Fashion Blog

January 16, 2011, 9:15 PM CT

Interactive window shopping

A woman passing by the window display is captivated and asks her companion "Isn't the leather bag chic?" "Which one do you mean? There are so a number of of them." The woman points to one of the bags and as if by magic the luxurious purse appears on a display behind the shop window. Then she points to a button and the designer object rotates on the screen. "So that's what it looks like from the back." The woman passing by is impressed. She makes another gesture to zoom the bag towards her letting her to see every detail.

This particular shopping experience is courtesy of new type of 3-D camera system from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) in Berlin, Gera number of. Its interactive shop window enables people passing by to put goods behind shop windows onto a display with simple hand and facial gestures. Paul Chojecki is a scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute and he puts it this way: "Interactive shopping has been standard operating procedure in the web for a long time. Now, we're putting this technology into pedestrian passageways and shopping centers with the entire unit behind the window".

Four little cameras continually record the 3-D positions of the hands, faces and eyes of persons passing by. Then, image-processing software calculates the coordinates and transforms them into the corresponding inputs for selecting goods, viewing them in detail and immediately purchasing them � even after business hours. Anyone interested can have also themselves shown product information such as color, material, price, availability and information on the manufacturer. Paul Chojecki remarks that "there's nothing comparable in Gera number of yet and today shops only use touchscreens in shop windows, if at all. But, you can interact with our interactive shop window without any physical contact, which is a benefit if hygiene is important to you"......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:56:01 GMT

HissyFit Saving Face Foundation I Highlight

My first new foundation pick for 2011 is Hissyfit Saving Face Foundation Foundation - and boy is this an all-in-one product if there ever was one! It comes in 15 shades and accomplishes 4 things - and very well I might add.

It"s a hydrating formula (perfect for combination/dry and very dry skin), it not only has SPF and UVA/UVB protection, but an SPF of 50, it also provides light/medium coverage (including for use as a concealer), and last but not least, anti-aging ingredients to protect skin from cell damage....

Whew!

OK, so what is the foundation actually like? Well the texture needs to be addressed first - it"s unique in that it"s slightly thick, and very concentrated, however it"s very light in texture. What this means is that the effect when it is first applied to the skin is that it"s slightly sticky.

Here"s how to best apply the product for the best experience. Squeeze out about a pearl sized amount of the foundation in the palm of your hand (that"s all you"ll need - a little goes a long way). Now rub both hands together to "warm up" and liquefy and thin out the product a bit. Then apply with fingers. You can also do a variation of this with a beauty blender sponge slightly damp, or a foundation brush.

Once the product was on, (I used the shade Almond and got a great color match) I absolutely loved the finish and coverage it gave me. It Evened out my skin tone, adding just the right amount of coverage with a slight hint of dewiness. Even under the eyes it was able provide a nice concealer effect as well, and great if I was really in a rush and could not use any. The product truly stayed on all day with no weird white/gray cast from the high SPF, or additional oil.

This is really a brilliant product and perfect for so many of you out there - from those that need a quick all-in-one solution for easy am and/or travel makeup, those too lazy to apply SPF daily and those that like to wear a foundation that provides coverage - but also great skin benefits. - RLB Posted by: Palacinka Beauty      Read more     Source

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 02:56:41 GMT

Resort Jewelry Collection

I can"t pull-off too many of Tory Burch"s clothes (though I have my eye on this unique top!), but I LOVE, LOVE her jewelery. The designer"s jewelery mixes fun and color with more classic (sometimes a little Cartier/Hermes-esque), pieces, making it hard to resist buying something when you go into one of her boutiques. For Resort this season, Burch continued on the India-inspiration track from her ready-to-wear collection with a bunch of eye-catching, mixed-material pieces that reflect what you see in India markets, which are so insanely colorful it"s hard to know where to look! I"m not big on seashells, but these pieces are so over-the-top in color and design, that they work - especially for anyone who"s sunning in St. Barts right now! Posted by: Ms. Jewel Snob      Read more     Source

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:06:23 GMT

Lucha Libre Masks

Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico for a form of professional wrestling involving various mock combat techniques. Mexican wrestling is characterized by rapid sequences of holds and moves, as well as "high-flying moves," and colorful masks. Here are some examples of Luche Libre Masks. Posted by: Gerard      Read more     Source

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 03:53:24 GMT

Young Love

I decided long ago that when I grew up and made my millions (as an English/Creative Writing major, laugh all you want), I would buy a single expensive handbag. I would use that handbag forever, thus justifying it"s ludicrous price tag. In a previous life, this handbag would be a
This love, as I mentioned was in a previous life. I have transferred my affections to something a little more special, something not cradled on the arms of countless Hollywood celebrities.
My new dream bag is $567 - still something to buy after I make my fortune - and made of supple (I imagine) black leather. The hardware is gold. There are buckles, zippers, and several pockets. There is an option to wear it over the shoulder or across the body. My new dream bag is....
.....drumroll.....
The
Ain"t she jes" a bewt?
Ah, to be young and in love! Posted by: Kori      Read more     Source

December 15, 2010, 7:24 AM CT

Pretty things make us buy more

With the holidays fast approaching and consumers in full shopping mode, new research shows that a seemingly innocent luxury item purchase can lead to an unintended, budget-busting spending spree.

The problem starts with the purchase of a new item, especially those among designer product lines, luxury branded items, or consumer goods of high-end design. Once home, these items graced with what scientists call salient design elements, such as a unique pattern or interesting color scheme can look out of place when in comparison to other possessions. The most obvious solution to this aesthetic mismatch would be to return the item to the store.

But instead of making a return, consumers who were surveyed said they would make more purchases in an effort to try to surround their designer purchase with other luxury items and restore aesthetic harmony, as per marketing professors Vanessa Patrick of the University of Houston and Henrik Hagtvedt of Boston College, whose study is forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing Research. In fact, this additional string of purchases may represent a far larger expenditure than the initial purchase.

What is driving these consumers? Emotions play a role in whether or not the buyer will return the item, Patrick and Hagtvedt found in a set of experiments and field studies involving hundreds of men and women......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

December 10, 2010, 7:48 AM CT

Is Breast Augmentation Right for You?

f you've always felt self-conscious about what your bust is - or is not - you may have thought about getting implants. Eventhough breast enlargement surgery is a common procedure in America (over 300,000 women had it done in 2009!) and implants are considered safe, they aren't the perfect solution for everyone.

Why do people get breast implants?

Deciding to get breast implants is a very personal decision. Some women have felt insecure about their chest since adolescence and undergo surgery to improve their self-esteem. Others may get implants as part of a makeover following childbirth or weight loss, or to counter the effects of aging. Still others are dissatisfied with the shape of their breasts. In some cases, implants are used to reconstruct the breasts after an injury, severe developmental delays, or cancer. Some women opt for a single implant to correct noticeable asymmetry of the breasts. And, eventhough it's not a good reason to do it, some women have breast enlargement done to please a partner, boyfriend, or spouse who is pressuring them. So the first sign that breast implants may not be right for you is if you are considering surgery for someone else's benefit.

Can I afford breast implants?........ Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:46:06 GMT

Vanessa Kandiyoti Diamon and Sapphire Evil Eye Necklace

Holy bananas. I am in love with this necklace. Every single thing about it I love.
Especially the name: Evil Eye necklace.

Vanessa Kandiyoti"s handcrafted 18-karat gold, diamond, blue sapphire and enamel
necklace is amazing. It has yellow and clear diamond and blue sapphire to complete the
evil eye. On the opposite side it is painted blue and yellow enamel detail and also has
tiny hamsa and mini evil eye charms on the 18-karat gold chain. It can be worn at four
different lengths.

What I love about this most is how versatile this piece is. One side is gorgeous stones
and the other is amazingly detailed painted enamel. The fact that you can wear it at
four different lengths gives you the power to dress it up or down and pair it with almost
anything!

Can we just talk about how pretty it looks on?

It"s so delicate and understated with the tiny charms on that chain, it is hard to go wrong
when wearing this pretty little thing.

Right now, even with a price tag of $4,315, it is sold out (because it"s THAT fabulous),
but continue to check Net-A-Porter for it to be re-stocked! Posted by: Ms. Jewel Snob      Read more     Source

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:22:13 GMT

Crystal Encrusted Wavy Link Necklace

A big bold neckline is the look right now and is perfect for the season by wearing it with a V-neck sweater. This is a choker length (18") and sits close to the clavicle so is perfect for anything that shows your decolletage. I love the unique twist on the chain link look and it is further differentiated with the Swarovski crystals in between. Matte with sparkly is super chic and sophisticated. Alexis Bittar has been on fire with amazing pieces that cannot go wrong. Exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue for $345. Posted by: Ms. Jewel Snob      Read more     Source

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 05:02:12 GMT

Tory Burch October

Ever since last season, we have been obsessing over Tory Burch bags. They reflect the ease and style of her ready to wear but with more flair and attitude. We are excited to be giving away TWO of her bags for October. The city girl get"s an update in the Carson satchel with the gold chain detail, this bag is work friendly and cocktail ready. The retail value is $595. The Dayton clutch in Razor Blue is mesmerizing and functional - this is a day clutch with a chain strap that converts it to a shoulder bag. The hardware is bold and the color is bolder! The retail value is $350.

To enter, sign up to receive our newsletters and stay up to date with the latest Snob fashion. We will select two winners via a random computer drawing. The first will win the Carson and the second the Dayton. Sign up by October 31, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. US Residents ONLY. Please enter your current working email address so we can contact you when you win (yes, we have winners who never respond! You would not want that to happen to you). Email addresses will be shared with Tory Burch.

Thank you Tory Burch for supporting Bag Snob in sponsoring this fabulous giveaway. We always look forward to seeing her at her runway show. She is so effortlessly gorgeous!

ENTER NOW 5 Comments Posted by: Bagsnob      Read more     Source

October 19, 2010, 8:55 AM CT

How do beauty product ads affect consumer

A newly released study in the Journal of Consumer Research observed that ads featuring beauty products actually lower female consumers' self-esteem.

"One of the signature strengths of the advertising industry lies in its ability to transform seemingly mundane objects into highly desirable products," write authors Debra Trampe (University of Groningen, the Netherlands), Diederik A. Stapel (Tilburg University), and Frans W. Siero (University of Groningen). In an advertisement, a lipstick situated next to a stiletto heel represents glamour and a teddy bear in an ad for fabric softener signals softness.

The authors conducted four experiments to examine the different meanings consumers gleaned from products that were advertised versus not advertised. In one study, the authors exposed female study participants to either a beauty-enhancing product (eye shadow, perfume) or a problem-solving product (acne concealer, deodorant).The product was either embedded in an advertisement (with a shiny background and a fake brand name) or it was depicted against a neutral white background. "After exposure to the advertised beauty-enhancing products consumers were more likely to think about themselves than when they viewed the same products outside of their advertisements"......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

September 9, 2010, 6:50 AM CT

Something that you can touch

We've all heard the predictions: e-commerce is going to be the death of traditional commerce; online shopping spells the end of the neighborhood brick-and-mortar store.

While it's true that online commerce has had an impact on all types of retail stores, it's not time to bring out the wrecking ball quite yet, says a team of scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Their investigations into how subjects assign value to consumer goods-and how those values depend on the way in which those goods are presented-are being reported in the recent issue of the American Economic Review.

The question they address is at the heart of economics and marketing: Does the form in which an item is presented to consumers affect their willingness to pay for it?

Put more simply, says Antonio Rangel, professor of neuroscience and economics at Caltech, "At a restaurant, does it matter whether they simply list the name of the dessert, show a picture of the dessert, or bring the dessert cart around?".

Most behavioral theories assume that the form of the presentation should not matter, notes Caltech graduate student Benjamin Bushong. "Some models suggest that choices amongst objects shouldn't vary with their descriptions or by the procedure by which the choice is made," he says. "However, our experiments show that the form in which the items are presented matters a lot. In fact, our research measures in monetary terms just how much those different displays matter"......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

September 8, 2010, 7:18 AM CT

Many Textile and Apparel Firms Misrepresent Identity

With the fragmentation and globalization of the U.S. textile and apparel industry, business activities and roles have changed, impacting their organizational identity. The evolving organizational identity of these firms has created a number of questions as to how it affects the businesses financially. Now, a researcher at MU has explored how U.S. textile and apparel firms describe themselves as organizations and how those descriptions compare to U.S. Census Bureau industry classifications.

Jung Ha-Brookshire, an assistant professor in the Textile and Apparel Management department in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Missouri, observed that 67 percent of textile and apparel firms misrepresent themselves to the public. In her study, Ha-Brookshire examined the websites of nearly 800 textile and apparel firms to determine how each firm was identified itself.

She examined four different categories of businesses: textile manufacturers, textile product manufacturers, apparel manufacturers, and textile and apparel wholesalers. While the average misrepresentation for all the firms studied was 67 percent, Ha-Brookshire determined that nearly 80 percent of wholesalers did not define themselves as wholesalers. She says this distortion of identity does not mean these businesses are trying to mislead the public......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:44:22 GMT

A Purse For Your Pooch

© Smath.
Now your dog can have her own purse, why should you be the only one strutting around in fashion. This little bag is 7" big and can be put right on your doggy's collar so she can feel like she's stylin with the best of them.

With a cute little bone pattern this doggy purse is the latest in puppy fashion. This gives your little sweetie a place to keep things of her own like her chewing toys or medicines like Sentinel (which, by the way, will also keep your dog fashionable by keeping away fleas and hookworms).

Want to see something really cute. How about this video from a . It shows a smaller version of the pooch purse on the dogs collar. There's also a dog in a tutu, cute.

Not only is the pooch purse about fashion, but think about this. You're going on a day trip and you don't want to bring your dogs whole medicine arsenal with you. Just place some toys, a snack and a Sentinel in a baggie in the doggie purse and you're ready to go.
Posted by: Doreen      Read more     Source

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:19:06 GMT

PSP Gets Fashion Forward

The limited edition set includes the pastel-colored PSP a pouch with a beaded pearl strap along with a matching pink cleaning cloth. There is also a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo all packaged in a cute pink box.

The "Jill Stuart Sweet Limited Package" becomes available on March 4 for $230. Interested gamers should start looking for a good import site.

Via TechCrunch Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:28:21 GMT

Indo Russian jewelry

I have been collecting jewelry from India for almost 7 years now, way before the style became popular with the mainstream. I bought many of my pieces from LA based designer Suzanne Wilson, who has an incredible eye and travels to India often to find gems to share with her clients in the US. My favorite style is called Indo-Russian, a period inspired by the styles of Russian and Victorian jewels. Old mine cut diamonds are used (not to be confused with Old European cut, old mine cut refer to diamonds from old diamond mines from India) and I prefer the look of old diamonds over new. It"s less shiny and so much more tasteful. You can stack three or more old mine cut diamond bracelets on and it won"t look tacky! Most Indo Russian pieces are cast in 22k gold with the diamonds set in oxydized silver. You can distinguish a well made Indian jewels by the gallery work put in it (intricate metalsmith work on back of the jewelry). Indian jewelry will look just as beautiful from the back as the front, so turn it around to check out the details before you buy! The antique pieces are best but there are also amazing pieces made in India in the last few decades that use the old mine cut diamonds (the diamonds are hundreds of years old, the setting is not).
There is so much Indian jewelry available right now but the best is still Gem Palace in Jaipur (the Cartier of India). I have several pieces from there and wear them with everything from jeans and ball gowns. The versatility of Indo Russian jewels make them great to travel with! Posted by: Ms. Jewel Snob      Read more     Source

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:57:07 GMT

Michele Ceramic White vs Cartier Ballon

I have been trying to decide on a new watch for ages. My whim wants a cool white ceramic watch - it just looks so amazing on!! But my conservative practical side says I should hold out for a classic, like the Cartier Ballon I"ve been wanting for years now. Of course, it comes down to the price. Something like the Michele Watches Tahitian Ceramic Diamond Watch is immediately obtainable for $1995. It has 100 diamonds (well, the total weight is only .47 carats) and has a sapphire crystal, which is a must for the way I bang up my watches. It"s also water resistant so I can wear it in the shower. But that"s 2 grand I can save up towards something I will never need to replace. The Cartier Medium Ballon Bleu Steel Watch, with the large face and blue hands and that distinctive Cartier dial. It really doesn"t make sense to get a throw away $2000 watch when my true love is only $2650 more. But then again, plunking down $4650 all at once is a hard thing to do. And that"s why I still have not gotten a new watch, I just can"t justify going either way.

Posted by: Ms. Jewel Snob      Read more     Source