Amazon was forced to apologise for selling T-shirts with slogans promoting rape and violence on its website.

Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren are taking no risks this autumn-winter season. Following the trend to de-clutter the catwalk, the Dutch duo known as Viktor & Rolf replaced their normally inventive art-infused style with simpler silhouettes and a muted palette of black and white. "It's a feelling of wanting to be real, a wardrobe for women to wear," Horsting said backstage. "And slightly rebellious," he added. "Slightly" was the key word here. There were some subtle nods to rebellion, like dropped waist lines and short flared minis (a clever play on peplums.) But at times it felt like the boundary-pushing excitement that made them famous in the '90s was in hibernation this winter. Perhaps they are tapping into their commercial potential?

The rich fabrics and draped silks brought to Europe by the medieval crusaders inspired Vivienne Westwood's autumn-winter 2013-14 tour de force. Draped feminine silk silhouettes accompanied some sublime silk-wool jacquards with medieval images of birds, flowers and strawberries; as well as capes and puffed Juliette sleeves. "I have a book of reproduced medieval illuminated manuscripts," explained Westwood backstage. Patterns such as rings, polka dots, interrupted lines and squares were aimed to evoke the decorative patterns on the handmade manuscript borders. But perennial eccentric Westwood, who turns 72-years-old next month, loves mixing up her eras.

Issey Miyake cast a few minutes of sunshine over a grey Paris sky on Friday with a show brimming with colour. Checkered patterns added to the fun, and it was invigorating to see them on models, who actually smiled as they walked. The show's inspiration, said designer Yoshiyuke Miyamae, "comes from landscape seen from the sky." Optical crisscrosses of varying thickness created great dynamic movements on stretch fabric, as he imagined an aerial view of a dense forest. Not all of the 42 looks worked. Some came across as busy, especially toward the end. But the mastery of tonal color really stole the show. Tops in rich ultramarine, vivid jade and vermilion saw colors blocked together in changing intensities. And discords such as green with bright turquoise made pockets stand out.

Balmain focused on the Far East for its fall-winter collection, using bejewelled couture and Oriental wrapped silks to embellish the Paris house's ready-to-wear display. Waists were cinched to within an inch of life with gold and black belts, and glistening regal amulets. High-waisted harem pants in geometric pattern silk lame defined the aesthetic. The 27-year-old designer Olivier Rousteing has indeed come a long way in stamping the house with his youthful exuberance.

Comic Joan Rivers has come under fire for comments she made about Jews during a segment on her controversial US style show Fashion Police.

Bold bangs are a quick way to a fresh new winter look.

Oscar winner Tilda Swinton has been named the new face of Chanel just days before the company's much-anticipated Paris Fashion Week show next week.

Dries Van Noten thinks fashion is far too serious. That's why the fall-winter 2013-14 show saw the Belgian designer explore his usual menswear-womenswear tailoring via the frivolity of ballroom dancing, feathers and the dancing two-some Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In Van Noten's world, like in Hollywood, there's no man without the woman, no Ginger without Fred.

The no-holds-barred sex appeal for Anthony Vaccarello is not for the faint-hearted. The third Belgian designer to show on Paris fashion week's first day served up a black-and-white ode to the early '80s in a show that featured micro skirts, chainmail, a lot of skin and lashings of sensual leather. Strong retro shoulders, asymmetrical, diagonally cut skirts, upturned lapels and cowl collars set the fashion time dial firmly back to the era of the New Romantics. This was fused with the innate sexiness of his variations on the Little Black Dress. The best look was a black kimono-style top, which billowed in great contrast to the tight, bright shiny black mini. Subtle this was not, but then, subtle isn't glam-loving Vaccarello's thing.

Anne Hathaway has taken the unusual step of apologising to fashion fans for switching her Oscars dress from Valentino to Prada at the last minute.

Paris fashion week kicked off with a bold, “masculine'' collection for women in neutral colours by experimental South Korean designer Moon Young Hee. The Paris-based designer sent out an eye-catching collection of voluminous trousers, ruffle-covered tops and floor-length skirts. A master of layering, known for her fluid, feminine designs, she limited herself to a restrained palette of black, white, grey and ecru.

A handpicked selection of what’s new in fashion, food and beauty right now. See this week’s issue of Viva for more.

With 11 days of fabulous events taking place during a celebration of all things fashionable, there's no excuse not to be involved in the Fashion in the Big Little City festival.

Kiwi fashion designer Karen Walker is venturing into children's wear for the first time through a partnership with a Japanese retail giant that will see the collection sold around the globe.

Architecture, the patterns of painting movement "art brut" and the surrealistic colors of Dutch Master Brueghel were all inspirations behind Cedric Charlier's diverse fall-winter 2013-14 show in Paris. The first pieces, among the collection's best, mixed up sharp geometric panelling alongside oversize coats with fluid, rounded shoulders. Ensembles were made up of several layers, like square navy skirts on top of knee-length leggings with a rectangular bib form hanging down. There were also some great structured sheaths in silky navy and black leather. It's a far cry from the more fluid looks seen in Charlier's last collection.

Check out the dames who've decided to ditch long locks and rock a shorter style.

Would you dare to lop off your hair? We've got pictures and words to inspire you to take a short cut.

Armani's latest winter collection came almost all in black, with accents of gray, navy and red. The chic-yet-simple collection spoke to a contemporary woman, who in the designer's own words is "a little man, a little woman, and a lot of both." Admiring front-row guests included singer Janet Jackson and a scattering of royalty: Charlene Wittstock, wife of Prince Albert of Monaco, and Tatiana Blatnik, wife of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark. The collection featured ultra-feminine long skirts in velvet or sequined chiffon, worn with tiny double-breasted or flared jackets. But the look also came with wide pants, complete with decorative suspenders. Evening pants were paired with dazzling sequined tops. Armani had more pants, including jumpsuits and Bermuda shorts, in his collection than most designers this round, where ladylike skirts and dresses were the preferred look. Armani's only concession to eccentric show stoppers were his funky Russian-inspired felt and furry hats, worn with every outfit.

The stars of the Oscars hit up the Vanity Fair and Elton John after parties.

As Life & Style Editor I have the heroic task of picking the most smashing red carpet looks, and deciding who was not so visually pleasing. So here you go. For all the red carpet banter check out the blog and tell me what you think of my picks on Twitter.

Stars walk the red carpet at the 2013 Oscar awards.

Thousands of people attended the International Tattoo and Art Expo at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton over the weekend. The popular annual event draws some of the best tattoo artists from around the country each year.

Herrera has become almost as synonymous with the Academy Awards as a weepy acceptance speech.

The Salvatore Ferragamo show concentrates on shapes. All in black, white and navy blue, with no prints or bold shades, the clothes have to speak for themselves. Massimiliano Giornetti, designer for the Florentine brand best known for its accessories, gives his winter styles a voice through sculpted silhouettes and carefully chosen fabrics. A few examples: a wide Alpaca jacket is worn with an A-line short skirt in pony leather; an oversized cashmere pullover is paired with a dainty slip with beaded hemline; and a classic overcoat becomes even more classy when worked in shiny silk. Even fur and leather are worked to highlight the artistry of the collection, starting with suede stitched in smocking, or beaver shorn to look like satin. The famous Ferragamo shoe next winter is a knee-high boot with pointed toe and relatively low stiletto heel, cut out at the instep and laced up the barelegged back. The latest Ferragamo bag is a shopper with metal inserts.

Lily Aldridge insists she isn't a sex object, but reveals she isn't bothered by the idea she has male fans lusting after her.

A gift bag is estimated to be worth $45,000 is given to Oscar nominees and includes an array of luxury items.

The Weekend Herald takes a look at the cost of going to the Oscars.