Noble Mona

What was it back then? Have you ever wondered how fashion revolutionized? It was indeed a wonderful journey to today’s fashion.  And one of the most colorful and illustrious in the world of fashion was the 1980 fashion trends. The world was like a big MTV set and all the people were the hippest hosts in the universe.

When you think of the 80’s, who couldn’t think of Madonna or Michael Jackson? The 1980 fashion trends were mostly influenced by movies, television shows and the music scene.  It was all about color, showing people that you can speak using fashion.

Let us turn back time and reminisce the 1980 fashion trends.

Mini Skirts – This was a fabulous trend during the 80’s and the shorter it gets the better it becomes. During these times denim minis are the most in and most popular. This is often paired with leggings to make a fashion statement and if we take a look around this is back in the present.

Parachute Pants – maybe someone would think how this came to existence. Indeed, parachute pants were flooding the 80’s. From being skinny pants to being baggy. This was in for both ladies and gents. This was a big one during that decade.

Oversized Tops and Blouses – one of those fashion fabs that did not really die. Even today you see a lot of fashion icons wearing these. This is normally paired with leggings or miniskirts. The good thing about this trend – the bulges are hidden, making this very popular with the ladies.

versized bling blings – big hoop earrings, very noticeable necklaces and a mile long dangling ear accessories. These were big during the 80s.

Layered Socks – these are layers of colored socks. This was huge as well during those days and was very popular.

When you take a look at the 1980 fashion trends, they represent an era of just simply being you and expressing your own individuality. Some may think that they are funny or too loud, others think they are cool. It is a matter of self expression, on how you carry these clothing when you are inside them. It is showing the world that you own yourself and you can walk proudly by simply being in it. This isn’t just a piece of jewelry or clothing. This is life and individuality at its finest. Fashion is and was always a form of self expression.

Source: http://www.idealsilver.com/

Lights, camera, Coco! The original 1969 musical by André Previn and Alan Jay Lerner detailing the story of Coco Chanel’s life (her struggle in the face of war, personal love affairs, and aging in an industry notorious for favoring youth) is making a comeback at Sadler’s Wells theater in London this month.

While the infamous Chanel logo is steadily becoming as expected as the MAC logo (read: Every thirteen year old with a sharpie marker is sporting a Chanel T-shirt on Tumblr), we’re still huge fans of the strong-willed, road-paving passions of Coco Chanel herself. The gal went from failed cabaret singer to the richest woman on earth en route to her dreams, after all. The original production, starring Katherine Hepburn was Coco approved—she oversaw the whole production in person. But there’s always that small chance that the newest installment of this fashion history lesson will require 3D glasses, mid-air acrobatics, and a talking animal sidekick. Juuust kidding. We’re just jealous that this remake isn’t state-side yet.

Coco, showing this May & June at Sadler’s Wells Theatre & the Lilian Baylis Studio.

Source: http://cocochanel-blog.com/

Ooh la la, looks like Monsieur ‘multi-tasking’ Lagerfeld has well and truly caught the film-making bug. Earlier this month, the white ponytailed one unveiled three commercials for ice-cream brand Magnum starring the sweeter-than-sweet Rachel Bilson and today, we’ve been treated to a sneak peek of his latest cinematic venture: ‘The Tale of a Fairy’.

The 30-minute film is imagined, written and directed by Super-Karl to accompany Chanel’s latest Cruise collection, which will be shown in Cap d’Antibes on Monday night – and having seen the trailer, there’ll be more than a few wrinkled eyebrows on the FROW…

As is customary for any Chanel endeavour, the designer has rallied up his finest muses. Kristen McMenamy takes centre stage as an erratic glamazon who, as far as we can make out, enjoys a spot of gambling and high-pitched screeching, smashing champagne glasses and sporting an Amy Winehouse-esque beehive (AMAZE). Next to arrive is the divine Amanda Harlech, who harps on about ‘loosening up’ and ‘releasing the corset, sweetheart.’ And, of course, Karl’s thrown in his favourite boy toy, Baptiste Giabiconi as McMenamy’s ridiculously chiseled Godson. Seriously, could one two-minute trailer be more chic?

And then there’s the fairy. Emerging from the cliffs, topless sea nymph stylee, it’s none other than supermodel Freja Beha in all her androgynous, wide-eyed glory. ‘I can change it all’, she whispers before smooching a sultry Anna Mouglalis. Crikey, Karl! ‘It is a movie about an ill-advised use of money which begins with violence and ends with feeling,’ he eloquently explained. ‘Some people may be shocked.’ Naturallement, you can see it right here and NOW below.

Source: http://cocochanel-blog.com/

Mother’s day is round the corner, after almost 9 years of living alone in Beijing, I miss my mum very much. She lives with my dad in my home town, south of China. I had a day-off and planed of shopping for a present for my mum today. I turned on the TV while taking my breakfast. Then a big news rush into my ears, Bin Laden was dead.

The news reminds me the American family I met in the 2002, a few days before the Mother’s day. Four daughters arranged a family vacation to China for their mother, because their father lost his life in the 9/11 incident regrettably. I’ve worked as a sale consultant in our FANGHUA Pearls store in Beijing. The daughters clustered their mum into our store, to look for a piece of pearl jewellery for present of Mother’s Day. The girls discuss and pick the gift very carefully. Finally, when they put a pearl strand necklace on their mother, all of us were touched by the beautiful moment. I took a photo of them with the founder of FANGHUA Pearls.

I couldn’t imagine the feeling the family may have in this Mother’s Day when Bin Laden was just dead. I started to look for the photo that I took for them. I found it, and kept on watching it for a long time. Life is really treasure. I’m so luck to enjoy an intact family, although I can’t see my parents every day, I can meet they when I wish. Suddenly, I picked my cellphone and dialled to my mum. The first words after my mum’s hello I said were “I love you.” My voice may be a little bit exciting.

My mother paused for a while, then，asked “what happened?” It was too hard for me to give a full answer at this time. I just said, “I’m so lucky, because there is nothing happened to us.”

Sarah Burton has spoken publicly for the first time on creating Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding dress and revealed that the scene-stealing gown was a collaborative process that included plenty of the bride’s ‘personality’.

Speaking at an Alexander McQueen Saks Fifth Avenue event in New York, the designer told shoppers that the bride was ‘really lovely’, even referring to her as ‘low maintenance’, WWD reports.

Burton also commented on working together with the new Duchess, stating that the dress ‘was made for her and has a lot of her personality in it,’ adding that Catherine’s involvement accounted for 50-50 of the design process.

As for keeping the wedding’s biggest secret, Burton told the New York Post she relished the charade: ‘The most fun I had was trying to hide. We laughed a lot about that.’

With nothing but kind words, she even added that the Middleton family as a whole were them ‘really nice and down to earth.’

Source: http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/fashion/524592/

“WE thought of girls so beautiful that you just know something bad would happen to them!” Stylestalker’s Rachel Zeilic told us of the label’s new Beautiful & The Damned collection, an F Scott Fitzgerald title which also famously was the theme for Kate Moss’ 30th birthday party.

The collection – available from Selfridges and, for the first time this season, from ASOS.COM  – has found a particularly strong following in the UK, despite the designers’ Australian roots, prompting Zeilic to leave co-founder Su-Ann San in Sydney to relocate to London.

“Sydney’s an important part of the brand,” Zeilic told us. “Australia is a really creative environment, but we’re slightly removed from the trends there. We wanted a base more accessible to Europe and the US – and UK retail is miles ahead of America. The high street is so impressive and developed, so we’re really working on building our market here.”

Something which it seems has been very successful so far, after a style entirely sold out on ASOS.COM within a week of delivery – but Zeilic isn’t leaving anything to chance.

“We wholesale to 250 doors in Australia and 100 in the US – including Urban Outfitters, Topshop and Kitson – so the UK is our focus just now,” Zellic said. “It’s competitive here, but we’ve moved our production to China to ensure we have access to the latest technology and a higher quality – and things are going really well so far.”

Source: http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/

VICTORIA’S SECRET model Lily Aldridge has spoken about her wedding dress, but she isn’t giving much away.

“The dress is the big fantasy, and I’m very lucky because someone is making my dress. It’s so gorgeous,” she says. “I’m so blessed. I have all these amazing people like Victoria’s Secret wanting to help me make it the perfect day. I have a beautiful dress and it’s [the wedding] going to be very small and private. I feel like a little girl; I’m so excited. We’re still talking about the honeymoon details. I’m just going with it – it’s my moment!”

Aldridge has been appropriately named the face of Victoria’s Secrets’ new Sexy Little Bride collection – a job that she couldn’t be happier about.

“I feel like it’s my party!” Lily tells Modelinia at the collection party. “It’s so nice; I get to come in here and pick out all these special treats for my wedding. One of my favorite things is the kimono with the word bride on it. When else can you wear that? This is the one time in your life you can get away with it.”

Aldridge and Followill are due to be married in early May in the model’s native California.

Source: http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/

The love for gold jewellery seems to be universal. Be it plain jewellery or ornaments studded with precious gems, gold is a highly favoured metal. Jewellery designers also seem to love gold since it allows them the freedom to execute their designs with great ease. Weddings and special occasions are ideal for jewellery made from gold, but this does not mean that these ornaments are not used on a daily basis. Be it jewellery bracelets, necklaces, earrings, everything is made in this lovely yellow metal.

The extensive nature of gold ornaments does make it difficult to buy jewellery made from gold, which is mostly an expensive purchase. The tips below will help to make such a buy much easier and also safer -

• Purity – Not all gold ornaments will be made in the same purity. 24 carat gold is considered the purest form of gold, though this metal is too soft to make sturdy ornaments with. This is why very often ring jewellery and other such ornaments that are made of gold, will have a 22 carat purity that may go down to 16 carats too in case the jewellery is studded with gems. It is important that you learn about the purity of gold in the ornament that you buy and pay accordingly for the jewellery.

• Certification – Never make the mistake of buying gold jewellery without the proper certification. Even if you are purchasing at a store that is offering jewellery for sale, make sure a certificate is provided regarding the purity of the gold used in the ornament.

• Receipt – Another important factor to keep in mind when buying gold ornaments is the receipt. Your bill must specify the purity of the gold, the weight of the gold in the ornament and also the price that you paid for the jewellery. Many jewellers will break up the ‘cost of making’ and the ‘cost of the material used’ in order to simply the bill for the buyer. Such a bill is highly recommended since it helps if you decide to sell the ornament ever.

• Designs – Of course the design of any jewellery is what comes into play when a buyer is making a selection, however some cautions needs to be maintained on this front too. Jewellery bracelets, earring, rings and even bangles made from gold may often loose their shape or break from a certain point if the design of the ornament is not sturdy enough. In case the ornament has hooks or interlocked chains, it is best to check for sturdiness. Do check to see if the ornament is hand made or machine made. Keep in mind that hand made ornaments do cost more in terms of making charges since it takes more time and effort to design such jewellery.

Gold jewellery is a fantastic investment apart from being cosmetically appealing and this adds to the value of the purchase. Keeping the pointers listed above in mind is highly recommended when buying gold in any form.

Source: http://www.idealsilver.com/2011/02/03/gold-jewellery/

Vivienne Westwood is celebrating her 70th birthday today. Although the grand dame of fashion hasn’t confirmed how she’ll be marking the occasion, we do know what she’ll be receiving – her good friend and muse Pamela Anderson tells us she’s bought her a plot of the Amazon forest.

“I’m really excited to support Cool Earth and give Vivienne such an incredible rainforest gift. She is one of my favourite people,” says Anderson – who took to Westwood’s autumn/winter 2009-10 catwalk.

With a 40-year-long fashion career under her belt, Westwood’s fashion life to date include her founding of the punk fashion movement of the Seventies, creating now iconic T-shirts, emblazoned with Let It Rock, Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die and God Save The Queen. Along with her then partner, Sex Pistols manager, Malcolm McClaren, she created a look inspired by rebellion and non-conformity. Her shop on the King’s Road adopted the tagline “rubberwear for the office”.

She has since produced some of fashion’s most famous pieces (including the 1981 slouchy pirate boots still in production today, to the structured mini-crini of 1985), and been part of the industry’s most memorable moments – from Naomi Campbell falling from a pair of her towering purple platforms in 1994 to accepting her OBE from the Queen – while wearing no knickers.

Known for her empowering, uber-feminine shapes and signature tartan, she was this week named Britain’s Greatest British Fashion Designer in a poll conducted by Greenall, notching up 24 per cent of the public vote.

Happy Birthday Vivienne.

Source: http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/

Shalimar is a women’s fragrance originally created by Jacques Guerlain in 1921 as a classic soft amber (Oriental) parfum, and currently produced by Guerlain.

History

In 1925, it was then re-released in 1925 in a bottle designed by Raymond Guerlain and made by Cristalleries de Baccarat (bottle design # 597) and launched at the Decorative Arts Exhibition as an antidote against The Great Depression.

According to Elisabeth Barille, “while examining a sample of vanillin, Jacques Guerlain suddenly poured the entire contents into a nearby bottle of Jicky, just to see what would happen.” The result: Shalimar. Jacques Guerlain was inspired by Mumtaz-Mahal, the woman for whom the Taj Mahal was built. The story of Indian Emperor Shah Jahan’s love for Mumtaz-Mahal inspired Guerlain to create Shalimar, named after the Garden of Shalimar in Lahore, which had been built by the Emperor Shah Jehan (builder of the Taj Mahal) for his favourite wife, Mumtaz.

Shalimar means the ‘Temple (or abode) of Love’ in Sanskrit.

In 1985, it was repackaged and presented encased in a Lucite box to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its original launch.

In 2004, Guerlain issued Shalimar Light by perfumer Mathilde Laurent. However, Shalimar Light was taken off the market and replaced by Eau de Shalimar in 2008.

Scent

The fragrance can be described as vanilla, powdery, and sweet. The fragrance contains Bergamot, Lemon, Jasmine, Rose, Iris, Incense, Opopanax, Tonka Bean, and Vanilla. It is considered to be an Oriental perfume which was popular during its conception. The top note of the fragrance is Bergamot. The middle notes are Iris and Opopanax. The base note is vanilla. (From wikipedia)