FabSugar

Sneak Peek! Banana Republic Fall '08 Collection

FabSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:00:08 PDT

I know Spring and Summer are on your mind, but switch your mindset for a second because Banana Republic's Fall '08 collection is way desirable. Despite the gloomy weather that accompanies autumn, it's making me look forward to bundling up and layering.

You'll notice this collection is mostly monochrome, with sprinkles of red to surprise the eyes. On the outerwear front, there are lots of greys, extra-long cardigans, cropped pea coats, and slick leather trenches. The trousers are mostly skinny, checkered, and menswear-ish. Fall's frocks come with lots of personality: Prada-inspired lace dress (left), red taffeta sheaths, and sleek LBDs. Tie-front styles and berets are also prevalent for Fall.

To see more from Banana Republic's Fall '08 collection,

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All Tied Up: 15 Ways to Rock a Tie-Front Look Effortlessly

Marisa Tom — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:00:10 PDT

We're the first ones to dig into our arsenal of accessories for a quick outfit pick-me-up, but today's styling exercise comes courtesy of 15 totally cute tie-front pieces. Exaggerated sash wrap details, country-chic knots, silky tie blouses, and the most perfectly cinched-at-the-hem striped tee - it's a swift way to enhance the texture and dynamic of any clothing item with little to no effort at all. More than that, tie-front pieces are perfect for channeling a beachy or Parisian cool vibe. Whether you're more of a casual styler or a slick dresser, there's a skirt, shirt, dress, or pair of shorts to convert you to a tie-front state of mind. Click through now to see and shop our editors' picks.

10 Reasons Why Tropical Prints Should Be at the Top of Your Summer Must-Haves List

Marisa Tom — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:45:42 PDT

Forget traditional Hawaiian-printed muumuus and silly parrot-themed button-up blouses: these tropical print wares are not only covetable - they'll also instantly inject your closet with a Summer-ready feel. While it's no secret we love a great floral pattern, we're currently crushing on a bolder, brighter tropical iteration of the trend. And the best part? You can incorporate the palm-tree-infused, hibiscus-filled look into every occasion. Featured on both a laid-back tie-front cropped top showcasing a Caribbean-cool scene and a flirty floral minidress, these fun prints with "vacation-bound" written all over them. Here are 10 reasons you'll want to get in on the season's obsession - click through to see them all.

Sugar Shout Out: Get Inspired to Ride Your Bike This Summer!

Meghan Rooney — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:55:47 PDT

Mila Kunis and Clive Owen Kiss For the Cameras

Allie Merriam — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:29:03 PDT

Mila Kunis and Clive Owen were together on the NYC set of Blood Ties yesterday. The costars in the movie, directed by Guillaume Canet, shared a kissing scene in front of the cameras. Clive's working on his next project as he gears up for the May 28 debut of Hemingway & Gellhorn on HBO. Mila likewise has another project on the way, with Ted hitting theaters July 13.

Canet's latest movie also features his fiancée Marion Cotillard, as well as Zoe Saldana. Zoe and Marion have also been in the Big Apple in recent weeks working on the thriller. Zoe celebrated her Cosmopolitan for Latinas cover last week during a break from the set. She spoke about how she lives her life and picks her roles. Zoe told us, "I have gotten this far because I don't pay attention to anything but my heart and what I want to do. And if it's a hit today, or if it's a miss tomorrow - seriously, no regrets because if I follow my heart I can never be wrong."

Eva Mendes Shows Us How Sexy '50s Style Is Done - Get Her Look Now

Marisa Tom — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:06:09 PDT

There's little fault we can ever find with Eva Mendes. Even when she's shopping at Whole Foods, she manages to effortlessly nail that sexy off-duty Rita Hayworth look. By pairing a crisp white Express tie-front blouse with a sweet daisy-print skirt, Eva looks both Spring-ready and vintage chic. This sexy daytime ensemble is totally easy to achieve; Eva only had to style five key retro-inspired pieces to evoke a '50s siren vibe. Look to her updated take on cat-eye sunglasses via her favorite Thierry Lasry frames, her nude Christian Louboutin espadrille wedges, and that ultracool python-embossed Prada bag for old-school accent inspiration. Or better yet, click through to see how we've re-created Eva's Old Hollywood outfit, and shop our editors' picks.

First Look! Over 80 Photos of Ann Taylor's Cool French-Girl-Inspired Fall 2012 Preview

Marisa Tom — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:29:34 PDT

For Fall 2012, Ann Taylor's head designer Lisa Axelson crossed the pond and took to the banks of the Seine, to the cozy-chic cafés of Montmartre, and to the gardens of the Tuileries. The result? An autumnal collection not only reminiscent of her travels, but also totally inspired by la femme jolie. Apart from the brand's signature animal-print wares (this time, in a digital dalmatian iteration), we spotted pretty peplum tops paired with colorful pencil skirts and patterned trousers with striped blouses for the Parisian girl on the go; '60s boxy gamine peacoats and styled and cropped fur capes with retro tweed separates fit for the refined fashionista; and an ethereal capsule of black-and-white wedding pieces for the bride-to-be. On the accessories front, Ann Taylor proved its cool-girl status with a plethora of covetable cold-weather must haves, showing off leather two-toned crossbody bags, printed calf-hair ankle boots, pointy T-strap heels, slick bow-tie belts, and bold-hued felt fedoras. Want to see what else Ann Taylor has in store for Fall? Just click the slideshow to see over 80 photos of the new collection.

What We Need to Talk About When We Talk About Sex and Feminism

The Good Men Project — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:00:00 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Lisa Solod, who came of age during the sexual revolution, explores what feminism means to this generation.

My mother married my father because, she told me in a rare moment of candor, she wanted to have sex with him. She was 25 and tired of pre-sex fumbling and stolen kisses. My father was, of course, far more experienced, having been in the Pacific Theater during World War II; far less discreet about his former life (and life in general) he told his daughters inappropriate tales of the women he had met on shore leave. One I particularly remember had her front teeth filed into points. Well into their marriage, each of them managed to be unfaithful and they finally separated (but not because of infidelity) after twenty years of marriage. Yet, for another dozen years or so they would hook up here and there, travel together, and, of course have sex. In a further revelation, my mother told me that the sex was the best part of her relationship with my father.

I came of age at the tail end but the real beginning of the sexual revolution (1971-1974). At that point, sexual liberation was inextricably tied to the rise of feminism. Having sex like men, i.e., without attachment, was part of our freedom. But too many of us got hurt. We hadn’t yet factored in the biology of mating and how really hard it was to have that much sex without any real commitment. Most of the women I know who grew up during those years had far more sexual encounters than they were ever willing to reveal to their husbands. Those of us who divorced then dived back into the sexual market with the same abandon. I am not sure we were all the wiser. I hear STDs are on the rise in the over 50 group, which doesn’t surprise me. We all were pretty practiced in birth control but we took it into our own hands, with the pill and the diaphragm. This was pre-AIDS. Barrier methods were not our methods of choice then. They are not, apparently, our method now, either.

Should a Man Stand Up For His Woman?

But those of us who grew up in the trenches of the sexual revolution know that feminism was about far more than women having the kind of meaningless sex with men that men had been having with us for eons. Feminism, which is still being parsed in the media as well as our own homes, still being debated and discussed and accepted and dismissed, was about being able to control (to the extent that anyone can) our work lives, our love lives, our lives as a whole. It was about being able to have a career, being paid equally well for that career, and making our own decisions about marriage and childbirth without having to merely capitulate to what society had set out for us. I, for one, was happy not to have to marry to have sex. I was thrilled to be able to go to college and think about a career without worrying that it might make me unmarriageable. I was ecstatic about the notion that I could make decisions for myself.

All those ideas I passed along to my daughter. But, of course, she had no need to wrestle with those notions as the women in my generation had. She lived in a society where (she thought) feminism was taken for granted. Women her age did not talk about marriage, either as an option or something to reject. They saw it as fact that women could do anything.

Read the rest of the story below.

How to Maximize Those Butt-Toning Squats

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:06:03 PDT

If strong, sculpted legs are what you're after, you've got to become one with the squat. The basic exercise targets glutes, hamstrings, quads, and core, so incorporating it into your strength-training workouts is definitely worth your while. Here are some ways to get more bang for your butt - er, I mean buck - when doing squats.

Focus on your heels: When doing a squat, make sure to shift your weight back onto your heels and lower the body as if you're about to sit in a chair. This proper form helps to put even more focus on the glutes and hamstrings and takes pressure off the knees. It also offers a stable surface that enables you to get low to the ground, which is what makes the move so effective.
Try variations: Target lower body muscles differently by changing the position of your feet. Squat with your big toes together, feet out wide, and try one heel or both heels lifted, or even one leg lifted (to get legs like Cameron Diaz). Step on a Bosu ball and squat on a wobbly surface to work your core, and try twisting variations for even more of a challenge. Check out this list of different squat variations.

Keep reading for more ways to make squats more effective.

15 Super Cute Bows Worth Wearing This Spring

Marisa Tom — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 04:30:17 PDT

Bows are no longer just for the frill-seekers. The Spring 2012 runways - namely Miu Miu, Valentino, Viktor & Rolf, and Carven - have proven that these sweetly twisted knots are the perfect flirty accent for any serious style-setter. To this point, it's less about the overtly girlie Little Bo Peep fluff and more about the subtle ways in which we can show off a romantic detail without going overboard. From bow-infused clutches to silky tie-front blouses, it's easy to incorporate this ladylike offshoot into your day-to-day wardrobe. Whether you find inspiration straight from the catwalk or look to celebs like Emily Blunt, seen in cool Gianvito Rossi bow-tie pumps, and Sarah Jessica Parker, who recently wore a Spring '02 Louis Vuitton frock cinched with a bow sash, there's certainly a happy styling medium for the bow-inclined. To get you started, click through to see our editors' picks - and shop your favorite iterations now.