Dreemtime: Gen Xers who fondly remember the acid jazz funk of ‘90s artists like The Brand New Heavies and Maxwell will be pleased to know that NYC band Dreemtime is bringing the sound back to the current music scene. Building up a niche following in the Manhattan lounge bar circuit, their soulful live shows are pumping out foot tapping tunes that linger long after the set is over.
Source:trendcentral
James Owen Design cat scratching post: Yet another reason we can’t get enough of home goods retailer Design Within Reach, this cat scratching post by James Owen Design is more sculpture than kitty toy. Constructed of Zebrawood with a polished aluminum base, it’s a far cry from the traditional carpeted scratching posts and the only cat scratch post we’ve seen for a sophisticated, design-oriented consumer.
Source: trendcentral
36 Hours in Stockholm
Rob Schoenbaum for The New York Times
The Cadier Bar at the Grand Hotel.
STOCKHOLM has recently declared itself the “Capital of Scandinavia,” and for the moment at least, none of the other style-conscious Viking superpowers is mounting much of a challenge. With discount airlines like Ryanair bringing the rest of Europe to what is still technically just the Swedish capital, Stockholmers no longer fill weekend flights to Copenhagen for a dose of the international high life. The Swedish version of a good time is all about high glamour, haute cuisine, more high glamour and having fun. The local penchant for cunning design and cozy interiors remains undimmed as candles blaze in the city’s increasingly refined restaurants. But waves of immigrants have seasoned the Swedish stew, and albondigas and kefta are the new meatballs in town as tapas, kielbasa and sushi roll out on menus across the city. And in a possible upside to global warming, summer seems to arrive earlier and stay around longer, making the charms of this floating city linger into autumn.
Read on for ‘what to do’ in 36 hours for chic and shopping …soak in the print because in 2008 Style Clinic by Astin Brown will be adding Stockholm as their 15th shopping haunt.
VirtualTourist has used feedback from its visitors (over 6 million a month, they claim) to determine the world’s most up-and-coming destinations. Within the US, Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park tops the list. And, when it comes to international destinations, Lake Atitlán in the beautiful Guatemalan Highlands comes up trumps:U.S. Destinations
International Destinations
Source: a luxury travel blog
Related Stories: Top 5 Overlooked Luxury Vacation Destinations of 2007
How is it some faces manage to step off planes after a long-flight looking immaculate, while regular folks usually look wrecked?
In desperate need of enlightenment, Nicky Park quizzes beauty expert Emma Hobson, the education manager at the International Dermal Institute.
Her first pointer is my first pitfall. Don’t wear makeup on the flight. Hobson says that the low humidity in air causes the skin to dry out. This would explain the clumpy lashes and lack-luster gloss.
For those who cringe at the thought of going free of face paint, Hobson suggests boarding made-up and removing it all once you are on the plane.
With a blank canvas, the next step is locking all the moisture in. Hobson says a toner or spritz spray is an on-board essential for staying fresh and fabulous. (Just make sure you’re not breaking the liquid hand luggage security rules.)
“Avoid water sprays because they evaporate,” she says. “A super hydrating ingredient to look out for is hyaluronic acid”. Sounds scary, but this little gem can hold about 1000 times its own weight in moisture and will lock it in.”
“A barrier protection moisturiser will help protect the skin against the elements,” Hobson adds. “This is a good idea for the face, hands and lips.”
A leave-in conditioner will keep your hair glossy and frizz-free and lubricating eyedrops will keep peepers clear and healthy.
For the super inspired applying a mini-mask under moisturiser will add another layer of protection.
It is a good idea to prep your skin a few days before the trip, Hobson says.
Exfoliate well to remove dead, dry skin and have a good cleansing routine in place.
“The better hydrated you are the less trouble you are likely to have,” she says.
The Report by the Mole, from AAP
So you’re about to leave for the airport and you run through your travel checklist.
Ticket in order? Check Passport ready? Check Showing too much cleavage? Huh?
As if air travel wasn’t complicated enough, now it seems that passengers might want to consider whether their clothing could be offensive to other travellers with the issue emerging the week before last after a highly publicized incident in which a Southwest Airlines agent, allegedly hearing complaints about a passenger’s miniskirt and tank top, asked the young woman to change her clothes.
Another episode surfaced Wednesday, when another Southwest passenger, Setara Qassim, said she was asked to cover herself with a blanket because of her outfit’s plunging neckline and short skirt.
The incidents have sparked a firestorm of debate in the travel industry and on the Web, with some consumers outraged that the airline would find the outfits offensive, while others praise Southwest for upholding standards of decency.
The case underscores the fact that airlines wield an enormous amount of power over customers, with the ability to deny service for conduct and offences to an extent that many consumers don’t realize.
Although most carriers say they don’t have a specific dress code, all have a “contract of carriage,” which specifies that passengers can be ordered off planes or denied boarding for behavior that includes wearing clothing deemed offensive, smelling bad, being barefoot or refusing to obey flight attendants.
A report by The Mole from The Seattle Times Company, 18 Sept 07 (more…)
The industry buzz surrounding 4 collections
Erin Fetherston: Best known for her girly princess frocks beloved by Hollywood indie fashion elite like Kirsten Dunst and Zooey Deschanel, Fetherston toned down her signature look for an equally beautiful, yet more wearable collection this time around—perhaps in anticipation of her rising profile due to her upcoming line for Target. Done entirely in an icy palette of snow queen whites, ivories, greys and gun metal metallics, the Flights of Fancy collection was a more sophisticated take on her past looks, resulting in a chic minimalist aesthetic accented with kooky seashell prints and of course, Fetherston’s usual ruffles.
Vena Cava: Nominated for a prestigious 2007 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, Vena Cava’s Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai turned out yet another collection that all the girls too cool for Marc by Marc will be coveting. Inspired by Kenneth Anger’s Hollywood Babylon and ’70s print design, the very original collection channeled film noir glamour via modern retro silhouettes, some pieces printed with Art Deco-style beer cans that the old school designers created not from Photoshop but through good old Kinko’s.
Preen: A favorite among fashion insiders and models such as it-girl Agyness Deyn, this British label just presented its New York debut. Done almost entirely in silk, Preen’s simultaneously sensual and graphic looks dressed up ‘80s parachute styles for a night on the town.
Karen Walker: This New Zealand designer was doing highwaisted pants long before they became this season’s big trend, so it’s a good bet that whatever she does will be directional. Similar to Vena Cava in the ’30s-meets-’70s theme, her Spring ’08 collection included slouchy wide pants and garden party florals paired with dark tights and tough boots.
Source:TrendCentral
The Mirror, the English newspaper that’s more tabloid than world happenings, reaffirmed its commitment to skinny women and those who obsess about them with an article devoted to “What to wear if you’re skinny.” That’s an easy one—just about everything! What can’t obnoxiously thin women wear? They suggest the skinnies stay away from wrap dresses and leave them to the “curvy” people. Oh, and models should avoid the color black, too. You wouldn’t want to disappear now, would you?
For those whose days of wearing a size 0 were reserved to when they were 12 (if ever), there are a few things to be salvaged from the article… simply take everything they say and do the opposite, which leaves you with about as much good advice as models have fat on their bones. For the skinnies, they recommend large prints and pleats; anyone above a size 2 knows those styles are best left on the racks. A pencil skirt with a flair at the hem? Please, the average woman knows those scream ‘hips’, ‘hips’, ‘hips’ with fervor.
Perhaps I’m being too hard on the perils of being model thin in today’s society? Still, how often does a skinny wander into the plus size section and sigh, “Oh, I wish this came in my size?”
Source: She finds
My DNA Fragrance has taken customization to the highest level, consumers can now have a signature scent created based on their DNA. With over 30,000 fragrance brands on the market, we see this resonating with consumers who are increasingly looking for an exclusive scent to call their own. Customers must submit a swab of their saliva to the company via mail and within 7-10 business days they receive their custom fragrance. Customers’ DNA codes are kept on file for future orders. The gift solution for the soul who has just about everything or people like us who want everything.
Source:Trencentral
We just got back from the fashion and retail frenzy that descends upon Las Vegas twice a year—namely MAGIC Marketplace, and the POOL and PROJECT trade shows. Now that all three operations run under the same umbrella company, Advanstar Communications, inc., thus diminishing any real threat of competition; each has come a little bit closer to reclaiming its original purpose: MAGIC focused on fashion for the masses, PROJECT presented designer denim and luxe indie labels, and POOL served as a platform for up-and-coming designers and creative collaboration. With so much to see and so little time, we directed our attention to the more fashion-forward PROJECT and POOL shows. Here are some spring ’08 collections that caught our eye…
PROJECT
EubiQ NY: This new menswear line marries the comfort and functionality of streetwear with refined, sophisticated design. The subtle tones and attention to detail are representative of some of the hottest looks to come.
Distilled: The clothing designed by this fashion and art collective is even cooler than it looks—each piece is only one of 300. We have a feeling that these limited edition duds will be high in demand come spring, as those in the know will want to emulate the preppy geek chic style that this collection exudes.
Covet: An evergreen favorite, Covet’s collections continue to impress. The handcrafted unisex line is setting new standards of style, making sustainable fashion so cool, one can’t help but covet it.
Social Atelier: The design duo behind the seams, both with backgrounds in clothing design and production, recently combined their expertise to launch a “socially active” lifestyle brand that stands to educate, inspire…and make people look good. The début “Think Future” line features limited edition, organic cotton t-shirts adorned with “awareness messaging” addressing global social. A percentage of proceeds from each season go towards non-profit organizations aligned with social and environmental causes.
POOL
Idol Radec: The creative minds behind this menswear line coined the term “fashletic” to describe their forthcoming spring collection, and we couldn’t have said it any better ourselves. Inspired by the privileges that come with youth, the pieces are stylish yet sporty, refined yet carefree, and classic yet distinctly modern.
S(eco)nd: This sustainable style showcase that debuted at Pool proved that eco chic has come a long way. Where some of our favorite eco- mavens like Linda Loudermilk and the gals behind Velvet Leaf helped drive awareness towards some new sustainable style setters, such as Nicole Bridger, Ryann and Manimal.
Source: TrendCentral
