Fashion Trends

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords In 'Very Critical Condition' After Shooting

2011-01-14T00:55:00.000-08:00

-year-old girl. At least 12 additional people were wounded in the attack.

Law enforcement officials have identified the gunman as Jared Lee Loughner, 22. The suspect is currently in custody.

Michelle Williams: My Age Finally Matches My Life

2011-01-13T21:30:00.000-08:00

Courtesy Angeleno

There’s no doubt: Matilda Rose Ledger is growing up. And, according to mom Michelle Williams, gaining her own sense of style.

“Her hair is down to her chin and she has decided she can have her bangs trimmed, but she doesn’t want a bob anymore,” the Blue Valentine star tells the January issue of Angeleno magazine.

“A bob is cute for a three-year-old, but she is five now … it’s crazy how fast time is going for me and how agonizingly slow it is going for her.”

So slow, in fact, that Matilda is proud to include each and every day that goes by in her age count. “When she was four she would say, ‘I am four and a half, I am four and five-sixths, four and seven-eighths,’ because all the increments mattered,” the actress recalls.

Williams herself is no stranger to being a little fish in a big pond; When she was only 15 she moved to Los Angeles on her own. “I’ve done a lot. I have taken on a lot of things earlier than would be the standard in terms of working, of being in a serious relationship and of having a child,” she admits.

“I was 25 when I had Matilda and so I feel like I have caught up to myself, and 30 feels like a number that maybe matches all those things a little bit better.”

However, Williams treasures her career’s journey, including her Academy Award-nominated role in Brokeback Mountain, where she met Heath Ledger. “I was just an actor who happened to be lucky enough to be in the right place, and it was the place where I met Matilda’s father, and that is a lot,” she reveals.

“It was a lot. And it will be a lot for Matilda too, when she gets around to watching it. I will watch it with her, when she’s ready. It is hard to imagine what that would feel like, but one day, yes, we will watch it together.”

– Anya Leon

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Ginnifer Goodwin Reacts to Uproar over Her Weight Watchers History

2011-01-13T17:52:00.000-08:00

years old!' I was like 'No!' I've never had body issues, I've never had an eating disorder," she tells PEOPLE. "I've never had to go on a diet and that's because of Weight Watchers."

Goodwin, however, says she was an overweight child, which led her to the program. "I began to identify myself as fat." Goodwin says. "At 9 years old I weighed about 10 lbs. less than what my weight is at 32. I needed to get help."

"I ended up going to my mother crying,"she recalls. "With the counseling of my family doctor, my mother ended up turning to Weight Watchers and their children's program. I went to weekly meetings, got counseling and would exercise with my peers who were my size. It was the first time I saw a proper children's portion size, and it wasn't two burgers, it was one."

Losing the weight, recalls Goodwin, "was extremely easy to accomplish." But she adds, "It takes time because you lose the weight slowly. It's a healthy way to do it."

And she's kept the weight off with ease over the years. "You don't have to go through that horrible yo-yo cycle of binging," she says. "I've always been able to satisfy my cravings; it's just a matter of balancing."

It saddens her to see her peers struggle with weight. "I pulled an actress friend aside and I said, 'I get it. I get what it is that you're trying to do, but there's being healthfully skinny and then there's starting to look like a scary alien cat,' " she says.

Goodwin has a not-so-flattering name for the diet secrets of some of the rich and famous. "I call it the 'Cocaine and Cigarettes Diet' in Hollywood," says the actress, who also doesn’t believe in a low-carb diet as a permanent solution. "I see girls who haven't had a carbohydrate in three years. The second you go back to eating right, you're going to put that weight on. You eat one piece of bread and you are screwed, lady!"

Goodwin, who became engaged to actor Joey Kern last month, concedes that she has lost weight since getting to Hollywood.

"At lunch the last day [of shooting Big Love] they showed the pilot and I was shocked at how much rounder I looked. We shot the pilot almost a decade ago when I was just out of college," she says. "I think it took me a long time to lose more baby-fat. And yes, living in L.A., you exercise a lot more because it is gorgeous year round. I do a lot of hiking. I can see that my habits have changed."

In the end, Goodwin credits her mother for her healthy approach to life. She looks back to the day when she told her mom she was fat. "Her reaction was not, 'Oh, I'll help you get skinny," says Goodwin. "My mother's reaction was, 'Why don't we all go and learn a little more about our health."

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Kate Middleton Joins Future In-Laws at Weekend Wedding

2011-01-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

:00:00Z>Saturday January 08, 2011 07:00 PM EST

Kate Middleton and Prince William

Ben Lack/Barcroft/Fame (2)

Kate Middleton may be in the throes of planning of her own wedding, but she put that to one side, stepping out to attend the nuptials of a close pal of fiance Prince William Saturday.

Dressed in a black velvet jacket to keep her warm in the freezing temperatures, the princess-to-be joined her future in-laws, Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice, for the wedding of Harry Aubrey-Fletcher to the Honorable Sarah Louise Stourton. Aubrey-Fletcher is one of William's oldest friends and the prince was on duty as an usher.

Kate, who turns 29 Sunday, tiptoed over the remnants of snow in purple heels and topped off her appearance with a black pillbox hat. Her engagement ring was there for all the guests – who reportedly included Holly Branson (the daughter of Virgin tycoon Sir Richard), Tom van Straubenzee and James Meade – to see.

The last wedding the couple attended was that of Harry Meade and took place just a few weeks before the couple announced their engagement.

At that point they were already quietly engaged, as William had popped the question while vacationing in Kenya.

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American Idol's Brooke White Makes Her Acting Debut

2011-01-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

. So when Jackson came calling again last year with another project, she jumped in and realized later that the title would say it all.

White, 26, makes her acting debut in Change of Plans, airing on Saturday (8 p.m. ET) on Fox. She plays Sally Danville, a devil-may-care musician whose life changes with a phone call.

"The theme of the movie," she tells PEOPLE, "is unexpected things come into your life, and those unexpected things are the best."

Sort of like going in front of the camera. "Randy's been supervising soundtracks for these Return to Family Movie Nights," White says, "so he called me and wanted to involve me in that so it started there. Never in a million years would I dream it would parlay into me being in the movie!"

"Brooke has three songs she performs on the soundtrack," says Jackson, one song co-written by Idol alum Michael Johns. "And," he adds, "she's really good in this film. You won't believe this is her first time acting, so I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised."

Although nervous when she got the call to audition for the lead role, White says, "Well, I thought I've done one or two auditions before and they turned out all right. It's a lot better when you're not on the Idol stage any more and you don't feel like you are going to be voted off."

In looking ahead at the new season of Idol, White says, "I was on the last season it was the original three judges. It's finally getting to the place where I can watch and not hyperventilate with anxiety."

Jackson promises excitement with Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez but says, "Look, it will never be the same as it was. You can't really compare and say, 'Who's going to be the mean one?' Simon Cowell is irreplaceable. I mean, he's an amazing guy, still one of my best friends in the world, and he's doing his thing. But I've got to say, the talent is really strong."

American Idol returns on Jan. 19.

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Report: No Second Season for Sarah Palin's Alaska

2011-01-13T08:46:00.000-08:00

138,00.html" target="_blank">camping with Kate Gosselin appears to have been the first and last hurrah for Sarah Palin's Alaska.

The TLC reality show will not be back for a second season, Entertainment Weekly reports. Instead, Sunday evening's two-hour finale will conclude the show.

A source close to the show reiterated to PEOPLE that it "was always planned as a special event and beyond that there have been no discussions or decisions."

Sarah Palin's Alaska, which followed the former vice-presidential nominee, her husband Todd and their children, averaged 3.2 million viewers a week.

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BUZZ: Are Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens Back On?

2011-01-13T06:10:00.000-08:00

284,00.html" target="_blank">announced their split in December, appeared to be more than friends at Friday evening's SHG's Eden Hollywood opening, where they were "constantly touching and kissing each other," an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

After arriving with pal Brittany Snow around midnight, the actors quickly took to the dance floor. "Vanessa was bopping around with her arms up while Zac had his hands all over her," the source says. "Vanessa had a smile on from ear to ear and the two were inseparable after that."

Eventually heading towards a table, the couple proceeded to get cozy – and stay that way for the rest of the evening.

"Zac sat in between her legs and she wrapped her arms around him," the onlooker notes. "They were making out on and off for the last hour or so until closing. They acted like there was no one else in the room."

• Reporting by JENNIFER GARCIA

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David & Victoria Beckham Expecting Baby No. 4

2011-01-13T03:35:00.000-08:00

David and Victoria Beckham

Richard Young/Getty

The Beckham brood continues to expand!

"David and Victoria Beckham are delighted to confirm they are expecting their fourth child in the summer," their rep tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are very excited about the arrival of their new brother or sister."

With three sons ages 11, 8 and 5½, the Beckhams admitted to having a full house – but said they were willing to expand.

"I think one day, if we're blessed to have more children, it would be amazing," Victoria, 36, said when asked about additional kids with her soccer star husband. "It's a lot having three boys ... But who knows, one day?"

It appears that day has come.

• Reporting by ALEXIS CHIU

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Harlow Madden Turns 3 with Star-Studded Birthday Bash

2011-01-13T00:31:00.000-08:00

Nicole Richie and Harlow

Charley Gallay/WireImage

Happy birthday Harlow Madden!

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden celebrated their daughter's upcoming birthday – she turns 3 this Tuesday – with a star-studded party.

The afternoon birthday bash took place Saturday at the Treehouse Social Club in Beverly Hills, a full-time play center, cafe and pampering spa for moms and their kids.

Guests included Harlow's 16-month-old brother Sparrow, actress Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery with their daughter Stella, 15 months, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren with their daughter Honor, 2½, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale with sons Kingston, 4½, and Zuma, 2, Kourtney Kardashian and son Mason, 1, Jennifer Meyer Maguire with children Ruby, 4, and Otis, 20 months, and Sara Gilbert with her daughter Sawyer, 3.

"It was a fun, casual party. Besides the celebrity kids, Harlow had a few friends from school at the party and she was very excited. The kids played outside in the Treehouse and enjoyed art and crafts projects inside. All the moms chatted while the dads bonded and it was a perfect party for both the adults and the kids," a source tells PEOPLE.

Guests snacked on healthy food, including sandwiches and Harlow was also presented with a special birthday cake.

"Nicole looked great and had fun at the party. She and Joel definitely looked like happy newlyweds," adds the source.

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Ready for the runway

2011-01-04T05:03:00.000-08:00

This could be your local "Project Runway" fix.

Fashion students at Mount Mary College hit the runway in "Redux," the annual fashion show. This year, all the designs are based on the theme of conservation and restoration, hence the name.

You can see them during shows at 1:30, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Friday when the Kostka Theater on the Mount Mary campus takes on the look of New York's Bryant Park.

Tickets are $18 for the matinee and early evening shows, $25 for the evening show and wine reception following.

Mount Mary is the school that looks like it would be perfect for a Shakespeare festival. It's at 2900 N. Menomonee River Parkway.

- Kathy Flanigan

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Digging fashion

2011-01-04T01:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a sampling of what some of the Wisconsin gardeners we interviewed are slipping onto their feet:

Emily Kort of Whitefish Bay: "I wear a pair of black canvas tennis shoes. They hide the dirt!"

Lois Mishich of Waukesha County: "I like Crocs because they have traction and are easy to clean. I like the ones without holes on top because dirt won't fall into your shoes or onto your socks."

Betsy Welch of Genesee: "I love my Adidas. They're waterproof and offer a lot of support."

Before you head into your garden to wrestle with tomato hornworms and stubborn weeds, take a quick peek in the mirror. If you're still sporting blue jean cut-offs and a concert T-shirt from the last century, you've been frugal long enough. You've earned the right to give yourself a garden fashion makeover.

Nothing too fancy, mind you. You don't have to dress like Paris Hilton to impress the plants and pests. But you do deserve an outfit that lets you weed, water, pick and pinch in both comfort and style.

How does fashion fit into a frequently sweaty and unglamorous hobby? Several busy Wisconsin gardeners set down their watering cans to tackle that question and share a bit of their personal style.

Emily Kort of Whitefish Bay, a University of Wisconsin Extension master gardener, says that where she gardens dictates what she wears. If she's gardening in her front yard, she kicks up her fashion a notch.

"You want to be presentable," she says. "Neighbors will inevitably stop by and chat, and people will be walking by with their dog or their children."

Kort's typical ensemble includes a "fitted T-shirt or bold-colored tank top, long shorts or decent-looking jeans, tennis shoes in good condition and a clean pair of gardening gloves."

However, for backyard gardening, Kort says, "all bets are off" when it comes to fashion, and those worn-out jeans and baggy tees win out.

Lois Mishich, a UW Extension master gardener in Waukesha County, says her outfit choices "usually revolve around practicality and comfort versus a certain style." Shyly revealing that she doesn't like to get her knees dirty, she opts for "long pants with plenty of pockets for my pruner and trowel."

For hot sunny days, Mishich favors a stretchy cotton top - "not white, of course" - instead of a basic T-shirt.

"They're a flattering fit, and they make me feel better," she says.

When the sun starts to set and the mosquitoes turn into sharks, Mishich says, she adds a long-sleeve cotton shirt to her outfit.

Betsy Welch of Genesee says she feels no pressure to be fashion-conscious in her laid-back country subdivision.

"I might feel differently if my garden were in Brookfield," she says.

Like her fellow gardeners, Welch believes that comfort trumps style. Freedom of movement is a top priority for the self-described "hands-on gardener," who maintains a large vegetable garden and perennial beds on several acres.

"I like clothes that aren't restrictive because I do a lot of reaching, pulling and lugging in my gardens," she says.

Her favorite garden wear consists of "breathable workout clothes" such as sweat shorts and a tank top with spaghetti straps.

"My gardening clothes are often stained from berries, plants and pure grime," she says. "I want something that's easy to wash and dry."

Gardeners are turning their green thumbs up for "Sun.Life," a new line of clothing from Lands' End that was launched this spring.

Michele Casper, director of public relations at the Dodgeville-based company, says the fabrics offer UPF protection, wicking for perspiration evaporation and adjustability. She explains that the line was designed to answer the demand from customers seeking lightweight, protective apparel for their active outdoor lifestyles.

Casper points out that the colorful collection, including peony pink, bright lemon, coral orange and fresh green, allows gardeners to express themselves in a trendy way without sacrificing that all-important comfortable fit.

Because gardeners would rather be outdoors than in a mall, online shopping makes sense this time of year. And at this point in the summer, plenty of summer clearance bargains are available once you've put away the shovel and hung up the garden hose for the night. So dig in!

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Fashion hits the town

2011-01-03T22:54:00.000-08:00

Anna Wintour is going to head to Queens in an attempt to get Americans thinking about and, better yet, buying fashion in this economic downturn. Even a new lipstick will do, Wintour told David Letterman.

Well, if Queens can celebrate fashion, so can Milwaukee. From 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Fashion's Night Out, Milwaukee Style will hold events at most Third Ward clothing, accessory and home stores.

The lineup also features downtown stores, including a chance to design your own cocktail dress at Miss Ruby; Chartreuse in Bay View; the clothing stores of Brady St.; North Shore stores from Shorewood to Mequon; and stores in the Wauwatosa Village.

For a list of participants, see fnomke.blogspot.com.

- Kathy Flanigan

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Fashion show celebrates life

2011-01-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

See new fashions and share their stories. Cancer survivors will step lightly in spring fashions during the Gilda's Club fifth-annual "Show of Support," a fashion show and luncheon Wednesday at the Italian Conference Center, 631 E. Chicago St.

Survivors will strut the runway with the person who provided them with emotional and social support as they faced cancer.

"A Show of Support" begins with registration at 11 a.m. and features Fox 6 news anchors Ted Perry and Kim Murphy. Tickets are $65. See http://www.gildasclubsewi.org/ or call (414) 962-8201.

- Kathy Flanigan

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Need some fashion stimulus?

2011-01-03T17:09:00.000-08:00

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Experts agree that consumer confidence bolsters the economy. So, what bolsters consumer confidence? Well, great fashion has as good a chance as any.

At this point in the season, your closet probably could benefit from its own stimulus package. Unlike what Congress might be doing, you can help along your fashion even while lowering spending. You don't have to wait for pesky indicators such as the Dow Jones industrial average to inform you of success. You'll know you've reached your goal when you hear the compliments and approve of what you see in that full-length mirror.

Begin by tracking the trends. No money for a splurge on a fashion magazine at the checkout? For serious savings, consider a subscription to your favorite or go to the library for the current issue of many of the major titles. The Internet also provides a way to track trends from official (but free) forecasting sites such as www.style.com and www.pantone.com (look for the fashion color report) to the sites of upscale retailers summarizing the latest looks (www.neimanmarcus.com, for example).

Then, leaving your wallet at home, walk through a mall to capture the zeitgeist of the season, noting dominant colors, styles and themes. Be sure to look for specific coordinating and accessorizing ideas that will flatter your body type and fit your personality.

Audit your closet. Once you're inspired by the season, shop in your closet (and drawers and under-bed storage). Inspect potential wardrobe pieces for how well they fit, flatter and feel, and discard anything that doesn't make the grade. The last thing you need is to have a few toxic pieces bringing down the quality of your entire wardrobe. And besides, unlike bank accounts, the best wardrobes are often the smallest ones.

Then, reflecting on your travels through retail, decide what one, two or three pieces will fill in the gaps of your wardrobe so that your pieces will coordinate for all the activities of your life. For example, could you use a belt to update those lightweight cardigans from last season? Or, a black pencil skirt for all the romantic blouses you've collected? Perhaps you only need the "it" pair of shoes to breathe new life into your work wear.

Shop strategically. Once you have a plan in mind, you can be methodical about getting what you need. For starters, don't assume that discount stores provide the most fiscally sound options. A trip to Wal-Mart for a pile of disposable clothing isn't the smartest way to buy. Be more eclectic in your shopping. Watch for deep discount sales at local venues, consider private label lines at the end of fashion cycles of good department stores, and use the Internet to find hard-working name-brand basics that can be purchased without in-person inspection.

Britton Domer of Patricia Shoppe, 403 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay, suggests that consumers rethink their notions regarding clothing boutiques. "I think most would be surprised to find an array of price points and even sale racks."

And, as boutique customers know, the individual attention is outstanding. "We know our customers' individual style and can offer them assistance in choosing the best new trend mixed with a staple piece that can take their wardrobe further for less," Domer says.

Diversify your retail portfolio. Remember the best dressers from your carefree days? They weren't necessarily the girls with a lot of money, but the ones who could giggle that their chic handbags were from Goodwill and their oversize belts were from Amvets. Nowadays, your best-dressed friends may still do this, just not readily admit it.

Good finds do take persistence, but a regular swing by your local thrift store may enhance your wardrobe in ways your creativity never guessed.

Another route for resale is the consignment shop, where you can find a higher quality of merchandise and make money from your own closet castoffs. Maria Cook Collins, owner of Elite Repeat, 2205 N. Calhoun Road, Brookfield, recommends visiting a resale shop "regularly and often" to find high-quality pieces at amazingly reasonable prices. "You are more apt to find that special piece in a consignment shop because trends come and go so quickly." That could mean that the one perennial cornerstone piece that would snap together this season's wardrobe may be completely missing from regular retail, but waiting patiently right there at your local resale shop.

Kay Bergemann of Another Look, 1916 E. Capitol Drive., Shorewood, suggests that "department stores have items with unknown success." She adds, "Consignment items are more certain because you know that at some point in an item's history it had appealed to someone enough to actually buy." If the item is also a timeless piece that can be applied to any fashion season, then the bargain of bargain shopping is ensured.

Add value to your holdings. Visit venues such as vintage shops or estate sales to find those treasures that distinguish your look from the crowd's. Sarah Ban Breathnach, in her now-classic series "Simple Abundance," praises secondhand retail but adds that vintage shopping "can be intoxicating, rather like drinking port in the middle of the afternoon." She's correct to imply that a vintage venue can be a bit overwhelming, so it's important to determine a specific mission for your foray into Vintage Land, such as the search for a curiosity piece of jewelry or a colorful statement bag.

Original pieces can also be found at less fashion-oriented venues such as museum stores, or online auctions. I know women who swear by the Pabst Mansion's gift store and others who go online for sales at www.smithsonianstore.com and www.metmuseum.org/store to find one-of-a-kind pieces that come in a variety of natural materials.

Outsource the stress. We all know that an accountant is valuable for getting tax deductions that save you a heap of money. The fashion or "image" consultant is no different. Usually, for the cost of one medium-sized fashion mistake (like that bubble skirt from Chez Snot) you can learn a lifetime of shopping skill that might save you enough money to make up for the lost funds in your 401(k).

A good place to find a consultant is through the Association of Image Consultants International (www.aici.org). Nancy Plummer, president of the Chicago chapter, suggests that real savings can be found with a personal shopping session, offered by most fashion consultants. "We know what looks best on you and what works for your body and your coloring. And, not only do we save you time, but we pick out the right things for you."

Prepare for brisk trading. Hold a swap party at your home and invite a large number of friends with all their shapes, sizes and styles. (Your friends who have met with a fashion consultant may be the pickiest of potential traders, but they will also have the most to contribute if they've recently met with their consultant.) Instruct all your guests to bring the castoffs from their closets and jewelry boxes for a brisk session of fashion fun. The site www.wikihow.com/Hold-a-Fashion-Swap-Party is one place to get step-by-step instructions on hosting, including advice on wording for the invitation, swap logistics and appropriate music. Be sure to provide a private place for guests to try on clothing, and give your home a boutique feel for those two or three hours of swapping.

Mary Sheehan Warren is the author of "It's So You! Fitting Fashion to Your Life" and a local fashion consultant. Her Web site: www.marysheehanwarren.com.

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Style in place

2011-01-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Sept. 26, 2009

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We'd all like our personal wardrobes to be as expansive as the fashion closet at Vogue but most of us live a more subtle life than that. Still, it's not difficult to update your personal style, even if you don't have Vogue's bank account behind you. These tips will add color to your cheeks all the while keeping you warm and stylish throughout the season.

Forget the economy. You can still dress to the nines. Consider these looks for fall, 2009:

Animal prints rule

It's a jungle out there. Take advantage of nature's perfect patterns with reptile-inspired pieces that fit like a second skin. Accessorize with shoes that copy a crocodile or handbags with stripes that mimic a zebra.

Rockin' the look of leather and denim

Only rock and roll? There's no only about it. Music inspired leather to new heights and this season fashion provides the chorus. Beef up a frilly skirt with a leather jacket. Embrace it, wrap it around your waist, or kick it in knee-high boots. Lacing doesn't have to be delicate.

Accentuating the positives

Ruffle the dull workday by adding a touch of well-placed flounce either on a blouse or softly at the wrist. Adorn yourself in cuff bracelets, necklaces that mix textures and styles, and earrings that add as much drama as they do sparkle.

It's hip to be square in plaid

Color outside the lines by mixing bold patterns and colors. It's a mad for plaid that's not to be confused with the school uniform of your youth.

Layers - because if one is good then two must be better

Think skinny jeans but bulky top. This fall it should be easy to keep warm with layers one upon the other. A scarf or chunky details like a collection of necklaces will hold the look in place.

Personal style is in the details

Autumn has inspired its own color palette. Dashes of color - geranium, anyone? - add punch to any look. Keep the spirit going with bands of gold and silver at the wrist or around the neck.

Jump into winter white

Jump out of your old habits and into winter whites. Embrace vibrant colors inspired by the warmth of the sun. Make getting dressed an adventure in personal style.

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Testing 1, 2, 3: Ahava Uplifting Butter Salt

2011-01-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

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The claim: Ahava Essential Dead Sea Treatment Butter Salt gently exfoliates dead cells, then transforms into a light, pampering lotion while you bathe.

The cost: $24 for 12.3 ounces at Sears and www.ahavaus.com

The verdict: I'm a big fan of exfoliating potions. But as my pocketbook has shrunk, so has my ability to buy my favorite, so I've been searching for a replacement. Ahava's Uplifting Butter Salt is about $6 less than my fave, a salt scrub floating in oil. The Ahava doesn't make me feel as moisturized at first. It's also easier to use in the shower than the bath. Dish the creamy butter salt out and spread on arms and legs, then rinse. Ingredients include coconut oil and Dead Sea salts, but no actual butter (not that I thought it would). Hours later skin is still soft to the touch, even without adding a second layer of body lotion. Because it's a dense cream, it's impossible to use too much of the butter salt, and the jar I've been dipping from shows barely a dent despite daily use for the last month.

- Kathy Flanigan

Want something tested? E-mail Tina Maples at tmaples@journalsentinel.com

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Fashion, meet function

2011-01-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

New York fashion designer Donna Ricco talks about her work after a fashion show this month at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center in Brookfield. Ricco, a Milwaukee native and Mount Mary College graduate, designed the dress that Michelle Obama wore as a guest on “The View” during her husband’s presidential campaign.

In a sea of women wearing shades of black and gray, Donna Ricco stands out. And not just because, on this particular occasion, she's dressed in red.

She might be best known as the designer who caused a stir in 2008 when Michelle Obama wore one of her dresses on "The View" during the presidential campaign.

That sleeveless little black-and-white print dress showed off the future first lady's toned arms. But it also helped make Ricco a big draw at Moxie, a style show held this month to benefit the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts and Mount Mary College's Friends of Fashion.

Ricco, a Milwaukee native and a 1981 graduate of Mount Mary College, doesn't make it home often these days. But her local upbringing continues to inform her designs.

"I love having an opportunity like this," Ricco said in an interview at the benefit, held at the Wilson Center in Brookfield. "It brings me back to my roots. I'm from the Midwest. I understand those values."

Dresses are a specialty for Ricco, who shares her name with her multimillion-dollar New York design house.

She and her husband and business partner, Thomas Puls II, pulled up stakes in Milwaukee and launched Donna Ricco Inc. in 1983 using seed money from family and friends.

Now she's everywhere. Her line, Scene by Donna Ricco, is available at HSN. And the wildly popular Michelle Obama dress, which sold for $148, flew off the shelves at White House/Black Market.

That's no small feat in an era where Liz Claiborne retreats from Macy's to find a home at J.C. Penney and Dana Buchman is sold at Kohl's.

In an opposites-attract kind of show, Ricco's dresses shared the Brookfield runway with leather chaps, T-shirts and leather jackets that her fellow designer and former Mount Mary classmate, Karen Davidson, designed in her role as creative director for Harley-Davidson's General Merchandise Department.

Sister Aloyse Hessburg, who taught Ricco and Davidson and is now the head of Friends of Mount Mary, remembers well the class that boasted both women.

"Donna really was a standout student," Hessburg said. "She was a little bit older, and she came with a fine arts background and desire. She had a classic sense of what looks great on the body and what was appropriate for the women for whom she was designing."

Ricco credits her practical side for her success, although she calls practical "a dumb word." Yet practical suits her work style. During the cocktail reception before the Brookfield show, she bemoaned the fussy fragility of contemporary hidden zippers. And consider the mantra she repeats as she designs: "Fashion, form and function."

"So many women have this fear of fashion," Ricco said. "You want to look your best all the time. And how do you achieve that? So what I try to do as a designer is think about what's the easiest route for a woman to try and find her look and feel as if she's trendful and in fashion.

"It's more than just clothes, it's fashion. And I try to put the two together in a way that's a little friendlier and a little easier. That whatever she picks she's making the right choice."

In Ricco's case, she has a few tricks up that sleeve she's working on.

"When I'm designing, I try to think about those areas a woman might want to show off and camouflage those areas that she doesn't," she said. "A lot of my fabrics have stretch. I'm ladylike, but I have a little bit more of a comfort level."

Ricco, her flawless complexion framed by a dark bob, was beaming at the Brookfield style show. At one point she was stopped in the hall by an older woman she described as "very stylish, in great shape." The woman thanked her for making clothes that she could wear.

That's the ultimate compliment to Ricco, whose goal is to dress every silhouette at all ages. The mother of three teenage sons - Marshall, Cooper and Dexter - she's aware that a woman's comfort zone changes as she gets older. It's reflected in her work, but subtly.

"We have twentysomethings and sixtysomethings who like her clothes," said Cindy H. Molloy, owner of Molloy's, a boutique on W. Brown Deer Road that carries the Donna Ricco line. "She has great detailing, good fit and variety. But I also think in today's market particularly, her incredible value is important."

Ricco looked around the busy Wilson Center auditorium and saw challenges. How do you get the woman who prefers jeans to wear a dress? And how do you get the woman who uses boxy shapes to hide figure flaws to try one of her dresses?

Ricco, who has traded in T-shirts for silk tops and leggings when she's off the clock, is always thinking about these challenges.

"I'm trying to build my customer base and my brand by saying these people will know this about a Donna Ricco: 'It's great-looking, and it comes in my size. And I trust her to make it the right amount of fashion and make it fit right.'?"

"Fashion is a business for us, it's not just a frivolous, fun thing," Ricco said with a grin. "It's our living. We want to win more than not."

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Shopportunites: U-Turn

2011-01-03T05:06:00.000-08:00

When you think consignment shopping, you naturally think about recycling. But it's hard to top the recycling U-Turn offers.

We mentioned U-Turn, 6905 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, before it opened in May. Now that the shop is at full tilt, it has "green"-etude in every corner.

"We really stress recycle, reuse, everywhere here," says Deb Kruse, who runs the store with partner Jess Brittingham.

The most imaginative examples are the new careers men's shirts are enjoying here, thanks to high school student Collette Cooper. She cuts off the sleeves and turns the shirts into kicky skirts.

Bike inner tubes are woven together to form a mirror frame. Antique furniture serves as cabinetry. Purses made of grocery bags hang from a wall.

But it isn't only the recycling that fills U-Turn. Geared for teens and up, items range from gently used shoes to blazers and sweaters. Vintage Harley leathers have their own rack. Local artists such as Michele St. Amour and Perlina provide earring and necklace lines.

Prices range widely (jeans run between $12 and $90.) What caught our eye was just one unclaimed jewel: a custom-made tan and turquoise leather woman's cowboy jacket with knee-length fringe. It was a one-of-a-kind for $250.

Store hours are 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Call (414) 443-0143.

- Jackie Loohauis-Bennett

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A counter-culture affair

2011-01-03T02:30:00.000-08:00

Everyone at a party ends up in the kitchen. And timothy j.kitchen and bath, a design firm, is starting the party there.

As part of Kitchen and Bath Month, timothy j. will host an evening in which fashion meets design somewhere near the granite countertops.

From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, fashion-forward types are invited to nibble on food and partake of drink while wandering the design space peering at handbags, apparel and custom jewelry available for sale from local craftspeople and vendors. It's also a chance to show off the newly opened timothy j. kitchen and bath.

The Fifth Ward shop is at 225 S. 2nd St. Reservations are recommended. Call (414) 224-8552 or e-mail Carolynn@timothyjkitchenandbath.com.

- Kathy Flanigan

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Beauty schools offer indulgence on a budget

2011-01-02T23:55:00.000-08:00

.
www.institutebw.com

Milwaukee School of Massage,
830 E. Chambers St. Call (414) 263-1179.
www.milwaukeeschoolofmassage.com

Actaea Works Ltd.:
4001 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood, and 2173 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Call (414) 962-9889. www.actaeaworkshop.com

Vici Beauty Schools:
Bayshore Town Center, 5780 N. Port Washington Road, and 4111 S. 108th St. For Bayshore, call (414) 967-2000; for S.108th St., call (414) 425-1700. www.vicibeautyschool.com

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Shopportunities: Simple Shoes

2011-01-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

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Sitting out on a friend's balcony on a recent warm evening, I couldn't help but notice the adorable Mary Janes my friend had on.

The comfortable, UPS-brown shoes were from Simple, a company that promises shoes that are well made, durable and crafted from recycled and sustainable materials, such as old car tires and carpet padding, among other things. In other words, what the company calls "good shoes with a dose of reality."

One bit of reality is the price. These cute shoes - for men, women, children and infants - don't come cheap.

With that said, we liked the women's the open, flat Teetoe sandals, made of hemp and car tires for $65, the Flippee flip-flops for men and women for $30, and the children's Giraffe sneakers, with orange trim and sky-blue laces made of organic cotton and hemp for $42.

Simple shoes can be purchased online at www.simpleshoes.com; select styles are available at Goldi, 4144 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood. - Mary Louise Schumacher

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Bye-bye baby face

2011-01-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

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“When girls are younger, they tend to think they need more makeup than they actually do. A little bit goes a long, long way.”
Bobbi Brown

It's a question that can make most any mom stop in her tracks: "Can I wear makeup?"

In a world where little girls of 5 or 6 get spa treatments and mega-birthday parties, can lip gloss and mascara be such a leap?

What's the right age? What's the right "starter makeup"? Why can't she wait just a little while?

It's a question that's popping up sooner than it once did. Little girls whose ages have not yet reached the double-digits are wanting to wear makeup more and more.

A new report by the NPD Group, which researches consumer trends, finds that makeup usage is going up in the fresh-faced group known as tweens (ages 8 to 12).

Among tweens, mascara use was up 8%, eye liner was up 6% and lipstick was up 5% over usage in 2007. This "Insight Into the Youth Beauty Market" report notes that regular use (at least once a month) of mascara in this group nearly doubled in the past two years (from 10% to 18%), and eye liner use was within a lash of that (rising from 9% to 15%).

The little ones who ask about wearing makeup may say their friends are doing it, but the beauty market report says they "look to their parents and siblings to see what they are using to help decide what to buy and use."

Of course, before they decide, you must decide.

All of which is of little concern to Kathy Attewell, a Greendale mother of two girls, now ages 12 and 16. She had little difficulty on this front with her own girls.

"I just stuck to my guns," she says. "I had rules. The rules were just the rules." When her youngest, Lauren, turned 12, she was allowed to wear "a little bit" of makeup. That meant mascara and a bit of blush.

"And that's pretty much it. We limited it," Attewell says. "I see kids in grade school who wear it. I waited until she was in sixth grade, in middle school. She was saying that kids younger than her were (wearing makeup) and I said, 'I don't care.'?"

She adds, "I was probably 16 when I wore 'the works.'?"

This is one thing that makes parenting today challenging, says Lynn H. Turner, a professor of communication at Marquette University, whose specialty is family communication.

"Kids are constantly bringing to you things that you did not experience as a child," she says. Consider the makeup issue a gateway to bigger topics - and ongoing discussions, she says.

"It's a feminist issue on many levels," she adds. "You can ask, 'Why do you need to wear makeup? Why do you need to enhance yourself? What do you feel is wrong?' It's a great opportunity, really, to introduce a lot of things."

Makeup maker Bobbi Brown has written about this in her book, "Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty: Everything You Need to Look Pretty, Natural, Sexy and Awesome" (Harper, 2001). A follow-up, as yet untitled, is due out in September.

Her view on this matter isn't different from her view of makeup use in general.

"Don't try to cover up your face with too much makeup," Brown says in an e-mail interview. "Let your natural beauty shine through, and just use a few products to accentuate your beauty. When girls are younger, they tend to think they need more makeup than they actually do. A little bit goes a long, long way."

What's the right age, and the right "starter makeup"? Girls younger than 12 won't necessarily like what Brown has to say.

"There is no need to use makeup before the age of 12 or 13," Brown replies via e-mail. "Even then, you hardly need any, but at that age girls like to start experimenting with color. Most important at this age is to start a good skin regime, like cleaning your face morning and night and always using a moisturizer with an SPF in it.

"I suggest starting with lip gloss and mascara," she adds. "These are two items that will definitely play up your features while still allowing for a more natural look."

Here are more tips from Brown and Turner, a professor of communication at Marquette University specializing in family and adolescents relationships:

•?Make it a conversation. This shouldn't be a lecture, Turner says. "Listen. Find out why they want to do that. Just letting your child feel heard is extremely important," she says.

•?Don't worry about getting the conversation wrong. You'll have more than once chance, Turner says. "Parents have such a worry that they're going to say one thing wrong, and it's going to mess up their kids for life," she says. "One of the challenges and beauties of family communication is it's an ongoing thing. You do have your kids living in your home with you, so you have a lot of opportunities. So if you mess up once, you have other chances."

•?Keep it short. The younger the child, the shorter the attention span. "You don't have to go into a whole long dissertation on it," Turner says. "You just plant a few seeds and let them think about it, and come back to you when they're ready."

•?Take your time. "When a kid comes in and asks you about something you haven't thought over, there's nothing wrong with saying, 'Hmm, let me think about it for a while,'?" Turner says. "It's OK to admit to your kid that this is sort of a new thing for you, that when you were 8 that was the furthest thing from your mind."

•?Let them experiment. "Often, girls like to start experimenting with lip gloss and eye shadow." Brown says. These are two items that offer the most color options, and girls have fun experimenting with the different products."

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Shopportunities: ThreeCraftyGirls

2011-01-02T14:16:00.001-08:00

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The Milwaukee- and West Allis-based online boutique ThreeCraftyGirls is offering free shipping for orders made through the end of September on Etsy. No need to glance at the calendar. We looked it up. You've got six shopping days to act.

We especially love the creative jewelry made from zippers, pieces that come in many colors and styles. The orange zipper necklace, with wave-like shapes and wee florets fashioned from orange fabric edged with silver zipper, would be an outfit unto itself. We picture it with a fall turtleneck or a simple cocktail dress. It's $50. Another show stopper is the "somehow nautical" navy, cream, orange and yellow zipper necklace, also $50. Its curvy lines, central yellow floret and pretty little rose-shaped clasp make a bold and quirky statement.

Or check out the Elizabethan-style cuff bracelet in black and silver for $35, a simple bracelet in navy with a modern feel for $10 or the chunky rose-shaped rings in various colors for $8.

Also, if you like a given style but want it in another color, the ThreeCraftyGirls will attempt to oblige you if you get in touch via Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/agosetti40.

- Mary Louise Schumacher

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Online Degree in Fashion Design

2010-11-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

Online Degree in Fashion Design

By Chelsae Su

Online degrees in fashion design from accredited colleges can teach you many things about design, store design, journalism, textures, etc., and turn them into a career you've dreamed of. Are you a fashion addict? When you see clothes, do you ever think of all the different ways you can alter them to make them better? The fashion industry is highly competitive, and the ones who succeed are the ones with a strong educational background and a lot of experience in fashion. In today's world, modern technology can help you obtain your fashion design degree. Computer aided design is almost always being used in today's fashions, so you'll be able to get your degree online through an accredited college and experience computer aided design as well.
There are so many different areas of fashion design. Besides different types of women's and men's clothing we see in stores everywhere, there are accessory designers, jewelry, costume designers, and many more. After one graduates with a fashion design degree, designers could work in manufacturing, apparel wholesalers, or become managers of design companies. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, more designers live in the New York or California area.
You can earn your degree online; whether it is an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree, an online degree will get you to where you want to be. Coursework may include learning about color schemes, fabrics, design, sewing, and much more. Online programs are extremely flexible and will teach you everything you know to become competitive in the fashion industry.

By visiting our website at http://www.careerschooladvisor.com/programs/art-design/fashion/, you can browse through many online fashion design schools and begin earning your degree now.
by Chelsae Su
Dane Media

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chelsae_Su

2010-11-17T15:40:00.000-08:00

Art Institutes and Colleges in New York

By Sarah Aslam

New York City is one of the most heavily populated cities of America. It covers 320 square miles on the Manhattan Island and is home to nearly 8 million residents. Traditionally, New York is known for its artistic diversity, and the city offers an incredible and an impressive array of opportunities for the interested individuals, especially related to the department of arts.
You can find galleries, workshops, museums, theaters and dance performances, live music, film and television productions, studios and lots of other stuff, and are continuing venues for exploration.
The learning opportunities are also readily available with an extensive list of institutes which provide training and educational facilities in the field arts, providing students with a multitude and a massive amount of resources and opportunities.
According to reports from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, individual working in the field of arts earn around an average of $42,650 in the year 2008. Art schools help to familiarize the attendees with a variety of techniques and methods which they could engage in the production and performance of their crafts.
There are numerous art schools with the New York state which helps to make budding and aspiring performers and artists for the future in the field of arts. Some of the art schools in the New York state are;

The Art Institute of New York City is attributed and certified by the Accrediting Council for Independent Schools and Colleges. This centre offers its students with such educational opportunities and breaks in several ways in the department of arts such as; interior designing, web designing, interactive media, graphic designing and fashion designing. The campus of this institute is located in Manhattan. They acknowledge its students to develop close to many useful arts studios. The institute provides students with an advantage of such faculty that has previously worked or is still working in the art field.
The New York Academy of Art provides its students opportunities in the fields of painting, drawing and sculpturing. The institute offers a masters degree in the field of arts program. Therefore, students are required to possess a bachelor's degree in any of the art-related fields, only then they would be considered for admission to the institute. Students come up with their own piece of work which demonstrates their skills and capabilities in the particular field of arts.
The Institute of Fine Arts in the New York City offers its students with different programs and degrees in art history, archaeological discovery of arts, and in art conservation. The centre is located along the New York's museum mile. It allows the students proximity with a wide range of outstanding and expressive works in the field of arts.
Fashion Institute of technology, State University of New York, The art institute, is designed to benefit and provide opportunities to those students who are seriously interested in the fashion designing field. FIT is a public oriented institution which also has ties with the private industry. The courses primarily offered by the institute are; Animation, Art direction, studio art, apparel design, art history, art administration, cartooning, digital designing, design management, drawing, fashion designing, textile designing, footwear designing and many others.

The above mentioned institutes are considered to be one of the best foundations for the department of arts in the New York City. These institutes' helps to satisfy the student and fulfill the requirements needed in the field of arts.

SaraH AslaM
BLOG: http://ishtihari.com/
Website: http://www.conceptcreation.com.pk

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