Fall Fashion 2012 Trends & Cheat Sheet!

The PEPLUM is probably the biggest trend of the YEAR! It's a look that appeared last Spring and it will not be disappearing anytime soon! 

The peplum is more flattering than you might think because it cinches in your waist and accentuates a woman's curves, even if you don't have any! Plus it will hide any signs of a soft belly - BONUS!

The House of Dior first introduced us to this trend in 1947 when it was part of the new look spotlighting women's waistlines. Obviously it has evolved since then, but the hips still have it! You'll see peplums showing up on leather coats, jackets, tops and dresses.

When you wear a peplum you want to think "balance." Because you are adding alot of volume on top this is best paired with something sleek on the lower portion of your body like skinny jeans or a pencil skirt.

Celebs like Katy Perry and Jennifer Hudson are often spotted wearing this trend to show off their curves and even the Hunger Games were "hip" to this trend!

The book on everyone's mind might be 50 Shades of Gray, but it's hard to resist a lady in any shade of RED! 

The breakout colors this season are rich berry stains with wine names like Bordeaux, Merlot, Chianti with the darkest red of all being Oxblood Red.

Designers are disagreeing with the old rule, "Don't wear white after Labor Day" by showcasing head to toe Winter White on the Fall runways. Monochromatic dressing is a great way to look taller and thinner - in any color not just black!

Leather is going to be a MEGA trend for Fall 2012! It plays into the Goth edgy vibe and is perfectly paired with the brights you probably have hanging in your closet from last season and it's not just for jackets, boots and bags anymore. You'll see these skins (faux included) on all sorts of details to full on dresses and outfits in an array of colors, cuts and styles. 

Denim has been in fashion since the day it was invented which is why we all own more than a few pair of jeans! Skinny and flares have been the rage for awhile, but this season we will see our ankles once again. 

Cropped jeans are the newest and greatest trend for Fall. Keep it slim, flared just a bit, cut just above the ankle and pair it with a heel to lengthen your leg.

Colored denim has been on trend for a few seasons but for Fall you'll want darker, earthy tones. If I were to pick one it would be a burgundy, in the red-grape spectrum. It's perfectly paired with navy, chocolate and green! Patterned, floral, brocade and animal prints will be showing up on colored denim for Fall as well.

Hilary Clinton will be happy to hear that menswear is trending strong this year since she lives in the pantsuit and for good reason - it's practical, professional and again, dressing in all one color makes us look taller and thinner. 

This year the collections featured loud, colorful geometric prints. Feeling a little dizzy? Well, this year is definitely all about mixing prints, patterns and stripes so start practicing!

You can always count on an economic downturn to cause a little bit of a rebellion from fashion designers craving a return to luxury and opulence. 

Asian influences, baroque, brocades and prints taken from wallpaper shots reined the runway with embellishments like lace, embroideries, feathers, sequins and gilt. Just goes to show not everyone is ready to give in to minimalism!

The Military influence always seems to sneak in come fall, but unlike 2 years ago when it was all about camouflage, the forces are now armed in a dark khaki, metallic buttons and double breasted style, with of course leather accents.

Awww, YES the future looks bright!

Metallics are resurrected and will become stronger as the holidays approach. I'm on board!

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

Gothic Meets Rocker Chic Jewelry Vibe

TREND ALERT: Gothic Iconic Jewels. 

The evil eye and other symbols.

ARE YOU A BELIEVER?

Ileana Makri

Kendra Scott

Kristen Farrell

Noir Dinosaur Bones

Ilena Makri

Pin-up Girl Shelley Goodstein

August Phoenix Magazine Shoot

Thrilled to have been booked to shoot for Phoenix Magazine's Water Issue at the Biltmore Hotel in Scottsdale with the talented Diana of Diana Elizabeth Photography. Styling, makeup and hair by Shauna Thibault. You can find the August Issue on Newstands now.

Uber-cool necklace by House of Harlow completely on trend and hot for Fall available {HERE} perfectly paired with a 1940's pinup inspired suit!

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $2.99 on Kindle, Also available on Nook,  iTunes and paperback from Amazon.com

 

Eat clean Diet Purrr-fection! How Anne Hathaway slid into that catsuit!

Watching another reincarnation of catwoman I can honestly say ... the catsuit is completely unforgiving so I wanted to know what went into the behind the scenes of making it look so hot! Luckily Shape magazine interviewed Anne Hathaway on the secret to rocking the skintight uniform!

With only one month to get Catwoman-ready, Anne Hathaway enlisted a little help from nutritional coach Jackie Keller and followed a vegan like anti-inflammatory diet which included whole grains to control blood sugar, avocados, almonds (she doesn't like walnuts), sesame seeds, dark chocolate, bright red and orange vegetables that are high in antioxidants (Hathaway loves yams), dark leafy greens, ginger and turmeric. Keeping her protein levels up to build muscle during intense training sessions was the main challenge Hathaway faced.

She had professional help, but if all you have is a few days to get ready for the beach (or you want to slip into a cat suit for Halloween) Keller's number one tip is to cut out red meat as your source of animal protein and, "default to fish particularly salmon, sardines and trout along with legumes to increase fiber and fatty acids. This will help you fill up and reduce saturated fat and, over all you will eat less," according to Keller.

Secondly, the nutrition coach suggests you do what Hathaway did during filming and reverse the portions on your plate. Vegetables should cover half of your dish with other half divided between protein and carbohydrates.

Some of Ann's favorite meals during filming included miso soup, a tempeh club avocado sandwich on gluten free bread, Tuscan brown rice salad, vegetarian chicken fried steak made with seitan, egg white frittatas and vegetarian egg rolls. The actress says she ate every two to three hours for a total of about 1500 to 1800 calories a day. That included six or seven meals plus a soup or sald daily because the goal was to get Hathaway fit and toned while remaining slim so continually fueling her body was a must! Keller made sure her client had a dessert every day so she wouldn't have any cravings and Hathaway admits her love of chocolate wasn't sorely missed because she indulged in gluten free chocolate chip cookies, fudge brownies, and chocolate power smoothies made with almond milk.

Lastly, Keller recommends doubling your water intake. "You need lots of water to keep flushing stuff through your system. Almost all of us, even the most conscientious drinker is probably under hydrated. Water is actually important for metabolism" which is why she encouraged Hathaway to stay hydrated.

Thanks to these three tips, her challenging Catwoman workout which was comprised of stunt training 5 days a week and an hour and a half of dance (let's talk cardio!), and Keller's anti-inflammatory meals ... the actress is in purr-fect shape to pull off that cat suit!

To read the full story on SHAPE click {HERE}

Dry Brushing to get Rid of Cellulite and Make Your Skin Glow!

Our skin is sometimes known as the third kidney because it eliminates over a pound of waste a day, but when the skin is clogged with million of dead skin cells and other debris, toxins can stay in the body putting stress on other elimination organs like the kidneys and liver sending them into overload. The skin is the last part of our body to receive nutrients yet the first place to show a vitamin deficiency. Alot of people suffer from cellulite build up which is really a toxin build up that manifests  as dimply skin where we wish it wouldn't show.

Numerous sources report that dry brushing works to remove cellulite. Science does not support this theory however, but even if the underlying cause of cellulite is unaffected, the temporary swelling seen after dry brushing can help achieve the appearance of smoother skin temporarily. Well, it can't hurt ... Plus skin brushing is one of the best and oldest, natural anti-aging technique that you should be taking advantage of to help move lymph fluid, increase circulation and make your skin look healthier i.e. GLOWING!  


WHAT IS DRY BRUSHING?

Skin Brushing is the act of gently brushing your skin with a body brush or loofah. Taking only 5 minutes once a day or a couple times a week, you can do this at home to exfoliate the skin removing dead skin cells {super important if you are out in the sun at all because our skin thickens from exposure}, promote new skin cell growth, stimulate blood flow and tighten the skin.



WHAT YOU NEED

To dry brush purchase a soft, natural fiber {vegetable bristle, not synthetic} long handled, bath-type brush from a local health food store for about $10. A loofah or rough towel will also work. As your skin becomes accustomed to the process you can switch to a coarser brush. Keep it dry, don't leave it in the shower.

GET NAKED AND START BRUSHING

The ideal time of the day to do this is when you're body is dry, before showering so you can wash off the impurities from the skin resulting from the brushing.


Start out brushing with light but firm pressure (especially in more callous areas like your soles and elbows) beginning with your feet in an upward direction and working up toward the heart. Some people say you should use long sweeping stokes, or short flicking strokes, but I like to use small circular motions. Avoid sensitive areas and your breasts. Your goal is for pink/flush looking skin, not to irritate your skin so it should not be red.

                                                                                            vega-licious.com

Finish by showering and moisturizing, after all you did just remove all those dead skin cells!

Start today and notice the improvement in the way your skin looks and feels ... Your skin is the largest organ of your entire body!




To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com