Some young Japanese women are turning fragility and artificiality into major fashion goals.

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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I fully admit that I’ve never been the recipient of a Valentine’s Day gift from a real Valentine; this is excluding the bouquet of wildflowers my lovely father sends me every February 14. And just last week, I received a wonderful care package from my mother including a plastic lunchbox with a printed smattering of pink and white hearts. That was very interesting, but in the case that I do have a real, live Valentine this year, this is what I’d love him to get me. But keep in mind, pals, the flowers are enough. Remember that you’re talking to (erm, reading about) a girl who was massively excited by a plastic case.

1. Purple Irises: Part of the reason why I love my wildflower bouquets is because they often come with some irises in a vibrant shade of purple, my absolute favorite color. I know, purple foxgloves can appear in these bouquets as well but I find them alarming because they are tubular and can induce poisoning. Sorry to ruin the mood, guys. Buy through Beyond Blossoms.

2. Alexander Wang Darla Pyramid Clutch: This clutch is neither pink nor red, but it’s my current clutch obsession so I see no objection to including it on my wish list for the most lovable of days. It represents the birth of my now-growing love affair with Alexander Wang, so despite its rugged, pebbled, and studded exterior, it’s symbolically perfect for the holiday. Buy through Shopbop for $490.

3. Hunter Stripe Socks: Since I have an inordinate amount of stuffed creatures from my childhood years, and apparently stuffed animals are commonly given on this day, I’ll substitute those for a lovely pair of socks. I know, they’re two totally different things, but I need some new long socks and these ones nearly knocked me down by their softness a few weeks ago in Nordstroms. Since I don’t wear pink, I’ll happily take the navy and yellow version and tuck them into my obscenely high Sam Edelman Zoe Boots- that’s right, the ones I asked for in my Chanukah Wish List. Buy through Nordstrom for $14.90.

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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Through the miracles of modern medicine and heavy-duty antibiotics, I have thrown off the chains of the worst bout of strep throat known to mankind (or at least to Amandakind) to come and recap the latest episode of Project Runway (sorry, Real Housewives fans – I was face-down in a bottle of Nyquil while I was supposed to be recapping that, but it, will be back next week, swears).

This week was another mash-up of classic ProjRun challenge archetypes, this time with “real women as models” on a collision course toward “unacceptable and inappropriate product placement.” We’ve seen challenges in the past where a designer made a “real woman model” cry and where the designers had to incorporate a paid sponsor via car-part dresses, so the bar has been set high for a challenge of either type, let alone one that combined elements of both. Did it live up to the car-crash possibilities? Eh, not quite, but there were a few fantastically ugly dresses.

I feel as though now is the appropriate time to revisit the First Universal Rule of Project Runway: Never listen to your model. I introduced this rule back when the models referenced were professional clothes-wearers, but it’s also true when the designers are tasked with creating a look for a “regular” woman, as they were in this episode. It never helps anyone, and it certainly didn’t in this episode.

To say that that was the only thing that didn’t help these designers would be…an understatement. The challenge was sponsored by Campbell’s, who brought in a bunch of women who had been touched by heart disease so that the designers could make red dresses for them to wear to a Fashion Week gala in their honor. Except, catch #1, only one of these women apparently got to go. And also, catch #2, Campbell’s branding had to be included in the dress.

Not only is it super grinchy to keep hopeful women that have been afflicted by health problems out of their party because they were randomly assigned to a crappy designer, but why in the world is Campbell’s, purveyor of soups filled with enough salt to choke a horse and gross globules of chicken fat, associated with a charity that promotes heart health? Most of their products are like heart-disease kryptonite. On top of all of that, why force the designers, who mostly seemed to like their clients and want to make them feel good, to include Campbell’s branding in a dress that one of these nice ladies was actually going to have to wear to a fancy Fashion Week party, at which she was already likely to feel like a bit of an outsider without a soup can on her dress?

The stupidity of it all made me seriously rage-y, and the Campbell’s cross-promotion made the warm and fuzzy potentially of a charity challenge basically null and void. If anyone out there knows the greedy people that run this show, can one of you tell them to take their hands out of the cookie jar for, you know, at least one or two episodes? It’s become a tad mind-numbing. I don’t want a soup dress. Ladies that have had heart problems don’t want soup dresses. No one wants an effing soup dress.

I wouldn’t have wanted some of these dresses even if they hadn’t been soup-based, however. Even some of those made by the designers in the top three, which were Maya, Mila and Amy. It was a good week for people with Serious Fashion Hair – we also got a clip of Mila and Maya flat ironing their black bobs together, and I wanted to plop down next to them with my GHD and do mine, too. They probably would have made me get up, however, because I hated Maya’s dress. HATED. IT.

It looked like someone had taken a giant glob of poop and just smeared it right across the dress. The ruching and draping were wonky, the heart-shaped sash was the color of excrement and looked completely tacked-on, and it wasn’t flattering on her model, who should have been relatively easy since she wasn’t particularly large. If I could confiscate her hair until she made something better, I would do it. For some reason, though, Princess Michael Kors just let the poop comparison float right by him without saying a word, which makes me think he might have been distracted by a lonely bottle of spray-tan, glinting in the stage lights somewhere off camera.

I also didn’t adore Mila’s, but it had some construction elements that actually worked in its favor. She chose to sew two giant stars into her dress for reasons that aren’t entirely clear (since they aren’t a part of the Campbell’s logo, as she suggested), and the overall affect was as if her model had Scarlett O’Hara’d the flag of…a country whose flag is red and white with large stars. The stars placed at the hip, however, was actually quite slimming, which is why I’ll let the giant one that tried to eat the rest of the dress slide.

The conclusion here is obvious: Amy won, and she won by being the only person out of our dozen designers who made a dress that I would even consider leaving the house in. It wasn’t super special, but it was pretty and flowy and comfortable-looking enough that, in my estimation, I could wear it to a gala and hit both the buffet and the open bar heavily. Not that I’m recommending that sort of behavior for a woman with heart problems, of course. I merely have problematic tonsils, and my pre-op instructions say nothing about any of that.

Now we have to talk about the bottom three, but really, the line between the bottom three and everyone else was so slim that it seemed hardly fair to only single out these poor souls. But singling out is what reality TV (and life, honestly) is all about, so it was Anna, Jesse, and Jesus. Jesse made a mostly unflattering little dress with an entirely unflattering little white coat on top, but his dress did manage to flatter his model’s ample bosom. As we all know, an ample and flattered bosom turns Heidi into a drooling but well-intentioned boob zombie, so he got to stay.

And then there was Anna. Poor, sweet, well-intentioned Anna. She had an awkwardly shaped model, I wouldn’t deny that fact, but she made a dress that made her look just about as awkwardly shaped as humanly possible. It was not pretty, and I mean that in the most literal, non-figure-of-speech-y way possible. Beyond that, I’m mostly at a loss for words as to what to say about this dress. We all know how odd that is for me.

The only thing that saved Anna and her poor model was Jesus’s even poorer taste level. He made a date-night dress that would have been most appropriate on an aging, slightly meth-y stripper, and not in an ironic way. I thought Nina was going to rip one of the rhinestone straps (oh yes, he went there) straight off of it and use it to choke the last drops of life out of him right there, in front of all of the other designers, just to make an example of him. Compared to that, his actual fate seems pretty easy. And well-deserved, at that.

Remember the First Universal Law of Project Runway, which I mentioned at the beginning of this recap? Well, his dress is where it really came in to play in this episode. His model did, indeed, ask for something tacky and ridiculous, and Jesus didn’t have the taste level to realize that not only was that a bad idea, but that putting the rhinestone chain straps on it actually made it worse. If he couldn’t figure that out, then it was better that he left sooner rather than later.

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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This week we will be bringing you a variety of bags that make perfect Valentine’s Day presents. And just in time for this Hallmark Holiday, Burberry has been releasing a line of heart print bags.

The line of bags ranges from totes to small shoulder bags. There is still the quintessential nova check pattern that can be seen on each item. The hearts then take over the foreground of each item, which gives us a splash of love.

The only item from the line that I would consider is the Burberry Confetti Hearts Tote, which is the most mature looking bag of the bunch. The rest of the lot is better suited for a younger crowd. And while a younger crowd may like the line, there is always Valentine’s Day this week, at which time this bag would seem fitting. Shop Burberry at Bloomingdales.

What do you think of the hearts line from Burberry?

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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OMG! The latest and undeniably the very stylish Luis Vuitton bags are making it really tough for girls to save their pocket money! I mean, once you see the styles, designs and the colors of these bags, I don’t think that you will be able to resist yourself. I am thinking if you buy 5 of them altogether and hide them in your wardrobe, and suddenly your mom spots them there, she will get a good heart attack. What you can do is, keep one as a gift for her to escape scolding. Well! I am saying so as the designs are seriously irresistible. 

Check out this one. This Raindrop Besace glossy bag is perfect to be matched it with denim and top. This is the creation of Marc and is expected to be sold out at a rate of $2,000. Gosh!! Look at the price!!

Lovely! This Monogram Cheche Bohemian, in true sense, is a very lovely bag. With soft material and very cozy texture this bag will surely make the girl carrying it look very pretty. This one will go good with short skirts. Umm!! thinking about its price? Well! It is US$2430.

While you are out for a vacation can you forget your camera? Get prepared for your holiday planning from now only and grab this very trendy Monogram Underground Bum Bag. This one too bears a price tag of $2000. Is it worth it?

The Monogram Underground Duffle looks really innovative. The one-of-a-kind design of this bag is making really unique. This is the largest bag in the latest collection and is thus heftily priced at $4000.

Ohhhh so chhoowweett!! This one is so lovely that you definitely cannot dare to think of not buying it. It’s the New Age Traveler Backpack. But this luxury handbag with tassels all over is priced at $54,000 price tag. This may overcome the temptation.

And my office-going ladies, are you all upset for not showing you anything? How about having a look at this monogram Eden Neo? It’s perfect for making your colleagues go green, isn’t it?

Monogram Underground Messenger, really gorgeous. Wear it in cross shoulder pattern and sport a bubbly look. You can get it by paying $3,730.

Certain special designs of bags are made for certain special occasions and dresses only. You cannot wear them with anything to anywhere. Just like this monogram Nightbird Pochette which will go good with capri or jumpsuits.

And finally my favorite is here, the Monogram Denim Sunshine. A very girlish color and the design… is simply majestic.

Aren’t all of these Luis Vuitton bags worth-buying? Which one you found special?

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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Butterflies and big rings and especially big rings with amazing butterflies seem to be the hottest accessory of the upcoming spring. It goes without saying – they look great.

Victoria Beckham and Heidi Klum were recently seen wearing those rings …

Butterflies make even solid and respectable woman look funny and very touching.

Love this trend! 

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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Based on her latest actions, we have nothing but positive things to say about Miley Cyrus.

The singer/actress has recruited famous friends for an online auction to benefit victims of last month’s earthquake in Haiti.

“Ever since the earthquake, I’ve been trying to do my part to help the people of Haiti – and I wanted to do more,” Cyrus told People. “I want to get people involved and show that even the little things you can do can make a difference.”

Starting February 8, you can visit Ebay.com/Miley to bid on the Herve Leger dress the singer wore to the Grammy Awards, along with two tickets to the Hollywood premiere of The Last Song.

Meanwhile, Nicole Richie has donated jewelry, while Britney Spears has handed over the outfit she wore to the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.

“Everyone has been so generous,” Miley said. “My mom and I started calling and texting all of our friends to see if they’d like to be a part of the auction. Demi [Lovato] was one of the first to respond. Hugh Jackman was also excited to donate something.”

All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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So this week (and in particular, this weekend) are all about red, right? Well, according to the people that have a vested interest in selling you (or, perhaps more accurately, your significant other) lots and lots of Valentine’s Day swag, anyway. We’ll have more on V-Day throughout the week, but for a moment, I’d like to celebrate something that’s red that has blissfully little to do with anything other than good taste: the Valentino Premier Bow Hobo.

Everyone that reads this blog has probably picked up on the fact that I have a strong personal bias both the color red and almost anything made by the fine folks at Valentino, so of course I can’t help but fall for this bag.

For those that don’t follow fashion closely, red is a Valentino tradition (which is putting it very, very lightly). Under the creative genius of the company’s namesake, the color became a metaphor for the brand’s vision and an omnipresent staple in the brand’s clothes, accessories and especially their evening wear.

So it shouldn’t surprise us that, despite the retirement of the brand’s founder, Valentino is still one of the few designers that manages to do a red handbag and do it right. That’s because the company will accept nothing less than the perfect shade of red for any of its products, and that’s exactly what they managed to get out of this leather.

I’ve already explained my love for this bag’s design back when the shape first came out, so I won’t rehash those feelings, which are very much still intact. I will say, however, that the bag’s deliberative pleating is much more handsomely displayed in Valentino’s traditional red. It doesn’t even need to be Valentine’s day to appreciate that – or should I say Valentino’s Day? Buy through Saks for $1895.

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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He’s agreed to surrender, the infighting has ceased and Conrad Murray will be arraigned later today.

The doctor suspected of recklessly feeding Michael Jackson pills is expected to plead not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter charges.

According to TMZ sources, he will arrive at the courthouse at approximately 1 p.m. PST, with the hearing scheduled for a half hour later. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department will send along more deputies than usual, out of crowd control and safety concerns.

Bail will likely be set at $25,000.

Once this is paid and the hearing the arraignment concludes, Dr. Murray will leave the city and head to either to Las Vegas or Houston.

If any of these details change, we’ll let you know. But this is the first step in what’s likely to become a circus of a trial. THG will be there every step of the way.

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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The New Orleans Saints defied oddsmakers and won Super Bowl XLIV last night, defeating the favored Indianapolis Colts 31-17.

While MVP Drew Brees and company dedicated the victory to their city and the fans that have stuck with them through the most difficult of times, Kim Kardashian was focused on her man.

“I am so proud of Reggie and the Saints!” she told People. “New Orleans deserves this – it’s such a huge accomplishment!”

Bush finished the game with 63 combined rushing and receiving yards.

It wasn’t an incredible performance, but it was better than that of Hank Baskett.

Kendra Wilkinson’s husband dropped the New Orleans onside kick that started the second half and led to a Saints touchdown. The former Playmate had said she and Hank would have “a lot of sex” if the Colts won, but Hank may need it now more than ever.

But let’s focus on the positive: Kim attended the game with her mom and brother. Afterwards, she said:

“Reggie has waited his whole life for this moment. It came and they conquered. It was a really good win!”

Congratulations to Bush, the Saints and the team’s native city.

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Posted: February 8th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
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