I have been a magazine junky for years. I love fashion and entertainment magazines. Recently fashion blogs have taken the place of magazines for me. Blog advertising isn’t as blatantly obvious as with magazines. As well blogs are more environmentally friendly than magazines. I have stacks of outdated magazines that I have no idea what to do with. My current magazine subscription of Elle Canada and Flare are coming to an end this month; and I am not renewing.

However, I struggle with condoning the fashion industry. I can’t see the sense in spending $1,000+ on shoes, hand bags, or other fashion items, especially when our economy is so volatile. It sickens me to see celebrities spending so freely when the citizens who pour money into their ventures are having homes repossessed and their positions tossed in the trash.

Not to mention the negative effect the fashion industry has on young women. We don’t all look like the models on the runway. I once heard a fashion designer comment that models are mere garment racks to display the clothing. How degrading to be considered a “clothing rack”. Not all women are over six feet tall and weighing just over 100lbs.

An article on the AWL about the history of red shoes, very interesting!

The Ten Elements are mostly classic pieces, but what's important is whether they fit you properly, are not outdated, and bring out your best features. The following is the shopping list of Tim Gunn's 10 essential items, with helpful hints from this article's author. If you would like more advice from Tim Gunn, read his book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style or watch his show on the Bravo channel on Thursday nights.

1. Basic Black Dress - The basic black dress has been around for a long time. It is often called the "Little Black Dress", and it's true that shorter skirts on the basic black dress, when they hit you in the right place, can be more flattering than a long black dress.
2. Trench Coat - The trench coat is one of the pieces that is both classic and currently a hot fashion item. Most any store sells this piece now. It is great for fall and you can pick it up in a wide range of lengths.
3. Dress Pants - Although it doesn't say black, this is probably what you want to look for. Black is flattering on all figures and goes with everything.
4. Classic Shirt - The white shirt is a definite classic. But it can also come in many different styles to make it look trendy and not dated or like a man's piece of clothing. Find one that accentuates your best attributes and minimizes trouble spots. For example, if you have wide shoulders, stay away from large collars.
5. Jeans - Everyone has a pair of jeans, but does everyone have a pair of jeans that make them look great? The wider leg, low-rise jean style has been popular (and still is) but a narrower leg is coming back along with a higher waist, which eliminates the unflattering "muffin top" look.
6. Any Occasion Top - Find something you look great in that can look respectable under a jacket but bring on the fun after hours.
7. Skirt - If you need dress pants then you also need a skirt. A skirt is womanly and can be flirty or businesslike. Nowadays women do not wear many skirts or dresses, which makes a lot of them fall into a rut of dressing sloppily or like men. See number 8.
8. Day Dress - Women also are not wearing as many dresses anymore. It was certainly liberating to go from the '50s when women wore dresses every day to wearing more practical pants for gardening, exercising, and so forth. But the dress does not have to be abandoned altogether. They can be very flattering, and there is nothing wrong with "dressing up" for daytime.
9. Jacket - A jacket does not have to be masculine. Find one with a proper, fitted shape. Women's jackets should follow the silhouette of a woman's body and accent the hourglass curve at her waist. It is also a perfect piece to put with the skirt or dress pants, and white shirt. Or make it casual with a pair of jeans.
10. Sweatsuit Alternative - As mentioned before, women wear fewer skirts and dresses these days. But some women have taken casual to the extreme and spend days on end in sweatsuits. It is possible to be casual and comfortable without looking like a slob. Find a comfortable material (that's why this doesn't say jeans again – denim is not as comfortable as a nice soft cotton) that you would want to wear every day. It could be khakis, cords, a cotton dress, or much more.

Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item

(In the second season, the Jacket replaces the Blazer on Tim's list, and the Any Occasion Top replaces the Cashmere Sweater.)

Now comes the fun part. Go shopping! Use this list as a basic guide to forming your wardrobe. When you want to have fun with new styles and colors, try it in your accessories: purses, shoes, and jewelry.

Courtesy of Suite101

Helena is one of my favorite Hollywood celebrities because she has that “I don’t give a fuck” attitude. Here is an article I found on the Zimbo website about how she wore miss matching shoes at the Golden Globes as a fashion statement.

"Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter made Vanity Fair's Best Dressed list last year, much to the surprise of, well, everyone—including her.

Say what you will about her fashion choices, but Carter's an original through and through. She explained her sartorial approach to People, saying, "Sometimes I get it right and sometimes I get it wrong, but fashion is all about having fun. I think fashion has been hijacked by the fashion industry creating rules on what one should wear and I feel like breaking the mold and seeing that the world won't crumble."

Which is why Carter decided to wear different colored shoes on the Golden Globes red carpet: "Why not wear mismatching shoes? Who says we can't? I was just having fun.""

-Zimbo

What you need:
*A clean spray bottle. You can find them super cheap at dollar stores, grocery stores, and mega marts. Make sure it holds at least 8 fl. oz. to 10 fl. oz.
*8 fl. oz. of water. Try distilled or filtered if your tap water isn't the best on hair
*Sea salt. Use the more finely ground stuff because it mixes easier and faster with the water. Use 1 tsp for each 8 fl oz of water.
*Coconut scented conditioner. It doesn't have to be expensive conditioner (Suave brand for $1 at the dollar store, add this for the "beachy" scent but it helps counteract the drying that the salt will do), use 1/2 a tsp - use more if you have extra dry hair.
*A dab of hair gel. (unscented, preferably—otherwise it will interfere with the coconut scent of the conditioner). Usually the cheaper brand are more runny and mix better.

Optional add-ins:
*Essential oils: If you have dry or coarse hair, this is a good add-in. They will help condition your hair and add some shine. Choose whatever scent you want - ylang ylang works great for sensitive skin and problem scalps. Rosemary is great to help deepen the color of brunette's hair and chamomile brightens blonds. Use 3-5 drops.
*Tea Tree Oil: Great for sensitive and oily scalps. If you have oilier hair, this is the best oil to add for you since it won't make your hair oilier or weigh it down. Use 3-5 drops.
*More sea salt: You can add a little more if you have oilier/thicker hair. The more salt you use, the more it will dry out your hair. BUT the more you use, the "beachier" your hair will look and the more hold there will be. If the recipe doesn't have enough salt for you, add 1/4 tsp at a time until you reach the desired level. Make sure to record your changes so you know how much to add when you want to make more!

What you need to do:
Add all your ingredients to the spray bottle and shake it until it mixes together. Any oils added will never fully combine well with the water so you'll have to shake it a little before each use. If your hair gel and/or conditioner don't combine you can try warming the mixture in the microwave (remove any metal pieces and don't use until cool!) to see if that helps - if it doesn't, you may have used too thick of a conditioner/gel.

You’ll want to mist it on and do some old fashioned scrunching. It’ll perk up any natural wave in your hair and give you that whole “I just spent a day by the sea” look we all love so much.

Found on the Glamour website

Tip #1 Use paper-hole reinforcements (the kind you use to reinforce the holes in your loose-leaf paper) use these to create a stencil on your nails in the shape of moon. However, keep in mind that these tools aren’t great for doing a two-tone mani. It can take at least 30 minutes for your polish to dry enough to place the sticker on your nail.

Tip #2 The one-colour half-moon mani (with a clear moon) is the simplest to do on your own. Stick a paper reinforcement on each of your nails and paint the area above with your nail colour. Remove the reinforcements and apply a top coat over your entire nail.

Tip #3 The two-tone half-moon manicure is easier if you have your moon in a light colour. Apply your light nail polish colour over the entire nail. Let dry, and then sweep your dark nail polish from one side of your nail to the other in a crescent shape and then paint above this line as you would normally polish your nails.

Tip #4 Avoid a big moon if your nail bed is somewhat short.

Tip #5 In terms of colour combinations use darker colours, for one-tone half-moon manis, and neutral colours paired with glitter for two-tone manis.

Read article at Elle

1. Smooth on foundation or tinted moisturizer
2. Pat concealer under your eyes with your ring finger
3. Spot conceal any redness from tiny veins or breakouts
4. Use powder to set your makeup
5. Sweep on highlighter
6. Apply blush
7. Line your lash line
8. Brush on mascara
9. Slick on lip color

 
Step One - Foundation; tinted moisturizer and foundation go on the same way. Blend over the face, including the eyelids and under the eyes, don’t forget to blend down your neck so you don’t get a seamed look.

Step Two - Under-eye concealer; sweep concealer next to your eyes’ inner corners (where the dark is more concentrated) and blend downward with a ring finger. Make sure to only target the dark areas of your skin.

Step Three - Spot concealing; apply concealer with a thin concealer brush and gently pat edges with your finger.

Step Four - Powder; dust powder down your nose, across your chin and, over your cheeks and eyelids with a blush brush. A little can be used under your eyes, but only enough to set your makeup.

Step Five - Highlighter; these pearly shimmers come in fine powders, sheer creams, luminizing liquids, or light reflecting crayons and bring light to the face. With an eyeshadow brush, sweep on a little in three places: under your eyebrows, on the inside corners of your eyes (by your tear duct), and on top of your cheekbones.

Step Six - Blush; apply blush to the apples of your checks (the part that stands out when you smile). Apply with a brush made for apply face powder.

Step Seven - Eyeliner; apply eyeliner along your upper lash line as close to the roots as possible. Wiggle the pencil using little back and forth motions to really work the color into the roots, and then smudge it with a q-tip to soften the line. You can use whatever liner is left on the q-tip to slightly smudge under your lower lash line for just a hint of color. Brown is universally flattering on any skin tone.

Step Eight - Mascara; tilt your head back and look down to expose your lash root. Target the root as the first place the brush hits then glide the brush through to the tips.

Step Nine - Lip Color; cover you lips in color, then run a pinky finger over them to help push the moisture and color into your lips.

Highlight – Champagne shimmer

Eyes – All shades of shimmering browns, silvery taupes, mochas, golden pinks, gold, bronze, navy and sapphire blues, purples and plums, burgundies, and forest green.

Cheeks – Rose, berries, bronzes, and terracotta’s.

Lips – Rose hues, berries, plums, bronzes, golden pinks, browny pinks, shimmering mochas, sheer corals, wines, and true reds. Avoid pastel colors (anything that looks like it has white mixed in).

 Red Lips; for fair complexions choose cool reds, like cherry or the color of a red rose.

To find the starting point; place a brow brush on the edge of your nose horizontally. One end should touch a nostril, the other should pass over your forehead. Where the brush passes your brow is the starting point.

Finding your arch; place a brow brush on the edge of your lip, with the other end passing the outside of your iris. Where the brush crosses your brow is where your arch should be.

The endpoint, lay your brown brush at the edge of your nostril and angle out lining the brush up with the edge of your eye. Where the brush falls on your brow line is where the endpoint should be.

Finishing: brow pencil, powder and groomer; brunettes should choose one color lighter than their hair color.

From the book The 5 Minute Face by Carmindy