Fashion, Parties, Girls, MUSIC!

It's ironic that Jon "J.Rez" Torres and Matt "Rocky" Lamanivong met in their music class in sixth grade; little did they know then that they would become a hip hop sensation in Connecticut a few years later. Now both 20 years old, the duo who go by the name "Pretty Boiiz" are creating a major buzz for themselves for their fun, club bopping tracks that will no doubt get listeners on their feet, moving their bodies and singing along. Their latest track, "Blue Yankee On" which is available on iTunes, is popular with their fans and the mainstream feel and catchy hook is sure to get them noticed on a larger scale.

Matt reveals that he was always into music and was heavily influenced by his older brother "L" who was a rapper himself. Matt is talented at mixing and creating catchy beats and after teaming up with Jon the two put their styles together and created a sound that remains true to their personalities. The duo don't claim to spit hardcore raps in their music, but they rhyme about their interests including fashion, girls, partying, having a good time and just enjoying being young.

Pretty Boiiz had an impressive video created for their single, "Pretty Boii Fresh" when they were "fresh" out of high school and they've been working hard promoting their music ever since. They recently won the musician category of the "Roc Nation Who's Next Contest" held by Jay Z's Roc Nation label. The two were interviewed at the Roc Nation studio and got a taste of life in the mainstream music scene.

Even though the hurdles faced by many CT artists such as envy and a lack of support can be difficult to surpass; Pretty Boiiz are continually making hip hop/club music that can be found on their website http://www.replica-hermes.com/ as well as Facebook, Twitter, Reverb Nation, and MySpace. Their videos are viewed heavily on YouTube and they are busy doing performances in CT and beyond. With their fresh young style, versatility, true to themselves attitude, and motivation to promote their music, we are sure to hear a lot more from the Middletown duo.

 

Sofia Vergara Announces Fashion Line at Kmart

The "Modern Family" star who can make a basic white t-shirt look sexy is bringing some fashion flair to Kmart.

Yesterday on Twitter, Sofia announced (along with an article in WWD) her 'Sofia Vergara for Kmart' collection, to be launched in early September.

"This is kind of natural for me," Vergara said. "I have always been interested in clothes and makeup and beauty. I always dressed up. I wasn't laid-back about it. I'm not lounging around in sweat clothes and flip-flops. Maybe a nice pair of sweats."

Sofia shared pics of the collection on her Twitter, including "one of my favorite dresses" -- a leopard bustier number. Sofia's line will be sold in about 800 Kmart stores beginning in late August and early September, according to WWD.

Vergara follows the lead of many celebs with fashion collections in the mainstream retail world. Earlier in the month, the Kardashian sisters announced the launch of an apparel and accessories collection for Sears, called, what else, the Kardashian Kollection.

Sao Paulo Fashion Week

Women's ready-to-wear season is upon us, kicking off with rising fashion destination Sao Paulo, before moving to colder realms in Copenhagen and two of the main fashion capitals, New York and London, before the end of the month.

São Paulo Fashion Week
January 28- February 2
São Paulo, Brazil

Started in 1996, São Paulo Fashion Week has evolved into the most important fashion event in Latin America. Expect to see catwalk shows by major Brazilian labels like Ricardo Almeida, Reinaldo Lourenço, and Ronalda Fraga, as well as by luxury European brands like Chanel and Versace. The most anticipated events of SPFW are by far the presentations of sexy Brazilian beachwear lines like Amir Slama's Rosa Cha.
http://ffw.com.br/

Copenhagen Fashion Week 
February 2-6
Copenhagen, Denmark

Northern Europe's largest fashion event draws some 60,000 designers, buyers, and press. Coupled with its leading trade fairs CPH Vision, Gallery and the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair, the Danish capital is quickly cementing its status as a global fashion hub.
http://www.copenhagenfashionweek.com/

New York Fashion Week 
February 10-17
New York, USA

The event kicks off the women's ready-to-wear season in the four fashion capitals (the other three being London, Milan, and Paris), the most important time in the fashion half-year. American designers including Michael Kors, Alexander Wang, and Calvin Klein will all showcase their collections.
http://www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork

London Fashion Week
February 18-23
London, UK

Following New York's Fashion Week, London's event brings together British designers such as Paul Smith, and new talents like Christopher Kane. Issa London, the label who made the now-famous sapphire blue dress that Kate Middleton wore to announce her engagement to Prince William, is among those scheduled to stage a catwalk show. London Fashion Week will showcase both women's and men's collections.
http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/

Drop Hollywood names at platinum bridal counter

Jewelers who hope to sell more platinum bridal may want to try dropping some familiar names at the counter: Think Hollywood starlet Reese Witherspoon, country crooner Carrie Underwood, True Blood star Anna Paquin or big-screen siren Megan Fox.

Your customers know who these famous ladies are, and chatting about them offers a prime opportunity to remind customers that each of these A-listers got engaged with rings made of the metal known for its pure-white luster.  

Hottest off the presses are two holiday season engagements featuring dramatic diamonds set in platinum. One bride-to-be is country star LeAnn Rimes, who is sporting a 5-carat oval ring surrounded by pavé diamonds and set in platinum, created by jeweler Brent Polacheck.

The other big engagement is actress Reese Witherspoon, who is destined to walk down the aisle with Hollywood agent Jim Toth wearing a platinum diamond ring featuring a rare, 4-carat Ashoka diamond by William Goldberg. With 62 facets and elegant rounded corners, the Ashoka resembles an elongated cushion cut, but is very rare because 40 to 60 percent of the rough diamond must be cut in order to make it.

aspirational fashion set against the backdrop of bustling

Those of you who believe you're on a first-name basis with the leading ladies of Gossip Girl are no doubt familiar with the hot-and-heavy plotlines - who's sleeping with whom and betrayals that seem to pop up with astonishing regularity.

But though it's true that the scripts, aimed at teens and twentysomethings, are filled with drama so thick they border on soap operatic, it's the imaginative, sometimes outrageous, sense of style that is most important to many devotees who need to fill their days by reading (or writing) blogs devoted to what party dress Blair, Serena or Jenny wore.

As with Sex and the City, aspirational fashion set against the backdrop of bustling, upscale Manhattan makes for a winning combination, and the fashion community has taken notice of the Gossip Girls, celebrating the actresses' looks both on screen and off.

Leighton Meester and Blake Lively, the actresses who portray Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen, respectively, have been feted and flung under the wing of Vogue's Anna Wintour faster than either of them could utter an "OMG".

Taylor Momsen, who plays teenage rebel Jenny Humphrey, has become the poster girl for wannabe punk tweens everywhere, even appearing as the face of Material Girl, the clothing line brought to us by Madonna and her daughter Lourdes Ciccone.

Momsen's smudgy, raccoon-eyed makeup, platinum blond tresses and penchant for ripped tights and miniskirts appeal to girls with a rock-star sensibility that's more Courtney Love than Katy Perry.

Meester and Lively, on the other hand, are two of the current "it" girls in the pop-culture universe, garbed for the camera by costume designer Eric Daman and sought after by designers including Karl Lagerfeld and Versace and more accessible lines (such as Alice + Olivia and Nanette Lepore) that grab the attention of young girls watching at home.

They've graced the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, In Style, Elle, Marie Claire, Allure, Bazaar, Glamour, Esquire and GQ.

And some designers reference them as muses, with Christian Louboutin designing the "Blake" shoe after Lively, and Vera Wang casting Meester as the face of her new fragrance due out in spring.

Meester's and Lively's small-screen alter egos are notable for their narcissism and bad behaviour but seem to have had no effect on their real-life glamour, other than to possibly enhance it.

"The Gossip girls (and the boys, hello!) - are totally the new fashion icons for a whole generation," says Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys New York.

"They are self-indulgent and vain and they shop their brains out. What more do you want from a role model?"

Lively, an LA native who comes from a family of actors and directors, has been at the forefront of the Gossip Girl fashion parade, due in no small part to her 5-foot-10 frame, mile-long legs and show-stopping curves.

"Blake Lively brings New York glamour, humour and style to our screens, which seems to have been missing since the last episode of Sex and the City," says fashion designer Jenny Packham, whose colourful, printed gowns have been worn by Lively, on screen and off.

She also is one of the few young actresses today who does not use a stylist to get prepped and dressed for red-carpet events.

"She goes on Style.com, and designers send her stuff," says Daman.

Lively's on- and off-screen choices aren't dissimilar and seem to be dictated by what will flatter and accentuate her figure.

On screen, her character favours combinations such as '70s-inspired trousers with a halter top or a thigh-high sequin mini-dress and chunky statement necklace, evoking a free-spirited fashion fan.

On the red carpet, Lively has fulfilled the role of the bombshell, with choices including a fiery red, body-conscious Versace gown and a flowing Lanvin number with a thigh-high slit, straight from the runway.

"Blake does a lot of research and just devours it," says Daman.

"It sounds cliche, but she really has a passion for fashion, like a hunger for it."

He adds that Lively loves collecting shoes and gowns, embracing the experience in a Cinderella kind of way.

"She is very smart about it though," he says.

"She really knows her body. ... She understands how a look translates onto the red carpet and really just enjoys the whole process."

Lively's love of fashion has made for a blissful relationship with many of the fashion community's biggest players.

The most visible sign of affection has come in the form of two Vogue covers.

Christian Dior opened Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture

Christian Dior opened Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 today and it was filled with breathtaking vintage silhouettes, cheery warm weather colors, ladylike gloves and a splash of red. The one most noticeable absence from the haute couture runway was that of handbags. When the few women throughout the globe who are lucky enough to purchase Haute Couture from Christian Dior, actually wear the art from the Paris Fashion Week catwalk, the lucky lady will need a handbag.

Christian Dior sent the spring and summer 2011 handbag collection down the Paris Fashion Week runway during the ready-to-wear shows last fall. Although many of the Haute Couture looks are formal and call for a petite crystal or satin clutch, the more vintage and semi-formal ensembles can easily incorporate the Lady Dior handbag.

The Lady Dior handbag is a classic staple in the Christian Dior handbag collection and although the colors vary from season to season, the silhouette remains the same. For spring 2011, the Lady Dior handbag is being shown in classic black and white; which would be the colors that work best with the Haute Couture looks. In addition to the classic colors, the Lady Dior is being shown in candy pink, purple, royal blue, chocolate brown, bright coral and navy. The Lady Dior is shown in soft leather, tweed and patent.

The Lady Dior handbag is available in small, medium and large sizes. The small sizes would work best with the less formal Haute Couture looks on the Dior runway.

Fashion Feud is not about being catty

It's 6:58 on a recent Tuesday night at the Rickshaw Stop, and a fashionable crowd awaits apparel designers Crystal Hermann and Mary M. Yanez, the first round of contestants to duke it out at San Francisco's third annual Fashion Feud.

While around 100 fashionistas and fashionistos sip their tropical-colored cocktails and nonchalantly sway to dance music, Hermann and Yanez are onstage sewing in a rather calm frenzy as they both conceptualize an entire outfit with fabrics given to them minutes before the competition began.

As the designers measure, cut, drape, pleat and cinch against a 60-minute deadline, a team of makeup artists and hairstylists primp and prime models in preparation for a mini runway show of the designers' creations. It's like "Project Runway" meets the quick-fire challenge of "Top Chef," where contestants are given a substantial task to do in an unsubstantial amount of time. The only difference here is that instead of a camera crew, this is in front of a live audience.

Still, Fashion Feud is not about being catty, as one might assume from the competitive fashion industry portrayed on reality fashion shows.

Here, spectators are invited into the frantic chaos that typically goes on behind the curtains and see a look created from start to finish. Contestants are challenged to sew fast, stay poised under pressure and engage the audience in their creative process.

Before the competition, one of the judges, local fashion blogger Maggie Alhadeff, said, "I'm going to be looking at the seams and whether it's an outfit that someone would be happy to walk around in."

On the other hand, local fashion blogger and judge Stacey Lee hoped for something less conventional: "Originality is very important. We all read Vogue and all the magazines, so I'll be looking for something original with a fresh vision."

Based on audience votes and deliberations by Alhadeff (mimosasinbed.blogspot.com) and Lee, Hermann was pronounced the first-round winner.

Each winner from three rounds will be given a chance to win $150 and a chance to move on to the finals, where he or she can win an additional $300.

The Fashion Feud event, organized by San Francisco Fashion and Merchants Alliance and sponsored by Scion, helps provide a way for local up-and-coming fashion designers to showcase their talents. Alliance founder Owen Geronimo said the contestants are selected carefully.

"I ask for their bios, portfolios and what their goals are, and what they want to accomplish in their career long term.

"I also choose the designers based on what will look best onstage."

Overall, he said, "My goal is to bring new talent to the scene which people love to see. That's what people get excited about."

the real modern joy to be had from shopping

We have, us modern folk, a somewhat instinctual reaction to brands and labels. Should we hear, for example, talk of Littlewoods, BHS, Dorothy Perkins, Lidl or Peacocks, our noses begin to turn up almost reflexively. Which will still be many people's reaction to the words TK Maxx. Should, however, someone start to bandy the names Aquascutum, Helmut Lang, Mandarina Duck, See by Chloé or Nicole Farhi about at your dinner-party table... well, now we're talking.

Yet all of those brands have been purchased by this roving reporter at his local branch of said "off-price" retailer. And, as its utterly meaningless slogan assures us, "always up to 60 per cent less". How the devil do they do it?

TK Maxx began life as TJ Maxx in the US in 1976. When it moved to the UK in 1994, it changed its middle initial to avoid confusion with TJ Marshall, a department store in Liverpool – a decision that now looks like Michael "King of Pop" Jackson changing his name to avoid confusion with the former BBC controller.

The key to the brand's success (about 300 stores in the UK and counting) is in its purchasing policy and power, or as its own website puts it: "unlike traditional fashion retailers who buy four times a year, our buyers scour the globe 24/7 to bring you back the best brands at a fraction of the price". Then there are the shops themselves – "no-frills" in the company's own parlance, but which (we cannot lie to you) make the church fête bric-a-brac stall look like Tiffany's.

Shoes, homewares, toys, clothing, luggage, candles, sunglasses, cosmetics... all of it is in there somewhere, no two stores are alike, "when it's gone, it's gone" and the whole experience is a sort of Middle England take on the Middle Eastern souk. In a world where high streets look the same from the Highlands to Hull to Hampstead, this is surely something to be savoured.

But the real modern joy to be had from shopping at TK Maxx comes when you're telling someone "It's Prada, darling," and only you know the hell you had to go through to be able to say that with such effortless ease.

natural-coloured satchel is a versatile classic

The forthcoming book Fifty Bags That Changed the World recalls the sensation that the Queen's style caused on a visit to Italy in 2000. La Repubblica ran a front-page story entitled "Ode to the Queen's Handbag". "There it is", the article gushed, "that disturbing object, firmly attached to her left forearm. The secret of her regality is in that little royal but oh so ordinary accessory."

Many of the rest of us loyal servants of fashion are no less surgically attached. The "It-bag" tag might have expired, but the appeal of a nice bit of arm candy never will. It's a sort of unswervingly loyal, leathery friend. There's nothing like a new best friend though, which is why at the start of the season, a girl's thoughts turn to a new bag – and unlike the Queen, we want something extraordinary, please.

That said, the Maggie-Thatcher-meets-Her-Majesty look is one of spring's multiple bag trends, alongside bold colours, stripes, natural shades, shoppers, briefcases, satchels, Seventies shoulder bags and micro-bags.

On the most wanted list are: Proenza Schouler's latest 'PS1' satchel in black leather, brown suede and beige linen, Prada's canvas briefcases in bold stripes, Vuitton's two-tone bags, and Celine's ultra-simple leather shoppers. Then there's Jil Sander's luxe version of a plastic bag and Mulberry's lovely Tillie briefcase, which is what the Alexa would look like if it grew up and got a job.

So what to buy? I'm avoiding mini-bags because unlike the Queen, I need to carry more than just lipstick, and oversized shoppers because I'll waste time rummaging. Bright or neon bags such as Miu Miu's shoulder bags will modernise an outfit, and the mid-sized, natural-coloured satchel is a versatile classic.

On the high street, look to Asos for great satchels under £70, including a cobalt one, Cos for a sleek tan shopper and Whistles for a grey suede satchel that evokes the Proenza Shouler 'PS1' but not too closely. Slavish copies of designer bags are not so much ordinary as extraordinarily tacky.

the cheap chic teen retailer with sprawling ambitions

The Takashimaya store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue was spare, exquisite, and often too quiet for its own good. It closed in June. Five months later, only the Japanese department store's marble floors and high ceilings remain. The six-floor, 30,000-square-foot space has been transformed into a glittery, dizzying showplace for Forever 21, the cheap chic teen retailer with sprawling ambitions, not the least of which is wanting the grown-up world to take it seriously.

On a late November morning the day before the store is to open for the first time, Linda Chang takes a moment to contemplate her family's ambitions. "It's pretty historic that we're on Fifth Avenue," she says. "We've tried hard not to make it feel like fast fashion." Chang has recently become the slightly more public face of the very private family that owns Forever 21, and she's still feeling her way into the role. Chang is 29 with an undergraduate business degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and she's been leading the marketing department for the past two years. One day she'll likely run the nearly $3 billion, 477-store, 35,000-employee chain. For now, Do Won and Jin Sook, or Mr. and Mrs. Chang, as everyone at Forever 21 calls them, are still very much in charge. Mrs. takes care of the merchandise; Mr. takes care of everything else.

He is here today, a youthful-looking man in his 50s wearing a dark blazer, jeans, and a wool scarf. No one dares approach him uninvited. Linda is far more outgoing. "This is our rock-and-roll section: sequins, black lace, leopard, some leather, a mix of the wild things, our faux fur, crochet," she says, sweeping her arm across just some of what's on the first floor. She's dressed modestly in a Forever 21 black T-shirt and jeans with a boyfriend blazer. Her necklace, of interlocking Cs, is Chanel.

A 20-foot chandelier dangles from the mezzanine above, and flecks of gold paint shimmer on the walls. On other floors, Linda points out plaid shirts, Nordic ski sweaters, sweaters with elbow pads, military-style jackets, capes, draped work dresses. On and on it goes: Forever 21's buyers—and shoppers—expect the stores to offer every trend. "Mrs. Chang oversees all the merchandise," says Linda of her mother. "But she doesn't travel to store openings. She says: 'I'll get you the product. You sell it.' "

I notice a pair of faux-leather lace-up ankle boots that look a lot like the Jeffrey Campbell ones I'm wearing: The style is the same, so are the combination of hooks and holes for the laces and the distinctively shaped heel. Forever 21 sells the boots for $35.80, less than one-quarter the price I paid. I mention them, and Linda says brightly: "You should buy another pair here." Fashion watchers will find a lot more that looks familiar in Forever 21.

On the sixth floor, we stop in front of a revolving rack suspended from the ceiling. "That's one of my sister's favorite things," Linda says. "The clothes rotate around, and you can stop it when you want. It's from the movie Clueless. My sister wishes she could have one in her room." Linda's sister is Esther, who graduated from Cornell University with a degree in fashion and merchandising and at 24 is the head of the company's visual display team. She's been up all night putting the finishing touches on the store. "Esther had one week to set it up. We're fast. Everything we do is fast. W

Swedish high street giant H&M caused a wave of excitement within the fashion industry

Designer collections for the high street have been around for years now so it takes something special to make shoppers sit up and take notice. Judging by the first look at the Lanvin collection for H&M yesterday, however, here is a panacea for collaboration fatigue.

The collection, called Lanvin H&M will go on sale on November 23 in shops worldwide, and includes menswear, womenswear, accessories and lipsticks. Prices range from £7.99 for a lipstick to £199 for a silk satin evening coat, while most of the cocktail dresses are £99. News that Lanvin would be creating a range for the Swedish high street giant H&M caused a wave of excitement within the fashion industry when it was announced in June. Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz said that what "intrigued" him was "the idea of H&M going luxury" but some question whether the label would retain its sophisticated- and accordingly expensive - femininity on a budget.

Somehow, Elbaz has nailed it. While you would never mistake these pieces for the real thing, they appear well made from high quality fabrics such as wool and silk. As has been the case with many of H&M's previous collaborations with designer labels, the collection distils many of Lanvin's signature shapes and details, past and present, rather than replicating its current collection. Grosgrain ribbons, bows, pearls, ruffled and tiered silk cocktail dresses, evening coats and trenches, costume jewels, and raw edges have all been trends thanks to Lanvin, and they all make an appearance here. One of the sweetest finishing touches is the cream presentation boxes that the shoes and accessories will be presented in.

Among the womenswear, the cocktail dresses stand out and are bound to be a bestseller, especially the one-shoulder versions in black and yellow cotton. Highlights of the menswear collection - which has also been designed by Lucas Ossendrijver - include a double-breasted navy wool coat with gold buttons and neat navy seersucker blazers. Amongst the men's accessories there are also bow ties- one of Alber Elbaz's trademarks.

Ever since he was appointed in 2001, Elbaz has been responsible for transforming Lanvin from a dusty old Parisian house founded by Jeanne Lanvin in 1889, into one of the most prestigious luxury houses. Before that he worked for Geoffrey Beene, Guy Laroche and Yves Saint Laurent.

Elbaz has said of the collection, "ninety-five percent of women cannot afford [Lanvin] so let them have a taste", and he isn't worried that bringing out an affordable one-off line will cheapen Lanvin's high end image. After all he's in good company, since Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons and Karl Lagerfeld have all created lines for H&M, although Lagerfeld later criticized the distribution of his designs and the fact that they were made in large sizes. Other forthcoming designer and high street collaborations include a capsule collection by Valentino for Gap.

Timeline: High fashion designers doing ranges for high street

Designers at Debenhams, 1996-present

The department store was one of the first high street shops to feature collections openly created by well-known designers. Jasper Conran was the first name to participate, launching his J by Jasper Conran range in 1996, and new names include Henry Holland.

Karl Lagerfeld for H&M, 2004

"What I designed was fashion for slender and slim people," said Karl Lagerfeld in 2004 after H&M produced his monochromatic clothes in larger sizes than he wanted. The one-off range still sold out in seconds, though.

Kate Moss for Topshop, 2007-201

In 2007 hundreds up people queued to see a sulky looking Mossy pose in the window of Topshop Oxford Circus. She was paid a reported 3 million, but her latest range is her last complete one.

Patricia Field for Marks & Spencer, 2008

It seemed like such a good idea at the time, Sex and the City was still hot, and its stylist Patricia Field was willing. Unfortunately the disco- inspired wardrobe was a bit risqué for M&S's core shoppers.

Jil Sander for Uniqlo, 2009-present

This ongoing project, started in 2009, changed the face of designer collaborations, as Sander's designs are part of large,ongoing collections. They are also neutral, minimal, and not immediately recognisable.

the good, bad, and Scarlett Johansson

Every year around this time we analyze and over-analyze the ladies on the red carpet.  Last night's Golden Globes gave another opportunity for us to chomp at the bit over celebrities and their style.  Getting a red carpet hair fix is also in order, but you have to be able to separate the good, from the bad, from the Scarlett Johannson.

Both Eva Longoria and Golden Globe winner Natalie Portman chose sleek up-dos, while American Idol's Jennifer Lopez and nominee Piper Parabo rocked the slick-backed ponytail to perfection. Coming in with a bang was Sandra Bullock, while Meghan Fox and January Jones chose luxurious waves.

Scarlett Johannson decided to let her hair whip her...instead of the other way around.  It was an attempt at making an "updated up-do", rather her look became scarecrow-ish.

We love Bronx-born and star of Glee, Lea Michele in a lovely chignon...it was simply perfection.  Dove celebrity hairstylist, Mark Townsend perfected her look by starting Lea on hair treatments weeks before the big day.  "The biggest perk of my job working with Dove is I get my hands on their new products before anyone else," he says. "They have this whole line of Nourishing Oil Care shampoo, conditioner, treatment, a leave-in conditioner and a leave-in serum...I gave the shampoo, treatment and conditioner to Lea to get her hair prepped for all of awards season."

What's your secret to staying young and active?

Who: Sharlene Marlow, 70, a makeup artist who operated A Touch of Beauty on Lorna Road in Hoover before retiring nine years ago. She and her husband, Charles Marlow, live in Hueytown. They have three daughters, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her friend Kay Wilson of Hueytown nominated her.

What are you wearing? A purple pantsuit from Parisian that she bought for a family trip to Opryland several years ago; Aerosoles shoes from Stein Mart; earrings with purple stones from Stein Mart; her wedding ring; and a dinner ring her husband gave her last June to celebrate their 40 years of marriage.

Who does your hair? "I fix my own hair. I even cut my own hair. My husband can thank me for that because we don't ever have to pay anything for a beauty shop."

Since you were a makeup artist, what's one application tip you care to share? "I put a daily cream under my makeup called, Ageless by Baker's Best. I got it through the mail as a trial thing. Your skin feels like velvet when you put it on. It makes your makeup go on so much smoother and with no lines or anything in your face. A lot of ladies put on the makeup and have that line under their chin. Have you ever seen it? When you put on makeup, you have to make sure you ... don't leave a line."

You said that you have a closet that is 33 feet long and 5 feet wide. Did you design the closet or did it come that way with the house? "Yes ma'am. I designed it myself."

When did you have the closet done? "I had it done nine years ago."
Now do you have that many clothes for a closet that size? "Oh, yes ma'am. It's full. I have it from my living room to my bedroom, that's how long it is. Everybody that sees it, they say they can't believe there's a closet that big."

If you have a closet that big you must be dressing up a lot. "Yes I do. There's a woman in my Sunday school class who says, ÃI can't hardly wait until you come to church on Sunday so I can see what you have on."'

Describe your style. "I love real dressy clothes. I dress up and I have a lot of belts that I like to wear. I probably could dress up every day for six or eight months and not wear the same outfit. It's not that I buy that much, I just add to my clothes to update my wardrobe. Maybe once a year, I'll buy a few things to add to them. What I don't need, I'll give it to someone else."

What's your secret to staying young and active? "I exercise three days a week and I stay busy doing things all the time. When you get older, people think you are supposed to sit down. I don't. I stay busy all of the time. I decorate my church all of the time. It's a big job. So I keep busy."

Where do you like to shop? "The Galleria. I love to go over there. And that new Leeds outlet, I like that."

Is there anything you won't wear? "I don't like sweatshirts and sweatpants. If women like to wear them, that's fine. I just don't like them."

Do you have a fashion motto? "I think a woman should always look her best whether she's in her home or if she goes out shopping."
Is there someone's style that you admire? "Laura Bush. She always dressed so beautifully. She was very becoming. She always looked nice."

It may be a visual feast, but this house is also comfy

Not many people can pull off a vintage disco ball above their antique dining table and have it look like a brilliant idea.

In Kellie Haynam's funky-chic Arcadia home, the combo works.

So does her collection of vintage textiles - Art Deco and Moroccan rugs, Navajo blankets, needlepoint pillows - furniture spanning decades, paper lanterns, ceramic mushrooms and white pottery from Paris, not to mention dozens of other treasures that all seem effortlessly, elegantly arranged.

But let's go back for a minute to how the Haynams ended up here, ditching their roomier north Scottsdale digs for a modest-size - less than 2,000 square feet - Phoenix ranch.

Haynam was helping a friend house-hunt when they ended up in this neighborhood that once housed a date-palm grove and factory.

"We weren't even looking to buy a house," she said. "It was very unexpected."

She fell in love with the light pouring in from the courtyard, the three-bedroom home's easy layout for entertaining and the well-groomed neighborhood's laid-back feel.

Before long, she and husband Jeff, who works in the computer industry, were in a bidding war. They won, and Haynam began crafting her trademark vintage-chic vibe.

A Massachusetts native who grew up going to flea markets with antiques-loving parents, Haynam is a master of displaying one-of-a-kind treasures.

A stylist at Bungalow, a home-furnishings store in Scottsdale, she has helped clients and designers find unusual accessories.

Her home is global eclectic - Paris flea-market chic and vintage Hermes glamour with a lot of fun and whimsy.

For starters, there's the disco ball hardwired to spin above her rustic dining table reclaimed from a monastery. When she isn't entertaining, the disco ball is still and the table displays fun coffee-table books on fashion and design.

The kitchen is a mix of sleek blond cabinetry and plaster countertops that look like poured concrete. The floor is reclaimed concrete tile from a Paris apartment in what looks like a pattern straight from a Louis Vuitton bag.

Haynam brought in pops of color with an Hermes orange wall cabinet and a bright blue stove. She also displays her collection of Astier de Villatte white pottery on a vintage baker's rack.

It may be a visual feast, but this house is also comfy.

"I don't like pretentious places," she said. "I love different cultures wrapped up in a house."

"Junkin' " - Haynam's word for exploring estate sales, antiques stores and little-known shops to find quirky treasures - is still one of her favorite things to do.

She displays those finds along with gifts and mementos from family and friends.

"I'm really into sentimental value," she said. "I think a house void of that isn't a home."

That said, her vintage collection is well-edited.

"This is the smallest house I've been in, so you keep just what you love," she said.

In her den, she displays vinyl record albums, her grandfather's leather doctor's bag, a train-car chandelier, her father's Hopi basket collection and a lava lamp.

Her master bedroom holds one of her favorite sets: a gold-trimmed white Pierre Cardin platform bed from the 1970s with matching end tables.

"It's killer," she said.

The master bath is recently redone. Haynam gutted it, keeping all the pipes exposed, then covering the walls and floors in white penny tile. Even the copper piping to the rain showerhead is exposed.

"I wanted a New York/Paris raw space," she explained.

The vanity is an antique altar table holding a stone vessel sink from India. A glass-and-metal cabinet from Paris completes the look.

"It's not a normal house," Haynam said after a tour. "It's an expression of who I am and who my husband is."

ethereal touch in the new year

After a decade of what he calls too tight, too hard looks and women wearing clothes "five sizes too small", fashion's classiest 'it' designer is spearheading a vision of well-made craftsmanship with a softer, ethereal touch in the new year.

"2011 will be the year of women being women in a man's world, and leading it!" Prabal Gurung tells me with excited optimism.

Few designers know how to bring out the power of a woman's intellectualism and integrity, traits Gurung sees as the essence of beauty, like the compassionate 2010 Ecco Domini Fashion Foundation winner. Rejecting short hemlines and overly done looks, his spring line features supple cashmere knits proudly made in his native Nepal, edgy power suits for the next generation CEO or Congresswoman, and a stunning evening gown the color of candied ginger with a frisson of silks coming down the skirt like fireworks. Burnt oranges, bright canary yellows and cerulean blues evoke a euphoria and passion -- a cross between the insouciant nature of St. Tropez and the glowing exoticism of Central Asia's Silk Road.

Instead of showcasing breasts and behinds, Gurung tries to get at a woman's core by leaving some things to the imagination. His clothes ooze global sophistication and humble reserve, just like the man himself. In an earlier life, he would be dressing sharp, self-possessed leading ladies like Marlene Dietrich or Katherine Hepburn. He's not doing too shabbily in this one either, having outfitted First Lady Michelle Obama in a red stunner for the White House Correspondent's Dinner last year as well as attracting some of the most promising and put together young starlets in Hollywood--the ones that are fiercely independent and take on challenging roles, not the ones that flash their unmentionables as they drunkenly fall out of L.A. club bathrooms.

From Carey Mulligan and Blake Lively, to Demi Moore and Oprah, Gurung dresses women who are intelligent and passionate about causes beyond themselves, and he does it by choice.

Fashion blogger designs first collection for H&M

H&M, which has worked with top celebrities such as pop icon Madonna, said in a statement on Monday that Swedish fashion blogger Elin Kling had created a minimalist collection to be launched exclusively in Sweden on February 3.

"As one of the largest fashion profiles in Scandinavia, Elin fits our fashion-conscious target audience very well," Sofia Jegerborn, marketing manager at H&M Sweden, said in a statement.

Kling, a stylish girl who shares her colorful outfits on her blog Style By Kling in Sweden, created a capsule of nine pieces and two accessories.

Fashion lovers flocked to the micro-blogging website Twitter to cheer the news as a big leap forward for their community, some wondering who among them would first design an international collection.

"I think it's great news for fashion bloggers -- it really shows the meritocratic nature of the media," London-based blogger Pamplemousse21 told Reuters.

Kling said she had been left free to follow her style.

"The collection is minimalist and raw, but with a clear bohemian element, something that reflects my personal style well," Kling said.

Hennes & Mauritz, Europe's No.2 clothing retailer, reported a 17 percent rise in total sales for November, broadly in line with forecasts.

But fashion retailers are facing pressures from uneven European demand and rising costs of cotton and labor.

it is because the clothes are fabulous

Fur coats, collars and hats have been hallmarks of luxurious winter fashion for hundreds of years. Fur traders were among the earliest explorers and settlers of this area. During most of the 19th and 20th centuries, many women considered a fur coat or stole to be the most desirable of Christmas gifts.

We have climbed into our deep closets and brought out a blizzard of luxurious winter furs. While styles, patterns and materials have danced in and out of fashion, a certain holiday whimsy abides in each garment. This winter, visit the Pink Palace Museum and compare furry fashion rages through the ages in DASHING! Furs and Winter Style on display now:

• A stunning red velvet dress worn by former Pink Palace employee Meredith Pritchartt during her debutante party in the 1950s. “I wore this dress to the Yale Junior Prom,” said Mrs. Pritchartt. “I had a lovely pair of red velvet shoes to wear with it, but they were stolen from me in college.”

• A stately men’s coat of soot-black wool, with a cozy collar of deep brown fur.

• A ball gown with a wintry white tulle skirt and white bodice, spangled with golden sequins, also owned by Mrs. Pritchartt. “This dress was for my debut, in 1954 or ’55,” she remembered. “After World War Two, money was being made in Memphis, the Cotton Carnival was really getting going, times were exciting. It was a great time to be young in Memphis.”

• A festive party outfit of pink silk trousers and a gold and silver blouse, snug under a fur jacket dyed a deep midnight navy blue.

• One Horse Open Sleigh: Joseph Wetter (1844-1927) used this single-horse sleigh when he was a young man in the 1860s and 70s. The style is typical of sleighs made in the mid to late 1800s. It has been restored and given new upholstery.

These and many other examples of festive holiday party wear can been seen in our new display DASHING! Furs and Winter Style, part of the Changing Roles of Women exhibit in the Pink Palace Mansion.

Team Beckham can soon expect another addition

David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, are expecting their fourth child later this year, the former England captain posted Sunday on his Facebook account.

"I've got some great news to tell you all," Beckham wrote. "Victoria and I are expecting our fourth child this summer. The boys are very excited about the arrival of a new brother or sister."

The pair, who married in 1999 and whose celebrity is entrenched on both sides of the Atlantic, already have three boys: Brooklyn, 11; Romeo, 8, and Cruz, 5.

David Beckham has played 115 matches for England — a national record for an outfield player — and captained the team from 2000 to 2006. He played for Manchester United and Real Madrid before joining Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

The 35-year-old Beckham wants to play on loan in Europe in the hope of being recalled to the England team by manager Fabio Capello after having been dropped from the squad in August.

Beckham has previously spent two loan spells at AC Milan, the last of which in 2010 resulted in a five-month injury break after tearing his Achilles tendon, causing him to miss the World Cup and the MLS season.

Victoria Beckham, 36, found fame in the 1990s as a singer with the Spice Girls and has since become a fixture of the fashion circuit.

 

jeans trend for women in fashion

MANILA, Philippines – It is interesting to note that women have been borrowing jeans from men even before 1934. In 1873, clothing brand Levi’s produced its Levi’s 501 original blue jeans, a type of pants built durable enough to endure the active lifestyle of American ranchers of the West. According to Levi’s data, the ranchers’ wives or sisters would also wear the said jeans, foreshadowing the “Boyfriend” jeans trend for women in fashion.

Of course, there was the need to cater to women per se. In 1934, Levi’s came up with the Levi’s 701 line, with the original aim of targeting American women who work in ranches as well. The jeans phenomenon went viral through every decade, with style incarnations such as skinny and flare, among others in every wash possible. Denims have since become a staple in every woman’s wardrobe.

Nowadays, there are a lot of choices that women can choose from. However, the journey to bagging a pair that fits perfectly well can be challenging for most.

“It can be hard,” says Mary Anne Aviles, a technical support staff for a private office based in Manila, “sometimes it takes me hours to find a good pair when shopping.”

Ivy Bernales, a wellness products sales distributor in Bacoor, Cavite, shares the same sentiment. “I look for five pairs in every boutique that I go to,” she relates, “so that’s like trying out 15 pairs if I decide to visit three clothing shops.”

Racel Amurao, a clinical instructor teaching at a university in GMA, Cavite, usually finds it easy to get a decent pair of jeans but says that one has to be patient when looking “for a perfect pair that matches your personality.”

“Finding the perfect fitting pair of jeans is a search that most women dread,” says Jen Jimenez, marketing manager of Levi’s Philippines. Jimenez explains that in a global survey, 54 percent of women “try on at least 10 pairs of jeans to find one pair they would buy.”

“It’s true. I’m one of them,” says Aviles upon learning of the survey, adding that an ideal pair of jeans usually constitutes a “perfect fit, color, feel, and style.” Bernales observes that women are on the lookout for jeans that contour well on the areas of the legs and the derriere.

Women’s curves tend to be varied in form, and Levi’s has identified four common dilemmas with jeans that women often deal with: Muffin Top (overhanging flesh spilling over the waistline), Camel Toe (the crotch’s outline is seen as the result of tight- or ill-fitting pants), Gaper (an open area caused when a smaller waist is paired “with a bigger ‘behind’”), and Sausage Casing (the outcome when one wears “skinny jeans that hug the flesh too tightly”).

“I’m naturally pear-shaped so my waist is smaller in proportion to my hips,” says Agoo Bengzon, a contributing editor for Preview magazine. She furthers that she used to buy jeans an inch bigger than her waist size to “accommodate my hips,” which often gave her a gaping problem behind.

Bengzon, along with some of Manila’s fashion editors and stylists, have been tapped by Levi’s as brand ambassadors for its Curve ID line, jeans that are based on a woman’s shape, and not on her size.

“We believe that all women deserve to be beautiful in their jeans,” says Jimenez, although she mentions that creating good jeans “is not as simple as just measuring a woman’s waist.”

By collaborating with 60,000 women around the world, Levi’s has engineered three Curve ID custom types for every womanly curve possible “using the ratio of a woman’s high hip and seat measurements. The smaller the number, the straighter the body shape. The greater the difference, the curvier the body shape.”

The Slight Curve is apt for straight figures as it defines the waist and accentuates curves through slim fitting the thighs and shaping one’s behind. Meanwhile, the Demi Curve seeks to frame even proportions by flattering the waist and smoothing one’s overall shape. For curvy women, the Bold Curve hugs the waist and eliminates gaping and pulling by providing ample room in the seat and thighs.

For fashion stylist and brand ambassador Alyanna Martinez, the “scientifically designed and measured fit system” behind the Curve ID line has solved the problem of women of all shapes and sizes in terms of finding jeans that fit well. “I was never one to be into wearing denims because I was tired of continuously having to have my pairs altered to fit me perfectly. Now with my perfect pair, I can enjoy my denims stress-free knowing they fit my body perfectly.”

Dept. stores begin 2011 business with lucky bags

Major department stores kicked off business for 2011 on Sunday as crowds of shoppers sought "lucky bags" filled with discount goods and other New Year bargains.

Department stores are hoping the New Year sales will help lead to a recovery in consumption among thrifty consumers.

Mitsukoshi Ltd.'s flagship store in Tokyo's Nihombashi district opened at 9:45 a.m., 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, as many people were lined up in front of the store. As one of the features of its New Year sales, the store was offering lucky bags filled with clothing for 10,500 yen.

Takashimaya Co. prepared luxury lucky bags containing tickets for a cruise tour to the Antarctica, priced at 1.8 million yen, to mark the 180th anniversary of its founding.

The Seibu flagship store in Tokyo's Ikebukuro, meanwhile, offered a series of lucky bags named after recent booms in Japan. They included lucky bags containing outdoor items for "yama (mountain) girls," the nickname for the growing number of women taking to the hills in fashionable garb, and those including lunchbox and other items for "bento danshi," or men who fix their own home-made lunches.

 

Hakeem Olajuwon launches clothing line

Aside from basketball, Hakeem Olajuwon's favorite passion is fashion, from designing his own suits to picking out the best fabrics for a custom creation.

So the former Houston Rockets star turned real-estate mogul has launched his own clothing line, DR34M, aptly named for his Rockets' nickname, The Dream, and his team number.

Olajuwon, who lives in Jordan, was recently in Houston to meet with fans and show off pieces from his line.

DR34M currently includes men's jerseys, polo shirts and jeans, and Olajuwon hopes to expand into women's and children's wear. The line is available at dr34m.com, with select pieces at houstonrockets shop.com. Jeans are $135; polos, $85; and T-shirts, $55.

"This isn't new," Olajuwon said, while showing a vibrant-colored vest and scarf he had created more than 15 years ago. "Even during my rookie year, I was going to fabric stores to pick out fabrics. They determine what I would want to make. I've always liked that creativity."

The Dream actually sews?

Well, no, he said.

But he selects the fabrics and adds his creative spin on the design.

"I know what I want," he said. "When I look at fabrics, I know what I want when I see it. I've always loved fashion from my childhood growing up in Lagos (Nigeria). Fashion was something that was very big. We would go to the extreme of trying to find something unique so we would be the trendsetter."

Olajuwon said his favorite fabrics are cashmere and linen, though neither are used in his clothing line. He said he avoided using polyester in crafting the pieces.

"It doesn't breathe. All the pieces in the line are made of cotton and breathable, so you can smell yourself," he said, chuckling.

"I don't like to wear things that everyone else wears. I've always wanted to be different."

TO the world's most famous kids, dressing well is child's play

Romeo Beckham has just been named one of Britain's most stylish men - at the age of EIGHT.

England ace David's boy was just ten places below his style icon dad, 35, in the list compiled by men's mag GQ.

But he is not the only A-list brat to swap Mothercare for Missoni with designer clothes and accessories.

From Shiloh Jolie-Pitt to Suri Cruise, see our pick of the top 10 tot-ally on-trend celebrity children.

1. Romeo Beckham
We all love a celebrity mini-me and Romeo, 8, is fast becoming the spit of his trendy dad, David.

Blending blazers with lower key label tees, Romeo loves the Californian look of jeans, cap and must-have trainers.

2. Suri Cruise
Tom Cruise is a big fan of his fashion-forward daughter, Suri, four.

"She's got great taste. She tells me what to wear," he said.

This comes as zero surprise from the girl who wears silver kitten heels in the rain.

From flamenco dresses to designer bags, little Suri gives us a fashion eyeful almost every day of the year and we love the diddy diva for it.

3. Willow Smith
There's fierce pre-teen fashion ... and then there's Willow Smith.

So cutting edge it makes our head spin, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's youngest dresses like no ten-year-old we know.

But we love the Whip My Hair singer all the same.

a Crash Course in Modern Fashion

If you missed the last two decades in fashion, here’s your chance to catch up. “The Idealized History of Contemporary Fashion Vol. 2,” the second of a two-part exhibition that looks back at contemporary fashion history, runs through May 8 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs .

The curators of the show, Olivier Saillard and Bernadette Caille, have chosen to celebrate the works of 30 creators, working for renowned houses or in their own name. The result is a vibrant array of 150 selections, as well as the photos and videos of the most emblematic designs and moments of 20 years of collections.

The first volume of this project, on show earlier this year, reassessed the trends of the 1970s, known as the “decade that taste forgot,” and of the 1980s, marked by an explosion of glamor and creativity. Following this period of glitz, the 1990s saw fashion grow more mature, cerebral and business-oriented; globalization brought a new professional side to the industry.

“By this point, to be a designer is also to be a businessman,” Mr. Saillard said.

Global tragedies in the 2000s darkened the excitement of the new century. The fashion world felt the effects of these events, which forced the industry to opt for discretion over extravagance. “The 2000s seemed to opted for a rather back-to-basics approach,” Ms. Caille said.

The show celebrates the work of several groups of designers. The Belgian School, led by Martin  Margiela, Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester, put theier stamp on fashion with a conceptual and radical approach, loaded with originality and delicacy. The Japanese modernism of Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto gained momentum. And the minimalist designs of Adeline André and Helmut Lang contrasted with the provocative and over-the-top designs of John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood of the English School.

The exhibition closes with emblematic creations by Balenciaga’s Nicolas Ghesquière and Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz, who both perfectly exemplify sophistication with their quasi-scientific approach to fashion. “They both perpetuate the tradition and excellence of their respective house,” Ms. Caille said, “with exquisite craftsmanship in their couture collections.”

Pirelli calendar tries a fresh look, but has Italy moved on?

Feminists in macho Italy hope it could be the end of the road for raunchy Pirelli-style calendars amid claims the country is ditching the traditional nude for worthier charity varieties.

Stealing the limelight from flesh-filled publications, with their bare-breasted models splayed over the bonnets of red Ferraris, it is claimed, are a host of calendars that are being sold for the benefit of good causes.

The latest Marie Claire calendar leads the way, featuring Fabrizio Ferri portraits of 12 up-and-coming actresses, including Micaela Ramazzotti, Francesca Inaudi and Vittoria Puccini – all with their clothes on. Proceeds will go to the charity D.i.Re, which campaigns against domestic violence.

Also in the works is a calendar of women MPs to raise awareness of eating disorders; and even one encouraging the adoption of stray dogs.

These might sound less like sure-fire winners than the tried-and-trusted fleshpot formula of the Pirelli calendar and its many imitators. But some are optimistic. "Everyone is so over the gratuitous display of naked bodies," said Italian fashion designer Guillermo Mariotto, adding that people expected a little more wit and variety these days. "There's a cute one with fake priests, which I've given to friends in Northern Europe," he said.

However, the Italian press said the switch from raunchy calendars to charity products reflected not just the long-awaited arrival of women's rights in Italy, but also the failure of calendar makers to attract big names to strip off or pose in bikinis in recent years.

Instead it seems that little-known starlets and Big Brother participants are having to fill in for genuine celebrities; in the past, celebrated actresses such as Monica Bellucci posed for sexy calendars. "Real actresses don't pose in the nude anymore because it's no longer a novelty, but an inflated phenomenon for B-list models," Mr Marriotto told the news agency Ansa.

But it is probably premature to write off the Pirelli calendar just yet, with news that the tyre-maker is seeking to re-invent the product by replacing sex with old-style Hollywood glamour.

According to the blurb, the 2011 calendar will ditch cleavages on sports cars for "a fresh take on classical beauty with Karl Lagerfeld's collection of sumptuous shots inspired by Greek mythology".

The German fashion designer and photographer dressed the Hollywood actress Julianne Moore and 20 other models – including five men – in golden laurel wreaths and body paint for the latest edition of the calendar.

"It's necessary to return to a certain disciplined form of beauty and I adore the goddesses because they were the first liberated women, who had the right to everything," Lagerfeld said, with a straight face, to reporters during the official launch in Moscow.

Lagerfeld, who designs for Chanel, Fendi and his own fashion house, portrayed Moore as the Greek deity Hera. As befits the queen of the gods and a Hollywood A-lister, she was allowed to keep her clothes on. Something that can't be said for many of the other models, who appear in a more traditional Italo-Pirellian style.

The calendar was first launched by Pirelli in 1964 and quickly became a big success thanks to its glamorous and scantily clad women and "artistic nudes" shot against exotic backdrops.

Sienna Miller, Cindy Crawford and Sophia Loren are among the models and actresses who have posed for the publication, which is not sold but given away as a corporate gift. The limited availability has seen many editions become collector's items.