FabSugar

March Shopping Madness: Shiny Shiny

FabSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:00:22 PST

Metallics are mighty steadfast. They've been around for a while, and even if you think they've overstayed their welcome, they aren't going anywhere. If you love yourself some radiance, invest in some shiny shiny. They'll make you smile when you stare down at your feet. Smile on.

Trend Alert: Orange Crush

FabSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:00:06 PDT

Remember when I said orange was going to be a big color for Spring? Scratch that. Orange has arrived. These ladies are fashion forward and already sporting the uplifting hue. This is also proof that different oranges work for different skin tones and hair colors - you just need to find the right one for you. And this is the exact time of the year to go searching, as the Fall leaves change color and pumpkin patches abound.

Source and Source

Celebrity Style: Sarah Michelle Gellar

FabSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:55:33 PDT

I don't normally care for an all-black look because, in many instances, it can look boring and blah. That is definitely not the case for Sarah Michelle Gellar, seen here roaming the streets of NYC. I think the actress looks fresh and sleek in her head-to-toe black ensemble. The reason this monochrome look isn't drab to me is because the ruching gives the trapeze dress character, and the low v-neck shows some skin!

Source

Nutrition Myths That Can Cause Weight Gain

Shape — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:04:23 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Myth: Going Vegan Will Make You Lose Weight
"While various research shows that vegetarians and vegans, on average, consume fewer calories and less fat than omnivores (a 2009 Oxford study found that vegetarians weigh 3 to 20 percent less than their meat-eating counterparts, and a National Cancer Institute study found that subjects who consumed four ounces or more of red meat weekly were 30 percent more likely to die of any cause than those who ate less), these numbers may be misleading," says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a certified nutritionist and owner of Essential Nutrition for You.

Going vegan solely for weight loss can backfire, big time. If you aren’t vigilant with a vegan diet, it’s easy to lack in vital nutrients, vitamins, and proteins, which give you energy and help keep your metabolism stoked. Many first-time vegans may also find themselves reaching for more processed foods like vegan cookies, chips, or even ‘ice cream’ more often with such a restricted diet, and many end up packing on the pounds instead.

If you do decide to adopt a vegan diet, be sure to keep the ‘treats’ to a minimum and plan balanced meals (we love ‘Domestic Vegan’ Diva Jessica Olson’s tips for "going veg"). "Aim to get about 10 to 20 percent of your calories from protein (or about 1 gram per kilogram of body weight), replacing animal protein with healthy plant proteins, like those found in beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products," Batayneh says. "And, whether you are vegan or not, eating more green, leafy vegetables is great for your health and your waistline."

See which other diet habits may also being causing weight gain after the break!

Reasons a Vegan Diet Can Cause Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:46:52 PDT

Many people choose a vegan lifestyle for ethical, health, or environmental reasons. But if you're solely going meat-, dairy-, and egg-free because you think it will help you drop pounds, you may end up gaining rather than losing weight. Remember that just because a food is vegan doesn't mean it's healthier or lower in calories. Keep these points in mind to avoid plumping up on your vegan diet.

Chowing on vegan junk: French fries, tortilla chips, and Swedish Fish are all free of animal products, but they're also high in fat, sugar, and calories. Just because some junk food is vegan doesn't mean it's healthier.
Loading up on bread and pasta: Many people don't know how to cook vegan meals, so when you head to a dinner party or out to a restaurant, get ready to eat some dinner rolls and spaghetti! There's nothing wrong with eating bread or pasta, it's just that they're high in calories. A dinner roll will run you over 200 calories, and although one cup of cooked pasta is a little over 200 calories, plates tend to be two or three times larger than an appropriate serving size. If bread and pasta are staples in your vegan diet, it's no wonder your pants are fitting a little snug.

Keep reading to find out the other ways a vegan diet is contributing to weight gain.

Queen of Punk: Vivienne Westwood Shoe Exhibition Beirut 2011

OnSugar — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:18:31 PDT

OnSugar blogger Black by Sara was lucky enough to check out Vivienne Westwood's shoe exhibition in Beirut. Check out all of the cool footwear, plus an interview below!

After forty years in the fashion business, a unique designer such as Vivienne Westwood deserves a museum dedicated to her beloved shoe collections. We all have witnessed her adventures in tailoring that have taken us back to historical places; such as the 17^th and 18^th century French era. As the sole originator of punk style in the fashion industry, Vivienne Westwood has managed to connect the art world to her fantasy style island. To document the evolution of her footwear collections a private collector has decided to exhibit these exceptional pieces around the world. For two years these shoes will be traveling to specific locations due to their market requirements and will be displayed at various museums and palaces such as the famous Sursock Palace in Beirut. Luckily, the Lebanese media and I were one of the few that got invited for the first look at this marvelous collection.

The notorious Gillie Platform that was worn by Naomi Campbell

I’m still in awe with Westwood’s capacity and her approach towards fashion. The collections dates back to 1973, which means that a lot of us didn’t get to enjoy these beauties. Now it’s our chance to admire Dame Westwood’s defiance of high heel rules with elevation and historical design footwear.

More photos, plus the interview at OnSugar blog Black by Sara. Start your own OnSugar blog and we may just feature you on Fab!

Buzz In: What Did You Think of the Big Love Series Finale?

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:05:28 PDT

Big Love came to a close after five seasons on Sunday night, and boy did the writers leave fans with plenty to think about. With Alby in jail after last week's showdown with Bill, there's no more mortal threat to the Hendrickson family (or so we thought). Most of the episode's focus is on the sister wives - Barb, Nicki, and Margene - as they continue to prepare for the possibility of Bill serving jail time. It's clear just how far the ladies have come since the first season: Barb reshuffles her responsibilities, buys a new car, and moves forward with her new church; Margene considers the possibility of doing long-term community service overseas; and though Nicki feels abandoned by her sister wives, her connection to Cara Lynn and Barb proves how much she's grown.

I've got more to say about the episode, so read the rest of my thoughts (warning: spoilers ahead) and provide your own after the jump.

Book At-Home Professional Hair and Makeup Online With Vênsette

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:00:00 PST

If you're a glamorous, time-deprived New Yorker with a big event coming up, new house call styling service Vênsette is making things just a little bit easier. The site allows you to log on, book an appointment to get your hair and makeup done, and then choose the makeup palette and hairstyle that you'd like. Looks range from the fresh-faced "Dew" palette and a French twist, to a pouty plum lip color option called "Uma" and a classic blowout. Stylish young women like Charlotte Casiraghi have been spotted using the service, and founder Lauren Remington Platt is a much-in-demand socialite herself.

The site is an excellent idea, and it would be especially useful during Fashion Week or before a wedding or gala. Unfortunately, right now they're solely in New York, and they don't appear to offer ancillary services like manicures. It would also be nice to see them eventually offer greater diversity in the looks they offer. Hopefully, though, Vênsette will be such a roaring success that soon we'll all be able to book our own big event makeup and hair with a few mouse clicks.

True Blood Bites: "Cold Grey Light of Dawn"

Rose Curiel — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:15:10 PDT

It was the dead versus the undead on True Blood this week, and Antonia strikes the first blow against the vampires. Bon Temps’s residents started choosing sides in what already seems like an inevitable war. With those who love vampires standing protectively by their coffins, and those who have been hurt by them ready to join the resurrected witch.

King Bill emerged as a savvy leader during this episode, though it still remains to be seen what role other characters, like Lafayette, will play in the battle. It leads up to one nail-biting cliffhanger, so let's break it down when you

Worst beauty treatment: After being mistaken for a zombie by a group of camera-toting locals, Pam decides to seek professional help to try to regain her good looks. In what is undoubtedly the most literal - and painful - version of a skin peel, Pam’s flesh is ripped from her body. As for rejuvenating the skin, Pam is instructed to take six injections four times a day for an overall beauty regimen that makes Brazilians and Botox look like a walk in the park. Whether or not the beautifying process will work remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Pam will continue to rot on the inside and get closer to death every day.
Weakest attempt to Kill Bill: Puppet-master Antonia sends her new plaything, Luis, to tell Bill she has returned. Luis then makes an assassination attempt on the vampire king, but is woefully inept for a 400-something-year-old immortal. He misses a kill shot to Bill’s heart and instead hits him in the abdomen, prompting a battle to the death between the two. Bill eventually pins Luis and stakes him, which can only mean that Antonia wanted Luis to die, since Bill is a much younger, and therefore weaker, vampire. Instead, Luis’s sole purpose appears to have been to inform Bill of the impending resurrection whereby Antonia will compel vampires to walk the sun. Now the real question is why Antonia wanted warn the vamps of her attack.
Most shrewd move by a vampire king: Bill wastes no time devising a plan to protect his kingdom and orders all vampires to evacuate the state or bind themselves with silver during the day so to prevent themselves from falling victim to Antonia’s call to the sun. Though his sheriffs are incredulous, Bill is adamant, and his plan appears to work for all but a homely vampiress with rollers in her hair - and Jessica, who manages to break free from what turns out to be an inadequate amount of silver chains.
Most ragtag coven: Antonia, in the meantime, is busy forming an army and manages to recruit Tara, who in turn gathers a handful of Bon Temps’s other witches, including Holly, and a man who all too readily reveals that he doesn’t know any people outside of the coven. I couldn’t help but wonder why Tara didn’t ask Lafayette or Jesus to join, considering they introduced her to the witches in the first place. Of course, his absence from the coven easily allows him to face off with Antonia at some point.
Creepiest peekaboo game: When Lafayette, whom we discover is armed with the rare magical gift of being a medium, engages baby Mikey in a game of peekaboo, he follows the infant’s wandering gaze and spots the mysterious female ghost that appeared in last week’s episode. We learn the woman speaks French, which automatically makes me think she’s related to baby Mikey through his Cajun father, Rene. We know that Jesus’s uncle came from beyond the grave to protect his nephew’s life during last week’s episode, so could this spirit be hanging around Mikey for the same reasons? And how will Lafayette’s interaction with this spirit play out? It seems like he and Bon Temps's other resident medium, Marnie, will inevitably face off, but perhaps Lafayette will enlist the help of more than one spirit in the fight?
Worst "aha!" moment: Discovering your brother took your form and slept with your girlfriend is a pretty nasty secret to uncover, but the truth is nevertheless a significant moment for Sam. For starters, it helps end the confusion between him and Luna and gives the shifters a chance - however slim due to the creepiness of the situation - to perhaps salvage the relationship. It also seemed to have effectively ruined his relationship with Tommy, who is permanently kicked out of Sam’s place and life.
Most in need of a "Do Not Disturb" sign: Debbie and Alcide finally join their local neighborhood pack and are welcomed into the group with a dab of deer blood to the forehead. The initiation gets worse for Debbie, who resents the fact that Alcide spends the entire night worrying about Sookie. When the couple wander off to look for her and make sure she’s all right, they stumble on a more-than-fine Sookie getting busy with Eric. The ramifications of this sighting spills over to Alcide and Debbie’s bedroom, where their post-initiation sex flounders, because Debbie continues to think Alcide’s in love with Sookie. Alcide assures her that she has nothing to worry about, but I’m not so convinced. He did look kind of bummed when he walked in on Sookie and Eric.
Best sex montage: Which brings us to the second installment of Eric and Sookie’s hookup. A few of you were disappointed with the first sex scene between the pair during last week’s episode, calling it tame and underwhelming. Hopefully, this week’s montage of their lovemaking (along with the fact that they were so consumed with each other that they walked back to her place naked), makes up for it. As an outsider, Bill remarks that the reunion seemed to go well, and Eric - to Sookie's embarrassment - readily agrees.
Best hero in the making When Jason learns from Sookie that Eric doesn’t stand a chance of surviving Antonia’s curse without her help, he immediately thinks of Jessica and runs toward Bill’s mansion. In a swoonworthy moment, he tackles one of Bill’s armed guards in an attempt to get to her before it is too late. As the episode closes, Jessica opens the doors to the sunlight, but will Jason get to her in time?

What do you think? Will Jason be able to save Jess before she bursts into flames - and how will Hoyt react if he does? How do you think the standoff between vampires and witches will develop? Let me know in the comments section.

Photo courtesy of HBO

Get Christina Hendricks's Curves!

Lucky — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:25:12 PDT

Our friends at Lucky magazine spoke with Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant on dressing actress Christina Hendricks and her secret shapewear sources. We admire Christina's sexy hourglass figure and are thrilled to present Lucky's interview here.

Though there are still a good eight months of hiatus left until Mad Men returns to air next March, costume designer Janie Bryant has been keeping plenty busy. This August, Banana Republic will launch an entire Mad Men-inspired line, which Bryant helped create, featuring party dresses, separates, shoes, and handbags all worthy of Betty, Joan and Peggy. But how will shoppers pull off the looks if they don’t quite have the body? We rang up Bryant to ask her how us modern girls can create those killer retro curves.

What’s it like working with Christina Hendricks?
It’s great! We have a great understanding for her character Joan, and I am always designing pieces for her. We work together closely, and from the beginning there has been a lot of trust. Sometimes she may not be into a certain color, but most of the time she loves everything.

Read the rest after the jump