross White of Seacoast Church in Greenville.
The bride is the granddaughter of Mrs. Joanne Mercy Graham of Myrtle Beach, SC and the late Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dale Mercy of Manning, SC and the late Mr. and Mrs. James Coley Altman, Sr. of Manning, SC. The bride received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the College of Charleston and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She is employed as an Occupational Therapist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and The Cyzner Institute in Charlotte, NC.
The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ervin Spencer of Ridgeway, SC and the grandson of Reverend and Mrs. Floyd Marion Dry of Great Falls, SC and the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Earl Spencer of Lancaster, SC. The groom received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Clemson University and is employed as an Information Technology Engineering Manager at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC.
The bride was escorted and given in marriage by her father. Alyson Hardy Mountcastle served as Matron of Honor. Elizabeth Erin Thompson served as Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids included Ka Wai Choy Altman, sister-in-law of the bride; Katherine Crawford Dodson; Mary Whitfield Edmonds; and Jaimee Evans Scott. The flower girl was Karissa Day Altman, niece of the bride.
Charles Ervin Spencer, father of the groom, served as Best Man. Groomsmen included Brett Anthony Spencer, brother of the groom; James Coley Altman, III, brother of the bride; Daniel Hinson Perry; Caleb Christopher Michaud; and Kenneth Dale Skipper. Christopher Paul Keener and Matthew William Waschkowski served as ushers. The ring bearer was Master Coley Dale Altman, nephew of the bride.
Music was provided by Nelle Altman Boyce, aunt of the bride and Mrs. Carol Strasser, soloist. The scripture reader was Karen Flynn Kehoe.

The reception followed at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom in Greenville, SC. After a honeymoon to the Greek Islands, the couple will reside in Charlotte, NC.