I’ll be the first to admit that I love Dove’s Real Beauty campaign. The initial ad campaign was based on a simple but profound idea: We don’t need a flawless celebrity or model to sell us products. Real women, with real hair and real skin and real arms and real thighs, are beautiful, too. It felt genuinely empowering to see ordinary—if unquestionably beautiful—people in an advertisement. But I’m not so sure about Dove’s newest effort, a film called "Patches."

In the short film, ten women are invited to wear a patch that they are told will help them feel more beautiful. After a few days, the women start to feel better about themselves, and by the end of the experiment, they have undergone a major transformation. They feel confident, happier, and yes, beautiful. Here’s the twist: There’s nothing in the patch. When it comes to low self-esteem, the placebo effect is real, and it is powerful. The women are all overwhelmed to discover that they didn’t need a medication to feel better about themselves; self-acceptance was theirs for the taking all along. Tears ensue.

I have issues big and small with this ad: Where did they find ten women who would try a medication without knowing what was in it? And then there’s the more disturbing suggestion that women need to be tricked into feeling good about themselves. But mostly it made me sad to listen to these "real women" talking about how ugly and self-conscious they feel before eventually finding self-acceptance. It’s the advertising equivalent of watching a group of women tear into themselves in hopes that their friends will shower them with compliments and build them back up. The “I’m so fat”/ “No you’re not—you look great!” exchanges have the veneer of supportiveness and mutual admiration, of honesty tempered by approval, but underneath lies a sad well of shame and insecurity.

I long ago stopped finding that particular female-bonding ritual encouraging; now I’m just disgusted by how much time and effort we waste feeling bad about ourselves. I’m looking forward to the viral video that doesn’t remind me that women all hate their bodies and hair and skin before telling them that they shouldn’t. Let’s just skip straight to the second half of the message.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/long-prom-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/black-prom-dresses

Saturday night saw Rangos Hall in the University Center transformed from a dull and unassuming space into an electrifying celebration of culture, beauty, fashion, and art thanks to the 2014 SPIRIT Fashion Show. Going beyond the typical fashion show format to combine all forms of performance, the show was more than a showcase of clothing, but rather a statement on numerous social issues related to discrimination and the lingering feelings of hatred that course through the blood of America.

The theme for the 2014 SPIRIT Fashion Show was “Prima Facie,” Latin for “at a first glance,” and guided the show’s discussion of discrimination. As described in the program, “Image is powerful and complicated, and we want to show the community just how complicated it can actually be. Our show will demonstrate the power of someone’s first impression.” Indeed, the show’s four acts were divided into four sections, each dealing with a specific theme: “Sexuality” touched on the struggle for gay rights and acceptance, “Women” railed against unnatural standards of beauty and disregarding strong female behavior as “b****y”, “Black Men” dug deep into racial discrimination and violence, and “United States of America,” the first act of the show, served as an introduction to the evening by briefly mentioning all three aforementioned themes.

What sets the SPIRIT Fashion Show apart from other events, such as Lunar Gala, is the fact that its much more than simply a showcase of clothing. Throughout the night, there were numerous performances — spoken, sung, and danced — that made “Prima Facie” more of an artistic statement than a mere runway. Poems performed by junior acting major Mitchell Edwards (who also wrote a number of them himself), senior dramaturgy major Alesia Etinoff, and junior psychology major Nkem Chikwendu gave each section a narrative voice, with music and dance performances also serving to highlight the themes. Junior musical theatre major Jean Floradin’s defiant dance performance to Bon Iver’s “Lost in the Woods,” which provided the close to “Sexuality,” was especially powerful in its representation of the spirit of the night.

The fashions of “Prima Facie” kept in line with the sections in which they were placed. For example, “Human,” a collection by Sammi and Company that was included in the “Women” section, strives to “remind everyone that no matter who we are and what we wear, we should be treated and judged like humans, and not just as a trend.” Many of the collections showcased in “Black Men” were influenced by urban streetwear and, in keeping with the section’s character, some drew inspiration from figures who fought against repression. “Versus,” for example, included sweatshirts and T-shirts that bore the images of everyone from the Notorious B.I.G. to Malcolm X and Maya Angelou.

“Prima Facie” was a tremendous effort that transcended usual fashion show fare to become a statement on incredibly important issues of social justice and equality. Rather than celebrating perfection, “Prima Facie” chose to rail against it and celebrate beauty and triumph in its most true forms. And as an added bonus, the proceeds went to fund the Visionary Performing Arts Academy in downtown Pittsburgh.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/long-prom-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/black-prom-dresses

You might love your hair and may constantly be worrying about how quickly you are losing it, but it is time that you put these thoughts aside and consider going bald. Why? According to a new study, it can increase your IQ, by a whopping 10 points!

Researchers at University of Curryland conducted a study on 400 individuals and reached a conclusion that going bald makes immediate and incredible improvements to a person’s IQ. The study led by Dr Parkin Johnson was published in the journal Human Hairopia.

For the study, 400 men with varying degrees of hair were made to give IQ tests – first with full hair, then after going bald and then again, after regaining their lost hair.

Interestingly, it was observed that their scores improved by as much as 10 points after going bald. These scores dropped again when these men gave the test after regaining their lost hair.

‘This research makes a startling revelation of how having hair may not be such a good thing for men. Hair puts unnecessary pressure on the many nerves present in the human brain and thus reduces brain function. Our research may start the trend for the bald hairstyle!’, said Dr Parkin Johnson.

Ronald Donchester, a 21 year-old-student, who took the report appeared extremely shocked. “This was the first time I have gone bald in my life and the result was shocking – science concepts which I found difficult to grasp suddenly seemed easy, my preparation time for exams has reduced and I remember more while writing the exam.’, he said.

The study has invited great applause from some sections and criticism from others. Paramananda Purohit, a pandit from Tirupati said,’All religious customs have a scientific base and this research proves it. Why do you think we ask our devotees to shave their hair? It enlightens them.’

However, the members of GHAI (Global hairstylists against injustice) have gone on strike saying that scientists should check the IQ scores of participants after a stylish haircut. ‘It doesn’t matter whether you go bald. Getting a haircut anyway will refresh you and make you feel great about life thus improving your IQ. Why don’t the researchers study that too.’, said Tom Presley, a renowned hairstylist.

So, the next time you need to push harder for your exams or job interviews or even the upcoming season of KBC, it’s simple. Just go bald!

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/red-carpet-celebrity-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/short-mini-prom-dresses

This new streetwear brand has taken the sights, sounds and flavours from Rio back to London, to create a lifestyle brand completely different from anything currently on the market. Most importantly, they have adopted the independent spirit of the people they had met in Rio who lived passionately, freely and confidently beyond the rules of society.

For the SS14 capsule collection, tropical prints and graphics of palm trees, flowers and beaches dominate the range. The fusion between London city and Ipanema beach is evident across the apparel resulting in a stylish, trend driven collection that will compliment any wardrobe of their 18-35 year old pioneering target consumer.

Key pieces include the Lucio t-shirt, a statement all over tropical print that would make the most loyal of city dwellers want to hit the beach. The Leandro tee is the perfect summer t-shirt, tying into seasonal trends of pocket and reverse sleeve prints, leather detailing, dip dye effect and a teal green colour way.

From the sweatshirts within the range there is the Demetrio crewneck with floral print sleeves and the brands toucan logo in charcoal grey and black. For a lighter summer look, there is the navy Rui sweat with a stand out front graphic, again with the brands toucan logo incorporating the tropical Rio rainforest.

The brand has been formed by a likeminded group of young creative individuals with a variety of product, retail, design and PR backgrounds. The Independent Leaders brand care about those who wear their clothes. It symbolizes a way of thinking rather than just an apparel range.

They are excited to unleash a genuine, trend driven, high quality collection into the UK streetwear market and have exciting plans to develop the clothing, art and music offering for AW 2014.

The collection will be available from mid February online via the brand website with leading fashion retailers across the UK and Europe being the next target for the brand. Independent Leaders ethos of inspiring a movement of people who live life free from outside control is central to their design process, brand identity and demonstrates the strong brand personality.

Those who wear it will themselves- be “Independent Leaders”. Going beyond just fashion; art, photography and music is a big part of the brand’s DNA with some exciting upcoming projects and collaborations planned for 2014.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/plus-size-bridesmaid-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/blue-prom-dresses

Moving into the past when seduction in vintage cinemas of Europe, Hollywood and Bollywood played a major role, Nupur Kanoi’s collection called “Noir Jahaan” for her Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2014 was inspired by the feminine femme fatales of yesteryears.

Referring to boudoir elements along with the hourglass figure and inspirations from hints of men’s wear, Nupur created a mélange of contemporary designs. Drawing ideas also from North Indian dancers and courtesans, the collection was enduringly beautiful in style and structure.

Opting for sensuous lace, sheer chiffon, satin, crêpe, corsetry, abstract fishnet and scallops prints along with Chikan Kari, the designer worked her magic for separates and wearable ensembles.

Dividing the collection into three colour stories of black, grey and taupe, Nupur created utterly feminine creations that kept the audience thrilled with the designing touches. Black crushed chiffon and lace embroidered jumpsuit, the egg shaped maxi dress with eyelets, the “U” kurta, printed baby doll top with ultra wide trousers and the sari-shirt dress were impressive.

The sari-skirt, kurta-dress, angarkha jacket worn over circular skirt/straight trousers and the final embellished plunge “V” blazer-like kalidaar kurta with georgette churidars were superbly crafted.

The crisply, carefully edited collection was ideal summer formal wear with its easy comfortable silhouettes, which will add to the practical requirements of fashion conscious women. Adding a slight risqué touch, Nupur ensured that the line of garments had the perfect blend of exotic sex appeal and effortless ease.

When women want to make that femme fatale impression, wherever they go, the “Noir Jahaan” collection by Nupur Kanoi will turn them into irresistible ladies.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/one-shoulder-prom-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/navy-blue-bridesmaid-dresses

Dry and rough hair is a problem faced by many people. This is because of unhealthy food habits and lifestyle that people are adapting. This is accompanied by pollution, dust and dirt. The excess use of chemicals and synthetic processes has also led to the damage of hair. Therefore, frequent hair treatment for very dry hair is required. There are salon methods for dry hair care. But they are short termed and may have side effects like dandruff, hair loss and so on.

It is always good to use natural hair treatment for very dry hair. The natural methods for dry hair care may take longer to show effects but they are permanent benefits. In this article, we shall discuss some natural dry hair care methods to make your hair soft and smooth.

Aloe vera - Aloe has very good dry hair care benefits.Aloe vera has properties that repairs the dry hair and makes the hair soft and smooth. Aloe vera is thus a good hair treatment for very dry hair. Aloe vera gel can be directly applied on the scalp and hair. The gel should be kept for some time and then rinse it with cold water. You may even use shampoo or conditioners that are made form aloe extracts.

Egg - Though, applying egg is sticky and stinky, but it is an excellent hair treatment for very dry hair. The egg has lot of proteins and vitamins which help in moisturizing the hair. It also contains certain enzymes that remove unwanted oils and dirt. To use egg, pour the egg white or yellow or a mixture of both in a bowl. You can even mix egg in your shampoo. Leave the egg for 20 minutes and then wash with cold water. Your dry hair care is done naturally.

Yogurt - Yogurt helps to clean the hair scalp by removing unwanted oils, dirt and dandruff. The fats in the yogurt helps to moisturize the hair. Yogurt is a natural hair treatment for very dry hair. To use yogurt, apply it on the hair for 15-20 minutes. Rinse hair with water and then wash with shampoo to remove the stickiness of fats. Do not use yogurt for dry hair care if the external atmosphere is cold. Yogurt can cause head ache, cold and cough.

Beer - Beer has been proven to be a good hair treatment for very dry hair. Beer has large amount of yeast which helps to retain the moisture in hair and help in dry hair care. To use beer, pour some in the hair and massage your scalp and hair for 10-15 minutes. Wash the hair with cold water and repeat this every week for better results. There are some beer shampoos also available in the market which have good benefits for dry hair care. Beer can be used for hair treatment of very dry hair.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/one-shoulder-bridesmaid-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/pink-prom-dresses

Nearly all of us need to make more time for fitness. Finding that time, though, can seem impossible.

But what if you could wedge that workout in at work? If it sounds far-fetched (or a great way to get yourself fired), listen up.

Dr. James Levine, an obesity expert at the Mayo Clinic, says Americans don’t need to log more time at a gym. Instead, they need to banish their sedentary ways by incorporating easy bursts of activity from dawn to dusk.

He calls it NEAT fitness, which stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. In layman’s terms, it means cranking up the body’s calorie-burning abilities by weaving in near-constant movement — such as standing, walking, even pacing — at every opportunity. Becoming a body in motion that stays in motion could help you burn 500 or more extra calories a day. Combine that with smart food choices, and we could be well on our way to reversing the nation’s ever-expanding waistline.

And Levine said he believes the best place to start is in the workplace.

If you’re rolling your eyes, you might be guilty of what Levine calls “1930s thinking, to see employees (and the workplace) as merely tools of productivity.” But “the really cool companies” — Google, Yahoo, Apple — “take the health and the happiness of their employees seriously,” Levine said.

It’s not just for altruistic reasons, of course. It’s easier to keep health costs in line when employees are healthier, and a healthier workforce is a more productive workforce, he said. “A healthy workplace is the way of the future.”

Such a future might resemble the San Clemente, Calif., headquarters of Stance, an upscale sock company that tailors its line to Southern California’s snow, skate and surf culture.

Chief Executive Jeff Kearl says the four-year-old company has spent more than $100,000 on employee perks such as a basketball court, a skateboard half-pipe, game tables and showers. A chef prepares healthful breakfasts and lunches. (On a recent Friday, employees rolled in to an array of freshly blended juices and homemade yogurt. Lunch revolved around a crunchy kale salad.) A gym, personal trainers and classes are coming shortly.

And it’s not unusual for employees to clear out and head for the beach (just up the street) when the waves are just right.

“It may be hard for people to believe, but we have zero abuse,” said Kearl, whose office runs by a “freedom and accountability” philosophy that loosely translates as: Just get your work done, OK?

Not every company is run like Kearl’s or will hire the likes of a Levine to revamp their culture and facilities to make health and fitness a priority. So we asked Levine to help us come up with some ideas to try now.

ALTERNATIVE OFFICE FURNITURE

Is it time for a standing desk?

There is debate about whether a standing desk can help reverse a sedentary lifestyle, but experts say it’s a step in the right direction.

At the very least, a standing desk can serve as a constant reminder to weave more activity into our everyday lives, said Levine, who encourages businesses to embrace healthier workplaces.

Before you spend a penny, why not just find an empty box or milk crate and turn it upside down? Look for opportunities to use it as a perch to review notes, talk on the phone, sort mail, etc. Sit only when you need to focus on your computer screen. This experiment will help spark your own creative solutions to a more healthful workstation and help you decide whether one of the following might suit your needs:

Got a treadmill acting like a clothes hanger in your spare bedroom? Then you could be halfway to a walking desk. Yes, a walking desk — a desk that wraps around a treadmill — is the hot new corner office accessory. One model on the market is the TrekDesk, an adjustable-height U-shaped desk that curves across the front of your treadmill, leaving space for a laptop, an inbox, a phone and more. Yes, there are cup holders. Stroll along at a gentle pace — up to 2 miles an hour — while working. Or stand still when you need to focus. Price: $479.

In all likelihood, you’ll want a workstation that allows you to stand and sit. UpLift has an extensive line of desks in a variety of sizes, prices and designs that come with a motor that will allow you to easily switch back and forth. One we like is the UpLift 900, priced at $769.

Money is no object? Check out the Elliptical Machine Office Desk at Hammacher Schlemmer. It’s $8,000. It’s spacious enough to include an area for just standing.

There’s always a DIY approach: If you’ve got the space, you could use a small coffee table or stool perched atop your existing work area. Or grab a reclaimed cabinet or armoire and set it alongside a traditional desk to give you the best of both worlds.

Adding movement to your workday

1. Walk or bike to work once a week.

2. Don’t park your car in the spot closest to the front door. Instead, find the parking stall farthest away. (Of course, take security into consideration.)

3. Stairs, no elevators.

4. Stop the impulse to email. Instead, walk to a colleague’s desk to deliver a work message.

5. Walk 15 minutes before work. (That’s 71/2 minutes in one direction, and then turn around.)

6. Walk 15 minutes at lunch.

7. Walk 15 minutes after your shift ends.

8. Walk 15 minutes after you park your car at home. Boom. You just put in an hour’s worth of walking.

9. Consider commuting at least once a week. Walking to and from a bus or train stop could be a nice way to break up the routine.

10. Get a headset, or a long handset cord, and pace while talking on the phone or listening to a conference call.

11. Start a walking club. Three times a week, meet before or after work for a 30-minute walk. (Everyone starts together but proceeds at their own pace.) Do it indoors and you never have to worry about the weather.

12. Create friendly challenges among co-workers or departments. Tally up step counts once a month: Losers buy the winners a healthful lunch.

13. Unleash your inner “Top Chef.” Once a week, hold a healthful potluck. Everyone brings in a recipe. Vote. Crown a winner. Share the recipe.

14. Set an alarm to go off every hour on the hour. When it does, get up and take a short, brisk stroll or stand and stretch — and then get back to work.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/black-prom-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/mermaid-trumpet-prom-dresses

With the news that J.Crew was readying itself for an IPO, and then that the company was in talks to sell to Fast Retailing — or maybe to E-Land — it’s clear that change is afoot for the retailer. And part of that change is going to entail international expansion, particularly if J.Crew sells to Japan’s Fast Retailing or the Seoul-based E-Land.

Since Mickey Drexler took the reins at J.Crew in 2003, the company has become famous for its turnaround from an uncool American classics retailer to a fashion-forward brand that shows at New York Fashion Week.

There’s a lot that J.Crew has done right in the last decade. For starters, quality got an overhaul across the board. As Ashma Kunde, a retail analyst at Euromonitor International points out, J.Crew President and Creative Director Jenna Lyons upgraded everything from the cashmere used for sweaters to the light fixtures placed in stores. Its presentation is impeccable and consistent across all consumer touch points, including catalogs and in stores.

And then there’s the styling: the pencil skirts with sneakers and sequins with sweatshirts. Lyons’s eye for quirk, color — those coral lipsticks! — and layering took J.Crew’s classic separates to a more editorial level that was nonetheless approachable and commercial.

Where J.Crew hasn’t always nailed it? International.

J.Crew’s focus was squarely on its domestic business when Drexler came to the helm, which makes sense given that the company was struggling at the time. Later on, the company went big in Japan and opened 70 storefronts with a partner, only to withdraw in 2008. The failure of those stores might be attributed to not treading lightly enough and not taking the time to establish a strong brand presence in the country before setting up so many locations, says Aria Hughes, associate editor for retail at WGSN.

As Drexler has said, the Japan stores were poorly managed and “embarrassing.”

Pricing across borders has been difficult for the retailer, too. When J.Crew opened its Canadian stores and website in 2011, it raised prices to as much as 50 percent above U.S. prices, causing a wave of outrage from consumers. Although Drexler admitted at the time that J.Crew had messed up on that count, the retailer went through a similar bout this fall when it raised prices on its UK customers.

Since withdrawing from Japan, though, J.Crew has been cautious about making moves abroad. Pricing stumbles aside, the brand carefully positioned itself before entering the UK market. By initially selling to the UK through Net-a-Porter, J.Crew was able to test out the market and see if consumer interest was there, Hughes says.

When it did make the move, J.Crew was careful to align itself more with upscale contemporary labels and less with inexpensive high street brands. The company launched a pop-up on the Central Saint Martins campus, rather than in a more touristy area, and paired up with street style stars like Caroline Issa to further establish its fashion cred. In part, that may be because there’s not much room in the fast fashion scene.

“The UK is tapped out in terms of high street, trendy fashion,” Hughes says. “There are so many options for fast fashion in the UK. [J.Crew] had to elevate the brand and make it seem fashion-y in order to create a point of difference.”

Each new market is going to require different positioning, though. In 2012, J.Crew set up a wholesale partnership with the popular Chinese department store Lane Crawford. Tying itself to a known quantity like Lane Crawford in order to build brand awareness is a smart move, Hughes says. Saturdays Surf took a similar tack when it opened locations in Tokyo in 2012.

When it comes to entering Asian markets, Kunde says she believes J.Crew would do better to play up its American heritage than to take the same high fashion tactics it did in the UK. With a quirky, charming aesthetic that appeals to Asian consumers, Kate Spade has done well in those markets by emphasizing that it’s Kate Spade New York, she says. J.Crew has a lot of potential in foreign markets, but it’s going to need to keep expanding at a good clip.

“[J.Crew] should really capitalize on the international markets before someone gets there first,” Kunde says.

If J.Crew sells to Fast Retailing, it will have a ready-made partner to help in its Asian expansion, thanks to Fast Retailing’s mega-success with Uniqlo.

Kunde says that Fast Retailing would be an even bigger beneficiary of that steal since it’s looking to rise up through the retail ranks in the U.S.. There are only 17 Uniqlo stores stateside — as with J.Crew in Japan, Uniqlo at one point expanded too quickly in the U.S. and then underwent a series of store closings — and J.Crew would lock in its presence there.

“International is important if J.Crew is going to be sold or to go for an IPO,” Hughes says. “People want to know that globally it can exist, and it can — but it has to be cognizant of what countries it enters and take it slow.”

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/strapless-prom-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/mermaid-trumpet-prom-dresses

We are shaking our tiny fists at Katy Perry for being the first pop star to wear Jeremy Scott‘s ugly new McDonald’s themed Moschino collection on the red carpet.

At a press conference with Girls Generation in Japan, Katy Perry didn’t even cherry-pick one or two signature elements from Scott’s first Moschino collection, which we really hated when it debuted at Milan Fashion Week a week ago. She just grabbed the loudest and most instantly recognizable items off the runway and gave it a go.

It’s a difficult look to make one’s own, and the great Anna Dello Russo has already taken this look out for a spin, which means it’s on its last legs for novelty value. Anyone wearing this from now on will just be third or fourth in line. “Oh, like Katy Perry.”

We were actually a bit surprised Perry didn’t wear this earlier, but Jeremy Scott’s runway show did not seem like a good experience for her. She showed up to the event 90 minutes late, having held up all the photographers and editors in the building, and was subsequently booed by all the photographers she kept waiting. Then Scott made her walk the runway in an ill-fitting satin sheath dress that made her look like she’d been stuffed in a polyester sausage casing. The whole thing was unfortunate.

Actually, that disaster makes this fashion faux pas a bit better by comparison. As corny, one-note, and unflattering as this is, it’s not half as bad as the dress she had to wear on the Moschino runway. At least this one fits. But that’s faint praise, and standing next to Girls Generation we can’t shake the impression of how much she looks like their momager. We half expect her to tell the girl next to her to stand up straight for the cameras.

But as much as we hate the giant Moschino sweatshirt and the doofy little hair bow and the corny McDonald’s bag, we were surprised to find that the styling is the worst part about this outfit.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/short-mini-prom-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/mermaid-trumpet-prom-dresses

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Diane von Furstenberg’s most illustrious design: the iconic wrap dress. The dress’ legacy and classic shape has proven a staple through its evolving longevity, and has paved the career of one of the fashion industry’s most prominent figures.

To celebrate this, Diane von Furstenberg has teamed up with The Warhol Foundation to bring us PopWrap – a capsule collection of frocks, tees and accessories combining Andy Warhol’s most iconic motifs with some of the designer’s own. DVF’s original chain links and twigs are effortlessly stamped with Warhol’s colourful dollar signs and hibiscus prints, conceptually blurring the line between fashion and art. PopWrap‘s whimsical campaign was created by illustrator and photographer Alia Penner. In her signature mixed media aesthetic, Penner developed a stop-motion dream overflowing with all things 60s.

Some things are meant to go together: peanut butter and jelly, strawberries and chocolate, and Diane and Andy. The collaboration is perfectly fun and playful, but it’s no surprise these two mesh so well. After all, they’re similarly inspired by the glamorous free spirit. The duo were good friends back in the factory days and Warhol’s portrait of Furstenberg continues to be one of his most recognised works.

Accompanying the 40th anniversary and PopWrap is Journey of a Dress, an artistic retrospective of 200 dresses that represent the history of the wrap design. The exhibition also features portraits of Furstenberg by Warhol, Leibovitz and other contemporary designers. In true Warholian fashion, opening night was dripping with superstars. The exhibit is free and open to the public through March in the gallery of the Wilshire May Department Building, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA.

This is no doubt a big year for Diane von Furstenberg and she shows no signs of slowing down. Her autumn/winter 2014 collection, Bohemian Wrapsody, was shown at NYFW, the punny title paying homage to her respected history. Bear with us as we sign off with a cringe-worthy pun of our own…that’s a wrap!

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/pink-prom-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/navy-blue-bridesmaid-dresses

Who doesn’t want to look perfect on their wedding day? Brides start planning months before what dress will they wear, what the jewellery be like, but hairstyling is often ignored. In the end, all of them pretty much get the same kind of hairdo – curled or straightened hair tied in a bun. But beauty experts have advised brides-to-be to skip the hair dryer and curling iron and switch to no-heat hairstyles while getting ready for their big day.

Rod Anker, Creative Director of Monsoon Salon and Spa and Vogue’s Colorist of the Year, said that for the sangeet and ring ceremony, hair can be let loose. Also, waves and loose buns bring out your hair’s natural texture and give a totally natural look, he said.

How to get these looks

After taking a shower, towel-dry your hair and part it where you like it and if your curls tend to loosen out quickly, lightly run some styling foam or mousse through it, Anker explained. Monsoon Salon does rehearsals on bridal hairdos before executing the look on D-day.

For instantly glamourising your look with curls, begin by twisting your hair away from your face in a wringing motion and continue twisting until hair dries, Anker added.

A ‘doughnut bun’ is another hairstyle, which if piled right on top of your head, gives the illusion of height, that is very in this season. You can get a doughnut ruffle from any accessory store. To do the style, simply thread the ponytail through this and wrap your hair around the doughnut creatively and accessorize with flowers, Ambika Pillai suggested.

Centre parting is also in these days and brides can wear a heavy maang-teeka after they section their hair from the middle. They leave it open during the reception and sangeet functions and tie it into a bun during the wedding rituals. If you have too frizzy hair, calm them down by applying aloe vera gel in it. Read more tips to tame frizzy hair. If need some bounce in your mane, wash your hair and take the last rinse of amla powder diluted with water.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/navy-blue-bridesmaid-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/prom-dresses-under-100

Twenty-three new designers, including TV host and actor Mandira Bedi, will make their debut at the Lakmé Fashion Week that is scheduled to begin next month.

"I am excited that I got a chance to showcase my collection. I am nervous as it’s for the first time I will present my collection on a big platforms like LFW here. We will have light regular sarees and go with summery colors," Mandira told PTI.

Mandira launched her own store last year, which has a beautiful collection of saris. Bollywood’s favourite designer Manish Malhotra will kickstart the event this season, while Rajesh Pratap Singh will present his collection as the grand finale designer.

UK-based accessory designer Mawi Keivom will mark her debut at LFW. Well-known designers this season, who will display their collection, include Anita Dongre, Neeta Lulla, Anju Modi, Tarun Tahiliani, Krishna Mehta, Gaurav Gupta and others.

"We have a mix of newcomers and established designers. This season we are infusing magic of color and light with Lakmé Absolute Color Illusion range that spells mystery with stroke of metallic shades.

We are planning something big and different for the Finale," Purnima Lamba, Head of Innovations at Lakmé said. With an aim to celebrate and pay a tribute to Indian textiles and crafts, the Indian Textile Day has been a dedicated feature at LFW.

This season will once again pay tribute to the rich heritage of Indian fabrics. Total 98 designers will present their "best ever" collection at the Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2014. The fashion extravaganza will be held between March 12 and 16.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/red-carpet-celebrity-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/purple-bridesmaid-dresses

The art of the selfie is changing.

To illustrate how beauty is being redefined and to mark the tenth anniversary of the ’Campaign for Real Beauty’, Dove has partnered with Sundance Institute and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Cynthia Wade on a documentary short film Selfie. Dove is committed to creating a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety and hopes to make this vision a reality by inspiring all women to redefine beauty and share their own beauty stories using #BeautyIs.

When it comes to societal factors that influence the beauty conversation, media and pop culture continue to play a pivotal role, but social media (user generated content) is emerging as one of the most powerful influencing factors. Social media offers women the opportunity to create their own media, personalize beauty and influence the conversation. More than half (55%) of women believe social media is playing a larger role in influencing the beauty conversation than traditional media.

"How we define beauty today has evolved over the past ten years," said Nancy Etcoff, director of the Program in Aesthetics and Well Being at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Clinical Professor at Harvard Medical School, who consulted on the research. "The advent of social media is an empowering tool for women to tell their own beauty story and has allowed the definition of beauty to evolve into one that is more multi-faceted and inclusive. Women are becoming their own media creators. It’s the personalization of beauty for the next generation."

Dove premieres Selfie, a compelling documentary short film, today at Sundance Institute’s Women at Sundance brunch in Park City, UT. Directed by Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Cynthia Wade and produced by Sharon Liese, Selfie captures the journey of multiple generations of girls and their mothers in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts as they create a new type of selfie that celebrates their unique beauty.

"The way women are defining beauty today is changing dramatically, and social media has much to do with the change," says Cynthia Wade. "Now we have the ability to photograph the beauty we see in our friends and ourselves. When we share these diverse images on our social networks, we are taking personal ownership and truly redefining beauty."

Selfie focuses on a social media challenge, #BeautyIs, in which the film’s participants explore their vulnerable self-images and take selfies which prominently feature what they perceive as their personal physical flaws. With the help of a professional photographer, the girls build the courage to create art by embracing their least desirable feature thus expanding their definition of what beauty is. Exhibiting these images in a #BeautyIs selfie photo gallery, the young women share their newly discovered beauty with women of all ages in their community.

Every woman has the power to redefine her own beauty. Traditionally, the media has told us who and what is beautiful. With the rise of social media, women now have the chance to tell each other what beauty means to them. Dove encourages women everywhere to share what beauty is to them through its #BeautyIs online experience. Every woman can play a role in influencing the definition of beauty, and Dove asks all women to redefine beauty together.

http://www.kissydress.co.uk/yellow-prom-dresses | http://www.kissydress.co.uk/black-prom-dresses