Gothic

There's a new bright spot in the typically dark, gothic-tinged world of fashion designer Gareth Pugh (pictured above, at far right). The 26-year-old Londoner and Central Saint Martins graduate, who last year said that he had yet to sell a dress, has been awarded the ANDAM (Association Nationale pour le Developpement des Arts de la Mode) Paris International Fashion Award. Founded in 1989 and supported by such corporate sponsors as Galeries Lafayette, Longchamp, and LVMH, the ANDAM award is now the largest international fashion award, with a prize of 150,000 euros (that's $236,312, at current exchange rates). Past winners include Martin Margiela (1989) and Viktor & Rolf (1994). According to WWD, Pugh will use the funds to help finance his first Paris runway show this fall. Pugh has previously shown his collections, in which we've detected an enduring Wizard of Oz flying monkey flair, at London Fashion Week. ANDAM will officially bestow the prize upon Pugh at a ceremony during Paris Fashion Week in October.