Jun 30, 2011

The palette was almost entirely black and white.

The palette was almost entirely black and white.

A handful of the outfits were costumey — particularly a double-breasted coat that she called the Abingdon Road coat and a pair of matching short shorts. Stefani might be able to pull this off onstage, but the average woman would have trouble wearing it, no matter how cute it looked on the runway. Overall, though, Stefani, along with stylist Andrea Lieberman,The business where inflation counts offered several looks that were in step with her young, hip customer, including a military-inspired jacket with a peekaboo neckline worn with a plaid pleated dress and a houndstooth beaded shift dress with a pleated cape jacket.
Marchesa is a label that has quickly become a big player on the red carpet. It went for drama with its newest collection.
“That’s a goddess dress,” gushed Candy Pratts Price, executive fashion editor at Style.com, when she spotted a long, black, lace-and-tulle slipdress with embroidery, an ivory underlay and ribbon detail at the empire waist.
A strapless gown made of tulle and covered with gold embroidery was equally impressive, maintaining an appearance of delicacy under a hefty amount of metal.
Pratts Price also noted a group of Indian-inspired outfits decorated with gold applique details. Many of the colors seemed rooted in the spices of the region, including lemongrass and saffron.
However, one of the most noteworthy gowns was a magenta strapless gown that mimicked an unfurling flower, with uneven petals of fabric. The gown surely would be stunning on one of Keren Craig and Georgina Champman’s starlet fans, but one has to wonder how that wearer would ever be able to sit.

Jun 27, 2011

The business where inflation counts

Young entrepreneur quits the dry world of finance for something more whimsical and romantic

BEIJING - Confident, beautiful and romantically ambitious, balloon decorator Hu Xinying has much in common with her business.
The sweet-smiling, mellow-voiced 27-year-old typical Beijing girl always dresses like the chic models that appear in the top fashion magazines.
Using her talent in design and fashion, the young woman opened a balloon-decoration store, the first of its kind in the capital, in 2009, creating stunning balloon designs for weddings, birthday parties or other romantic occasions.
"There was something in my childhood that suggested that I would be working with balloons when I took out my old albums and they were full of photos of balloons," said Hu.
The girl still remembers that during her childhood her father frequently bought her balloons from gray-haired vendors who wheeled their bikes and trollies along streets, through residential communities and around parks. Drunken Brawls? No Will and Kate?   
"These balloons were of very poor quality and they easily burst," she said. "I cried every time it happened and asked my father to buy me a new one."
The seemingly ordinary graduate began work at an investment firm as a manager after taking a degree in international business and trade. She was not happy with this new chapter in her life, finding no pleasure in dry figures and charts.
Like the majority of urban young Chinese women, she kept to the same daily routines from office to home, with the occasional party with friends thrown in.
However, Hu possessed rebellious genes and didn't want her imagination left to waste away. "I was really tortured because I had a lot of ideas in my brain but no channel through which to release them," she said.

Jun 23, 2011

Drunken Brawls? No Will and Kate?

Royal Ascot Is Not What It Used to Be!
LONDON—My, my, my, the 300-year-old Royal Ascot is certainly not like it was in the olden days. Upon disembarking their train to the horse race, which took place from June 14 to 18, visitors were met by a sea of scalpers crowing, “Buy or sell any tickets; buy or sell any tickets.” Thursday, Ladies’ Day, was as usual the most entertaining of the week’s events(First lady shimmers in Naeem Khan gown at state dinner). There were many familiar faces in the crowd, including Princess Eugenie, looking svelte and hand-in-hand with her boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank. As to be expected, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended each day. No sign of the Duke or Duchess of Cambridge, but Carole Middleton did not miss the opportunity to join the Queen, riding behind her in a horse-drawn carriage for the Ladies’ Day Royal procession.

Traditionally Ladies’ Day is most dramatic because of the outfits—the female attendees wear hats so large and bulbous only a Faustian bargain with gravity keeps them on. But this year’s excitement was of a different making: a group of eight grown men, seemingly friends, got into a drunken dispute over a 20-something blonde. One minute they were chatting next to the Victorian bandstand, and the next they were rolling around on the ground in a brawl that involved chair legs, a £98 bottle of Laurent Perrier, and various members’ being bitten and kicked. Blood-encrusted, unfortunately, does not fall within the Ascot dress code.
But even the Royal Enclosure is not nearly as exclusive as it once was. Now, new members may be sponsored by anyone who has attended [Ascot, or sat in the Royal Enclosure?] four times in the past. This is a change from the former, far stricter rule that required sponsorship from two members who had both been for the last seven years consecutively. And although entry to the Grandstand (the tier of tickets below the Royal Enclosure) is not exactly cheap—£54 for the ticket alone—let’s just say, buy yourself some stocks in fake eyelashes, spray tan, and push-up bras, and we may yet be able to dig ourselves out of this economic slump.

Jun 21, 2011

First lady shimmers in Naeem Khan gown at state dinner

On one of the first hot, summer-weather evenings of the season in Washington, Michelle Obama turned up the glamour with her dress choice for Tuesday night's state dinner at the White House in honor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Mrs. Obama shimmered in an all-over embellished gown by Naeem Khan. It was an ivory, V-neck column dress embellished with silver beads, white sequins and metallic thread in a geometric pattern — and she's back to what seems like her favorite seasonal sleeveless look, which shows off her famously toned arms.
Khan also designed the gown Mrs. Obama wore to the first state dinner she and President Barack Obama hosted for the Indian prime minister in 2009. Thursday's look, in fact, was reminiscent of that outfit — which was considered a style success.
She accessorized with gold bangle bracelets by Alexis Bittar.

"You know she's going to make fashion statement — and you know it's going to be quirky or a little flamboyant — but it matches her vibrant and joyful personality," said fashion commentator Mary Alice Stephenson, who consults for Khan and helps style the designer's runway shows. "It's happy fashion. You want to look at it."

Stephenson said Khan is a good choice for Mrs. Obama because he can convey sophistication without losing a little wink and nod to the fantasy of fashion. "Like Mrs. Obama, his clothes are alive. ... They're classics but tweaked."
His signature beading provides the exclamation point that Mrs. Obama likes to add to her outfits, Stephenson said.

White looks regal on the first lady — especially on an otherwise clean silhouette, she said.

Jun 17, 2011

Japan to businessmen: Shed suits, save energy

The Japanese government wants the country's suit-loving salarymen to be bold this summer. Ditch the stuffy jacket and tie. And for the good of a country facing a power crunch, go light and casual.

Japan's "Super Cool Biz" campaign kicked off Wednesday with a government-sponsored fashion show featuring outfits appropriate for the office yet cool enough to endure the sweltering heat.
This summer may be especially brutal. The loss of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which was crippled by the March 11 tsunami, means electricity could be in short supply around the nation's capital, Tokyo, during especially hot days.

To prevent blackouts, the government is asking companies and government offices to cut electricity usage by 15 percent. It wants companies to limit air conditioning and set room temperatures at a warm 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit).

The idea isn't new. "Cool Biz" was introduced in 2005 by the environment minister at the time, Yuriko Koike. The campaign was part of efforts to fight global warming.

But with Japan dealing with an ongoing nuclear crisis and the aftermath of a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami, officials decided they needed to take Cool Biz one step further this year.
"When we started Cool Biz in 2005, people said it was undignified and sloppy," Koike said at the fashion show held at a Tokyo department store. "But this is now the sixth year, and people have grown accustomed to it."Surveys by the Cabinet Office indicate that companies are gradually jumping on board. In a 2009 nationwide poll, 57 percent of about 2,000 respondents reported that Cool Biz had been implemented in their workplaces. The figure stood at 47 percent two years earlier and at less than a third in 2005.

Jun 15, 2011

Newcomers Michele Bachmann And Rick Perry: A Shakeup Or Just Stirring The Pot?

Michele Bachmann made it official on Monday night -- she’s running -- and although Rick Perry has yet to do so, he seems headed in that direction, saying in an interview yesterday that he’s “giving it serious thought.”

What the Minnesota GOP congresswoman and the Republican governor of Texas have in common is that their candidacies -- real and potential -- have been sending shockwaves through the party and the rest of the 2012 field.

In many ways a Perry candidacy is a no-brainer. He fills the Tea Party niche well. He'd be the most prominent southerner in the contest. He doesn't have to give up his current job to run. He's got a good story to tell about the Texas economy. And his potential weaknesses aren't disqualifying. Top questions for Perry include whether he'd be able to raise the money and whether he can build organizations in the early states from scratch.

As a nominee for the party, however, he's got more serious liabilities. His Tea Party rhetoric and Texas swagger can turn off independent swing voters. And, if you close your eyes and listen to him speak, you'd swear it was George W. Bush. His accent, cadence and pronunciations are almost identical.
Yesterday, Perry gave his first national interview since he began hinting at a presidential run, assuring Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto that six weeks ago the presidential race was “not on his radar screen.” Now Perry said, he is “giving it serious thought.” But there’s no hurry, he added, saying that a decision could come within the next month. “We have some time,” he said.
Perry was in New York City on Tuesday speaking at a GOP Lincoln Day dinner and he planned to meet this morning with former mayor and once and possibly future presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.

Jun 14, 2011

Getting the cheap but the right prom dresses for your prom night

The word cheap has had a bad connotation in the past, but it only makes sense when shopping sometimes today. The economy of today calls for frugality, so shopping for bargains is a way of life. This is especially true when you think of spending hundreds of dollars for a special occasion dress that will only be worn once or twice. Surely there has to be a better way to get ready for a special night out than to go thousands of dollars in debt.

The girl going to the prom who is Internet savvy will be able to find really lovely prom dresses, some for even less than 30 dollars. Cheap prom dresses do not have to look cheap or second rate. Give an inexpensive dress a little lift by adding a few details of the dresses that cost thousands of dollars. Make your outfit special with special shoes that make you look like a dream. Add jewelry and a bag or purse that have unique details. Choose an individual ensemble that definitely says your name and reflects your personality. You will be the envy of the prom if you accent the details of your outfit with some pearls or crystal beads or other specialty items. Add a luxurious wrap or shawl for warmth on a chilly spring night and you give the outfit a lift into the extraordinary.

Many bridal and formal stores offer a full range of prices on their garments. Some formal stores will reduce last year’s design to a really affordable price and the average person does not look at prom dresses and say:“that is an old design” or “that is the last year’s color”. When you are in the prom dress of your choice, with a beautiful smile, terrific hair and makeup, your cheap prom dress could be the gown of a princess. Other sources for savings are consignment shops where you may find a dress from a name brand designer selling for just a few dollars.

Cheap prom dresses can also make you feel beautiful. Use common sense for buying dresses and keep in mind that your own beauty is what really makes the look for the evening.

Cheap Formal Dress - How To Impress Them Even You Spend Little

How to make an impression in a cheap formal dress? You will get your answer right here. There are plenty of events every year one needs or desires to attend and of course we can't at all times present ourselves in the identical (even though it may be lovely) gown, nor do we want to. But what are you to do when it's a must to keep your budget in mind? Of course you want to look impressive, dazzling, beautiful and fashionable, but the hundred dollar bills aren't growing in your purse, especially not a number of occasions a year, for that dance, and the wedding, where you're going to be a bride's maid, and what was the other thing . . ., right, that nice party you have been invited to, where something semi-formal would be the very best fit (and semi-formal doesn't equal semi-price-tag)

When you do the mathematics you determine quite quickly that all of this won't fit into your budget in any way with a standard price range. (Not doing the math, will get you into a great deal of trouble by the end of the month.) But take heart, there are many choices out there for cheap formal dresses.
You might wish to look into pre-owned attire, should you're planning on utilizing the dress just once, most of the time the prices are a bargain and typically you find a real treasure. Even though a bit of work could also be involved in finding the right one in your size, it's worth checking into.
Sales are also great to take advantage of. There are so many sales events all year long at many shops, where you will get a cheap formal dress. (The only problem is that oftentimes the sales aren't scheduled to combine with the occasions you intend on attending). A little planning ahead can be involved, however may save you quite a bit of money.
Buying your cheap formal dresss on-line can also be an choice that could save you a whole lot of time AND money. That way you get something new in the newest vogue, with a lot of choices. You even get the choice of colour and type of fabric for lots of the models. Quite a number of of those stores have tailoring services to make the attire to your measurements. It'd add a bit to the price, but in some occasions it is well worth the small investment.

Jun 13, 2011

Who Said Cheap Prom Dresses Can't Make Dreams Come True?

The prom has become the first significant event inside a young person's everyday life whereby it marks the finish of the years in school. Perhaps turning up with the right date is the status symbol as influence in the entertainment industry coupled with pressure from peers expects no less than the cheerleader walking in, arm in arm, using the sports hero. Unless one is blessed with a gold card, most of the young ladies home in on cheap prom dresses as if a heat-seeking missile.

If one is able to maintain some degree of practicality whilst choosing a cheap Prom Dresses , it's naturally logical to purchase one to suit other occasions. Albeit no one wants to be caught recycling a dress, some wise choosing is called for. And a dress, the prom night entails other outlays for example matching shoes and purse, hair-do, make-up, nails and the like. Over time, these necessities tally to some fair sum. Consider sale periods and stock up when the prices are at their finest. This avoids the element of waiting before eleventh hour since it gives rise to rash purchases. Some compromise is ultimately called for to create a general result of elegance and good taste without wiping out one's savings.
The internet is generally the perfect marketplace to source for cheap prom dresses. Whether or not they are new or worn once, the selection is vast and certain to suit the finickiest consumer. Alternatively, some cities promote an area exchange program whereby peoples all quarters come together for any giant swap meet of sorts. Dress exchanges have grown to be popular as most people are always looking for new attire without hefty prices. Community projects which enlist the participation of boutiques and dress retailers secure donations of dresses whereby underprivileged students are presented with the opportunity to exhibit up at their prom night in beautiful clothes.

Jun 10, 2011

How to choose formal dresses

A formal dress can make the lady much more elegant, and when gentlemen are in business suits, ladies also wear dress suits or "good" afternoon dresses. As we can image, there are more than thousands of different little formal gown available in your nearby boutique store or online shops, so try to have some styles or suitable ones in mind before you go shopping in the weekend, or else you will waist more time and energy in the aimless wondering.
There are so many kinds and styles of formal dresses, all girls want to attract the attention of all people when they wear a formal dress. As we know, wearing a dress that suits body type is no doubt essential, but dressing complementary with occasion is also very important to look the best. As the result, the real essence of a suitable dressing comes out not only for the design but also when it is worn according to the type of occasion.

If you attend in a formal party, you should wear a formal dress. If you want to be the prom queen, you need to choose a right prom dress, which is of great importance for you. A floor length dress would be the best choice especially during formal evening occasions. On the other occasions, if you are invited to a formal party like business parties, you also need a formal dress. You can go for any like backless long dress, strapless long dress, and so on. To sum up, whatever kind of party you are going to have, you should wear comfortably and wear according to the occasion.
Besides a good dress, wearing some earrings would be a great option, too. You can even use some items of jewelry. It looks wonderful, especially with halter dresses and bare shoulders. The colors for formal dresses are rich. Black, red, or some bright color will help you to stand out among so many beauties in an occasion. But please remember that when you wear little black dresses you should make them go with your skin tone.
Formal dresses will give you an elegant looking, whenever you want to show how sexy and hot you are, or show your fashion and anything else, you can choose the formal dress.

Jun 9, 2011

Cheap party dress: inexpensive, customized and comfortable

Cheap party dress is for different occasions. One can do the shopping in dress store or online.  With variety in design, material, color, and even decorative attachments, there are some preferred colors for certain occasions. Ladies party dresses are worn for informal, semi formal and even formal occasions. They are acceptable everywhere because only the price is cheap and that does not show in the dress.   Some of them are really gorgeous. Evening dress and cocktail dress can form part of one's cheap party dress. The dress designers take care that different designs of dresses are available to suit different occasion. A woman wearing a red party dress can look very formally dressed even if the occasion may not be fully formal. A woman can have a good collection of ladies party dresses and will have the pleasure of wearing a different dress for every party she attends.

Cheap party dress and ladies party dresses come in different colors and some fabulous designs. Green and emerald greens seem to be the favorite colors of women of party dress. Some believe that the color indicates money. The designs are fabulous and any women can choose any design that suits her taste. Many good materials are used for making the dresses, including silk and other soft fabrics. Several stores marketing fashion dresses offer cheap party dress. Designs vary from the common looking to the trendy strapless and deep V front. These are used as evening dresses. There are special dresses for used marriages etc; in summer. There are floor length dresses, single shoulder strap dresses, strapless ruche dresses

The designs are so many and various. It is an irony that many of the dresses have attractive decorative attachments and even small jewelry embedded on it. The design is so good that they will attract women with expensive taste and contempt for anything called cheap. A lot of embroidery, add attraction and glamour to many of the dresses. It is quite easy to choose and buy a cheap party dress because whatever available in the market can be purchased online.  Any women can a have a fabulous collection of party dresses.

Jun 6, 2011

Get the trick of finding pretty cheap prom dresses

A prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of junior and/or senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students. Where can you find cheap beautiful prom dresses benefit both your style and budget? Below are some tips to find cheap prom dresses.
How much time do you save for your dress? What is your price range? If you waited into the last minute, your solutions are narrower, but don't panic at this time! You need to give consideration to these factors before making plan, since it won't aid to order a dress should you have only 2 weeks departed.

Do shopping online. Consider looking on eBay affiliate network, Craigslist, newspaper classifieds, and second-hand shops. If it arises from out of state, your family members are never going to learn the dress is second-hand. Another great online store is Weddingdressesinlove which offers many kinds of cheap prom dresses. Red prom dresses and strapless sweetheart prom dresses are sales better in all products. Here it also provides custom-made wedding dress with high quality from China, cheap bridesmaid dresses, cocktail dresses, etc. Dresses are very affordable.

If you always haven't found something, rent a dress. You can rent a dress in the fraction of the asking price of buying one. A good spot for a look is a wedding dress shop. Bridesmaid dresses are really the same as prom dresses, depending for the style you had on your mind. Sometimes, bridal shops will certainly sell previous try-on brand dresses very cheaply, especially if they no longer sell that model.

Jun 2, 2011

Cheap party dress: inexpensive, customized and comfortable

Cheap means less costly but when used a single word it gets meaning of worthless. Cheap party dress does not come under this category. It only means that money need not be wasted without check for buying dresses which are used once a while only. Ladies party dresses are essential for any household. Many colors and designs are available in the stores and online. A red dress holds a fascination of its own because of the color catches everyone's attention.
Cheap party dress is for different occasions. One can do the shopping in dress store or online.  With variety in design, material, color, and even decorative attachments, there are some preferred colors for certain occasions. Ladies party outfits are worn for informal, semi formal and even formal occasions. They are acceptable everywhere because only the price is cheap and that does not show in the dress.   Some of them are really gorgeous. Evening dress and cocktail dress can form part of one's cheap dress. The dress designers take care that different designs of dresses are available to suit different occasion. A woman can have a good collection of ladies outfits and will have the pleasure of wearing a different dress for every party she attends.
Cheap party dress and ladies party dresses come in different colors and some fabulous designs. Green and emerald greens seem to be the favorite colors of women of party dress. Some believe that the color indicates money. The designs are fabulous and any women can choose any design that suits her taste. Many good materials are used for making the dresses, including silk and other soft fabrics. Several stores marketing fashion outfits offer cheap  outfits. A woman wearing a red party dress can look very formally dressed even if the occasion may not be fully formal.Designs vary from the common looking to the trendy strapless and deep V front. These are used as evening outfits. There are special dresses for used marriages etc; in summer. There are floor length dresses, single shoulder strap dresses, strapless ruche dresses

Jun 1, 2011

The Cheap Debs Dresses

Low-cost blue promenade clothes can nonetheless be elegant and acceptable for ceremonial events if the main points are paid further particular consideration to. Manufacturers replicate the blue dresses or robes that they see in fashion magazines or on the purple carpet.

So long as the dress seems elegant, then this is superb for any lady who will probably be on a glance out for a gown for her promenade night.
The instrument you need with a purpose to get the cheap blue prom dresses that you want is already in front of you. Flip to the Internet to find the prom gown that you are trying for.
Just because it is formal, it does not mean that it cannot be cheap. Formal dress kinds are just about impressed by any costume however replicated in a chic means and used cheaper materials, thus the cheaper price.
Then again, it's also possible to accessorize and make the costume extra elegant than it already looks.
We recommend that you just do your homework first before you go for it. Examine the pictures that had been uploaded by the producers and carefully have a look at the situation of the dresses.
Ask the seller and question you deep appropriate. You may as well request for added pictures. These will show you how to together with your decision.
There have been circumstances of ordering low cost blue prom attire on-line, solely to be disillusioned as a result of the quality of the costume that you just noticed over the web is not the precise factor that you are holding the very minute you open the box.
Just as it is the similar once you open the box and are stunned that the dress is more elegant than what you pictured it to be.