ChristalClear™

3 P's of Women's Fashion - Pageant Dress. Party Dress. Prom Dress.

2011-05-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

It is exciting! It doesn't even matter what your fashion sense is like or what your shopping style is....you know you love getting a new dress. Pageants, parties and proms provide an opportunity to do just that and, for some, these things come around quite often!

For them, it may become more of a task and feel less special each time but is just as significant (or else, they'd just wear burlap). Either way, whether you buy a new gown once a month or once every ten years, it is a meaningful experience. I remember buying the three most expensive gowns I own, even though I wasn't paying for them because I was a kid (thank you Mom).Today, I enjoy looking at styles online.

I definitely notice trends of bridal gowns looking more pageant, party and prom. Of course, every bride has a different personality and every wedding has its own feel so there doesn't have to be just one kind of attire (and that would be boring, anyway) but I think the occasion is much more of a milestone than attending a party, a prom or being in a pageant (I mean, marriage is forever!) so, I think it calls for more thought and care regarding the dress. You do not need a bunch of thick layers and an extra-full skirt with a train and all to have an "appropriate" bridal gown but at the same time, when I see color dresses and dresses with tacky cuts and detailing, when I see brides appearing more like bridesmaids, when I search the websites and literally see some of the same dresses go under all 3 P's categories and bridal, I think some designers and brides take it too far but hey, if they're happy, they are happy...?

On the other hand, we can't leave out the fact that you will always see people show up at a pageant, party or prom looking like a bride. They like the styles of ballroom (always a favorite for any special occasion), the color white, the chance to dress like they would for their wedding but without having to wait for their prince to show up lol Understandable...but then, how do you top that when the time does come? Just a question..

Now, I HAVE to show some examples!

Bridal gowns that are nice but do not look as bridal as they look pageant, party & prom and have even been seen listed in more than one category:

Put your face on?

2011-05-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of my sister's business with Amway, I recently wore makeup for the first time. Sure, I'd put on mascara a handful of times, a little bit of eyeliner once or twice, plenty of lip gloss during my teen years and even some lipstick a couple of times in my life (as a kid for Halloween..Catwoman one year and Esmeralda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame another year Lol I don't celebrate Halloween anymore, by the way...) but for the most part, I stay far away from make-up. Even after this experience, I still will! I think it looks dirty sometimes and I don't think it is natural or necessary. I think it is a lot of work to put on, maintain and take off! I try not to be so high-maintenance lol Still, I loved the opportunity (You can tell by how many pictures I have lol) to try it out and, as a friend put it, "look my age." Enjoy this slideshow I just whipped up.

You can explore their beauty brand, Artistry, see what they have for the Spring collection, as well as their entire collection of skincare and makeup products. Even try a virtual makeover!

Sun in the sky....you know how I feeeeel

2011-05-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

It's a new dawn and a new day and a new life...and I'm feeling goooood
Does that song from the Jennifer Hudson Weight Watchers commercial bother you, too?? Lol Either way, this awesumm slideshow won't!

How Do I Look?

2011-04-29T15:43:00.000-07:00

My niece did my hair

Yeah, it was cute but I didn't step a foot out the house looking like this lol This is definitely runway-worthy hair, though! I wish I could show the pictures of the back but I don't have them right now. We were getting ready to go to an event at a church with Da TRUTH, who PREEEACHED even more than he performed. It was gr8! Here's a pic she took while we were there:

JCProm

2011-03-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

I WISHED I COULD HAVE BOUGHT THESE TWO DRESSES. I LOVE THE COLORS, THE SILHOUETTES, THE FABRICS, THE STYLE. I DON'T LOVE THE PRICE TAGS, EVEN ON SALE.

Scarftacular

2011-02-28T10:36:00.000-08:00

Sad Hair Day

2011-02-28T10:22:00.000-08:00

I am having a very sad hair day and it is making me want to crawl into a hole and cry. I used to look like this:

Now, I have frizzy edges and ends and look like this:

I wanted my curls to last until my birthday. I R depressed. ;(

Anthropologie Bride

2011-02-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

When one of my sisters worked at Sears about ten years ago, she often put her employee discount to use and bought clothes. Many clothing items she brought home were of the Anthropologie brand. Another of her faves, I recall, was Contempo. Today, I read on About.com that Anthropologie is creating a bridal line. Honestly, I was excited about it but I don't know what to be expecting!

Tell me, what do you think? Ever heard of 'em? Ever wore 'em? Are you excited about it?

Featured Artist

2011-01-08T20:22:00.000-08:00

"The Fruit Outfit" and other colorful sketches by my niece, Bria Marie Walton:

^From head to toe, we have some cherries, strawberries, bananas, watermelon and grapes^

Beautiful flower, isn't that?! The image on the left side is a shirt/dress and the right side is a rainbow. I said that rainbow looks like it could be a bathing suit and that the dress could even be turned into a one-piece short suit, or a romper, as they call it.

Winter Wonders - "How to Bundle Up" - The Truth About Layering

2010-12-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

I am writing this because I am currently cold lol I have on a long-sleeved cotton top with a short-sleeve cotton hoodie and a long skirt. Don't worry; it doesn't look as strange as it sounds. Back to my point...I was warmer yesterday when I had on a sleeveless tank top underneath a long-sleeve fleece sweater with jeans. The reason for this is the fabric & material of the garments. Denim is heavier and more tightly woven than the skirt's material and fleece is a known go-to fabric for winter months. Cotton is known for a lot of things but conducting heat toward the body is not one of them. It conducts away from the skin. You always have to layer with cotton but, with fabrics like wool as the alternative, this is often the most feasible and sensible method.

There are many clothing options when it does come to layering. From vests and sweaters to leggings and thermals, good carriers and designers create functional and fashionable styles of layering pieces. To be 'bundled up' does not have to mean to be 'bulky.' We have to take care of ourselves and that means dressing properly for what weather we are experiencing.

Here are some visual examples of layering techniques:

Of course, I wouldn't recommend short sleeves but that's just one of my quirks. This was me last February, wearing a pink short-sleeved top under a blue/white/pink plaid short-sleeve top, all underneath a short-sleeve jacket-like thing that my mother once gave me lol A little jacket or blazer like that is great to have because it can be worn with any top, especially being a neutral color lol and because it is loose enough that a sweater can be worn underneath it and thin enough that it can be worn underneath a coat. Guess what - I was perfectly warm! BTW, that little flower-looking thing is a pin from a baby shower I'd gone to earlier that day.

When wearing a buttoned dress shirt, it is very possible to wear a thin sweater of the same color underneath, like I did at age fourteen or a good camisole, like I did at age thirteen.

Wear a hoodie under vests and thin jackets, especially if said vest or jacket has no hood!

**Bright idea: Layer sweaters, tunics and other tops. You can put a sleeveless tunic over an otherwise plain shirt that has nice sleeves or that is just a nice color. You can put a lower-cut tunic over a more simple one if it has a higher neckline. These methods create a pop of unique style with there being two very different shirts and it adds the warmth of a second layer. This also presents a great opportunity to mix & match colors, prints, & solids, etc.**

Layering aside, look for fabrics such as acrylic, fleece, wool and even polyester if you want to be AWAP (as warm as possible) lol

Now, grab your gloves, scarves and whatnot because we've still got to bundle up for the weather that is ahead!!

A MINI FASHION SHOW 4 YA

2010-11-12T23:09:00.000-08:00

LET'S START OUT WITH FEMMESTONE:

NOW, HERE'S NEOSOUL.KREATIONZ:

I HAVE ^^THAT^^ ONE...IT'S ALL MINE NOW LOL :-)

HERE ARE SOME H&M STYLE BOARDS, WHICH I MADE UP, OVER A YEAR AGO:

Photo Book: Lethargic Kalology

2010-11-12T18:32:00.000-08:00

Please enjoy the preview for Lethargic Kalology, my newly-released (and so far, only released) photo book!

Matters of the Heart

2010-11-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

Look into my heart, guarded with light and Love

Tell me if you see

How much I've overcome

Tattoos

2010-09-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to speak on tattoos today. They are often seen as an artistic form, rite of passage and even a way to pay tribute or respect. I will speak on all three of these in a minute.

For or against:
I do not agree with tattoos because they are permanent scars that reflect passing thoughts and they do so in the single body we have to live with in this life. I know that tattoos can be cultural and serve many other roles/purposes but I simply AM NOT FOR IT, even if they can be "removed." Of course, I would still befriend or work with a person even if they have a tattoo [although it is one way I might reject a potential mate]. As for if I didn't want to speak with a person for the simple reasoning that they had a tattoo, as we all know, it's silly and it'd mean I'd be a very lonely woman. Point blank, I wouldn't do it myself or recommend it to anyone else.

My Past with Ink:

There's my most recent tattoo. I did it at random when a friend bought some on Memorial Day. It's fake but if I were to get one, it'd be something inconspicuous like that.

Tattooing Rite of Passage:
I recall being a child and tattoos were like a badge of honor. It was something fun to find, apply to your skin and show off to the world. That's what they were made for and I know a lot of little girls also used gel ink and pastel ink pens to write/draw on themselves to have that same type of experience. The only issues with that is that a desire to do so was growing with the need to alter one's appearance in order to feel accepted. In these ways, it was a vice just like any other vice. It had to be stopped. These young people needed to see their worth and purpose apart from what they can adorn their bodies with. Fast forward ten years and they were still doing it, only with actual needles and scar tissue this time. To this very day, it has become a competition, a race, a game, a sport and you can count how many don't have them far more easily than you'd be able to count the number of young adults who are tatted. This relates to what I mentioned about it being a rite of passage. You reach the legal age or close enough to think you're grown and by making a mark on your skin, you have claimed responsibility for your being. Yes, the rite of passage aspect is all a mental situation. This is a perfect time to take the time to think it through first. Some may be really nice but, for the silly, shallow and soon-to-be-regretted, a couple of minutes to think about it can do wonders.

Artistic Ink:
My youngest niece just turned on the television and LA Ink was on, on The Learning Channel. They, obviously, see it as their work and art. They call them tattoo artists for a reason. Someone has to come up with the designs and be skilled enough to execute them. I Am all for art when it is tasteful and the medium is respectful. To me, skin (an organ) being injected with ink is not a good way but hey, whatever suits you.

Tribute/Paying respect:
Most of all, in relation to the tribute/respect aspect of tattoo-attraction, I take issue with memorial tattoos. They seem like the best (yet most morbid) reasons to get a tattoo done and according to Leviticus 19:28 and Romans 12:1, I believe that it's not at all biblical.

Ask yourself*:

Would I be defying the authority God gave my parents over me at my current age?
Am I legally of an age to get a tattoo?
Would this image bring God glory?
If I live with my parents, would my parents support my decision?
Would I still want this particular image when I get older?
What if my future mate wouldn't like having to see this image for a lifetime?
Would this tattoo be in an area of my body that would be plainly visible? – Many people do unfairly judge people with tattoos as being “second-class,” including potential employers.
Would it be in an area of my body where I'd have to be exposed in order to simply get it done?
Do I feel fully convinced that tattoos are appropriate for Christians?

*Questions are from Sacred Ink and myself (I edited and added).

That's all folks!! Tell me what you think. Do you have any cool ones you want to tell me about??
Love & lace!! Laterz.

Wired Wednesday

2010-08-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

I am all over the place. I still have yet to upload new sketches. I have less than a week before I am in college for the first time even though I'm three years late with that. I have pictures on my computer of fashion images that I like but will never buy and only have so I can share it with you but have yet to do so. Well, now, I will (I hope you get the meaning of "Wired Wednesday" now lol). This Wednesday was so wired that I haven't even put the pictures in some organized order and tell you what's so unique and awesome about each individual piece or even tell you where it's from. Here goes -- All of the product images (clothing, bedding, jewelry and shoes) below come from only the following retail store websites:

By the way, the above necklaces are all just one necklace. More on the necklace:

iPhone and iTouch app, Wave Study Bible®

2010-06-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

There is a great new Bible study app for all of you iPhone and iTouch users..and there are many of you, I know! Mr. Alan McCann of the Wave Study Bible Team of Wave Study Bible Inc. informed me, "With all of the craziness going on these days, spending time with the Word should be even more important. However, we know it is still a challenge for most Christians...This isn't like any Bible you have seen. Built for the average person and not the Biblical scholar, the Wave Study Bible makes it simple to integrate the Word into your daily life....Wave Study Bible is like a magnifying glass and is real good at putting you in touch with what *you* see in the Bible. It is not full of the results of other people's study, it fills you with the results of your study."

So go ahead and check it out here: http://wavestudybible.com/wave-study-bible-iphone.html

It comes with four Bible versions (Greek New Testament, King James Version, New English Translation, God's Word Translation). Using the in-application store you can add any of the standard translations to your Wave Study Bible® (NASB, NKJV, NIV, NIrV, Message, ESV [coming], NLT [coming]).

It's that time again

2010-04-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

I refuse to post pictures but I am providing three links to articles speaking of female soon-to-be high school graduates choosing to wear the smallest amount of fabric possible to prom. People have a responsibility to teach our young ladies what it means to be a lady. Why degrade yourself in the name of a good, fun and carefree time?? They don't realize what they're doing and the people who help it happen should all get a belt and spank themselves.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/prom_queens_ohAX8aoexUMuvj6P6MhgRI

http://tallahassee.momslikeme.com/members/JournalActions.aspx?g=445665&m=11126984

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-shoket/are-trashy-proms-really-t_b_519787.html

Another Thoughtful Thursday

2010-02-18T10:58:00.000-08:00

For some odd reason, many articles exist with a claim that former pop icon, Jessica Simpson (also of MTV's Newlyweds), has let herself go. Now, there was a time when she had gained a significant amount of weight and was wearing unflattering clothing but these few pictures that showed us that don't mean the same should be said for her in general.

Contrary to what some believe, the following shots are gorgeous to me. They show a healthy, normal-sized woman. Not everybody is going to look how they did when they were eighteen but that doesn't mean Jessica or anyone else has let themselves go. This goes for males, too. Yet, as females, we have bad days and bad weeks and some of us have children or care for children. Many factors can lead to weight gain. Is that a federal crime??

Here she is for her line of shoes and handbags:

And on the cover of InStyle (11/07):

For anyone who believes she is at an unhealthy or socially-damaging size, I direct you to Minding the Media, where many important issues are discussed. The NOW Foundation also may assist.

Now, I think about Lindsay Lohan's younger sister, "Ali." Here she is:

The caption says she's fifteen. 15?? I've only seen full-time models looking like this at fifteen years old. Somebody, put a book in front of her eyes, instead of those camera lights.

Thoughtful Thursday

2009-12-17T10:24:00.000-08:00

I haven't been putting much up here, due to lack of a scanner and working camera. Yet, I had the opportunity because I did have a camera for weeks. I took many pictures and made several videos. My nieces and nephews got a lot of usage out of it and so did my brother. Yet, even while I managed to put a couple of YouTube videos up (youtube.com/1editorchris),
I did not further this blog. That is something to think about on today, Thoughtful Thursday.

Next, I'd like to point out that we now have an email address (b.christalclear.c0@gmail.com), where you can message ChristalClear™

The next order of business is extending thoughts to others. I'm going to spotlight some designers who I believe in. I will showcase a few of their works and provide links for you to check it out further. So, are you interested yet?? I hope so. Here it goes:

I found many of my designer friends through Seventeen and Cosmogirl! magazines spotlights, where they gave their MySpace info. The networking continued/continues further as their friends became my friends and other people become my friends when seeing I design.

The first spotlighted designer is one who never fails to communicate with her network.
We've had conversations on many things, including our differing views on zebra print, and usually, the conversations are at 3 AM. Needless to say, she keeps quite a schedule, with school and designing. Now, who am I speaking of?? Well, in her own words:

Hi! I'm Chloe and I am a fashion designer. 22 years old, recent NYU Graduate and entrepreneur.

Her label, Dirty Addiction was originally known as PurpleLobster, which you'll notice on her Etsy page. If you know of her, you know why she's spotlighted! Here's her website, http://www.dirtyaddiction.com/ and her blog, http://www.dirtyaddiction.com/blog/. You can see the MySpace here: http://www.myspace.com/dirtyaddiction and the MySpace blog. I don't Twitter but here is hers: http://twitter.com/dirtyaddiction. Her Facebook fan page is here. Yet, what I believe to be most important, besides the official web-page, is her YouTube channel. You can also find her on Model Mayhem: http://www.modelmayhem.com/447569 and Tumblr: http://dirty-addiction.tumblr.com/

Here are the designs I am showcasing and why I like them enough to do so:

She calls this "Cake-a-lish-ish" and I'd really like one...it's on clearance sale from $35 to now being $12 ((hint, hint)) but what I love is the colors and style. By the way, that's hot pink not red. Extremely festive, I'd even wear it on my birthday. I don't wear much green or yellow but I'd wear this shirt because it has been done in this style. I love tops the most and this one is great for someone of my stature - petite, short but curvy. I've found that petite clothing is something she's great at which is a no-brainer since she stands at 5'1" herself. It's a sweetheart neckline with wide shoulder straps..this is no average tank top.

Next is a leopard waist-length hooded jacket. At $400, I'm not buying it but who can deny the appeal of a warm hoodie in leopard print?? She made it from scratch, guys!!!

Vegas nights top has side ruching (make sure you get the right size) and gold chain link designs, which I appreciate. Cost: $35.

I'd also like to have the $8 sewing accessory set, which she calls "DESTASH:"

What made me fall in love with Dirty Addiction two years ago and has kept me a fan is the piano key skirt. I love pianos and piano keys and innovative ideas. I sooo want one of these:

Notice the top as well! It has the great balance of being feminine and flirty without being trashy ((that's why I love you, Chloe)). The zipper detail provides the edge that Dirty Addiction is well-known for.

Another unique item is the crossword puzzle top. We know how much I love words; guess what, you can fill them in with this: And I love the pink in this one:

Other designs:

3 necklaces, a top and 2 dresses

The next item means a lot to me. It is a shirt-dress but it reminds me of a shirt-dress I designed as a tribute to Epperson of Project Runway. He was a great designer on the show and I stopped being a viewer once he heard, "Auf Weidersehen." The last thing he designed before he 'cleaned up his workspace' was a shirt-dress. Epperson's desire was to reinvent the shirt-dress. My desire was to make a men's shirt become feminine. I see all of the same in this DA design:

You will see the differences between this and mine. Mine has a belt with belt loops on the sides and is a couple of inches longer in the sleeves, which have reversible cuffs.

THAT IS ALL FOR DIRTY ADDICTION :-}

Now, Meow Kiki:

Like most independent fashion designers, Heather Cummings had to become a designer, photographer and model in order to kick-start her designing career.

Her website, meowkiki.com is one that is not like many others. Find her MySpace page here and her Facebook fan page here. The MeowKiki blog is right here on Blogger and this is her livejournal page. Now, I've not had many conversations/discussions with Heather but I can attest to her beautiful spirit and entrepreneurship. You can see her on Model Mayhem here and this is her Twitter page. Meowkiki even has an etsy shop for Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Here is the U.S. Etsy Shop page. Trust me, you'll love what you find.

What I love about Meowkiki is the variety. You can have a necklace like this:
and then leggings like this:
with a headband like this:
and a purse like this one:
ALL AT THE SAME TIME!! i LOVE TO MIX & MATCH COORDINATES!!

Other designs that I love ((hint, hint)):

a skirt, a dress, boy-cut briefs and a jacket

THAT IS ALL FOR MEOWKIKI!!!

I hope you enjoyed Thoughtful Thursday and if you ever want to be spotlighted, go ahead and email b.christalclear.c0@gmail.com.
As for now, I wish you endless love and lace. Laterz!!

My Helium Writing Contest Entry in the Category of Winter Fashion

2009-11-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

Winter fashion: Women's clothing trends for mom

by Christina Bernice Butler

The fact that patterns in mothers' clothing rarely change is quite the conundrum. Who says mothers in winter are intended to wear ill-fitted jeans and over-sized sweats? Nobody. The key is finding where the balance is of practicality and fashion. For example, it is winter after all. A mother needs to be warm but the old-fashioned sweats that exist in every color imaginable should stay in closet for paparazzi days (when all you do is put up a ponytail and go out to run a quick errand, hurrying back to watching Lifetime; I call it a paparazzi day because of the many paparazzi shots taken of celebrity moms when they look like they are doing this very thing [think Jennifer Garner]). The trend for clothing for moms in the winter has equal amount to do with practicality as with fashion.

Practicality:
You want your clothes to work for you. You don't want to swim in them, you just want to live in them. Moms already carry many extra items so pockets in their clothing can be of big help to the mom who doesn't want to carry an extra bag. Mothers need functionality. Too many zippers or buttons is never good but when kept simple and also when just for simple decoration, they can be good. Anything that makes a mother's life simpler is welcome. For example, the new hooded scarves are genius! Read more

CC quote tee: "They say that your heart is the size of your fist/You'll always be one of the fistful who fit n2 my heart"

2009-06-08T08:16:00.002-07:00

front view:

back quote:

ChristalClear Logo tees

2009-06-08T08:16:00.001-07:00

Love will find you...if you let it