Embellishments on clothes

Dolce and Gabbana’s spring / summer 2012 collection had more to offer than just pasta and capsicum rings. The colourful gemstone beading defines the silhouette of the body more than the fabric or the cut of the outfit. Dolce and Gabbana have used this detail to their advantage by highlighting other chief trends of the season, being the high-waist skirt, crop top or ‘60s style dresses. Intricate artisanship is seen in majority of the collection via beading and metallic embellishments.

Marios Schwab and Sass and Bide both use embellishments and sequinned detailing to hide all evidence of the sheer trend. Using nude beads, Sass and Bide camouflages the breasts and belly button, while Schwab opts for a metallic finish. If you’re still hovering over sheer pieces with wonderment and aren’t the type to show a flash of skin, this option is your saviour in disguise, literally. Look for pieces that will subtly hide the private bits and still bring out the most from both spring trends. Also look for pieces where sheer fabrics are overlaid with lace, cross-stitch or cable knits.
Another way to approach the embellishments trend is by including it in a statement piece. Say with an embellished jacket, as seen on the Isabel Marant runway, or even tapered summer shorts. It’ll be a loud piece, especially if you pick mirrored or sequinned embellishments, but this lets you keep the rest of the outfit a low-key affair.

Embellishments are also used to simply accent certain aspects of the outfit – the collar, lapels, cufflinks or the waist. The colourful ornamentation in Tony Burch’s collection gives it the glam approval, even though it’s not completely taking over the original design. This version is as subtle as you can go with the embellished trend for this summer.

Embellishing summer 2012: embellished dresses & accessories.

Embellished clothing and accessories abound every season. They’re not a trend, but a staple. Despite this, the use of embellishments changes year by year, season by season, slowly evolving with society’s tastes.

Contradicting their own past status, embellishments are experiencing that same shift in spring / summer 2012. Whereas in a not-so-distant time embellishments entailed loud and over-the-top metallics, this season is about accenting the wardrobe with hints of colourful crystals, appliqué work and needlework embroidery. With a an accent here and a glisten there, your summer wardrobe is about to embark on a journey of intricate craftsmanship.

Tailored shorts for spring

In spring 2012 tailored shorts aren't defined as the kind you wear as part of a business suit. Instead they're flirtatious, luxurious, and inclined to present themselves in a range of fabrics from silk to mesh to leather. The key is in the construction and cut. Work them for morning or night, everyday or holiday. Find out how after the break.

Yellow: a perfect spring colour

Clothes and trend-driven pieces add up for an entire wardrobe, but it’s really the colour palette that dictates the mood. As we know, these colours are mainly interpreted from the change in season, which is probably why we usually see darker tones pop up for autumn / winter and brighter shades for spring / summer.

Yellow is a chief colour for spring 2012, and not just because it’s a direct interpretation from the landscape of the European countryside. This colour evokes an upheaving emotion, a sense of excitement, hope, and also manages to provide a slight distraction from the industry’s economic seesaw. It makes you do a double take on the outfit. The colour yellow can come across as quite in-your-face at times, especially with its over-joyous and extroverted personality, but if worn in the right context and teamed with other soothing colours – this colour trend has a lot of potential for spring.

White eye shadow.

A fresh beauty look for spring.

Sometimes all you need for spring is as beauty look that’s as fresh as the weather is warm. On those days you can forget the heavy black sooty eyeshadow and blood-red lipstick and trade them for the complete opposite: a bright glow of fresh white on the eyes and a burst of pink on the lips.

Create the look for yourself by following the step-by-step how to guide below the photo. It’s one of a number of make-up and beauty features that Fashionising.com is running to take you through all the new-season fashion trends. If you’d like to make sure that you don’t miss any of them, you can subscribe to our newsletter or RSS fe

Here, makeup artist Leonie Karagiannis used a matte white eye shadow and glossy lip colour, though you could add a pencil or eyeshadow with more of a shimmer-factor if you wanted to. The trick is to keep it fresh and clean, though, so nothing too glittery or heavy in texture as it will ruin the effect. Finish the make-up with strong but feminine brows and a rosy glow of blush for a look that’ll work both daytime and evening.

Below are her exact how to instructions:

1Start with a naturally flawless base.

2 Brush up brows and fill in with matching eyebrow shadow using a fine angle bush in upward strokes. Set with brow gel.

3 Blend a white pencil along upper mobile lid and then soften by blending with a white eye shadow.

4 Place white eyeliner along the waterline and continue along lower lash line. Blend and soften edge with a tapered blending brush and white eye shadow.

5 Finely line upper lash line with black liquid liner to define eyes.

6 Curl lashes and apply at least 2-3 coats of mascara making sure to separate lashes between coats to avoid clumping.

7 Apply a hint of pink blush on the apples of the cheeks and highlight the upper planes of the cheek.

8 Finish the look with a hot pink lip gloss for fresh, understated glamour.

Even as the fall collections left the runway, we were already looking to get a glimpse into the following warmer seasons. Yes, we’re talking about the foundation of any season’s collections: the colours and hues that underlie them, shape them, and eventually come to define them. And even though we’re still guiding you through spring’s and autumn / fall’s fashion trends for 2011, that doesn’t mean we can’t afford a slight deviation in the form of a long term color trend forecast for the spring / summer 2012 season.

Click to read the full article to see samples of all the colours currently expected to features as trends in 2012. And don’t forget that if you’d like to keep up to date with all of 2012′s fashion trends, including new colour trend details for its seasons, you can subscribe to Fashionising.com’s newsletter or RSS feed to never miss a thing.

The Best Dressed At The 2012 Oscars

Slinky silhouettes, lush fabrics, and slits up to there—the stars definitely brought the sexy to this year's Academy Awards. Check out our favorites...

Why We Love Motorcycle Jackets and Maxi Dresses

We've spotted celebrities, like Sarah Jessica Parker, Demi Lovato, and Rachel Bilson, wearing this cool-girl combo (a maxi dress paired with a motorcycle jacket) a lot lately—and for good reason. Since it's spring, we're automatically fine-tuned to throw on our flowy, floral-print frocks and go, but sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate, urging us to throw on an extra layer. That's where the motorcycle jacket comes into play.

This bad-ass outerwear gives feminine, floor-length skirts and dresses a tougher edge, while also keeping you nice and warm when it's chilly out. 

Where would you wear this look?

5 Secrets to Making Your Eyelashes Look Extra-Amazing

Making your lashes look amazing takes a few quick steps. Do you know them all? You might, but it's always good to have a reminder, am I right? So here's some of our best advice to prettying up your eyelashes:

First, if you want your lashes to grow in thicker and fuller, apply this DIY, make-it-at-home lash conditioner recipe. Use once a week.

Then, when it's mascara-applying time, try warming up your lash curler with your hairdryer. This is a tried-and-true method to getting a deeper curl. Just be careful not to get it so hot you burn yourself.

You can also out an old credit card and use this old trick to getting perfectly curled, separated lashes

Then, when you're actually swiping the color on, make sure to do the shimmy—wiggling your wand from side to side as you go from root to tip to get mascara on all sides of your lashes.

Oh, and when you've got wonky lashes that just won't go in the right direction? Try these tips to making the behave (you'll need clear mascara and a mini-lash curler).

If you follow these steps, you should have some pretty nice-looking lashes. Or, hey, you can always forget going natural and try these steps to applying fake lashes instead.

The 3 Step Trick To Getting Dressed And Looking Fab (Straight From Paris Fashion Week!)

After yesterday's Chloe show, I caught up with designer Clare Waight Keller who shared her own fail-safe rules for putting together a stylish and stress-free outfit. Trust me: This is a fashion fortune cookie you're going to want to read, remember and maybe even claim as your own. (Clare's really nice--she probably won't mind.)

Designer Clare Waight, in her own tailored (blazer), soft (cashmere sweats) and easy (lace-up flats!) at the Fall 2012 Chloe show.

"Something tailored, something soft and something easy," Clare answered, when I asked her how to describe her daily uniform. She then went onto explain that that polished yet relaxed, city-meets-country approach was a result of her being a British designer living and working in Paris, but I couldn't help think that her three-step rule would work for anyone facing their closet in the morning, no matter their hometown, current location or non-designer status.

To get a few visuals of this winning tailored/soft/easy combo, you need look no further than Keller's Fall 2012 Chloe show, which was full of pretty, carefree outfits inspired by music festival-going English roses. For a few recipes for style success, browse on:

Tailored: Boxy cropped coat
Soft: Furry sweater
Easy: Roomy satchel (and flattering pastel pink!)

Tailored: Lace oxford
Soft: Chunky knit sweater
Easy: Solid suede flatforms

Tailored: Quilted pants
Soft: Carmel colored lace overcoat
Easy: A button-free coat--just toss it on and go!

Tailored: Leather pencil skirt
Soft: Nubby knits
Easy: Multi-pocket oversized clutch

Tailored: Butter-colored wool coat
Soft: Stretchy knit pants
Easy: Relaxed bow-accented blouse

Pretty simple (also, pretty and simple), right? Which of these Chloe Fall 2012 looks do you like the best? Isn't Clare's style advice helpful? It's a lot easier to compute and put into action than Coco Chanel's famous maxim: "Before you leave the house...take one thing off," don't you think?

A Scary Threat to Women’s Health

Despite increased awareness of the dangers of tanning bed use and the importance of wearing sunscreen, a new study found that skin cancer is on the rise for women. 

Experts from the Mayo Clinic studied people from 1970 to 2009, and discovered that the rate of melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) increased eightfold among women, especially among those in their 20s and 30s. 

One piece of good news from the study: Researchers found that less people are dying of melanoma, likely due to early interventions from regular visits to the dermatologist and keeping an eye on mole growth. 

The study didn’t evaluate the reason for the dramatic increase, but researchers are pointing the finger at indoor tanning. Studies have show that people who use tanning beds are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than non-tanners. 

How can you stay safe? Avoid tanning beds, wear sunscreen, and limit your exposure to the sun. You should also check your moles for the ABCDEs (asymmetry, a border that is irregular, colors that are different in the mole, a diameter bigger than a pencil eraser, and elevation of the mole). 

5 Unconventional Ways To Use Nail Polish

We all know the drill when it comes to nail polish: Paint and put away. But now you don’t have to be so quick to shelve your shade. Here are 5 out-of-the-box ways to wield that colorful little wand:

1. Use it to paint the sole of your high-heels (think: Christian Louboutin) as an easy (and cheap!) way to update them for spring. Note: Colored opaque formulas work best since they won't reveal the true color of your shoe. Also, avoid getting paint on other parts of your shoe by placing masking tape along the edge where the shoe meets the sole—the same way you would protect the ceiling and window panes when you’re painting a room. Once you've covered the sole in color, allow it to dry before applying a second coat. If another layer isn't needed, pull off the tape to reveal a neat polish job.

2. Cover up a scratch on scuffed shoes or boots. It can be hard to find shoe polish for colorful kicks, so try finding a nail polish that matches instead. But don't rely on a bottle-to-shoe comparison, since the color can look different when it's applied. Put the hue on your nail first and give it a minute to dry to make sure it’s a close-enough match to your shoes.

3. Personalize your favorite bag. Enlist the help of stencils and tape to make your initials look perfect.

4. Change the look of a necklace, ring, or earrings by covering faux jewels with a pop of color, like neon green, orange, or pink, to create your own DIY version of a Tom Binns Design. Simply lay the accessory flat on a paper towel and begin to paint.

5. Prevent new, fake jewelry from tarnishing. When air hits the metal, it oxidizes it and changes its color. Since clear lacquer locks out the air, it helps keep your costume jewelry looking new. Note: This will not work on already-tarnished accessories.

Have a cool, new use for nail polish that's not included here? Let us know below!

Our Favorite Glittery Party Shoes

Whether you need hot heels for a hot date or sexy stilettos for a big night out with the girls, there's plenty to choose from this season. Pick up a pair with sequins or glitter, and you'll be set for any dressed-up occasion

Can Beer Make You Smarter?

Next time you have a few beers with your friends, you might want to take a sec to mull over that work problem that’s been tripping you up. According to a new study, beer actually helps you think better.
In the study, researchers from the University of Illinois in Chicago divided participants into two groups—one group was given two pints of beer each, and the other were completely sober. Each team was then asked to compete in a bar game where they were given three words and asked to come up with a fourth one that fit the pattern.
The drinkers solved 40 percent more problems correctly and came up with their answers 3.5 seconds faster than their sober counterparts. Sure, beer isn’t always going to make you smarter—scientists discovered that the tipsy people weren’t as great at memory games, but did well at ones that required a little creativity.
First we found out that drinking a glass or two of red wine a day can help you lose weight, and now this. Who’s ready for happy hour?! 

TAX REFUND? WORK WARDROBE UPGRADE!

Your taxes are in, and now you’re anticipating the beloved tax refund. What are you going to do when that hard-earned money finds its way back into your wallet? While we definitely advocate bulking up your savings account, we think you should give yourself a little reward first. You put in the hours at the office to make that cash, so consider upgrading your work wardrobe for the next year. Tax return first, and who knows—with your awesome style and work ethic, perhaps a promotion later!

Runway to Real Life: We show you how to do Ferragamo’s radiant Spring 2012 makeup

Find out how to get the look! »

Introducing Runway to Real Life, a new weekly feature that takes the best runway beauty looks and shows you how to make them work them for real-life wear. We’ll cover everything from the extreme (red eyeshadow?) to the classic (hello, cat eye!) while providing tips and products so you can recreate each at home. First up:Salvatore Ferragamo Spring 2012.

Unlike many dramatic looks that parade down the runways, this one is actually quite appropriate for day-to-day. It’s the glowing skin and light, sparkling eyes that make it both perfect for spring and easily achievable: the models look like they could be regular city girls ready for a backyard garden party. To translate this to real life, I decided to deconstruct what makes it so wearable and focus on those features. What stand out most are the radiant complexion, full brows and bright eyes.

Nail polish

Unlike our parents and grandparents who may have smoked while pregnant, had a martini or three, and *gasp* ate processed foods, moms-to-be these days are much more cautious about what they put in and on their bodies while they’re gestating. Part of this is simply because we know a lot more about the safety (or lack thereof) of various chemicals. Nail polishespecially, which historically contains nasty things like formaldehyde and toluene that can cause birth defects, is a product that has been deemed a thing to avoid during pregnancy. However, many nail polish brands have been revamped over the last few years to be “safer,” and the so-called “Three-Free” classification became more common.

Three-Free means the polish doesn’t contain formaldehyde, dibutyl phthlate (DBP), or toluene. Lots of commercial brands are three-free now: butter London, Deborah Lippmann, OPI and many more. But you still have to do your homework, and it’s not always obvious if a product is “safe” when you go to hunt for ingredient lists. NBC in Los Angeles reports today that some products used in California nail salons that claim to be free of toxins are actually mislabeled. Scary. What’s a mommy-to-be–especially one craving hot pink nails–to do?

Enter Knocked Up Nails, a product which caught our eye for being touted as “Maternity Safe” nail polish and for sporting some absolutely ridiculous color names.

Going where no nail polish has gone before, colors like 18 K Gold Crown(ing), I Earned a Little Blue Box, O-Blue-GYN, and Mint Chip at Midnight (Ed note: At least she didn’t name a color “Placenta”), we knew we had to have a chat with the line’s founder Ashley Judge, who also owns a company called AlwaysFits.com, a quirky gift site that has an entire category dedicated to mustaches. Here’s what she had to say about her nail polish, celebrity collabs, and why she thinks her nail polish line is safer than others:  

Carine Roitfeld Gets Her Own MAC Makeup Collection

Carine Roitfeld is giving Karl Lagerfeld a run for his money lately in terms of picking up extracurricular projects. After various styling gigs and prepping her new fashion glossy, CR Fashion Book, for a September release, WWD reports today that the former Vogue Paris editrix is the latest to snag a MAC cosmetics collection. While it seems like an unlikely pairing, that’s exactly what MAC’s specialty is: Iris Apfel, Beth Ditto, and Miss Piggy–all MAC collaborators–aren’t exactly mainstream beauties, and that’s precisely why these collabs are so successful.

The line will launch this fall (coincidence that her mag launches in the fall, too?) and the focus of the products will be eyes, strong brows, and nude lips in homage to Roitfeld’s signature look. The campaign ad, shot by Mario Sorrenti, is in black and white, which is something you don’t see very often in makeup ads. All the better to get across that sultry French thing she does so brilliantly.

As is common with many of MAC’s collaborators, Roitfeld was involved in all aspects of her collection: packaging, product names, and palettes. Will you channel Carine with this new MAC collection?