Fashion designer Claudia Chan Shaw heralds the new Chinese year with festivities set to delight

(Photo:formal dresses) When Sydney’s beloved Chinese New Year Twilight Parade was axed from the city’s event calendar due to the construction of the CBD light rail, revellers and authorities alike were left wondering how they would celebrate the festivities.
This year, several weeks of celebration will ring in the Year of the Monkey, replacing the decade-old parade with a festival that runs from Chinatown down to Darling Harbour, headed up by fashion designer Claudia Chan Shaw.
“While in the past people’s favourite was the parade, this year will be totally different,” Ms Shaw said.
“Instead of a parade that runs for three hours, there will be nine days of celebrations and events.”
Huge zodiac ‘lanterns’ — glowing animals in the shape of star signs — will light a path across the city, and landmarks including the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Circular Quay Station, Sydney Town Hall and the Capitol Theatre will bask in red light to symbolise good fortune and joy.
“This embraces the whole city with staggeringly wonderful designs,” Ms Shaw said. “Imagine giant monkeys down on the Sydney foreshore, 8m dragons down at Dawes Point and oversized rabbits doing tai chi in Customs House Square.
“While lanterns have traditionally been used throughout the history of Chinese culture, we wanted to do something that had never been done before. This isn’t China or Hong Kong. We wanted to show off Sydney and make it glitter.”
Instead of marching in the parade, cultural community groups will be given space around the city to do multiple performances, and favourites including the dragon boat race and the lunar feasts will still go ahead.
For those wanting to learn more about traditional Chinese culture, there is the opportunity to take part in a tea ceremony, or to learn to play mahjong over dim sum.
“This is such a significant event not just in Chinese culture, but for Taiwanese, Japanese, Vietnamese and many others,” Ms Shaw said.

“We want people to step into new territory. We want to bring a smile to their face and delight to the eyes.”Read more at:cocktail dresses uk

Elsa Pataky: 'No more excuses!'

Elsa Pataky urges mothers to forfeit any excuses they may have about putting off exercise.
The 39-year-old actress shares three children with her actor husband Chris Hemsworth, including three-year-old daughter India Rose and 22-month-old twin boys Tristan and Sasha.
Although she has her hands full caring for young kids while also attending to a busy career, Elsa still manages to squeeze some fitness into her day, and the star believes every other mother in the world can do the same.
Writing a blog post for Spain's Glamour magazine, Elsa noted many people may have all sorts of justifications for staying away from the gym after the Christmas holidays conclude.
"Some of us have put on some pounds (over the holidays)...But all good things come to an end and now, most of us vow to do a whole host of things, some of them will not be followed through on and some others will," she observed. "And, who hasn't once written down 'to get in shape' in his list of resolutions for the New Year?
"This post is for all the busy mums who quit doing some exercise as they think they don't have free time and the little (time) they (do) have is devoted to their children."
Elsa attached a video to the blog post and in the footage she is demonstrating exercises that incorporate a baby buggy into repetitions. The exercises Elsa performs in the clip are a series of squats, planks, lunges and at one point she even jogs with the buggy.
Her reasoning behind using the equipment is to show mothers it is simple to get a workout in while occupied with parental duties.
"I think it is fantastic any time we take up to everyday tasks to engage it in our little ones, it is actually the best thing we can do," she wrote. "But I am going to teach some exercises you can do while you are walking outdoors with your children. Put on your leggings and trainers and try to do these exercises. You can work out your abs, legs, buttocks, arms...

"Use your imagination to use the buggy or hold your baby in your arms to practice with them some simple moves. I assure you will enjoy them and so they will. So... there's no more excuses! Let's start the New Year in a good shape."Read more at:prom dresses 2016 | red carpet dresses

4 Things Charleston Fashion Week Taught Me About Being an Entrepreneur

Charleston Fashion Week, held in historic Charleston, SC has quickly made a name for itself as one of the best fashion showcases in the US. Charleston Fashion Week 2016, scheduled for late March, will be the 9th year this event has transformed Marion Square in the heart of Charleston into a catwalk. 2016 is promising to be bigger and better.
One thing that makes Charleston Fashion Week stand out as a game changer in the fashion world is the Emerging Designer Competition: East. The new designer showcase allows new and emerging designers, both local and international, to get their name, brand, and more importantly, their work, in front of industry leaders, members of the media, and peers. Winners of the contest, including Anna Toth, have gone on to do some great things. The goal of the Emerging Designer Competition: East is to serve as a "pathway to New York."
Last year I had the opportunity to attend Charleston Fashion Week on the first night of the Emerging Designer Competition: East. I'm no fashionista, but I knew being is a room full of beauty and surrounded by the creative spirit was bound to rub off on me. What I wasn't expecting was to learn these four business truths.
1. No matter your dream, opportunity abounds.
It is easier than ever to start a business and attract clients from around the world. The internet make that a reality, but even though starting is easy, success and industry acceptance is still not so easy. Opportunities like Emerging Designer Competition: East and the Rock the Runway Model Competition™ are still important to establish credibility and move you from an internet start up to a respected member of your industry.
2) Success is contagious.
My favorite part of Charleston Fashion Week was reading the biography of every new and emerging designer in the program. Knowing the story behind each designer made watching their moment of achievement that much more inspiring. If you can avoid the trap of comparison and enjoy the success of others, your life will be full and you will be able to wear your success with pride.
3) Being surrounded by art is healthy and good for the soul.
I don't consider myself an artist or a creative, but something happens to my soul when I am surrounded by art. I have never aspired to be a fashion designer, but being in the presence of beautiful fabrics, new shapes, and interesting designs makes me a better writer and speaker. Honestly, art makes us better humans. The public is welcomed to attend Charleston Fashion Week, but if that isn't possible for you this year, take an afternoon and visit an art museum or attend the symphony.
4) Celebration is important.
During a fashion show, each model walks out onto the stage one at a time, struts to the end of the runway and walks back. At the end of the show, the models walk the runway one more time, but this time they walk in a long line, one after another. At the end of the line is the designer. Although usually much shorter, and less glamorous than the models, the designer draws the largest applause. The work of the designer is primarily behind the scenes, but her moment in the spotlight is important. The next time you finish a project, land a new client, or receive a big order, take a minute to stand in the spotlight and enjoy the glory of the win.

Even though a fashion show is not a traditional place to learn about entrepreneurial truths, I walked away from Charleston Fashion Week 2015 excited, inspired, and ready to create.Read more at:cocktail dresses | prom dresses manchester

Milan fashion forces rally against the gloom

(Photo:evening dresses) Terror attacks around the world and the recent death of style icon David Bowie form a gloomy backdrop for the winter 2016/17 menswear shows that kick off here today (Jan 15).
But Mr Carlo Capasa, President of the Italian Chamber of Fashion, is confident the big names of the fashion world will kick back with a “dose of positive energy” over the next five days.
“Fashion represents one of the great strong points of our Western culture,” Mr Capasa told AFP. “It is a world of multiple possibilities, where the young are welcome, can get answers and express themselves, and where the only thing that counts is your talent.”
More than 40 catwalk shows are scheduled for the latest mens fashion week in the Italian style capital with the big Italian names like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada complemented by a handful of international brands, including Britain’s Vivienne Westwood.
Norwegian designer Peter Dundas’ eagerly awaited first menswear collection since his return to Roberto Cavalli will get proceedings under way this evening.
Along with the dampening effect of the threat of terror attacks, factors such as economic sanctions on Russia and uncertainty in China and other emerging markets have helped to make it a difficult year for sellers of upmarket menswear.
“In a conjunctural context that was globally favourable but still too fluctuating and uncertain, Italian menswear sales should register modest growth for the year,” said the Italian Textile Federation (SMI).
With the help of the euro’s significant decline against the dollar, the organisation’s number crunchers are expecting growth of 1.8 per cent to a total of nearly nine billion euros worth of sales. That is significantly down from the 3.8 percent growth SMI was predicting at the time of the Spring/Summer menswear collections in June.
With domestic demand weakening, export growth is expected to slow to 2.4 per cent, compared to 5.1 per cent in 2014. Exports account for nearly two thirds of Italian menswear sales.
ACCESSIBLE ELEGANCE
SMI President Claudio Marenzi said another year of modest growth (2 percent) was anticipated for 2016. “Our goal has to be maintaining the global dominance of Italian fashion, not only in terms of creativity but also in terms of industry,” Mr Marenzi said.
Mr Gaetano Marzano, president of the Pitti Uomo industry event in Florence which precedes the Milan shows, said his main hope for 2016 was that the dollar’s recent strength against the euro would be sustained.
“And that Americans will continue to spend because they have become our biggest clients, particularly for men’s fashionwear,” he said highlighting a 16.2 per cent rise in menswear exports to the USA in 2015.
“The accessible elegance of ‘made-in-Italy’ is also very much appreciated in northern Europe,” Mr Marzano added, highlighting strong growth in Britain and Germany, which was only partially offset by disappointing falls in sales to France and Switzlerland.
“The real challenge is in the East (of Europe) where people adore Italian fashion and are now beginning to be able to afford it.

“Hopefully the problems with Russia will be resolved,” he added, revealing that sanctions imposed over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine had reduced sales there by a third.Read more at:prom dresses online

Fashion Shows

(Photo:long prom dresses) Most people don't. Work with photographers backstage, that is. Most hairdressers are totally oblivious photographers are there backstage photographing hair that may not end up looking it's best, sometimes in media reaching millions or online for posterity. And making all the time and effort put into the hair for the show more than worth while instead of, for the sponsor at least, a waste of money and effort.
Most lead hairdressers, for fashion and hair shows, do not train their hairdressers how to work with photographers at all. They should. Because most do not have a clue, especially for runway shows or backstage at hair shows.
Know, dear hairdressers, and this goes for makeup artists too, to be aware, and sometimes give the photographer a great photograph by stopping for a minute, take yourself and your hands away from the head for a minute. Or even less. A photograph takes the time of a click, which for me is maybe 10 seconds. Would that slow anyone up? I don't think so.
Getting Personal.
I have been in the business for decades, I have been photographing backstage since 1997, and I know my stuff, so I know what happens is most photographers end up taking photos with the hair half done, or not looking as good as it might, or with hands in the photos which often make the photo not usable and, my case, not possible to get a full page. Or, reaching less people than it could. It's good to remember, I repeat, that the photo could end up reaching thousands or millions – even more than the audience out there at the show or event. Which is, of course, the top priority, but think of The Big Picture too.
Some hairdressers are very photo, model and image savvy. The legendary John Sahag would often drop everything, however hectic he was backstage during a Fashion Week show, to come and put his magic hands in hair being photographed if he saw it was not as good as it might be. He had eyes in the back of his head, was very aware.
Jon Reyman of Aveda has been known to bring his chair forward, sometimes in the tightest of spaces, so I can photo a how-to from the back of the head as he works, and he will come over and help one of his less experienced hairdressers make the hair look better if he sees the hair could be better.
Peter Gray, a leading lead hairdresser, makes sure, in advance, with the powers that be, I can stay at his shows to photo First Looks with hair finished, models dressed, accessorized and made up, as well as the prep, and has insisted I am with him if I am about to be slung out; he has also firmly taken hold of my hand to steer me to First Looks with him.
Kelly Cutrone, who owns People's Revolution PR and produces her own shows, has let me stay backstage through most of her shows for over a decade. The girls at Siren PR work hard to get permission for me to stay for First Looks and often through their shows for Catwalk by TIGI.
Anne Hardy and Jon Feldman of AHPR Group, work it, both to set it all up for me, in advance, and to be able to stay backstage through the show (my preferred thing to do at all shows) as does Edward Tricomi of Warren-Tricomi, although he used to be oblivious and would stand there, even if I was photographing hair in need a little touch up that retouching would not help. He is now aware. There are others who get it, like Laurent Duforges and Jose Luis or Privé. But most do not and do not care. Most just need some training.

My dream for backstage at fashion, and hair shows, is to be provided by the lead hairdresser with my very own hairdresser in tow, or a savvy assistant, to be there with me and my camera, at all times, to perfect so much great hair I can't photo because it needs a little touch up by one of the team. Is anyone taking notes?! But it's not all about me, know that there are other great photographers out there who often are not able to do your great hair justice.Read more at:prom dresses london

Fashion Week to hit runways of downtown Delray Beach

From casual beachwear to high-end evening wear, Delray Beach Fashion Week will have an outfit for all occasions.
This year's event takes center stage across downtown Delray from Jan. 16 to Jan. 23, and preparations have kicked into high gear.
Laura Simon, one of the organizers busy making phone calls and setting up appointments and schedules, has booked 60 models and 20 hair stylists and makeup artists. And she has lined up hundreds of outfits to be displayed.
"It takes a community to put it on," said Simon, executive director of the city's Downtown Development Authority.
Models on runways will show off what local designers are selling as the must-have items for 2016. They'll showcase all types of looks and accessories from 35 downtown shops and 25 salons.
This will mark Fashion Week's fourth year, and Jule Guaglardi, who owns boutique Roxy Lulu in Pineapple Grove, said it keeps improving each time.
"Each year we do it, we get better," said Guaglardi, who has helped with the event since its inception. "We are starting to turn it into a high-caliber event that can compete with other major cities' events."
The Downtown Development Authority and local business owners created the event as a way to bring attention to Delray's boutiques, salons and designers.
It started in 2013 as a one-night fashion show that placed the spotlight on the downtown shopping scene through music, models and a catwalk. Since then, the event has turned into a week of styling expos, stiletto shopping and shows highlighting trends.
Guaglardi said more designers are signing up to participate each year. She said folks who attend Fashion Week realize that Delray has more to offer than bars, restaurants and the beach.
"Fashion week has helped people find us," she said. "We are a shopping destination."
Events take place inside stores and on runways set up in various sections of downtown.
Most events are free to the public. Fashionistas who want upfront runway seating can pay for a ticketed seat, with the cost of the ticket benefiting a local charity.
The week kicks off Jan. 16 in front of the Colony Hotel, 525 E. Atlantic Ave., with a runway fashion show "Havana Nights," which will feature resort wear for men, women and children.
Before the models strut their way down the catwalk, flamenco dancers will take the stage at 7 p.m.
A reserved seat costs $20, which includes admission to the after party at popular bar and lounge Honey. It benefits the Achievement Centers for Children and Families, which promotes school readiness and other programs for low-income families.
Other runway themes that have ticketed options include a Jan. 18 "Evening with Great Gatsby" evening wear show, a Jan. 19 "Timeless Fashion Show and Luncheon" and a Jan. 21 "Seasons for a Reason" hairstyling show.

The two-hour finale "Surf and Swim" show at Worthing Park, at East Atlantic and Southeast Second avenues, will be free. It is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Jan. 23.Read more at:formal dresses uk | cocktail dresses uk

Simple-to-follow Ayurvedic tips to fix digestion

(Photo:2016 prom dresses) With the fast-paced lifestyle that we lead, indigestion is one problem we all encounter. Bloating, headache, unexplained chest pain, lethargy are all signs of a sluggish digestive system. But that doesn't mean it is an issue beyond repair. If you follow these four simple Ayurvedic rules, you can eliminate roadblocks to a near-to-perfect digestive system.
Rise early
Do you snooze way beyond bed-time? Ayurveda believes that the best time to leave the bed is between 4-6am. It is believed to be the most spiritually stimulating time of the day and is ideal for meditation. It helps in easy elimination and improved digestive system.
Warm water
Ayurveda talks about a term called 'Agni' also known as digestive fire. So when we drink cold water, we shun the digestive fire, which is a big aid in eliminating toxins from our body. So the moment you wake up, the first thing you should consume should be a glass of warm water. Feel free to add lemon or honey to it.
Go easy on salads
If you are gorging on too much salad, assuming that the roughage will help you eliminate toxins from the body is more of a myth. As a matter of fact, it is difficult for the body to digest too much raw food so go easy on them for a smooth digestive system. If you love it, steam it or add some healthy warm oil to make it easy for the body.
Vajrasana after meals

After every meal, it is advised to sit in Vajrasana. First sit in a kneeling position and then sit on your knees with your buttocks touching the heel. Once comfortable, put your palms on the knees. You should sit in this position for atleast 5-6 minutes after every meal. This will prevent constipation and indigestion.Read more at:celebrity inspired dresses

A look at modeling in Malawi

In Malawi, if there is an industry that has been the slowest growing and the most criticized, then it has to be the modeling.

(Photo:orange prom dresses)

There are suggestions that government should intervene to protect models like these. Photo by Kimpho Loka.
Models have been called prostitutes to begin with, and it has on several occasions been blamed for misleading the youth and disrespecting the country’s culture and traditions. I guess it’s safe to call it the black sheep of the industries.
However, in a bid to change the outlook the general public has on the industry in Malawi, 2015 saw dazzling and unique shows, including WAFE and HAEZ, which showcased Malawian designs, designers and models.
On top of that, the amazing videos released this year featuring Malawian models cannot be ignored.
These developments show just how much Malawians have grown in awareness and embracement of the industry. But is it safe to say the modeling industry is ready to take off on the international scene?
“Not yet. We still have a long way to go,” observes Samuel Sozela of Sparkling Photography in an interview with Nyasa Showbiz.
Sozela, who works with models on a regular basis, feels that the industry is not ready to take off internationally.
“I think there has to be modeling agencies and companies that will only focus on how to improve modeling in Malawi.
“Our models also need a lot of training. I’ve been to events where you’d clearly see that a model on stage had no idea what they were doing or what they were supposed to do.
“People forget that modeling is not just about walking on the stage but also knowing what to do next at a particular time,” he states.
Sharon Kadangwe, a model who has worked with big companies such as Airtel Malawi and Nedbank, as well as different designers among them Vanessa Nsona of DoroVee, Lillian Koreia of Miizu, Terrence Edwards of TMD and Lauretta of LV, suggests having a union for the industry.
“Malawi is very far from being taken seriously internationally. I think some Malawian models have what it takes to make it out there, but we don’t have an industry here to support us,” says the model.
“We are growing, but nothing tangible has been done yet. A union or committee would definitely be a way to start. There needs to be an independent body that sets the standard prices for all modeling work, which would be the foundation of some serious professionalism.
“Those who want to model professionally must register. Not everyone is a model. Pretty or unique looks don’t always mean you are the model-type,” adds the model who was also part of the Malawi Fashion Week 2013.
Capital FM’s Elita Soko observes: “The problem with modeling is the standards are set based on the western culture. There is a particular body type associated with modeling, which again is western.
“As long as we have a culture that we think we should adhere to, there is no way that the industry will grow to a point it can be taken to the international level, because we need to meet the standards which contradict with our beliefs as Malawians.”
There have been suggestions that government should be involved in coming up with policies for the industry.
“Government needs to be convinced that modeling is valuable enough, economically and socially. We need to prove its worth first,” says Soko.
Business and Entertainment journalist Earlene Chimoyo agrees that modeling has not flourished in Malawi because of cultural misconceptions and the public’s mindset about the industry and the players.
“To change the situation we need a multifaceted approach. As a country we must intensify awareness campaigns on women and girls empowerment in the social circles,” comments Chimoyo.
On policies, she says “It would be imperative to come up with guidelines that would promote use of local talent in the marketing of local and international products in the country. This would see the industry booming because then models, modeling agencies, and designers would find a ready market.
And this policy should also encompass issues of protection of rights of people in this industry. To this effect then I would say the government would need to play a role because such policies would have to be made national and properly gazetted.”

Are these ideas viable in 2016? Will the New Year see the growth of the industry? What other ideas do you think should be implemented? Please do share in the comments section.Read more at:grey prom dresses