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Know Your Techniques: Rondelle and Diagonal

Camilla Salem — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:23:59 PST

Cutting cylindrical vegetables may seem pretty straightforward, but there are actually a couple of ways to go about it. Much like the mince or the brunoise, cutting a vegetable properly ensures great texture and flavor in your dishes.

The first cut is known as a rondelle, which is simply circular coins. Hold the knife perpendicular to the vegetable and slice evenly.

For a more elegant cut, angle the knife slightly and cut diagonal pieces from the cylindrical vegetable.

Which of these cylindrical vegetable cuts do you prefer? With what recipes do you use this cut?

Link Time: Marc Jacobs Does Daria, Miu Miu's Latest Short Film, and More

FabSugar — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:32:30 PST

Marc Jacobs has been watching a lot of Daria - Styleite
Upper West Siders call Fashion Week "an assault" on their neighborhood - Fashionista
How hair texture is taking over, one runway at a time - The Fashion Spot
10 celebs who refused to "fix" their teeth - HuffPost Style
Hungry for attention, new designers struggle through Fashion Week - The Cut
Designing for the one percent: NYFW ignores social upheaval - The Daily Beast
Fendi gives us a '90s throwback to love - Stylelist
How to master the art of business casual - Real Simple
Do Sports Illustrated models look better in bikinis than actual clothes? - Jezebel
She's with the band: Rachel Zoe's Fall '12 bag collection - Bag Snob
Karl Lagerfeld on staying thin, being human, and more - Fashionologie
Objects of desire: Miu Miu debuts its third short film - Style.com

Which Way Do You Prefer Natalie Portman?

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:20:30 PST

Which look works better on Natalie Portman? - Stylelist
Mini blogger Tavi channels Lana Del Rey - Styleite
How to get a great haircut for less - Real Simple
Four hairstyles you can do in a minute or less - Refinery 29
Some people in New York want Fashion Week gone - The Cut
Floral shades are on the way - Beautylish
Textured hair is taking over (we hope) - The Fashion Spot
This topcoat is truly awesome - The Frisky

Etsy Finds: Handmade and Vintage Cake Stands For Your Next Soiree

Elka Karl — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:08:36 PST

The vintage cake stand in our dining room is one of my favorite items for decorating, entertaining, and displaying. And while mine is made of clear-cut glass, there are plenty of other options out there to fit your home and personality. From glass to ceramic to china plates and even wood, there are plentiful choices when it comes to finding the perfect cake stand.

Whether you're interested in choosing a cake stand for your next party, an upcoming wedding, or everyday use, there's one to fit your needs and budget in today's roundup.

Narciso Rodriguez Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:07:58 PST

Narciso Rodriguez stuck with his signature structured silhouettes for Fall '12, and this time, he built out the form-fitted figure into silky crepe dresses, colorblocked in geometric patterns of rusted brick reds, tangerine oranges, and chartreuse greens. In addition to the more "billowy" looks, he also sent out bustier-inspired, nipped-waist versions that accentuated the body in artfully draped folds of fabric. For a mix of sophisticated sheaths and polished daytime looks, Narciso included tailored trousers, luxe leather gloves, graphic-print tops, and a handful of covetable oversized trapeze and bell-shaped wool and felt coats. As for accessories, the designer impressed with his first-ever line of shoes and handbags - we were especially taken with the two-tone pointy-toe boots making turns on the catwalk. In a nutshell? The clean, chic designs juxtaposed against rich Fall colors let Narciso's impeccable cuts and shapes shine through; for more details, read below.

Trends: Silky structured dresses, long bias-cut dress trains, and oversized trapeze and bell-shaped coats.
Colors: Chartreuse, chocolate brown, rusted brick, tangerine, black, and russet orange.
Key Piece: Super-structured, form-fitting sheaths; the tangerine-hued silk crepe dress with a bias-cut train.
Accessories: Pointy-toe boots and heels in two-tone palettes, ultra-textured handbags, leather gloves.
Who Would Wear It: The modern, sophisticated girl with a flare for daring cuts, like front-row attendee Claire Danes, Rachel Weisz, and Zoe Saldana.

Debloating Chia Seed Drink From Celebrity Trainer Valerie Waters

Leta Shy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:03:22 PST

If you've been feeling sluggish and bloated, it's time for a new morning ritual. Celebrity trainer Valerie Waters always starts the morning with this prebreakfast, preworkout drink. It's a simple way to get a jump-start on your daily fiber, omega-3s, and other nutrients, and helps with elimination to keep you feeling bloat-free.

Valerie recommends it to all her clients, famous or not. "I can't tell you how many people said it made such a difference," she says. "Most people don't get enough fiber, and they especially don't get enough fiber when they are cutting carbs, and they're cutting carbs because they eat too much crap and that's where their bad foods are - carbs. When they're on my plan and I've asked them to take those out and focus on vegetables and fruit and sweet potatoes and things like that, I get them to drink this to increase their vegetable intake to bring the fiber back up. It also helps them during the detox period because it helps with elimination."

You'll just need three ingredients for this drink, and don't worry, the coconut water masks the taste of the supergreens. Read on for the debloating drink recipe.

Naeem Khan Fall 2012

Hannah Weil — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:01:23 PST

With the Oscars at the end of the month, Naeem Khan's gorgeously crafted red-carpet wear couldn't have come at a better time. Head-to-toe sparkle, full-length prints, embellished pants - Khan's wildly beautiful Fall '12 confections are begging to be worn right now. Beginning with an essentially ethnic-inspired feel, Khan sent ornately crafted tunic-style dresses and gowns down the runway that spoke decidedly to his native India. But, cinched at the waist with lovely black bows, these tunics are both somewhat exotic and at the same time steeped in classic red-carpet glamour. It's that wow factor that registers, the luxuriousness of it all, the decadence that unfolds in all-over sparkle, fringe trim, and jaw-dropping silhouettes. Showstoppers are Khan's bread and butter - in fact, it was hard not to audibly ohh and ahh with nearly every ensemble's turn down the runway. That's not to say you tire of the effect - you're captivated. It's not just the exotic detail, the texture, or the shine, it's how Khan masters the cut. Necklines and slits are sexy but never reveal too much; fringe and beading are used abundantly, but it never feels over-the-top. It's how Khan's mastered the art of razzle-dazzle with perfect allure.

Trends: Textured, embellished eveningwear; ethnic-feeling robe- and tunic-style gowns; dramatic black and white prints.
Colors: Black, white, silver, gold.
Key Piece: The gold full-length v-neck gown is begging for a red-carpet appearance.
Accessories: Open-toe cutout ankle boots, peep-toe pumps, ankle-strap heels.
Who Would Wear It: Hollywood A-listers and Oscar contenders like front-rower Ahna O'Reilly; beauties like Zoe Saldana and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley would carry off these gowns flawlessly.

Diesel Black Gold Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:34:07 PST

It was all about baggy cuts and luxe fabrics at Diesel Black Gold's Fall showing today at Pier 57. Designer Sophia Kokosalaki stayed true to the brand's rock 'n' roll aesthetic, showing a range of printed skinnies, oversized cuffed leather pants, and a lot of leopard. Inspired by "vintage B-movies," Kokosalaki took it to the streets with an assortment of paint-splattered pants, low-slung leather wrap skirts, and a heavy helping of leopard prints. Designs for the downtown girl, but there were also a few notable pony hair tops and jackets which added a sleek touch to the collection. The complete breakdown below.

Trends: Baggy silhouettes, wrap skirts, printed pants.
Colors: Black, gray, brick red, navy blue.
Key Piece: We loved the pony-hair tops and leather wrap skirts.
Accessories: Studded bags, paint-splattered ankle boots, wide belts, chain jewelry.
Who Would Wear It: In addition to front-row attendees Harley Viera-Newton and Emmy Rossum, we can also see Zoe Kravitz and Jessica Szohr wearing this collection.

Link Time: Inside Daphne Guinness's Home, Olivier Theyskens's NYFW Diary, and More

FabSugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:26:58 PST

Step inside the home of Daphne Guinness - Stylelist
Marc Jacobs defies CFDA, lets underage models walk in his show - Styleite
Fashion folk forget their manners at Betsey Johnson - The Cut
In honor of Valentine's Day, watch these epic proposal fails - The Daily Beast
Get all the details on Megan Hilty's Smash wardrobe - InStyle
Diane von Furstenberg and Mayor Bloomberg discuss fashion initiatives for NYC - FashionIndie
Bikini babes: see all of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit models - HuffPost Style
Check out Alexander Wang's Fall '12 handbag collection - Purse Blog
What accessory inspires your style? - College Fashion
Olivier Theyskens's Fashion Week diary - Style.com

Love Your Laptop: 8 Tips For Keeping it Healthy and Happy

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:23:02 PST

Valentine's Day doesn't just have to be about giving affection to your significant other. It can be about showing your appreciation for the people and things that make your life awesome. Take your laptop, for example. Your window to the vast Internet, your laptop works really hard for you without asking much in return. Give your laptop a little TLC this Valentine's Day with these tips that will keep it happy and healthy all year long.

Clean it up - Giving your laptop (or desktop) a thorough cleaning is essential to extending its life. Back up any data you may already have stored (on an external hard drive or a portable flash drive), organize your desktop icons, empty your computer's trash on a regular basis, and clear out any programs you don't use. This will help free up space and keep you on the fast track to productivity.
Practice proper shutdown habits - Shutting down all open programs and putting your laptop to sleep instead of just closing the lid will help your computer stay cool and safe while in transport. But if you've had your laptop in a cold environment, let it warm up to room temps slowly before turning it on. This will keep condensation and dew at bay, which can ruin your computer's sensitive guts.
Protect your investment - If you're going to be lugging a laptop around, make sure it's protected in a padded case!

See the rest of my tips after the jump.