Plus size dresses: Designer Monif C. shares how curvy girls can look sexy and trendy

In business since 2005, New York City-based mother-daughter team Elaine and Monif Clarke founded their plus size clothing company, Monif C., with a desire to give more options to women with full curves. Monif is still successfully running the label with a relentless passion for beautifying full-figured women. "When I design, I look at what I want to wear and I say ‘if I like it, our customers will like it,'" she told theGrio. "It's connected to what I think the key things every plus size girl should have in her wardrobe." And her methodology has been working. Not only has she dressed celebrities like Amber Riley and Kim Coles, she has also garnered a deal for her line to be sold.
The fabulous plus size designer spoke to us about her current releases and how curvy girls can looks sexy in every season.In swimsuits, the best seller this season is the Sao Paulo two-piece high-waist bikini, which shocked me because we had been talking for a good three years about making two-piece swimwear for plus size women. We literally had to reproduce those swimsuits three times, I was in shock. But it made me feel really good about the direction of where the plus size customer is going. I feel like the customer understands us. They also trust us — because they know if we put out a two-piece that we've also put the features in the suit to really make it work.In dresses, we always run out of the "Ruched Convertible Dress" for the summer, particularly white. A lot of people are looking for white dresses in the summer. We give options with how to wear this over and over again.
You incorporate so many vibrant colors into this collection, but bright colors are often daunting for women to wear. Do you have any hard and fast rules on pairing brights?My philosophy in dressing is that I believe wholeheartedly in dresses. Our collection is a majority dresses. I'm not the kind of person to layer — you know, with these slacks and this blazer. And so I believe in the idea of having a really vibrant-colored dress, a pair of heels, a nice clutch and just going out the door.I kind of feel like for women of color, especially saturated color — a green, a yellow, a coral — it just really makes the entire outfit pop. It's about a simple silhouette, not anything that's overly fussy, and a great color.Well, I'm the go all out queen! [Chuckles.] But obviously there are different flavors for different functions. Especially now in summertime and transitioning into fall, I'm seeing a lot of gold tone jewelry. And I love gold tone jewelry. There are a lot of statement necklaces and matte finish gold jewelry that I think work really well with colors. Matte isn't flashy. I also believe in bold accessories, but not a lot of accessories.

CC annual clothing drive, exchange nearing

Cowley College education majors will once again be collecting items for the Annual Clothing Drive and Exchange event scheduled for Nov. 3.Last year they collected more than 7,000 articles of clothing and hope to surpass 10,000 this year to assist families in the community.They will be collecting winter clothing to meet the needs of those in the area who might be economically challenged and unable to purchase winter attire. Clothing will be accepted for all sizes and ages, with a main focus of meeting the needs of children (birth to 18) in the community. Clothing needs include pants, long sleeved shirts, coats and shoes.
Clothing may be delivered to Cowley College's Social Science Office, located in the basement of the Brown Center of the main campus and open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clothing can be dropped off between the dates of Sept. 1 to Nov. 1.Rachel Zoe's clothing empire might soon be in shreds — sources say her line isn't selling well in stores and her Bravo reality show may also be in trouble.
The pin-thin stylist-turned-designer has become a household name from styling A-list clients including Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway and Demi Moore, and through her Bravo reality show, "The Rachel Zoe Project." Last summer, she launched a clothing line with Chinese retail giant Li & Fung.But despite the large promotional platform of her Bravo show, we hear the line isn't doing well at stores including Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom, with industry insiders snipping that interest in the line has "peaked."To add insult to injury, sources tell us that Zoe's assistant, interior designer Jeremiah Brent, is getting his own reality show on the network.Pregnant Megan highlights her growing baby bump in a clingy floral dress.Brent, who redecorated Zoe's Hollywood home on the show, appeared on "Zoe Project" in Season 4, having been fired and rehired by Zoe and her husband, Rodger Berman.Brent appears to have moved on and started his own business, Jeremiah Brent Design, as shown by photos of his office on Twitter. He would be the third Zoe assistant to get a reality show, including Brad Goreski ("It's a Brad Brad World") and Taylor Jacobson, who appears in Oxygen Network's upcoming "Hollywood Unzipped: Stylist Wars."
A rep for Zoe, who will show at Lincoln Center during New York Fashion Week, didn't comment. But Alan Chartash, the chief strategy officer for Li & Fung USA, said: "We're very happy. Apparel launched a year or so, and since that time, we've launched footwear, handbags and we're launching a line of jewelry exclusively with Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. We're supportive of Rachel and the continuation of the brand. Like any clothing line, it ebbs and flows, but we're very happy with the apparel sales."

Pregnant Megan highlights her growing baby bump in a clingy floral dress

She might be heavily pregnant, but Megan Fox is certainly not letting her baby bump get in the way of her style.The 26-year-old actress, who is expecting her first child with husband Brian Austin Green, drew attention to her changing figure in a clingy floral dress as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.And mother-to-be Megan certainly appears to be coping well with her pregnancy, looking both radiant and super-stylish as she picked up a coffee with her sister Kristi.Megan teamed the knee-length dress with a pair of red platform peep-toe heels, and left her long brown hair loose around her shoulders for the outing.
The This Is 40 actress was positively glowing as she shared a joke with her sibling, making Kristi explode into giggles.It seems that impending motherhood has made Fox more mature and a lot more philosophical, judging by her recent Twitter posts.She recently wrote: 'Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. Let the challenges make you strong.'Earlier this year Fox told E! news that she'd 'love to have kids'.She added: 'I mean, it's going to happen when it's going to happen, but it's not something that I've planned against or for.'The couple had done their best to hide Fox’s pregnancy when rumours that she was expecting her first child started doing the rounds.But they confirmed the news with a bikini photoshoot back in June.The baby will be Megan's first child but Brian's second as he already has a nine-year-old son with actress Vanessa Marcil.
There's been a lot of social media love going on between London 2012 Olympic hero, Jessica Ennis, and fashion designer / occasional Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham. This is all down to the filming of a recent episode of the Jonathan Ross show for ITV, where his sofa was jam packed full of the most sought after people in showbiz right now including Jessica Ennis herself, Kelly Brook, Usain Bolt, Tom Daley, Rita Ora and Colin Farrell. Where does VB come in I hear you ask? Well, she kindly sent Jessica one of her new season designs to wear for the occasion. How nice!Unfortunately, Jess' gold number is no longer on sale as it's past season (check it out on the runway here), however below we've picked out a few of our favourite new season Victoria Beckham dresses for you to feast your eyes on.

Satin Pyjamas and Ladies Sleepwear Shopping Guide

Because of its silky feel, satin is a lingerie favorite. Also, satin lingerie has a rather glossy look that makes it more alluring that other lingerie fabrics like cotton and nylon. Don't forget that it is a wonderful gift to both give and receive. For birthdays, anniversaries, showers, and just because, it is always very appreciated.Most satin pyjamas are machine washable which is a plus. This kind of sleepwear because of its polyester fabric is low maintenance which is a great advantage. This makes it enormously popular.
Not only for sleepwear, satin pyjamas are ideal as loungewear and for travelling as they fold easily and take little room in your suitcase.Shopping for pajamas is an adventure with the fantastic assortment of attractive designs and colors. From sleeveless for summer to long sleeves for the winter months and cap sleeve for all year there are pyjamas to suit every need and occasion. And, there are the traditional elastic waist as well as the trendier draw string style that many people now favor.This sleepwear is incredibly affordable. The various price points too are a treat for the budget-conscious consumers, as well as the indulgent ones. So, if you are shopping for a gift for yourself or a loved one it will be easy to find something that does not drain your bank account.
Online shopping for lingerie and intimate apparel is an increasingly popular trend these days.Stunning Hogwarts-themed dresses are high fashion magic.The plethora of choice available in online stores is second to none. Before purchasing any intimate apparel online, don't forget to read the sizing charts to ensure a perfect fit. And, their return policy in case you need to return anything that does not fit.Both satin and its richer cousin silk come in an unbelievable range of colors. There is a color to please just about anyone, from delicate ivory for brides on their honeymoon to candy apple red for Valentines day.Satin pyjamas and ladies sleepwear will never lose their appeal. Satin lingerie will never go out of style whether you opt for nightgowns, pajamas or women's robes, or even all of the above. The advantage to lovely satin lingerie is that it simply never loses its allure.With all of the beautiful satin pyjamas, robes, camisoles and night gowns to choose from, it is easy to understand and fall under the spell of alluring satin lingerie. Once you have enjoyed the gorgeous feel and look of satin you will be hooked for life!

Mukilteo woman hopes costume gets her on 'Roadshow'

Joan Hemm is betting on the power of the costume.If she wins this bet, she'll get to appear on television on the PBS program, "Antiques Roadshow."But even more important to Hemm than the TV spot, she hopes that two precious dress patterns -- dating back to the 1880s -- that she has protected for the last 25 years will finally be appraised.It's not that she wants to cash them in for the money. Hemm wants to know the value of these two patterns, which have never been opened, to help her decide where to donate them."I don't want them in the Smithsonian where they will lie in a drawer," Hemm said. "I really want them to be treasured for what they are -- a piece of fashion history at an incredibly detailed level, which is totally lost these days."Before we get to Hemm's "costume" and "Antiques Roadshow," let's go back about 25 years.
In 1987, Hemm's uncle, an antiques dealer, was in Pennsylvania at an outdoor auction when he came upon two dress patterns. They were "dead stock" patterns, never opened, never used, from 1880 and 1881."He grabbed these thinking, 'Joan will make these,' but they are actually well beyond my sewing skill level," Hemm said.Hemm is a historical costumer and has been sewing costumes since high school. Hemm also started a women's history group in Colorado when she lived there and now belongs to the Seattle historical costumer group, Somewhere in Time, Unlimited.As an appreciator of historical things and the importance of preserving them, Hemm "couldn't think of cutting up patterns that are 130 years old." So her uncle's gift went into storage.
Hemm and her husband had left Colorado and moved to Mukilteo. While settling into her new home, Hemm uncovered the two dress patterns. That rekindled her desire to find the right spot for them."My plan is to give them to either the Fashion Institute in L.A. or New York, where they can be studied and preserved, but first, I'd really like to know what they are worth," Hemm said. "What if they are the only ones in existence?"
She started to investigate on her own but got nowhere.Hemm figured she'd have to be on "Antiques Roadshow" to get an answer.So she tried to get tickets. Just 2,000 tickets are allotted for each location of the "Roadshow's" filming. For five years, she tried to get one.When the show announced it would be in Seattle, she had a friend of hers sign up for the ticket lottery. That friend's uncle is on the show. Hemm finally got her tickets.Hemm then thought about how she could help guarantee an appraisal.

Stunning Hogwarts-themed dresses are high fashion magic

Why don dress robes for a Hogwarts ball when you can dazzle your fellow witches and wizards with a showstopping gown? Costume designer Cavalyn exercises the Muggle magic of clothing design with these four gowns, each inspired by one of the Harry Potter Hogwarts houses.Cavalyn, who is known as ~DistantDream on deviantART, used the house animals and characteristics as a launching point for each of her gowns. The Slytherin dress is sleek and rich with a serpentine pattern. The lion-fringed Gryffindor resembles an adventurer's traveling cloak. The Hufflepuff dress, with badger fur capped sleeves, is fashion-forward without being showy, while the Ravenclaw dress is dramatic with its feather-like fabric and unexpected geometry.
Given that Cavalyn sews as well as sketches dresses, perhaps we'll be seeing physical versions of her designs some time in the future. In the meantime, you can see larger versions of the individual dresses in addition to her other fashion designs at deviantART.A deepening drought in the nation's farm states has cut further into this fall's harvest, with farmers now expected to pull from their fields the lowest corn yield in more than a decade.Modern Manners + Etiquette: Hipster Wedding Dress Codes + More.But American farmers are still expected to produce their eighth-largest harvest ever, and while there's sure to be a rise in prices at the grocery stores, there's little risk of a failed harvest that would lead to shortages on the shelves.The U.S. Agriculture Department predicted the nation's biggest harvest ever in the spring, when farmers planted 96.4 million acres of corn - the most since 1937. But it cut its estimate a month ago and again Friday, saying it now expects the nation to produce 10.8 billion bushels, the least since 2006.
If that estimate holds, the federal government says it will be enough to meet the world's needs and ensure there are no shortages. But experts say food prices will almost certainly climb as corn is a widely used ingredient found in everything from cosmetics to cereal, colas and candy bars.The drought stretching across the U.S. from Ohio west to California is deepest in the middle of the country, and major farm states like Iowa and Illinois are seeing conditions get worse each week. Farmers credit advances in seed technology that have produced hardier, more drought-tolerant corn for any harvest at all.The USDA's latest estimate predicts corn farmers will average 123.4 bushels per acre, down 24 bushels from last year in what would be the lowest average yield in 17 years. But the yield would still be as good as nearly a decade ago, when the average was about 129 bushels in a year without drought.

Modern Manners + Etiquette: Hipster Wedding Dress Codes + More

Go with your curious instinct. Unconsciously, our voices affect or influence how we're judged. For instance, scientists in a recent study found the quality of your voice—its volume, pitch, timbre, cadence, and speed—invariably determines factors in your degree of success, both socially and professionally. How slowly or quickly you speak and how you modulate pitch and loudness can also be huge factors in how others judge your character and state of mind.When dating online get to the phone call stage as soon as possible, as soon as your attraction toward each other becomes obvious. Nonetheless, be forewarned, that first conversation could be immediate buzz kill. Not necessarily because of any unpleasantness, but just by what you hear in his voice. For instance, overtones can make the voice sound sweet, while varieties of raspiness can randomly sound sexy, mean or even harsh or cold. On the other hand, if the voice on the other end of the phone quickly elevates the chemistry to the next level, you'll be happy you asked him to call.
The goal of being a hipster is to look as though you're not trying. Hipsters make what's old hat new again. Dressing like a hipster means wearing something from a vintage boutique, thrift shop or secondhand store, such as a beaded cardigan sweater (although too hot for August), a patent leather belt, shoes or clutch bag (patent leather is the hipster fashion equivalent of vinyl albums). Or look for a vintage jacket, scarf, shawl or bag that is floral, paisley, or lace and is soft and beautiful. Dresses are perfect (and I personally love chiffon), preferably floral and vintage for dancing. Wearing things that don't match perfectly are so hipster. You want that "I can't be bothered look" that actually takes planning by wearing, say, a large flower headband, neon nail polish, an insect or animal pin, a bright-colored patent leather belt, or a decorative bird or floral necklace.
Also, look for ideas at hipster magazines online, such as Vice (hipster dos and don'ts), AnOther Magazine (current fashion), and Wallpaper (current design). If there are no vintage or second hand clothing stores in your area, look online for Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, H&M, ASOS (the UK's largest online store for 16-34 year old men and women), and CobraSnake—all well known to the hipster fashion scene and most don't charge for shipping.Green is the new black, but you might want to stay away from accessorizing with preppy pink. Look for shades of blue like a French blue or turquoise when accessorizing with pastel green. Lastly, no occasion calls for a lovely hat, or decorative headband (fascinator), more than an afternoon wedding.

Jennifer Aniston dresses like a prostitute for new movie and creates a buzz

Thursday, Jennifer Aniston was seen on the set of "We're the Millers" dressed like a prostitute for the role, a fan took a photo of her look and the news has created an Internet buzz Friday because of how convincing the actress looks. Aniston is known for her roles in movies and television playing a "good girl," but the role she plays in this upcoming movie completely breaks from her old roles.Aniston, 43, was seen on the set of the movie in Wilmington, North Carolina; she was wearing very short ripped shorts, and a revealing white tank top. The movie follows a pot dealer who attempts to smuggle a shipment of pot into the United States, and he creates a fake family in order to help his disguise. Aniston plays the pot dealer's wife in the movie. Also starring in the movie is actress Emma Roberts who recently tweeted: "Dream come true to work with Jennifer Aniston!"
There are sheer dresses that play it safe with linings and other back-up plans in order to avoid a serious wardrobe malfunction. And then there are those that rely on miracles.Rebecca Romijn's frock from Thursday night's Carmen Steffens' flagship store opening in Hollywood seems to fall into the latter category. The 39-year-old actress and mom of two slipped into a sexy all-black look paired with some fun white flowered heels, but what we most noticed about her ensemble was the criss-crossing neckline that accentuated a sheer tummy panel.The store has purchased more clothes for high school students.Kind of like upside-down cleavage? One wrong move, and we suspect things would have gotten a little embarrassing. (In other Creative Cleavage news this week, see Katy Perry's diamond-shaped braless look.)
Romijn, a former model and "House of Style" host, is currently wearing some very racy costumes onstage as well, starring as Swedish babe Ulla in a Hollywood production of "The Producers." We're sure her wardrobe team is keeping a LOT of outfit tape on hand.She might be most famous for her role in TV series Shameless, but on Saturday in New York Emmy Rossum showed that when it comes to fashion, she's anything but.The 25-year-old actress looked effortlessly stylish as she stepped out in the Big Apple wearing a strapless white dress. The low-key star opted for sexy tousled hair and paired her cute dress with a large string of beads, an oversized bag and flip flops which added up to a pretty but casual outfit.  Topping off her stylish ensemble was Emmy's winning smile as she left her hotel in the city's Soho district. It was a second day of winning fashion for Rossum who showed off her credentials in a pretty  multi-coloured dress on Friday.The demure sleeveless outfit with a high neckline suited the pretty brunette although her choice of accessories left a little to be desired.

Tom Ford Dresses James Bond, Will Debut First Menswear Collection in London

The world's most dapper dressed designer and has joined forces with the world's most famous secret agent. Today, fashion trade journal WWD announced that Tom Ford has exclusively designed all of delicious Daniel Craig's wardrobe in the new James Bond film, Skyfall. To keep up with the momentum, Ford will also show his menswear collection in London for the first time in January to coincide with his first British boutique opening. Dude is on a roll!Although it hasn't been determined if the designer will show his collection on a runway or in a super exclusive presentation setting, I'm sure that the guest list will feature a who's who of both the fashion world and Hollywood.
Newly Discovered Goya Going to Auction: A religious painting by Goya from the late-1770s, when he was an unknown 30-something designing wall hangings for palaces, is headed to the auction block in September at Zurich's Koller Auctions. The painting depicting Lot and his daughters was only recently confirmed to be a Goya, and though his works from this period typically only fetch a fraction of the value of later pieces, the "new" painting is expected to fetch between 600,000-800,000 Swiss Francs ($613,000-817,000). Archaeological Findings Push Stone Age Back 20,000 Years: Artifacts discovered in a cave in South Africa indicate that the late Stone Age started earlier than originally thought, a conclusion drawn from the bone tools, pigments, and poisons created by people living in the area 44,000 years before, filling the void between 40,000 and 20,000 years ago that previously existed in the history of South Africa. Researcher Paola Villa, a curator at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, said in a statement that this would set the Later Stone Age at "about the same time as the arrival of modern humans in Europe," or at Europe's Upper Paleolithic Period.
Women's Museum Opens in Dubai: Some of the United Arab Emirates art world's most powerful figures, despite the predominant patriarchal culture, are women, and though scholar, psychiatrist, and former Arabian Gulf University president Rafia Obaid Ghubash doesn't wield as hefty a purse as Sheikha Mayassa Al Thani, she has just opened the Women's Museum of the United Arab Emirates in Dubai's Deira neighborhood — after turning down a free site in the official heritage district of Bastakya. Her new three-story institution aims to connect the work of contemporary Emirati women with their historical predecessors: "Part of the tradition is kind to women," she says. "But part is very negative. Those who are not educated just utilise the negative part."