Beauty Trends For 2012

Oh crystal ball, oh crystal ball, what will the year hold for beauty trends? Will lips be bold, will eyeliner still be black and bold? The chances are good, says the crystal ball. Ahh shucks, throw out the crystal ball, no need to guess as many 2012 spring/summer fashion shows have hinted at what is to come for the year. Plus, being the beauty  trend-setter you are, Flair is sure you'll set your own trends as well. Let's see what you might be doing this year.

1. Statement lips - bold colours with a matte finish, which run the gamut of colours.

2. Winged eyes - Cat eyes are still in and were spotted at Dolce and Gabbana and Fendi fashion shows.

3. Metallic eyes - bold, thick spaterrings of gold were plastered over eyes, but you can tone it down without losing the bold effect.

4. Extreme smoky eyes - yes the smoky eye isn't going anywhere; the trend is to keep the eye messy.

5. No mascara - keep the lashes bare by eliminating; this is intended to give a more natural look.

- www.style.com and www.vogue.co.uk

A Short History of Heels: Why Flats are the Footwear of the Proletariat

It’s true.  Flats are the footwear of the bourgeois and the proletariat.  And I’m not just saying that because they’re far more comfortable to wear at work than heels.  Indeed, I used to think of my favorite flats as a personal fashion bargain.  I would think to myself, “I’m trading a little bit of fashion fierceness for a whole lotta comfort.”  Never one to kill herself for fashion, I saw my flats as a sign of my own laid-back approach to life. My, how my approach to flats has changed since I learned about the history of heels.

Sometime during the early 1500s, heels were added to boots to help horse riders keep their foot in the stirrup.  Even before then, people often wore tall outer shoes to keep their delicate shoes out of street debris.  We have a Medici to thank for the idea of fashionable high heels.  Catherine Medici was the first aristocrat to turn her shoes into a statement of power.  She added two-inch heels to her shoes to give her a confidence boost for her presentation to the French court.  Catherine’s innovation soon became popular for both sexes.  Although figures like Mary Tudor strapped on heels to appear more impressive, France’s Louis XIV solidified the idea of heels representing social class. The Sun King declared that only nobility would be allowed to wear red heels, upon pain of death.  Furthermore, no one could wear heels higher than his own.  Louis’ heels were as high as five inches tall, and often included miniature depictions of battle scenes.

And here’s where flat shoes became a revolutionary symbol.  Heels had long been associated with social status and height– indeed, as Cameron Kippen writes for the British Journal of Podiatry, “The term ‘well-heeled’ is thought to relate to the habit of the rich towering over the poor,” thanks to high heels.  When Napoleon stormed through France during the Revolution, he banned heels.  Still, Marie Antoinette marched to her death at the guillotine in two-inch heels–the footwear equivalent of screaming, “Let them eat cake!” So, the next time that you opt for a flat shoe, don’t get down on yourself for not toughing out a tottering day on heels, like I do.  Instead, slip into your cozy flats and congratulate yourself on wearing anti-establishment kicks.

Beyonce and Kim Kardashian at Vera Wang

 Kim Kardashian looked more like a glamorous old-time Hollywood movie actress as she stepped out of her New York apartment today. The 30-year-old wore a one-shouldered petrol blue Vera Wang gown, with her long dark hair coiled in a chic plaited updo.


  
 


Beyonce and Kim Kardashian head to New York Fashion Week to see the latest collection from Vera Wang. 

Joan Crawford Fashion Clothes

These two dresses are from the personal collection of a San Diego collector. The dress on the left was worn by Joan in Mildred Pierce (the opening night of Mildred's restaurant). The dress on the right is the wedding gown from 1935's I Live My Life. Thanks to Mr. T for contributing these photos to this site.

Lot 235: The Women, 1939/Joan Crawford A dazzling full-length skirt designed by Adrian for Joan Crawford as Crystal Allen in the 1939 M.G.M. film "The Women," accompanied by a silver v-shaped waistband encrusted with various shaped rhinestones. (Thanks to Samantha Kaylor of Christie's for the photo and information.)

Oscars Fashion: 5 best, 5 worst dressed

Best Dressed
1. Reese Witherspoon in Armani Prive
"Though Reese Witherspoon wasn't competing in this year's Best Actress Oscar Race she was easily the evening's fashion frontrunner. She was the portrait of elegance and sophistication. Witherspoon's black strapless dress features a simple white satin band fit and the emerald and diamond Neil Lane earings added just the perfect amount of color. Reese rocked the retro ponytail to perfection, head-to-toe she looked absolutely flawless. I personally think she blew everyone out of the water tonight. Go Reese!"

2. Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein.
"Gwyneth shined in a Calvin Klein dress with Brian Atwood gold pumps. Adorned with Louis Vuitton jewelry, Paltrow accessorized her look to perfection. Opting for super straight, flat ironed hair, she finished off the ensemble with a grade of A+ for "chic."

3. Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa
"Hailee Steinfeld looked absolutely adorable in her age appropriate pink princess-like pick. Accessorizing the beaded Marchesa gown with a sparkly headband gave the overall look a very sweet ballerina vibe."

4. Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang
"One word: Breathtaking. Sandra Bullock blew us away in an absolutely gorgeous Scarlet-colored Vera Wang gown. Bullock's silk mermaid dress fit her svelte frame to perfection. She brought the fashion and the funny to the party. You go Sandra!"

5. Anne Hathaway in Oscar de la Renta and Tom Ford
"Oscar hostess Hathaway worked several looks perfectly throughout the evening. Though no one ensemble more stunning than her Oscar de la Renta silver-beaded tassel dress. The 70s-chic look invaded the runways during fashion week and Hathaway was having tons of fun in this particular glam gown. Hathaway's last look of the evening was a lace and crystal dress by Tom Ford which showcased the actress' flawless figure which rivals even some models on the runway. Score Hathaway."

Worst Dressed

1. Florence Welsh in Valentino Couture
"Florence Welsh of '...Machine' looked totally washed out in Valentino Couture. I would've like to see the 24-year-old singer put a tad more effort into her hair. There were also far more appropriate colored dresses which would've worked fabulously with Welsh's pale skin tone. We just didn't get the whole prairie dress look for the Oscar red carpet."

2. Nicole Kidman in Dior
"Nicole Kidman rarely ever disappoints on the Oscar red carpet... until this year. Is it just me or did Kidman choose one of the Dior Collection's worse gowns? The white strapless number's boxy shape along with the silver embroidered detail just wasn't very flattering. Perhaps it was the color? Maybe a darker toned dress would have had me singing a different tune... Or maybe not."

3. Marisa Tomei in Charles James Vintage
"Are we sure Marisa Tomei didn't hitchhike with Franco and Hathaway in their 'Back to the Future' time machine? Because she looked like she was headed to the prom in that Charles James Vintage gown. The bodice was flattering but once you panned down and saw the bottom, it was kind of a trainasaurus-wreck."

4. Helena Bonham Carter
"Helena is a gifted actress and cool chick who's definitely known for zany, out-there choices on the red carpet. But we just didn't get the sleeves on the black velvet corset?! The bird's nest iteration of the Bride of Frankenstein 'do is growing a bit tired, too. One of these awards shows what would shock even more is if Helena decided to rock an uncharacteristically drumroll please... elegant and polished red carpet look."

5. Penelope Cruz in L'wren Schott
"Hats off to Cruz on her post-pregnancy body! We definitely don't blame Penelope for wanting to show off her amazing curves so soon after the baby was born. But the L'wren Schott red dress adorned with sparkles that kind of resembled pieces of foil had us thinking more "off the-rack-cocktail-party" than "Oscar red carpet."

Credit:http://blog.zap2it.com