Gianni Versace: A Fashion Success!
September 30, 2008
Gianni Versace was born in 1946 in Reggio, Calabria, in Southern Italy. Versace received his love of fashion and first lessons on dress-making from his mother.
Initially Versace trained as an architect, but soon he followed his mother into the fashion business. Versace worked for a number of top Italian fashion houses, but in 1978 with the help of his brother Santo he launched his own label.
Versace was a great fashion pioneer who combined the worlds of high style and pop culture. He was a charismatic and accomplished designer of clothing and theater costumes.
Versace appreciated a range of historic attire which he incorporated into his designs and he was greatly influenced by Andy Warhol and modern abstract art.
Wowzer! Best describes the fashions designed by Gianni Versace. He was notorious for designing garments that would shock and startle our senses. Versace saw his designing as an art form. He initiated clothing that was visually excessive and provocative- fashions that confronted accepted codes of taste, beauty and sexuality.
Fashion became entertainment, to be watched and admired - not simply worn. For Versace nothing was too extravagant too crazy or too risque. Yet no matter how extravagant or provocative Versace’s clothes were always strikingly well designed garments designed to flatter the body.
Teeth Whitening: Frequently Asked Questions
September 29, 2008
Overview
Teeth whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve your appearance. Whiter teeth can boost your self-esteem and confidence. Years of drinking coffee, tea, cola, red wine, and smoking eventually takes their toll on teeth. The results are dull, yellowish-colored teeth. Some teeth may have darker gray-colored stains due to antibiotics. Most teeth will benefit from tooth whitening. Teeth whitening is a proven safe and effective way to brighten stained, discolored teeth.
Your dentist has a variety of methods for restoring a bright white smile including porcelain veneers, composite bonding, implants and whitening, also known as bleaching. However, of all the advances made in dentistry to enhance the appearance of the teeth, whitening is the easiest and least invasive, and effective for 3 out of 4 cases. The procedure is safe, simple, and more affordable than ever before. Because of these reasons and more, whitening has become very popular.
Should I consult a dentist about teeth whitening?
You may want to start by speaking with your dentist. They can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownish-colored teeth may not bleach as well, and grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all.
Kitchen Treasures for Healthy and Beautiful Skin
September 28, 2008
Vegetable and spices are necessary in our kitchen. They play a vital part in our diet and nutrition. Now, you can even make your own beauty regimen out of those veggies and spices in your kitchen.
I listed some commonly known veggies and spices that can help in the maintenance of healthy and beautiful skin.
Almond- almond oil is good for treating dry skin and removing scars of old pimples and zits. Pour hot water on the almonds and allow them to soak until the skin comes off. Dry them and grind them into a powder. Keep this in a jar. Daily add a little milk to some of the powder and use the paste to cleanse the face by rubbing the skin gently with it. Almond powder can also be added to face packs.
Cabbage- is rich in vitamin and minerals. The water used in boiling cabbage can be used to rinse the face after washing.
Carrots- smashed carrot pulp makes good face packs.
Garlic- raw garlic is known to treat persistent pimples.
Seven Quick and Simple Reminders for Healthy Skin
September 27, 2008
Healthy skin is a sign of good health. The skin is the largest vital organ in our body comprising of about two billion cells and has a surface area of around two square meters.
Oftentimes, the radiant, glowing and smooth skin of a person gets our attention, and be ultimately envious. The truth is nobody can blame us. A beautiful skin is always worthy of attention and praise. It spells great responsibility for the person to take care of his skin that way. And although only very few people can actually have the perfect skin and complexion, we too can do something to bring out the best in our skin.
Here are quick and simple ways that we can care for our skin.
1. Nourish your skin by eating the proper foods. This means healthy and balanced diet. Healthy and balanced diet promotes our general well- being and optimizes our body to function at its best. To have a healthy skin, eat plenty of seed food i.e. fruits that contain seeds, vegetables - organic vegetables are better as it contains additional nutrients.
Roberto Cavalli: The Fashion King
September 26, 2008
Roberto Cavalli was born on November 15th, 1940 in Italy. He came from a modest family with strong artistic talents and traditions. His grandfather had been an impressionist painter, his mother a tailor .
Cavalli began his career as a young student. Himself and his friend invented, experimented and designed. His first revolutionary creation was a process of printing on light-weight leather.
His print house was a cross between a craftsman’s workshop and an artist’s studio. He was able to accomplish this because of his detailed fabric research and his continuous experimenting with different technologies.
Eventually Cavalli patented the process of printing on leather. Over the next ten years he created what’s known as "patchwork" or "patch quilt" a result of sewing together odd pieces of leather together. During the 1970’s Roberto Cavalli gained international recognition, This was the true beginning of his career.
In 1972 Roberto Cavalli showed his first collection in the historic White Room of Palazzo Pitti in Florence which led to a real scandal. On the catwalk his models were wearing patchwork on denim. Denim was a fabric that was highly disregarded by the straight-laced.
What is Botox and Whats the Use
September 26, 2008
Botox is an injectable substance that is a medical grade form of the botulinum toxin, most often used to soften and relax forehead/scowl lines as well as crows feet around the eye area.
Botulin toxin or botox is the toxic compound produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is an enzyme that breaks down one of the fusion proteins that allow neurons to release acetylcholine at a neuromuscular junction. By interfering with nerve impulses in this way, it causes paralysis of muscles in botulism. The toxin is a two-chain polypeptide with a 100 kDa heavy chain joined by a disulphide bond to a 50-kD light chain. It is possibly the most toxic substance known, with a lethal do
Botox is most commonly used to smooth out wrinkles but can be used to help in many other cases. It’s been found that botox injections can help children with cerebral palsy from agravating and suffering some other side effects. Muscle tension that often occurs with cerebral palsy has been seen to ameliorate while using botox. A side effect is a dry mouth, but in the case of neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, where excessive drooling is a problem, this is actually helpful.
Botox, The No-Surgeon Solution to Wrinkles
September 25, 2008
Despite the fact that Botox is a toxin it’s been safely and widely used by ophthamologists for more than ten years. Botox has been used for for wrinkle treatment since the early 1990’s and no serious side effects have been documented.
Botox works by relaxing the muscles that create the wrinkles and that way lessening the appearance of frown lines, crow’s feet or laugh lines. Botox is injected in the muscle and after the botox injection you’ll no longer be able to frown, eliminating the lines created by frowning. Botox eliminates the wrinkles that appear because of facial muscle overuse, it’s a protein toxin produced by clostridium botulinum bacteria.
Botox has been regarded by many as “the ultimate fountain of youth”, botox injections are more popular than breast enchancement and are probably the next blockbuster. More than 1.6 million patients received botox injection in 2001 with almost 50% increase over 2000. According the ASAPS, botox injections are the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure.
In order to work, a small amount of Botox is injected in the muscles that create the wrinkles. The botox toxin works by inactivating those muscles and that way causing the wrinkles to disappear or diminish a lot.
Ralph Lauren 2005 Spring & Summer Collection
September 24, 2008
The Ralph Lauren Spring & Summer 2005 Collection is simply fabulous! The collection ranges from Shimmering Luxury to Breezy Elegance to Throwaway Glamour - the common element is the color white.
Lauren said he used the sophistication of old-time Hollywood and the chic refinement of cafe society as starting points for his collection, which featured several halter gowns, fuzzy cashmere sweaters and some tailored jackets paired with capri-length pants or Bermuda shorts.
Ralph Lauren states “Spring & summer is about romantic refinement - an old-Hollywood charm that’s luxurios in a modern, off hand way.” The spring & summer line has a sexy blend of softness and glamour bringing out the feminine side in an elegant and sophisticated way. Here’s some great sites to see the Ralph Lauren Spring & summer Fashions hitting the boutiques now.
Did anyone watch the Golden Globes? Emmy Rossum wore this fabulous Ralph Lauren gown - strapless, silhoutte shape to accentuate every curve with this fabulous flowing layers of material from the knees down.
Factors that can Influence Your Skin Type
September 23, 2008
Normal skin type
Normal skin is smooth, finely-textured, soft and supple. If you are lucky enough to possess this skin type, treasure it by using light cleansers and lotions and mild toners and fresheners.
Dry skin type
Dry skin is usually thin and delicate and often flaky and prone to fine lines. It sometimes feels tighter than it should. Extremely rich and greasy creams are not good for it because they strangulate the pores, often enlarging them and so creating an extra problem. Use light oils and lotions for moisturising and choose herbal toners, which are mild and not too astringent. Try to restore the pH or acid-alkali balance with the application of such things as cucumber juice or diluted vinegar so that the sebaceous glands are encouraged to function.
Generally speaking, the emollient and hydrating herbs (chamomile, comfrey, cowslip, elderflower, fennel, marshmallow, orange blossom, rose, violet) are the best to use in lotions and toners for dry skin. But there is no hard and fast rule. Astringent herbs can be good for dry skins, for example, if blended with emollient herbs or oils and gels, and many herbs are suitable for all skin types. If the skin is sensitive as well as dry, see the notes on sensitive skin below.
Wrinkles and Liver Spots are Signs of Aging, Mature Skin
September 22, 2008
Wrinkles
Gravity is the skin’s worst enemy. Weakening of collagen and elastin fibres causes reduced firmness of the skin, gravity pulls at the skin and causes it to sag, this in combination with a reduction in the fatty padding of the skin inevitably causes wrinkling of the skin tissue.
Can Wrinkles Be Avoided?
Environmental factors such as over exposure to the sun, smog, cigarette smoke can all have an adverse effect on your skin. In addition, you may also have inherited weaknesses from your parents that can cause premature aging of the skin.
Despite these challenges, there are simple steps you can take to prevent wrinkles and remember - the earlier you start, the better!
? Wear Sunscreen,
? Always wear a hat with a wide brim when going outside ? remember, just because there’s clouds does not mean there’s no UV,
? Don’t sunbathe, and
? Where possible, stay out of the sun between 10am to 3pm.
As we progress through our 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and beyond, our skin requires an appropriate skin care regime to maintain, as well as repair, the skin. The older you are when you start to protect and care for your skin, the less effective it will be, however, it is never too late to start.
