from Vogue.uk of today
WITH the couture shows set to begin on July 6, the fashion world is alight with gossip about who will show where, if at all. While Versace and Emanuel Ungaro will continue to shun the expense of full-on couture collections, Giorgio Armani is planning to return to the schedule with his second luxurious Privι collection. The one American couturier, Ralph Rucci, has decided to forfeit his place on the calendar in favour of showing off his latest designs at the same time as his spring/summer 2006 ready-to-wear collection in New York in September, meanwhile. Having skipped Couture Week in January after the recent death of his mother, Rucci has decided that his new Broadway showroom is the best place to unveil this season's new pieces. "He thought it would be beautiful to do a show and welcome people to the new showroom," a spokeswoman told WWD. "He intends to go back to Paris." (June 21 2005, AM)