Live Iconic

Beauty is only skin-deep, right?

2010-06-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

What does that mean, anyway? That beauty only penetrates as deep as your skin? I'm sure that whoever said this first meant that it's what's on the inside that counts, but here's how I read it: You won't be beautiful unless your skin is. You can wear the nicest clothes, the cutest accessories, and have the most expensive coiffure, but if your skin is dull, blotchy, crepe-ish, or just generally losing its luster, you won't fit the bill as a fashion icon. This is why skincare is of the utmost importance.

How to have beautiful skin:

1. No yo-yo dieting. If you're losing weight, do so gradually, and keep your skin moisturized with a lotion specific for weight loss, such as those from the Mama Mio skincare line. Never gain or lose weight quickly. Stretch marks and crepe-ing are unsightly and difficult to rid yourself of.

2. Eat right. This will help keep you from losing or gaining weight too quickly. Also, make sure you get the appropriate nutrients; Vitamin A (found as alpha- and beta-carotene in foods such as carrots, papaya, and spinach) is essential for healthy skin; Vitamins E and C are also necessary. Consume good fats such as those found in olive oil , flax seed, almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts in order to help your body absorb the nutrients it needs to keep your skin healthy.

3. Moisturize. My favorite general body lotions are those made by Say Yes to Carrots (with Dead Sea minerals and carrots), and any of the Burt's Bees line. I also love St Ive's Skin Firming moisturizer.

4. Treat. I've mentioned the Mama Mio line, and I'll mention it again. They design products for pregnant women and new mothers, so they understand the shrinking and growing of skin. And right now, Five Monkies is giving away one of their products-- the world-renowned Boob Tube, which will return your breasts to their former glory. Speaking of Glory, check out Soap and Glory's line of pun-tastic cellulite products.

5. Massage. If you're applying lotion, you're doing this anyway. Massage stimulates the skin to produce new cells and moves the lymph along. Remember never to pull at delicate skin such as on your face, neck, and decolletage.

6. Don't forget... Your neck, elbows, knees, hands, and decolletage. These commonly neglected areas are often the first to show the signs of aging, so remember them when you're spreading on the body butter.

After all, if beauty is only skin-deep... Shouldn't your skin be beautiful?

It's Swimsuit Season!

2010-05-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

For many, this is a wonderful time of the year-- Warm sun, cool water, all around comfort. For others, this is an uncomfortable decision-making, swimsuit-sampling, and sit-up-cramming time. Everyone wants the swimsuit that makes them look the best-- In most cases, skinnier. In some cases, to enhance curves. Hopefully these tips will help you find the swimsuit that's perfect for you.

First, you want to find a swimsuit that contrasts your skin tone. If you are very very pale, you want a swimsuit in black or a dark brown. If you extraordinarily tan, white will look good on you. If you have yellow skin tones, look for purple and green jewel-tones. This will not only make you appear slimmer, but in most cuts, will emphasize the parts covered by the swimsuit and draw away from any flab that lies between the top and bottom.

If you carry weight on your stomach, it is your middle you want to cover- but don't drown it in fabric. Look for a side cut-out, sometimes called a monokini, or a diagonal cut and pattern. Avoid horizontal patterns, or cutouts where fat will bulge through.To support a larger bust, look for halter tops. To emphasize curve in a small or flat but, look for a bottom with a little bit of ruffle. If you are pear-shaped, don't try to cover up your thighs with boardshorts-- this will make your legs appear shorter, and the horizontal line across the thigh will draw attention to its width. Instead, look for a diagonal cut in a dark color, and try to emphasize your smaller top.

If you're still worried about how you look on the beach, remember- curl yourself into a ball, and your skin will fold and the result won't be flattering. When out of the water, lie stretched out with your legs extended in front of you and your feet pointed. This can seem daunting if it is your legs that you wish to cover up, but be aware that this is the slimmest way they will look.
Finally, good luck on finding the perfect swimsuit.
Photos courtesy of http://www.iloveswimwear.com/. Check out their quality swimwear.

Are you a Label Ho?

2010-04-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

And I mean that in the nicest possible way.

A 'Label Ho' is one who goes for the designer items every time. We're all familiar with the double C of Coach, or the D&G label, but a Label Ho is one who goes for the designer every time-- From Armani to Rolex to Dior.

There is nothing inherently wrong with being a Label Ho. In fact, a designer label is usually an indicator of style and quality. However, be a smart Label Ho. Don't spend a fortune on a 'trendy' item you won't be able to use next season; Instead, invest in classic pieces that will keep your style classy for years to come. And, of course, don't rely on the label to be an indicator of quality; Be a designer detective, and find out for yourself which items are truly high-quality. Do your research, and seek out the opinion of professionals.

Finally, don't buy an item you want for the first price you see. If you're window-shopping at Coach and see a must-have clutch, write it down. Search for it at Dillard's or online; they may be on sale somewhere. Of course, be warned; If it's online, make sure it's guaranteed genuine. There is nothing less classy than an Imposter Label Ho.

In fact, for great deals on guaranteed genuine designer products, check out Modnique or RowNine. Just sign up for the service, and they will email you when the designer products you're interested go on sale (usually for more than 60% of store prices). It's an incredibly nifty feature, with name-brand products from clothing to handbags to jewelry to timepieces to even home furnishings. If you're a Label Ho, this is certainly an essential tool in your transition to a Smart Label Ho.

Good luck, finding the classiest, high-quality, best-deal labels! If labels are what make you iconic, then go for it!

The Tip of The Iceberg

2010-04-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Some completely random, but foolproof beauty tips:

-Clear Nail Polish: Keep a bottle in your purse. Not only can you use it to mend broken nails, but if you ever get a run in your pantyhose, and you are, for example, at the office without a new pair, paint it over the run to keep it from running any more.

-Sharpie fine point: If you have an extremely steady hand with appling eyeliner, and you are sick and tired of your perfectly-applied liner smudging with heat, sweat, and tears as the day wears on, try using a fine-point Sharpie instead. warning: DO NOT get it in your eyes. It will also probably cause your eyes to water as it dries.

-Aspirin: If you've ever had bad acne, you probably know that salycic acid is the main component of prescription acne cxreams. Salycic acid is found in willow bark extract; a toner of this extract, such as the one made by Burt's Bees, will get rid of zits. Or, Asprin, which contains a derivitive called salicate, can be crushed, mixed with water to form a paste, applied and left overnight to zap zits.

-Baby oil: After a shower, which washes away your body's natural oils and dried out your skin, quickly buff dry with a towel then apply baby oil all over your body for healthy, glowing skin.

And these tips are just the tip of the iceberg:

Comment below with your own tip and blog address, and the best tip will be published in the next post, along with a link to your blog. If you've got a fashion blog, this is a great way to earn some loyal and grateful readers! =)

Take Care of Your Leather

2010-03-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

Leather will always be classy. Always.

Coach was founded in 1941; for years, it was the gold standard of the leather world. Then, in a world more preoccupied with labels than quality, Coach became simply a brand, rather than a fine leather-crafting company. To make affordable Coach-marked products that could be sold to anyone who wanted an accessory with a 'C' on it, Coach started making their canvas-weave purses, shoes, and other brightly-designed products. Now, Coach is as commonplace as Levi jeans, but with half the quality. Frankly, I'm disappointed in what's happened to the Coach brand. It used to be the name in leather, synonymous with the fine hyde; now, it's simply a label. Don't get me wrong; Coach still makes some fine leather products, but watch out: Vinyl, canvas, and plastic aren't the high-quality materials that Coach once stood for. The name Coach used to ensure that you were getting the highest-quality leather available; Now, it means only that you can afford a C on your accessories.

Dooney & Burke and Fosail are two other leather companies that seem to be following the same trend; Once, their names were indicitive of fine Italian leather; now, they're simply labels, found on everything from courderoy to plastic.

Moral of the story: When buying accessories, go for quality over label. Ask the salesperson about where the leather came from and how its been treated, as well as how you should care for the accessory should you choose to buy it. Remember, it's not worth buying something nice if you're not going to take care of it. If you do buy leather products, buy leather cleaner and conditioner-- or get a free sample of Leather CPR.

Take care of your leather, and it will take care of you.

Get Beautiful Skin

2010-03-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

Olay Total Effects body wash claims that you will see improvement in the elasticity and skin firmness in just one use. Now, I can't say I saw a difference in one use-- but in three uses (this free sample contains 5- 10 uses depending on how much you use at once), my post-pregnancy skin was definatly getting some of its prepregnancy oomph back. Olay Total Effects is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Other tips for increasing skin elesticity and firmness:

Maintain lean muscle mass and avoid bulky fat by doing about 20 minutes of aerobic exercise (this can be as simple as walking briskly) at least four times a week, and a muscle-toning activity such as calisthenics, weight machines at a gym, yoga, or pilates at least three times a week.

Reduce cellulite by eating raw: Consume raw fruits and vegetables as much of the time as possible. Choose grilled over fried and frozen over canned. This will decrease your sodium to potassium ratio. When you eat carbs, make sure they're whole grain. Never eat red meat (beef, ham, pork, bacon, veal, hamburger, etc) more often than once a week. If you can, choose fish over chicken or turkey, and always choose grilled over fried.

Consume plenty of antioxidants that reduce the signs of aging, such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables; it is better consumed in its natural state than in a supplement. Vitamin E is found in avocados, and it can easily be taken in a supplement.

Use a rich lotion often. In the top 5 ingredients, 'water' and 'alcohol' should not appear. These substances dry out your skin. Look for ingredients such as cocoa butter and shea butter. It's not enough that they advertise 'With Shea Butter!' on the label; read the ingredients. If one of these butters isn't in the top 5 ingredients (or better, is the top ingredient), skip it. Apply lotion after your shower, and one other time day (morning or night), using deep massaging motions, working from your extremeties towards your lymph nodes to help your lymphatic system to move toxins in the right direction and (theoretically) reduce cellulite.

And, of course, take care of your skin. Protect it from the sun. Some lotions contain an SPF; this may be good to invest in, especially during the summer months or if you live in a climate where you wear shorts and short-sleeves often. Otherwise, use an SPF in addition to your regular lotion on the parts of your skin exposed to the sun. Many women remember their faces, but forget their neck, decolletage, and hands: some of the first places to show signs of aging. Also, consume plenty of red fruits, such as tomatos and papaya. These contain lycopene, a nutrient shown to reduce incident of skin cancer among individuals who consume much of it. Think about equator cultures where there is a lot of sun and the people have been very tan for centuries: Central America, Greece, Italy. These cultures all use tomatoc extensively in their cooking. In fact, the people of Greece live longer and healtheir lives than so much of the world, it may be well worth your time to imitate their eating habits.

And remember: You may be young now and think that these things don't apply to you, but you will not be young forever. You only have one body, and you want it to last, right?

If you're not convinced, read my article on quality versus quantity.

Free Samples of Cosmetics

2010-03-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Our attitude, our dress, and our characteristics are what define us as iconic, but products can definately help to keep us looking beautiful! Here are a few free products you can sample:

Free Borba Skincare Age-Defying Concentrate

Free Dove Daily Conditioner

Of course, if you want to be truly iconic, inside and out, read on to the next article! Also, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future beauty and fashion tips, contests, news, and samples.

Quality vs Quantity

2010-03-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

This is the very first rule of being a woman: Don't buy anything cheap that will need to be quickly replaced, when you have the option of buying something of higher quality that will last longer if you take care of it.

This applies to everything you use to make yourself iconic: Your clothes, your handbags, your shoes, your accessories, your hairstyle, your makeup, everything.

Let us suppose, for example, you buy a sweater from WalMart for fifteen dollars. This seems like a good price, so you buy two: One in each of two colors you like. You wear them a few times, you wash them a few times, and the knit starts to stretch and pill. You have a couple of options: Spend the rest of the winter wearing a stretched-out, pilling sweater, or buy a new one. Another $15 for a new sweater from a discoutn store doesn't seem bad, but the next winter, you will most certainly need to buy another. And the next winter, another. In twenty years, you will have spent $600 on sweaters.

Now, say you buy two nice sweaters from a department store or cataolgue. But be aware: Not every sweater with a hefty price tag in a department store or catalogue will be of higher quality than those found at discount stores. You ask a salesman or fitter to help you find one of superior quality that will last a long time. You spend between $50 and $150 on a sweater; let's say you spend $200 on the pair of them. You buy two bottles of Woolite each year, and the two sweaters are still in excellent condition after ten years. You decide you want a new pair of sweaters anyway, just to freshen up your wardrobe, so you buy another two sweaters. In twenty years, you spend $400 on sweaters and $100 on Woolite.

After twenty years, you have saved $100, and you have four nice sweaters, two of which will last you at least another ten years.

If you went with the discount sweaters, you have spent an extra $100 replacing them, you are contsantly wearing clothes that are pilly and stretched-out, your closet is full of garbage that you are constantly sifting through or trying to get rid of, and you will have to buy two new sweaters again the next year.

Of course, you have a third option: You buy the two nice department-store sweaters. You wear them and wash them, but you do not buy Woolite. You use regular detargent, warm water, and sometimes you even throw them into the dryer. After 2 or 3 years, your sweaters are showing significant signs of wear, as much wear as the cheap sweaters. So you buy two new sweaters. In twenty years, you have spent more than $1,300 on sweaters that are in just as poor of condition as if you'd skimped and bought the cheap sweaters.

From the math, you can clearly see: It is better, in the long run, to buy something of higher quality and to take good care of it than it is to buy something cheap that will need to be replaced quickly. But, of course, pay heed to the qualifier: It is better to buy something of higher quality and take care of it.

This applies, as I have said, to anything else you may buy for yourself. It also applies to you: your body, your mind, your self. The only difference is, that unlike the cheap sweaters, if you ruin the one you have, you can't go out and buy a new body from WalMart for $15. Treat your body, your mind, and yourself the way you treat your $100 sweater: Cold wash only, Woolite, hang to dry. Metaphorically, of course. It is better to have the high-quality self you take good care of than a cheap self you neglect, because it simply can't be replaced. Treat your friends, your family, your coworkers, your home, and everything else with which you come in contact the same way: As if they are a high-quality item you want to stay good for a lifetime, and cannot replace with something cheap. After all, your body, your mind, your self, and your friends are all irreplaceable.

Glorious Skincare

2010-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Walk in to your nearest Target, go to the Pharmacist's department, find the cosmetics aisle, and be prepared to recalculate your budget. There, you will find the cosmetics line 'Soap and Glory'.

It will probably appear to you that this company spend all of their money on coming up with clever puns of names ('Sexy Motherpucker' lip gloss, 'The Fab Pore' facial mask) and attractive product-design, but their products are so effective, I imagine they'd sell quite well even without their cutesy '60's graphic design.

Take 'Scrub Your Nose In It' facial scrub, for example. I've always had a problem with blackheads, but this scrub (used with 'The Fab Pore' facial mask, occasionally) almost immediately eliminated my blackheads, for about two days. They come back, I use the scrub, and boom, my pores disappear again. It's like magic. I also discovered that their Dr Spot acne treatment is also quite effective.

The 'Easy Glistening' body spray was also a treat-- Made with dry almond oil, it has a light shimmer (have to wash my hands after applying it), but my skin has never felt so soft! It's light, feminine scent is also unbeatable.

Now we come to Sexy Motherpucker lipgloss, the first product of theirs that the clever product design conned me into buying. I was not disappointed. Unlike most lipglosses, it made my lips look natural-- not like half a tube of oil paint was sitting on top of my lips, the way most glosses work. It was a little sticky, which was disappointing, but as far as looks go-- it couldn't be beat by any other lipgloss I've tried.

I'm eager to try more of Soap & Glory's other products, such as Great Shakes hand cream, Slim Wear cellulite care, Arch de Triumphe brow set, Glow-Getter fake tan, and One-Pit Wonder
deodorant (yes, I'm serious).

They do run a little more expensive than the drugstore brands, but you can find some great deals on their website (See link below and on side).

Finally, proof that powerful things can be pretty!

What is Peterman?

2010-03-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

It's a question asked by those unfamiliar with the iconic clothing catalogue, and now it's asked by the catalogue itself.

The J. Peterman is the go-to guide for what is classic in fashion. Never trendy, and never dull. The styles in the pages of the Paterman were around long before today's fashionistas were born, and they'll be around long after we've left. In the pages of the Peterman, you'' find the hat the Hemmingway wore, Gatsby's shirts ("I've never seen such beautiful shirts!" Daisy cried), and the pants that Audrey Hepburn made famous. To me, the Peterman is the definition of Iconic.

But the Peterman is asking YOU what Peterman is. With the Uncommon Photo contest, you submit a photo that shows what the Peterman is to you, and explain in 25 words what the photograph is. So if you're reading this blog, I would assume you're into fashion> perhpas you're an aspiring designer, photographer, or model. At any rate, all have the opportunity to gain exposure-- and $3000 of J Peterman merchandise-- By entering the photo contest.

To enter, click the tab at the top-right 'Uncommon Photo Contest.' Or. view the competition (and vote!) by with 'Click Here to Start Scoring' (middle of the right-hand side of the page).

I wish the best of luck to my iconic readers.

Paki Fasion Week

2009-11-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Some women strode the catwalk in vicious spiked bracelets and body armor. Others had their heads covered, burqa-style, but with shoulders — and tattoos — exposed. Male models wore long, Islamic robes as well as shorts and sequined T-shirts.

As surging militant violence grabs headlines around the world, Pakistan's top designers and models are taking part in the country's first-ever fashion week. While the mix of couture and high-street fashions would not have been out of place in Milan or New York, many designers reflected the turmoil, contradictions and tensions coursing through the society.

The four-day event, which was postponed twice due to security fears and amid unease at hosting such a gathering amid an army offensive in the northwest, is aimed at showing the world there is more to Pakistan than violence and helping boost an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people, organizers said.

Many of the models, designers and well-heeled fashionistas packing out each night said the gathering was a symbolic blow to the Taliban and their vision of society, where women are largely confined to the house and must wear a sack-like covering known as a burqa.

"This is our gesture of defiance to the Taliban," said Ayesha Tammy Haq, the CEO of Fashion Pakistan Week. "There is a terrible problem of militancy and political upheaval ... but that doesn't mean that the country shuts down. That doesn't mean that business comes to a halt."

The shows are taking place in Karachi, the country's largest and most cosmopolitan city, in a five-star hotel just next door to the American consulate, which was bombed by Islamist militants in 2002. It lies two hours flight from the northwest, the heartland of al-Qaida and the Taliban, and has largely been spared the violence sweeping the country over the last month.

"Unfortunately, it is the bad side of Pakistan that gets everybody's attention," said top Pakistani model Nadia Hussain as hairdressers and makeup artists fussed over her backstage. "It has never been this bad, I don't know what will happen," as fellow models chain-smoked cigarettes.

While many of the city's 12 million people live in slums, hip cafes and restaurants in wealthy neighborhoods draw sophisticated crowds of young men and women into the early hours, more often than not speaking English with each other and wearing Western dress.

While the shows in Karachi resembled other fashion weeks in other parts of the world, there were no foreign designers or buyers. The organizers decided not to invite them given the precarious security situation.

"Who is going to come here with such negative stuff going on?" said Tabassum Mughal, a young designer who employs about 30 people. "Those who are here already are leaving."

Textiles make up some 60 percent of Pakistan exports and are worth around US$12 billion dollars a year. The country's cotton and silks are among the finest in the world. But the industry has failed to grew in recent years amid political unrest, violence and chronic power shortages.

As if on cue, a power cut during the fashion week's opening evening left the hall in darkness for several minutes.

The fashion industry represents a tiny fraction of the country's textile exports.

"We are still doing the 30 dollar a dozen T-shirt business. There is no value added," said Haq. "We should be employing millions of people, not hundreds of thousands of them."

Designers presented a mix of clothes, some drawing on traditional Pakistani outfits and tribal motifs; others that had little or no sign of traditional aesthetics. In a culture where most all women dress modestly, many outfits were too racy for local tastes.

"This does not represent what we are as a people," designer Ayesha Tahir Masood said. "Only 0.001 percent of Pakistani women would wear these clothes, and then only in a controlled environment when drunk out of their minds."

Associated Press

The Things You Should Always Have In Your Purse

2009-07-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

We've all had some sort of emergency, usually before an important meeting or during a big date. You don't need your whole makeup bag to fix them, but usually, something is needed. So how do you decide what to stuff into your purse? Here's the top ten:

1- Mirror. A lot of disasters can be avoided simply by knowing that something is wrong. Make a habit of taking a quick glance whenever you move from one place to another, get in or out of your car, visit the restroom, are waiting for somebody, etc. People have gone into meetings with a pinto bean stuck to their forehead simply because they didn't know it was there. As you do when you're driving, utilise the mirror often.

2- Blotting paper. If you have an oily face, trying to fix it with powder before an important event will only cause the makeup to slide of your face, accentuate pores and wrinkles, and turn into a glossy shine before the event is over. Find a quality blotting paper (some made of rice paper are excellent; you can buy an affordable version at Bath&Body for about $5), and when you see shine, eliminate it. If you have especially oily skin, step into the loo every few hours and you'll keep up your matte appearance throughout the night.

3- Chapstick. Way more important than lipstick or lipgloss. Even if your color is fading, chapstick will smooth it out and add shine. Chapstick can also be used to cure flyaways- just rub your forefingers over the chapstick, and run the TINY amount over your hair. In a crunch, chapstick can also be used as emergency moisturizer if you have excessively dry skin.

4- Gum. Nothing ruins a first impression like bad breath or lettuce between your teeth. Make it a habit to chew it between every meal. Get a whitening version, and you'll double the benefits. Also, you'll be less likely to snack throughout the day if you're occupied with chewing gum.

5- Nail clippers. In addition to curing hangnails, nail clippers can be used as scissors to remove stray strings on your clothing, without unravelling or running the material.

6- Clear nail polish. Fix broken nails, make chipped nail polish less obvious, and rescue detaching fake nails. Also run clear nail polish over a small hole in run in hose or tights to prevent them from spreading, or use after the nail clippers to prevent the newly-trimmed loose string from unravelling.

7-Tampons. This should be a no-brainer. You never know when you'll have a sudden early start, and the last thing you want is to walk around in a stained skirt. Almost nothing could be worse.

8- Ibuprofen. Once again, you never know when your little gift will decide to strike, turning you from presentation-ready and confident into a cramped, crumpled mess on the office table. You never want a headache to ruin a good date or your sore feet to stop you in your tracks. If you're also prone to other troubles, consider Tums, allergy medication, etc.

9- Purse-size Kleenex. You never want to need one and not have one, and you never know when it is you'll need one. Or when you'll forget to make sure there's toilet paper before sitting down.

10- A pen. How many times have you thought 'I wish I had a pen right now?' Exactly. Go put one in your purse before you forget.

It's swimsuit season!

2009-07-03T06:43:00.000-07:00

For many, this is a wonderful time of the year-- Warm sun, cool water, all around comfort. For others, this is an uncomfortable decision-making, swimsuit-sampling, and sit-up-cramming time. Everyone wants the swimsuit that makes them look the best-- In most cases, skinnier. In some cases, to enhance curves. Hopefully these tips will help you find the swimsuit that's perfect for you.

First, you want to find a swimsuit that contrasts your skin tone. If you are very very pale, you want a swimsuit in black or a dark brown. If you extraordinarily tan, white will look good on you. If you have yellow skin tones, look for purple and green jewel tones. This will not only make you appear slimmer, but in most cuts, will emphasize the parts covered by the swimsuit and draw away from any flab that lies between the top and bottom.

If you carry weight on your stomach, it is your middle you want to cover- but don't drown it in fabric. Look for a side cut-out, sometimes called a monokini, or a diagonal cut and pattern. Avoid horizontal patterns, or cutouts where fat will bulge through.To support a larger bust, look for halter tops. To emphasize curve in a small or flat but, look for a bottom with a little bit of ruffle. If you are pear-shaped, don't try to cover up your thighs with boardshorts-- this will make your legs appear shorter, and the horizontal line across the thigh will draw attention to its width. Instead, look for a diagonal cut in a dark color, and try to emphasize your smaller top.

If you're still worried about how you look on the beach, remember- curl yourself into a ball, and your skin will fold and the result won't be flattering. When out of the water, lie stretched out with your legs extended in front of you and your feet pointed. This can seem daunting if it is your legs that you wish to cover up, but be aware that this is the slimmest way they will look.

Finally, good luck on finding the perfect swimsuit.

Photos courtesy of http://www.iloveswimwear.com/. Check out their quality swimwear.

Audrey Hepburn: Icon of Timelessness

2009-06-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

The little black dress. Red lipstick. Pearls and pencil skirts.

We know that these things always have been in style, are in style now, and always will be in style. There's a reason they're called classics.

If one icon in fashion history best represents timelessness, it is undoubtably Audrey Hepburn. Her beauty is not trendy, but classic; Her look can be imitated and duplicated in any time or place and will always look fashionable.

We know her little black dress as the little black dress. The iconic piece, designed by Givenchy, has three copies: One in the Givenchy archives, one on display at the Museum of Costume in Madrid, and one which auctioned off for $920,000 in 2006. The dress has impacted the fashion world, and not just for those who can afford a Givenchy dress: Every girl knows that a little black dress is key to success. Few know that Audrey Hepburn was the original owner of that dress.

In addition to the little black dress, Audrey Hepburn has introduced many other classics to the fashion world. The skinny pant, for example, is an iconic factor from Funny Face. In fact, even if you haven't seen the film, you've probably seen the clips The Gap used in their 2006 commercial (set to AC/DC's "Back in Black"), used to advertise the skinny black pant as part of the 'Keep It Simple' campaign. While the skinny black pant is currently regaining popularity as a trendy item in conjunction with other trendy articles, many from the 1980's, it has never lost popularity as an everyday, simple item. A simple pair of black stovepipe pants will never go out of style. The trend of wearing it with today's colorful accessories may soon fade, but an investment in a pair of skinny black pants that lengthen and slenderize the leg can be worn with the many changing fashions.

Of course, that is how Audrey Hepburn wore the skinny pants: With a boatneck knit longsleeved T-shirt and ballet flats (two more items that can safely be worn at any time in any year without fear of looking dated).
Audrey Hepburn also contributed to the creation of timeless classics with her hairstyles. From her short-banged pixie cut, to the longer hair constantly in an updo or ponytail, the 'Audrey Hepburn' look is a constant request at hair salons.

The final reason that Audrey Hepburn's look will always be beautiful is because she naturally had classic beauty. There is no such thing as eyes too big, or a neck or legs too long. The prominent facial features on such a dainty face, and the long, slim limbs will always be considered beautiful.