With locations throughout South Florida, Francesca's Collection is destined to become a major hit. The trend caters to teens and young adults with affordable clothing, jewelry, and accessories.
The chain was started in 1999, according to the website and now has 28 stores nationwide. Dresses, blouses, purses, and jewelry are all designer inspired but cost as little as $10.
The store was featured in a news story on MSNBC's Today Show and has been mentioned in Glamour and Teen Vogue. Click below to watch the newstory, courtesy of MSNBC:
FTL Moda is moving to Fort Lauderdale this year for its annual fashion show. The event will take place from March 28-30th this year. The event will showcase designs from fashion capital Milan, Italy.
This year, the show is a supporter of the Institute of Diabetes, part of the University of Miami. The show will be presented at the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. For information visit the FTL Moda website.
The humidity and hot weather in Florida can melt make-up right off of anyone's face but several websites offers great tips on avoiding a make-up meltdown.
Celebrate with Style recommends using tinted moisturizer instead of foundation. The site also says to use oil-free products that won't clog pores and cause breakouts.
Nutricraze offers tips on how to dress and apply make-up for the hot weather. Avoid dark shades of eye make-up or lipstick. Lighter shades allow you to look fresher longer.
Sparkle Shelf offers a beat-the-heat beauty routine. Start off with sun-screen to avoid skin damage and finish off with water-proof mascara.
Try some of these tips to keep your look fresh this summer.
Wrapping up its 27th year, the Swimwear Association of Florida prepares beach-goers for the upcoming heat. While the 2009 Swimshow, presented each year by SAF, has already passed, its online site prepares viewers for the summer.
The site lists local designers and stores for the best women's and children's swimsuits, flip-flops, and beach accessories. Users should view the swimwear gallery to see this summers hottest shapes and styles.
After the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show visited Miami this past December, normal women everywhere felt overweight and ugly. The unrealistic standards of the modeling industry and the death of three models have led Australia, Italy, and Spain to ban underweight models from the runway, according to an article in USA Today.
Today, the formation of a new community online is pushing officials to seek banning several websites. These sites encourage anorexia as a lifestyle choice. Offering tips on hiding the condition, motivational sayings, and recipes for ultra-low calorie food.
Live Journal offers a 24 hour posting board for pro-anas to talk with and encourage one another. One member, Fatcow66 writes:
"I over exceeded my 300 calorie limit today. ate about 800...so that means tomorrow is a 0 calorie limit.new rule. the start of a 3 day fast.i can not get back to 120. and i'm 118 this morning.ew.i purged today.i know it doesn't save any calories, but in my f***ed up head, it does."
Youtube.com has also been invaded by the pro-ana community. Thinspiration videos show pictures of incredibly thin models that are idealized by these groups:
Currently, the websites have not been banned but legislators are working toward their termination. Sites are required, however, to provide a disclaimer.
If you suffer from life threatening anorexia, contact the following clinics. Each have Florida locations and can help you beat the disease: 1. The Renfrew Center has a location in Coconut Creek, Fla. 2. Canopy Cove is located in Tallahassee, Fla. or 3. Milestones in Recovery has a center in Cooper City, Fla.
Sunfest 2009, starting on April 29, will have South Florida residents out in the always harsh Florida sunshine. Smart Floridians know that the number beauty product this year will be sunscreen because healthy skin is a beauty essential.
According to the National Cancer Institute, "Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is known to be the leading cause of skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the US." So what are the best sunblocks to use to fight away those harmful rays?
According to Coolibar, a skin protection organization, dermatologist listed the following, in order, as the top ten sunscreens to use:
Neutrogena
Coppertone
Anthelios
Blue Lizard
Solbar
Aveeno
Oil of Olay
Vanicream
Bull Frog
Ombrelle
The NCI reccomends using an SPF of at least 15 and protective clothing such as a hat, long sleeves, and pants. Click the video below to view the popular song "Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen:"
To hear a dermatologist's perspective on sunscreen, watch the video below.
Florida native, Tricia Fix, is making a big name for herself among designers. Her dresses are being worn by some of the most talked about celebrities in Hollywood. Since launching her company in 2005, Fix's designs have been seen on Paris Hilton, Angelina Jolie, and Jessica Simpson. Several magazines, including In Style, Lucky, and People, have also featured her casual, floor-length summer dresses.
Fix has a store at 109 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach or shoppers can visit her website: http://www.triciafixoriginals.com/
"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening," stated famous designer, Coco Chanel.
Once an exclusive club, fashion design became popular once every celebrity decided to open up their own line. Now that a large group wants to be part of the designing crowd, how can a true designer stand out? Simple, know what you are doing.
South Floridians have that part a little easier. There are several schools to choose from that offer courses and degrees especially for fashion design. One popular choice is the Fort Lauderdale Art Institute. The college offers both a Bachelor and Associate of Science in Fashion Design.
The International Academy of Art and Design, with campuses in Tampa and Orlando, also offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Associate of Science in Fashion Design and Marketing.
For a listing of technical school that offer programs in fashion design visit the Technical Schools Guide.
It can be hard to be fashionable without breaking the bank. Palm Beach Jewelry, an online store, features name brand perfumes, jewelry, and accessories for every budget. Savings are an average 15 to 65 percent off of average retail prices. Users can also choose to make monthly payments up to four months. Accredited by the Better Business Bureau, the site is rated one of the top 500 internet retailers.
To block the Florida rays, check out the great savings on sunglasses. Save 65 percent on Christian Dior Havana sunglasses. Regularly priced at $260, the glasses sell for $104 on Palm Beach Jewelry. Or find your favorite beach scent. TryEscada Sunset Heat, a fruity-floral mix. Regularly $70 for 3.4 oz., on Palm Beach Jewelry it costs a mere $42.
These Florida cold-fronts are bound to come to an end so it's time to start buying new colorful pieces for your spring 2009 wardrobe. Designers are showcasing bright new colors including: fuchsia red, super lemon, salmon rose, and palace blue. To view popular designers and their choice of color visit pantome.com. In the picture to the left, Michael Kors uses a vibrant shade of yellow for his spring line.
To see the 2009 spring collection of the always colorful Betsey Johnson, just click below:
