Tips for Women on What to Wear for a Rave Party

The music at a rave makes you want to shake a leg. Even if you have two left feet you will end up swaying to the music. Apart from the groovy music played at a rave, you will find individuals dressed in clothes that make heads turn. The clothes worn at a rave differ among women. This article shares tips on what to wear for a rave party.
Although there are different styles and designs of clothing that can be worn at a rave, the most important thing is to ensure the clothes worn are comfortable. If you are an individual that sweats profusely it is recommended you wear clothes that are loose rather than ones that are too tight or cling to the body. How to wear for a rave party depends on an individual's preference of style. If it's an open air rave, individuals can experiment with different types of figure hugging dresses because humidity levels are lower than enclosed spaces. In other words, you can expect it to be hot due to the enclosed space and temperature from all of the other bodies. Use of different light effects is common at raves. Dresses and costumes that glow under lights are popular at raves.
Most teenagers prefer to wear strapless dresses as they are comfortable and do not cause a hindrance when one decides to dance. Avoid wearing shoulder strap dresses at a rave. When you sway, move, or dance to the tune of music, most times, shoulder straps slip off the shoulder. It gets irritating adjusting shoulder straps every time they fall off the shoulder. If you wear shoulder straps that are too tight, don't be surprised if you cause them to snap trying a new dance move. If you want to be noticed make sure you wear flashy colored clothing. Dresses that have dual aesthetics are extremely popular at raves. How to wear for a rave party depends a lot on an individual's body structure as well.
If you've got broad hips and an overly large posterior avoid dresses that are skin tight and throw spotlight on those areas. It can be an annoyingly horrific sight when you move your body at tempos above 180bpm in such dresses. Opt for flowing dresses that conceal problem areas, they are comfortable and look aesthetically beautiful at raves. Long hippy skirts are an excellent choice for a rave. Several teens and older women love to wear rave clothes like long frilly skirts because of their comfort and stylish drape. Women can refer to fashion magazines, books or the internet to get an idea on what to wear for a rave party.
The footwear you wear should of course be comfortable. Avoid stilettos, high heel boots and other footwear that have long heels. Women can twist or hurt their legs when they dance in high heeled footwear. Wear footwear with flat platforms. Flip flops or stylish colorful sneakers are comfortable for dancing and an excellent choice for raves. Accessories that glitter and shine are also popular at raves. However, you have to be aware of the fact that you might lose a flip flop or even have someone step on it causing an injury to you or someone else, be warned when trying to pick out our shoes for the night, as this can be one of the most important decisions you will make for the night. For women that want to exhibit certain areas of their body, what you wear at a rave party largely depends on how comfortable you feel wearing a revealing dress. Mini skirts with short tops too are popular garments at raves. Whatever clothing you wear at a rave, make sure you are comfortable in it.

Beauty and Elegance Entwined With Usefulness in Parasols

Grace from the yesterday years is back to adorn you and the fashion of modern times. What's even better is that it offers great protection against the worst enemy your skin has ever had - the sun. Parasols are back with a big bang and offer a stylish way to enjoy the sun in the summers. Women have begun to realize the importance of parasols in saving their most prized complexion and looking fashionable and great at the same time.
It's not at all difficult to pamper yourself with one of these delicate and useful wonders for yourself. The wide variety of parasols available in the market ensures that you get what you want in terms of style and statement. They complete the look of a pretty summer dress and strapped sandals. It is easy to be carried away by their beauty. For example, the lacy parasols that are reminiscent of the fair English skin might not offer a lot in terms of protection but are great as fashion accessories. They might just be the right thing when you want to flaunt the vintage look. An elegant parasol will enhance your appearance, especially if you are aiming for an old world charm.
The more protective parasols come in a variety of makes and materials. The cloth made parasols offer versatile choice in terms of cotton, nylon and silk of various kinds. If you are looking for the most durable and inexpensive parasols, nylon made parasols should be your choice. They would be apt for daily use. Some women love parasols that offer frills and other embellishments while many prefer straight and plain looks as they can be matched with anything. One thing is for sure that you will be spoilt for choices when it comes to colors and materials of parasols.
Silk made parasols come with delicate paintings or other interesting handwork. They are great for giving an elegant and posh look. The paper made is generally associated with the Japanese and the Orient. You can almost visualize one beautiful eye gazing at you from under the simple allure of the wooden parasol. The paper woven into the wood is generally painted with flowers highlighting the feminine charm of the woman carrying it. Their usefulness in protection of skin and hair makes them a must-have for any woman who needs to step out in the sun and still wants to look her interesting best.

Gladiator Footwear For Women

Gladiator shoes are all the rage and you can find them being worn during the day and night in almost any city in the world. From North America to South East Asia, fashionable shoes have made their mark. They are named for the fact that Roman gladiators once fought while wearing them. They were typically knee high and were made from tough leather to provide some form of protection. Not all of them had these sandals and many fought barefoot. Traditional gladiator shoes were at least calf-high with some reaching right below the knee. It was very rigid footwear with a tough sole connected to the foot via a series of leather thongs.
It was distinct from most other forms of footwear back then as well as today, which is why they are currently selling like hotcakes. You can find gladiator shoes in styles ranging from stilettos, flats, sandals and platforms. The colors are wide ranging with black, brown, tan, beige and white being the usual color of choice. Its also important to note that these types of footwear are viewed as feminine today despite the fact that they were originally worn by some of the most ferocious warriors during the Roman era.
Teaming a pair of gladiator shoes with most outfits is easy as long as you keep in mind one or two points when buying these shoes. Some gladiator shoes have straps that go up to the knee whilst others just come up to the calf or the ankle. If you have long, slender legs, most of these styles will look good. However, if you have thicker calves which most of us do, try to keep to the ankle length styles. Straps that go up to the calf or knees will accentuate the leg and give a bulky appearance to them. Choose neutral colors such as brown, black, tan, beige or even white to match your outfits. These give a streamlined look to your appearance whilst looking chic and classy.
Flat heeled shoes look good with shorts, Capri's, skirts and dresses. They give a classy yet casual look to your outfit. Skirts or dresses that come to the knee or just above the knee also look great when paired with shoes with a little heel. You can find heeled gladiator shoes that can match perfectly with your attire. For a more sophisticated look, wear your fitted dress with stiletto gladiators. They ooze sexiness with the juxtaposition of the female and male in the form of the dress and shoes.
For those who like the towering look, you can find gladiator styled platform shoes. They can range anywhere from 7cm to 10cm in height for some of the designs. These can be found with metal studs and embellishments that give it a very edgy look. High heeled shoes look good when worn for evening functions. They can be paired with slim fitting dresses and skirts for dinner or with trendier wear for a night out at the clubs. Gold, silver, bronze and even black gladiator shoes look amazing at night. They even come with embellishments such as studs, diamantes and crystals. Find one that goes well with your outfit and try to match it with something else in your wardrobe. That way you can wear them more than once and with another outfit!
Gladiator shoes are made from various materials ranging from leather to synthetic materials and fabrics. Finding a pair that is comfortable is very important. When looking to buy one, try walking in them. If you're buying them from an online store, find out your correct size and make sure that they have a refund policy. There are plenty of choices online but finding one that fits you perfectly is crucial. Looking good goes hand in hand with being comfortable in what you wear.

What Are The Best Hair Dryers For Thick Hair?

Do you have really thick hair and don't know what to do with it? This is a common problem among many women but what you need to understand is that when you have really thick hair you need to buy things that will help you with it. One of those things is a hair dryer. The reason you need a hair dryer is because it will help you manage your thick hair while at the same time giving you the results that you are looking for.
As you probably already know, there are a lot of different blow dryers out there and because of this you need to find the best blow dryer for thick hair. What I recommend is to get something that isn't just powerful, but gets really hot too. The reason why you need something that is power and packs a lot of heat is because sometimes you will need more heat in order to maintain your hair style. Trust me, having thick hair is not a problem if you know what to do with it.
One of the best things to get when you are looking for a good hair dryer for your thick hair is one with a concentrator nozzle attached to it. The reason why you will need a concentrator nozzle attached to the hair dryer is because without it you will not be able to put the heat where you need it the most. For a lot of people they think the more overall heat they can get, the better. That is good thinking but that doesn't work when you have thick hair and the reason is because the hair underneath the top few layers doesn't get any heat so it is always moist when you get out of the shower. This is very important that you get something that has different attachments because you don't want to have to do everything with one attachment all the time.
The last thing that you need to understand is there are a lot of great blow dryers for thick hair available for you to buy but they are usually not at your local retail store. What I recommend is that you look around online because that is where the best hair dryers are at. If you don't believe me then just go and look for yourself because I can guarantee you that they will be there.

Leather Bag Care and Cleaning

So now you've purchased your beautiful new leather handbag - and you want to keep it that way! Leather requires special handling and maintenance to keep it looking and wearing its best.
First of all, remember not all leather is created equal! There are different ways to care for and clean patent leather, suede leather, and finished leather bags.
Here are some tips that should keep your bag looking it are best for years to come:
Patent Leather

• Patent leather requires the least amount of care, as it already has a protective coating of varnish or lacquer applied in the final steps of tanning.
• It's a hard finish, not very breathable, but that means it's much less susceptible to stains and easier to clean.
• A quick wipe-down with a mild soap and preferably distilled water (as tap water often has dulling elements of chlorine and minerals) is often all that's needed.
• To restore the luster when needed, use a quality silicon product applied with a soft, clean cloth.
• Never, ever use a wax or Vaseline on patent leather! It will become a dust magnet instantly, and start to look muddy and dull.

Suede Leather

• While suede is certainly beautifully supple and soft to the touch, it's often the hardest to clean and maintain, and is very susceptible to staining and discoloration.
• Of course the first thing to remember for suede is, keep it away from water! It has no protective coating to guard it.
• You can apply conditioning or waterproofing products to help protect your bag, often available at shoe repair shops; you should also invest in a soft suede brush, and use it every 3 to 4 months to remove surface dirt and renew the nap of the suede.
• If your bag does get wet, allow it to dry naturally. Suede will dry stiff, so brush the nap gently to restore it.
• When brushing the nap, always remember to brush in one direction. Circular brushing may damage the nap.
• If you get a grease or oil stain, try applying talcum powder and allowing it to sit for 24 hours, and brush gently.
• Another stain removal remedy that's been highly useful on a variety of stains and scuff marks is a natural or uncolored pencil eraser! But avoid using vigorous force; again, be gentle.
• Under no circumstances should you use soap or any water based product to clean suede items.

Finished Leather

• Moisturize often. Leather needs oils to keep it supple. A conditioning cream such as saddle soap will serve your bag well.
• Applying protective conditioners before use and at regular intervals (at least twice a year) will help prevent your bag from drying out, cracking and staining. Also, it's a good idea to use a leather protector. Leather cleaners and protectors can be found at almost any shoe repair shop.
• Always apply products with a clean soft cloth, never directly to the leather as it may cause staining.
• Some stains can be removed with ordinary chalk powder! Crush white chalk and let it sit on the stain for 24 hours, then just dust off with a clean cloth.
• Keep in mind that your leather bag will age with a natural darkening of the color over time.

General Tips for All Leather Bags

• If your bag should get wet, allow it to air dry naturally. Never, under any circumstances, use a heater or hair dryer! This will dehydrate and damage the leather.
• Never use cleaning solvents or chemicals on a leather bag. Remember, leather is a natural product, so use natural products on it!
• Keep any small items you might carry that could leak (like cosmetics or pens) inside a pouch.
• When storing your bag, stuff it with paper or bubble wrap to hold its shape. Never use a plastic bag to store it in, as it can emit chemicals that might damage the leather, or encourage the growth of mildew as it's not a breathable material. Use a dust bag or natural fiber pillowcase.

Remember, a good leather bag is an investment. Following these tips to properly care for your investment will ensure you enjoy your beautiful leather bag for many years to come.

Do Princess Dolls Present a Poor Body Image for Young Girls?

The Disney princesses and the concept of princesses in general are so important to today's young girls. Instead of Disney using that influence to represent and present a healthy, positive and realistic lifestyle and body image, what little girls see instead are unattainable physical attributes. Shouldn't society try and present realistic princesses to represent the average girl? Would part of the fantasy of fairytales and cartoons be lost with such lifelike depictions of women, or would a more accurate portrayal be even more popular with our smallest princesses?
 
Little girls are usually attracted to the princess characters they read about or see, so when Disney combined all their princesses together in a little group, little girls everywhere were in heaven. When you see all of the Disney princesses collectively you see that they are all rather thin. Snow White begins the group at a fairly normal body size and instead of growing larger or maintaining the same size and shape the princesses slowly start to disappear. The Disney Princess character that comes closest to representing an average or normal body size is Nani from Lilo and Stitch, but she doesn't classify as a princess. Because Nani wasn't a princess and was never really emulated by young girls like the other princesses, she never became that popular and therefore the desire to be like her never became popular. What if one of the princesses was overweight? Could that be seen as representing an unhealthy lifestyle and an unhealthy body image for women? Why must they all be so thin and unrealistic looking?
 
Since the Barbie Doll was so hugely popular, it was only a matter of time that the shape and style of Barbie would morph into other popular women, and the Disney Princesses too took on Barbie's shape. Barbie was the original tall, thin fashion doll and then other similar dolls were born Skipper, Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Aurora, Snow White, Pocahontas, Mulan and many others. The popularity of this doll covers the globe. Two Barbie dolls are purchased every second. The doll's popularity is unquestionable. It only makes sense that the power of Disney and the power of Barbie would come together to create a money-making, little girl influencing kingdom.
 
With all of these questions comes another question; what is the size of an average woman in the United States. There are lots of different opinions, but most come to the conclusion that the average American woman is 5 feet 4 inches tall, around 140 pounds and wears a size 14. We all know from shopping for clothes that one standard of measurement doesn't exist when it comes to clothes so it's hard to pinpoint exactly what is a size 14. But it is easy to picture a woman who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds - you could possibly be one. The average woman's bust is between 36 inches and 37 inches which is a B cup and the average waist is between 30 inches and 34 inches, with hips that measure 40 inches to 42 inches. Unfortunately these measurements are not replicated in the Barbie dolls that our youth are playing with. If the Princess Belle or Cinderella doll that your daughter plays with were to have the same measurements as a real woman she'd have to be 7'2" and 101 pounds and a size 4. Her bust would be 39 inches which would be a FF cup, her waist would be 19 inches which just happens to be the same circumference as her head and her hips would be 33 inches. These measurements aren't attainable by humans. In order to have the same proportions as a Princess Ariel doll the average American woman would have to be 24 inches taller, 6 inches smaller in the waist, 5 inches bustier and have a neck 3 inches longer.
 
If a real Princess Jasmine actually had the doll's body she'd only have half a liver and a few inches of intestine. It is necessary that humans have multiple feet of intestines so that they can properly digest what they eat. With only a few inches of intestine, Princess Jasmine would be on the toilet a lot with chronic diarrhea and overall malnutrition. She also wouldn't be able to support her own head due to a neck double the size of the average human's and she'd have to walk or crawl on all fours because her large chest would cause her to fall forward and her small feel wouldn't be able to support her.
 
The manufacturers of popular toys such as Disney, Mattel and others have the means by which to promote a healthy lifestyle and good self-esteem for our youth. But instead, they contribute to an impossible body image for young girls, and seem to ignore the possible harm that it can and does cause. Is the answer to have more accurately proportioned princess dolls and Barbies? Is the solution to represent all sizes, shapes, colors and ethnicities within these very influential plastic replicas of us? Is there ever going to be a role model that satisfies everyone's expectations or is it all based on the individual? The specific solution isn't clear, but what is clear is that there is an incredible foundation for someone to change the unrealistic and unattainable body image being presented to young girls, so who's going to be the first? And will it sell?

How to Find Your Body Type

Knowing your body type is the first step in dressing to look your best. Dressing for the wrong body type is a big "no no" in the fashion game. Read on to determine your shape to upgrade your fabulousness.
There are four basic shapes for women:

1. Hourglass
2. Pear
3. Apple
4. Banana

There are other shapes that are only slight variations of the above mentioned body types.
If You're an Hourglass:
Your bust and hip measurements are within one inch of each other; your waist is about ten inches smaller than those measurements, i.e. the coveted measurements 36, 24, 36. You tend to store fat in your bust and hips. Hourglass shaped celebrities: Halle Berry, Scarlet Johansson, Selma Hayek
Pretty much anything looks good on you. To complement your shape opt for fitted garments, soft or clingy fabrics, pencil skirts and single breasted jackets.
If You're a Pear:
Your hip measurement is significantly greater than your bust measurement. You tend to store fat in your hips, thighs and derriere. Pear shaped celebrities: Beyoncé, Kristen Davis, Jennifer Lopez
You may have a hard time trying to avoid looking overtly sexual because of your prominent hips and derriere. Shop for garments with empire waists, low waist pants, and fitted tops with decoration at the neckline to draw attention upward.
If You're an Apple:
Your shoulders are significantly broader than your hips. You tend to store fat in your face, chest and abdomen. Apple shaped celebrities: Angelina Jolie, Victoria Beckham, Paris Hilton
You should shop for garments that minimize your waist. Invest in tunics, sheath dresses and jackets that are cinched in at the waist. Leave your jacket open to present the illusion of a waist.
If You're a Banana:
Your hips are less than nine inches larger than your waist. You tend to store fat in your face, chest, abdomen and derriere. Banana shaped celebrities: Megan Fox, Eva Longoria, Gwyneth Paltrow
Invest in jackets that cinch in at the waist, ruffles and wrap dresses. You want to create an illusion of curves, so anything that cinches in your waist and gives your body shape is ideal.
Now that you know your body type, find the cuts of clothing that compliment your body and dress accordingly. If you're having trouble getting started; check out a couple of the celebrities that share your shape and gather ideas from the attire they wear, make it your own and work it!

Addressing The Types Of Gender Inequality Around The World (4): Sexual Child Abuse

If I had a daughter, she would be the most precious gift of my life. If I had a daughter, I would have already found one such gift; in her mother. If I were blessed with a daughter, I would do everything I could to protect her. And then, I would do a little more. What I've learned in this world, in almost three decades, is that this world is a cut-throat world. I've had my life threatened on numerous occasions, since I was a child. I'm lucky to be alive today, my life is a gift! There's no doubt about that. The most important thing I've learnt is that you can only survive and succeed in this world, if you become strong. Success means different things to people, to me success is being alive and healthy and living to see your kids do the same.
If I had a daughter, truth be told, I would probably be ridiculously soft with her. I'm an emotional guy and she would figure it out sooner than later, in her female cunning intelligence. And so, being tough on her - strict and disciplinarian, would likely be delegated to her mother. Since I know what the world is like though, I would insist she learn what I tell her, unfailingly, because her lessons would be the difference between her making it in life or failing. I have been defeated many times in my life; the difference is I never stopped going.
And so, strength would be the hallmark, my part in her upbringing, would be based on. Strength in intelligence, strength in experience, strength in wits and strength in emotions. I realize parenting is a ridiculously tough job but that would be my agenda. I'm sure it is always easier to think about parenting than it is to practise it. Awesome! If I had a daughter, I'd constantly tell her I love her... and be the type of parent, most kids would hate to be around, at school. I would be amazed by her, by everything she does and everything about her, every day.
Now, this is my prediction of becoming a dad. It would probably also be the scariest thing in my life. I would be terrified every day, deep down inside, because I'd know that I have this unbelievable, incredible gift in my life,... within this god-forsaken-like place of a planet we call the world! =) A world in which little girls get fondled by older men, all the time, every minute around the clock, all across the world. And that's just part of the psychotic foreplay. I'd wish I could wish to have all my parents' upbringing skills and would try to become their listening/obedient son I haven't been particularly known for, to raise my daughter successfully, through the maze of life and death in the world. Yeah, that would sound like me!
I once heard the most important part of a girl's life is her father. Kind of funny when you think that both parents are actually equally important to a child, but basically, having a dad makes a world of positive difference to a girl's life. She gets her balance from her dad; her ability to relate with males, respectfully; she learns how to balance her natural femininity and not let all her oestrogen out of control ( I seriously DON'T mean any offence to females at all! I'm a guy and guys aren't exactly popular for their communication skills!). She puts all her trust in her father and expects him to always have her best interest and safety at heart. This 'naivete', this is a girl simply being a daughter to her dad. A girl talks to her dad like they're the best friends in the world. She tells him everything and listens to everything he has to say, in awe and amazement. She finds him the most interesting man in the world ever and is forever intrigued by him and his behaviour. A girl is open with her love for her dad, she gives him big kisses and big hugs. She sleeps in his arms, plays with him, holds his hand, looks into his eyes, laughs with him, laughs at him, brushes her teeth with him and whatever else a girl and her father do in their home.
Millions of girls worldwide have incomprehensibly regretted these natural forms of behaviour and are live in a psychologically demented world; a parallel reality that is so sick and deranged that they cannot make sense of it - because nobody can. They are broken people, for whom exhibiting the natural ways of being loving daughters to their fathers, involuntarily initiated them to having demonic practices and atrocities committed to them: Grotesque crimes exercised on their bodies in forms of sexual molestation, rape and the associated psychological maiming. The very innate behaviour that these girls develop, to grow healthy and balanced emotionally, victimized them violently to a life of profound anguish and terror. They are kids JUST LIKE the others. No different! But unlike the overwhelming majority of girls in general, who grow up normally, these helpless children end up traumatized, terrified, schizophrenic, paranoid, insane and/or absolutely tormented, to give you a basic understanding (or how else would you describe a girl who's experienced incest?). They physically live in the conscious world with the rest of us, but our reality obviously doesn't make any sense to them or they wouldn't be raped as they are. Having started out as normal kids, the way nature intended them to be, makes no difference. So, they're smashed into their parallel reality of absolute horror, that's simultaneous to yet completely disconnected from 'our' reality because they're over there on their own. All because they are innocent victims of incest and sexual child abuse. That is a glimpse into the state of mind of a girl who has been and continues to be raped repetitively by her father. By the one person, she trusted more than anything in the world!
I call these acts demonic practices and atrocities committed to them, simply because - some events are too horrible to be classified as crimes. When a shop is robbed, that's a crime. When the financial sector orchestrates a great, global recession, that's a crime. When it gets away with it, that's a crime. When the leadership of a country refuse to account for the needs of their people and serve themselves and powerful, mega-corporations instead, that's also a crime. Although, they may feel like atrocities to their victims and it's debatable whether or not their perpetrators are demonic, they're frankly speaking, all examples of crime. When a girl, however, has all the existing norms of human existence, completely transgressed through sexual violence by her inner-most, sacred, trusted and loved circle - her own family, such events carry an unmistakably far darker essence than e.g. cyber crime or contract inflation. I only agree with them still being labelled as crimes, to legally pursue and severely punish the culprits who ruin the lives of these once bright and hopeful girls. If I had a daughter and she were raped, I don't even know what I would do myself. I'm probably blanking it out now, to subconsciously spare myself from entering a frame of mind that would be unacceptable expressing from, for the remainder of the article.
Let's go into a perpetrator's mind. Let's conceptualize a sick, demented, psychotic man who's guilty of performing sexual crimes on his daughter.
It starts with grooming, I suppose. But before that, let me take it even further; all the way to the very beginning: Let's start the frame from when she was born!
OK, so his wife is in bed with her legs spread, blood everywhere and she's just given birth. A, breathtakingly beautiful baby girl. The doctor just passed the wrapped up baby to her dad. The dad, he's over the moon! In his crazy, latent, mental illness, he stares at his child. Holding her gently, stroking her tiny face, loving every bit of it. Not going too far, so as not to give away anything. OK, so then the couple goes home with the baby. It's the first couple of days and all they can do is pay attention to her 24/7. Then he takes the time to take care of her. He changes her diaper, bathes her, cuddles with her, tucks her in her cradle etc. With ever so much loving care! When the baby's mother isn't around, he probably fondles her between her legs. Sick, I know! So, then the child grows up, the years pass by and daddy has gotten really close to the little girl! They play, fool around and joke loads with each other. She's like the best friend he never had and he's like the closest, overall buddy she loves being around of. Friends for life! And then, it little longer.
It's hard for me to continue this part, but as they live with each other, family-style, the dad starts to pat her in places he really shouldn't, a bit more. He stays with her in her room when she's undressing, more often, even though he knows he probably shouldn't. But then again, maybe not. He makes her sit on his lap a lot more, whenever they hang out and watch TV. She's growing up and is becoming increasingly plunged into a life of paternal perversion on herself and instinctively cannot figure out how to get out of this situation, because she instinctively knows something's not right! I mean, it's not really easy: It's her DAD after all, you know? He perhaps gets the little voices talking in his head as well, that tell him everything he's doing is bad, but he doesn't care. Maybe they don't exist in his head! He's her father, he tells himself. No one has the right to tell him how to raise his daughter! And so, he just responds like an everyday sociopath: He acts like nothing ever happened!
Grooming is a big thing in courting, as a paedophile. He must have been telling her she's beautiful all the time! He must have put her mother's lipstick on her and put make up on her and encouraged her take her clothes off, down to her underwear and walk around the house, in her mother's stilettos. He must have been shaking his hips in amusement with her, when teaching her how to walk like a model. Then he told her hot she's becoming and how she'll make all the boys like her and be someone really popular in school - despite being a minor. It's called brainwashing. If the mind is regularly fed something long enough, it starts to believe it. Where do you think the phrase ' Fake it to make it' comes from? You keep on listening to it, trying to apply it. It takes about 30 days to adopt a habit; her dad's been conditioning her since birth! The girl still loves and trusts her daddy, but she can't make out why she's made to do these things. And she doesn't feel all that comfortable when he stays with her in her room, when she undresses, or has a bath. She feels funny when he even stays with her in the rest room, when she has to wee-wee. It's been going all her life, but recently it's been becoming a lot more. She doesn't really tell mommy because, well, let's face it: She's afraid. She feels guilt even though it's not her fault! Something bad may happen or she won't know what may happen and doesn't want that either. She's only 8 years old and in her infant psychology, doesn't know how to deal with her shame! She feels it, but can't explain what it is. It just makes her increasingly uncomfortable around her dad now and she's beginning to suffer... in silence!
One day, it's all ready to go. This is it! She drops off from the school bus and her dad waits in the living room for her to walk in. He kisses her and takes off her school bag and tells her to go to her bathroom to change. She obeys him, goes into the bathroom, begins to pull off her shirt and BAM! Her dad bursts in, slams the door and shoves her over the table, holding her face down as he begins loosening his belt to take off his jeans. She doesn't know what is all of the sudden happening in the few split seconds so screams, but he slaps her, over and over again until she stops out of unbearable pain and just cries instead. He's already excited and his pants are over his knees. He grabs her rear and tears her pink and white, butterfly-decorated children pants down and thrusts himself into her: HARD! He doesn't fit for her underdeveloped reproductive organ, so he crouches down some more, to her hip level and then pulls her rear to himself as he clutches onto her hips with death-grip! She screams! She squeals! She can't believe what's happening, doesn't know how to make it stop, wants to disappear from the situation immediately, can't stand the incredibly sharp and flesh-ripping PAIN that she's experiencing and is thinking at least a dozen other thoughts at the same time, yet can't do anything about any of them and knows she has to endure the nightmare and cries even more realization of that. She's a girl! She's 8 YEARS OLD! She is being raped by her father, who all her life she thought was the one person who would always be by her side. The one who would always support her and no matter what... always give her unconditional love! No she's living out his dark fantasy. He's ritualizing her to appease his twisted fetishes. He doesn't care if he's destroying the innocence she's got down there. He's unconcerned that she feels so tight that he has to thrust violently and forcefully, to experience her, from the inside. This is his daughter! He has the right to do whatever he wants to with her, at his discretion. No one has the right to tell him how to raise his daughter!
It is in such mentality that much of the world governs its citizens, in that incest is vaguely defined in legal terms and many crimes thereof are governmentally swept under the carpet. It is a crime like domestic violence, that many police authorities around the world feel is a domestic affair and therefore out of their jurisdiction. The problem with activists boldly speaking about and against it, like myself, is that they're often suspected of being paedophiles themselves. I bet some of you think I'm a deranged man for having walked you through a grooming and subsequent rape process, myself. Be honest! You won't get an apology from me though. Why should I apologize for graphically visualizing one such incest-rape scene when, as you're reading this, thousands of its kind are happening to some poor girls around the planet? Oh dear! I'm really sorry for bringing to your awareness the exact horror a little girl experienced earlier today, from whom she thought she knew the most... not!
I'm being this provocative to drive a point home: Now that you've been in someone else's place, campaign against it! Every... Single... Person... Helps! You can only control your actions, so what would it be like if a few hundred web surfers, just like you, decided to campaign against incest and resolved to keep it at the forefront of their thoughts from now. How many people would you plan to get involved? How many do you think the couple of hundred out there would advise to take a stand too? See how many you've already become? The individual always has more power socially, than the person is aware of. People can engage more against evil than they think is possible, especially in this time of the 'shrinking world' globalization phenomenon through ICTs and the Internet. But it always has to start with that one person... who thinks (s)he is the only one who's doing making the decision today - while being completely unaware of others, doing the same in their own homes!
The really sad part about incest is that all over the world, it's vaguely written in law. Perpetrators are thus given universal approval to continue in their detestable ways, not really having to worry about much. I can only think of about 5 countries, mostly in western Europe that significantly punish incest. We're so proud to be of the 21st century; to have become so modern and moulded into a 'global village'. Yet we can't even bring ourselves to protect our children from sexual crimes/predatory. What a great stride. I'm so glad I to be living in this time. We made it out of the Stone Age; Whoop Whoop! I shouldn't work myself too much about it, though. With global gender inequality being so horrific and deeply-embedded across societies, at least it still keeps me in business! And that's the despicable part of it: That as long as children get raped by family members and die psychologically from it, people like me remain in employment! Go figure! I really should get another job but then who would help all these kids? You don't have to be a believer to approve it; it's the nature of the beast!
Girls grow up in very troubling times, these days. Here's a small example: "In Brazil, incest is considered any kind of sexual interaction between two blood related humans being. It has no criminal punishment if the involved are over the age of 14, capable of acting upon their legal rights, and that consent means that the relationship is absent of any kind of coercion or fraud. An uncle or aunt is allowed to have a relationship with a nephew or niece provided that they have a health check. " [Wikipedia.org contributors (2011). Laws Regarding Incest, Wikipedia.org]
A number of countries don't even have explicit laws against incest, partly because courting girl-children is a cultural custom. Just think of all the under-age, forced marriages going on across developing countries, most notably Africa and the Middle East. In my country, there's a governor who got himself of Northern African girl as his wife last year: The girl is under 13! There was a furore in the media, civil societies ran amok, and then the dust settled down and in the country, it was back to business as usual. Like nothing ever happened! But what happens with that poor girl for the rest of her life, well, she's on her own... with that old man. THAT is the plight of the girl victimized of paedophilia! How long will it take before numerous millions of tormented girls, suffering, crying profusely, screaming to the heavens and repeatedly breaking down psychologically - ALONE, get anyone/anything to finally save them at last from their God-forsaken, living nightmare? A year? Two years? You're right, I was only joking - more like NEVER!
Oops... am I being too cynical? OK, let me be more POLITICALLY CORRECT: How about 30 - 40 years? Is that more feasible? Great, we have a consensus then. What wonderful news because in less than half a century, all acts of sexual child abuse will be banished forever! It's not really that bad because a few decades is still better than never. From whose perspective are we talking here: The political 'humanitarians' or the (consistently) raped, girl-victims? Because to them, those few decades might as well be NEVER! Some of them will NEVER make it and would have died in sexual child abuse. Some of them would have become so psychologically deep-charred, steam-cooked and fried up, they might as well will be called dead because they'll have no measure of human dignity left to live with some quality of life. Some of them would have committed suicide, taken their own lives, that they so very much cherished when they were infants, if they had somewhat of a childhood worth remembering. Some of them, well let's face it, you can never really truly expel crime from Earth can you? You can never really get rid of the demonic side of human nature that propels us to do these dastardly crimes, when they are committed: You know, waging wars; not responding to famines like the current one in which the number of people who could die is more than TWICE the amount of Jews who got killed in the second world war but who cares, landslides, mudslides, monsoons, floods, droughts etc, particularly in developing countries; you know, the usual stuff! So, some of these girls would just be taken 'underground', re-married elsewhere perhaps, moved to different locations, basically just remain in sexual child slavery. Because that's what it is, there's no other term for it: If an under-age girl is forced to engage in sexual acts of all documented and undocumented obscenities and not saved from such existence, AS IS HER HUMAN RIGHT, her psychology gets cluster-bombed, multiple times repetitively, throughout each and every single, horrifying, excruciatingly-long, 24 hour sets of the rest of her life. Or how else would you describe a girl experiencing sexual abuse?
My heart goes out to all girls who go through incest and other acts of sexual violence. It took a lot for me to write this article, it wasn't easy - talking about something involving little humans who haven't made the life experiences yet to distinguish right from wrong. They experience it but their wrong becomes a right and their right, wrong! Absolutely wrong! Because nothing they ever thought that would make a balance and seem acceptable would ever be carried out such way. On the contrary, everything of their pre-perceived 'norm' just backlashed in a terrifyingly violent ricochet of pure insanity; spiralling out of control over pretty much the rest of their years! Is that a life you wish for them?
If perpetrators of sexual child abuse, all kinds of it, could in a flash, just rewind to when they were kids, little boys, then witness an event in which their mothers were brutally gang-raped, by a horde of despicable, older men, one after the other, in turns, and the little boys just stood there, staring their mothers in the eye, while their mothers would keep a brave face and tell them 'It's OK baby! Everything is going to be fine!' in writhing pain, and in a moment, they could make all those degenerate rapists suffer and be harshly punished for their crimes, would they do it or keep on watching, knowing they'd be seeing themselves in those deranged, older men and therefore refrain from taking action? Because every girl suffering from sexual child abuse today is pictured in those mothers: Someone's MOTHER! She just hasn't grown up to become a woman yet, if she's lucky.

The ugly nature of global gender inequality affects all in one way or another and the issues surrounding it are attempted to be presented here as factually as possible.
5 girls are genitally mutilated every minute worldwide. Over two thirds of the world's poorest people are females. Domestic violence is a global pandemic and yet also one of the most under-reported offences. There are more than three billion females in the world, all mothers in their own right. Unlike in many comic strips, this one doesn't have any lead characters; the main actors are the women illustrated from different walks of life, going through the vices the world imposes on them every day. The purpose of Mother Nature is not to offend women but to raise people's awareness about the rampant gender inequality prevalent in most societies. If everybody sees and treats women as equals, the real Mother Nature can be less anxious about planet Earth and gender equality can truly be achieved.

Fall Preview- Ann Taylor Has a Fresh New Everyday Style

Ann Taylor held a chic preview party for its Fall 2011 collection at the trendy Beauty & Essex Lounge; an atmosphere fit for the confident, stylish woman AnnTaylor is aiming to project to us. The woman we guests should want to dress like.

Is this the Ann Taylor we all knew? The store my mother went into and I cringed?

It is.

And it's having a make-over.

Evolving your customer base is essential to a timeless line, and Ann Taylor is executing that well by designing some edgier pieces to lure the young women in, while maintaining democratic pieces to stick with the consistent customer to this brand. Fabrications are luxe and attention to detail is seen in the linings, polished hardware and fine tailoring.

Ann Taylor Fall Preview 2011

The sophisticated color palette is a range of camels and cinnamons, charcoal, black, a pop of orange and teal, and the always present animal prints that remain staples.

I love the wide leg pant being a hot item for Fall 2011 and the fit Ann Taylor has looks impeccable.

The outerwear is another stand-out key item with a variety to choose from and perfect for every age and style. I personally would lean toward the ponte knit motorcycle blazer or the sleeveless trench. Whereas my mother would take the trench with sleeves or the cashmere blend camel cape with leather buckle.

Taking on a more experimental look there's a blazer mixing a charcoal tweed with a wool windowpane plaid.

The sweaters are soft to touch and come in turtlenecks to plunging necklines, that would look stunning with a slinky silk tank underneath. The splashes of orange make for excellent color blocking paired with camel.

Ann Taylor Shoes -Fall Preview 2011

As for accessories, this is where I feel the line gets a bit lost and I am not sure who they are catering to with chunky Marni-esque necklaces as well as polished gold link chains. Some of the jewelry is too antique to sit with the uptown sophistication projected in the clothing. Belts are a staple as well as the handbags, both of which sit well in the line. I was impressed to see some sexy suede booties and laced up leather heels - again, drawing in the young trendsetters appropriately.

Besides the collection itself, the presentation and preview party was fun mixed with refined. Champagne on gold platters matched the jewelry and hardware. The Ann Taylor lookbook given to guests is shot beautifully and truly showcases a timeless collection. I liked receiving a fashion illustrated canvas tote bag filled with the lookbook, a cuff bracelet with a big polished gold turn-key closure and a bossa nova Bebel Gelberto CD! -- Alix Kivlin

On Trend- How To Wear White a la Gwyneth Paltrow and Kelly Rutherford

I'll Have What She's Having: White clothing tips to not look like a bride, a nurse, or the Good Humor man!

According to old school fashion rules, Memorial Day is the official time to finally break out the whites. There's no need to look at calendar to see when wearing white looks right, if you know how to put it together!

There's nothing hotter this season than white-- albeit chalk white, off-white, weathered white, or a subtle tint of cream. Easy as wearing white sounds to be, too much of a good thing can absolutely be overkill.

Two ways to wear white: Gwyneth Paltrow mixes tan pants and tobacco colored platforms & Kelly Rutherford adds a a classic beige Kelly bag and nude pumps to her white sheath.

Although white technically may be the absense of color, getting heavy handed with it has a tendency to have you look like a bride, a nurse, or the Good Humor man.

But mixed in the right way, white is fantastic!

Take for instance, Gwenyth Paltrow in her white blazer and shirt. She layered delicate chain necklaces to create some "texture" near her face and opted for tan slim pants and chunky tobacco platforms to create a casual and neutral palette.

Kelly Rutherford accents a cream sheath dress with a beige Kelly bag and nude pumps for classic chic. Both ladies are playing with the nuance of shades to create interest and keep it modern.

Here are my tips on how to wear white...

• First, find the shade of white that best compliments your skintone and teeth color... that right, TEETH. If you're teeth are on the yellow side, opt for creamier shades or wear white on the lower part of your body while you run out and get yourself some teeth whiteners!
• 

  These are the FIRST white shoes that I bought in years: MM6 Maison Martin Margiela Canvas T Strap Wedge Sandals

  Consider texture like eyelet, ribbed T's, heavier vs. featherweight fabrics to create monochromic interest.
• Use neutrals and nudes to add dimension, like the ladies above.
• Try a clean graphic approach by mixing crispy chalk whites with clear, bold colors like red, electric blue, or black.
• If you wear white shoes with a white outfit, try texture like suede or mottled leathers, rather than basic white, flat white.
• Sandals or shoes that show some skin are better than closed shoes when it's a white on white combo.
• Use color, or the absence of color, to visually "shape" your figure and wear the brighter whites only on body parts that you want to emphasize.

• No matter what it's about fit- a flattering pair of white pants will ultimately look better than ill-fitting black pants!
• Don't forget your undergarments! Nude color bra and panies are best, unless you intentionally want your undies to peek out!

More ways to think about wearing white this summer...

KENZO Spring/Summer 2011 Shoes

By Senay GOKCEN
Editor-in-Chief

June 3, 2011, [New York] - Some people may call these just "nice shoes" but we call them "the art pieces" of Antonio Marras.

Antonio Marras; the Head Artistic Director of KENZO, while celebrating the 40th anniversary of the House of KENZO in October last year, should have been inspired by Japanese Geta* sandals when creating KENZO's Spring/Summer 2011 shoe collection.

Both the styles and the color blocking, bright, fresh and bold colors of these shoes and matching bags should be this Summer’s iconic accessories.

We had spotted some of these wonderful colors and assorted them in four groups as; Lilac, Coral, Nude and Turquoise tones to give us inspiration for the following mood boards we were working on. Today, after noticing that we kept these color codes to ourselves and didn't publish them on Fashion Trendsetter, it was still worth to share these bright hues at the right time of the season. For more information please visit KENZO - www.kenzo.com

Babajaan High Summer 2011

New Designers at NET-A-PORTER.COM

Babajaan - Kiki bandeau bikini top - £70 & Kiki bikini briefs - £70. Stand out by the pool in Babajaan's bright-green bandeau bikini top. Bold-hued swimwear, like Babajaan's bright-green high-leg bikini briefs, is the perfect way to make a chic impression on vacation. Team it with the matching jewel-toned kaftan to complete an exotic vacation look. (Image courtesy of NET-A-PORTER.COM)

Color Code: PANTONE® 7473 C

May 6, 2011 - Inspired by Brazilian sunsets and exotic lifestyles, Sandra Moleirinho's glamorous collection of color-pop kaftans and embroidered bikinis is jet-set perfect.

Brazilian-born Sandra Moleirinho founded Babajaan in 2008 with the aim of fusing her rich cultural heritage with a more contemporary aesthetic.

Chain-embellished swimwear, kaftans decorated with Swarovski crystals and handmade Panama hats look beautiful on the beach.

Babajaan - Kiki bandeau bikini top & Kiki bikini briefs

Advertisement Chic Summer Hats

With the heat in full swing this summer, there’s never been a better time to adorn your head with a pretty little chapeau. Hats have been a major staple this summer, because not only do they protect your scalp from the sun but they also add a flirty flair and hide your otherwise sticky, sun-drenched hair.

I am a huge hat person and whenever I get the chance to wear a hat, I’ll do it! It’s just so much easier and faster than doing your hair, so why not? Here are my top hat picks for this summer:

Straw Stetsons

Unleash your inner cowgirl with straw stetsons which are all the rage this season. They’re perfect for a day at the beach since they’re so big and they give you a lot of protection. Throw on a pair of oversized sunnies and you’re good to go!

Straw Fedoras

Fedoras are oh-so-chic that you can practically wear them anywhere! Go with a straw fedora for a day at the beach or just lounging around the pool!

Printed Fedoras

Fedoras have been on the scene for quite some time now, so why not adopt the trend? Opt for a cool, printed fedora when you wanna stay casual but still chic and flirty.

Homemade Mask for Oily Skin

Oily skin is a big problem during the hot summer months, which can lead to breakouts,so you need to know how to get rid of it efficiently. In addition to carrying oil-absorbing sheets with you, you should also pamper your face with a homemade mask once a week that’s guaranteed to rid your complexion of oil. Here is one of my favorite homemade masks for oily skin…works like a charm!

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 orange or lemon

Directions:

In a bowl, mash the banana until it forms a paste and add the honey. Mix well. Add a few drops of juice from an orange or lemon to the paste and mix well again.

Apply the mask to the face and neck and leave on for about 15 minutes. Remove with a steaming warm washcloth and you’re done!

I love this recipe because it’s super easy, you don’t need a lot of ingredients and it works better than most store bought masks which can be a little expensive sometimes. And trust me, your skin will thank you for this!

An Easy Summer Makeup Look

With the heat in full swing, you can’t afford to pile on the makeup and have it sweat off your face after just a few hours. That’s why you need to devise a new, fresh, makeup routine that will stay on all day and won’t feel caked on. This quick and easy summer makeup look is one of my favorites and the one I tend to wear most during the summer months.

Step 1: Prep

Prep your skin by starting off with a clean face. Apply a light, oil-free moisturizer and massage it in circular motions. Once the moisturizer has completely melted into the skin, apply a good primer which will ensure your concealer/foundation will stay put. You should also prep your eyes by applying an eye primer onto your lids.

Step 2: Flawless Finish

If you have perfect skin, just use a good tinted moisturizer to get a perfect, flawless finish. If you’re not that lucky though, start off by dotting on concealer wherever needed (red spots, blemishes, and dark circles). Pat the concealer in, making sure the problem area is thoroughly concealed. When it’s hot out, I prefer to skip the foundation as it can be a little too heavy. Instead, I just apply a matte powder all over my face. This will even out discoloration and put the concealer in its place.

Step 3: Beautify

This is where the color comes in. Get a big powder blush and swirl it over your favorite bronzer. Remember, start with little at first as you can always add more later (it’s harder to remove!). First, run the brush along the contour of your face. Then, run the brush over your brow bone, down to the apples of your cheeks, and just right underneath your chin, like a figure 3. Once you’ve achieved your perfect level of bronzing, add a little blush. Pick a peachy pink color that will look natural on you. Using a kabuki brush, just dab the apples your cheeks and blend it in.

Step 4: The Eyes

Your eyes are one of the most important features on your face…it’s one of the first features a person notices on you! So make sure to pay special attention to them, and bring them out more. Lately, I’ve been using Maybelline’s Eyestudio 4 color palette in Give Me Gold. It’s super cheap, it has good staying power, and the colors are actually very pigmented so you don’t have to run the brush over a hundred times. For a simple, refreshing summer look, I take a light hue, such as a sparkly cream or white and apply it all over my lid. Accentuate your brow bone by highlighting in. Just use the same light color and apply it on your brow bone 2-3 times, so that it really stands out. Use a light golden hue for the inner corners of your eyes and a copper, bronze color for your outer corners. Blend it in well. To make your eyes pop, use the light shadow you used earlier and apply it right in the inner corners of your eyes, making sure to get a tiny line on your lower lash. Finish off with a coat or two of mascara.

Step 5: Get a Pretty Pout

Since your eyes aren’t dramatic, you can play around with different lipstick hues. If you’ve been reading my posts, you know I’ve been obsessed with MAC Viva Glam lipstick in GaGa, which is a beautiful pinkish color that works great with this look. But, if you don’t have that exact lipstick, you can use almost anything. Just apply it to your lips and pat the color in to give it that just-kissed look. Finish off with a clear gloss and you’re good to go!

7 Summer Wardrobe Essentials

Don’t know what to stock your closet with this summer? No worries, because this season is bringing a slew of new, and revisited trends that you’ll be sure to love. Everything from neutrals, to rompers, and everything in between so even if you don’t have the latest trends, you’ll be sure to find something in the back of your closet.

Neutrals

Neutrals have made a very strong statement on the runways this season and demanded that you not be afraid to wear them! Although neutrals can sometimes wash out a complexion, it’s important to choose the right kind of neutral for your skin color. Neutrals are also great for summer because they keep you cool and they’re super fun to accessorize. If you’re not a fan of neutral hued clothing in general, opt for a pair of neutral wedges or an over-sized leather bag.

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Tropical Prints

There’s no better time to steal the tropical look than in this tropical, blistering heat! Tropical prints add a punch of color and, when paired with crisp white hues or neutrals, can look very sexy. Pick up a tropical print frock or full skirt and wear it with a white tank-top and an oversized belt.

Military-Inspired

I was never a fan of the military trend, but it seems as if stores worldwide have come to embrace the trend and so, why not give it a try? I picked up a cropped jean jacket in beige that has little military-inspired details such as the buttons and zippers. Throw it over a dress or wear it with a long tee and skinny jeans. You can also get military-inspired tube dresses, shorts, and even skirts. Just make sure to accessorize and keep everything else nice and simple!

Sailor Stripes – Go Nautical!

Arrrgghh matey, do ya love sailor stripes? If so, it’s your sailing summer! Sailor stripes have never been so hot, and now you can get sailor striped pants, shoes, shirts, jackets, skirts, ANYTHING to channel your inner sailor girl.

Shirt Dresses

Shirt dresses are the perfect summer staple because they’re super comfy, easy to wear, and you can throw them over a bathing suit. What’s more is that a shirt dress can go from a lunch date to a night on the down. Just switch your flats for a pair of heels and you’re good to go!

Circle Skirts

Circle skirts are hot right now and that’s because they look super cute when paired with flats and a fitted tank top. Pick one up in a fun, bright color or a tropical print, and pair it with a white or neutral form-fitting tank top. To add a little height, throw on some wedges!

Rompers

Love em or hate em rompers have made a huge splash this summer and that’s because they’re virtually fuss free! Think about it…you have an outfit all made for you in one piece. All you need to do is throw on some accessories and wear it with flats, flip-flops, sandals, wedges, or heels.

SOCIAL MEDIA GOES FASHION

JustProud is a fast growing social community for everyone who wants a career in fashion or who is passionateabout it. Get discovered through JustProud or see it as a stepping stone. The community driven fashion brandenables members to upload their design, share opinions, participate in photo shoots and more. All for thepurpose of creating their own fashion brand.How does it work?

At JustProud.com designers upload their designs. Models and photographers connect their profile to the designs they believe in. Then all members have the opportunity to vote and decide what getsproduced, featured and who wins a photo shoot. It is the community who decides!“There are two kind of photo shoots”, explains Geert Rietbergen the founder.

“Frist there is a local shoot whereone item is featured”. The expenses will be little, because the designer, model, make-up artist andphotographer simply receive a share of the sales profit for the item. Then there will also be an international shoot for the entire collection.

Those expenses will be covered by JustProud.According to Rietbergen the fashion industry is very ‘top-down’: A designer decides what happens with hisdesign. “Our new concept is more than just creating clothing, it’s collaboration. The buyer decides what he/shewants to see launched.” In the meantime there already has been a co-creation event after which JustProudrapidly grew. “In the community we create things together, people share their opinion”, says Rietbergen. “It isup to the designer to see whether he adjusts the design due to the comments”.Rietbergen established JustProud together with Djon Kleine in October 2009.

Since then the community has reached over 13.000 members worldwide. Keep in mind that you don’t have to work in fashion or beexperienced to join; everyone is welcome to become a member. With work experience in online marketing, Rietbergen knows better than anyone how to launch a product on the internet. “In October we launched a pre-site, where we explained the concept. At this moment we have a more developed beta-version of the site, thefinal version will be launched after the summer. The online store will be available in May so you can see thefirst designs”.

JUSTPROUD is initiative from the people of BALLSMEDIA. Where they used to work at the agency-sideconsulting multinationals like Unilever, PepsiCo, KLM etc, now they focus on realizing projects where people(like you and me) are really involved & really get the direct benefits of. BALLSMEDIA is located in MountainView (CA, USA), The Hague (Holland) & Shanghai (China).

Crystal Renn “shocked” by those skinny images of herself

Images via Styleite

Crystal Renn’s curves have been the subject of much praise lately for diversifying the model landscape. So imagine everyone’s surprise (not to mention her own) when those admired curves appeared to be missing. In a recent batch of photos of Renn posing in Fashion for Passion’s latest tees, the model appears to be a few sizes smaller, creating an outburst in the blogosphere and causing her agent to immediately assert that she is still “a solid size ten.” Renn herself has just commented on the images in a recent interview:

“Well, I was shocked. When I saw the pictures, I think I was silent for a good five minutes, staring with my mouth open. I don’t know what was done to those photos or who did it, but they look retouched to me. And listen, everybody retouches, but don’t make me into something I’m not.”

The photographer argued the photos “…taken from a higher angle with a wider lens. I shaped her…I did nothing that I wouldn’t do to anyone. I’m paid to make women look beautiful.”

If he’s paid to make women look beautiful, why would he make this real beauty unrecognizable?

But let’s give Renn the last word: “Well, imagine you see a runway show where you see all different types: petite, tall, black, white, Asian, everybody’s in there. You’re just going to see beautiful women. There’d be no more weight debate. It’s done. That’s my vision for this industry. I guess you could say it’s quite grandiose, but I don’t care.”

Underground disco

While last week’s look was all about finding that understated cool factor in the sweltering heat, this week is all about over-the-top glam. Resplendent in gleaming gold accents, our streeter has all the style (and hair) of disco queen Donna Summer. Her gold-edged glasses, glittering skirt, bejewelled belt and gilded sandals are way too fab for the subway platform!

See the full look after the jump.

Photography by Kira Crugnale

www.fashionmagazine.com

How to Choose a Concealer Brush

There are two types of concealer brush on my tool dictionary, one is the type of brush that is meant to be a concealer brush and the second one is the type of brush that is not created for concealer but able to deliver flawless application of concealer.

At the end of the day, what matters is the result not the type of brush!

a. Synthetic Concealer Brush

Ideally, concealer brush should be flat and slightly tapered so that it can place products to even the hardest corner of your undereye. It should also be made from synthetic bristles because concealer products are usually creamy and synthetic bristles are the best pair for creamy product.

Usually the synthetic concealer brush comes in two sizes, the normal medium size and smaller size.

MAC 195 and Make Up Show concealer brush are two examples of the normal medium size synthetic concealer brush. They have flexible synthetic fibre flat brushed that can follow the contour of your under eye shape. The brush is tapered so it allow precise application and easier blend of your concealer. This type of brush can also be used for cream eyeshadow products or other eye products that are in cream form such as eye shadow base.

The synthetic flat brush is perfect to be used if you want to have more coverage on your concealer. Apply small amount of your concealer to your under eye area and try not to place any product near the lash line (stop at around 0.5 cm from the lash line). Stroke or stipple your brush lightly on the under eye area and apply the concealer upward until it’s blended flawlessly. The reason why I avoid placing any concealer near the lash line is because I don’t want the concealer to concentrate on my eye bag or fine lines. Usually closer to the lash line we will have very fine lines already. By blending the concealer upward you’re already giving that area the coverage of concealer that it needed.

Of course MAC also has a smaller version of the concealer brush which is MAC 194 brush that is created for small-area coverage and precise application. The shape is slightly tapered with less hair than MAC 195 but it’s firmer. As an alternative Bobby Brown Cream Blending Brush can be used, and since it’s smaller in size and it’s slightly longer you can reach even smaller areas.

This type of brush is perfect for blending product on the undereye area and spot touch-ups. It took more time to apply concealer using this brush, so I will only use this brush if I have more time. You can also use this brush for lipstick brush if you don’t currently have one.

b. Natural hair blending brushes for applying concealer

I came across this technique by chance, when Darwyn Tse, our favourite make up artist was doing his make up on me during the first Kelas Dandan, he was using MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush to blend my concealer. At that time I always constricted my concealer application by using synthetic brush only. The result is really light and flawless! You can used blending brush to apply your concealer when you don’t want high coverage or when you need to blend the end result of your concealer application.

I like using this brush for daily concealer application since it’s very simple to use. You just need to dab your brush into the product, and applied the concealer in stippling motion and blend it by moving your brush in circular motion. The brush will not pick up too much concealer and it blends the concealer right away.

As an alternative you can pick Make Up Show Blender Brush 7S01 instead. I will avoid Bobbi Brown Blender Brush since the length of the brush it too long and the size is too small. The fluffier the brush is, the easier it is to blend the concealer.

Especially for face area, I would choose bigger blender brush to apply concealer.

How about you? What kind of brush do you use to apply concealer?