Nordstrom

A legendary fashion icon, whose designs wrap women of every shape and age, is making an appearance Friday at South Coast Plaza. Diane von Furstenberg will be at Nordstrom from 6 to 8 p.m. for the launch of her new fragrance, Diane, a scent embellished with patchouli, violet and frangipani flower. Her visit at South Coast Plaza will be the first in Orange County, said Nordstrom store manager Robert Evans. "I think it's really exciting that our customers will have the opportunity to meet someone who's a living fashion icon," Evans said.

s counter-part at South Coast Plaza, will contain the “full breadth of what Nordstrom has to offer,” store spokeswoman Kendall Ault said. In addition to having comparable merchandise, services and eateries, the Fashion Island branch will feature brands in women’s shoes and cosmetics new to the Nordstrom chain, she said in an e-mail. The new store is expected to draw thousands of new shoppers to the center and six-figure sales tax revenues. Although an exact figure was not given by store spokespersons, a similar retailer of the same size could generate between $550,000 and $600,000 in annual sales tax, according to Doug Svensson, an economic consultant to the city of Newport Beach.

Ever want to be Cinderella? The Orange County Performing Arts Center -- together with Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza, Georgette Klinger Skincare Salon, Best Transportation and The Center Club -- is holding a contest that will sweep one lucky woman and her guest away for a day of glamour and elegance. The contest is in honor of the Dec. 19-23 performances of American Ballet Theatre's "Cinderella" at the Center. Contestants must stop by Salon Shoes in Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza by Sunday and fill out an entry form.

Two elderly women were robbed at gunpoint early Saturday in a parking lot in front of Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza, police said. The women, both in their mid-70s, were walking through the parking lot on the north side of Nordstrom at about 8 a.m. when a man got out of a car and pointed a sawed-off shut gun at them, police said. The women, one a resident of Newport Beach and the other, an Irvine resident, surrendered their purses to the man. He then got back in the car and drove away.

Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza presented its annual designer fall preview recently, showcasing a collection featuring both American and European designers. The show, in its second year on the California Riviera, had 28 models sashaying down the catwalk, displaying the garments of Michael Kors, Versace, Valentino, Chloe and Celine, to name only a few. Here's a peek at some of the hottest looks for fall. CUTLINES 1. This Nordstrom model is wearing a Michael Kors black jersey harness gown ($1,095)

If you're like me, staggering heels are a challenge, even on a good day. Corona del Mar resident Julie Johnson felt the same way and launched her own shoe line: Newport Beach-based Olivia Childs. The shoe line is what Johnson calls the alternative to those staggering heels. Fashion bloggers and fashion followers love the shoes, Johnson said. "I wanted to make a comfortable shoe for women," she said. She started creating the line about two years ago and officially launched Olivia Childs in January.

1. PUMP UP THE VOLUME The "Nordstrom/Teen People Back to School Fashion Show" will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. today on the sixth level of the north parking structure near Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. Admission is free. A special guest performance by "Dream," an all-girl band, will take place at 7:35 p.m. A meet-and-greet opportunity with the band will follow the fashion show at 8:30 p.m. Reservations are requested. (714)

Customers who visit Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza later this month can come away with shimmering new nails. They can also leave with one degree of separation from Mariah Carey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Renee Zellweger and a number of other Hollywood stars. On June 23, the store is expected to get a visit from Deborah Lippmann, the manicurist and nail expert whose products sell to — and, in some cases, bear the names of — a celebrity clientele. Lippmann, who launched her first line of nail products in 1999, has collaborated with stars to create some of her most popular colors.

Fashion Island welcomed nautical lifestyle and clothing brand Sperry Top-Sider earlier this month at a 2,100-square-foot space between the Nordstrom and Pacific courts. The store is the 75-year-old Massachusetts-based company's first Orange County location and the largest on the West Coast, according to a news release. The brand's full range of men's, women's and children's footwear and apparel will be sold at the store. Signature accessories, such as tote bags and board shorts crafted from recycled sailcloth, will also be featured.

If you're like me, staggering heels are a challenge, even on a good day. Corona del Mar resident Julie Johnson felt the same way and launched her own shoe line: Newport Beach-based Olivia Childs. The shoe line is what Johnson calls the alternative to those staggering heels. Fashion bloggers and fashion followers love the shoes, Johnson said. "I wanted to make a comfortable shoe for women," she said. She started creating the line about two years ago and officially launched Olivia Childs in January.

For some shoppers, Black Friday started six days ago. Daniela Ramirez and her brother waited on the street in front of Metro Pointe's Best Buy since Sunday. They were camped out with sleeping bags and a collapsible awning waiting to buy a TV. It wasn't their first attempt. "We've done it last year.... " the 21-year-old said. "We were No. 16 in line last year, but we didn't even get one because everyone cut in," Ramirez said. Seasoned from that failed trip at a different location, they were taking no chances this year, with about eight buyers already in front of them.

The left side of Ben Nordstrom's body has sure given him issues the past two years around this time. He is now dealing with tendinitis in his left elbow. The pain he can tolerate, more so than the two tears he suffered in his left shoulder last year. Through the latest setback, Nordstrom keeps wrestling for Newport Harbor High. At one point last year, he couldn't compete with a bad shoulder, even if his head said he could. He contemplated snapping his shoulder, so he could put on the singlet right away.

A legendary fashion icon, whose designs wrap women of every shape and age, is making an appearance Friday at South Coast Plaza. Diane von Furstenberg will be at Nordstrom from 6 to 8 p.m. for the launch of her new fragrance, Diane, a scent embellished with patchouli, violet and frangipani flower. Her visit at South Coast Plaza will be the first in Orange County, said Nordstrom store manager Robert Evans. "I think it's really exciting that our customers will have the opportunity to meet someone who's a living fashion icon," Evans said.

The Orange County Museum of Art joined with Nordstrom in presenting the annual designer preview for fall 2011. Collections off the runways of New York, Milan and Paris combined the worlds of art and fashion under the stewardship of fashionable event Chairwomen Kay Bright , Susan Etchandy , Christina Ferguson , Kimberly Prado and Gina Radomski . Guests arrived at Atlantic Aviation's private hangar in Santa Ana for a 7 p.m. cocktail...

Fashion Island welcomed nautical lifestyle and clothing brand Sperry Top-Sider earlier this month at a 2,100-square-foot space between the Nordstrom and Pacific courts. The store is the 75-year-old Massachusetts-based company's first Orange County location and the largest on the West Coast, according to a news release. The brand's full range of men's, women's and children's footwear and apparel will be sold at the store. Signature accessories, such as tote bags and board shorts crafted from recycled sailcloth, will also be featured.

FRIDAY Chanel Spring Trunk Show Neiman Marcus at Fashion Island hosts a Chanel Spring Trunk Show, showing off its 2011 Spring Collection. For more information, call (949) 759-1900. Shabbat Service Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach, holds its Friday night Shabbat Service at 6 p.m. in the Morgan Chapel. The service will be led by Rabbi Mark S. Miller, Rabbi Gersh Zylberman and Cantor Grant and will be followed by an Oneg Shabbat. Guests are welcome.

CORONA DEL MAR — A varsity soccer player in her freshman year at Corona del Mar High School, Kirsten Morehouse can now add paid Nordstrom fashion blogger to her resume. The 14-year-old is no stranger to the Web. She started a fashion blog at 13 with friend Nina Nelson called InBTeen , for young adults who feel in between teen and adult fashions. The pair wrote age-appropriate online style guides on trends. When she started high school this year, she was at Nordstrom with her mother and noticed a board in the dressing room of the juniors department, Brass Plum.

There were screams, shouts, laughs and lines of people anxiously waiting, some wearing flat shoes, but most with high heels. And there was talk of girls falling over for the three brunette sisters who have made it sexy to be curvy and who let it be known that it’s just fine for successful businesswomen to be fabulous and beautiful. Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, the stars of the E! reality television show “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” made an appearance Saturday at the Nordstrom at Fashion Island in Newport Beach for the launch of their new jewelry line, the Kardashian Collection by Virgins Saints & Angels.