Your Fashion Oasis

Debt Consolidation Site

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:56:00 +0000

One of the banes of the shopper's existence is credit card debt. US site 3DebtConsolidation.com is a comprehensive online resource designed to help manage debt, particularly what they call 'bad debt' (Auto loans, store credit cards, credit card debt and gambling debt). Is there such a thing as good debt? Yes, according to this site (business loan, real estate loan, mortgage, student debt).

Full of useful things like a recent article on How To Negotiate Debt With Creditors (apparently this is ALWAYS preferable to dealing with a collections agency so call your creditors directly). They have a phone line, fora (forums haha), lots of articles about credit card debt consolidation and bill consolidation and services directly relevant to your US state. There are also reviews of financial institutions and debt consolidations companies.

Recent Debt Consolidation Facts

1. If you spend more than 50% of your credit limit every month, this indicates to the Credit Bureau that you do NOT have enough cash on hand to meet your monthly expenses. This will identify you as a high credit risk and will actually reduce your credit score by 60 - 70 points overnight (Fair Isaac).

2. If you miss 1 or 2 payments on your credit card debt, the issuing company will skyrocket your interest rate to a whopping 27% - 30%!

3. Out of a random sample of 3 million American consumers (included in Experian's National Score Index), 51% of them have at least 2 credit cards and 14% of them have 10 or more credit cards.

Eye-Popping Designs from Lingerie.com

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:21:00 +0000

Where would you go for lingerie but the site that has scored the Holy Grail (that is, the most basic, obvious and search-friendly) domain name? Lingerie.com is an absolute lingerie mecca.

Click the images for more information

$21.99

Stretch Lace Bra and Boy Shorts
By Dreamgirl

Dreamgirl are marketing this as sleepwear! Are they kidding?!? The strappy boy shorts look much too uncomfortable for bed, or for that matter, to wear under anything! This would give you the ultimate visibly panty line.

Still fabulous though! Maybe to wear around the house ? ;p

$49.99
Reversible Corset 3 Piece Set

By Dreamgirl

Another Dreamgirl piece. Very vampy, the corset could even be 'underwear as outerwear' (a trend some people hate) if you're very bold.

$29.99
Halter Lace Babydoll with Matching Thong

By Dreamgirl

A nylon, lace and tassel piece. The stretch lace neck collar is included!!

$28.99
Mesh Chemise with Matching G-String

By Leg Avenue

Very sexy! And sweet too. That is sheer polka dot mesh on the body - the dots don't really show up in the picture. Did you notice the heart detail on the trim? A best seller :)

$31.99
Bell Sleeved Chemise with Matching G-String Panty

By Dreamgirl

Another best seller! The beauty of these sprawling internet lingerie sites is you will find so many things you'd never find in the stores.

Available in a nice maroon colour too. Probably quite flattering but would look especially good on people with long stomachs and bony collarbones.

For literally thousands more pieces on a simple, very browsable site click here.

Impulse Buying with Elastic

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:55:00 +0000

Just a note about the Elastic shopping aid.

I went overseas recently and had a very scary experience being stuck at an airport in Japan with no wallet.

NEVER lose your wallet while you're travelling!

I was very lucky- I was rescued by an American air force pilot. He gave me a phone card and 7000 yen. His name was Dustin Canedy. Thank you Dustin! He will see this if he ever googles himself :)

But I'm a young girl and people tend to find me sweet. Imagine if I was an old guy. No chance!

I researched a bit and found out that in some cases people in similar situations have been stuck at airports for months. In one famous case (an Asian man who lived at an airport for almost a decade) even years.

What I'm writing about today won't help you in airport emergencies, but it will help you in shopping ones!

Elastic offer prepay debit cards and small loans specially designed for urgent impulse buys. Say when a sale is about to end and you don't have any cash that day. Or when there is only one item left in your size and you just know it will be gone tomorrow.

Elastic can act as your heroic American air force pilot and come to the rescue.

Can also help with some other urgent purchases. I hesitate to recommend it for travel because I just don't know how accessible it is around the world.

For shopping (especially around sale time) - perfect! Visit their site here

Prom Dresses For 2009

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:01:00 +0000

It's prom time again for some! Here are some of my picks for this year.

Click for more information...

Tony Bowls 2009

Paris by Tony Bowls Chiffon Dress
$358

One eye-catching trend this year is trains! No longer confined to wedding dresses, the train adds
glamour, extravagance, and an extra dash of contrivance and inconvenience to any prom outfit.

You meet people who don't mind sporting fussy hair, corsets, painful shoes etc. as long as they look amazing. Pretty much everyone turns into that girl on prom night! So what's a little train? They do look wonderful. Watch out for people's feet!

Mauri Simone 2009

Mauri Simone light pink metallic prom dress
$318

Mauri Simone is a popular prom designer and they love those shiny fabrics! There's a conventional edge to Mauri Simone- they're very well suited to high school girls who want something safe that will flaunt their figure. Something that none of the school bitches could fault!

I guess I mean there' s not much edge or imagination to these. But they are beautifully made and quite elegant. My male best friend is sitting next to me right now and he wants me to write 'the slinky fabric accentuates the feminine physique and will capture the imagination of every male'. So there you go!

This one was my favourite because of the ruching and detailing around the bust, which gives it a 'Cleopatra' feeling.

Dave and Johnny 2009

Dave and Johnny blue strap dress
$189

These guys strike me as quite versatile. The dresses run the gamut from short to long, from fussy to simple, from sleek, shiny and 'evening' to printed, colourful and summery. And there are nice eye-catching details, like this blue design with the single back strap!

These designs are also very well priced and will probably be popular. The blue strap dress I've chosen has sold out in sizes 0 and 4, which might show how skinny American high school students have gotten. Or it might show that the other girls think they can't get away with slinky fabrics :(

Night Moves 2009

I liked a few of these!

Night Moves prom dress

$378

This one is ruched all the way down and will make you look like an expensive foil-wrapped chocolate.

Night Moves prom dress

$289

Another train design. It looks great in motion! The site has a shot from the back where the woman is not moving and the fabric seems to settle nicely. But this is clearly designed for someone who will dance!

My best friend doesn't like it, he says: 'the eye is drawn to the fabric, and not to the woman'!

Night Moves prom dress
$269

This tight fishtail design wood be good for enhancing the figure. Is it just me or does the fabric look a bit like vinyl?! I don't know how they got that chunky effect but I like it.

I sometimes think gilt touches on these sort of gowns (like the gold speckles on this one) look cheap, especially close up. But these look ok. You can see how flattering this dress would be overall!

Night Moves prom dress
$289

This is an example of a dress I would really like (it would probably be my favourite) if the dots on the bottom faded away a bit more nicely!

It actually looks good in this small picture so you'll have to click on it to see what I mean!

You have to PAY for beautifully executed details and I don't think many prom/school ball people have that sort of money.

I want to emphasise that overall Night Moves was one of my favourites, though :)

La Femme 2009

La Femme prom dress
$398

So, so pretty! So girly! La Femme lives up to its name by producing dreamy, very delicate designs. For people who are less about flash and in-your-face allure and more about looking like a princess.

These also have that nice quality of *looking* more expensive than they *are*. At least I feel that way about the dresses in the pictures.

La Femme dress with back detail

$338

4Prom has so many prom dresses it's not funny! Even if nothing I've featured caught your eye I encourage you to check it out because you really can't go wrong. There were looks and trends I couldn't feature because it would take all day.

I also want to say that I've focussed on dresses that make a *bit* of a statement. I know a lot of people want to keep their prom outfit traditionally stylish because that's the sort of event a prom is! Just so you know - the bulk of dresses at 4prom are in that vein. I just didn't feature them because I'd start repeating myself and it would get boring.

But please, please check it out! Also have a look at:

prom dresses Clarisse

and

short prom dresses at promgirl

Magical Interiors by Tony Duquette

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:48:00 +0000

'If I could trade places with anyone for a day, it would be the dashing Tony Duquette' - John Galliano

Costume and Set Designer and Interiors genius Tony Duquette died in 1999, and he's one of designs best kept secret. I think of him as a kind of Walt Disney of design. Actually he has a kindred spirit in all of the arts - it's weird how quickly I can pinpoint them and how right it feels.

In Literature Tolkien is Duquette-esque, because he's fantastical and because he's able to construct whole imagined universes from scratch and make them feel real. In music Michael Jackson has the Duquette quality because he's fantastical and because he gets away with being over the top. You might have a split second where you'll recoil at how *tacky* or *maudlin* this all is, but there are other qualities - the great craftsmanship, the sheer force and boldness and inventiveness - that melt you. You just can't ignore him. Design has a Duquette in John Galliano himself, for obvious reasons - the vibrant colours, the mish-mashed textures, the soaring inventiveness and the showmanship.

Above: Duquette's Main Room in his famous studios.

An Eastern motif in pastel colours.

The orient seen through a Hello Kitty lens.

Table with chunky, Dali-esque 'legs'.

A winter ball in Los Angeles decorated with crystal snowflakes
and silver lame by Tony Duquette.

Duquette interior with his signature animal print tablecloth.

'It's interesting because Tony is probably more honest as a creator of spaces than many people because it's about the heartfelt desire to create what he perceives as a beautiful space.

Through his interiors he was able to give people the feeling they had been there for a long time, that they were very important, that they were very glamorous.

I look at decorative Tony Duquette work, its baroque roots, and it's very much about people. His interiors were about trying to create an environment where people feel they've been there forever. It is creating a false aristocratic history, a fantasy, a type of magical festival, it's a bit like Louis XIV - the fountains, the amazing sculptures, and the belief that you can make something out of nothing. It was just entirely out of his imagination.'
designer Catherine Martin

The part about 'false aristocratic history' is spot on. There's that grandeur and self-importance (in a good way) and - I've noticed - nods to stuffy upper class traditions from all cultures! Like in this shot above: you have intricate beaded pillows and expansive couches, all you need is a veiled Egyptian princess to languish on them. BUT on the walls are murals straight out of a Baroque Polish castle so you know, maybe the princess has shacked up with Sobieski's daughter.

Interior complete with very unusual wall feature constructed from scratch.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the *sense* of aristocratic history in one's home without actually having the dubious family legacies, like slave ownership, colonialist expeditions,
whoring, stuffy, penny-pinching ancestors, deaths from cholera and connections
to powerful religious zealots?

Cream and red walls with the ever-present Baroque influence.

Duquette's own toilet!!

This reminds me of so many things at once: a place in an Indian Jones movie where he stays around the middle of the expedition, after he enters the Orient but just before all the action scenes; a stage set from the King and I, and... Christmas! There is a Christmasey feeling to much of Duquette's work. It's the lights, sparkles and ornamentation.

Mrs. Duquette's dressing room featuring a 19th century cabinet lined in blue felt and decorated with her collection of precious jewels.

Duquette called his wife Elizabeth 'Beegle' because she had 'the industry of the bee and the soaring poetry of the eagle'! There were also times when he called her 'Beegle jewel fiend'!

images: tonyduquette.com

Amazing Diamond Jewelry from Ross Simons

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:13:00 +0000

This has to be one of the web's best kept secrets. Ross Simons has an amazing range and they're the exclusive distributors of the Christie Brinkley collection. A marketer's dream and a magnet for starry-eyed fashion bloggers. So why haven't I heard of this company before?

If celebrity ranges turn your stomach, head straight to the diamond jewelry range - not an eyebrow-raising affiliation to be seen! Just a lot of beautiful diamonds...

MY PICKS:

A Bargain:
Diamond Heart and Toggle Necklace in Sterling Silver

An extravagance:

Diamond Station Necklace in Two-toned Gold

The perfect gift:

Diamond Solitaire Necklace

A bit quirky:

Diamond Dog Bone Necklace

The dog bone necklace is available in other designs! This one has a diamond bone lodged in 14kt yellow gold!

You'll find something whether your taste is classic or quirky and out-there. Some of the finest diamond estate necklaces on the web here.

Ross Simon offers extensive customer care and secure online shopping options.

Shirts from Charles Tyrwhitt

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:55:00 +0000

Who knew the humble white shirt could be such a puzzle? Charles Tyrwhitt is a veritable shirt mecca, and a quick browse through their site raises dozens of shirt questions and dilemmas you'd never have dreamed of. This is always the case when you speak to an obsessive. Steer clear if you enjoy a fashion plateau and don't want your wh ite shirt comfort zone shaken up.

This London clothing company retails some of the best classic clothing on the market, emphasising quality fabrics and tailoring. The site offers a 14 day refund guarantee, and allows you to purchase in US dollars or euros.

Choose from a mind-boggling array of mens shirt styles which include Organic Cotton Shirts, Oxford Button-down Shirts, Poplin Shirts, Non-iron Shirts, Black Label Shirts and Superfine 180s shirts.

Click on the images for more information.

White Twill Twofold 180s Classic Shirt
Desribed as 'the lobster of the crustacean family, the Bugatti of
the automobile world and the Lafite of wines'

Cream Poplin Classic Shirt
Poplin is smart, cool and performs well under stress

Toddington Grey Pinstripe Sea Island Quality Classic Shirt
Woven in Italy from two fold 140s yarn, Sea Island cotton is
quite simply the best cotton you can find.

Haslemere Navy Check Non Iron Classic Shirt
Our non-iron shirts are as beautiful as our other shirts,
but they don’t need ironing (and no synthetic fibres in sight)

Specify your collar and sleeve length down to the half inch.

And get in quick - they're having a sale!

Tacori Jewellery at JR Dunn

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:38:00 +0000

*Blissed-out sigh* The Tacori range ... it doesn't get any better than this. These prestigious rings are so beautifully crafted... They really are small works of art. Craftsmanship makes all the difference with an engagement ring. This is why some will just POP, they'll catch the eye, and others won't. It's the WAY the silver and diamonds are set, the way they swirl around each other, the way they're cut, and the small juttings and arrangements around the stones. Oooooh... silver and diamonds...

I just received a wedding invitation from a girl I've known since I was four. I'm 25, so I'm at *that* age - people I remember in diapers and school uniforms are freaking me out by starting to wed each other. The invitation was a masterpiece of feminine meticulousness, from the calligraphy on the enclosed maps to the faux flowers pinned lovingly to the front. 'I feel so sorry for the husband in this' said my (male) best friend. 'She'll be like: THE INVITATIONS HAVE TO BE PERFECT' *mimics hyperventilation*...

The ring pretty much has to be perfect too! Next to the dress, the engagement ring will be the source of the most fuss. So... here are some choices from JR Dunn, a retailer of the beautiful Tacori range.

Tacori engagement rings are created so painstakingly they could have been overseen by the rabid, hyperventilating brides themselves. See some of my favourites here and here and here. And here.

Known for elevating craftsmanship to an art, Tacori's signature diamond rings fuse old world elegance with modern glamour and style. Each Tacori ring is hand-crafted by their expert artisans to fit the individual needs of every customer.

Engagements are so exciting. Give yourself the best with this range, which is destined to become classic. Tacori rings are created to become heirlooms, so they really will last forever...

Your One Stop For Jewelry on the Web

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:35:00 +0000

My Jewelry Box is an online shopper's dream: Secure purchasing options, free Fed Ex (for purchases over $150), free gift wrapping, a 30 day returns policy, an enormous range and an accessible customer service information line. What else do you need?

The jewelry can be searched by type (pendants, rings, necklaces, earrings or bracelets) and there are seperate sections for engagement rings and gifts. Alternatively, you can browse by price (Under $100, $100 - $200, $200 - $300, all the way up to whoppingly expensive, Elizabeth Taylor-worthy pieces 'above $5000'). You can even shop by stone!

Some great pieces (click for more information) are:

Blue Topaz and Aquamarine Gemstone Earrings

Sapphire Gemstone Bracelet

Tahitian Black Pearl Earrings

Diamond Ring in White and Yellow Gold

I was especially impressed with the diamond rings, and there's an exceptional selection of promise rings. You're sure to find something beautiful...

Karl Lagerfeld's Russian Fantasy for Chanel

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:09:00 +0000

Chanel Pre-fall 2009 can be summarised in one word: HEADPIECES. Lagerfeld wanted to fuse the old and the new, which sounds like a tired old philosophy until you realise what a broad palette of 'old' looks is on offer (fashion has been evolving and mutating alongside human history for thousands of years). The trick is to make intelligent choices. This season Lagers cherry-picked from Russian inspirations. Sculpted heels like faberge eggs and brilliant headpieces evoked the regality and extravagance of monarchs. Pieces had a rich, textured wintery feel. BUT he'd couple them with black dresses, adding a touch of Soviet asceticism (there were a few versions of this but the one above was my favourite).

Quaint Russian peasant uniforms also got a makeover.

And those gold stockings kept appearing!

Think this will never find its way off the catwalk? Just wait, Lady Gaga will be on it in a heartbeat.

Then again, as much as fashionistas have hope for her, I worry that her look is stubbornly futuristic in a static way. Even if a marriage of old and new becomes the way forward (as it seems to be) she will stubbornly stick with her mod prints, clean lines and structured shapes, because they look 'traditionally' futuristic. By being 'traditionally' forward she is being traditional! Do you get what I mean?

Another eye-catching trend at Chanel was women's jackets on men!

Does this have its place? I can sort of see masculine fashion-forward men grabbing onto it. Remember that pink shirt craze a few years ago? I noticed that only gym-toned beefcakes hopped on it, as if they were saying 'I'm uber-macho and this pink shirt doesn't make a dent in that. It merely offsets my macho-ness (machismo?) in an interesting way'.

These women's jackets could be like that!

images: style.com

Lingerie from Flirty Lingerie

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:27:00 +0000

Are you bored with your everyday underwear choices? Stuck in a rut? Have you practically melded into your black bra and flesh coloured underpants? Perhaps you need an adventure.

Not all the lingerie from Flirty Lingerie is for the faint of heart (Garters! Suspenders! Crotchless Underpants! Fishnet bodysuits! Nipple covers like the one on Janet Jackson's boob at the Superbowl!) but you're bound to find something fab that suits your taste.

A good guide might be:

For beautiful, delicate pieces- La Perla;
For extravagant, bright, erotic things- Agent Provocateur;
For a boundless, titillating, mind-expanding postmodern underwear experience (on a budget)- Flirty Lingerie!

Even if you're just after a bra, prepare to see exotic shapes, nipple-exposing contrivances, and push-up technologies you'd never dreamed of. There is also a wide selection of plus size lingerie.

(Click images for more info)

Polka dot 'thong' and bra
with Peek-a-Boo Back and Lace Bows

Lace push-up 'Shelf' bra
'Exposes your breasts while supporting them' (a Best-Seller!)

Stretch Lace Open-Crotch Satin Panty

Sheer Stretch 'thong' panty with
pearl detail and butterfly applique

Strapless Bra and thong set in Checker pattern

An enormous selection of teeny, tiny skirts

For pages and pages of sexy lingerie options visit the Flirty site.

Jonas Brothers Merchandise

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:35:00 +0000

I know I have a lot of readers who love The Jonas Brothers so I'm going to 1) admit that the middle one is dreamy, and 2) let you know about the large selection of merch available at their most sprawling fan site, JoBroFanClub.com.

Until the Jo Bros came on the scene the 00s could not lay claim to a real pop merchandising phenomenon. The nineties had two that I can remember: that brief period after Michael Jackson's world tour, when obsessives papered their walls with every snippet they could find in magazines, and those two weeks after Hanson came out, when waifish pre-teen girls went mad for three blonde guys who looked exactly like them.

The Jonas Brothers are clearly in the Hanson mould, though their look is more smouldering than sunny and girlish; maybe that follows automatically when you have a trio of brunettes. In addition to the usual media and links sections, JoBroFanClub.com has a large selection of Jonas Brother stuff.

For Camp Rock Fans, there's a range of merch inspired by the latest film phenomenon. Go nuts!

"The Jonas Brothers are the hottest teen band in years. Their popularity has spawned many products from leading internet retailers. They include The Disney Store, Target, WalMart, Sears, Limited Too and many more. Some of the Jonas Brothers branded merchandise includes t-shirts, buttons, magnets, totes, posters, pillows, mousepads, clocks and more. The JoBro store at http://JoBroFanClub.com has the largest selection of JoBro merchandise available."

Lani Hammett- What Does a Metallica Wife Wear in the 00s?

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:44:00 +0000

Kirk Hammett's low profile wife Lani gave birth to a son on June 28th this year (the bafflingly named Vincenzo Kainalu Hammett). Lani was not one to strut around Nicole Richie-style in hip maternity outfits, so to answer my own question (what ARE the rocker wives wearing?) I've rounded up some pre-baby shots.

Black, leather, corduroy, no-fuss hair and cheap-looking shoes. Is that a purse she's holding or an envelope? 'Dear Lani, kudos to you for the rock spirit.' Metallica may have sold out but you sure didn't.

The only thing that's 'now' about this is the slightly emaciated look, but you know it's drugs-debauchery-and-partying induced, not the result of fussy, painstaking lifestyle choices (gym, dieting, macrobiotic foods).

A little more stylishly rock. Check out those tatts! Kirk was having a hotel mogul moment, with that Hawaiian shirt and velvet (is that velvet?) suit. His curls are tight-tight-tight, like individually stacked springs. Hers are loose and lazy. Like all great loves, they balance one another.

A playful moment captured in the tropics. You've got a red dress and a pretty hairpiece, and your husband is having a Chris Cornell moment. Can I be you?

Then again, the head segment in the lower right (from the original article) could be some woman he was supposed to be cheating with. Trouble in paradise...

Lani enters the present millenium, with sleek looking hair, a new fringe, modern makeup and a bit of effort in the clothes department.

Katie Holmes Finds A New Way To Wear Makeup

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:37:00 +0000

A new way to wear blush, to be precise. Not on the apples of your cheeks but at the sides of your eyes!

The look has been appearing on the catwalk as well, and it's not clear to me whether Katie was the trendsetter or the follower. It looks pretty good on her, though.

How long before we start seeing tragic versions of this in suburban shopping centres?

Prom Dresses From Promgirl

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:51:00 +0000

Have you ever actually spoken to anyone who had a stress-free prom/school ball experience? There's always something that leaves the prom girl a nervous wreck, and I'm not even talking about the part when you arrive and your skeletal best friend collapses from pre-event starvation, or afterwards when Willy from the football team makes a grab for your virginity because he's heard that initiation is a prom tradition. The majority of prom stress happens beforehand, with the Homeric ordeal of getting ready.

I've been looking around for prom dresses and my favourites by far have been from uber-store Promgirl:

'Promgirl.net carries all of this season’s most sought after designers and popular dresses. This includes gowns by Jovani, Alyce Designs, Mori Lee, Riva Designs, Faviana and Tiffany – all of which can be seen in major prom magazines like Seventeen Prom, Elle Girl, Teen Prom, Teen People and many more. Look for the prom dresses 2009 coming soon to our site.'

The Prom Dresses 2009 are available here. Overall Promgirl's selection and prices are great, and there are secure online purchasing options - important for me and for the rest of that herd of buyers who have migrated to the web this decade. There's a section of prom dresses for under 100 dollars, and I thought one or two of these were passable. For the really chic stuff, though, you've got to look at the recent season. They're grouped according to designer and you can really see differences in look and philosophy. Some of my favourites were:

Faviana prom dress, $249

A really fresh design that almost looks like lingerie

Quinceanera, $350

Very princess-ey; for the prom traditionalist

Paparazzi, $358

Flashier sorts of dresses, and prints and colours that would go with a spray tan. If Paris Hilton had a prom, and a budget of hundreds (not millions) she'd go for one of these.

Paris Prom Dress, $278

A short design, in case that's the way you swing

Sherri Hill, $460

A little more expensive, and it shows. Black tie stuff that still looks modern.

The full selection of prom dresses (with new colours and styles; overall there's a huge selection for 2009) can be browsed here.

Pregnancy Fashion Starring Nicole Richie and Gwen Stefani

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:43:00 +0000

Maternity fashion. Oy vey... what a nightmare. Not every woman will literally double in size during pregnancy; you see the odd one who looks essentially the same (right up until the end!) except for a neat, basketball shaped abdomen. 'You can only really tell she's pregnant from the side' people will say jealously.

Even for those women, maternity dressing is a hassle. If you don't balloon all over, it's like suddenly having an extra limb (aforementioned basketball abdomen). This extra limb must be accomodated, and the available dresses are notoriously frumpy, box-like and cheap-looking. And why, oh why (I will never understand this) does virtually every maternity outfit come in a selection of loud, psychedelic prints (and no block colours)? It's like wearing a tent-sized Hawaiian shirt.

Gwen Stefani set the bar for maternity fashion whilst pregnant with her first son, looking defiantly cute and polished right up until the end (even in those prints!)

More recently, Nicole Richie has earned the approval of fashion commentators with her (gasp) sexy, clinging pregnancy outfits. Who'da thunk it?!

For some fab online maternity options visit www.bellydancematernity.com.

Images: maxim.com, imnotobsessed.com, justjared.com

Nicole Ritchie Makes a Splash at New York Fashion Week

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:17:00 +0000

Nicole Ritchie shocked onlookers at New York Fashion Week by a) stepping out in the most outrageous headband in existence and b) getting feisty as she was leaving and smashing a fan's camera!

A young Swede was trying to take a photo when Nicole reportedly leapt over the velvet rope, screamed 'I'm not an animal!', wrested the camera from his hands and smashed it to the ground.

I have two questions: 'how did this slight woman manage to wrestle a camera from a hulk-like six-foot Swede?' and 'if she doesn't want attention why did she decorate her head with a scrap of Christmas tinsel?'

Incidentally, Nicole was on her way out of designer Charlotte Ronson's afterparty when the scuffle took place. New York up-and-comer Charlotte is the sister of Lindsay Lohan's girlfriend Samantha Ronson.

images: ninemsn.com

Christina Aguilera's Shocking Fashion Moments

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:14:00 +0000

Still on Christina Aguilera; in (dis)honour of her latest tragic VMAs moment, I'm taking a look back at her fashion misadventures from past years.

Ah, the VMAs. Music awards shows typically present a wild, colourful fashion turnout; a choice showcase of dubious tastes (as opposed to television or movie award shows, where everyone scrambles to look blandly stylish, in hopes of being branded a 'modern day Audrey Hepburn'. The Emmies? A sea of floor-length earth-toned dresses. The Oscars? Beiger by the year).

Christina is an upholder of the grand music tradition. Let's check out some of her looks.

1999 and 2000: Christina debuts as everyone's second-favourite trashy nineties pop nymph. That butterfly midriff top on the left is so 'mall' (as they say) it hurts. The outfit on the right could well be a ballgown slashed to bits.

And the underlights (as opposed to highlights)! Remember those? Chunks from the under sections of the hair would be foiled and coloured, producing that inimitable nineties trashbag look (Jessica Simpson was also a fan). Christina chose bright maroon to complement her bleach blonde. Ooh la la...

2002: It doesn't get much better (worse) than this. Christina turns up in a wraparound top (flashing some serious underboob), with an industrial strength spray tan and the most laboriously slutty red eyeshadow known to man. The dark underlights on her white blonde hair (bleached to absolute breaking point) produce a weird 'grey' effect (black + white = grey).

I have nothing more to say. Would you believe that this is worse up close? I've spared you the full size image.

2003: Christina cleans up a little and steps out in a very unusual (and quite notorious, at the time) feathered Roberto Cavalli dress. Her body looked sexy here.

2006: At the height of her fashion golden age... the fifties looks! Christina turns up with perfectly set curls, immaculate makeup and a plunge dress, just to keep things from getting G rated.

2008: Channeling Morticia Adams (yes, that's got to be it) at the 2008 VMAs. What goes up, must come down...

images: mtv.com, christinazone.com

Christina Aguilera's Harrowing Foray into Goth

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:50:00 +0000

Christina Aguilera chose the 2008 VMAs to debut some pretty adventurous eyeliner. Bloggers and commentators reacted to this confusing look with... confusion. 'Do we like it? Do I like it? What's she doing? Who's she channeling? Is it Morticia Adams? Is she trying something new?Perhaps it's chic and cutting edge. I don't like it, but maybe I should..'

Let me cut through the dross and state what we all know in our hearts: THIS EYELINER LOOKS TERRIBLE. That white line is too heavy and obvious (Christina is normally the master of using white eyeliner below her eyes to brighten them. I'm not actually one of those people who thinks she wears too much makeup; I like the doll look and loved her pre-baby run of fifties-inspired looks...). The black line is messy and those dramatic inner corners make her face look out of proportion. And the finishing touch? Enormous, fluffy false lashes that overwhelm her eyes, making them look beady instead of open.

There, I said it. Love the hair though! And the dress... leaves me a little cold

A pretty mortifying Morticia moment. Let's hope it doesn't last another second.

images: christinazone.com

Bootlegger Jeans: Find Your Perfect Fit

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:42:00 +0000

I cover some pretty adventurous trends on this site (remember designer Gareth Pugh's swamp monster look? Or the super-arched brow and cat's eye at Christian Dior?) so I thought it was time to talk about the good old-fashioned jean.

Jeans can be a nightmare or the ultimate flatterer; no other item is shopped for so reluctantly ('jeans shopping is depressing' someone moaned to me once) or held on to so tenaciously when one's search is successful (who hasn't kept a perfect pair of jeans for months or even years after they succumbed to fading, stretching and holey-ness?). Bootlegger is Canada's foremost jeans retailer; with brands like Guess, Brody, Silver Jeans and Buffalo by David Bitton, it's Canada's one-stop shop for variety, low prices and denim advice.

The recently launched Jeaneology campaign is designed to assist you in that daunting search for the perfect jeans. A quartet of friendly characters greets you, introducing you to the interactive site and inviting you to either browse the selection of pertinent jeans questions ('Ask a Jeaneologist') or jump straight into your search for your perfect fit.

Choose the latter and you're taken to an interactive quizlet-with helpful diagrams- guided by one of the characters from the introduction (he moans 'niiiiice' when I select my body type as 'athletic'!). Answer a series of simple questions about cut, shape and style and Voila: your perfect jean is revealed to you. Mine is Brody's 'Lola' design... so now I know.

Jeaneology are Canada's denim experts, and they offer a lot of helpful style advice too: 'Gaining in popularity, men’s denim will feature narrower leg silhouettes with straight leg cuts achieving importance this season. The fit is updated with a looser-fitting seat and waist.'

And upcoming jeans trends for women? '...skinny and straight cut denim paired with ballet flats or boots remain a definite hot trend... There is also a noticeable increase in high-waisted pants, ensuring over exposure is kept to a minimum. This cut is ideal for female students and casual office-employees, as they are a classic “sitting pant” ideal for the entire season.'

Visit the Bootlegger site by clicking here and browse the selection.

image: guessadvertising.com

Hair Extensions from Vogue Wigs

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:06:00 +0000

Hair extensions are exploding in popularity. The female population has realised (all at once, it seems) that those luscious tresses sported by lady celebrities are fake. Fake as the thing perched on Donald Trump's forehead... only they look fabulous.

Jessica Simpson has hers put in by stylist and 'gay husband' Ken Paves. Regular people will have to clip them on themselves (even those tricky pieces at the back) but that's where some well placed mirrors or an eagle-eyed friend come in handy. Applying them is a learned skill and as with false eyelashes, practise makes perfect.

A critical factor in your faux hair experiments will be the quality of your extensions. This will be the difference between a Trump (or a Britney) job and a mane worthy of effeminate Hollywood stylists. And as usual... I have a recommendation! Vogue Wigs offer a choice selection of extensions and human and synthetic hair wigs at discount prices. Some favourites are the Revlon Wigs (yes, THE Revlon brand), which are perfect for those with sensitive scalps who still want luxurious materials and a glamorous look.

This one's called 'Splendide', and it's priced at $145 USD (currently on sale at $94.95, with free shipping). Overall I was really impressed with the range of styles (from short to ultra long, and from classic to really funky and unusual) and the selection of subtly different colours.

Vogue Wigs also have African-American hair wigs and hair pieces, a range of Monofilament Wigs suitable for those undergoing chemotherapy, and a range designed by Raquel Welch!

This is one of Vogue's Raquel Welch Wigs ('Mega Tech', currently on sale at $122.95 USD). You can browse all products on their easy-to-navigate site, and online purchasing options are safe and secure. To see the entire range click here.

Keysilver Silver Jewellery Store

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:35:00 +0000

I'm all about online shopping and committed to helping readers feel confident about internet purchases. The trouble with buying jewellery online is that the all important factor of *touch* is missing; often you have to caress something to get a sense of its quality (or lack thereof) or examine it closely (I'm talking from a centimetre distance!) to decide whether you want to buy.

Keysilver Jewellery have been trading since 2006 and they're a trusted UK brand that ships all over the world. Their range is expanding rapidly and products are NOT available on the UK high street- a virtual guarantee of exclusivity.

The MINIMUM grade of their silver is .925, which means that 92.5% of the piece is silver; this is a brand so committed to silver jewellery they've named themselves for it, and they're not taking any shortcuts or playing tricks with their jewellery's composition.

I especially liked the range of silver bracelets as there's something to suit every taste, including:

The Delicate

The Chunky

The Colourful

The Crystal

See the whole range (and a selection of silver bangles, silver necklaces and silver pendants) here.

Christian Dior Pays Tribute To An Icon

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:03:00 +0000

The Christian Dior Fall/Winter 2008 show has been an extravaganza; bloggers have noted the inordinate number of A-list actresses that have flocked to the Paris show. This is truly the brand of the jet-setting elite; the secret weapon of wannabe fashion icons.

Second only in importance to the clothes themselves is the makeup. Were you wondering about the inspiration for this year's beautifully severe looks? That epic eyebrow arch and painted cat's eye may look like the stuff of fantasies, but Dior didn't just pluck them out of the air. They're inspired by Lisa Fonssagrives, iconic Swedish-born model and wife of legendary photographer Irving Penn.

It's not a reference everyone will get, but it's a testament to Dior's unfailingly chic extravagance and the broad sweep of this designer's style 'vocabulary'. Long live CD.

images: WWD.com, artnet.com

HNE Castings; Attention Actors and Models!

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:14:00 +0000

Did you ever find yourself watching a reality TV show and think: 'Hey, I could do that'?

Ok, not ALL my readers know this but I did a bit of freelance modelling (photographic- I'm not tall enough for catwalk!) about a year ago (I'll post some pics when I get my laptop up and running)... that was before a lethal time-eating cocktail of work, study and writing took over my life and I had to give it up...

But I'm CONSTANTLY being asked about where to find freelance modelling and TV work and how to get your face out there.

For modelling I usually recommend ModelMayhem.com; it's a community of models and photographers where you can network and find opportunities (all the while being CAREFUL to avoid sleazoids, by checking references and work samples). Remember that ANYONE can set up an account. I didn't have any bad experiences but that's because I was very fussy; I'd hate to send someone there and have them run into trouble.

Model Mayhem is a bit like a Myspace designed exclusively for people into fashion and modelling (another great community is Fashionising.com, but you'll have to be approved or invited to join, so it's not that accessible to beginners).

I've always had less advice for people wanting to pursue TV work, but recently I've discovered the phenomenon known as HNE castings. A lot of people think that reality TV is the easiest, most accessible way to launch a showbiz career and they're probably right. A lot of doors are bound to open once your face is well-recognised, and that's what reality TV does well, even if it's notorious for showcasing bad behaviour (as opposed to talent).

Browse the HNE site for a minute or so and you'll be impressed by the TV opportunities that pop up... HNE cast for American Idol, America's Got Talent , Fear Factor, Making the Band, The Bachelorette... basically all the reality TV shows you've heard of and none of the ones you haven't. Sign up and browse in the knowledge that you are NOT wasting time (this is an established industry heavyweight, not a little backdoor operation that will run out of funds a month after they sign you) and that the showbiz sleaziness you encounter will ... only be the regular quota (because we all know there will be *some*).

So that's my recommendation for all you people with queries about TV agencies! All you starry-eyed readers dreaming about being a celebrity, not just looking like one :) Can I get back to fashion now? :p

Are you looking to be discovered? Are you looking for a chance at fame & fortune? Or are you simply looking for a great adventure? Whatever the case may be if you have the desire or passion to break into the television industry HNE will help you realize your dreams.

- HNE Castings Agency

Celebrity Style at the 2008 CFDA Awards

noreply@blogger.com (aesthete12345) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:29:00 +0000

There were a LOT of fascinating choices this year, so to save time and space I'm going to limit myself to three gongs: the Weird, the Wonderful and the Whack.

My Whack award goes to Kim Cattrall, mainly because I can't figure out why she pulled her hair into this severe top knot:

Grrr, don't you just want to pull it out?

My Wonderful award (and I hate myself for giving it to someone with so little edge) goes to Meredith Melling Burke, who looked really pretty in her Oscar De La Renta dress ... who could resist?

And the Weird? I'm still trying to digest Maggie Gyllenhaal's outfit.

The thing is I've seen this look millions of times, but only ever on 55 year old female gallery curators... all she needs is funny red-rimmed spectacles, a limp wrist, middle-age spread (isn't THAT what those blouses are designed to cover?) and a posse of artistic friends who air kiss and call each other 'dahhhling'.

Check out style.com for more pics.