When you think about German clothing, you probably think about lederhosen (those traditional German dark green or black shorts that are held up by shoulder straps and worn with a white embroidered shirt) or dirndl, (the female version of the lederhosen but with a skirt instead of shorts). But in modern day Germany, things have changed a lot. No longer will you see traditional German clothing or German military uniforms, instead you'll see German high fashion in fashion shows all over Europe and beautifully cut casual sportswear worn by most Germans in everyday life. Used to a history that was militarized and restrictive, Germans have now escaped from this prison and want to feel relaxed and comfortable, while still looking elegant and beautifully put together.

Top German designers like Toni Dress, Hagro and Jobis are famous for their casual, yet elegant clothes. For winter 2008, Jobis is showcasing cream, figure-hugging stretch pants, lots of tight turtleneck sweaters, down coats in muted colors and superbly tailored short jackets. Hagro is offering floral skirts and long-flowing dresses with a country feel in navy blues and beiges. Toni Dress, known for its impeccably cut trousers and matching jackets, has yet another fabulous collection of designer jackets and pants. All beautiful quality, but all able to be worn comfortably.

Of course, Germany is also known for its most famous designer, Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld's career has been in the spotlight for more than 50 years. Originally, he was famous for the coats he designed, but more frequently now, he's known for his various "little black dress" designs. Lagerfeld also designs jeans and t-shirts (perfectly cut, of course), and his fitted t-shirts are now some of the most popular German fashion items.

Finally, I can't talk about German fashion without mentioning the German avant-garde designers. Known for their flamboyant, unusual designs with wild colors and a crazy, almost costume-like look, they are also often the muse for more conservative designs that are considered more wearable.

When it comes to fashion, Germany pretty much has it all. From the catwalks of Berlin and Munich to the normal everyday German on the street, German fashion has come a long way since the days of lederhosen and dirndl.

If you really need to get away from it all in December and appliquéd Santa or reindeer sweaters don't satisfy your sense of style, why not plan a trip to a fashion show in Fiji? The first annual Fiji Fashion Week will be held at the fabulous Renaissance Fiji Beach Resort and Spa on Denarau Island in Nadi, Fiji, December 3-7. It will showcase Autumn/Winter 2009 fashions for the southern hemisphere — yeah, there's a whole half of the world that's not on the same schedule as Paris — through a two-day workshop for emerging designers, two nights of fashion shows and an exhibition day showcasing designs from both emerging and established Fiji brands and designers.

Designers featured at Fiji Fashion Week Winter '09 include Manafidji, Robert Kennedy, Wai Tui, Uprising Beach Resortwear, Value City, Hupfield Hoerder, Samu Cabe, Tali by Rajan Sami, Courtney Nicole & Arieta Tora, Ellie Nusbaum, Brittany Byrne, Craig Marlow, Carlos Semisi & William Sanday and Lisa Lee. The local fashion sensibility is definitely tropical, but surprisingly chic — no Hawaiian shirts or Bermuda shorts in sight. And lest you be in doubt about whether Fiji is really a hotbed of fashion or not, celebrities that have visited there recently include Britney Spears, Tori Spelling, Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Demi Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, John Travolta and Mel Gibson.

The really interesting part of Fiji Fashion Week, though, is the attention given to further development of fashion talent through the workshops. Designers will be on hand to discuss all aspects of putting together a line, from designing a collection to marketing it to maximizing press coverage and sales from the perspective of fashion editors and stylists. Fashion weeks aren't usually as upfront about the commercial side of the business — I like to call them the world's most glamorous tradeshows — but in Fiji there's even a meet-and-greet exhibition between designers and buyers. Think about it, fashion designer wannabes. You could stand out there as a big fish in a small pond and live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. It sure beats Fashion Week Rochester, anyway!