White style

As we know white is a great color for summer. It is crisp, fresh and it can be elegant or casual.

Everyone can use white if it is in the right style. White can make us look somewhat bigger; this and the ease with which white clothes get dirty are the biggest drawbacks to using this color. If you need to camouflage some areas of your body, just select the right style, but there is no reason to avoid wearing white.

The quintessential white piece in most closets should be the classic white shirt. While I used to love this piece it was impractical for me before the arrival of the non-iron white shirt (or less iron white shirt). This shirt can be used with jeans, skirts, shorts, on casual occasions, elegant occasions, on the beach and at a party, as well as in the office.

A piece suggested by many fashion editors is a white dress. Nina Garcia (Marie Claire), as well as Suze Yalof Schwartz (Glamour), recommend having a white dress. The white dress can be used for office, parties or casual occasions. It is the lighter version of the little black dress that offers versatility, but contrary to the black dress, it can make you unique in a sea of black dresses.

These are some consideration for using white:

According to Suze Yalof Schwartz, do not wear white shoes with a white dress. Avoid white accessories.

Suze also recommends pairing it with gold accessories. I also like to use white and silver and white and red, blue or black are also very classy.

Be careful not to show your undergarments when using white. This is very important; you should not be showing your bra or your whole body for that matter. Usually, the undergarments in nude tones (rather than white) work better.

White jeans are still in fashion. If you have a big butt or big thighs, be careful and use the right style, because white pants can make them look bigger. White jeans are fabulous; you can use them with shoes of exciting colors or nude, use them with colored accessories and a white shirt or a colored top. It is the perfect canvas for many looks.

Be careful when wearing white, because it can become dirty in no time. Carry a Tile pen with you for emergencies.


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Fake beauty

We cannot look like models or celebrities in magazines, or can we? Yes we can, but only in pictures, because you it is fake. It is the result of digital manipulation of the photos normally with a program called Photoshop. Check out this video

Do hair extensions damage your hair?

I am fascinated by hair extensions; they really give flexibility to us. One moment you hair is short and the next moment it can be long giving many more options for hairdos. I have seen many times in beauty trade shows and conferences how hair extensions are put on, but I
have only used the clip on type.

There are many types of hair extensions and some other things to considerer when picking one that is right for you:

Natural hair and synthetic hair.
These are the Cadillacs of extensions and come in different qualities, depending on how the hair was treated and the type of hair used. The hair from Eastern Europe is considered the best quality because it does not frizz a lot.

With natural hair extensions you can do almost the same things you can do with your regular hair: color it, wash it, etc.

How to put it on?
There are a few ways to attach the extensions. They can be glued, sewed and clipped. The clip on types are the easiest to put on, the cheapest and do not damage the hair.

Mostly the hair does not get damaged with extension; at the most it will need some cutting after taking them off.

Hair extensions can be heavy and this is another consideration if you want extensions.

Before deciding on hair extensions, ask the hairdresser how they will be taken off and if the hair will suffer any damage.

Hair extensions can be expensive, because it is tedious to put them on; depending on the method it can take hours. Not all hairdressers know how to work with extensions and it is better to go to someone highly qualified.

Once the extensions are on, they may require a haircut and color to give a more natural look to your hair and face.

If you want to try extensions you can start with only a few or a clip on extension.

How to find a great prom dress?

Finding that perfect prom dress can be an exercise in balancing budget, fit, color, and style. No wonder that it causes both the graduating student and her parents so much stress. Like a wedding dress, if you follow some basic fashion tips, you can find a prom dress that does justice to your body, is within the budget, and still makes you stand out. Here is a series of videos with great tips on shopping for a prom dress, as well as picking the right dress by your body type.

Christina Milian in strapless dress

Well there are many reasons to love Christina Milian but one very important one is that you don't have to be super-tall to look and feel great. In the end how great you look depends on how you dress and how confident you feel inside you. That is why it is great to see her in well-put-together ensembles and one of these she wore for the BMI Pop Awards in Beverley Hills. This strapless dress matched very well with a great pair of shoes.

Lisa Lavie

As I wrote earlier when I highlighted some great shoes worn by Susie Castillo, Nadia Bjorlin, and Andrea Harrison, shoes and handbags are two items that can make or break an outfit. That is why what Lisa Lavie wore caught my eyes. I think it might seem as if she is overdone for her appearance at the BMI Pop Awards in Beverley Hills, if you look at her dress and shoes and how they complement each other, you realize that she actually looks awesome.

Pretty in pink

While pink may be a great color for women, it isn't easy to pull it off flawlessly all the time. I think it is OK to wear pink as long as you don't come across as cheesy or appear as if you are trying too hard to be cute. A great example is provided by Kat Kramer who wore a pink/black dress with a pink scarf and then matched it with a matching Gucci bag. I think she looks just great in this ensemble.

Nadia Bjorlin

It turns out that Andrea Harrison was not the only one wearing great shoes at the premiere of Vice in Hollywood. Nadia Bjorlin wore equally outrageous shoes.

Heidiwood by Heidi Montag

I am always skeptical of Hollywood celebrities, often with zero experience in fashion (other than what they gather during their days in Hollywood where looking good is the #1 goal), come up with their own labels. I have previously discussed Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker and DEAR by Amanda Bynes. Heidi Montag from The Hills is also capitalizing on her success and now has a clothing line that also includes accessories and handbags. The clothes are somewhat affordable (they are more expensive than Bitten and Dear) and modern. Here is a video of the runway.

Model walk

As a follow-up to my previous video tip on how to walk like a model, here is another clip by top model Jessica Stam (she has modeled for Versace, for instance) with great tips on walking that brings out the best in you, makes your posture look great, and also makes your clothes look better on you.

Nabi by Victorya Hong

While the current season of Project Runway, I must confess that I never developed a liking for Victorya Hong. To me, she came across as overconfident, cocky, and difficult to work with. Having said that, I was almost always impressed by her work. Several of her designs were outstanding until she completely goofed up on the denim design. In some ways I was happy to see her go -- I simply couldn't stand her -- but I knew she would be just fine in the world of fashion even if she is not the greatest person to work with. And she did. Watch this video to see her collection shown at the New York Fashion Week.

How to buy clothes that you can wear throughout the year?

While retail therapy is, well, therapeutic, the reality is that vast majority of us do not have the resources to keep up with fashion each season. The secret to always looking fresh, modern, and current without filing for bankruptcy is to buy one or two "IT"items and then mixing them with what you have. That is why designers are increasingly offering clothing pieces that can be worn year round. Watch this video of designers like Oscar de la Renta and buyers from luxurious department stores like Neiman Marcus to learn how to pick clothes that you can wear any day of the year and still look current.

Pink is always in

It seems that almost all women like pink color but since pink has so many connotations these days we are sometimes afraid to wear it for the fear of appearing immature, girlish, or lacking in taste. In my opinion, pink (and various shades of pink) can be used by almost any woman (yes, even lawyers, bankers, and professors can wear it) provided they pick the right shade for their skin tone and dress for the occasion. In this video, Matthew Hunt of Ford Models 360 picks some of the best pink outfits worn by celebs including Rihanna, Liz Goldwyn, Mariah Carey, and Thandie Newton and designed by Rodarte and Christopher Kane.

Colcci clothing collection

Colcci is a Brazilian fashion label and it has been endorsed by Gisele Bundchen, the Victoria's Secret model. This line of clothing represents the essence of Brazil and the clothes are youthful, edgy, but still very feminine. Obviously, to model their fall/winter collection in Rio de Janeiro, Gisele was there. Here are photos from the collection in a slideshow format.

Flat mouse shoes

Flat shoes are great, they make us look good and be comfortable at the same time. I am so happy they are back in fashion. Looking at new shops online (new to me) I found the shoes on the picture. Granted they are a bit silly, they are not elegant and sophisticated, but I found that they cute.

The shop I found them on is called yesstyle and it sells Asian clothes in the USA, Canada and the UK. The prices are reasonable.

Fashion trends 2008

The new year always means new style trends. 2008 is definitely an year of change because the change from 2007 is remarkable. According to Suze Yalof Schwartz (Glamour magazine), here are the top five trends that you can follow in the coming months:

1. A T-shirt dress matched with a men's blazer (borrow from your man or simply buy one)
2. Ruffled sleeves, tops, skirts, preferably in bright colors like hot pink. I would not recommend this for everyone because it may add volume and make you look fat. So if doesn't work for you, forget about it.
3. A floral top matched with cropped pants and gladiator shoes or sandals.
4. Show your shoulder and neck with an asymmetrical top
5. Hand printed splattered splash tops and dresses
   

Almost all of these items can be bought at mid-priced stores like Banana Republic or even Target.

Nude Eva Mendes

The gorgeous Eva Mendes posed nude (technically) for PETA's campaign against fur in
fashion. We at Lindisima.com totally support this effort. There is no need to kill exotic animals to look beautiful much less to keep warm. Shame on Jennifer Lopez and all the other celebrities that continue to use fur and shame on all the designers too for this complete lack of humanity.

As anyone knows, there are much better and cheaper ways to stay warm during winter. And in case you like the look and feel of fur, there are excellent choices these days with faux fur.

The Natick Collection

Natick, Massachusetts had a good-sized mall, but a couple of weeks ago it doubled. The size does matter when it comes to malls, but even better, the completely renovated and expanded mall is now called the Natick Collection (AKA Natick mall). It has some very exclusive stores such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Beside these giants, they also got a Zara, Louis Vuitton, Anthropologie, Lush, Burberry, and many others.

Nordstrom and Neiman carry all the fashionable brands such as Jimmy Choo, Prada, Manolo Blahnik, etc. In clothes and bags the names are equally impressive. I was there for the grand opening and the Nordstrom cosmetic tailgate party. I got my makeup done with Smash Box. There was so much excitement I could not believe how many women got up early to go to the mall.

Even more surprising for me was the fact that most people were dressed up! I never have seen the mall with so many beautiful people – I started to wonder where were these people hiding. The following day was the same way and people were buying luxury goods as if they have been deprived of shopping for long time. A lot of people were carrying bags from exclusive shops. It is not that Natick did not have shops – after all it is minutes away from Boston where all shops have been opened for years (except Nordstrom).

A couple of weeks later the excitement is still there, but people are back to normal mall clothes, the heels and chic are gone. If you live in the area I recommend to visit this mall it is exciting.

Style lessons with Tim Gunn

I have been reading "A Guide to Quality and taste" by Tim Gunn. As you know Tim is the elegant Director of Fashion at the prestigious Parsons School of Design and he also appears in Project Runway and in his own show "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style."

He has all the credentials to have a book with that title. I found that the book has very good information and it is written in an elegant, but easy style. It has humor and good information. If you have seen Tim on TV, as you read the pages of this book, you will hear his voice.

The book does not have long lists and pictures telling you what type of pants to wear (that is what he does on his show too - he lets people pick their own clothes but gives them broad guidelines on how to shop and also provides them with a list of items that they need to buy after examining their wardrobe). It has detailed explanations on how to make your own selections. Quality, taste and style is his mantra or his other mantraafter "make it work."

The book has chapters on "who are you," "posture," selecting accessories, and others. The accessories' chapter recommends "say no to the it bag." It is a different book about style, fashion and dressing. The advice is deep, but very practical.

Teri Hatcher recommends Badgley Mischka

Teri Hatcher is working in ads for Badgley Mischka. Teri looks gorgeous in the ads. Badgley Mischka design some of the most beautiful gowns seen on the red carpet. They are some of top designers in America at this time.

They make some of the finest clothes that I know and every clothing item from them is bound to draw attention to you. They said that they selected Teri, because she is a real person with a daughter, a career, and of course, lots of glamor. See a short interview with Teri and the designers during the photo shoot.

How to wear a strapless dress?

I have always been somewhat skeptical of strapless dresses; my baseless fear of their not staying in place, particularly because I often see celebrities on the red carpet tugging them (it just looks awful). The good news is that I just bought a short, strapless dress for a wedding. The key to making it stay in place no matter what? It should fit you well. My dress fits me so well that the when I tried it on at BCBG Max Azria, my husband had to literally zip it for me in the back (now I can manage to zip it myself).

But what if you don't have the greatest legs in the world (I am talking about cellulite, varicose veins, fat, etc.)? An option is to wear a long strapless dress. How do you wear it? Watch the video by Matthew Hunt of Ford Models to learn how the stars wear it.

Helen Wang boutique in New York City

One of my favorite boutiques in SOHO (New York) is called Helen Wang. Helen Wang's clothes have been featured in national magazines, Vanessa Minnillo loves them, they were used on "Sex and the City." When I first went to the boutique, I did not know anything about the clothing line, but I loved the clothes that I saw in the window that were on sale. This line has beautiful clothes, mainly dresses, for both day and evening wear.

The clothes are moderately priced and very high quality (big contrast from Dear by Amanda Bynes and Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker and typical street fashion in New York). They are also made from the finest materials (the dresses that I looked at were all made from 100% silk) and were very nicely cut and sewn. Some of the dresses reminded me of BCBG, but at similar prices, Helen Wang’s dresses look more expensive and exclusive.

The boutique also is very nice and the salespeople are attentive, polite, and courteous, but not intrusive or pushy. They also sell children's clothes, that are really cute. The prices for a dress are about $300 (though they were much cheaper when on sale); children's clothes are cheaper, of course. There is a very small collection of men's shirts but I doubt if you should shop for them there.

Unfortunately, their website is not regularly updated and it does not have the current collections, so you cannot really buy the latest designs online. But if you go to NYC, take a look at their boutique located on 69 Mercer Street (in SOHO). The website indicates that her clothes are also sold in some other stores such as Barney’s New York, Neiman Marcus, and others.

Pregnant Isla Fisher shows how to dress right

While pregnancy is one of the most beautiful stages in a woman's life, it is also a very challenging time when it comes to dressing. Not only do you have to build a completely new wardrobe, you also have to change it frequently. Plus, depending on how your body is, how much weight you gain, and how you like to dress, you can find it difficult to maintain your original style.

That is why it is important to be creative and keep an open mind about dressing. Take a look at this photo of Isla Fisher at the premiere of "Hot Rod," where she is wearing a form-fitting, feminine, flirtatious dress. In other words, you don't have to wear baggy clothes to hide your tummy. It is beautiful and it is OK to flaunt it.

Not Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker

I finally got a chance to see with my own eyes the new apparel line "Bitten" designed by Sarah Jessica Parker. SJP, as we know, became a fashion icon with her role in "Sex and the City," where she wore incredible and daring fashions.

On all red carpet events Sarah Jessica almost always looks good. She is a self-confessed fashionista who made sure in her contract for the popular television series that the clothes worn by her character would be hers after the shooting.

So what about Bitten?

Bitten was created for the Steve and Barry’s shops. This store specializes in low priced trendy clothes. Actually, clothes sold at this store make Old Navy stores look luxurious. In other words, these are not the best quality clothes. Sarah’s labels fulfills this; all items are low priced, jeans are about $14.00, tops for about $7.00, and so on. Here is a picture of her at an event for the launch of her line. My analysis continues after the photo.

What do you get with this ultra low prices?

You get trendy clothes with good cuts, attention to detail and well sewn; that is a lot for items costing less than $20. On the other hand, they do not have much life, the materials look cheap. They are good pieces for teenagers (like the Dear line by Amanda Bynes) or college students who will change their looks regularly and can mix them with other better quality pieces to make them look higher quality.

I did not buy anything from the Bitten line -- I was simply not bitten. There were a couple of pieces I liked (not loved), but I did not buy them, because the lines were too long to wait for a $7 long-sleeve t-shirt.

By the way, when the line was announced, Sarah Jessica Parker showed up wearing the line’s clothes (as you see in the photo above), but as noted by Gretta Cole, a Boston Stylist (and spa owner) Sarah Jessica also wore a thousand dollar pair of shoes. That is the key to wear low priced clothes. Mix it up with expensive ones and the look will be expensive.