uebgym

The Style File: Make it or break it

noreply@blogspirit.com (gym) — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:44:44 +0200

Glove Scarf It's true what they say: Accessories can make or break an outfit. This includes handbags, jewelry, gloves, hats, scarves, ties, sunglasses, watches, umbrellas, tights, headbands, pins, suspenders, legwarmers-pretty much everything but your actually clothing. Aside from practical uses (hats to protect the face, gloves to warm the hands, bags to carry items in), accessories are used to add style and color to any ensemble.With accessories, you can dress up an outfit or dress it down, bump up your style or completely bury it, or spice up your outfit and completely make it your own. So how can you successfully accessorize?A big mistake people make (guys included) is overdoing it. In most cases, ladies and gentlemen, less is more. We've all seen those people who look utterly ridiculous and flat-out tacky as they walk down their faux catwalk, trying their absolute hardest to look fashionable.The secret is easy: Try your best to look cool and collected. If it takes you hours to look like you've put it together in 20 minutes, then so be it.Trust me, you'll be much more attractive. Overdoing your style actually makes you look less fashionable. An easy rule of thumb to go by is six pieces max.Instead of exaggerating your outfit and looking like you're trying too hard, take it down a few notches and look simple, relaxed and complete.It's easier than you think to go overboard, especially when it comes to accessories. So proceed with caution!It really bugs me when people wear their sunglasses indoors or on a gloomy day. I feel like approaching them and saying, "Excuse me, 'The Matrix' was so 1999. Did you not get the memo? You're not cool!" But, I just take a few breaths and refrain from inflicting utter embarrassment and walk away. Maybe they've been living in a cave for the past 10 years, who knows?Tanning in itself can be an accessory, believe it or not. And now, more than ever, is the best time to get one. Many people tend to go overboard with tanning. Do yourself a favor and refrain from looking like a carrot or burnt potato. Keep it au naturale.With a nice even tan, you need not accessorize too much because chances are you've already got a natural glow going on, and that's the best accessory of all.The best way to dress up an outfit is jewelry.We have all seen it time and time again-people wearing lots of jewelry with loud prints. It's just not flattering. Not only does it make you look like you're screaming for attention, it also looks like you don't have the slightest clue when it comes to fashion sense.If you have chosen an outfit with bold prints, keep the jewelry to a minimum.If you're wearing an outfit with solid colors, accessorize away. The best way to dress up a low-cut dress is a chandelier necklace and a killer cocktail ring. If you're a guy, wear a nice watch to dress up your ensemble.Dressing down an outfit is pretty much simple. Instead of wearing loud, bright jewelry, try wooden bracelets or natural toned earrings. This draws less flashy attention, but still has the same effect. For guys, less jewelry is best. Without it, you will look more relaxed and less uptight.The best way to accessorize an outfit is to pick one piece and run with it.Scarves have recently become my new best friend. I have discovered that wearing a scarf in any color with a white tank and a flattering pair of jeans has been a hit.Wrapping the scarf so that it drapes down in front of you creates more volume and dynamic emphasizing your upper half, so keep other accessories to a minimum. You want your main accessory to be the scarf because otherwise you'll just look like a clutter of random things.In other words, revolve your outfit around one specific piece, such as a chandelier necklace, a gaudy watch, a loud tie or a bright handbag.Feel free to mix and match things, but don't forget to keep the main thing the main thing.

Fashionable SATC foursome is bringing sexy back

noreply@blogspirit.com (gym) — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:39:36 +0200

fashionable hats Predictably, the F-word springs up a lot in the new Sex and the City movie.As in friendship. And forgiveness. Of course, libidinous lioness Samantha does drop the F-bomb. As if you'd expect anything less.But as Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) reunites onscreen Friday with her Sex and the City gal pals Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall), it always comes back to the first and biggest F: their enduring friendship."Life always doesn't always turn out to be your fantasy," writer Carrie observes in one of her signature voiceovers. "That's why you need friendships that are real, to get you through it all."The movie picks up where the HBO series left off four years ago and with all the same players, including long-time show-runner Michael Patrick King as writer and director and costume designer Patricia Field providing a fantasy wardrobe of pure designer eye candy rumoured to run to 300 outfits – with touches from crazy hats to sky-high stilettos.As the movie opens, Samantha has decamped for California to manage hunky blond boyfriend Smith Jerrod's career. Miranda, husband Steve and their son Brady are living the family life dream in a Brooklyn house. Charlotte and hubby Harry are snuggling in Manhattan with adopted daughter Lily. And after more breakups and makeups than can be counted, Carrie and Mr. Big (Chris Noth) are a solid twosome finally getting ready to tie the knot.That's how it starts, but not how it ends. And the filling in this Sex éclair is being kept under wraps as studio publicists and the stars repeatedly begged the press to not indulge in spoilers. They want to let the series' legion of fans who have been counting down to the opening discover the plot for themselves.This is how careful the cast was during a private interview with the Toronto Star in New York two weeks ago on a Sex and the City press day: Noth asked the reporter to turn off her digital recorder while he called for a publicist to rule on whether a question could be answered.The secrecy has led to rampant speculation, including the recurring whispers that someone dies. And Mr. Big's name comes up most often, something the cast and crew seems to enjoy joking about."I thought I killed you!" writer-director King quipped as he walked into a room and saw Noth, who later put the rumour to rest."There's a lot of death in this, but it's emotional," Noth said with a laugh.The women are 10 years older than when the series began with them looking for love, excitement and great sex in Manhattan. Now into their forties (Samantha celebrates her 50th birthday in the movie), love is still on the agenda, but Nixon pointed out the maturing characters show a new side of friendship."Forgiveness is a big thing," said the redheaded actor, who was wearing a pleated Grecian-inspired white sleeveless dress with carmine suede belt to chat with the press. "One of the things that comes with age is an awareness that you don't have to solve it right now."Nixon said her favourite scene in the film is also emblematic of this maturing friendship – it involves a quiet New Year's Eve in New York for two of the women that quietly reaffirms their bond."I think the kind of friend she is and the devotion she has to friendships, it's very enviable," Sarah Jessica Parker said of Carrie. "The time she has is enviable. I don't know how these women find this time to spend with their friends!"Looking fresh and glamorous after a long day of interviews in a one-shoulder, pale cocoa Lanvin dress with a dramatic ruffle across the front, Parker mused on how Carrie remains true to her close friends."Honestly, I think it's that thing about her that I love. It's this intense loyalty to people and, even when she screws up – and she's got a long history of well-documented mistakes – but I like the person she is very much."In the movie, while friendships are tested, there are many moments of bonding – usually over cocktails or champagne."My favourite scene was the one where the four girls are sitting around the table, it's the four points of view," said Cattrall, reflecting on when the friends help Samantha enthusiastically celebrate her 50th with cake and cocktails.The British-born, Vancouver Island-raised actor marked her own 50th last year, but looks years younger, wearing a pale aqua sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline and Jimmy Choo high-heeled strappy sandals.Cattrall observed "it was brave" for youth-obsessed Hollywood to have a woman "openly celebrate her 50th birthday" and that it was crucial it be an event just for the four friends.Bubbly Kristin Davis, dressed in a fitted taupe skirt suit with cream accents edging the lapels and cream Jimmy Choo stiletto sandals, added the four actors simply picked up where they left off when shooting began.She said the first day was "overwhelming, really," with fans lining the street to watch filming start.And just like a "Which Sex and the City character are you?" Facebook quiz, Davis said although she started out thinking she was a Charlotte, "I have decided now it's Carrie. I'm more direct. I'm a Carrie."It's new cast member Jennifer Hudson who's the Charlotte. "I'm more like Charlotte, I'd say. She's wholesome and traditional."Oscar winner (for Dreamgirls) Hudson comes on board as Louise, a 20-something from St. Louis who lands a job as author Carrie's assistant after she comes to New York "to fall in love."Hudson's first order of business when joining the SATC family was to see all 94 episodes in a marathon DVD-watching session. She'd only caught a few episodes before landing the part."It's addictive," she said of the show. The least dressed up of the City gals for the press day, Hudson, who has flawless skin, wore a tight kelly green tee over a black lace bustier with a wide black patent leather belt and black capri pants, and was enjoying a caramel lollipop.Like her character in the movie, "I'm a purse fanatic," Hudson said, wondering aloud if she'd be given the not-yet-in-production Louis Vuitton bag that has a guest appearance on her arm.As for the why behind making the movie, Nixon said there were still tales to tell about the characters. "These people had their stories wrapped up and half their lives still to live. Other stuff has to happen to them," she says.Does that mean King is considering another S-word: Sequel?"Here's my answer: When I am having a sexual experience, I like to stay totally focused on that sexual experience and, right now, I'm still in the climax of this Sex moment," he said."I literally think it would be inappropriate to the ladies I'm with to think about what's coming around the corner."

Trailblazing Clinton built the foundation

noreply@blogspirit.com (gym) — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:38:28 +0200

Double Face Coat Hillary Clinton isn't going to be elected the first female president -- not this year, anyway. The reasons for this outcome have gratifyingly little to do with her gender. It might not seem that way right now to Clinton supporters seething over her treatment, but the 2008 campaign has propelled the country significantly closer to the moment when a woman takes the oath of office.Yes, there have been sexist episodes and comments. Yes, it's infuriatingly more acceptable to make cracks about gender than about race.But the notion that Clinton was the victim of unrelenting, vicious hatred because she is a woman -- is it safe to call this reaction overwrought? Clinton managed to win more votes than any primary candidate in either party had ever before. It's hard to square that result with the notion that her candidacy exposed a deep vein of misogyny.Considering the inexplicably intense emotions that Clinton evokes, the litany of ugliness is surprisingly short. Meanwhile, the 2008 campaign has rewritten the rule book on playing presidential politics when the team is coed.The female candidate gets to be ironically, refreshingly post-feminist."If you want a winner who knows how to take them on, I'm your girl," Clinton announced early on. "I'm very comfortable in the kitchen," she said, chiding Barack Obama for not being able to stand the heat of hard questions.For male candidates, gender remains a treacherous minefield whose danger zones the 2008 campaign only began to chart.Think of John Edwards commenting on Clinton's bright coral jacket ("I'm not sure about that coat") when asked in one of the debates to mention something he disliked about his opponent. You can bet a male candidate won't be dispensing fashion commentary in 2012 -- if there's a woman running.And Obama won't be calling female reporters "sweetie" again anytime soon, as he did recently in brushing off a query from a local television reporter. The reporter got the last laugh, pointing out in her segment that "this sweetie never did get an answer to that question."This sweetie rather liked that.More important than helping candidates figure out how to talk about gender, Clinton's candidacy has dispensed with damaging myths about women's capacity to compete in presidential politics.Not tough enough?If anything, Clinton came off as too tough.Too emotional?Clinton teared up in New Hampshire -- and, confounding male pundits, this display of vulnerability helped her win.Too fluffy?Clinton, perhaps to her detriment, out-wonked the competition.She demonstrated stamina and determination, a dogged workhorse to Obama's delicate thoroughbred.Improbably, she ended up winning the white guy vote -- and not all of this can be explained by the notion that these voters faced an unpalatable choice between gender and race.From a feminist perspective, Clinton's was not a perfect candidacy. Part of this stems from a fact outside Clinton's control: that her route to power was derivative, the Adam's rib outgrowth of her husband's career.Clinton has been elected senator, twice, in her own right, but the fact that her road to the White House involved standing by her man, no matter how badly he behaved, made her a flawed vessel for the feminist cause.And Clinton's least attractive campaign moments came when she took up the gender card and chose to play it as victim instead of trailblazer. The notion that the male candidates were ganging up on her because she is a woman instead of -- remember back when? -- the front-runner was silly. The complaint that asking her the first question in debates was evidence of a double standard was even sillier.By contrast, one of Clinton's most powerful lines came on Super Tuesday, when she thanked "my mother, who was born before women could vote and is watching her daughter on this stage tonight."It's easy to forget, in the passions of the time, the long way traveled in a relatively brief span.Like the mountain climber forced to turn back just before reaching Everest's summit, however, women still face an achingly long climb.If you care about seeing a woman elected president, one of the biggest disappointments of this campaign is the paucity of credible women waiting in the wings, in either party.If not 2008, then when? If not Clinton, then who? There are no obvious answers.Then again, four years ago, Obama was an unknown state senator, and almost no one imagined that an black American could win the presidency in 2008.