Is it time to redraw the world's fashion map? Cities like London, Paris, New York and Milan have sustained their status as leading world fashion capitals for more than half a century.

Some of these emerging diplomatic trends seem to have the potential to solve real problems, but can they really guarantee results or are they diplomatic fads that will go out of style as soon as the diplomatic community is faced with more complex challenges?

Ralph Lauren. Donna Karan. Marc Jacobs. Alber Elbaz. Diane von Furstenberg. Arnold Scaasi. Sonia Rykiel. Michael Kors. Calvin Klein. Levi Strauss. Is it mere coincidence that so many Jews have earned international acclaim in the fashion business?

Iriana Widodo is our latest First Lady and since last Monday she began her new era as the Ibu Negara of the world’s third largest democracy. People say behind each great president, there is a great first lady – and behind her is a great team.

For many Muslim women around the world, the hijab — the scarf covering their hair — is not just a religious accouterment but also a symbol of their identity.  Young Muslim women are posting pictures of themselves in their hijabs on Instagram, inspiring large followings and placing more emphasis on the traditional headpiece as a fashion statement.

“Fashion connects all people,” said Mr. Drori, who interned at Azzedine Alaïa in Paris and Donna Karan in New York before returning to start Colle’cte. “It can be a bridge across color and religion.”

U.S.-based fashion powerhouse DKNY has launched a Ramadan Summer 2014 collection styled by two women from the Middle East and available in the region.  Yalda Golsharifi, fashion editor of Styles Magazine; and Tamara al-Gabbani, a fashion designer in Dubai, created the collected geared towards women.

When Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan got off the presidential plane in Korea with President Xi Jinping, her fashion sense caught the attention of the media.  Peng, who was a renowned Chinese contemporary folk singer and performing artist, is regarded as an icon of the soft power in Beijing, successfully softening her husband's strong image.