I am loving Marc Bouwer’s Fall 2011 Collection because it is so feminine and chic. I would wear every garment in his fashion short film. Madam, I will take one of everything! He makes a woman look pretty and she can still keep her clothes on and show her curves. I love it!
He is so talented and you know what he has a line on QVC.com. Yes he does and I love it. We often hear how designers only focus on Runway well this gentlemen has a line on QVC called M by Marc Bouwer and the sizes run from XXS to 3x. This couture inspired sportswear line is available to a variety of sizes of women and this brings the cost down as well because there’s more quantity. Fabulous!
The two videos below are from his Runway shows if you are not familiar with him. If you would like to check out the line that he does for QVC please click this link M by Marc Bouwer.
Mark Bouwer Fall Fashion Runway 2011 Fashion Featuring Selita Ebanks
His Spring Collection that was shown last fall is so fresh, it makes you want to see the green grass and the array of flowers in the front yard right now. But until then enjoy his collection in this short film.
Mark Bouwer Spring Fashion Runway 2011
Note: Designers create there lines a year in advance so they are working on Spring 2012 right now.
This has been a busy week for me; but I had to share some blog love. I will submit my nominees; but I wanted to say a few words. I want to say that I think any blogger who takes the time to post on their blog and have it filter to the world deserves an award. No matter how many followers you have or if you just published your first post I congratulate you. I wanted to give each of you the Bubbling With Elegance and Grace Award.
I had to dress for the occasion. Where’s my microphone? Here it is, okay let me make sure I am standing up straight in these heels. Action!
1. Creative Juices – most creative Nominee:Fabienne of the The House in the Clouds
The girl knits and she also writes poetry. Plus she’s really a nice lady. She has a very eclectic mix of colors that exudes style.
2. The Real Deal – authenticity Nominee: Bella Of The Citizen Rosebud
Bella is such a cool person and a dear blog friend. I came across her blog and made a comment and I have been connected with her since. She is a genius when it comes to styling and remixing colors and patterns. No on does it like her. She has offered me advice, gave me words of encouragement. I couldn’t ask for a better blog friend. She really connects with her readers and that’s special.
3. Spark Notes – most helpful
Nominee: Vahni of Grit and Glamour
Vahni is so helpful and there for you if you have a question. I remember when my blog was in it’s beginnings and I had music playing. She told me like a big sister that I might want to consider not having music on auto-play because someone maybe looking at your blog at work and don’t want to here music blasting. That meant a lot to me that she would offer me advice on my little blog. Thanks Vahni!
4. Newbie – best blogger less than a year old Nominee: Charee Lenee of http://chareelenee.com/
This girl started her personal blog in October of 2010 and she has an eye for style and I love how she puts her outfits together. She moved over to WordPress recently and her blog looks awesome. Oh! she has a beautiful shoe collection.
5. Can You Hear Me Now – most connected Nominee: Bella of The Citizen Rosebud
She’s so connected with her readers and it shows because she has such a warm heart. That’s a wonderful connectedness. Congrats to Bella for making Links Ala mode on IFB this week! I feel honored to have been included with some lovely ladies in her post.
6. If I had a Hammer – best DIY Nominee:A Beautiful Mess– I had to nominate a Missouri blog. I love her vintage shop photos and daily outfit posts and can’t forget the great DIY project ideas. Raise your hands in the air for Missouri!
7. Tribe Leader – blogger who leads others and brings bloggers together Nominee: Modly Chic
This is a given, because she created Friend Friday that brings bloggers together to form a community and that’s wonderful so kudos for doing that. I met KatyRose on LinkedIn and she asked if anyone wanted to join Friend Friday and I sent an email to join and look at the community now.
8. Practically Perfect – most fashionable
Nominee: Tanvii.com of The Fabulous Life of Not-So-Rich and Infamous!
I love her style because I relate to her style. Do you feel me? You know what I am saying? Basically, I would wear a lot of items she wears, so that’s cool to find a blog like that. What can I say, she just dresses really stylish so I nominate her for this award.
Fashionable mention: Leia’s Delights: I love her style so much too. Her saris are beautiful. She makes me want to go out and buy one.
9. Paint by Numbers – best beauty blogger Nominee:Afrobella
This blog is a great source for woman of color when it comes to beauty. Also good hair advice for us naturals. I have been without a relaxer for two years and it’s been wonderful to know what products to use for moisture and hydration.
10. Renaissance Woman or Man- best all around blogger, fashion, beauty, lifestyle Leia’s Delights
Leia cooks, dresses well, writes well, awesome nail posts (love the designs), arranges floral arrangements; she does it all. When I go to her blog it makes me smile.
Fashionable Mention 11. One of my favorite photographers Lee Oliveira
His photos are professional and the street style photos are excellent.
When I go to his blog, it feels like I should get my map out to see where I will go to next on a cool adventure. Very Awesome!
Today was a busy day at work but and the weather has been all over the place so I have had to really go with the flow in my outfits. So I am really loving this crochet skirt, it’s comfortable but fitted. The argyle sweater just works with the white ruffled blouse. I’m loving it and an added plus for the slimming effect of the skirt.
Outfit in Review
Ruffled white Blouse – Chadwick’s
Argyle Sweater – Izod
Crochet skirt –
Accessories
Tights – Walmart
Black shoes Worthington by JC Penney
Handbag – Kathy Van Zeeland – I had to wear this bag again, it’s one of my favorites.
Jewelry
Heart charm bracelet -gift
Garnet cross – gift
Gem sterling bracelet – Thailand
Watch – Paris Hilton
Ring – Paolo Valentini
Normally this would be to close for comfort for me but I had to show my lashes. The top picture was taken in October in 2010 and the bottom picture was taken February 2011.
Revitalash.com
The story of RevitaLash® starts with a gift from a husband who loves his wife. The husband happens to be Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff who developed RevitaLash®for a special gift to his wife Gayle who was recovering from breast cancer and was loosing her eyelashes. He created a product that would help her eyelashes grow.
My lashes were never real short but once I started using Athena Cosmetic’s RevitaLash®they grew by leaps and bounds. On the Katy Rose of Modlychic FBFF google group, a fellow fashion blogger, Bren, of the blog, “So Much Pretty” asked if any of us wanted to try RevitaLash®. I said sure, why not, I am always game for trying new beauty products. So I got my package in the mail and I saw the blue box and pulled out a silver tube. The Blue box contained a 6 month supply (4.1ml size) of RevitaLash® Advanced Eyelash Conditioner.
Application
At night I unscrew the top and all I needed to do was run the brush down the edge on my eyelid. The brush applicator glides on the skin that meets my eyelash and that’s it. I did this every night for almost four months and boy am I seeing a difference.
My lashes are longer and fuller so I am convinced that it’s a great product. I would definitely get this product again.
Cost
This product is not inexpensive, but it worked for me so I would save to get it again. On the RevitaLash® website the RevitaLash® Advanced 4.1ml Eyelash Conditioner is $150.00 for a six month supply and a 3 month supply is $98.00. On Drugstore.com the RevitaLash® Advanced Eyelash Conditioner is $74.99 so it’s a discount if purchased there.
Dr. Brinkenhoff and co founder Gayle Brinkenhoff, are committed to donating a portion of the proceeds from RevitaLash® sales to benefit non-profit breast cancer research and education initiatives. Gayle Brinkenhoff, co- founder of Athena Cosmetics passed away in July 2013 but her legacy still lives on.
Based on my results I would definitely recommend this product. The cost is not a nominal amount but for me it’s worth it for the results I received.
I have not tried it, but I also noticed on there website that Athena Cosmetics also carry Revitobrow Brow Conditioner for fuller thicker brows.
After my last week’s Friend Friday post, Nothing Compares To Me, I continued to think about body image; and how no matter what size a woman is, she should be accepted and feel good about herself. So many women, thin or plus size, feel that there is some flaw that makes them unattractive. Models in the fashion magazines are looking thinner and thinner. No wonder why we have so many issues with body image.
When will the fashion industry start to truly show all sizes and shapes of women and men in the media?
I came across the article, Beauty and the (Media) Beast by Layla Revis on Ogilvy’s WomenOlogy, the Anatomy of Marketing to Women website. It was good to read an article about body image from a person who works in the marketing industry. We often here that sex sells and Ms. Revis straight up stated that “we have been lied to.” It’s a known fact that the media industry uses sex to sell everything from fragrance to handbags. What is profound is that Ms. Revis shows fact that the more sex in advertisements, the lower the brand recall. Did you hear that? The lower the brand recall.
According to Revis
“In fact, a study conducted by Steadman found that brand-name recall was significantly lower in sexual advertisements than non-sexual advertisements. Still, we can continue to tell our clients and our kids that same played out line.”
So the media industry is pushing sex in their advertisements which paints a body image of what the consumer should try to imitate. These so-called standards or fairy tale high expectations are unachievable and a complete facade.
Revis in her article mentioned the famous video below from the DOVE Campaign for Real Beauty with Ogilvy that went viral in 2004. It’s been almost seven years and we are dealing with body image now more than ever.
It is a shame that even with a viral video that is so pivotal and groundbreaking that we still see models that have low BMI’s and are under body weight.
There’s nothing wrong with being thin if you are at a healthy weight for your height and body frame. What is wrong is that all sizes are not represented on the fashion runways and in fashion magazines.
Chanel Designer Karl Lagerfeld in 2009 said of women complaining about only seeing skinny models on the runway “that the women complaining about too-skinny models were just fat and jealous.” Well in 2010 Mr. Lagerfeld did a photo shoot for V magazine of Burlesque star, Miss Dirty Martini whom happens to be a plus size.
Stylist.com
He still looks like he is defending thin models because she does not have any Chanel clothing on, only accessories. If he felt that she was worth photographing, he would have put some clothes on her. The Chanel fashion shows that I have seen did not show any models wearing what she is wearing on in this shoot. Does he really have a changed heart? I suspect not!
Designers are creating fashions for women. Don’t they realize that if they tap into the market of misses and plus sizes that it’s a win-win situation here.
Many sources state that the average American woman is 5′ 3.7 tall, weighs 152 pounds and wears a size 14. This corresponds to a Body Mass Index of 26.3. In comparison, Revis said in her article, “the typical model 5′ 9 and 110 pounds, which would mean a BMI of about 16. Far less than the 18.5 BMI which is considered to be underweight.”
Women, whether thin or plus size, want to see models that look like them so that they can picture what the clothing will look like on their bodies.
I have hope that one day we will see all sizes of women and men walking on those runways and strutting their stuff and feeling proud.
According to Merriam-Webster Self Esteem means: a confidence and satisfaction in oneself. However, when a young girl or a woman sees a tall, but underweight girl on the runway, her confidence and satisfaction in herself can be destroyed. The fashion industry has created a fake reality on the runway that many women are believing to be true. It is time to bring the real reality back to the runway by including women in every size range.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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