fashion

By CORI HOWARD
Toronto Globe and Mail
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

On a sunny Sunday, sari designer Jitinder Wirk is wrapping her cousin in five meters of burnt-orange crepe.

The silky material loops around and around Navi Gill's tiny waist, the border of silver embroidery and beadwork clicking on the floor.

By VIRGINIA LINN
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

As we enter skeeter-swatting season, think about casting away that smelly bug spray and wearing your repellent instead.

It's been six years since Richard Lane, president of a textile treatment company Buzz Off in Greensboro, N.C., perfected the process that binds permethrin to fabric.

Now there's a whole array of Buzz Off garments sold by a growing number of retailers that repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges or no-see-ums.

By JUDIE SCHWARTZ and EVELINDA URMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Style Matters: Nothing's changed since the last time we wrote a cheap tips column. We are still on a budget.

By LaMONT JONES
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Carolina Herrera has done for the white shirt what Burberry did for trench coats.

No designer captures the ease and elegance of this clean, crisp garment like the New York fashion designer.

By JUDIE SCHWARTZ and EVELINDA URMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Divorcing your stylist, part 2:

Judie: Last week we shared the sticky stories of severing ties with your hairdresser.

By ELISE MINTON and PAIGE HERMAN
newbeauty.com
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Honey has become a staple ingredient in some of today's most sought-after beauty products -- and for good reason.

By SAMANTHA THOMPSON SMITH
Raleigh News & Observer
Tuesday, May 22, 2007

They promise so much hope on the store shelves. Straight, shiny hair! More body! No more dandruff!

But are those miracle shampoos and conditioners worth all the hype? Is a $13 bottle of shampoo really better than a $5 bottle?

We put our a panel of testers on it, having them test five products on the market, two of which are so new they won't be in stores nationwide until next month.

As usual, they agreed on nothing.

By PAIGE HERMAN and MARIE KUECHEL
newbeauty.com
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Irregular pigment comes in many forms from sun-induced spots to hormonally caused melasma that manifests as dark splotches on the face. The key to treating these conditions is controlling the pigment-producing cells, but exfoliation treatments play a role in minimizing the appearance of existing pigment in the skin.

Topical lightening products

Over-the-counter and prescription lightening products are often the first step in treating pigment-related issues. Although controversial, hydroquinone continues to be one of the most popular active ingredients, but naturally derived azelaic and kojic acids can deliver results as well.

The key to achieving a good outcome is using the product on a consistent basis. Many prescription topical treatments such as Tri-Luma combine lightening agents (in this case, hydroquinone) with tretinoin to boost the skin's cell turnover rate. Tri-Luma also includes a steroid to minimize irritation. Dermatologists often prescribe Epiquin Micro as well, which contains 4 percent hydroquinone and retinol, which also reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Topical antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C help protect against free radical damage, which also can exacerbate the appearance of pigment. Prescription topicals start at about $60.

Another treatment, the Cosmelan mask, combines in-office and at-home treatments and contains kojic and azelaic acids to inhibit tyrosinase, a basic enzyme that plays a role in melanin formation.

The first stage is performed in the office, where the skin will be cleansed and the yellow-colored mask is applied. Patients are then sent home and instructed to leave the mask on for four to eight hours. The second stage of the process involves applying another cream at home for the next few weeks. Safe for all skin types, this treatment has a high success rate and minimal side effects, which can include redness for the first few days and light flaking. Most patients see significant improvement just one week after beginning treatment. Starting at about $750.

Peels

Chemical exfoliation can also help improve the appearance of excess pigment by exfoliating the upper layers of the skin where some pigment resides. (As an added plus, you'll also see improvement in texture as well as fine lines!) Your dermatologist or plastic surgeon can recommend the best course of treatment based on your skin tone and specific pigment problem, but some dermatologists find that a series of two to six 30 percent to 70 percent glycolic acid peels coupled with Jessner's solution is especially beneficial for minimizing melasma. For optimal results, your dermatologist or plastic surgeon may also prescribe a retinoid or another peeling agent for at-home use between peels. Anyone with a darker skin tone may have a higher complication rate with these peels. If you have darker pigmented skin, make sure your doctor is experienced treating skin tones similar to yours. Starting at about $150 per treatment.

Light-based treatment

Freckles, sunspots and melasma all result from changes within the dermis of the skin -- melanocytes inject cells with pigment as the skin's own defense mechanism against sun and other aggressors. A series of fractional resurfacing, IPL, diode and even photomodulation treatments like GentleWaves can improve pigmentation disorders and, in some cases, clear them completely. With IPL or diode treatments, you feel a snap and some heat, and then you'll notice the pigment get much darker in the minutes or hours following treatment. That darkened pigment will flake away over the next week or more. It is important that you don't exfoliate aggressively or try to remove the flaking skin. It may take three or more treatments to clear the pigment. With photo modulation, improvement in pigmentation is gradual over the course of treatment and in the following weeks. Generally a twice-per-week, four-week course is recommended with bimonthly follow-up treatments to maintain your results. Fractional resurfacing will slowly break up the pigment and resurface your skin -- you may notice a fine flaking in the days following each treatment. Starting at about $200 per treatment, depending on the technology used and the size of the area treated

Sun protection is essential

While using any treatment for pigmentation disorders, diligent sun protection with an SPF of at least 30 every day is necessary for two reasons. First, sun exposure can trigger production of the pigment you are trying to eliminate, and second, chemical peels, topicals such as retinoids and light based treatments can all increase sun sensitivity.

Paige Herman and Marie Kuechel are editors of New Beauty, a semi-annual magazine about cosmetic enhancement. Reach them at editors (at)newbeauty.com. For more columns visit www.scrippsnews.com

By LaMONT JONES
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Women's footwear this season is all about variety, yet it's also a story of extremes.

On the low end of the spectrum is the unassuming charm of the ballet flat, counterbalanced on the high end by the sartorial aggressiveness of the towering wedge.

Both looks, whether simple or embellished, appeal to a wide range of women for their comfort and versatility.

Wedges began to cycle back as a popular trend several years ago and have demonstrated staying power. In fact, five new shoes arrived last week at Ten Toes in Shadyside, Pa. -- all wedges, said owner Ron Friedman.

"We're doing mostly wedges, wedges and wedges, all heights in wedges," he said.

The style may be popular because it provides two things most women want in footwear: height and comfort.

"The wedge offers more support than a traditional heel," added Heather Hannan, a public relations manager for Macy's. "On most shoes, the heel sits under only the heel of the foot, but a wedge heel runs under the foot, from the back of the shoe to the middle or front. This gives it the wedge shape."

Wedges can be dressed up or dressed down, which is part of their charm.

"A cork, raffia or rope wedge looks best with something a little bit more casual, like a sundress," said Hannan. "But a patent leather wedge can be worn with a little black dress for an updated evening look."

If you're wearing a lighter top, choose heavier, chunkier wedges, Hannan advises.

"This keeps your total outfit balanced," she said.

The ballet flat has the opposite visual effect of wedges, minimizing rather than maximizing the wearer's height.

Their appeal, Hanna says, is "a no-brainer."

"They are comfortable," she said. "They can be worn with anything from cotton shorts to summer suits. And they look real cute with skinny jeans and a tank top. They are ultra-feminine and always stylish."

Ballet flats also look good with short skirts and long shorts, said Carol Jackson, manager of Footloose in Shadyside.

"Everybody's gone back into that kind of Audrey Hepburn very classic, very sexy look with the ballet flats," she said. "It's a fashion silhouette that's comfortable. It's easily understood. Everybody can get into it from 16 to 60."

Karn Knutson, a shoe lover and former advertising executive in San Francisco, waxed tongue-in-cheek about what ballet flats say about any wearer who is more than 10 years old or who was never serious about becoming a ballerina.

"They say, 'Oh, please pay attention to me,'" she wrote in her book "Shoe-ology," released last year. "'I just found a new wrinkle and desperately need to hear I'm a pretty, pretty princess. And I know you're not laughing at me. You're simply envious of my cuteness."

(LaMont Jones can be reached at ljones(at)post-gazette.com)

By SAMANTHA THOMPSON SMITH
Raleigh News & Observer
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Can't seem to find the right pair of jeans? Your search might have come to an end.

A new Web site called Zafu.com not only helps you figure out the best style of jeans for your body, it also tells you what brands and styles might do the trick, how much they cost and where to buy them thanks to a database of 90 jeans brands.

Sure beats taking dozens of pairs of jeans with you into the dressing room.

To find out what works for you, you need to take an eight-question test about your shape and jeans preferences. Before you get started on your search, though, know a little bit about yourself and how you like your jeans to fit. Like a tight fit? Or a loose gap in the rear? That kind of information will make a big difference in your results.

I took the test and got my list. And, as it turns out, I already own one of the 56 brands and styles the site recommended. Best of all, they weren't all $175 jeans. The site even recommended a $24.99 pair by Le Redoute and a $14 pair from Wal-Mart.

For anyone ready to jump into the often confusing and frustrating world of shopping for designer jeans, this is a good place to start. It's also a good site for anyone who refuses to pay more than $100 for jeans. The site breaks up the jeans into three pricing categories: under $30, $30-$50 and more than $60.

The company that created the site, located in Emeryville, Calif., says it drew on five years of fit research and algorithm development from its sister company Archetype, which helps companies like Lands' End and JC Penney offer custom clothing. Then it measured, assessed and photographed thousands of women trying on jeans.