FabSugar

Miranda Kerr Struts For David Jones S/S '09

FabSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:00:22 PDT

Miranda Kerr has been Down Under for over a week now, promoting the Spring/Summer '09 collection for David Jones, Australia's oldest department store. First she took the mic in tangerine, then she hit the catwalk. Her runway looks range from flirty contemporary to ladylike chic and all-out sexy. An adorable white-ruffled swimsuit even makes a cameo. But my fave is this delicioso orange asymmetrical dress. And check out that strut . . . watch out or you'll get smooshed.

Should Fashion Shows Be Targeted Toward Consumers or the Industry?

FabSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:00:22 PDT

Last night, the CFDA gathered around the stone at a town meeting where industry leaders discussed the future of the fashion industry. The debate was whether fashion shows should be targeted towards consumers or the industry. “We design for the consumer, and right now, I believe the consumer is completely confused,” said Donna Karan. Basically, who is going to purchase a wool coat - even if it's the most amazing coat ever - in August? That said, designers faulted the recession, discount-driven shoppers, the vast difference between runway looks and in-store merchandise, and the constant pumping out of collection after collection.

“We should truly focus on the problem and the solution. The consumer has been trained to buy on sale. The clothes in stores are not in season, so she is confused. Why should she go out and spend money early in the season, when in fact come September and October, when the season actually changes, the next season is there and it’s called resort? We are putting all the energy into something that the consumer isn’t really getting, because by then it’s on sale,” continued Karan. On a sillier note, Anna Wintour, suggested putting together a committee that could create rules for when stores could discount merchandise stating, "We have friends in the White House now.” That's most likely not going to happen but the issue remains, should the fashion industry cater towards the consumers or the industry?

iPom Flower Pot iPod Speaker, Like Bringing Home a Bouquet

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:00:25 PDT

Speakal's best-known product is the freakishly cute iPig iPod Speakers, a stunning example of how you can make something that's become so common and boring - iPod speakers - back into a must-have product based on its looks.

The iPom, an upcoming product from Speakal, is, like the iPig, sweet enough to make me rethink my satisfaction with my current flock of iPod speakers and add to it.

I've heard good things about the sound quality from Speakal, and I've plugged my iPods into enough boring white or gray speakers to know that I'd delight at using "flowers" to play my favorite jams each time. Plus maybe I'll stop bugging my boyfriend to buy me flowers. Maybe.

Do Your Pets Have Allergies?

PetSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:30:27 PDT

Uh-oh, little smooshy Samson has a problem, and the name is pollen! LilPeaPod took Samson to the vet over the long weekend, having lately noticed lots of sneezing, droopy and goopy eyes, and one other interesting symptom: red, itchy paws. After a few painless skin tests, she found out that Samson has allergies!

Right now is the height of pollen season, and allergies aren't just for humans. Your pets can inhale lots of pollen as they walk with their noses to the ground and even be allergic to grass, just like Samson is. If you notice your pets licking their paws, scratching their face, or even an extra wet nose in the Spring and Summer, they may have allergies. Thankfully, it can be relieved with (pet-safe) antihistamines so your pets can enjoy the fruits of Spring, just like the rest of us.

No More Neutrals! Incase Intros Fluorescent iPhone Cases

GeekSugar — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:10:02 PDT

Since Spring finally Sprung, I have been wanting bright colors everywhere - from my fingers and toes to my Nintendo DSi and bluetooth earpieces. That means it's time to retire my boring old iPhone case and get a neon upgrade.

The Fluro Slider Case for the iPhone 3G is one hot tamale, coming in lime, neon orange, and hot pink for $35 each (leave it to the hot pink to be currently unavailable). I like how Incase plays to the current season - they went metallic in the Fall, and now they're bright and fun for the Spring and Summer months.

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And the Saks Spring Giveaway Winners Are . . .

FabSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:00:22 PDT

I hope you enjoyed our three week Saks Spring Giveaway. Wasn't it fun? Look forward to more fun giveaways this Summer but for now, let's congratulate all the winners. Kudos to bistperley, syako, rchriskris, Dazzlyn, cms88, Majorcat, and ninabonita33!

To see the rest of the winners,

Also cheers to MBC11, herings2, amybdk, rysher, Hottotts, teresa212, CBTD, and lburmast!

How-To: Make Your Ponytail More Exciting

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:05:13 PDT

There are many times when tossing that hair back into a ponytail is just the easiest option, particularly during the warmer months. But, do you ever get bored by the same old, same old?

Herbal Essences stylist to the stars, Charles Baker Strahan has already shared with us a fresh haircut idea for Spring, and now, he's got some ideas on making your ponytail stand out. "Ponytails can be very chic. It is all about where you place them and the texture you have in the hair," he says.

"Stick-straight hair begs for a very high pony or a very low one, whereas I like a middle placement for more natural or wavy textures," says Strahan. Feeling more adventurous? "I enjoy seeing small braids or twists (in an odd number) on someone with a natural/wavy texture because it adds romance to a midrange pony," he added.

As far as high ponytails are concerned, Strahan likes adding three cornrows above the brow for an edgier feel. What's your favorite option for this go-to style?

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Fab Finding Follow-Up: Fab's Fresh Spring Look

FabSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:50:22 PDT

Thanks to all your Fab styling, I have a fresh outfit for Spring! What do you think? I'm thrilled to be spending the rest of the season in this vibrant, luxotica outfit.

Here's what I have on:

Erickson Beamon Turquoise Earrings found by yours truly.
Diane von Furstenberg Patchwork Silk Dress and Givenchy Clutch found by catita85
Bottega Veneta Metallic Leather Belt found by CocoChic
Urban Outfitters Watch and Burberry Gold Link Bracelet found by catita85
Marni Platform Suede Slingbacks found by maria212134

To show my appreciation, I'm gifting each lucky winner a FabSugar thong - sexy! Congrats and thanks again for all your help. 'Til next time . . .

Fava Bean & Pecorino Salad Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:30:46 PDT

No fruit or vegetable ushers in the season of late Spring and early Summer quite like the fava bean. Simply ask the denizens of southern Italy, where short-lived favas are a prized warm-weather favorite. There, the tender, creamy beans are frequently served in a delicate salad with buttery olive oil and nutty pecorino cheese. The traditional way of preparing favas is to shell and then blanch them to remove their tough outer skins - but if you're new to working with favas, you may want to stick with selecting young, thin-skinned pods, which require no blanching. Make the fava bean salad that suits you best when you

Beginner Fava Bean & Pecorino Salad
From Saveur

Ingredients

1 1⁄2-2 lbs. fresh young favas*
6 oz. young Tuscan pecorino
1⁄4 cup fruity extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

*Note: Look for fresh, young favas whose skins are so thin and tender that they don't need peeling. Look for smaller, unblemished fava pods, snapping a few open to see whether the beans are small and thin-skinned.

Directions

Shell favas into a medium bowl. Break pecorino into small chunks into bowl with favas. Drizzle olive oil over favas and cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper. Gently toss salad, then divide among plates.

Serves 2 to 4.

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Expert Fava Bean & Pecorino Salad
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

4 pounds whole fava beans, shelled
2 shallots, peeled and minced
Juice of 1 lemon
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces baby lettuce, washed and spun dry
2 ounces watercress, stems removed, washed, and spun dry
3/4 pound Pecorino Toscano cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath. Add favas to boiling water, and blanch 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to ice bath to stop cooking; drain. Peel and discard tough skins; set aside.
In a small bowl, combine shallots, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in olive oil until emulsified.
Arrange lettuce and watercress on a platter. Top with fava beans. Drizzle with vinaigrette, and sprinkle with cheese.

Serves 8.

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In Season: Rhubarb

partysugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:15:59 PDT

Asparagus isn't the only stalk in season: rhubarb is also having a moment. Rhubarb resembles celery but has a vibrant pink color. Although many people mistake it for being a fruit, rhubarb is actually a vegetable. It's a member of the buckwheat family, can grow to be two feet long, and is at its peak from April to June. While rhubarb's leaves are poisonous, the stalks are highly edible. To learn more about rhubarb and check out some serving suggestions,

When shopping for rhubarb at the farmers market, look for crisp stalks that are brightly hued. The leaves should be free of blemishes. Rhubarb is incredibly perishable; tightly wrap in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Remove the leaves and wash just before using. Since the flavor of rhubarb is very tart, it's often combined with sugar. Classic pairings for rhubarb are strawberries and ginger, but it goes with a number of other ingredients including apples, pears, fresh cheeses, vanilla, almonds, ham, duck, and salmon.

One can prepare rhubarb in both sweet and savory applications:

For a more sophisticated take on classic strawberry shortcake, layer sautéed rhubarb with crumbly cake and whipped cream.
Stir into a delicious streusel cake.
Simmer until the vegetable breaks down into a chutney and serve with ham.
Puree and mix into custard to make ice cream.
Bake in a pie or tart.
For a scrumptious salad, toss with greens and goat cheese.

Do you enjoy the flavor of rhubarb? What's your favorite way to serve it?

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