Fashion retailer Laura Ashley announced soaring profits of 62.3% (£19.8 million) in 2007, in spite of what a company described as a “challenging trading environment”.

UK fashion retail sales were up 7.7%, although there was a drop of 4.4% on a like for like basis. Overall group sales rose by 5.6% to £237.6 million, while UK retail sales lifted 7.2% to £187.2m.

UK fashion website Lastseason.com has developed a Facebook e-commerce application, they are the first UK business to go down this route.

The Lastseason.com Facebook application allows users to see and buy what a friend wants through their Lastseason.com wishlist, the wishlist shows images of clothes that a Facebook user likes. Friends are able to click on an item and buy it as a gift.

Founder of Lastseason.com Stefano Passantino said:

High street giant Marks and Spencer has invested over £11.5 million on a joint project with retail partner COMS, this opens the door for expansion in Eastern and Central Europe.

M&S have acquired a majority share of COMS (roughly 51%) who they will pay a cash dividend of around £4 million based on business performance and meeting of agreed targets.

The official announcement of nominees and honorees for the 2008 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Awards was made Monday night at an exclusive event hosted by Swarovski and the CFDA Board of Directors at the Rooftop Gardens at Rockefeller Center.

Nominees for the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award:

• Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein
• Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler
• Marc Jacobs

Last week it was announced that this summer will see the launch of the Avril Lavigne fashion line which will be sold in Kohl’s department stores.

As this is a time that everyone and her dog is coming out with a fashion line, it makes perfect sense for the Canadian songstress to jump on the bandwagon so to speak and join the likes of Jessica Simpson, Victoria Beckham, Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez.

Being slim is often unflatteringly considered having a boyish shape, however this doesn’t mean you have to dress like a boy, no way sister. Celebrities who fit in this category include Jessica Biel, Lily Cole and Kate Bosworth, no one could accuse them of not being glamorous, hopefully this article will serve to give you a few pointers when Clothes Shopping.

Fashion Tips for Slim Girls