Ladies In Red

BEAUTY

HOT TOPIC

Emma Reynolds of the  Daily Mail has reported on the control women potentially could have over men by mearly wearing the color red in her latest article "Ladies in Red: Study Finds Men Prefer Women Wearing Colour Because They Are Less Likely to be Rejected." 

Apparently, "...The colour of passion makes women seem more attractive by sending out subtle messages about how receptive they might be to sexual advances, say scientists from the University of Rochester in New York. It might help to explain why red is the hue most associated with love and romance in popular culture. Researchers asked men to rate photographs of women framed by different coloured borders - and the same women in red were consistently rated more attractive. Another question asked: 'Imagine that you are going on a date with this person and have $100 in your wallet. How much money would you be willing to spend on your date?' Women in red scored more highly on both of these points.The authors of the study say that this response to red probably stems from biological instincts rather than simply social perception of the vibrant colour. Research has shown that nonhuman male primates are particularly attracted to females displaying red. Female baboons and chimpanzees, for example, redden conspicuously when nearing ovulation, sending a clear sexual signal designed to attract males. The colour is always popular on the catwalk and is regularly worn to star-studded events by the world's most attractive female celebrities. 

 (Natalie Portman, Oscars 2012) 

 (Diane Kruger, Vanity Fair Party 2012)

(Emma Stone, Oscars 2012) 

(Kate Hudson , Vanity Fair Party, 2012) 

Adam Pazda, a social psychologist from the university, said: 'We find it fascinating that merely changing the colour of a woman's shirt can have such a strong influence on how she is perceived by men.'..." (Reynolds, February 27, 2012) 

.......................................................................................................

It appears that men are more primitive than I thought; I knew some men could be simple, but I didn't know how simple.

What are your thoughts?

Visors

FASHION

Fashion revolves around revitalization; for years designers have been resurrecting the dead and this year is no different. One of the 80's favorites - sun visors - has been brought back to life thanks to: Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, and several other designers. 

Usually, I love when fashion designers breath new life into old trends, but I am not particularly fond of this one; I never really did like sun visors and their take on it has not changed my mind. While, I do appreciate Balenciaga's creative take on it, I still can't see myself rocking a sun visor this summer. What do you think? Can you see yourself wearing this look?   

Thinking About Quitting

HEALTH & NUTRITION

Did you start the year off with weight loss goals and now you've found your self faltering? Don't be discouraged! Loosing weight is just as much as a physical process as it is a mental one; so, if you aren't mentally ready for the challenge then you can always start next year or the year after next. The reality of the situation is that your goals aren't being met and time is not your friend. While, it may be easier said than done, you must not give up on your weight loss goals. When it gets tough you must get tougher. You may falter from time to time, but you can't quit - that's the key; DON'T QUIT!

When you're feeling lazy or your simply having a bad day: grab a protein bar instead of grabbing a chocolate bar (or whatever your sweet tooth desires); exercise - even if it is just for 10 minutes - instead of thinking about exercising; and envision a new, sexier, leaner, and healthier you instead of thinking negative thoughts about yourself and that girl with the perfect body. Loosing weight -without a doubt - boils down to positive actions and thoughts.  

To help you start taking positive actions towards reaching your weight loss goals Women's Health Magazine has created a healthy meal plan that is geared towards flattening your belly.  Below is the first day of their meal plan; Click here to see the other meals. 

Breakfast 

Bagel Thin Topped with Peanut Butter and Fruit

1 Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thin
2 Tbsp natural peanut butter
1 medium banana, sliced
4 strawberries, sliced*

*Strawberries contain a phytochemical that may increase the production of leptin, a hunger-suppressing hormone, and adiponectin, a hormone that accelerates fat burning and may fight diabetes.

Total: 430 calories

Snack 

1 small apple, sliced

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt sprinkled with 1/4 tsp cinnamon*

*A sprinkle of cinnamon may boost weight loss, according to a study by the USDA. The spice's polyphenols help regulate blood sugar, keeping hunger pangs at bay.

Total: 148 calories

Lunch 

Open-Faced Chicken-Avocado Melt*

1 slice whole-grain bread
3 oz grilled chicken breast
1/4 avocado, slivered
1 oz Cabot 50% reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded

Side Salad
1 cup mix of romaine, chopped tomatoes, and shredded carrots
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp olive oil

*Eat your sandwich with a fork and knife. Research shows that paced noshing makes you feel fuller faster, so you eat less

Total: 431 calories

Snack 

3/4 cup cucumber slices

1 1/2 cups carrots, sliced*

1/4 cup salsa for dipping
1 large egg, hard-boiled

*Crunch carrots in the afternoon and you'll munch less at dinner. The fiber helps keep you satisfied.

Total: 182 calories

Dinner 

Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta Salad

4 oz cooked shrimp*
1/2 cup cooked whole-wheat elbow macaroni
1/2 cup steamed broccoli
4 sun-dried tomatoes, halved
1 tsp capers
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp olive oil
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp oregano

Dessert
15 raspberries

*Shrimp is high in omega-3s, and according to a study in the journal Appetite, people who ate omega-3-rich diets were most likely to feel satiated.

Total: 312 calories

 Indulge Without Bulge

Add: 1/2 oz dark chocolate and 1 dried fig 

(106 calories)
Subtract: 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter at breakfast and 1 tsp olive oil and the raspberries at dinner

 (106 calories)

Daily Total: 1,503

 Meal Planned by Keri Glassman, R.D.

The Art of Fashion

BEAUTY & FASHION

 Celine Spring 2012

 Givenchy Spring 2012

 Prabal Gurung Resort 2012

 Givenchy Resort 2012

 Yves Saint Laurent Resort 2012

Recently, I stumbled across Elizabeth M. and her blog moveSlightly. Instantly, I was hooked; I found myself more enveloped into fashion and more importantly I found inspiration. With the assistance of Elizabeth's "Inspired Nails" posts I started making a statement with my own nails. Although, some of the nail designs are a bit advance - requiring some artistic skills (e.g. Givenchy Resort 2012) - I managed to pull off a few statement looks (e.g. Givenchy Spring 2012).

To find out how to get the looks above or to see more "Inspired Nails" by Elizabeth M. visit her at: http://moveslightly.blogspot.com/.

A Dash of Brown Sugar

BEAUTY

Last year, during Black History Month, I posted "The Colour of Beauty" to help raise awareness to the lack of diversity in the fashion industry and to address society's ideas of what is beautiful - 

            "Its shocking to believe that today such a question as, is black beautiful, 

            still lingering on; it perplexes me. Black has always and will always be 

            beautiful just as any other skin color. The fact that agencies rarely hire 

            black models, but when they do they want them to look 'like white girls

            dipped in chocolate,' is astonishing..." (February 5, 2012) 

Due to the fact that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" I suggested that we - as women - should  initiate another "Black is Beautiful" movement in order to open the eyes  of others; this was merely an idea last year, but it appears that such an act may really need to occur within today's society. 

Recently, "some 24 labels displayed their latest designs at the Rio de Janeiro Winter 2012 fashion week,... and as in previous years the models were overwhelmingly white. Yet Brazil, home to 190 million people, has the world's second largest black population after Nigeria. Organisers refused to address this perennial lack of racial diversity, although in the past they claimed that 'there is no racial discrimination' in an industry known for its preference for eurocentric standards of beauty. For the first time in June 2009, the Sao Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW) — Latin America's premier fashion event — imposed quotas requiring at least 10% of the models to be black or indigenous. It acted after strong pressure from black groups and Brazilian prosecutors who blasted the SPFW's longstanding bias towards white models. Previously, only a handful of black models featured among the 350 or so that sashayed down the catwalk — usually less than three percent. 'Unfortunately, in 2010, a conservative prosecutor removed the quotas'...;" (Times Live, January 14, 2012) as a result, onlookers only got to see a small dash of brown sugar on the runway.

 

LITERATURE

Nothing seemed more fitting to this post than

Harlem Sweeties

by 

Langston Hughes

Have you dug the spill
Of Sugar Hill?
Cast your gims
On this sepia thrill
Brown sugar lassie, caramel treat
Honey-gold baby
Sweet enough to eat.
Peach-skinned girlie,
Coffee and cream,
Chocolate darlie
Out of a dream.
Walnut tinted
Or cocoa brown,
Pomegranate-lipped
Pride of the town.
Rich cream-colored
To plum-tinted black,
Feminine sweetness
In Harlem's no lack.
Glow of the quince
To blush of the rose.
Persimmon bronze
To cinnamon toes.
Blackberry cordial, Virginia Dare wine
All those sweet colors
Flavor Harlem of mine!
Walnut or cocoa,
Let me repeat
Caramel, brown sugar,
A chocolate treat.
Molasses taffy,
Coffee and cream,
Licorice, clove, cinnamon
To a honey-brown dream.
Ginger, wine-gold,
Persimmon, blackberry,
All through the spectrum
Harlem girls vary
So if you want to know beauty's
Rainbow-sweet thrill,
Stroll down luscious,
Delicious, 'fine' Sugar Hill.