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CHARLOTTE Hazell’s designs are the epitome of modern, country chic. Rustic tweeds sit with crisp cotton and cool linens in styles designed to turn heads.

And turning heads is just what the young designer has been doing since she leftYork College back in 2008,when her final-year collection featured in a competition at the Great Yorkshire Show, where she was a finalist in its Fashion Idol competition.

Since then, Charlotte has gone on to launch her own womenswear label, Charlotte Lucy, and been invited to preview her latest collection at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show in July.

Charlotte, of Norton on Derwent, is expecting her first child in October, and has been working flat out to get the capsule range ready in time for its unveiling at the Fashion Pavilion in the showground on July 14.

Turning against the tide of fast, disposable fashion, Charlotte believes clothes should last, and produces just one collection a year.

She says: “The collection is full of transitional pieces with dresses that you can wear in summer and winter. Although my coats are mainly for winter, with the British weather, you can often wear them all year round.”

Her designs are timeless, but often with a quirky twist. “My style is simple, clean-cut garments that are made to last and can stay in the wardrobe for years.”

Key pieces for 2015 are waxed, linen macs that look great with a dress or a chunky coat that is a statement in itself, she says.

Charlotte hand-makes all pieces to order. The collection will go live on the first day of the Great Yorkshire Show and customers can buy online. Charlotte aims to turn around all sales within two weeks.

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Peter and Margaret Gowing from Norwich fell in love at first sight when they were on a group outing in 1954.

The couple, who have five sons and three daughters, 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, were engaged after five months of courtship.

They married on 11 June 1955 at Belvoir Street Chapel when Peter was 27 and Margaret had turned 21. Mr Gowing, 86, worked as a Millwright after leaving school at 14 and was responsible for servicing machinery in windmills across East Anglia for F. Flowerdew & Son.

He later went on to work as a mill engineer before retiring at the age of 75.

Before raising the couple’s children, Mrs Gowing, 81, worked at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital as an Almoner’s Clerk after studying at Underwood Secretarial College.

The couple started off married life in Lincoln Street but later moved to Park Lane in the late 1960s where they still live today.

When asked their secret for a long and happy marriage Margaret replied ‘give and take’ before Peter joked: “I call Margaret ‘she who must be obeyed’, you’ve got to have a sense of humour.”

The couple are still very active and only have a couple of days a week to themselves.

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Amongst many commitments Mrs Gowing is the deputy organist at Trunch Methodist Church in North Norfolk and helps out at a luncheon club every Monday.

Mr Gowing is the chairman of Cromer and Sheringham Brass Band and has played the cornet for over 60 years having also played for Dereham Band and Aylsham Band.

Mr Gowing continues to tend his allotment keeping the family in fruit and vegetables, he said: “It is our lifestyle that keeps us going.”

The couple have holidayed at Mundesley for over 40 years and continue to stay in their caravan in the village every week.

Mr Gowing said: “We love the peace and quiet of Mundesley, it has a lovely beach and we have made a lot of friends there.”

The couple celebrated 60 years together at an event on Saturday with over 60 family members.

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The point of fashion? This isn’t discussed nearly as frequently as it should be. It’s not as if those who invest most in fashion don’t have time to ponder, waiting, as they do endlessly for curtain-up at the shows, which are currently proliferating at a rate that ought to mean fashion is the most important concept on our planet.

Fashion is important, but why, and how? This was the nux of a conversation that began as Jonathan Anderson tentatively introduced some of the looks in his resort collection last night – and the small but engaged audience began to chip in.

“I feel a bit awkward sitting here delivering what sounds like a lecture,” observed Anderson, rubbing his nose sheepishly, as a model in gold ruffled boots swept past.

“Well, we’re in Cambridge, that’s what people pay for,” remarked one fashion writer.

More specifically, we were in Kettle’s Yard, home of the late Jim Ede, one time curator at The Tate, and a beady-eyed collector, champion and friend of young artists such as Ben Nicholson, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska and Joan Miró, who once handed Ede one of this paintings (a ravishingly small blue composition that hangs in a study in Kettle’s Yard) as they sat in a restaurant

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During his life, Ede encouraged students at Cambridge to ring his doorbell, look at his collection of early 20th century paintings, 19th century china, ethnic jewellery and pebbles – and stay for tea. Those he trusted were loaned pictures to hang in their rooms.

When he donated the house – comprised of four cottages he’d bought for £12, saving them from demolition – to the university in 1966, he was extremely specific about how it should be kept: exactly as he left it. Although he experimented with the space and its contents while he lived there, constantly shifting paintings, bowls, sculptures and vases around , ensuring that was always something lovely to look at from every vantage point and eye-level, by the time he left Kettle’s Yard, he felt he’d arrived, more or less, at the perfect arrangement

To this day, there is always a fresh (ish) lemon in the pewter dish in front of a grey sea-scape, a visual echo of the yellow dot in the Miró nearby and the vase of yellow aquilegia opposite.

Ede was a man who saw beauty in everything, but especially in composition and arrangement. He would probably have been a magnificent visual merchandiser – a job that Anderson once tried.

Ede’s approach to art and to creating “a beautiful life” has clearly left an impression on Anderson. Clothes can never be art, says Anderson firmly, “because we’ve created a culture where they’re extremely disposable. But they can contribute to a beautiful life”.

Some would argue that art too has become disposable – and did. It was that kind of evening. Meanwhile, pale, nude-faced models drifted among the furniture and artefacts in some spectacular clothes.

Polka dots in every size became a game of contrasting scale as cotton drill was cut into moulded sheath tops and mis-matching tiered skirts. Gently fitted dresses with slightly raised waists came in prints that seemed partly inspired by William Morris, and partly by Bridget Riley. Denim was structured, stiff, cut into peek-a-boo corsets or trouser suits with wide legs, deep pockets and voluminous sleeves. And the asymmetric earrings added a sculptural geometry.

A small new clutch bag style prompted queries of the Is it a Bird, Is it a Plane variety? As a matter of fact, it had been inspired by the Jazz Age’s fascination for flight. “I like the way it could almost be a toy and you want to play with it,” observed Anderson, doing just that. Bags as playthings? Surely not.

The results of this collection may not have been as quietly contemplative as Ede’s soothing home (these are definitely look at me pieces, intriguingly futuristic and retro at the same time) but If Anderson was looking to create clothes that are the antithesis of disposable, then mission accomplished.
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Grown-ups are playing dress-up in a fashion trend called “Disneybounding,” which allows fans to display devotion without donning a Cinderella gown or a Buzz Lightyear spacesuit.

The styles shoot for subtle, yet colorful, salutes to Disney characters. A Disneybounder might wear a yellow skirt, blue top, red bow and apple pin as a quiet shout-out to Snow White or go all-green with a feathered fedora to represent Peter Pan.

“We actually did that on our honeymoon. We’re Disney fanatics,” said Elyssa Kivus, who went with the red-polka-dot motif of Minnie Mouse while her husband, John, went the more low-key Mickey Mouse route of red shorts, black shirt and yellow shoes.

“I really like meeting the character when you’re Disneybounding as that character,” said Kivus, 27. “Most of them pick up on it, and you get a little more interaction, which is nice.”

For a visit to the Magic Kingdom last year, Michael Rubino, 26, of Kissimmee, Fla., improvised and modernized a look for Sleeping Beauty’s beau. “I did kind of a Prince Phillip-but-dapper one, with a vest and my cardigan tied around my neck for the cape,” he said.

Kivus and Rubino both said a Tumblr site was early inspiration and the birthplace of Disneybounding activity.

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Disneybound was created by Leslie Kay three years ago, but she didn’t start it as a fashion statement. The site originally was to “channel our excitement” for a trip to Disney World, Kay said.

“I started creating these outfits that were based off of Disney characters, but what a Disney character might wear if they were a living person, like your average teenager or 20-year-old,” said Kay, 26. “I didn’t know it was going to become a trend, but it very quickly became a thing in the Disney world,” she said.

Her site now has suggested clothing options for dozens of Disney characters, including princesses, dwarfs, Remy (pink tennis shoes for toes), R2-D2, Dumbo and “Frozen” royals Anna and Elsa.

Although Kay doesn’t consider herself the fashion police, she said a “sweet spot” for Disneybounding falls somewhere between a character T-shirt and an elaborate costume.

“My rule is ‘Would I wear this to the mall?’ or ‘Would I wear this out to drinks with a friend?’ If I wouldn’t do that, it becomes more of a costume or a cosplay thing,” Kay said.

The look has expanded beyond characters and into Disney rides and attractions. Rubino said he has seen groups with dresses designed to emulate the teacups of the Mad Tea Party ride, and he’s mulling a sartorial salute to Maelstrom, the recently shuttered Epcot attraction, for a future event.

Kay, who works as a social-media coordinator out of Toronto, continues to receive requests, including one for designs related to the infamous theme-park snack, the giant turkey leg. She hasn’t worked that up yet.

“I don’t really know how to do a turkey leg,” she said. “It’s kind of head-to-toe brown with a turkey necklace?”

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Andreja Pejic & Jamie Chung Partner With Make Up For Ever, And It’s The Diverse Beauty Campaign We’ve Been Waiting For

We’ve recently seen some fantastic coverage of trans visibility thanks to the courageous Caitlyn Jenner. Now, we’re getting more fantastic trans representation in the beauty world. Make Up For Ever and Andreja Pejic, along with Jamie Chung, have teamed up on a new beauty campaign that is both brilliant and super fun! Plus, now the models even have their very own palettes. The brand’s combination of a role model like Pejic and relatable girl like Chung is perfect for the campaign that’s slogan is “Be Bold. Be Unexpected. Be You.”

Pejic made her triumphant return to the catwalk back in March and wow’ed crowds during London Fashion Week. Then, last month, the gorgeous model landed a Vogue editorial that made her the first trans model to ever be featured in the glossy. Basically, Pejic is having one hell of a year, and it’s only getting better.

She was the perfect person to represent a Make Up For Ever campaign dedicated to asking people to be true to themselves. Tonight at the launch event, we were able to speak with Pejic who told us how excited she was about the partnership. “I think I’m still taking it [the campaign] all in! I can’t even really put it into words. When I was little, I would dream about what it would be like to grow up and be a woman. I didn’t care if I was scrubbing toilets — if I was doing it as a woman, I’d be happy. I’m thankful to Make Up For Ever for taking this bold step.” While bold it may be, the step is also necessary in giving trans men and women more visibility in mainstream campaigns.

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With the recent coming out of Caitlyn Jenner, trans rights and visibility are at the forefront of everyone’s minds, including Pejic. She explained to us, “I think it’s definitely something we’re going to see a lot more of. It’s about recognizing that the world is a diverse place. There is no reason that the beauty industry should not reflect that. The more awareness there is and the more variety of stories that there are is very important. It shows that this is a very human experience.”

Pejic also talked to us about what makeup meant to her during her transition. She told us, “My relationship with makeup, like my transition, was a slow process. When I first discovered eyeliner… It was amazing. It made me feel so feminine. I have very strong features, but it’s fun to soften them up sometimes.”

Alongside Pejic, Make Up For Ever enlisted Jamie Chung, everyone’s perennial best friend, to help spread the news about the line’s new products. Chung is known not only for her acting, but also for her killer beauty advice. Plus, the brand’s inclusion of an Asian American actress adds much needed diversity to an industry that is nearly completely white. The gorgeous lady, like Pejic, was excited to be involved in the campaign despite being nervous at first. She explains, ”I was really nervous going into the meeting, but landing something like this for a company that I really believe in was kind of a dream come true…I was totally over the moon. I love [what it stands for] because everyone is so unique and so different.”

This isn’t the first time that Chung has celebrated Make Up For Ever. She told us, “It’s a brand I’ve been using for a long time professionally, since Samurai Girl. What I particularly love about the brand is how it’s so inclusive.”

The campaign features both Pejic and Chung getting seriously creative, fabulous looks from Make Up Forever’s pro consulting artist Melanie Inglessis. Some of the looks created for the stars are definitely more dramatic that your everyday work look, but Inglessis explained, “Have fun! Try a bold lip color or a colored eyeliner to start. Keep it to one strong feature and you really can’t go wrong.” The brand’s focus on staying true to yourself and inclusivity is clearly seen in their choice of spokespersons, and the choice of such amazing women was an inspired decision. We can’t wait to try each ladies’ palettes!

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“So much of our relationship has involved outdoor adventure that it was important to us to have the wedding reflect that,” says Sam Peterson.

Sam and Tania (Sherry) Peterson were married at Highbanks Metro Park on October 25, 2014. ”Many of our favorite memories together come from trips that we spent hiking, biking, or camping,” continues Tania. “We knew we wanted to have our ceremony outside. HighBanks was perfect because not only was it directly across the street from where we had our reception, but it had a beautiful private clearing called the Mansion Shelter that we were able to reserve just for our event.”

Many of their guests also spotted the bald eagles that live in the park, which Sam thought was a great extra.

Sam and Tania met by chance on Match.com.

“But in part only because Tania wanted a free smoothie,” says Sam. “She had just returned from four years in Peru in the Peace Corps and was living at home in Toledo. Her gym offered her a free smoothie if she referred three other people, but she hit the limit of people she knew in the area at two: her parents. Her brother suggested that she join Match.com to meet new people. Thankfully she messed it up somehow, because it showed her as living in Columbus; otherwise our paths may never have crossed. Conveniently, she was about to start grad school at OSU in the fall, so her time in Toledo was short lived.”

Many of their dates involved hiking and the outdoors, so Sam planned a perfect proposal at the cliffs at Conkle’s Hollow in Hocking Hills that would showcase the wonderful view. But sometimes, even the best laid plans are tough to execute.

“Well, Tania kind of ruined my first attempt [at proposing],” he says. “I had it all planned out. One day while hiking at Conkle’s Hollow, I suggested we stop and admire the view. Tania was having none of it. Despite my repeated attempts to get her to stop and sit down, she wouldn’t; she said we hadn’t been hiking long enough to take a break.”

“I feel a little bad to this day,” she says. “That spot happens to come towards the beginning of the hike, however, and when I get moving, I’m loathe to stop for anything. Sam pulled off at the viewpoint and tried several strategies to get me to sit down with him, but I insisted it was ridiculous to take a break so early in the hike and demanded that we resume hiking immediately. He eventually gave up, and our hike continued with me completely oblivious about his intentions.”

“We had to hike the trail a second time to get back to the spot I had picked out,” says Sam. “We stopped for lunch, and I proposed just before we ate. Tania was a little confused at first.”

“I was pretty surprised to get handed a ring, when all I’d expected was a bag of chips,” she says. The ring was a custom design Sam worked on with William Weidinger, incorporating two rubies for color, a small sparkly diamond, and a stone from Sam’s maternal grandmother’s wedding ring.

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For their reception, the couple was at first thinking of putting together a day at a park or a farm.

“After visiting several of those venues, however, we came to the realization that we just didn’t have the time to deal with all the logistics that would require,” says Tania. “Also, despite beginning our venue search more than a year before our desired wedding date, we were surprised to find that many places were booked solid.”

Her parents had always enjoyed their stay at the Northpointe Hotel and Conference Center, and the proximity to Highbanks was really nice.

“We resisted at first because we thought it might just be a generic event space, but when we finally went, we loved it,” says Tania. “The wedding coordinator we met with, Bryan Wright, was hilarious and competent, and totally “got it” that we didn’t want a traditional reception.”

The Edgewater Room at Northpointe has large picture windows that overlook a pond and let lots of natural light into the space. Being adjacent to a patio just outside was perfect for the cocktail hour.

Finding a wedding dress took a little time for Tania.

“I’ve never been one to dream about a big white dress, so I honestly had kind of a hard time figuring out what I wanted,” she says. “After a few failed attempts at David’s Bridal and some of the other bigger shops, I took a trip down to Cincinnati to the Reading Bridal District. I found “the dress” – an Eddy K – on a clearance rack at the back of one of the shops.”

Although still a bit above her price range, Tania’s aunt saw how happy that dress made her niece and offered to pay the difference.

“I’m so glad she did because I loved the dress!” says Tania. “The only alteration required was to have it shortened, and a family friend of Sam’s stepped in and did that for me for free.”

Sam found a dark gray Hugo Boss suit from Nordstrom, and loves that whenever he wear it, he’s reminded of his wedding day.

They asked their wedding party to choose outfits based on a couple of criteria: knee length navy dresses for the bridesmaids and gray suits for the groomsmen.

“I loved the result!” says Tania.

They did get to do some DIY with the flowers. The couple’s friend Ashley Arzy selected sunflowers, gerber a daisies, and spray roses to complement a theme of deep and bold fall colors, oranges, golds, and reds. The flowers were ordered and Ashely, and Tania, her mother, and sisters spent a nice evening together putting together the bouquets, centerpieces, and boutonnieres the night before the wedding.

“Tania loves cats, and unbeknownst to us, Tania’s mom and siblings managed to slip tiny plastic cats into each one of the centerpieces,” says Sam. The centerpieces were ceramic pieces that Sam made at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center.

“I’ve been taking ceramics classes for about six years,” he says. “Over the years, when other students have gotten married they’ve made wedding favors, or other ceramic pieces for their own weddings. I always thought that was a great idea.”

“Our guests loved them, and many people took them home as a keepsake from the wedding,” says Tania.

Guests also got to take home bags of sugared pecans made by Tania’s mother.

Sam and Tania also wanted to have a fun, community atmosphere at their wedding, and the food played a big part in creating that feeling.

“One of our early decisions was that we wanted to have a hog roast for the food at our wedding,” says Sam. “Family friends of mine back home used to throw a big hog roast party at the end of the summer. They’d roast the hog, and all the guests would bring a side dish to share. Tania went with me to one of the last ones and had a great time. We wanted to recreate that feeling of community for our wedding. We couldn’t do a potluck, but we could at least roast a pig.”

Northpointe put together a fabulous menu that included a hog roast (with pulled and sliced pork), house made bbq sauce, baked beans, sweet potato salad, grilled vegetables, vegetable lasagna, and salad with pecans and cranberries.

People came from all over to share in the couple’s love.

“The wedding gave Sam and me the opportunity to see friends and family that, in some cases, we hadn’t seen for years,” says Tania. “It meant seeing my sister who had been working on her PhD in Australia, my friends from Peace Corps, and Sam’s friends from as far back as elementary school. We skipped a lot of the typical wedding traditions, so it felt like a huge, laid-back reunion, complete with a roasted hog and strong cocktails.”

The couple took a quick getaway to Asheville, North Carolina for a few days after the wedding. Then this spring, they took a longer trip to Argentina.

“We went at the end of March and had a great time,” says Sam. “We went to Buenos Aires and we also spent a lot of time down in Patagonia. We went hiking, horseback riding, and spent one day trekking on a glacier.”

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Sarah Haywood is one of the most sought-after wedding planners for the richest people in the world.

She has organised weddings for Fortune 500 businessmen, princesses, and popstars, who spend millions of pounds on just one day. One client even spent around £4 million ($6.1 million) on their very special day.

While confidentiality agreements prevent her from confirming exactly who she has worked for, you only need to take a quick look on the internet to put some of the pictures and descriptions together.

It’s perhaps unsurprising she has become so in demand. She lives and breathes weddings.

She is available to clients 24/7, uses only the most expensive and exclusive couturiers, florists, venues, Michelin star chefs, cake bakers, and award-winning stylists. She can arrange the billionaire bride’s dream wedding in just over two weeks. In fact, she did just that recently for an Asian popstar.

Over the past twelve months Sarah has planned weddings from Azerbaijan to St Tropez and for the world’s wealthiest people, including one for an American billionaire that is getting married on a Scottish Island.

She also wrote one of Britain’s top-selling bridal books in 2006 called “The Wedding Bible” and the second international edition of it was published on Valentine’s Day this year. In 2010, she also released the “Ultimate Wedding App” for BlackBerry, Android and iPhone.

Business Insider got a behind the scenes look at what it’s like planning the world’s most insanely expensive weddings.

BUSINESS INSIDER: What type of clients do you usually cater for?

SARAH HAYWOOD: We focus on high net-worth individuals and a number of families you’ll see in the Fortune 500. Our clients are seriously successful business people. Celebrities don’t have the kind of money for what we do, unless you’re at George Clooney’s level, and we aren’t the people to cater for them as they usually want a lot for nothing.

We’re based in London, which has the highest concentration of high net-worth individuals in the world. Our clients comes from everywhere: from the US, Europe, Middles East, Asia, China especially, and many have a home here.

When it comes to “new money,” those people are nervous about style but that’s where we come in. We understand and create incredible weddings for those who live fabulous lives, without going over the top.

BI: What makes you different to the other wedding planners for rich people out there?

SH: Our service is like no other. It’s completely bespoke and I purposely only take on a maximum of five clients a year.

Myself and a senior producer run all the weddings, meaning we are ALWAYS available for our clients. If they need me somewhere, I can be there immediately.

For the kind of money they’re spending, you have to get everything done immediately. You don’t let these people wait around.

I’m constantly being told to expand the business and bring on more staff, but I want to keep it between myself and another producer, otherwise the service wouldn’t be so specialist and we’d be spread too thin. It only takes one bad event or mistake to come back to you. Everyone knows everyone in these circles.

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These people lead fabulous lives day-to-day so you’ve got to deliver on something extraordinary on the day. They have wonderful homes all around the world, dine in the finest restaurants across the globe, and have private jets and travel weekly. You have got to give them something a lot more special than their last Sunday.

BI: So what are the budgets for these high net-worth weddings?

SH:Their budgets range from anything from hundreds of thousands of pounds to millions for their wedding day. It really depends on what they want and what the travel costs are like, which can take a bulk of the budget if they’re needing private jets or just lots of seats on a plane.

No wedding is the same obviously, so it’s really down to what they want, the level of detail, and where it is based.

BI: What do billionaires usually want and how quickly do these weddings take to plan?

SH: Interestingly, lots of people ask me this and expect me to say people are demanding 12 elephants or something but it’s not like that. What these people want is incredible detail on every part of the wedding that takes it to that next level.

For example, you wouldn’t just have a bar. You’d have a bar with the world’s best mixologists, the finest champagne and drinks available on the market. You wouldn’t just have a food station, you’d have a seafood station that has ice sculptures, with huge floral designs in the middle.

In three weeks’ time we will be hosting the wedding for an American billionaire on a Scottish island. This is a great example of the level of bespoke elements expected at a wedding of this level and budget. We found the last lace maker in Scotland to make handkerchiefs for all the women attending the wedding to place on their pillows. We got a bespoke tartan designed and made for the kilts alongside a new family crest to be made.

For the men, we are having bespoke sgian-dubh’s (pronounced “skee-an-do”: a small, single-edged knife that is worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress, along with the kilt and tucked into the top of the long socks) made. We have leather-bound journals with the newly made couple’s crest.

It’s rarely outrageous things that people want — they just take everything to the next level. We need 172 hotel rooms just for the staff. We have people working across five days.

BI: The incredible amount of detail must take a long time to plan. What’s the average turnaround time for a billionaire’s wedding?

SH: The usual timescale is around three to five months – these type of people don’t need to wait around a year to plan, that’s what we’re here for. However, there was one international royal wedding we did where we had 19 days from the day we got the phone call to the wedding day itself.

It’s all about having the best and right contacts, being able to know exactly what people need, and who are the best people you need to go to for it. We are a small but specialist team and we need to be able to do this all year round. Billionaire weddings also are not seasonal. We did a wedding for an Asian popstar in January, after being asked to do it in the October beforehand.

BI: Do you find there are regional trends in what billionaire couples want?

SH: There’s no general pattern in terms of what people want because there is such a fusion of cultures now. Plus, a lot are international couples that have a home in London as well as other parts of the world.

However, the way we liaise with people do vary depending on age and cultures. Our Middle Eastern clients usually come from oil and construction money and we’re seeing the younger couples liaising with us more, whereas before it was usually through the women in the family. In China, all those under 30 usually have perfect English and liaise directly with us. Same with the Russians.

No matter where people come from, they want the Hollywood glamour at their wedding. The world is changing and culture, tradition, and Western glamour are now being fused together.

BI: So when do you actually get time off if you’re doing this 24/7 and drop everything for a client? Do you actually get a holiday?

SH: Having time off is very difficult. My husband is actually on holiday at the moment without me. It’s the fifth time in a row! But I have a second home in Portugal, so if I am away, I can easily get to London for a meeting immediately.

But work comes first. If your client says jump, you jump.

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On Saturday, the second day of the Mobicon gaming, sci-fi, horror, fantasy and comic convention, two iconic anime characters were joined together in mock holy matrimony in front of a crowd of Pokemons, demons and aliens.

But before we bring you into the raucous and quirky celebration at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, a little explanation is in order for those unversed in the world of anime and fandom.

The marriage was between characters from Naruto, a mega-Japanese animation franchise encompassing manga (comic books), TV series, movies, trading cards, video games and more.

The protagonist of the series is teenage ninja Naruto Uzumaki. In the film “The Last: Naruto the Movie,” he and his longtime love Hinata Hyuga get married.

The Mobicon cosplayers staged their own version of the ceremony.

Naruto and Hinata were played by friends Kristina Guidry of Killeen, Texas and recent B.C. Rain High School graduate Tia Sewer. The two said they met years ago at a comic convention.

The audience burst into acapella renditions of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and the theme song to the anime series “Sailor Moon” while they waited for the procession to begin. The fantasy wedding started late because Naruto was having real world car problems.

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Eventually, the groom arrived and the walk down the aisle commenced. Naruto waited at the altar while characters from the Naruto world- a couple of whom scattered red paper rosebuds on the ground – walked in pairs past the audience

Hinata elegantly entered the room in an exquisite beaded floor-length plum-colored gown. Purple is Hinata’s favorite color. The bride held a small bouquet of red, pink and white flowers.

When the couple came together at the front of the room, ordained minister Eric Balch got down to business.

“We are here to celebrate friendship, happiness, life, eternal matrimony and teamwork,” Balch said.

He then asked Hinata to recite her vows.

“Naruto, you have been my best friend since we were toddlers,” Hinata began. She continued with a beautiful tribute to their love.

“I didn’t write any vows, but I love you so much,” Naruto responded as the crowd went wild.

After a quick kiss and a big hug, Naruto swept Hinata up into his arms and carried her out of the room amidst cheers and hoots.

So, how did the happy couple feel after they were united?

“We’re fantastic,” Hinata said. “It’s about time.”

“No regrets,” Naruto said.

A few minutes later, Hinata returned to throw the bouquet. She turned her back to the flock of characters anxously awaiting the toss. Balch caught the bouquet.

Ocean Springs resident Tiffany Cox, 17, who came to the wedding in the guise of a legendary white Pokemon bird, was inspired by the ceremony.

“This is the type of wedding I want to have,” she said.

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From Opelika to New York and to Los Angeles, “Kevin” Cooper Ray is making his mark on men’s fashion everywhere.

Ray grew up in Opelika. He is the son of Aranell and Frank Ray. A 1982 graduate of OHS and a 1995 graduate of Auburn University, Ray said he has spent a lot of his life in Lee County, particularly Opelika.

Ray began his career in public relations. He freelanced in New York and was exposed to the fashion world.

“It was actually an accident,” he said. “ I was able to be around all the greats.”

Ray said writing was his first passion, and what he does with fashion now brings out the artist in him in a similar way that writing does.

Ray emphasizes the importance of being a classy man, and enjoys portraying that in his clothing. While living in L.A., Ray began writing a blog about living in The City of Angels and created a “modern guide to manners for men.” He would later publish a book called “The Bill of Rites for the American Man” that highlighted the same principles.

Ray first dipped his toe into the fashion pool when he collaborated with Brooks Brothers to design a line of bow ties.

“It was a tremendous success. We sold out of every season,” Ray said.

The bow ties even caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal.

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From there, Ray’s solo line Social Primer was born in 2013.

One year later, Ray signed on with Bravo to be a part of a reality television show called “Southern Charm.” The show goes inside Charleston, South Carolina’s rich society and chronicles the life of the “Charleston man.” “Southern Charm” recently renewed its contract for a third season.

Ray now resides in Charleston where he finds much of his inspiration everyday. The classy Southern culture of his city is incorporated into his clothing designs. He takes the European influences found in Charleston and washes them through a Southern viewpoint.

“ I am lucky to be here in Charleston. This is one of the few places in America where the guys are peacocks in the way that they dress, and they are not only encouraged, but almost expected to do that,” Ray said.

Social Primer is a line that consists of pieces like tuxedos, sports coats and bow ties. Ray described his line as the kind that would appeal to the “Southern frat boy,” which he said is his biggest audience.

However, Ray said his clothes can be versatile enough to fit the taste of a wide variety of men. His fashions can go from the streets of Charleston where the preppy style is in its purest form to Jordan Hare Stadium where the look can be adapted to the needs of the Southern frat boy. Ray wants to offer men a bright and flamboyant way of dress that can also give them comfort and the assurance of being appropriate.

As far as his personal style goes, Ray has the attitude of “why not?”

“I like to be the lead peacock in the room with all eyes on me, so other men will feel like they can take a chance, too,” he said.

Ray does not classify himself as a designer but a stylist because of the way he likes to work with what is already there and manipulate the look with different colors and shapes.

“I think designers are in a special little club that need to be respected, and I really don’t claim to be one of those,” he said.

According to Ray, Social Primer is similar to Ralph Lauren in the way it is styled and the way shapes and colors are used.

“I create what I need. I don’t set out to say ‘I want to be a Ralph Lauren’ I say ‘I made these ties because I couldn’t find them,’” Ray said.

He recently created a line of tuxedo “separates” made of different colors and materials that can be mixed and matched to avoid the standard black tuxedo that can be found at rental companies.

“So, if someone already owned a tuxedo, they could buy one of my jackets, trousers or waist coats just to give it a little bump,” he said.

It’s all about class for Ray. He describes Social Primer as “fresh but timeless.”

“That’s how I think men should dress. Invest in great pieces that can withstand the test of time. That’s why I’m such a proponent of preppy style, because it’s classic style,” Ray said. He has been referred to as the “prince of preppy hedonism.”

One main idea Ray wants to get across to consumers with his fashion line is that one does not have to be rich to have a great lifestyle. He encourages people to dress for the kind of life they want to live. He said he is the shining example of this concept because he is welcome in any society and hold his “Opelika own” anywhere he goes.

Ray said he considers himself a writer who is easily distracted by every shiny thing that floats by, and the most fulfillment in his career comes from the bliss that he feels when he is writing in a work environment when everything is “just flowing.”

“That is a rare and special place,” he said.

With designing, he enjoys the process of creating collections and deciding what will come next.

“Sometimes I will lock my door and sit down to pull everything together into a cohesive collection,” Ray said. “That is incredibly rewarding.”

Future plans of Social Primer include a lifestyle brand. Ray also wants to create a guide to being a gentleman.

Ray said he comes back to Opelika every chance he gets to visit his family.

“I treasure my time in Opelika. I love it there, and I am proud to be from Opelika,” he said.

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On Monday night around the fountain at Lincoln Center, two kinds of gowns flooded the plaza in a whirling mass: purple choir gowns, worn by graduating students of New York University, and pricey designer gowns, worn by patrons of the American Ballet Theater, arriving at the Metropolitan Opera House.

“I like my gown,” said Samantha Winer, who had just graduated from the N.Y.U. Silver School of Social Work.

“But you’re more interested in doing good than being rich,” her grandmother told her.

Who says you can’t do both? After all, this is a city that would be in big trouble without the blood sport it calls fund-raising.

And the American Ballet Theater wasn’t messing around with its 75th anniversary jubilee celebration. From the balcony of the opera house, women in gowns to rival the architecture looked down as more than 1,000 guests arrived.

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Who’s who from the week’s A-list dinners, celebrity gatherings and“I love people-watching from a balcony,” said Giovanna Battaglia, a fashion editor and stylist who wore a flowing Carolina Herrera ball-gown skirt that pooled behind.

Inside, as chimes rang out, guests including Gigi Mortimer, Indre Rockefeller, Muffie Potter Aston and Susan Fales-Hill drank Champagne and headed for their seats.

Hamish Bowles, the Vogue editor, dashed up to his parterre box in purple Manolo opera pumps and a matching velvet blazer. At his side, Amy Fine Collins wore a glittering floral jacket by Tom Ford. Several women were also dressed in traditional Japanese attire.

“They didn’t get the memo that it’s all about China right now,” a guest said.

Lauren Santo Domingo, or LSD as she is called by people who care deeply about a social figure who owns an Internet fashion company (Moda Operandi), looked hallucinatory in a flower-appliqué gown by Diego Della Valle. Photographers went wild.

“It’s a very New York moment,” she said.

As evidence, a huge promotional projection on the stage curtain unabashedly announced Escada as the sponsor of the evening, which raised $2.3 million. Caroline Kennedy appeared on a video screen to make a speech, as did Joel Grey; Sigourney Weaver did so in person.

The ballet company performed several excerpts, including one to the song “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” with choreography by Paul Taylor. It ended with a line of dancers, hands outstretched to the audience.

During intermission, and before guests stormed a party tent for dinner and dancing in the adjoining Damrosch Park, David H. Koch snapped a picture of the longtime ballet supporter Blaine Trump, as if he were a kid at a prom. (She wore “vintage something,” she said.)

Mr. Koch’s name appears on what was once the New York State Theater next door. He will soon be philanthropic neighbors with David Geffen, whose name is going onto the New York Philharmonic’s building in September. Mr. Koch also donates to American Ballet Theater.

“I’m the sugar daddy,” he declared about funding the company.

Brother, can you spare a million?

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