“When good Americans die, they go to Paris,” Oscar Wilde once wrote—and it’s true that when I arrive in the French city for a marathon week of runway shows each season, I sometimes feel like I’ve gone to fashion heaven. It’s not just the clothes. As Vogue Beauty Director, it is my job to spend ten straight days exploring its hidden-away salons and tracking down its best facialists, colorists, perfumers, holistic healers, and massage therapists. As such, I’ve developed a few standout favorites over the years. Just down the street from my hotel on the Rue St. Honoré, Colette’s jewel box–size Beauty Box apothecary is my first stop. Though it’s hardly a secret, there is always something there to surprise and delight—for reasons not the least of which include the following: It is loaded with stuff I can’t get in New York. This year, having thoroughly cased the joint online in advance of my arrival, I have my eye on Too Cool for School—a Korean makeup line that was most likely created for sixteen-year-old girls and which I plan on buying in bulk despite my non-sixteen-year-old status, from the bright lipsticks in little plaid boxes to the black mascara sketched with dinosaur drawings. I’ll also pick up Pluie’s oversized cast metal feather barrette, which promises to turn my pillow hair into an aesthetic statement. Before I leave, I always stop by the perfume section to visit Liaison de Parfum, a line of beautiful and original fragrances made by my dear friend Nana de Bary: She is a wonderful, funny, and kind person and wherever I find her scents around the globe, I always spray a little on. prom dresses 2015 During the afternoons in Paris, when I have the chance between shows, I do something that my New York self wouldn’t dream of: I work out in the middle of the day. Last spring, I discovered L’Usine, the extremely chic club de sport in the fourth arrondissement, where, for 50 euros, you can buy a day pass, book a private boxing session, or train with one of their excellent Pilates instructors. (Sidenote: The locker room blow-dryers are a revelation.) Not far away is another recent favorite discovery: holistic and fitness guru Moraima Gaetmank’s Studio Kinétique. A former dancer with a master’s degree in cognitive and behavioral psychology, Gaetmank possesses that rarest of qualities: a genuine healing touch. One hour-long session in her magical sunlit space, which includes a mix of Pilates, Gyrokinesis, and Gyrotonics, is the only thing that can undo four sleepless weeks of slouching at my laptop. In fact, Paris is a city filled with just such magical, word-of-mouth beauty sanctuaries—which, along with centuries of good Gallic genes, may explain why French women age so well. One such destination is hairstylist David Mallet’s hôtel particulier salon in the second arrondissement. There is no other word to describe David, who is actually Australian by birth and blessed with a supreme excess of charisma, but dashing. He most definitely belongs in a James Bond film. This, along with his directional eye, is why he’s on the speed dial of every major designer, model, and actress in Paris—and why it is harder to get an appointment with him during Fashion Week than the President. Fortunately, all of his senior stylists are amazingly well-trained. Book the hour-long head massage followed by a blowout. You will leave looking cool, French, and possibly un peu sexy—but never overly done. Good hair, of course, calls for good skin—and when I need to look fresh-faced, I head to The Spa My Blend at the Royal Monceau. I’ve never met a hammam I didn’t like, and as such, I could spend the whole day in their white-tiled sauna and Turkish-style plunge pool or swimming laps in the Philippe Starck–designed pool space. Eventually I will end up falling into a comatose sleep mid-facial on a heated treatment bed—a ritual I am likely to repeat at the spas at the Park Hyatt (the La Mer facial is truly divine), Darphin, or Biologique Recherche. The one area where I take exception to all this excessively French relaxation, of course, is my nails: I get bored during overly drawn-out appointments and am mostly focused on a good polish job. I book my sessions online at Manucurist—which is a great nail bar that I discovered on a tip from the wonderful French journalist Lili Barbery-Coulon. My other go-to spot is Prisca Courtin-Clarins’s Nail Factory, where this American in Paris is happy to report that you can get a perfect gel manicure and pedicure in a New York minute. vintage prom dresses 2014 You should also see: http://charlottea.tarlog.com/post/27/

Oh, woe is the improperly dressed man. “The consequences of a zipper malfunction,” explains a video about the coat I am wearing today, “can take you out of your zone instantly. That’s what Puma considered when choosing the right zipper for Arsène Wenger.” Arsène’s coat – that most famous coat in British football – is his closest companion, his oldest enemy. Often the Arsenal manager is pictured on the touchline, struggling with the zipper in the cold. The engineers at Puma have constructed him a special coat calibrated for his style of zipping, coming up with an oversized zip-pull, yet still he struggles. This is an important issue. Of course the modern football manager must think, carefully and tactically, about his wardrobe. Steve McClaren lost his England job after sheltering, cowardly, under an umbrella as England lost to Croatia in the rain. Tim Sherwood, infamously, wore a gilet for much of his short and ignominious stint as manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Roberto Martinez enjoys a gothic, buckled-up bondage coat, as if he were Edward Scissorhands. celebrity dresses But the most successful managers are always well-turned-out. Joachim Löw – who won the World Cup with Germany – is known for his dandy-ish style and his mad, megalomaniacal obsession that his assistant Hans Dieter Flick must always dress exactly like him, for instance in a lavender V-neck and navy blazer. Jose Mourinho favours dark grey, dashing overcoats that complement his salt-and-pepper hair. Diego Simeone dresses all in frightening black, like an assassin-with-a-heart-of-gold in the movie Léon. But I have been asked to wear Arsène Wenger’s coat out and about – even though I am a Tottenham fan and cannot stand him or his team – and why not, I suppose? The first test? A stroll down Old and New Bond Streets,to see what the wealthy fashion crowd might make of this. Actually, a lot of them are also dressed in long caterpillar coats, but mostly these are by Moncler and cost much, much more than Arsène’s. A lot of them are in furs, too. I try to catch the eye of a beautiful 20-something brunette in a smart winter overcoat (the sort of thing Mourinho wears) but she averts her eyes, appalled. My next stop is Vogue House, where I am working this week, and the doorman is happy to see me – it turns out he supports Arsenal. I sense his disillusionment when I tell him I’m only wearing the coat because the Guardian made me. Clearly, I feel embarrassed. And, more than that, I feel long. Very, very long. This is a coat so absurdly long that it inspired its own meme. It is difficult to move in a tightly zipped coat that comes down below the knees, and difficult to access any trouser pockets, too. Coming out of the underground, I bump into a matewho says “I like your coat”, and I gaze sadly into the middle distance and complain that it’s hard to walk. And then he explains the double zip to me. It turns out that this coat can also be unzipped from the bottom – Arsène never does this at the football, but then he can hardly do it up in the first place – transforming it in to a flowing trench coat, or even a gentlemanly cape. Still, it looks awful on me, and only works on Arsène because he’s exceedingly tall and skinny, like the Nightmare Before Christmas. Having said all that, I am toasty and comfortable – even when I pose beside the chiller cabinets in my local Tesco - if somewhat immobilised, in Arsène’s coat. It’s perfect for standing around in the cold, which is its purpose, and its quilting and fleece lining are very snug. Later this week I’ll be boarding a 26-hour-long cargo ferry from Immingham to Gothenburg, which will be very frosty, so I think I’ll wear it a little longer before donating it to charity or burning it. It’s a wonderful winter coat, I suppose– if you like Arsenal and can use a zipper. short purple prom dresses You should also see: http://themedesign1.ning.com/profiles/blogs/designer-carrie-hammer-talks-role-models-in-fashion

“It started very spontaneously,” explains Sofía Sanchez de Betak. “Alex just came up with it and said it was a cute idea, but it was in the middle of our wedding so we were completely overwhelmed with the day! We started as soon as we got back from the honeymoon.” The Argentinian art director, tastemaker, and devoted collector—of vintage Georg Jensen jewels, Argentinian “very gaucho silver,” Odraz Vesmir clutches, and more—was talking about the soon-to-launch (this Wednesday, to be exact) Paddle8 jewelry and watch auction that she and her very new husband Alexandre de Betak curated. The auction—a sale of rare artist- and designer-designed rings, necklaces, vintage watches and more—is the first of its kind for the online auctioneer house, which until now has focused exclusively on fine art. celebrity dresses It’s also a first for the creative couple, who delved through a host of wide-ranging, decades-spanning inspirations before settling on a selection of architect-, artist-, and designer-crafted pieces—with eighties Memphis as the primary guide. “That’s what we love the most and what we find the most interesting and fun in terms of sculptural jewelry,” says Sofía, who recently rediscovered the appeal of bold pieces—works like the 18k gold and turquoise seventies Claude Lalanne cat choker that she picked up at auction some time ago herself—after being robbed of all her fine jewelry last year. “The jewelry they left behind was all of my designer jewelry,” she continues. “So in a way, it feels much more exciting and safer and smart and more personal for me to buy interesting design pieces instead of crazy gold jewels.” The jewels and timepieces going on the block? There’s a winding copper spiral pendant by kinetic sculptor Alexander Calder; a delightfully surreal brooch of ruby and pearl lips designed by Salvador Dalí (inspired by the kiss of Mae West) in 1949; a kitschy postmodern Memphis-style brooch by Peter Shire; several rare, restored antique Rolexes; even two vintage Pulsar watches from Alex de Betak’s personal collection of some ten to 20 watches (“he wears only those and he’s very particular about his watch selection,” says his wife). These are items—there are around 40 being auctioned in total—with aged stories and (frequently) offbeat sensibility, often representing an extension within a period of the designer’s larger body of work. What’s different and exciting about the pieces they’ve chosen, explains Sofía, is that they’re not merely artworks translated into jewelry; they are sculptures in and of themselves—“a form of art that you can actually wear.” pink prom dresses

Issue 6 of CR Fashion Book might not have happened. Carine Roitfeld had not one, not two, but three back surgeries between the last round of shows and the magazine’s arrival on newsstands in a few days. She styled some of the shoots in the new book from a wheelchair. “Tom Pecheux was pushing, so it was OK,” she said from her perch at the Shangri-La Hotel, laughing in her plastic corset. In case you saw Roitfeld at the couture shows and thought differently, the waist-spanning brace isn’t decorative; if she’s lucky, she’ll have it off by the Paris fashion shows in March when she plans to celebrate the new issue with a big party. “It doesn’t go with an evening dress,” she said. Roitfeld gave Style a sneak preview of several stories in the new issue, and opened up about everything from Paris post-Charlie Hebdo to the new guy at Gucci to which particular member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan made it into the magazine. Hint: It’s not Kendall. Carine Roitfeld: So, you see my corset... Nicole Phelps: Yes, I thought it was a fabulous belt from the distance at the Lanvin Pre-Fall presentation. At first it is not bad, it is a bit Alaïa, but at the back it is fully…it is custom by the hospital. It is from hospital. So you’ve recovered? I am much better. I had an accident one year ago in New York. I fell down and I broke some bones, and you know because I am always running, I do not always do what I need to do. And finally I had an operation, and after one operation I had a second operation, and after the second, I had a third operation. So it is a long process. And the back, there is a lot of healing...you say “heal”? prom dresses 2015 Yes, heal. When you have to stop for two months, you are even more excited to go back. So maybe it was a good thing. More energy, more happy to go to work, with new ideas. [Hopefully] this issue will be a bit of a reflection of what I had in my mind. Something you see a bit differently, I will say. How will it be different? After hospital, I was thinking, What’s my issue going to be about? Because it was very late. So I kept thinking. I like Serge Gainsbourg, the French singer, and he made a beautiful song about Anjelica Huston that I love, too, called “Jolie Laide.” I think American people know this song. It means “ugly beauty,” but I think jolie laide maybe is nicer. It’s true in life and mostly in this work of fashion that the idea of beauty has changed. The whole issue will be around this idea of jolie laide—not just about the beauty, but about fashion, about pictures, about something that is more interesting. I think it is a very good sign for women because we are not all perfect. I made a long story about Michael Avedon; I asked him to do my ugly beauties, in a way. I could not have Kate Moss, because I could not travel, so I could not have Kate Moss in this story, but she could be a part of it. She was not a perfect beauty, but finally she is one of the biggest top models, you know? It’s like Lara Stone. She is top model now, but you know when Riccardo [Tisci] introduced me to her, no one wanted her. She wasn’t graceful or…? She wasn’t enough skinny, [she had] too much breasts, you know. She was the fitting makeup girl for the show, nothing more. Can you imagine? And now she is one of the biggest top models. It’s like Gigi [Hadid]. She is a girl who I really pushed. She has a very special face. Some people think she isn’t beautiful, some people think she’s great, but she is not the profile of ideal beauty. Everything [in the issue] is around that, you know? And to make some more surprise, you know of course I am still very faithful to the Kardashians because I started with Kim. It was a good thing for her and it was a good thing for me—Iook at where she is now. So I still wanted someone from the Kardashian family in my magazine. It is not her, it is the younger sister, what’s her name? Kylie. I think she has a very interesting face. And Kanye will be a part of this issue, too. black prom dresses You were here when the Charlie Hebdo attack happened, correct? Do you see it having an effect on the designers who are based here? It was a shock for French people. America had the Boston Marathon bombings; you had, of course, the Twin Towers. But for the French, it was a big shock because we are not used to such horrible things in our lives. Still, I think French designers push a lot. Think of Jean Paul Gaultier, of what he did when he did the Jewish show. I don’t think it would be possible to do today, to do a show like that. In a way there is regression a bit in the freedom of people. Me, I always pay attention to not make other people unhappy; I am very free, but I don’t want to hurt anyone. Now there are a lot of other rules that magazines have to follow, there are the advertisers, so it is not totally freedom that you are living. For me what’s important is to feel free even when I respect all the people I am working with, all my advertisers, and I hope I can keep it this way, for a long time, this is my luxury. But I think for French magazines, they are not very far away from American or Japanese or English magazines now, no? What do you think, do you find a lot of difference? I think your era of Paris Vogue, it felt very different. Yes, I got a lot of letters. But you know, sometimes you never know what you are going to be attacked for. They attacked me for being racist because I painted Lara Stone in all the colors and in one photo she was painted in black. And I was the first one to put a girl like Liya Kebede from the cover to the entire issue, so people have a very short memory, you know. And one time I put a very oversized girl, because I have always liked oversized girls in a magazine, and I received a lot of letters, like, “Oh, why did you put this ugly girl in your magazine?” What have you thought of the couture shows so far? I think the Dior show was for me the best one of Raf’s so far. And I loved the shoes, the shoes were brilliant. It seems like he is gaining confidence. It really felt very strong. I am happy for him. I met Raf when he was very young, the long hair like a grungy boy when he started doing his collections, and we photographed with Mario Testino a lot at that time, it was a very long time ago. And I remember, I visited him and after I never met him again, and he is very shy, and I remember someone was calling him after a very long time, and I said, “Pass me the phone, I want to say congratulations.” And I said, “Raf, this is Carine, we met a very long time ago.” And he said, “I want to thank you for this shoot you did for me in Paris 15 years ago.” So he has a very good memory, he seems very nice, I would love to have a coffee with him once. So, looking forward to February and the shows, is there anything you have your eye on? No, honestly. It’s like everything, you are never looking for your boyfriend and suddenly you found your boyfriend. It’s the same for designers. You know Riccardo, his show, I went for the first time in Milan because my son, he was friends with Mariacarla [Boscono], and Mariacarla gave to my son the invitation of Riccardo, and for me he was no one. And I was like, “OK, I have a car and I have a bit of time,” and I was like, “OK, let’s go.” So I went to see that show and it was totally new, totally fresh, and it was very interesting. That’s the way I met Riccardo. Of course I am going to wait for J.W Anderson because it is exciting, of course I am going to wait for Christopher Kane because I have been following him from the beginning, but you never know what is going to be. I like to support new talent, I just regret not to support more before. It’s the next generation, we need them. It’s like Riccardo, he’s not so young anymore. I am so happy to see Hedi Slimane. I went to see his first show when he was working at YSL for men, and there was not more than 10 people in the room, and then they become like this, such a big success, so it makes you happy, you know, it makes you happy that you’ve known them for so many years. So yesterday I was backstage with Riccardo at Saint Laurent. I was between Riccardo and Hedi and it was a nice moment to be between two friends. Very talented friends. I say I am very gifted to have very talented friends. And they are friends together, too, they are old friends, as you may know. And what about Gucci, your old stomping grounds? I don’t know the guy [new creative director Alessandro Michele]. It was a bit like we took the assistant of the assistant. I didn’t see the men’s show, I do not know if you were in Milan. I only saw the pictures… What did you think? It was a bit different already… Yes, it was different. Maybe he is even looking at J.W. Anderson a little bit, that androgyny idea. Jonathan is a bit like the new one that everyone is looking at, he has the talent, he has a certain charisma. As for Gucci, I am more excited for the women’s show, I will say, than for the men’s show. I wonder what Tom Ford thought. I’m sure he still keeps an eye at what’s happening there. Of course. But you know, you cannot remake the game, you cannot remake the film. And sometimes I think if Tom Ford was going back to Gucci and he asked me to work with him, I would never say yes, because it’s done. But it was a very good moment. Everything was possible. Everything was free, and it was very fun to work with him. Who are the new photographers you’re working with? When you decide you want to work with the new photographers, do you feel it is a risk? Or do you really like… At the beginning, I had no choice. Other photographers, I was not allowed to work with then, but in a certain way it was a very good thing for me because it pushed me to find new ones. One is Michael Avedon—OK, he has a good name, but sometimes it can be even more difficult when you have a good name to be a photographer. He did the portfolio of “Jolie Laide,” and it is not easy to photograph a star and make her not as beautiful as people expect her to be. I think he did it in a very smart way; he is a very smart person. And there are a lot of amazing new girls in the issue. [We shot girls with] everything you think is not beautiful, you know, big ears. Big ears were always my complex because I have these ears coming out of my hair and now Karl [Lagerfeld, who did the shoot] loves this girl with the hair like that, so we say, “OK, good.” You know I think Karl is very risky, in casting and in advertising. Even when he is doing Chanel and Fendi, he will photograph other brands, which is rare. Right, he is not too proud? No, he is happy to photograph. He will say, “Oh, what’s that? Oh, I like it.” He is very professional, and I like that. There is a picture Karl did of me in my corset [in the issue]. One of my favorite stories in the issue is about destroyed jeans and T-shirts. Now if you want to buy destroyed jeans, it’s so much more expensive. Why? I think it’s very interesting how suddenly a destroyed T-shirt is more expensive than a new T-shirt. This is ugly beauty, too. So it is all linked in this issue. Kristen Stewart is part of the magazine. Is she? Yes, because I met her with Karl. And she is very special, too, she is not a perfect beauty. If she does not know you, sometimes she is very insecure. It is strange, but sometimes you are very beautiful and very insecure. Karl took a beautiful picture of her. She is very perfection in the photo. I made her look a bit like Patti Smith for the photo, and she was like, “I am just on the line with Patti Smith.” I said, “Oh, ask her what she thinks of the photo,” and she said that Patti liked it. I thought if Patti likes it, we can do it. I didn’t realize they were friends, because Patti Smith is always a big reference in fashion. Kristen is a funny girl, but you have to know her. She is quite shy at the beginning, you know. We all dream to be actresses—we all want to be Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie, but are they more happy than us? I’m not sure. It is difficult to be an actress, because when you are an actress, you can’t age. In fashion it is not easy, either, but usually I am not in front of the camera, I am behind, so it is easier for me. I think every beauty needs something weird—a little error or it’s not beautiful. You should also see: http://ourbdspace.com/blog/44013/beauty-with-a-thought-efva-attling/ https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/99057626

Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, and that's something of a game changer. The expectations will be high, and there's officially no excuse not to go all out. No pressure or anything. I asked Patti Stanger (of Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker) how to make V Day 2015 live up to—dare I say exceed?—the hype. celebrity dresses If you’re single: “Get out of the house. Since it's a Saturday, hit a happy hour or do a pub crawl with a group of friends. Pick a street and bring your phone—you want to get home safely. Every single pub is going to have a Valentine’s Day theme. Everyone’s going to want to meet people, it’s the icebreaker.” If you’re on a budget: “Make your home into a spa. If you’re on a fixed income or just trying to save money, get some sushi at the grocery store, draw a bubble bath, and give each other massages. Keep it simple and romantic.” Or throw a really great Valentine's Day party. “Merge the couples with the singles. Why not have the couples bring in someone to set the singles up with? Couples don’t want to sit at the prix-fixe meal and wait forever at a restaurant. They want to help people find love because they’ve found love. So they can make it their project. Everybody brings somebody—just make sure there’s an even number of people. Don’t do a sit-down dinner; just do some great finger-food appetizers and wine. You don’t have to muss and fuss and make sangria, and you don’t have to be a millionaire to drink quality wine. [Stanger just launched her own line of wine, PS Match, this month.] Make a great playlist on Spotify, then have some games: Trivial Pursuit, even Spin the Bottle. When you get interactive, that’s when the fun stuff happens.” green prom dresses

1. Match your skin tone, not your dress If you are wearing something slinky, don’t get hung up on whether bridal underwear is “beautiful” or not – it probably won’t be. Above all, it needs to be functional, in a neutral colour match to your skin tone. Even ivory on pale skin can give a strobe-light effect and show through bias-cut dresses. Often, a dress is so figure-hugging that the only thing that is going to work is an all in one Spanx from right underneath the breasts. There’s nothing pretty or sexy about this kit, but it works. You can change into something more flattering for your wedding night if need be. 2. Pretty details are not your friend A satin bow will always show. One bride I designed for found a fine lace pair of knickers that matched her skin tone and thought they were invisible – until her groom pointed out the satin bow at the top, which showed through her dress. prom dresses 2015 3. ‘Tit tape’ has many uses If you’re going backless, try a backless bra with sticky wings, such as the Fashions Forms Go Bare Backless Strapless Bra, Black. They do work – but test them out first. One bride found a great strapless bra with not quite enough stickiness, so she covered every last millimetre of the inside of the cups in tit tape (double-sided tape for the body) as insurance. This is not an entirely glamorous story: the bra stuck to her skin so firmly that it took two bridesmaids to remove it when she tested it out, but it worked on the day. 4. Alterations aren’t just for your dress If you wish your bra was just a bit lower at the back, or don’t think it is going to stay up on its own, it is easy to alter it or stitch it into your dress. One bride I designed for took a shapewear slip, attached it to a bra with stick on tabs at the side, and had the back of the bra altered and lowered. Then she attached extra long white bra straps to the top. Admittedly, getting undressed afterwards was a bit of a mission. 5. Size matters This might be seem obvious point, but make sure you buy the right size knickers. Don’t be precious about it – going one size bigger than usual might help avoid bulging. But also be careful you don’t go too big, as I have heard of a bride who managed to lose her pants walking down the aisle. (Nb. Eagle-eyed bridesmaids are essential.) 6. Allow yourself a lot of time to select the right underwear This means trying out underwear at your dress fittings – not rushing out to buy it afterwards – and standing near the window during fittings so you are getting natural daylight to spot any lines. You should also take pictures of yourself from different angles to ensure flash photography won’t ruin the illusion. 7. Going commando is always an option If you want support but can’t find anything that doesn’t leave a visible line, you can always find a pair of seamless shapewear tights and chop off the feet and part of the legs. If you don’t need underwear for support then don’t bother wearing any – that’s one way to avoid the lines showing. In that case, do prepare for any weather, especially if you are not wearing a bra. Even summer evenings get chilly, and no one needs to see that much of the bride. blue prom dresses You should also see: http://www.leapzipblog.com/blog/read/176336/kit-willow-podgornik-back-with-a-positive-outlook-on-fashion/

Never mind Miley, or any other celebrity for that matter: At Copenhagen fashion week, you want Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark at your show. On the first day of the Copenhagen schedule, it was designer Mark Kenly Domino Tan who had the pleasure of welcoming the Danish royal. It made sense, considering the mid-century Dior riffs Tan explored via fluidly elegant silhouettes. But it wasn’t as proper as all that. Tan tweaked Greenlandic sealskin (traditionally a somewhat pedestrian fur to the Danes) to look like glossy mink or treated it to almost resemble coarse knitwear. Alongside the heavy furnishing fabrics Tan prefers, it laced the collection with the right kind of wrong. “Maybe a bit ugly in the right constellation—perfect but not perfect,” he said. red long prom dresses The day was one of contrasts, beginning with Fonnesbech’s sustainably produced, subdued musings on the liberated post-WWI woman and ending with art maverick Henrik Vibskov’s fun-house prints and surreal massage table tableaux of girls hidden under flesh-colored blankets and a sea of freaky undulating rubber hands. The show felt like a commentary on society’s obsession with weird beauty procedures, and Vibskov wasn’t the only designer eager to make a statement beyond clothes. Mads Nørgaard sent out a diverse street cast of Copenhagen kids in his cool wardrobe basics. “I enjoy making clothes that are worn by real people, not things that require a driver and a maid. But it cannot just be normcore. It has to be fashionable whilst being wearable.” Nørgaard’s sentiment sums up much of what Danish fashion is about. green prom dresses Denmark and its democratic fashions might not be subculture heaven, but Asger Juel Larsen tries his best to challenge that. This season, his goth boys invaded Hotel D’Angleterre’s genteel palm tree room in Victorian outerwear, spray-painted fake furs, and floral camouflage prints that made them look like army deserters on their way to an illegal rave. Sand designers Lene and Søren Sand, meanwhile, held an intimate gathering at their newly purchased palace of a home. (They normally work from their place near Lake Como.) The party was a rather sexed-up affair, with girls in bum-skimming lace dresses and boys in slick, metallic-hued suiting parading by.

The couture collections in Paris have to be my favorite fashion shows of the year. Maybe it's because there's an element of mystery to the shows or the fact that the front row is filled with more high-rollers than bored celebrities. Or perhaps it's because the clothes are so fantastical (both in quality and in price). Or maybe it's the fact that the hair and makeup looks are never boring or expected. Rarely is there "no-makeup makeup" or "natural hair" on a couture runway. The beauty looks at these shows aren't meant to be wearable or translatable in real life, and maybe that's why I love them so much. They are a testament to the fact that makeup and hairstyling are true art forms, just as much as painting or singing or dancing. And with that in mind, here are the masterpieces so far from the spring 2015 couture runways this week. prom dresses uk Christian Dior. Hairstylist Guido described this look as a "couture ponytail," in that it was both simple and yet highly stylized at the same time. And he's right: Look at the models from the front and you might not notice anything special. But as they turn around, you see all the amazing little details, like the fact the ponytail isn't actually attached to the model's head but rather hanging from colorful metal rings attached to the hair, which is tied up in a short loop; the volume at the crown that created a graphic silhouette; and the hair at the nape of the neck, tucked tightly under the top of the hair to create the illusion of an undercut. It's a ponytail you may want to try at home, but you might pull a muscle in the process. short black prom dresses Versace. Pat McGrath's graphic eyeliner was one part Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra and one part '60s Edie Sedgwick. However, thanks to the glossiness of the black and blue eyeliners and the diffused pigment around the models' eyes, the look felt more rock and roll than retro. I also love how the strong definition in the creases and along the lash lines (and white liner in the inner rims) made the models' eyes look huge, even with the darkness encircling them. Schiaparelli. There were so many awesome hairstyles at the Schiaparelli show that I lost count. Everything from shiny bowl cuts and disco-era bouffants to Princess Leia buns and helmets made of braids. But one of my favorite looks from the show was this cornrowed look, in which the ends of the tiny braids were looped back up, creating a contrast between the strict, graphic quality of the cornrows and the soft, swingy-ness of the braided ends. Chanel. The flower festival at Chanel's couture show this morning wasn't just made up of the 300 mechanical blooms decorating the set. It also included the delicate fabric flowers tied to the ends of the models' loose braids and a tulip-pink lip that looked striking peeking out from under oversize hats and black violets. Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to make pink-flower hair accessories cool again. You should also see: http://pollinatorpartners.com/profiles/blogs/fashion-firm-dressed-for-success

Perhaps it’s all the uniforms cropping up all over the place, or maybe it was Raf Simons’ opening gambit, glorifying his own university years on Wednesday evening, but there’s been a back-to-school feeling at the Paris menswear shows. Many editors share said feeling – bleary-eyed and pale under recently-acquired holiday tans, with shell-shocked expression as they launched into a fully-fledged fashion month barely a week into the new year. Amongst designers, generally, there’s a studious earnestness, to see ideas through, to cross t’s and dot i’s. But, alas, there hasn’t been much deep and meaningful. Kim Jones’ Louis Vuitton collection is the perfect summary of the remerging mood of ticking boxes rather than plucking heart-strings. It was exemplary, and has been highly-feted as a well-executed expression of an admirable idea. Which was an issue. An ode to the menswear maverick Christopher Nemeth, Jones’s Vuitton collection felt like a perfectly-punctuated essay rather than the free-falling, joyous creative splurge Nemeth warranted. It was far too well-behaved, far too studious. You wanted to Jones to lighten up and let his ideas really rip. Looking at the knotted Nemeth patterns that wriggled over the ship-shape Louis Vuitton clothes – duffles and pea-coats, sweaters, lots and lots (and lots) of bags – they were outré, but not nearly enough. It would take a courageous man to wear them, so you wondered why Jones didn’t indulge himself and his potential customer and offer something truly extraordinary? Especially when it’s an adjective applicable to Jones and Nemeth’s best work alike. prom dresses 2014 Thom Browne didn’t look to his school days – alas. Imagine how toe-curlingly appropriate that would be? But the Browne boy has a uniform as rigid and archaic as any British public school’s. This season, it was funereal fashion, with models kitted out like the plumed pit-ponies that tugged Victorian hearses in black veils and top-hats. Even under all that fuss and bother, Browne’s silhouette – that shrunken jacket hiked up the torso and exposing a good inch of wrist, those abbreviated trousers above clunky brogues – sings out. And it is unmistakably Browne’s, despite his legions of copyists. And so, to Riccardo Tisci. If Tisci was a schoolchild, he’d be the cleverest in the class: or, at least, the one clever enough never to get caught. Riccardo Tisci knows how to copy well, how to lift a silhouette or a decorative motif and reiterate it, at just the right time, with his own handwriting. He sometimes recycles his own back-catalogue (the crystal-crusted face masks he cajoled out of Pat McGrath for his spring 2014 womenswear show made a re-appearance on his menswear catwalk Friday night). Undoubtedly, he’s obsessed with making Givenchy a label inextricably tied to his own identity, hence all those crucifixes, and the bold badges branding “17” across the models’ chests – 17 being the age Riccardo Tisci left Italy to study in London. There’s a strength in numbers with Tisci – he showed 61 looks, including half-a-dozen womenswear, a stylistic zoetrope whizzing by at such a breakneck speed it scrambled your perceptions of the designer’s reference-points and riffing on the work of Maison Martin Margiela, Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano, amongst others. Despite those branding, self-aggrandising badges festooning everything with his “signatures,” very little of what we saw on the Givenchy catwalk felt like it originated with Tisci. But, ultimately, does that matter if the retail sums add up? blue prom dresses Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe also borrows liberally from other hands. He’s very open about that. For winter he pointed at a checkerboard suit in garish multicolour and recalls the work of Todd Oldham, in itself an echo of the work of Mr Freedom, Granny Takes A Trip and Bus Stop in the 1960s. Was Oldham copying? And by copying a copy, does Anderson come up with something new? Those are awfully deep and meaningful questions – much deeper than Anderson really cares to go. He describes his Loewe menswear propositions as “fragments,” and compared to the often unpalatable total looks Anderson shows on his menswear catwalk in London, Loewe is chopped into easily-digestible chunks. The chunks Anderson blew across the Loewe showroom this time included shearling-collared pea-coats, crunchy polo-shirts, puddling synthetic trousers with tracksuit stripes up the side and irridesent mohair sweaters (who knew you could get lurex mohair?). The look book images Anderson created with Jamie Hawkesworth – or the campaign currently festooning Paris, shot by Steven Meisel and previewing these winter clothes – present an alarmingly sway-hipped, oxford-bagged bloke in the Sebastian Flyte mould of delicate manhood. It would scare away most Loewe customers – but the majority will see these clothes as Anderson’s fragments, and will buy them as such. Head-to-toe luxury for the truly discerning man is terribly tough to pull off. Véronique Nichanian manages it with an enviable ease at Hermes. Which isn’t to say that her work doesn’t deserve an A for effort. After all, it’s not easy to make tracksuit trousers out of sheared mink or a sweatshirt out of crocodile. Actually, it is – but it’s not easy to make clothes equally as luxurious that have impact for consumers and press without falling into posh parody. Nichanian does that, using stuff like silk and cashmere that doesn’t scream about its fabrication, in gentle shades of brown and grey, enlivened with touches of blackcurrant and brilliant gooseberry chartreuse. Nichanian has enough nous to know that while the crocodile and mink will grab column inches and, perhaps, attract a few flashier clients, most men want to buy the quiet stuff. The stuff you don’t need to study too hard to know it has class. You should also see: http://facebookhitlist.com/profiles/blogs/glee-character-comes-out-as-a-trans-man http://www.friendku.com/blog.php?user=4826&blogentry_id=46207

By now we're all familiar with no-makeup makeup. We saw it at more than half of the spring 2015 fashion shows, with a few designers taking it to the extreme and sending models down the runway with literally no makeup. Let's get real, though. Appearing as if you're not wearing a speck of makeup isn't the same as not wearing a speck of makeup. Especially if you're not a 16-year-old Eastern European who won the genetic lottery. When I leave the house without anything on my face, I look pretty rough. Like, I-just-raged-all-night-with-a-bottle-of-tequila rough. (OK, maybe not that bad, but you get the picture.) The right tricks, however, can make you look like you rolled out of bed with flawless skin, bright eyes, and naturally rosy lips. Lucky for you, we've got them all right here. Start fresh. "This look is 50 percent makeup, 50 percent skin care, because well-hydrated skin looks so luminous," makeup artist Tom Pecheux once told me backstage at a Balmain show. And Pecheux's prep routine is no joke. He starts by massaging the skin with a few drops of Rodin Olio Lusso, followed by a serum and a classic moisturizer. It sounds crazy, but there's actually a method to his madness: Dermatologists say layering multiple skin-care products traps more active ingredients against your skin, so every product you use works better (which means better-looking skin). red long prom dresses Even things out. Before you reach for the foundation, try a primer with a hint of pink for fair skin (like Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Primer) or lavender for medium to dark skin (such as Clinique Superprimer for Sallowness). If redness is your problem (like me) go for a green-tinted primer (I use Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer in Green). If you're in your 20s, a thin layer all over may be all you need. If you're old enough to no longer get carded, you'll still be able to wear less foundation if you start with primer. Use foundation as concealer. Since foundation is more sheer than concealer, it will give you coverage without looking too makeup-y. "Smooth a dot or two under your eyes and around your nostrils," says makeup artist Susie Sobol. Then blend it around the inner corners of your eyes, where the bridge of your nose can cast shadows. If the idea of going out with this little makeup gives you a panic attack, put one more drop of foundation on your sponge or fingertip and press it over any areas that need more coverage. "The dabbing motion adds more pigment than spreading," says Pecheux. Glow, don't flush. If your skin is normal to dry, go for a cream blush without any shimmer. If your skin is oily, use powder blush and a domed, densely packed brush. Either way, look for a muted pink or berry tone that looks a little dull in the pot. Trust us, on your skin it's the best option. Choose a pinkish-nude for fair skin (like Aerin Multi Color for Lips and Cheeks), a coral-brown for olive skin (try Stila Convertible Color in Camellia), or a deep burgundy for dark skin (we like Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Chocolate Cherry). In a pinch, you can always swirl blush and matte bronzer together to create a more natural-looking shade. Rethink highlighter. Pick cream over powder; the latter tends to look chalky. Choose champagne for fair skin, gold for olive skin, or copper or bronze for dark complexions. Spread it over your cheekbones with your fingers, then brush a light layer of translucent powder on top—a trick makeup artist Pat McGrath uses to make skin look dewy, not shimmery. If that sounds like a lot of work, tap a clear balm over your cheekbones. "It reflects the light and creates a pretty glow without any sparkle or color," says makeup artist Lucia Pieroni. Don't forget your lips. A sheer tinted balm, like Smith's Rosebud Salve, is the easiest way to boost your natural lip color. But if your lips are naturally quite pale, try a sheer lip crayon or a lipstick a touch darker than your natural lip color. However, don't apply lipstick straight from the tube. It will look too intense when you want to look bare-faced. Instead, swipe a finger over the top of the bullet and press the color on your mouth. mermaid prom dresses You should also see: http://catertown.com/profiles/blogs/gauri-khan-turns-designer-for-satya-paul-s-30th-anniversary http://yoamoabarranquilla.com/profiles/blogs/fashion-news-latest-from-the-world-of-fashion

Lidl’s fashion prowess knows no bounds: ahead of Burns night on Sunday, the budget supermarket has started selling kilts. The viscose rayon mix skirt costs £29.99 and is part of a collection that includes a pleather sporran for £10 and a haggis for 99p. Lidl first piloted the design ahead of last summer’s Commonwealth games. This “proto-kilt”, which was three yards shorter and £10 cheaper, sold out almost immediately. The new line has been rolled out in time for this weekend’s celebrations, and the collection is already close to being sold out in both London and Scotland. celebrity dresses But would a true Scotsman wear it? The kilt comes in at the requisite eight yards long, making it legit enough. It’s just the tartan that is causing a minor furore. The design – a muted, forgettable palette of greys, greens and blues – borrows freely from various, disparate tartans. Lidl claims it’s Highland Grey. According to the House of Tartan, it “resembles” Highland Granite. Brian Wilton of the Scottish Tartans Authority says: “It’s not a tartan I recognise”. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to copyrighting a tartan, and most of the fashion houses mock up their own to avoid any copyright issues. There are around 11,000 registered and unregistered tartans knocking around, and about 120 new ones are created every year, so it’s nigh on impossible to keep tabs on every single design – it’s basically a free-for-all. Still there is a danger in these “pseudo” tartans “devaluing the genre” explains Wilton. “The problem is technology – there’s a lot of new software out there, which means anyone can design a tartan.” There is an upside to the rise of the fakers. This renewed boom in tartan – over the past 12 months, the design has been a mainstay at Céline and Calvin Klein, and will be one of the key autumn/winter 2015 trends in menswear, thanks to Topman Design – is having “a demonstrable effect” on Scotland’s tourist industry, as well as the fashion world. Wilton helped design one used exclusively at Brooks Brothers which increased sales by £25m overseas. Why? “People in Asia love tartan.” Wilton is loth to criticise Lidl too strongly – “it’s probably innocent enough” – and says, as a rule, if they see a rogue tartan design, they just suck it up or send a polite letter to the manufacturer. If an amateur designs a tartan for, say, their wedding? “We just grit our teeth. No one wants to hear their new baby is ugly.” green prom dresses

Security is being bolstered at the Paris fashion shows which open on Wednesday following the deadly Islamist attacks in the French capital and European swoops on other suspected jihadists. Celebrities and others attending the event were reported to be skittish over security at the globally mediatised shows, which run to January 29. Several fashion-watching outlets were rattled by a report on the New York Post's Page Six website that cited anonymous organisers saying that "security issues" were keeping VIPs away from the catwalks' front-row seats. Middle Eastern clients who often spend big on Paris's Haute Couture creations were said to be especially reluctant. black bridesmaid dresses The Federation Francaise de la Couture, the body behind the Paris fashion shows, did not respond to queries on the issue. But a statement given to the fashion houses taking part said "simple logistical measures" must be implemented "to reassure those attending the shows and those participating in them". They included heightened checks on those holding invitations for the shows and bag inspections. Thousands of police and soldiers have been deployed across Paris to reinforce security in the wake of the attacks in the city. French authorities and counterparts in Belgium and Germany have in the past few days arrested dozens of Islamist suspects. There are concerns that some of the thousands of radicalised young Europeans believed to have gone to Iraq, Syria and Yemen to fight alongside the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda linked groups could return to their home countries to launch attacks. Those fears were renewed by a gunbattle between police and well-armed suspected jihadists in Belgium on Friday that left two of the suspects dead and a third wounded. Britain was considering extra measures to give its police better protection. The Paris fashion shows are seen as a high point of the European catwalk calendars, following shows in London and Milan. The event usually attracts high-profile showbusiness names. Last year actresses Liv Tyler and Marion Cotillard put in appearances, while reality star Kim Kardashian and her husband Kanye West stole a lot of attention. The shows start on Wednesday with five days of menswear collections unveiled by the likes of Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Kenzo and Hermes. Then on January 26, events kick into top gear with four more days of Haute Couture fashion including the latest from top brands Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Dior. green prom dresses

Amirah Kassem is a Brooklyn-based baker and founder of Flour Shop (she calls herself a flour-ist) who crafts inspiring fondant-free confections known for their sparkle and whimsy. But her creative spirit doesn’t just come through in the kitchen: She changes out of baking attire into heels and dresses and for her deliveries, and counts personal style as part of her presentation. Of course, for Kassem, no outfit is complete without a trace of baking glitter leftover on her cheek. Here, she talks about what she wears to work and why she feels confidence is more important than appropriate business attire. More like 5 to 9 If it’s a Valentine’s Day or Fashion Week kind of a day, I have to start at four or five in the morning. I thought it was funny that this is called “9 to 5”—that would be nice! I think most pastry chefs wear a white chef’s coat with white pants. I don’t even think I own those; maybe Rebecca Minkoff will make a funky version or something that I can wear. For now, I just stick to a Wu-Tang T-shirt, and I love baking in overalls. I have a pair of Gap overalls that I’m obsessed with, and that somehow feels like a work uniform for me, because they still have pockets and kind of feel like an apron, but they look fun. black short bridesmaid dresses Finding cool shoes to wear in the kitchen is actually a problem in my life. I look up those kitchen shoes—the comfortable ones—but I just can’t do it! So I’m always wearing comfy Vans or Adidas. They just look so much better and that puts me in the mood. Like, my checkered Vans or the hamburger-printed Adidas. It just sets the tone right for a good baking day. Delivery time is usually at an event. It’s about doing a change into heels and a dress and the whole look. I love the switchover from the baking to the delivery part. It’s kind of like making a cake the cake—I start with my overalls, and slowly decorate up to the heels and dress situation. I stick to bright colors and fun patterns: Whatever you wear represents your energy and vibe. And no matter what, my hair’s always curly. When I was younger, growing up in Mexico, everyone had slicked-back ponytails and I always tried to straighten my hair as much as I could. Later on, I just embraced it. Embrace the sparkle You can always guarantee there’s some sort of gold dust or glitter all over my face and all over my clothes. I feel like that’s my accessory! I show up to deliver a cake and they’re like, “You have glitter all over your face!” It’s pretty awesome. Same with frosting or dye. My hands are tie-dyed most of the time from playing with different color palettes. At first I would try to get it off, but now it’s become part of my look. If I don’t have glitter on me, you can tell I haven’t been working. I have these really fun chiffon dresses from Rebecca Minkoff, and Topshop had a lot of super sparkly holiday dresses this season. They really embraced the party mode. I always love switching it up with a BLK DNM leather jacket. I think I have one in every color. When we shot for Vogue, I made the cake the same Stella McCartney print as the skirt I was wearing. When I did a checkered Vans cake for their event in New York, I totally showed up wearing my checkered Vans! The same kind of matching applies to music. Whatever I’m wearing and listening to translates into the work. short bridesmaid dresses uk Outfit decoration Cake is really heavy! I should have “can balance a cake on my hands with heels” on my resumé. I have a pair of YSL heels that I’m obsessed with, but it’s hard for me to take a sneaker off. I do it every night, though. Sometimes, when I want a way more comfortable heel, I wear a pair by Cole Haan. But it’s really fun. It’s someone’s special day and I like dressing for their occasion and presenting the cake in a fashionable way; it makes the whole thing sparkle way more than if I showed up in sweatpants and sneakers. I am not big on makeup. I don’t own anything apart from eyeliner and mascara that I occasionally throw on. I always like to add on fun Judith Leiber bags, though. My favorite one right now is her unicorn purse. Cake boss I don’t think being a boss affects your look at all. If anything, it should enhance your own personality and your uniqueness. Everyone is selling their own brand and their own look, and dulling it down and thinking “business means a blazer” is a little old school. You see someone like Jenna Lyons who is super boss, and she’s so fashionable. I admire that. That kind of confidence is far more important than appropriate business attire. For me, having a secret stash of candy in my purse makes me feel confident. It’s something that reminds you of who you are. Andy Warhol used to have diamonds in his jacket pocket and would never tell anyone. The candy in my purse does the same for me. I don’t take fashion or baking or anything too seriously. I think that’s what’s important—to keep that silly child inside of you. Not to be afraid to walk out in glittery shoes or a onesie. You should also see: http://my.desktopnexus.com/katiesharp/journal/hasidic-paper-removes-women-from-charlie-hebdo-march-photo-8014/ http://holliearp.blogger.ba/arhiva/2015/01/14/3778030

“When you’re born beautiful, it helps you start in the business. But then it becomes a handicap,” Anita Ekberg, the incredibly stunning, famously pneumatic Swedish-born actress once observed. Ekberg, who passed away Sunday at the age of 83, was best-known for the scene in Federico Fellini’s 1960 La Dolce Vita, where she wades into the Trevi Fountain and beckons Marcello Mastroianni to join her. She is playing an American movie star, and her wanton behavior recalls the antics of another notorious splasher, Zelda Fitzgerald, whose flapper dive into the Plaza fountain, decades before Ekberg’s character’s plunge, revealed the same hedonistic, joyous spirit. purple prom dresses In actual life, Ekberg was a complicated character. Fellini was by far her best director; she also appeared in, among other vehicles, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars. She married twice and had romances with matinee idols like Tyrone Power—their affair was obsessively chronicled by the salacious gossip magazines of the 1950s. If her powerful sexiness was a bit of a prison, she sometimes reveled in her gilded cage, reportedly admitting that an incident where her dress popped open in the lobby of a London hotel was hardly an accident, but a prearranged stunt with a waiting photographer. Ekberg was no shrinking violet and certainly no mere bubble-headed pinup. Bluntly outspoken, in 1999 she told an interviewer that the world “would like to keep up the story that Fellini made me famous, Fellini discovered me.” But in fact, she insisted, it was the other way around. one shoulder short bridesmaid dresses

In case you haven't heard, shopping malls are on the decline. We live in a world where you can buy virtually anything you might want from the comfort of your own home. And while we certainly appreciate a good online shopping binge, the truth of the matter is that all of these options are making the mall -- a place loved universally by preteens, grown ups and the cast of "Clueless" alike -- pretty obsolete. Sure, shopping malls may not be as glorious as they were back in the 1980s (because really, what is?), but they still hold a very special place in all of our hearts. In fact, it's hard to imagine what life would be like without the massive, perhaps excessive, shopping havens. Here are 12 reasons we can't ever imagine a world without malls. 1.They encourage family bonding. Even families that get on each other's last nerve can agree that a little retail therapy does wonders. cheap prom dresses 2. They were the best after-school hang out. For many people, malls served as a rite of passage. Getting dropped off with twenty bucks and free reign for a couple of hours was, for many, a first delicious taste of independence. 3. They are the original one-stop-shop. Where else can you buy a flat screen TV, a new wardrobe and a delicious pretzel under one roof? 4. Two words: Piercing. Pagoda. 5. They provide employment. Whether your career kept you in the fashion industry or not, plenty of us earned our first paychecks stocking the back room at a department store. 6. Just the smells alone are worth the trip. Between lotions at Bath and Body Works, pretzels at Auntie Annes and fresh kicks at Foot Locker, a trip to the mall is as much a joy for the senses as it is for the shopping. 7. Hungry? No problem. In addition to the ever faithful food court, which offers tons of affordable options, many malls now boast an array of dining options (including one of our guilty pleasures/personal favorites, The Cheesecake Factory). 8. They encourage self-expression. Hot Topic and Spencers, anyone? The middle-schooler in us would do anything to get our hands on some jet-black eyeliner and some crude bumper stickers to hang in our lockers. 9. They are prime people-watching hot spots. A range of stores = a range of different people. Sometimes the best times had in the mall involve a fountain soda, a prime seat for onlooking and your own expert commentary ("Heels? At the MALL?") 10. They provide relaxation. Brookstone pillows, Brookstone recliners, Brookstone blankets. Brookstone. 11. Options, options, options. Is Nordstrom is out of your size in those booties you've been eyeing all season? Lord & Taylor probably has a pair with your name on it (and let's be real, they're probably on sale). 12. They are weatherproof. Nothing kills an outdoor shopping trip like a bit of inclement weather. For obvious reasons, that problem becomes irrelevant on a trip to the mall. KissyDress black bridesmaid dresses You should also see: http://yasminlyons.samenblog.com/Top%2010%20Fashion%20Resolutions%20for%20Him%20and%20Her/

Smoking-hot Australian presenter Ruby Rose has just signed onto the cast of the hit Netflix series, "Orange Is the New Black" as a lesbian "lust object." Pink News reports that the genderfluid DJ will play Stella Carlin, a new love interest that drives a wedge between old flames Piper (Taylor Schilling) and Alex (Laura Prepon). According to Elle Magazine, she will serve as the "lust object" for the two inmates when the show returns. If anyone's going to be the meat in that hottie sandwich, this is the right person for the job! The sultry Rose released the short film "Break Free" in July 2014 (see below) that explores her perception of non-traditional gender identities. vintage bridesmaid dresses In the five-minute video set to Butterfly Boucher's "It Pulls Me Under," Rose presents herself first as a beautiful woman, then slowly transitions into a beautiful man. The UK Guardian reports that the openly gay Rose revealed to them that she has moved between male and female identities throughout her life -- changes she calls "reincarnations." She told the Guardian that she had started binding her chest as young as six years old, and that if she had to choose a gender, "it would be a boy, a guy." "I think at this stage I will stay a woman but... who knows," she said. "I'm so comfortable right now I feel wonderful about it, but I also fluctuate a lot." Rose was born in Australia to a single mother, grew up mostly in Melbourne and found fame first as a child model and then as an MTV VJ, while in her teens. Now she is set to reach a much wider audience on this hit show that deals with issues of race, class and privilege through the view of the fictional Litchfield federal correctional institution. On her Facebook page, Rose said she was "exploding with joy over here!" We wonder which crew member will leave her husband for this hottie? KissyDress long bridesmaid dresses

The annual "Brand Passion Report" — a study analyzing luxury brands' online mentions, whether from regular consumers, bloggers or other media sources — showed that European brands appear to have a solid, narrowing grip on Internet luxury fashion. Without considering if the viral conviction was positive or negative, NetBase analyzed more than 95 million social-media mentions and ranked no U.S. fashion brands in the top 10 while just one, Coach, made the top 15. "It's critical for brands to take part in the social conversations, to understand and measure the social commentary that exists on the company and its products," Pernille Bruun-Jensen, chief marketing officer of NetBase, told WWD. chiffon prom dresses Internationally speaking, Louis Vuitton took the no. 1 spot on the list, followed by U.S.-based Apple, Chanel and Burberry (in descending order). Rolex, the leader of 2013's rankings, fell to the eighth spot. NetBase emphasized that it was left up to the consumer to decide what constituted "luxury" and that, in differentiating markets, a consumer may view a controversial brand as being luxury. So while Apple rose seven places on the list, its iPhone jumped down five spots to no. 7. The general tone of the online conversation about the company moved into negative territory as 2014 progressed. In addition to Coach, American fashion brand Michael Kors was ranked as no. 16, Tiffany remained at 19 for the second consecutive year, Neiman Marcus fell to spot 6, Saks Fifth Avenue came in at no. 37, Barneys New York at no. 44 and Nike fell six spots to 24. Other non-fashion brands with U.S. roots on the list were Ford, which fell at no. 20, and eBay, which went up 22 spots since 2013 to no. 27. On the global fashion scene — Prada came in at no. 11, London's Wild Swans skyrocketed to no. 13, Jimmy Choo came in at 14 and Armani snagged spot 23. red prom dresses

Fainting couch, lounge chair or chaise — whatever you tag it, this elongated chair is showing up once again in homes and showrooms. The chaise, whose origins stretch back to the day beds of ancient Egypt and Greece, had fallen out of favor. But new looks are making it more appealing to today’s furniture buyers. In the 18th century, it was sometimes referred to as a fainting couch, the theory being that women who could not bend at the waist because of their whalebone corsets could fall gently into a reclining position. Over the past few decades, it has been relegated to the patio or the bedroom, where it sat collecting clothes. Now designers are bringing it back into rooms where the family gathers. “What is it about the chaise that makes it irresistible? We believe it is the mere thought of having the time to recline with a book or cup of coffee that makes this classic silhouette a must,” says Comer Wear, director of marketing for Century Furniture. The Oliver chaise from Century’s Signature Collection offers the perfect place to plop. “The chaise represents time to be leisurely,” she says. KissyDress black bridesmaid dresses “We consider our ‘Social Sofa’ a modern take on the chaise,” says Zack Taylor, president of Wesley Hall. Constructed of a bench-made maple frame and reliable eight-way hand-tied springs system, the piece is part of Peter Jacob’s collaboration with Wesley Hall. “The Social Sofa’s sole purpose is to connect us with others,” he says. With just one arm and a curled back, Baker’s chaise from the Milling Road Collection is reminiscent of the Victorian fainting couch. The sophisticated, feminine Nadine chaise from Bernhardt is cozy and covered in a scarlet velvet, with wrap-around wings. “It offers a comfortable cocooning feel,” says Bernhardt’s director of brand development, Heather Eidenmiller. At High Point’s fall market, Lee Industries was showing a two-armed model in its Claude Jewel fabric, and Klaussner Furniture had several chaises ranging from the more traditional Flynn to a contemporary armless double-wide swoop of a seat. “The chaise is like a mini vacation,“ says Holly Blalock, owner of C.R. Laine. ”You are surrounded in soft comfort while undoubtedly partaking in your favorite everyday luxury — me time." C.R. Laine’s transitional track-arm chaise would be appropriate in any setting. So would the Oliver chaise from Century’s Signature Collection. Hickory Chair has several in its various designer collections, including Alexa Hampton’s Curtis chaise and Suzanne Kasler’s Leigh armless chaise. For a more classic look, there is Cisco Brothers JD garden chaise, with a long arm and rounded, tufted back. If you are looking for a chaise for confessing your Freudian dreams, Currey and Company’s Parlour lounge is perfect. And Calvin Klein’s Curator is a nod to day bed heritage and offers a sleek spot to stretch out. To confirm the resurrection of this historic recliner, designer Bunny Williams’ furniture collection, Beeline, will be debuting a chaise in the spring. green bridesmaid dresses

Lorde likes that most stylists let her wear what she wants on photoshoots. Lorde thinks she has a "fearsome reputation" among stylists. The 18-year-old singer is proud of her gothic aesthetic and doesn't like to be told what she should wear. That means she is often left alone on photoshoots, which she finds amusing. KissyDress black bridesmaid dresses "People have been, surprisingly, much more accepting of my vibe than I would've expected. When I step into a photoshoot, I probably have a fearsome reputation of not letting anyone tell me what to do, so they're like, 'Just let her wear whatever she wants.' But then people will say, 'Pop that hip out a bit more! Can you just look a little bit more sexy?'" she told the American edition of OK! magazine. Along with her love of black attire, Lorde is synonymous with her long, curly hair. It's not the easiest type to manage, so the star is happy to let fans know what works for her. "The trick is, don't wash your hair that much. I wash it a couple of times a week, sometimes once a week," she explained. "I use a product called Protein 9 by Sebastian, but it's expensive, so just find some sort of creamy situation and scrunch it into your hair when it's wet. No blow-drying, no brushing." Although she still dresses like a teenager, Lorde is very different to many young stars out there today. She doesn't believe in wearing skimpy stage outfits for one; something she's surprised has caused so much of a stir. "Many interviewers will say, 'Oh, you're not taking your clothes off like Miley.' That's just the weirdest thing to say to someone," she insisted. "But then people will say, 'She's always talking about being bored; that's petulant,' which is making light of how teenagers feel. I'm sure everyone can laugh at their teenage years in retrospect, but it's a strange response to what I do." princess prom dress

I’m still skeeved out by Apollo’s grabbiness last week. After all that, it’s surprising he’s nowhere to be found this time around, but then again, is it really? He clearly gives zero shits about his kids at this point, which is sad, because his are so cute, and that whole bedtime routine melted my cold, cold heart. Phaedra is on the “rough side of the mountain” with all of it, but still salty enough to say he should have married a wallflower if he couldn’t handle her boss-ness. Her success isn’t the problem, though! I don’t know about either of them right now — Phaedra really did try to bring Apollo into her path of 1 million businesses, but she also never stopped to ask what he wanted. And what he wants is to act like a 20-year-old unencumbered idiot man, apparently. All I know is Ayden saying, “Mr. President, we need you!” is enough to make me wish I could adopt them both. It’s good that Kandi and her family, the Boomhauers, are subtitled, because the lockjaw that seems to run rampant in their gene pool makes my head hurt. Are cast members contractually obligated to spill the beans about every single conversation they have? Kandi wasted no time telling her mom about everything Sharon said, which gave the Mumbles Sisters a chance to trot out old-timey, nonsensical sayings like “Can’t come at me like a cabbage” and “Don’t come with all head and no ass.” You know that thing where you get your porn name if you combine your first pet’s name and the name of the street you grew up on (Rambo Smith, nice to meet you)? If you want to sound like Kandi’s mom and aunts, take the brand names of two types of food and combine it with your least favorite member of One Direction. “I told her not to take Hellman’s mayonnaise to my Hershey’s Kisses if she didn’t want to Harry my Styles.” Joyce’s new house deal went through and there was some conversation about how she wouldn’t give Kandi the keys, but all it does is confirm that she’s a garbage barge in the shape of a woman. Todd tried to talk to Kandi about it, but she did her usual thing of flapping her wings and flying away. I agree with him — they should totally have separate holidays if Joyce is going to be anywhere on the premises, because Kandi’s family is stubborn to the point of completely ridiculous. Basically, Sharon is dead, Kandi’s mom will never apologize, and I hope the Burusses all feel like absolute shit forever, amen. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/pink-prom-dresses 

I think Derek J breaks out his curling iron the way most people give a handshake. Cynthia tried to direct a makeover for Claudia even though she was dressed like an exploded hot dog, and he immediately started curling Claudia’s hair while they were talking about what he was going to actually do to her hair. Is that normal? I do my own hair so I don’t know how normal people work. NeNe sent Cynthia a text and invited her out to drinks, which Cynthia had to narrate before making a decision to go. They’re really pushing the fact that Claudia is biracial, which is confounding since she’s actually smart and interesting, but at least this week we get to meet her mom and grandmother. Can we take a moment to praise Lillian, her 90-year-old grandma who thinks women get big butts from eating too much and flirts with valets? I goddamn love her! Claudia did a good job of pretending that she chose a drag-queen bar for lunch instead of one of Bravo’s production assistants, and then pushed a really awkward conversation about how her mom never said “I love you” while a heavily made-up drag queen took their fruity-drink orders. It has to suck to have a parent never say I love you, but her mom made a good case with her “words mean nothing, I show you I love you with action” argument. She was like, “Oh, sorry I never say I love you. I only write it on everything and raised your ass by myself for your entire life.” Why is Kenya getting an office for a job she doesn’t have yet? As much as saying “put me in a TV show!” seems to be how TV shows in Atlanta get made, getting an office just because you thought about getting a job is totally legit! I want to see Brandon’s glitter floor, but none of this seems feasible in the real world. Cynthia demanded that Kenya join her for this drinks meeting NeNe is putting together, and watching her flex continues to remind me of the little kid boss in BoJack Horseman. I love that they showed us how much the rent cost — it’s been so long since the RHOA franchise put a price tag on anything! 
NeNe hasn’t stopped getting on my nerves since last season, but the fakeness this episode made my eyes twitch. It was pretty funny when she said she was “looking for a girl with a lot of weave in her hair” and the host pointed directly to Porsha, and how NeNe called back to She by Sheree (R.I.P.) by saying a video party without the video was like a fashion show with no fashions, but this drinks meeting pushed NeNe over the edge into asshole territory. The Hotwives of Orlando spoof came true last night when NeNe invited Porsha, Kenya, and Cynthia out for drinks to tell them she doesn’t want to be friends with them, but also wants to squash their beef, but not really? 

 The first round was NeNe and Cynthia, but Kenya kept butting in so they both told her to shut up. Porsha and Kenya leave, and Cynthia and NeNe sort of work it out — NeNe said she might call Cynthia for lunch in a couple of years, and Cynthia kissed her a lot and gave that fake “I’m sorry if you think I hurt you” apology. As soon as they were done NeNe asked Cynthia to move so Porsha could sit in her spot. Friendship is great! These two are monsters. 

Round two was Cynthia and Porsha. NeNe and Kenya left to get drinks, then came back and loudly yelled “Cynthia! Porsha! Cynthia! Porsha!” until Porsha flipped out on Kenya. NeNe was yelling, too, but only Kenya got the brunt of it, because Porsha is hell-bent on holding a grudge. Cynthia and Porsha healed their rift, sort of? They hugged, which is housewife for “Bitch, I might.” The final round was Kenya and Porsha, which is like trying to get honey badger to play with a snake. The surprising thing is that Kenya was the voice of reason — she kept saying everyone had a lot to be ashamed about and wanted to just move on while Porsha talked about needing the right energy for people to approach her. Excuse me, are you Miss Cleo? Kenya got up to hug her, and Porsha said, “Well if you’re accepting responsibility for everything that’s fine,” like the spoiled brat she is. I know we’re eight episodes in but I seriously cannot believe she’s put us in a position to forgive Kenya and make her seem like the normal one! The owner of the bar came out and Kenya flashed her legs at him, so now NeNe wants to be her best friend. Until next week, that is! Cynthia and Peter are moving into a trash heap so their house will finally match their personalities, NeNe acts like an asshole to Claudia for no reason at all, and there’s a Roger Bob prayer circle when Kandi’s cast tells Kandi they all dated him. See you then! one shoulder prom dresses You should also see: http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/aprilohare/diary/201412290000/ http://sylviamarra.blogdetik.com/2014/12/29/street-seen-leesa-lambert/

Collabrate became the new buzzword, designers dipped their toes into the churning waters of the World Wide Web, e-commerce portals gave us access to international labels and sustainability picked up more fashion traction. The year 2014 not only became Indian fashion’s year of garnering global acclaim, but also saw a subtle shift in sensibility where the hallmark of luxury shifted from a highly coveted monogrammed bag to a finely handwoven Kanjeevaram sari, and khadi became the epitome of cool in its “Denim India made” avatar. Here are the designers who made 2014 a memorable year for Indian fashion: A Rewarding Year Resortwear guru, revivalist, activist and author — Wendell Rodricks wears many hats with great aplomb, but this year, he added a few titles and honours that went beyond the descriptive. The Goa-based designer was not only conferred the Padma Shri by President Pranab Mukherjee, in recognition of his contribution to the arts, he was also bestowed the prestigious Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight in the National Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Minister of Culture and Communications, Aurélie Fillipetti. An additional honour by the Akhil Bharatiya Konkani Parishad and the title of Rainbow Warrior by the Kashish Film Festival made 2014 an extraordinary year for Rodricks. KissyDress prom dresses 2014 Prime Postion The short-sleeved Modi kurta become synonymous with our Prime Minister, but the dapper dresser chose to call on Mumbai-based menswear specialist Troy Costa to furnish his wardrobe for his most high-profile international jaunt yet, his visit to the US. While the reticent designer is unwilling to furnish details, Costa is rumoured to have created stylish bandhgalas, trim vests, even hand-stitched shoes for Narendra Modi. Power dressing at its best. Store Front Ogaan, one of India’s leading multi-designer stores, turned 25, and industry stalwarts celebrated in style. To commemorate the occasion, Kavita Bhartia of Ogaan invited designers who were a significant part of the store’s journey, to create a limited-edition collection for an exhibition titled OGAAN X 25 showcased at their Hauz Khas store in Delhi. Apart from designers such as Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Sonam Dubal, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Aneeth Arora of Pero, who sold their first collections at Ogaan, other notable participants of this one-of-a-kind show were Abraham & Thakore, Gaurav Jai Gupta, Namrata Joshipura, Savio Jon and Bodice by Ruchika Sachdev. A silver jubilee, indeed. Twin Success When it came to collaborations, 2014 saw quite a few interesting ones — between designers and web portals (Rohit Bal for Jabong), designers and labels (Anupamaa for Ekaya), filmmakers and high-street brands (Karan Johar for Vero Moda) and even between two artistic forces. For his Spring-Summer 2015 collection, Tarun Tahiliani drew inspiration, quite literally, from the works of the Singh Twins, London-based artist siblings Amrit and Rabindra, renowned for reviving the art of miniature painting and juxtaposing it with modern iconography. Tahiliani, who’s always been partial to prints, translated their detailed artworks into digital prints that adorned stylish separates for both women and men. The colours were bright, the print placements were precise and the collaboration between fashion and art was a runway success. Exhibit G A decade into design, Gaurav Gupta is not only a force to reckon with in Indian fashion, but also an emerging global presence. This year saw him dress fashionistas on international red carpets, roll out an affordable collection for Jabong, launch a flagship store in Mumbai and celebrate his 10th year in fashion with a unique art show. “Paradigm Shift”, a medley of fashion and art, co-curated by Gupta and Delhi Art Gallery’s Kishore Singh, documented the designer’s journey so far. Installations, wall text, interactive screens, video projections and iconic pieces from Gupta’s various collections gave viewers a peek into the story behind the man and his brand. French Kiss He is a Paris Fashion Week regular now and even owns an apartment in the city of lights, having lived there since his stint as creative director at Paco Rabanne. So it was only fitting that Manish Arora opened a flagship store in the French capital. Located between the Jardin des Tuileries and Rue Saint-Honore, the psychedelic style haven is an embodiment of Arora’s zany fashion and will further consolidate his position as a global designer par excellence. KissyDress pink prom dresses You should also see: http://kingofheartssinglesclub.ca/content/bluewash-industry-washes-your-life http://jenniferhale.blog.republika.co.id/2014/12/26/creepy-crawly-3d-printed-robotic-dress-is-what-you-dont-want-your-date-to-wear/

The 20th China Model Star Contest concluded the day before Christmas' Eve in Beijing Hotel. Liang Xiangqing, who was recommended by the Weifang No. 1 Middle School in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, took the first prize in the woman's group, while Shi Qifan, representing Henan Normal University in Xinxiang City, central China's Henan Province, won the men's prize. Zhou Huan and Wang Dongxu from Sichuan Normal University in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, took the silver awards in the women's group and men's group respectively. Gao Tong from the Wuhan Media Network and Zhang Zhipeng from the Weifang No. 7 Middle School were the third pacesetters respectively in the women' and men's groups. prom dresses 2014 A further 14 contestants received Excellent Model Awards at the event. The contest was organized by the China Fashion Association (CFA), the China Professional Model Committee (CPMC) and the China Bentley Culture Development Co., Ltd.. The event has developed into one of the top professional channels to select the country's best young models and present them to the public since its launch in 1995. Recent months have witnessed intense competition for the top prizes among hundreds of entrants from 20 competition zones across the country. Finally, 20 female and 20 male models were selected by voting to contest the finals. Judges included Vice Chairperson of the China National Garment Association (CNGA) Wang Zhuo, famous domestic fashion designers Wen Bo and Xie Feng, Director of the U.S. Fusion Model Brokerage Company Jody Gorden and other professionals from home and overseas. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/black-prom-dresses-online

Some myths are older than our great grandmothers and some seem to have arisen from new technology and skincare products. Whatever the origin, they can derail our best intentions when it comes to taking optimal care of our skin. We asked La Jolla, California dermatologist Dr. Susan Stuart to give us definitively debunk skincare myths. Myth: There's no difference between SPF 30 and SPF 60 This isn't completely true. The percentage of increase may not be proportional to the number on the sunscreen, but a higher SPF does in fact offer greater protection. Using larger quantities of a product will yield better results. Less is more. Normally, a pea-sized amount of facial product will do the trick. Excessive amounts can cause skin problems and waste money. Myth: My makeup has SPF, so I don't need sunscreen Even if the SPF is in your tinted moisturizer and not just a concealer, you're not applying enough of it to get the full degree of SPF that's stated on the bottle. So, from spring to winter, you should be applying a generous layer of sunscreen each and every day. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/short-mini-prom-dresses-online Myth: Chocolate gives you blemishes Unfortunately, evidence suggests chocolate causes acne-prone individuals to break out. Myth: Toothpaste is a great pimple cream Toothpaste is great for taking the itch out of a bug bite, but doesn't seem to work when trying to get rid of a blemish. Try a real acne-fighting formula.Myth: Baby wipes make perfect makeup removers They may be convenient, but baby wipes as well as makeup remover wipes include very harsh chemicals. The idea behind such wet clothes is that the packaging requires added preservatives to increase shelf life; therefore, your skin is being exposed to extra formaldehyde-releasing chemicals commonly used as preservatives. Plus, since you're not rinsing away the cleansing ingredients from the wipes, there's a residue that's left behind that exposes your skin to solublizers, surfactants and emulsifiers. This can lead to irritation, hives, dry skin, breakouts, and other unpleasant reactions. Myth: Switching to skim milk is better for your skin Wrong! Skim milk actually contains even more hormones than both 1 percent and 2 percent milk, which causes breakouts. Dr. Stuart advises that high-glycemic foods (that is, white foods like bread, pasta, rice, and sweets) are super skin-enemies since they trigger the body to produce insulin, causing age-accelerating inflammation. The solution is easy: load up on colorful fruits and vegetables-particularly green and yellow veggies-which help prevent wrinkles. Hot water opens pores. Despite cleansers, scrubs and other skincare products claiming to have pore-opening powers when paired with warm H2O, this advice just doesn't hold water. Skin's openings neither change in size nor operate like train doors, says Dr. Stuart. In reality, hot water loosens hardened dirt, oil and makeup within pores, allowing for better cleansing Your skin will age just like your mom's. Your mother's wrinkle-free, so that means you're destined for complexion perfection, right? Even though genetics play a big part in the aging process, external factors, like sun exposure, facial expressions, smoking, pollution and diet, affect how skin looks over time. So if Mom turned her nose up at tanning and you eschew shade, you may not grow old as gracefully. The bottom line: Good genes aren't a free pass to flawless skin. Sun is Good for Acne Although a little sun can give skin a nice glow and may even clear up a few pimples, major acne will only be aggravated by prolonged sun exposure. For one thing, the drying effect that sun has on skin will only cause the sebaceous glands to be overstimulated to produce more oil. Overstimulated sebaceous glands are the cause of acne, so it is not advised to provoke these sensitive glands anymore with too much sun exposure. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/long-prom-dresses

PK Designers Lounge, known to desis in the United States as PKDL, is a multi-brand designer studio boasting racks of outfits by Pakistani designers. Co-owned by Rafia Shah and Samrah Qadri, the one-stop-shop to a gamut of Pakistani designer wear is based in Washington DC but serves clientele all across the US and Canada. It’s been over two years since they came into business. “It started out as a hobby for both of us. We both love fashion and we realised there is a market in US that loved fashion as much as we do and want to wear trendy and latest designer clothes,” Shah told The Express Tribune. Born and bred in Pakistan, settled in the states after getting married and headed on to make an entrepreneurship out of a leisure pursuit. “Soon after we opened PKDL, we started getting requests from Pakistani women all across the US to provide them with desi designer wear. We realised we could cater to a much larger clientele if we took our brand to other states too. We started with road shows and in just a little over two years, we travelled to almost all major states that had a heavy Pakistani population,” said Qadri. kissydress.co.uk Elaborating on the launch of the enterprise, Shah says, “The idea behind PKDL was not only to provide a platform to Pakistani designers to showcase their line of work in the US but also give an opportunity to Pakistani fashion followers to have easy access to these brands. People can always buy clothes online or have their relatives mail them joras but we wanted to create an experience for our clients.” With over 20 designers to choose from, PKDL is the largest Pakistani designer collection in North America. Its stocks include popular brands like Elan, HSY, Asifa & Nabeel, Faraz Manan, Nickie Nina, Mina Hasan, Zara Shahjahan, Sania Maskatiya, Farida Hasan and Ayesha F. Hashwani among others. The entrepreneurs also showcased their designer collections in 2012 in England for an exhibit especially organised for them by the High Commission of Pakistan in London. Vending collections from a cluster of brands, they speak about the sought after designers from Pakistan, “There are so many designers these days doing amazing work. The craftsmanship from Pakistan is outstanding. It’s just about quality control. I would say Faraz Manan, Zara Shahjahan, Sania Maskatiya, Ayesha Farook Hashwani and Mina Hasan make amazing sales. Our top selling brand though is Elan. It is often sold out the same day it hits the rack,” Shah commented. Adding new designers periodically to broaden the spectrum of brands for buyers to peruse from, they are fussy about the brands they select: “We have to be very picky. We choose the designers that will do well in our targeted market. We are excited to announce that the luxury brand Muse will be stocking at PKDL starting January 2015,” confirmed Qadri. For the future, they have been planning out 2015 road shows with a wide range of exhibitions lined up in San Antonio, Kentucky, Wisconsin and San Francisco Bay Area. “We’re also looking forward to our third anniversary event in February 2015. It’ll be a fun occasion where people not only purchase their favourite designs but also socialise with fellow fashionistas. We have something life-size planned for the affair this year, “Qadri said. kissydress red prom dresses

Sir New York is the brainchild of designer Auston Björkman, the first openly transgender designer to emerge on the high-end fashion scene. A crossover brand, Björkman's designs have been seen across the spectrum, from big names in hip hop and rap to prominent drag queens emerging from "RuPaul's Drag Race." Read the interview below to learn more. The Huffington Post: What types of clothing does Sir New York tend to produce? Auston Björkman: I was recently looking back at some planning I had done in the beginning and saw that I didn't even know exactly what to call it -- I was using the term Technical Tailored Sportswear. Complex Magazine aptly named us as the start of "athletic street goth," which I love, but I would say both have something true, in capturing some of the essence of what is in the brand. What is your focus for Sir New York? Do you specifically intend for your designs to be for the queer and trans community? chiffon prom dresses No, I never wanted Sir New York to be for any specific type of person. If anything my thinking was way too broad. I wanted all genders -- everyone wears menswear. I wanted to appeal to the boy next door who likes clothes, to the club kids who are all about turning a look, to the fashion kids who pay attention to design. Whenever you study fashion they really try to make you hone in on "your customer." But my vision is exactly what happened, with people wearing my designs like A$AP Ferg, Wiz Kalifa and Detox from "RuPaul's Drag Race" -- who has worn it in and out of drag. You're hailed as the first trans male designer to emerge in the high-end fashion scene. What have the reception and your experiences been like? My experiences in the fashion world have been interesting. It is a very intense and tightly orchestrated industry with billions of dollars dedicated to making you want to look a certain way. It's very hard for the majority of fashion designers ever to even get to this level and I am far from where I ultimately want to be... I'm still very much an "outsider." I think most people don't automatically assume I am trans. Most people only get as far as thinking I'm this odd little gay fashion designer. The fashion industry has historically been open to all kinds of gender expression and misfits, so I don't think I stand out in any kind of loud way -- partly because that is my nature. I would rather let my work speak for me. I tend to talk about my work and not me, the person. So the positive reception I have gotten from both street wear and high-end fashion has been very much in response to the clothing, the brand and the aesthetic. I think I have a unique perspective on the gender spectrum. I don't believe in absolutes, nothing belongs solely to masculine or feminine. I like finding subtle balances. Where have your designs appeared? backless prom dresses Usher came into our pop up shop with Liberty Fairs Concept Space in Los Angeles, copped a grip of the Seahole Future Surf gear and the next day it was on "The Voice." French Montana has also worn it in videos and interviews and I saw my first stranger on the street rocking it, which is strangely a whole different amazing feeling of accomplishment than when someone high-profile is wearing it. Seeing it in print is also really exciting: Vogue Italia, Flaunt, GQ. I don't know, I guess we're getting around a little bit. Do you have any showcases on the horizon? Sir New York previewed our AW15 collection and hosted a mini pop-up shop last weekend at dapperQ's "(un)Heeled: A Fashion Show for the Uncoventionally Masculine" at the Brooklyn Museum. "(un)Heeled" celebrated the style of masculine presenting women, gender nonconformists and trans* identified individuals, offering an alternative narrative to the museum's current "Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe" exhibition. Historically the fashion world has been extremely queer friendly -- what role do you think the fashion world has played within mainstream acceptance of LGBT identity? Fashion has accustomed people to gender bending. We are more open to human expression rather than binaries. People are starting to let go of being uncomfortable about other people being different. Gender is often best expressed in presentation, how you wear your clothes and the swag you have when you feel good about your look. Fashion communicates identity with options. You should also see: http://gracehoward.myblogs.jp/2014/12/13/model-citizen-naomi-campbell-finds-happiness/ http://charlottea.tarlog.com/post/2/

ery (SWG) stars trailblazers in their respective fields, and includes their definitions on the art of time. Touted as Malaysian influencers – having made a mark regionally and internationally – they share a synergy with SWG (which is owned by the Valiram Group and houses a comprehensive range of watch brands). These individuals are featured in striking portraits. They also share their thoughts on precious moments in a series of videos; these are humorous, insightful and thought-provoking at times. As part of this campaign, SWG donated to each of the personalities’ chosen charities. The famous five are: Datuk Lat “Time is like the picture panels in a comic book; each, a still frame of a significant moment,” mused Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, better known as Lat. “Some moments bring a smile to our faces. Others draw a tear from our eyes or tug at our hearts. But the most exciting bit about it all, is what happens in the next chapter. That is, literally, the art of time.” Renowned for his unrivalled mastery in capturing human nature at its best, Lat has published more than 20 volumes of cartoons since the age of 13. short prom dresses His works mostly illustrate Malaysia’s social and political scenes, portraying them in a comedic light without bias. Lat’s best known work is The Kampung Boy (1979), which is published in several countries. His chosen charity is Perlembagaan Khairat Kematian Kampung Sungai Rokam, which aids the underprivileged of the village during the time of bereavement. Datuk Nicol David “Time is your friend and a contender, all at the same time,” expressed the first Asian woman to be ranked the world number one women’s squash player. “The time you invest in your training is what you make at the end of the day. Out there on the court, time takes on a different character. It challenges you to take charge, pushing you to your limit. How well you do, is what the art of time is all about.” David has won the British Open title five times, as well as the World Open title a record seven times. The court commander’s chosen charity is Shammah Children’s Home, a home for abandoned babies and children in Bagan Ajam, Butterworth. Datuk Jimmy Choo “Take the time to manage your time. Being on time is a sign of respect for the people who buy our time,” said the Penang-born Choo, who took the fashion world by storm with his signature creations. “We transact promptness for trust, both of which are invaluable commodities we trade with one another. Our true measure of success must always be measure in time. That is the art of time.” Famed for making shoes for the late Princess Diana, his creations have adorned the feet of royalty, celebrities and pop stars. His chosen charity is Selangor Cheshire Home. Founded in 1963, the home provides care for residents of all races who are permanently disabled without means or resources. Datuk Ramli Ibrahim “In the dance of life, time is the rhythm that accompanies the dancer’s every step,” enthused Ramli. “The passage of time is an intricate choreography for the dancer to embrace. Because, at the precise moment when one’s rhythm beats in unison to the rhythm of the universe, that is when one experiences harmony.” His stage presence alone is enough to create an impact and mesmerise audiences. Accomplished in ballet, modern and Indian classical dance, Ramli Ibrahim is a cultural icon who has performed internationally for more than three decades. Sutra Foundation is his chosen charity, which strives to bring traditional and contemporary performing arts to life in Malaysia. The foundation carries into the future the thread of Ramli’s vision and contribution to the Malaysian arts scene. Deborah Henry “We are all given a finite amount of time on this earth, and for that reason it is priceless. The art of time is determined by how we choose to live each day. The time we take to make a difference matters to those who need it most. So use time wisely and show compassion through your words and actions, as it can change another person’s life.” Crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2011, Deborah now devotes her life to humanitarian pursuits. Her chosen charity is Fugee School. Established by Deborah and Shikeen Halibullah in 2008 as SKEF (Somalia Kids Education Fund), the co-founders began by providing weekly English and Mathematics tuition to a small group of Somali refugee children. In 2009, they expanded operations by partnering with a private tuition centre (Save Education Centre) ran by Somali refugee Shafie Mohamed. The centre was soon transformed into an initiative that reached out to over 100 underprivileged students at no cost. backless prom dresses You should also see: http://yasminlyons.samenblog.com/The%20latest%20in%20fast%20fashion/ http://helenprom.jimdo.com/2014/12/07/alice-fisher-on-style-comfortable-clothes/

Nowadays most people colour their hair and coloured mane over period of time tends to become dull and also loses its sheen and it also tends to lose its tint. On the other hand it is important to keep your hair conditioned and moist to retain the colour as long as possible. Colouring your hair in bright reds or highlighting them with blonde or any colour does create a style statement, yet you should remember that some of the colours do contain ammonia, a chemical bleaching agent which is indeed responsible for making your hair dry and brittle. Ammonia is an important element in the hair colour which as a matter of fact does help in the absorption of the colour molecules by the cortex of the mane. However the only problem in having ammonia is that it absorbs all the moisture from the hair. The best remedy to treat coloured hair and to beat hair problems can be done only by eggs. Egg packs for coloured hair keeps the tresses conditioned and moist. Moreover conditioning your coloured hair with eggs will improve hair growth because it is a power house of nutrition such as protein, Iodine and essential vitamins. It maintains the texture of your hair by enhancing the presence of important elements. Here are some of the hair care tips that you can concoct at home as this will help you to maintain your coloured mane and make it look beautiful. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/long-prom-dresses Castor oil To maintain a long lasting and beautiful hair try to use this egg pack for coloured hair. One of the most important hair care tips to maintain lustrous hair is to use castor oil. Take two egg yolks in a container and then add castor oil. Make sure to whip the mixture before you apply it on your hair. Leave it for 30 minutes and then rinse normally with shampoo and conditioner. Vinegar Vinegar has the consistency to remove dust and dirt from the hair. It eliminates the build-up of dirt and would reveal the underlying colour of your hair. Mix one part of vinegar with two raw eggs. Try to evenly distribute this egg pack for coloured hair on to your locks. Lime juice Egg Yolk and lime juice is a perfect home remedy for hair loss caused after colouring your tresses. This combination eliminates the problem of hair loss. Firstly add lime juice to egg yolk and try to whip well. Apply this mixture evenly on your hair and make sure to massage your scalp. It is important for the mixture to get absorbed in the hair roots for 15 minutes. This egg pack for coloured hair aids hair growth. Yogurt If you want to make your own protein packed conditioner then try to mix 1tbsp honey, 1 egg yolk, and finally add 1tbsp yogurt to the ingredient. Rub the mixture on your scalp. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes on your hair and then wash it off completely. Mayonnaise Mayonnaise contains oils that deeply moisturise the hair. It is good to use mayonnaise for damaged hair (dry and brittle) or chemically processed hair. Eggs works well with mayonnaise as both helps to strengthen hair. Cucumber Pour egg yolk in a bowl and add 1 tbsp of honey. Make sure to mix well and then add 2 tbsp of olive oil and peeled cucumber to the ingredient. Now add lukewarm water to dilute the mixture. Try to spread the mixture on your hair for 10 to 15 minutes. Later rinse it thoroughly with cold water. Using cold water will help get rid of the smell. kissydress chiffon prom dresses You should also see: http://ffarrell.canalblog.com/archives/2014/12/05/31085721.html http://www.zavodpm.ru/blogs/evierose/61278-derek-lam-expands-his-apparel-line

The British Fashion Awards are an annual backslapping event where UK fashion lauds and applauds the industry members who made the greatest impact over the previous 12 months. Sometimes it’s about crowning new talent, or perhaps awarding those long overlooked. Occasionally, it’s about someone whom everyone seems to like getting an award, so you don’t just give it to the same person year after year - that old, oddly British sense of sportsmanship at the expense of re-awarding the really worthy. But it’s very rare that the British Fashion Awards act as a form of public rehabilitation, or perhaps nods towards greatness yet to come. That was the sense tonight, when the 2014 British Fashion Awards were the stage for the first public appearance and speech by John Galliano amongst the fashion fraternity since his departure from Dior in 2011, and before his first show for Maison Martin Margiela in January. prom dresses Galliano, however, wasn’t a main attraction; he was presenting rather than receiving an award, bestowing the BFC Outstanding Achievement on American Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour. It was a fitting coupling: Wintour has been a stalwart Galliano supporter for decades, featuring his clothes in American Vogue when he lacked stockists, and even connecting him with businessmen to bankroll his fledgling company in the early 1990s. Following his dismissal from Dior in 2011, it was Wintour who reputedly brokered a deal for him to work alongside the late Oscar de la Renta as part of his re-entry into the fashion world. After a fashion, that’s indicative of her achievement within the industry - a designer's career has often be made off the back of the fact that Wintour’s approval carries such kudos. Indeed, tonight Wintour wore a Galliano design, the first seen on the red carpet ahead of his Margiela debut. The night’s other winners were nothing especially surprising. Cara Delevingne won model of the year for the second time in her brief career; the brand award was given to Victoria Beckham, nothing if not a brand unto herself; and Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton was awarded for red carpet looks - regardless of the yearly constraints, it’s hard to get more red-carpet than that wedding dress. The challenging menswear of JW Anderson - platform brogues, clingy cropped knits, plenty of transparency - was declared best in show, while the pretty-pretty foliate and lace designs of Erdem were a rather more conventional choice for womenswear designer of the year. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/yellow-prom-dresses

From snails and algae, to gold and roses, these unique ingredients will make you glow from head to toe. The weird… Snail Gel Dr Oranganic Snail Gel Hand and Nail Elixir £14.99 Holland & Barrett Harnessing he benefits of the Snail Secretion Filtrate, this rich hand and nail elixir instantly soothes and moisturises the skin, leaving a restored a deeply hydrated feeling that lasts for 24 hours. Bee Venom Manuka Doctor ApiClear Purifiying Facial Scrub £16.99 Superdrug Combining Purified Been Venom, Manuka Honey and powerful botanical extracts this hard working Facial Scrub visibly refines, polishes, brightens and resurfaces - nature's alternative to antibiotic therapy for acne. http://www.kissydress.co.uk Algae Sun Chlorella £21.95 Known for its anti-ageing properties, Sun Chlorella 'A' is being dubbed the new Crème De La Mer but without the celebrity price tag. It's an entirely natural and balanced, single-celled, green algae, which, due to the combination of nutrients linked to healthy nails, skin and hair. The wonderful… Crystals The Harley Medical Group Replenishing Exfoliator £35 A dual exfoliator for use once a week. The Microderm Crystal contains natural bamboo extract to gently remove dead skin particles, and is infused with Vitamin C to eliminate impurities and invigorate the skin. Roses Trilogy Rose Hand £15.50 Debenhams or John Lewis Gently scented with precious pure essential Moroccan rose oil, known for its stress reliving properties Trilogy Rose Hand Cream has a soothing effect on all skin types. This light, nourishing, natural cream delivers long lasting softness and protection for hands, nails and cuticles. Gold Skin Truffle £85 Templespa, Harrods or Selfridges A cult hero rejuvenation product for the skin, Skin Truffle has a unique formulation which works to provide instant lustre to the skin, mimicking your natural happy glow. Including ingredients such as Gold & Silk actives, black truffles and diamond powder, these luxurious components work together to leave skin glowing and bring instant relief and radiance o tired, dull skin. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/red-prom-dresses-online

Robbie Williams has relaunched his menswear brand Farrell with the help of Primark - despite making it bankrupt just one year ago. The singer has turned to the bargain-friendly high-street store who will stock the 30-piece collection. Farrell, which was founded by the former Take That star in 2011 and had former Burberry design director Ben Dickens at the helm, ceased trading last October when it filed for voluntary bankruptcy. However, Primark has taken the fledging brand on board saying it is 'superb and amazing value'. Inspired by his grandfather Jack Farrell - who Robbie nicknames 'Jack the Giant Killer' - the collaboration draws upon Jack’s strong values, timeless style and alluring personality. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/long-prom-dresses Boxing was a guilty pleasure of Jack’s and he spent much of his time teaching Robbie the sport. His love of boxing is translated into the practical elements of the collection – heavy weight T’s, textured sweatshirts and thickly knitted cable jumpers are reminiscent of strong and durable ringside apparel. Influenced and worn by Robbie himself, the 40-year-old says his new capsule collection is built on statement, stand-out pieces that 'define a wardrobe rather than fill it out'. There are button down polo shirts, double-breasted pea coats, smart tweed jackets and slim leg tailored jeans, all priced between £8 to £45. Speaking about the launch, Robbie said: "I’m delighted that Farrell has been invited into Primark. "What a great collaboration - let’s have it!" While Ben Smith, Director of Menswear at Primark, added: "We've absolutely loved working with the Farrell brand. "The product looks superb with fastidious detail and amazing value and has remained true to its origin. "Not only have we ensured the product is amazing but the whole concept from quality through to design and store environment have all played a massive part in ensuring we deliver a first class exclusive range to the Primark customer." http://www.kissydress.co.uk/red-prom-dresses-online

Eve Goldberg is straight off the plane and delving into her hand luggage for the impressive range of jewels she has brought to show in New Zealand. They're bigger than anything I've ever seen; rings, earrings and tennis bracelets set with the brilliant ashoka cut her father is famous for. She is wearing a long diamond chain - the Lili chain, named after her mother - as casually as some might wear a scarf, somehow at home with her jeans and black singlet. There are whopper diamond hoops hiding behind her curls, and a similarly large bracelet, too - all casually flung on, belying their extreme value. The daughter of legendary jeweller William Goldberg is in Auckland for Partridge Jewellers' 150th anniversary. The New Zealand boutique has recently become one of a very limited number of international stockists, and the exclusive Australasian stockist, of the ashoka cut, William Goldberg's patented oblong diamond. William is a New York legend, a self-made man with a street named after him (East 48th Street, in Manhattan's diamond district, renamed William Goldberg Way in 2006). "He built the business on his own," Eve tells me. "He was very smart, very ambitious, very passionate about what he did." Starting small in the 40s, William sold baguettes - the small, oblong stones you often see on the side of an engagement ring - before going into diamond cutting in 1952. By the mid-70s, he was making his name on very large diamonds. In 1999, the company patented its now signature ashoka cut, inspired by a legendary Harry Winston diamond sold at auction. http://www.kissydress.co.uk Her father passed away 11 years ago, Eve says. "Thank God I got to work with him. He was an incredible man and an incredible teacher. He really gave us a gift with this business. He always said it's a beautiful business to be able to bring joy into people's lives. What other business can you be in where every occasion is a happy occasion?" His passion still flows through the family, with Eve running the business with her brother Saul and brother-in-law Barry Berg, alongside William's wife, Lili. Eve was 25, living in Italy, with no plans to come home, when her father asked her to cover six weeks for her sister's maternity leave. That was 28 years ago. "I never went back!" she laughs. She's done everything, from sales, design and marketing - all of which she still works across now - to sorting stones, setting up the company's first computer system and even learning to cut ("I wasn't very good at it. It takes a lot of patience which I don't have."). The company has also recently made a move into social media, a process Eve finds fascinating, and good for sales. "The bigger [the diamond] is, the more comments and likes we get. Sometimes we test it out and we just put a cute little bracelet on, and nobody cares. We put on a 50 carat diamond, and it just blows up. Bigger is better." Their business now is primarily international, with clients including royalty, heads of state and "a lot of people whose names we can't mention". Although I am allowed to say that Sharon Stone, Sophia Loren and Oprah Winfrey have all worn ashokas. "We deal with the uber-rich, the top 1 per cent of the market," Eve says. Clients are primarily based in the Middle East, East Asia, Russia and Europe - each different markets that require tailored design aesthetics. "There are always people who are looking to spend money on important pieces of jewellery and it's just a matter of how you find them." The company has 20 people working at its New York headquarters, and factories in India, Botswana and Belgium as well as New York ("they cut the big stones"). Eve loves living in Manhattan and has recently moved from the Upper West Side to Tribeca. Working in the family business she has to be careful to keep weekends relatively work-free, but there are some clients who require email contact still. Luckily, "there's not that many diamond emergencies", she jokes. Although her father would say "to certain women it's actually a need", and she has had clients saying "I need a 10 carat diamond", or "don't show it to me unless it's over a 10". "Some people think they have their diamond emergencies, I have a better perspective and I realise that life will go on." She couldn't imagine doing anything else though. "I still get excited by [diamonds] and I get excited to be able to sell them to somebody or see somebody wearing something who really appreciates it. I look forward to going into my office, and playing with the stones and creating new pieces. It's a lot of fun." pink short prom dresses

At not quite 1.57 metres (5ft 2in) tall and wearing a size 10, Hamilton designer Judy Moughton, known as Judy Dee, is not the most likely champion for curvy clothes. She's just someone who found her niche. Judy can't remember a time when she didn't know how to sew. Her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were dressmakers. Judy loved her mother's and grandmother's simple, elegant look and would copy it, making her own dresses at the age of 12. The hippie era was lost on Judy, who thinks being born in the 50s means she was born just a little too late. That didn't stop her from rocking 50s-style dresses when everyone else went flower child. "Other people must have thought I was a bit prissy - this was the hippie era of long, flowing dresses and skirts and compared with that, my look was probably a bit prim and proper. But it's what I've always felt comfortable in." http://www.kissydress.co.uk Growing up in Whangaroa Harbour, Judy always got her four sisters' hand-me-downs, even though she was the second oldest, but her mother also made the girls three to four dresses each season. Later, Judy was a broke solo mum sewing dresses for her sisters so she had something to give them for Christmas. All of them are tall and curvy - Judy jokes that she's the runt of the litter. "I have a wonderful relationship with my sisters and I miss them so much now that we don't all live in the same city. They all make their own clothes. I always did a bit more sewing than them, though. One of my sisters is coming down this weekend so I can make her an outfit for a wedding." Judy's design aesthetic hasn't changed much since she was 12- it's always been about simple lines and quality fabrics. When her daughter, Bridgette Baker, was grown up and one of Auckland's first new-wave burlesque stars, known by her stage name Honey L'Amour, Judy Dee would meet many burlesque artists who had trouble finding things to wear. Well-fitting clothes for curvy gals were scarce so Judy started custom making clothes for them. Then, this year, she launched her ready-to-wear label, available at Bombshell Boutique in Cambridge. For her summer collection, she's used 40s as well as 50s influences. There are body-hugging pencil skirts, circle skirts and fitted dresses. Separate stiffened petticoats can be added to vamp things up for the evening, then removed for a more demure look at the office. As well as dresses, Judy has done plenty of separates because a lot of her clients wear differing top and bottom sizes. She loved adding perfect details like matching belts, vintage buttons and detachable straps. "Whenever I can, I used natural fibres like silk and cotton because that's what you had in the 50s. But now we have the advantage of beautiful cotton with Lycra in it for that stretch. It's very comfortable and people won't wear it if it's not." And whereas many designers balk at the thought of creating clothes in a size 16, Judy Dee's collection comes in sizes 16 to 22. "My whole philosophy is, if you've got curves, make the most of them." Judy will happily make those pieces in sizes either side of that range - just have your measurements taken in store. Since launching in July, Judy has been busy. She's had to invest in industrial sewing machines and she's averaging five hours of sleep a night. She's looking at getting seamstresses to help her, but wants to keep production in New Zealand. She thinks it's a shame that so many designers have their clothes made offshore and she wants to maintain control of designing, cutting and finishing every piece. Judy has been "really, really" happy to see the return of 50s fashion and to see it embraced by Bridgette. She also sews and her rockabilly label, Honey L'Amour, is available at Bombshell Clothing. "Her 2-year-old daughter has her own sewing machine, and I have another granddaughter, who's 11 - she just loves getting my sewing machine out and she's really into fabrics. It's in the blood." short prom dresses uk

Over a course of the past few years, FPW has emerged as a platform for some of the country’s finest fashion. The Fashion Pakistan Council (FPC) has stayed true to its aim of putting out two fashion weeks a year, one for each season. The fashion week this time has a few appealing designs up its sleeve. Here’s a peek at what’s brewing at FPW: The ‘Millennia’s’ up and coming In an effort to promote fashion’s young talent, the Millennial Show will serve as a precursor to FPW, taking place two days prior to it. “The designers showcasing in Millennial are not fresh graduates. They are professionals who are in the process of establishing their labels, but need a platform to hone their skills,” explains FPC CEO Wardha Saleem. “They have been selected purely on the basis of merit. We are even introducing a new choreographer,” she adds. Five capsule collections will be shown and, hopefully, this won’t boil down to a fun but far-too-wacky line-up a la ‘Rising Talent’ showcases. Wardha notes, “How can we expect new designers to improve without giving them a chance to showcase their work?” An admirable thought, really, and we hope Millennial serves up some exciting, spunky fashion. prom dresses uk Glamour’s night out With the wedding and party season right around the corner, FPW’s participants are all for upping the glitz and glamour quotient. At a glance, expect cocktail dresses, gowns and a consistent flow of capes, cloak jackets and wraparounds to parade down the catwalk. Given the varied aesthetics at play, there probably won’t be much repetition. Most notably, there’s Adnan Pardesy delving into classic monochromes, Sanam Chaudhry spinning courtly, vintage elegance while paying homage to her maternal grandmother, and Maheen Karim nailing evening wear with the finesse that is her definitive claim to fame. Faraz Mannan, the sole participant from Lahore, is showcasing a cruise collection focused on separates, and Shehla Chatoor is dabbling with leather in a line inspired by Japanese art and weaving techniques. Nida Azwer’s designs are dedicated to the Renaissance. Ayesha Farook Hashwani creates luxe evening-wear with ‘Baroque’ and Zaheer Abbas leans towards risqué minimalism with ‘Neo-Nude’. Maheen Khan celebrates Karachi, ‘With love’, Sadaf Malaterre imprints her bohemian signature onto structured luxury-wear, FnkAsia showcases folk inspirations, and relative newcomer Aamna Aqeel ‘Breaks the monotony’ with fusion-wear. And since we can’t get enough of SanaSafinaz, the brand is putting out two shows: a bohemian line by Ather Hafeez and a sophisticated wardrobe, envisioned by Mohsin Saeed. Also showing are DnF, Ishtiaq Afzal Khan, Gul Ahmed and Levi’s. The long-ignored modern man And the often lackadaisical realm of menswear may just manage to spruce up at FPW. Nauman Arfeen, among others, is set to showcase his penchant for intricately embroidered eastern wear, and Emraan Rajput is bringing out a military line. Deepak Perwani has switched focus from womenswear to ‘Everything but the girl’ – a menswear line devoted to the dapper, party-hopping modern man. Backstage magic Stylist Nabila and her N-Pro team take over styling for the entire fashion week. The N-Pro team has long proven its mettle in creating standout catwalk looks. Occupying the director’s helm, once again, is everybody’s favourite showman, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin. HSY may not be showing a collection at FPW this time, as he had done this spring, but it’s good to know that he’ll still be wielding the drama, magic and razzmatazz from behind the scenes. kissydress backless prom dresses

Dame Vivienne Westwood has said that if people can't afford organic food, "they should eat less". According to the Independent, the millionaire fashion designer made a case for everyone eating organic food on Wednesday, while delivering a petition to Downing Street protesting against genetically modified food in the UK. Following her comments, BBC Radio 5 Live's Dino Sofos pointed out a legitimate flaw in her argument: not everyone can afford to eat organic food. To this, she simply replied, "Eat less". Sofos went on to argue that people are already going to food banks because they can't afford to buy food. "They don't have any choice - this is the point, isn't it," she said. "You've got all these processed foods, which is the main reason people are getting fat. They're not actually good for you - they don't give you strength, they give you weight. "I eat vegetables and fruit. I don't eat meat. I believe meat is bad for me so I don't eat it. It's also bad for the animals. pink prom dresses "If there was a movement to produce more organic food and less of the horrible food, then organic food would obviously be a good-value price, wouldn't it?" Speaking to the Daily Mail, food bank charity Trussell Trust chairman Chris Mould said, "Every day Trussell Trust foodbanks provide thousands of people who are facing going hungry with three days' nutritionally balanced food. "The question for us is not about whether food is organic or not, it's about how we ensure that everyone has access to affordable, healthy food. "At the moment there are far too many people who are struggling to feed their families full stop, that is the challenge." According to the Telegraph, Westwood later issued a statement saying her comments had been misunderstood. "My comments were related to eating less meat. People are eating far too much factory-farmed meat and junk food which is bad for you and not providing the nutrients you need. In another attempt to clear up her comments, Westwood told the MailOnline, her comments were in relation to the types of food people are eating. "I'm deeply upset if anyone would think I don't care about starving people or don't understand the terrible situation some people are in, quite the opposite, I have spent years campaigning for social and human rights issues. "My comments were related to eating less meat and junk food. "People are eating far too much factory-farmed meat and junk food, which is bad for you and doesn't provide the nutrients you need. "You can source good food and farmed meat for less." But this isn't the first time Westwood has caused a stir with her opinions. In October, the Independent reported Westwood said food and clothes aren't expensive enough. "Clothes should cost a lot more than they do," she said adding that they are "so subsidised". Westwood also believes that food should be more expensive. "Something is wrong when you can buy a cooked chicken for £2," she said. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/yellow-prom-dresses

Every Fashion Week, it becomes increasingly apparent that when it comes to street style, there are two types of people: those who want to be seen just to be seen, and those who want to be seen for a purpose. Kiev native and street-style blogger favorite Daria Shapovalova fits into the latter category. And as for her purpose, it’s beyond ad sales or hopes of garnering some free designer duds; it’s a method to draw attention to—and hopefully jump-start—the whole fashion industry of a country. (Yes, a country.) Over the past four years, Shapovalova, who is also the founder and creative director of Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days (which just ended this past Sunday) has been working to help Ukraine’s designers to infiltrate the international markets. Put it this way: She might be the only street style star for whom getting dressed is an act of patriotism. prom dresses uk “My intention is always to wear clothes which are created by the designers I am proud of,” says Shapovalova. And her appearance on style blogs—mixing labels like Christopher Kane, Simone Rocha, and Prada with Ukrainian designers Anton Belinskiy, Anna October, Anna K., and Yulia Yefimtchuk—has become a critical factor in the marketing of her nation’s homegrown designers. She doesn’t take it lightly. “For me, creativity is the most important criteria when I am choosing what to wear,” says the entrepreneur. “I definitely prefer wearing a dress by a young unknown designer that looks absolutely different from what other people wear. And many of the cool photographers are searching for unique style and clever quirkiness. And that’s what I’m about—I will sacrifice the mass trend in order to stay different.” Shapovalova plans and packs all of her clothing far in advance of Fashion Week travels to London, Milan, and Paris, in hopes that the international fashion set will take notice. “Buyers have repeatedly set up buying appointments with Ukranian designers after seeing me wearing their looks,” says Shapovalova. “I understand the responsibility I am taking on by wearing a certain outfit.” kissydress short prom dresses That responsibility that Shapovalova speaks about, a sort of self-created ambassadorship, is crucial for designers from a post-Soviet country that’s currently experiencing ongoing conflict. In modern Ukraine, the exposure for young creative people is limited. But across the pond? It’s boundless. And seen on someone as prominent as she, it’s that much more powerful. “Street style helps people to get promoted and noticed, but what is important is personality and what you do,” says Shapovalova. “There’s always a person who can wear beautiful clothes and look amazing but it is also important what they do in life.” Dressing for the street style blogs has come to mean wearing a well-calculated ensemble or a head-to-toe runway look. But dressing for your country? That shows the power of style.

Bill Blass, the New York-based now defunct fashion brand which is set to re-launch itself sometime in 2016-17, has named the American fashion designer Chris Benz as its new Creative Director, effective immediately. According to a press statement, the 32-year-old Parsons School of Design’ alumnus will be responsible for the overall creative direction of the label and would report directly to its newly appointed President and Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Goldblatt. While speaking about the appointment, Mr. Goldblatt, states, “Chris’ modern design aesthetic, understanding and connection to today’s woman will be instrumental in reimagining Bill Blass into a 21st Century brand. We are excited to welcome Chris to the Bill Blass team. His proven talent will lead the brand into its next phase as we look to build on the significant heritage and influence Bill Blass brought to the industry.” backless prom dresses Benz also expressed his delight by saying, “Bill Blass is a brand that I have forever admired and have deep respect for as an original American designer. I am thrilled to introduce this esteemed brand to the next generation.” Known for personifying authentic American chic, impeccable tailoring, and timeless, elegant, simple and luxurious styles, the label was founded by the late namesake designer Bill Blass in the early 1970s. The company is a trademark of Bill Blass Group whose business objective is to sustain and build on the legacy of the label’s eponymous founder. Prior to joining Bill Blass, Benz enjoyed a successful and award-winning career in fashion. Through his experiences at Marc Jacobs, and later as a designer at J.Crew, he drew relevance and inspiration to launch his own collection, CHRIS BENZ, in 2007. He is the recipient of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and WGSN titles and has been honoured with the Emerging Designer Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CDFA) in 2004. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/chiffon-prom-dresses

IF THERE ever was an example of a brand that’s managed to stay perfectly relevant to the women of today, it’s Diane von Furstenberg. Founded in 1972, the label has gone from strength to strength, gradually adding accessories, perfume and a children’s line into the mix — but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing according to founder Diane von Furstenberg. “There was a time where I went off brand and that was not good, so I really want to make sure I stay on brand in the future,” she told a quartet of journalists in the lead up to the premiere of her new E! show, House of DVF. “It’s always got to be effortless, sexy and on the go. If you can’t put it in a tiny box, it’s not on brand. You need clothes and things to go to work — even if you’re beautiful and sexy, when you’re in a board room your dress has to cover much of your legs. So you have the work moment, rock and roll, going out ... many women are all of these women — they work at JP Morgan, they live in the suburbs, they love rock and roll at night.” prom dresses It’s this understanding and empowering of women that has been at the heart of the brand’s growth and longevity since Ms von Furstenberg arrived in New York in her twenties with two suitcases to her name. “Empowering women is what I do,” Ms von Furstenberg explains, adding that that’s the reason why she signed on to the E! show. “A lot of those shows objectify women or make them think that you need to be a bitch to win. People had come to me before with many ideas for TV shows that were so tacky and awful that I was really not interested. I really don’t love TV because it objectifies women, so I wanted to find something that I could do that fits with young women and still fits with my values. “I hope I gain women’s confidence. That’s all I care about. It was very important for myself, so if I can share it with others, that’s important.” pink prom dress Despite inventing the now-iconic wrap dress 40 years ago which has been worn by everyone from Michelle Obama to Madonna, Ms von Furstenberg is under no illusions about the fashion industry. Staying relevant is always at the forefront of her mind — and that’s why she’s so good at it. “You cannot be alive and not embrace technology,” she says. “I don’t know how I used to operate without email! This is part of who we are now. “In a weird way I was doing social media before there was social media. It happened to me as a young girl as I travelled around and showed the dresses, so for me it has been amazingly natural. I am happy to have been old enough to have done Studio 54 and young enough that I have been able to witness the digital generation. The best thing about ageing is that you have a past, and that is undeniable. If you are OK with your past that means you have lived well and lived fully. “But I have no more wisdom than that girl there. I have experience, but no more wisdom. So just go for it — which I did. Love life, stay curious, do not take yourself so seriously.”

Victoria Beckham, the pop star, model and Wag who reinvented herself as a fashion designer, has topped a list of Britain’s 100 most successful entrepreneurs of 2014. The woman formerly known as Posh Spice came in at No 1 in the list compiled for business magazine Management Today. The rankings are drawn up by assessing turnover growth and job creation over the past five years. The magazine said of the designer, who opened a 6,000 sq ft (550 sq metre) boutique in Mayfair, central London, for her fashion brand last month: “Beckham is living proof that celebrity may be the most marketable commodity of all.” Philip Beresford, who drew up the list, said it was “her finely tuned business acumen” that won her the top spot. Since the 40-year-old mother-of-four and former Spice Girl set up her fashion business five years ago, her staff has grown from three to a 100-strong team with the latest turnover at £30m. Offering leather credit card holders for £150, T-shirts for more than £700 and handbags for up to £18,000, she has seen sales growth of 2,900% and employment growth of 3,233%. “Deservedly she is number one in these two crucial measurements for success,” Beresford said. The accolade follows her topping of a poll to find the greatest style icon at London fashion week in September. Beckham spoke of her transformation from singer to designer in a recent Guardian interview, saying: “First time around I felt famous, but now I feel successful.” She added: “I used to wear clothes which would make me stand out and now I don’t so much because I don’t feel I have anything to prove.” Photo:2014 yellow prom dresses London Born Victoria Adams in Harlow, Essex, she burst on to the pop scene with the Spice Girls in the mid 1990s and married the England footballer David Beckham in 1999. The couple’s joint wealth is estimated at £380m, and she is credited as the driving force behind “Brand Beckham”. She joined the other Spice Girls for a world tour in 2007/8, but chose not to perform a solo song, instead posing as though in a fashion show, in a nod to where her real ambitions lay. Beckham launched her eponymous fashion label in 2008, and a lower priced diffusion label in 2011. As a businesswoman, she has demonstrated herself to be “an adept exploiter of her own celeb value”, according to the list. By 2011 she was a fixture at New York fashion week. Her Dover Street shop opened in September, but she missed the official opening to speak to the UN general assembly in New York about her role in the UNAids campaign. Since then a steady stream of celebrities have been through its doors. It has been likened to an art gallery, with sparse interior, clothes hanging from chains on the ceiling or a jagged rail, and no cash tills as all purchases are completed through an iPad. The “burgeoning entrepreneurial talent” of Britain’s Asian community is also evident in the list, said Management Today, with nine individuals or families making the rankings. They are led by brother-and-sister team Amit and Meeta Patel, in second place, just pipped by Beckham. The siblings’ London-based pharma operation, Auden McKenzie, specialises in the development, licensing and marketing of niche generic medicines, and is at the cutting edge of work into areas such as treating heroin addiction. Mahmud Kamani, 50, of online fashion site Boohoo.com, is ranked third, while Julian Dunkerton 49, of clothing chain SuperGroup, claims fourth spot. Apart from Beckham, the list includes 14 other women, up from 11 when the rankings were last published in 2011. Among them are software entrepreneur Suzanne Marshall-Forsyth and Cathie Paver, founder of Paver Shoes. The top 100 were “real job creators”, said Management Today. “In five years, they have added more than 61,556 employees to their payrolls taking their head count to 158,189. This represents a 64% rise, and shows that in the critical area of productivity,(in which much of the UK economy is notably lacklustre) our MT 100 members are right on top of their game.” More Info: KissyDress prom dresses

So New Zealand women are not having a bar of skinny mannequins. Our Scottish sisters are with us on this one, and American women, too. In ditching their bony dollies in response to a public outcry, Kiwi chain Glassons is merely following in the footsteps of dirt-cheap retail giant Primark, which pulled a similarly starved-looking mannequin from one of its shops in Glasgow in July after a customer complained. Two months earlier, fancy knickers brand La Perla had to yank an emaciated-looking dummy from the front window of one of its New York stores. Although it's deeply depressing that these things are getting made in the first place, it's great to see social networks giving customers a voice they have not had before. In all three of the above cases, it was women shopping who tweeted photos of the skinny mannequins. Their tweets were retweeted, and in short order within a matter of hours, in the case of La Perla, the displays were taken down. Used to be the only thing you could do was tell your friends to steer clear when something outrageous happened to you in a store. Now, if you don't like what a business is doing, you can engage with it directly simply by picking up your phone. That voice is important, because skinny mannequins haven't come out of nowhere. They're reflective of the culture we live in, and what its beauty ideals are. Those ideals come from the culture. Even though sometimes it feels like they're being handed down from on high, they're not. We're culture generators, as much as culture consumers, even if all we're doing is buying clothes and wearing them. Kissy Dress backless prom dresses I have a lot of respect for Denise L'Estrange-Corbet, but in choosing to focus on the size aspect of the Glassons row - whether clothes look better on thin people - she's missing the point of the stoush. This is not about size, it's about power. Glassons is a mass-market retailer, it's not selling haute couture. It'll sell you clothes at a low price point, and give you variety; Armani it isn't. There's no artistic vision on the line. Therefore, it's the consumer who has the power here. That's you and me, and anyone else who has ever bought a top in Glassons, or a cheap bikini or a sundress or a pair of canvas shoes. All it wants to know is what we're after. But it sells us things by pretending to know what that is better than we do. Fashion is aspirational, it's selling dreams more than clothes. So the world of retail operates on a subtle switcheroo; it says if we buy "x" it will make us look and feel good. The truth is, retailers are as desperate as we are to find that "x" and sell it to us. And who designates that x factor? We do. That's why models are showing rib cages, because we live in a culture that glorifies skinny. That's our culture and we can change it. We can change it by pushing back against it; by tweeting too-skinny mannequins, by rejecting T-shirts with sexy slogans for 9-year-olds. You're on Facebook, you've got an Instagram account: if you don't like it, call it out. The market will follow. Maybe not immediately, but eventually. American chain JCPenney is already using mannequins based on real bodies, including one in a wheelchair, and one with prosthetics. Never mind the unattainable ideals of fashion designers, at a high-street level, retailers will listen to you. You're giving them their bottom line after all. It's in their best interests to. Kissy Dress chiffon prom dresses

Do you want to know what I hate? People who say they never wear jeans. It’s one of those statements – along with “I don’t own a telly” and “My children have a sugar-free diet” – that it’s impossible to make without sounding insufferably smug. Björk once said she doesn’t wear jeans because they are a symbol of white American imperialism. Now I hate to disagree with Björk, but the word denim derives from Nîmes, which is in France, and the first denim trousers were made in Italy in the 17th century. Jeans have been worn by anyone who needed durable workwear all over the world ever since. And by teens, punks, rockers, rappers, film stars, royalty. Yes, they’re uniform, but jean styles mark out tribes, they don’t create a faceless mass. Designers have had a lot of fun deconstructing and reinventing denim over the years. Spring 2015 is going to be a big season for the humble blue fabric – it was on the catwalk at Burberry, Michael Kors and Chloé. But there are so many denim collaborations around that I think we should get ahead of the trend here. KissyDress UK Unisex brand Other used to be known as B Store. The name’s changed but the interesting clothes haven’t. Its collaboration with Lee jeans launches next month with some lovely dip-dyed and embroidered clothes. Lee has just had its 125th birthday and has also let four European designers – Sessùn, Filles à Papa, PRPS and Örjan Andersson – rework its classic styles. Marques Almeida’s capsule collection for Topshop is out now, featuring its signature distressed, frayed denim. It really captures the spirit of its catwalk collections, but prices start at £30. Go and have a look before it sells out. While you’re on the high street, check out the competition. Since the ubiquity of the classic jeans brands broke down in the 1990s, denim has diverged into high street and luxury lines. For everyday, you’ll know which brand suits the shape of your bum and your budget. If you’re interested, I love Cos jeans because they have unusual colours and finishes and Uniqlo for the high-quality denim. Both also have pretty skirts and dresses this season. This denim skirt from model Inès de la Fressange’s second range for Uniqlo is cute. If you’re looking for trendy, Junya Watanabe’s patchwork jeans were the most copied catwalk look of the season, but ripped will be a bigger thing as the months roll on. Gap, Asos and H&M all do good versions. If you want go expensive, Current/Elliott and Each x Other are great brands. I love Frame Denim and if you still want skinny jeans, try AG 360 Contour. They even make my stubby legs look OK. I’ve run out of space now, and I haven’t said half of what I could do about denim. See? I told you it was fascinating. Next week, I’ll explain why it’s OK to watch back-to-back episodes of Scott & Bailey while your kids scoff Smarties. See you then. kissydress chiffon prom dresses

Day 1 of the first Myntra Fashion Weekend, which is being held at Palladium Hotel in Mumbai, ended on a highly confident and sexy note as designers, especially the last two, amped up the show. Mumbai-based designer Pria Kataaria Puri, who is famous for her kaftans and sexy resort wear, brought to the ramp a vibrant, abstract and energetic collection. Her show started off in vivid orange-toned ensembles worn by five bloggers-Malini Agarwal aka MissMalini, Rhea Gupte, Aanam Chasmawala, Scherezade Shroff and Karishma Rajani. Carrying on the show, models sauntered down cheerfully. This amiable presentation was a pleasant break from the usual frigid style, and kept the audience smiling as well. The boho luxe collection included jersey dresses, kaftans, oneshoulder shirts, crop tops and midi skirts in colourful carpet prints. pink prom dresses Delhi-boy Raakesh Agarvwal, meanwhile, brought back his 'Seduce Not Control' collection to the runway for A/W 2014, which he showcased earlier this year in the Capital. Bondage, leather and bling were the keywords at the show that added a high-octane punch of glamour in black, gold and nude. Special hair nets and smeared red lipstick styled by Adhuna Akhtar and her B:BLUNT team added an interesting feel to the models' look. Despite the comparatively low turnout owing to Dussehra celebrations, the show was high on energy. The second day began on a highly quirky note, with celebrity stylist Ami Patel curating a playful, American vintage collection comprising two trends-indigo and clashing prints. Cigarette pants, front-tied shirts, wrap around dresses and shift dresses for women; and striped T-shirts, checked collar shirts and sweatshirts for men made the show. Actress Kalki Koechlin walked the ramp as a pretty pin-up girl in a halter neck, cream-coloured swing dress with lace border. A big orange bow over a faux bob, strappy floral heels and a big purple envelope bag added charm to Kalki's look. Adding to the cute look, the good sport did a small jig on stage with funny man Cyrus Broacha who got all the laughs for sporting a fake mustache and flowers in his hair while dressed in a superhero tee and a lungi casually wrapped around his jeans paired with red sneakers. Kalki even teased Broacha by trying to pull his lungi off, leaving the audience in a spirited mood. Meanwhile, Bringing work essentials to the afternoon, AND by Anita Dongre presented chic pencil dresses, trousers and shirts with interesting cuts and collars primarily in black, grey and white. chiffon prom dress

It’s true when they say that your skin is all about what you eat. The healthier your diet, the more glowing your skin tends to be because of all the nutrients pumped into it. Here is a list of 10 foods that should be included in your daily diet for good skin: 1. Almonds A regular but moderate intake of almonds may help nourish and protect your skin. These nuts contain vitamin E which helps nourish the skin and protect it against sun damage. These could be eaten easily when used with salad, oats, grilled or baked dishes or even in desserts. 2. Broccoli Broccoli is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. The vitamin C present in it helps increase collagen production which ensures the skin is soft and supple. Similarly, the vitamin E present, protects the skin from harmful UV rays, reducing chances of dark spots. It also contains selenium which is a saviour against skin cancer. It’s healthy to have some fresh broccoli either as part of you salads or stir-fried with other vegetables. long dresses for prom 3. Peppermint Peppermint comes with calming and healing properties beneficial for the skin and health. Apart from being used in topical creams for various skin ailments, peppermint has anti-inflammatory properties which balances the pH levels of the skin. A cup of hot peppermint tea also helps calm down headaches. 4. Tomatoes Being rich in vitamin C, the collagen production keeps the skin well intact and firm. The red pigment present in tomatoes helps reduce skin paleness and increases the skin’s circulation. A juicy slice of tomatoes could be had at any time of the day, either as part of a salad or just sliced and had with lemon to keep skin beautiful. 5. Beetroot This vegetable’s roots are high in vitamin A, and a bunch of other nutrients like potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin E. It is hence a complete cleanser and a blood purifier that eradicates toxins from the system. Apar from having it in salads regularly, a glass of beetroot juice is ideal for healthy skin. 6. Brown rice Brown rice is an option preferred any day over its white counterpart. The insulin levels in the blood do not spike up as they would with the consumption of white rice. Thus, the reduced level of insulin controls the production of oil in the sebum because of which the chances of acne and clogged pores are minimum. It also contains antioxidants and minerals that enhance skin health. 7. Garlic Garlic has anti-bacterial properties hence cleanses the skin of any infections and reduces the chances of acne. Just add garlic to as many meals as possible, be it in your pastas, other dishes or salad. 8. Paneer Paneer or cottage cheese is protein- and selenium-rich which is important for skin nourishing and collagen production. There are various ways of incorporating paneer in your diet. You could either stir-fry it with vegetables and add some flavoured sauces for taste. Or you could simply eat fresh cubes of paneer with some pepper sprinkled. 9. Eggs Eggs have rich nutritional value with all the proteins, zinc and selenium required for good skin health. Eggs make for a ddelicious breakfast and in fact can be incorporated in any meal throughout the day. For some simple and easy cooking you could just boil some eggs and sprinkle some pepper or stick to having an omelette. Eggs can also be used to make face packs. 10. Pumpkin seeds These tiny seeds come with nutrients from vitamin E, zinc and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, making them a must for healthy skin. Pumpkin seeds protect your cell membranes, maintain collagen levels, and promote skin renewal. You can add pumpkin seeds to a cup of yoghurt or a bowl of oats. backless prom dresses uk

What does it mean to be a London designer today? It certainly has nothing to do with birthplace: of the dozen or so designers showing on the second day of London Fashion Week’s official spring/summer 2015 schedule, there were three Brazilians, a New Zealander, a Welshman, a couple of Irish imports and a New York-based purveyor of cocktail frocks, titled after an Italian aristocrat. Why? Why not. London Fashion Week has something of an open-door policy. Come one! Come all! Come pack our calendar to the point of explosion. That, obviously, has pros and cons. The pros mean that designers of remarkable talent can be catapulted to global prominence on a schedule that nurtures the new. The cons? You end up with plenty of stuff that either isn’t ready – unravelling hems, bodged seams, garments that look as if they have been endearingly knocked up from old curtains – or isn’t worthy. The former isn’t such a great issue, if the invention is there. The latter is cause for concern. There’s never anything bodged or unfinished at an Emilia Wickstead show. She is far too well-behaved for that. At least, she should be. She’s just opened a boutique on Sloane Street, not a world away from her old digs on Cadogan Place. Actually, it’s just around the corner, but the name change feels appropriate since Wickstead’s aesthetic, at its best, is resolutely Sloaney. Which is fine. Only Wickstead seems overly concerned with making her label intersect with the ever-fluctuating demands of “fashion”. Or maybe that should be “cool”. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/long-prom-dresses Wickstead shouldn’t trouble herself with either. Customers buying her clothes aren’t doing so because they want to be at the cutting-edge of fashion – especially when Wickstead interprets that as lurex, slit skirts sufficiently salacious to necessitate matching knickers, and bubbly bermuda jumpsuits in flesh-coloured metallic matelassé. Indeed, with plenty of excess volume kicking out at the hip, this ended up resembling the sumo suits from It’s a Knockout. I am being harsh, but my issue with the Wickstead collection is honesty. Why try to pretend you’re something you aren’t? Leave the fashion to the fashion designers, and get on with making dresses. Because, as this show demonstrated too often, Wickstead is a decent dressmaker but not a great fashion designer. There are all too many labels on the London schedule pretending to be “fashion”. The Hunter show, for instance, lived up to its name: it left you hunting for a justification for the fuss. A giant LED screen bubbled with water like a vast screensaver, a holding image for a collection that never really kicked into action. The clothes? Awkward Scout and Brownie uniforms, pon- chos, shoes that seemed only marginally more uncomfortable to wear than to look at, and plenty of overworked optic prints. That was “dazzle camouflage”, we were informed. It normally graces battleships, and should have stayed there. Rather than disguise, this is a camouflage that makes objects hyper-visible, with the graphics scrambling the perception of depth. That seemed a fitting metaphor for this show, where the creative director, Alasdhair Willis, seemed desperate to imbue a brand best known (actually, only known) for rubber wellington boots with a fashion panache. The overwhelming impression was of a vast and obnoxious waste of money overshadowing brainless rainwear that, at best, just seemed a bit wet. Thank god for JW Anderson. Thank god for his invention, his wit, his taste level. Thank god for LVMH spotting his talent, investing in his label and giving him the reins of Loewe, where he’ll show his debut womenswear collection in just under two weeks’ time in Paris. Maybe Anderson had Paris on his mind: there was a certain French bent to his spring, the trio of neat Chanel-ish suits in velvety towelling, brass-buttoned, piled-up poplin neck ties, leather lapping cinched waists and clambering up the arm in puckered gloves. On paper, they may not sound that special – the same goes for the sailor slant of rope slotted through oversized lapels, and the nautical buttoned flap displaced from the crotch to the buttocks of snug trousers (not sure about sitting on that). The shifting added a touch of the surreal, echoed in trompe l’oeil camisoles fused to sweaters, ribbed knit skirts sprouting vestigial neck and cuff details about the hip. There was nothing that weird, though. That’s the taste level coming through. Maybe the Frenchification came with the polish to Anderson’s leathers (Loewe workshops are among the finest in the world, and he’s evidently making good use of them), as well as its discernable undercurrent of Belle de Jour perversion. Whatever. French or fetish, Anderson’s offering was certainly fashion. It justified its place and warranted attention. God only knows, we need more of that. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/pink-prom-dresses

Add Elizabeth Lowell Boland to the ranks of female power musicians who have been killing it lately. The 22-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter—who goes simply by Lowell onstage—will be releasing her first album, We Loved Her Dearly, next week and is on tour this fall. Her music (like the upbeat single “I Love You Money”) can only be described as cheerfully badass—and her style is equally fearsome. I asked Lowell about her look, fashion influences, and incredible haircut. You’ve said that you relate musically to everyone from Britney Spears to Lana Del Rey. How does that play into your look? Do you have a style role model? "I try not to pay attention to what other people are wearing, because I want to do my own thing. But at the same time, I look back at the '90s. That’s when I grew up. Britney Spears dressed amazingly in '...Baby One More Time.' I also love early '90s movies, like Clueless and the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer." How would you describe your style? "My stage style and everyday style are very bipolar. I think about what I’m wearing onstage like an art exhibit. I dress to match my instrument and backlight. I also generally make my own stage clothes. Yesterday, I made a top with white duct tape. Offstage, I’m tamer. I like white T-shirts and jeans. I’m also obsessed with sweat suits. I have a pink velvet Juicy tracksuit I wear a lot. I want to start my own fancy tracksuit line [laughs]." prom dresses How did you find your signature blunt haircut? "I was cutting it myself and had to do it straight across since I was doing the old ponytail chop! I’ve had it for about three years. I’m ready for a change, though—I’ve been debating cornrows." You’re currently at the start of a pretty extensive tour. How has that changed your beauty routine? "I go for the greased-out-rocker look so I don’t have to shower. I also go all out and put diamonds all over my face and wear fake eyelashes. I start with the strips and make them my own. Often I’ll glue feathers on top with eyelash glue." What do you use as diamonds? "In Canada, we have Dollarama, which is like the Dollar Store in the United States. There, it’s 50 cents for a giant pack of diamond stickers. I used to get expensive ones, but then I found these, and now I’m set. I have a lifetime supply!" Do you have any products you love to wear every day? "I use liquid eyeliner from M.A.C. or Sephora. Eye makeup is the only makeup I will never buy supercheap since the skin around my eyes is really sensitive." You have synesthesia [a neurological condition that causes her to blur sound and vision]. What does your music look like to you? "Every song is different. But in the end, I’d say hot pink ranging to baby pink when I get ballad-y." prom dresses long

In the world of fashion, earning recognition at the international level is no small feat — especially when dresses made of bottle caps and trash bags are competing against professionally-designed garments. Recycled materials took center stage at the annual fashion show put on by Liberty University’s Department of Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS) last April. Now, four of the top designs from that show have been selected to be shown at the International Textile & Apparel Association’s (ITAA) 2014 Annual Conference this November in Charlotte, North Carolina. When fashion merchandising & interiors students Melissa Breaux, Brianne Crist, Amy Yoon, and Tenzi Chacha took to the runway in bottle caps, puzzle pieces, and trash bags during April’s “Go Green, Go Glam!” show, they assumed that the main event was over. But after their faculty mentor, Matalie Howard, submitted a list of the top six designs to ITAA, the students found themselves headed for recognition on an international stage. http://www.kissydress.co.uk/pink-prom-dresses Design professionals and students from universities across the world (including Cornell, Kent State, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Hong Kong Polytechnic) could only submit six designs in the areas of fiber arts, interior products, or clothing, yet after the ITAA’s double-blind jury evaluated hundreds of entries, four of the 29 chosen designs were Liberty students’ “green” garments. “It’s a way for these students to break into the fashion industry,” Howard said, noting that name recognition is key in clothing design. “(ITAA’s recognition) is a very elite selection. I consider them winners.” ITAA, with over 780 active members, is a professional organization composed of scholars, educators, and students in the textiles, apparel, and merchandising disciplines in higher education. The students’ clothing designs, though made with “up-cycled” materials such as soda can tabs and duct tape, passed ITAA’s high industry standards when judged against non-recycled garments. The young designers were required to explain what contributions their creations made to the scholarly textile and clothing field, and their garments were judged on aesthetics, purpose, technique, execution, and innovation. For Howard, it’s the work ethic of Breaux, Crist, Yoon, and Chacha — who received no college credit for the extracurricular fashion show — that is truly impressive. “I am so proud of them and their hard work,” Howard said. “The quality of the FACS program is in the fact that our students are purposeful in their design work. They know that the industry is tough and that it is hard to get into. It’s a ‘pay-your-dues’ kind of industry. And they are willing to go not just the extra mile but miles beyond. “It thrills me and humbles me to know that work which I felt was top-notch on the runway at Liberty is now being recognized internationally.” The final award recipients will be determined on-site by judges during ITAA’s November conference.