Have you ever noticed that some people simply take life by the hand and guided rather than being guided by what life gives them. It almost seems as though they have a secret. Fortunately for all of us, it isn’t a well hidden secret. It’s just a way that they have found to take full advantage of the opportunities that simplify life.

A lot of these people have taken advantage of the Internet and the many things it has to offer. For example, many people are make money blogging. Therefore, they have either changed the way they earn money altogether, or are just supplementing their income. They do so for many reasons. For some, it is the financial freedom. For others, it is simply the freedom that they get working for themselves from just about anywhere in the world.

Just as anyone who is comfortable in their financial situation, their stress levels are reduced. Therefore, their lives change completely. For starters, they also have the capacity to purchase and benefit from different products that really make life easier. Not to mention how improving on your surroundings can have an incredible impact on you.

If you decide to stay in your home, you can use home decor accents to really make a statement. Whether you’re designing yourself or your hiring a professional designer, you’ll see how important these accessories really are in making your house a home.

Certainly you’ll also be able to purchase things that you may have always wanted but could not have because there were simply too expensive. The fact is, the more money you earn, the more of her life will change. Read more…

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And I don’t mean the latest offerings from the Franklin Mint or someone standing at the top of the runway, rolling Royal Doulton and Noritake down amid the frantic cricket-like clicking of the paparazzi.

Visiting mainland China (not Honkers) is like throwing yourself backwards into the most crowded marketplace you can find – there is something happening everywhere.

This would provide at least some inspiration for their fashion.

When I found the Gallery for China Fashion Week, held in Beijing recently, I held my breath. Much as I do when I venture into a marketplace. Would I find what I was looking for? Yarn lovingly handspun from the fibre of a Long-Eared Spotted Woozel? Handcarved hooks of the length I prefer, the width that fits to my hand and a timber that makes Muggles suck their bottom lip in sheer envy that they don’t know how to wield such a masterpiece?

Ahem.

Would I find something here that would show how yet another designer has mispurposed crochet, on purpose? Read more…

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The French are coming. Washington D.C. is buzzing already with the anticipated excitement of another fashion show down. First Lady Michelle Obama and the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, will square off next week. At its highest form, fashion sense is a way of life, it comes naturally. If you try too hard then you might not get it right. Make no mistake about it, these two women have a little competition going on. Neither one willing to declare the other the winner as of yet.

Will First Lady Michelle Obama deliver the knock out blow next week? She’s obviously been working out consistently judging from pictures. They say timing is everything. Michelle Obama has great timing. This week she totally took over the internet with a jet set tour of the east coast that had her doing everything from Pizza in Brooklyn to concerts with Keys.

Now we all know why Michelle Obama took a quick trip to New York. It wasn’t just to see her buddy Big Bird at Kaufman Astoria. No, Michelle Obama picked up a few fashion pieces. President Obama always the gentleman, picked up a few books for the kids. Their parents will be very busy this week. Those books will keep Sasha and Malia occupied while the President and First Lady throw down in a classy way on their French guests. With President Obama’s health care bill out of the way and Michelle Obama on top of childhood obesity. The First Lady and the President should be in good shape. Read more…

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First ready-to-wear and now handbags! Despite leaving the world of high fashion behind, Lindsay Lohan’s design career is far from over. In fact, Lindsay’s 6126 fashion line just inked a three year deal with The California Bag Company and European handbag designer Paz Shakked Wolf to create a collection of handbags. Wolf, a former handbag designer for Tarina Tarantino and Dolce & Gabbana, will join Lindsay in creating a line of glamorous bags to accompany 6126’s existing hosiery and fashion collections. The bags will hit high end department stores and boutiques for spring 2011. Read more…

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Brazilian based blogger and freelance illustrator Camilla Gray showcases a love for fashion through her artwork, which incorporates influential figures in the industry.

From sketches of models like Jessica Stam to pictures which pay tribute to the late Alexander McQueen, Camilla Gray’s illustrations evoke a whimsical feel. Her use of pencil and splashes of color give off a boost of instant inspiration. More illustrations from Camilla Gray can be found on her website.

[flagallery gid=2 name="Gallery"] Read more…

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For fashionisers in the Northern Hemisphere the thought of Spring is undoubtedly a pleasing one; most are still in the grips of Winter, facing chilly days and cold nights. And yet, with March in full swing, the official start of Spring 2010 is only weeks away. And that means it’s time to refresh your wardrobes. And what a time it is: the first new season for 2010, and the first since the affects of the global financial crisis have begun the wane. Take this as an opportunity to not only splurge, but to set a course for how you’ll dress for not just Spring, but beyond into 2010. Read more…

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Most online retailers keep a safe distance from their customers (unless they’re asking for credit card information). ModCloth, an e-retailer of vintage women’s fashion founded in 2002, is deviating from this model by creating a community of fashionistas included in almost every part of the company.

Without the customer-company separation, ModCloth is more like a best friend who gives you fashion advice, shares her favorite recipes, and joins your book club. Wait, we’re still talking about a clothing store, right?

Right. In October 2009, Modcloth launched its “Be the Buyer” program, an initiative that lets visitors vote on clothing samples. If an item gets enough votes, ModCloth will sell it. Sound familiar? Threadless was founded on a similarly democratic principle, but Modcloth is the first to add crowdsourcing as a supplement to a traditional storefront.

This outfit was styled by ModCloth for its look book.

(Credit: ModCloth)

ModCloth takes its customers’ fashion advice to improve its buying decisions, but it’s also about building community. Customers leave comments on clothing samples and vote, but can also share their views with friends via Facebook or Twitter. It results in a group of people who may not know each other, but share in common an interest in fashion and a desire to talk about it.

These fashionistas are a part of a community more complex than garments, though. ModCloth’s blog, ModLife, covers everything from fashion to recipes, and provides “cool links” on the Web. There’s even a link to a Flickr account where customers upload photos of their favorite ModCloth outfits.

On March 8, ModCloth announced its reading contest, in which users who share the title of the book they’re reading on the social-networking site GoodReads enter for a chance to a win a copy of ModCloth’s book of the month. It’s unclear whether ModCloth has officially partnered with GoodRead, but the partnership represents a significant shift in online retailing. Read more…

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On Saturday, the New York-based group TC5 will put on a fashion show unlike any other you’re likely to see during Los Angeles Fashion Week.

That’s because the members of TC5 (which stands for The Cool Five) aren’t fashion designers — they’re graffiti artists who helped revolutionize the urban youth look that came into fashion in the ’80s and spawned a multibillion dollar industry that includes lines such as Ecko and Akademiks, streetwear that embellishes basic silhouettes — T-shirts, jackets and hoodies with graffiti style images and text.

In fact, TC5 lays claim to kicking off the craze.

“We started that whole thing,” said Doc, one of the longest-standing members of TC5 (he’s been part of the group, which began in the late ’70s, since 1983).  “Once upon a time, if you wanted something customized, you had to come to us.”

For this show, TC5 is bringing vintage pieces from New York and has also been decorating some new pieces on-site at the Crewest Gallery. Doc says the new pieces will bridge the fashion gap between then and now, making Saturday’s event part fashion show and part history lesson.

“Kids today take it for granted,” Doc said. “[When we started customizing clothes] there was only one kind of baseball cap, there weren’t a million colors. Sneaker companies made three kinds of sneakers.”
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