万花筒2008-03-28:Abu Dhabi, the new capital of fashion

Western and eastern styles met in the capital of United Arab Emirates last week, as Abu Dhabi held its first fashion show.

Plunging¹ necklines and audacious skirts, this isn't Milan or New York, but Abu Dhabi, the first Fashion Week ever organized in the region, and designers bold enough to present some pretty risky² models. 

(Alice Teeuwen) "We do not restrict. We let them fly, be free minds and show us what they are. It is a matter of respect for them to decide what they want to showcase. 

In the audience, traditional Islamic garments, the norm for woman’s clothing here. And on the catwalk, miniskirts and revealing lines, a surprising cocktail³ for some of the guests. 

"It’s so amazing here. I’m so proud that we can accept fashion as it is elsewhere in the world, in Paris, London or Milan." 

Breaking taboos⁴ was the price to pay to transform the United Arab Emirates into the cultural hub of the region. But for young fashion designers, the event is all about showing their collections to the world and eventually export them. 

(Rabih Kayrouz) "This gives us the chance to promote our clothing traditions, not just take what other people give us, but also start exporting our own styles and our own culture to others."

(Milia Marou) "Everything is new, embryonic⁵, and the results will probably only be seen in a few years' time. For now, it‘s a blank canvas. Everything remains⁶ to be done." 

A blank canvas with a big financial potential. It’s hoped Abu Dhabi will join the ranks of the top fashion capitals in the world.

1 plunging   

adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

3 cocktail   

n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物

参考例句：

• We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
• At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

4 taboos   

禁忌( taboo的名词复数 )； 忌讳； 戒律； 禁忌的事物（或行为）

参考例句：

• She was unhorsed by fences, laws and alien taboos. 她被藩蓠、法律及外来的戒律赶下了马。
• His mind was charged with taboos. 他头脑里忌讳很多。

5 embryonic   

adj.胚胎的

参考例句：

• It is still in an embryonic stage.它还处于萌芽阶段。
• The plan,as yet,only exists in embryonic form.这个计划迄今为止还只是在酝酿之中。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。