This is a week for high fashion as Ala Moana Center hosts World Festival: Honolulu's Fashion Week.

High-end international retailers such as Bally, Bulgari, Baccarat, Burberry, Celine, Dior, Fendi, Ferragamo, Hermés, Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus are rolling out the red carpet and offering a glimpse of what's haute and hot in the world of fashion.

OK, so maybe local people will not grab those special-edition, made-for-World-Festival $1,800 handbags, $160 ties or $240 T-shirts. (Japanese visitors will undoubtedly be first in line.)

Other options: at 4 p.m. today, fashionistas can view the dazzling world of couture up close and personal as Dior unveils its Cruise/Spring 2006 Collection for a first showing outside Paris. Carson Kressley of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" will be on hand to watch. The ramp will stretch from inside the Dior store out into the mall.

World Festival offers an extra opportunity to check out the goods at Ala Moana's high-end outlets: Many limited-edition items on display will disappear after tomorrow.

UPSCALE FOR THE UP-SIZE

While women who wear size 12 and over comprise more than 60 percent of the nation's population, the fashion world often ignores them.

Macy's at Ala Moana is trying to be a little more attentive. Its fourth-floor women's department, which carries sizes 14 to 24, has grown exponentially since it first opened.

Among the designer lines featured on Level 4 are Eileen Fisher, Tommy Hilfiger, Liz Claiborne, Ralph by Ralph Lauren and Overdrive.

At 1 p.m. today, on Level 4, the store will hold a fashion show hosted by Lina Girl of radio station KCCN FM 100. Refreshments will be served and gift bags will be given out. While the event is free and open to the public, suggested donations of $10 will benefit the American Heart Association.

Reach Paula Rath at prath@honoluluadvertiser.com.