At the recent Lanvin Spring 2011 Show in Paris, designer Alber Elbas filled the runway with a mix of long pleated skirts split open at the sides, pantsuits and elongated jackets. Celebs like Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz and Deeta Von Teese came to show their support. Thanks to the kind folks at Vidicom, I am able to share this runway video with all of you. Enjoy!

Pole dancing has a bad reputation. It is associated with erotica and is considered to only be fit for strip clubs and gentlemen’s clubs. Pole dancing is also associated with stripping and other sex related activities.

However, pole dancing is acknowledged as a performing art as well as an accepted exercise method. Most of all, pole dancing is fun.

Many pole dancing studios have been established in the last few years and they are attracting women from all walks of life to join in, have a good workout and leave with increased self-esteem. The sensuality of the pole dance puts one in contact with your inner perceptions of yourself and helps you to develop a more positive self-image. Along with that, your body is toned and strengthened which also helps you to see a better looking you.

There are numerous benefits to pole dancing:
• Your allover body tone is improved
• Your strength and endurance is improved
• Dancing with the pole strengthens your core and pelvic muscles
• While giving your body an improved shape, it also improves your self-image and with that increases your self confidence
• The dancing also improves your body’s flexibility
• Finally, pole dancing also improves your sense of rhythm and coordination.

There are so many benefits to exercising while doing Pole Dancing you should not forget that firstly it is meant to be fun. The dancing should inspire and invigorate you and then motivate you to do the exercises needed to master the various techniques.

Fitness can sometimes be a real drag, but with an activity like Pole dancing, the fun is built in and you never have to feel that it is a drag to get your body into shape again.

In today’s life, especially if you’ve got a family to take care of, make-up needs to be easy, simple and quick. Very few people have the time to stand in front of a mirror for ages to apply some foundation etc. Here are a few tips for those who want to put on their make-up in five minutes or less. The key to success is to have all your make-up out and ready to use before you start. Also be aware that you need to move quickly and efficiently in order to complete this task flawlessly.

Firstly, make sure that you cleanse and tone your face while you’re taking your shower. Once you’ve finished your shower and dried your face, immediately put on the moisturizer. This will give it enough time to draw in before you apply your make-up.

Get dressed and then do your make-up. Since you’ve already put on moisturizer, your skin should be sufficiently prepped for the make-up.

Next: Put on your foundation and blend it with a brush or sponge. This shouldn’t take more than half-a-minute at the most.

The next step is to apply the blusher in exactly the same way as the foundation. It will also need to be blended and here you can once again use a brush, sponge or even your fingertips if you prefer.

Once this has been done, apply your eye shadow with a brush and blend. This is followed shortly with the application of the eyeliner according to your eye shape.

Lastly you deftly put on the mascara with a few practiced brushes. If your blush or eye shadow needs to be touched up, you have 30 seconds to do so. Doing your make-up for the day should not take all day at all.

It is thoroughly unpleasant to start the day after a bad night. The rest of the day moves along at a snail’s pace while you sit and hope that tonight will be different. There are a few tips that you can take on board that will help you to always get a good night’s rest:

• Be comfortable in bed. Make sure that you have the correct and comfortable mattress for your requirements. There are several on the market that will make your body feel safe and protected, while support is given to the parts (like your lower back) that needs support. The way that you sleep (posture) is also an important factor to consider. The secret is to be as comfortable as possible.
• Have a routine for bedtime. Perhaps have a nice warm bath to help you relax. Then go straight to bed and tell yourself that the time to sleep has arrived. Try and avoid things that can distract you from sleeping – like cold feet, dripping taps etc. Make sure that these distractions are dealt with as soon as possible before you get into bed. Also make sure that your feet are adequately covered to prevent a chill creeping up your legs. That will definitely distract you from sleeping.
• If you’ve brought work home, do not do it in bed. Your body needs to associate your bed with sleeping – not working. By working in bed you’re training your body to stay awake in bed.
• Plan your day in advance. Before you go to bed know that your clothes are ready, your briefcase is packed and everything is ready to go in the morning. That will allow you the luxury of a relaxed morning instead of a stressful one allowing you to sleep peacefully.

There are a wide variety of exciting hairstyles for curly hair, and choosing the right one can take time and patience. Given that curly hair is very different from straight hair, it demands a different approach when it comes to styling. As with any look, results depend largely on the quality of the cut. It’s always wise to get a good, professional haircut, from a stylist who’s aware of the unique nature of curly hair. Well-cut and properly maintained curly hair will hang and look naturally beautiful without too much styling.

One popular way of wearing curly hair is in the ‘Twisted Updo’ style. For this style to be achieved hair must be swept back into a ponytail that rests on the back of the crown. Curls are allowed to flow freely from the base of the ponytail and secured to the back of the scalp to form a lush, curly bun.

Another great way of wearing curly hair is in the ‘Half Up and Half Down’ style. For this style it’s necessary to wash and dry the hair, and to apply a product to define the curls. Once that’s been done thumbs can be positioned above the earlobes and moved inward at a 45-degree angle toward the centre of the head. When thumbs meet at the back of the head hair can be bundled, lifted and tied into a ponytail that produces a loose and casual look.

The ‘side sweep’ is another favourite from the many hairstyles for curly hair. For this kind of ponytail the hair is tied back behind one ear, allowing it to cascade. A flat iron is used to straighten hair from the roots to the middle and separated into 1” sections. A curling iron is then used to produce ringlets.

There are many hairstyles for short hair, and many reasons why women choose them. For some, short hair provides a businesslike chic to complement a professional attitude. For others short hair will accentuate strong facial features to bring about a more confident and dynamic appearance. Some women simply feel like a change after years of having longer hair in a more traditional style. Some hairstyles for short hair are very distinctive, and feature varying lengths, curls and dyes.

Hairstyles for short hair are many and varied, so there are plenty of different looks to choose from. For most short hairstyles the same products that are used on long hair work well. Gels and mousses will help to lock interesting designs in place and allow for some very creative hair styling. For short hairstyles waxes and pomades can provide an excellent means of styling that wouldn’t be in any way suitable for long hair.

As a general rule, hairstyles for short hair are those that have hair extending no further than the tip of the nose at the front and the middle of the ears at the sides. At the most extreme end of the scale is buzzed hair, which is no more than a few millimetres in length anywhere on the scalp. Crop hairstyles cover the head with more length and as a result offer more possibilities in the way of styling. Hair that’s in a short bob style or features layers or coifs is on the longer end of the short hair spectrum. Hairstyles for short hair tend to require regular trimming for the style to remain. Short hair’s certainly moved in and out of fashion over the years, but now it’s well established in the mainstream and it looks like it’s here to stay.

For a wedding everyone wants to look their best and bridesmaid hairstyles will always reflect that. While not wanting to upstage the bride herself, every bridesmaid wants to look elegant and beautiful on the big day. With her role in mind, the bridesmaid will focus on simple techniques that achieve a plain, elegant style that fits her and the occasion perfectly.

Bridesmaids with short hair will find it easiest to achieve a modest yet stylish look. With less hair to work with, all sections can be made beautiful and decorated wonderfully. A good idea is to introduce light layers, with the hair fastened behind the ears and the fringe slightly parted, and then to add accessories that match the dress.

Bridesmaid hairstyles for those with medium-length hair vary. A popular choice is to create a bundle effect that features some loose strands that flow freely. In order for the hair to slightly cover the ears and be brushed back, the hair can either be layered or curled. Hair should be fully parted at the front to highlight both the face and the hair, and accessories added to match the dress. Tumbling curls or soft ringlets are also an excellent choice.

For a subtle yet attractive look, bridesmaid hairstyles for those with long hair also tend to focus on ties at the back, since the emphasis is on looking good without attracting too much attention. An effective way of dressing hair is to tie it in a light and demure bundle that’s positioned at the back of the head rather than at the crown. Clips may be used if they don’t attract a lot of attention. One of the other popular bridesmaid hairstyles for those with long hair is the ‘French Knot’. This looks great with loose strands flowing.

The fact that she has become such a huge celebrity means that there are plenty of people looking for tips to dress and look like Taylor Swift. Even people who aren’t that interested in her music want to look like her because she has such a unique and appealing style. Of course we could all try and find our own look and style of dress, but why reinvent the wheel? Taylor Swift has found something that works so it is understandable that others want to emulate this.

Tips to dress and look like Taylor Swift

The following tips will help you capture a bit of the unique style of Taylor Swift. The more effort you put into each of these the more closely you will be to resemble her. Of course though, we come in all shapes and sizes and you will only be able to look like her up to a point.

- One of the most distinctive features of Taylor Swift is her blond hair. If you are not this colour already you will need to dye your hair and add the distinctive curls. If you take a few pictures of her hairstyle with you to the hairdressers they should be able to recreate the look.

- Another one of her big assets is her charming smile. If you want to emulate this you will need to make sure that your teeth are in good shape; you might also want to consider having them whitened. If your teeth are not in good shape they you will need to visit your dentist in order to get the Taylor Swift look.

- Many people are full of praise for how great Taylor Smith’s skin looks. If you want to copy this you will need to have a good skin-care routine.

- You should be quite conservative with your makeup when trying to look like Taylor. She only uses it sparingly and this is why her face looks so natural.

- A huge part of the Taylor Smith look is her clothes. She is heavily influenced by the country music scene but she has also adder her own unique twist to this. Her most favoured garment is the long dress, but you will also find her sometimes in jeans and t-shirts; the summer dress is also another big favourite. For footwear she likes to put on appear of custom made cowboy boots.

If you’re getting tired of managing your hair or you just want a stylish look that’s easy to maintain, braided hairstyles are a very good option. While it’s true that they take time, braids afford you the option of choosing between many different styles without the need for cutting.

There are many braided hairstyles available, and one of the most popular is still the traditional single plait. Combined with a fringe that sweeps to the side, a single plait is a classic hairstyle that may never go out of fashion. Another of the most popular braided hairstyles is micro braid. These are very thin plaited braids that can be worn by both men and women.

French braids are slightly more complex than a simple plait, but benefit from that in terms of elegance. They weave tightly around the back of the head so as to gather all the hair together but flow into a single plait nearer the bottom.

The ‘Basket-Weave’ style’s popular among those wishing to achieve an interesting look on a special occasion. These braids form a criss-cross pattern on the crown of the head and consist of many smaller plaits. Loose hair beneath the neck level can be curled and tied into a bun, and the overall effect is one of complexity and sophistication.

For a feminine look, many women choose ‘Fishtail’ braids. Also popular for children, this type of braiding is not dissimilar to French braids except that strands of hair gathered from the back are very thin.

There are many African braided hairstyles that combine intricacy with colour and vivacity. One of the most popular is the ‘Zulu Knot’. This involves the hair being divided into rectangles or triangles across the scalp and then tied into a knot and braided.

When it comes to wearing makeup in the summer you will likely be aiming for three goals; protecting your face from too much sun, avoiding too much sweat on your face, and of course helping you to look great. In order to help you do this here are some makeup tips for summer.

The summer is always a time when people want to look their best. Just keep in mind that you will probably need to have a different makeup routine than other times of the year.

• Foundation can be uncomfortable when the weather is hot outside; it can also look unflattering if you begin to sweat from your face. Instead of foundation you can use a tinted moisturiser. For best results you should do this with a slightly wet sponge and make sure that the moisturiser is spread evenly over your face.
• During the summer months you really will find that less is better. If there is any makeup item that you can do without you should stop using it.
• If you do want to use foundation try and use an oil-free product as this will be less likely to run because of sweat and heat.
  Try to avoid using too much blusher and instead work on a healthy natural skin colour.
• Try to avoid using pressed powder with moisturiser as it can become clumpy looking. Instead just use loose powder lightly.
  Keep some blotting paper handy so that you can remove any excess oil or sweat.
• The most important thing to keep in mind is that your skin is protected from the sun. This is important because it could lead to health problems or wrinkles.

There you have just a few makeup tips for summer. This is a time of year when we tend to get out a lot more; the correct makeup routine can make it all the more enjoyable.