Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Cra Delevingne and Saskia de Brauw Fendi Fall 2013 Campaign

Shot on the rooftops of beautiful Rome, models Cara Develingne and Saskia de Brauw are the faces of the new Fall 2013 Fendi ad campaign.
Cara Develingne Fendi Fall 2013


The images were photographed by the brand's creative director, Karl Lagerfeld, who paired the two girls before in the Chanel  Cruise 2013 campaign.
Behind the scenes, Karl Lagerfeld shoots Cara Develingne for fendi Fall 2013.
image via WWD


"For our 2013-2014 fall/winter season, we sought to celebrate the love between Fendi and Rome with a very feminine campaign evoking a chic and modern Roman holiday," said Lagerfeld.


Roman Skyline
Fendi Fall 2013

Fendi Fall 2013



Fendi Fall 2013


Fendi Fall 2013

Fendi Fall 2013

Fendi Fall 2013

Fendi Fall 2013

Fendi Fall 2013

Fendi Fall 2013


Read more: Fendi Fall 2013 Campaign - Cara Delevingne and Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Believe The Stripe ~ How To Spend It

I absolutely love Damian Foxe's remarkable wardrobe styling.
In fact the main reason I check out How To Spend It magazine is to see what he has been up to.

Believe The Stripe, How To Spend It

Here with photographer Gustavo Zylbersztajn, he takes to the high seas in a story all about sailor stripes for summer.
It's magnificent.

Believe The Stripe

Believe The Stripe ~ How To Spend It



Believe The Stripe ~ How To Spend It

Believe The Stripe ~ How To Spend It

Believe The Stripe ~ How To Spend It


Believe The Stripe ~ How To Spend It

Believe The Stripe ~ How To Spend It



Friday, July 26, 2013

Dajana Antic Plays Desperate Housewife For DressTo Kill Magazine

I absolutely love 60's inspired shoots!
Belle Du Jour, Dress To Kill Magazine


In this fabulous editorial for Dress To Kill magazine, model Dajana Antic gets the full sixties treatment from makeup artist and hairstylist Sabrina Rinaldi. In wardrobe styled by Randy Smith, she evokes a desperate yet super glam housewife for photographer Richard Bernardin.

Belle Du Jour

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill Magazine

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill Magazine

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill Magazine

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill Magazine

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill Magazine

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill Magazine

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill Magazine

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill Magazine

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill

Dajana Antic, Dress To Kill

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Vitamin C Skin Care

One of the most important things you can do for your skin (after strong, broad spectrum SPF and a killer moisturizer) is to introduce Vitamin C to your regimen.

Vitamin C is one of the very few products that has scientifically been proven to play a significant role in collagen production. It also is an antioxidant that goes after and destroys the free radicals that damage the skin cells and cause premature wrinkling and aging.
No matter which age group you fall into, building collagen and fighting free radicals are crucial steps to keeping your skin looking youthful, and utilizing vitamin C is an essential part of an anti-aging skin care program.

But.

There is a problem with topical vitamin C products.

Vitamin C in skin care products is easily oxidized, killing the antioxidant properties and turning it into an expensive and largely ineffective citrus moisturizer. In order for a vitamin C skin care product to have any success in treating fine lines and wrinkles, and improving the skin, it must have a high concentration of the vitamin and it must be in its active state.
Which brings about another problem. Typically from the moment of manufacture, and assuming the product is held in optimal conditions, it is only effective for approximately 90 days.
So if your expensive bottle of vitamin C infused skin care has spent more than 90 days from the point of manufacture, to transporting it to your department store, to getting to the shelf, to getting to your house, you've wasted your hard earned cash.

But.

I recently found an amazing vitamin C treatment from a new company called EstheCeuticals.


You buy it as a set. There is a serum, which contains hyaluronic acid and Ferulic acid (which recycles the vitamin C and boosts its efficacy)and a separate vial of vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid).
You get to regulate the concentration of vitamin C that your serum gets. A full vial will give you an amazing 20% concentration. The timer doesn't start on your product until you mix the two vials. You then pour the mixture into the empty bottle provided, and you have the perfect vitamin C skin treatment product.
The 1 ounce bottle was cleverly designed to meet not only the average person's needs, but also those of business travelers. For 90 days it can go anywhere you do!

The EstheCeuticals C and F Treatment Serum can be used daily, and is also part of their post laser and post microneedling protocols, designed to do fast repair work to the skin.

Vitamin C skin care needs to be stored out of direct sunlight, preferably in a cool, dark cupboard.

You can order EstheCeuticals C and F Treatment Serum online at the company website www.EstheCeuticals.com

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

How To Lose 5lbs Fast (Or Look Like You Did)

I'm always looking to either lose 5 lbs or to at least look like I just did.
Especially after spending the summer in Italy.



Anyway, I read this in a magazine ages ago, and as I'm heading out to the gym in a manic effort to kill (at least) 5lbs, it feels relevent....


1. Subdue Your Sweet Tooth





Cutting sugars from your diet is a no-brainer, but also cut sugar-alcohol sweeteners.
Low carb foods such as mints, protein bars, even chewing gum can contain sorbitol, manitol, xylitol (if it ends in 'ol' its a problem). As the 'ols' are not fully absorbed into the blood stream they can ferment in the large intestine, which is a major cause of bloating.
Read labels and see whats really inside the package.
A couple of carb free days filled with lean proteins and high water fresh vegetables can trim the bloat and make you look (and feel) 5lbs thinner.





2. Stand Like A Dancer

My best friend is a dancer. She always looks lean and immaculate (partly because she is lean, and quite frankly, immaculate). Her posture is always perfection too.
So many women stand with rounded shoulders and with their torso out of alignment, which thickens the waist and shortens the trunk. If you square your shoulders, align your hips with them, and then lift your chest you will elongate the torso, making you look longer and leaner. It also draws the abs in, thinning out the waist.
It also takes considerable stress out of your back, so you feel great too.

3. Adjust Your Fit

Your clothes should feel tailored, not painted on.
Avoid clothes that are too fitting (shows every flaw), pants that are too skinny (accentuates hips butt and thighs), too high waisted (stunts the upper body) or cropped (makes you look shorter).
Dresses and skirts in fluid fabrics will make you look leaner, and blazers and tops that hit just below the hip will help elongate your frame.
Rather than becoming a fashion victim, learn the shapes and cuts that work best on your body, and stick to them.
Have your clothes altered to fit your shape. A quick alteration on a killer pair of pants can make all the difference in the world. A nip and a tuck on a blazer or a dress, tailoring it to your body can be endlessly slimming.



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

How To Treat A Sunburn

Lido Copacabana, Mazzeo Beach, Sicily


If you've ever had a sunburn you'll know what complete misery it can be. Here is a 6 Step Guide to How To Treat A Sunburn


1. Ibuprofen
Take ibuprofen, aspirin or other over the counter anti inflammatory as quickly as possible, both to help reduce inflammation at the site of the sunburn, and also to reduce the pain.





2. Lukewarm bath or shower

Either run a lukewarm bath (that is, not teeth chatteringly cold - keep it bearable) and add in some baking soda, or run a lukewarm shower, keeping the water stream gentle.
Avoid soaps, bath oils or detergents - they will just irritate the skin














3. Make Cold Compresses


Make cold milk compresses by soaking clean wash cloths in a bowl filled with equal parts milk, ice and water.
The fat, protein and pH of the milk have an anti inflammatory effect on the skin, while the cold temperature constricts blood vessels and reduce swelling.
Another great way to relieve the sting of sunburn and to take out the heat is to apply a wash cloth soaked in vinegar.






4. Apply Topical Relief

The best option is to apply fresh aloe (the gooey stuff inside the aloe leaf).
If you don't have fresh aloe use over the counter aloe.
The steroids in Cortisone cream can be hugely beneficial for reducing inflammation, and the cream itself can feel soothing.
Keep the sunburned area super moisturized with a rich body product, such as cocoa butter.

5. Stay Hydrated
Drink water

Sunburn and sun exposure are both very dehydrating. Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of cold drinking water per day. Sports drinks and juices are also good, but water is essential.





6. Stay Out Of The Sun

Keep sunburned areas out of the sun. Wear loose fitting cotton garments and stay in the shade.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Sicilian Obsession ~ Ortygia

Sicily may just be my favorite place in the world.

streets of Ortygia




I had no idea that I would love it so much. From the incredible ruins and historical sites, to the fabulous beaches, from the incredible views to the completely outstanding local cuisine, from the spectacular local wines to the ever smiling, friendly people, Sicily has it all.

One of the (many) places I loved visiting was Ortygia, the island part of the ancient city of Siracusa.
on the street in Ortygia
Ortygia is tiny - only 1km x500m, and the best way to see it is on foot. You can't get lost walking through the narrow streets and alleyways, as walking far enough in any direction leads you back to the sea.

Every which way you turn you are enveloped in 2500+ years of history.

From Apollo's temple built in the 7th century BC
Apollo's Temple, Ortygia Sicily

to the Duomo, who's bottom most excavations have unearthed remnants from the ancient Siculi, followed by the Greeks in the 5th century BC, then the Christians added to it in the 7th century AD and finally its baroque facade which was erected in the 18th century,
columns in the Ortygia Duomo, dating back to 500 BC

to  the castle fortress built by Frederick II in 1194, Ortygia is an historical gem. Every building, every alley is fascinating.

acordian player in Piazza Del Duomo, Ortygia Sicily
The heart of Ortygia is no doubt the beautiful, baroque Piazza del Duomo, the perfect spot to stop for lunch.
piazza del duomo, Ortygia Sicily

Glaringly bright white, offset by the incredibly blue sky, this is Sicily as I had always imagined it.

Piazza Del Duomo, Ortygia Sicily


salad for lunch in Ortygia




Before leaving the island, a quick stop at the morning market is a must. Fresh fruits and vegetables and fish - everything you need to make a delicious dinner with a local flair.
Ortygia Fish Market

Ortygia market, image Lonelyplanet

 Private yachts moored off the island
boat in Ortygia
locals mix with tourists
Sunbathers lie out on the rocks
sunbathing in Ortygia
I can't wait to go back....