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With Thanksgiving over and Black Friday behind us the holiday shopping season is officially in full swing, and while it is always fun to both give and receive at this time of year the one thing we can all agree that we don’t need to be exchanging is germs. Yes, unfortunately while this may be best shopping season of the year it is also the time when many of us succumb to seasonal colds, the flu and any number of other nasty bugs that the change in seasons and therefore change in whether bring. While we are sure that our readers are the considerate type who would not go out in a very public place, like say a mall, when sick and contagious; there are unfortunately those less considerate among us who will and here are a six simple steps to make sure your next shopping trip doesn’t end with you bringing home a nasty bug:
1. Keep your hands to yourself –
Avoid using hand rails on stairs or escalators whenever possible. Studies done by the University of Arizona Environmental Microbiology Department found all manner of nasty bacteria including flora responsible for respiratory illness all over escalator hand rails. Why? Because most people cough into their hands to be polite, problem is they then grab hold of a handrail and their germs find a new home. When it is necessary to use handrails in the mall remember to immediately disinfect with hand sanitizer or a quick trip to the rest room before you have a chance to absentmindedly touch your face.
2. Beware the bathroom sink –
And while we are on the topic of rest rooms, here is a fun little fact you may not have known: the filthiest part of the restroom that your hand will come in contact with isn’t the door knob or even the toilet handle but rather the sink. This is because people touch the sink faucet or handles before washing their hands and since sinks are moist this allows various bacteria and germs to survive longer then they would on other surfaces. Always wash your hands thoroughly, using plenty of soap and lathering for at least 20 seconds. When done remember to use a paper towel to turn off the faucet so that you don’t undo all that scrubbing.
3. Clean your own table top –
While it may seem a little overly paranoid, and you may get a few people mistaking your for an OCD sufferer, it will be worth your while to bring your own disinfectant wipes to wipe off that food court table before sitting down for a mid-shopping snack. The reason for this is those cloths that food service workers use to clean the table in between each sitting can often do more harm then good, especially at a busy time of year like the holidays, because if the cloth is not cleaned frequently it can end up transferring germs from one table to another. We know, you weren’t planning on eating right off the table, that’s what plates are for; but next time you sit down to a meal take note of how many times your hands touch that table top.
4. Knuckle up at the ATM –
Chinese researchers tested 38 ATMs in downtown Taipei and found that on average each ATM key was home to around 1,200 germs. So either make sure to disinfect after each time your punch in your pin or at least use your knuckles to hit the keys rather than your finger tips. This will help because you are far less likely to touch your face, or worse yet your mouth, with your knuckles than you are with your fingers.
5. Cover up if you plan on trying on –
“After people try on clothing, skin cells and perspiration can accumulate on the inside, both can serve as food for bacterial growth” says Philip Tierno Director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at New York University’s Langone Medical Center. The best way to avoid a nasty bacterial infection is to wear underwear that offers maximum protection or better yet a base layer if you plan on trying things on, and please remember to properly cover up any cuts or scrapes as open wounds are the best point of entry for an infection. Also, if you hadn’t already guessed, doctors recommend washing any new purchases before you wear them, because who knows if anyone tried it on before you bought it.
6. Makeup samples might not be worth it –
A medical study conducted back in 2005 found that between 67% and 100% of makeup-counter testers were contaminated with bacteria such as staph, strep, E. coli and worse of all the super-bug MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). So if you insist on seeing how that shade of eyeliner or lipstick looks on you, we suggest settling for the back of your hand rather then letting any of these nasty little guys near your face. Most doctors will tell you that the “buy then try” method is the only surefire way to be certain there is no contaminating germs. Returning makeup may be a hassle, but anyone whose ever had one will tell you that it doesn’t even hold a candle to a bad staph infection.
Lately, Promgirl.net news has been making reports on skin care, hair care, and general make-up news as to help a girl out in this time of skin care need. So, without further ado, welcome to part 4 of ‘Don’t Let the Winter Dry You Out.’ Complexion, hair, lips, what’s left? Well, for part 4 we are going to cover the basics. Any girl who loves makeup would agree that foundation can be your best friend or your worst enemy, and nearing the biter weather conditions, a lot of foundations turn into enemies. Just like the other products we discussed, foundations can dry out the skin. A great, affordable product to prevent a scaly appearance is one of Almay’s makeup products. Almay Wake-up Hydrating Makeup is a mineral powder makeup. The difference in this makeup is number one the mineral base; mineral base makeup is more natural than other non-mineral based and liquid make-ups which tend to clog the pores more. The other difference is the ingredient in Almay’s product. Almay Wake-up Hydrating Makeup is created with green tea and cucumber. Obviously, any ingredient that you have heard of is a plus, and any ingredient you have heard of that is also most definitely a natural product is, well, an über benefit. Almay’s Wake-up Collection is small but still growing. Their slogan is sweet and simple; ‘glowing, hydrated skin’ it pretty much says it all. Their website is very customer friendly, giving tips on application and finding the right shade, Almay also gives a quick and concise statement about the product saying, “Almay has taken mineral foundation to the next level using an innovative process that infuses encapsulated water in a luxurious loose powder. The result is instantly glowing, hydrated skin with an amazing cooling sensation.” They also use professional style brushes which are made specifically for travel. (What kind of girl does her makeup before she leaves the house now-a-days?) Almay can be found almost anywhere. Generic pharmacies, chains, and cosmetic stores carry their product as well as a number of online retailers, even amazon.com.
Christmas has certainly come early for Twi-hards this year. By now all devoted followers of the Twilight saga have been treated to the hotly anticipated Breaking Dawn wedding scene, and the much hyped dress that Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) wore when saying “I do” to her immortal beloved Edward Cullen (Robert Pattison). As anyone who saw the film can tell you the Caroline Herrera design, which reportedly took a team of seamstresses nearly 6 month to create, did not disappoint. The form fitting long sleeve gown made from crepe satin features a modest V-neck and tasteful plunging back cut-out out accented by French Chantilly Lace, the design remains true to author Stephenie Meyer’s description while still added some subtle and sublime touches of its own. It truly goes a long way in showing why Herrera was handpicked by Meyer herself.
So it was quiet exciting when news broke last week that a designer approved knock-off by Alfred Angelo was already available in stores. However the original Caroline Herrera design with its extremely sought after fabrics and intricate details like the 152 buttons running down the length of the back was difficult to translate into an affordable ($799) replica and left some Twi-hards, who had been hoping to emulate Bella and Edward’s nuptials, wanting a bit more. Fortunately for those hoping for a more accurate replica, Caroline Herrera announced over this past weekend that she would be including the design, complete with crepe satin and Chantilly Lace, in her 2012 wedding collection available through her CHNY boutiques next year. Unfortunately like crepe satin and Chantilly Lace a Caroline Herrera design does not come cheap. While there is no official price tag on the dress yet, estimates for the cost of Bella’s one of a kind gown go as high as $35,000 and while mass production and a preexisting design will certainly bring that figure down we doubt it will be anything close to what your average Twilight fan considers affordable.
The commonly accepted rule in the fashion world is that it takes three appearances for something to be considered a trend, and so by that definition we are jumping the gun a bit, but here at Promgirl News we can’t help but point out two entirely different stories out of the fashion and retail world that share one unusual connection: pepper spray. Anyone who is a news junkie or an internet meme addict has probably already seen a picture of Lieutenant John Pike of the UC Davis police force who became somewhat of an international celebrity (and not in a positive way) last week when he casually pepper sprayed a group of peacefully seated protesters all while being filmed by a few dozen cameras and camera phones. Since then Lt. Pike and his trusty pepper spray have been Photoshopped into every image from Michelangelo’s The Creation of Man to the signing of the U.S. Constitution. So it was that earlier this week Lt. Pike became a fashion statement with Etsy selling tee shirts depicting his image in the style of graffiti artist Banksy, but this time with his pepper spray can shooting butterflies. Bonus: The item is known as the “Casually Butterfly Everything” tee.
While many have been inspired to buy the tee as a message of peace and a fashion statement against brutality, it now appears that at least one woman in California was inspired by Lt. Pike to unleash some Black Friday brutality of her own. According to reports by CNN and The Los Angeles Times between 15 and 20 Los Angeles area Wal-Mart shoppers were pepper sprayed around 10:20 pm last night in the midst of a Black Friday door buster sale by another shopper who used the spray to clear competitors away from various electronics that she wanted to buy. While no one was seriously injured, a few people were taken to the hospital for bumps and bruises sustained while trying to flee the wrath of the pepper spray wielding woman. The most bizarre part of the entire incident has to be that the woman managed to check out with her items prior to police arriving at the store and as of the writing of this article this pepper spray bandit is still on the loose. Definitely one very bizarre case of life imitating fashion imitating life.
Here at Promgirl News we have ended up closely following the exploits of Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in part because we believe censorship in fashion requires ongoing debate to ensure its proper use, but mainly out the morbid curiosity that comes from watching too much authority slowly turn an intelligent group of people into stark raving lunatics. In the past we have reported on ASA bans against overly Photoshopped celebs and extremely skinny models that were at least reasonable in the context of protecting Britain’s youth from increasingly prevalent body images issues. We have also reported on ASA bans against images deemed to be “sexualising” minors or depicting overly sexual images too close to schools which seemed rather puritanical or at least somewhat silly. However the most recent ban issued by the ASA found the line between somewhat silly and downright ridiculous and went sprinting across it, probably while yelling something to the effect of ‘won’t somebody think of the children!’
The most recent advertisement banned by the Advertising Standards Authority is a Miu Miu ad featuring Hailee Steinfeld of True Grit fame shot by Bruce Weber for the label’s autumn/winter 2011 collection. The ad was not banned for being overly sexual or overly Photoshopped but rather because the image, which features Hailee in head to toe Miu Miu attire sitting on a rusty train-track while wiping away a tear, was deemed “irresponsible” by ASA standards for depicting a minor (Hailee was 14 at the time of the shoot) in an “unsafe location”. Apparently the ASA fears that if this ad were to be featured in magazines and on billboards the result would be minors all across the UK being run down by trains whilst posing for photos on the tracks. Aside from the ASA’s complete lack of faith in British youth for being anything more than lemmings who would sit in front of trains because of a picture they saw in a fashion mag, there is also the fact that the image was taken out of context as it is only one from a series which depict Hailee near the aforementioned lethal tracks. Though it should be noted that the ASA failed to ban another image from the shoot featuring Hailee in a Miu Miu dress leaning against an old sign that reads “Private Property, No Trespassing” despite the fact that it clearly encourages young women to trespass in the name of fashion.
In a response to the ban that clearly gives the ASA too much credit, since it attempts to reason with them, Prada which owns Miu Miu said that Hailee “could have easily moved from where she was sitting because she was not restrained in any way”. Thereby attempting to prove that her location was not actually unsafe, as though anybody but the ASA thought that she was posing on active, in service, railway tracks. Then again if you link over to this Huffington Post Style article you’ll not only see the image but a poll that appears to show nearly 40% of Huffington Post’s readers also feared that Hailee was encouraging young girls to play on the train tracks. Is anybody out there still wondering why Britain is often derided as a “nanny state”?
Happy Thanksgiving! Whether you’re still cooking or in rest mode from stuffing yourself more than the turkey was you are thinking about shopping. Just admit it, we all fantasize about getting the last $100 40” flat screen TV or a pair of Diesel jeans for a mere $30, but it seems the fashion world believes the item at the top of your wish list should include items from the Lady Gaga Workshop ay Barney’s in New York. No reports have been made on whether or not Gaga’s Workshop will feature any Black Friday sale items, but either way it’s worth the trip.
Lady Gaga kicked off the opening of her workshop in a one-of-a-kind gown designed by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel. As the parade began (literally, they had a parade with huge balloons in Lady Gaga theme) the workshop opened and the crowd poured in – including Neil Patrick Harris (of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and all three ‘Harold and Kumar’ films), Blake Lively (of ‘Gossip Girl’ and Best Dressed among fashionistas), Brad Goreski (Rachel Zoe’s former assistant), and many others. The workshop’s collections include apparel, accessories, sweets and treats, music and entertainment, cosmetics, jewelry, toys, and of course special holiday items. So there is something for everybody…and every monster. And don’t forget, all purchases will benefit Lady Gaga’s organization, the Born This Way Foundation.
Items in the workshop are not typical of what Santa’s little helpers (now preferred to be called little monsters) would make, but they sure are conversation starters. Gaga is offering a different kind of stocking to hang on the mantle this year; for holiday 2011, all little monsters and unique individuals alike have the opportunity to stuff stockings shaped like a claw, a unicorn, a stiletto, or simply Lady Gaga’s vision of a Christmas stocking. Of course you will also be able to purchase from a variety of sunglasses, all reminiscent of Lady Gaga looks including a ‘W.O.W. Sunglasses/Headband for $295. This headband/sunglasses appears to be metal and is covered in spikes. (Can you see though the spike?) Lastly, the sweets and treats really caught my eye; in
remembrance of Alexander McQueen, the workshop is selling a chocolate version of the McQueen armadillo shoe. There is also a candy finger item, available as a ring or as a pop. Surprisingly enough there is another accessory/candy item found in the workshop; clearly an homage to childhood are the rock candy earrings which Fashionista suggests nibbling on as a mid-day snack.
Check out barneys.com for more info and fun at Lady Gaga’s Workshop.
With all the Kardashian buzz floating around and the constant terror that all words beginning with a ‘C’ will now start with a ‘K,’ we mustn’t forget the other half of the Krew, the Jenner’s. Kris Jenner’s second youngest daughter Kendall Jenner has recently entered into her modeling career, which is documented on the E! Television show, ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashian’s.’ Kendall has most recently modeled for prom dress designer Sherri Hill. Sherri Hill is known for being one of the priciest prom dress designers on the market, and it comes as no surprise that Sherri Hill would want a model whose name was made before she was even born.
As Kendall is involved in social media, like her sisters, she has already begun posting photos of her shoot with Sherri Hill on her web page, which of course has been re-posted, re-tweeted, and re-blogged, mainly by her sisters. None-the-less, Kendall is receiving good publicity. On her website, www.kendallandkylie.celebuzz.com, Kendall told all of her fans, “Hi guys! I had the most amazing photo shoot this weekend for Sherri Hill. We shot over two days and I got to wear the most gorgeous prom dresses and work with a really great team!” She continued saying, “I have a ton of pics from my Sherri Hill shoot this weekend so I’ll be posting them all this week!…Kylie joined me on set and we wore the most AMAZING dresses. I was obsessed with every single one!!!”
Kendall seems to really be enjoying her new aspirations. She has many more links on her page with other photo shoots she has done, along with shoots where Kendall is accompanied by her sisters; Kylie, Khloe, Kim and Kourtney.
McQ the younger, more affordable and edgier little sister of the Alexander McQueen label has recently announced that it will be opening its first stand alone store on Dover Street in London and according to a report from The Telegraph the line will be shown on the runways at London fashion week for the first time next year. For anyone who is a McQueen fan this is very exciting news. Despite the tragic and untimely death of its founder and namesake last year the Alexander McQueen label has gown by leaps and bounds, helped along by their much praised creative director Sarah Burton who earlier this year basked in the honor of being the designer behind the dress that helped Kate Middleton become Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge.
While Alexander McQueen designs have been very high profile as of late, appearing not only on royalty but on some of the most fashion forward celebrities such as Lady Gaga; McQ has quietly amassed a celebrity following of its own that includes such up and coming fashion icons as Chloe Moretz and Emma Watson. While it certainly couldn’t be described as a bargain, much of the McQ collection is more affordable than the main Alexander McQueen line which is great news for fashionistas everywhere who share the taste but not the purchasing power of their celebrity icons.
The presentation of the McQ Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, which is also overseen by a design team featuring Sarah Burton as creative director, will show in February during London fashion week. This first official fashion week show is obviously designed to raise awareness of the name, which is an excellent sign that the McQueen empire is heavily invested in further developing the McQ label. According to The Telegraph the show will also serve to drum up public interest for the opening of the Dover Street store which will come sometime in early spring. For young fashionistas everywhere this is a development worth watching because while the Alexander McQueen label may currently be at the top of the fashion world, McQ looks to be a sign of things to come!
Armani seems to have made a really good decision by having hip hop celebrity Rihanna as the face of their ad campaigns. Their connection must have hit the bull’s eye a few months ago when they teamed up for the new Empirio Armani underwear and Armani jeans ads because their partnership has expanded. Rihanna can now proudly say she is a designer – she’s catching up to her mentor Jay-Z – as well as a perfumer. Now that the bandwagon is loaded up, expect Armani to carry that sweet yet edgy look with Rihanna’s signature not too far away. The collection will only consist of a few pieces; two different white, printed T-shirts, two different color denim pants, two different color lingerie sets, a jacket and a bag.
The fresh face team has even merged their “logos.” One of the two varieties of T-shorts available has the iconic Armani eagle logo with an “R” written over it to represent Rihanna (the ‘R’ is slightly reminiscent to a Roca Wear ‘R’ we see in Jay-Z’s collections – maybe Rihanna will start designing for Roca Wear, that is once her deal with Armani is up). The other graphic tee features an oversize image of what appears to be Rihanna’s face with one eye closed and an animal pattern running under the image. The denim takes on a sexier edge with the shade; one is more of a traditional denim with blue tones while the other is a fierce gray hue of denim. The jacket is of course leather and paired with the other pieces, it completes the look. Now the lingerie is lace (very sexy and chic Rihanna) and available in navy as well as a more traditional pearl. To see the sketches and images check out Vogue UK for their slideshow.
You should be able to find this rocker-chic collaboration pieces anywhere Armani denim is sold. Currently release dates are varied by city, however Rihanna/Armani will be available nationwide before December arrives; just in time for present purchasing!
Welcome to part 3 of ‘Don’t Let the Winter Dry You Out.’ In part 1 and part 2 we covered skin and hair and keeping our color in any weather. Now that our faces are glowing and full of color, let’s not forget the most important feature on our faces, the lips. We must keep them fresh and not chapped because not only is it unattractive, it is not healthy. Hydrated lips mean a hydrated body, so chapped lips essentially means you, yourself, are not hydrated. Hint – number one tip to prevent chapped lips this winter, drink plenty of water! Besides that, stock up on lip balm. Rodin Olio Lusso lip balm is a great product for moisturizing one of the greatest beauty aspects and greatest tool a person has, our lips – seductive or sweet, and not to forget our threshold to free speech. Rodin Olio Lusso lip balm is an all natural, chemical-free product which is exactly what you are looking for when you are dried out. A product containing unnatural ingredients is much more likely to dry you out more or create a greasy façade where it was once too dry. The Rodin Olio Lusso lip balm is made up of shea butter, castor seed oil, jasmine, beeswax, and orange flower oil, “blended together… in a beautiful synergy that results in suppleness and radiance for face, body, lips, and hair, instantly, immediately, with no fuss, no multi-step treatment regimen,” Rodin Olio Lusso declares. As one could imagine, the scent of this lip balm is genuine and intriguing. This product is available online through Rodin Olio Lusso as well as in high end department stores, such as Barney’s New York.
If you’re still feeling a little dehydrated and want to boost your glow, try changing up your products – you know, switch up the usual suspects. There is a good chance one, or more, of the products you are using could be drying out your skin. One product that I bet you never thought could be the culprit is your cleanser. Make-up remover has alcohol in it and could be the source of your dry skin, try switching to Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleaning Oil. This product, like all other Aesop products is designed as a non-irritant and is just what the doctor ordered for sensitive skin. Aesop explains the genius behind this line; “Aesop’s Parsley Seed skin care is the result of extensive research and development into the most effective way to deliver vitamins and anti-oxidants to the skin. Each product contains Parsley Seed extract – an ingredient that has significant protective benefits for the skin.” Locate their products online or while you are in Barney’s picking up your lip balm, stop in the Aesop section.
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