Thursday, July 26, 2007

Why Women Fake Orgasm?

Everybody heard rumours about women faking orgasms. Is that true? The majority of women have faked at least one orgasm, yet some fake almost all of them. Why do they do that? There are many reasons and the case is that there's no one to blame.

The most common are two reasons: they don't want to make their partners feel bad or they are tired and just want to end sex. Most females say that their partners are not satisfied until the girls feels orgasm, there's only one way to make them feel happy and stop the exhausting procedure - fake.

Another reason is that a typical female doesn't seek for orgasm; she desires a sexual relationship only because she wants intimacy. Still, such an attitude may make her partner feel bad. The only way out is to fake it out.

Some women never really experience orgasm while making sex, but they want their partner to feel good about himself and her. Men usually expect women to have pleasure, that's why females have no other choice. They have to fake to have a good relationship.

Loss of interest, having sex only because the partner wants to, also makes women to fake. Most females talk to their friends about such things and while they know other women act it, they do so too, because it's an easier way to have a good relationship.

When a man tries very hard, sometimes even too hard to make his woman have an orgasm, the woman usually finds it better to fake it than to disappoint her partner once again. They fear rejection if a man wouldn't understand her, they don't want to offend men because the absence of an orgasm is actually not their fault.

Some women may have health problems. If, while experiencing she becomes too sensitive and wants to stop, she fakes an orgasm in order to stop and relax. Orgasm may also cause discomfort and pain; that's a serious problem and she can't be blamed for faking. In such cases, most women prefer and enjoy orgasm more during solitary masturbation. Although they feel better while having orgasm themselves, they want to make their partner feel good too, so they act an orgasm out.

A female orgasm can be most easily faked by a good actress. There are few options: gripping something tightly; moaning loudly; breathing deeply; burying face into something (pillow); doing kegels or anything else at least remotely dramatic or climatic.

What to do if you think your partner is faking? Talk about it. Maybe she knows some special position or action that would make her happy. Don't get angry if she admits faking. Try to solve the problem, but don't get too far, don't try too hard because it may become an exhausting activity rather than an act of love.

Women act and men can do nothing about it; and maybe they shouldn't? Try to find out the real reasons of faking and discus possible ways out. Don't blame your partner for it; it's natural for women to do so from time to time. Show her your passion, love and try to understand her. Don't be an egoist in such an important part of relationship.

Perfuming For Seduction

Mankind made a huge progress in several thousand years; however we are still dependant on five of our senses. You may not believe it, but the most important thing that decides whether we like person or not is smell. Don’t be hurry to deny it. We do take an image and communication in account, but subconsciously we are very sensitive to smells. More than that, there are certain scents that make us feel euphoric, worry us or even seduce us. If you’ve ever traveled next to a perfumed person you know that smell can be irritating. However, we don’t “register” all the smells with our conscious mind, but they influence us greatly.

Though natural body smell (not a stink of course!) is considered the most sexual, there are some scents used in perfume business that can make us passionate. Some perfumes appeal to our emotions and charm us. What scents should one choose to charm others?

Musk is a part of almost all perfumes; however, it’s not the main accent of them all. The exiting impact of musk has been known for centuries and even thousands of years. What’s so special about it? We react to musk smell as to great portion of pheromones. The scent attracts attention to a person who wears it. Musky smell is considered wild and close-to-nature and, of course, sexual. It can be worn both by men and women; however, most perfumes world wide are dedicated for females. Musk is also considered a “heavy” scent, but most perfumes contain more than one note, so you can find the one that suits you.

Woodsy and spicy tones make us interested and grab attention as well as musk scent. Wood blend is rather dedicated for men. Rich cedar and sandalwood scents are both refreshing and inspiring. Wood scents also are considered very natural and appealing to our senses. Timber and moss remind us of nature, they are cozy, but rather stimulating than calming.

Oriental perfumes are considered sexual as they are exotic. And exotic, unusual things attract people a lot. Oriental perfumes are made of an interesting mix of woods, amber, vanilla scents and others. They are recommended for eveningwear. They might be too “heavy” for daywear and young persons, as oriental smell is considered sophisticated and mature.

Floral scents are sexual in a different way. Jasmine, rose and other blends show a feminine person that is also tender, funny, romantic and sweet. Floral tones disclose a woman that is in need to be under someone’s guardianship, while a woman wearing heavy perfumes, even those dedicated for men, is considered strong and passionate. You can find each case sexual, as it actually depends on what kind of woman you are looking for and/or what kind of woman you feel you are.

Now perfumes that remind us of edible things attract us in two ways. “Edible” scents not only smell nice, they smell delicious. They also remind us of certain food and we can feel the taste deep in our imagination. I bet you know a girl that is sweet as vanilla or a boy that is spicy like cinnamon and cloves. “Edible” perfumes (also called Gourmand) are a great way to be in the center of attention.

Accessory Trends for 2007 Summer

Accessory is one of the most important parts in your style. You may wear excessively fashionable clothes but your style will never be complete without the trendiest accessory. These small details make your style unique and noticeable. As far as shops are full of bright colored clothes with big flowers or futuristic details, accessory for 2007 summer is also very bright, big and eye-catching.

Bags

The first thing that comes to mind while talking about accessories is bags. A real lady couldn't ever leave home without this little (or maybe large) useful detail. Only celebrities could catch up with all bag trends, yet you may purchase at least one and be sure it'll make you look fashionable with various combinations of clothes.

This summer you should definitely have an excessively bright and unusually shaped bag. Don't pay attention to the fact that after this season you'll have to put it deeply in your closet. The history of bags and other accessories is commonly repeated every several years, so you'll be pleasantly surprised and able to wear your original bag once again.

All famous fashion names, such as Versace, Gucci and others, recommend silver or golden colors. The form may remind of old grandmas suitcase or an alien head - the more interesting, the better. It can also be decorated with twinkling stones or fake gems.

Head

You have to be careful not to get sunstroke. Therefore you must have at least one hat made of straws. The most fashionable hat this year is a straw hat, black with wide edges and a rounded vertex girded with a band. If you're wearing a light beach dress with flowers, pick a white hat and you'll certainly be noticed.

Another trendy way to cover your head is a turban. No matter what you're wearing - an evening dress or sport clothes, a turban will definitely make you look good and fashionable. It looks very extraordinary, so be ready for attention.

If you don't like to cover your head with hats, not even talking about turbans, at least gird your head with a wide, fashionable band or rolled scarf.

Waist

All the fashion collections, without any exception emphasize women waist. It's time to stress the most beautiful part of a woman's figure. Various shaped leather belts cope with this task without any problems.

The trendiest ones are the widest ones. However, if you prefer small details - a thin belt with a huge gilded belt-buckle will do perfectly.

Futuristic belts with bright pink or orange verges are also very popular. These go excessively well with bright and flowered dresses.


Glasses

The sunglasses industry has been revolutionized. The most important feature of this season is size. Famous designers' collections are filled with large, rounded sunglasses that have wide plastic frames. This accessory is required to be double-colored; for example, red-black, while-black and yellow-white.

Bijouterie

Huge, interestingly shaped metal and plastic bracelets, large ear rings, ramshackle necklaces and even leather collars are fashionable as never before. They are large enough to be noticeable and even if you don't wear them for a long time you'll have something very impressive for some special occasions.

Don't forget that purchasing a fashionable thing doesn't mean that you'll be looking fashionable only because you wear it. Try to look for an accessory that would fit perfectly with your clothing, your daily makeup, your hairdo, and, of course, your character.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Knitwear & Patchworks: The Hottest Trend for 2007/2008

Fashion slaves have turned to the trends of early 20th century and choose handcrafted (or handcrafted-looking) clothing and accessories. Lovely vintage embroidery and silhouettes already took up stores and streets, but it's high time for hand knits and patched decorations to step into the spotlight.

After a couple of seasons of bling and futuristic costumes we want a different kind of glamour: hidden in extra quality materials, hand tailored and ornamented. The world seeks for reliable and well-tried garments. And what can be more cozy and tedious crafted than a granny knitted sweater? Choose it jacket type, heavy, long and coarse knitted. Gird the sweater with a knitted or leather belt and you'll have a stylish solution for chilly summer evenings. This type of garment can be worn by both men and women. Heavy knits are combined with plenty of different fabrics and textures.

Fashion is not strict these days, that's why a heavy sweater has an opposite - sexy fine knitted blouses and dresses. They are allure, made to fall around and accentuate the shape. And they are great for elegant look on a hot summer day. Designers love to dress their models in lace and knitting this season, and the next season won't be an exception. This wear can be either romantic or sedate or even crazy; it depends on which texture and shape you choose. The length varies from tunic-style to touching the knees. Even the relatively long blouse-dress can be worn on jeans or tight trousers. It's recommended to combine fine knitwear with huge accessories for the best image.

Though silhouettes are old and strict like uniforms, patches brighten them up. Patches are not a simple piece of fabric sewed on a garment; they are kitted or crocheted decorations that differ in texture. Actually, they can be anything that you find stylish: a picture printed or embroidered on a scrap, a funny slogan or famous brand name. It doesn't mean you have to sew the patches yourself; the garments are created in a certain way to look individual. This trend is based on a contrast: clothing made in classic lines is highlighted with playful patches as they add a sense of individuality to monotonous uniform-style garments.

Another trend that includes patchworks is jeans wear. This fashion is not new; it's reborn of 80's with its purposely ragged clothing and frayed fabric patches everywhere. You may have heard that fashion twists in spiral, and what is on top today, used to be hot some time ago.

However, things change as time goes by and a current trend can't be the same as it used to be. Present patches are more modern, adapted for today's look and sewed on unexpected places. Indeed, the very concept of patched and torn jeans serves as a challenging opposite to modern life and a futuristic point of view. It's going to stay with us for autumn and winter seasons of 07/08 as well.

Finally, fashion is bored with plastic and synthetic fabrics, so reputable designers start to discover the use of natural materials again. Don't keep your woolen sweater and frayed cotton jeans in a wardrobe, but wear them everyday.

Searching for Style

Boho, trendy, skater, Lolita, hippy, hardcore, goth, emo, vintage, girly, futuristic - these are just a small part of all the styles that exists. How to know which one is yours? What to do if you can't find the one you like and that fits you best? Maybe try to create your own and, what's the most important, unique style?

We see many different people around us. One looks plain and ordinary, although other seems to be going too far. Young people like extraordinary and extreme styles like punk, goth, hardcore.

Goths traditionally cover themselves in black no matter if it's winter or summer, they wear long leather coats, shoes with big platforms, whiten or even paint their faces, they often have piercing not just in the ears, but also in eyebrows, lips, nose and tongue, the most beloved images for them are graves, skulls, darkness and of course death.

There are a lot of groups like this. A lot of people express themselves very differently from others. Teenagers who prefer the same style establishes something similar to their own society. They visit parties and clubs where they already know the majority of visitors and where there are people with different attitude to some vital things for them like music, art, society and especially style, are not welcome. These groups usually contain some friends who refuse to meet somebody who doesn't look and think like they do.

Everything seems nice and simple while we're talking about a "society" like this. What happens when more groups exists? Fear of the ones that don't tolerate you, argues in the streets and even fights. One extreme group usually refuses to tolerate another extreme group, in spite of toleration problems in society, which both groups already have. Although skinheads are one of extremes they can't stand punks, goths and other subcultures, and being the aggressive ones they actually "take some actions" to show their intolerance.

People who express their selves through style have to face the reality that an ordinary wish of being different may become a problem. While some think that skull or grave is beautiful, others may think it's sick. Expressing yourself is always a very respectable thing. A person has to be very brave to show who he/she is through style, choosing extreme style means choosing your friends, your "society". That's the main reason why teenagers like these extreme styles although there's always a danger of being misunderstood. They may already have friends which belong to a society. And they feel safe while they know they are a part of a group. Nevertheless being different does not mean being extreme. You may want to create something only for yourself.

First of all, try to imagine what kind of style would fulfill your character, watch some fashion shows on TV or look through magazines. When you decide what you want, go through your closet and see what clothes you still want to wear and which ones you no longer need. Throw away everything you don't like. Of course after this mission you'll need something new. While making your journey to the mall try not to look at what people around you are buying, don't forget: you want your own style, not theirs. Creating is a hard process, especially if you're creating something totally different. Don't even look at things you would have bought earlier. Try to find something new, something you haven't ever thought you could wear. You don't have to buy things you don't like, but at least try something on. If you see a jacket you are dying to wear, but yesterday you saw five girls/boys wearing the same, don't even think about purchasing it! Your own style means original style, created using fashionable clothes yet not the ones you can find in every single shop.

When you have finished with the clothes, do the same with your jewelry. You don't have to throw anything away, but find something new that would fit with your new clothes. Pay attention to forms, colors and size. Try many different details of many different styles, mix them and finally you will find something you like, and something that will be unique.

When you decide to create your own style, try to consider if it will have some influence on your social position. What consequences may it have? Will your friends or your boss be happy about your changes? Being different is good, but is it worth it to take it to the extremes?

Why Women Fake Orgasm?

Everybody heard rumours about women faking orgasms. Is that true? The majority of women have faked at least one orgasm, yet some fake almost all of them. Why do they do that? There are many reasons and the case is that there's no one to blame.

The most common are two reasons: they don't want to make their partners feel bad or they are tired and just want to end sex. Most females say that their partners are not satisfied until the girls feels orgasm, there's only one way to make them feel happy and stop the exhausting procedure - fake.

Another reason is that a typical female doesn't seek for orgasm; she desires a sexual relationship only because she wants intimacy. Still, such an attitude may make her partner feel bad. The only way out is to fake it out.

Some women never really experience orgasm while making sex, but they want their partner to feel good about himself and her. Men usually expect women to have pleasure, that's why females have no other choice. They have to fake to have a good relationship.

Loss of interest, having sex only because the partner wants to, also makes women to fake. Most females talk to their friends about such things and while they know other women act it, they do so too, because it's an easier way to have a good relationship.

When a man tries very hard, sometimes even too hard to make his woman have an orgasm, the woman usually finds it better to fake it than to disappoint her partner once again. They fear rejection if a man wouldn't understand her, they don't want to offend men because the absence of an orgasm is actually not their fault.

Some women may have health problems. If, while experiencing she becomes too sensitive and wants to stop, she fakes an orgasm in order to stop and relax. Orgasm may also cause discomfort and pain; that's a serious problem and she can't be blamed for faking. In such cases, most women prefer and enjoy orgasm more during solitary masturbation. Although they feel better while having orgasm themselves, they want to make their partner feel good too, so they act an orgasm out.

A female orgasm can be most easily faked by a good actress. There are few options: gripping something tightly; moaning loudly; breathing deeply; burying face into something (pillow); doing kegels or anything else at least remotely dramatic or climatic.

What to do if you think your partner is faking? Talk about it. Maybe she knows some special position or action that would make her happy. Don't get angry if she admits faking. Try to solve the problem, but don't get too far, don't try too hard because it may become an exhausting activity rather than an act of love.

Women act and men can do nothing about it; and maybe they shouldn't? Try to find out the real reasons of faking and discus possible ways out. Don't blame your partner for it; it's natural for women to do so from time to time. Show her your passion, love and try to understand her. Don't be an egoist in such an important part of relationship.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Beauty In 10 Minutes

Just as we spend money, we spend time. We are all in a rush as if we could save it only because we are fast. Mirror is not an exception. We try to do everything very fast and start running our marathon. Why not make the most of this few minutes?

Try to think of everything is advance. While you're making a decision about your hairdo, make sure it's a rather simple one, so you wouldn't have many problems while forming it. Moreover, the most fashionable hairdos for 2007 are very effortless, all you have to do is wash your hair in the evening, apply all the necessary products, go to sleep, wake up and go. You won't have any troubles with your hair and save a lot of time. Those hairdos are both very practical and fashionable.

You may also use your evenings; no matter how tired you are you'll definitely enjoy laying in a hot bath. After this little relaxing procedure, use creams and gels to your body so you wouldn't have to go to any spas and, once again, waste your time and money. If you'll do it regularly, your skin will be beautiful and it'll be easier to cope with it. You'll have more energy for a whole day and feel fresh.

Makeup will also help you save some time. Colors for this season are very natural and pastel, so you won't have to be very accurate while doing your make up. As far as colors are so unnoticeable, you may not wear any make-up at all. When it comes to lipstick, choose a pastel color. You may use it on your way to work. If the stripes won't be very accurate, don't worry nobody will notice it, for it's a natural color.

Nothing and nobody will be able to help you become pretty if you eat unhealthy food, don't get enough sleep or have too much stress. If some of these problems exist, try to solve them somehow. You may find something tasty, easily prepared and healthy at the same time. If you can't get a good night sleep go see your doctor; it may be a serious problem, however if it's not, the doctor will at least advise you on how to improve your sleep quality. Try to avoid every situation that may cause you stress, if you can't - try to talk to somebody, think positively and relax just as you leave a stressful location.

If you don't have enough time to match every single detail in your style, change your clothing to something simple, youthful or maybe even shaggy. Such clothes are very comfortable, they don't need to be ironed every single day and they will make you look younger! Such style together with a simple and fashionable hairdo and make-up will make you look trendy.

You can decide how much time to spend looking at mirror. If you keep your body fresh every day, take a good care of it, choose your make-up and hairdo properly, you'll need only 10 minutes to be ready. Moreover, if you're happy, don't let stress and bad mood control you, you will be beautiful as you are and won't need any special make-ups, hairdos or clothing to look pretty.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Keep Your Skin Firm

There is a certain part of our body that can disclose all our habits, tiredness and even food we choose or how often we exercise. Whatever we do it affects our skin sooner or later. If we do not live right skin loses its firm. It might be unnoticeable in early youth, but we can’t ignore it later. What can we do to prevent skin from losing its shine and elasticity? Basically, you need to live healthy life and take care of yourself. Here are some simple firm skin secrets to follow.

  • Use sun screener. You probably know that 15 daily minutes in a sun, gives your skin the best portion of the D vitamin. What about a longer period? Sun can dry skin cells and do pretty much damage by fastening aging processes and causing serious diseases. Sun

  • screener can prevent this from happening. Even if you want to become tanned, without protective means you will rather give your skin damaged but not shinny look.

  • Moisturize your skin every day. Sun, wind, cold, improper soaps, air conditioning or central heating – these are only several things that make a skin to lose its moisture. Apply special cream or oil right after bathing. Pay additional attention to your hands and face; they front most of environmental damage around the year. The less dye and perfume a lotion contains the better it’s for your skin.

  • Exercise regularly. It makes your shape look better and gives you energy. Furthermore it keeps your skin elastic. Regular exercising helps your skin to take up more necessary oxygen. When aging this skin ability can be strongly reduced.

  • Try contrasting shower. Pour yourself with hot and cold water by turns before you get out of bath/shower. This will make your skin to

  • relax and contract again and again and will keep it more elastic. Contrasting shower is also recommended as prevention mean against cellulite.

  • Avoid changing your weight too fast. When you lose weight too fast, your skin may not keep in pace with your body. And crumpled wrinkles may be left as a result. Needless to say ultra dieting is not healthy for whole organism. This also works the other way around: if you gain a lot of weight in a short time without moisturizing your skin, small tears may follow.

  • Eat healthy food. Every food is good for you in certain portions. If you prefer fast food to vegetables and home prepared meal, you probably get too much refined carbohydrate and fats, but not enough proteins, vitamins and minerals that your body needs for real.

  • Drink a lot of water. Humidity is vital for skin cells to regenerate. If you don’t drink recommended daily water intake, your body dehydrates and your skin fails to regenerate. Saying that water is a base of our life is not made-up. You should drink 8 glasses of water a day and additional 1 or 2 glasses if you are on diet or exercise intensively. Tea, natural juices and juicy fruit or vegetables can replace water; but coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol make body to dehydrate even more.

  • Quit smoking and avoid alcohol. Both these things makes your body (of course including skin) to lose water. Furthermore, many unwanted materials get into your body and causes from small to serious skin diseases. Do I need to remind you that skin of heavy smoker is usually pale grey in color?

  • Avoid stress and let yourself to rest. Skin is the most conscientious mirror of your inner feel. If you don’t sleep well regularly, a skin becomes flabby. If you worry a lot, certain wrinkles will form on your face too early.

These advices do not sound like a magical solution, but all the great things are simple. You don’t need to go on strict dieting or buy expensive lotions to keep your skin firm and beautiful. If you love you body and take care of it, it will shine and look great.

Healthy Nails Now

The best way to make sure your nails are healthy is to moisturize them daily, and care for your cuticles. The cuticle is the nail's protection between the exposed dead part of the nail and the matrix, where new cells are generated. Removing the cuticle destroys the nail matrix, which is essential to healthy nail growth. On the other hand, you do want to keep cuticles from becoming overgrown, which suffocates nail growth. The solution: Liberally apply a cuticle remover (not cuticle oil or cuticle cream), which will make the cuticle more pliable. Then, take an orangewood stick and anywhere the cuticle skin touches the nail plate, push it back using tiny circular movements. Hold the stick at an angle so that you do this gradually and gently, without going inside the cuticle. Use a moisturizer daily to prevent dryness.

Eat Right
Though you can't feed the nail directly, a good diet is essential to overall nail health. Biotin-rich foods like eggs, soy, whole grains and liver are said to be extremely helpful to nails, along with foods rich in sulfur minerals like apples, cucumbers, grapes, garlic, asparagus and onions. Also, be sure your diet includes essential fatty acids, or EFAs. Like vitamins and minerals, foods rich in EFA's, such as salmon, nuts, seeds and tuna, help keep nails shiny and pliable.

Do Not Use Your Fingernails as Tools
Using your fingernails as tools to perform tasks -- pushing back your cuticles or scratching a label off a CD is a no-no! Use proper tools for picking and scraping and not your nails.

Born to be shoemakers! Part 2: Manolo Blahnik

We continue to speak about shoes. Shoes are a must in our wardrobe. Shoes play the main role in our everyday life: you have a party but you can't go without pair of stylish shoes; rainy weather outside, but you can't walk with your dog without a pair of waterproof boots; if you have a business lunch, you need representative shoes... Shoes are a must for our look! We are going to speak about people who care about our style, comfort and social status.

Manolo Blahnik was born in Santa Cruz de la Palma (Canary Islands) on the 28th of November 1942. His father was Czech and mother was Hispanic by origin. The children (Manolo and his sister Evangeline) grew up in Austro-Hungarian discipline. Manolo still remembers such home rules as keep whites white, have clean nails and wear a shirt and a jacket with a cotton dust coat over the top.

Manolo Blahnik and his younger sister lived with their parents on a banana plantation, where they were home-schooled by their rigid Catholic mother. Maybe because they were close to banana plantation, Manolo had his own little monkey and guess what? He made little shoes for her. At that time there were no planes, so traveling was difficult. But after the war it went better and family settled in the mainland. Manolo, who was 12 then, went to school in Geneva, Switzerland.

After he finished school, he entered University, the faculty of languages and literature but very soon understood that it was not his path. To earn money, he sold antiques in Paris, attended lectures in Paris and London Schools of Art. Finally, he settled in London for the remainder of his life.

There, he opened his first shop in the center of Chelsea in 1973, and success doesn't leave him since. He was invited to work for Dior, replaced Roger Vivier, the leading shoes designer for this brand. Madonna, Naomi Campbell (his favorite supermodel), Sarah Jessica Parker, Ivana Trump, Kate Moss, Jennifer Aniston, and Nicole Kidman are among his patrons. One pair of Manolo Blahnik's shoes costs 300 to 1100$.Once, after presentation of his new collection, a mysterious lady bought 50 pairs of his shoes at once.

Today, 4 Italian factories are dealing with Manolo Blahnik shoes. First - makes classic lightweight shoes with little heels, second - makes shoes for haute couture, third - makes casual shoes, forth - makes sporty shoes. Each of those does about 80 pairs per day.

When he speaks about his job he usually uses three words - pleasure, felicity, enjoyment. When someone speaks about his shoes, they use the same words adding only perfection to this list. Manolo always mentioned that he made shoes for all ages and all times. He puts shoes fantasies on paper and sometimes it is hard to give life to this because of his unbelievable creativity. Among a big variety of designs, women also love comfort and safety of his shoes. Sarah Jessica Parker wore 10 cm high heels from Manolo Blahnik even during her pregnancy. As a shoe-maker with self-respect, Manolo sawed up wooden last without assistance and designed a shape of heels.

His talent collected a good set of awards. Among them are Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA 1987), Spain's Balenciaga fashion prize (1988), the Nieman Marcus Award (2000), La Aguja de Oro (The Golden Needle, Spain 2001), and La Medalla de Oro en Merito en las Bellas Artes, presented by the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I (2002).

Some facts from Manolo's life:

  1. In 1974 he was on the cover of "Vogue".
  2. Madonna on his shoes: "as good as sex, but the shoes last longer".
  3. He sells 60,000 - 70,000 pairs annually.
  4. He said he would never do any products by his name except shoes.
  5. Manolo Blahnik is 65 years old.
  6. Manolo always has manicure and pedicure.
  7. Usual height of heels on his shoes is 10 cm.
  8. The strangest place he has seen his shoes at was in Beijing, at the Ming emperors' tombs, when one woman wore a very light beige pair of his shoes.
  9. Blahnik began by designing shoes for men.
  10. Blahnik currently resides in a Georgian home in Bath, England, along with some 10,000 pairs of shoes.

You are going to buy your Manolo's shoes, aren't you?

Friday, May 18, 2007

Hidden secrets of tantric sex

Is the Tantra a sex-obsessed corruption of Buddhism? Padmavajra thinks not.
The last great phase in the historical development of Indian Buddhism was known as the Vajrayana (literally, 'The Thunderbolt Way) Its major contribution to Buddhism was a number of new and radical practices leading to Enlightenment.

The Vajrayana's aim was to bring the practitioner to Enlightenment as quickly as possible, and one of its central concerns was the liberalization and canalization of more and more of the practitioner's energy. Part of its way of effecting this was through sexual 4metaphor, sexual symbolism, and even through what have been called 'sexo-yogic' practices.

Because of its apparent use of sex as an aspect of spiritual practice, the Vajrayana has provoked two extreme responses in the West. In the early days of Buddhist studies, the Vajrayana was generally condemned as a corruption of the sublime ideals of Buddhism. More recent interest has tended to the other extreme. Some are attracted to the Vajrayana precisely because of its apparent sanctification of desire in general, and sexual desire in particular. In a recent exposition of the Vajrayana by a Tibetan teacher, we find the following, '...if desire for a woman arises, it must be relied upon...'. Such a presentation of the Vajrayana would seem to suggest that being a Buddhist does not involve changing ourselves. We can, apparently, keep hold of our desires as they will lead us to Enlightenment.

The truth behind the use of sexual themes in the Vajrayana is, as might be expected, far from either of the extremes mentioned. Though we are dealing with a vast and complex subject, it is possible to discern three distinct (though related) aspects of the place of sex in the Vajrayana. Firstly, there is the shock value of sexual language. For example, in the canonical texts of the Vajrayana - the Tantras - which flourished in India roughly between the 4th and 10th centuries CE, we can find sexual intercourse with the chaodali (outcaste girl) and prostitutes being recommended. At that time, contact - what to speak of sexual congress - with an outcaste, according to Hindu society (back to which Buddhism had to some extent been drawn), would have been deemed spiritually polluting. But, in making such recommendations, the Vajrayana was simply trying to shock people out of their mundane social conditioning. It was seeking to liberate the energy locked up in the convention and taboo of Hindu society.

Whether or not these recommendations were enacted is an open question. Stephan Beyer enthusiastically describes the followers of the Vajrayana thus: 'They sang of wisdom as the great Whore, for she opens herself to every man who seeks her, ...made love to the spontaneous maiden within them, and preached a world upside down, ... and were altogether quite outrageous and shocking to all good and sober citizens. It would be interesting to ponder how the Vajrayana would speak to our own age, where sexual license has become a kind of norm. If they wanted to shock people out of their conditioning today, the old followers of the Vajrayana might have to appear as rock bands singing about the ecstasies of celibacy!

In that passage quoted from Stephan Beyer, we read that the followers of the Vajrayana 'made love to the spontaneous maiden within them'. This brings us to the second aspect of sex in the Vajrayana, the so-called 'sexo-yogic' practices.

We have seen that the Tantras recommended sexual intercourse with the chaodali. Now, as well as aiming to decondition, this sort of recommendation would sometimes also have been referring to certain forms of yogic practice. Here, the word c~anda1i is not referring to a woman at all. In this context, chaodali can be translated as 'the fiery one' and, simply stated, refers to the vital energy that must be contacted and incorporated into our practice. It parallels the better known kundalini.

The practices associated with the arousal of the chaodali occur in the anuttara-yoga Tantra, the highest level of Vajrayana practice, and - traditionally - should be undertaken only after years of successful training in Hinayana, Mahayana, and lower Vajrayana disciplines. Indeed, in India and old Tibet, these practices would not have been known about, even in theory, by those not initiated into them. (This might be one of the reasons why these practices were 'hidden away in sexual language - to keep them out of the reach of those not ready to undertake them.) Sangharakshita has recalled that in his own contact with Tibetan monks, lamas, and lay people, there was no special interest shown in these teachings, and definitely no unhealthy emphasis.

There also seems to be some doubt as to whether the 'sexo-yogic' practices were intended to describe anything physical at all. Herbert Guenther, a writer normally very sure of himself, says in commenting on one of these practices: 'We move in a world which probably is neither physical nor mental, but may partake of both (or be something completely different). In some of the practices found in the Tantras and their related works we encounter elaborate visualization techniques where the practitioner is instructed to see himself as a Buddha in sexual union with a female consort, usually described as a dakini. Here the aspect of sexo-yogic practice merges with the third aspect, that of sexual symbolism.

Within the Mahayana, Enlightenment was principally seen as the insoluble union of wisdom and compassion. Mahayana artists were fond of depicting this union in paintings and images, in the form of the androgynous figure of the Bodhisattva - a beautiful sixteen-year-old: gentle, yet strong in appearance.

The Vajrayana sought to depict this union even more vividly, and so depicted the Buddha or Bodhisattva in sexual union with the dakini. We often come across such figures in Vajrayana art. The Buddha or Bodhisattva looks serene, contemplative, blissful; while the dakini - appearing like a goddess - embraces him tightly, and looks rapturously into his face. Here the male figure symbolizes Compassion, the female figure Wisdom. Sangharakshita has commented on such depictions thus: 'One must observe that though there are two figures there are not two persons: there is only one Enlightened person, one Enlightened mind, within which are united reason and emotion, wisdom and compassion.

These representations embody under the form of sexual symbolism (here of course one has nothing to do with sexuality in the ordinary sense) the ideal of Wisdom and Compassion united. 4 Traditionally, these images are considered highly sacred, inspiring profound reverence and devotion, not in any way stimulating a sexual response. However, they have suffered abuse.

Some people go so far as to recommend that. during sexual intercourse, the man should visualize himself as the Buddha: the woman should visualize herself as the dakini. Both should experience their lovemaking as an enactment of the uniting of Wisdom with Compassion. Such recommendations provide the deluded with a first class means of rationalizing away their mundane desires.

For most of us, such a practice would be a purely mental activity making no significant difference to the basic urges involved. It would be no more than a fancy way of having sex. For those experienced enough to see and feel themselves to be a Buddha at such times, it is highly unlikely that they would want to involve themselves with sex at all! Being so content, complete, and rich within themselves, they would hardly need to reach beyond themselves for their pleasures.

To conclude, within the Vajrayana, sex - as most of us understand and experience it - is not part of the path to Enlightenment at all. Sexual language within the Vajrayana is strictly metaphorical, strictly symbolic: not to be taken literally. Indeed, if taken literally, some Vajrayana writings will not lead us to Enlightenment, but will sink us more deeply in the mire of greed, hatred, and delusion.
www.fwbo.org

Saturday, May 5, 2007

A-line Clothes Are Back In Fashion!

Many things in our life are happening in cycles. Autumn is changing summer, spring - winter, and this cycle is repeating every year. You can notice the same in fashion world - fashions trends that have been on the top in fashion industry some time ago, suddenly are coming back on the catwalks. This season we can notice how A-line forms appear in various clothes as it was very popular in 60's. It's a return of A-line forms in the fashion world right now.

A-line fashion is a fashion line which was created first time by favorite French designer Christian Dior. The main characteristics of it is a letter A - narrow shoulders and emphasized waist goes to widely flowing skirt. Though it's long time ago that A-line forms appeared, they still remain in many designers collections on catwalks.

Christian Dior in 1947 presented his first collection in the fashion world which revolutionized the fashion industry. It was something absolutely new and the collection that was named Ligne Corolle has started a new fashion trend. It got the „New Look" name from American fashion journal „Harpers Bazaar" main editor Carmel Snow, who pointed that designer's clothes have a completely new appearance. Elegant dresses, costumes with emphasized waist, easy falling skirts made a contrast with shy colors and strict forms, straight knee long skirts and long jackets with wide shoulders, which were common to meet on the streets those days. Dior gave back feminine beauty to women.

A-line clothes came back to women wardrobes again after a long time. Typical A-line is once again the queen of the catwalks, but this time we can see it not only on the classical skirts or dresses. This time it is appearing in light tops, blouses, tunics, which create a feminine look.

A-line form clothes - narrow ups and wide downs - is an ideal form for plump women who want to hide problematic parts of body - wider hips, bigger tummy or round butt. Very slim or petite women should be careful because otherwise a negative effect will be reached - they will disappear in the tones of material, as in the tent. It doesn't let you show the advantages of your body, besides this doesn't look fashionable at all. But if you really want to wear something from A-line clothes you should choose certain accessories. The best idea would be an easy widening skirt or medium long tunics. Everything else would be too much and too wide.

A-line clothes have a bit different and unusual appearance this spring. Previous A form dictated very wide, extensive and usually long clothes without accentuating the body lines. This season is known for its new vision of A-form - short, slowly widen down, body emphasizing rain-coats and jackets from jeans and other materials. A-line form is not narrowed only with suitable for spring and summer raincoats, but it also has a mark in short and sporty jackets. The whole A-form silhouette this season is going up, making the clothes article look lighter and simpler.

Dresses are ones of the most saying in fashion trend, as always; and this time, the designers are presenting geometric forms with fanciful textures, unusual patterns and bizarre style. The collections of dresses are fulfilled with the A-line form silhouette of a young lady.

What colors should you choose to look classy? Throw your bright color clothes to the far corner of your wardrobe - this is not the way to look this year! Spring and summer collections are offering you to clothe pastille colors from caramel till cream-colored, gold, grey or light brown clothes. If you want something more eye-catching, wear expressive accessories which may vary between royal blue, green, purple or even hot red shades.

form Jurgita.com

Fashion Jewelry: The Triumph of the Sacred Feminine

Minimalism and unisex are in the past. Long-forgotten femininity revived. Wide palette, free lines, big gemstones are back. But it’s not just a classic – it’s a new vision.

Designers think nothing but movement concept. Lively lines of brooches and pendants involve us into the secret garden of fairy-tale flowers with dainty leaflets and colorful butterflies. Pink, yellow and blue gems (rose-cut multicolor sapphires), spots of green (emeralds) and, of course, diamonds are extremely popular, especially combined all in one set. The texture of these airy-fairy wonders is light and graceful, similar to lace.

Summer fashion jewelry hit is a short necklace with bulky white beads. Rather off-white than snow-white. If you prefer Annie Lennox’s style put on a long flat gold chain with a pendant appropriate to your personality and mood. As for rings, faceted gemstones have replaced round polished ones. They also should be as huge as you can afford. It’s up to you whether to prefer this enormous ring with one big center gemstone or whether to prefer it splashed with pavé diamonds. Long pendant earrings are still popular. And yellow gold , yellow gold and one more time yellow gold! Nevertheless we shouldn’t forget about organic materials and semiprecious stones, which are in trend too. For example, long wooden beads are especially applicable to linen clothes in the hot part of summer day. So you may choose between ethnic and antique or vintage styles. Which jewelry style will find an echo in your heart?

This brief jewelry style guide will possibly help you. Here are the main jewelry styles:

♦ Classic jewelry style;

♠ Avant-garde jewelry style;

♥ Antique or vintage jewelry style;

♣ And ethnic one.

The characteristics of classic style jewelry are elegance and delicacy with strict, neat line and proportion. Classic platinum brilliant-cut diamond ring will endure vagaries of fashion and stay popular, at least as the capital investment. Classic style is often understood in the meaning of antique style, but the classic one definitely does not have a "retro" connotation.

Avant-garde jewelry style on the contrary is extremely changeable. This peculiar style may be even shocking. The jewelry is often made of unexpected materials. The form is abstract, but sometimes it's thematic. The shapes are geometric and linear. It’s quite popular with the young. Those who like being eccentric and bright adore such jewelry.

Sometimes, antique or vintage style jewelry is mistakenly associated only with heavy gold chains, huge diamonds and silver jewelry. Other materials are also possible. But retro look or aged surface of the jewelry is not the point. When you look at it, you think that it came to you through the years or even centuries and it seems like every such thing is having its own unique story. And that’s the point! Vintage style jewelry usually belongs to artistic, romantic and delicate spirits.

Ethnic style jewelry is not necessarily rustic, more often it’s smooth and pleasant to touch. It’s made of natural material, which is characteristic of this or that region. Ethnic style jewelry reflects folklore and decorative art, myths and traditions of ancient civilizations. This style came about as the production of folk-crafts.

Though the styles differ greatly all of them have contemporary fashion versions. You may use each of them, if you like, depending on the season, event or part of the day. But you are also free to create your own individual style.

form Jurgita.com

Haute Couture

Even if you are not interested in fashion and newest trends, you probably have heard the mystic words combination: Haute Couture or High Fashion. Houte Couture differs from ready-to-wear fashion and street wear and usually has nothing to do with latest trends. Only eighteen fashion houses have a privilege to entitle themselves with this magical phrase. A single high fashion costume costs up from $40000. What is so marvelous about it?

The keys that make high fashion outstanding are luxury, thoroughness and private attitude. The luxury is ensured by original design and high quality fabrics. Every garment is sewed by hands; decorations such as beads and embroidery are also applied by hands only. Imagine an evening gown decorated with thousands of tiny beads, this adornment can take weeks of seamstresses work! But it's not only accurate work or exclusive materials that makes high fashion garment high priced, it's also the brand name that's makes clothing special.

If money isn't a problem to you, you can order any costume from a certain fashion house haute couture collection. Body size or figure is not a problem here, as fashion house will personalize a clothing for you. The costume delivered to a customer is precisely fitted to his or her proportions and wishes. But don't take a fashion house as simple tailor atelier! Once a person choose a clothe model, color and fabrics, huge team of tailors, embroiderers, furriers, vendeuses and other starts its work to satisfy the client. Making a high fashion clothe is not the same thing as making a copy of clothe in a collection. As not everyone has model like shapes or height, so a garment is adapted to client. This means they not only change clothe size, but make a clothe highlight advantages of the clients figure and hide disadvantages. Fashion houses are interested in good look of their collections.

Originality makes haute couture even more outstanding. There might be two people that ordered the same clothe, but they can still feel original. High fashion garments never reach stores, so you won't see thousands of people wearing the same dress in streets. Some of high fashion collections are copyrighted, to protect certain style from being copied by less famous companies. All these features make high fashion very expensive and only a small part of people can afford it. There are approximately 3000 people that order clothing from haute couture a year. And only 1000 of them buy garments this way regularly.

A number of haute couture houses varies as they need to meet very strict requirements to be in the list. These requirements are even defined by law in France. Following fashion houses have the right to call their collections high fashion: Armani Prive, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Elie Saab, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier and Valentino. To be accepted to exclusive caste of haute couture fashion house has to present a collection of minimum 35 costumes of evening wear and daytime wear. These collections have to be presented every season certainly in Paris. Other requirements are to design haute couture clothes for private persons and hold atelier in Paris working full-time with at least 15 people employed.

It might look that haute couture title doesn't pay off for a fashion house as they need to work hard to keep the title and a clientele is surprisingly small. But many people get interested in designers ready-to-wear or accessories because of good image of haute couture. When a person buys a dress from ready-to-wear collection by famous fashion house she finds her style closer to those who can afford to wear high fashion. The good name of haute couture is sometimes used by others designer to get attention. Designers entitle their collections the high fashion when they want to accentuate that this wear is luxurious and exclusive.

from jurgita.com

Sunday, April 15, 2007

How to Match Colors of Clothes

Probably every one of us already faced a problem when trying to match different color clothes. We always consider does this red skirt match my navy blouse or blue jeans match orange top? For those who have this kind of problem we give some tips how to match main colors with all other.

White. White color is considered a summer season color. Moreover, white is one of those few clothes colors that match with any other color! So it is very easy to wear white clothes - with blue denim jeans, red skirt or colorful trousers. Wearing white top will lighten up your mood in autumn or winter. Full light white wear will give you a breezy look and feeling during a hot summer day.

Black. Black is always in fashion. This color is always stylish - doesn't matter if it is spring or autumn, winter or summer. Black readily matches tops of any colors. Moreover, if you wear all-black, you look slimmer. Girls like to use this trick if they want to look sexy and slim. Black is also a color symbolizing elegance and refinement. You will never miss if you wear black in any party or occasion. Black gown is always in fashion to go to any party. Add some accessories of opposite color or something sparkling and you will have an easy solution for evening wear.

Red. Red - a physically inspiring color of passion and love. Red is extensively used in all fashion seasons. When matching reds with other colors its good to use darker shades: maroon, brick red or hot pink. Red also has violet and orange as familiar colors, so matching them with red works well. Green color is a compliment to red - just make sure these colors are kept muted. Otherwise you may create a really ugly clash. Blue and yellow should also be used very cautiously when matching with reds.

Blue. Blue is a color of summer skies and the sea. Blues is identified with calmness, idealism and inspiration. That's the reason why blue always matches well with white-colored clothes - almost every girl tried wearing blue jeans and white top - easy casual appearance which looks good for comfortable look. Blue also matches with darker or more muted shades as opposed to bright shades. Analogous colors for blue are green and violet, so it looks good when lighter shades of green and violet are matched with darker blue. Also blue can be matched with orange, a complimentary color for blue. It intensifies the effect of the color. Be especially cautious when trying to match blue with shades of red and yellow.

Yellow. Yellow is a color commonly used in fashion. This color creates an atmosphere of attraction and excitement. This color is always difficult to match because of the tendency of yellows to be bright. Although it always looks good with black clothes. It gives a nice effect. The analogous colors to yellow are green and orange, and should also be soft-shaded for best effect. You should avoid going for dark shades of green and orange color to prevent making the yellow appear even brighter than it is. Be careful when you match yellow with red and blue clothes.

Green. Green is a color which symbolizes vitality and life energy. When you match green with other clothes the key is to select the proper shades of green. Also blue and yellow look good paired with green, especially when you choose proper lightness and darkness of these colors. This kind of match is very popular for spring wear. Opposite color of green is red - they also match very well together. Be careful when you match green with violets and oranges, because an unpleasant clash might occur if you attempt to match overly bright or intense shades of these two colors.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Top 10 Mascara

  1. Lancome produces appreciated prestige mascaras. Lancome Defincils High Definition has all features you can expect from mascara; it extends lashes for more opened eyes image, thickening formula creates dramatic look, the brush separates lashes and even curls them up, so you can have perfect eye make-up. It also stays on well when you sweat or rub your eyes.
  2. Lancome Hypnose Mascara Waterproof adds extra volume to your lashes. Special designed brush is comfortable to use. Waterproof formula allows you to sweat, cry and even swim in a pool and your make-up stays where it should be.
  3. Lancome Fatale Exceptional Volume Sculpting 3D Comb Mascara. Forget a brush; this mascara has special combs for mascara application and additional combs for more help. Mascara formula contains silicone which amplifies lashes and holds them in bended shape.
  4. We all want to have full and long lashes, and if we don't have, we expect a mascara to improve them. Lancome Cils Booster XL Mascara Enhancing Base is dedicated for pre-coat lashes before you put regular mascara on them. It adds length and thickness and also protects your lashes from damage.
  5. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara is made for those who want to look adorable and natural at the same time. It doubles lashes volume and makes them look darker; you can even use it if you're hyper allergic or wear contact lens. "Great Lash" is the most popular of average priced mascaras.
  6. Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara works well for alluring and dramatic look. It makes lashes 200% thicker so you can enjoy rich and smooth eye makeup. This mascara is one of favorites by makeup artists
  7. Maybelline XXL Micro-fibre line's mascaras have two brushes used for different purposes. White coat adds micro fibers to the tips of lashes. Black coat (available in other colors too) thickens lashes and separates them. It lasts long and doesn't make clumps nor smudges.
  8. L'Oreal Panoramic Curl Mascara allows you to create that doll's eyes look. Special designed brush and consistence of mascara bends lashes easily and create opened eye image. It's great choice for those with straight and intractable lashes.
  9. Max Factor Lash Perfection mascara provides comfortable brush with flexible bristles for easily application from roots to tips. It lengthens and thickens lashes while special brush separates them for a perfect look. It also stays on well
  10. L'Oreal volume shocking is another mascara based on two coats application. The first coat amplifies lashes and adds volume too. The second (colored) coat is applied with tiny combs. These combs are the secret solution on how to smooth mascara over the lashes, separate them and to avoid clumps.

Monday, April 2, 2007

Born to be shoemakers! Part 1: Jimmy Choo

A story of Jimmy Choo began more than 11 years ago. And with the help of two women: one was assiduous and other - very social. Three brilliantly skilled persons began this business with few opportunities, but with high hopes and ambitions. Who are they? And what did they have to achieve until the Royal British family started wearing their shoes?

One of three was Jimmy Choo. His skill was the basis of the Jimmy Choo “empire”. Jimmy Choo is a native of Malaysia. He was born in 1961 in the second smallest state of the Penang county. Should I say, in a family of local shoe-makers? As all children, he was interested in his parents’ business and tried to create his first shoes at the age of 11. Unfortunately, there is not much information about his family background, his childhood… and even now, he is just a man who does his job very well at his “secluded corner”. It is worth to mention that his real name is Jimmy Chow. In the beginning of 80's, he settled in London and began to study fashion design oriented on shoemaking. Cordwainers's Technical College in London and the London College of Fashion were places where Jimmy spent all his time those days. Inspired, talented… he had no money, no customs, no fame...

Second person played a dominant role in this story and gave a hand of help to the unknown Jimmy Chow. Tamara Melton became “a face, soul and muse of Jimmy Choo”.

Tamara is a Beverly Hills girl. She came from a successful and rich family, never needed money but went to work by father’s insistence (her father controlled Vidal Sassoon company). As a real beauty, she was addicted to shoes. This passion later helped her to get a job in London’s Vogue. Her job was to search for unique and stylish shoes for fashion articles in magazine. And she finally found what she was looking for… it was Jimmy Choo.

It was like a myth. She was looking for gold Greek sandals, and she found a man with gold hands who made everything from gold in her life instead. In the “secluded corner”, Jimmy and his helper, his niece Sandra Choi (the third person in our story) made their exclusive hand-made shoes of the best quality.

These days, Sandra Choi is a part of Jimmy Choo team (she is creative director), and she has unbelievable capacity for work. Jimmy has his skill to make comfortable shoes that seemed uncomfortable because of high heels, for example. Tamara – her father’s money. Though today they all have their own money earned by hard work but it was then, 11 years ago.

Tamara Melton was 27, she was already an editor-in-chief and suddenly Melton left her job. She believed in Jimmy Choo, a poor Chinese emigrant. Of course, Tamara already had a brilliant business plan and a big list of useful contacts which she gained during her Vogue period. To start their business, they needed money to open their office, money for bigger manufacture, money for everything. Tamara knew where she could get this money; she went to her closest friend – her father. Her father, a circumspect and a “hairy” person gave 250$ thousand for opening their company’s office.

They opened a shop in the center of London and began to work hard. Tamara was an inexhaustible source of ideas (relations, business plans); Jimmy Choo was an indomitable worker, and Sandra was very squeamish in preparing decorations for shoes. Better than any words, would say a fact that later Tamara’s father gave them 1, 2$ million for development. By the way, he became the president of Jimmy Choo Company.

Company’s income became huge. Unfortunately, the co-owners couldn’t work together anymore and in 2001 Tamara bought Jimmy’s part for 25$ million. The reason was misunderstandings between them. From her words, Jimmy was not interesting in marketing’s ideas and didn’t want to spend money on advertising companies. Anyway, Tamara knew fashion rules. In 2001 company’s income was 100$ million. She had an unhappy marriage with an awful divorce but at the same time, success in her carrier and birth of her daughter. You can read bout this in her book “Four inches”.

Though today a woman is the head of Jimmy Choo Company, this brand still has Jimmy Choo name. His talent was awarded many times. He got title Dato in Malaysia which equals a British knight's title. In 2003, got an OBE (Officer British Empire) from the Queen of England “for his services in making London’s name prominent in the world of design and the fashion industry”. But his most precious awards are all those famous and wealthy, pretty and particular legs in the world that choose Jimmy Choo shoes.

Today, Jimmy is the owner of a distinct Jimmy Choo enterprise. He makes 3 – 4 exclusive pairs of shoes a day and his client list consists of most famous Hollywood stars, wives of the richest men in the world, successful businesswomen and even members of some royal families.

It’s hard to say what would happen if Tamara Melton didn’t find Jimmy that day in London but what would happen if an 11 year old boy decided not be a shoe-maker and stayed in Penang, we can easily guess…

P.S. Rumours say that now Jimmy Choo company is for sale, its price approximately 150$ million and possibly it will be bought by Burberry.

On the Oscar ceremony, Jimmy Choo shoes were worn by: Helen Mirren, Penelope Cruz, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Emily Blunt, Jodie Foster, Minnie Driver, Sarah Michelle Geller, Jennifer Lopez.

First Date

You’ve met that wonderful person and even asked to meet later. The first date might be a challenge, as you don’t know her or him well, you’re not sure what to say, how to act and the most important thing - how to impress. It sounds frightful, but hey, if you’re with a person you really like, you shouldn’t feel like waiting for court to pass a judgment on you. Here are some tips to forget that awkward feeling and stay with thrill of joy.

Dress clothes you feel comfortable with, but they should be suitable for outdoor. The best solution is to dress in something you look perfect, but still feel well and comfortable. However don’t show everything you got if you’re not planning to end the evening at bedroom. Your date don’t know you much and will judge you by your appearance and manners.

If you don’t want someone to treat you like a bimbo, don’t dress up like one. It’s better for both of you to decide where you will go in advance, so you won’t wear tuxedo for date in a pub or high-heels for a golf club. Don’t perfume yourself too much. You don’t want your date to smell your fragrance while you’re still two blocks away. And don’t be late, it shows that you don’t respect others.

It’s usual to go to see a movie or to have a dinner on the first date, so you won’t miss if you choose these two options. It’s endless question who should pay for a dinner, the one who asked out, the guy or both. It would be nice to offer to pay for half of the check, to avoid uncomfortable staring at the bill in the end of a date. Be careful when choosing a movie! Dramas go for emotive persons only, but horror and war movies make you scared and excited. And when you frightened you want to hold someone’s hand and get closer. If you choose a comedy, watch your date during the movie. You can know her or him better by what jokes make one laugh, what is considered rude and various other things.

If a movie and dinner seems to be boring plan for evening, try going for a walk. It’s simple, relaxing and you can talk much. You can always find a nice park, a sidewalk near a river or a pond, a zoo park or other place close to nature. The first date usually is dedicated to know each other better, so avoid places where you can’t talk like night clubs. If you want “accidentally” get in physical touch try teaching your date to play pool or ice-skating.

The awkward part of the first date is silent moments (or even minutes) when both of you don’t know what to say or do. If it’s a blind date, usually both of you won’t have an idea what to talk about. Prepare some topics to avoid this; a date should be a funny thing. Look through today’s titles on newspapers, so you can ask questions like “Have you heard of that event in NYC?” or “Do you know who won that award?”

It’s better to avoid perilous topics, especially religions, political convictions and money. People get sensitive when talking about these things and you don’t want your date to turn into debate. Remember not to act like you or your date was on a job interview. Questions about friends, work, hobbies are pretty “safe”. But don’t get too personal too fast and don’t complain about shock you had in your childhood or how bad your last relationship was. Talking about ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends can ruin your image easily.

Ask a lot of questions, it shows that you care about your date. Try to find similarities between you two, the same hobby, music style or whatever makes your date feel that you already are two of a kind. Make your date feel comfortable; a few compliments always break the ice. Simply be yourself. If you try too hard to impress, you may overdo and be considered to be arrogant. Just smile and look into the eyes, a smile can do miracles!

Also be polite and in good manners, these things are still appreciated. Say “thank you” whenever your date does something nice, it doesn’t cost a thing, but it shows that you enjoy that person’s company. Don’t use your mobile phone! It’s very rude to text someone or make a call and ignore the person next to you. And don’t stare at sexy waitress! If it’s a blind date and the person you’ve met is not what you’ve expected, don’t overreact. You can still make it funny; if it’s organized by your friends, ask your date’s opinion about the friends’ skills in matchmaking. Keep it fun and polite.

The end of the first date might be extremely frightening; both of you are waiting for a kiss. You can get around this uncomfortable situation and give him or her kiss before a date, at the moment you meet. This way, you both will be more prepared to kiss for goodbye. However if you didn’t like your date, don’t deceive your self and the other person. Simply thank for a date and say you could be great friends. Don’t try to pounce on your date; a hug and a short kiss are fine, unless he/ she openly go for more.

Show that you care about your date; pick some topic in advance to avoid awkward silence; be yourself, but stay polite. If there’s some chemistry between you two, these things are enough to keep a date fun. However prepare a backup plan if a date appears to be boring or a total disaster.

Magic of Coffee

An old Turkish proverb says that a coffee should be black as Hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. Nowadays there are various coffee drinks made out of coffee grown in different regions. But coffee still makes a magic with vivifying and charming effect. This beverage has plenty of lovers all over the world because of its rich aroma, taste and energizing upshot of caffeine.

Coffee started its trip around the world in Africa, in a locality now called Ethiopia. Little by little it spread around the Earth and now is cultivated in various regions: Latin America, Indonesia and even Hawaii. Coffee taste depends on region a lot; it also varies depending on roasting, blending and of course on the way of beverage preparation. The coffee you find in a store can be characterized as “commercial” or “specialty”.

Commercial one is usually blended and ground already, packed in collapsed bricks or cans; while specialty coffee contains roasted wholebeans that you can grind your self and blend with other types of coffee. Some of specialty coffees even come un-roasted, so coffee lovers can roast them the way they like at home. Commercial coffee (including instant one) is ready-to-use product for those who save their time.However if you really adore coffee, you should try to prepare the beans yourself. Also keep in mind that coffee begins to stale right after it is roasted and ground, so when you buy ready-to-use coffee it already has big part of its taste and aroma lost. Amazingly, there are more kinds of “specialty” coffee than “commercial’ one.

When coffee is grown not in huge plantations but in small farms, more attention is dedicated to the quality than quantity. This type of coffee contains unique taste and it’s very rare, therefore it is appreciated among coffee lovers. They compare these extra quality coffees to special wine, cheese and other splendid food. These kinds are very expensive; also they are recognized and very popular in coffee market.

The most expensive coffee in the world is Kopi Luwak. It grows in three islands of Indonesia; the beans are selected by small mammal called Luwak. Coffee lovers claim it’s the best coffee you can find. Only 500 pounds of Kopi Luwak is produced every year, therefore it is evaluated $160 to $600 for one pound.

The runner-up in the most rare and expensive coffees is the one from Boquete, a region of Panama. Coffee named “Hacienda La Esmeralda's Geisha” grows in the shades of guava tree; this renders a special taste. Hacienda La Esmeralda costs $104 per pound. The third place goes to Island of St. Helena Coffee Company. This coffee became popular when Napoleon Bonaparte (who was exiled to this island) praised it for its great flavor. Island of St. Helena coffee costs $79 per pound and it’s still popular after couple of centuries.

The more unique coffee’s taste, smell or region is, the more it is expensive. Sometimes coffee is highly priced because of small amount available; some kinds of coffee are not even on sale, they can only be found in special auctions.

You can find two types of coffee drinkers. The first type claims that milk, syrup, liquor and other additions ruin natural rich and strong taste of coffee. And the other type says that some extras add special flavors to coffee. While nobody wins this war, there are a great number of diverse coffee drinks.
The most known drink is espresso, a shot of extremely strong coffee. It can be used to make cocktails. Additions to brewed coffee vary on a nation or region: Caribbeanone contains baked coconut and milk; American mocha is spiced with cocoa (or chocolate), vanilla and cinnamon; Italian caffe e latte is flavored with hot milk. Mexicans prepare coffee from coarsely ground beans and add some brown sugar with cinnamon stick. The famous Irish coffee contains sugar, whiskey, huge foam of whipped cream and is usually served in a special glass.

There are many coffee drinks around the world; coffee-houses mainly offer 10 to 30 of them. A cup of coffee may wake you up in a morning; warm you up in a cold day and give you energy shot on a break. Give yourself a minute to feel its layered taste and aroma.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

How to get Noticed by Scouts

You find your self a model, but you don't belong to any agency yet? If you tried to get into this business you have probably faced that it's difficult to be noticed among many other girls and boys that rush into modeling market. Let's look over what can make you different than others and attract scouts.

Although it might seem that modeling business is overcrowded, agencies always seek for new faces and talents that could represent changing needs. As there are several modeling types, almost all people can find their place there.

If you want to be a model, agencies and potential employers must know that you are there and you crave for taking this job. Don't be afraid to contact agencies your self. Being ambitious is not a sin! Keep up with advertisements in mass media. Companies need various people to represent their products. Fashion house looking for girls for catwalk would probably search for them in a reputable agency, but women magazine may want unusual faces for pictures. That's why it can be worth to read advertisements. A photographer may look for a teenage guy for school theme shots, advertising agency may want an artistic redhead girl for specific project. There are many small modeling-related jobs you can take to gain experience. It is easier to get further jobs or interest an agency when you already have a sense of modeling. Furthermore, you will feel more confident presenting your self, and self-assurance is important thing. You must prove the agency that you can be a model. They must believe that you are suitable for various modeling job, otherwise there's no point for them to accept you.

Portfolio and composite cards are the best way to present you in modeling world. Professional pictures may costs a lot, but this investment is worth it, because scouts will judge you by your photos. It's better to have various pictures taken, to convince that you are suitable for different types of modeling. If you only have photos in swimsuit in your portfolio, you will probably be hired to demonstrate swimsuits/lingerie, but not to do other modeling types.

Although most of modeling jobs requires slim body type, there's no need to worry if you are not slender or not high enough. You can target into petite modeling that requires shorter height, plus size modeling, body part modeling and many others. The main thing is to present yourself in the right way. Fashion fitness modeling scouts will expect you to have healthy look and maybe even some muscles. Lingerie and glamour modeling scouts will seek for body with full curves, while scouts looking for runway models will pay attention to skinny girls. Find your advantages and accentuate them, so you won't be left behind.

Remember to take care of your body. This doesn't mean you have to sweat in gym to get rid of another pound, because too thin models are under discussion these days. If you don't fit into 6 or 8 size, better concentrate on modeling types that doesn't need slim body type. But it is worth to take care of your good appearance as healthy look and clear skin are valuated everywhere. If you can't believe you are beautiful and suitable to be a model, no one else will.

Pay attention to your gait and carriage. Imagine that you are already chosen to step on a catwalk. Would you know how to act? If not, why don't take lessons in advance? Don't miss a chance to improve your acting or dancing skills in courses. These lessons will make you more graceful and flexible plus they will help you to stay in shape.

Nothing embellishes a person more than a smile does. If you are self confident and step with grace, you're going to be noticed by all passengers, not by scouts only. Have your portfolio with you just in cases. Remember Naomi Campbell was discovered while shopping and Twiggy, the model icon of the last century, was noticed in hairdressing saloon. Maybe you are going to be the next one lucky?

Ladies Fitness: Ages 12-18

So, you are a girl, under 18 years of age, believe in yourself and just wish you were in a better shape. You don't want to be big and muscular, but you do want to look athletic and fit. You worry about dieting because of all the crazy information out there, and more than anything, you want to be healthy. On top of this, everyone tells you to just be patient, wait till your body matures, and don't worry about that, you are still too young. Where do you turn? What do you do? Well, my beautiful young ladies, you have come to the right spot!!
To begin with, let's look at nutrition. There are three types of molecules in food that we have to be concerned with: Protein, Carbohydrates and Fats. It is important that your body receive certain portions of all of these, however, what you may not know, is that WHEN you take them in is also important. To keep things simple, I am going to list a few good food types so that you understand the differences.

  • - Protein Carbohydrate Fat
  • - Egg yolks Rice Olive oil
  • - Fish Potatoes Butter
  • - Chicken Green beans Vegetable oil
  • - Red meat Corn Canola
  • - Pork Broccoli Macadamia Nut Oil

Now, there are some very simple rules that you can follow to put you on the path to sensible eating:

-Eat 5-7 small meals per day
-Always include some protein with every meal
-Take in no simple carbohydrates, like breads, candy, etc.
-Take in only green cars within 4 hours of bed time
-If trying to lose weight, eat carbs with first 3 meals only
-If trying to gain weight, eat carbs with all meals except last

Exercising

Now, let's take a look at exercise. There are three types of exercise, realistically, that you will want to be concerned with at this point. These are cardiovascular, weight training and cross-training. Again, the following list will provide some insight into the different types.

  • - Cardiovascular Weight Training Cross-training
  • - Biking Free weights Basketball
  • - Hiking Weight machines Tennis
  • - Jogging Soccer
  • - Step climbing Swimming

Here are some additional rules that apply to exercising:

- Engage in Cross-training or cardiovascular exercise at least 3 times per week, for no less than 30 mins.
- When beginning to weight train, work out the entire body 2-3 times per week.
- Always allow at least one day between workouts
- When in doubt, use free weights, not machines
- Free weights will strengthen joints and connective tissue, machine typically do not
- In the beginning, training should focus on 3 key areas, Back, Chest and Legs.
- Always use a full range of motion when doing any exercise


For those who do not have access to a gym, there are some great weight lifting activities that you can do on your own:

- Deep squats, holding a large book in each hand, hands out to a side
- Shoulder presses with either buckets, paint cans, or anything else
- Push-ups
- Leg lifts on a chair
- Arm curls holding anything heavy

While these don't sound like a lot of things, for beginners, it is more than sufficient to start. Keep in mind, as young women: you do not want to be using excessive weight loads, as it can interfere with the natural growth processes of the body. In particular the complex joints of the hips and shoulders can be at risk.

As beginners, these basic guidelines can help you make smart choices and have good results from your program. Leave the advanced stuff to others and stick with the basics.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Natural way to Hair care

Pre wash steps

  • Massage olive oil in circulating motion in your hair for 10 minutes be patient and do not rush over it. Leave it for 30 -40 minutes before you wash hair.
  • You can substitute olive oil with coconut oil.

How to wash your hair?

  • Wash your hair when ever you feel need of.
  • Do not wash your hair with hot water. Always use lukewarm water.
  • Use mild and herbal shampoo and conditioner without any harsh detergent like the sulfates for your hair. If you have oily hair apply conditioner only at the ends otherwise conditioner would leave your hair greasy.
  • After washing your hair wrap towel dipped in hot water around your hair. You would see amazing results.

How to dry your hair?

  • Shake your hair until dry. It will help blood circulation in the scalp. Make use of your fingers to massage the scalp. Your scalp would only be damaged if your massage the scalp with nails.
  • Use wide toothed comb. Divide you hair in sections and gently comb the hair starting from the ends.
  • Avoid using blow dryer, styling if you are washing your hair everyday. If you are using blow dryer use it down wards and apply leave in conditioner before blow drying hair. It would protect your hair to get damaged from the heat.

Regular hair care

  • Get your hair trimmed regularly. If you have short hair get your hair trimmed every month. If you have long hair get them trimmed after 6-8 weeks.
  • Gently tie your hair while sleeping. Even better make a braid. Always comb your hair before sleeping.

Grey hair

  • To prevent grey hair massage hair regularly with coconut oil or brahmai oil.
  • Soak dried Amla(Emblic myrobalan) pieces or powder overnight in an black iron vessel. In the morning sieve it and put the liquid on your hair using brush. Leave it for an hour and simply wash off. Use gloves to protect your hands from the natural color of amla. Wrap a towel around your head in order to avoid dripping. Use an old towel because the liquid would leave some black stains on it.

Natural Dye to hair

  • Natural way to dye hair is to use henna. Henna is also good for conditioning. Mix henna with egg and leave it over night in an black iron vessel. Apply this paste in the morning on clean hair and leave it for half an hour for natural conditioning. If you want your hair to get colored mix coffee powder and methi (Fenugreek) powder in the paste. Do not shampoo your hair the same day if you want deep color on hair, just rinse thoroughly.

Conditioning with home made packs

  • Make a paste using eggs and curd together and apply it on clean hair. Let it dry. Do not wash hair with hot water.
  • Apply coconut milk on your scalp. It feels cool and relaxing and regular use would make your hair silky and also improves hair growth.
  • Massage your hair with milk. Let it dry. Wash it off with mild shampoo.
  • Once in 15 days rinse your with lemon juice mixed with water and honey as a final rinse after shampooing your hair.

Hair Loss

  • Regular massage with castor oil as a hair oil helps the luxuriant growth of the hair.
  • Rubbing lemon juice into the scalp also strengthens the hair roots and helps preventing dandruff. Rub lemon juice into scalp leave it on for 15 minutes and wash it off.


Those are some of the tips to get healthy and beautiful hair. Follow your routine regularly to get good results. If you are thinking to change to a new hair product. Stick with it for some time to see the results. It is always better to make use of herbal product since they do not damage or harm your hair.

Most Creative Sex Positions Ever (1 of 9)




BY LAURA GILBERT (PHOTO: TAMARA SCHLESINGER)
beyond the bedroomWant to turn tonight's amorous encounter into an erotic adventure? Give your mattress a rest and attempt our new, superhot pleasure poses — perfect for getting it on upstairs, downstairs...heck, even on the stairs. Chances are, when you and your guy are about to get it on, you make a beeline for the bed. Now we're not knocking

between-the-sheets sex, but you can make your intimate encounters even more intoxicating by moving them beyond the boudoir.

"Shaking it up by doing it in an innovative location will create a new, exciting dynamic in your sexual relationship," says Kimberly Flemke, Ph.D., therapist at the Institute for Sex Therapy and assistant professor in the couple and family therapy graduate program at Drexel University. "Having sex somewhere unexpected or where you're not 'supposed to' often releases brain hormones that increase desire and passion."

With the benefits of novel nooky in mind, we've mapped out some daring and innovative sex positions to try in every nook and cranny of your home. Let the room christening begin.

6 Steps to Buying a New Dress

Don't let shopping for a special occasion dress intimidate you! With a little help and a plan, you can start early and find the perfect dress for your next occasion. Here's how

1. Decide on Formality

Usually the event invitation will clue you into the formality of the event, whether it's casual or black tie. But sometimes even that will cause confusion (short dress or long?)

In general, the later in the day the event (after 6 p.m.), the dressier. Long dresses are usually reserved only for formal (black tie) occasions.

While some fabrics are year-round -- silk, brocade, organza, jersey -- fabrics like velvet and gold spangles are best reserved for winter holidays.
More about dressing for occasions: Dress Code Definitions: Black Tie, etc.

2. Flatter Your Figure

The most important feature of your new dress -- more important than its trendiness, designer or color -- is how well it flatters you.

Not every dress silhouette will work for your body so you'll need to do some quick research on your specific needs.

Remember that darker colors and simple cuts (a sheath, an A-line) are the most flattering.

The best way to look special is to show off your best feature. If you have gorgeous eyes, then play them up with beautiful makeup, off-the-face hair and jeweled earrings in a complimentary shade. If your legs are spectacular, then show them off with a short, fitted dress and stilettos.

Dressing to flatter your figure is as much about playing up your best features as it is about hiding what's not perfect.

Not sure what your best asset is? Ask a friend or significant other. Or go to a store that sells special occasion dresses and enlist the salesperson's help.
More about dressing for your body: Dresses for Every Body Type

3. Choose a Color

You could just wear black (classy, flattering and slenderizing), but why not explore some of the other dressy options?

Red, bold prints, even gold are dramatic enough for evening wear. Pastels, mid-range brights and soft prints look great for dressy day occasions.

Blue (from navy to royal), pink (from cotton candy to fuchsia) and white (from candlelight to cream) look great on almost everyone. Remember that the "Don't wear white to a wedding" wisdom is still considered a fashion don't by most women.
More about flattering colors: 7 Style Secrets from the Red Carpet

4. Pick a Style

Once you know what type of dress you need, it's time to coordinate that with what you want.

Catalogs, the internet and magazines are a great places to seek special occasion dress inspiration.

Instead of going with something trendy, try to find a dress that reflects classic, timeless elegance. Remember that you'll have to look at photos of you in the dress for years to come.

Enduring special occasion dresses are often deceptively simple, but they usually let the beauty of the wearer shine through. A few examples: the little black dress (a.k.a the cocktail dress), a goddess gown (draped and rouched), a ballgown, a slip dress.
More about dress styles: Dress Glossary

5. Shop


With your research behind you, it's time to shop, either online or off.

You should definitely set a budget before shopping because it's easy to fall in love with a $1000 dress and then try to justify buying it.

Special occasion dresses usually cost more than $100, but if you comparison shop you can find one that works in your price range. Don't forget to use alternative methods like shopping secondhand stores and sales to save even more money on a dress. Vintage looks are all the rage in Hollywood and on the runway now.

If you shop in a store, dress for the day by bringing along heels, any special accessories you know you want to use and a strapless bra (just in case).

When shopping online, make sure you understand both the sizing (know your measurements and check against a size chart on the site) and the return policy.

There are some boutiques that don't allow you to return special occasion dresses, so make sure you're a smart shopper.
More information: How to Shop

6. Accessorize


The trimmings will take their cue from the dress, but for special occasions your jewelery usually gets bigger and your bag and shoes get smaller (as in strappy sandals).

Although you may want to add tons of glitz, remember that you can kill a look with too much matchy-matchy accessorizing. Find earrings, necklace and bracelet that compliment each other without being a matching set.

Sparkly brooches, flowers and hair pins are all great ways to add special dazzle, too.

Your bag should be large enough to fit lipstick, tissue, phone and keys.

One confusing element for most women is whether or not to wear hose. Use common sense here: if your legs need camouflage and you don't like to wear leg makeup, then opt for super-sheer hose.
More information: How to Accessorize a Dress