Dress For Less With Designer Flare

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Spring 2008 is all about the feminine look and lots of color. This year designer Alexander McQueen focused a portion of his collection on the dress with a drop waist. This look is fantastic for spring because of it’s ease and beauty. The drop waist adds an element of casual elegance, a sort of toss all cares to the wind style that still leaves you looking gorgeous and feeling free. This design is non-constricting and allows for freedom of movement, like your favorite satin negligée, but you can wear it in public. Pair the drop waist dress with round toe black patent pumps for special occasions or a sexy daytime look, for days when a little more comfort is required slip on black patent flats.



The dress shown above is an Alexander McQueen design and retails for $1,500. I have to say I love this design, but if that price tag is looking a little steep for you try out the dress below. Retailing at $20.90 from Forever 21, while it is obviously not the same design, you can create the same feeling you see in the Alexander McQueen. Forever 21 also has chic round toe pumps for $21.80, or be a stand out in an Audrey Hepburn inspired look with these gorgeous buckle trim flats. Don’t forget the oversized black rim sunglasses!

Because the themes of this spring are not only feminine, but also colorful make sure to add a dash of pigment to your outfit. If you are wearing a black and white pairing, like this one, add color with your eyeshadow. Urban Decay’s Matte Shadow in Narcotic (a bright turquoise, left) is a perfect pick for that Ready-To-Wear runway look.

(Images Courtesy Neiman Marcus, Forever 21, Urban Decay)

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Ponytails For Spring

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Cameron Diaz’s ponytail is all at once cute, sassy, and sophisticated, making it the perfect accessory for those days when you need something that’s both beautiful and fast. Adding a ponytail to your ensemble brings an element of playfulness, but it’s important to keep it looking cosmopolitan, not girly.

So what makes this ponytail so special? Its the combination of waves, volume and side swept bangs that create a modern twist. Try this look with jeans and heals or your favorite little black dress.

To create this look start by applying a leave in conditioner on the ends of your hair, this is important to keep your tail looking pretty and polished. Next spritz a few pumps of a heat protecting spray (my favorite is Sedu Protecting Boost) and ghd’s Sea Spray for Matte Waves. The protecting spray will make sure your locks stay shiny throughout your blow dry and this waves spray is fantastic for making light sexy waves. To add volume smooth on Fat Hair Lotion from ghd, this product adds medium hold and packs a ton of body into your main. Make sure to apply these products before you blow dry, they are all heat activated.

Now you’re ready for your blow out. For this look don’t use a straightener, you want a bit of wave. For slight waves use a concentrator attachment or for added wave use a diffuser. Now that you have a nice wave and great volume, pull your hair back just above the nape of your neck. Use a fabric covered rubber band to protect your hair from breakage. To complete the look take a small chunk from the ponytail and wrap it around the rubber band several times. A few bobby pins will hold the strands wrapped around the band in place. Finish with a few pumps of a shine spray, Aveda’s Brilliant Spray-On Shine is so easy and smells wonderful. A spray shine is a great tool because you don’t have to touch the hair after you apply it, just spritz and go.

If you have fringe bangs for the purposes of this look, leave them slightly messy with the use of a light pomade. Put a little on your finger tips and lightly work the product through your bangs motioning back and forth from just below the roots to the ends. For side swept bangs spray a little more of the ghd Sea Spray for Matte Waves on your bangs and scrunch them a little. This adds a light hold and a bit more wave.

Add your favorite sunglasses and a fabulous bracelet - you’re off looking chic, confident and fun!

(Image Courtesy Just Jared)

Renee Zellweger and Cameron Diaz:
Best In Oscar Fashion 2008

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The Oscars this year looked more like a funeral than a celebration of the years best in film. Perhaps this was due to the respect actors wanted to give the writers, the strike only recently being declared settled. Whatever the reason the dresses were a sea of black, red and white and considerably lacking in creativity. I counted only four other colors floating around the buzzing cameras and while black and red can be quite elegant the ensembles were, I’m sorry to say, boring. Most were fitted sheathes flowing to the ground with little or no detail and what looked like over sized corsages on the shoulders. With the amount of colorful designs on the way this Spring you would think the designers would have produced a more delightful array for the catwalk of everything Hollywood.

The one dress that saved the evening was a nineteen-forties inspired gown designed by the illustrious Carolina Herrera and worn by Renee Zellweger. Recalling dresses worn by sirens of the silver screen like Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable, Ms. Zellweger’s execution of the idea was one of flawless modern elegance. Her short haircut, the latest “it” style, frames her face perfectly and the side swept bangs make the look effortless and pretty. Note this look is accented only by fabulous bracelets, once again cultivating a breathtaking modern image.

Also worth mentioning is the ponytail, an Oscar favorite this year. Cameron Diaz carried this off wonderfully using beach waves and side swept bangs to add volume and texture to this classic fashion. This type of texture makes the ponytail look fresh and sophisticated, making this one of the best tools to spruce up your forthcoming Spring 2008 wardrobe.

~ Check back tomorrow for the How To on this hot ponytail look!

(Images Courtesy Just Jared, Jeff Vespa)

Sephora.com, Inc.

Diet Tips For The Sweet Tooth

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If your cravings for something sweet are stopping you from shedding those last five pounds (or keeping them off), try frozen Cool Whip Lite or Free . This fantastic little secret from the South Beach Diet will cut down on your calorie intake and satisfy your need for something yummy. Store the Cool Whip in the freezer and snack on this when you feel the munchies coming on for something sugary. As a substitute for flavored ice cream try Cool Whip in Chocolate, Strawberry, and French Vanilla. At 25 calories per serving, or 15 for Cool Whip Free, your last five pounds won’t stand a chance!

(Image Courtesy Kraft Cool Whip)

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