BellaSugar

How to Lose Your Regrettable Tattoo

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:15:30 PST

Rumors have been swirling that Eva Longoria is (wisely) lasering off all three of the tattoos she has related to soon-to-be ex-husband Tony Parker. It's hard enough ending a relationship, but when body art is also part of what's left, it can be particularly depressing. Heck, any ink you don't like anymore can leave you feeling embittered. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to wipe away pieces you no longer want. To find out more, just keep reading.

Definition: Laser

BellaSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:00:12 PDT

The term "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Two different lasers are used on facial skin: ablative and non-ablative. The former uses a burst of light to heat up the water in the most superficial layers of the skin, which makes the water and tissue vaporize. By being able to control exactly what level the laser penetrates down to, the administrator can create the foundation for the skin to generate a new layer of collagen as it heals, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, spots and scars. Ablative lasers were originally carbon dioxide, but the new types are erbium: YAG lasers.

Non-ablative lasers were recently introduced as a safer and less invasive alternative to ablative lasers. There is less risk or downtime with this variety, which tries to treat deeper layers of tissue while leaving the top layer intact. New types of non-ablative lasers are always being developed for cosmetic use, including IPL (Intense Pulsed Light, the type used for hair removal), LHE (Light Heat Energy), Thermage, and LED (Light Emitting Diode).

An August 2008 study by the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York published in Lasers In Surgery And Medicine studied the effectiveness of Ablative Fractional Resurfacing (AFR), which uses an erbium laser to create tiny wounds in the skin. They found that AFR is promising as a middle ground between the two types of lasers, offering more dramatic results with less side effects than traditional ablative lasers.

Source

Alexander Wang Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:42:08 PST

Alexander Wang staged a dark and dramatic show tonight at Pier 94, setting the mood for a high-impact show complete with a tricky "runway" configuration, strategically placed mirrors, and our favorite highlight of the night, a surprise appearance from Gisele Bundchen. "I personally think he's a great guy, a great person, and he's always so sincere," said Bundchen. "He asked me and I'm very happy that I was able to be here." The show kicked off with a vast array of structured, lacquered wool coats paired with laser-cut fishnet turtlenecks - pulled over part of the face to look like a mask - and waxed suede manipulated to look like leather. The latter was used to create black- and oxblood-hued military-inspired dresses and sexy front-slit skirts. Then came the fringe, thus far a burgeoning trend on the Fall runways, juxtaposed on crisp collared shirtdresses and tops. The surprise closer of the evening featured top models like Karolina Kurkova and Bundchen facing the mirrors - then peeling off their half-masks. Mystifying? Yes, but there's no confusion when it comes to Wang and his modern way of thinking.

Trends: Lacquer, laser-cut details, fringe.
Colors: Black, oxblood, white.
Key Piece: A cropped hoodie jacket, leather minidress, any of the botanical ombré pieces.
Accessories: Lacquered and leather knee-high boots, stacked ankle boots, leather gloves, leather duffel bags, small crossbody bags.
Who Would Wear It: Downtown girls like Alexa Chung, Zoe Kravitz, and Erin Wasson.

Helmut Lang Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:59:47 PST

For Fall '12, Nicole and Michael Colovos showed off their signature modern architectural style for Helmut Lang, highlighting a sleek and sumptuous array of tried and true favorites like leather and fur funnel-neck jackets, shiny treated skinny pants, and asymmetric draped dresses - all of which were paired with sexy thigh-high boots and wedge ankle booties. However, there were some new components interspersed in the mix; psychedelic lava and branch patterns made their way onto draped dresses and skinny pants, and a new color, a rust red hue, was used on a luxurious laser-cut pony-hair jacket. More details from the collection below.

Trends: Colored fur, asymmetric silhouettes, laser-cut details, bold prints.
Colors: Rust red, black, off-white, olive green.
Key Piece: The fur and leather funnel-neck jackets top our Fall must-haves list.
Accessories: Leather and suede thigh-high boots and wedge ankle booties.
Who Would Wear It: Girls who crave sleek, modern pieces - like front-row attendee Leigh Lezark - Elizabeth Olsen, and Ciara.

Doo.Ri Fall 2012

FabSugar — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:18:55 PST

Doo.Ri's signature draping and understated, flowy silhouettes got textural for Fall 2012. Inspired by Butoh, designer Doo-Ri Chung sent the models - sporting sleek buns and leather headbands - down the runway in a gorgeous array of her draped dresses dipped in pretty hues of dark teal, blush, pearl white, and gray. For a polished touch, Doo-Ri Chung introduced wide-leg trousers, tailored wool coats complete with leather inserts, and an eye-catching array of mixed-knit wraps. More details on the dance-inspired collection below.

Trends: Draping, laser cutouts, leather inserts.
Colors: Blush, pearl, black, gray, pea green, dark teal, burgundy.
Key Piece: The mixed-knit wrap sweaters were gorgeous.
Accessories: Leather headbands, cuffed gloves, over-the-knee boots, ankle boots.
Who Would Wear It: We can see Kate Middleton wearing some of the beautiful draped dresses.

Yigal Azrouël Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:52:22 PST

Yigal Azrouël designed his Fall '12 collection for a woman who is "fearless in her outlook and quiet in her confidence." Drawing from the spirit of Françoise Hardy, Yigal sent sophisticated, ladylike looks with an exotic twist down the runway. To put it simply, it was a luxurious mélange of plush raccoon-fur cossacks, long cashmere coats with leather-trimmed pockets, pebble-printed silk jumpsuits, snakeskin gloves, and one jaw-dropping laser-cut crepe leather gown. Add to the mix lambskin pants and structured leather jackets in a covetable palette of autumnal henna, bordeaux, and evergreen hues, and you've got a cold-weather wardrobe worth lusting after. As Yigal put it, this collection is all about "the unintentional beauty in mystery."

Trends: Ultra-luxe outwear, contoured hoods, reinvented wool silhouettes, and exotic textures.
Colors: Henna red, bordeaux purple, muted navy, pale forest green, and slick black-and-brown combos.
Key Piece: We love the juxtaposition of this floor-length black gown - precise laser-cut detail and daring proportions all in one go.
Accessories: Plush add-ons; two-tone fur and leather booties, leather-trimmed pockets, snakeskin gloves, and raccoon-fur hats.
Who Would Wear It: The effortlessly poised woman with a flair for surprise, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham.

Beyond Red: Decorating With Ruby Hues

Elka Karl — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:25:49 PST

When it comes to deep saturated color, ruby rules the red tones. This saturated color originally was used to represent the color that best expressed the ruby gemstone. Its gorgeous red color strikes me as passionate, regal, and perfect for adding to your home decor.

Ruby is actually an easier shade to decorate with than straight red, thanks to the brown and purple tones present in varying shades of the color. Essentially, this means you have a red shade that plays well with a variety of other colors. Try mixing a ruby-red chandelier with a duck's-egg shade of painted walls, or add a ruby-red sofa to an eclectic mix of multihued wood furniture and patterned upholstered chairs.

For a modern ruby chandelier that won't strain your pocketbook, try the Boom Lucite Chandelier ($105). Inspired by papercut art, the chandelier features two planes of voluptuous laser cut into lucite curls. For an even greater impact, try hanging a cluster of three.

The color mix in Flavor Paper's Shore Leave Wallpaper ($150) has a fun edge, which matches the imagery. Designed by Emily Minnie, the pattern features old-school tattoo images including stars, pinup girls, and anchors. I'd love to see this papering a powder room in a roller derby girl's home.

Perhaps my absolute favorite find is the Hans Wegner Oculus Chair ($5,500). Available in a variety of colors, this gorgeous chair features a wool upholstery and a stainless steel base. Originally designed in 1960, Carl Hansen & Son began reproducing the Oculus chair three years ago based on the prototype still owned by Wegner's family.

Did something else catch your eye? Click the image to shop your ruby-red favorite.

Rachel Comey Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:30:27 PST

Rachel Comey showed us her sophisticated side for Fall '12, streamlining her usual quirk factor with a modern, refreshing twist. "Normally for Fall we dive into print and pattern and color," said Comey. "This time, I pulled all of that out and cleared the air." With that in mind, the designer showcased laser-cut cotton dresses and wool felt tops, digital-print knee-length skirts, pretty prints, and shiny boxy leather tops. Color pops included an oversized bright orange coat and dress and even a heart-print dress doused in hot pink. Comey's shoes, a cult favorite amongst many, included quirky-cool black-and-white cap-toe loafers, flatforms, and chunky ankle boots. To finish, Comey closed out the show with an array of cocktail-appropriate black dresses, ranging from a simple, slinky halter-neck LBD to a shimmering full-skirted version. More details on the collection below.

Trends: Laser-cut tops, full-skirt dresses, metallic, digital and watercolor prints.
Colors: Black, gray, hot pink, bright orange.
Key Piece: Rachel's laser-cut tops and dresses exuded a light structural quality we can't wait to try on come Fall '12.
Accessories: Black-and-white cap-toe loafers, flatform boots, clear plastic skinny belts, sheer metallic socks.
Who Would Wear It: Girls who crave quirky yet sophisticated pieces like Kate Bosworth, Whitney Port, and Leighton Meester.

Michelle Obama, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Gabrielle Giffords Witness the State of the Union

Annie Scudder — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:44:24 PST

The first lady beamed in blue tonight during the State of the Union address. The president laid out his accomplishments and plans for the upcoming year to Congressional leaders and other VIPs, setting the stage for his reelection campaign. Michelle will be one of his strongest supporters in the political battle, but tonight she was joined by people most Americans, regardless of politics, can respect. Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs and an education activist, sat right above Michelle in her box. The president mentioned Laurene's husband in the speech, saying: "We should support everyone who’s willing to work; and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs."

Other symbolically important figures included everyday single mom Jackie Bray, who sat to the first lady's right. The president called out Jackie by name in his speech, saying "Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic. Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte, and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College. The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training. It paid Jackie's tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant. I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie did."

Before the big speech, Obama shared a moment with another inspiring woman, Gabrielle Giffords. The Arizona Congresswoman, who was shot last year, just stepped down to focus on her recovery this week. Gabby and President Obama shed a warm embrace before he spoke. See pictures from the State of the Union address now.

Couture Fashion Week: Atelier Versace

Hannah Weil — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:36:05 PST

Nothing could kick-start Couture Fashion Week quite like Atelier Versace's confident return to the ring after an eight-year hiatus. Donatella Versace presented the label's couture collection for the first time since 2004, marking its resurrection in signature brights and distinctly sexy silhouettes. All the elements we've come to rely on from a Versace collection were present - curve-hugging bodices, brilliant statement color, leg-revealing hemlines - and like any good couture collection, there, too, was the element of surprise. The standout, but limited, color palette verged between blinding brights, creamy grays, neutrals, and a splash of gold. We're treated to all-out sultry silhouettes, then checked with futuristic-feeling detail. Laser cuts and lace feel at once delicate and fierce, like the glamorous gold heels made tougher with buckled shin guards. The collection was sexy, but not without substance - just the way we like our leading ladies who will wear it.

Trends: Neoprene brights, corsets, lace, peplum.
Colors: Citrus hues - orange, green, yellow; nude, gray, gold.
Key Look: The creamy gray lace-paneled gown with gold-collared halter neckline.
Accessories: Heels and boots with shin guards buckled up over the calf.
Who Would Wear It: January Jones, Jessica Alba, red carpet queens who crave drama and sexy cuts.