Edward Wilkerson, design director for the chic bridge label Lafayette 148 New York, likes to spend a few weeks each year visiting markets across the United States, where he meets store managers, sales reps and customers, and notes local differences among women who like to wear his clothes.

During his first visit to Pittsburgh in 2003, he observed that his typical client here "is sophisticated, but also has an artsier side to her. The way she was put together, it wasn't so matchy-matchy. It was more separate dressing, mixing special pieces together."

Mr. Wilkerson will have his eyes wide open when he returns to Pittsburgh for an appearance at a fall-winter trunk show at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Saks Fifth Avenue, Downtown.

The Art Deco period inspired the line, with rich jewel tones such as crimson, amber and jade against a black backdrop, with silver and gold accents "for extra shimmer," Wilkerson said. "It conjures images of film noir and smoky jazz clubs of the '20s, where artists and musicians came together."

The brand brought in Barbara Gast to supervise design of the collection's 120 knit pieces, which she described as "practical but chic." Handcrafted embellishments sprinkle the line, from the cropped, bead-trimmed "Betsy" jacket that took 35 hours to complete to the "Sandra" sequin skirt that required 241 hours of hand-beading.

Wilkerson has named Lafayette 148's spring 2007 collection "Diana Ross Goes to Portofino." It was inspired by a trip to the Italian coastal town last year, where he said cobblestone streets, clear blue skies and waters and stylish Italian women walking by in high heels "engulfed my imagination."

"And the image of Diana Ross in the '60s came to mind," he continued. "I felt what was missing was a little soul. What I mean by that is rhythm. Watching the women walk by, I started to put it to music. And 'Baby, baby, where did our love go?' came to mind. Sexy, romantic and stylish. My mission was to mix the colors of the clay and the gold and blue buildings that lined the street. So I photographed them and made a print called 'Portofino print.' "

The designer's keen sense of design, drape and color -- and his ability to translate elegant, wearable looks into plus and petite sizes -- have won him many celebrity fans, from Halle Berry and Katie Couric to Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah.

The 10-year-old Lafayette 148 label is growing, and Wilkerson hopes within two years to expand his designs to handbags and shoes. Other possibilities are menswear, jewelry and a fragrance.

A New York native, Wilkerson attended Parsons School of Design and worked for Anne Klein, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan. An avid photographer and world traveler, he is seeking a publisher for "Tribal Knowledge," a photo-driven book it took him seven years to complete.

The Saks event is by invitation, but limited spaces are open to the public. To RSVP, call 412-297-5291.

New "cosmeceuticals"

Although results are widely debated, cosmetics and beauty brands continue to launch high-priced "cosmeceutical" anti-aging skin-care products that combine science, technology and nature in new ways and promise amazing results.

Chanel Beaute is the latest, with Sublimage Essential Regenerating Cream, a $350 addition to the Precision line that is the brand's most expensive skin-care product. It contains Planifolia-PFA, a patent-pending ingredient that is supposed to improve the density, moisture, evenness and radiance of aging skin.

The cashmere-textured cream was made using a process created by Chanel labs that isolates only the active ingredients of plant and botanical extracts. Sublimage is at Saks Fifth Avenue, Downtown.

Ford update

Tom Ford hasn't missed a beat since leaving his high-profile jobs designing womenswear for Gucci and Yves St. Laurent. He's about to unveil his latest in a series of collaborations with beauty giant Estee Lauder.

Ford and Lauder will introduce another limited-edition makeup collection, Amber Nude, in September. It follows Ford's updating last year of legendary Lauder perfume Youth Dew into a sexier version named Youth Dew Amber Nude.

Meanwhile, Ford's latest limited-edition makeup collection with Lauder -- azuree, named for the 1969 Lauder fragrance -- will disappear from retail shelves at the end of August. The company reports strong sales, with a few of the 25 pieces still available locally at Macy's and Saks and online at esteelauder.com. Some pieces that sold out early, such as a body oil spray and body tint, were available last week -- you guessed it -- on eBay.

Click photo for larger image.

Friday and Saturday: Lintons women's store celebrates four years at The Waterfront with appetizers, specials on distressed faux leather bomber jackets and informal modeling of fall fashions.

Aug. 25: "Attired by Nature/Accented by Culture" is the theme of the fall fashion show from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Society for Contemporary Craft, 2100 Smallman St., Strip District. Featuring Pittsburgh-based fiber artist Rae Gold and jewelry by metalsmiths Talya Baharal and Gene Gnida. Admission is $10 or donation of a gently worn women's suit to Dress for Success. Reservations required by Aug. 22 at 412-261-7003, ext. 12, or at administration@contemporary craft.org.