A Journey through Fashion and Style

The review of leading Italian designers, which took place on June 10, 2005, in Military Club, Sofia, was held within the frameworks of the Italian Festival, under the patronage of H.E. Mr. Giovan B. Campagnola, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, and was organized by the Sofia Office of the Italian Institute of Foreign Policy.

The latest collections of Iceberg, Roberto Cavalli, Armani, Versace, Cerrutti, were shown. They demonstrated the visions of their designers for summer 2005. The contemporary woman – colorful, challenging and sexy. The man – independent, strong, brimming with energy and youth. The fashion trends were showcased by the Visages Agency top models. For the audience the review was a true journey in a world of style and beauty, called Made in Italy.

A meeting with Bulgaria in Paris

was held in honor of the great artiste of Bulgarian origin Alexis Weissenberg and on the occasion of Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union. The festivities in Paris continued from June 17 to 24 under the patronage of the President of the Republic of France Mr. Jacques Chirac, who is also honorary chairman of the National Committee for Artistic Education.

For the first time three fashion shows were staged – a premiere of the National Chamber of Fashion of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Express it … with A Meal for Two

The twelfth edition of the homonymous culinary contest of Nie Zhenite (We, the Women) newspaper coincided with the 15-th anniversary of the media and the traditional competition was held in an atmosphere of friendly celebration. Not only because over the years most of the participants have shared they ideas of how to literally make the life of their beloved ones even “tastier”. On May 18, 2005, in the Sofia Hall of Kempinski Hotel Zografski, a special table was also set by the guests of the newspaper, who had come to congratulate it with the event. The signers – Kalinka Zgurova, Snezhana Borissova, Alexander Alexandrov-Alex, Anna, the designers – Veneta Atanassova, Reni Gradinarova and Krassi Stefanova, Mister Bulgaria 2004, Miroslav Yonchev, and the actress, Yanka Stoymenova, had prepared their own dishes especially for the event.

The one hundred contestants, who ran for the award, posed a serious challenge to the jury. After the tasting phase, for more than an hour, Lars Augusten, chef of Kempinski Hotel Zografski, Ann Stewart, Deputy President of the International Women’s Club, and the other jury members discussed the qualities of the dishes. Their decision was fair and everyone got a deserved prize.

The cultural part of the festivity was entrusted to Nelly Topalova, who skilfully presented the special program of music, dance performances and fashion reviews. The most important element, however, which added to the festive spirits of all, organizers and participants alike, was contained in the simple truth that when you do something with love, the results are heartwarming and satisfying.

Ball of the Yellow Rose

On May 12, in Continental Plaza Restaurant the annual charity spring Ball of the Yellow Rose was held. Traditionally, it takes place in the month of the rose, because the symbol of Zonta International is the yellow rose. The ball is a charitable initiative of ZONTA CLUB SOFIA, aiming to support children deprived of parental care. This year the raised funds will ensure a two-month training for 30 girls from 11th and 12th class from the homes in Lovech, Ugarchin, Tran, Stara Zagora, Kyustendil, Dupnitsa, Dolna Banya, etc. They will be enrolled in courses for clothes design and tailoring and hairdressing, which will be conducted jointly with the vocational school of clothing and the vocational school of hairdressing and cosmetics in Sofia. In July and August they will provide their premises and qualified staff for this purpose. The 160 guests invited to the ball paid an admission fee and the proceeds were collected in a fund to cover the expenses for transportation, accommodation and training of the girls in Sofia.