Fashion Update

REI KAWAKUBO of Comme des Garons will launch her first perfume to coincide with the ready-to-wear shows in Paris next October. Will it come wrapped in a tattered shroud, like her clothes? According to the typically minimal press release, the perfume will be one that 'works like a medicine, behaves like a drug'. Sounds like heady stuff.

GRETA GARBO may have been famously reclusive, but her wardrobe is now set for exposure. In America, Gray Reisfield, Garbo's niece, is in talks with Curtis Management, a company specialising in representing deceased celebrities. The plan is to launch GG, a glamorous line of clothing, jewellery and even a perfume, all inspired by Garbo. Meanwhile, it seems another great style icon, Marlene Dietrich, will not be left alone. Her daughter's book is soon to be made into a film, with talk that it will be directed by Louis Malle.

STILL on the scent, Madonna's move into the world of perfume continues apace. She is rumoured to have had talks with New York's favourite creative director, Fabien Baron, who designs Harper's Bazaar. He has also designed fragrance flacons in his time and the word is that his latest project is for Ms Ciccone. One can only wonder what the man who dreamt up the wipe-clean metal cover of Madonna's Sex book thinks her perfume bottle should look like.

Whatever, it cannot be as phallic as Donna Karan's. The designer has always denied that the bottle, designed by her sculptor husband, Stephan Weiss, resembles anything in particular. Pop into Harvey Nichols, where the fragrance was exclusively launched in this country last month, and see if you are fooled.

But back to Madonna. The other rumour is that the all-time material girl could soon be selling a range of underwear on the QVC home-shopping channel. Could be scary. Stand by with your telly zapper in hand.

SUMMER'S nearly here and the fashion world has come up with a far chic-er way to tone up than a step class. Instead, join the fashion walk to Quilts of Love on 5 June. Actually more of a warm-up than a work-out, this sponsored walk leaves at noon from the Royal Festival Hall and finishes in Hyde Park where Quilts of Love - individual bed quilts created by international fashion designers and dedicated to people who have died from Aids-related illnesses - will be displayed.

Alternatively, other sponsored Walks for Life to raise awareness and money for HIV and Aids are taking place across the country on the same day. The snag: if you walk in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester or Newcastle, you will have to yomp for 10 miles, so wear sensible shoes. Meanwhile, the London fashion pack gets a far shorter distance over which to sashay - you can do this in your sling-backs.

To register for the London walk call 071-229 7348; for the countrywide walks call 0645 185195.