You Style It!

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011

2011-11-21T20:12:00.001+08:00

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2011 took place at the Lexington Armory in New York City, on November 9th, 2011. The show, which started as an internet-only event in 1995, is now the biggest showcase around the world for creativity, beautiful models and top of the line recording stars.

The 2011 edition of the show had live performances by Kanye West, Maroon 5 and Nicki Minaj, featuring a surprise appearance by Jay-Z. 38 models displayed their runway skills on the show which featured six themes: Ballet, Super Heroes, Aquatic, Passion Play, I Put a Spell on You, and Club Pink.

Only the top models in the world are chosen during the casting to be part on the show, which has an estimated annual viewership of around 1 billion.

The worldwide broadcast of the event will take place on CBS on Tuesday, November 29th; and rebroadcasted by various stations around the world during the following week.

Maroon 5 & Kanye West to perform at Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2011

2011-10-15T01:26:00.001+08:00

CBS will broadcast the show — featuring Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Miranda Kerr — on Nov. 29.

Kanye West and Maroon 5 will perform on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, CBS announced Tuesday. The network will air the show on Nov. 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, Doutzen Kroes, Erin Heatherton, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge and Lindsay Ellingson are among the models who will walk the show. The broadcast will also include red carpet interviews, model profiles and the behind-the-scenes footage.

The fashion show is produced by done and dusted, inc. Edward G. Razek, Monica Mitro, Ian Stewart and Hamish Hamilton are the executive producers. Hamilton is the director.

This year’s extravaganza, to be taped at Lexington’s Armory in New York around November 15th, marks the return of supermodels Miranda Kerr and Doutzen Kroes.

Australian model Miranda Kerr will be in charge of modeling this year’s stunning creation. On the catwalk, Kerr will don the “Treasure Fantasy Bra”, a jewel encrusted bra worth $2.5 million. She was absent from last year’s show due to the pregnancy of her son Flynn, born months ago. Kerr is currently married to actor Orlando Bloom.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was born as an internet-only event in 1995. It has been a yearly fashion event since, making its debut on national tv in 2001, when ABC was in charge of broadcasting the runway show. Since 2002, the VS Fashion Show has partnered with CBS. It is the most watched fashion show in the planet, with a worldwide distribution in hundreds of markets.

Victoria’s Secret has been a key ingredient in the success of top models Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Natasha Poly, Karolina Kurkova, among many others.

Fashion Trends in Color

2011-08-06T15:08:00.003+08:00

Colors take a big part in your over all conception in fashion. It depends on your mood, personality and fashion sense. Here are some collections of beautiful and fashionable wardrobe of the stars.

Red

Pink

Peach

Violet

Sarah Jessica Parker resigns as Halston’s COO

2011-07-20T13:48:00.001+08:00

Sarah Jessica Parker is expected to receive a $3m payout for her stake in a failing fashion label.

The Sex And The City star is ditching her contract with design house Halston, which would have entitled her to nearly $10m over the next three-and-a-half years, according to the New York Post.

Parker, who had been designing a lower-price line called Halston Heritage, has now reportedly agreed to accept $3m for her ownership stake in the failing firm, as well as an exit from the remainder of her contract.

‘She was tired of all the conflict,’ a source told the New York Post.

‘Sarah felt that she has the opportunity to do a lot more with herself, and make a lot more money in the process, if she goes elsewhere.’

The actress is not alone in jumping ship from Halston, according to the US newspaper.

Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is also reportedly selling his stake, which had approached 10 per cent, for between $1m and $1.5m.

Fashion sources have claimed that Halston has been rocked this year by arguments between Weinstein and executives at Hilco, a Chicago-based liquidation firm that took control of Halston in 2007 in a $25m buyout.

‘There have been a lot of screaming matches,’ a Halston insider told the New York Post. ‘They really couldn’t agree on too much – the management team, expenses, the company’s structure.’

Chief financial officer Jeff Green declined to comment.

Donatella Versace to collaborate with H & M

2011-07-01T12:47:00.004+08:00

One of the world's famous fashion Designer, Versace will design for H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) this year, becoming the latest high fashion label to work with the Swedish high street brand.

“I am thrilled to be collaborating with H&M and to have the opportunity of reaching its wide audience,” Donatella Versace said this morning. “The collection will be quintessential Versace, perfect for H&M and Versace fans everywhere.”

The announcement marks a turnaround for Versace, who in 2008 claimed that a high street diffusion line simply wasn’t the Versace way. “I respect everyone who does it. But the reason I didn’t do it is because I work very hard to put the Versace line in the luxury section. I think to put the Versace line in H&M would confuse the brand,” she told New York Magazine. However, rather than ‘diffusion’, this line is being sold as an ‘Iconic Collection’ for which Donatella will raid the archives of the Italian fashion house that was founded by her brother Gianni in 1978.

No doubt hoping to have the same affect on shoppers as Alber Elbaz last year, when his Lanvin for H&M collection sold out in a matter of minutes (with many items subsequently selling for even greater prices on eBay), Donatella will launch H&M menswear, womenswear and homeware which will go on sale on November 17 – shortly followed by a pre-spring collection that will be available online from January 19.

“Versace is one of the most important brands of recent times and their collection for H&M will be glamorous and flamboyant – everything Versace stands for,” said Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M – who has masterminded collaborations with Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garcons and Jimmy Choo in the past. “Donatella Versace is sharing with us iconic designs from the archives. This is such a celebratory collaboration and is perfect for the party season.”

Expect studded leather and colourful prints for the girls; sharp tailoring and plenty of bling for the boys – and substantial queues down Regent Street in November.

How to Do Great Makeup

2011-05-28T16:15:00.000+08:00

How to Do Great Makeup to Accentuate What’s Already There

“I am beautiful, no matter what they say…” especially to your moms. Believe it or not,

we really are. It’s just a matter of enhancement. You can buy a new dress, new shoes, new nose, lose or gain weight, or visit a spa and have yourself be treated like a goddess. Or, simply put on makeup. Just do something about that heinous face of yours!

Makeup should be used to enhance your best features. Makeup should be used to accentuate what is already there, not to cover it up. It is easy to over do it when you are just starting out. It takes years of practice to get a lot of makeup look like a little. That’s why you have to know the basic.

First, you have to be certain on what make up suits you best. Here are some tips:
Part of the fun of putting on makeup is mixing and matching various colors and shades for different looks and effects. But it's important that when you choose a color, it must suit your skin type, skin color, and eye color. That’s why, girls ought to know what best suits her and makes her more attractive. An article emphasized these points:

Create new colors by mixing different shades If you want to highlight your eyes, keep your lipstick or lip gloss fairly light and neutral.
If your mouth is a full, well shaped one, use a dark or stronger shade of lipstick and keep your eye make up clean and soft
To prevent tanning, apply equal quantities of almond oil and malt vinegar one hour before your bath.
Colors such as deep browns, burgundy, wine and blood-red work well on Indian skin.
Keep lipsticks of pink, mauve and orange colors.
Do not sleep in your make up as this can cause your lashes to dry out and become brittle.
Foundation and loose powder are a great way to get an even complexion in minutes
Use a good concealer to hide dark circles under eyes, crease lines and other marks and scars

MAKE UP	FAIR COMPLEXION	WHEAT COMPLEXION	DARK COMPLEXION
Blush	Tawny pink, beige pink, Golden peach, peach	Peach and gold	Copper, rust, dark rose and bronze
Lip color	Pale Pink, Sugar Pink, Coral, Rich Red, Peach brown, Warm Pink	Honey, Pinkish, Golden brown, rust, Terracotta	Reddish brown, burgundy and cocoa
Eye shadow	Blue, Apricot, grass green, gold, sand brown, grey, soft brown, cornflower blue , violet, pinky mauve	Golden, Pinkish, military green, Deep Pink , beige brown, Smoky black

Now onto the nitty-gritty details how to use each makeup product:

Facial makeup Facial makeup
(concealer, foundation, and powder) was invented to make your skin look flawless. Nobody has flawless skin all the time, and if you do, you¡¯re a goddess!

Skin Type Facial Makeup Type
Dry Liquid or Cream Normal to Dry Liquid or Cream Normal to Oily Oil-free liquid or Powder Oily Oil-free liquid with a matte finish Combination Liquid, Cream, or Powder (whatever balances your face)

When picking out a facial makeup, you have no choice: you have to get the color that's closest to your own skin color, unless you want to be the female version of Michael Jackson. Don't test facial makeup on your hand or arm; apply it to your neck or face for a more accurate match.

Concealer. (a.k.a. "cover stick") goes under foundation and is used for spot treatments. It's great at hiding baggy eyes, pimples, and other blemishes. It comes in liquid bottles and tubes (which are thinner and good for drier skin), and sticks and compacts (which are thicker and good for oilier skin).

Tip: Some makeup artists swear by concealer brushes, but you may get the best and most even coverage if you apply concealer with your fourth finger. The fourth finger exerts the least pressure, so it doesn't pull on delicate skin and its warmth blends better. Just be sure to pat gently. The fourth finger is also great for applying eye cream and eye shadow, as it gets into all the little nooks and crannies around your eyes.

Foundation. Foundation goes on all over your face to make it looks uniform and smooth. It comes in three types: liquid, cream, and powder. Make sure that your foundation is oil-based for dry skin, oil-free for oily skin, and water-based for combination skin.

Tip: It is a known fact that the right foundation goes with matching it with your skin tone, texture and of course the occasion.

Eye makeup
Eye makeup (eyeliner, eye shadow, and mascara) is arguably the most fun type of makeup. With a quick sweep of a sponge-tipped applicator or cute little brush, you can go from girl-next-door innocent to positively trampy. Here's a handy little chart to help you figure out what colors would best suit your eye color:

	Brown eyes: Shades of slate blue, gray, and plum will help brown eyes stand out.
	Green eyes: Shades of pink, salmon, mauve, and brownish-pink will help green eyes look even greener.
	Blue eyes: Shades of brown, camel, and taupe will help blue eyes appear even bluer.

Now here's a little about each eye makeup member:
	Eyeliner. Eyeliner belongs on the base of your lids, and its purpose is to enhance the size and shape of your eyes. Some people also like to line the bottom of their eyes, which really has a dramatic effect. Eyeliner comes in many different colors and forms, including pencil and powder (ideal for a "natural" look), and cake and liquid (for a more "dramatic" look).
	Eyeshadow. Eyeshadow goes on each entire lid and sometimes in the space between your lids and your eyebrows. It comes in a variety of colors and also several different forms, including cream (good for dry skin), matte (good for oily skin), and pencil (good for all types of skin).
	Mascara. Mascara only used to be available in black, but nowadays you can find it in all sorts of colors. So while black mascara was used for the sole purpose of making your eyelashes stand out without calling attention to the fact that you have mascara on, colored mascara is now used to make a bold statement. If you choose colored mascara, we recommend that you stick to darker colors like navy blue or plum, as opposed to light blue or green. The latter is just too bizarre and unnatural for our tastes. Mascara comes in a wand with a tube; there are straight wands, and there are curved wands. The shape of the wand is a matter of preference so you have our permission to experiment with both.

Lip makeup
Which one should be applied first? lipstick or lipliner? You should just try it both ways and see what turns out better on you. The makeup masters all agree on this fact though: your lipstick and lip liner should match and blend together. NEVER apply a liner that's darker to your lipstick in an effort to make the liner stand out. It will look awful

	Lip liner Lip liner goes around the perimeter of your lips and is used to define them and keep lipstick in place. (Lipstick clings to the lipliner and is therefore less likely to rub off or "bleed"). Lip liners typically come in pencil form.
	Lipstick Even girls who don't usually wear makeup have been known to slap on some lipstick from time to time. There's gloss lipstick (which comes in a little pot or tube with a wand), and frost, matte, and cream lipsticks (which come in the famous lipstick stick). Try out all the different kinds of lipsticks to find out the ones you are most comfortable wearing (they are all quite different in texture). If you don't have any money, buy lips candy and give it a smack before going out the door, just be ready for a really bloody tongue!
	Lip gloss is used to give a shimmer and a shine to lips. Lip gloss lasts for a longer time and can be water resistant. Lip gloss is applied directly or after the lipstick.

Tip: for better looking lips, make it smoother and supple by putting small amount of oil or petroleum jelly. You can also exfoliate your lips by using the regular exfoliating chemical you are using on your face. Just reduce the amount and don’t overdo it.

Blush

Blush should go on after all of your other makeup because it is the final touch and should match the rest of your makeup, not vice versa. Choose a blush color that resembles the color on your cheeks after you've exercised. Anything darker than that will look fake. Blush is the one thing you should not have to blend, because if you do, it means it's too bright for your skin. Blush comes in powder and gel/cream forms. Powder is easiest for beginners to use because it's easy to brush on and it doesn't get streaky. Gel or cream makes good daywear because it gives off a fresh and dewy look. Tip: Try a bronzer rather than a blush for a natural look. Daytime blush should be light, while nighttime blush should be a little heavier.

Tip: Try a bronzer rather than a blush for a natural look. Daytime blush should be light, while nighttime blush should be a little heavier .

Summer Makeup Summer season is a mad season. Everyone¡¯s excited for outings! Definitely a lot of outdoor activities! And since it¡¯s summer, we are exposed to baked, dry lips and sunburn. Smudging makeup is also a no-no! This will ruin your fun. You¡¯ll feel uncomfortable. Many makeup disasters are happened in summer season under the sun and one does not pay attention to a relaxing beach noon. To do away with this One should follow the following tips for look like sunshine:

Do not use lip liner during summer.

One can use colors such as mango green or golden green for eye makeup by using brown or black mascara.

Face with few drops of fog and the light touch of translucent powder is the best summer makeup.

Tightness of dry hair makes problem in humidity. Do not make curly hair, as it is right for summer makeup. One can do deep conditioning of hair for taming the hair and always protect hair from sunrays, wind and sand by using s baseball cap or trendy summer hat. People can use texturizers and wax to tame hair.

One can easily use gold shimmer under across or brows cheekbones.

If one does not take any precaution, use a waterproof foundation to prevent damage with the tanned skin shade for covering the area under eyes and apply a small amount of foundation on the rest portion of the face.

One may be used light brown or nude eye shadow for eye makeup and giving them a natural beauty.

For getting a beautiful suntan, one should use bronzer in light shade on chin and cheekbones.

Limit yourself to one coat of mascara.

Consider permanent makeup. It's now possible to have your brows and lash line permanently tinted.

Do not apply additional mascara to the lashes during the day. This may lead to a caked or clumpy look

Before wearing slippers or sandals sprinkle the feet with little touch of powder for avoiding blisters. One should take a small clean needle and hygienize it with alcohol for gets rid of the blister from feet. Use cotton for cleaning fluid from blister and then apply antibiotic ointment and cover the affected area by using bandage.

Use sunglasses to protect the eyes before going to outside during the day. One should always use sunscreen lotion or cream with SPF 30 before going under the sun.

One can use the Clear UV-resistant topcoat on skin to protect from sun.

For nail care during summer, use a nail gloss with Ultraviolet protection topcoat on nails.

For eye makeup in summer, use waterproof eyeliner pencil with shades like navy, slate gray or warm chocolate.

One uses gel on hair. And use 1% hydrocortisone cream to avoid any rashes on skin.

Sunny, bright and warm blush can be applied for summer makeup.

For lip colors, apply natural shades of lip liner and lipsticks on lips. And one can use a lip balm with SPF and keep lips moisturized and protected.

At last, set the summer makeup by using spray water.

Develop Your Intuition

2011-05-14T14:15:00.003+08:00

The Road to Intuition

Have you had that experience when all of a sudden you just had this huge hunch that something is about to happen, and to your surprise, that intuition was eventually translated to reality?

When you feel strongly about something without logical basis to it, that's called intuition. It comes in three impressions: clairvoyance or "the third eye", sensing clearly and feeling through listening.

Clairvoyance is when your eye goes beyond what it can see. This is when you know what is happening somewhere.

Sensing clearly is basically what we refer to as "hunch" or "gut feel." This is the time when you are overwhelmed with a feeling and you can't explain it and all you can say is "I just know."

On the other hand, feeling through listening or clairaudience is being able to "listen" between the lines. Intuition also happens at times when a certain sound, whatever it is - be it a car's honk or a bird's twitting - ushers in an intense feeling.

They say only a number of people are gifted with intuition. Astrologers even insist that people born under the Scorpio or Pisces signs are naturally intuitive it almost borders on E.S.P. But studies have been sprouting left and right that proclaim that anyone can develop intuition.

Why the need to develop intuition, you ask? Why not let your emotional and psychological state as it is? First and foremost, intuition promotes good communication. It makes you more sensitive to the people around you; it often keeps you from hurting those you love because you are intuitive enough to understand them. Intuition also makes you far more creative than ever. Intuition means releasing more creative juices for any means of expression. Lastly, intuition has a healing power. This healing power is not in the physical sense, but in delving deep into your soul to eradicate some negative energy buried in it.

With that being said, are you ready to develop your intuition? Here are some ways to unlock this gift:

1. Hypnosis

Oh yes, get yourself hypnotized. Hypnosis is not limited to watching a pendulum move back and forth. Perform self-hypnosis or you can avail of hypnotic programs that can strengthen your intuition.

2. Meditation

Meditating means finding peace in yourself. If your mind and heart are cluttered with too many baggage and hurt, you wouldn't be able to quiet down that part of you that could eventually initiate intuition. There are so many ways to meditate: take a yoga class, or just simply practice some breathing that could bring you straight to Zen.

3. Think positive!

A worry-free, fear-free state could do so much to improve your intuitive ability. By staying positive, you attract good energy that would be able to easily recognize imminent feelings and events.

4. Just let go.

What does this mean? If you are on the brink of making a huge decision, let go of all the inhibitions and head to a quiet place where you could find out where the letting go has brought you. Sometimes you just have to listen to the voice within you, and that voice wouldn't come out unless you let go.

5. Never expect.

After letting go of the inhibitions and all those things that stop you from thinking and feeling clearly, never expect for an answer right away. Never expect that the "hunch" would fall on your lap immediately. Give it a little time then you'd just get surprised that -- wham! -- now you have your answer.

6. Believe in your first impressions.

When you see someone for the first time and think that he is a bit too arrogant for your taste, chances are that impression actually holds true. Most of the time, first impressions are brought by intuition.

7. Stay happy!

See? All you need to be intuitive is to stay happy! Happiness attracts immense power and such power includes intuition. In tapping your intuition, your motivation must be happiness and contentment. Given that premise, intuition will fall to you easily.

Intuition is helpful, because sometimes it leads you to something that cannot be achieved otherwise. A lot of lives have been saved by intuition alone. Decisions are easier done if armed by this gift. Develop intuition now and reap benefits you have never imagined.

Benefits of Detoxing for Fitness and Health

2011-05-03T15:15:00.000+08:00

It seems to be a little disgusting when you are detoxing or cleansing. Your body shows some signs that you have built up toxins. These toxins can affect your whole body fitness and health.

There are times that you feel sluggish and feel the stressful. Your body may experience continuous aching, diarrhea, constipation, and feeling of clumsiness. Rapid weight gain and the incapacity to lose the excess weight can also be signs of having toxins in the body.

Moreover, the toxins found in the body are found and stored on your fat cells. For Americans who are taking the usual American diet, a person may consume 70 trillion garbage cans for each cell. In detoxing your body and cleaning that unwanted garbage in your cells, you should pay attention on your elimination organs.

There are particular organs in your body that deal on cell waste management. These organs play a major role in the detoxing process for a fit and healthy body.

1. Your liver is the organ that recycles the unwanted chemicals in the body. It sorts out the toxins and places them to the organ for elimination during the process of circulation. The principal elimination organs will back up the liver on where these toxins will be stored and then eliminated.

2. The lymph glands also play an important role in eliminating the toxins. A network of tubing brings out the excess waste of the cells from the body and to the final eliminating organs. The appendix, thymus, tonsil, and spleens are major lymphatic glands that help the major organs of the body in cleansing and detoxing.

3. The kidneys help in the water management of the body. They are the ones that keep the good chemistry of the blood alkaline by eliminating the dissolved acid waste. You can help your kidney to function very well by drinking plenty of water. It is much better if you drink fresh alkaline juices and purified water. You may take ½ ounce of alkaline everyday to see positive results on your body weight.

4. The lungs are the organs that keep the blood air purified. They allow the oxygen to go directly to the bloodstream. It is also responsible in removing waste gases that are found in every cell of the body. Deep breathing and fresh air is very helpful in keeping the lungs healthy and free from toxins. If you are in the urban area, it is recommended that you find an oxygen rich area where you can perform deep breathing.

5. The colon is a solid waste management organ in your body. Medical practitioners have found many peolpe that may have an 80-pound mucus and rubber like solid waste that are found on the walls of the colon. Detoxing and cleaning the colon can be a real tough thing to do. However, having a free waste colon can certainly provide you good benefits of having a clean and healthy body.

If you are experiencing some signs of detoxification, you may try doing a regular walking exercise. Exercise is a good key in having a fit and healthy body. Many diet doctors also suggest that you drink plenty of lemon water. This is an effective way of maintaining a very good circulation and can increase the rate of detoxification inside the body.

What is Antioxidant Supplements?

2011-04-16T10:48:00.001+08:00

A key ingredient to improving your lifestyle and living a healthy life is antioxidants. There are several antioxidant supplements out there that can help you live a healthy life, that are natural and won’t cause you any damage. You can also eat different types of food that contain antioxidants as well, although supplements are the ideal way to get the right amounts of antioxidants.

If you take in more antioxidants through food and supplements, there are a few benefits that you’ll have, with the first being cell protection. Antioxidants can help to protect your cells from damage, which helps to fend off diseases. Many times, you can have a lack of vitamins in your body, which will cause you to recover from diseases or injury very slow. If you have the right amount of vitamins and antioxidants in your body, you’ll notice the differences.

In most cases, you can get antioxidant supplements in the form of herbal or natural, which will greatly help your body. They have a lot of benefits as well, such as preventing various diseases, keeping blood clotting under control, and restoring libido. Nutrition and proper dieting is a very important part of life, therefore you should always keep your health under control and make sure you eat well.

There are non synthetic supplements out there as well, that are ideal for keeping your health maintained. They can be easily absorbed by your body, unlike that of synthetic supplements. Synthetic supplements are well known for their absorbing, as it can take a long time before you see any type of results. Non synthetic on the other hand, gives you almost immediate results, as they are easily absorbed by the body and don’t have any type of side effects.

Keep in mind that even though you may be taking vitamins that contain antioxidants, you’ll still need to remain on a healthy diet. You’ll need food that contains the minerals and vitamins you need as well, although the supplement vitamins will give you more. You can also use vitamins and supplements that contain antioxidants if you aren’t able to eat the right foods that contain these precious nutrients.

For more reasons than one, you should always make sure that you include foods and supplements that contain antioxidants in your diet. If you aren’t taking in the right amount of antioxidants, you’ll be at a risk for disease or other harmful effects. Antioxidants do a lot for your body, which is why you want to ensure that you are taking in the right amounts. You can find many different vitamins and supplements that include them, all you need to do is make sure that you are eating right and doing all you can to lead a healthy lifestyle.

How to Read Food Labels

2011-03-31T16:06:00.001+08:00

You cannot measure every morsel that passes your lips, but it is a good idea to measure most foods and beverages until you get a feel for portion sizes.

It is a supersized world out there, and most people are surprised to find that their idea of a single serving is actually two or three.

If you are into bells and whistles, there are food scales that are preprogrammed with nutritional information, as well as scales that will keep a running total of your daily food and nutrient intake for you. The only tools you really need, however, are a simple and inexpensive gram scale, dry and liquid measuring cups, and idea on reading food labels.

Among all of the mentioned tools, reading food labels seem to be the most effective way of determining the right kind of food to be bought in the supermarket. It lets you make sensible food selections. Through the “Nutrition Facts” section in a particular item in the grocery, you can identify the amount of serving sizes provided in that product.

With food labels, you can clearly understand the amount and kinds of nutrients that are provided in the item. Usually, it contains the information on saturated fat, sodium, total fat, fiber, and cholesterol amount “per serving.”

However, understanding and reading these food labels can be very perplexing. A typical consumer would definitely ask what those numbers mean and how it will affect her diet intake if ever she will religiously follow the serving guide as stipulated on the food label.

To further have a clear and more comprehensive understanding of the items stated in the food label, here is a list of things that you need to know:

1. Serving size

This is the primary item you will see in a food label.

The amount of servings stated in the food label refers to the quantity of food people usually consume. However, this does not necessarily mean that it reflects your very own amount of food intake.

Moreover, serving size determines the amount of nutrients that enters the body. This means that if you will follow strictly what the serving size is, you will obtain the same amount of nutrients according to the serving size that was given in the label.

For instance, if the serving size says one serving size is equal to 54 grams, that would mean you have to measure 54 grams and eat that and you have just eaten one serving. So to speak, the amount of nutrients stated in the food label is the same amount that has entered your body considering the fact that you have just eaten 54 grams.

However, if you have eaten everything, and the food label says that each pack is equivalent to 4 servings, you have to calculate the amount of nutrients that have entered your body. This means that if the food label says 250 calories per serving that means you have to multiply it to four to get the total amount of calories you have taken.

2. Nutrients

This refers to the list of available nutrients in a particular item. It is also where the nutritional claims of the product based on the recommended daily dietary allowance are stated. Usually, the nutritional amounts are based on both the 2,500-calorie diets and the 2,000 recommended dietary allowances.

In order to understand the numeric value of each item, you should know that the “% daily value” that the food label indicates is actually based on how a particular food corresponds to the recommended daily dietary allowance for a 2,000 calorie.

If in the event that you have purchased an item that has a dietary allowance different from the 2,000-calorie diet, you just have to divide the stipulated amount by 2,000 and you will be able to identify the “%daily value” for the nutrients.

3. Ingredients

This refers to the list of the ingredients that were used to manufacture the product. The listing is usually arranged from the main ingredients that have the greater amount by weight up to the smallest quantity. This simply means that the actual quantity of the food includes the biggest quantity of the main ingredient or the first item and the minimum amount of the very last ingredient.

4. Label claim

This refers to the kinds of nutritional claims of a particular food item. For instance, if an item says it is sodium-free, it has less than 5 milligrams per serving or a low fat item actually contains 3 grams of fat or less.

Indeed, reading food labels can be very tedious and confusing. Nevertheless, once you get the hang of it, it would be easier for you to watch your diet because you can already control the amount of food that you take.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2011 in the Philippines

2011-02-21T18:20:00.001+08:00

Check out the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2011 in Boracay, Philippines.

DKNY Men Fall / Winter 2011 Collection

2011-02-11T18:09:00.001+08:00

DKNY Men Fall / Winter 2011 Menswear Collection by Donna Karan at New York Fashion Week 2011.

Andrej Pejic: Gorgeous Male Model Bride at Jean-Paul Gaultier Show

2011-01-28T13:51:00.001+08:00

Male Model Andrej Pejic makes a lovely bride at Jean-Paul Gaultier fashion show.

Since walking the Paris men’s fashion shows in 2010, Andrej Pejic swept designers and editors up with his blonde, androgynous mystique. He and Karolina Kurkova are the faces of Gaultier’s latest campaign.

Benefits of Cardio Interval Training

2011-01-23T15:44:00.000+08:00

In a long-term study of the health of the people of in the United States, the U.S. Public Health Service documented the chances of developing heart disease among various groups in the population. Long before the any symptoms appeared, epidemiological research could identify high-risk groups.

Among the highest risk factors are male sex, age over 35, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high levels of certain blood fats, and a family history of cardiovascular disorders.

Other researchers have added to this list another risk factor: the compulsive, hard-driving, highly anxious personality. The greater the number of severity, the greater the person’s overall risk.

These threats to the heart can be divided into two main categories: those beyond individual control, such as age, sex, and heredity, and those that can be controlled, avoided, or even eliminated. Among those in the second category are what cardiologists call “the triple threat.” These are the high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and high cholesterol levels in the blood.

If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, your risk of having a heart attack is twice that of a nonsmoker. If you smoke, have hypertension, and eat a diet high in fats without any exercise at all, your risk is five times greater than normal.

The Healthy Heart

If these risk factors endanger the heart’s health, what enhances its well-being and improves its odds of working long and well?

Obviously, quitting cigarettes and eating a low-fat diet will help. The next best thing you can do for your heart’s sake is to give it what it needs: regular exercise or a complete cardio interval training.

The heart is a muscle, or, more accurately, a group or “package” of muscles, similar in many ways to the muscles of the arms and legs. And just as exercise strengthens and improves limb muscles, it enhances the health of the heart muscles as well.

Since World War II, several large-scale statistical studies have evaluated the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular disease. One well-known survey compared 31,000 drivers and conductors of some bus companies. The more sedentary drivers had a significantly higher rate of heart disease than the conductors, who walked around the buses and climbed stairs to the upper level.

The why and how behind these statistics were bet explained by classic experiments with dogs whose coronary arteries were surgically narrowed to resemble those of humans with arteriosclerosis. Dogs who were exercised were had much better blood flow than those kept inactive.

The exercise seemed to stimulate the development of new connections between the impaired and the nearly normal blood vessels, so exercised dogs had a better blood supply to all the muscle tissue of the heart. The human heart reacts in the same way to provide blood to the portion that was damaged by the heart attack.

To enable the damaged heart muscle to heal, the heart relies on new small blood vessels for what is called collateral circulation. These new branches on the arterial tress can develop long before a heart attack — and can prevent a heart attack if the new network takes on enough of the function of the narrowed vessels.

With all these facts, it is now boiled down to a single question: What should be done in order to prevent such dilemmas?

Some studies showed that moderate exercise several times a week is more effective in building up these auxiliary pathways than extremely vigorous exercise done twice often.

The general rule is that exercise helps reduce the risk of harm to the heart. Some researches further attested the link between exercise and healthy heart based from the findings that the non-exercisers had a 49% greater risk of heart attack than the other people included in the study. The study attributed a third of that risk to sedentary lifestyle alone.

Hence, with employing the cardio interval training, you can absolutely expect positive results not only on areas that concerns your cardiovascular system but on the overall status of your health as well.

This particular activity that is definitely good for the heart is a cycle of “repeated segments” that is of intense nature. In this process, there is an interchange periods of recuperation. It can both be comprehensive activity and moderate motion.

Consequently, the benefits of merely engaging into this kind of activity can bring you more results that you have ever expected. These are:

1. The threats of heart attack are lessened, if not eliminated

2. Enhanced heart task

3. Increase metabolism, increase the chance of burning calories, therefore, assist you in losing weight

4. Improves lung capacity

5. Helps lessen or eliminate the cases of stress

Indeed, cardio interval training is the modern way of creating a healthy, happy heart and body.

Top 10 Supermodels of All Time

2011-01-20T16:26:00.001+08:00

Where have all the leggy supermodels gone? The original handful may have stepped aside to make room for the younger, emerging crop, but statuesque perfection is still a hot commodity.

So to those who say the era of the supermodel died with the Clinton administration, I have two words: Gisele Bundchen. If this chick isn't carrying the torch and running with the baton, nobody is. But without Cindy, there may not have been a Gisele. And without Carol Alt and Christie Brinkley, there may not have been a Cindy. You get the idea.

And just so you know, we're acutely aware of the constraints inherent in the format we chose to rank them. Certainly Heidi Klum's bottom-narrow, top-heavy, Victoria's Secret-friendly form deserves a shoutout. So does Linda Evangelista's unlikely rise from small-town Canadian girl to ubiquitous supermodel known for her everchanging haircolor. Had Letterman's contribution to the entertainment lexicon been a Top 12 list, they would have been shoo-ins.

Each model sensation featured in the list that follows has opened a door, and didn't merely walk through one. And although words can never do their uncanny perfection justice, it was incumbent upon me to try.

Number 10

ELLE MACPHERSON
With looks so good it's stupid, Elle MacPherson's rise to aesthetic prominence was a lock. Standing at an impressive six feet, Elle, also known as "The Body," conquered all the glossies -- Elle, Sports Illustrated , etc. -- before turning her attention to working out her admirers in a series of exercise tapes. She's had several turns in Hollywood films, most notably Sirens and Batman & Robin . Her love life is no stranger to sequels, either. She's been linked to several high-profile men, and is now engaged to Swiss financier Arpade "Arki" Busson, whom she had her second child with in February 2003.

Number 9

CHRISTY TURLINGTON
One of the original five supermodels (alongside Cindy, Claudia, Naomi, and Linda), hers is a face you know. It's impeccable. It's everywhere. It's inescapable. And men worldwide are cool with that. Christy Turlington has been the face of Calvin Klein's ever-expanding arsenal of fragrances since 1987. That's 16 years of supermodel status, an achievement that speaks volumes about her timeless beauty. That now-ubiquitous face has graced the cover of countless magazines and Turlington has earned a reputation as a consummate professional. As told to Vogue : "I know how to make every part of my body appear different than it actually is. I can make my eyes and my lips appear bigger by putting my chin down... You can manipulate everything by photography." Manipulated or not, those lips deserve an article of their own.

Number 8

NAOMI CAMPBELL
No discussion of supermodels would be complete without the mention of Naomi Campbell. This sultry British import practically breathed life into the term (along with a couple of other stunners who made the grade). But she's not just a pretty face. Campbell broke ground as the first black woman to ever appear on the cover of Time magazine and British and French Vogue . She's also had a number one single in Japan with "La, La, La Love Song," steamed up the small screen in pre-controversy Michael Jackson's "In The Closet" video and turned in a strong performance in Spike Lee's Girl 6 . Not too shabby.

Number 7

KATE MOSS
And on the seventh day, God created Kate.There was a reason she was discovered "by accident" while walking in JFK Airport in 1988 -- Kate Moss has a very distinctive beauty. She has amazing almond-shaped eyes and her chiseled face exudes an air of mystery. What also makes Kate's look so original is her gap-toothed smile (which is rarely exposed). Although she doesn't typify our idea of a "beautiful woman," her net worth speaks volumes about her beauty.
Although Kate Moss' body can give that skeleton in our high school biology class a run for its money, she has a gorgeous face and an incredible walk.She's famous, rich and extremely successful. Thanks to the Calvin Klein ads of the early '90s, her exposure has been tremendous. Kate Moss can be credited for the "waif" comeback that Twiggy popularized in the '60s, by making skinny and frail the body image that women aspired to achieve. But controversy never hurt anyone's career, and Kate's extreme popularity made it seem that being underweight was the standard of beauty.

Number 6

CLAUDIA SCHIFFER
This former Guess? pinup performed her best trick when she made her engagement to magician David Copperfield disappear. All the boys really dug that one. German-born Claudia Schiffer's silhouette has been splashed across over 500 magazine covers. Aren't you happy Claudia forwent practicing law in favor of a top-drawer modeling career? She exudes innocence and sex appeal in the same breath -- blonde hair, deep blue eyes, a dynamite physique -- a quality, we suspect, that led to a four-year contract with Revlon worth $6 million. All of this, in addition to the calendar and television spots, has secured Claudia's well-deserved place as a card-carrying member of the top-five-supermodels-in-the-world club.

Number 5

CAROL ALT
Dubbed "The Face" for obvious reasons, Carol Alt has had a sustained, if not fulfilling career as a megamodel. Unfortunately, it's been slowed by age and the fickleness of the biz. But that doesn't undo Carol's tremendous achievements. A true renaissance model, way ahead of the curve and slightly ahead of her time, Carol was a dominant force in fashion before supermodels roamed the earth. Like Claudia Schiffer, she gave up on law school when she was plucked from obscurity at Hofstra University. The rest -- covers, exercise videos, American and European films, posters and calendars -- is supermodel history. Not to mention, her face helped launch a glossy institution. Now 43, Carol likes to stay active and is something of a fan of professional hockey; she divorced former NHL player Ron Greschner and is now married to New York Islanders star Alexei Yashin. A hockey fan to boot.

Number 4

KATHY IRELAND
Of all of Kathy Ireland's achievements as a model -- and there have been many -- her most notable is probably her repeated at bats on the cover of the famed Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Three at last count. She was also named the magazine's 25th anniversary swimsuit model and has been a staple of the publication for over twelve years. Like many of her peers, she's gracefully pulled off a successful crossover into small television and film roles. With legendary blue eyes, a killer smile and a banging body, it's not hard to see why. She even has a little Martha Stewart in her, hatching her own line of clothing and home design products.

Number 3

CHRISTIE BRINKLEY
The first career supermodel as we understand it, Brinkley has graced the cover of over 500 magazines. She embodies a classic American beauty; her flowing blonde hair, flawless pale complexion and piercing blue eyes are as simple as apple pie, yet complex enough that one can never figure out how it all came together so perfectly. Let's get this out of the way immediately: Brinkley was married to rock 'n' roll legend Billy Joel for some time, even appearing in his "Uptown Girl" video. Of course, Christie will always be remembered for giving Chevy Chase something to speed about in two National Lampoon Vacation movies. Her extraordinary supermodel career now entering its twilight, Christie is more apt to appear in Redbook than Vogue , but is still very much in demand. She's doing the infomercial rounds and has taken up worthwhile causes like the fight against breast cancer.

Number 2

GISELE BUNDCHEN
If Brazil has become ground zero for new model talent, Gisele Bundchen is its first lady. Everything about her is perfect, symmetrically and otherwise. Gisele is like a breath of fresh air for anyone who's grown tired of that drawn, emaciated look. On the contrary, Gisele's figure is wholly feminine: shapely and proportional, not tomboyish. Since appearing on the scene a short time ago (1999, to be exact), she has exploded as a top choice of photographers, glossies and, of course, fashion houses. Polo and Dolce & Gabbana quickly came knocking, signing Gisele to peddle their wares. All the others have since fallen in line. Between endorsements and shoots, you might say Gisele is adequately compensated for being the next big thing. Her estimated earning power is in the neighborhood of $5 million. Now she can chow down in style, even though rumor has it she has a thing for Big Macs.

Number 1

CINDY CRAWFORD

Cindy Crawford isn't a supermodel, she's an enterprise. This Midwesterner's star began to rise in the mid-'80s, as she parlayed a ridiculous body and one very prominent mole into a career that included hundreds of magazine covers, a Play..boy layout and, of course, a myriad of catwalk saunters. But Cindy's world domination did not end there. Endorsements for makeup lines and soft drinks, appearances in Hollywood films and a short-lived turn as a restaurateur followed. In 1995, Forbes magazine named Crawford the world's highest-paid model. Not bad for an Illinois farm girl. Since conquering fashion and dominating popular culture, Cindy has turned her attention to raising her children alongside her nightlife impresario husband, Rande Gerber. Her appearances may be limited these days, but nobody can deny that the '90s were all Cindy's.

Special Vegetarian Dresses

2011-01-13T16:32:00.001+08:00

If Lady Gaga’s meat dress made you cringe more than it made your mouth water, perhaps South Korean artist Sung Yeonju’s creations will be more your speed. Yeonju started her “Wearable Food” series two years ago using everday edible items like eggplant, tomatoes, and bubblegum to create stunning dresses and corsets. Per her website, “this series forces viewers to defy the actual meaning, the functionalities, and the aspects of what clothing signifies in our lives.”

A dress made entirely out of eggplant, Tomato dress

Bubble gum dress, Chive dress

Banana dress, Bread dress

Shrimp corset, Spring onion puff sleeve dress

Lotus root dress, Winter mushroom fringe top

Fried egg halter dress, Red cabbage corset

White radish dress, Rear view of the chicken halter dress

Elle December 2010 Covergirl: Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994

2010-12-14T16:53:00.001+08:00

Former Miss World 1994, Aishwarya Rai is the latest covergirl of Elle Magazine December 2010 on their 14th Anniversary Issue.

* Thanks to Universal Queen

How much Supermodels Earn?

2010-12-06T14:18:00.001+08:00

How much money models really make?

This week Jezebel ran an article about three models who are suing Next management for stealing their money. Anna Jagodzinska, Karmen Pedaru, and Anna Cywinska, claim their agency owes them a collective $750,000, and though they left Next back in April, the company has refused to pay the models the money they are owed. Each of them are seeking these back payments plus $1 million in damages.

While we empathize with anyone who’s been ripped off, we were truly fascinated by Jagodzinska’s April 23 account statement, which shows exactly how much she was supposed to earn for each of her modeling jobs. For any of you who have ever wondered just how much a model makes for striking a pose, prepare to be amazed:

* French Vogue shoot – $125
* Vogue shoot – $250
* J.Crew campaign – $15,000
* H&M campaign – $60,000
* Laird & Partners productions – $35,000 (they produce ads for luxury companies like Donna Karan and Bottega Veneta)
* Grey Paris productions – $172,500 (they also produce ad campaigns)

So while appearing in Vogue may boost a model’s status or seem really fancy, the big bucks clearly come from mainstream ad campaigns. And while this statement shows Jagodzinska raking in $231,372, Next took $56,675 of her pay as commission. What’s leftover for standing around looking pretty sure isn’t bad, but it’s chump change when compared with the 10 highest earning models, according to Forbes. Below, the most gorgeous ladies with the fattest paychecks this year:

1. Gisele Bündchen- $25 million
2. Heidi Klum – $16 million
3. Kate Moss – $9 million-
4. Adriana Lima – $7.5 million
5. Doutzen Kroes – $6 million
6. Alessandra Ambrosio – $5.5 million
7. Natalia Vodianova – $5.5 million
8. Daria Werbowy – $4.5 Million
9. Miranda Kerr – $4 million
10. Carolyn Murphy – $3.5 million

Don’t hate them because they’re beautiful. Hate them because they get paid so much to be beautiful.

Body Paint Pictures of Hollywood Celebs

2010-12-04T11:28:00.003+08:00

Check out the Body Painting Photos of some Hollywood Celebrities:

Rachel Hunter body painting

Demi Moore body paint on Vanity Fair Cover

Ashley Greene body painting

Brooklyn-Decker-body-painting on SI

Bar Refaeli body-paint: The girl friend of Leonardo DiCaprio on Esquire Magazine cover

Victoria's Secret Angel, Heidi Klum body painting

Paris Hilton body paint photo for a wine promotion campaign

Supermodel, Gisele Bundchen body painting

Jenna Dewan body-painting

Emma Watson launch new green clothing collection

2010-11-21T18:24:00.001+08:00

Fresh off the success of her latest green collection with People Tree, Harry Potter actress Emma Watson is furthering her career in fashion design with a new collaboration with Alberta Ferretti.

The 20-year-old, who can be seen this weekend in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” says Ferretti contacted her after spying her previous green work.

“She wrote to me and said, ‘I saw what you did with People Tree and I think it’s a great idea and will you do something with me?’ ’’ Watson told Us Weekly.

The collection, expected to launch next year, does not have a name — but will reportedly be eco-chic with a “classic, ’60s Jane Birkin” vibe. “I will put it out there that I will work for anyone for free if they are prepared to make their clothing fair-trade organic,” she added.

Could Watson make a big splash in the fashion industry outside of her acting career? She already has an eye for the scene — having repeatedly been declared a “fashion icon”; a label she admits makes her nervous.

“I keep hearing that fashion icon thing. It makes me nervous. Please don’t say that,” Emma told MTV’s Josh Horowitz. “It’s like obviously a huge compliment, but I am suddenly aware that every outfit I wear is being analyzed.”

“I just still try to have fun with it and try not to pay too much attention and just kind of enjoy it,” she added.

Jesinta Campbell in FHM Australia Magazine December 2010 Issue

2010-11-14T11:11:00.000+08:00

The reigning Miss Universe Australia 2010, Jesinta Campbell on the Cover of FHM Australia Magazine December 2010 Issue.

* Thanks to Universal Queen

Angelina Jolie as Covergirl of Lame Vogue US December Issue

2010-11-12T21:05:00.002+08:00

Angelina Jolie was wearing her pyjamas, but that was photoshoped and turned into a black corset top covered with a white jacket.

In the interview she gave for the magazine, the 35-year-old actress revealed that she’s a worse cooker than her six-year-old son Pax. We think she also a worse actress than Shiloh, but that’s just us!

She also says that Maddox, her first adopted child, who’s now 9–year-old actually raised her. You poor troubled mom! And we refuse to say no more about Shiloh being transformed into a boy.

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2010

2010-11-12T20:59:00.003+08:00

The angels of Victoria’s Secret brought their A-game for the 2010 Fashion Show on November 10 in New York City once again.

Adriana Lima was the lucky gal who got to wear the $2 million Bombshell Fantasy Bra, decked out in 142 carats of diamonds, topaz, and sapphires.

Also on the runway were hotties like Alessandra Ambrosio, Selita Ebanks, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Jessica Stam, and Lily Aldridge.

And providing the musical entertainment for the gig were Katy Perry and Akon, while hotel heiress sisters Paris and Nicky Hilton turned up for the VS festivities – which air on December 30th at 10pm on CBS.

Fashion at MTV Europe Music Awards 2010

2010-11-10T13:40:00.002+08:00

From Rihanna to Katy Perry, many of our favorite Hollywood starlets jetted to Madrid for the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards last night. Check out our picks for best and worst dressed of the night!

Katy’s EMA deep red Jeremy Scott number with her hair pulled back was captivating. she paired it with striking blue shoes.

BFF Rihanna floored in an off-white Marchesa gown that was the epitome of elegance. her fiery red hair added the perfect pop of color.

Ke$ha’s outfit were a black-and-white slashed T-shirt and a pair of purple silk pants.

Unlike Ke$ha, Taylor didn’t make the mistake of wearing purple pants.

Miley was a breath of fresh air in this modest, white, layered D&G dress. Miley’s “Hannah Montana” co-star Emily Osment joined her on the red carpet in a striking blue BCBG Max Azria bandage dress.

Fashion War: Rihanna vs. Lady GaGa

2010-11-10T13:31:00.001+08:00

Rihanna and Lady GaGa have red hot careers, but they also have signature styles that have turned them into fashion icons. Both stars were in London this week; GaGa was honored at the Billboard Touring Awards while Rihanna hosted a Christmas tree lighting celebration.

So who brought their best style with them? GaGa’s outfits have been kind of lackluster lately, but her new blonde bob looks great on her. It’s definitely an improvement on the drab, gray color she experimented with last week. She also brought back her super high platforms, and she didn’t fall on her face at all this time! The shoes and sunglasses she wore with her purple dress looked fabulous, even if it looks like she’s wearing a sack with two holes cut in it.

Rihanna looked absolutely stunning, as usual, but parts of her outfit looked a little suspect, as usual. The bow looks cute with her red hair, but the skirt looks a little awkward when paired with that gray and black busier. Even so, Rihanna wears bright neon colors better than anyone, and with the stage lights beaming down on her she actually glows a little. Of course having gold on your wrist and chest doesn’t hurt either.

Hot Colognes for Men by Gucci

2010-11-10T13:26:00.002+08:00

Men like to feel comfortable, as well as women. Most men want to impress a distinctive and elegant perfume of the ladies in his life. We want to dress for success, and usually includes a suit, a beautiful Clock, gucci handbags and top with a perfect scent for men. The collection of these elements is easy for some but difficult for a lot of people without style. Some tips for choosing a good style of clothing or shoes that can be done by consulting men magazines or fashion boutiques. As the colony test different testers using the colony to determine whether it is appropriate for you. Personal taste is important in their decision, but you can ask the woman in your life. They are, will help you more. One trick is not to sell their beautiful women choose occupations. They just want to make just about the sale.

Some of the best flavors at this time include Antidote by Viktor & Rolf, who is a wonderful timeless essence, they like to wear for every occasion. Diesel Fuel for Life Men is a fresh scent, but it's good for the guys neck, raw style. Another colony is good Kenzo Tokyo, which is a mixture of different things like green tea, sage, lemon, ginger and pink pepper. Another attractive and alluring fragrance from Givenchy Givenchy offers a quiet love modern. Some scents you can try Prada Infusion d'Homme, Gucci Pour Homme Gucci, Cartier Roadster to understand and Silver Mountain Water by Creed.

Formal Hair Styles for Women

2010-11-04T20:42:00.002+08:00

Long, flowing hair is a great match for strapless formal dresses because it brings so much attention to the face and upper body.
Long hair also adds a youthful twist to formal wear (unlike a stiff updo) so it’s a great way to look updated and modern.

Here’s how to wear long hair with a formal dress:
• Keep the volume under control with products designed to add texture and shine: structured curls (the kind you get with old-fashioned hot rollers) are out. Instead, opt for long loose waves or silky, stick-straight hair.

• Long, sexy hair becomes the accessory, so go easy on other jewelry around the face. Earrings — which need to be oversized diamond studs or chandelier earrings to be seen with long hair — are all you need. Skip the necklace.

• Take daytime hair into the night with a beautiful hair ornament or a look that is partially pulled up or back away from the face.

Modern Updo

The biggest formal fashion mistake most women make is to pair a gorgeous dress with a frumpy, overly structured updo.

For the runway, hair stylists often choose an updo that features a high chignon that has loose ends.

The modern updo looks sleek but not too perfect, which adds to its appeal.

Trendy Headband

The headband took runways by storm at recent fashion shows. Paired with either long slick hair or slightly teased retro hair, the black headband is a great way to update even the most basic little black dress.

Fast Fashion Couture in Paris

2010-11-04T20:39:00.001+08:00

The designer — the latest in Hennes & Mauritz’s lineup of high/low collaborations that started with Karl Lagerfeld in 2004 and has included Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons and Victor & Rolf — has brought his kooky femininity to the Swedish “fast fashion” chain.

The aim is to offer to a far greater audience Lanvin’s wit and fantasy, using bold prints, playful ruffles and vivid colors like sunshine yellow, alongside imaginative creations in black. In other words, to bring the haute style that Mr. Elbaz sends out on the Paris runways to a wider world.

“But I was thinking about the definition of luxury and about H&M, and I wanted them to go up rather than Lanvin to go down,” says the designer of what he calls “an interesting exercise in high street and high fashion.”

Mr. Elbaz said that he wanted to do “taste branding” and to work out “how we can do it for €99.99,” referring to the typical price level of a garment in an entire collection that includes accessories, shoes and a 20-piece menswear range.

Although the clothes go on sale across the world, Hennes & Mauritz has a particular reason to welcome the collection to Paris: a new 2,800-square meter, or 30,100-square foot, store on the Champs-Élysées, designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel — the first time a “fast fashion” chain has followed the architectural route. The concept of a dedicated store that creates a city landmark has mostly been reserved for big names such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton or Prada.

With pale limestone, contrasting with dark fittings, the store stretches over three levels, creating a streamlined background that is flexible enough to create a constant flow of change. The modernist interior is a backdrop to the clothes — but with a techno twist: LED screens creating projections as if the sidewalk and the store flow into one other. The lighting effects were even more dramatic when vivid colors were projected on the façade at the opening celebrations last month.
With 140 stores across France and 11 in Paris, H&M is incontestably for everyone — the opposite of the elitism that is at the core of couture. Mr. Elbaz admits that he had previously been wary of collaborating with fast fashion.

Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel Fashion Show Paris 2010

2010-11-01T13:11:00.001+08:00

The Spring/Summer Collection by Karl Lagerfeld. At the Chanel spring/summer fashion show in Paris Karl Lagerfeld really did not adorn himself with borrowed plumes.

There was no need: featherlike details were a big part of many of the outfits from the Chanel spring/summer collection. Model Karmen Kass paraded along the 350 meter long cat walk wearing a dress with the floaty featherlike material.
The show was bombastic and pompous as always: models like Abbey Lee, Lindsey and Freja presented Karl Lagerfeld’s newest Chanel creations for the coming summer season in a replication of the Jardins de Versailles.

In accordance with the setting live music was played by a classic sym.

Elle Magazine Celebrates it's 25th anniversary

2010-11-01T13:08:00.001+08:00

One of the top fashion magazines in the world, ELLE magazine celebrated its 25th anniversary in New York on Tuesday night, Oct. 26, with the launch of a new book, “The ELLEments of Personal Style,” featuring advice and wardrobe suggestions from 25 of their favorite style icons, and a performance by Grammy Award-winning artist and ELLE icon Estelle.

Featured icons in the book, like Diane von Furstenberg and Padma Lakshmi, offered up their style advice and secrets on the red carpet.
“I think the only style advice I can give or receive is just to being happy with who you are and just go with it,” said von Furstenberg.

Designer Nicole Miller said she loves Penelope Cruz, and would follow Cruz’s style advice without thinking.

Christian Siriano, the young designer who has been dressing top stars left and right as of late, including Estelle and “Mad Men”‘s Christina Hendricks, has his own favorites when it comes to personal inspiration.

Rising Designer: Angela Chen

2010-11-01T13:05:00.001+08:00

A Fashion designer named Angela Chen wasn’t even born when the movie The Blue Lagoon came out in theaters in 1980, but just one viewing inspired the Vancouver designer’s spring collection. “I saw the movie this summer and fell in love with it right away,” Chen said. Taiwanese-born Chen, 27, moved to Vancouver at age seven and originally launched her line as Orange in New York in 2007 after graduating from Parsons the New School for Design. This was a labor of love she worked on after-hours, even managing to sell some of her pieces into Soho boutiques and onto a few of the famous. Chen says that Kirsten Dunst, Allison Pill and Chloë Sevigny have all worn the line. Three years and several successful fashion shows later, Orange has been changed to ‘OR’ by Angela Chen, with the spring collection hitting the runway at LG Fashion Week in Toronto.

One doesn’t often think of The Blue Lagoon as a fashion movie. Child star Brooke Shields’ character Emmeline relies on a loincloth and, for modesty’s sake, her long hair to make a fashion statement. But it wasn’t the one makeshift dress Emmeline fashions from her lone trunk that inspired Chen. It was the actress herself. “It was the first time I had seen Brooke Shields when she was so young and not just in pictures,” she says of the early Shields who was all gangly tanned limbs, wild hair, strong eyebrows and innocence. Although the palette of Chen’s Spring/Summer 2011 OR collection was also inspired by the movie’s sun-drenched sky, sand and sea, the cold, rainy weather that welcomed Chen to Toronto on the eve of her runway show was less than sun-drenched. Models huddled in the drizzle outside her publicist’s downtown office, anxiously waiting for this interview to be over and the runway casting to begin.
To evoke a carefree island mood, the collection relies heavily on fine French linen, sourced at some expense through a fabric rep who had seen her Vancouver Fashion Week collection. It’s pretty and ethereal, but in a nod to Chen’s pragmatic side, doesn’t rely on less than practical floaty chiffon tricks to convey the carefree mood. Instead, there are fluid flax-colored linen gowns for beachy weddings and details like delicate spaghetti straps, intricate smocked bibs and tiny pleats. One demure dress pools around the knees; another is a floaty, ankle-grazer in pale ombré, as though the bottom had dipped into a lagoon of blue dye. For fun, there’s a little romper.
In addition to usual sources like Carolina Herrerra, Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui, famous New York fashion studios where she worked before moving back to Vancouver, Chen says she pays close attention to Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong fashion. “I love all their really simple things, the Zen feeling of design and the little detail here or there.” That’s reflected in Chen’s own taste for asymmetric pleats and draping. They’re also the kinds of slightly off-kilter designs that Shield’s Emmeline might have fashioned out of those Victorian linen dresses that washed ashore, since she’d never laid eyes on a fashion magazine.

KEITAMARUYAMA by Keita Maruyamaon at the Japan Fashion Week

2010-11-01T13:04:00.001+08:00

Keita Maruyama, a young Japanese Fashion Designer showcase her collection during the Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo held on October 19.

A graduate of Bunka Fashion College (Bunkafukuso Gakuin), Maruyama has had a fascination with fashion since childhood. After working as a freelancer designing clothes for entertainers, he debuted as an independent designer in 1994 and has his first show in Paris three years later.

Maruyama’s designs are quite different from those of the older established Japanese designers. In this sense, he is not so readily recognized as a Japanese designer in Europe. He uses more obviously Oriental motifs and “introduces the essence of the kimono” into his designs. He would like to increase the popularity of the kimono among young Japanese, and launched a kimono collection in the autumn of 1999, although he is aware of its limited practicality in modern life.

Maruyama’s line are designed to “end up in an antique shop rather than a museum”, being passed on rather than simply consumed. Abroad, his designs are available in the US and Europe as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Siren Shoes' new model: Jennifer Hawkins

2010-11-01T12:39:00.001+08:00

Former Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins has signed a new deal with a fashionable shoe outfit. One of Australia’s young women’s fashion footwear players, Siren Shoes says it has strategically positioned itself for significant growth after securing Jennifer Hawkins as the new face of its national brand. She, who has been voted one of the world’s most beautiful women and is already the face of Myer and recently launched her own line of lingerie called Lovable, has entered into a three year contract with Siren which will see her become the face of the brand. Cube Footwear, the owner of Siren, group director Michael Emanouel said Jennifer Hawkins portrays everything that the brand stands for. “She’s beautiful and ambitious with a bold outlook on life,” he said.

“The Siren target customer will be able to relate directly with Jennifer, and we are immensely proud to be working with her.” Hawkins will also collaborate with Siren on the development of her own signature range of shoes: “JLH for Siren”. The “L” stands for Jennifer's middle name, Louise. “I’ve always wanted to design heels. I am truly obsessed with them and know what a woman wants in a heel,” the beauty queen said.

Emanouel said Hawkins was passionate about fashion and shoes and was thrilled to be part of the design process, from idea generation all the way through to market. Jennifer officially launched the range at a special parade in Sydney yesterday and she features in Siren’s upcoming Spring Summer 2010 national campaign which was shot at a luxury location in Sydney.

* Thanks to UniversalQueen.com

Folded & Hung Spring / Summer Fashion Show 2010

2010-10-31T22:26:00.001+08:00

Folded and Hung Show at PFW Spring/Summer Photos:

Quick Tips to Boost Your Metabolism

2010-10-31T18:47:00.000+08:00

There are a lot of people who would give a lot to increase their metabolism. Having a high level of metabolism enables one to maintain burn fat and lose weight fast with the least amount of activity. Metabolism is the rate by which the body produces and consumes energy and calories to support life.

There are several factors that affect the metabolism of a person, such as the amount of muscle tissue, the frequency of the meals one consumes, genetics, stress levels, personal diet and activity levels. Metabolism slows done due to the following: loss of muscle because of not enough physical activity, the tendency of the body to cannibalize its own tissue because there is not enough food energy to sustain it, and the decrease of physical activity that comes naturally with old age.

Here are several ways to fire up one's metabolism:

1. Build up on lean, mean body mass. It is only natural that metabolism decreases along with age, but it is possible to counter the effects. The amount of muscle a person has is a very strong determinant in the ability to burn calories and shed fat. So it goes without saying that exercise is essential. Build strength and resistance by working out at least twice a week, preferably with weights. Do easy exercises in between workouts. Simple tasks such as walking the dog and using the stairs in place of the elevator can already take off calories. The key is to match the amount of eating to the amount of activity one has. Here are some guidelines in getting the right exercise:

For strength training

-Increase the amount of repetitions of a particular exercise.
-Add the level of resistance
-Utilize advance exercise techniques if possible

For cardiovascular training

-Insert intervals between exercises
-Perform cross-training and combine the exercises
-Add up on resistance and speed

2. Eat breakfast. A lot of people are ignoring the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Surprisingly, the ones who eat breakfast are thinner than the ones who do not. Metabolism can slow down considerably if breakfast is taken during mid-morning or if one waits until the afternoon to eat.

3. Avoid sugar. Sugar enables the body to store fat. It is recommended that a person consumes food that helps sustain an even level of blood-sugar. Additionally, progressive execerise 2-3 times a week should be in order to stabilize blood sugar.

4. Eat spicy foods. Hot cuisine with peppers can increase metabolism.

5. Sleep more. According to research, it is riskier for people who do not get enough sleep to gain weight. Also, muscles are regenerated during the last couple of hours of slumber.

6. Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins that are produced whenever the body burns fat. Majority of bodily functions involves water, and lack of water causes the body system's operations to decrease its speed, and produces unneeded stress as a result.

7. Eat smaller meals. It is advisable to consume 4 to 6 small meals that are timed 2 to 3 hours apart.

8. Never skip meals. People tend to skip meals in order to lose weight, which is a big mistake since it slows down metabolism.

9. Plan meals in detail. Always prepare the right amount of food to be consumed at the designated intervals. Do not commit the mistake of eating meals in sporadic patterns.

9. Ditch the stress! Stress, be it physical or emotional, triggers the release of a steroid called cortisol, which decreases metabolism. Also, people tend to eat excessively when stressed.

10. Guzzle up on green tea. It can be used as a substitute for coffee. Tea has the ability to stimulate metabolism, and unlike coffee, it has no undesirable side effects when too much is consumed.

11. Include more energy foods in the diet, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains.

Achieving the desired body weight is never impossible if one has the determination and patience needed to stabilize the metabolism level, which plays an important role in weight loss. A person needs to realize that eating right and working out is not just a passing fancy, but a way of life.

Getting anxious over Anxiety Depression?

2010-10-19T23:37:00.001+08:00

A lot of people who are exerting too much of their brain power usually exhaust not only their physical strength when engaging in various multi-tasking activities, they also tend to over extend their brains up to the point when it plainly needs some good old time for relaxation. A lot of busy people who seem to cannot fathom the idea of relaxing and taking time of from work, as well as their worries, tend to actually start having nervous breakdowns, anxiety depression and all sorts of mental illnesses that can cause a person's sanity to go haywire, fortunately, if you're one of those poor unfortunate ones who are unable to distress and is constantly worried and fussing over things, there are actually available cures and various treatments for treating anxiety depression.

Anxiety depression is actually characterized by all sorts of irregularities and erratic behavior from the person who is suffering from it, this is usuallu due to certain stress triggers that may tend to easily cause a person undue jitters and stress. Also, a lot of people who tend to get easily nervous over stressful activities are actually prone to having anxiety depression, its just a matter of being strong-willed when it comes to facing difficult and stress-prone activities. It may be pretty hard to overcome at first, but trying to be calm and cool in times of extreme pressure is what'll actually save your mental health from going totally downward spiral.

When it comes to effectively curing one's self from a mental illness, one must keep in mind that you have to be actually honest with yourself and assess what kind of depression or mental illness you actually have, go to reputable psychiatrist to get yourself diagnosed correctly as well as be able to get the right depression treatment for yourself. Here are the various types of depression:

Manic or Bipolar depression - characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one's mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the
next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling to be in a personal hell.

Postpartum depression - characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother wherein physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible factors why some new mother go through this.

Dysthimia - characterized by a slight similarity with depression, although this time, it's been proven to be a lot less severe, but of course with any case, should be treated immediately.

Cyclothemia - characterized by a slight similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the individual suffering from this mental illness may occasionally suffer from severe changes in one's moods.

Seasonal Affective Disorder - characterized by falling in a rut only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall) studies however, prove that more people
actually fall in to a rut more during the Winter and Fall seasons and lastly, Mood swings, wherein a person's mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in just a short time.

But the type of depression that has actually been proven to be quite common among people is anxiety depression, which is actually characterized by the state of being overly anxious about things. Anxiety, a supposedly normal behavior that'll actually help a person adjust more to a certain stressful activity like first date jitters or a grueling exam the following day. Anxiety actually helps you get psyched up towards facing certain "difficult situations"; anxiety therefore is actually a good thing. Anxiety depression however, is simply the opposite, not to be easily dismissed as a "case of the nerves"; Anxiety depression is in actuality an illness that can be caused from the biological makeup of an individual, or in other words, a hereditary illness.

Also, there are actually various types of Anxiety depression, each having its own unique characteristics. Take for example Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, this kind of Anxiety depression is a lot more complicated than the average Anxiety depression, in spite of possibly being a day-to-day habit for those who suffer this kind of Anxiety depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually makes the individual quite more paranoid than usual, anxiety attacks are more frequent, even absurd at times. They can even be anxious even when there's no apparent reason that calls for them to behave in such a way. People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually shows a lot of symptoms, from lack of sleep, to being unable to relax, getting tired easily, cannot concentrate on what they're doing and even suffering from depression. This kind of Anxiety depression is still curable; just a little work will actually do the trick.

Consult a reputable cognitive behavior therapist who'll help give the individual the therapy that he or she needs to help him or her loosen up, also prescribed medicines are sort of a must to help these individuals battle anxiety attacks, help them calm down and relax.

Your 5 minutes daily program to Stress management

2010-10-19T23:35:00.000+08:00

"Relaxing with a Mental PDA" Your 5 minutes daily program to Stress management

We all have this favorite expression when it comes to being stressed out, and I wouldn't bother naming all of them since it may also vary in different languages. But when it comes down to it, I think that it is how we work or even relax, for that matter that triggers stress. Ever been stressed even when you're well relaxed and bored? I know I have.

Since Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. is unavoidable in life, it is important to find ways to decrease and prevent stressful incidents and decrease negative reactions to stress. Here are some of the things that can be done by just remembering it, since life is basically a routine to follow like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You can do a few of them in a longer span of time, but as they say-- every minute counts.

Managing time

Time management skills can allow you more time with your family and friends and possibly increase your performance and productivity. This will help reduce your stress.

To improve your time management:

· Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself.
· Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time.
· Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and meaningful to you.
· Manage your commitments by not over- or undercommitting. Don't commit to what is not important to you.
· Deal with procrastination by using a day planner, breaking large projects into smaller ones, and setting short-term deadlines.
· Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you believe and what your life is like.
Build healthy coping strategies

It is important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction, and how you cope in a stress journal. With this information, you can work to change unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones-those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.

Lifestyle

Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. They may not cause stress directly, but they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:

· Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations.
· Have a sense of purpose in life.
· Get enough sleep, since your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping.
· Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress.
· Get moderate exercise throughout the week.
· Limit your consumption of alcohol.
· Don't smoke.

Social support

Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress. Social support is the positive support you receive from family, friends, and the community. It is the knowledge that you are cared for, loved, esteemed, and valued. More and more research indicates a strong relationship between social support and better mental and physical health.

Changing thinking

When an event triggers negative thoughts, you may experience fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness. These emotions trigger the body's stress, just as an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.

· Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help eliminate stress.
· Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid exaggerating the negative thought, anticipating the worst, and interpreting an event incorrectly.
· Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it.
· Changing your communication style helps you communicate in a way that makes your views known without making others feel put down, hostile, or intimidated. This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style.

Even writers like me can get stressed even though we're just using our hands to do the talking, but having to sit for 7 or 8 hours is already stressful enough and have our own way to relieve stress. Whether you're the mail guy, the CEO, or probably the average working parent, stress is one unwanted visitor you would love to boot out of your homes, especially your life.

10 Most Popular Haircuts for Women

2010-10-12T22:07:00.000+08:00

10 Most Popular Haircuts of All Time

It's no secret that many of us take our beauty cues from celebrities. Recently a poll from hair company Goody officially confirmed it by counting down the six most popular celeb-inspired hairstyles. We've added a few iconic styles of our own to make up the 10 best hairstyles of all time — some of which still work today.

Jennifer Aniston's "Rachel" Cut
Since Aniston debuted this style as the character Rachel on Friends in the '90s, more than 11 million woman have tried the cut. Fifteen years later it's still a frequent request, making the "Rachel" one of the most popular hairstyles of all time.

Meg Ryan's Shag
Ryan's made a career out of portraying the silly but sexy, quirky girl — a persona best embodied by this choppy, peppy shag. This look was first runner-up in Goody's poll.

Dannii Minogue's Sleek Bob
Minogue's flawless bob is both sophisticated and confident — the perfect complement for any edgy, no-nonsense woman.

Princess Diana's Royal Do
During her short, tragic life, Diana reached the pinnacle of elegance and carved out one of the most recognizable and coveted styles. According to the poll, her cut is still popular with women in all age groups.

Victoria Beckham's Posh Pageboy
When Victoria Beckham decided to shed her "Posh" skin, she took the shears to her locks and catapulted herself into icon status with this structured style. Her asymmetrical cut is another favorite with women in every demographic.

Farrah Fawcett's Feathered Flip
No one has ever done more for the "feathered" look. While the '70s and Fawcett are no longer with us, this vintage style is still a favorite with ladies everywhere.

Michelle Obama's Classic Cut
In 2007, Obama was an unknown political wife. Since ascending to the White House, she's handled the spotlight with confidence and grace, thanks in part to her elegance, character, and this timeless and flattering cut.

Marilyn Monroe's Blonde Curls
In the history of hair color there is no blonde more famous than Marilyn Monroe. She may not have invented this look, but she certainly owned it. If you've got the guts to go bottle blonde, this style still guarantees sex appeal.

Mia Farrow's Pixie Crop
In 1968, after Vidal Sassoon gave Mia Farrow this extreme haircut for the film Rosemary's Baby, thousands of woman ran to salons, eager to shed inches of hair, along with traditional standards of feminine beauty.

Blake Lively's Layered Locks
Poised to topple the popularity of the "Rachel," Blake Lively's long, blonde Gossip Girl tresses have become one of the most requested styles in salons across American — even prompting a New York Times article chronicling the craze.

Gisele Bundchen on the cover of Vogue Brazil

2010-10-09T15:52:00.002+08:00

Gisele Bundchen celebrating her 15 year career as Vogue Brasil October 2010 issue covergirl.

Gisele Bundchen by Jacques Dequeker
Beauty – Lili Ferraz
Fashion Editor – Giovanni Frasson

Veruschka von Lehndorff Walks the Runway Again

2010-10-09T15:46:00.002+08:00

71 year old Veruschka von Lehndorff proves beauty is ageless. The time when teenage, waif-thin models ruled the fashion scene may be over.

Supermodel Veruschka walked the runway at Giles Deacon’s fantastic Spring/Summer 2011 fashion show during London Fashion Week.

Wearing a feather boa headdress and long, bow-print gown, the 1960s icon, considered the world’s first supermodel, staged the finale—proving everyone can look fabulous at every age.

Deacon’s brightly-colored show featured other star models too—and they weren’t rail-thin like typical fashion shows.

The cast included bikini-clad Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio, Karolina Kurkova, sporting a short disco dress, and Kelly Brook, flaunting her voluptuous figure in a low-cut printed dress. Coco Rocha, whose taken a strong stance against too-skinny models, also made an appearance, wearing a stunning long brown floor-length dress.

Madonna's Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2010 Campaign

2010-10-04T22:47:00.002+08:00

Check out Madonna's Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2010 Ad Campaign photos:

Heidi Klum leaves Victoria's Secret

2010-10-04T22:44:00.002+08:00

After 13 successful years of modeling her perfect figure for Victoria’s Secret, Heidi Klum has decided to quit.

“All good things have to come to an end,” Klum tells E! News of her departure. “I will always love Victoria and never tell her secret. It’s been an absolute amazing time!”

While a reason wasn’t given for her decision to leave, one has to imagine the woman is just too busy! Or feels too old to strut together with models under 25. Either, Heidi still has Project Runway and Victoria Secrets still has Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Candice Swanepoel, Chanel Iman and Erin Heatherton.

Milan Fashion Week packed with Celebrities

2010-09-28T16:04:00.003+08:00

Milan Fashion Week was attended by numerous celebrities to come see the design industry showcasing spring-summer 2011 collections.

Actress Megan Fox showed up at the event with husband Brian Austin Green for the Emporio Armani show, proudly wearing an Armani outfit himself. Altso there was soccer star Christiano Ronaldo who is theface of Armani jeans and their underwear.

Jada and Willow Smith at Milan Fashion Week

Also there was Jada Pinkett Smith and her 9-year-old daughter Willow, who rocked an edgy ‘do with streaks of white, and turned up to see offerings from Armani and Salvatore Ferragamo. The Smith were also there to celebrate Naomi Campbell’s 25 Year Career With Dolce & Gabbana.

After Ferragamo’s show, other celebs were spotted like Mischa Barton and model Alessandra Ambrosio joined in elbow rubbing with little Willow.

Roberto Cavalli's 40th anniversary at Milan Fashion Week

Roberto Cavalli, also celebrated 40 years as a designer with a fantastic frenzy of fringing, snakeskin, leopard-print and sequined tiger-stripes at the shows yesterday.

The 2006 X Factor winner Leona Lewis, US country singer, Taylor Swift, actress, Rachel Bilson and model Heidi Klum the wife of the English R&B singer, Seal, were among the front row guests, as Cavalli’s models sashayed down the catwalk like stars in a high fashion remake of High Noon.

Brian Austin Green, left, Megan Fox and Giorgio Armani attend the Emporio Armani presentation in Milan

Medicare Advantage plans to see 2011 premium dip

2010-09-24T22:46:00.001+08:00

Elderly Americans enrolled in private Medicare health insurance plans will see their premiums fall slightly in 2011 while gaining more benefits from recently passed health care reforms, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday.

The plans, called Medicare Advantage, are offered by health insurance companies as an alternative to traditional, government fee-for-service Medicare. Rates are expected to be 1 percent lower next year compared to 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said.

Enrollment in the plans is also expected to grow 5 percent. More than 11 million seniors are already enrolled in the plans, which have come under fire from critics who say insurers receive lucrative subsidies to provide the plans even though they can offer additional benefits.

Jonathan Blum, director of CMS' Center for Medicare, said the lower costs and projected expansion show companies are still interested in offering such plans despite new consumer protections under the healthcare law and recent payment caps to insurers.

"This is still a very attractive marketplace for Medicare Advantage plans," he told reporters.

The news comes as the healthcare reform law, passed in March, hits its six month anniversary this week, triggering a host of changes for insurers overall, such as ending lifetime coverage caps and banning policy cancellations after an enrollee gets sick.

Under the law, Medicare Advantage consumers will see their out-of-pocket expenses limited and a reduction in how much they have to share costs when it comes to kidney dialysis, chemotherapy and other expensive care, Blum said.

CMS said some companies chose to abandon their Medicare Advantage business next year and that about 5 percent of beneficiaries will have to choose a new provider as a result.

Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011 Collection

2010-09-20T22:41:00.001+08:00

The Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011 Collection held on September 13 during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.

Narciso Rodriguez Spring 2011 Collection

2010-09-20T22:35:00.001+08:00

Fashion Show of Narciso Rodriguez Spring 2011 Collection as part of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week held on September 9-16.

Hi! Blitz Magazine September 2010 Covergirl, Lara Dutta

2010-09-14T14:12:00.001+08:00

Former Miss Universe 2000, Lara Dutta from India is the covergirl of Hi! Blitz Magazine September 2010 Issue.

* Special Thanks to UniversalQueen.com

Victoria Beckham's Spring 2011 Dress Collection

2010-09-13T14:52:00.004+08:00

Victoria Adams Beckham debuts her Victoria Beckham Dresses Spring 2011 collection as part of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week festivities on September 12 in New York City.

Victoria Beckham tweeted before her fashion show starts, writing, "About to go!!!!Excited!!!Nervous!!!! X VB x"

Meanwhile, Posh Spice kept to her plans of steering clear of using size zero models during her catwalk presentation.

A source told the Daily Mirror of the decision, “Victoria takes her role as a figure in the public eye very seriously and is well aware young girls look up to her. This is why she gets so angry when people claim she doesn’t eat properly – she does.”

* Thanks to Peek A Star

Miss World 2007, Zilin Zhang at Vogue Fashion Night Out

2010-09-13T13:28:00.003+08:00

Miss World 2007, Zilin Zhang attends Vogue Fashion Night Out 2010 in Beijing on September 10.

* Thanks to Universal Queen

Fashion's Night Out 2010 Runway

2010-09-09T16:52:00.002+08:00

The biggest names in New York's Fashion Industry gather together for the Fashion's Night Out 2010 last night, September 7 at the Lincoln Center.

Over 150 models participated while showing off 171 new looks during a runway display that saw Gisele Bundchen and Naomi Campbell hit the catwalk.

As for the star-studded celebrity guest list, Leighton Meester looked darling in a skin-baring Versus dress while her co-star, Blake Lively mingled with Ashley Tisdale and Vogue's Anna Wintour.

Rounding out the stylish celebs turning up was the always-lovely Bar Refaeli, who dazzled in a skin-tight black number while posing for pictures before checking out her fellow supermodel beauties in action.

Saturated Fat Consumption Still isn't Associated with Cardiovascular Disease

2010-09-07T16:03:00.001+08:00

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition just published the results of a major Japanese study on saturated fat intake and cardiovascular disease (1). Investigators measured dietary habits, then followed 58,453 men and women for 14.1 years. They found that people who ate the most saturated fat had the same heart attack risk as those who ate the least*. Furthermore, people who ate the most saturated fat had a lower risk of stroke than those who ate the least. It's notable that stroke is a larger public health threat in Japan than heart attacks.

This is broadly consistent with the rest of the observational studies examining saturated fat intake and cardiovascular disease risk. A recent review paper by Dr. Ronald Krauss's group summed up what is obvious to any unbiased person who is familiar with the literature, that saturated fat consumption doesn't associate with heart attack risk (2). In a series of editorials, some of his colleagues attempted to discredit and intimidate him after its publication (3, 4). No meta-analysis is perfect, but their criticisms were largely unfounded (5, 6).

*Actually, people who ate the most saturated fat had a lower risk but it wasn't statistically significant.

Can a Statin Neutralize the Cardiovascular Risk of Unhealthy Dietary Choices?

2010-09-07T16:02:00.000+08:00

The title of this post is the exact title of a recent editorial in the American Journal of Cardiology (1). Investigators calculated the "risk for cardiovascular disease associated with the total fat and trans fat content of fast foods", and compared it to the "risk decrease provided by daily statin consumption". Here's what they found:

The risk reduction associated with the daily consumption of most statins, with the exception of pravastatin, is more powerful than the risk increase caused by the daily extra fat intake associated with a 7-oz hamburger (Quarter Pounder®) with cheese and a small milkshake. In conclusion, statin therapy can neutralize the cardiovascular risk caused by harmful diet choices.

Routine accessibility of statins in establishments providing unhealthy food might be a rational modern means to offset the cardiovascular risk. Fast food outlets already offer free condiments to supplement meals. A free statin-containing accompaniment would offer cardiovascular benefits, opposite to the effects of equally available salt, sugar, and high-fat condiments. Although no substitute for systematic lifestyle improvements, including healthy diet, regular exercise, weight loss, and smoking cessation, complimentary statin packets would add, at little cost, 1 positive choice to a panoply of negative ones.

Wow. Later in the editorial, they recommend "a new and protective packet, “MacStatin,” which could be sprinkled onto a Quarter Pounder or into a milkshake." I'm not making this up!

I can't be sure, but I think there's a pretty good chance the authors were being facetious in this editorial, in which case I think a) it's hilarious, b) most people aren't going to get the joke. If they are joking, the editorial is designed to shine a light on the sad state of mainstream preventive healthcare. Rather than trying to educate people and change the deadly industrial food system, which is at the root of a constellation of health problems, many people think it's acceptable to partially correct one health risk by tinkering with the human metabolism using drugs. To be fair, most people aren't willing to change their diet and lifestyle habits (and perhaps for some it's even too late), so frustrated physicians prescribe drugs to mitigate the risk. I accept that. But if our society is really committed to its own health and well-being, we'll remove the artificial incentives that favor industrial food, and educate children from a young age on how to eat well.

I think one of the main challenges we face is that our current system is immensely lucrative for powerful financial interests. Industrial agriculture lines the pockets of a few large farmers and executives (while smaller farmers go broke and get bought out), industrial food processing concentrates profit among a handful of mega-manufacturers, and then people who are made ill by the resulting food spend an exorbitant amount of money on increasingly sophisticated (and expensive) healthcare. It's a system that effectively milks US citizens for a huge amount of money, and keeps the economy rolling at the expense of the average person's well-being. All of these groups have powerful lobbies that ensure the continuity of the current system. Litigation isn't the main reason our healthcare is so expensive in the US; high levels of chronic disease, expensive new technology, a "kitchen sink" treatment approach, and inefficient private companies are the real reasons.

If the editorial is serious, there are so many things wrong with it I don't even know where to begin. Here are a few problems:

1. They assume the risk of heart attack conveyed by eating fast food is due to its total and trans fat content, which is simplistic. To support that supposition, they cite one study: the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (2). This is one of the best diet-health observational studies conducted to date. The authors of the editorial appear not to have read the study carefully, because it found no association between total or saturated fat intake and heart attack risk, when adjusted for confounding variables. The number they quoted (relative risk = 1.23) was before adjustment for fiber intake (relative risk = 1.02 after adjustment), and in any case, it was not statistically significant even before adjustment. How did that get past peer review? Answer: reviewers aren't critical of hypotheses they like.
2. Statins mostly work in middle-aged men, and reduce the risk of heart attack by about one quarter. The authors excluded several recent unsupportive trials from their analysis. Dr. Michel de Lorgeril reviewed these trials recently (3). For these reasons, adding a statin to fast food would probably have a negligible effect on the heart attack risk of the general population.
3. "Statins rarely cause negative side effects." BS. Of the half dozen people I know who have gone on statins, all of them have had some kind of negative side effect, two of them unpleasant enough that they discontinued treatment against their doctor's wishes. Several of them who remained on statins are unlikely to benefit because of their demographic, yet they remain on statins on their doctors' advice.
4. Industrial food is probably the main contributor to heart attack risk. Cultures that don't eat industrial food are almost totally free of heart attacks, as demonstrated by a variety of high-quality studies (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). No drug can replicate that, not even close.

I have an alternative proposal. Rather than giving people statins along with their Big Mac, why don't we change the incentive structure that artificially favors the Big Mac, french fries and soft drink? If it weren't for corn, soybean and wheat subsidies, fast food wouldn't be so cheap. Neither would any other processed food. Fresh, whole food would be price competitive with industrial food, particularly if we applied the grain subsidies to more wholesome foods. Grass-fed beef and dairy would cost the same as grain-fed. I'm no economist, so I don't know how realistic this really is. However, my central point still stands: we can change the incentive structure so that it no longer artificially favors industrial food. That will require that the American public get fed up and finally butt heads with special interest groups.

Fashion Battle: Elizabeth Hurley vs. Holly Madison

2010-09-05T14:59:00.002+08:00

Fashion Face-Off: Elizabeth Hurley vs. Holly Madison

The two celebrities enjoys the same taste in fashion, as evidenced by the following photos. There's not much else to say about the pair, as Hurley hasn't starred in a major movie in years and Holly... well, we already mentioned the most worthwhile thing about her.

Who do you think wore it best?

Burberry Brit Fall Winter 2010-2011 Mens Collection

2010-09-04T15:30:00.000+08:00

Burberry Brit, the clothing line of Thomas Burberry, is young and casual. And, as usual, the Fall Winter 2010-2011 season will bring the typical style of this line: The British style.

The collection tends to be balanced between three approaches: Sophistication, a daring style, and the traditional elegance. All these characteristics are integrated to result in an interesting collection targeted to young men.

Checked patterns are one of the recurrent features of Burberry Brit. And, in this collection, you can see them on jackets, sweaters and foulards.

Another traditional characteristic of this brand (which is also included in this collection) is the classic style for pants.

Besides, the collection includes some accessories that complement those British-style clothing pieces; for example: Huge bags with a nice design, crossbody bags, and also leather back packs. They look great!

Fashion for Large Mens

2010-09-01T15:58:00.002+08:00

Nowadays, there are various fashion stores in the cities that exclusively deal with large men’s clothing. Tall and big men no longer return to their homes frustrated and empty-handed after a shopping spree. Plus size men no longer have to wear short pants that expose their ankles or shirts that cannot be tucked in. They also do not have to put up with those embracing moments when their shirts could not be buttoned.

Moreover, plus size and tall men had to part away with a few more dollars to buy their clothing from the few specialty stores. Their clothes were rare and thus categorized as ‘special’. This gave such stores the right to unscrupulously demand for more money. In fact some shops required plus size and tall men to book and order clothes before visiting the stores. Thanks to the plethora of large men’s clothing, today they are available at affordable prices. Tall and big men can now comfortable shop for clothes within their budget limits.

Men have aggressively embraced fashion to attain an identity in recent years that clearly defines their sense of style. They want to uplift their confidence and emanate an appealing image which contributes to emulation of a positive career and personality impact. Back in the days fashion trends were reserved to average sized men. However, today there is a wide variety of large men’s clothing in different colors, style and seasonal trends. In fact they have hit the market with a boom.

Furthermore, you can get large men clothing in large quantities from online websites. In fact to increase the scope of their customers most online shops offer shipping and volume discounts on top of single item discounts. In short, any plus size and tall man should not be continue wearing clothes that do not perfectly fit when well-fitting affordable clothes can easily be accessed.

Different Summer Office Wardrobe for Men

2010-09-01T15:56:00.002+08:00

Spring is definitely over and summer is where we are now. You want to stay cool at work, and you’re not just thinking temperature. If you’re not working at Microsoft, Google, or any of the big tech companies, chances are you don’t get the luxuries of wearing whatever you want. So how can you stay cool in the hot sun without being in the hot seat? Below are some pointers to get you started, and examples on how to use these guidelines to work for you.

Think about fabric: Pima cotton is breathable, versatile for all season, and has outstanding quality for clothing. Cotton blends, particularly with stretch wool or rayon/viscose, are great during the summer and keep your clothes fitted to your body. Linen is definitely a must-have in summer attire.

Think of colors: Try mixing bolder shades of spring pastel hues to “spring” into summer. Bold and vibrant colors can look cool and still be comfortable, such as various shades of purple, orange, and blues. Earth and neutral tones – like olives, tans, and browns – are definitely a standard and can look professional with minimal effort. Whites and greys are staples and versatile even when paired with bolder colors to accentuate your personal look. Minimize wearing black as much as possible. If you do wear black, get that in breathable fabrics like linen or cotton chinos, or look for it in subtle patterns.

Think of your workplace: Format your attire based on the dynamic of your workplace. Don’t wear sandals or flip flops if your work does not call for it.

Putting It All Together
No matter what fabrics, color and workplace, the most important of summer office wear is able to give you comfort and express individual personal styles.

Supplements For Building Muscle

2010-08-31T16:38:00.002+08:00

If you were to walk into your local health and nutrition store looking for supplements that build muscle, you’ll probably find yourself confused and amazed at just how many products there are to choose from. With so many supplements available, it can be a little on the tricky side to decide which ones will help you with your goals. There are a lot of supplements out there to help you build muscle, although some may not be ideal for your goals.

The first thing to keep in mind, is the fact that you don’t always need muscle building supplements to build muscle, although will help you speed up the process. These types of supplements can help you increase muscular development, providing you work out. They can aid you in both muscle growth and the recovery of your muscles. Among the many products available, the most popular are protein, creatine, and multi-vitamins.

Protein is a preferred supplement among bodybuilders and those who exercise. It contains many amino acids which help you to build muscle. No matter what type of diet you are or on or supplement you select, you should always pick one that contains a lot of protein. The ideal way to take protein, is 2 grams per pound of body weight. You can get protein in pill form, powder, or even bars. When you select your protein supplement, you should also make sure that the supplement contains whey, soy, and eggs. Whey protein is the ideal supplement, as it contains everything you need to start building muscle.

Creatine is another beneficial supplement, as it will help you increase your muscle mass and improve the recovery time for your muscles. Creatine also helps you to increase your muscle pumps as well, allowing you to do more repetitions with more weight. Normally, you will need to go through a loading period of creatine, which is usually a week. Once you have loaded it, you should use in cycles, a few weeks using it and a few weeks off. To get the most from creatine, you should always follow the instructions the manufacturer has provided on the label.

Micro-vitamins are another great supplement, as they work great for those who aren’t getting enough minerals and vitamins with their normal diet. Although you may have the best of intentions, a busy or hectic schedule can make it very hard to get a healthy meal. If you use vitamin supplements in your diet, you can get the vitamins and minerals your body needs. If you are looking to build muscle, you should always take the proper supplements, and use protein bars and shakes if you aren’t able to eat a healthy meal.

Building muscle is something we would all like to do. Even though it requires a lot of exercise and commitment on your behalf, you should also have the necessary supplements as well. If you use the right supplements, you’ll notice the muscle growth in a matter of weeks. Supplements will help you to build muscle, by speeding up the process.

There are a lot of brands and manufacturers to choose from, including Weider and MuscleTech. You can find these supplements locally or online, giving you plenty of great deals to take advantage of. If you exercise and are looking to add more muscle mass to your body, you should give muscle building supplements a try. They work extremely well, they taste great, and they will greatly assist you in your quest to build muscle and live a healthier life.

Ginger Root Heals Ailments

2010-08-31T16:38:00.001+08:00

The vitamin ginger root offers you a lot of benefits, including the ability to treat headaches and common colds. One of the most common uses of ginger root is the treat an upset stomach, something we all know and hate. Normally in the form of flat ginger ale and crackers, this vitamin could fix even the most upset of stomachs - and fast to boot.

For the last few decades, ancient civilizations have used the vitamin in both cooking form and medicine form. Although the technology back then wasn’t close to what it is today, the ancient civilizations knew that ginger root would help prevent ailments ranging from motion sickness to athlete’s foot. With ginger root having anti-inflammatory properties, it can also make the pain of rheumatoid arthritis less intense. Women that drink ginger tea have said that it helps them eliminate menstrual cramps completely.

What many people don’t know, is the fact that ginger root isn’t really classified as a root, but instead an underground stem. Even though it is a very useful vitamin and supplement, it is harvested year round just like the hawthorne berry. The harvests, which are obtained roughly five months or so after being planted, are used in the creation of products such as candied ginger and ginger syrup. Harvests that are obtained later can be sold as fresh ginger. The longer the ginger remains in the ground before being harvested, the spicier and hotter it gets.

Keep in mind that not anyone can grow ginger. It takes a special type of soil, which means that it won’t grow anywhere. It is normally grown commercially, in large harvests. Ginger is always in high demand, as it serves a lot of useful purposes. From adding spice to food to healing certain ailments, ginger root is easily one of the best vitamins around.

These days, you can buy ginger in the produce department of many grocery stores. Ginger serves many useful purposes, including baking. It can be used with cookies and breads, or used to spice up your jellies and jams. When you shop for ginger root, you should ensure that the gnarly fist like bulb is smooth, the surface hard to the touch, and the weight being somewhat heavy. If the bulb is hard and light in weight, it won’t be as good.

When it comes to common ailments, ginger root can be great to have around. It can be used with hundreds of cooking recipes, you can use your creative imagination to make even more uses with it as well. Ginger is used in many fine dining restaurants as well, as it tastes great as a dressing on salads. Serving a lot of healthy purposes, ginger root is one of the best selling items on the market - and easily one of the best tasting supplements out there.

Exercise and Hypertension

2010-08-28T16:04:00.002+08:00

It seems as though many Americans are living a life that leads to high blood pressure or hypertension. As people age, the situation gets worse. Nearly half of all older Americans have hypertension. This disease makes people five times more prone to strokes, three times more likely to have a heart attack, and two to three times more likely to experience a heart failure.

The problem with this disease is that nearly one third of the folks who have hypertension do not know it because they never feel any direct pain. But overtime the force of that pressure damages the inside surface of your blood vessels.

However, according to experts, hypertension is not predestined. Reducing salt intake, adopting a desirable dietary pattern losing weight and exercising can all help prevent hypertension.

Obviously, quitting bad habits and eating a low fat diet will help, but the most significant part that you can do is to exercise. And just as exercise strengthens and improves limb muscles, it also enhances the health of the heart muscles.

Heart and Exercise

The exercise stimulates the development of new connections between the impaired and the nearly normal blood vessels, so people who exercise had a better blood supply to all the muscle tissue of the heart.

The human heart basically, supply blood to an area of the heart damaged in a “myocardial infarction.” A heart attack is a condition, in which, the myocardium or the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen and other nutrients and so it begins to die.

For this reason and after a series of careful considerations, some researchers have observed that exercise can stimulate the development of these life saving detours in the heart. One study further showed that moderate exercise several times a week is more effective in building up these auxiliary pathways than extremely vigorous exercise done twice as often.

Such information has led some people to think of exercise as a panacea for heart disorders, a fail-safe protection against hypertension or death. That is not so. Even marathon runners that have suffered hypertension, and exercise cannot overcome combination of other risk factor.

What Causes Hypertension?

Sometimes abnormalities of the kidney are responsible. There is also a study wherein the researchers identified more common contributing factors such as heredity, obesity, and lack of physical activity. And so, what can be done to lower blood pressure and avoid the risk of developing hypertension? Again, exercise seems to be just what the doctor might order.

If you think that is what he will do, then, try to contemplate on this list and find some ways how you can incorporate these things into your lifestyle and start to live a life free from the possibilities of developing hypertension. But before you start following the systematic instructions, it would be better to review them first before getting into action.

1. See your doctor
Check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. If you make any significant changes in your level of physical activity — particularly if those changes could make large and sudden demands on your circulatory system — check with your doctors again.

2. Take it slow

Start at a low, comfortable level of exertion and progress gradually. The program is designed in two stages to allow for a progressive increase in activity.

3. Know your limit

Determine your safety limit for exertion. Use some clues such as sleep problems or fatigue the day after a workout to check on whether you are overdoing it. Once identified, stay within it. Over-exercising is both dangerous and unnecessary.

4. Exercise regularly

You need to work out a minimum of three times a week and a maximum of five times a week to get the most benefit. Once you are in peak condition, a single workout a week can maintain the muscular benefits. However, cardiovascular fitness requires more frequent activity.

5. Exercise at a rate within your capacity

The optimum benefits for older exercisers are produced by exercise at 40% to 60% of capacity.

Indeed, weight loss through exercise is an excellent starting point if you wan tot prevent hypertension. Experts say that being overweight is linked to an increased risk of developing hypertension, and losing weight decreases the risk.

Your Thyroid and Weight loss – The Connection is Real

2010-08-28T16:04:00.001+08:00

Your thyroid dictates much of your metabolism, any malfunction or disease afflicting this area may cause you to have problems in metabolism leading to a drastic problem with your weight – you may either gain weight, lose weight, or may find that losing weight is harder than usual.

Those that plan diets do not take into consideration how their thyroids and metabolism may affect their weight loss program. Most experts and even the media pitch in and recommend that the best way to lose weight is cut calories.

Those with a condition called hyperthyroidism suffer from an overactive thyroid leading to one having his or her metabolism skyrocket. If this is the case, then you will probably lose weight fast. This is a nice proposition for some who wish to lose weight. However, this is actually hazardous to the health.

Aside from the medical difficulties such a disease brings, one will also notice weight problems as a result. These people have trouble keeping on weight and may notice weakness and bulging of the eyes. This disease may need special treatment from doctors.

Hypothyroidism on the other hand works in the other direction – slowing metabolism until the body gains weight at an incredible rate. Like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism causes a general weakness in the body. It too may need special treatment and may cause serious health problems if left unattended.

While cutting calories in itself can be very hard for most people – imagine, the people involved in life and death struggles at the supermarket regarding whether to buy that extra box of sweets, some have exactly the opposite problem.

Instead of eating too much calories – which is a problem in itself, they eat too little calories instead.

Problem? What Problem
The problem with some is that they believe that since the experts say that they have to cut calories, cutting calories to an inordinate amount will reap greater results. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. While cutting calories helps diets, consuming too little calories pushed the body into a hoard mode, the body’s metabolism slow to adapt to the lesser amount of available energy.

If your body enters this mode, your body will work at such slow metabolism that losing weight becomes impossible. The technique here should be to reduce calories without the body slowing its metabolism. Only then can losing weight become easier.

Another problem that can arise from decreased metabolism is that when your metabolism slows due to a drastic reduction in metabolism, and then you suddenly eat a good, hearty, calorie-filled meal, you are bound to gain more weight owing to the increased surplus of energy.

This is why an imbalanced meal is highly discouraged among those that seek to lose weight. The sudden loss and increase of calories will cause an imbalance in one’s energy consumption directly affecting fat deposit.

Here is a simple computation to help you get to the right amount of calories you will need per day so that you get your nutrients in the right balance.

First of all, multiply your weight in kilograms by 30. If you only know your weight in pounds, divide it by 2.2 to get to its English equivalent. We divide this number by 30 because that is the number of calories you need to maintain your weight per pound of weight.

For example if your weight in pounds is 150, divide it by 2.2. That will give you a figure of 68.18. This is your weight in kilograms. Multiply this by 30 and you will arrive at the amount of calories you will need per day to maintain 150 lbs.

You may consult a nutritionist to help you come lose weight. In the end it all comes down to math. If you consume more that your body needs, it stores it as fat. Now is probably a good time to start studying the back of those grocery cartons.

Try to keep your diet at a 40% protein, 25% fat, and 35% carbohydrate meals at 300 calories per meal. Spread out these meals in a day for optimum results.

While it may be simple computation to get at numbers, do not forget the earlier mentioned fact that the body adapts to its condition. Expose it to extreme ones and you may find yourself getting results you never wanted. Consult a nutritionist for more advice.

High Fashion Pageant Evening Gowns

2010-08-25T15:40:00.001+08:00

Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez during the Evening Gown Presentation Show 2009

The Miss Universe 2010 Beauty Pageant Presentation Show / Preliminary Competition was held on August 19 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Here are their high fashion evening gowns: (Click on the picture to view full-size image; Click on the name to view candidate's details.)

Miss Albania Angela Martini	Miss Angola Jurema Ferraz	Miss Argentina Yesica di Vincenzo
Miss Aruba Priscilla Lee	Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell	Miss Bahamas Braneka Bassett
Miss Belgium Cilou Annys	Miss Bolivia Claudia Arce Lemaitre	Miss Botswana Tirelo Ramasedi
Miss Brazil Debora Lyra	Miss British Virgin Island Josefina Nunez	Miss Canada Elena Semikina
Miss China Wen Tang	Miss Colombia Natalia Navarro Galvis	Miss Costa Rica Marva Wright
Miss Croatia Lana Obad	Miss Curacao Safira de Wit	Miss Cyprus Demetra Olymbiou
Miss Czech Republic Jitka Valkova	Miss Denmark Ena Sandra Causevic	Miss Dominican Republic Eva Arias
Miss Ecuador Lady Mina Lastra	Miss Egypt Donia Hamed	Miss El Salvador Sonia Cruz
Miss Finland Viivi Pumpanen	Miss France Malika Menard	Miss Georgia Nana Gogichaishvili
Miss Germany Kristiana Rohder	Miss Ghana Awurama Simpson	Miss Great Britain Tara Vaitiere Hoyos-Martinez
Miss Greece Anna Prelevic	Miss Guam Vanessa Torres	Miss Guatemala Jessica Scheel
Miss Guyana Tamika Henry	Miss Haiti Sarodj Bertin	Miss Honduras Kenia Martinez
Miss Hungary Timea Babinyecz	Miss India Ushoshi Sengupta	Miss Indonesia Qory Sandioriva
Miss Ireland Rozanna Purcell	Miss Israel Bat-el Jobi	Miss Italy Jessica Cecchini
Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillips	Miss Japan Maiko Itai	Miss Kazakhstan Assel Kuchukova
Miss Korea Kim Joo-Ri	Miss Kosovo Keshtjella Pepshi	Miss Lebanon Rahaf Abdallah
Miss Malaysia Nadine Ann Thomas	Miss Mauritius Dalysha Doorga	Miss Mexico Ximena Navarette
Miss Netherlands Desiree van den Berg	Miss New Zealand Ria van Dyke	Miss Nicaragua Scharllette Allen Moses
Miss Nigeria Odalonu Ngozi	Miss Norway Melinda Victoria Elvenes	Miss Panama Anyoli Abrego
Miss Paraguay Johana Benitez Olmedo	Miss Peru Guiliana Zevallos	Miss Philippines Maria Venus Raj
Miss Poland Maria Nowakowska	Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente	Miss Romania Oana Paveluc
Miss Russia Irina Antonenko	Miss Serbia Lidija Kocic	Miss Singapore Tania Lim Kim Suan
Miss Slovak Republic Anna Amenova	Miss Slovenia Marika Savsek	Miss South Africa Nicole Flint
Miss Spain Adriana Reveron	Miss Sri Lanka Ishanka Madurasinghe	Miss Sweden Michaela Savic
Miss Switzerland Linda Fah	Miss Tanzania Hellen Dausen	Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul
Miss Trinidad & Tobago La Toya Woods	Miss Turkey Gizem Memic	Miss US Virgin Island Janeisha John
Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska	Miss Uruguay Stephany Ortega	Miss USA Rima Fakih
Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson	Miss Zambia Alice Musukwa

* Special Thanks to www.UniversalQueen.com

Sephora trademark fragrance called "Kim Kardashian"

2010-08-23T13:55:00.000+08:00

Kim Kardashian made her way over to Perfumania in Camarillo, California on the afternoon of August 20 to promote her new Sephora trademark fragrance called "Kim Kardashian".

The promo description to her scent tells, "Discover the sensual scent inspired by one of the world's most idolized women. The essence evokes Kim's sultry style with crisp top notes, lush mid notes, and a sexy drydown. Gorgeous, voluptuous florals reflect her allure, while soft jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia mirror her femininity. Tonka bean, jacaranda wood, and sandalwood add a warm, sensual base."

On that day, Kim was rather quiet on Twitter, as she kicked things off with "Rise and grind " while also offering an inspirational message reading "Listen to your heart".

* Thanks to peekastar.blogspot.com

Cosmopolitan September 2010 Photoshoot: Jessica Alba

2010-08-23T13:54:00.002+08:00

Jessica Alba made a photoshoot on August 20 in Los Angeles, California for the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine's September Issue.

The "Sin City" star stripped down to a skimpy all black getup as she bided time in between posing for a sure-to-be sexy spread.

During the photo shoot, Alba was interviewed about her married life, "The romantic stuff comes and goes, but it's like, does that person have your back? You have to be a team navigating through wherever life may lead you and I want a friend for that."

* Thanks to peekastar.blogspot.com

Hot Cocoa for Healthy and Beautiful Skin

2010-08-22T23:58:00.001+08:00

Forget slathering on the cocoa butter. A cup of hot cocoa might be the key to looking younger, the results of a small study suggest.

Researchers in Germany found that women who drank an antioxidant-rich brand of hot cocoa for three months developed smoother, better-hydrated skin that was less vulnerable to sunburn.

The improvements may stem from the cocoa's high levels of antioxidants called flavonols, study co-author Dr. Wilhelm Stahl, a researcher at Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, said.

Flavonols are a group of plant compounds found in tea, wine and a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as cocoa beans. Some research has suggested that these nutrients can improve blood flow and blood vessel function, and Stahl's team found evidence of increased circulation in the skin of women who drank flavonol-rich cocoa.

The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, adds to the spate of recent research suggesting that dark chocolate may be a health food of sorts, capable of lowering blood pressure and possibly heart disease risk.

Chocolate giant Mars supported the current study and provided the high-flavonol cocoa - a product called Cocoapro that the company says is harvested and processed in a way that preserves the cocoa bean's flavonol content. A cup of the cocoa also contains more than 200 calories.

Stahl and his colleagues randomly assigned 24 women to have a daily cup of the high-flavonol cocoa or a low-flavonol cocoa. At the start and conclusion of the study, the researchers used sensitive imaging tests to measure the women's skin structure, hydration, blood flow and sensitivity to UV radiation.

After three months of hot cocoa, women in the high-flavonol group showed improvements in skin texture and thickness, as well as blood circulation and hydration, according to Stahl's team. Their skin was also less prone to burning from UV exposure.

Flavonols are not drugs, Stahl pointed out, and any subjective effects on the skin would be expected to be small - although they might accumulate over time, he noted.

There is, of course, a range of lower-calorie flavonol sources. Although Stahl said he could not speculate on whether fruits and vegetables would have comparable skin effects, he noted that there are hints from other studies that such flavonol-containing foods also benefit the skin.

New Baby-G Ad Campaign by Ke$ha

2010-08-22T16:34:00.001+08:00

Kesha is known for her unusual fashion choices and rakes in millions of dollars via album sales. Now, she's the new face for Baby-G timepieces.

"My schedule’s so tight and so crazy, and if I go get lost on a mountain or I’m writing a song, sometimes I lose track of time," she says of her decision to pose for a new Baby-G watch campaign.

* Thanks to peekastar.blogspot.com

Scarlett Johansson is the New Face of Dolce & Gabbana

2010-08-20T17:45:00.000+08:00

Scarlett Johansson is the new face of he Italian fashion label Dolce and Gabbana as she shows her massive range as a model with the massive departure from last year’s Marilyn Monroe-inspired motif, including red lips and a white corset.

And it looks like D&G is paying Scarlett quite well- she recently purchased a $3 million home in Los Angeles with her husband Ryan Reynolds.

Thanks to peekastar.blogspot.com

Confirmed Pregnant: Miranda Kerr

2010-08-20T17:44:00.001+08:00

Victoria's Secret Angel Miranda Kerr is indeed ready to become a mother!

"Yes, I am pregnant. Four months along" says Miranda.

The child will be the first for Kerr, who married "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor Orlando Bloom during a secretive ceremony in July of this year.

Dishing on how hard it was to keep the good news under wraps due to sickness during work efforts, Miranda said, "I remember on one occasion in the early days [of my pregnancy] when it was still too soon to say anything, and I had a dreadful time at one job."

Clearly excited for the new challenge, Kerr previously said, “I think having children and pregnancy is a part of life. I look at how models like Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio have done it and made it a part of their lives.”

Thanks to peekastar.blogspot.com

Heidi Klum vs. Kelly Rowland | Who wore it Best?

2010-08-16T15:16:00.002+08:00

Fashion Face Off | Who wore it BEST?

Victoria's Secret Angel Supermodel Heidi Klum VS. Former Destiny's Child Singing Sensation Kelly Roland

Rajesh Pratap Singh at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

2010-08-13T16:21:00.001+08:00

Grand Finale by Rajesh Pratap Singh's Bespoke Tales

The Grand Finale show by Rajesh Pratap Singh had a lot of interesting elements to it like the widened ramp and the background created by unfinished garments ... He deserves all the accolades for combining beautifully his creation, originality and simplicity. Though there was a lot of cheer in the audience but some in the audience were left fretting. "We expect a different level of grandness from the grand finale," said a fashion critic who did not want to be named!

Rajesh Pratap Singh's grand finale collection 'Bespoke Tales' for WIFW NW 2010 expressed the progression of the fine art of making clothes as seen by the ingenious tailor. Models emerged from the wide background walking through the unfinished muslin garments hanging in a surreal fashion. The detailed collection was splendid with a fabulous combination of creativity, originality and simplicity showcasing strong craftsmanship. The range all about 'Us & Them' was a play of contrasts with many shades, techniques and styles to it, featuring transparent and opaque, matt and copper/silver, black/red sequence. The collection displayed hard and soft stroke and structured clothing softly molded with creativity at its best. The garments were hand woven, reversible and double clothed. Fabrics were mainly satins, leather, glass nylon and woolen suiting fabrics.

Rajesh Pratap Singh's grand finale collection 'Bespoke Tales' for WIFW NW 2010 expressed the progression of the fine art of making clothes as seen by the ingenious tailor. Models emerged from the wide background walking through the unfinished muslin garments hanging in a surreal fashion. The detailed collection was splendid with a fabulous combination of creativity, originality and simplicity showcasing strong craftsmanship. The range all about 'Us & Them' was a play of contrasts with many shades, techniques and styles to it, featuring transparent and opaque, matt and copper/silver, black/red sequence. The collection displayed hard and soft stroke and structured clothing softly molded with creativity at its best. The garments were hand woven, reversible and double clothed. Fabrics were mainly satins, leather, glass nylon and woolen suiting fabrics.

Rahul Mishra at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

2010-08-13T16:20:00.001+08:00

Rahul Mishra Flies High

Rahul Mishra showcased his WIFW NW 2010 collection the 'Butterfly Effect', portraying the journey of the human race and the process of metamorphosis our planet had undergone in the last century. It shows global warming as our biggest concern. The collection is an outcome of engineered art works inspired by M Escher's Work and Urban Landscape. Hand crafted Aari work created graphic surfaces in the forms of optical illusions of 2D and 3D.

The day wear look was achieved using sheer Chanderis and double weave organza with subtle selfsurface techniques. A chic, reversible, clean look is presented with rich jacquard silk jackets.

The colour palette was dominated by classic black and whites, used innovatively in various styles, including dresses. The collection contained wrap dresses with butterfly motifs, off shoulder dress with spaghetti straps, reversible jackets in jacquard, knee length dresses peeping from underneath, short reversible strap dress, reversible single layer double breasted jackets, long overcoats, dupion trousers, bustier dress, double breasted jumpsuit, off shoulder gown. These added to simple feminism with design elements like cap sleeves, pockets, layers, baby tucks, quilts and ruffles.

Nida Mahmood at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

2010-08-13T16:17:00.001+08:00

Nida Mahmood's Gritty Vibrant 'Sadak Chhaap'

Nida Mahmmood showcased her WIFW NW 2010 collection 'Sadak Chhaap' where the essence comes from the gritty vibrant alleys of India. The range took elements from scraps and products sold on the Indian streets. It gave a feel of the delightful amalgamation of colours, music and kitsch. The colour palette ranged from beige shades to dirty muddy camel hues, stark reds, electric blue to tangerine and indigo purple, gold, copper, acid green and some fuschias with warm yellow and shades of grey.

The collection flowed with georgettes, crepes, nets, silks for fluidity and feminity, while some thick cottons and leather lent structure to the garments. The accessories and head gears were bright and colourful, adding to flamboyance and cheerfulness of the theme. They were loud and showy, accessorised with local plastic toys, ping pong balls, plastic masks of Goddesses, chips packets, slogans from local hoardings, metallic shiny mesh, recycled masala packets to name a few.

Bar Refaeli and Naomi Campbell having fun in Italy

2010-08-12T15:58:00.003+08:00

Former Victoria's Secret Angel Naomi Campbell and Bar Refaeli were spotted gearing up for a swim in Porto Cervo, Italy last August 10 with their men, Leonardo DiCaprio and Vladislav Doronin.

The two bikini babes Naomi and Bar both looked fabulous in their two-piece bathing suits as they pranced around on their luxury yacht while the nearby paparazzi looked on.

In related news, Naomi Campbell is currently trying her best to ignore the fact that a War Crimes Tribunal investigating former Liberian president Charles Taylor is looking into her testimony from last week.

It seems Naomi was lying when she said her 1997 blood diamond gift was from an unknown source, as Mia Farrow testified that Campbell came right out and told her it was from Taylor.

* Related News: PeekAStar.blogspot.com

Megan Fox getting ready to cover in FHM Magazine

2010-08-12T15:56:00.002+08:00

Megan Fox took part in quite the sexy photo session for FHM magazine.

Stripping down to a skimpy lingerie ensemble, the "Jennifer's Body" babe worked with photogs as "Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge" played in the background on the TV.

In related news, Miss Fox was once again the target of lip plastic surgery rumors following her appearance at the Teen Choice Awards.

Having always denied any such doing, Megan advised others considering a procedure, telling, “I would encourage anyone to first speak with a therapist. To try and figure out where this want comes from, because a lot of times it’s not related to your teeth or your nose or your chin, the surgery is not going to alleviate that insecurity for you."

Megan added, "If, then, you feel, ‘This is something that I want to do,’ then do it. It’s amazing that we have the technology to do the stuff that we do.”

* See also PeekAStar.blogspot.com

Monapali at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

2010-08-11T22:49:00.001+08:00

Monapali's Resort Elegance

Mona Pali showcased their WIFW NW 2010 collection where resort wear meets tribal, paying ode to the exquisite craft of filigree, the fine jaali work in the collection. Tradition was intertwined with modern sensi bility, old fashioned charm mixed with contemporary eclecticism, a rich sensuality mingled with polished and urban serenity. There was a huge variety of surface treatments. Embroidery was delicate, using mesh, bead, thread, dori with hand paint, discharge print and bold graphical patterns to bend in an easy silhouette in soft sensual fabrics that formed the backbone of the collection. There was a rawness and earthiness in it, juxtaposed with sophistication and elegance.

Fabrics were soft and elegant with rustic, matt, structured materials like chiffon blends, satin and net played around with brocade, madras silk and rich Banarasi kheem khab. The colour palette was vibrant with blue, purple, red, yellow, fuschia, green, wine and orange. Applique, dori and thread work added to the dramatic flair. The silhouettes were a mix of modern and classical cuts with fusion as the mainstay. Dresses, kaftans, tunics, skirts, tops, bustiers and saris find their way into the collection. It was soft, sensual and elegant.

Ashima Singh at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

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Ashii by Ashima Singh

Ashima Singh's collection at WIFW A/W 2010 drew inspiration from Madhubani and Mithla paintings of Bihar. Ashima is known for uniting various techniques from India's rich heritage and incorporating traditional trends into modern fashion. For mounting this collection, she had worked with the artisans, built on their traditional skills and created contemporary hues and designs. It was a nice amalgamation of Western ensembles with the traditional art form of Madhubani.

The colour palette dealt with an ivory base hand painted with colours like green, orange, pale yellow, brown and blue. She used fabrics like raw silk, matkas and cotton. The silhouettes were very Western with detailing of ethnic, traditional Indian art form which made it very progressive. Design elements included puffed sleeves, sharp cuts, Western jackets and drapes. Even the footwear had a touch of Madhubani motifs with detailed black outlines. Handcrafted tassels had their own charm which were placed on various areas like shoulder, empire line and waistline.

Puja Arya at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

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Puja Arya's Flashbac

Her collection was true to the whims of a girl from the urban jungle, chic yet playful, nostalgic, focusing on silhouettes from the 50s & 60s with bested jackets, sequined bolero, the ever favorite mini skirt and belted dresses. In Arya's signature style, the emphasis was on the waist, puff short dresses and saris.

The ensuing ensembles were in handcrafted silk, satins, silk chiffon, silk crepe, silk chanderi and mulmul. She gave keen attention to the detailing and surface treatment with the use of pleating, Indian gota patch work and sequined flower motifs. The artistic masterful hand block prints moved from graphic geometrics to geometric flower motifs. The colour palette ranged from the stark cityscape black and white, checks, to mulled sunny yellows, effervescent greys, breezy lilacs complimented by scrumptious aubergine culminating in a lipstick pink.

Rehane at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

2010-08-11T22:32:00.001+08:00

Rehane's Exotic expressions

Rehane, in her collection titled Antolio', drew her inspiration from all things in ' Asia Minor '. Her WIFW NW 2010 line presented a vibrant and exotic collection in a bold lookher signature style.

The colour story for this collection was strongly salmon, deep aqua, turkish blue and antique gold. Rehane emphasised a lot on the cuts which were structured yet complimenting the female silhouette. A dominant influence of Turkey was seen in the collection. In keeping with the contemporary and bold look, a lot of black with red floral embroidery was also dominant in the designer's collection. Semi circular pockets with detailing, embroidered back yokes and baby doll styled dresses flounced at the waist were a delight for the onlookers. The fabrics used varied from jacquard to satin and velvet to georgettes. A feminine, chic, playful and elegant collection.

Charu Parashar's 'Hidden Warrior in a Woman'
Charu Parashar showcased her collection named 'Shooma Macq Bool Hasteen' at the WIFW NW 2010. The show started with dim lights and four models tied from top to toe like mummies with bandages standing still on the golden ramp with only their black eyes peeping out as a sign of life.

Adhering to her signature style, prints were seen once again blended with knits. There were strong influences of bright Egyptian and Persian geometrics in these prints imparting a multi-dimensional feel. The colour palette was a range of wintry dominant black with touches of turquoise, ivory, yellow, sea green and fuschia. The fabrics had fluid drapes giving a luxurious feel by the use of silks, chiffons, satins and cotton. Fabrics were painstakingly constructed with fine quilting techniques, crinkled effects, tassels, gathers and anchor threads.

Silhouettes emphasised on drapes and construction. There was a psychedelic array of geometric prints on Iycra leggings, highlighting the ensembles. The styles were dominated by dresses in various lengths, kaftans, hooded jumpsuits and jackets, bringing out the warrior element by the use of padded and extended shoulder. The models were carrying bronze and silver oxidized metal head gears and chest armours.

Payal Jain at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

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Payal Jain Inspired by Mystic Allure of Solitary Monk

Payal Jain's collection at WIFW NW 2010 was inspired by the mystic allure of the historical textiles and the bewitching lifestyle of the monks in Laos.

The peace and serenity that emanates from the monks holds the vast range of silhouettes together, be it draped dresses, flowing tunics, structured jackets, bias skirts, prayer pants, draped shells or form-fitted stirrups. The key feature of her collection was reverse construction of garments with obviously visible seams, overlocking and bandings to enhance the simplicity of the ensembles. The treatments and specially designed prints were vibrant, multidimensional, warm and inspired by old Laos textiles handed down over generations.

Fabrics ranging from linen and cotton jersey to hand woven khadi to self jacquards and soft flowing silk jerseys are draped and styled into clean, crisp and simple ensembles. The focus of her collection remains the denim washes and the worn-out effects created to give a rustic, raw and antique illusion. The unorthodox usage of colour, print, texture and fabrics was the most inspiring feature of her collection. The purity and simplicity of form, yarn, detail and surface texturisation is what makes these silhouettes unique.

Pankaj & Nidhi at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

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Pankaj & Nidhi Draw Inspiration from Samurai Armour

Their collection draws inspiration from the 18th century samurai armour which was made with interlaced materials hand-pieced together using a complex weaving technique. The ensembles showcased strong contrasts between black and ivory, charcoal and cloud greys in addition to Kimono colours like sap green, orchid and flame orange. With their chic and dramatic use of colours and geometrics, they have created a collection springing energy and oomph.

Tarun Tahiliani at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

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Tarun Tahiliani Returns to Craft
Tarun Hahiliani's collection is the refection of Indian craft. The surface treatments clearly show the values, richness, workmanship and the role of Indian craft in fashion. The designer has again successfully explored our traditional textiles and embroideries and applied it in Indo Western as well as Indian ethnic silhouettes. Fitted structured jackets were combined with drapery bottoms to create the elusion of IndoWestern drapes. Traditional saris were draped with both short length waist coats and long tailored coats to lend richness to the clothes and make the collection look truly global. Trademark sari drapes, embroidered belts paired with clunky platform shoes, long tailored coats with kaftans were adding a masculine chic look. The designer played smartly with various surface treatments like quilting, chikankari, and prints with natural dyes.

The colour palette varies from deep honey golds, ambers, Prussian blues, wine reds to transparent black, earthy brown, shades of green and blue. His menswear collection was based on classic silhouettes which were again reworked to create the traditional look. The coats, achkans and bundies with wide pants were very much prominent with colours like mushroom, charcoal, chocolates and blacks. The collection certainly reminds us of our traditional route and has a sense of pride for our cultural values.

Young Masaba at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2010

2010-08-10T14:57:00.003+08:00

Young Masaba's Exuberated Festivity Creates Festival Masala

Probably the youngest of the lot, Masaba is known for her patchworks and colours. Her collection exuberated festivity and excitement as her face on the ramp. It was a festive traditional line with a lot of velvet coupled with silks. Silhouettes included dhotis and angrakhas. She, yet again, proved that she belongs to the talented new lot of the promising few, as she showcased her creations at the WIFW NW 2010. This was a collection of men's and women's couture, with extensive use of velvets and silks. It gave a sneak-peek into the Rajasthani culture.

The antique gold embroidery, beadwork and zari added a dramatic touch. What really caught our attention were her mul silk sarees with stripes on pleats and plane border pallus. The highlight was saris with appliqued pockets. Multi fabric churidaar sleeve blouses, patch worked angrakhas with dhoti pants were a super hit on the ramp. The patchwork, doriwork and gold embroidery on a colour palette of sindoor red, leaf green with whites gave the collection a traditional yet rustic appeal. The collection is sure to catch the attention of Indian styleconscious sari wearers and is aimed at appealing the Middle-eastern market.

Future Combatants Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

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Military fashion has been the talk of the town for quite some time now, but this Spring summer presents a eccentric blend of contemporary and parallel fashion with the ancient warlords wardrobe which has reloaded a new age Military fashion altogether …..This is the future warrior look.

The ancient world is the centre of this trend with historical influences coming from roman, Egyptian to Celtic warrior women. The twist to the story is all about adding a contemporary flavor to the traditional interpretations of futuristic approach.

Highly inspired by the ancient civilization this look is bold and flamboyant …all and all it’s a fusion of tribal and military fashion.

Key design elements responsible for the look include metal and metallic influences, tribal motifs and tattoos, feather, fur, leather and bead work.

Other prime details along the silhouette are hard and prominent shoulders to indicate power and influence, high splits, exaggerated and flashy trims, and body hugging short dresses wit metallic finishing.

Chic olive dresses and smart multi pocket khaki jackets have replaced the regular work wear, with plenty of costume fun especially at jean Paul Gaultier tailcoat with fringed epaulettes. Conjure up the ultimate military and Louis Vuitton, but leaves it to Christopher Decarnin at Balmain to conjure up the ultimate military tailcoat with fringed epaulettes.

Some of the designers like Sass and Bide have showcased a mixed tribal and Amazonian approach with design details like metal plating around the breasts, leggings and shoulders while keeping a strong feminine undertone at the same time.

This isn’t the sort of trend where rules should be laid down, its rather an open interpretation which demands not to be taken too literally either and works best with an outfit that gives the impression of some underlying fierceness rather then the overt look of a costume. Blending ultra feminine with tough warriors for example soft flowing fabrics against sharp metallic’s or studded straps has worked wonders.

This look has been glamorized and enhanced with gladiator style sandal, studded belts new and edgier jeweler and tattoos.

Julia Chuah Sheau Yen passed away at 31

2010-08-10T14:47:00.002+08:00

Malaysian model and actress, Julia Chuah Sheau Yen was found dead Saturday on the parking lot of Pantai Hill Park Condominium where she lived.

Malaysia’s New Straits Times has reported that Julia Chuah Sheau Yen fell off from the 12th floor of the condominium.

Unlike the death of some models we heard in the past, Her death was not a suicide because she was reportedly heard calling for help while hanging and holding at an Astro satellite dish on the 10th floor before she fell from the 12th floor.

Her boyfriend allegedly was spotted at the parking lot before Julia died and was invited by the police for an investigation.

Julia’s last TV show was “Getting Together” and last movie was “Homecoming”. Also an endorser, she’s best known as a Samsung model.

She took up her college degree in Curtin University Australia and later studied Law at Cardiff University in the UK.

Before she died, Julia was working for Brickfields Asia College (BAC) in Malaysia and was about to take the CLP (Certificate in Legal Practice) course, a requirement in order for her to become a lawyer in Malaysia.

Lakme Fashion Week - Spring/Summer Collection

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Eighty percent of the country witnesses hot weather and even if north India witnesses winter, it lasts for not more than two months," says Pradeep Hirani, owner of Mumbai retail outlet Kimaya, told. "So it is a good shift. Orders are small, production won't take much time and as a result retail outlets will get new designs every three months, which is a very good thing, keeping in mind how fashion forward today's consumer is," he added.
So this year, keeping the domestic market in mind, LFW organisers had taken a collective decision to present a Spring-Resort collection instead of an Autumn-Winter one during the five-day fashion event from March 5 to 9. At fashion shows the world over, an Autumn-Winter collection is presented early in the year and a Spring-Summer edition in the latter part. But Hirani feels the Indian fashion market is so huge and so creative that it need not follow the international fashion week formula. "In the West, they have extreme summer and extreme winter. We don't have that here; so what is the point of following their standards?" he asked. "We don't have to go by international fashion weeks because our fashion caters to the domestic market and that is where designers make business. This is the time to show our attitude and our identity," he said.

This year the Bollywood quotient at LFW was low compared to previous years, making it a more designfocused event. Among the designers who participated were Manish Malhotra, Narendra Kumar, Malini Ramani, Rocky, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Satya Paul, Shantanu and Nikhil, Suneet Varma and Vikram Phadnis, among others. In all, no one is complaining about the seasonal shift, but its effect will be seen in the next season.

The Stitch Times is pleased to share what important collections were showcased at the Lakme Fashion Week, held from 5 through 9 March, 2010 at Mumbai, without, however, implying that other collections were not so impressive.

Pria Kataria Puri's Fashionable Ode to Maharani Gayatri Devi

Maharani Gayatri Devi's beauty and style is unparallel in the world of fashion. Little wonder therefore that Pria Kataria Puri's collection at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 was called "The Royal Rajputana Collection". It was resort haute couture from a designer who is known for her striking colourful creations.

Staying true to her muse, Pria's line of luxurious garments were in a rainbow of dazzling hues, that ranged from creamy pearl, smoky and golden topaz, aquamarine, turquoise, coral, red, emerald and onyx which were made from feminine flowing fabrics like silk, chiffon, tulle, satin, jersey and Egyptian cotton.

Show stopper Bollywood glam girl, Mughda Godse ended the show in a dazzling slim orange lehenga, choli and net dupatta, Splendour in fashion can only be created by Pria Kataria Puri and her Gayatri Devi inspired collection will be the ultimate style statement for any woman.

Riyaz Gangji's Debut Collection Made a Creative Glamrous Impact Riyaz Gangji, creator of the Libas label has dressed the top celebs of Bollywood and society. His collection for men and women was a relaxed comfortable line for both sexes. Men's wear started with linen pants, waistcoats, jackets and lean trousers with controlled embellishments. There was interesting detailing like cutwork or embroidery on the predominantly ivory collection that revolved around resort comfort wear. The women's wear was a line of glamorous satin, gowns with detailing like pleats, cowl necks, Grecian drapes, cut-away detailing for sexy ultra evening wear glittering with diamantes. Fabrics were textured and weave-centric with chiffon, satin, georgette, linen and cotton and the colours moved from pastel beige and mint to a hint of purple and coral. Show stopper, Pooja Bedi made a dramatic entry in an ivory net and satin draped gown sprinkled with sequins and a dazzling diamante cummerbund.

Riyaz Gangji's collection for both sexes was a mix of style and elegance perfect for the coming summer season.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee's Exciting Global Fashion Tour

The venue was lit with tiny fairy light streamers from the ceiling as Samira Resorts presented one of the most exciting shows of day one by Sabyasachi Mukherjee. From the colours of Africa with inspirations drawn from Sudan and Ghana for an African look, then onto the American underground years of the 70s and finally a visit to Paris of the 1920s; Sabyasachi took the audience on a grand global fashion journey at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort 2010.

Presenting a practical easy to wear mix and match look the designer gave fashion an ethnic yet contemporary touch bringing back some old favourites of the past like elasticized skirts and long line Tees. The stunning hues of the African continent, the American inspirations and the Parisian touches came together effortlessly in the whole collection which was a feast of fabrics, patterns, embellishments and simple elegant silhouettes. The colour story was muted with shades of ivory, brown, teal, rust, and indigo, with touches of orange and large doses of gold and silver embroidery.

Models emerged with trousers, skirts, blouses, jackets and scarves all in one entry which all came together seamlessly. The shapes were lean and long with tubes and extended tees in a mix of fabrics like chiffon, georgette, khadi, cotton, lace and silk which was a harmonious blend of textures - very often in a single garment. With so diverse a fashion story from formal to casual wear, Sabyasachi Mukherjee proved that he is the master of any genre of fashion which will cater to his loyal admirers' needs.

Sabah Khan Comes up with Funky, Quirky and Wacky Collection

For something very funky, quirky and wacky, Sabah Khan showed a colourful cotton collection of separates with prints of women on the blouses, skirts and dresses as the focal point of the line. Colour blocking played an important part of the sun dresses which were often teamed with churidars or pants. While appliques added excitement to the long bubble tops with maxi bias skirts, patch work also came into the collection which at times had the retro French musketeer influence or a touch of harlequin fun aspects.

Manish Malhotra Wove His Creative Traditional Magic

Inspired by the sea side holiday resort of St Tropez, Manish celebrated the beauty of his country, and worked with fabrics and silhouettes but gave them a young peppy stylish twist. Kurtas were one shoulder in shape, and while the dupatta went missing, there was luxurious layering. Leggings with sparkling touches were important to Manish which he teamed with kurtas. Colours were pastel with a hint of shading, while net as the base fabric, worked for a pair of dhoti pants and sheer floor length covers over sexy bikinis and transparent anarkali kurtas.

There was a distinct partiality towards the bundgala around which Manish showered his creativity. Trousers were cowled and comfortable for men's wear in different textures. Casual wear moved from white shirts with billowy sleeves to T-shirts and pastel coloured bundgala jackets with a variety of collars and closures which ranged from one to two buttons and clusters of three. Contrast piping edged collars, pockets and plackets giving the garment a contemporary feel.

Asmita Marwa's Collection was a Globe Trotter's Delight

With Boho Resort as her inspiration, Asmita Marwa's uniquely titled line "Maya 0 36'0"S/73 6'0"E" was for the jet setting woman. Checks, tie and dye and shades of resort colours appeared on muslin, linen and chiffon. Keeping the silhouettes fluid and flowing, there were touches of Turkish shapes and Indian aspects with Kalamkari and dazzling tones like red, mustard, yellow, olive and earth hues as they came together with neutral black, beige and ivory large checks and smoking rose prints.

Malini Ramani's Vibrantly Exotic Resort Line

Known for her sexy seductive creations with the love goddess look, Malini's vibrant garments revealed in five different stories brought together the beauty of the East with the West, to create as the designer claims, a hippie deluxe look inspired by Bollywood along with large doses of chic. Styling emerged from her favourite Moroccan kaftans look to the ethnic style of the Mayan and Aztec influences as multi coloured jumpsuits, striking sensuous gowns with touches of glitter to figure hugging cocktail dresses with tie-n-dye prints appeared on the catwalk. The look was pure summer resort wear and totally sensational.

Moving to the land of adventure Africa - Malini was inspired by the Grey Goose Zanzibar Temptation where digital zebra and snake prints on tunics and bandhini motifs in black, white and beige added drama for the sexy mini kaftans, sarong dresses, swimsuits and monokinis . For perfect resort wear the Grey Goose show by Malini Ramani, a master of this genre, will cater to the requirements of many buyers with this fabulous collection.

Jumpsuits, skirts, loose flowing ponchos, halter sun dresses, kaftans and draped tops were detailed with interesting yokes, layering and attached side pockets while crushed asymmetric tunics and skirts should be great summer buys. The first group of red and white and black and white linen block checks was turned into maxis, swirling tops, mini with recycled fabric fringe and halter dress with rose knot and large rose appliques. With colour, style and creativity Asmita Marwa's Summer/Resort 2010 line will be a winner anywhere and at anytime.

Paromita Banerjee had A Refreshing Rustic Youthful Range

It was an ode to Bengal and the handlooms of India from Paromita Banerjee. Called "The Laal Paar and Other Stories" the show revolved around a tale of muls, khadi, handlooms, silks, tussars, chanderi, gamchas, mix and match prints and gheras. With a mix of delicate floral and bird outlines including a rooster, the "Laal Paar" which is the traditional red border sari of Bengal , ran through the collection as the focal point of the garments.

Divided into three segments the show started with the "Off White Red Black Story" where kora hand loom tangail sleeveless dress with the Laal Paar red border was teamed with a ghera yoke dress. The kimono sleeve kaftan with temple border and the chanderi leaf green sleeve less tunic were sprinkled with floral and tree of life embroidery.

The final "Drape Story" had hints of Chinese baroque prints on kurtas and blouses. The silhouettes were loose and flowing and the mix of fabrics, embellishments and patterns made a pretty rustic collection from Paromita Banerjee for not only the Indian but international summers

Bollywood on Ramp at Satya Paul's Zippy Resort Show 2010

The collection from 25-years old label of Satya Paul was just perfect for the Summer/Resort 2010 season. With a title like "Zen, Zest, Zip, Zap and Zing" the show proved to be everything that the theme promised. Opening the show was the lovely Mandira Bedi in a green orange splashed sari with a flame red halter corset. Colours, textures and shapes in varied forms floated down the catwalk in an easy fluid mode. Crushed fabrics, textured tones of soft smooth easy silhouettes in pastels, ranging from blue, pink, peach, lemon and soft orange gave the saris and clothe the perfect mood for the season.

Puneet Nanda, the designer of the label cleverly dreamt up lehengas and saris in abstract designs while the fabric line up of organza, voile, georgette, crepe, satin, net, chiffon and brocade had the right touches of embellishments as mirror work twinkled and chikan work and aari embroidery, sequins and prints gave that glamorous fashion touch.

Anita Dogre Continued Her Love for Jaipur

It was the beauty of Jaipur that fascinated Anita Dongre once again for her two collections called "Jaipur Again". From her Anita Dongre Timeless label, it was a special offering of diffusion creations which could be mixed and matched as separates with her Anita Dongre Interpret line; so that the buyer can create a personal fashion statement. There was a predominantly all white mix of garments in the show with the Timeless Collection that reflected the beauty of Rajasthan architecture.

Kurtas swirled with gota embroidery, jackets added elegance and class, the cholis appeared in all their traditional glory, net and jersey with got a work was turned into sexy body suits, dresses and skirts were embroidered with the dazzling motifs of the desert region all beautifully blended to complete the collection.

Saris came in shades of palest of pink, blue and of course creme with twinkling work all over. For a summer wardrobe that moves from day to evening glamour Anita Dongre's two labels will cater perfectly to the needs of the fashion conscious globally.

Lina Tipnis's Collection Had Turkish Flavour

The beauty of the magnificent gems at the Topkapi Palace, the swirling Turkish dervishes, the beautiful blue Iznik tiles and the 14th century Grand Bazaar of the magical city of Istanbul was the inspiration of Lina Tipnis's collection titled "Istanbul Not Constantinople" at Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010.
Blending all these intriguing facets of the Turkish capital, Lina's colour story was a neutral nude along with ivory and mahogany enhanced by rich colours of the semi precious gems.

Lina Tipnis scored a perfect ten with her Summer/Resort 2010 line which reflected the beauty of Turkey with the fabrics of India in just the right proportions.

Suneet Varma's Stunning Grand Finale Collection Was Extravagant

The Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel was draped with metres of fabrics cascading down from the ceiling in lush panels. Three giant silver globes rotated from the ceiling throwing twinkling stars on the walls. A windmill gently rotated to the left of the stage while a silver balcony on the right of the stage was reserved for Medieval Punditz Shai'r and Func who provided the most exciting live music for the show. As the show started, a white curtain slid back to reveal a tableau against a glittering Spanish mansion. It was time for the most spectacular show of Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ resort. 2010. Inspired by LAKME'S NIGHT FEVER Summer 2010 collections which comprised Enrich Satin Lip Color, Lip Artist, Eye Magic Black, I m pact Eyeliner, Lash Artist, Aquashine and Glide on Eye Color; Suneet Varma created a dream of a line aptly titled NIGHT FEVER that was a breathtaking vision to behold.

Presented in five segments the collection with the glitter of Swarovski Elements was a modern look at fashion. "Color My World" was filled with a blitz of colours mixed with patchwork and mix and match options. A glamorous array of creations - chiffon coat, easy tunics, draped dresses, were worn with colourful tights. Zigzag print coats and side knotted minis, panelled beach wraps, Spanish black floral tunic, long ponchos and embroidered jackets along with belts in large crystals and metallic armbands and necklaces completed the look.

"Call of the Wild" was an animal print, motif and texture story with colours like black, beige, chocolate and a bit of turquoise. Slinky evening bias cut gowns dazzled with peridots and topaz. Net kaftans, layered frayed edged skirts, tiny blouses and capes and stoles had tie-dyed, shading and Shibori. The glam turbans and gold bronze armlets gave a luxurious look to the creations.

"Pucchi Prints" was all about graphics and geometrics for minis with fabric buttons, hip length fitted jackets, skinny pants with slits and zips, and stately gowns in peach, cobalt, blue and emerald green. Hooded long gowns, psychedelic minis and kaftans along with pant suits were a colourful presentation.

"Preppy Argyle" had checks in purple, lilac, beige and black, featuring collared tunics, dresses, wide pants with high waistbands and sexy gowns. Saris appeared with tights and minis with stockings and ruffled net capes over golden gowns.

"The Bold and the Beautiful" line was a Hollywood Red Carpet inspired look for long will-power dresses, cowl creations and evening pant suits recreating the 70s and 80s eras. The slinky gowns in shimmering brown, black, and green and with floral appliques were sensational.

The show ended in a shower of gold confetti over the ballroom as the three faces of Lakme, Lisa Haydon in a slinky red black gown, Amrit Maghera in a black gown with a net cover and Indrani Dasgupta in a gold gown walked down the ramp with Suneet Varma to thunderous applause as Saturday Night Fever by the Bee Gees set the night rocking.

Suneet Varma's Night Fever extravaganza inspired by LAKME'S NIGHT FEVER Summer 2010 collections was one of the grandest events witnessed by the glitterati of Mumbai and a perfect conclusion of Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort 2010.

Fur Collection | Fashion Fall Winter 2010-2011 Trend

2010-08-08T15:40:00.002+08:00

Fashion collection showed lots of fur in fall winter 2010 2011 in the runway. There was so much variety of fur colours in many details such as cuffs, purses, shoes and skirts. Michael Kors stood out in handbags and Karl Lagerfeld in North Pole style boots. Thakoon and Channel also show many fur details in their collections.

Here are some fur collections:

Louis Vuitton launches new Timepieces

2010-08-08T15:27:00.001+08:00

Louis Vuitton has launched several new watch collections in a bid to impress customers with the depth of its technical prowess. The star of the new watches, which were unveiled in the company’s Manhattan headquarters on Tuesday, is the Tambour Mystérieuse.

Priced at about 200,000 euros, or $265,000 at current exchange, the watch has a round dial and is comprised of a mechanism that is encapsulated by two sapphire crystal discs, allowing the watch itself to float within the bezel framing it.

With an eight-day, eight-hour power reserve, the unisex watches are available for custom order with options such as monogramming the second hand with the wearer’s initials, selecting gemstones to place on the platinum, white, yellow or red gold case, and straps which come in any leather.

Be Fashionista on the Beach with Fashion Handbags

2010-08-08T14:54:00.002+08:00

Summer is in and of course most women would love to go to beach as their main summer destination. When preparing to go to the beach, you'll surely have lots of necessary summer stuffs to bring including bathing suits, towels, flip flops, sunglasses, food and snacks and a lot more. And with these loads of stuffs, you need an extra large accessory that can accommodate all of them in a convenient way and that's a "Beach Handbag".

There are various styles and sizes of Beach Handbags to choose from depending on how much load of stuffs you'll be bringing. For choosing the right size of handbag, you need to base it according to how many days you'll be stayed on the beach resort. If your vacation will last up for several days, you have to choose an extra large beach handbag for you to bring more essential stuffs and can have a roomy space for souvenirs and other things that might be added when you're on your way back home. But if it's just a short trip and you're a type of person that only brings the most basic essentials, then you may only consider a smaller beach handbag that is more comfortable to carry.

In selecting beach handbag, you also need to consider its number of pockets. As much as possible, it's more useful if it has lots of pockets for you to manage and sort out your personal things in a more organized way which makes it easily for you to get them right away when you need them.

Katy Perry on Rolling Stone Magazine August 2010

2010-08-07T17:16:00.002+08:00

Check out hot rising singer Katy Perry on the cover of latest Rolling Stone Magazine August 2010 Issue.

* Also Check out PeekAStar.blogspot.com

Fashion Covergirls

2010-08-07T17:02:00.016+08:00

Thu Hang sexy photos on Golf&Life

Larissa Riquelme on the cover of H Para Hombres magazine

Laetitia Casta on Cover of Vogue Russia Magazine

Victoria Beckham on the Cover of Vogue Turkey

Jessica Alba: Covergirl of FHM Australia September 2010

Megan Fox getting ready to cover in FHM Magazine

Scarlett Johansson is the New Face of Dolce & Gabbana

New Baby-G Ad Campaign by Ke$ha

Cosmopolitan September 2010 Photoshoot: Jessica Alba

Hi! Blitz Magazine September 2010 Covergirl, Lara Dutta

Madonna's Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2010 Campaign

Gisele Bundchen on the cover of Vogue Brazil

Siren Shoes' new model: Jennifer Hawkins

Elle Magazine Celebrates it's 25th anniversary

Angelina Jolie as Covergirl of Lame Vogue US December Issue

Jesinta Campbell in FHM Australia Magazine December 2010 Issue

Body Paint Pictures of Hollywood Celebs

Elle December 2010 Covergirl: Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994

Jessica Alba: Covergirl of FHM Australia September 2010

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Check out Jessica Alba, covergirl of FHM Australia Magazine September 2010 Issue.

Liquid Vitamins Versus Chewable Vitamins

2010-08-06T21:14:00.002+08:00

Nearly 50% of Americans residing in the United States use some type of vitamin or vitamin supplement ever day. Even though they may take vitamins, most are unaware of the fact that nearly 90% of the nutrients and minerals found in the vitamin isn’t properly absorbed by the body, which means they are virtually watered down and most of their benefits proven to be not effective.

Almost all individuals who take vitamins use the pill form. Pills were once thought of to be the best, simply because they were the only vitamin sources. These days, liquid vitamins are much more effective, and people are starting to realize it. Although many use pills or chewable vitamins, they aren’t getting near the benefit they think they are.

Vitamins and supplements are very popular, especially for those who have active lifestyles and find it difficult to consume the necessary vitamins and minerals they need from the proper meals. Therefore, those with busy lifestyles turn to vitamins and supplements to give their bodies what it needs to carry out day to day activities. Even though you should never replace food with vitamins, vitamins can help you to get the nutrients and minerals you need on a daily basis.

The main reason why liquid vitamins are more effective than pills and tablets is due to the nature of their liquid base. With the vitamins being liquid, they are easier for the body to digest and easily absorbed into the digestive tract as well. Chewable tablets and pills will pass through the body in hard form, making them hard to digest. Liquid is always digested when it passes through, so it will go through your body quicker and take effect faster.

Due to the body having to work less to break down and absorb liquid vitamins, they will pass through the body much faster. The nutrients and minerals contained in liquid vitamins will reach vital areas faster through the bloodstream, and they are easier to use by the most important organs in your body that need them the most. Liquid is also easy to swallow as well, as you can add the liquid vitamin to your favorite juice or just take it right out of the bottle if you prefer.

With pills or chewable vitamins, the majority of the nutrients and minerals that are contained in the vitamins aren’t normally broken down in the digestive system. With these types of vitamins being in hard form, they are harder for the body to pass at the most crucial moments, where the body needs to have nutrients and minerals. Unless you completely chew up the vitamin, it can stay in hard form until it passes through when you go to the bathroom. If this happens, you are normally just wasting the vitamin as it doesn’t have a chance to get into the bloodstream.

Liquid vitamins have proven themselves to be the best way to get the minerals and nutrients your body needs. As more and more people discover the benefits of liquid vitamins and how easy they are to digest, they make the switch. Liquid is far superior to tablets and pills, simply because it tastes better, it’s easier to digest, and it travels through the body faster. You can find many different flavors and types of vitamin supplements at your local nutrition store, or get online and order what you need there. Either way you go - you’ll find liquid vitamins to be the ideal way to get the nutrients you need for you body on a daily basis.

Your Body And Antioxidant Foods

2010-08-06T21:14:00.001+08:00

Even though a lot of people don’t actually realize it, a lot of antioxidant foods that we consume are from vegetables. Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and peppers are all excellent choices with some great benefits for your body. When consuming vegetables, you should always go for those that are rich in color, as they are high in what is known as phytonutrients.

Phytonutrients are nutrients found in the skins of several fruits and vegetables, which give the food color as well as flavor and scent. Phytonutrients are quite simply the best types of antioxidant foods that you can find anywhere. If you are looking for a supplement value, the coq10 offers you a high level of antioxidant value.

Although fruits and vegetables are the best sources for antioxidants, the problem with them is that they are produced by the use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, and different types of fertilizers. Over the years, studies have shown that fruits and vegetables which are organically grown are high in antioxidants, and boast a much higher concentration than those that have been produced commercially.

In the busy world of today, it can be very tough to eat like we should, nor can we eat organic fruits and vegetables all the time. If you can’t or don’t have access to organic fruits or other sources of antioxidant foods, you should look into nutritional supplements that offer you the phytonutrients you need in your diet.

Supplements that contain phytonutrients do have advantages when compared to certain fruits, such as carrots - which can elevate your blood sugar level to a very high level. Phytonutrients found in supplements are the extract of pigments where nutrients are concentrated, meaning that they draw the best from antioxidant foods, leaving the calories and sugar behind.

Don’t get the wrong idea here, fruits and vegetables are indeed good for you. They are high in antioxidants, although those that are produced commercially generally come with chemicals and such that aren’t so good for you. Canned fruits and vegetables come with high levels of sugars and calories, which antioxidant supplements don’t have. The supplements offer you the levels you need, without any chemicals, sugars, or calories. This way, you don’t have to worry about consuming anything that isn’t good for you.

No matter how you look at it, healthy eating for your body starts and end with foods that contain antioxidants. There are several types of foods that contain antioxidants, although fruits and vegetables contain the most amounts. Steak and meat are also great sources of antioxidants, along with other great benefits, such as protein. Anytime you can’t get foods that contain antioxidants - you can count on supplements to deliver the amount you need to stay healthy.

Vitamins That Help With Hair Growth

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Loss of hair, or baldness, is the result of not having enough vitamin B supplements. Vitamin B is very important, as it contains B3 niacin, which is very important for growing hair. Vitamin B6 is another important vitamin, containing nutrients such as sulfur, biotin, magnesium, and zinc. Without these vitamins, your body won’t be able to grow hair as much, which commonly results in balding or hair loss as we get older.

What many people fail to realize, is the importance of vitamin B. Research has shown in the past that vitamin B is very important to hair growth. Men who consume foods that are rich in vitamin B are less likely to experience hair loss. Vitamin B is an essential vitamin, and also one that enriches the overall quality and thickness of hair.

Vitamin A is also important with hair growth. To get the proper amount of vitamin A, you should consume fatty acids. Some examples include flaxseed oil, primrose, and salmon oil. If you consume these types of fatty acids, you’ll get the right amount of vitamin A that is needed to enhance the growth of your hair. If you are worried about hair loss, you should make sure that you are getting enough vitamin A and vitamin B.

Vitamin E is also important for hair growth, as it stimulates your intake of oxygen and helps to improve your blood circulation as well. If your blood is circulating properly, then the growth of your hair will be enhanced. The proper circulation of blood is very important with hair growth, as the blood is what helps your hair to grow, and the necessary vitamins to flow through your body.

Another necessary vitamin for hair growth is biotin. You can find this essential source in rice, green peas, soybeans, oats, yeast, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. It is also found with some types of shampoos as well. If you are using shampoo that contains biotin, you’ll be getting into your root tips faster, which will help to promote the growth of your hair. Even though you may be using shampoo that contains biotin, you’ll still need to take the necessary vitamins and supplements as well.

Before you take any vitamins or supplements, you should always consult with your doctor and get his opinion. There may be some vitamins and supplements that you shouldn’t be taking, which is why you should always consult with your doctor before you make any decision. Your doctor will be able to run tests and go through your history with you, letting you know what you can and can’t take. This way, you can choose your vitamin supplements accordingly – and know without a doubt that there will be no long term side effects or problems.

Designer Handbags of Celebrities

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Paris Hilton with her Chanel Flower Flap

Ashlee Simpson with her Louis Vuitton Designer Handbag

Lindsay Lohan with her Pauric Sweeney Designer Handbag

Use Watches as Fashion Accessories

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Watches are simply no longer a time piece and they are now used for many other important purposes as well. One of their most common uses is as essential fashion accessories for both men and women.

Watches have always been included on the latest fashion trend because of their several purposes in fashion. One of these uses is that they add style to everyone's outfit. No one can deny this fact, because watches are really important fashion accessories in defining everyone's style. No outfit can look complete without wearing a trendy and fashionable watch. So if you don't have at least one by now, you should have to buy your own watch to add style and complete your outfit.

Top 3 Must Have Fashion Handbags

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The style of a designer handbag is one of the main reasons why this particular fashion accessory is fun to shop for. There are so many different styles of handbags to choose from that is why it's so hard to choose just one handbag. Every outfit calls for different style of handbag so this gives women more reasons to buy a minimum of three handbag styles to match whatever their outfit is. To help you out which types of handbag to buy, this article covers the Top 3 Handbag Styles that never come out on the latest fashion trend.

1. Tote Handbag

Tote Handbags are very popular because they are casual yet very practical to use. These bags usually fall in the middle of the body, around the elbow. They are usually big that's why they provide a lot of space for women's essential things that are too large for a purse. They usually only have one or two compartments and are available with a number of images on them or a simple solid color.

2. Clutch Handbag
A clutch is a handbag which does not have handles and is meant to be carried in the hand. That said they are usually quite small and only provide enough space for the personal small belongings of women such as make up, cosmetic products and other girly things. These bags can be casual or dressy and are often worn to an evening gathering and other formal occasions because they are so small and convenient to carry.

3. Satchel Handbag
A handbag that has one, sometimes two, large straps that goes over one shoulder and across the body. This type of handbag is best appropriate in most women who are working in an office. They have to use this handbag because they need to carry their important files whenever they have a meeting or if they need to bring their paper works in their home. It is also often used by most students to help them carry their books and other school stuffs. Using satchel does not only help women to hold their bulky files and things in a more convenient way but also enhance their fashion outlook.

Laetitia Casta on Cover of Vogue Russia Magazine

2010-08-03T13:11:00.002+08:00

Laetitia Marie Laure Casta is a French fashion model and actress born on May 11, 1978. Her career reportedly began when she was discovered by a photographer, during a family holiday in her father's native Corsica, at age 15. She was the official face of L'Oréal, Dior, and Chanel. She has been featured in Guess? Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger, Miu Miu and XOXO ad campaigns. Laetitia Marie Laure Casta has appeared on over 100 magazine covers including Victoria's Secret catalogs, ELLE magazine, and Vogue magazine. She also appeared in three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues, Rolling Stone, and a Pirelli Calendar.

She is now the face of Ralph Lauren's newest fragrance, Notorious. In 2010, she open the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2010 fashion show. Casta has made forays into Francophone film and television productions, including Astérix et Obélix contre César (known as Astérix and Obélix vs. César in English language versions), a live-action film of the Astérix world in which she plays a potential love interest for Obélix, portrayed by Gérard Depardieu.

Check out the great photos of French model Laetitia Casta on Vogue Russia August 2010 Issue. The photo-shoot was done by by Matt Irwin and stylist by Simon Robins. Laetita wears colorful ensembles from Balenciaga, Miu Miu, Jean Paul Gaultier ,Prada and Alberta Ferretti:

Victoria Beckham on the Cover of Vogue Turkey

2010-08-03T13:04:00.002+08:00

Victoria Beckham's editorial, she wears one dress from her own Fall 2010 collection, but the rest of her editorial sees her wearing Turkish designers.

In her interview she said that she was excited to wear Turkish designers for her shoot. “I just love their avant-garde style” she gushed.

Check out the Victoria Adams Beckham on the cover of Vogue Turkey, August 2010 Edition. The photoshoot was done by Ellen von Unwerth: