The women's dress code has been a controversial issue in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Official attempts to force women fully to respect the code have so far been futile. During the eight-year presidency of reformist Mohammad Khatami , the issue was ignored, with the effect of encouraging women to follow new and far more daring fashion styles. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has several times voiced his own opposition to any social crackdowns, but he has had to give in to demands from clergy to renew the fight against what they call "Western cultural invasion."I've always wondered, and it's a question I wrestled with growing up, why men walk away from their own children. The sharp-toothed socio-economic implications that fatherlessness has on the life of a growing child can be unbearable if that child has no other support system. I was fortunate. My support system and safety net was my grandmother, who raised me. A simple woman who was a hospital laundry worker, she never really explained to me why my father, ironically a United Nations human rights judge, walked away shortly after I was born. My mother also walked away. She only spoke briefly about a conflict between my mother and father that had affected me. Grandma never opened up as to why my parents were never around to contribute to my growth. She focused on raising me rather than making a federal case out of something she had no control over. At one point I questioned if my parents' behavior was narcissism of the highest order.
Moments from rehearsals were used to illustrate key points. Along the way, we traveled with Mr. Tilson Thomas to places important to the composer in question. Part II, then, was devoted to a full formal-dress performance of the piece. Mahler, however, "was a much more complicated case," says Mr. Tilson Thomas. So although Part I looks as if it is building toward a performance of Mahler's First Symphony, Part II simply continues the life-and-works documentary through Mahler's itinerant, rising career as a conductor in Prague, Budapest, Leipzig, Hamburg, Vienna and New York, with long pieces of Symphonies 6, 7 and 9 and the often heartbreaking song cycles. "There's only so much we can fit into the PBS program structure," he says. Mr. Tilson Thomas writes out in advance what he wants to get across in each episode, which allows him to look a viewer in the eye and talk as in private conversation, "and by magic suddenly we're continuing the conversation in St. Petersburg, or wherever it is we are." This shifting from his living room to Davies Symphony Hall and to locations from the composer's life was especially important, he felt, for Mahler, who grew up in a small garrison town in what is now the Czech Republic, living over his father's tavern a block away from the town square and army parade ground. Marching-band music, tavern songs by soldiers from many parts of the Hapsburg Empire, Gypsy and folk tunes, Jewish music, Christian choral music, music evocative of verdant woods and streams just minutes away all fed into Mahler's own style.
Seersucker, perhaps the South's finest contribution to menswear, is winning young admirers, male and female, who have shown an appreciation for vintage style and the elegance of the '40s and '50s. David Granger, author of The Style Blog at Esquire.com, was rapturous this spring about finding an unlined seersucker jacket to wear to a Kentucky Derby-day party he was co-hosting. He coordinated it with white jeans, a linen shirt, and a blue knit tie, calling his Fifth Avenue foray "one of the most successful shopping experiences of my life." Youthful women's lines such as Juicy Couture, Anthropologie and Shoshanna have created charming seersucker sun dresses, shorts, jackets, skirts and even bikinis this spring. The fabric appears in casual separates for men and women by Vineyard Vines, Lacoste and Banana Republic. Of course, seersucker is a standby at traditional menswear retailers such as Jos. A. Bank at Oak Court Mall, where the recent sweltering heat has spurred sales of the suits in blue and white and tan and white. There's also a new hybrid suit, half cotton, half wool, that resembles seersucker stripes, but in a heavier weight. The tropical-weight one is $595. Attorneys and older men have always worn it, but "it's the younger generation now that have really embraced it," said manager Kari Hopkins. Young Washingtonians have been awash in puckers with their "Seersucker Socials," annual lawn parties begun two years ago where women don vintage frocks and men wear seersucker jackets or shorts with straw fedoras, pink bow ties, sunglasses and other rakish accessories.
Another group dressed as mini-beasts and there was a witch, racing car driver and chimney sweeps. Oliver Waggett, four, won the under-fives category with his police uniform, complete with motorbike, and the Morris family won best group category with their Simpsons costumes. Girls from the village won the much-coveted Harold Stoddart cup with their St Trinian's outfits. The cup is inmemory of former farmer Harold Stoddart, who leftmoney to the carnival committee to help with future events. Suzanne Herbert said the village's community spirit is second to none and that all had a good day. She said: "We were lucky with the weather and the event was well attended." The carnival committee also organises Christmas light displays and a Christmas Eve carol concert which regularly attracts more than 300 people.On June 12, in a traditional Southern town of China, 15 pairs of newlyweds joined an activity that offers custom-made wedding dresses with 50% discount held by Shenzhen Wuzhou Changlian International Trading Co., a trading company that specially offers a wide array of summer wedding dresses, and relative products. These 15 pairs of new couples joined together and chose to enjoy their big moments. Most of them have a lot in common. After checking everything, they decided to join this group wedding and enjoy much affordable wedding dresses. ''I cannot imagine I am still attractive among so many beautiful brides, and each of us have our own stylish dresses that show well our personalities,'' one of these soon-to-be brides commented.
"Every individual needs a chance at a great start and the right tools for success. Dress for Success outfits disadvantaged women with not only the clothing and the business accessories, but the skills they need to perform well on an interview and to embark successfully on new careers. I'm so happy to be here today to help Staples with this donation that will certainly be a great help to women in the Dress for Success organization." "We are so grateful to Staples for not only their monetary contribution, but also for the donation of Arc notebooks. These organizational tools will truly enable Dress for Success affiliates to better equip clients for success in the workforce," said Joi Gordon, CEO, Dress for Success Worldwide. Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Spider-Man's turmoil forgotten Bono, The Edge and Julie Taymor hugged each other and were all smiles as they posed for photos on the red carpet before Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark officially opened Tuesday night, a public reconciliation from the creators who fell out as the show's problems mounted. "We absolutely love Julie and always have. As artists, we've been very, very close. She poured her whole life into this project," Bono said outside New York's Foxwoods Theatre. "Tonight she's here to host it." For her part, Taymor was gracious, saying the $70 million show was an attempt to do something different and difficult.
Pvt. Lindsay Starr's decision was made after school officials said they would make an exception to decades-old protocol and allow her to wear her uniform at tonight'sceremony. Marine Sgt. Lynn Kinney said she had a heartfelt talk with Starr, 17, who is working at the recruiting station during a 10-day leave. "We talked about what it means to be a Marine and understand policy and support government decisions," Kinney said. "She understands." Starr could not be reached for comment about her decision. A statement released by the North Allegheny School District indicated school officials had been in contact with the Marine Corps Uniform Board at the Pentagon, which offered Starr permission to wear her uniform under her cap and gown until after she accepted her diploma. Covering up a Marine uniform is usually prohibited. Kinney said she would advise Starr against wearing the gown over her uniform. Starr of Wexford finished high school in January after a semester of doubling up on classes in North Allegheny's accelerated graduation program. She enlisted shortly thereafter and completed Marine boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., this month. Earlier yesterday, Starr said that while enduring the challenges of camp, the thought of wearing her dress blues to her graduation ceremony motivated her to keep going. "Even before I left for boot camp, that was the main thing that pushed me through," said Starr. When she visited the high school this week to request permission to wear her uniform to graduation, a school official informed her that she was not permitted to do so.