Wearable Fashion Trends 8: Minidresses

This season marks the return of the minidress. It seems that every fabric, colour, cut and style of minidress were made with hemlines creeping up and up - some barely-there - for the warmer weather perhaps.

Runway: The skirts are so short on some of the minis and babydolls that they barely cover the model's bottom.

Reality Shorter may be better for shorts, dresses and skirts, but this is definitely a youthful trend. Get the same leggy look with a bit more coverage by adding a minidress with black tights or by putting a minidress over skinny cropped jeans.

Just for fun, I looked for pics of celebrities in their minidresses and here's what I found in Second City Style. Who looks prettier? Who Wore It Better?


Lindsay Lohan vs. Lily Allen in a tweed-rimmed dress by Chanel



Stacy Keibler vs. Kelly Clarkson in a Castle Starr minidress



Nicky Hilton vs. Hilary Duff in a Petro Zillia jumper



Paris Hilton vs. Serena Williams in an Alice + Olivia sequined shift

Wearable Fashion Trends 7: Metallics



Maybe you're seeing lots of metallics all around you. Such colors as gold, silver and bronze become the new neutrals suitable not only for night but also for day. Reflect the rising mercury with day-to-night metallics.



Runway: Designers add glitz to both daytime and evengwearwith sequins, lurex and metallic lace.

Reality: You might have metallic overdose because it's been around for so many seasons, but this time try metallics in apparel pieces instead of just accessories. Soft gold or silver lurex or lace pieces have just the right touch of shine for daytime. Mix daytime pieces with white for a fresh, warm-weather look. For after-five, the more subdued metallics work, but you can also up the gleam factor with big gold and silver spangles and beaded short dresses.



Photo Source: 1, 2

Wearable Fashion Trends 6: Patent

Let it Shine with Patent Leather!

This high-gloss, waterproof material is most commonly used for shoes. Originally worn to complement warm weather looks, black patent leather in particular has emerged as a year-round fashion statement. It returns to its warm weather roots this season by showing up in a variety of warm weather colors and trims. Red patent peek-a-boo flats are being shown with black and white Capri-style pants, and oversized white patent totes replace heavier black leather bags for the fashion-conscious crowd. Oversized patent leather belts are also a great way to create waist interest over long summer cardigan sweaters and tunics. Many trench coats this season have also taken on a patent-like shine. Of course, the key to wearing these shiny new looks well is to treat them as accents.




Runway: Normally tame accessories like wide belts and pumps take on shine with patent.

Reality: Black patent -- either in a wide belt or clutch bag -- is the easiest to wear. Bright patent pieces add plenty of pop -- orange, bright blue, red -- so pair them with something equally strong like graphic black and white outfits.


Photo Source

Wearable Fashion Trends 5: Fun Florals

There is a summer romance blossoming and it’s blooming in your closet! Well put that romantic floral frock on and skip down the street. Look for overgrown prints and and rosette embellishments to add life to your wardrobe. Sweet daisies and gorgeous bouquets give great silhouettes with ultimate girly touch. And with so many flowers to pick, you will be sure to grow the perfect fashion garden.

Runway: Blooms are a perennial spring fave, but this season they come in fun sizes and colors.

Reality: To look modern, you need to pass on the ditsy little prints and go for something bright and bold, like hot pink or bright blue; graphic black and white floral prints are great, too. Floral embellishments don't have to just be in a print; look for flower embellishment, tone-on-tone embroidery and accessories, too.











Photo Source: 1, 2

Ogre-ly Fashion

Shrek, the movie that put ‘happily ever after’ fairy tales on their heads, is back in theaters with a story that finds Princess Fiona preparing for her greatest adventure…parenthood. Before slipping into the joys of motherhood, Fiona gets to live the royal life as ruler of Far, Far Away. A little bit swamp mommy chic, a little bit queen of the kingdom, these indie picks will have you ready for all your orge-ly duties.




1. Rachel Leigh Positively Ring - Gold-plated, cocktail ring with leaf detail at stone setting. Available exclusively at shopbop.com.

2. Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Deep V Mini Dress - Feminine, hip, and confident is what you'll feel when wearing this dress.

3. Vita Milano Bracelet - There is nothing more elegant than luxurious chain detail.

4. Charlotte Ronson Kidada Flat - Because the ballerinas shouldn't get to hold the monopoly on this adorable style.

5. Fenton Handbags Earl Tote - For we love a luxurious style with options.

*At 23 years old, I love animated movies and that includes Shrek on top of my list. I am amused with the movies' humor and scripts.

Source

Wearable Fashion Trends 4: Animal Prints

The warmth from the sun brings out our inner animal. Release the beast by suiting up in some of the exciting animal prints. Leopard, zebra, and snake prints are making a huge comeback with patterns being seen on everything from dresses to bathing suits, handbags to stilettos. Pick up on of these animal print picks and be queen of your urban jungle.




1. Beach Tanzania Dress - A flirty skirt on an adorable style? That's perfect fashion.
2. Lampshade Leopard Dress - This dress is doing retro funk better than anything we've ever seen before.
3. The Whiskey Bikini - Tyler Rose has us walking poolside like it's a runway, and we've never felt sexier.
4. Jungle Mesh Clutch - A clutch that's sublimely touchable? That's perfection.
5. Batik Tagua Print Ring - This stunning ring is natural elegance at its finest.
6. Leopard Flat - All we have to say is Meow!

Runway: Big animal prints show up on everything from handbags to trench coats.

Reality: Animal prints -- leopard, zebra, etc. -- are a classic, but that doesn't mean just anyone can wear them. First, you'll need to scale the size of the print to your body type (larger prints for larger or taller women, and vice versa). This time of year you'll want to pair them with white to lighten them up. Add updates touches like a wide belt or patent accessories and shoes.


Photo Source

Madeleine (Maddy) still missing


On behalf of Kate and Gerry McCann and all the family, please help us find Madeleine.
> >
Madeleine, age 3, was abducted from her bed in the family holiday
apartment, Praia De Luz, Algarve, Portugal on Thursday, 3rd May.
> >
Police and all of Portugal are trying to find her. The Portuguese people, holiday makers and ex pats have been a great support to the family and continue their efforts.
> >
You, too can help. Please circulate this plea to publicise Madeleine's
photo and ask for information, no matter how small to be passed on to
the authorities.
> >
Whether you are in the UK, Portugal, Europe or beyond, please forward
to all your family, friends,colleagues and business associates.
Someone out there will have some information that will lead to Maddy's return.
> >
The internet can be a powerful tool in finding Maddy, who is so loved
and missed by us all.
> >
Let's use it positively.
> >
Please pray for Madeleine and all the family at this devastating time.
> >
We need your help. We know you won't let Maddy down.
> >
God bless,
> >
Pat Perkins
(Family friend)
> >
Pat Perkins
Pre Employment Lead
> >
NHS Academy (Northwest)
Pat.Perkins@skillsforhealth.org.uk
> >
Mob: 07901 541 062
Tel: 0151 482 5614
Fax: 0151 482 5513

Spot the Difference

this series has been running for a while now in fashionista.com and i had been hooked.

there's this, most budget stores are now downright copying designs of high end designers straight from the runway. of course, stores like gap, urban outfitters and forever 21 are completely denying this allegations, as they claim that they are merely getting inspirations from runway looks.

errr... do you agree? see for yourself!


L: Anna Sui's candy-striped dress for Spring '07, worth $200
R: Forever 21's inspired one for $17.80

now, this one is not even copied from a runway...


kate moss, forever 21
Right: Kate Moss's silk top for TopShop
Left: Forever 21's own blouse for $27


Right: Diane Von Furstenberg's print retails for $180. Diane is already suing Forever 21 for reproducing her prints.
Left: Forever 21's print goes for $24.80


Why you buy a $1200 Versace dress (R) when you can buy the same print at Bebe (L)?


manolo blahnik J. crew shoes
Right: Manolo Blahnik has a gorgeous pair of sandals for $575
Left: J. Crew's similar looking shoes for $118

Wear It In 100 Ways

Wondering on how to show your sexiness? Victoria's Secret is introducing a new bra you'll wear in 100 ways. Comes with three sets of straps: regular, halter and a low-back converter strap to wear beneath backless styles. You can wear it as a plunge, one-shoulder, racerback, cross-back, boatneck, criss-cross front, halter - and a lot more ways.

Source - see the actual products here

Wearable Fashion Trends 3: The Little White Dresses

Move over black, the little white dress is stepping in...

Little white dresses are more than Western symbols of purity; they’re the new staple of every fashionista’s wardrobe. From traditional bridal gowns to little girl Easter attire, white dresses have long been fashion code for innocence and purity.

Don't think of yourself as a fashion traditionalist! With a crisp white sundress and sun-kissed golden skin all summer long, there's nothing boring about that.







Runway: Little White Dresses are shown for day and night time wear.

Reality: Wear the Little White Dress in place of the LBD (white to weddings is still a no-no, though) and accessorize them with white or metallic sandals and big, chunky bangles. Wear nude undergarments that match your skin tone for the most natural look; you may need a traditional or body slip for a smooth look if you opt for more fitted white dresses.

Photo Sources: 1, 2, 3

On a lighter (but still mournful) note - I was rooting for Melinda

Melinda is out, so perhaps Jordin Sparks (my daughter's favourite) will be the next American Idol? According to this CNN article, major female singers of the last few years have needed sex appeal. Once talent came first, with beauty a bonus; now it's the reverse.

Read the Wikipedia entry on Melinda Doolittle here


Dis-honour killing in Iraq

Wearable Fashion Trends 2: Sporty Chic

Shorts are making the move from casual day to everyday with tailored designs. Skip the flip-flops and try wedges for a polished look. Shorts aren't just for the beach anymore.

Runway: Shorts are having their moment in the fashion spotlight this season. But these are not the casual styles you normally reserve for the gym or beach. Nor are they the denim Daisy Dukes that Jessica Simpson was sporting in her steamy "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" music video. Made from luxe linens, crisp cottons and silk-lined wools, these shorts are turning up at parties, restaurants and even offices. See the stars that have recently favored this leg-baring trend..








Reality: Satisfying a sporty side was shorts in any length imaginable. Depending on the coverage you want, there's short shorts, skinny long shorts, cropped pants, ankle pants and a shortened version of the cargo pant. The most popular was the modern version of Bermuda shorts. They are this season's perfect replacement to pants. Ending right at the knee they quickly replaced cropped pants in popularity." (Fontera)

Photo Source

CNN: Female pilots reached for the stars

Although they were as good as the men, if not better, they never got a chance to go to space, despite arguing their case before Congress.

BBC: 'Inequality rife' for young girls

Girls are more likely than boys to be malnourished, suffer poverty, face violence and be refused an education, according to a new report.

DISADVANTAGED
  • Some 121m children do not attend primary school - 54% of those are girls
  • 82m girls in developing countries who are now aged 10-17 will be married before their 18th birthday
  • In some countries, most girls marry before their 18th birthday: India (50%), Nepal (60%) and Niger (76%)
  • Worldwide, some 14m 15-to-19-year-olds give birth each year
  • Girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely to die in childbirth as those in their 20s
Source: Plan report

Plan International: girls disadvantaged

"I never ever understand why boys and girls are not equal to each other. In rural areas elders think that girls are born to give birth and to marry and for cleaning the house. Girls who live in rural areas… are not sent to schools. Their parents are not aware of the changing world yet."
Girl, 15. Turkey

"As ‘Because I am a Girl’ will show, discrimination
against girls and young women remains deeply
entrenched and widely tolerated throughout the
world. Many of the challenges girls will face start
from the moment they are born; in fact in some
parts of the world, girls are the target of a social
preference for boys even before birth.
The ‘Real Choices, Real Lives’ cohort study
was set up to follow 135 girls from birth until
their ninth birthday, in 2015. Every year,
researchers will visit the girls and their families
to talk to them about what they eat, how
healthy they are, their education, and over time
will build up a picture of how the fact that they
are girls impacts on their lives. Findings from
the study will be published in each of Plan’s
‘State of the World’s Girls’ annual reports."

Happy Mother's Day?

What's a Mother's Worth?

By Riane Eisler, AlterNet. Posted May 11, 2007.


This Mother's Day let's give mothers what they really need: a more secure old age.

"The devaluation of women and the 'women's work' of caregiving is a pathology we must leave behind - not only for the sake of the female half of humanity but for us all. Indeed, only as we give real value and visibility to the work of caring and caregiving can we move forward to economic systems that truly care for the real wealth of nations: people and our natural environment."

http://www.alternet.org/story/51680/

Another sign of the insidious holocaust

Though officially outlawed in India, female foeticide and infanticide is still rampant...

Man 'buried twin daughters alive'
POSTED: 1256 GMT (2056 HKT), May 11, 2007

AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) -- Indian police in the western state of Gujarat have arrested a man accused of killing his six-day-old twin daughters by burying them alive, a police officer said on Friday.

"The father considered the infants as a sign of misfortune," G.S. Malik, superintendent of police, said. "He murdered the six-day-old babies by burying them in a ditch."


Current Eyeglass Frame Trends

Scurrying to this season's "must-have" list are the hottest new looks of chic eyeglasses. Consider the following items and you'll be "in" on eye fashion this season.

Avant Garde. Angular shapes, modern patterns, emphasis on the temple, and the color white are the latest expressions of avant garde style.


Retro Shapes. Retro shapes such as cateyes and oversized rounds continue to fascinate, this year with lens sizes exaggerated either up or down.



Colors. Browns, blacks, and reds dominate the season's color palette in apparel; the trend is echoed in eyewear.



Linings and Layers. Designers continue to use layered plastics for interesting effects, including hidden linings behind the frame. They're adding patterns such as stripes and animal prints, as well as logos, especially on the temple. One especially new trend is placing color elements on clear plastic.



Details. Details add unique interest even to simple frame shapes. Unusual materials such as wood and leather, cutouts, jewels, and rhinestones convey luxury and craftsmanship or emphasize the masculinity or femininity of a frame.



Photo Source

Capt. Jack and His Crew Are Back

Getting bored with your work? Are you sick and tired of being face-to-face with your pc for almost 9 hours a day and 5 days a week? Spend some thirty-minute break dressing up some virtual dolls. Here's some of my dolls.....inspired by the movie: Pirates of the Caribbean. I can't wait to see them in theaters this coming May 25.




Dress up more dolls: celebrities, models, singers, anime charcters, etc. with these stress-relieving sites, Stardoll and Cartoon Doll Emporium.