• Dressing down is not an option anymore, I found myself in a world where everyday fashion was serious business
• You need to shed your inhibitions to pursue fashion in its truest forms; fear of being judged has no place here.

I have come across a lot of trends, styles and fad in college and in the past five months since I last wrote (Kate Middleton’s  wedding gown being my last) the one trend that has me going gaga (literally and figuratively)is that of the colored denims and trousers.

Make a statement

plum is the color for the season

A pop of color on the lower half of the body is one of the most exciting trends of 2011.the perfect blend to banish the winter blues. It is one of those trends from the spring that have made a natural transition in the fall. Nothing can be more mood uplifting than a dash of color on your denims or trousers. The trend has been around since 2010 but was mostly adorned by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Cameron Diaz, Hillary Duff and other celebrities. But it is this year where it has become a complete must have.

celebrities-coloured-denim

They can be worn as a part of your casual day outfit and can be just the right thing to wear to glam up your nights. And the best part about them is that they are available in variety of fits and styles so can be worn by people with different body types.

The best way to pull of the colored denims trend is too team it up with nude colors and neutral shades like beiges, browns, grays, blacks and whites.

colored jeans with nudes

And if you are one of those who like doing things to the extremes then you can incorporate color blocking; it makes the necessary statement. The entire look can be accessorized in a variety of ways.

color blocking

Vibrant hues are popping up at almost every runway show during Fashion Week. Cobalt blue, tangerine, coral, chartreuse, emerald, canary yellow, cherry red and honeysuckle were all featured, bright as can be from various runway shows from Jil Sander to Carolina Herrera.

fall-2011-fashion-trends-bright-pants

Various brands are selling these in different colors and styles namely Zara, J brand, Jill Stuart and are available in high street shops too. As far as I am concerned I am lusting for this orange one and beautiful turquoise denim. They are priced around $59 at zara to $298 at jill sanders.

Vogue's Fashion Writer, Chioma Nnadi

turquoise blue jeans

Go paint the town red, ermm orange, blue, green whatever your color maybe.

Useful Resources:

Vouge editor

Bold Trousers

Color Blocking

Bright Bottoms

One such simple way of understanding a concept and making it easier for our magnificent mind to interpret is by making what is called a moodboard.
As the name suggests and how the spelling goes, moodboards are used to depict a certain kind of theme that a person has in mind and wants to either help him/herself understand it better or for a separate persons benefit.

Consider moodboards to be a utility tool and unlike other tools this can be applied to vast variety of disciplines ranging from:
- Interior Designing
- Advertising
- Fashion Designing
- Graphic Designing
- Photography
- Music
- Movies
- Game Designing
And so many more! You get the basic drift don’t ya!

Moodboards are nifty when it comes to explaining a project to some client before actually starting work on it. This really comes handy for graphic designers as they can easily portray their thoughts before getting their hands dirty with the real stuff thus saving everyone time and money!

There are no particular types of moodboards that are defined or any templates out there to help you. It’s basically up to the creativity of the person making them. The ultimate aim being to understand the underlying theme on the canvas.

Having said this, the most basic moodboard can be made in the form of a collage! With images spattered here and there and text embodied where necessary.
Eg:

Collage Mood-Board

To become a little more formal with the moodboards would mean to categorize the content in your moodboard with a little more detail.
Eg:

Formal Mood-Board

So, now you’re looking for some really inspiring moodboards? I’d suggest you google them and you’ll get plenty!

If you’re on a tablet and you have an itch to be creative on the move, you should try out these apps for your Android and Apple techy souls:

Apple iPad:  Moodboard by A Tiny Tribe llc.

Android tablets :  Adobe Collage by Adobe Systems

I guess I’ve done my bit here in enlightening you guys on the topic of moodboards? If you still have some specific questions, be sure to leave them in the comments and we can talk about them!

This wallpaper is showcasing  Steve Jobs complete life.
Having not known Steve personally doesn’t really make that much of a difference to us, he’s had such an impact on us all and our lives that we somehow feel connected with him at some level. Wouldn’t you agree?

We hope you like it.

This wallpaper is available in three sizes.
1920 X 1200 | 1440 X 900 | 1280 X 800

Download Now

Terms of use

By downloading these wallpaper images, you agree to these terms:

• These images are for desktop wallpaper use only, not for commercial.
• You may not edit, alter, or modify this image without our permission.
• You may not sell or distribute this image

Thanks for playing fair!

Useful Resources

Thumbnail Image

The drive to Srinagar is quite unremarkable and offers little by way of road trip highs. It is perhaps this pleasing sight of the valley after Banihal that makes the journey from Udhampur somewhat worth your while. The road trip could just as well begin at Srinagar…

The celebrated beauty of Kashmir begins to work it’s magic on you as soon as you hit alpine Sonamarg. Never mind that you lose time to road sanitizing for army convoys. Hot tea and the surroundings keep you busy enough. This image has been taken after crossing over the Zoji La (about 9kms from Sonamarg) at 11578 feet.

Considered the second coldest inhabited place in the world, this image was taken at Drass, the scene of heavy combat during the Kargil war. This village was abandoned during the period, its residents moved to safety.

Kargil, as viewed from a plateau manned by the Indian Army, a heartwarming presence amongst a warm, welcoming local populace. A windfall visit, to the last but one post to the LOC, served as yet another reason to salute the soldier and his family… You really wouldn’t want to exchange places with him, despite the bone-rattling road trip that brought you there.

This moonscape makes its presence felt around the Fotu La, the highest point at 13,478 feet, on the Srinagar-Leh highway, and continues through Ladakh. In spite of a great reduction in colour in nature’s palette, the terrain lends itself to much drama. Usually played out by Azure skies, snowy clouds and barren wastelands…

First sight of Leh. A green oasis offering plenty succour to hue-deprived eyes! God knows, you will begin to miss colour even as you take in the endless desolation around you.

Even loftier passes await you on the Leh-Manali highway. The first one being the Tanglang La at 17,582 feet. This image is that of the Zanskar range, taken midway, with the pass lost somewhere in the snowy peaks.

Still ascending! Almost two weeks into the road trip, we continued to be awestruck by the glory of nature. Almost at Tanglang La, I glanced back to capture this view.

Hearing or reading about the Morey plains of Pang does not quite prepare you for their actual character, leaving you quite speechless at their vastness. They are home to mainly shepherds and Kiang, the Tibetan wild ass.

This canyon suddenly looms up as you take a turn to descend to Pang, an army transit camp. Stop-gap dhabas in tents double over as havens for the stranded. Night stops at this height, I heard, can be very very uncomfortable.

Fortunately, our road trip that day ended safely at this camp in Sarchu, at an acceptable height of roughly 14500 feet! While breathing is easy, the howling winds can be a tad overwhelming.

The ascent to the oh-so-unpredictable Baralacha La snakes gently along the Bhaga river, seen here, soon after crossing Bharatpur City: roughly four colourful tents offering food, shelter and souvenirs!

The Bhaga river as it appears closer to the Baralacha Top. A gentle drizzle, wafting mist and angry clouds. It doesn’t get better than this…

Or so we thought! Descending from the pass, you soon recognize tarred surfaces, almost forgotten in the past weeks. The road loops downwards to the Suraj-Vishal Lake nestled snugly between you and the mountainside. It is named after the pilots who perished in a crash at the site. Ironically it is one of the most beautiful spots on this stretch.

Soon after you go past Darcha, the northernmost permanent settlement in Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh, the landscape turns verdant almost instantly. Terraced fields, waterfalls and meadows covered in wild flowers were, once again, par for the course. This image was taken at Koksar, short of Rohtang Pass, the last hurdle in what could otherwise be a dream road trip for all.

Liu Xiaobo was born on 28 December 1955, in Jilin province of China in an intellectual family and graduated from Jilin  University in 1982 and earned a Ph.D in 1988. He went on to establish himself as a luxuriant and scholarly critic, rising to great prominence in 1986 with his examination of modern Chinese literature. He was only interested in literature, writing poems and reading western philosophy. He came to be known as the “black horse” of China’s literary scene when in 1986, he wrote an article condemning Chinese writers dependence on the state and their inability to think for themselves. In late 1980s his challenging ideas attracted the attention of the literati and he was invited to deliver lectures in China and abroad. He was a visiting scholar atColumbiaUniversityinNew York,University of Oslo and several others.

He did not take part in the pro-democracy movement of late 1970s but came to public prominence in 1989, during the suppression of protestors inBeijing’sTiananmen Square. He returned to his home fromUnited Statesto be a part of the movement and take part in the demonstrations. On the eve of the blood bath, he launched a hunger strike to protest the impending repression by the People’s Liberation Army. He also negotiated a peaceful evacuation of theTiananmen Squarewith the army but this did not save him from the authorities. He was labeled as a “black hand” behind the movement and spent nearly two years at the Qincheng jail inBeijing. All his publications were banned and he too was banned from teaching in any of the state institutions.

Protest against the detention of Liu Xiaobo

After his release from prison in 1991, he was a changed man. He resumed his writings but did not write literature anymore, he published articles criticizing the Chinese government and organized petitions to anathematize human rights violation. He wrote extensively on human rights and political issues though he was banned from publishing any of his writings in mainland China. The massacre had greatly changed his outlook and his views about the ordinary Chinese people. He believed that the most effectual weapon against the government was “living in truth”. “To refuse to lie in public life represents the most effective force to undermine tyranny,” he said. He was again put in jail in 1996 for speaking about China’s one- party political system. He continued to discuss many forbidden subjects including China’s treatment of Tibetans. He also published an article in 2004, supportingUnited Stateswar on Iraq and also defended US policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has been under the watchful eyes of the police but this hasn’t prevented him from acting in accordance with his ideals and his principles. He has organized petitions against the arrest of writers imprisoned for posting on the internet and has also defended the rights of migrant workers. The viscosity of his ideas and his courage over the last two decades has impressed many in China.

In 2008, Liu Xiaobo actively participated in drafting Charter 08, a 19 point program that called for greater political freedom in Chinaand concluded with the signature of more than 300 academicians and intellectuals. The manifesto was to be released on the 60^thanniversary of the adoption of  the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As of September 2010, the Charter has collected over 10,000 signatures. Two days before the official release of the Charter, Liu was taken away by the police and detained in solitary confinement. He was not allowed to meet his lawyer or his family. In 2009. the government approved his arrest on charges of “suspicion of inciting subversion of state power,” a crime under Article 105 of China’s Criminal Law. Following his trial in December 2009. he was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment and two years deprivation of political rights. The wife of jailed Liu Xiaobo and her family are being held as hostages in Beijing.

Liu Xiaobo with his wife

Liu Xiaobo’s case has sparked International condemnation. Countries are particularly alarmed at the treatment of his wife who has never been accused of any crime. Campaigners for human rights in China have appealed to the President of USA to urge the Chinese government to release Liu. His arrest only reflects the government anxiety about unrest inspired by uprisings in theMiddle East. International writers, including Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood have called for Liu’s release. United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Navanethem Pillay has also expressed his concern over the deterioration of human rights inChina.

In 2010, the Nobel Committee awarded Liu the prize “for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights inChina”. The news of award was immediately censored in China. His wife was placed under house arrest and prominent intellectuals were harassed. The Chinese government called him a criminal and said he didn’t deserve the prize.

Empty chair reserved for Liu Xiaobo

The situation in China clearly shows how the idea of real democracy is growing. People from all walks of life have admired Liu Xiaobo and subversion is the least suitable description of his activities. The truth is he is under arrest because his ideas differ from those of the powers that be.

 “I dedicate this prize to all those lost souls who have sacrificed their lives in non-violent struggle for peace, democracy and freedom.” – Liu Xiaobo, upon learning in prison that he was to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Liu Xiaobo: 20 years of activism 

Wife of jailed Chinese Nobel peace prize laureate ‘is a hostage’ 

Chinese dissident jailed for 10 years 

Image

Image

1.) The Firefox way: Like I very often say, Firefox has an add-on for just about anything you can imagine. All you need to do is install the Facebook Chat Sidebar Disabler add-on, and restart Firefox. You’re good to go!

2.) The Chrome way: If you’re a Chrome user, you can have the earlier version of Facebook chat back by installing the Facebook Chat Sidebar Disabler extension.

3.) The Opera way: For all you blessed souls who use the very awesome but not so popular browser called Opera, you just need to open this link and install the Facebook Chat Sidebar Disabler extension.

4.) The 4th way that I know of: Just open a new tab or a new window and open this link. It’s basically the popout version of the chat and is not built into Facebook, but it serves the purpose.

The Firefox, Chrome and Opera extensions all look and work the same and have been developed by a certain someone going by the name VittGam. God bless him!

Any computer-savvy person will vouch for the fact that Internet Explorer is only used by the not-so-computer-savvy persons. That leaves us with Firefox being (arguably, if you insist) the best browser available now. Well, Google Chrome might be catching up, and we’ll surely have a piece on that soon, but let’s focus on Firefox for the time being. What makes it the best, then? Is it the fast speed and ease of use? Is it the look? Or is it the add-ons?

Firefox has one of the largest collections of add-ons. Thousands of add-ons are available for things like blocking unwanted ads to downloading/converting videos. They make browsing a better, smoother and more exciting experience. Here are a few of my personal favourites:

Web of Trust (WOT): This is a community-based website reputation rating tool that uses a traffic-light style rating system to give Internet users additional information about a website before they visit it, like trustworthiness, vendor reliability, privacy and child safety.

WOT calculates a website’s reputation based on user ratings and reliable third-party trusted sources, such as listings of malware sites. The rating scale ranges from poor to excellent and is algorithmic. The add-on shows the reputations with color-coded icons in most popular search engine results (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.), social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter), on other popular sites (Wikipedia, etc.) and for shortened URLs.

Firebug: Firebug is a web development tool that integrates with Firefox to put a wealth of web development tools at your fingertips while you browse It allows live debugging, editing, and monitoring of any website’s CSS, HTML, DOM, and JavaScript, and provides other Web development tools. Using Firebug gives a lot of possibilities for web development to your hands and is a must have for any web developer.

DownThemAll (DTA): This is a download manager and accelerator extension, licensed under the GPL. It can pause and restart supporting downloads at any time, without losing data, and enables users to download all links, images or embedded object contained in a webpage. When extracting links from a page, the user may choose to download only specific files, for example: all .jpeg images or all .pdf files. It supports both HTTP and FTP protocols.

Adblock Plus (ABP): This is a content-filtering add-on. It allows users to prevent page elements, such as advertisements, from being downloaded and displayed. Like Mozilla’s built-in image blocker, ABP blocks HTTP requests according to their source address and can block iframes, scripts, and Flash. It also uses automatically generated user stylesheets to hide elements such as text ads on a page as they load instead of blocking them. In simpler words, this means no ads at all. Be it Facebook, or be it any other website.

Cooliris: Cooliris revolutionizes how you find, view, and share photos and videos. Whether you’re browsing the Web or your desktop, Cooliris presents media on an infinite “3D wall” that lets you enjoy content without clicking page to page. It works great on Google Images, Facebook, Bing and hundreds of other websites. All you need to do is click the Cooliris icon that appears as you mouseover images and videos.

This Jailbreak supports follows devices with the following firmware:

iPad   –>> iOS 4.3 through 4.3.3
iPad 2   –>> iOS 4.3.3
iPhone 3GS   –>> iOS 4.3 through 4.3.3
iPhone 4(GSM)   –>> iOS 4.3 through 4.3.3
iPhone 4(CDMA)   –>> iOS 4.2.6 through 4.2.8
iPod touch 3G   –>> iOS 4.3, 4.3.2, 4.3.3
iPod touch 4G   –>> iOS 4.3 through 4.3.3

This Guide is designed to Jailbreak Only iPad 2 but will work on all other devices as stated above.  It’s expected that the iPad 2 to be Jialbroken is already on iOS 4.3.3.

1. Open Safari on the iPad 2 and go to Jialbreakme.com.

2. Tap on Free and then Install. The Installation will start. Safari might get hanged for few seconds and it will quit automatically.

3. Cydia  installation process will start. Cydia will be installed in the same fashion as apps are installed for the App Store

4. After Successful installation, a conformation message will be displayed.

5. Restart iPad 2 and it’s done!

If the Jailbreak Fails at step 4 restart iPad 2 and try again from the start.