The Event The prom is a big deal for teens…the preparation is almost the same caliber as a wedding or other special event. There are also costs involved, but if you are a parent like me shopping and spending smart is necessary. Are you aware the average cost to prepare a female for prom can average $750 easily. So let me share how to shop smart for prom without settling for less. My total cost was $625.
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The Dress Let’s get started! One of the high ticket items is the apparel. The biggest things for girls are the dress and all of the accessories. A concern for me was buying an elaborate dress and only wearing it once or just letting it hang in the closet. So, my daughter did some research and found a reputable company online which allows customers to rent dresses. The name of the company is renttherunway.com. This was perfect! The dress was affordable & beautiful, the dress designer is by Badgley Mischka-known as the Screen Siren Gown. There was also a $25 discount for first time rentals. Check out their website for more details.

The Accessories The next item to address are the accessories, I found Shoe Carnival as being the most cost effective along with having a great collection of shoes. The brand of shoe we selected is Tissue-s in the color gold by mydeliciousshoes.com…the shoe was a steal purchased at $9.99 (the sale was to buy one pair of shoes at regular price…then you get the next pair at ½ price). To complete the total look we added accessories as earrings, hairpins, necklace, a ring and in step cushions for the shoes. The jewelry was purchased at H&M, an additional accessory used for the dress is the Braza Bra® The original the original adhesive bra.

Hair, Makeup & Nails The total look would not be complete with out hair and makeup. This project was a family affair. Hair by Tina O-Provided a Hollywood glam look with spiral curls. Following the theme, Celestial Enterprises.com provided a Hollywood Glam look with makeup cosmetics compliments of Maybelline, bareMineral eye primer, Too Faced-Chocolate Bar, H&M Lip color in Dita (Red) Matte along with mascara and eyeliner. Gel overlay and pedicure provided by Classic Nails Professional Nail Care Center.

Florist The Corsage was purchased at Blossoms of Hawaii in Bronzeville. The fragrance choice was Pink Sugar- Eau de Toilette

Photographer The photography captured the preparations and the final look. All images were provided by Chicago Imaging Solutions.com, “Let us provide all of your imaging needs”. Additional images were also taken at the prom location. Navy Pier-Crystal Gardens. High School-King College Preparatory -Theme For Only one Night-Prom 2014

Transportation Provided by Uber.

So, it shows with proper planning, and working smart…you can have an elaborate look without settling for less or breaking your bank. Thanks for reading this article.

Check out the stores on fifth avenue for creative windows that feature clothing with modern art. Uniglo had some fashions with artwork by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Jean Michel Basquiat. Dolce and Gabbana had interesting colorful porcelain sculptures and foot rests exhibiting their fine shoes and clothing.

Take a stoll down fifth avenue before they change their windows to the more demur.

Thanks to partnership with Naturalizer, HGTV interior designer David Bromstad has brought his fresh, colorful vision to life in a collection of fun and whimsical shoes for Spring 2014. Naturalizer commissioned Bromstad for an original painting that inspired the Bromstad for Naturalizer collection, one that possesses a fresh and emotive twist. He worked closely with Naturalizer designer Angelique Joseph to creatively use the print on the shoes that are part of the collection. The collection features comfortable footwear adorned in vibrant colors and bold floral prints that scream Spring with every step.

David had this to say about the collection:

The Naturalizer + Bromstad Collection: “It’s fun, fresh and feels like summer. The floral painting brings together roses from a New England garden and a tropical hibiscus from Florida. It’s north meets south—an unexpected twist.”

Color: “Color is everything. It makes the world go around. A pop of color can change your mood and the kind of day you are having. The colors used in this collection are bright, happy, fun and whimsical.”

Comfort: “Comfort is critical. You have to live in every space and you have to live in every shoe. This is something that is at the core of what I do and is in the DNA of the Naturalizer brand – that’s why this is such a great partnership.”

Bromstad’s shoes are currently available for purchase at Naturalizer stores, as well as on Naturalizer.com.

Fashion designer L’Wren Scott and girlfriend of Rolling Stones’ front man Mick Jagger was found dead Monday, March 17 in her New York City Manhattan Apartment.

The 49 year old who was with Jagger for more than a decade and allegedly committed suicide today before police were called to her Chelsea apartment at 10:05am.

The 6’4” beauty was a former model and a stylist for many A-list celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman. Scott launched her first clothing line in 2006 and has designed for brands like Banana Republic.

Although the medical examiner has not confirmed the cause of death, police are saying that it appeared to be suicide. Wren was found “unconscious and unresponsive” by her assistant at 10:00am.

The BBC reports that Mick Jagger is “completely shocked and devastated.” The rocker is currently on tour and tweeted just hours ago, “Looking forward to the first show in Perth.”

Are you green with envy or do you just love wearing such a universally-flattering color at this time of the year? Green is so beautiful against every skin tone that I am sure it is something you have at least mulled over wearing this summer. Every shade of green was shown on the womenswear runways at the fashion weeks for this Spring/Summer 2014, quickly becoming the it color of the season.

Concerned on how it would work on you? Everyone can wear green; you just need to find the shade with the yellow or blue-based undertone which looks best for you! Once you have held a few garments of each up to your skin (particularly up to your face), you will soon find your best color range which will offer many fun, seasonal pieces to add to your wardrobe.

If you do not want to wear a garment that is all green, you can easily coordinate items to your wardrobe that just include green in them. Some of those seen this season include sunglasses with green lenses, beach-friendly pants with a patchwork of fabrics including greens, an accent heel on a stiletto, or an accent pocket on a skirt.

Maybe you want an elegant evening look or perhaps you are in the market for a memorable set of coordinated accessories. The green trend for Spring/Summer 2014 will surprise you with the endless fabrics and materials used to create silhouettes to work with every body type and personal taste. From emerald green to Kelly green, to jungle green and Army green, the attached slideshow will showcase some of the highlights and inspirations currently in fashion.

No matter what your weight, you deserve to look beautiful in dresses. Sometimes, creating a flattering look is about smoke and mirrors. Dresses should draw attention to the best part of you and cover the parts of you that you like least. Regardless of your body type and the dress you choose, make sure you choose the proper fit and wear undergarments that flatter.

Wrap Dress

Fashionistas and stylists agree that the wrap dress is universally flattering. Introduced by Diane von Furstenberg in 1972, the wrap dress is usually made in a lightweight knit print. It wraps around your waist, highlighting the smallest part of your shape. It also creates an automatic V-neck. A wrap dress with an A-line skirt gives the illusion of an hourglass figure. Select a small print, which is more slimming than a large print.

Dresses With an Empire Waist

An empire waist creates a line right under the bust, an area that is usually a slim part of your torso. Drawing the eye to a small part of your body will make you look slimmer. The empire waist will also draw the eye up toward the bust. Pairing the dress with eye-catching jewelry will draw attention to your neckline, too. You can find a dress with an empire waist with an A-line skirt or a pencil skirt that skims the hips instead of flaring out.

Dresses with Ruching

Ruching is a gather of fabric. You can choose a dress that is ruched from top to bottom, or you can choose ruching for the waist. It may seem counter-intuitive to wear a dress with gathered folds of fabric, but many figures are flattered by ruching that draws the eye toward the center of the body or toward a narrow part of the body. Ruching may also have the effect of concealing figure details behind the fabric.

Sheath Dress

Although you may think that a bigger dress will hide your body, it just makes you look heavier. The sheath dress skims your body and accentuates your curves. The sheath can be paired with a long jacket to camouflage wide hips. Or pair your sheath with a wide belt to further accentuate your waistline. Don’t be afraid to choose color when buying a sheath dress. Instead of basic black, a pastel or jewel tone that flatters your complexion will put the emphasis on your face.

Indie pop singer Lana Del Rey revealed an alternate cover for her album “Ultraviolence” on Friday (May 30). Fashion store Urban Outfitters will release an exclusive vinyl record version of the album with the new cover art.

According to Pitchfork, the alternate cover art was revealed on May 30 with a shot of Del Rey’s knee in torn-up jeans. The Urban Outfitters exclusive will also have new art on the back of Lana smoking a cigarette in a bed of flowers. “This UO-exclusive version features translucent blue + opaque lavender vinyl and only-at-UO album cover art,” the fashion store also notes.

The art for the main release of “Ultraviolence” shows a black-and-white shot of Del Rey standing next to a vintage car. She has already previewed the release with lead single “West Coast,” a modern rock track that has so far peaked at no. 17 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Last week, she released the promo single “Shades of Cool” from the album. The aforementioned track lives up to its name, being the strangest and coolest song released from “Ultraviolence” so far.

“Ultraviolence” follows Del Rey’s major label debut “Born to Die.” That album hit no. 2 on Billboard back in January 2012 and it was later certified platinum for moving a million units in the U.S. this past March. “West Coast” is already Lana’s second highest charting song on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Only the Cedric Gervais remix of “Summertime Sadness” peaked higher when it hit no. 6 on the chart last year.

“Ultraviolence” will be released on June 17 in the U.S. The Urban Outfitters version of the album is now available for pre-order and it will be released on June 19. Del Rey is currently on tour in the U.S. in support of her new album.

When it comes to layering accessories, we have yet to master the wear-every-ring-you-own-at-the-same-time look. So, we consulted style expert Shahrnaz Shifteh to find out how to pull off wearing numerous rings on multiple fingers. (Hint: Contrary to popular belief, this does not involve actually wearing every ring you own.) Take style notes from Shifteh to pack the most sartorial punch into your accessory layering.

Master Understated Style

When layering rings, it’s a good rule of thumb to pick a metal and stick with it. In this look, Shifteh has layered gold rings — some with stones, some without. Stick with rings that have similarly sized stones and gems to ensure the rings stack up nicely. “You can stock up on relatively inexpensive rings to create this casual effect. One ring might not look nice on it’s own, but you may be surprised by how chic it looks when it’s stacked with several rings,” said Shifteh.

Keep it Effortlessly Cool

“Pinky rings are trendy again and they are so easy to wear that you never have to take them off — you can always have a touch of jewelry on,” advised Shifteh. They are also very versatile so you can pair them with larger, more elaborate rings, just be sure to match your metals. Spiky rings, like the ones Shifteh is wearing here, are timeless and exude an effortlessly cool vibe.

Get Cocktail-Ready

As their name suggests, cocktail rings are great accessories for occasions that call for dressy attire. “If you’re going to wear a big statement ring, you have to have clean, polished nails because it draws so much attention to your hands,” advised Shifteh. “Even something as simple as a coat of clear or iridescent polish will do the trick.”

You are invited to “Hair for a Cause” Hair Show hosted by Platinum Hearts Events & Creations on March 23, 2014. This event will be in honor of two time breast cancer Survivor Angel Ligon and a local community member recently diagnosed with kidney failure in need of a kidney transplant, Gary Shepard. This is the 2nd show for a cause and the numbers are getting stronger. The proceeds from ticket sales and donation go directly to the recipients.
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Hair for a Cause will be featuring a few of La Grange, Georgia’s finest in the Beauty Industry, Ms. Danyelle “The Make Up Maven”, Makeup Artist, Courtland “La Mente De Shaheed”, Wig Creator and Mrs. Athena Dixon-Wheelous, Hair Stylist and Barber. They will all be showcasing their GOD-given talents in the Hair for a Cause Hair Show on March 23, 2014 at Del’Avant in LaGrange, GA. This awesome trio shares the passion on wanting to help women to find that beauty inside and let it shine out. With over 10 years experience they have been helping women all over Georgia to feel empowered. They are surly putting Georgia on the map in the Beauty Industry.

Here is a little background on our featured stylist that have volunteered their services for this awesome cause. When asked, “what drives you and why?” They answered, Danyelle: “An addict, I think I need rehab I’m so bad…lol I’ve been this way since childhood, since I was able to read and spell the words make up!!! My profession and passion for this industry chose me. But, I’m a skin care fan, so love the skin you’re in!”

Athena-“My passion is to bring the beauty outward!”

La Mente De Shaheed- “I make wigs because it is simply what I want to do. I am a fashion designer by trade. I have always had a niche for anything that was dealing with someone’s appearance (besides make-up). I didn’t choose this field, it chose me. The first wig that I ever made for someone was a deep purple and black A-symmetrical stacked bob for someone’s Halloween costume. They wanted to channel Nikki Minaj. In the meantime, my grandmother was battling cancer and she asked if I could make her a wig that wouldn’t scream, “I am wearing a wig!” That is what drove me to making lace units. Sadly she passed before I even started on one for her. I now make wigs for cancer patients, alopecia sufferers, and burn victims quite often. I do also just make wigs for commercial use (everyday people) as well!”

Thank you to all that have donated their time and skills for this great cause!

We ask that you please share this event to everyone that you know. This event was put together for people that are in need of prayers and monetary blessings.

To make donations please call 706-407-1891