What Happened? 2014 Style News

Even with the world facing challenges in 2014 there was still time for beauty to lift the spirit.

Events

The world renowned Fall/Winter Fashion Weeks rolled into New York with everyone from Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren to Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. London Fashion Week had Tom Ford and Pam Hogg showing how it's done while Paris wasn't going to be outdone with Givenchy and more.

Later in the year New York kicked off the Spring/Summer Fashion Week with Rebecca Minkoff and Diane von Furstenburg to Derek Lam and Hugo Boss. London Fashion Week saw Mulberry, Topshop Unique and Marchesa show their wares while Paris took to the stage with Jean Paul Gaultier and Celine among others.

Elsewhere it was the sight of gorgeous amazonian beauties strutting the catwalk at the 2014 Victoria's Secret show that had heads turning in London for the first time. Still in Britain the British Fashion Awards celebrated British Beauties from designers to models.

Designers

Renowned designers dominated the fashion news with Jean Paul Gaultier ending his ready-to-rear line in a blaze of glory and John Galliano returning to the fashion world joining Maison Martin Margiela after his shameful exit in 2011 from Dior.

While some designers redefined their career's others left the fashion world with their legacy. The fashion world lost an icon when Oscar de la Renta passed away in October and in a tragic turn of events L'Wren Scott committed suicide in March.

Celebrities

What would the fashion world be without the rich and more importantly famous dressed to kill on the red carpet from the American Music Awards to the Emmys and the Billboard awards.

While some celebrities made news for their choice of attire others joined brands lending their considerable presence with Jennifer Lawrence with Dior to Julie Roberts and Givenchy campaigns even Maddona appeared in a Versace campaign.

Money, who's in control?

Money kept it's momentum even with government interventions, policies and preventative measures.

The people in charge

Russia's actions over Crimea have landed it in hot water with the international community who have only one hand to play... sanctions. According to the US State Department Russia was hit with "Real Economic Pain" over it's handling of Crimea. The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) contacted investments firms with exposure to Russia to make sure they were properly managing risk. Initial sanctions were met with defiance with some under sanction threatening to take their business elsewhere.

The Federal Reserves chairman, Janet Yellen, hinted at raising rates shaking markets around the world.

The Justice Department reached a $1 billion settlement with Toyota over it's response to consumer concerns.

Taiwan students took over Taiwan's legislature over a trade deal with China which they fear gives mainland too much influence.

Retail Therapy

Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba, has confirmed it will list in the United States aiming to rise $10billion.

Labelux, the owners of Jimmy Choo, said it may float the business for £1billion but is still in talks with investments banks.

An investigation into the recent suicide of fashion designer L'Wren Scott reveals her company was in debt of $6.5million.

Currencies

Mt.Gox managed to find 200,000 bitcoins valued at $116million in an old format digital wallet.

Bitcoin's have been used to purchase a $500,000 Villa in Bali in what is considered the largest Bitcoin purchase ever.

A new £1 coin was introduced to prevent counterfeiting and is set to be introduced in 2017.

General

Unskilled and destitute workers have become hiring targets for the decommissioning of the Fukushima nuclear plant as finding skilled labour becomes more difficult.

BP bids $41.6 million to return to drilling in the gulf after it's disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.