Gucci Shoes

Whether you are just starting out in this world and need to put a foundation wardrobe in place or if you are giving your wardrobe a refresher here are some wardrobe ideas to help you get started.

Two pairs of dark slacks - either black or navy blue. Go with a slim cut in a wool crepe or a seasonless cotton.

One pair of dark slacks for the evening with a fuller cut. These can be a fabric that drapes either a light wool or jersey mix.

Two pairs of jeans -one hemmed for heels and the other hemmed for flats. Jeans that are hemmed for heels you should see just the toe box.

Three skirts - a pencil skirt, a A-line skirt which incidentally looks good on all body types and a skirt in a neutral fabric so you can mix and match with others items like tweed, wool or boucle.

Shirts - A white button front shirt and a few t-shirts.

Three sweaters - The fabric should be a lightweight, merino or cashmere.

One should be black and match your black trousers.
The second one should be more neutral like off-white, camel or taupe.
The third sweater should just simple be a sweater that you love and feel great in. Nothing too dressy - one you can wear to the office and with jeans.

Two Jackets

A tailored jacket that matches your black pants.
A sporty leather jacket

Three coats

A classic trench coat or raincoat with a zip -out wool liner for multiple seasons.
A knee-length transition coat that works for day and night.
A winter coat in a wool or cashmere blend or if you live in a warmer climate try tropical wool.

Dress

A little black dress

Three Bags

A classic leather style with clean lines that works for everything.
A catch all fun tote bag
A envelope shaped, bracelet style for the evening.

Shoes (5 pairs)

A pair of black pumps 2.5-3.5 inch heel in a the current style.
A evening shoe with a close toe in a black satin.
A pair of tall black boots
Bad-weather boots
A pair of sneakers or tennis shoes.

Are you cringing at the thought of trying on plus size swimwear?.. How those changing room mirrors, seems to show every bulge?. Don’t be..

Fashion designers have finally woke up to the fact that 6 out of 10 North American women are considered “plus size”. If they want to make a hit with us larger framed girls, then they have to get designing better fitting bathing suits, and swimwear.

Looks like they did. Plus Size bathing suits are better fitting around the hips now, the fabrics are more comfortable, there is no more tugging and digging in with that stringy elastic, and there are way more choices and styles in the plus size swimwear now.

Plus size is considered size 14 and up. For many women, they get hung up on the size tag. Different designers and manufacturers have different ranges of sizing, and you really need to take your measurements, tuck them in your purse, and have them with you. Then when it comes time to try on bathing suits, take in a size or two bigger than you are, and a size or two smaller into the change room, and see how they fit.

You should be relaxed and in a good frame of mind, no sense going shopping for a bathing suit, if you are in a bad mood.. nothing will look right.

With the assortment of styles and color in plus size swimwear, you will need to spend a good hour looking. Which is great! It was not that long ago, when plus size bathing suits, looked like bags with no shape, and usually a gaudy color, and basically one little rack in the store! Not anymore.. so ignore that size tag, and find a plus size bathing suit that fits your figure. Rip off the size tag after, if it bothers you. No one needs to know the size but you.

When the fit is right, you will feel good, you will stand taller, and you will look slimmer.

Then go and have fun at the beach.

Fashions come and go, and then come back again. This season it’s all about legs. Here’s how to stay one step ahead of the pack.

I am a woman, what should I be wearing? Leggings. Wear leggings with tunics, wear leggings with microscopic miniskirts and wear leggings with enormous sunglasses. Throw in oversized, draped tops and belts around the waist, and the smell of the 1980s becomes overpowering. If you are in hot climate, just get the legs out. Fashion conspiracy theorists suggest the crackdown on size zero at Madrid Fashion Week has ushered celebrities towards oversized tops so they can fashionably hide their anorexia.

I am a metrosexual man: Ensure your legs are clad in tight black jeans, and could they be worn a little tighter, please? Enormous hair and enormous sunglasses, combined with a waistcoat, a skinny black tie and a pair of Cuban heels will complete the look. For the extra daring, go for a man’s version of a satin Margaret Thatcher blouse with a pussy bow and flounce around reciting Walt Whitman. Afterwards, put a cardigan on. The look is a tad 60s, without the body odour and the peace signs painted on the cheek. If someone accuses you of being old school, or a new age Adam Ant, say: “Hedi Slimane. Dior Homme. Autumn/Winter 2005/6. Very influential.”

Is the 60s thing for the boys war-related?
Good question. There are an estimated 30 to 35 wars — depending on your definition — going on at the moment. An anti-government and anti-war vibe is on the streets and in the papers, man. Where else to turn to but a 1960s Bob Dylan… with tight black jeans?

How can I make sure I’ve got it right?

Be careful — this 1980s woman/1960s man is not an easy look. Go fug yourself is written by blogging bitches Heather and Jessica, who with their utterly vicious and wicked assessments of celebrity outfits can give you a strong sense of what outfits are wrong, wrong, wrong. Their take on Mischa Barton in an unattractive skirt will certainly help with how not to interpret the 80s look. “Take this joke of a skirt, for instance. It’s like a clown repurposed a blazer and wrapped it around her waist…. Mostly, I just want to tug it down so that I don’t accidentally get a view of her birth canal.” They also offer warnings on certain trends: “The random deployment of belts is never appropriate, no matter how terribly trendy it is, because when done incorrectly all you can see is the belt itself.”

But I’ve got terrible legs: Don’t worry, fashion will soon move on. Do I smell Hawaiian prints?

“What I love about this outfit is the classic combination of black and white,” Lynn says. “The trendy style of the one-shoulder top and harem pants gives it the edge, and the gorgeous Margiela shoes does not hurt either.”

I’ve got to agree–if this look were neon pink and chartreuse, I don’t know that it would be working for me, but keeping the color palette classic is a genius way to make some intimidating trends seem less, well…scary. I think we can all learn a valuable style lesson from Lynn: If you’re going to commit to an over-the-top trend, do it in a classic color scheme. And the reverse is true, too: If you want to wear head-to-toe melon and turquoise, keep your silhouettes simple and avoid the overly wacky stuff.

What do you girls think of Lynn’s look? Are you loving it like I am? Discuss! And find out more about Lynn’s style at her blog, All Things NYC.

And psst…don’t forget to submit your own head-to-toe photo of your favorite outfit for a chance to become our Best Dressed Reader! The very next one could be you, doll, but you won’t know until you send us your picture…

Frock queen Leona Edmiston reveals her deepest and darkest fashion secrets to Lara Zamiatin.

Where do you like to shop?

Over the years I’ve found so many unique and pre-loved accessories from Pelle that I wear all the time. I’m a huge fan of vintage costume jewellery and Harlequin Market has the best selection in Sydney. Ariel is my favourite bookstore.

Who is your style icon?

I love the casual elegance of Jane Birkin, her complete lack of inhibition and the fact she carried the same straw basket for years even to black tie functions.

What’s your favourite holiday destination?

Hong Kong. I love the exoticness of East meets West and the shopping is out of control. I also love the energy and the heaving masses of people.

What’s the last thing you bought?

On my last trip to Hong Kong I bought a pair of black suede platform Sergio Rossi ankle boots with violet lining. They’re so beautiful; I can’t wait to wear them.

Share your favourite piece of fashion advice?

I read this quote in a recent issue of UK Vogue: “When it comes to getting dressed, men are a little bit more important than handbags but less important than shoes.”

What old faithful could you never throw out?

Burberry trenches are so beautifully made and classic that they never go out of style. I bought my first one 14 years ago and it’s as gorgeous and cosy as ever.

Divulge your biggest fashion splurge?

My first fashion splurge was in the 1980s. It was a mini-crini by Vivienne Westwood that I still have. It was so flirty and naughty and so much fun to wear.

What’s a must-have item for everyone’s winter wardrobe?

Black opaque tights are always chic.

Name your most cringe-worthy fashion faux pas.

I was so used to freezing Melbourne on Melbourne Cup Day that one year I wore a fur leopard suit with matching high pillbox hat - think Audrey Hepburn in Charade. The outfit was fabulous but of course that day was a heat wave.

What is the secret to true style?

Femininity. Every woman should have a dress that is flirty, sexy, yet still very stylish like my Trudi from autumn-winter ‘09.

Whether you are just starting out in this world and need to put a foundation wardrobe in place or if you are giving your wardrobe a refresher here are some wardrobe ideas to help you get started.

Two pairs of dark slacks - either black or navy blue. Go with a slim cut in a wool crepe or a seasonless cotton.

One pair of dark slacks for the evening with a fuller cut. These can be a fabric that drapes either a light wool or jersey mix.

Two pairs of jeans -one hemmed for heels and the other hemmed for flats. Jeans that are hemmed for heels you should see just the toe box.

Three skirts - a pencil skirt, a A-line skirt which incidentally looks good on all body types and a skirt in a neutral fabric so you can mix and match with others items like tweed, wool or boucle.

Shirts - A white button front shirt and a few t-shirts.

Three sweaters - The fabric should be a lightweight, merino or cashmere.

One should be black and match your black trousers.
The second one should be more neutral like off-white, camel or taupe.
The third sweater should just simple be a sweater that you love and feel great in. Nothing too dressy - one you can wear to the office and with jeans.

Two Jackets

A tailored jacket that matches your black pants.
A sporty leather jacket

Three coats

A classic trench coat or raincoat with a zip -out wool liner for multiple seasons.
A knee-length transition coat that works for day and night.
A winter coat in a wool or cashmere blend or if you live in a warmer climate try tropical wool.

Dress

A little black dress

Three Bags

A classic leather style with clean lines that works for everything.
A catch all fun tote bag
A envelope shaped, bracelet style for the evening.

Shoes (5 pairs)

A pair of black pumps 2.5-3.5 inch heel in a the current style.
A evening shoe with a close toe in a black satin.
A pair of tall black boots
Bad-weather boots
A pair of sneakers or tennis shoes.

All through history one thing has never changed and that is in any given century, fashion has been of great importance to us. It changes over time and often comes back in style many times over. But why is fashion so important to us? We go to such great lengths to look just right. Lets face it; we are judged by how we look. That may sound shallow but it is true. Just go out anywhere and really start looking at people. Observe your own reaction and thoughts when you see how people dress and carry themselves.

Some people are born lucky with great genes. Others need a little help. In either case we can all enhance our look through clothing, makeup, jewelry and personal hygiene.

Before you shop lets take a look at what you can do to improve your overall look.

1) Look at your hairstyle. Does it really suit you? Is the color right? The right haircut and color can make more of a difference than you may realize. Shop for a good hairdresser.

2) Makeup can change your look from ordinary to amazing, but take note; you’ll want to buy products that are natural. Our environment is polluted enough and we don’t need to add to it by putting chemical products on our skin that can make us break out.

3) Before you go shopping for clothes, stand in front of a mirror and look at your body. Decide what you like about it and what you don’t. What you like about it you’ll want to enhance. Don’t be shy to promote your best body features. There are things you can do to put less attention on what you don’t like such as if your thighs are wider than your shoulders, don’t wear tight clothing. You’ll only draw attention there. Also don’t wear loose fitting tops because it will only give you an overall appearance of being big. It’s all about balancing your figure. You’ve probably observed young girls in the mall with low cut jeans. Some of them pull it off well but when you see belly hanging over it, it’s not a good look as that is all you really see. Also wear clothes that are age appropriate. I’ve seen very young girls and very old women dressed in sexy outfits. It does not come off right and generally meets with a thought of instant disapproval. Also, very important, wear colors that suit you. If you don’t know then get a friend to go with you and hold up colors to your face and see what looks best.

4) Shop for accessories such as a purse that compliments your shoes. You can also make quite a statement by doing something simple like pulling your hair back and putting long dangling earrings and no other jewelry.

In short, know before you go. Understand your body and shopping will easier. You will look better. Remember, people are unconsciously judging you by your appearance. It’s human nature.

Recently because of the economic crisis,the public awareness of  diamond increased.This issue is very important and you must know about!

Both Hollywood and the rap industry are promoting a diamond term more serious than “ice” or “bling.” In a world where looks are everything, and the jewelry worn by a star is envied and emulated by peers and fans alike, a movement is emerging that raises awareness of a serious issue - the importation of conflict diamonds.

Also referred to as blood diamonds, conflict diamonds are those which have been stolen and sold over bloodshed to finance rebel African armies in regions of unrest. These diamonds can easily get lost in the shuffle and work their way into the mainstream diamond supply - a great source of concern for the world. Broad based awareness, aided by the entertainment industry in recent months, is the first step to fighting this problem.

Warner Brothers tackles the conflict diamond issue in its upcoming film, The Blood Diamond, which might star Leonardo DiCaprio. The plot explores the intertwined lives of a conflict diamond smuggler and a Sierra Leone farmer whose son vanishes into an army of child soldiers.

Rapper Kanye West also denounces conflict diamonds in his new single “Diamonds From Sierra Leone: “Little was known of Sierra Leone, And how it connect to the diamonds we own, How? when I know of the blood diamonds, Though it’s thousands of miles away, Sierra Leone connect to what we go through today.”

While the entertainment industry assists with increasing public awareness of conflict diamonds, reputable jewelers are already knowledgeable about and have been fighting against conflict diamonds for years. Neustaedter’s Fine Jewelry in St. Louis has been dedicated to the issue for decades and is committed to educating the public.

Conflict Diamonds: Products of Bloodshed with a Centuries-Old History

According to the Global Policy Forum, conflict diamonds date back to the early 1900s when European entrepreneurs gained control of diamond mines by instigating wars between African tribes. Over a hundred years later, conflict diamonds are still affecting the lives of people throughout Africa.

You might be astounded that over 3.7 million people in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola have died in diamond-related wars. About 6.5 million people in these nations have lost their homes during the wars.

How do conflict diamonds play a role in these wars? Rebel armies, many composed of child soldiers, kill miners and steal the diamonds which are sold on the black market to fund their weapons and other illegal activities. Oftentimes the conflict diamonds are traded and routed through neighboring countries through many middlemen, making it hard to trace their origins.

How the Government Regulates the Importation of Diamonds

Fortunately, many nations are trying to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds. Ratified by 52 countries in 2002, Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) “is a voluntary system that imposes requirements on participants to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are conflict-free,” according to Amnesty International USA.

In 2003, President George W. Bush signed the Clean Diamond Trade Act into law, creating restrictions on the importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone into the United States. The act strictly prohibits the importation of rough diamonds from Liberia into the U.S. The Clean Diamond Trade Act also bolsters KPCS by requiring an annual review of anyone in the U.S. who issues KPCS certificates.

But both the KPCS and the Clean Diamond Trade Act have loopholes through which conflict diamonds can pass undetected. Some organizations, including the Global Policy Forum, believe that the KPCS-established World Diamond Council is not monitoring the issue well enough and that many nations have done a poor job of applying KPCS.

Despite its strong implications, the Clean Diamond Trade Act does not require the inspection of sealed diamond containers. The law only calls for U.S. customs to review and record information on a form that accompanies the import. This can lead to false documentation, including inconsistencies between the form and the actual contents. Organizations like Amnesty International USA believe that occasional random checks should be performed on diamond imports to better regulate the industry.

The Diamond Industry Takes a Proactive Stand

De Beers, who controls over 60 percent of the world’s diamonds, has performed many measures to help control this issue. The company has entirely embargoed diamonds from Angola and stopped purchasing diamonds from Liberia and Sierra Leone almost 20 years ago. De Beers only sells diamonds from its own mines, most of which are located in South Africa and Botswana, and provides guarantees that all of its diamonds are conflict-free.

Aside from De Beers, the diamond industry in general has a self-regulatory system that issues warranties for conflict-free diamonds. This system is a result of KPCS, which allows the government to trace your diamond back to its untainted origins.

Summer is coming and you will enjoy swimming with your family and friends.Do you have perfect swimsuit for you?Do you know how to choose the perfect swimsuit?

Shopping for and buying a swimsuit or bikini can be one of the worst, most depressing experiences for women. Contrary to what fashion magazines would suggest, not all women wear size four clothing and can easily slip into a sexy, thong bikini. Most women, in fact, regardless of the size they wear, feel a little self-conscious about their bodies. These women are hardly excited to begin parading their bodies around in skimpy swimsuits that are unforgiving to even small amounts of fat. For these women, each successive visit to the dressing room in the endless search for the perfect, wonderfully fitted swimsuit, is a further reminder of how far their bodies are from model perfect.

What many of these women do not know, however, is that the perfect swimsuit for them does exist, and it may not even be very difficult to find. There are women who feel wonderfully sexy and attractive in swimsuits. These women understand their bodies and know what styles will complement and flatter those bodies. All women, regardless of size or figure, can be properly flattered and displayed in the right swimsuit. As you enter the summer season, keep these figure guidelines in mind while shopping for the perfect swimsuit for you.

Plus Size: Let us begin this guide to swimsuit shopping with the women who often feel most rejected by swimsuit manufacturers. While all women feel somewhat self-conscious in a skin-baring swimsuit, women who wear plus sizes often feel that they will never find a good swimsuit fit for their unique bodies. However, these women often have the sexiest curves to show off in a swimsuit. In the 1950s, curves were in; in the current era, curves may be making a reentry into the vogue of swimsuit fashion. To accentuate and flatter curves in a plus size body, try pairing a light colored, waist-defining tankini top with more subdued bikini bottoms. Choosing a swimsuit with a high percentage of Lycra or spandex and a high-cut leg will actually shave 10 pounds off of your appearance. To slim and shape the stomach, make sure tankini tops and bottoms meet. This will prevent any unsightly stomach bulges.

Pear Shapes: Women with pear shapes often have an extremely challenging experience when buying a swimsuit. The combination of a relatively small upper body with large hips and thighs can look somewhat unflattering in the wrong swimsuit. Fortunately, plenty of flattering swimsuit options do exist for women with pear shapes. The number one secret to finding a sexy swimsuit for any type of body is to flatter and display appealing characteristics while drawing eyes away from less desirable characteristics. For women with pear shapes, the best swimsuit or bikini entails a flashy top with plenty of eye-grabbing detail combined with more subdued bottoms. Try a one-piece swimsuit or bikini with a halter-top to widen the shoulders. Pair this top with dark, high-spandex bottoms with high- cut legs. High-cut legs tend to slim the hips and thighs.

Short or Long Torso: Women with either short or long torsos often have a difficult time shopping for swimsuits, as well. Torso length is one of the most important factors to consider when finding the right fit in a swimsuit, and swimsuit manufacturers seem to (rather unfortunately) concentrate their efforts largely upon women with “normal” length torsos. To either lengthen or shorten the appearance of the torso in a swimming suit, the key is getting the right cut on the legs. For women with short torsos, try finding a bikini with low-rise bottoms that sit just on the hips. The low-rise bottoms will show as much midsection skin as possible. Legs that are cut too high will shorten the torso even more and give the appearance of stockiness. Conversely, women with long torsos should try a tankini with bottoms that sit a little higher on the hips. The tankini top will break up a long torso while the higher bottoms will lengthen the legs.

Large Busts: Women with large busts often have difficulty finding a swimsuit that offers enough support in the top. It seems that the swimsuits that do offer the appropriate amount of support often look too matronly. Thankfully, most swimsuit manufacturers now offer bra-style support in their swimsuits, an absolute must for minimizing and flattering large breasts. The key to finding an attractive swimsuit for a big bust is to look for a one-piece swimsuit or bikini top with a hidden underwire. An underwire will lift the bust, giving it the support it needs. Also, look for a suit with a straight across cut at the top and wide-set straps. To avoid looking matronly, find a bikini or swimsuit in a pretty, young, pastel color.

Small Busts: For women with small busts, the key to looking attractive in a swimsuit can also be found in bra-style support. Hidden underwires will lift and shape the busts. To add curves to the bust, try a bikini top with triangle-shaped cups or a tie-front. Triangle cups will add shape and curve to small breasts while a tie-front will lift and shape a small bust even more. In general, women with small busts should avoid bandeau-style bikini tops. Bandeau tops tend to minimize and flatten the breasts.

Boy Shapes: If you fear you have no shape to accentuate in a swimsuit at all, you may have a boy shape. To gain more Marilyn Monroe style curviness, try a one-piece swimsuit with a low, plunging neckline. The top of the suit should gather to add shape and curve to the bust and shoulders. To emphasize curves in the hips, try a high-cut leg that sits just above the hipbone. This type of cut will make the legs seem longer and curvier. However, if you would like to embrace your boy shape, try pairing triangle-shaped bikini cups with short boy shorts. Boy shorts are incredibly popular but look attractive on only a small percentage of women; women with boy shapes make up the majority of this small percentage.

While swimsuit shopping may seem too depressing and panic-inducing to even attempt, you should not sacrifice your summer fun for fear of the dreaded experience. Just remember that every woman, regardless of size and shape, has a perfect swimsuit laying in wait for her. All she need do is know where and what to look for.

You pay a pretty penny for a Gucci bag or any other designer handbag be it Fendi, Prada, Chanel or Dior. Your friends are drooling over that gorgeous Gucci Turquoise Leather Handbag you just bought. Wait until they hear what a great deal you got!

But is it authentic or is it a fake? Determining authenticity can be a bit tricky because some fakes are done very well. However if you know what to watch for you can spot a fake in a minute!

The first thing you need to do is look at the bag itself. Do the materials look to be of the highest quality? How about the stitching? There should be no loose or uneven threads and the thread should match the bag exactly. If the bag is leather the logo will be engraved into the leather.

Next have a look at the hardware. The hardware should all be quality weight pieces with no scratches or color variations. Most of the designers actually have a plastic face that goes over the hardware to protect if from damage until the bag is purchased. The brand name will be engraved not embossed on the hardware. You should also be able to find the name engraved on the hardware for the strap.

Have a really close look at the liner and any accents. Check for quality. The liner should be silk and you should see the designers name or logo on the liner. Designers don’t use cheap plastic accents. Even their fancy handles that are fun and funky. If you look closely you will see leather underneath the top finish.

Many authentic handbag comes with a card of authenticity which has the manufacturers logo embossed on it, as well as information about the bag.

You need to check for a serial number. Not all designers put a serial number on their bags but many do. So have a look and see if you can find it.

Now here is the easiest clue to remember. If the deal sounds too good to be true it is. Lets face it folks how do you think that somebody on ebay has the ability to buy designer bags for less than the boutiques that sell quantities of them all year long for the designer. Do you actually think the designer is going to give these people such great deals so they can pass them on to you. Not!

You might try to convince yourself that it’s okay or that this person just stumbled across a good buy. Perhaps but highly unlikely. So if you truly want to own a designer bag then you must be careful who you give your money to.

If you don’t care and an unlicensed knock off is okay. Then fine by me. But do remember that these knock offs are illegal and no matter how bad you want a designer handbag do you really want to own one that’s not real and not legal.

If you are in the market for a designer hand bag then be sure you aren’t throwing away your money and buy it from a reputable licensed retailer. You want your bag to last you a very long time!