Renee Zellweger's Down With Love character is a tribute to trends of the past, including boy-cut shorts worn with heels, pouffed hair and A-line coats.

White Rain, which has been on the shelves since today's grandmas were teens, is hopping on the trend wagon with White Rain Naturals Aerosol Hair Sprays in retro-style pastel cans, looking as though they came right off the movie set in pink, blue and yellow. $1 each ... almost a '60s price.

And stores, including TJ Maxx, are stocking bathing suits that mimic the two-piece check sun suit worn by Zellweger in the movie.

DAAP designers: More students from the University of Cincinnati fashion design program than from any other school were chosen to go to the U.S. finals (in October) for the prestigious International Competition of Young Fashion Designers to be held in Paris in December. Hundreds of students from 21 schools sent their best design ideas to New York's Parsons School of Design in the first leg of the race. When U.S. finalists were picked, UC took 11 spots. Finalists number 44, plus 15 accessory competitors.

UC's finalists: Ryan Fabel of Hyde Park; Cathleen Perrin of Youngstown; Jessica Wagner of Madeira (in fashion and accessories); Lisa Bruemmer of Bridgetown; Amy Ferrell of Iowa (in fashion and accessories); Akarasun Seanglai of Thailand; Lindsey Commons of Montgomery; Nancy Friedman of Canton; Adrianne Gammie of Berlin Heights; Jessica Earley of Delhi Township; and Dong Eun Kim of Korea.

Outlets car show: Prime Outlets at Jeffersonville has partnered with Dragin Angels Car Club of Washington Court House for a 10 a.m.-10 p.m. car show Sunday. ($8 registration per vehicle). The day will include music, food, door prizes, awards at 4 p.m. and, of course, shopping at the more than 100 outlet shops. The center is located off I-71 at Exit 65. Store information at www.primeoutlets.com.

Lazarus grand reopening: To tout store design changes at the Kenwood Towne Centre Lazarus, the store will open at 8 a.m. Thursday passing out gift cards worth $10-$100 to the first 200 customers (one per customer, over 16) through the Galbraith Road housewares department door.

Other events include music noon-2 p.m. Thursday from WMOJ-FM 94.9 and 6-7:30 p.m. Friday from WRRM-FM 98.5; dishes cooked by Palomino noon-2 p.m. Friday; informal modeling 2-4 p.m. Friday; free photos with Clifford the Big Red Dog 2-4 p.m. Friday; zoo critters and Thane Maynard of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens noon-1 p.m. Friday; autographed photos of the Ben-Gals 6-8 p.m. Friday; and registration all day Thursday and Friday to win prizes.

The store has been reconfigured with wider aisles, bigger fitting rooms, a new Coach shop, new accessory displays and an updated china, crystal and silver department.

Is it 'organic?' An investigation into misleading "organic" claims on over 30 body care products manufactured by Avalon Natural Products is being launched by the California State Organic Program and the California Department of Health Services. The investigation is looking into Avalon's inclusion of tap water and synthetic petroleum- derived ingredients in its "organic" cosmetics. Avalon touts its beauty, skin care and hair products as animal-friendly and organic.

Contact Joy Kraft by phone: 768-8467; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: jkraft@enquirer.com.