10 HANDBAG ESSENTIALS

There are loads of things that a girl can accomodate in her handbag and the items would vary from person to person. Someone who likes reading would always carry a book, who loves music will have an i-Pod or MP3 player, someone who loves taking pictures might want to carry her camera, girls with dry skin would keep their lotion or moisturiser handy, almost every girl would want makeup items (lipstick, mascara, compact, blusher). But despite everyone's individuals needs, the following are the 10 must-have items, the essentials, that every girl should carry in her handbag:



1. Wallet

Best Buy: Nine West (1&2), Matt and Nat (3) and Stella McCartney Wallets

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2. Lip Gloss or Lip Balm and/or lipstick

Best Buy: Lancome Juicy Tube (lip gloss and colour)

. . Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (lip balm)

Lancome's Juicy Tubes smell good, makes your lips soft and supple and keep them hydrated and make them look delectable. For more information on Juicy Tubes click here.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream is the best lip balm ever. it as an ultra-intensive lip balm and gloss. It's very soothing indeed and needs only occasional re-application when compared with similar products. It works well even on the most dry and cracked lips and makes your lip soft and supple. Read more on The Encyclopedia of Lip Balms.

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3. Hairbrush or Comb

Best Buy: Denman Comb



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4. Pen

Best Buys: Mont Blanc, Parker, Cross

Pens are one of the most importnt handbag essentials which many girls neglect. They come in useful at the most unusual times. Mont Blanc, Cartier, Parker or Cross, whichever suits your budget, style and need, you must have one.

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5. Small Tissue Pack

Best Buy: Paseo Small Tissue Pack

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6. Miniature Perfume

Best Buy: Estee Lauder Miniature Perfume Gift Set, Harajuku Lovers miniature perfume bottles



The delicate look of the miniature perfume is beguiling and its portability and obvious convenience makes it a handbag essential. You can instantly smell delicious in your fav perfume's miniature version just about anywhere. I have loads of them (miniature bottles). In case you don't want to spend on them then perfume samples are a great option. Ask the person at the store to give you some perfume samples whenever you buy a bottle, and stash them in your bag. Its free and handy.

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1. Estee Lauder Miniature Perfume Gift Set for £24 (US click here $67)

2. Harajuku Lovers Miniature Perfume Bottles for £12 each

3. Miniature Perfume Vivabox by The Perfume Shop for £29.35 and £49



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7. Mirror

Best Buy: Chanel's Mirror Duo

Chanel's Double Facette Duo Mirror, normal and magnifying, is the indispensable handbag mirror for precise makeup application and re-touching throughout the day. The normal side for discreet retouching and the magnifying fo precision application. And it looks great too with its black case having Chanel logo on the front and ultra slim shape. Totally worth it at $40 (USA), 20 GBP (UK) and Rs 1,650 (India).

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8. Sanitary Napkin

Goes without saying. This must be there in your bag at all times. Best Buy? Well depends which suits you and your needs but I think P&G's sanitary napkins are best, their brands include Whisper and Always.





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9. Hair Ties or Hair Pins

You never know when it comes handy. And they are life savers that moment.





10. SOS items - nail filer, bandaid, painkiller, safety pins





With these Ten Handbag Essentials you are ready for every situation. Girls, what are the must-have items in your handbag? Leave your comments.

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read a good poem, and see a fine picture: todd hido, #6242

todd hido, #6242. via squarecylinder.com

today is "poem in your pocket" day--the academy of american poets is trying to spread the poetic love by offering a little template, with 25 selections that can be printed out for folks to either carry around for themselves, or share. of these, i like lost by sara teasdale...

there is a poem that i carry around, it was sent to me by my aunt several years ago. she knows too well my dreamy, broody side and during a particularly difficult period, i received in the mail a handwritten note from her, on hotel stationery:

be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.

do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them.

and the point is to live everything.

live the questions now. perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it live along some distant days into the answers.

she came across that passage in "a year by the sea" by joan anderson, which she'd been reading during her vacation. it was written by rainer maria rilke ('letters to a young poet").

i read it from time to time, encouraged by the words, still amazed by the timeliness and thoughtfulness of her sending it. but that is just how she is...

***
i've linked to todd hido's work before--he is a newly discovered favorite photographer of mine, and i really love the shots through a wet, dirty windshield in "a road divided."

here is david m. roth's brief review of his recent show at the stephen wirtz gallery and many more shots from "a road divided" here, via americansuburbx.com.

enjoy.

pizza pizza

pizza tasting party at the white house roosevelt room, april 10, 2009. photographed by pete souza, via the official white house photostream.

ok, i can't stop looking at the official white house photos. a terrific peek into events both official and ordinary.

like this pizza tasting party.
how much do i love the newspapers lining the table?
let me count the ways.
so hysterical. so down home. and a terrific re-use of the daily rags...

short stuff

photographed by pete souza, via the official white house photostream. march 3, 2009.

anyone wanna teach a girl some shorthand? so old school cool...

Reebok EasyTone Shoes

Take your gym with you this season. Reebok's EasyTone is the latest innovation in the sports footwear range. These new line of sneakers tone your legs as you walk around in them.

EasyTone is a cushioning concept designed to help you burn more calories and tone core leg muscles. They have “balance pods” built in under the heel and forefoot of the shoes, which are designed to create natural instability with every step. This instability forces your leg and glute muscles to work harder, increasing muscle tone and giving you a workout when you’re just walking around the house or doing everyday activities.

Now by just running for your daily errands, shopping, picking your groceries you can keep yourself fit. At Reebok they say 'you're always toning with EasyTone - even when you're standing still'. At $109, these shoes are worth a try, and they do look good. They come in five colours black, blue, green, golden and purple.


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the coolest ever...

P020109PS-0339
the president and first lady, in 3-d glasses while watching superbowl 43. photographed by pete souza.

originally uploaded by the official white house photostream

i was feeling bluesy, until i saw this...

brilliant!

here's a link to the announcement of pete souza as the official white house photographer, and his site. i'll be spending the day admiring his work.

enjoy.

mad square adventure

finally. a single shackburger, a double shackburger, fries and 2 black and white hand-spun shakes.

in recent weeks, i have walked through madison square park nearly every day, sometimes twice a day, and i've marvelled that the shake shack has managed to sustain such a devoted and patient patronage. the line that snakes long around the seating area on the south side of the park has been a deterrent for me, yet it makes me smile quietly--it's a sign of spring, joyous congregation around...meat and milkshakes. i think it's sweet that people are still so enthusiastic about it. but i also wonder if they aren't the biggest suckers in town. friends have offered mixed reviews, from "meh" to "awesome" --it just hasn't been enough to inspire me to endure the wait.

but yesterday, my friend stephen proposed it as our "lunch adventure." he too has never wanted or had time to wait out the line, but it was a gorgeous day, since we haven't hung out since i was laid off, we could fuel our anticipation with some good catching up. and in that hour, we shared all kinds of good gossip (i mean, news) from the office. i think i even got a bit of color...

and then there was the food.

the shackburger is a bit more modest then i anticipated--it's small, but the single is probably a smart size for a mid-day meal. it's a handsomely assembled little burger (pretty tomatoes). the meat was tender, but a bit too done and lacking flavor. i am a ketchup fiend--fiend, i say--and my burger test is "how long can i go before i need some ketchup?" i have been to a few places recently--fatty crab, resto, 5 napkin burger--where the meat was so savory that ketchup would have only been a distraction. not so here. three bites into it, and it felt like the shackburger needed something to elevate it. the shack sauce was runny and indistinguishable. and american cheese is wonderful for adding smoothness, but something sharper could have helped here.

it seemed to be the overriding theme, as the fries were handsome and crisp, but missing flavor and salt.

but the shake redeemed everything. not that any of the food was bad, it was fine and good. one wonders, though, if it's enough payoff for the wait?

the shake makes it so.

come to the cabaret: maude maggart

maude maggart will be song-styling at the oak room, through may 23. i have been wanting to see and hear her perform but have managed, for the last two years, to miss her. not this time.

it would be nice to have a friend or two to accompany me, but i don't think too many of mine are down for the cabaret. perhaps it would help if i told them she is fiona apple's sister? but perhaps not...

perhaps if they heard her rendition of the carpenter's superstar? i think it is haunting and lovely.

***

loneliness is a such a sad affair

and i can hardly wait to be with you again

what to say to make you come again

come back to me again

and play your sad guitar

***

need a bit more convincing?

here is stephen holden's review in the nytimes (ms. maggart acts a song with a fluid body language that lends everything she sings an added dramatic intensity...she wields old-time hollywood glamor to cast her seductive spell);

and will friedwald's in the voice (there are plenty of singers in new york clubs who can out-sing her, but none who can out-think her... singing the subtext as much as the notes or the lyrics, she creates a kind of jukebox musical of the gods).

and here is a link to the oak room site.

maybe not a dream match-up, but a dreamy one

i woke up in time to catch a few games of the battle of the handsomes: safin v robredo.
and then, with robredo serving at deuce, down 2-4, the rains came.

marat safin, during his match vs. tommy robredo at the internazionali bnl d'italia. photographed by julian finney for getty images. april 28, 2009.

to be continued...

***

in the meanwhile, here's a favorite photo of safin from last year's australian open:

marat safin, at the australian open 2008. photographed by greg wood for getty. january 18, 2008.

and to keep the "handsome guy with racket" theme going, one of robredo:

tommy robredo at the 2004 french open. photographed by clive mason for getty. may 30, 2004.

see a fine actor: richard short, on fringe

who's on the fringe?

i tried watching it when it first premiered, and it was a bit too spy/sci-fi convoluted for me to stay invested in, but...i've got my dvr set and i'm going to watch tomorrow night's episode live, to see my friend, the fine actor (and co-blogger of film snobs), richard short.

he's going to get his spine ripped out, apparently.

gory good fun!

it airs at 9pm on FOX....

hot child in the city

i do look forward to the few times of the year when i can sport something of a savage tan, but i've only ever been interested in acquiring a tan in the course of pursuing some kind of activity: tennis, running...at the very least, i'd have to be at the beach, with the prospect of running or flopping around in the water. but lounging outside on a towel, just to get a bit of color seemed boring. and it seemed somehow sad to have to do it on the roof or on a fire escape or in a city park. but i must be getting old and lazy, because when my friend andy suggested whiling away an afternoon in central park on this the first of surely many scorching ny sundays, i didn't have to think twice about it. and i didn't even think twice about stripping down to my bikini. it was too hot for much modesty, too hot for much just beyond lying there, with lots of water. and cherry popsicles.


















all that doing nothing in the sunshine really did wonders for our appetite though. after winding our way all through the west side of the park, we hit up the new uptown outpost of fatty crab, and feasted on fatty sliders (mini pork and beef burgers, served on soft square rolls, with luscious sambal aioli--maybe my favorite dish on their menu), green mango salad, fatty duck, the near- perfect mess known as the chili crab, coconut rice, and...the fatty dog...

our table was quite a scene, especially when we were done.

this new restaurant is a smart extension and a good fit for the neighborhood: it doesn't sport the elbow-to-elbow, knee-to-knee intimacy and down home charm (and the lighting is less amorous), but the trade-off is great service, and a shorter wait for a table (more tables!). the tweaks to the menu (no quail egg shooters! and a curry sauce for the chili crab, rather than luscious, piquant tamarind sauce) might be a minor disappointment for the downtown regulars who fiend for those particular delights, but it at least ensures the original location won't be forgotten.

our meal was a nice, if super-indulgent coda, elevating an afternoon of simple pleasure to a summer holiday.

***
i love "hot child in the city" but had forgotten it was sung by nick gilder. or maybe i never really knew that. he doesn't do much to sell this song, but it's catchy anyway...

if you check out the wikipedia link, you'll see a connection to john mcenroe's wife, patty smyth...

(hint, hint: "bang, bang")

iced coffee and tequila

vietnamese iced coffee. april 23, 2009.

i have a couple of friends who are yearning for "iced coffee" weather. and while i, too, am wondering where the hell spring is (but steadfastly refusing to pull out my winter coat again), i almost never drink iced coffee, certainly not in the morning. oh, i like it fine enough, but it's too easy to drink. and really, it has to be consumed pretty quickly lest it get depressingly watered down, like a yoo-hoo.

but vietnamese iced coffee stands apart from this phenomenon. the first few sips are shocking--it is so wonderfully, toxically thick with sweet condensed milk and that too-roasted coffee bean flavor--try to drink it too quickly, and it will send you reeling. at the very least, it could ruin your interest the meal that awaits you. you have to sip it throughout the meal, let the ice mellow it out. it seems never to get too sadly diluted.

and it knows no season. yesterday, my friend/boss for a freelance project took us out for a sort of celebratory lunch, and even though i was under-dressed for the weather (cold, cold hands!) and (probably) over-caffeinated, i ordered a vietnamese iced coffee without a second thought. i knew every leisurely sip would hit the spot.

***
do we think it wise to agree to have one's hair cut by a woman named tequila?

i'm about to find out.

enjoy the afternoon.

Update: Trend Watch - Electric Blue

Update of February Trend Watch - Electric Blue

In February's Trend Watch I said that ELECTRIC BLUE is the colour you mut have in your Spring/Summer 2009 wardrobe.

Its the perfect shade for the moment, it's bright enough to make an impact but not as summery that you don't want to wear but just enjoy watching. I also added that 'Another bonus is that this shade suits virtually all skintones, so whether you are pale like Dita Von Teese or a dark beauty like Rihanna you'll look gorgeous in electric blue'.

All said, BLUE is the coolest hue and is the favourite colour for this Spring/Summer 2009.

For tips on how to wear Blue and some best picks of February including more celeb pics in Blue see the post Trend Watch - Electric Blue.

This season the best way to wear blue is by colour blocking - electric blue with canary yellow, orange, red or royal purple. But make sure -
- when working with colour, mix from the same family of tones i.e. pastels with pastels and brights with brights.
- keep accessories simple and polish the look with plain and neutral-toned acessories to keep it clean and at its best.
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Check out some more celebs spotted in the colour and some PICKS in BLUE.


Jennier Lopez in Blue Dress outside ABC Studios

Jennifer Lopez

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Jennifer Lopez wore a Blue draped minidress before her appearance at Good Morning America. She clashed blue with black, by accessorising her blue dress with a pair of black YSL platform shoes, tiered Thomas Wylde necklace in black, studded Valentino black bag, black belt and matching bracelet.
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Isla Fisher in the blue look at LA
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Isla Fisher

Isla Fisher, the Australian Actress who recently starred in Confessions of a Shopaholic, wearing the blue look with blue cardigan and scarf and blue plastic sunglasses. You like?

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Want to work on Smoky Blue Eyes?

Start by tracing your upper and lower lash lines with a navy liner, then use a small brush to smudge. "Give the liner a good buff to create a base for the shadow to stick to," Dubroff says. Next, layer matte blue shadow (Revlon matte eye shadow in Venetian Blue, $5; at drugstores) on top of the liner, focusing on the center of lids. "Don’t go up past the crease—it will look too theatrical. You want to carry the blue, not let the blue carry you," says Dubroff, who finished with a pale pink lipstick. (Source Instyle.com)



Have Fun with Blue!!!!!

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damon winter and "s.o.n.!"

shadrick johnson, 6, photographed by damon winter for the ny times, outside the columbia convention center in south carolina, as he waited to hear then-senator obama speak. via pulitzerprize.org and nytimes.com

i came home late from a job today, and felt completely out of touch with the world (i hadn't been online all day) and the first piece of news i read thrilled me: damon winter was awarded the 2009 pulitzer prize for feature photography. hooray!!

i posted a link to some of his slideshows a while back, and think about his work often. (i invested in a new camera a couple of days ago and my mind is aflood--even more than usual--with the work of photographers who i admire. i actually fell asleep last night thinking of damon winter's obama images...)

here are links to the "a vision of history" slideshow which can be viewed on the ny times site and the pulitzer site. also on the pulitzer site is mr. winter's bio, and of course, a full list of winners and finalists.

***

i love the look and smell of the newspaper. and the sound of it being lightly smacked and folded at its center. i love carrying it under my arm or stuffing into my bag on my way out the door--after all these years, it still feels cool, somehow (especially if you've got more than one on you). and i really like the crossword puzzle, in pencil or pen. but i am currently taking a break from receiving the new york times at home, a small change that is meant to benefit my wallet (working!), but is doing greater harm to my mind (and maybe my soul).

on the one hand, all that content--the slideshows, especially--is a feast for the curious, the infohounds. i've got a good bit of that in me. but one article can so easily lead me astray-- those slideshows (again!) and related links are so tempting, sometimes i don't finish an article, let alone think about it long enough before moving on to the next thing. i'm all over the place! with the actual newspaper, i can settle in... note-taking during or after required a bit more effort and time. even if only for the few minutes it took to find a piece of paper and pen, that time actually felt a bit thoughtful. and then there came a time when you were "done." whether you finished one article, or your favorite section, or the whole darn thing (you intrepid reader you), there was a satisfying end. i miss all that now, and don't want to imagine not having the option to have all that again.

and every time i hear about newspapers laying off staff, shrinking sections, going online only, or shutting operations for good, which is practically daily, i want to call and "un-suspend" my deliveries, as if my dollars will make an impact.

i found this video the other day: can design save the newspaper? jacek utko, a polish newspaper designer, whose redesigns of newspapers in eastern europe has increased their circulation 100%, presents an interesting case. is it too dreamy for our newspaper industry's deep-dish problems? perhaps. but it's a good dream.

save our newspapers!

here's 6 minutes of inspiration, anyway (i love the cirque du soleil bit).

Beyonce's Fab Look - Shopping at Soho

Beyonce was spotted strolling and shopping in Soho, New York, with husband Jay Z in a short deep green checked dress. I love her dress, the fit looks very comfortable and the golden thread work on the green check print looks great. Its a simple yet outstanding dress, goes for a complete thumbs up!!!!

And look at those shoes, they really go well with the dress and I completely love them. Beyonce is wearing Louis Vuitton Spice Sandals in Burgundy from their Spring/Summer 2009 Collection.

She looks fab in this green dress and multi-coloured high-heeled shoes (minus the beanie hat she is wearing).

Scroll down for more pictures
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Image Source
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In spot: Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is one of the most talked about celebs these days. Few know that this 22 years old American singer's real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. With her outrageous style and unusual on-stage looks she has become really popular and caught everyone's attention. Not to mention, she's really already popular with the fashion critics world around. Not only has this girl made Hollywood gaga over her style (Nicole Richie, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton have been seen copying the Lady or maybe inspired by her) but even she has been even criticised for copying her style from some of the famous ladies in the industry from Madonna to Kylie.
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Well, look at some of her pictures and then give some thought to her style and fashion sense.
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Update: Feb 17th 2010
Lady Gaga makes an impression at Brit Awards 2010
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Lady Gaga sported a white lace bodysuit encrusted with pearls, lacy ankle boots and a flamboyant blonde wig and face mask to accept awards for International Female Solo Artist, International Breakthrough Act and International Album.

She never gets unnoticed and at Brit Awards too, Lady Gaga sure had heads turned. Her love affair with body suits continues, but this time with a more feminine touch.
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Lady Gaga at Brit Awards 2010

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At amfAR New York Gala she sported an encrusted bikini, which she topped off with the same coloured jacket. But the most interesting part of her getup was her face, she actually had pearls stuck to her face. She was snow white, and the only dash of colour was Gaga's bright pink lipstick - a special edition MAC creation named after the singer to raise funds for Aids research.

Lady Gaga at Brit Awards (left) and at amfAR New York Gala (right)

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Quite an entry at Heathrow

Lady Gaga made quite an entrance at the Heathrow Airport in her sequined shorts and matching jacket and the pinkish-purpulish tinted locks. Girls, please don't be inspired by her.
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Source

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Pencil Skirt and LBD

I am sure Paris would have been terrified with this latex bra top and pencil skirt enemble of Ms Gaga (left). YES she does redefine LBD with her pink pumps and leather gloves, but it's a total no-no for me.

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Source

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During the Doll Domination Tour
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I do somehow like her left look and love the peep-top black shoes she's wearing (except of course the funny thing on her head).
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But in the right image she's a total knock-off (not in the right sense)!!!!

That bow on her head must have been some work for the hairstylist. Though, I do like the shoes Ms Gaga is wearing, simple and classy (so not Lady Gaga).

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Source

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Structured Dress
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Fashion world has taken a lot of inspiration from Ms Gaga, and her structured dress style is one of them.

Though this dress is a no-no in its original avatar (its really funny), but a twisted version in the stores have made quite an impression.
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Source

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Shall we call her Ms Pants Adverse Gaga
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This crazy outfit is still alright onstage, but wearing it on the red carpet. Ghastly!!!!!
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Source

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I can't resist myself from quoting this statement I came across, 'Lady Gaga lives up to her name in a getup so offensive to the basic chicness of little black pieces that Coco Chanel will surely rise from the dead and whack the singer with a quilted handbag'. Although my reaction to Lady Gaga's style is not as extreme, but I will not refute what Alison said.

Her style sense is horrendeous and not practical or pleasing at all. Though it does make for a good laugh.

But I must may, the fashion world is really influenced by her style and big names in fashion including the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada had pieces in their runway collections that were influenced from Ms Gaga.

Leave your views in the comment box........

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Tie Dye Jeans - Hit or Miss?

Tie and Dye Jeans is the latest celebrity favourite trend. It has not only become celebrities' hot favourite but also of all the premium jeans brands who have launched their own versions of Tie Dye (also referred as distressed bleached) pairs. From Sass and Bide to J Brand to Ksubi and even Balmain have a tie dye style in their latest collections.

Do you like this trend? Check out pictures of some celebs pulling it off and decide who wears it best?
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Gwen Stefani and Victoria Beckham in tie dye jeans

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Fergie and Nicole Richie

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I think Fergie pulls off the tie dye trend the best. She normalises the loud tie dyed jeans by pairing it with white shirt and the orange belt draws some attention from the jeans, which is really a smart way to balance such a loud look.

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Tie dye jeans - well, my verdict is its something that you enjoy watching on others, but don't really wear it yourself. Honestly, what does fashion make people wear at times. In the style files I said that I wouldn't care for this trend, and even after looking at so many celebs wearing it, I won't change my stance. But yes, its good for the daring ones with a funky side inside, EXPERIMENT.
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I think the block colours are the best pick in denim (certainly a little fading here and there is alright).

Do you think you'll wear this trend? Is it something that would work practically or just another celebrity fashion fad? Leave a comment and discuss...........

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Style Files

Dresses have become the new Jeans, from short to knee-length to long gowns; all lengths and styles are in. Colourful, whites, reinvented LBDs, polka dotted you have a whole lot to choose from. Its the summer wardrobe staple, owning one is the need of the hour.
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In February's trend watch I had said that polka dots would be a big trend this summer, and so they are. Polka Dots, geomtrical patterns and floral prints are in vogue.

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Get Dotty - Dots are Hot this Season

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Simple structured bags in vibrant colours are everywhere. The focus is more on colour and quality. Celebs are flaunting their Hermes bags in all hues from bright orange to sky blue.

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ANOTHER NEW TREND that is catching popularity is TIE DYE Jeans

I wouldn't care for this. You like?

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Balmain Tie-dye jeans

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in celebration of the elements of style...

which was first published 50 years ago today, a celebration of the clever, whimsical work of maira kalman, whose illustrated version of the book was published in 2005.

i've attended a couple of book events featuring ms. kalman. unguarded and humble, she left a surprising impression as a soul with a deep sad streak. yet her stories and her work inspire a thoughtful dreaminess, a reminder that beautiful, interesting work can come from the observation and appreciation of everyday things.

"his first thought on getting out of bed—if he had any thought at all–was to get back in again." via mairakalman.com

"be obscure clearly! be wild of tongue in a way we can understand!" via mairakalman.com

my favorite illustrated "rule"from this volume: "the approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity."

i seem to be having a bit of trouble with this lately. but it's good to remember.

*******

among ms. kalman's recent projects is a mural for the newly renovated library at ps 47 in the bronx, as part of the library initiative of the robin hood foundation. the library initiative, a public-private partnership, seeks to reverse low literacy rates and underachievement in nyc schools by building state of the art libraries that serve as a hub for learning and inspiration.

here's a link to an article about the program from the nytimes last month, and a slideshow of the murals by maira kalman, christoph niemann, stefan sagmeister and yuko shimizu.