Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Fashion Royalty Dolls Rock

Adèle’s shows off her new show-stopping look! Alongside the Perrin sisters, she defines what style is all about. Watch out Natalia Fatalé, just because you’re back doesn’t mean that the other girls will step aside. W is here to stay!



Monday, February 23, 2009

Fashion words, pashmina


A scarf or shawl made from precious cashmere obtained from the fleece of the 'Chyangra' goat of the mountainous uplands of Himalaya and Tibet. Silk threads are used for the warp to create an unmistakable shine. The animal is sheared twice a year, the female produces 50/100 gr. and the male 100/150 gr. A prized wool available in three natural shades: white, greyish white and grey.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Disney's first African American doll


For the first time, Disney is creating a film with an African-American princess whose doll will make its debut Monday at the American International Toy Fair in New York City.

The cocoa-colored doll, which sports a tiara, a flowing blue gown, and is roughly the size of a Barbie, is expected to sell for about the same $10 to $15 as Barbie. Disney hopes it will boost the franchise through rough times. The $22 billion toy industry saw sales fall about 3 percent last year, and sales of dolls dropped a hefty 8 percent, according to the Toy Industry Association.

Though Princess Tiana was on the drawing board long before Barack Obama was elected the nation’s first black president, marketing experts say she signals a growing awareness by industries from toymakers to cosmetic companies that diversity is critical in a nation where people of color will be the majority in little more than 30 years.

“It’s very significant,” says Lisa Skriloff, president of Multicultural Marketing Resources. “It’s like a stamp of approval for one of the most outstanding family (entertainment) companies to say this is important.”

Tiana, whose story will come to the big screen later this year in the animated musical “The Princess and The Frog,” is the first princess introduced by Disney since Mulan in 1998.

Disney executives say that they did not set out to make a social statement.

“It was much more about the storytelling,” says Kathy Franklin, vice president, global studio franchise development for Disney Consumer Products. “This was not about a conscious decision to say we need an African-American princess.”

Yet, industry watchers say that when Princess Tiana dolls hit stores in the fall, they will bring diversity to a marketplace where it’s been sorely lacking.

“I think we’re going to see more ... in boys’ toys as well as girls’, and it’s important that we do,” says Ira Mayer, publisher of The Licensing Letter, a trade publication. Mattel, which has the license to create the Princess Tiana dolls, is planning to release its own line of black dolls in September. Part of the Barbie family, the So In Style dolls are being touted as having a more authentic appearance, from their hair to their varying skin tones.

Disney, which has had great success with its Princess franchise, predicts that sales will surge with the arrival of Tiana. “We expect our sales of Princess Tiana products to be significant, and not just to African-American households,” says Franklin.

Tiana merchandise will range from Halloween costumes to backpacks. There are plans for Tiana-theme MP3 players and digital cameras to be in stores by the end of the year, and a line of Princess Tiana and “The Princess and the Frog” books will go on sale this fall.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Chanel 2.55 purse_ its true history



Three mysterious digits are used to refer to one of the world’s most famous bags: Coco Chanel’s classic quilted purse with chain shoulder strap, to be later reissued by Karl Lagerfeld. Leading us to consider: how has this accessory managed to remain so popular for over fifty years, a dream object for generations of women, old and young alike? There are several explanations: firstly it is a perfect archetype of its genre which has won a place in the collective imagination, an epitome of luxury cleverly reproduced by the Fashion Maison in a series of similar guises, each one extremely actual and phenomenal. The 2.55 is a unique and exclusive purse, often imitated but never equalled. A favourite with both women and girls, adding a classy touch to the former and a carefree air to the latter. So where and when did it originate? The shoulder bag debuted in Mademoiselle Chanel’s collections in 1930. In 1955, Coco revamped the purse by introducing the characteristic quilting, early models were made from jersey, followed by ultra soft “ plongé “ (dry drummed) lambskin. Other distinguishing features include: quilting, a gold chain shoulder strap, sometimes interwoven with a strip of leather and the trademark double «C» fastening, with plated screws or 3 microns. Most models also have burgundy leather lining, at least one inner zip pocket, meticulous internal finishing, the name Chanel printed in gold letters with the registered R trademark, to guarantee against unauthorised reproductions, and a numbered certificate of authenticity to accompany the number shown inside the bag. This “identity card“ acts as a document to distinguish the real product form its imitations. Two thirds of all Chanel bags are produced in the company plants in France, whilst the remainder are manufactured in Italy, in particular evening and more sporty models, under rigorous Servizio Produzione (Production Service) control. Each 2.55 (5 was Coco’s lucky number) is based on 180 different operations, from the initial cutting to the final assembly, a combination of advanced technology and traditional workmanship, including cutting, assembly and chain weaving. Materials used include: jersey and excellent sheepskin from the Millau region of central France, tanned, dyed in drums and left to dry in the air, before being subjected to a series of tests: colour fastness, grain strength and UV ray resistance. Other skins: calfskin, suede, both calf and kid, grainé calfskin and crocodile, (the finest stomach hides from guaranteed sources), and ostrich: the bag’s beauty lies in its smoothness and cut “pearls “. Velvet satin, grosgrain, tweed, flannel and towelling are also often used, according to creative bent. Internal features: classic black or navy leather bags always sport a burgundy lining whilst other colours are used for tone on tone lining (excepting green purses lined in black), whilst the black jersey versions are lined in red grosgrain. Thanks to all the above proposals, and the meticulous workmanship, from choice of materials to realisation, the 2.55 can be likened to a custom made product, realised in an atelier, personally made to be taken everywhere, and to guard all our secrets, a treasured family heirloom to be handed

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Friday, February 13, 2009

Remember whats important in life.





I was a bit over all the importance that people black people especially have put on celebrity scandals. This at a time when America has decided to set aside a month to honor the accomplishments and struggles of the folks that made it possible for these celebrities to be who they are today. It just frustrates me to no end that celebrities are thought to be unfailing humans that can do no wrong.

I take Chris Crockers stance here.

LEAVE THOSE CELEBRITIES ALONE.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Inspiring Grammy Red Carpet looks








There were a few inspiring looks on the Red Carpet. These were a few of my personal favorites. I was anxious to see what Rhinna was gonna wear but we all know what happen with that lil fiasco.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

When are we gonna just get over it.



For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans finally going to get over it?

Now I want to ask: "When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?

Recent reports that "Election Spurs Hundreds' of Race Threats, Crimes" should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in "Bombingham," Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than "talk the talk."

Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.

We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps.

But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was a non-political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.

But elect a liberal who happens to be Black and we're back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we've proven what conservatives are always saying -that in America anything is possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that school children from Maine to California are talking about wanting to "assassinate Obama."

Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, "How long?" How long before we white people realize we can't make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us? How long until we white people can -once and for all- get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?

How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?

I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do?

How long before we start "living out the true meaning" of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that "red and yellow, black and white" all are precious in God's sight?

Until this past November 4, I didn't believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don't believe I'll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem. But here's my three-point plan:

First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built I'm going to pray that God (and the Secret Service) will protect him and his family from us white people.

Second, I'm going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama.

Third, I'm going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can "in spirit and in truth" sing of our damnable color prejudice, "We HAVE overcome."

Andrew Manis is author of Macon Black and White and serves on the steering committee of Macon's Center for Racial Understanding.

It takes a Village to protect our President!!!