And although crossing the Atlantic is a matter of course as this journalist follows the fashion season, the feeling of being out of reach for 10 hours by the whole world and vice-versa feels ‘unnatural.’

With email, mobile phones and text messaging, it is really hard to imagine being ‘out of touch’ for 10 hours especially if you work for an Internet company wherein communication is second nature.

So, although to some people, 10 hours of being ‘unreachable’ is bliss, it is a scary 10-hour period for me simply because something might come up while I am incommunicado.

The fashion season is the main artery of FashionWindows. Although we cover the retail industry, and of course the fashion industry extensively, the fashion season is the one that takes a lot of planning and logistically speaking, the one that presents a lot of challenges.

So, while in Paris waiting for my flight to Milan, I had to check my email and the news.

J.Lindeberg, who is showing its menswear collection in Milan, announced that it is opening up a showroom in Amsterdam in January 2006 to establish distribution in Benelux and announces Ruud Mors to be Country Manager.

U.S. military personnel stationed at Wiesbaden Army Air Field were paid a surprise visit by leading American Lifestyle Designer Kathy Ireland which included a tour of the base hospital and visits with the wounded men and women in the armed services.

Nordstrom announced the ‘Designer Collections’ for its website (www.nordstrom.com) that will launch on February 6th featuring ten signature boutiques including Giorgio Armani, Blumarine, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Missoni, Ralph Lauren and Roberto Cavalli.

The new site is a revolutionary hybrid of illustration, animation and fashion photography designed as an avenue with individual designer shops. Illustrated by artist Ruben Toledo, the site uses Flash technology to provide an unparalleled online designer shopping experience.