hree important words for women's fashion this spring are flirty, flowing and feminine. Colors are brighter, reflecting the true concept of spring. Dresses are more common this season, with a mix of sophistication, a hint of '80s retro and long, floaty maxis reminiscent of the '60s and '70s. According to Vogue magazine's 2008 Hotlist, "The ruff is the fashion detail of the season."

Some items to watch for in stores are light, roomy dresses - maxi or mini. The maxi dress continues its comeback from last year, given its versatility and popularity. The maxi dress - comfortable and easy to wear - makes a real statement this season in classy and casual styles with flowing drapes, pleats, ruffles and one-shoulder necklines. It looks like the thing to buy is dresses of any shape or form. Accessorizing is a must this season as well. Drawing attention to the waist is a big trend; belts are everywhere. Wearing headscarves and hippie chick headbands are still big. Safari-style white hats match the desert-inspired look, and large totes and oversized bags make a big fashion statement. "My favorite thing to wear in the spring is flowing skirts, vintage tops and strappy sandals," said Katie Barbaree, junior communication major.

Ford's new small car family will use the Fiesta name around the world, the company confirmed today.

Designed and developed in Europe for customers in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas between 2008 and 2010, the new Fiesta is the first major product of Ford's new global product development process. This new small car keeps alive a name synonymous with more than 30 years of success and strong driving dynamics in Europe and is already well known in markets across Asia, Australia and South America. The Fiesta also was offered in the U.S. from 1978 to 1980.

"The new Ford Fiesta captures every aspect of what's defined Ford as a small-car leader in Europe and builds on it in terms of driving dynamics and design," said Mark Fields, president of the Americas, Ford Motor Company. "When it arrives in North America in 2010, the Ford Fiesta will set a new standard in the small car segment. Even before it arrives in this market, though, the new Fiesta demonstrates how leveraging our global strengths can yield attractive benefits for customers around the world."

The dynamic new look for this global family of small cars was previewed in three Ford Verve Concept vehicles which made their debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007, the Guangzhou Motor Show in November 2007 and the North American International Auto Show in January 2008.

In Europe, the new Fiesta will debut first in production guise at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show in March and will go on sale in fall 2008 in three- and five-door hatchback body styles. By 2010, the new Fiesta will be on sale in markets across Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and North America in a variety of regionally tailored models derived from a common platform.

"With the all-new Fiesta, we want to create a world standard for small car quality, design and comfort in a vehicle that is as exciting to drive as it is to look at. We believe this all-new model will attract a whole new generation of small car buyers, whether they are in Britain, Spain, China or California," said Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company President and CEO. "The new Ford Fiesta will set the standard for delivering to our customers products they really want and value while taking advantage of our wonderful global resources."

The new Ford Fiesta brings the dynamic Verve Concept exterior and interior styling to production reality, demonstrating that small cars can be stylish, sophisticated and emotional. It rejects the notion that an affordable small car has to be a commodity.

The new Ford Fiesta also makes major strides in small car craftsmanship, quality of materials and product choice while continuing to represent traditional strengths of practicality, value for money, agility and safety. It also brings a host of big-car features to the small-car segment for the first time.

"The new Ford Fiesta is an example of how good a small car can be," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "The Fiesta is great to look at, great to drive and it has quality you can see, feel and touch. It's going to be an important growth product for North America."

A key Ford Fiesta strength throughout its life has been its acclaimed driving quality, and the new model intends to uphold this reputation. Ford's dynamics engineers also worked hard to enhance Fiesta's ride comfort and isolate road, wind and powertrain noise from the cabin, and to give the new model an impressively quiet driving quality for a small car.The 29,000-square-foot store is not so different that you won't know you're in a Borders. But it's filled with new digital features unlike anything the $4.1 billion Ann Arbor-based bookseller has offered before - like a kiosk where customers can mix and burn CDs and a video conferencing device called the LongPen that lets an author sign a book electronically.

Alan Warren, The Ann Arbor NewsBorders new digital music center.

The store, in the Waters Place plaza near Kohl's in Pittsfield Township, is the first of 14 concept stores the struggling retailer will open this year. Borders is striving to restructure and brand itself as a center for "knowledge and entertainment," increase sales and differentiate its 520 U.S. stores from its chief rival, Barnes & Noble Inc.

Over the next three years, the nation's second largest bookseller will put concept model features in all its stores, including two in Ann Arbor.

"This has been in the works for quite a while ... we've kept this under wraps," George Jones, chief executive officer of Borders, said during a media preview of the store Wednesday. "We wanted to build something compelling enough to make a customer drive five or 10 minutes past a competitor's store to get here."