5 Ways To Lose Weight By Looking Great (Thanks Fitbie!)…
Being a self-proclaimed health addict who spends way too much of my time scouring the Web for fitness/healthy eating articles, I was more than happy to stumble upon Fitbie’s “Fashion-Forward Ways to Lose Weight.”
This article offers 10 chic ways to lose weight using some of the seasons most popular styles. I just had to share with you some of my favorites but be sure to check out Fitbie for the entire article.
1. Lipstick: Fitbie states that wearing lipstick, especially those of a coral, red, or fuchsia hue, can prevent you from eating messy or sugary foods since you won’t want to constantly mess up your kissers. Nutrition Director Sari Greaves, RD, from Step Ahead Weight Loss Center confirms that you will want to eat daintier as no not smudge your makeup! My preferred lip colors are from Sephora.
Left to Right: Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain “Always Red” $12/Charlotte Ronson “A perfect Kiss Lip Gloss” $14 (Sophia-Creamy Coral)
2. Carry a Clutch: Marisa Moore, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Fitbie that carrying a clutch, instead of a shoulder bag or purse, keeps your hands busy, making it more difficult to carry a drink AND a plate of food (genius because, lets be honest, the cocktail would always beat a plate of food if I had to choose one).
From Left to Right : Clare Vivier Aqua and Neon Foldover Clutch from $156/ H&M Straw Bag $17.95
3. Buckle Up: Fitbie suggests wearing a belt to not only kick up your style a notch, but to also help define your waistline. (Also, it is a nice reminder to have: once it starts feeling a little tight you know to put down that last donut)
From Left to Right: Forever 21 Colorful Braided Belt $6.80/ Tory Burch tory Reversible Logo Belt $195
4. Do Denim: Hopefully you work at a more laid back office where you are given the freedom to wear jeans on Friday. A study from the University of Wisconsin showed that people who wore their favorite dark-washed jeans to the office took 491 more steps than those who wore suits.
From Left to Right: Forever 21 Stretch Skinny Jeans $10.80/ Madewell Skargorn Bones Skinny Jeans $128
5. Sneak Attack: Fitbie’s article encourages commuters to save their heels for the office and rock some your favorite paire of sneakers into work. Not only will this make your morning routine more comfortable, but it will also give you the availability to get a quick work or walk out in during your lunch break.
From Left to Right: Nike Free 4.0 Women’s Running Shoe $90/ New Balance 860 $89.99
~Michelle Mass
Exclusive Makeup Workshop with Aleksandra Ambrozy
Confession: I am a grown girl who, until Sunday, did not know how to properly put on makeup. What is primer? What is the difference between concealer and foundation? Which do I apply first? Umm…how many brushes do I really need? All seems to be basic makeup knowledge for a big girl. But for me, I had so much to learn.
Luckily for me, professional makeup artist Aleksandra Ambrozy taught me all that I need to know for flaw-free makeup application. I showed up to her exclusive makeup workshop looking completely disheveled and honestly,I was kind of embarrassed. My complete and utter lack of proper makeup knowledge was pretty obvious to the other women who attended this event. But no need to fear! Despite the fact that I’m a makeup newbie, Aleksandra was super sweet and gave me all the help I needed in order to get my makeup just right.
Aleksandra taught me and the other ladies three makeup looks: the super-quick but chic daytime look, the glamour look, and the “smokey eye” look. After watching the tutorials, we were off on our own to recreate the makeup looks ourselves. Aleksandra helped us individually step-by-step (in her adorable Polish accent, might I add), and gave us many useful tips for the best and easy application.
Now I feel more confident in getting dolled up without looking like a clown, and it couldn’t have been possible without Aleksandra’s expertise. Here are some of the tips that the makeup guru shared:
Early Warm Weather Causes Fashion Confusion…..
Image Courtesy of fashionista.com
This year, warm weather has come incredibly early. Early March has acted more like mid May with temperatures in the mid 70s. Even after a mild winter, we’re openly welcoming the sudden burst of warm weather. Unfortunately, there’s always a fashion rule that interferes with us wearing that new outfit we’re saving for spring. There’s the most commonly known rule, you can’t wear white after Labor Day, or before Memorial Day. Only a few people know the second, implied, part of the rule; you can’t wear spring clothes until Easter.
My question is, who decided that wearing spring clothes is only socially acceptable after Easter? We shouldn’t bust out the bright colors yet, or dare wear shorts despite the 75 degree weather expected later in the week? I understand that fashion rules used to be applicable to style, but life isn’t as strict today as it was when the rules were made. For example, some have speculated that the wearing white after labor day rule applies because people used to succumb to holiday weight gain, and white makes everything look bigger, so people were supposed to not wear white until we’ve shed the summer weight.
That was all well and good, but now we live in a post P90X world. Generally, we don’t have to worry about gaining holiday weight, so why can’t we wear white year ’round? More importantly, why can’t we bust out the spring clothes a little early? Fashion rules serve as a good rule of thumb, but there are almost always exceptions to the saying. Like you’re never supposed to wear black and brown together, but Kate Middleton was seen rocking a pair of chocolate riding boots and black jeans. Many girls have adopted this sophisticated, yet casual look despite the fact that it breaks a cardinal rule of fashion.
It just begs the question, are fashion rules relevant today? There’s almost always an exception for the rules, so why bother with them to begin with? If you want to wear a baby blue pair of shorts from J.Crew, don’t hold back. Keep the fashion rules in mind so you don’t horribly break one, but you can find a chic exception. As long as it looks good, no one will question you.
7 Must-Have Spring Nail Colors
It seems safe to say we’re all feeling positively giddy about this amazing spring-like weather. And since winter technically still has several more weeks to rear its ugly head, we should bask in these warm temps while we can.
So remove that dark polish immediately and swap it with one of these popular new spring colors.
1. Chartreuse
OK, so this may be my favorite new nail color. I saw a gal rocking a puke-yellow polish the other day and it immediately grabbed my eye. After some Googling, it appears the color can go by a million other names including, “mellow yellow,” “yellow-green,” “pistachio,” “olive” and “apple green.” Technically speaking, chartreuse is halfway between yellow and green. When shopping for the ideal shade, I recommend thinking “dark mustard yellow.”
2. Pistachio
Obviously, every gal needs a couple of pastel polishes come April. And with green being a particularly popular color this spring, it’s no surprise this softer shade is everywhere right now.
3. Matte Neon
Unlike your typical highlighter neon, companies are mixing in white pigment to offer a slightly more sophisticated neon pallet. Basically, steer clear from colors that are blinding or have a shimmer.
4. Tangerine
Though usually thought of as more of a summer-appropriate color, tangerine is an amazing color to pair with your spring wardrobe. Imagine it: white blazer over a hot pink cami and tangerine nails…BANGIN!
5. Blues
With deep sapphire blue having been huge this winter, companies are now releasing a wider variety of lighter blue shades, mainly, turquoise, baby blue and navy.
6. Fuchsia
Fuck demure pinks—it’s all about fuchsia and hot pink this spring.
7. Nudes
Having made a big comeback this winter, it appears the all-natural nail trend is continuing into the spring. Any color between white and brown on the spectrum is a hit.
The Hidden Implications of Fashion
In Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s children’s novel, “The Little Prince,” the title character encounters a Turkish astronomer. The scientist continues to tell the Prince a story of his astronomical discovery. When he first presents the discovery, he was wearing traditional Turkish clothing, and his fellow scientists regarded him as a fool. Years later, the Astronomer makes the same presentation to the same crowd, only wearing Western clothes. He is well-received and respected among the scientific community.
It’s no lie that we typify people by the very clothes on each others’ backs. We will formulate preconceived notions and take the visual as a first impression. And it is by those stereotypes we will hold each other responsible for our very treatment based on said preconceived notions.
The most recent illustration of this mindset is Treyvon Martin, a Florida teenager who was shot and killed on Feb. 26.
Martin, according to reports, had been walking through Sanford, Fla., a suburb of Orlando, carrying Skittles and an iced tea bottle and wearing a hooded sweatshirt, when George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, began pursuing Martin, 17. Zimmerman asked Martin to stop running. Martin then, according to Zimmerman’s police report, knocked Zimmerman down with a punch and repeatedly slammed his head into the ground. Zimmerman then proceeded to shoot and kill Martin.
Zimmerman is protected against manslaughter charges under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
Legal jargon and technicalities aside, what has become more of an icon –and, perhaps subsequently, more of a controversial issue – than Martin or the shooting, is what this teenager was wearing at the time of his death.
National TV news anchors have worn sweatshirts during broadcasts in protest. Lawmakers, lawyers, political pundits and teachers are wearing sweatshirts to work. There have been Million Hoodie marches throughout the nation since mainstream media has taken hold of the issue. But worst of all is the full-on war the conservative media has taken against the article of clothing.
Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera responded to this tragedy by urging minority families to discourage their children from wearing sweatshirts, as the article of clothing was to blame for Martin’s death.
Now, before I address the absolute ridiculousness of Rivera’s assertion, allow me to digress:
In April, 2011, Toronto police officer Michael Sanguinetti said – if not so few words – if women didn’t want to get raped or sexually assaulted, they “should avoid dressing like sluts.”
That’s right. Sanguinetti said if women were raped or sexually abused, it was their fault because they dressed provocatively.
His vilifying words toward women are no better than the actual meaning, and I can’t help but compare the Martin case with Sanguinetti.
How has our society moved from blaming the doer to blaming the wearer?
Granted, I understand one’s attire has an effect on our perception of them, as I said earlier. However, Sanguinetti and Rivera have essentially asserted the same point. The difference? Rivera is garnering support from Fox News and like-minded citizens; Sanguinetti was metaphorically burned on a stake by women around the world.
In the minority world, do we just prefer women over blacks? Is it easier – or perhaps more acceptable – to remain xenophobic and racist than it is to be sexist? What do you think?
Local Love: Once Worn Consignment
Ever since Jen Waxman was the wee age of 10, her passion was hunting for bargains. The thrill of thrifting was her most treasured hobby. But now thanks to her, you can find the best deals all in one place: in her NoLibs thrift store, Once Worn Consignment at 910 N. 2nd St.
A mixture of vintage, designer, jewelry, candy-colored pumps, and novelty items (including a keychain of a fetus), Once Worn takes the stress out of the hunt, serving up the funkiest styles all in one spot.
Left: Vintage dress, $28; Vintage Gianni Ferretti pumps, $20 // Right: H&M faux fur coat, $15; Wilster blouse, $40
Essential to a consignment store is a community of hip-dressers. And NoLibs certainly is chock full of those, “The Neighborhood people aren’t generally into designer stuff, but more styles like Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban. They wanna spend 8 or 10 bucks on an H&M dress rather than 200 on a designer piece,” says Jen.
So if you prefer to get a lot of unique pieces for a little chunk of cash, Once Worn is the place to go.
Left: Navajo Poncho, $24; Cowboy boots, $15 // Right: Charlie & Robin sweater from Anthropologie, $40
The consignment factor could also cut down on the cost of that pair of Gianni Feretti pumps. Bring in some items you’re tired of, and Jen will buy them from you or give you store credit. “It’s good for me, It’s good for them!” Jen proclaims.
Only in existence a year and a half, the store has grown to be so successful that a bigger location is in order. But Jen loves NoLibs, and wouldn’t want to move too far from her 2nd street location. Up the street lies her sister’s gallery and boutique, Art star, which is the reason she was attracted to the neighborhood in the first place. Across the street are a fleet of restaurants and tap rooms, and Soy Cafe is down the road.
So fill up a laundry bag with old clothes to consign, shop the afternoon away and then relax with a soy latte or draft beer.
Once Worn is open Wednesday through Saturday 11-7 and Sunday 12-6. Be sure to “like” their Facebook Page for updates on new items and sales!
**Photos by Katie Warburton
–Marissa Oswald
David Beckham Bodywear
Those who watched the Superbowl for the commercials were pleasantly surprised by the commercial for David Beckham Bodywear line for H&M in which basically we got to see him in a pair of boxer-briefs.
Daaamnn.
But while the commercial was a delight, I wondered how the actual line stacks up. So I went online and peeked at the selection. Given the Beckham name, I was expecting a designer collaboration more like the Versace underwear line with it’s flamboyant colors and sexy inseams. What I got looked like I raided my grandfather’s underwear drawer. I expected some color sprinkled in the line, but the only options are black, white, and gray on boxer briefs, briefs, long underwear, tank tops, and Henleys. There aren’t any crazy designs or any athletic, sexy fits, just a basic underwear line. For a pair of underwear starting at $14.95, I want it to look different than a pair of Hanes. I want something a little more sexy, or a little more distinct to say the least.
The tank tops and Henleys look comfortable and perfect for a workout or bed, respectively, but there’s nothing different than a pack of Fruit of the Loom undershirts. Designer collaborations in the past have been very exciting, I loved the gaudy nature of Versace for H&M, but I have to say I’m pretty disappointed with the line. There isn’t anything special about it, and I really hope this isn’t a sign of what’s to come for future designer collaborations.
In other news, I will be covering Carmelita Couture’s runway show in NY Fashion Week on Tuesday. I’ve been fortunate enough to see Carmelita’s designs in the past, and they never cease to impress.
Make Your Own Metal Jewelry…No, Really
Make these Free People look-a-likes with Roll Printing!
Ever peep a cute piece of fashion jewelry and wonder how that gold-painted piece of nickel could possibly cost 2 benjamins? Ever send a curse upon the woman who always has the most unique pieces, leaving you wondering where she could possibly be finding them?
We’ve certainly all have moments when we declare, “I could make that!” But did you actually end up making it? Of course not. Fortunately, there’s an outlet for all your wildest metal-bending dreams: jewelry making class at Main Line Art Center.
Don’t get it twisted; this isn’t your average pre-school bead-stringing party. I figured this out upon stepping into the studio filled with drills, guillotines, and other rotating things that looked like they were meant for human torture. These are the tools that could turn any of your jewelry fantasies into real, wearable pieces in a mere 5 evenings of once-a-week classes.
Dawn Bergmaier, Main Line Art Jewelry Extraordinaire
Professional Jeweler and Tyler Art School grad Dawn Bergmaier teaches the basics of working with metal. You will defeat everything from sawing, polishing, saudering and shaping to “roll-printing,” the process of printing texture on metal by placing lace, dried leaves or fabric through a manual mill with the metal. Another all-too-easy technique she demonstrates is “etching,” where patterns or words are drawn onto metal with a sharpie, then it’s tossed into a solution that eats the exposed metal away, resulting in etched metal designs sans scary fire torch.
I was fortunate to sit in on the first session, in which we were instructed to cut Abraham Lincoln out of a penny. “Someone in my class always asks ‘Isn’t that illegal?’ Well yes, it totally is,” chuckled Dawn. But when she got her first job at a jewelry store on the Main Line, her boss ordered her to do the tricky maneuver flawlessly, leaving a perfectly polished, smooth Lincoln pretty enough to be a charm. Trust me- the real challenge is not escaping the law, but cutting out Abe’s nose with a needle-thin hand saw without making him look like Pinocchio.
A Dawn Bergmaier design
Dawn will prepare you for not only your own creations, but the handcrafted jewelry industry itself. And for those who want to make more projects- that gold set of earrings you could replicate for cheap- that knuckle ring with your name on it- whatever your style, you can use all the machinery and tools in-studio in supervised sessions through March 22nd. You can go to the Mainline Art Center website or call 610.525.0272 to register. The next two batches of classes start Friday mornings from 9:30-12:30, February 24-March 23 or for those who sleep in late, Thursday nights 6:30- 9:30 February 23-March 22. So get on it, future jewelers.
Brilliant Idea: Magnetic Nail Polish
The other day I was hanging out in Sephora, and one of the sales associates, Sara, showed me something new. It’s called Whitehall Magnetic Nail Polish by Nails Inc., London.
Here’s how it works: you paint your nail with the polish and then hover the magnet (located on the top of the bottle cap), over the paint and viola! Your nail has this funky, shiny, squiggly thing going on.
I wasn’t so sure about the polish at first, since I usually stick with neutral colors. But it’s been about 24 hours since I got a sample on my pinky finger – and even though the nail looks totally busted- I can’t find the will to remove it. I’m sold! Neutral colors, step aside.
Sara mentioned that she recently read an article about how nail salons are suffering since people are doing their own nails in order to save money. So, I guess when you think about it, $16 isn’t a bad amount for nail polish you can get a nice amount of uses out of and have fun with it.
You can get your own bottle in silver, purple or teal at Sephora in Center City.
~Zenovia Campbell
PW Gift Guide: For Your Four Legged Friend…
Every year we shower our loved ones with gifts, yet give our furry friends a bone just like the one they got last year. We all have that one friend who is obsessed with their toy dog. I’m pretty sure they eat, dress and walk better than I do, so your gift to them has to be up to their standards. It’s time to show man’s best friend how much you actually care. Here are some quick and easy gift ideas for the pet or pet lover in your life.
Image courtesy of Juicy Couture.
Clothing
While this seems like an obvious gift, it’s very important that small dogs have several things to wear. Yeah it’s cute to dress up your toy dog to match your outfit, but some small dogs can’t retain heat well because they don’t have an undercoat. Not only do clothes give your dog attitude, they also help keep him warm. Check out Juicy Couture’s selection of dog apparel and accessories or your local pet store for the latest in K-9 fashion.
Image courtesy of Coach.
Accessories
Paris Hilton circa 2003 carried Tinkerbell as an accessory, but today, little dogs, like Lisa Vanderpump’s Jiggy, serve as companions that accompany their owner throughout the day. You wouldn’t give a super model a knock-off handbag, so why give a designer dog a lame gift? Check out Coach’s pet line or any of the pet boutiques in the city for a present for your designer pooch.
Image courtesy of blingblingpuppy.com
Bedding
If you haven’t noticed, dogs of all sizes love to sleep in every position imaginable on couches in the sunlight for hours. Instead of throwing what looks like an old, smelly bean bag chair on the ground for man’s best friend, check out the latest wave of designer dog beds. Pampered Puppy has a series of dog beds that match your room’s decor, and Bling Bling Puppy has a line of beds that’ll match your own bedroom set. Give your Prince or Princess the bed of their dreams this Christmas.
Image courtesy of Doggie Web
Toys
Dogs love to play, but in order to do so, they need more than just a tennis ball. My Golden Doodle has a toy bird that he can’t go anywhere without. ”Birdie” is one of Ollie’s favorite toys because it simulates a real bird, and being part Golden Retriever, he loves to carry his bird around as if it were real. Determine the toy your dog likes the most, and explore the market. Dogtoys.com has an entire line of eco friendly products for your pet, which gives your dog something to play with and gives you peace of mind.
Image courtesy of Dexigner.com
Hidden Pet Necessities
To declaw or not declaw, that is the question. Humane cat owners have embraced shredded furniture, carpets, and clothing to save their feline friends the pain of being declawed. Fortunately, pet companies have realized their scratching posts don’t have to be hideous mounds of old carpet, but rather modern art, and Petco has a line of litter boxes that double as washroom tables. Don’t sacrifice your home’s decor just because you have a pet, look for chic ways to incorporate your pet’s needs into your home.
Image courtesy of Just Dogs Philly.
Gourmet Treats
I love indulging my sweet tooth every now and then because sometimes its nice to just live in the moment. While you indulge in a sticky bun from Di Bruno Brothers, treat your pooch to a jar of gourmet snacks made locally from Just Dogs Gourmet or Doggie Style. Both specialize in hand made food and treats for your pet. Don’t leave man’s best friend out after Christmas dinner, tell Santa to pick up a pack of treats today!