Designers show lots of bikinis during Miami Beach swim week

Designers from all over the world showed their new swimwear collections during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2011, which ended Monday night. true religion clothing

Bikinis and cutout one-pieces dominated the catwalks. Some designers said they focused on bikinis because of the bottom line: They sell better. Others aimed for sexiness.

MARA HOFFMAN

Mara Hoffman’s swimsuits — mostly bikinis — were a kaleidoscope of colour, including red, turquoise and neon yellow. She used prints including a psychedelic one and a geometric print that had images of an eye and a pyramid.”I definitely carried again the inspiration of the mystic journey. It’s sort of my continual inspiration,” she said.A tight, turquoise minidress had hot pink, lime green and orange with an eye inside a pyramid and black straps on the back. A black one-piece had black crisscrossing straps around the stomach area. A black cutout had embroidery in the middle. A turquoise bustier top had neon yellow, hot pink and white geometric designs around the edges of the cups and sides of the bottoms. There was also a striking multicoloured caftan for a “high priestess ’70s mystic mama feeling,” she said. It looked like it would cover up flaws, but adding sexiness. ed hardy shoes

She also designed a wrap poncho coverup with Alternative Apparel. As well, there was a dramatic high-waisted bikini with lattice detailing on the sides of the bottoms.

SWIMWEAR ANYWHERE INC.

Swimwear Anywhere Inc. showed several of the lines it has licences for, including Marc by Marc Jacobs, DKNY and Juicy Couture.

For Jacobs, they showed a half-pink, half-blue bandeau top and bottom bikini and a blue bikini bustier with a matching skirted bottom. A model also wore a blue and pink geometric print one-shouldered piece. ghd mk4

For DKNY, a model wore a strapless blue-and-white maillot on a black background. There was also a beige, black and brown stripped maillot. Juicy Couture had several ruffled or skirted bottoms. A little girl also modelled the children’s line with a yellow bikini.

Carmen Marc Valvo also launched his resort wear. The theme was safari, and shapes included halter jumpsuits, dresses and cargo pants.

RED CARTER

Miami-based Red Carter said his theme was “from pop art to high art.” And he staged his show at the Bass Museum of Art in South Beach, where models walked down the ramp that connects the floors. Before the show, he had a retrospective of his work where models posed on giant white cubes placed among the art works.

“I am trying to show the expressions of what people in pop culture are wearing these days but then also take risks and hopefully look artful,” Carter said.

A black cutout one-piece was accessorized with silver and hot pink chunky bracelets. A model wore a translucent breastplate over a pink and white bikini. There was a neon studded bikini and a one-piece with the British flag on it, which looked stylish, but also comfortable. A newspaper-print bikini embellished with black accents, adding a little charm to it.

Carter also sent models down the runway in tulle capelets and skirts for effect.

LULI FAMA

Hot pink and turquoise were big trends at Miami-based Luli Fama’s show, as were bikinis and cutout one-pieces. An orange bandeau bikini was embellished with a gold starfish-shaped jewel. A turquoise one-piece cutout had a gold studded trim in the front. A multicoloured triangle bikini also had gold hardware. For coverage, there was a turquoise minidress with a sea pattern with starfish and sea urchins.

The bikinis came in all colours and styles: a hot pink bandeau bikini was decorated with a big bow on the chest and smaller one on the bottoms, a red bikini was embellished with a gold seashell in the chest area and one on the bottoms. There was also a gold studded bikini and another with a purple and white gingham pattern.

Shoppers Stop tie up to widen network

Wadhawan Lifestyle Retail (WLRPL) that brought in cult brands like Ed Hardy, and Christian Audigier to India in 2007 has tied up with Shoppers Stop for the first shop-in-shop at Juhu, Mumbai. With a vision to make high-end global brands accessible to Indian consumers, WLRPL is a master franchise to open and operate exclusive stores and shop-in-shops across India for brands, Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier. “The initiative is to primarily license global premium brands into India along with incubating original brands in new categories,” opines Abhinav Zutshi, Business Head-International Brands, Wadhawan Lifestyle Retail. true religion clothing

Ed Hardy – a high-ealtnd fashion line resulted from the partnership of the legendary French fashion designer, Christian Audigier with Don Ed Hardy in 2004. Another signature line introduced by him in India is ‘Christian Audigier’, which is a super premium brand for casual evening wear. ed hardy shoes

Providing the latest styles every month through a range of designs, Ed Hardy has a wide range of tees, jeans, dresses, jackets, wallets, belts, shoes, sunglasses and much more for the fashion conscious consumer. “The USP of our brand is that products are not repeated and hence, fashion conscious consumers want these products as collectibles and limited edition pieces,” Zutshi says.

Ed Hardy currently has nine stores across India of these three are EBOs and six shops-in-shops. The company is soon to launch another trendy outlet in South Delhi. This will be its second outlet in Delhi. Zutshi avers, “As far as expansion plans are go WLRPL will actively continue to deliver the best of brands and international fashion in the coming years. We are in the process of evaluating about six to seven global brands, which have a strong connect with the Indian consumer. Soon we will be launching some of these and hope to continue giving Indian consumers differentiated and high level service and experience.” ghd mk4

Already active on social media sites the brand keeps its consumers updated on the networking site like Facebook. “Facebook gives us an opportunity to gauge consumer’s needs and their perception about the brand,” exclaims Zutshi. Meanwhile, the brand plans to explore newer and fresher markets. For example, Zutshi says that women’s fashion for the age group 15-21 years is still untapped in India. The same applies for men’s denims and kids wear. “A few years down the line we would see Ed Hardy unearthing the potential of these segments as well,” he adds. Last year, the turnover for the brand was Rs 13 crores. This year, the expectation is a turnover of Rs 23 crores.

London tiffany silver jewelry

K gold links of London jewelry is divided into high K and low K jewelry, Gold and copper, silver, platinum and nickel-phase preparation. That is, different combinations of various metal links of London elements made of an alloy preparation. tiffany charms

K gold links of London  than gold links of London hardness. High-K links of London suitable for all kinds of precious stones inlaid links of London  jewellery. Such as diamonds, emeralds, opal stone, ruby, sapphire and a high quality pearls. Suitable for low-K links of London necklace mosaic stones and semi-precious stones in general, such as lapis, malachite, turquoise, agate, coral, wood become stone. General K goldare made of die mouth ring. First, to avoid inducing ring body jewel off, the second is that the characteristics of K gold hard to avoid breaking move back and forth caused by broken links of London friendship bracelet is so popularThe links of London ring has been established for a very long time, in fact they set up shop in 1845 and has expanded ever since. links of London ring is best known for selling high quality jewelry includinglinks of London silver items; they also sold house wares and other quality items. It’s no wonder that links of London friendship bracelet is so popular when you look at the love and care which goes into designing each piece. Swiss Replica Watches

It’s also no surprise to find that  links of London friendship bracelet designs are one of the most copied designs in the world. These are copied and imitated for two reasons, the first being to try and trick people. A slightly more links of London  innocent use is to be sold to people which cannot afford to buy the real thing. Imitation links of london earrings can still look the part but doesn’t have the heavy price tag. Tiffany is considered as the best jewelry designer around which is why many celebrities are proud to be seen wearing beautiful pieces of links of london earrings links of London is a jewelry designer offers a wide range of  links of London necklace jewelry that makes any owner proud that could never buy tiffany jewelry pieces are unique in links of London , And ‘known for its craftsmanship, each piece handmade links of london charms jewelry in his workshop located inlinks of London Pendants, necklaces, rings studded with links of London diamonds is absolutely amazing hypnotic. Get a best buy in one of these products make sure that you will not be disappointed. For some ladies, the silver links of london charms charm bracelet that have been produced in the site above would be the perfect options for them. The links of london bracelet product has been considered as the perfect product so far. It has so many options for many kinds of products. For some ladies, they would have  links of London ring s some chances to get some excellent options of silver jewelries in the site above  links of london charms such as the silver bracelet, the silver necklace and the silver pendants, and the Links London Pendants silver charms as well. They could get some excellent options of the  links of london charms as well. ghd mk4

Pawn on the real star

Shuttered businesses litter downtown Reno these days, but pawn shops are not among them.Pawn shops in Reno are like teenage girls at a Justin Beiber concert: everywhere.

Inspired partially by my own curiosity and partially by the History Channel show “Pawn Stars” I decided to check out what really goes on at one of these shops myself.

I walked into Premier Jewelry & Loan on Virginia Street in Reno across the street from the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino. tiffany charms

The place was not what I expected.  On “Pawn Stars” overweight t-shirt and jeans wearing workers crack jokes and swear while bumbling around a store cluttered with obscure and random objects. Swiss Replica Watches

Premier Jewelry is spotless and organized.  Everyone is professional and polite.  A worker in a button down shirt and khaki pants was vacuuming the carpet when I walked in and he quickly stopped in order to help me. ghd mk4

Items in Premier include everything from DVD’s to fur coats. There is a variety of musical instruments, including a display of several guitars in the middle of the shop. Interesting items include a saddle, a table saw, a white water kayak, and an antique cash register.

Several display cases hold hand tools and power tools, guns, watches, old coins, and various art pieces.  Everything in the store is labeled with a price tag and all prices are negotiable.

A pair of Tiffany sunglasses with gold wire frames catches my eye, but the $259 price tag is way out of budget.

The majority of the store, though, is devoted to jewelry.

According to Mike (last name withheld), partial owner of Premier Jewelry, the show “Pawn Stars” that inspired my visit is staged.

“They bring in things for the media.  Most pawn shops don’t see hot air balloons and WWI muskets come in.”

“I would have a hard time moving a hot air balloon,” he explains.  “I wouldn’t buy something like that unless I knew I had a buyer.”  Mike would know. He has been in the business for over 20 years.

Mike explains his store’s focus on jewelry, “It is easy to turn gold into cash.  It is a stable asset that holds its value.”

I wonder if this makes the pawn business recession-proof.  Mike tells me this is not the case.  “Because of the recession we must be more flexible.  We sell at lower prices and our sales are down. We must work harder and smarter.”

To Mike, working smarter means being more select about the kinds of things the store buys. During the economic downturn more people come in to sell items but “there is only so much room on the sales floor,” says Mike.

The business has adapted to the changing economy in other ways. “Most pawn shops today sell on E-bay,” Mike informs me.

Mike takes innovation to another level, “I use E-bay to determine the market and make a decision to buy or loan.  If I see there is a market for it online the item may never hit the floor.” He recently used this strategy to move a satellite dish.

So what about the unusual items?  Mike shows me a 1956 Rolex GMT master on his wrist worth an estimated $40,000.  “It has the original plastic bake light bezel,” he explains. “They stopped making bezels like this because the paint they used was radioactive.”  Hmmm.  I think I would rather have the kayak.

All in all, my visit to the pawn shop did not yield the “crazy” items I was expecting. Instead I received a business lesson that you can’t get on reality television – all without a hot air balloon or musket in sight.

About Heavy Metal

In January of this year, an Associated Press investigation revealed that many cheap metal pendants and bracelets manufactured in China contained dangerous levels of cadmium — prolonged exposure to which has been shown to cause kidney disease, severe bone loss and even lung cancer — with many products consisting of 84% to 90% cadmium. Since that report, the CPSC has issued three recalls for jewelry items, all of which were marketed to young children and cost $1 to $12. McDonald’s recently announced a recall of 12 million Shrek-themed glasses after an anonymous tip to a California congresswoman resulted in tests showing that they contained cadmium. tiffany charms

The CPSC can regulate emerging threats in consumer products under authority granted by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, but the growing prevalence of products tainted with cadmium, in particular, spurred the commission to study safe levels of exposure, with the aim of setting a standard for acceptable levels. The study is under way, and CPSC spokesman Alex Filip says the results should be available by the end of the summer. Until the new cadmium limits are set, manufacturers may be erring on the side of caution. The McDonald’s glasses meet all current regulatory standards, but by the end of the summer, that’s not likely to be the case.

What is the risk posed by cadmium exposure? According to Bruce Fowler of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s division of toxicology and environmental medicine, cadmium on the outside of a glass would be unlikely to cause harm unless, for example, the glass was repeatedly washed in a dishwasher and the metal got onto other dishes, from which it could be ingested. For jewelry, which small children are prone to put in their mouths, the threat may be more significant. Swiss Replica Watches

While the ongoing CPSC study will analyze lower levels of exposure, the latest research focuses on long-term exposure. On the basis of the evidence available, Fowler suggests that in metal jewelry, at least, cadmium is less immediately toxic than lead, a softer metal that breaks down more easily when exposed to stomach acid; while ingesting cadmium would probably result in serious illness involving diarrhea and vomiting, it’s not likely to be deadly so quickly.

If there is a silver lining to this toxic-metal mess, it’s that cadmium isn’t likely to cause as great a public-health crisis as lead, primarily because its use is not as widespread. The CPSC’s Filip puts it this way: “We’re not looking at another lead story. Cadmium won’t be anywhere near the kind of problem that we saw with lead.” ghd mk4

About Christie’s in New York end of the season, 56 million U.S. dollars

New York–Christie’s New York tallied up $56 million in sales for its spring season, a grand total that was due–in part–to a last-minute boost from the auction house’s “New York Jewels” sale on Tuesday, which realized more than $15.2 million. tiffany charms

Sell-through rates for the New York Jewels sale were 84 percent by lot and 82 percent by value, making for a total $15,226,275 in sales, the auction house said in a news release.

The top lot of the sale, and of the spring season at Christie’s, was a 27.03-carat, cushion-cut, D color, VVS1, Type IIA diamond. Estimated between $2.5 million and $3.5 million, the stone ultimately fetched a price of $3,554,500, or $131,500 per carat, from a private buyer from Asia.

The June 15 auction also set two world auction record prices with the sale of a modified square-cut fancy intense orangey-pink diamond. Estimated between $1 million and $1.5 million, the 10.19-carat stone sold for $2,322,500 to William Goldberg, the prestigious diamond corporation based in New York’s Diamond District. The sale set a world auction record price per carat and for a fancy intense orangey-pink stone, according to Christie’s. Swiss Replica Watches

Other colored diamonds made it into Christie’s top 10 for the sale, including a 12.50-carat, pear-shaped light pink diamond ring that sold for $1,482,500 ($119,000 per carat); a 3.01-carat hexagonal fancy intense pink diamond that sold for $662,500 ($220,000 per carat); and a 6.36-carat rectangular-cut fancy vivid yellow, VS1 diamond that sold for $374,500 ($59,000 per carat). ghd mk4

Diamond jewelry lots making the top 10 included a pair of cushion-cut diamond ear pendants, featuring 12.02 carats and 11.60 carats, respectively (sold for $662,500); a natural pearl and diamond necklace (sold for $338,500) and a diamond riviere necklace with 64 graduated diamonds (sold for $266,500).

About Tiffany offers 17,500 handbag handbag online ahead of debut Peck

Tiffany & Co. showed off its first handbag collection in 20 years, including a $17,500 glazed- crocodile “Manhattan” satchel, on the Web today as part of a strategy to extend its brand beyond jewelry. tiffany charms

The full collection appeared on the website following piecemeal information released in recent months. Many of the handbags will be priced at $1,000 to $2,000, said Mark Aaron, a spokesman for the New York-based jeweler. He declined to provide sales projections. Swiss Replica Watches

Tiffany’s 12 largest U.S. stores will begin selling the bags, made of materials like suede, snakeskin and natural-grain calf, in September. The line may generate sales of “highly profitable” wallets and small leather accessories around the world, Chief Financial Officer James Fernandez said last month. Tiffany previously sold leather goods about two decades ago. ghd mk4

“A blue box from Tiffany is instantly credible as a gift,” said Steven Dennis, a former executive at Neiman Marcus Group Inc. and president of retail adviser SageBerry Consulting LLC in Dallas. “Smaller leather goods, those are very giftable categories.”

Handbags may pose a challenge since the company isn’t known as a fashion or a leather-goods brand, and shoppers may seek out a known label, such as Hermes, if they’re going to spend that kind of money, he said in a telephone interview.

Tiffany shares fell $1.61, or 4 percent, to $39.18 at 4:01 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have dropped 8.9 percent this year.

Other Accessories

The collection of day and evening handbags for women; briefcases and bags for men; and accessories for both, was designed by Richard Lambertson and John Truex, who joined Tiffany about a year ago. Tiffany said in April that prices might range from $395 to $16,500 for women, and $95 to $1,395 for men.

The accessories include wallets, key holders, business card holders, and luggage tags priced at $100 to $120, Fernandez said at a June 17 investors’ conference.“They’re very high-margin, very profitable products,” he said. “The handbag collection gives support to that.”

Tiffany, the world’s second-largest luxury jewelry retailer, over time will convert space once used for china and crystal — which is “just not that profitable” — for the leather goods, Fernandez said in June.“The handbag collection, it’s probably more flagship- store-oriented around the world, where we would have a much broader kind of customer group,” Fernandez said. “But the leather accessories will be probably in every store around the world, and I think they’ll provide a great, great opportunity.”

Holly Golightly

The collection includes a $595 “Holly” clutch, a possible reference to Holly Golightly, the character in Truman Capote’s novella “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Golightly was portrayed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film of the same name.

The handbags come in rich shades such as Tiffany blue, onyx, garnet and red, according to the website. The evening bags have Tiffany jewelry-inspired touches like a chunky beaded wrist chain and longer crystal chains inspired by diamond necklaces. Items also have Tiffany blue leather linings, as well as touches of that color enamel on their hardware.

Lambertson and Truex also created the TRT, or Tiffany reversible tote, which is suede on one side and metallic leather on the other, for $395 to $595. Tiffany bought their bankrupt Lambertson Truex leather-goods brand from Samsonite Corp. for an undisclosed price in mid-2009. Lambertson Truex filed for bankruptcy protection in March of that year.

The jeweler, which operated 221 stores and boutiques worldwide as of April 30, diversified into Tiffany-branded handbags and scarves in the 1980s. It discontinued the items in the early 1990s.

On the women’s confidence in Waterloo drew her to the West Bank

There was a time when Hannah Carter was consumed with new designer handbags, sunglasses and the next piece of Tiffany jewelry she most wanted to buy. tiffany charms

Now, the 28-year-old Waterloo woman sees the world through different eyes.

On this her third visit to the West Bank, Carter wants to help other students who are there for the first time to become more active when they return home. She also wants to share the stories of those living in the West Bank with family and friends here. ghd mk4

“My main purpose is to teach participants to translate what they have seen into action back home,’’ she said. True Religion sale

Last year, the freelance photographer visited Palestinian and Israeli communities as a part of a youth Christian conference sponsored by Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo.

Soon, Carter will be attending Sabeel’s 5th International Young Adult Conference in Jerusalem, from July 21 to Aug. 1 — this time buying her own ticket. She sold five designer handbags, including a Coach and Burberry purse and a Tiffany bracelet on her Facebook page, raising $700 toward her trip to the West Bank. Swiss Replica Watches

“It was life-changing,’’ Carter said of her trip last summer. It motivated her to return.

Sabeel is an ecumenical grassroots liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians. The word Sabeel means “the way” in Arabic.

She also visited the area last December when she went to Cairo and participated in the Gaza Freedom March.

Last July, she visited the old city of Jerusalem, and Palestinian cities in the West Bank including Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho and Hebron.

Conference participants toured Muslim refugee camps and spoke to Palestinian farmers whose fields had been torched. At one stop, a little girl grabbed her hand and then pointed to the hills where Israeli soldiers were keeping watch.

Soon after, the soldiers were near the bus carrying the students, wondering why they were speaking to Palestinian farmers.

“The little girl squeezed my hand and she smiled, but I could see the fear in her eyes,’’ Carter said. “It was hard to drive away.

“When I see stuff like that I can’t come home and forget about it,’’ she said.

For Carter, her Christian upbringing at Knox Presbyterian — and now as a 10-year member of the student-run church, Embassy in Waterloo — motivates her to help others.

Carter believes God is guiding her to the West Bank.

“I can look at an Israeli kid and my heart breaks and I can look at a Palestinian kid and my heart breaks,’’ she said. “No kid should have so much hate for someone they have never even met.

“It affects me so much that this tells me this is where God wants me, because I’m so passionate about it,’’ she said.

Carter said she doesn’t see herself as pro-Palestinian or anti-Israeli.

“We are here for human rights,’’ she said. “Both groups have a long history of being hurt.

“I’m not ‘anti’ the people, I’m ‘anti’ to what the government is doing,’’ she said.

Carter said she has spoken to Israeli soldiers who said the building of walls and fences is a way of maintaining control to prevent another Holocaust.

When she returns home, Carter hopes to make presentations with her photographs at area churches and to student groups at the University of Waterloo.

“I can use my photographs to educate Canadians back home,’’ she said. “I have a voice and I want to use it.’’

Comfortable life and the collection of genuine Tiffany lamps

Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist who lived from 1848 to 1933. He became well known for his work on stained glass which he used in many different settings including windows, enamels, metalwork, lamps and jewelry. He is usually associated with the Aesthetic and Art Noveau movement and was also a member of the prestigious Associated Artists along with other well known artists of the time including Samuel Colman, Lockwood De Forest and Candace Wheeler.  tiffany charms

The Tiffany Company was founded by his father Charles Lewis Tiffany. Louis was initially interested in becoming a painter but developed an interest in glassmaking around 1875 and learned the techniques by working in glass making factories until 1878. In 1885 he founded the Tiffany Glass Company which became known as Tiffany Studios in 1902. ghd mk4

His first experiments with glassmaking used cheap jelly jars and bottles which contained impurities that he used to make unique designs. He tried to persuade fine glass makers to leave in the impurities so that he could produce his unique designs but he failed to persuade the, Instead he founded his own glassmaking company where he could produce glass to his own specifications. Previously, stained glass was made by painting on clear glass but he used opalescent glass in various colours and textures to make his own original designs. True Religion sale

In 1983 he founded the Stourbridge Glass Company and built his new factory to produce his stained glass. In 1893 he produced his first stained glass designs and exhibited lamps for the first time at the Chicago venue of the World’s Fair that year. Swiss Replica Watches

In 1894 he trademarked the term Favrile, a word form the French meaning handmade which he applied to all his enamel, glass and pottery products. From 1895 his company produced

stained glass, lamps and other interior decorations.

Today a comprehensive collection of Tiffany’s work is housed in Florida at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Included are examples of Tiffany lead glass windows. lamps, paintings, pottery, jewelry and more. The interior of a chapel, designed for the World’s Columbian Exposition which was held in Chicago in 1893, can also be seen there. Glass panels originally placed in the home of Louis, Laurelton Hall, are also exhibited at the museum.

The company founded by his father, the Tiffany Company, also sold his produced and in 1902, after the death of his father, he became the Artistic Director. His company Tiffany Studios ceased business in 1932.

Collecting Genuine Tiffany Lamps

One of the most popular collectible items produced by Tiffany Studios are stained glass lamps. They are beautiful examples of his work and genuine Tiffany lamps sell for a great deal of money nowadays. Tiffany began producing lamps in the 1980’s and they were very popular until about 1920 when they went out of favor with the wealthier classes who considered them old fashioned. In the 1960’s they came back into favor as Art Noveau movement increased in popularity. Christie’s sold a genuine Tiffany lamp in 1997 for $2.8 million!

A genuine Tiffany lamp will sell for anywhere between $10,000 and hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on both the quality and the size. A Tiffany apple blossom lamp was sold for $136,000 and dragonfly lamp for $185,000.

Popular Tiffany lamps include the dragonfly, wisteria and peony designs which all sell for over a hundred thousand dollars. Lamps with other designs, geometric patters and flowers and vines are less popular but still command a hefty price at auction. There are, of course, many fakes as a signature is easily copied. To ensure you only buy a genuine Tiffany lamp always buy from a reputable auction establishment.

On the company’s iPhone application Tiffany ring shopping AIDS

Luxury jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. has introduced an iPhone and iPod Touch application that lets shoppers browse engagement rings and size them. The app, known as the “Engagement Ring Finder,” was developed in response to tiffany charms consumer demand and launched June 14.

“The new iPhone engagement ring app provides another access point to Tiffany’s expertise and knowledge,” said Carson Glover, director of media relations for Tiffany Co. ghd mk4

Consumers can use the app’s “ring sizer,” which determines a shopper’s ring size by placing a virtual on-screen ring on a consumer’s finger. The app, which took Tiffany’s interactive marketing team several months to develop, also True Religion sale shows rings at their actual size and allows consumers to view diamonds of different carat sizes. Consumers can save or share their favorite rings via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. Swiss Replica Watches

Magazine editors weigh in on the West Coast style that Lauren Conrad and friends popularized.

The ladies of “The Hills” have left their mark on pop culture. Not only were they ratings darlings, but these impeccably groomed princesses of SoCal inspired women to tune in and take notes on how to create their own California fairy tale. From their stylish jobs to their frequent shopping trips and club outings, LC, Kristin and their friends have been influencing viewers’ fashion for the past six seasons. tiffany charms

“[The show] hyped a certain kind of California cool style that the rest of the world hadn’t seen,” Nylon digital director Faran Krentcil told MTV News. “One that combined cheap cotton dresses with Chanel bags, and stacked friendship bracelets alongside Tiffany jewelry. These were young women mixing their own favorite things with what fashion magazines (and the East Coast style establishment) told them was cool, and they had the same kind of influence that Nicole Richie’s boho-luxe style had.” ghd mk4

Seventeen magazine’s entertainment director Carissa Rosenberg Tozzi emphasized the impact Lauren Conrad has had on women. “Every girl, no matter what age, anyone from 12-35 was practically emulating her style,” Tozzi told MTV News. “It landed her on the covers of magazines. Girls wanted to look like her, be her, dress like her. She was such an influence during the time she was on ‘The Hills.’ You couldn’t deny that she was a huge influence on pop culture. Everybody was talking about her style. She was the girl next door — that perfect combination people always say, girls want to be friends with her, guys want to date her. She just had it all.” True Religion sale

“It popularized the mix-and-match movement that makes it OK to throw a Juicy Couture T-shirt underneath a Miu Miu blazer,” added Krentcil. “And though girls in New York City were doing this too, Lauren Conrad and her comrades were doing it with tons of color! Before ‘The Hills,’ it was kind of assumed that you should wear black with pops of color if you wanted to look sexy or cool. They gave more options — in colors that used to be for tropical drinks only, not dresses and shoes. And they made it ‘acceptable’ to buy a $300 T-shirt.” Swiss Replica Watches

Fashion designer Richie Rich acknowledged the show’s impact on youth culture, but not so much on the fashion industry as a whole. “I think ‘The Hills’ was a fun impact fashion-wise on the youth of our culture,” Rich told MTV News. “I don’t really think it made a huge statement fashion-wise, other then rich girls shopping. I think it also proved that celebs just putting their names on products doesn’t always mean it’s fashion. I think the catfights were the highlight for sure!”

Star magazine fashion and beauty director Tara Kraft said she is confident the ladies will continue to be major style and beauty influencers beyond the show’s run, particularly since several of them are now deeply involved in the industry.

“Lauren Conrad not only designed her own line for Kohl’s, but was the face of Mark., Avon’s sister brand. She repped their beauty line and also collaborated on a line of accessories with the company,” Kraft pointed out. “Whitney Port is also a fashion designer. Her line Whitney Eve has become quite popular. Audrina Patridge was just tapped as a new face for the line Bongo; Kristin Cavallari was a model for the fashion line Op.”

Tozzi equates the impact of “The Hills” to that of “Sex and the City.”

“Their style really set trends,” she explained. “The difference between what they did and what ‘Sex and the City’ did: Nothing that [the ‘Hills’ girls] wore was so over the top; everything they wore was accessible. You never felt that the choices, the kind of clothes they wore would make you feel weird wearing them. You weren’t making some crazy statement; you were just sort of looking good. It was all about looking pretty and put together. “

Shopping online shopping than 10 good reasons

Everything you can imagine is at your fingertips when you shop online. JC Penney’s may have been okay when you’re mom was still buying your clothing, but you’re just a tad more sophisticated these days. tiffany charms

1 There’s so much more to life (and style) than the stores in your village/town/city.

They call it the World Wide Web for a reason. Everything you can imagine is at your fingertips when you shop online. JC Penney’s may have been okay when you’re mom was still buying your clothing, but you’re just a tad more sophisticated these days. Shopping online means that you can live off route 19 in the middle of Idaho and still be as sharp as your New York City counterparts. Go ahead - broaden your horizons. ghd mk4

2 There’s so much more to do than shop during your lunch hour.

Like it or not, multi-tasking is the name of the game these days. If you want to be that superman or superwoman that all the self-help gurus say you can be, then you’ve got a lot to do. so make every minute count! During your lunch hour you can not only pick out some shoes for your big date next week, but also pay some bills, plan your weekend, AND write to your grandma and still be on time for the afternoon meeting. True Religion sale

3 No one has to see you fall on the floor from sticker shock.

You grew up in a good wholesome family that knew the value of a dollar. At least that’s your defense when people call you a tightwad. Shop from home and there’s no one around to see you troll 40 different sites looking for the best deals on designer jeans. Swiss Replica Watches

4 No one has to see you use three credit cards to buy the absolutely perfect (fill in the blank).

You grew up in a good wholesome family that knew the value of a dollar. And as soon as you left home you threw all that frugality out the window for a pair of platform Louboutins. Shopping online means there’s no one around to judge you for your extreme case of label love.

5 There are no creepy store attendants giving you the hard sell

“Look lady, I realize you work on commission, but could you just leave me the $%^& alone?!” You’d never actually say these words… but you’ve thought them. You know exactly what you want, so you don’t need some salesperson trying to “help” you into wardrobe that’s beyond your budget or otherwise innappropriate. We’ve all felt that pressure before, and maybe even caved in and bought something we didn’t need. Skip the mall and you can also skip sneaking back on that salesperson’s off day to make a return.

6 There are no creepy store attendants giving you the evil eye because you’ve been in the store 90 times and haven’t bought anything.

Internet shopping has brought a whole to new meaning to the concept of “window shopping.” Try going into your local department store three times a day - just to browse around. Especially if it’s a high-end store, you’ll be in for some dirty looks and maybe even some company from the store security. But when you’re at home you’re foot loose and fancy free and there’s no one to judge your Saturday sweats and holey socks. Look all day, everyday. It’s okay!

7 No hoards of bubblegum-smacking teenagers with no place better to go.

Teens are too old to hang out with parents and too young to get into any real fun, so what do they do? They go to the mall. This means there are constantly big groups of teens crowding the aisles and hallways with their angst and too-cool-for-school attitudes. And worst of all, they remind you that you can no longer scarf pizza and sodas at the food court still be a size 4. Got a teen at home? Send him or her to the mall and enjoy some peace, quiet, and online shopping.

8 No parking hassles.

When you shop the Web the only thing you’ll need to park is your keister in your chair. Enough said.

9 Spend money on stuff not on gas.

Unless you live next door to the mall, you’re going to have to do some driving. And you may have to go to more than just the mall to get everything on your shopping list. Avoid those high gas prices and spend the extra cash on a shipping upgrade.

10 Spend time with your friends and family, not on the highway.

At the end of the day, shopping is just a means to an end. Save the time you’d spend driving, parking, dealing with salespersons and dodging teenagers to get your shopping done and be with the people you love. They’ll appreciate getting to talk to you in person, rather than from your cell during rush hour or weekend traffic. Skip the asphalt highway in favor of the information highway, and you and they will be much happier for it.

Jeans industry

This week the Telegraph fashion desk is giving away a super-chic look from the must-have brand, True Religion - one for a women and one for a man. The look comprises a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a sweater. Tiffany Silver Bracelet

True Religion, the premium denim brand, is a hit with stars such as Lily Allen, Cheryl Cole, Beyoncé, Megan Fox, Kristen Stewart, Hilary Duff, Gisele Bundchen and the sport heroes, David Beckham and Danny Cipriani. Buy GHD

Every pair of true religion jeans is made in America and designed with a 1970’s feel. Known for its signature horseshoe logo adorning the back pockets, the brand’s newest styles include the ‘Rocco’, a slim fit for men offering a cleaner silhouette; and the ‘Casey’, a stretch skinny for women. Discount True Religion Jeans

The famous feature is in the stitches, named Super T Stitch, the Big T stitch, and the Single End Stitch - all providing the jeans with a timeless, hippie, bohemian feel.

The first UK branch of True Religion opened in London last month in Covent Garden.

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True Religion store: 27 James Street, Covent Garden, London WC2; also available from Harrods; True religion also offers a maternity range of jeans.

New group to run ads

A Republican leader who worked with a top Democratic Party figure to run ads against GOP gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne has resigned his post, but a new group has taken up the anti-Byrne ads in the Republican runoff. tiffany charms

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The ads try to brand Byrne as a former Democrat who hasn’t changed political stripes, but the GOP leader who conceived them, Andy Renner of Linden, was viewed by top Republicans as too close to Democrats himself. ghd mk4

Under pressure, Renner stepped down as chairman of the Marengo County Republican Party after the primary June 1. He said he has no connection to the Conservative Coalition for Alabama, the new group running ads blasting Byrne in the advance of the Republican runoff Tuesday.

“I don’t even know who they are,” he said Wednesday. True Religion sale

Neither do state election officials. The group has not filed an organizational statement with the secretary of state showing who organized it and where it is getting its money.

Byrne called on the state attorney general Wednesday to investigate whether the group has violated state campaign laws. Swiss Replica Watches

State Republican Party Chairman Mike Hubbard called for Renner’s resignation as the Marengo County party chairman after Renner formed True Republican PAC, a political action committee that reported spending more than $1.4 million in the primary campaign to criticize Byrne. The PAC’s ads emphasized that Byrne was once a Democrat who supported President Bill Clinton.

Campaign finance records show much of the money received by True Republican PAC came from the state teachers’ organization, the Alabama Education Association, through a series of PAC-to-PAC transfers. AEA is headed by two vice chairmen of the Alabama Democratic Party.

The Conservative Coalition for Alabama is running similar ads against Byrne in the runoff.

AEA Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert, who helped fund Renner’s ads before June 1, declined to say Wednesday whether his organization is involved with the Conservative Coalition.

“I know about it, but that’s all I’ll say about it,” he said in an interview.

Brand Development

About Anna Sui’s world, you can experience an unprecedented fashion to create a kind of journey. She will blend classical and modern pop, rock and classical complex create a unified style. Anna is inspired by both Victorian cowboy, pop artist Andy Warhol or the Finnish textile prints, her deep understanding of culture can be clearly reflected out. She said: buy cheap tiffany jewelry

“Once I have something interesting, want to know all about it. I need to know what is behind it. I too enjoy the process it!”

Anna on new ideas and challenges of relentless pursuit and exploration so that she remains to the forefront at times. She was a true pioneer fashion, designers and editors are chasing the pace with her. Energy and talent to create her fashion conferences always have to be the highlight of New York Fashion Week. Ghds

Anna Sui’s experience is a typical American success story.

She said: “You have to follow your dreams, even if they seem unrealistic. The little girl from the Detroit suburb of how a world could play in New York? All thanks to this dream.”

Now, Anna Sui opened a total of 5 countries in 32 boutiques. Her design in over 30 countries sell more than 300 stores. Anna has always been passionate about fashion design. In the age of four, she determined to be a fashion designer, and has begun to make clothes for themselves. She used a very rigorous approach to learning skills combined with unique ideas, for example, vowed the same will not wear clothes twice a year. She said: fake true religion

“Totally fascinated me. I do not know how my parents can bear me.”

High school graduation, she was in New York’s Parsons School of Design accepted. Studied there two years later, Anna and friend Steven Meisel together for several sportswear companies to do design work, and then in 1980 she launched the first batch of their own design work. Anna Sui’s business in the 80s throughout the 20th century, continue to expand. In 1991, her first fashion show was held. The next year, she Soho Green (Greene) street opened its first flagship store. The boutique combines Victorian black furniture, purple walls, Doll and rock posters, the image reflects Anna Sui decorative style, which has become all the boutiques ANNA SUI model. The late 20th century, is the Anna Sui 90 high growth period. She will expand into Southeast Asia, and has achieved great success. There, she quickly has a large number of fans. She also developed cosmetics, perfume, shoes and accessories partners. Her attention to detail is reflected in every product in her, all products are closely related with her world. Her representation of color and perfume bottle packaging equipment has already become a favorite of collectors.

Obsession with Anna Sui to keen on the things she is famous. She made her obsession with rock and roll clothing design is suitable for a rock star, her conference’s live music every fashion season is the most anticipated one of the things. She is a shopping frenzy, which makes her the best shopping places in each city’s authority. cheap replica watches

She is passionate about interior decoration, located in New York City apartment she really can be said to be a visual feast. Her follow their own inspiration to keep on creating. She and her dream with the.

But the color and texture are not all make up Anna Sui Anna Sui, which most people crazy, is that refined luxury, elegant black carved a unique container. Lid crafted, never withering rose flower totem, has become a player’s collection.

Anna Sui Product Identification:

Most were 3 yards batch example: K61. The first letter K on behalf of origin.

On the second number 6 on behalf of, the month is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ABC, a total of 12 months.

The third number 1 for years

Therefore, K61 is made in June 2001

As for 5 yards, on order of goods on behalf of factory approved. That is just to see the final three.

Apply to: EL Group all products: including EL, CLINIQUE (Clinique), MAC, BOBBIBOWN, LA MER, ORIGINS (Declaration of wood products)

Note: Anna sui (Anna Sui) Although not part of EL group, but the logo is the same.

World Charmzone hundred cosmetics companies in China

May 17, 2010, Beijing, the world’s hundred cosmetics companies - Charmzone Golden Stone Co., Ltd. President and his party to come to Beijing Charmzone brand agent Zhen Yan Elysees Trade Co., Ltd. inspection guidance, in-depth analysis of the Chinese market, Chan Focus on action really kicked off in China. tiffany charms

Charmzone Corporation, formerly “skin protection,” pharmacy after 20 years of operation, during which the skin a thorough study in 1984, founded Charmzone Corporation, Charmzone brand as a basis for specialized production cosmetics known companies. ghd mk4

Through the “sample strategy”, a large number of release miniatures, abandoned beautiful voice, with “Dr. Frog” spokesperson for the brand to do, developed a variety of breakthroughs in basic pattern Charmzone famous cosmetics, has received numerous international awards, such as the ability to delay skin aging years Charmzone Ruidi Yi Conditioning Cream: Toner, Lotion, Essence a combination of the effectiveness of a combination of adding more milk Skin Essence series famous. True Religion sale

Chan is really based on a thorough skin of Asian women to produce high quality research and famous, is the focus on technology based on the depth of specialized cosmetics company, is trying to consumers not only their own, but also introduced self-confidence to others Charmzone famous.

November 20, 2009, is the creation of 25 Charmzone anniversary, this year Charmzone Corporation internal secondary reform Charmzone to focus on the development of overseas Chinese market, Chinese brands on Charmzone Agent - Trading Company Zhen Yan Elysees to expectations. Swiss Replica Watches

Charmzone brand as the most concerned about the general agent in China - Zhen Yan Elysees Trade Co., Ltd., the operation of the terminal market, Bingcheng Chan true headquarters operation strategy to “Sample Strategies” and “loaded with a trial on that “It’s simple, but effective famous strategy, branding the initial publicity.

After the market in 2009 laid the foundation, get a lot of consumer recognition and attention, in 2010, Zhen Yan Elysees Business Limited, a high-profile brand promotion, and Charmzone headquarters cooperation in international event. Korea Pavilion Expo as the three major cosmetics brands appeared in the world! Chan really demonstrate to the world famous high quality.

Charmzone brand Zhen Yan Elysees Trading Company’s operations, its famous good quality, Chinese consumers will get more recognition and affirmation, will become the basis for a new star in cosmetics industry!

About chalcedony

Chalcedony or cryptocrystalline quartz, is a fascinating history of unusual minerals. Many colorful varieties favored by the ancients, they were used as a decorative tiffany charmsand practical crafts. Today, despite the rich world’s output of chalcedony and materials as one of the cheapest gems, but it is still more popular than ever. From the appearance, chalcedony variety of colors, color change variety of amateur enthusiasts and rock collectors to provide endless aspirations and challenges. ghd mk4

Chalcedony or cryptocrystalline quartz, is a fascinating history of unusual minerals. Many colorful varieties favored by the ancients, they were used as a decorative and practical crafts. Today, despite the rich world’s output and chalcedony as one of the most expensive gem material, but it is still more popular than in the past. True Religion sale

From outward appearances, chalcedony variety of colors, color change variety of amateur and rock collectors to provide endless aspirations and challenges.

Most chalcedony varieties have attractive historical background to know the legend than usual, confused and even more magical beliefs. The following are several smaller variants of another representative of chalcedony. Swiss Replica Watches

1. Agate:

Agate is the familiar one of the first gem material. According to legend, it can bring pleasure to the wearer and confidence, and was given God’s mercy; also ensure their victory and power. Be false to cure insomnia and make the wearer can make a dream. Legend also can help owners of the existing wealth more careful and sophisticated protection. Agate used to produce rings, carved by an Islamic poem, the name of the special characters and symbols or some magic number, a long time, this ring has a variety of functions, is the family heirloom, to protect the owner from a variety of disaster .

2. Chrysoprase:

Chrysoprase word from the Greek word, meaning “green gold.” And this yellow - green chalcedony variety of legends about the superstition that the thief sentenced to death with his mouth against the scourge can be a green chalcedony. Although it did not say how this miracle happened, but history records show that this gemstone can be recognized as prisoners stealth. Another interesting story about the Great Green chalcedony was Aleksan have worn a belt in combat. It is said that the battle in India, when he was bathing in the river Euphrate, belt a snake on the stones was towed away and fell into a river.

3. Carnelian:

Had said Cornelia, but now No, Cornelia from the ancient Latin word “cornum” evolved, which means “berry with corner” or “cherry with a corner.” Recent spellings Shengxing in the 15th century, was originally mistaken for the Latin word “Carneolus”, according to “Carnem”, meaning “flash.” Legend, the red to orange with reddish

brown to red varieties, can dispel evil, bring good luck. Imagine it as weak and timid voice in exchange for courage, and a large but talk. It can prevent suspicion, to ensure that wishes are realized. In Mohammadia people generally have a red agate, probably because Mohammadia own token ring wearing a reason.

4. Meat cornelian:

Similar to carnelian but darker and more noticeable brown. Sardonyx, carnelian is a strip of meat and layer of white black and white agate, is August’s birthday time.

Although a long time, the meat is to prevent the spell of red chalcedony, sorrow and sharing gems of wisdom, but it is more that it gives the wearer success and happiness, but also a symbol of longevity.

5. Bloodstone:

(Bloodstone or heliotrope), dark - green chalcedony with red spots, in March of the birthday stone, Heliotrope, said the Greek word “sun” and “direction” means.

Soapstone can be used for amulets, people think it can prevent bleeding. Early reports in history, yet no mention of bloodstone gem varieties contain a lot of chalcedony. According to legend, it can make the sun red, there thunder and flash. Wisdom to the wearer, and bless them capable and healthy. Expressed respect for the wearer, and vigilance by deception. In addition, any case, he can get things begging and beliefs. All roads door open to have carved Soapstone owner.

E-mail requests reported fake Steve Jobs Apple

Steve Jobs has become a prolific correspondent with customers via e-mail, but at least one of the e-mail chains recently published is now being called a fake. buy cheap tiffany jewelry

This week alone, customers who wrote to Apple’s CEO at his corporate e-mail address say they received replies from Jobs on topics on everything from the escalating concern over the iPhone 4’s antenna design, to the ability to transfer high-definition video from the iPhone to the Web, to the possibility of including Blu-ray Disc players in Macs. Ghds

On Thursday, Boy Genius Report published a series of e-mails between one of its readers and Jobs. The reader–one of the original people to post a YouTube video demonstrating the iPhone 4’s signal loss when held in a certain way–complained to Jobs about Apple’s lack of a solution for the widely reported problem. fake true religion

Thursday afternoon AppleInsider reported that a man named Jason Burford had been shopping a similar series of e-mails between himself and Jobs to some blogs. BGR did not respond to a request for comment as to whether it paid for the “exclusive” story. It did, however, later in the day update its story to say it had misquoted the Apple customer in the e-mail.

Later Thursday, Fortune reported that a member of Apple’s public relations staff “emphatically denied” that Jobs had authored any of the e-mails published in BGR’s account Thursday.

The purported e-mail chain went like this: After the customer said he had “lost all respect” for Apple, Jobs reportedly replied, “No, you are getting all worked up over a few days of rumors. Calm down.” When the customer asked not to be talked down to by Jobs, the would-be Apple CEO responded that he probably lived in “an area with very low signal strength.” When the customer pressed the matter, Jobs came back with, “You may be working from bad data. Not your fault. Stay tuned. We are working on it.” cheap replica watches

Jobs has been e-mailing an awful lot if all the reports are to be believed, but this is the first time that Apple has called one of the reported correspondences a fake.

In another correspondence with a customer–that to our knowledge Apple has not denied–Jobs promised that in the future there would be a better solution to uploading high-definition video from the iPhone, according to MacDailyNews. The customer wrote, “What’s the point of building in HD video capabilities when the compression upon uploading directly to YouTube makes the videos useless and not viewable? They’re not even remotely viewable!!” To which Jobs reportedly responded, “You can upload them via a Mac or PC today. Over the air in the future.”

The past few months have shown a steady rise in Apple customers who are e-mailing Apple’s CEO directly with questions, complaints, and compliments and receiving replies, which they are then posting to the Web. That’s included a lengthy debate with a journalist (who did not identify himself as such) over porn in the App Store, fielding complaints from iPhone app developers, and cryptic responses regarding pending updates to the MacBook lineup.

It’s notable because CEOs of companies valued at $226 billion aren’t known to interact directly with customers regularly, and because apparently bypassing Apple’s public-relations staff and customer service representatives is working for people who want answers.

Reaching for the Stars

LEEDS — The odds of making it as an actress in Hollywood are pretty slim, but one local family is cheering on one their own and the roles are beginning to roll in. tiffany charms

Savannah Lathem, a 12-year-old of Hoover, is the daughter of Gina and Don Lathem. Gina may be better known in the Leeds area by her maiden name, Gina Cooley, and is a former resident and graduate of Leeds High School. The family has deep roots in Leeds and members of Savannah’s family still live in the area. ghd mk4

As for Savannah and her immediate family, they are now residents of Burbank, Calif. going to auditions, learning lines, and practicing the craft that she loves. Her hard work has paid off as she recently earned roles in episodes of “Criminal Minds” and the award-winning 2009 season finale of the hit series “Lost.” True Religion sale

Her success at such a young age has not come without its hardships. In fact, Savannah experienced health problems at birth that could have sent her life in a totally different direction. Savannah almost lost her life after a collapsed lung and heart attack. According to Gina, Savannah’s heart rate dropped to 47 several times in utero and then bottomed out. Swiss Replica Watches

“I had to have an emergency C-section. By the time they got to Savannah she had stopped breathing and her heart had been stopped for well over three minutes.

“The doctors said if she lived she would never be a normal child due to the loss of oxygen to her brain. They said it would be a miracle if she lived. She came home four days later and has been a blessing to all who know her,” Gina says.

As Savannah grew, her family noticed her outgoing nature and a gift for performing. Gina said it was those closest to Savannah that encouraged her to pursue the goal of being an actress.

“They saw her performing in plays at home and said she be an actress and really encouraged her. Her aunt Suanne (White) really encouraged her. If not for her, we would not be in California,” Gina says.

Savannah’s path from Central Alabama to California began while riding in the back seat of a car and listening to the radio. An advertisement came over the airwaves announcing that auditions were going to be held by a top Hollywood talent agent.

“She stood in line for five hours and finally auditioned. Out of 2,700 kids who auditioned, she was the only one who signed a contract with Hollywood agency,” Gina says.

Savannah later traveled to Los Angeles and competed in the International Presentation of Performance competition. Despite her lack of professional acting experience, she received national and international recognition by ranking in the Top 10 Best Actress category. There were over 700 young actors competing in Savannah’s age category.

In 2009, Savannah began auditioning for roles in television and feature films. Her first audition for a speaking role was a big one as it was for the series finale of one of television’s most popular shows in recent years – “Lost.” Things went very well as she nailed the audition and got the part.

After getting the part, Savannah was picked up in a stretch-limo and flown first class to Hawaii to begin shooting the episode. She played the role of “Rachel” on the episode titled “The Incident,” which was the second part of the 2009 season finale. That episode was nominated for several Emmy Awards.

Those watching “Lost” noticed Savannah’s work as well. She was recently nominated for Best Performance in a TV Series Guest Starring Role (13 and under) at the Young Artists Award. She attended a Red Carpet-Gala event along with eight other actresses who were nominated on April 11.

Savannah has already gained some hardware for her acting abilities. She received the Outstanding Young Actors Achievement Award at the CARE Awards in 2009.

Her second audition for a speaking role was also a big success as she landed a role in the series “Criminal Minds,” which aired in November.

Gina says she is very proud of her daughter’s successes and that it was made possible through her daughter’s passion and hard work.

“It is a very hard process … audition, audition, audition,” Gina says. “It has truly been a journey. Savannah always maintains a positive attitude about everything.”

Acting is not Savannah’s only passion. She also loves other performing art forms, including point, tap and jazz dancing. She is also a singer and her mother says she is currently working on a recording with a Grammy Award winning producer.

Savannah has also modeled for national and international print advertising for AT&T and J Brand Jeans. She has worked as a fashion runway model for Elite Fashion Designers such as H&M, True Religion, and Ralph Lauren.

Savannah is also a member of Compassion International, which allows her to support and encourage a child from India named Lydia. Savannah has been communicating with Lydia for seven years and hopes to visit her some day.

She is also very involved in raising money for breast cancer research and works to raise awareness for puberty-aged girls, encouraging them to learn about self-breast exams and educating them on the disease.

For inspiration, Gina says her daughter looks to her favorites. She loves watching episodes of “The Golden Girls,” and hopes to meet Meryl Streep, who she adores.

As for school, Savannah does pretty well at that too. She is an honor student through Hope Christian home school in Alabaster.

Acting continues to be Savannah’s true passion and she continues to work. She will be the voice in the feature film “Ramona and Beezus” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” She also played the role of “dead girl” in “The Stepfather,” starring Celia Ward.

Gina says her daughter takes all of her successes in stride and remains grounded through her family and faith.

“She is very thankful for everything that has happened,” she says. “She feels very blessed in knowing what great things God is doing in her life.”

Savannah’s father Don is a 1979 graduate of Pelham High School and went on to graduate at the University of Alabama.

Gina remembers with fondness her childhood in Leeds where she graduated from LHS in 1980 and served as head cheerleader. She also graduated from the University of Alabama and was a cheerleader there in 1982-83 and was a member of the Crimson Cabaret Dance team in 1984-85.

Gina’s large family is well known to those who grew up with them in Leeds. Her sister Peggy, along with her husband Don Sims, still live in Leeds. Suanne and Rod White are in Bradenton, Fla.; Chere Belcher lives in Sarasota, Fla.; Jim and Tammie Cooley live in Trussville; and Tony and Jennifer Cooley now live in Tuscaloosa.

Gina and Don also have two sons. Zack just graduated from Cullinard and Landon is a senior at Hoover High School. The brothers each played fullback for the Bucs and bringing home state titles. Zack also got a taste of show biz as he was on two seasons of the MTV show “Two A Days,” which followed the Hoover football program.

Androgynous way

Was it coincidence or providence that made the spring/summer 2011 Milan menswear catwalks to act as a teaser for the latest womenswear trend? I did a double take watching all those clean-cut, boyish tailored suits in a palette of minimalist beige and monochrome. Since when did men-in-suits become interesting? Never has menswear looked quite so appealing – to women.

I certainly found myself sitting up and paying attention when I spied the slim-leg-trouser-cut-to-the-ankle-worn-with-flat-pointy-brogues-and-camel-blazer look championed by Christopher Bailey in the Burberry menswear show. I can think of several fashionable ladies already rocking this combo: the London art gallery owner/dealer, Sadie Coles, the wife of the fashion photographer Juergen Teller; Karl Lagerfeld’s muse and Chanel deputy, Amanda Harlech; and the trailblazing model Agyness Deyn to name but three.

I’m talking, of course, about a trend that has been slowly creeping up on us ladies for some time: androgyny. tiffany charms

It’s a look that has been around since the turn of the 20th century, but it was most famously popularised by Yves Saint Laurent with his famous Le Smoking in 1966, then reinvented with YSL’s his ’n’ hers hippie smocks, flares and platforms. A comeback was long overdue.

You couldn’t choose a better launch pad than Milan, the city where Giorgio Armani – another designer who reinvented the trouser suit back in the 1980s – ripped the linings out of stiff jackets (leaving in the shoulderpads) and threw away the manual on tailoring. ghd mk4

Hedi Slimane, the former Dior Homme designer who convinced Karl Lagerfeld to shed several sizes in order to shoehorn his legs into drainpipes, was always threatening a womenswear line egged on by his legion of female fans, though he never actually did one. True Religion sale

This week, the British menswear stylist Celia Ukwenya told me she believed the reason the androgynous look was gaining speed was because many new menswear brands such as the father-son team of Casely-Hayford and the online menswear site oki-ni.com had become the best-kept secrets of many women who work in fashion. She, like many in her industry, admires the utilitarian qualities of menswear, not to mention its cool rock-star vibe. Swiss Replica Watches

Androgyny was a theme in May at the womenswear spring 2011 pre-collections, particularly at Chanel. In Karl Lagerfeld’s short movie featuring his latest resort line, Remember Now, we saw a version of Mick Jagger’s iconic white Tommy Nutter 1971 wedding suit worn by the lean model Freja Beha Erichsen. Re-worked in a 21st century way, it looked fresher than ever.

Have you heard of The Baseballs, the German rockabilly band who sport Brylcream-infused quiff hairdos and whose album, Strike, has dominated European charts and threatens world domination (Robbie Williams has apparently asked them to play at his wedding later this year)? I predict that, come September, when the ready-to-wear shows unveil what will be the definitive spring/summer womenswear trends, short, quiffed 1950s hairstyles will be a new trend (without sideburns of course), as will the Elvis Presley-style straight-leg jeans and casual check shirts currently being worn by The Baseballs’ fans of both genders (including poster pin-ups for androgyny Katy Perry and Russell Brand).

We’ve still got the French haute couture season to throw up countless more trends but I remain convinced that when spring 2011 finally does arrive women will have one more option than usual: menswear.

My birthday, falling as it does in the last week of June, means some, if not all of my presents are bought in the sales. To stop my husband returning from these with yet another unwanted gift I have drawn up a foolproof guide of what to buy. Here goes.

A maxi is the shape of the moment. Go for designers who have made this their signature, namely Diane Von Furstenberg, Issa or Matthew Williamson. Longish A-line skirts don’t figure on the radar – yet. But they soon will. Some designers did them too early and many are now marked down, ironically before almost identical styles by Prada and Louis Vuitton for autumn/winter join them.

Avoid anything in blush pink or flesh tone except shoes and bags. Ditch digi prints and florals. Pounce on anything with an African-print (think South Africa World Cup).

Jewellery always makes a sound sales investment, particularly ethnic pieces such as the clunking bangles encrusted with barnacle gemstones (reduced from Dhs1,300 to Dh975 at Marami, Dubai Mall).