Fall Fashion: Layers and Yellow

The crispness of fall is in the air and temperatures are cooling. Away go the shorts and tees. It’s time for something more substantial and the best trends for the season are layers and anything yellow.

When we say yellow, that’s literally any shade of yellow. Mustard included. To the hear the fasionistas talk – from the east coast to the west coast and every fly over state in between – Marigold is the hottest color going this fall. And it is literally everywhere. Other striking colors this season are reds and oranges. Again there is a range of shades to choose from, and all of them are correct. (more…)

In Fashion: Milk the New Black?

A decades old milk-based fiber is making a big ecological comeback in a fashion line being created by a German designer.

QMilch is a silk-like fiber produced from large concentrations of Casein – a milk protein. According to the Reuters news agency, QMilch has been used as a fabric since the 1930s, but was always comprised of a high level of chemicals which compromised its commercial value.

Now, designer Anke Domaske, 28, has devised a way to manufacture QMilch, ecologically – the first man-made fiber produced without chemicals, the Reuters report said. She told the agency QMilch also has anti-bacterial and anti-aging properties that can help with blood circulation and regulate body temperature. (more…)

Stay Fashionable By Being a Good Cook

Have you turned the TV on lately? If you are a regular TV viewer, then you are probably have seen the plethora of cooking shows and celebrity chef-focused shows. Whether you like it or not – and there is nothing wrong in liking it! – this trend is here, and it is also shaping the way we live to a certain degree. The good thing is that we pay more attention to what we do in the kitchen and somehow, cooking becomes even more enjoyable! And, of course, looking like your favorite celebrity chef while you cook is even better.

Playing in the kitchen, as I like to call it, does not require much effort most of the time. However, it does help to have certain tools at our disposal. That’s where recipe portals and web sites come into the picture. And speaking of recipe web sites, there is a new player in the game which holds a lot of promise: Recipe Finder.

Recipe Finder is a recipe search engine which combines practically everything that you can find online. In spite of the fact that there are many other recipe sites that you can visit (thanks to celebrity chefs, these sites have cropped up everywhere like mushrooms after rain), you will like Recipe Finder for the one big advantage it offers: the aggregation of recipes that can be found in many other portals. In short, Recipe Finder saves you the time and the hassle of having to check each individual site.

Searching for recipes on Recipe Finder is easy. Just like any other search engine, you simply need to enter words related to what you are searching for. For example, if you know the recipe name, you simply have to enter it in the search bar. If you only have the ingredients in mind, then you can use those as search terms as well. Even better, if you have allergic reactions to certain ingredients, you can choose to exclude them. Also, you can conduct more specialized searches by specifying details such as the number of calories, the number of servings, and so on.

Are you in need of some organization help? Recipe Finder is the perfect tool for this purpose! Take advantage of the menu and calendar features. With the menu creator, you can plan each dish for an entire meal. With the calendar, you can plan what you will be cooking in advance. Also, if you like the paper experience more, there is the option of printing out recipes with one click.

Now, viewing the recipes is even easier than searching and organizing! You can choose between the text mode or the image mode. Using text mode, you immediately get to see more information about the recipe – ingredients, etc. Using image mode, you get a clear picture of what the dish looks like once cooked.

Look good even as you work in the kitchen. Make technology work for you as you prepare delicious and nutritious meals for the family. Check out Recipe Finder now!

Fashionable Cook Logo via Eventbrite

iPhone 5 – Another Stylish Design from Apple on the Horizon

Gadgets used to be something to help us in our everyday lives – and they were anything but stylish back then, as anyone who’s had one of the first mobile phones can tell you. Nowadays though, with technology having evolved to the point where we can easily cram a huge deal of computing power in a small space, gadget developers have started to explore the aesthetic possibilities in their designs.

Apple are easily the most iconic brand in this regard, as all of their designs are considered nothing short of genius when it comes to pleasing the eye – and this is a trend that’s easily noticeable in their upcoming iPhone 5. Even though we don’t have any official shots of the device yet, there have been a few leaks already which are a pretty good indication of what it’s going to offer – and it’s shaping up to be a lovely complement to any stylish person’s accessory list.

Featuring a slimmed down design and improved glass on the screen with a shiny, glossy appearance, the iPhone 5 is what pretty much anyone would expect from a new release by Apple – something worth buying for its sheer appearance alone. And with the iPhone plans Vodafone are going to offer when it comes out, it’s also going to be a very convenient solution for those who don’t like having to spend a great deal of cash on their data plans. There are even rumors that the software has received some additions to minimize and optimize its data usage, which should make things even smoother – we don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to show off a shiny new iPhone 5 to our friends!

Alice in Fashion Wonderland

Dressing up in Disney costumes is not just for Halloween. In fact Disney’s Alice in Wonderland has such intriguing costumes that it will be showcased at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) gallery in Losa Angeles from May 27 to June 1, 2010. No doubt the exhibit is a a publicity gimmick to get more people interested in buying a Blu-Ray and DVD copy of the movie, which will be out on June 1. As a publicity gimmick though this one sure is cool, interesting and totally captures the imagination.

The exhibit will have three sections with the first section showing the actual costumes used in the movie, the second one showing modernized version of Alice in Wonderland-inspired everyday clothing, and the third one showing Alice-inspired gowns created by FIDM designers. The costume that I would personally be most interested in seeing is Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen dress (will her hairpiece be there as well?). I know Alice’s gown must be divine in real-life but it just hold much less interest to mean in terms of detailing. The Madd Hatter’s hat will also be shown as well as his costumer, which means that movie fans will surely be thrilled with the exhibit since they can see the actual stuff used in the movie. In my opnion though fashionistas and designers will probably be even more thrilled to see the Alice-inspired creations. The modernized Wonderland clothes that will be exhibited were created by highly recognizable names like Avril Lavigne and Tom Binns. It will be a mish mash of established designers and amateur celebrity designers.

Grace Kelly Fashion Honored In London

Grace Kelly stands for a lot of things for different people. There is one thing that we can all agree on, though, and that is Grace Kelly as the ultimate representation of fashion. She had her own sense of fashion, which was admired and envied by countless people from all over the world.

Today, she is being honored at an exhibit in London, which showcases her astounding wardrobe. The exhibit is being held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Tonic tells us more:

With 40 of her iconic dresses on display and cabinets of shoes, bags, sunglasses and jewelry, the exhibit opened to rave reviews this weekend in the capital.

Paying tribute to her life as an Oscar-winning actress, highlights include the grey and pink silk chiffon dress embroidered with roses, which she wore in the famous dancing scene with Frank Sinatra in High Society (MGM later gave the dress to her and she wore it several times to various events) as well as outfits from the many Hitchcock films she starred in.

Indeed, Grace Kelly’s life is more than a fairy tale come true. From a Hollywood actress to a princess to a philanthropist – she has shown the world that dreams can become reality. And, she showed it with such grace (no pun intended). Not many people can be compared to Grace Kelly, as she continues to be admired – even revered – decades after her prime.

If you are in the vicinity, this is one exhibit that you absolutely cannot miss!

Celebrating 25 Years of Dolce & Gabbana

Anyone with the slightest bit of fashion sense will recognize that name: Dolce & Gabbana. I suppose that even those who are not interested in fashion at all will at least have heard the label at least once in their lives. And, why not? After all, this year marks the 25th year that the label has been in existence. While that may only be a quarter of a century, there is no denying that Dolce & Gabbana has gone a long long way.

Countless BIG names have carried Dolce & Gabbana over the years. Think about Victoria Beckham, Isabella Rossellini, Monica Bellucci, and Madonna. Newcomers like Katy Perry and Scarlett Johansson have also been poster girls for the brand. That leaves no doubt as to just how esteemed this brand is!

How are they celebrating their quarter of a century mark? Shopaholics, hang on to your seats.

The formula is simple: they will never rest on their laurels and keep supplying us with the latest in fashion! In May, for example, Dolce & Gabbana is launching a new line of sunglasses. Dubbed MDG, this line is being produced in cooperation with La Ciccone. With summer almost here, the launch of the line is certain to be a success!

Of course, there will be more than sunglasses coming out in the next few months. I suggest that you set aside some spending money as this year is definitely going to be a great one for the brand – and your collection!

Emma Watson: Fashion Entrepreneur

Emma Watson is no stranger to fashion. Indeed, one look at her and you’d know that she has her own fashion sense, which actually appeals to a lot of people. This young actress is not sitting idle, though. Instead of being a mere consumer, she has crossed to the other side and has launched a clothing line. Yeah, she also models for Burberry and Chanel by the way.

That isn’t her biggest achievement in the fashion world, though. Going back to the clothing line I just mentioned, Emma has partnered up with People Tree, a clothing brand that prides itself in being ethical. People Tree has a very good reputation in terms of excellent fashion sense and dealing only with fair trade products.

Emma has lent her artistic talents to People Tree, coming up with her own artwork. The people from the company praise her dedication to the clothing line and say that she is really serious about the project. It looks like the young star is paying more than lip service to the line. More than being involved in the design process, she has also enlisted the help of friends and family members to pose as models for the clothes.

From her end, Emma says that she has no aspirations to become a fashion designer. Her only motive in getting involved, she says, is her passion for the cause. She says that she really cares for trendy fashion as well as fair trade. Big words from a young girl, but hey, it looks like she means it!

Kanye West’s Girlfriend Needs The Fashion Police

She may not want it, but Amber Rose definitely needs to get some good fashion advice! Kanye West and his current girl friend were seen (A LOT) at the Chanel Spring-Summer 2010 fashion show in Paris this week. The couple is already striking without having to wear outlandish outfits but I guess their personalities required them to put on “unique” clothing.

Take a look at this picture.

That’s the couple when they arrived at the show. I must say Kanye looks pretty good and Amber…well, it doesn’t look half bad but I think it’s more interesting than fashionable. What’s up with the hood???

Now how about this picture?

Again, Kanye looks pretty decent. As for his companion, what the heck was she thinking? I simply do not get the dress. The undergarment looks off as well. I think the coat may have some redeeming value, don’t you think?

Here’s one last picture.

Obviously, the couple’s attires lent them vulnerable to criticism from animal rights activists. PETA has already issued a statement about it. This is what Dan Matthews, PETA Vice President, had to say: “Kanye can’t help making himself look like an idiot, whether at an awards show or a fashion show. He and his girlfriend look like pathetic creatures from a shabby roadside zoo.”

Um, honestly, I don’t have the hots for Kanye but moral issues aside, I think his coat actually looks good. As for Amber, again it’s a major fail. Ooops, do I hear sirens?

First Pakistan Fashion Week Ends Today

Pakistan has made history this week, as the first ever Pakistan Fashion Week ends today. The show is being held in Karachi, and is quite different from many other fashion shows in many respects. One of this is the fact that the security is very tight, making the show more like a gathering of leaders of nations. More so, the country has never experienced such a show.

The BBC reports:

The organisers say they hope to show a different side of Pakistan than the usual images of suicide bombings. The event had been postponed after threats to security which kept foreign models and designers away, but the fashion world in Pakistan was determined to stage its shows.

“After many, many years, fashion in Pakistan is being taken seriously,” said leading Pakistani designer, Rizwan Beyg, who has designed for international jet-setters, including the late Princess Diana.

So what kinds of clothing and styles were shown during the fashion week? Believe it or not, the designs worn by the models on the catwalk included those that show bellies and midriffs. Not only that, but even cleavages were exposed! This may seem such a small deal to some, but in that part of the world, this is such a big step. More than furthering the world of fashion in Pakistan, the event also presents a different view of the country and the culture to the whole world. We can expect a lot more to come from Pakistani designers and artists in the future, I suspect.

Photo courtesy of BBC