5 Habits of a Confident Woman

She walks into a room and people take notice.  They are intrigued, not necessarily because of her physical attributes, but instead by her self-assurance. She has an aura about her that screams ‘if you don’t know me honey, you should’…

There’s a saying that, “some girls are born winners.” I beg to differ; some women simply position themselves to win. So what separates the woman who wins and the one who doesn’t? A large part of it has to do with confidence; and women who have it know exactly what I mean.

So what are the characteristics of a confident woman? While they vary, most confident women possess similar traits. If you don’t have them, get them. There is nothing wrong with faking it until you make it. And at the risk of sounding cliché, it really is about unleashing the power that’s already inside of you.
But if that’s not enough to convince you, confidence really is sexy and people gravitate towards confident people. With a little extra boost of confidence, watch how many new people you meet and even more opportunities.

1. Define Yourself
Don’t let others determine how you feel about yourself nor allow society to tell you what you can and cannot do. Tap into your inner voice and write your own rules for your life. If you’re writing your own rules you don’t have to worry about succumbing to someone else’s.

2. Know Your Strengths & Use Them
Make a list of all the things that you’re good at or the characteristics that you love about yourself. Then make sure you’re not letting your skills go to waste by actually using them.  And display the characteristics you love about yourself as often as you can. If you’re funny, use it to your advantage.

3. Always Dress the Part
So you just don’t feel like putting a 100% into your appearance? I completely understand. We all have those days when we want to just roll out of bed and head straight to work, wild hair and all. But remember confidence is never tacky. I would love to believe that people don’t care about your outer appearance, but that is far from the truth. The reality is people judge you based on what you’re wearing. So always ask yourself ‘what message am I trying to convey with my attire?’
4. Take Risks & Take Action
The only thing that comes to someone who stays in their comfort zone is what they already have. A confident woman wants the most out of life and pushes herself to be the best she can be. The only way to do this is to step out of your comfort zone and into something new.


5. Use Positive Affirmations
From the zillion twitter quotes to the sayings we’ve heard since we were kids, everyone loves to here a good quote for affirmation. And why not? Affirmations can help replace negative thoughts. Besides telling yourself how fabulous you are everyday, find affirmations that relate to some of your confidence issues. If you can’t find them, make up your own. The key is to zap a negative thought by replacing it with something positive.

5 Eyebrow Mistakes

 

 

 

Many women don’t know how to pluck their eyebrows properly but they are experimenting with it.
The importance of the eyebrows should not be underestimated. They can totally change your facial expressions. Neglected, shaggy eyebrows will give you a cluttered and untidy appearance.

However, the right eyebrows can flatter your face and will make you look fresher, younger and tidier. One or two plucks in plus and your nice eyebrows can really look scary. If you know what are the basic things to avoid when grooming your eyebrows, you can quickly learn how to correct your mistakes and how make them look perfect. Check out the most common ugly eyebrow mistakes! 

 

Over plucking
This is one of the most frequently met problems when it comes to brows. The majority of women and mainly young girls don’t consult a professional before tweezing their eyebrows for the first time and they easily develop a tendency to over pluck their eyebrows. If you make your eyebrows too thin, your eyes will get less accent, they won’t be so defined, and your face can get a dull, unexciting look.
When you are over plucking your elbows, there is a possibility that on some parts it won’t grow back.
As compared to the extremely thin brows look of the past, nowadays, the natural, fuller eyebrows are trendy. If you are endowed with thicker brows, you can create a wonderful, natural looking brow shape. Our advice is to consult a professional in order to get some tips and have them done properly. Once your cosmetician has determined their basic shape, you will only have to maintain their ideal form.

Drawing Your Eyebrows With a Dark Pencil
If you have sparse eyebrows, don’t try to fix this problem by using dark eye pencils. This mistake is also very common. If you want to fill your brows, you can avoid this unnatural look by opting for a pencil that is one or two shades lighter than the color of your hair.
Another great option is to use an angled brush and fill the sparse areas with brow powder. If your eyebrows are really sparse you can carefully fill these gaps, first with a pencil then by adding a little powder to make them look more natural.

Trimming Too Much Of Your Brows
If you want to give your eyebrows a beautiful, natural contour, you can shape your brows by trimming those hairs that are too long, mainly in the front part. However, cutting down many hairs at once and trimming them too short can totally destroy the shape of your brows.
In order to avoid this nasty problem, brush your eyebrow hair upwards and trim the hairs one by one, cutting only one at a time. Trim only those that are longer than the rest, not to make them too short. In order to achieve a wonderful shape, make sure that the inner part is a little bit thicker than the outer end of your brows.

Taking Too Much off The Ends
Short eyebrows look less elegant than nicely shaped, longer eyebrows. You can easily find the ideal end for your eyebrows by touching your brow bone. The point where this bone ends should also mark the end of your eyebrow.

Tweezing Too Frequently
Grooming your eyebrows every day is too much because it is not necessary to pluck them too often. Your eyebrows will look gorgeous if you tweeze them only once in a week. If you develop the bad habit to groom them each and every day, you can also remove hairs that are essential to maintain their beautiful contour. Start to stay away from the tweezers so that you won’t feel the necessity to pluck your brows.

Having well shaped, perfect eyebrows is as important as makeup or clothing. If you have a great contour to your eyebrows your eyes will get more emphasis and your look will become deeper and more sensual. Beautiful brows give a nice frame to your face and your whole appearance will be more youthful and feminine.

 

Want to take your eyes from ordinary to extraordinary? Try lashes!

1. Decide what look you're seeking. A full set of false eyelashes adds high drama to your evening appearance or returns the eyelashes that may have disappeared due to illness. Little clumps of fake lashes on the outside corners of your eyes create a subtle, sophisticated glamour.

 

2 Choose a color that complements the occasion. For evening, stick to black (or dark brown if you have pale lashes), which adds drama without requiring mascara. In the daytime, go dark brown (light brown or blond if you have pale lashes) for a natural look. 

 

3 Check their length. Full lashes should follow the natural line of your own lashes. Trim them with sharp scissors to accommodate your needs. 

 

4 Begin with clean eyes, free of makeup or debris. 

 

5 Hold the lashes in your hand and apply a very thin line of glue or adhesive along the base; let it sit for 1 minute. Begin with a minimal amount of glue, adding more if needed. 

 

6 Look into a mirror, either on the wall or placed on a countertop. Apply the false lashes above your eyelashes, as close to your lash line as possible, following its natural curve.

 

7 Adjust the lashes with your fingertips, tweezers or a toothpick. 

 

8 If you're using lash clumps, place them at the outside corners of your upper lashes (one or two per eye should suffice). Adjust their position with a toothpick, fingers or tweezers. 

 

9 Apply eye makeup. You may find your new lashes dramatic enough without mascara, so take a good look in the mirror first. 

 

10Practice a few times before your debut. This is a challenging beauty trick to master, but a dress rehearsal should make for a smash.

 

What is Shelf Life of Makeup?

 

 

How long can you keep lipstick, eyeshadow and foundation?

Wondering about the shelf life of your pile of makeup?

Every woman we know has a pile of makeup in her drawer that she "sometimes" uses. Translation: Never uses, but keeps just in case she finally learns how to properly apply blue eyeshadow.

Beauty products do have a shelf life, however, and chances are that blue eyeshadow with the glimmery bits that you bought a couple years ago (for Halloween?) has long expired. Here's a quick guide on the shelf lives of typical beauty products. I've listed them in alphabetical order. Oh, and just one quick little "PS": Please keep in mind that these are estimates, no matter what anyone tells you, it's unlikely you'll go blind from using 2-year-old mascara.

• Concealer Up to 12 months.
  
• Powder 2 years.
  
• Cream & gel cleansers 1 year.
  
• Pencil eye liner Should be sharpened regularly. Will last up to 3 years.
  
• Eyeshadow Will also last up to 3 years. Extra tip: A dark eyeshadow can double as eyeliner, in fact, most makeup artists swear by eyeshadow used as eyeliner. You'll need a super-flat eyeliner brush for this (Sephora, MAC and Aveda have great brushes). Get the brush a little damp and dab in dark eyeshadow (black, brown or deep jewel-tones work great). Wiggle the brush into your lash line focusing on the space between your lashes, then sweep the color just above your lash line.
  
• Brushes Wash every couple of weeks (depends on usage) in baby shampoo or mild detergent.
  
• Sponges Wash weekly and discard monthly.
  
• Foundation Check the ingredients: A water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months. You may find you need two different shades of foundation each year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker and one for winter when you're lighter. Extra tip: If your water-based foundation dries out before it's expiration date, simply add a few drops of alcohol-free toner and shake to mix it in. No need to do this to oil-based foundations. Because they contain oil, they will tend to separate. You have to shake anyway
• 
  
• Lip liner Up to 3 years.
  
• Lipstick Some artists say 1-2 years. Others say up to 4 years. What everyone agrees on is that if it smells rancid, throw it out, it's spoiled. Extra tip: If you store lipstick in the refrigerator, it will last longer. Bonus tip: Want your lipstick to last longer during the day? Shade in lips with lip liner before applying lipstick.
  
• Mascara This product expires the fastest: Throw out after 4 months. Extra tip: If you don't want your mascara to expire faster than its fresh date, don't pump the wand in and out -- you're only exposing the product to drying air.
  
• Nail Polish Up to 12 months, depending on the quality.

Friend Or Foe? 6 Ways To Distinguish Between The Two

Friends… How many of us have them? This statement is more complicated in meaning than simply the lyrics to a popular song from the 80’s. We interact with hundreds of people during a 24 hour day. Out of all of those people, how many of them can we say are truly our friends? How many of them have our best interest at heart? The bigger question here is how many of us can discern between a friend and a foe? Check out the following list of trademark foe behaviors that we often ignore when they are clear warning signals.

1. They Never Have Anything Nice To Say
This is deeper than one of your friends not agreeing with you. Your friends may not agree with everything that you wear or do and that is fine. However be cognizant of someone who is overly critical of you. This may be one of those people who feel that by bringing you down they uplift themselves. It gives them an orgasm every time they tear someone into pieces. They can then reign on their invisible chair of superiority.

2. They Mimic You
It is said that someone mimicking you is the highest form of flattery. In some situations that may be the case. However, when it comes to your friends it may mean that they are envious of you and this is how they display that emotion. It is okay to have a synergy where you two feed off each other and build each other up. However if this person is literally copying your behavior, style of dress, etc, then be cautious of how much you share with them. A perquisite of this behavior is that they may also be very quiet when they are around you. It is because they are observing you in order to jock your style later. Sure it might be cute at first, but when those displays of adoration transforms into full fledge jealousy, it won’t be displayed in such a mild way.

3. They Are Dismissive Towards You
This person will dismiss you constantly in order to be with their significant other. It is okay to be in love and your partner should be of importance, but if it this person always chooses to chase after a man/woman over spending time with you then reevaluate your friendship. Or better yet, they are not even committed to anyone. Instead they are chasing after penis/vagina and choose to put you on the backburner while doing so. They are expressing your level of importance to them.

4. They Need Something
This person only contacts you when they need something. I.E. “Hey girl I need you type my resume“or “Girl can I borrow your shoes?”, or “Hey man let me borrow your car”.  You never hear from this person until they are in need of something that you possess. They do not contact you to see how you are doing or to generally be in your company. We call these people opportunists. More than likely they are keeping you around because of something that you possess that they do not. Once they find a way to possess that item themselves, your services will no longer be needed.

5. Liars
Trust will be null and void when dealing with them because you will never know how they truly feel about you or anything else for that matter. These people are chameleons and can morph themselves into whatever the situation requires. They also never have an original thought. They lie in order to portray a certain image that they feel will aide them in getting their desires. They are the ultimate manipulators of words.

6. The Overly Cynical Person
These people are dream killers and should be avoided by the ambitious. They will pick holes in your ideas, plans and thoughts. They are your very own personal downer. They have no faith in you and your abilities. People like this should be kept at a distance because secretly they do not think very highly of you. In fact they may consider you to be a simple minded fool and that is why they feel that you will never be successful. But they only seem to be that way with you. You never see them doubting or criticizing the plans of others. Something about you and your choices gets their panties/boxers in a bunch. This also may be part of the reason why they keep you around. They enjoy feeling like they are smarter than someone and have chosen you to be their exclusive town fool.

Kim and Kourtney Kardashian Talk Plastic Surgery, Black Guys & Marriage on The Wendy Williams Show

 

Kim and her sister Kourtney stopped by “The Wendy Williams Show” last week for some juicy girl talk. Kourtney gave details on whether or not she’s getting married to Scott anytime soon plus her new acting gig. Kim gave everyone the low down on if her boobs are real or fake and her new boy toy, NBA Player Kris Humphris (Damn, Kim moves through em’ fast!) . She also talked about her new music video release being delayed and her connection with The Dream. Check out excerpts and video below.

Kim On being the highest paid reality star earning $10 Million dollars
I think that we work so hard and I think sometimes people are like “Oh, what do you do?” and they have all those kind of comments, “You’re famous, for being famous.” But we woke up today at 4:30 a.m. and its like non-stop. If it’s not the shoe company, it’s the clothing line with Sears that we’re doing. So, it’s so much that we have going on that you would like to think that the hard work pays off.
Kim On People Thinking She Only Loves Black Men.
I really think it’s a stereotype. I’ve dated probably just the same amount of white guys…it’s funny, I can be with a white guy in the middle of the street making out with him and not one person will say anything or take a picture. I can be standing next to a black guy and all of a sudden, I’m dating him and I don’t even know him.
Kim On Plastic Surgery
I have big lips! I’ve always had big lips. I’m so not the person against plastic surgery but if you’re asking me and I’m telling you I’ve done botox on my show. I’ve done the cellulite whatever on my show…I’m so open, I’m the first person to say “Oh my God, yes I did and I’ve got the best doctor”.
On her butt and chest
It’s real and jiggly and I wish it was firmer. The boobs are real and saggy.
On Kourtney getting married to Scott:
Kourtney: Not right now, I’m good how we are. [Scott] and alcohol don’t really mix too well. But since he’s been working on himself everything has been good. For me, I need to see that change. It’s been almost a year but I need to see it a little bit longer.
Kim On the video “Turn it Up”
It’s not ready. Basically, we were shooting a little part of the video at Tao in Las Vegas, so Hype Williams and the whole crew were there. I wanted it real and fun. That’s why I played the song. I wanted everyone to hear it.
Did you take voice lessons?
Kim: I have. I was doing it all in fun. The Dream, Ciara and Kanye all kind of talked me into doing it because I was not into doing this. [I was like], I have too much going on, I don’t want to do this. We decided to do it because it was something I was so nervous about. I don’t have an album coming out. I did one song for the show. You’ll see the process on the show and half the proceeds are going to a cancer organization. The Dream lost his mom and I lost my dad. The Dream and I really bonding over the lost of our parents due to cancer.

 

Introducing Illamasqua Makeup! For All Skin Tones!

Heritage

Illamasqua is the product of a heady mix of influences. Its roots stem from the dark and illicit 1920s club scene, and combine a rich heritage in the manufacture of make-up for film and theatre. It also takes inspiration from members of the ‘alternative scenes’ for whom self-expression is paramount. Alternative cultures have always dared to be dramatic. They have an emotional attachment to making up. It’s an expression of their darker side, a release for their alter ego.

Illamasqua is for the bolder person hiding inside all of us. It is an act and an attitude. A symbol of tolerance. A celebration of idiosyncrasies. A confident statement of self-ownership.

 Illamasqua Today

An exciting new London-based brand, Illamasqua celebrated its first birthday in November 2009. And the success of make-up for your alter ego has been phenomenal.
Self-expression through make-up is an idea that is spreading outside alternative cultures. Illamasqua’s mission is to provide high-performance, professional make-up to anyone who wants to self-express and accentuate their look beyond the norm.
Developed by leading chemists, manufacturers of stage and screen make-up and make-up artists, Illamasqua brings truly professional make-up to the high street for the first time.
Designed to be colour-intense, colour-true and long lasting, Illamasqua offers an unprecedented range – giving you a huge palette with which to express yourself, whoever you are and whatever look you want to achieve.
Illamasqua brings its rich heritage to life by providing make-up lessons rather than ‘makeovers’. Illamasqua’s make-up artists spend time getting to know individuals, helping them explore their alter ego and create the look they want to achieve. This is self-expression at its most creative, allowing women and men who dare to be different to create a look that can be achieved confidently at home and flaunted at night.
We're also a brand with a conscience, and are proud of the fact that none of our products, from blushers to brushes, are tested on animals.

In keeping with their rich, vibrant makeup shades, Illamasqua's debut collection of creams, powders, and shimmers for the body contain hyper-pigmented, light-reflecting particles to highlight and contour skin with intense colors. Who says your face has to be your only canvas? Take makeup to a whole new level and to a whole new part of you.

 

Illamasqua's Sirens collection offers a myriad of sumptuous shades for the face, eyes, lips, and nails. From shimmering corals and aquamarines to luscious golds and bronzed metallics, Sirens lets you indulge your alter ego, making your summer nights even hotter than the days.

 

Illamasqua introduces "art at its most unrestrained." Accentuated, dark, and expressive, the 1920s Berlin collection takes you into a world of illicit pleasures and self-gratification. The colors speak to the very essence of that era with intense, dramatic, and mysterious shades. This is your stage. Step into the spotlight and make a scene.

Available @

http://www.illamasqua.com/

some Sephora stores or

www.sephora.com

Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder!

HD Microfinish Powder What it is: A universal translucent finishing powder to be applied over foundation or worn alone. What it does: Sets the foundation and slightly mattifies skin without changing its natural contours.  This 100% mineral silica powder softens the appearance of imperfections.  Completely evens out the complexion for a glowing, radiant look. One universal shade for all skin tones. What else you need to know: It's completely translucent and goes on any skintone. Its talc-free formula does not dry the skin  and is formulated with 100% silica. Dermatologically tested. Cost: $30.00 for 0.35 oz and $15 0.17 oz Available @ Sephora, Sephora Inside JCPenny and Sephora.com

Note to Women: Let A Man Be A Man

 By Dr. J

Kelly Rowland mentioned in an article for Complex Magazine that she struggled with letting a man be a man, but she doesn’t have that problem anymore.  So a lot of readers asked, what does that mean, Let a man be a man?   I commend Kelly for her honesty in admitting that she had a problem and she fixed it.  However, you shouldn’t have to learn that the hard way, so let me tell you how you can let me be a man.
“I know what I’m doing.”

As a man, I may make some mistakes.  Sometimes I’ll do something the hard way when there’s an easier way to get it done.  However, a man needs to feel like he knows what he’s doing and a woman isn’t going to suggest he does it differently.  The most annoying thing that happens to me, and has happened several times, is when someone tells me to do something and then explains exactly how to do it.  Especially when it’s something simple like, “thaw the chicken that’s in the refrigerator.”  You don’t need to tell me, “Take the chicken out of the freezer, place it in a dish with some water in it, not HOT water though.”
“I know where I’m going.”
A close second to the one above, is refraining from giving a man directions or requesting that he ask for directions.  This goes back to the previous point about letting a guy do something on his own, instead of telling him what to do.
“Can I pick?”
I know that we all have preferences about where we would like to go, what we would like to do, and how we would like to do it, but men need to be able to pick some things sometimes.  When you and your boo move in together let him pick some of the decor.  Date night is Friday, and I’m sure you’re planning to go to dinner and a movie, let him pick.  Or here’s a thought, let him plan the whole night.
“Do what I ask and do it exactly as I ask.”
When a man asks you do something, some times you just need to do it.  Here’s what bothers us:  when we ask and you revamp it so that it works for you.  It makes us feel like you don’t listen to us, or you don’t value our desires as much as your own; it affects our ability to feel like we are leading or providing.
“It is still the year of the Gentleman.”
I was raised by all women, so I’m used to carrying everything.  I will simply not allow my girl to carry anything but her purse.  Also, I still like to open doors, and I will always position myself in between traffic and you.  I like to pay.  I once dated a woman who made way more money than I did.  I didn’t have a problem letting her pay on occasion, but all other times I like to pay.  (Dating tip: Here’s what gentlemen do, they give their card to the waiter when they hand them back the menu.  That way, there is no awkward conversation when the check arrives.  If you want to pay for him, just do the same.)
“I can only be me.  The same old J.”
My father always told me that a man must determine his character and integrity because if someone else decides it for you, you will never be accountable.  Real talk, you have to stop telling men who to be.  Don’t let these six words ever come out of your mouth, “What you need to do is.“  This just leads to nowhere good.  A man has to pick and choose who he wants to be and how he wants to do it.  (Quick note, never find a man a job.  If you want to know why, go back and watch Soul Food again.  A man has to find his own work, no matter how strong your network is.)
There are several reasons why women have issues with letting a man be a man.  9 times out of 10, in my opinion, people can avoid those problems by stopping something or not doing something they want to do.  Everyone should have a list of, needs, wants and desires.  Wisdom to know the difference of those three words will take us all far in life.  You might want a man to turn the music down.  You desire that he’s on time and waiting for you, even if you’re running a little late.  What you need, however, is for a man to be a man, that way you don’t have to be.

The Game, Kelly Pitts reduced to recurring character...

After being canceled on The CW and bought back to life by the BET network, “The Game” made its debut to rave reviews earlier this week….However, since the cast has been promoting the show, Brittany Daniels has been noticeably absent from a lot of the promos lately and our readers have been hitting us up to find out why.  Although, we haven’t pinpointed the exact reason she has been missing in action, we have found out that her character Kelly Pitts has been downgraded to a recurring character on the show.  She revealed this last year, while speaking with Vibe about some of the changes on the show:

What’s different for me is I was a series regular before and now I’m just a reoccurring character on the show. We did 13 episodes and I’m just contracted to do six. Another change is that we’re shooting in Atlanta and that’s different. [The Game was previously filmed in Los Angeles.]
Wow, that’s really disappointing. Did the powers that be tell you why they reduced your role?

I wasn’t happy about it, I wanted to do all the episodes but I think it was a financial thing. So I think the biggest difference for me between working for CW and BET is on the CW I made more money [laughs]. But the reason I came back to do the show is that I love the show. And I love, love the people that I work with so even though it came down to [my reduced role] I had to be supportive of the rest of the cast. I know me not showing up would affect a lot of story lines.

MAC Mineralized SPF 15 Foundation Spring 2011...Finally Flawless Review

Ok I've just purchased this product, so I'm going to comment what I've seen in one use.
Coverage: medium to full, I used this foundation with a stippling brush with a light hand and flattop contour brush, and I see perfect skin in the mirror! lovely texture, more creme-to-powder than normal creme foundations. lovely feel on skin. Not greasy in the least. Great for ALL skin types (dry to oily/combo)

Color: my color is NW45, but this runs a little darker...so I purchased NW 43. Yes the color blends perfectly into my skin and doesn't seem to change during the day
Price: 32 dollars + tax.
Repurchase:  A winner in my book, this foundation is wonderful!
Will update once I've used it more.

"The Game" Sets Rating Record, Plus Cast Celebrates Premiere in New York

 

 BET’s CEO, Debra Lee hosted an intimate dinner sponsored by Hennessy Privilege in honor of the premiere of BET’s new original scripted series ‘The Game’ at Butter Restaurant. According to reports, The Game set a ratings record for BET, attracting 7.7 million viewers. The ratings were the 2nd highest in the networks history behind The 2009 BET Awards which was broadcast 3 days after Michael Jackson’s death.  To put those numbers in perspective, The Game averaged 2.3 million viewers during Season One on The CW, 2.07 million viewers during Season 2 and 1.68 million viewers during Season 3.(The poor ratings during 

Season 3 could have been contributed to the fact that CW moved it to a Friday time slot).

Tia Mowry’s husband Cory tweeted that the Game’s ratings were the highest rated show in cable history. Although, I haven’t been able double check the stats on that, the Season 4 finale of the very popular reality show “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” drew 4.8 million viewers for E! last year which was E!’s biggest audience ever. MTV’s highly popular show Jersey Shore premiered recently with 8.4 million viewers ….so The Cast of the Game has a lot to celebrate.

 

 

 

9 year old Starr Andrews Ice Skates to Willow Smith's Whip My Hair

Keri Hilson't Vibe Magazine Spread

There have been situations where the people you’re around have one vision for you, and it’s like trying on a jacket that doesn’t fit. Someone says, ‘Go out there in this jacket.’ And you’re like, ‘But… it doesn’t fit! Nor is it my style.’ And that’s hard, because these are people who are investing in you, spending their time and their money, but they have a different direction. But you want to—I mean you have to—please them. You have to try it, and hope you are able to turn it around before you’re known as something you aren’t.”

 

 

Rhianna's Chap Jeans...Hot or Not?

Rihanna was spotted arriving at Fred Segal in Hollywood yesterday evening wearing a pair of R13 Denim Leather Chaps Jeans. The blue denim jeans feature five pockets and leather legs.

 

Would you rock these?

 

Raven Symone Looks Good, Hates the Attention...

Actress/Media Mogul Raven Symone was spotted showing off her new figure at the People’s Choice Awards last night in LA. She tells People Magazine:

Actually, now I wear bigger clothes because I don’t like the way people stare at me. I liked it before. Now, you’re just looking at me for the wrong reasons. Before, you were actually looking at me for a real reason.”

She looks damn good!. Keep it up Raven!

Top 10 Items You Are Too Old to Wear!

 

By Rachel Fischer Spalding

Walk into any mall and you’ll see a 40-something woman wearing every trend from Forever 21: tight tank top, low-rise jeans, metallic platform heels, plastic bangles and oversized earrings. Are you a middle-aged fashionista who just doesn’t know when to quit? Read on for the top 10 clothing items to leave in the past…
Young and trendy clothes may look great on the killer body of a 40-plus woman. After all, Goldie Hawn shines in her trendy outfits even though they look like she raided daughter Kate Hudson’s closet. But should she?

Definitely not, says celebrity wardrobe stylist Ricci DeMartino, whose clients include Eva Longoria Parker, Patricia Heaton and Lisa Kudrow.

“Living in L.A. like I do, you can go to Malibu and see this look any day of the week!” DeMartino says. “But trying too hard only calls attention to yourself – it’s overcompensating. You don’t need to dress like a teenager to look young.”

Most of us don’t push the clothes age barrier nearly as far, but even a tasteful fashionista may not always know how to dress appropriately as she moves past 35, 40 and beyond. How do you know when it’s time to lose which look? Here’s our style experts' top 10 styles you’re too old to wear:

1. Message T-Shirts

Retail Retirement Age: 30

Why: You’ve seen them on celebrities: “Jesus Is My Homeboy,” “Your Boyfriend Thinks I’m Hot.” The freedom to express yourself via your wardrobe is part of the teen and 20-something years… but beyond that? Letting people know you’re on “Team Kate” vs. “Team Jon” at 35 just seems, well, desperate. 


“The message tee boom was fueled by Young Hollywood,” DeMartino says. “But it’s mostly a way for people to express frustration.” And that doesn’t exactly come off as mature.

Stunning Substitute: “Replace the message tee with a great-quality cotton tee you can dress up or down from a line like James Perse in the hot colors of raspberry or grape,” he says.

2. Too-Trendy Denim

Retail Retirement Age: 35

Why: If it’s super-low-rise, torn, distressed, embellished with rhinestones or embroidery on the pockets or – shudder to think – characters like Mickey Mouse are patched on, go outside your house and light a bonfire now. You’re just too old to wear it.

“Because you’re not in your element with these [too-young items], you only end up looking out of place,” DeMartino says.

Stunning Substitute: Charla Krupp, TV style expert and author of the book How Not to Look Old, suggests swapping too-trendy jeans for boot-cut versions that don’t ride too low on your hips. Because of its slight flare at the leg, the boot cut minimizes hips. Plus, while skinny jeans come and go, this cut is a classic.

When it comes to color, choose more conservative dark denim or black jeans. Want a funkier look? Go for trouser jeans with an exaggerated flare at the hem – a look that can take you from the PTA meeting to a party when paired with the right top.

3. Costume Shoes

Retail Retirement Age: Mid-40s

Why: We’ve all done it: Buy a pair of entirely impractical, overly-theatrical shoes that weren’t suited for everyday life. Maybe they were clear plastic “stripper” heels straight out of Frederick’s of Hollywood. Or perhaps they were stilettos with a six-inch heel you could only walk a block in.

Whatever the case, 40-something fashionistas will look fresher without the too-trendy cork wedges, thigh-high boots or up-to-the-knee Gladiator sandals seen on envelope-pushing A-list youngsters such as Mary-Kate Olsen and Rachel Bilson.

Anything too high or too crazy should be avoided,” DeMartino says.

Stunning Substitute: Toning down what’s on your tootsies doesn’t mean you’re giving up glam, says Krupp, herself a major shoe fiend who adores heels. But finding the right shoes involves more than image: Feet lose their fatty cushion as we age, necessitating comfier pairs.
Look for wider or thicker heels for better support. Also pick shoes with rubber soles or more padding on the inside – increasingly offered up in fashionable styles from Salvatore Ferragamo, Cole Haan, Aerosoles and others.

4. Micro-mini Skirts

Retail Retirement Age: 40

Why: “Age appropriateness [in fashion] is partially determined by who you are and what you do – so yes, Tina Turner can wear micro-minis on stage that the rest of us would look ridiculous in,” Krupp says. Unless you’re the Private Dancer herself, get yourself and your teeny skirts over to Goodwill.

Stunning Substitute: Krupp’s pick? A chic straight skirt or a sexy-yet-classy pencil skirt, because both allow you to show off some curves without making you look as though you’re pretending you were born after the Reagan years. Just avoid anything four inches or more above the knee. DeMartino suggests adding tights to make a short skirt less risqué.

5. Anything Showing Excessive Cleavage

Retail Retirement Age: 50

Why: “An older woman shouldn’t feel she needs to show it all off. Anything below the middle of your [bustline] has got to go,” DeMartino says. “A little goes a long way,” writes Krupp, who in her book bans excessive “boobage” past the age of 40 and warns readers not to display too much sagging skin.

Stunning Substitute: “A well-fitted tweed vest can be worn with a blouse underneath; unbutton a few buttons and you’re going to look sexy but classy,” he says.

6. White, Ribbed Cotton Tank Tops
Retail Retirement Age: 40

Why: Skimpier versions of this men’s-undershirt-style tank are worn all over Hollywood by hot actresses. 

Women today want to keep up with much younger celebrities on TV,” DeMartino says. But what’s cool on the stars of “Gossip Girl” may not work on you. These tanks must go, Krupp says.

Stunning Substitute: A scoop-neck tee from a higher-end T-shirt maker, such as Three Dots, or a double-layer cotton shirt will “still gives you the ability to show off your figure without wearing something [too young],” he says.

7. Hair Gadgets
Retail Retirement Age: 30

Why: Whether it’s flowery scrunchies, banana clips or your daughter’s plastic kiddie barrettes, whimsical hair accessories are not fitting for a fully grown woman.

“With Hello Kitty in your hair, you’re going to look ridiculous at your age,” DeMartino says. “Remember Chrissy from Three’s Company?”

Stunning Substitute: If you must use them at all, hair accessories should be subtle – think a tortoise-shell barrette or grosgrain-ribbon headband from J. Crew – and similar in color to your hair. But even some headbands can make for a too-young look – Krupp doesn’t like them at all past a certain age.

8. Oversized, Overly-Decorated Hobo Bags

Retail Retirement Age: 50

Why: Open any magazine, and you’ll see tiny celebrities toting enormous, eye-catching handbags – the skinnier the star, the bigger the bag, it seems. Well, don’t follow suit!

“Avoid these oversized bags with all the bells and whistles…charms…quilting,” DeMartino says. “When you come to a certain age, the good news is you’re beyond trends.”

Stunning Substitute: Try a super-hot-for-fall clutch. “Maybe you can’t fit as much in there, but the point of a handbag is to carry your necessities – not your life,” he says.

9. Cheap, Unflattering Underwear

Retail Retirement Age: 40

Why: “Most women are not fitted properly when it comes to their bras,” DeMartino says. And the more a woman’s breasts [and body] begin to sag, the more important proper, good-quality undergarments are. Both DeMartino and Krupp are obsessed with body-shaping products like Spanx, which stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow have admitted to wearing to smooth out their silhouettes.

“Get a proper bra fitting at an upscale department store, and make friends with shapewear as you get older,” DeMartino says.

And keep in mind that menopause can also change your bra size. “Only the good lingerie from now on,” agrees Krupp, who notes that past age 30, underwear needs to be as supportive as it is sexy.

Stunning Substitute: When it comes to lingerie, you get what you pay for. DeMartino recommends the Cosabella label, while Krupp favors La Perla but also endorses the lower-cost Hanky Panky and Wacoal brands.

“[Good lingerie] can be expensive, but five good bras will last you a while,” he says.


10. Loud Accessories

Retail Retirement Age: 35

Why: The rubber bracelets, goth-inspired studded belts, zebra purses and plastic earrings proclaim to the world that you’re still plugged in to the trends. We get it – but you can look hip without the teen trappings. Gather up your wild accessories and black nail polish and donate them to the nearest ninth-grader.

“[Accessories like nail glitter] make you look like you crashed a sleepover party,” Krupp writes in her book.

Plus, “you never want to combine too many trends in one look,” DeMartino says.

10. Loud Accessories

Retail Retirement Age: 35

Why: The rubber bracelets, goth-inspired studded belts, zebra purses and plastic earrings proclaim to the world that you’re still plugged in to the trends. We get it – but you can look hip without the teen trappings. Gather up your wild accessories and black nail polish and donate them to the nearest ninth-grader.

“[Accessories like nail glitter] make you look like you crashed a sleepover party,” Krupp writes in her book.

Plus, “you never want to combine too many trends in one look,” DeMartino says. 






      

Tarte Lipstains! All day wear..non drying!

 LipSurgence™ Natural Matte Lip Stain
What it is:
A follow up to the best-selling LipSurgence™ Natural Lip Stain, this matte formula delivers the same clinically proven moisturizing results.

What it does:
Just like the original and best-selling Natural Lip Stains, LipSurgence™ Natural Matte Lip Stains are peppermint-infused and glide on smooth for a rich matte finish that will stay all day. Each of the matte shades boasts the high-pigment concentration we love from matte lipsticks, but unlike drying lipsticks, these stains are infused with a High-Performance Natural™ LipSurgence™ technology, which is clinically proven to increase moisture content by an astonishing 6000% after 28 days. Earth engineered from a proprietary blend of plant bio-nutrients, the LipSurgence™ technology quickly absorbs into the skin to deliver a surge of moisture on a cellular level, while boosting peptides stimulate skin's own regenerative system and assist in the formation of collagen. This proprietary blend effectively increases skin's water content for a 'plumped up' appearance. The result is naturally fuller, healthier lips without any irritation or stinging.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrance
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
LipSurgence™ Natural Matte Lip Stain contains Skinvigorating™ ingredients like LipSurgence™ technology, which is clinically proven to increase moisture content by an astonishing 6000% after 28 days, vitamins A & E, which are anti-inflammatory emollients that protect against free radical damage, carnauba wax to ensure a smooth application, coconut extract that has known microbial and moisturizing properties, and peppermint oil to cool and soothe inflamed or irritated skin while freshening breath.

Research Results:
LipSurgence™ Clinical Results:
6000% increase in lips' moisture content after 28 days

Thousands of Black Birds and Fish Dead in Arkansas... Bazaar!

Hot Color Ideas for Spring 2011

 
The season is about to change—why not do the same with your hair color? We’ve got tons of hair color ideas in the gallery, but first things first, a few ground rules:

1. Take an honest assessment of your hair. If you’re already experiencing damage or thinning, adding color will only put your strands into cardiac arrest.
2. Doing your color at home is a great way to save money but don’t go more than two shades lighter or two shades darker than your natural hair color if you’re an amateur. This is especially true if you use other chemicals like a relaxer or texturizer in your hair. It’s best to leave the extreme to the professionals. And even then make sure you research and get references for that professional.

3. Color can make already dry hair cry for moisture and lack of moisture can lead to breakage. Be sure to handle color-treated hair like a Fabergé egg. Pay attention to how your hair behaves when wet. Hair that is mushy and easily snaps off can be an indication of a protein deficiency while hair that feels tough or dry could need more deep conditioning treatments.
4. Consider weaves, wigs, or extensions for extreme hair color changes. You can get a more “true” bold hue without the damage from several color processes. You can also enjoy a myriad of hair color choices without committing to any hue.
5. Make sure your hair color is occupation and lifestyle appropriate. ‘Rihanna red’ is cool and all for the stage, but maybe not so much for places like the post office or a Fortune 500 company.
What color is your hair now? Have any cool hair color plans for spring? Spill it in the comments