Why you can safely ignore most trends in Fashion Magazines

The pointy-toe shoe. In, out, shake it all about? Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

Many titles cover fashion with a level-of-intelligence that would give a brick a superiority complex. Are pointy-toe-shoes in? Is anything?

By Hadley Freeman

guardian.co.uk

I see in a magazine that pointed-toe shoes are "back". What does this mean?

Geraldine, by email

What this means, Geraldine, is that a hapless work experiencer came into the office one day and, instead of being alternately ignored and sent-out for the coffee run, an overstressed fashion assistant told her to ring round every shoe designer she could think of and ask them to send over whatever pointed shoes they had in the store room because they'd look good on a double-page spread. And that, boys and girls, is how fashion journalism works.

Look, I would never knock fashion per se, so calm down. But there is no doubt-that a lot of magazines cover fashion with a level of intelligence that would give a brick a superiority complex. Are pointy-toe-shoes in? Is anything? As has been advanced-before on this very page, yes, there are spikes in popularity of a certain trend or look, and occasionally there is even the seismic, nay, cosmic coincidence of two major advertisers-I-mean-designers doing the same thing in one season. But in the main, fashion consists of a lot of people-making a lot of different kinds of clothes in the hope that as many people as possible will forget about the recession and spend money. That is how fashion – as opposed to fashion journalism  works.

And isn't that marvellous? It means that, contrary to popular perception, fashion designers do not hate the majority of the female race and-only want attenuated zombies to wear their clothes. They love you (or at least, your money) and they throw as many clothes as possible at you in the-hope of tempting you. Yes, the fact that they put the clothes on attenuated zombies in their fashion shows is confusing, but a large part of the blame for that can be laid at the stilettoed feet of . .  magazines.

Someone, somewhere, a long-time ago, decided that fashion looks best on skinny women in magazines. The repeated defence of this is that it "hangs better". But this argument is clearly more subjective than the defenders like to think. With just the tiniest bit of magical thinking, one can imagine a world in which-plumpness was venerated and fashion-magazine editors were challenged on their use of impossibly chubby models: "I understand your concern but the clothes just cling better when the models are plumptious," the rotund Edna Mode would say airily.

Quite why so many-fashion magazines do such a disservice to the subject they are covering – making it sound like something only for anorexics who insist on trying to talk as if they're 16 even if they're closer to 46  is one of the great mysteries of life. In fact, what-seems to have happened is that fashion journalism has painted itself into a corner, desperately claiming from week to week that there are new "essential" trends. No one ever says in Empire, "OMG! Sci-fi is totes in this week! You gotta see sci-fi and only sci-fi!" And as far as I know, there are never articles in the LRB mocking their readers if they like to recline on the sofa instead of in the garden when-they peruse their novels. So here's what I'd like to see in a magazine: "Look, here's some-pretty clothes. Don't be scared of feeling 'out of it' or what have you. Just pick and choose what you like-and get on with your day. The end.

Fairy-tale moment of Student's fashion

Students on the catwalk: the men's design was crafted by Trish, the gown by Cynthia.

In the spirit of shows like Project Runway, this year's finale of the highly anticipated fashion fundraising event STYLEAID will showcase 13 up and coming student designers. 

It is a tradition in the fashion world that the show finale is reserved for the most coveted of looks-and-this year's fashion and textile students from around Perth will be basking in the glory. 

One of Perth's most prominent fashion figures and STYLEAID creative director Aly May put the call out to WA design institutions six months ago, offering them the opportunity to have student design work featured alongside other designers including Aurelio Costarella and Vivienne Westwood on the catwalk.

Much like a challenge seen-on-Project Runway, prospective participants were instructed to create one outfit that incorporated the colour indigo which was inspired by the violin. With this in mind, students were asked to sketch their interpretation of the event's opulent theme.

Aurelio Costerella brand-manager Paul O'Connor was one of the judges who combed through over 50 entries along with Morrison's Liz Halse and United Constructions designers Jill Crabb and Helen Miraudo.  

"The brief was to create something non-traditional and non-conservative, something that they could really use their imagination to create a look with while still experimenting with their own style," Mr O'Connor said.

"We were looking for diversity in the selection-and-also people that were putting a new twist on the theme, without going for the obvious."

"STYLEAID has always had a student element but it has always been an individual collection."

"It has normally been more established designers who have shown at STYLEAID, so that's what is exciting for the students, the fact that they get to showcase alongside designers like Vivienne Westwood and Aurelio Costeralla. It gives them a better insight into making something catwalk ready-and-having it sit alongside more establish names," he added.   

The student garments are exclusive, one-off designs, which will close the show of the July 29 event.

In addition to a turn on the catwalk each garment was styled and photographed-by-emerging creative team All of the Above Creative, lead by local arts and fashion editor and Emma Bergmeier.

The student designers, along with STYLEAID veterans including Garth Cook and Ae`lkemi designer Alvin Fernandez will begin preparing-their-looks for the catwalk at the first model fitting which will be held over the weekend.

STYLEAID has been raising-funds-and awareness for the WA AIDS Council for over 14 years. This year's event will be held at the Burswood Grand Ballroom on July 29 and a limited number of tickets are still-available.

William and Kate go cowboy chic on their overseas tour

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, might have finished their overseas tour of parts of Canada-and-California, but we're still buzzing. We just can't get enough of the duchess and her confident, elegant style.

The newlyweds are now old pros at dressing for public appearances. While in the U.S., Catherine wore a flowy Alexander McQueen gown to the BAFTA "Brits to Watch" gala, a hand-painted silver dress by Jenny Packham to a charity polo match in Santa Barbara and a white-and-navy ensemble to paint with kids at an art center in L.A.'s skid row. But who knew the royal couple would look so good when they went country in jeans and cowboy hats?

These outfits came out when Kate and William made an appearance at the BMO Centre in Calgary, Canada. The look was a far cry from something the duke and duchess-- would wear to tea with the queen, but it's difficult to watch a lively herd of livestock in heels.

William kicked off the Calgary Stampede in a blue and green tartan plaid shirt, a pair of blue jeans and boots, while Kate wore a pair of dark denim jeans, Temperley London rodeo shirt, boots and a silver buckled-belt. The couple stayed clear of the sun in matching crisp white-cowboy-hats.

To get Kate's look try a white blouse with a prairie feel like the French Connection vintage grace shirt(below, left) for $39.99 at Frenchconnection.com. For some-country ruffles try the silk georgette blouse from Forever21.com for $24.80.

Gwyneth Paltrow poses almost naked for Vanity Fair calendar

Gwyneth Paltrow appears in a jewellery supplement in the August 2011 edition of Vanity Fair  Photo: Mark Seliger /VANITY FAIR

Once considered the goody two shoes of-Hollywood, Gwyneth Paltrow has showed-her more risqué side by posing naked but for a pair of fishnet tights and Louis Vuitton jewelry for Vanity Fair magazine's August jewelry calendar.
Paltrow, who turns 40 later this year, appears as Miss August in a special Vanity Fair on Jewellery calendar.
Last year, she disclosed that she had followed-an arduous regime to get into shape wearing skimpy shorts to promote her film Iron Man 2.
On her website, Goop, she detailed the process.
After a 7am cup of green tea, breakfast is either a "Think Thin" protein bar or a "Clean Shake" comprising almond milk, powder supplements and "a handful of blueberries (optional)".
Then it is a 90-minute workout followed by a glass of kale juice - "a sort-of grassy-lemonade" - and on to a lunch of "super low carb, low calorie tortilla wraps".
Paltrow's recipe for Lemony Grilled Chicken to accompany the wrap is as follows: "Marinate chicken breast in lemon juice and a tiny (emphasis on tiny) bit of olive oil. Season well and grill. Serve with the steamed vegetable or vegetable salad of your choice."
An afternoon-snack of almonds or organic fermented tea is followed by Anderson's "super-low calorie" turkey kale soup for dinner.
A month earlier, she gave an interview to Vogue in which she said of her enviable figure: "Oh, I had to work hard to get it like this, but now I'm here it's so great because I don't have to think-about it. I can just enjoy life. What a relief that is.
"I can eat-what I want as long as I exercise, which is just as well, because if I put the word 'diet' into my brain, I immediately gain a stone."
Paltrow, an Oscar-winning actress, is married to Chris Martin, the Coldplay singer.
She regularly dispenses fashion advice through her site and recently teamed-up with a shopping website to select a handful of wardrobe "basics". She faced accusations of being out of touch when the price of her "capsule wardrobe" turned-out to be £11,894.
In March, the actress-signed a deal worth £560,000 with Atlantic Records for her debut album.
The move followed one of her roles in a recent film, Country Strong, in which she played a country singer.
She recently sang on the hit television series Glee, at the Country-Music-Awards and at the Grammys-where she performed Forget-You with Cee Lo Green - and at the Oscars, where she performed the nominated song-Coming Home.
source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

10 New Style of New Fashion

New Style Wedding Shoes

 Charlotte Olympia shoes, $840, at Net-a-Porter

 Miu Miu crystal sandals, $895, at Net-a-Porter

 Giuseppe Zanotti Chiffon Rosette Sandals, $525, at Shopbop

 Loeffler Randall mesh heels, $550, at Loeffler Randall

 Jimmy Choo metallic shoes, $465, at Saks 5th Ave

 YSL platform heel, $795, at YSL

 Aldo patent heels, $80, at Aldo Shoes

Manolo Blahnik bow heels, $775, at Barneys New York

Ladies : Solar cell embroidered-handbag

Mobile phone now an essential item in any ladies handbag, it is surprising that most of the solar powered-bags have been either backpacks or messenger-bags. That is fine for men who generally see bags as a purely functional-piece of equipment designed to make it easier to carry things but from what is much different for women, for whom the handbag is an extension of their personality and needs to be-fashionable as well as practical and the practicality is probably optional. Danish design studio DIFFUS has done its best to combine the two with its Solar- Handbag.

Instead of placing a single- flexible thin film solar module onto the side of a bag, the designers of the DIFFUS Solar Handbag have distributed 100 smaller monocrystalline silicon solar cells over the surface of the bag to resemble- oversized sequins. 
The surface of the bag is also-embroidered with a combination of normal embroidery and conductive embroidery that transfers the energy harvested by the “solar sequins” to a lithium-ion battery hidden away within a small-compartment.
With a nine percent conversion efficiency and the ability to generate two-Watts.

Ray Ban Sunglasses Latest Fashion Trends

Ray-ban Sunglasses occur to be extensively understood too as acclaimed. it truly is famous too and it is commonly a separated maker which has toiled expeditiously for numerous by way of the enhanced journal celebrities, also it even now does. all the Ray-ban Sunglasses are written from top-rated providers that deliver-phenomenal shield in course of injuring ultra violet rays. These stylish sunglasses have also labored exceptionally difficult to generate the ideal style trend. you may divulge wonderful shades, shapes and colors of Ray ban Sunglasses with improvisations bringing written-exceptionally regularly to fulfill the very special orders and styles

 Ray Ban RB3025 Gold Frame Aviator Sunglasses

 Ray Ban RB3388 Silver Frame Dark Green Lens Polarized Sunglasses

 Ray Ban RB3016 Brown Frame Dark Green Lens Sunglasses

 Ray Ban RB3025 Silver Frame Metal Aviator Sunglasses

 Ray Ban RB3404 Black Frame Dark Green Lens Polarized Sunglasses

Ray Ban RB3029 Gold Frame Dark Green Lens Outdoors man Sunglasses

Ashlee Simpson and Jessica Simpson to Launch New Fashion Line

Jessica Simpson is teaming up with-little sister Ashlee Simpson to create a line of 'tween apparel. Stop now if you're just too excited to continue this article.
As part of the Jessica Simpson Collection, according to WWD, the new products, available in stores in fall, will be geared-to the fashion forward "'tween."
Featuring-sportswear, denim and activewear styled after Jess’ “girly, playful attitude,” the line will also feature-knit tops, hoodies, pullovers, striped shrunken knits, graphic T-shirts, drawstring pants, footwear and-outerwear.

Jessica and Ashlee will serve as co-creative directors for the line.

”Creating a tween-apparel collection was a natural extension for the brand,” Jessica tells WWD. “I’m excited to bring my sister, Ashlee, along as co-creative director because she brings a savvy rocker edge that defines today’s tweens.”

This marks the first ever use of "Ashlee" and "savvy" in the same sentence.
“My goal as co-creative director will be to design clothes-that will help inspire young girls to express their-personalities and creativity through fashion,” adds Ash, who recently announced she is divorcing Pete-Wentz.

Now Floating island open in Seoul

The world’s largest-- artificial floating island has finished its first week as a major new tourism attraction in Seoul, South Korea.
Seoul‘s Han River will eventually be home to a floating archipelago of three man-made “islets”, but the first island, Viva, opened to the public- last week.
At 3,271 square meters, it is the second-largest of the three and is home to a three-storey structure housing a 700-seat convention hall and several other attractions such as restaurants and video-- games.
There- are parks, outdoor terraces and viewing points surrounding the center, while at night, the exterior of the building is illuminated with brightly- colored light shows.

When the next- islands open in September, the 20,400 square meter complex will offer three cultural centers, featuring performances, water sports and -aquatic events.
The islands- can accommodate 6,200 people and are set to make the Han River, which 59 million people visited last year, an even more popular tourist -spot.
While artificial islands have been-- constructed before, most famously in Dubai, they have generally been formed by pouring sand on the seabed to create -artificial land.
Seoul’s islands take a different-approach and actually float on the surface of the river using an enormous buoy secured in place by 28 mooring chains, a design which ensures it can withstand-- changing river levels and bad weather.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

Model Ana Beatriz Barros Shoot Pictures

Nationality Brazilian
Hair color                Light brown
Eye color                Green
Date of birth            May 29 1982
Place of birth           Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ethnicity                Portuguese / Spanish
Height                   5'11" ; 180.5cm
Measurements         (US) 35-23.5-35 ; (EU) 89-59.5-89
Dress size              (US) 6 ; (EU) 36
Shoe size               (US) 9 ; (EU) 41 ; (UK) 6



Ana Beatriz Barros born in Itabira, a tiny town in Brazil, on May 29, 1982 Ana Beatriz Barros was raised in Rio de Janeiro because her family moved their. Modeling came to Ana all by chance. She was vacationing in Brazil when the director of Elite Model Management spotted Ana. He was assured that Ana had everything that required to be a good model and therefore inspired her to participate Elite Look of the Year contest.

In 1996, Ana placed first in the Brazilian Elite Look of the Year, and second in the International level of the same contest, that same year. With a national Elite Look of the Year championship and a modeling contract with the agency, Ana was ready for the big leagues: in this case, Guess?. Guess was the ultimate stepping stone for Ana towards success. As soon as Paul Marciano received the portfolio of Ana he knew that he has found a new model for Guess?. She also appeared in the international advertisements for Onyx (in Italy), Head & Shoulders and Chanel make-up. She has also appeared on the covers of Capricho (Brazil), Nova and 20 Ans (France), and has appeared in magazines such as Elle (Brazil), Claudia (Brazil), Allure (US), Woman (Spain), and Audi (Brazil).

The fashion shows in which Ana has appeared include Balmain, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Paco Rabbane, Valentino, and Lolita Lempicka. Currently with Elite Model Management in Paris and Brazil, and IMG in New York, Ana will definitely get her chance to travel the world. In her free and passtime she loves spending her time going to the movies, hanging out with her friends, listening to music (especially Lenny Kravitz), swimming, playing volleyball, and reading.

Ferrari: launches in India

Ferrari launched its first dealership in India on Thursday, seven years after it entered China but with the same aim of satisfying demand for flashy cars from the growing class of Asia’s super-rich.
The full range of sports cars from the Italian manufacturer will be on sale, with the cheapest model, the California, priced at 22 million rupees (485,000 US dollars) after punitive import tariffs of more than 100 percent are applied.
“We decided that after 2010 India was ready for Ferrari,” group chief executive Amedeo Felisa told reporters at the launch of the dealership in central New Delhi.

“New models are coming this year on the market, so why not use this moment to enter a new market?” he said. “India is the 58th country where Ferrari is present in the world.”
There are already about 50 privately imported Ferraris on India’s potholed and congested roads, including one belonging to Indian cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar who reportedly drives at night to avoid the traffic.
Ferrari said it sold about 300 cars from 12 dealerships in China in 2010, about five percent of the total 6,500 cars produced annually by the Maranello-based group.
The number of Indians who have financial assets of over $1 million, excluding main residences, now stands at 127,000, the 2010 World Wealth Report by Merrill Lynch Capgemini says.


According to a recent survey of 160 financial advisors by the private banking arm of Citibank, Indians are also the most likely members of the global super-rich to spend on private jets and yachts over the next few years.


In April, Aston Martin joined the list of luxury marques driving into India, where Ferrari’s long-time Italian rival Lamborghini already has a dealership.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

Kristen Bell : Hot Actress Latest Pictures At Hangover Premiere 2011

Kristen wore a J. Mendel Spring 2011 design, and left it completely unaltered from the runway version we originally saw. As much as we love when a star puts her own creative spin on a designer look, we also adore when a celebrity can wear a dress straight off the runway and still look totally fresh. Kristen’s silk chiffon frock is a perfect example of the color block trend for Spring 2011, and featured a pale peach sweetheart mini dress swathed in a dove gray, one shoulder overlay. The peach and gray color palate is so unexpected and new, we are totally smitten with this look.

Ms. Bell completed her red carpet look with Brian Atwood peep toes in a soft nude hue, which were the only accessory she needed to finish her frock to perfection. If you’re interested in trying the color block trend, be sure to wear simple and pretty accessories that don’t compete with your color palate, just like Kristen. 

Anna Torv : Hot and Sexiest Photo Shoot

Hot and sexy Australian actress, Anna Torv is best known for her role as FBI agent Olivia Dunham on the Fox television series Fringe.
Her best photo shoot pics: