This year marked the 60th anniversary for the Miss Universe pageant. Held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the magnificent Credicard Hall was bursting at the seams with Miss Universe contestants, judges and fans as the pageant hosted participants from 89 countries and territories. This year, 2011 beat the 2006 record of 86 participating countries and territories.

Final contestants of the Miss Universe 2011 pageants were Angola’s Leila Lopes who remained in first place followed closely by the Ukrain’s Olesya Stefank, Brazil’s Priscila Manchado and Shamcey Supsup from the Philippines. The final runner up was Luo Zilin of China.

At the end of an intense few days, it was Leila Lopes of Angola who was crowned Miss Universe. She amazed audiences and judges alike with her dazzling smile, natural beauty and intelligence. After she was crowned, the newly crowned Miss Universe made a statement, “As Miss Angola I’ve already done a lot to help my people. I’ve worked with various social causes. I work with poor kids. I work in the fight against HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs.” She continued by adding, “I think now as Miss Universe I will be able to do much more.”

Lopes, who is 25, intends to focus her time on helping her native country through impoverishment and war. She also intends to combat the global pandemic of HIV.

Photo courtesy of La Chingada News

For all the fashionistas out there, I think I may have found the solution to our problems. There are many stores out there and online that claim to have the best prices on designer items, but we end up either cheated on the brand name or our money. Here are my top picks for scoring designer closer at low prices.

Ross – Every state has at least 5 Ross stores for a reason. When it comes to bargain shopping for this season’s designer looks, Ross takes the cake on my countdown. From shoes to denim, dresses to hats, Ross make you dress the best for less. Thank you overstock.

Macy’s – another awesome place to snag that amazing jacket you saw on the runway. And how can we forget Fashion’s Night Out that they have in September? Yep, Macy’s is a brand name steal.

JCPenney – If you cant get it at Macy’s then try here. That’s why this store makes it into my top list. Affordable and the latest styles. JCPenney is a smart buy.

Gilt.com – I scored an adorable pair of Manolos from here for half the regular retail cost. I was uber happy when they came in the mail. It’s one of the few sites out there that won’t rip you off. The only issue is its limited to what the site wants to carry that month. So it’s not always guaranteed to be there but it makes up for it with amazing sales and deals of the day.

Last but not least, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx tie on my list. Their only problem is you have to search the racks really well to find what you want, but once you find it it’s like love all over again. Great prices and they never seem to run out of sales!

Image c/o Discount Shopping at Home

Not only did Kate set the wedding gown trend for the year, she is also well on her way to setting a few other trends. One ‘un-royal’ feature to her style is the consistent recycling of clothes (as the media loves to point out). This royal couple have been seen sporting many re-issued or past-season suit jackets, skirts, dresses and shoes at a variety of high-profile events.

The young princess has been deemed the new ‘modern Sloane Ranger’ while Diana, the Princess of Wales, was referred to as the archetypal Sloane Ranger. Kate’s style has even seen her alter a few of the royal jewels to suit her own taste.

The young royal closet will be outfitted with Brit prep, which consists of mostly riding boots, discreet jewellery, fitted blazers and country tweeds, all topped off with a pair of fresh faces and well groomed hair.

However there are critics in every closet. While the outspoken Vivienne Westwood thinks Kate dresses too conservatively, other fashion designers agree that the royals should sport more adventurous choices.

Let’s face it. Kate and Will are expected to play the role and wear the uniform that represents the royal family. No matter what they decide to wear fashion designers around the world will do their best to replicate whatever they choose by ensuring commoners can ‘get it for less’. Copy-Kate will catch-on quickly!

Photo by Hollywood Scoop

Well, the royal wedding has come and gone. Now it’s time to take a look back at the notable fashions of the day. Here are a couple of great styles and one really bad outfit.

Oh dear, this is what I can only call a “royal mess” of an ensemble on Prince Harry’s girlfriend Chelsea Davy (at right). Being the polite guest, she wouldn’t want to distract from Kate’s big day by upstaging her wedding dress. Clearly, she was in no danger of doing so with an ill-fitting seagreen suit.

Princess Diana was not a huge role model of mine, but I did consider her to be a classy, beautiful lady. So, I wasn’t a fan of Prince Charles’s mistress Camilla Parker Bowles (at left) and I was even less impressed by their wedding after Di’s death. But I’ll give her this much: she does seem to know how she is perceived and she stays out of the spotlight. She did an admirable job of doing that on her stepson’s wedding day. This dress is elegant and…dare I say…tasteful.

I can’t write this post without including a picture of Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. I don’t consider myself a wedding softie, but gah…she was so beautiful in that dress. The design was created by Sarah Burton of the late designer Alexander McQueen’s fashion house. A far cry from Diana’s big poofy gown thirty years ago, the simple streamlined cut was so flattering on Kate (below)  that I almost want to remarry my husband just so I can try on a dress like that. 

Victoria Beckham, also known as “Posh Spice”, was in attendance with her footballer hubby, David Beckham. Posh (below), who is pregnant with the couple’s first daughter, wore a draped navy maternity dress from her own fashion line to the wedding with a teeny tiny hat on her forehead. Her husband, on the other hand, appeared to be preparing to drive the royal chariot.

Images c/o: babble.com, fashion.telegraph.uk

Well it seems we are in for a royal wedding. The nuptials have been exchanged between Catherine Middleton and Prince William. Now when you think royal wedding what comes to mind? I do not know about you but my first thought went right to the dress. For the last few months people have been trying hard to get information about the bridal gown. It is said that Kate designed her own dress and designer Sarah Burton was tapped to bring the royal wedding gown to life. Burton denied for the longest time that she was the designer but she was seen at the hotel Kate was staying at the night before the wedding. They waited until the last possible minute to release the name of the designer in order to protect the wonderful designer and her family from the media blitz surrounding the royal wedding.

The dress was a beautiful sight. It was simple yet elegant and tasteful. Kate looked breathtaking as she and her Prince William exchanged vows. The dress was made with French Chantilly lace. The train was 2 meters and 70 centimeters. The designs were all done by hand individually. The veil was soft ivory tulle trimmed with flowers, each embroidered by hand. The tiara was something borrowed from the Queen.

It was truly something to see. The above photo is Kate in her wedding gown and designer Sarah Burton.

Content c/o: Huffington Post

Photo c/o: NY Daily News

Dame Elizabeth Taylor had style, grace and femininity from the very beginning. The way she carried herself could make any garment rich and stylish. Her skin tone, eye color and hair color made it possible for her to wear almost any color combination. She was also one of the few people who could wear white with pizazz.

She had a near perfect body and could grace the screen in any of the many styles available. It was probably easy for designers and tailors to produce garments for her. The styles she presented on screen had a profound effect on the women of the world.

She was always elegantly dressed down to her accessories which almost always consisted mainly of diamonds. Always elegant, she was never outrageous as can be seen at the very coy way she showed her cleavage throughout the years. It was just the right amount and never over the top. Included with her jewellery accessories are also the shoes and bags which were always chosen with great care.

She wore every garment and accessory with such poise and comfort that her influence was very subtle (one could almost say subliminal). However, there was the odd out of the ordinary statement which could have been frowned upon (for example, the headdress she wore in 1967). Other than that she was always dressed completely fashionable, setting the trends even when she found herself in a wheelchair toward the end of her life.

Image: polyvore.com

During a recent trip abroad, First Lady Michelle Obama wore several pieces from famous designers. Mrs. Obama, who has been known to wear a bargain buy or two, accompanied her husband, President Obama, on a flight to Chile. This time, though, she was strictly high-fashion, sporting the Simone Stripe Dress from Marc by Marc Jacobs. The sundress features several stripes of colorblock, which is a hot trend for this spring. The same dress is available for purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue.

After arriving in Brazil, Mrs. Obama stepped off Air Force One wearing a modified version of a Tracy Reese Strapless Dress. The model dress is available in black and white with spaghetti straps or no straps. However, the First Lady wore a red version of the dress with wide shoulder straps. Ethnic prints have been fashionable for the last few years, so Mrs. Obama hit the trend mark once again, while customizing the look to suit her personal style.

As the trip continued, Mrs. Obama also wore an entire ensemble by designer Diane Von Furstenberg, who had previously criticized the First Lady’s decision to wear Alexander McQueen at a state dinner. Von Furstenberg encouraged Mrs. Obama to wear more American designer labels and it appears that the White House was listening. The Von Furstenberg ensemble that Mrs. Obama was wearing even bore the national colors of red, white and blue.

Image c/o: Petty Officer 1st Class Mark O’Donald, USN

The sundress, a familiar favorite, is getting closer and closer to making it’s annual appearance! That’s right! With summer only right around the corner, it’s something that we ladies look forward to all winter long… Time to shove those jeans and coats to the back of the closet and bring out the important things, our slinky, comfy sundresses! Although many simple dresses can be worn with boots, jackets, and sometimes even thrown over a pair of our favorite jeans, there’s nothing like being able to wake up, roll out of bed, slip a sundress over your head and hit the road, showing off those sun-kissed shoulders and legs. This summer holds many new, exciting designs for sundresses. Some we have seen before and some are different, including new bright colors, styles and designs all together.

References

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1. sassy sundresses

2. sundress galore

We will start out with some more traditional designs, and metallic colors along with silk are totally hot this new year.  Very elegant and chic designs parade across the runway for your inspiration.  This year, the clutch is going somewhere it has never gone before..

So what is completely new this year?  This new addition to the outfit gives a whole new meaning to the traditional ‘clutch.’  Just look and see what runway models are flaunting this season.

Yes, you have seen right.  Portable lap top clutches with insanely gorgeous designs are what is in.  Be prepared to have a really cute HP clutch to tote around, because this is what is happening right now.

The fresh faces of 2010 Spring/Summer

The fashion for 2010 is brilliant.  Spring/Summer is collections are full a exuberant colors.  All of the different looks for 2010 are going to be great.  They even did a good job this year choosing great fresh faced model to grace the catwalk, as usual.

Mirte Maas 2010 Spring/Summer fashion show had some of the best models with great fresh look.  Mirte Maas always has fresh faced top model to walk the stage.

The clothes at this fashion show are not the only thing your are going to observe.  The models they picked for the show a breath of fresh air.