Style briefs

Go on with the show

NEW YORK - Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley gave birth to her second daughter Jan. 27, two weeks before previewing her fall 2005 collection at New York Fashion Week. Rowley plans to go on with the show.

Rowley - who, according to a statement, rushed to finish her line in anticipation of Gigi Clementine Powers' arrival - will go back to her studio after a brief rest.

Gigi weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces, and both mother and baby are doing fine, Rowley's office reported.

The father is writer William Powers.

Belly basics

NEW YORK (AP) - Mothers-to-be want the same thing out of their clothes as other women - they want to look good and feel better.

Maternity apparel maker Belly Basics offers tips on shopping in style for the next nine months and beyond:

-Buy seasonless separates that are interchangeable and can be worn around the house and dressed up with a simple accessory when necessary.

-Look for fabrics with stretch and those with simple cuts such as pull-on or side-zip pieces.

-Never underestimate the power of a great cashmere poncho, jeweled brooch or silk scarf to boost your look and spirit.

-Don't buy according to trimester; this will add to the cost of your overall maternity wardrobe.

-Avoid oversized garments or men's shirts; they're not the camouflage you think they are. Look for more fitted pieces.

-Buy clothes with two years of wear in mind. You may only "show" for six months but weight gained during pregnancy can take several months to come off after the baby's birth.

On the Net: http://www.bellybasics.com

Red dress - in a bottle

NEW YORK (AP) - The red dress is the key symbol of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women program, which aims to raise money to support cardiovascular disease research and education.

But what if red's not your color? Maybe it could be your scent.

Perfumery house Givaudan created Red Dress the Fragrance, a floral musk that mixes mandarin, freesia and bergamot as top notes, rose, jasmine and linden blossom at its heart, and musk, iris and sandalwood as dry-down notes.

"The strong but feminine optimism of the scent perfectly embodies the American Heart Association's dedication to helping women take action against cardiovascular disease," explains Ray Piergiorgi, chief operating officer of Five Star Fragrances, the company responsible for bringing the scent to market.

The full 100 percent of net proceeds from the perfume will go to the Go Red for Women campaign. It's available exclusively at Perfumania stores and the retailer's Web site.