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Published on January 31, 2008

The eagerly anticipated Emporium World Fashion Showcase gets underway today, with Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Paulo Melim Andersson for Chloe, Antonio Marras for Kenzo, Valentino Garavani for Valentino, Silvia Venturini Fendi for Fendi, Giorgio Armani for Armani, and Matthew Williamson for Emilio Pucci all parading their spring/summer collections before Bangkok's fashionistas in a week-long event. The shows will all be held at Thailand Creative and Design Centre on the shopping complex's sixth floor with the exception of the Emilio Pucci collection, which is being showcased at The River by Raimon Land.

Joining the Emporium in this venture are several business partners, among them Nation Multimedia Group, Raimon Land, Siam Commercial Bank, The River, Thai Samsung Electronics, SL International Automobiles, Spyker and Singha.

Brief previews for each day's programme are given below.

Thursday, January 31

Chanel: Symposium starts 4pm in TCDC while the fashion show gets under way at 7pm.

Inspired by Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld shows his designs on a midnight-blue catwalk branded with the double "C". The Chanel icon - a giant sculptured bow - appears throughout the collection as jewellery, necklets, belts, bags and fabulous silhouettes. And there's plenty of denim stitching together London rock and Paris chic.

Friday, February 1

Harper Bazaar: Symposium 1pm at TCDC's Auditorium

Fendi: 4.30pm on the ground floor of the Emporium shopping complex

Giorgio Armani - Samsung's Armani cellphone at 7pm, fashion show at 8pm at TCDC

Apart from Silvia Venturini Fendi, who has created "Fendi 10+", a 10th-anniversary collection of 10 bags celebrating the importance of colours in the Baguette's success story, the fashion show also highlights the "Fendi Wall" collection created by Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld, which was presented last year at the Great Wall of China. Inspired by two cultures - Roman and Chinese - the draped collar top, resembling that of traditional Qipow, is matched with a heavily-layered tutu skirt.

In a press statement, Giorgio Armani says, "Today fashion has expanded to encompass our way of life, not just how we dress but the technology we buy." View the latest in advanced mobile-phone technology at the Fashion Hall on the first floor.

Saturday, February 2

Chloe: 6pm at TCDC

Emilio Pucci at the River Show Suites Soi Charoennakorn 13 by Raimon Land at 9pm

Swedish designer Paulo Melim Andersson for Chloe depicts an array of petite two-piece dresses in a palette that focuses on bright sky-blue and deep sea-blue for his new collection. Other colour schemes radiate from clear, glacial white, to pale shades of mint and pink, then darken to tones of purple, navy and grey. For accessories, he presents mirrored-leather lacquered wood sandals resting on high pyramid heels to go with the new Saskia bag that comes in both day and luxurious night clutches.

Pucci's Spring-Summer 2008 collection is created by Matthew Williamson in new prints labelled Nirvana, Casino, Sundial and Falling Star. The distinctive elements of the collection are the prints themselves and the neat tailoring, which gives a feeling of liberation from the oppressive heat of summer. At the same time, all the looks in the collection convey an impression of comfort, luxury and elegance in the unmistakable Pucci style. In addition, the sequin evening dresses showcase a look that is the quintessentially feminine.

Sunday, February 3

Kenzo: 5pm at TCDC

Antonio Marras has once again created a striking collection, inspired by a tropical world of mysterious shapes and vivid colours. The adventure begins deep in the Amazon forest with the Amozonia collection, which combines advanced fabricating techniques and saturated hues like turquoise blue, yellow, purple, deep orange, mossy green, bright green and emerald green.

Tuesday, February 5

Valentino: 7pm at TCDC

Capping his 45 years in fashion, Valentino Garavani's last collection before bowing out in October was referred to as "drop-dead gorgeous". It radiates with his signature elegant and timeless style.

The line includes a red, draping gown, black-and-white polka dot dress, stylish black short skirts, full-length chiffon pink skirts, and a toga-style over-the-shoulder dress.

For reservations, call (02) 259 8755.

The Nation