JLO to halt Sweetface line after spring

Hollywood actress- singer-designer Jennifer Lopez is halting the production of her clothing line, Sweetface, after six years. She launched the line as a high-end sports and street-wear spin-off of her original JLO clothing collection. Sweetface will stop production of its line once the spring collection hits the stores. Despite the popularity of the clothing line, Jennifer has conformed to stop the work on future designs while the future of the brand is reviewed. Jennifer said that considering the new company strategies, the Sweetface line has been decided to put on hiatus while the brand would be reintroduced in the near future with an entirely new fashion point of view.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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Luxury Market sees boom in China

The growing potential of Chinese luxury market makes it impossible for the global luxury product manufacturers to ignore the 'dragon nation'.

Luxury brands thrive in the soil of China. Their luxury market including jewelry, leather products, fashion apparels, perfumes etc. reached around $8 billion USD during 2007. A statistics states that, China accounts to 18% of the global luxury consumption. Almost 80% of the top global luxury brands have entered into China. Luxury mavens predict that by 2015, luxury consumption in China will constitute 32% of the global market.

In the recent past many international luxury brands were attracted by the market potential of China. Numerous luxury brands like Versace, Rolex, Chanel, Omega, Dior, Prada, and Zegna have dipped their toes in the country. Lots of luxury brands are manufactured in China. Coach, Prada, Furla, and LV are made in China in big numbers. Numerous factories in Guangdong make a range of brands which are sold in the market for a fortune. Cities such as Shanghai and Beijing have attracted the investments of retail giants like Giorgio Armani.

II and III tier cities fuel the luxury market:

China has 100 cities with population exceeding one million. With the increasing number of consumers' disposable income, and their inclination to acquire a social strata, and willingness to express uniqueness in their lifestyle, luxury market is fuelled up even in the II and III tier cities. I tier cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing have advanced retail infrastructures and high per capita GDP. The II and III tier cities are also catching up with the former ones. Middle class population in China is estimated to grow and reach 250 million by 2010. With the growing interest of middle class people towards luxury products, the market is heating up. Social status is now becoming imperative for middle income people as well. Luxury products enable the consumers to project a social class. Consumers from II and III tier cities feel the need to 'close the gap' and build up a I tier image. They go in for buying branded items with a hefty price tag only to display their status to others.

Advent of the Chinese 'chuppies':

The young and profligate Chinese generation in between the age group 20-30 known as 'yuppies' or 'chuppies' in China; meaning one to spends all he earns. They are raising a wave of unprecedented commercialism. The chuppies are young, urban, and middle class consumers who are generally white collared, having 100% disposable income. They will be the most powerful consumer group; not only in China but all across the globe within the next 15 years.

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"Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola"

"Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
Its a mixed up muddled up shook up world except for Lola" The Kinks


Soooo excited for this new Marc Jacobs perfume!
Marc Jacobs said that the 'Lola' is the "vampy older sister" to Daisy, the floral fragrance from last Spring, which I love. Both are complete with a cute flower on top but while Daisy is light and fresh Lola will be more sensual and flirtatious.
'Lola' hits stores in August and I can't wait, just check out the snazzy bottle top...

iDesign allows shoppers design a top from the bottom up

You wouldn't let someone else dress you every morning so why keep wearing clothes designed for the masses when Custom T Couture's new breakthrough fabric technology allows shoppers to create one of a kind fashion statements with the touch of a button.

This exciting technique in apparel design combines genuine Swarovski rhinestone crystals with their revolutionary Patent-Pending beading technique along with the thrill of customized expression through the iDesign program. At CustomTCouture.com, even shoppers on a budget can add their own embellishments to the latest designer looks through the power of personalized fashion.

Shoppers can choose from three different levels of customization to suit their t shirt needs. For the true fashionista in all of us, Custom T Couture offers the chance to design a top from the bottom up. For shoppers who love to put their own twist on today's hottest fashions, there's the designer showroom. This allows consumers to select the perfect product before adding their own customized style through an array of embellishments. Lastly, the ready to wear collection gives shoppers access to cutting edge rhinestone and bead-encrusted looks at a fraction of the price.



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Fashion Inspiration- Selena Gomez Teen Vogue Cover

I am not sure about how often Teen Vogue are putting Disney stars on the cover of their magazine (remember Zac Efron, Vanessa Anna Hudgens and Miley Cyrus?) but I think Selena was a good choice.

She seems really down to earth and is obviously gorgeous but mainly I love the styling of this photo shoot with the masses of pearls, girly necklaces and florals against Doc Marten style boots and tough belts.

Definitely my inspiration of the day...Daisy Lowe Doc Marten Campaign Agyness loves her Docs Floral Doc Martens Givency gold multi-layered necklace Givency Neon Bib Necklace as seen on Selena in the first cover photo (a similar one from topshop below and much cheaper!)
Necklace Collage- All Topshop

RIP Micheal Jackson aka The King of Pop

Amy Wong wins OPERATION DREAM DRESS competition

This morning, live on Good Morning America, BRIDES Magazine presented a runway show of the final five gowns in their OPERATION DREAM DRESS competition. Editor in chief Millie Martini Bratten also announced the winner, Amy Wong Micucci from Beverly Hills, California, whose gown will grace the Nov/Dec issue of BRIDES, on stands October 13. Ms. Micucci was awarded $10,000 and then surprised when Ms. Bratten added that David's Bridal will exclusively produce the winning design. It will be available for a limited time in select stores starting in early November.

Amy has worked in the fashion industry for the past ten years as a merchandiser and buyer. Most recently, she held the position of Divisional Merchandise Manager. Last year, she took a leap of faith and left that position to develop her own line of bridesmaids' dresses. This line, called Swoon, will launch in Spring 2010.

BRIDES Magazine announced OPERATION DREAM DRESS in February. Hundreds of sketches were submitted and 20 semi-final designs were posted on brides.com/dreamdress for a nationwide vote. A private event was held on June 24 where an advisory panel critiqued the designs and helped determine the winner. The panel included Austin Scarlett (Project Runway contestant and recent bridal designer), Hilary Rhoda (Supermodel and Estee Lauder's "Beautiful" Bride),Rachel Leonard (Fashion Director of BRIDES) and Dan Rentillo (Design Director of David's Bridal), and was hosted by BRIDES editor in chief, Millie Martini Bratten.

Ms. Bratten commented, "We were beyond thrilled with the response to our inaugural Operation Dream Dress contest. The sheer quantity, breadth and imagination displayed in the submissions were stunning and the finalists all delivered stylish, romantic and wearable gowns. This is an extraordinary moment for Amy Wong Micucci, whom we're excited to welcome to the bridal fashion community."

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MICHAEL JACKSON

Gutted. Oh yes. He was soooo an icon of our youth. How many memories came flooding back today spurred on Jackson1 by the fabulous, continuous, play of so many brilliant songs. "Michael Jackson is dead" is the text I woke up to this morning from a fashion friend in Ibiza. "Poor whacko" said another from a fashionista in Paris. And then I remembered that fabulous time waaaay back around 1999 I think it was, when the glitzy-glammy designer Julien Macdonald put a Michael Jackson lookalike front row.




And...the fashion press fell for it, loved it. reported it...and then flipped when they realised too late they had been duped!

And then I thought of fashion and how for this year it is actually VERY Michael Jackson inspired, more than I ever really realised. Take a look at the picture on the right from net-a-porter.com. That Balmain jacket that we've seen on Posh and Rihanna (it's sold out by the way), those black skinny cropped jeans...they are quite MJ aren't they?

And Sequin jackets? Remember them on him?? Invest in one now. They are big for autumn winter. At Debenhams you will be able to snap up a fabulous black sequin boyfriend style jacket £120 Star by Julien Macdonald (oh the irony). Or you can invest in a fabulous gold sequin number at net-a-porter.com from Les Chiffoniers for £400. For something cheaper Dorothy Perkins has a great balck sequin one too.

And what of the heavy duty military inspired look...like this black ridged leather jacket by Celine already sold out at net-a-porter.com. It's all about hardware for autumn/winter. Jacksonceline2

Yes....quite ironically never has fashion been more about Michael Jackson inspired looks than now!

I'm still looking for the perfect white glove, I'm anticipating something from KL Karl Lagerfeld no doubt,....but in the meantime I do remember some Swarovski encrusted cashmere cut-ff gloves from Sienna Miller's Twenty8Twelve autumn/winter debut catwalk collection. They're very MJ. Yes, the icon may have left us but his influence is far far far reaching not just with his music either...

MJ MEMORIES:...

Mine: Two years ago standing outside the First Class lounge at Heathrow when the airport suddenly fell silent, you couldn't hear a pin drop, and there he was, MJ, walking towards the lounge dressed head-to-toe in black, with silver sunnies, and airport staff nudging and calling each other to say 'it's Michale Jackson'. And then 5 minutes later an entourage arrived of nannies and the three children with heads covered, and I remembered thinking how can they see where they are going?

By the way, again, apparently if you want to learn 'How to Moonwalk' there is a lesson you can download off YOUTUBE that shows you how...our Interiors Editor tells me, she is a dab hand at performing the Billy Jean 'dance' at weddings I'm told...

Whilst for our interiors assistant: "Ohhh do you know that film he did I think it's called Thriller and he changed into his car?? That was one of my favourite films as a child.... ohhh that's my MJ memory I used to watch that ever week as a kid...."

Ahhhh now there is another song of his I love on the radio now (Capital FM) and I had forgotten all about it ..."Can You Feel It?"..!

Yes there's something in the air...it's the stuff of great memories...

MTV Movie Awards' Hottest Style Stars

If there was one trend ruling the red carpet at the MTV Movie Awards, then it had to be thigh-skimming minidresses. Leading the pack was our very own Sienna Miller. Wearing a jade green glittering minidress from her Twenty8Twelve collection, the Brit actress reminded us all of her style icon status, and looked radiant with her signature blonde locks tumbling and a pair of vertiginous metallic heels elongating her picture-perfect pins.

Fast emerging as a style star to watch, Vanessa Hudgens proved her fashion credentials at the MTV Movie Awards, and wowed in a tangerine Max Azria draped plunging gown. Teen stars take note – the High School Musical beauty has nailed grown-up glamour, while retaining a youthful edge.

Usually the queen of the thigh-skimming frock, the A-lister instead kept things casual, in J Brand jeans, a printed top and suede boots. Fine for a spot of down-time dressing perhaps, but we expect more from the typically glam Cam. She took to the red carpet with her My Sister's
Keeper co-stars, Sofia Vassilieva and Abigail Breslin.

Fresh from her Cannes sojourn, Hayden Panettiere landed back in Hollywood for the MTV Movie Awards. The Heroes star kept things short and sweet in a halterneck minidress, with kick-out hem, teamed with Bally peep-toes.

In a particular shade of tangerine that we've only ever seen before in a bowl of Angel Delight, Paris Hilton struck her very best aren't-I-pretty pose as she walked the red carpet at this weekend's MTV Movie Awards.

Source : designertoejonline.blogspot.com

Bar Refaeli is the fresh face of Garnier Fructis hair care products

Garnier Fructis, a global leader in hair care products known for its philosophy of beauty through nature, is proud to introduce supermodel Bar Refaeli as their latest spokesmodel. Refaeli will appear in Garnier Fructis' international campaigns for the brand's newest launches: Triple Nutrition Hair Care and Anti-Humidity Hairsprays set to launch in June 2009. One of fashion and beauty's freshest faces, Refaeli is an ideal partner for Garnier Fructis and embodies its vision of beauty through nature. Refaeli is a natural beauty who strives to take care of herself and those around her, while garnering an international appeal. Both her gorgeous hair and fit body reflect Garnier's essential values of wellness and health. Bar is the ideal Garnier woman - natural, modern, healthy - in short, Refaeli has an energetic spirit much like the brand. "We are thrilled to be partnering with such a beautiful woman inside and out," says Maybelline New York*Garnier President David Greenberg. "Not only does Bar Refaeli have beautiful hair that's in line with what the Garnier Fructis products represent, but she embodies Garnier's overall focus on healthy beauty and a positive mindset." Refaeli was raised on a countryside ranch in her native Israel. Her international career started in 2001, when she received the title of "Model of the Year" in her country. Since then she has become one of the most recognized models worldwide. Most recently, she was featured as the cover model for the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was also featured as number three in Maxim's Hot 100 List. "I like Garnier and have been using their products for several years," says Bar Refaeli. "Their products and ingredients fit my lifestyle perfectly - helping me keep my hair strong, healthy and shiny. It's such an honor to be the spokesmodel for Garnier Fructis' new launches, the Triple Nutrition Hair Care collection and the Anti-Humidity Hairsprays." Read More............. More Fashion News - USA More Fashion Cosmetics News - USA

365 Self Portraits...

I would love to do a 365.If you havent already heard of it it's when you take a photograph of yourself everyday for a whole year. There are so many great examples on Flickr, all really inspiring me to start my own- that is as soon as I haved saved up for a Canon 400D!
Its amazing to see how people change and also how someones photography skills improve over the course of a year.
Here are a few of my favourite 365's either completed or in process...

Who? Katherine Elizabeth- recently finished 365er, from LA

Where? Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katieelizabethphotography/

Website: http://www.katherinelizabethphotography.com/index.php

Who? 18 year old Rosie Hardy, Flickr celebrity

Where? Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_hardy/

Her's and her boyfriend Aaron's (they met on Flickr- cute!) blog:

http://nacedesign.com/blog/

Who? 16 year old, Jacqueline Rivera (also known on Flickr as shes_jacks) from San Diego

Where? Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shesjack/

Blog: http://-lionshutter.tumblr.com/

Who? Lauren Nicole, another great young photographer, who has the prettiest details in her pictures (look at the reflection in the one above- the crown on her head and the birds in the corner-perfect)

Where? Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurennicole81/

Hope you enjoy looking at these fantastic pictures as much as I do...

♥

B xx

Evangelia to exhibit her striking collection at Pure

Up and coming designer, Evangelia Thomadakis, is set to exhibit her new collection at this August’s Pure London (2-3-4 August, 2009).

After graduating with a MA in Fashion Design, Evangelia went on and worked as part of the team at Vivienne Westwood. Driven by her enthusiasm and passion, Evangelia decided to undertake a pattern cutting postgraduate course at Central Saint Martin and then went on to create her very own label, Evangelia Thomadakis London.

The striking collection consists of luxurious sharp tailoring. Pushing the boundaries, mixing unconventional, eclectic fabrics and prints into timeless creations, Evangelia has decided to debut her collection at Pure London.

‘I have been interested in Pure London for a very long time. It has motivated and inspired me in different categories, with the show’s professional approach to buyers and media around the world.’


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Sexy Penelope Cruz For Mango Summer 2009

Penelope Cruz is a face of Mango, as we know. The fashion brand presents the photo shoot with the Spanish hottie for Summer 2009 collection. The pics are really fresh and modern.

Ruffles and fringe, eco friendly materials, steppe skirts, white shirts and skirts, bright pattern, stylish trendy clothes and accessories - these you can find in the new Mango collection.


Source : inglamlife.blogspot.com

Its going alright, More insane by the minute

Gah, I feel ill.
The nose is running, the head is aching and the tissues are out.
But it is my best friend's birthday party later and I am determined to feel better by then.

So I am listening to one of my ultimate feel good songs (but nothing beats James Brown’s “I feel good”) and looking at pretty pictures on my favourite blogs to make me feel better.

Here are some of my favourite images, on newly found and loved website http://www.thestreethearts.com/ a street style website from Oslo by photographers Andreas Schjønhaug and Eirik Slyngstad. I think that it has an edge over the Sartorialist (at http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ ) because it tells you where all the items of clothing are from. Also quite a lot are bought in high street shops which is a nice change as it stops me from lusting over clothes and shoes I know I can't afford, which is a frequent occurrence on Scott's blog.

(Top- Maya, Above- Minni)

(Julianne)

(Sofie)

(Cara)

(Mari)

John Gold "Its Going" always makes me feel a bit better :)

Beth xx

Verragio debuts new engagement ring collections at JCK Shows

Verragio has expanded their collection of engagement rings and wedding bands to include styling that is distinctively Verragio. With a creative influence fueled not only by consumer demand, but also by the Verragio signature logo and exclusive Lumino Setting, the new styles have been phenomenally received by new and existing retailers.

With these new additions to the Classico, Insignia and Paradiso Collections, along with the official launch of the new Couture Collection, Verragio has been fortunate to add eight new retail establishments to their growing family from the JCK Shows.

"The JCK shows have proved to be a great source of exposure for Verragio over the years," says Barry Verragio. "We have not only received a positive response to the new engagement ring collections, but we have been able to establish six Verragio retailers as official Verragio Premier Boutiques, the ultimate destinations for the latest in Verragio engagement rings and wedding bands."

Verragio specializes in engagement rings and wedding bands of the highest quality and beauty. Verragio is the creator of the Lumino Setting, a revolutionary setting technique that reveals all sides of a diamond, opening up every facet to light.


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Chelsea children necklace & bracelet set recalled

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: “Chelsea’s” Necklace and Bracelet Sets

Units: About 29,000

Importer: D&D Distributing-Wholesale Inc., of Tacoma, Wash.

Hazard: Small parts can detach from the necklace and bracelet when the elastic string break, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves two models of “Chelsea’s” Necklace and Bracelet Set. These two models are “Crayon” and the “Shiny Heart” Necklace and Bracelet Set. Both models have yellow, blue, red, green, purple, and pink crayons or hearts connected by elastic string. Each set has one necklace and one bracelet.

Sold at: Retail stores and wholesalers nationwide from April 1999 through April 2009.
Manufactured in: China

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Miqin Zhang & team develop chitosan-polyester blend for nerve repair

In the clothing industry it's common to mix natural and synthetic fibers. Take cotton and add polyester to make clothing that's soft, breathable and wrinkle free. Now researchers at the University of Washington are using the same principle for biomedical applications.

Mixing chitosan, found in the shells of crabs and shrimp, with an industrial polyester creates a promising new material for the tiny tubes that support repair of a severed nerve, and could serve other medical uses. The hybrid fiber combines the biologically favorable qualities of the natural material with the mechanical strength of the synthetic polymer.

"A nerve guide requires very strict conditions. It needs to be biocompatible, stable in solution, resistant to collapse and also pliable, so that surgeons can suture it to the nerve," said Miqin Zhang, a UW professor of material science and engineering and lead author of a paper now available online in the journal Advanced Materials. "This turns out to be very difficult."

After an injury that severs a peripheral nerve, such as one in a finger, nerve endings continue to grow. But to regain control of the nerve surgeons must join the two fragments. For large gaps surgeons used to attempt a more difficult nerve graft. Current surgical practice is to attach tiny tubes, called nerve guides, that channel the two fragments toward each other.

Today's commercial nerve guides are made from collagen, a structural protein derived from animal cells. But collagen is expensive, the protein tends to trigger an immune response and the material is weak in wet environments, such as those inside the body.

The strength of the nerve guide is important for budding nerve cells.

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