Crossing the Blues

Monday, March 31, 2008

Party & Day Dress



























Source: http://www.lipsy.co.uk

Model - Laura Roldan






















































H&M sales increased with 18%



For the first three months of the financial year, fashion retailer Hennes & Maurits published its sales increase of 18%. The profit of the company came down to €21 billion (SEK19,74 billion, excluding VAT), compared to €17,8 billion for last year. The first quarter of 2008 ended on 29th February 2008.

The net profit of the Swedish fashion retailer ended on €313 million. This is an increase of 28% in comparison to the net profit in 2007 (€245 million). The sales developments are mainly the result of the higher quality of the collections, and the increased internet- and catalogue sales. Due to the dollar price, the low wholesale and transport costs also contributed to H&M positive figures.

Next to in-house fashion labels such as L.O.G.G and Devided, the fashion company also carries the label COS (Collection Of Style). Last year London saw the launch of a shop dedicated to COS on Regent Street. At the beginning of March, H&M acquired shares of Swedish Fabric Scandinavian and denim label Cheap Monday. These acquirements are not included within the first quarter.

H&M launched eleven new stores and closed down four in the first quarter of 2008. The number of stores amounted to 1,529 on 29th February 2008 versus 1,351 the year before. For the second quarter of 2008, the company is looking to open another 54 stores, mostly located in the UK, US, Spain, Italy and Germany.


Source: http://www.fashionunited.co.uk/

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Model - Alessandra Ambrosio































Model - Alessandra Ambrosio

Shoes



There are nearly 1300 pairs of shoes in the Fashion Museum collection, from a pair of red velvet embroidered mules dating to about 1700 to a pair of flat brown distressed leather brogues from 2004 by Japanese designer Junya Wattanabe.

These shoes are both from the 1950s. The gold sandal is by Fortnum and Mason and the extraordinary ‘heel-less’ black suede shoe by an unknown Italian designer. These are hardly warn, which comes as no surprise really.

Other shoe names in the collection include Hellstern, N Greco, Ferragamo, Chelsea Cobbler, Oliver Sweeney, Emma Hope, Patrick Cox and Manolo Blahnik.

A selection of shoes from the collection is on display in the Fashion Museum galleries.

2008 Prom Dress Themes





Months before prom night, young ladies begin looking for that perfect prom dress. One popular trend is to buy 2008 prom dresses according to prom themes. Fashion trends are always changing, and some ladies prefer to go for the latest and the best though of course this is not within the budget or even preference of every girl going to the prom that year. From following celebrities, fashion magazines, and other trend indicators, there are many choices that a girl may look at when deciding on her prom dress. Now such a decision is made with hours of consultations with friends and an exchange of ideas and suggestions from many sources. Prom themes can be great when you get stuck and are unable to decide which way to go.



Themes are also good because they help you to focus on the color, style, cut, and fabric of your prom dress. Once you get started it is easier to focus on such things as accessories and finally arrive at that perfect look for your prom night. The only thing better than looking good alone is looking good together with your friends. Themes are reinforced when friends dress alike because it drives home the point that your friendships will continue into the new phase of life.
One of the most popular and longstanding themes for prom dresses is the one associated with Cinderella. The classic princess dress with glass slippers is not only a favorite with many but is also one of the few themes that never gets old or out of fashion. If nothing else, then it is a safe choice.
Another theme that has gained favor with prom attendees is one based on Hollywood and its various celebrities. This does not only follow the latest trends but sometimes goes back into history and brings back the classics that bring along their own aura of freshness through a long absence.
Themes may also follow music but they are a bit difficult to follow. Music themes depend on the colors that are being planned to go with the music. The safe way is to ensure that your own choice of colors is in rapport with the overall theme and not against it.The accessories you choose need equally attention when you plan your 2008 prom dresses according to prom themes. Just be sure and not fall into the trap of overdoing anything. Sometimes all it takes is one small touch and everything becomes self-evident. Decide on a good prom theme and your choice will naturally become easier as well as unique.

Source: http://www.promdresses2007.net/

Dress of the Year 2000



How does a museum of historic dress keep up with modern fashion? At the Fashion Museum we have a unique scheme called the Dress of the Year.
Each year since 1963, when the museum was founded in Bath, we have asked a fashion expert to select a dress or outfit for the museum’s collection to represent the most important new ideas in contemporary fashion. The chosen designers or manufacturers have always very generously given the clothes to the Fashion Museum and the firm of Adel Rootstein donates an up-to-date mannequin for the display.
Dress of the Year choices from 1963 to 2005 are listed on the left.

19th Century Fashion





This is one of the richest areas of the Fashion Museum collections with examples from the slender white muslin dresses of the early 19th century to more colourful and voluminous dresses, such as the bright blue silk day dress worn with a cage crinoline from the 1860s, seen below.

To see more nineteenth century fashion, see the Collection search.


British Fashion










Stitched wool mix dress by John Bates at Jean VaronPhotograph by Barry Lategan, Vogue August 1971. Copyright The Conde Nast Publications Ltd




British fashion is known throughout the world for it tradition and iconoclasm. The Fashion Museum has important collections of the work of many British designers, many of whom are less well-known than the big names who feature regularly in histories of 20th century fashion, but who have made equally significant contributions to British fashion.
Work by different British fashion designer will be featured from time to time in the Fashion Museum galleries. The designers currently featured all worked in the 1970s and 1980s and are John Bates, Janice Wainwright, Wendy Dagworthy and Sarah Dallas.

18th Century Fashion



The Fashion Museum has a good collection of 18th century dress for both men and women. Highlights include a sizeable group of men’s embroidered waistcoats and this gown from 1742. The silk was designed by Anna Maria Garthwaite.

Raima Sen







Raima Sen - The sexy siren. This 1979 born Indian actress is the grand daughter of the much acclaimed and legendary actress of yester years of Tollywood, Suchitra Sen and daughter of the popular actress Moonmoon Sen. Her first movie was ‘Godmother’ which was released in 1999. The film was directed by Vinay Shukla and had the national award winning actress Shabana Azmi in the lead and portraying the title role. This movie was critically acclaimed.
In ‘Daman’ in 2001, Raima Sen appeared as Raveena’s daughter. She had a small but important role in this film and was highly appreciated. The film ‘Choker Bali’, directed by the famous film maker Rituparno Ghosh came as breakthrough for Raima and opened the door for more opportunities in films. Raima Sen was praised for her simple and submissive role as ‘Ashalata’ in the movie. In 2005, Raima got the opportunity to feature in the critically acclaimed hit film ‘Parineeta’, the film was directed by Pradeep Sarkar.





The film starred Vidya Balan in the lead and also Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt. By far, Raima Sen has done a variety of films like ‘Dus’, ‘Funtoosh’, ‘Eklavya’, ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd’ and ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’. The last two films have helped Raima to prove her versatility in acting. In both the films ,she had received appreciated. Raima is known for her low profile and it is often said that she has resemblance with the veteran actress and also her grandmother Suchitra Sen. This upcoming actress of Bollywood has a bright future ahead.

About Indian Fashion

When we draw our attention towards fashion trend, the first thought that strikes our mind is dressing oneself in trendy fashion style clothing. Indian fashion is not just about attiring latest fashion clothes but much more. It believes in grooming your entire personality, thus moulding your physical makeup keeping in mind your mental makeup.

It is a term, which encompasses not just wardrobe, but the kind of shoes, accessories, hairstyle and jewelry that you choose to wear. There is a wide range of accessories consisting of huge variety right from wallets and fashion handbags to contact lenses, eyeglasses, belts, watches, perfumes, hairclips, broaches, scarves and ties.

Jewelry is woman's best friend. It brings out her beauty in the most elegant manner. She may have a large gamut of earrings, bangles, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, nose-pins, rings and armlets in her collection. But now men have also headed their way to the jewelry section. Thus no exclusive reservation of women is allowed.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Nanae Akasaka - Japanese Hot Babe

The Best selection of Nanae Akasaka Japanese Hot Babe Picture






Akasaka Nanae
Profession : Actress
Birthdate : 1979-Dec-24
Birthplace : Kanagawa Prefecture
Height : 166cm
Star Sign : Capricorn
Blood type : O

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The 23 city wards (ku) are the center of Tokyo and make up about one third of the metropolis' area, while housing roughly eight of Tokyo's approximately twelve million residents. Tokyo is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, but is called a metropolis (to) rather than a prefecture (ken). The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards (ku), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, several small Pacific Islands in the south of Japan's main island Honshu.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Katase Nana - Japanese Hot Babe

The Best selection of Katase Nana Japanese Hot Babe picture
Katase Nana is a Japanese actress, model, former gravure idol, and former singer on the avex trax record label.

Profile
Name : Katase Nana
Birthday : November 11, 1981
Birthplace : Tokyo
Blood type : A
Height : 161cm
Favorite artist : SASHA
Favorite food : Strawberry, marron
Hobbies : Digicam
Motto : Trust your intuition

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Miki Fujimoto - Japanese Hot Babe

The best selection of Miki Fujimoto Sexy Picture


Miki Fujimoto (born February 26, 1985 in Takikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan), is an ex-solo artist from Hello! Project. She was previously the leader of the popular Japanese pop group Morning Musume but only after a few weeks, a magazine published a scandal which resulted in her resignation from the group. Currently, she is one-half of the duo GAM.


In October 2007 Miki Fujimoto will not attend to the Hello! Project 2008 Winter Concert. Some say she is still under punishment from the scandal early this year.
On February 11, 2008, it was announced that Fujimoto will be releasing a single entitled "Oki Tegami". The single will be a collaboration with fellow Up-Front singer Takao Horiuchi and is scheduled for release on April 23, 2008.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Main hall of Todaiji in Nara. Lecture hall Lecture halls are for meetings and lectures and often also display objects of worship. Lecture halls are called kodo. Example: Lecture hall of Toji in Kyoto. Pagoda The pagoda, a structure that has evolved from the Indian stupa, usually comes with three (sanju no to) or five (goju no to) stories. Pagodas store remains of the Buddha such as a tooth, usually in form of a representation. 3-storied pagoda of Kofukuji in Nara.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Over the years, wherever his travels took him, and on occasion this included international destinations, he always headed back to the family sweet shop in Shibamata with no real prior warning to let the folks at home know he was on his way. Even today the ‘dango’ his family supposedly sold remain a popular local souvenir for visitors to the area and locals alike.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

This seems not to bother Japanese fans who understand that the model's details are a role. Secondly, it can be seen as part of a Japanese tradition of developing roles within roles, this can be seen in the behaviour of the masked Geisha and in Kabuki theatre. It can also be associated with ideas that lie deeper within Japanese culture: Firstly, the idealisation of youth which is reflected in such things as 'cutesie' adult fashions and the portrayal by women of themselves (in terms of dress and manner) as younger than they are. For a fuller understanding of both role play and the idealisation of youth in Japanese media and culture it is worth reading articles by Dr Sharon Kinsella, referenced below.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Lisa-Helen Ralph - United Kingdom



Lisa-Helen Ralph - United Kingdom

Age: 22

Ocupation: Customer Service Assistant

Lives: Bath

This year’s Cinderella story is… Lisa-Helen Ralph. By day she guides tourists around Bath’s fashion museum. By night she sits in her room “dreaming of modelling the clothes I describe”. That dream is yours to make or break. But one thing’s for sure: it could also be a nightmare. “I’m under a Honey hex,” she grins. “I got the Top 100 call while running away from a cockroach, and I read the Top 10 letter while being sick.”

Lisa-Helen Ralph - United Kingdom



Lisa-Helen Ralph - United Kingdom

Age: 22

Ocupation: Customer Service Assistant

Lives: Bath

This year’s Cinderella story is… Lisa-Helen Ralph. By day she guides tourists around Bath’s fashion museum. By night she sits in her room “dreaming of modelling the clothes I describe”. That dream is yours to make or break. But one thing’s for sure: it could also be a nightmare. “I’m under a Honey hex,” she grins. “I got the Top 100 call while running away from a cockroach, and I read the Top 10 letter while being sick.”

Lindsey Cole - United Kingdom



Lindsey Cole - United Kingdom

Age: 19

Ocupation: Events Co-ordinator

Lives: Cheshire

A pretty face and smokin’ torso aren’t enough to win High Street Honeys. You also need to be a savvy self-publicist. Step forward Lindsey Cole. “I’m doing events management,” smiles Lindsay. “It helped my campaign a lot. I put on club nights and got myself in newspapers. If I win, I’ll juggle the two careers.” Tough, but Lindsey does have form: she maintains 2,150 Facebook friendships. “It’s ridiculous,” laughs the Manc. “A Greek man said he’d marry me if I flew over. I politely told him where to go.”

Lindsey Cole - United Kingdom



Lindsey Cole - United Kingdom

Age: 19

Ocupation: Events Co-ordinator

Lives: Cheshire

A pretty face and smokin’ torso aren’t enough to win High Street Honeys. You also need to be a savvy self-publicist. Step forward Lindsey Cole. “I’m doing events management,” smiles Lindsay. “It helped my campaign a lot. I put on club nights and got myself in newspapers. If I win, I’ll juggle the two careers.” Tough, but Lindsey does have form: she maintains 2,150 Facebook friendships. “It’s ridiculous,” laughs the Manc. “A Greek man said he’d marry me if I flew over. I politely told him where to go.”