House of Fraser has moved to a profit in its last fiscal year thanks to double-digit online sales growth but the UK department store retailer has warned trade remains volatile.

Swedish fashion giant Hennes & Maurtiz (H&M) has posted another sales increase in March, marking two years of consecutive growth.

The US footwear industry is calling on the government to ensure barriers to production are lowered, both at home and abroad, in order to protect the industry, as the Administration conducts its review of regulations that affect domestic manufacturing.

The development of new raw materials, alternative production methods to increase clothing longevity, and new processes are among the innovations from 12 start-ups chosen under a new global initiative aimed at helping brands and manufacturers find more innovative and sustainable ways of producing fashion.

Garden events

STAFF REPORT

Today

Growing Citrus: From gourmet Meyer lemons to clementines, class attendees will learn how to get bountiful crops of juicy citrus fruit from Armstrong’s experts. 8 a.m. at all Armstrong Garden Centers. armstronggarden.com

Sherman Library & Gardens Volunteer Association’s Private Gardens Tour: Tour the gardens of six homes in Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach and Newport Coast. Ticket includes a light lunch served at Sherman Gardens. Featuring artists, musicians and specialty boutique. Proceeds will help support the redesign and landscaping of the Sherman Gardens frontage on Pacific Coast Highway. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. $50 members; $60 non-members. 949-673-2261 or slgardens.org

Today-Sunday

California Native Plant Week: Featuring a variety of promotions. Tree of Life Nursery, 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. californianativeplants.com

Thursday-April 30

Back To Natives Restoration Native Plant Sale: Part of Southern California Spring Garden Show. Native plants help conserve water, eliminate the need for pesticides and fertilizers, and provide habitat for butterflies and birds. Plant sales will raise funds for Back to Natives’ environmental education and habitat restoration programs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. April 27-28, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. April 29, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. April 30. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 949-509-4787 or backtonatives.org

Southern California Spring Garden Show Presents At Home in the Garden: Notable landscape designers have partnered with some South Coast Plaza stores to create Southern California lifestyle displays that will provide inspiration for your own home and garden. Don’t miss the incredible 21-foot-high floral centerpiece that celebrates South Coast Plaza’s 50th Anniversary. Experience the best of Southern California living, decorating and entertaining with home furnishing and décor boutiques and visit a unique collection of gardening vendors. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. April 27-28, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. April 29, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. April 30. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. southcoastplaza.com

April 29-30

The Sweet Pea Show & Contest: Dozens of locally grown cut stem varieties will be on display. Customers are invited to bring in their own cut stems. Please bring in your entry, with the variety name if known, before 11 a.m. on Saturday, at which time judging will take place. There will be prizes for the three best entries. Stop by and breathe in the intoxicating sweet pea fragrance. 9-11 a.m. Saturday. Flowers will be on display until 5 p.m. Sunday. Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar. 949-640-5800

May 2

Orange County Fuchsia Society: Featuring a cultural program on fuchsias and a plant table with fuchsias for sale. Refreshments will be served. 7:30-9 p.m. every first Tuesday of the month except August. Garden Grove Friends Church, 12211 Magnolia St. $20 a year; first two visits are free. 714-717-4829, ocfuchsiaociety.com

May 3

Doug Frost Begonia Society: Refreshments are served, and plants are available for purchase. 7-9 p.m. every first Wednesday of the month. Fernwood Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 10550 Western Ave., Stanton. 714-816-0717, bboopfans@aol.com

May 4

The Saddleback Valley Bromeliad Society: Meetings include a member plant show & tell, guest speaker presentation, bromeliad raffle & auction, and supplies for sale. 7 p.m. every first Thursday of the month. Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. 949-351-4770, bsi.org/webpages/saddleback.html

May 5

Laguna Beach Garden Club Gate & Garden Tour: Walking tour will feature nine gardens in central Laguna Beach, including a half-acre of tropical grounds. There will be Mexican fare, margaritas, and agave plants for sale, as well as free refreshments, craft displays, plein air painters and a raffle. This is the club’s major fundraiser for scholarships, school gardens, and community projects. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $45 tickets in advance at lagunabeachgardenclub.org or Laguna Beach Books, Laguna Drug, Laguna Nursery, Tides Inn and Dana Point Nursery. $50 tickets day of tour at the tour’s starting point: Arabella Laguna, 506 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

May 9

Fullerton Garden Club: Guest speakers discuss gardening. Fundraisers for Fullerton Arboretum. New members always welcome. 9 a.m.-noon every second Tuesday of the month, September to April. Fullerton Arboretum, Pavilion Classroom, 1900 N. Associated Road. 714-392-3132. fullertongardenclub.com

May 10

California Organic Gardening Club: The club promotes organic methods of growing, fertilizing and pest control. It also has a plant and seed exchange. 7-9 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month. Women’s Civic Club of Garden Grove, 9501 Chapman Ave. Free. 714-798-5010

Cool Growing Orchid Society: A fun, educational night with refreshments. 7-9 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month. Garden Grove Masonic Lodge, 11270 Acacia Parkway. Free for first-time guests. coolgrowingorchidsociety.com

May 11

American Begonia Society, Orange County branch: The meeting features a speaker each month giving tips on growing begonias and companion plants. Visitors welcome. Refreshments will be served. 6:30-8:30 p.m. every second Thursday of the month except July, August and December. Fullerton Community Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Ave. begonias.org

Del Norte Garden Club: Promotes gardening, floral design, civic beautification and environmental responsibility. Field trips, speakers and idea exchange. 9:30 a.m.-noon every second Thursday of the month except July, August and December. Placentia United Methodist Church, 2050 N. Valencia Ave. californiagardenclubs.com

May 13

Open Garden Day: Experience the inviting neighborhoods of West Floral Park and Jack Fisher Park in North Santa Ana. You are invited to stroll through our variety of gardens throughout the day. Tranquil spaces, unique planting ideas and inspiring yard designs are open for your viewing. This one day community event offers an array of activities: lovely gardens to tour, garden expert talks & demonstrations, vintage cars to peruse, a street full of vendors selling unique garden treasures, and gourmet food trucks with plenty of tasty treats. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. opengardenday.com

Orange County Geranium Society: Usually features a program on geraniums, plus tables with free cuttings and plant raffles. Refreshments served. 10 a.m. every second Saturday of the month, January-October. Anaheim United Methodist Church, 1000 S. State College Blvd. Free. orangecountygeraniumsociety.com

Plant sharing at the Coastkeeper Garden: Share all kinds of garden-related items, including plants, seeds, pots, fruits, vegetables and anything another plant lover can use, eat or enjoy. The group offers free advice on gardening issues. Arrive at 9 a.m. for setup; plant sharing begins promptly at 10 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. Coastkeeper Garden, 8520 E. Santiago Canyon Road, Orange. facebook.com/coastkeepergarden

Second Saturdays: Stewardship projects include trail maintenance, invasive plant removal and conservation. Bring gloves and tools (labeled), a hat, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes. Other tools, water and light refreshments provided. 9 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. Turtle Rock Nature Center, 1 Sunnyhill, Irvine. 949-724-6738

May 14

Children’s garden workshop series: The Great Park Farm + Food Lab is hosting a series of workshops for children. 9-11 a.m. every second Sunday of the month. Orange County Great Park farmers market, 6950 Marine Way, Irvine. ocgp.org

Southern California Orchid Species Society: Speakers will cover orchid topics. Refreshments are served. 2 p.m. every second Sunday of the month. Kraemer Memorial Park, 201 N. Bradford, Community Building, Room 10, Placentia. $5; free for visitors. socalorchidspecies.com

May 16

Newport Harbor Orchid Society: 7-10 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month. Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. Free. 949-759-1464. nhos.org

The Year Around Garden Club: Presenting a free talk by Marcia La Cour with “Let’s Talk Avocados!” A delightful, informal and informative talk about avocados. Topics can range from “myths, to growing tips to local history.” Bring your questions. Ask about cooking and grafting and growing from seed. What does “avocado” mean? 10 a.m.-noon. Liberty Community Plaza, 14181 Telegraph Road, Whittier. 562 697-0636. nancyjbird@verizon.net

May 17

Orange County Orchid Society: Educational talks on hundreds of varieties of orchid topics. Learn to care for and identify plants. Raffle, refreshments and fun. 7 p.m. every third Wednesday. Yorba Linda Public Library, 18181 Imperial Highway. Free to visitors. ocos.net

May 18

California Rare Fruit Growers, Orange County chapter: The group offers presentations, fruit tastings, group purchases, scion exchange, field trips and garden tours. The chapter is dedicated to conducting research on hardiness, propagation and growing requirements of rare fruits in California conditions. 7:30 p.m. every third Thursday except July. OC Fair & Event Center, Silo Building, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. ocfruit.com

Send events to: maalcala@scng.com

Garden events

STAFF REPORT

Thursday-Sunday

Back To Natives Restoration Native Plant Sale: Part of Southern California Spring Garden Show. Native plants help conserve water, eliminate the need for pesticides and fertilizers, and provide habitat for butterflies and birds. Plant sales will raise funds for Back to Natives’ environmental education and habitat restoration programs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. April 27-28, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. April 29, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. April 30. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 949-509-4787 or backtonatives.org

Southern California Spring Garden Show Presents At Home in the Garden: Notable landscape designers have partnered with some South Coast Plaza stores to create Southern California lifestyle displays that will provide inspiration for your own home and garden. Don’t miss the incredible 21-foot-high floral centerpiece that celebrates South Coast Plaza’s 50th Anniversary. Experience the best of Southern California living, decorating and entertaining with home furnishing and décor boutiques and visit a unique collection of gardening vendors. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. April 27-28, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. April 29, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. April 30. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. southcoastplaza.com

Saturday-Sunday

The Sweet Pea Show & Contest: Dozens of locally grown cut stem varieties will be on display. Customers are invited to bring in their own cut stems. Please bring in your entry, with the variety name if known, before 11 a.m. on Saturday, at which time judging will take place. There will be prizes for the three best entries. Stop by and breathe in the intoxicating sweet pea fragrance. 9-11 a.m. Saturday. Flowers will be on display until 5 p.m. Sunday. Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar. 949-640-5800

Tuesday

Orange County Fuchsia Society: Featuring a cultural program on fuchsias and a plant table with fuchsias for sale. Refreshments will be served. 7:30-9 p.m. every first Tuesday of the month except August. Garden Grove Friends Church, 12211 Magnolia St. $20 a year; first two visits are free. 714-717-4829, ocfuchsiaociety.com

May 3

Doug Frost Begonia Society: Refreshments are served, and plants are available for purchase. 7-9 p.m. every first Wednesday of the month. Fernwood Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 10550 Western Ave., Stanton. 714-816-0717, bboopfans@aol.com

May 4

The Saddleback Valley Bromeliad Society: Meetings include a member plant show & tell, guest speaker presentation, bromeliad raffle & auction, and supplies for sale. 7 p.m. every first Thursday of the month. Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. 949-351-4770, bsi.org/webpages/saddleback.html

May 5

Laguna Beach Garden Club Gate & Garden Tour: Walking tour will feature nine gardens in central Laguna Beach, including a half-acre of tropical grounds. There will be Mexican fare, margaritas, and agave plants for sale, as well as free refreshments, craft displays, plein air painters and a raffle. This is the club’s major fundraiser for scholarships, school gardens, and community projects. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $45 tickets in advance at lagunabeachgardenclub.org or Laguna Beach Books, Laguna Drug, Laguna Nursery, Tides Inn and Dana Point Nursery. $50 tickets day of tour at the tour’s starting point: Arabella Laguna, 506 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

May 9

Fullerton Garden Club: Guest speakers discuss gardening. Fundraisers for Fullerton Arboretum. New members always welcome. 9 a.m.-noon every second Tuesday of the month, September to April. Fullerton Arboretum, Pavilion Classroom, 1900 N. Associated Road. 714-392-3132. fullertongardenclub.com

May 10

California Organic Gardening Club: The club promotes organic methods of growing, fertilizing and pest control. It also has a plant and seed exchange. 7-9 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month. Women’s Civic Club of Garden Grove, 9501 Chapman Ave. Free. 714-798-5010

Cool Growing Orchid Society: A fun, educational night with refreshments. 7-9 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month. Garden Grove Masonic Lodge, 11270 Acacia Parkway. Free for first-time guests. coolgrowingorchidsociety.com

May 11

American Begonia Society, Orange County branch: The meeting features a speaker each month giving tips on growing begonias and companion plants. Visitors welcome. Refreshments will be served. 6:30-8:30 p.m. every second Thursday of the month except July, August and December. Fullerton Community Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Ave. begonias.org

Del Norte Garden Club: Promotes gardening, floral design, civic beautification and environmental responsibility. Field trips, speakers and idea exchange. 9:30 a.m.-noon every second Thursday of the month except July, August and December. Placentia United Methodist Church, 2050 N. Valencia Ave. californiagardenclubs.com

May 13

Open Garden Day: Experience the inviting neighborhoods of West Floral Park and Jack Fisher Park in North Santa Ana. You are invited to stroll through our variety of gardens throughout the day. Tranquil spaces, unique planting ideas and inspiring yard designs are open for your viewing. This one day community event offers an array of activities: lovely gardens to tour, garden expert talks & demonstrations, vintage cars to peruse, a street full of vendors selling unique garden treasures, and gourmet food trucks with plenty of tasty treats. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. opengardenday.com

Orange County Geranium Society: Usually features a program on geraniums, plus tables with free cuttings and plant raffles. Refreshments served. 10 a.m. every second Saturday of the month, January-October. Anaheim United Methodist Church, 1000 S. State College Blvd. Free. orangecountygeraniumsociety.com

Plant sharing at the Coastkeeper Garden: Share all kinds of garden-related items, including plants, seeds, pots, fruits, vegetables and anything another plant lover can use, eat or enjoy. The group offers free advice on gardening issues. Arrive at 9 a.m. for setup; plant sharing begins promptly at 10 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. Coastkeeper Garden, 8520 E. Santiago Canyon Road, Orange. facebook.com/coastkeepergarden

Second Saturdays: Stewardship projects include trail maintenance, invasive plant removal and conservation. Bring gloves and tools (labeled), a hat, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes. Other tools, water and light refreshments provided. 9 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. Turtle Rock Nature Center, 1 Sunnyhill, Irvine. 949-724-6738

May 14

Children’s garden workshop series: The Great Park Farm + Food Lab is hosting a series of workshops for children. 9-11 a.m. every second Sunday of the month. Orange County Great Park farmers market, 6950 Marine Way, Irvine. ocgp.org

Southern California Orchid Species Society: Speakers will cover orchid topics. Refreshments are served. 2 p.m. every second Sunday of the month. Kraemer Memorial Park, 201 N. Bradford, Community Building, Room 10, Placentia. $5; free for visitors. socalorchidspecies.com

May 16

Newport Harbor Orchid Society: 7-10 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month. Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. Free. 949-759-1464. nhos.org

The Year Around Garden Club: Presenting a free talk by Marcia La Cour with “Let’s Talk Avocados!” A delightful, informal and informative talk about avocados. Topics can range from “myths, to growing tips to local history.” Bring your questions. Ask about cooking and grafting and growing from seed. What does “avocado” mean? 10 a.m.-noon. Liberty Community Plaza, 14181 Telegraph Road, Whittier. 562 697-0636. nancyjbird@verizon.net

May 17

Orange County Orchid Society: Educational talks on hundreds of varieties of orchid topics. Learn to care for and identify plants. Raffle, refreshments and fun. 7 p.m. every third Wednesday. Yorba Linda Public Library, 18181 Imperial Highway. Free to visitors. ocos.net

May 18

California Rare Fruit Growers, Orange County chapter: The group offers presentations, fruit tastings, group purchases, scion exchange, field trips and garden tours. The chapter is dedicated to conducting research on hardiness, propagation and growing requirements of rare fruits in California conditions. 7:30 p.m. every third Thursday except July. OC Fair & Event Center, Silo Building, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. ocfruit.com

Jeff Sink said the 2017-18 season will be his final season coaching Brea Olinda girls basketball.

Sink, 66, has coached Brea’s Ladycats to 10 CIF-Southern Section championships and five state titles. The 2017-18 season will be his 22nd coaching Brea’s girls. The 22 years is spread over two stints; he coached the school’s boys basketball team for two years earlier this decade.

Sink confirmed his decision by email today.

His career record with the Ladycats is 579-99. Brea’s girls basketball program had been successful under coaches Mark Trakh and later, and briefly, John Hattrup. That success continued with Sink who coached in Alaska before going to Brea Olinda High in 1994.

Brea’s most-recent state title was in the 2015-16 season. The Ladycats’ most-recent CIF-SS championship was in the 2009-10 season. Sink coached Brea to five consecutive CIF-SS titles from the 1994-95 through 1998-99 seasons.

He is a history teacher at Brea Olinda. Sink also is an avid photographer and traveler, with Africa being a preferred destination.

Brea’s 10 overall state championships is the most in CIF girls basketball history.

Charlie Zhang was one of 17 million urban youth sent to work in the countryside during China’s Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 70s, digging trenches and seeding soil in rice paddies.

What helped him through the forced labor was his passion for music. He played his clarinet in the fields at night for hours despite cold winds and mosquitoes, he said.

Several decades later, Zhang is on a mission to make sure Orange County children who share that same passion for music get a fair chance regardless of their upbringing. The 61-year-old Laguna Niguel millionaire, known for starting Pick Up Stix restaurants, recently founded OC Music and Dance, a nonprofit performing arts school in Irvine that offers music and dance training for children, regardless of their skill levels.

“When I was young, I didn’t have those opportunities in China,” Zhang said Monday, April 17, as he prepared for the school’s grand opening Saturday. “I spent energy and time seeking a career, but music in my blood has never dropped out. … It’s time to do something for our young generation, hand the baton to them.”

Zhang, a Pacific Symphony board member, bought an office building along MacArthur Boulevard near Red Hill Avenue in March 2016 for $8.2 million to house the Orange County orchestra’s headquarters. Because the 35,500-square-foot building was too big just for Pacific Symphony, he decided to start an arts school. The building renovation cost $2.5 million, Zhang said.

He tapped his friend and fellow Pacific Symphony board member Doug Freeman to help run the new school.

“I didn’t know he was approaching me; we had a nice quiet lunch and before lunch was over, my retirement was over,” said Freeman, a retired tax attorney who founded National Philanthropy Day, laughing. “I would never have abandoned my dream of retirement were it not for Charlie Zhang’s determination to do this right for our children. I had to be part of that.”

Zhang and Freeman offered their own money to establish the school’s endowment for scholarships.

“We wanted the children of Orange County to have access to the best facilities, the best teachers irrespective of their ability to pay for it,” Freeman said. “This place was built with Charlie’s dream to make the arts accessible. It’s my responsibility to make sure it’s not only accessible it’s sustainable.”

Zhang, who also runs a real estate and development company, said he’s spent 70 percent to 80 percent of his time on opening OC Music and Dance during the past year. He’s been involved in everything from the interior design to cleaning a water fountain every week.

He said he hopes the school will become a model for nonprofit arts schools around the country.

“We are not here to make money” Zhang said. “We are here to support the young generation, support the community grow music, art, dance. … It’s just a dream coming true.”

IRVINE Orange County has its fair share of notable professional performing arts affiliations, proving that the creative community is alive and well. At least, that’s what representatives from Orange County Music and Dance are counting on.

The new performing arts school in Irvine, founded by Pick Up Stix creator and philanthropist Charlie Zhang, is positioned to be the only nonprofit community performing arts school of its kind in Orange County. It will rely on partnerships with existing performing arts organizations to provide the quality arts education it promotes, Zhang said.

“There is already an enormous talent in musical arts and dance instruction, so there is no logic in trying to do that again,” said Doug Freeman, CEO and executive chairman of Orange County Music and Dance (OCMD). “What we’re doing is bringing them together under one roof. I hope we can demonstrate how powerful synergism is.”

On Saturday, April 22, a grand opening will be held at the $10.7 million state-of-the art facility from 1 to 5 p.m. at 17620 Fitch Ave., Suite 160. The school has eight private music rooms, two large dance floors, a recording studio and a black box theater with a 21-foot LED screen — not to mention a fully-functioning Monkey Business café.

Programs offered by OCMD include private instruction in music and voice as well as classes in musical theater, acting, dance, exercise and public speaking.

The school aims to be a resource to Orange County arts organizations that are looking to expand their reach. So far, the list of partnering organizations includes Arts Orange County, the Pacific Symphony, the Orange County School of the Arts, The Wooden Floor, Southern California Children’s Chorus and 11 others, Freeman said.

Zhang, who came to the United States following his acceptance to a Pasadena music conservatory, said he has always been interested in music and believes it contributes greatly to a child’s education. With OCMD, he said he plans to give back to the creative community that first inspired him, and he hopes to use his entrepreneurial success with Pick Up Stix and other business efforts to support kids’ artistic pursuits and prevent the kind of financial obstacles he experienced in his early 20’s.

The idea for OCMD has been brewing for a number of years, Freeman said, but construction on the Irvine facility officially began in last year.The school opened in January.

This came as welcome news to many local arts organizations.

The Southern California Children’s Chorus, for example, has rented space from Orange Coast College for 15 years. But now director Lori Loftus and her husband John said they look forward to moving rehearsals to OCMD.

“We have dreamed of this sort of facility to exist,” John Loftus said. “For us, this is way more than re-locating. It’s a partnership of immense potential because it will allow our program to impact so many more lives.”

For other organizations like The Wooden Floor, a youth development program that supports the underserved community in Santa Ana through dance instruction and family services, the partnership with OCMD will work in a different way.

“In the future, we may work something out where a guest artist at the Wooden Floor teaches a master class at Orange County Music and Dance, or I can recommend my faculty to teach classes there,” said Dawn Reese, CEO and executive director of The Wooden Floor. “The way (OCMD) is set up, competition is not the goal. They are a convener that brings more focus to all of the great arts in the community.”

Additionally, the Pacific Symphony, which now shares office space with OCMD, will present an early childhood music program for newborns to age 6. This Pacific Symphony pilot program fulfills an overarching mission to create different centers of activity where the Pacific Symphony can engage with the community.

“We are exploring a number of possibilities as we embark on this partnership,” said Susan Kotses, vice president of education and community engagement for Pacific Symphony. “There are talks of chamber music for adults and children, music appreciation classes and a concert series in the black box. Mainly, we want to use our expertise and utilize our musicians to create these hubs of learning and work with new people in new places.”

Another recently confirmed development in OCMD’s offerings is the Santa Ana Pops Academy, a week-long course offered to students in the Santa Ana School District that combines guitar, voice and hip-hop dance. The academy will take place over the summer and culminate in a fully produced YouTube video for OCMD’s online channel.

At the helm of this YouTube channel is celebrity YouTube artist Alex Boyé, who has over 300 million views on YouTube. Boyé said he is happy to be a part of OCMD’s endeavor because he remembers how difficult it was to get his start in the recording business.

“The YouTube avenue is huge right now and I can’t wait to put some of this talent in front of the channel,” he said. “If I had these resources when I was younger I would’ve been dangerous. This is the way of the future.”

In addition to providing access to an extensive roster of internationally and nationally renowned instructors, OCMD also has plans to build a $5 million scholarship fund to help low-income families pay for classes.

“I hope to give Orange County kids the best teachers in the world and economics can’t get in the way of their ability,” Freeman said. “If we take away the impediments, then the magic will happen.”

Visitors at Saturday’s open house can expect to meet instructors and artistic partners as well as enjoy a showcase of performances by the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, American Idol contestants, the Southern California Children’s Chorus, the hearing impaired dance team of Amnon and Jill Damti and the students of Acting Academy for Kids.

For his second year of bridal, Christian Siriano introduced a curated mix of whimsy and modernity. After a year of figuring out his clients’ needs and interests, he’s discovered they’re quite vast. For the traditionalist, there were plenty of full-skirted gowns that were light in weight yet heavy on romance. “Brides are still coming back to these dresses season after season because they have to be classic, they have to be timeless in their own way,” the designer said during a private walk-through at his showroom. For the modern minimalist, he had sleek jumpsuits along with separates that could be mixed-and-matched to transition from the ceremony to reception.
In addition to a beaded collar piece that added an elegant touch to any gown, interchangeable skirts and skirt overlays provided that playful transitional element. For example, an overlay could be removed to reveal a tulle skirt underneath or a party dress. “They want to have fun,” he continued. “I’ve noticed they get one night and they want to have costume changes. It’s so interesting the requests we get.” It’s also something that will give retailers a point of difference in their offering — after a year exclusive with Kleinfeld, Siriano is opening

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