What does the colour of your lingerie says about you?
September 5, 2007 | 1 Comment
If you have been looking through any fashion magazines lately you will have seen the new styles coming through for Autumn. Berry colours are going to be everywhere - maroons, purples and reds. I was watching a ‘fashion pundit’ on television this week who said to get the look right you need to wear the same colour from head to foot! However, if you don’t really want to end up looking like a giant blueberry and would rather introduce berry colours more subtly.
Luckily lingerie comes in a huge range of colours this season and the choice available for us ladies is fantastic - basically we are going to be spoilt for choice. The colour of your lingerie speaks volumes about the person wearing it - take a look:-
Red - diligent, appreciative, resolute and reviving;
Orange - tender, brave, liberal, lavish and unselfish;
Yellow - incisive, fair, sharp, honest and unprejudiced;
Green - sensible, benevolent, talented, tolerant and discreet;
Blue - peaceful, faithful, virtuous, reflective and sacred;
Indigo - organised, optimistic, pure, discerning and compliant;
Purple - aboundless, noble, artistic, mystic and altruistic;
Black - creative, idealistic, hidden wealth and strong;
White - truthful, benevolent and unspoilt;
Grey - reputable, sane, spartan and authentic;
Silver - revealing, impartial, astute and contemplative;
Gold - enlightened, abundant, mature and achieving.
As Autumn reveals its softer side, so why not curl up in delicate laces and soft knits in muted shades of amethyst, berry, tobacco and toffee? Choose bejewelled, embroidered or layered over a contrasting colour, blacks and berries undoubtedly dominates this season, lending a theatrical look to the autumn lingerie collections.
Now summer’s fresh blooms are giving way to something a little darker - take a look at slinky satins, smoky hues and black trims. These extras give this season’s florals a sophisticated edge.
Attention to detail - look at the intricate embroidery, delicate overlays, keyholes, boning and slim satin ribbons incorporated in lingerie items giving this season’s special occasion lingerie a handcrafted feel.
Stronger than summer’s pastels, this season’s deep blues feature in many of the best fashion pieces - but you might well find a favourite everyday bra in navy or petrol too.
But remember - imperative that you are wearing the right size bra, so that you get an impressive flattering shape and excellent support. Stick to smooth bras for wearing under fitted or sheer tops as these are best for not showing through these coloured tops.
Wear streamline or fitted shapes - more flattering than baggy clothes. Choose tops with seams or darts under the bust - these will define your waist and make you look slimmer.
FINALLY - every woman is difeerent and we all come in all different shapes and sizes. No matter which colour lingerie you choose - maybe a colour which you love, or you think reflects your personality, a woman must be comfortable in whatever she chooses.
There are excellent styles and colours available from manufacturers such as Anita, Charnos, Panache, Royce and Vanity Fair - take a look the gorgeous, new ranges - they may surprise you!!
Written by Julie-Anne Smith - http://www.amplusfigura.com
Betty & Bird Get Strappy For Christmas
August 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Be inspired this Christmas by Betty & Bird’s exciting selection of decorative bra straps.
Whatever your taste or budget, spoil your family and friends with these perfect gifts and imaginative stocking fillers this festive season.
Indulge her with the latest addition to the Betty & Bird collection, the delightful black beads.
A special edition colour of this already popular style featuring shiny black beads, white pearls and delicate diamante drops set onto a multiple silver strand strap. Perfect for the cocktail hour!
Or surprise her with the stylish double diamante chic. Adored by women of all ages this remains Betty & Bird’s best selling strap since its launch in September 2006 and a sure fire hit for Christmas with its combination of classic and contemporary looks.
For that something extra special, treat her to a stunning pair of swarovski crystal straps. These sumptuous bra straps are an instant head turner and are guaranteed to wow the woman in your life.
All Betty & Bird straps come packaged in a beautifully branded organza gift bag - designed with individual pockets to keep the straps tangle free.
With prices starting at £15 for the jewelled styles, Betty & Bird has everything to make a woman’s perfect Christmas.
The Sexy Thong
August 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Underwear is more than a necessity - it’s a sense of style, and a sense of fashion. A lot of women like the naughty feeling that comes from wearing thong underwear, even if (or especially if) nobody else can see it. It boosts confidence, and gives them a burst of energy.
While thong underwear has been popular since at least the mid ’80s, it’s become more popular since the Clinton administration, and more women are looking for intimate undergarments that give them a sense of intimacy, rather than plain cotton panties. Thongs come in a bewildering array of fabrics and designs, allowing you to wear something sexy and beautiful every single day. Some women feel that thong underwear is more comfortable than any other style of underwear.
A comparatively hot trend in thongs are lace and mesh materials. A see through set of intimates can be sexy and romantic, and are available in every hue of the rainbow, and because it’s lightweight, it breathes. A lot of men purchase this kind of underwear for their wives and girlfriends!
Another hot fashion item in thongs are beads and gems. These have embroidery, beads and gem stitched into the underwear to give it a more glamorous touch. These can be stitched in cute patterns - hearts and flowers and monograms. They can even be worn under tight clothing without being spotted.
Most things can be purchased as part of a set of intimates - a bra or a small camisole that will make any woman feel sexy and beautiful and desired. They can be worn to bed, out on a romantic evening with your beau, or even to the office under your professional attire.
Where can you get sexy thong underwear? Nearly anywhere - from mall stores to online shops to lingerie catalogs. Even discount stores like Wal-Mart / ASDA are starting to carry thongs, putting this option in the reach of nearly anyone.
David Yu - www.idolafashion.com
From Lethal to Luscious Lips
August 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
In Helena Frith Powell’s delightful book “All You Need to Be Impossibly French,” the pre-pubescent author meets Sophie, a Parisienne so impossibly chic that she is, so to speak, the word made flesh. Sophie tells her that all she really needs to be a Frenchwoman are two lipsticks and a lover. This simple, straightforward statement puts the priorities of the Frenchwoman into perspective.
Finding that perfect shade of lipstick has an almost spiritual significance for her. And every time she glides it over her lips, she takes pleasure in that feminine gesture, at once so mundane and yet so sensual. And more than likely, that perfect shade will be some shade of red. Frenchwomen truly love their red lipstick.
When Eurodisney (now known as Disneyland Paris) opened to the north of Paris some 15 years ago, my friend, Sandrine, thought it might be fun to work there. Upon applying for a position, she was told that female employees were not permitted to wear red lipstick. Her choice was either pale pink or none at all. “Quelle horreur!” she responded and walked out on the spot, as did many more like her, until the Disney people finally came to their senses and changed the policy.
Some form of enhancement of lip color has been around since Cleopatra smeared a concoction mixed with iodine and poisonous mercury onto her lips to give her pucker a lethal punch; but the first modern lipstick in a metal tube, the product of a French chemist, was born in the 1920s and baptized “Rouge Baiser” or “Red Kiss.” And at about that same time in America, the Revson brothers created a new company and launched Revlon’s own line of luscious red lip colors followed a decade later by nail polish to match. While there is some question as to whether “Revlon Red” predated “Rouge Baiser,” there is no question about their effect. Suddenly, for the price of a tube of lipstick, any woman could look and feel like a Hollywood film star.
In the last twenty years, an amazing array of high performance cosmetics and skin care products have been developed to ease the Baby Boom generation into middle age and beyond, but as an image consultant and member of that generation, I can say that the easiest and quickest way for a woman of any age to look and feel her best, is still to slip on that perfect shade of lipstick that all by itself can have the effect of lighting up your face. You need only follow three simple steps and your lips will speak volumes without ever saying a word.
Step 1 - Find Your Perfect Color
The color of your lipstick should complement the color of your skin. My first lipstick was a pale pink confection called “Pink Parfait.” And it was —– wait for it —- frosted! I know, I know, “quelle horreur!” It was the sixties. Need I say more? Besides, most 13-year-old girls don’t start out with “Vixen Red.” That would be like going from training wheels to a Harley. By the seventies I had figured out that pink was not a good color for me.
Most people’s skin tones are either predominantly “cool” or “warm.” Pink- or blue-based skin tones are considered to be cool, while yellow- or peach-based skin tones are considered to be warm. If you are unsure, or think you may fall somewhere in between, put your hand on a stark white tablecloth and you should be able to tell whether pink or yellow predominates. Do gold earrings suit you better than silver? Your color palette is warm. Do silver earrings suit you better than gold? Your color palette is cool. And somewhere within that color palette you will find your perfect shade.
Cool tones look best in lipstick shades of pink, rose and blue reds; warm tones look best in shades of peach, coral and yellow reds (think tomato).
A common mistake women make as they age is to choose a shade that is either too light (which can wash you out) or too dark (which can be too harsh) in an effort to brighten or add color to their faces. The trick here is not to go lighter or darker, but to go brighter while staying within your color palette. In other words, you might consider trading in that pale peach for a bright coral or that pale pink for a bright rose.
Of course, everyone needs a luscious red lipstick for evening, and now is the perfect season to find your perfect shade of red. Overnight, cosmetics counters have gone from the bright pastels of Summer to the golden russets and deep burgundies of Fall, and somewhere within that range of rich colors is a red lipstick with your name on it. For those of you with very full or very thin lips who’ve been told to avoid red altogether, I have only one word to say - “Nonsense.” Just make sure that you avoid dark, matte reds and opt for clear, more translucent reds.
Step 2 - Prep Your Lips
Now that you have chosen your perfect lipstick color, you have only to apply it to complete the transformation, n’est-ce pas? Not so fast! Your lips need a proper prepping first. We all know the benefits of exfoliating our skin - removing dead cells from the skin’s surface allowing healthy, new ones to take their place. The skin on our lips needs regular exfoliation, too.
Every morning after you brush your teeth, take that toothbrush and give your lips a good brushing. Now is the time to add a lip plumper, if you need one, and then a lip balm with a sun block of at least 15. Now you are ready to apply your lipstick.
Step 3 - Apply Your Lipstick
There is no question that lipstick looks better and lasts longer if you take the time to apply it with a small brush made of synthetic bristles which are stiffer than natural bristles giving you a cleaner line. Starting at the Cupid’s Bow (that little “V” at the center), line your upper lip, then your lower lip, following the natural contours of the mouth, and then fill in. Resist the temptation to smack your lips together to distribute the color, which will make a smudgy mess of both lips. Gently blot upper and lower lips separately with a Kleenex. A touch of clear gloss in the center of the bottom lip (or a touch of gold or silver for evening -ooh là là!) will give you just the right amount of shine without looking gloppy.
The Great Lip Liner Debate — To Line or Not to Line; That is the Question
With apologies to those of you who are emotionally attached to your lip liners, by and large they are best left to the professional make-up artists who know how to use them properly, which most women do not. Quite simply, your lip liner should never be visible through your lipstick. As for that first woman who lined her lips in dark brown liner, filled them in with clear gloss and walked out the door, there is a special place in Fashion Hell reserved for her. She has a lot to answer for.
Ladies, a lip liner should only be used to correct small imperfections in the shape of your lips (such as a less-than-perfect Cupid’s bow), not to line your lips or to make them look bigger. If you absolutely must use a lip liner, apply it only after you have applied your lipstick and before you blot, and it must be the same color as your lipstick.
The pursuit of the perfect pout can drive women to extreme measures which can have unpleasant or downright disastrous results. It’s worth keeping in mind that it might just be that small imperfection you spend so much time fretting about that catches his eye and makes his heart beat a littler faster. Just ask my husband about the girl with the “turned-up” lip who caught his eye 30 years ago.
So, was Sophie right? Are two lipsticks and a lover all a woman really needs? Probably not, but it’s a great place to start!
Marie-Thérèse M. Norris - www.frenchtouchimage.com