Beauty Sparkling

Archive for the ‘Beauty’ Category

As we move into the cooler months of autumn it may be time to pack away those skimpy sundresses and short shorts to make room for new clothes that are suited to the cooler weather.

Save time and energy by shopping at ‘everything under one roof’ department store Debenhams for your autumn essentials. Debenhams.com has everything from clothes, coats and shoes, to make up and perfume for those who want to give their look an overhaul as well as their wardrobe.

Before you go crazy on a new season shopping spree, be sure to check www.5hop5.co.uk for a great Debenhams discount code. After all, the further you can stretch the pennies, the more you can buy.

Here’s what you should be looking for if you want to stay on trend this autumn:

Stars

Fans of Dolce and Gabbana were definitely seeing starts at their Autumn/Winter 2011/12 catwalk show, and celebrities and fashionistas world-wide have quickly jumped on this celestial trend.

Anne Hathaway wears Dolce and Gabanana stars on the cover of September’s Marie Claire, and Fergie, Kim Kardashian, Olivia Wilde, Jessica Alba and Ashley Tisdale are just some on the A listers keen to display their star power on their outfits.

You too can shine like a star in the gorgeous Black Star Printed Tunic Dress from the Diamond by Julian Macdonald range. Perfect for work when worn with cigarette pants or leggings, this tunic also rocks a pussy bow neck and sheer sleeves. Or, for an evening out, you could wear it with opaque tights, black patent courts and the Star by Julian Macdonald Black Crocodile Print Envelope Clutch Bag.

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Spots

Polka dots never seem to go out of fashion, so if you have some suitably spotty pieces from last season dig them out now. Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs both went dotty for dots for their catwalk shows, so you’re sure to hit the fashion spot with this trend.

H! By Henry Holland has some great dotty pieces at Debenhams including a Navy Dot Playsuit, Black Polka Dot Retro Dress and a Light Tan Polka Dot Sailor Dress. Wear with flat black pumps and tights for a cute dressed down look for autumn.

Masculine

Men’s tailoring dominated the autumn/winter runways, and men’s brogues are still a super cool addition to your shoe collection. One tip however is not to wear the two together – you want to channel a masculine look, not look like a man.

Debenhams is great for tailoring, including great pieces for both work and play. Keeping tailoring soft is a way to keep it wearable outside of the office, and the Drape Pocket Jacket by Warehouse at Debenhams comes in pink and black. Alternatively, mix up your trends with the Black Polka Dot Jacket for a young, fresh take on masculine tailoring.

For feet, Debenhams has a great selection of brogues with a feminine twist, such as the Off White Simo Brogue Ankle Boots from Faith and the Black Lace Up Mary Jane Brogues by Saints of Fashion. Brogues look best with shorts and tights for a preppy look.

Gold

As we shimmy towards the party season gold is definitely the metallic to be seen in. Resurected in a big way by Dolce and Gabanna, gold has been seen on Beyonce, Cat Deeley and Cameron Diaz, as well as on the catwalks of Moschino, Calvin Klein, Mui Mui and Alexander Wang. Forget silver, this year the fashion pack are going for gold.

You can shimmer like a shiny gold star in Warehouse’s Gold Sequin One Shoulder Dress. Pair this with Carvela Gold Google High Heel Shoes and you have the perfect party season outfit.

To add a golden touch to your everyday outfits why not invest in the Gold Lurex Top by Warehouse at Debenhams, which can be layered over a simple black vest or white tee for a casual look.

Beauty

Don’t forget to stop by the make up section at Debenhams.com, because your face can be fashionable too! Pink pops of babydoll blush were seen at Prada and Marc Jacobs, autumnal bronzes were seen on Fendi and Rodarte models, and matte plum lips rocked at Missoni and Gucci.

Hair

When it comes to hair, sleek side partings competed with big quiffs, and low maintenance pony tails offered us low maintenance girls an easy fashion forward option.

There’s a fantastic new trend for every trend-setter this autumn, simply choose the ones you like best and go shopping at Debenhams!

Laser Hair Removal Treatments in Lancaster Pennsylvania

http://www.LancasterLaserHairRemoval.com

I was asked this the other day,
What Happens During Bikini Laser Hair Removal?

Well, with bikini laser hair removal, the process is basically the same, as say, with underarm laser hair removal or leg laser hair removal.

Its just that being that youre getting your nether regions treated,
of course, extra care and discretion is taken.

With bikini laser hair removal the benefits are endless…

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No more daily, weekly, monthly maintenance to keep hair from growing.
No more irritation, or stubble or embarrassing ingrown hairs or the scars that come from getting rid of ingrown hairs.

In three to six treatments, bikini laser hair removal gives you near permanent results. Nowhere near the results youd have if you continued to shave or wax.
The procedure is very quick and well tolerated. Im not gonna lie, it might hurt just a little, or a lot depending on your pain threshold.

BUT! Keep in mind, that the pain of NOT doing laser hair removal is worse.

Overall, the women and men that do get laser hair removal down there say that theyre more than happy with their results thanks to the professionalism of their Laser Hair Removal Specialist. Remember lasers are medical devices that need a high level of expertise to be used safely. So its crucial that you choose the best laser hair removal specialist to do your treatments for you. ESPECIALLY when thinking about bikini laser hair removal.

http://www.LancasterLaserHairRemoval.com

One definite trend with regard to handbags, that was really seen in the 2011 Spring Fashion Weeks, was color.  Colors were evident with regard to the fashion collections for clothes, but also with regard to handbags.  It s almost like a salute to the end of the economic downturn and instead of hiding our wealth away and trying not to be too ostentatious, instead, we now want to show off the fact that we have the most beautiful pink bag, yellow bag or so on.  It is truly about colors and about color associated with sensuality.  We don’t want to go back to the low key days of 2008-2010, no we want bold colors and lots of different textures.

The very individual designer Lanvin has taken color to a new dimension with the Happy Pouchettes, which are just a riot of color and would look fabulous in many different settings; from a wedding to a party or even to the office.  But not perhaps for any sombre occasion.  The explosion of color contained in the flowers that form this rather distinctive handbag really make a bold statement which makes this not a bag that is about blending in with the crowd.  Wearing a bag like this is going to get you noticed and in a really positive way.  Bags like this are very definitely expensive and well made, but they are also quite individual; you will not see this bag in lots of places, it will definitely be a talking point.  Combining the use of color, different textures and flowers is a really stunning combination and one that really hrieks out about

But color is not the preserve of Lanvin in 2011, Jason Wu, Alexander Chang, Stella McCartney and a whole host of other designers have all embraced colors and different use of tonal contrast or different hardware, so that there is definitely  sense of being bold and bright, in a rather special womanly way.  Instead of ignoring our feminine side, it is now being celebrated.  We no longer have to drag round huge bucket bags.  Instead we can have beautiful, womanly bags that are an explosion of color.

In particular the use of very pretty colors such as baby pink or even a very gentle lilac or blue make these bags very feminine, which makes a refreshing change.  It is great to see bold, statement bags that are still very much about being a very feminine woman, so you can have a really pink bag or one that is a soft yellow.  You don’t have to have a shocking green bag to be right on trend.  So it really is possible to have really strong colors with bags that are still very much about being a woman and being very sensual.  That is a really unique combination and one that we ought to treasure as being special and one that respects our choice about showing our feminine side, whilst still being fashionable.  What a joy 2011 is in terms of fashion!

Colorado Springs Laser Hair Removal Techniques for You

The decision to try laser hair removal is a big step: this can be the answer to finally removing unwanted hair permanently. No more waxing, shaving, plucking, or using smelly chemical creams; no more wasting time and money on products which deliver inferior results. To ensure that you get the results and the skin you want, it is important to choose a Colorado Springs laser hair removal clinic that uses the most advanced techniques and equipment.

A few years ago, someone with dark skin and lighter hair, or even a tan, could not benefit from laser hair removal because their skin would absorb too much of the concentrated laser energy, making it unsafe. Today, though, advancements have opened up the possibility of laser removal to so many people. If you choose a clinic which only uses Ruby Lasers, for instance, you may not be able to have the treatment because this particular type of laser only works on fair skin and dark hair.

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Laser treatments for hair removal differ based on the wavelength of the laser. Here are some other types of hair removal lasers commonly used today:

1. Yag laser. This offers a long pulse of laser energy that will work on people of all skin tones. It also works on people with finer hair, though it can be more painful.

2. Diode laser. This is great for people with dark skin, but those with light and/or fine hair may find that the diode is not their best option. This type of laser is also effective on large areas.

3. Alexandrite laser. This laser can handle larger areas, and it is a very fast option. It is the laser that is most commonly used. Like the Ruby laser, though, it is not a good option for those with dark skin because it may cause pigmentation in darker skin tones.

4. Intense pulsed light devices are not lasers but they operate on a similar concept. Not every clinic offers the use of IPL because the technicians have to be specially trained. If you do opt for this type of treatment, make sure to inquire about the experience and training of the technician. IPL can be used on all skin colors.

Laser hair removal is now an option for people of all skin colors, and it may be the solution you have been looking for to remove unwanted, embarrassing hair. You can find great practitioners in Colorado Springs who can help you achieve your desired look.

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Every year, certain trends affect graphic design as designers look for new ways to effectively communicate certain concepts to their audience and customers. Whether you’re a Photoshop guru or an Illustrator newbie, we’ve compiled the trends to look at as we get deeper into 2011. As a designer working on Elance, looking for new ways to lock in potential jobs is important, and analyzing current trends is one way to anticipate what your customers are going to want.

Style

A new retro style and color scheme makes a big comeback in clothing and fashion every year. Web and graphic design are no different and falls subject to a revival of colors and styles every year. Posters, collateral, and websites all sport colors and graphics that were unique yet patterned throwbacks to a funkier time. (For web references, check out WDL’s 50 Retro and Vintage Web Designs to Inspire You). Color schemes, fonts, and textures were also big in 2010 and will continue to be big in 2011 – especially antique paper and concrete textures, stripes, and vintage lines.

Minimalism has been a trend for years, but only recently has it become a dominant trend in design. Everything from offices to websites to architecture is focusing more on stark yet purposeful design functionality. Logos are focusing more on simple glyphs, simple shapes, understated text and simple colors. Utilizing simple shapes and single colors can be an understated yet powerful combination. Websites such as Glyphish.com can provide you with hundreds of glyphs to help in your minimalistic design with both free and paid options.

Hand drawn elements became largely popular at the end of the year and can continue to carry popularity into 2011. Not only did many designs utilize paper textures, but many of the popular designs involved handwritten fonts and other sketched elements, such as the hand-written logo above. Many designs utilized the customized, semi-random and personal nature of hand-drawn elements, and a simple Google search for “hand-drawn design element” will reveal hundreds of brushes, icons, and vector sets with free hand-drawn elements for your next design.

Color Scheme

Bright yet pale colors are going to continue to be very popular for 2011, and I’ve heard some claims that honeysuckle, vintage wine, and citrus yellow have all been cited as colors to take note of in 2011. In addition, we think contrasting colors are going to be a staple for the remainder of of the year. Contrasting desaturated images and icons with strong yellow, yellow, orange, and red text is a strong trend, as are skin tones with contrasting colors. Subtle, muted tans, greys and off whites along with copper, grey and other muted tones are great calls for 2011. We are definitely seeing a call for earthy tones, especially those that are offset with a bold color, such as red. As an example, check out Carbon Photography, a site that we did using these tones.

If you need some inspiration, head over to COLOURlovers for color schemes posted by users. A good majority of the color schemes posted fall under the suggested color schemes mentioned above. Many were skin tones, contrasting colors, and bold and contrasting colors. Many designers like us are recommending that color schemes should be limited to two or three colors so consider using a strong base color to setup the rest of your design to make a bold statement with complimentary colors helping to make your design stand out.

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Mobile Influence

With the huge popularity of mobile and web applications, particularly in the past year, many design elements are going to be based off of examples in the mobile sector. As people become more familiar and comfortable with web technologies, they expect similar design elements to be found in other graphic design examples. When people see certain elements such as a big “Like” button, they know exactly what it means and won’t be surprised when similar buttons start appearing on other websites and applications.

Mobile user interfaces in particular have to have simple, directive and self-explanatory design. Poorly designed mobile applications are largely ignored because users don’t understand how to use them. Well-conceived design actually increases the user’s ability to use and understand functionality, so it is important for users to respond positively to well-designed applications. For a great example of icon-branding for all online and mobile devices that is simple yet effective, consider the whole set of the Adobe Creative Suite icons:

These icons showcase simple elegance and their fabulous color schemes set them apart them each other and make them memorable.

Web applications have also shaped how the public expects their information to be shared. They fuel a consumer desire for simple, direct, and clear access to information, and as these applications become more widespread, the more an expectation for simple and quickly accessible information becomes the norm. Graphic designers need to cater to the consumer culture in their projects and take cultural elements into consideration. Logos should be simple and clearly communicate all the necessary information to the public. Worldwide corporations have begun to recognize this and some such as Walmart changed their logos to better reflect this consumer expectation. Under Consideration has a great summary of logo evolution for Walmart here. Other companies such as Starbucks, the Gap, and Scribd have recently underdone logo revamps as well. See a great and comprehensive list of redesigned logos at Graphic Design Blog.

Software and Tools

As mentioned before, mobile applications are making a huge splash in the design world as they provide image editing tools and effects on the go, allowing designers the opportunities to be creative and inspired away from their workstations. One of the heavy hitters in the mobile app world is Instagram for the iPhone. Instagram allows you to take photos with your iPhone and quickly apply a wide range of filters and effects to the photo before uploading it to the Internet for all to see. Being able to catalogue and review various inspirational elements is a huge help for designers. You can also play around with photos already taken, so if you need some inspiration you can mess around with your regular photos.

One of the best new applications on multiple platforms for web designers is Galleried, a web-based gallery of hand picked websites that you can review and mark when you see something you like. Galleried provides you with the opportunity to download the application on your phone or login on their website to manage your favorite sites. You can also submit a suggestion to the Galleried crew to contribute to the wealth of well-designed websites.

If you’ve been looking for a Photoshop replacement, Gimp has been gaining popularity for both Mac and PC and has been adding new even more useful features that make it a valid replacement for Photoshop, and many users have said that they feel like Gimp provides a much more intuitive interface than its Adobe counterpart. The mobile market push has also encouraged some devoted Photoshop users to switch to other Adobe applications such as Illustrator or Fireworks for their editing abilities as well as their ability to better cater to web and desktop application designing, with one reason for this switch being the ease of use that these programs offer.

Building Design Value

If your business has been a little slow so far this year, don’t panic just yet. Many companies are looking to get their money’s worth from their designers. Companies want to know that you are not only talented, but that you not only have the capability to cost-effectively and quickly produce their designs, but are capable of keeping up with these new trends and aren’t resistant to trying something new.

Expect potential clients to ask to see extra designs, so be prepared to potentially add more work to your Elance portfolio. Potential clients are also going to look for a wide range of skills and talents perhaps looking for a skill beyond something you’ve already designed. If you haven’t designed something in a specific domain such as mobile interface, take a week or two and try your hand at some experimental work. Having some examples to expand your portfolio could help land that job you are qualified for but haven’t yet done.

Something that we have begun doing – especially in the area of logo design – is to provide many different yet related looks to our clients in the first round. Not only does this help them feel like they have gotten their money’s worth, but it also gives them more to choose from, which in turn makes the next revision round simpler for us both. Here is a sample of what we have done for a client using this model:

As a result, he decided that he liked a combination of number four and number nine, respectively.

Ultimately, the 2011 design trends should give you a direction to take with future clients. Remember, though, that your individual style and the unique aspect of your client’s project should always shine through no matter what.