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Tobi Opens Virtual Dressing Room

FabSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:22 -0800

Tobi, one of my favorite online boutiques, just got way cooler. The San Francisco-based retailer has opened up a virtual dressing room so customers can have a more hands-on shopping experience. "With Fashionista, not only could it possibly help customers answer, ‘How does this look on me?’, it’s also a fun and engaging way to help them discover new products that they wouldn’t have found through the normal shopping experience," vice president of technology Jeff Lee said.

You'll need a computer with a camera to participate. See yourself on the screen, pick which merchandise you want to "try on" and they will appear over your body. Of course, this technology doesn't help with fit, but it's innovative nonetheless. Curious how it works? Get started now.

Have You Spent Money on Virtual Goods?

GeekSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:07:31 -0800

I recently read an article about the increase in spending on virtual goods and gifts. According to the piece, analysts estimate that this kind of virtual spending could bring in $1 billion this year in the US alone - and nearly $5 billion worldwide.

From Facebook apps like the popular FarmVille - which allows players to run their own virtual farms - to competitive games like Sorority Life - where players have to dress a group of college sorority sisters to compete with rival sororities - the article explains that players are likely to buy items to improve their performance in the game or to build up a collection of goods that will impress friends.

I love sending free virtual goodies to friends on their birthdays or for other special events, but I'm not sure how much cash I would regularly drop on intangible items. What do you think? Do you spend money on virtual gifts or other goods?

Fab Finger Discount: FP Beach Cruiser Dolman Hoodie

FabSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:00:22 -0700

I love unexpected pairings, like dolman sleeves and hoodies. The first has a dressed-up connotation, the other laid-back. This FP Beach Cruiser Dolman-Sleeve Zip-Up Hoodie ($48, originally $68) is something worth investing in, because it will come in handy when you seek comfort sans frump. You can throw it on over virtually anything and it will instantly lend a sporty-chic motif to your look.

Online Sale Alert! Caliente Clothes at Tobi

FabSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:08 -0700

Here to help you further your fashion is Tobi. The online retailer is currently offering up to 80 percent off a ton of warm-weather pieces ranging from tops, frocks, and everything in between. I'm into the black and gold colorblock on this Laila Azhar Cap Sleeve Dress ($182, originally $455). Shop fast: sizes and quantities are flying off the virtual racks!

For more great deals, check out our site SaleHabit.com!

How To: Get Blake Lively's Lovely Letterman Makeup Look

BellaSugarUK — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:34:30 -0700

Last night in New York City, Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively arrived at the Ed Sullivan Theater to make an appearance on The David Letterman Show. Looking stunning and leggy in a bright pink mini-dress, Blake's hair also glittered under the city lights with perfect highlights and voluminous layers.

However, what I loved most about her look was her makeup. Blake always look age appropriate with just the right amount of eye and lip colour to enhance her natural beauty.

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For product and application suggestions on how to recreate Blake's beauty look, read more.

FACE: Blake has youth on her side, so her skin is virtually wrinkle-free and line-less. To achieve this look, be sure to exfoliate and moisturise regularly, paying special attention around the eyes. Begin by using a foundation such as Crème de la Mer's The Treatment Crème Foundation SPF 15 (since we know it's what Blake wears on the show) and blend well. Next, dab a little concealer under the eyes, around the nose and to any spots. Smooth and blend with a sponge.
EYES: For a subtle, yet polished eye, begin by sweeping a caramel-color shadow all over the lid as a base. Next, add a deeper bronzey-gold shadow like Becca Eye Colour Powder Shimmer in Jacquard to the crease and blend well. Then, use a champagne shadow such as Stila Kitten to the inner v and blend just under the lower lashes. Line the tops of the eyes with a black liquid liner (careful not to make the line too thick) and line the inner rims on the bottom with a flesh coloured pencil (to brighten). Finish with two coats of black mascara and a few false lashes in the corner if you dare!
CHEEKS: Apply a touch of blusher such as Urban Decay Afterglow in Score to the apples of the cheeks and along the cheekbones to warm up the skin. I suggest using an angled cheek brush (this brush does all the work for you).
LIPS: Lastly, apply a deep rosey-pink lipstick using a lipbrush for optimal coverage. I like Bare Escentuals Natural Lip Colour in Berry Glace for its creamy texture and deep colour. Follow with a shimmery gloss such as Elizabeth Arden High Shine Lip Gloss in Shimmering Pink on top as a finishing touch.

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Baby Bump: Fierce For Moody Mamas by Christian Siriano

LilSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Last Fall, we told you about Project Runway winner, Christian Siriano's upcoming line of maternity clothes, Fierce for Moody Mamas by Christian Siriano. The line is still slated to be released this Spring, but two of the pieces are currently available online and are sure to fly off the virtual racks! The garments, a chiffon dress available in black or fuchsia ($247) and a charmeuse tunic that comes in navy or fuchsia ($150), are the perfect pick-me-ups for a dull day and make for great conversation pieces at mom-to-be gatherings. Based on these teaser designs, we can't wait to see how fierce the rest of the collection will be.

Trials, Tribulations, and Rewards of Insulin Pump Therapy

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:00:00 -0800

Two months ago, a good friend of mine went on an insulin pump after living with type 1 diabetes for 20 years. Needless to say, it's a big transition. I asked her to share her experiences, and here she tells us woman to woman what to expect - from getting it on to fashion choices - when switching from daily injections to an insulin pump.

While I've resisted switching from syringes to an insulin pump for the past five years, the fact that my husband and I would like to have children finally convinced me to make the switch. Plus, as someone who was on intensive insulin therapy, I was giving myself five or more shots a day, and had the stomach bruises to prove it. Even though I have very good control of my disease, all of my doctors encouraged me to get on the pump before getting knocked up.

Overall, I am absolutely thrilled to be on the insulin pump . . . now. The first month of use was pretty rough. Low points included an accidental infusion set, which sent my bloodsugar level to 584 when it is normally 90 to 140, hooking my catheter on doorknobs (extremely painful), and a lot of issues with how the heck to wear this thing.

To see my top considerations about and reasons for going on an insulin pump, read more.

Be prepared to fight tooth and nail with your insurance company. This piece of equipment costs between $5,000 and $6,000, so if your insurance company covers part of the cost (mine covered 90 percent), you're going to have to be diligent about contacting them to keep things on track.
You will likely be miserable for the first month. The longer you are on syringes (like I was), the harder it will be for you to adjust to having something on your body constantly. Hang in there, though. You will get through it, and eventually you will absolutely love your new diabetic therapy.
This is absolutely essential for diabetic women. Women have to deal with more diabetic wonkiness due to hormonal cycles (my bloodsugars fluctuate a lot right before my period), so insulin pump therapy is perfect for us ladies. Also, this is a great way to ensure that you'll have a healthy pregnancy. Go on the pump before you get pregnant, if possible, because a month of adjustment time is a lot harder when you're a few weeks pregnant, on both you and your little one.
You can eliminate the "dawn effect." Since I was first diagnosed, I've had the "dawn effect," which means that my bloodsugar tends to go up in the middle of the night and correcting the insulin levels with syringes is very difficult. But I have virtually eliminated the dawn effect since going on the pump, as I can program different basal rates to counteract the creeping rise in bloodsugar.
You'll have to get creative with your wardrobe. I'm a big fan of dresses with pockets, and cutting a hole in one pocket and sewing the edges so they don't fray has allowed me to string my catheter tubing through the pocket, and keep my pump in my pocket. I've also sewn little pouches/pockets on the interiors of pocketless skirts and pants.
Not getting a pump for aesthetic reasons is just silly. I resisted going on the pump for years for aesthetic reasons: I was afraid that it would look weird with a swimsuit, or it would mark me as a diabetic to the rest of the world. The truth is, hardly anyone is going to notice it, even if it's clipped onto your belt. As for the swimsuit, I place the infusion set high on my abdomen, and it isn't noticeable at all under my one-piece halter suit.
Adjustable insulin rates mean you're going to be physically healthier. If you care at all about your long-term health, you need to consider going on the pump. It helps keep bloodsugar levels consistently lower, which lowers the chances of developing long-term complications such as retinopathy, which can lead to blindness, or neuropathy, which can lead to amputation.
This will not affect your sex life, except for the better. First things first: When you have sex, you detach your insulin pump, so the only thing you have to deal with is your infusion set. Initially, I was self-conscious about having the infusion set on my body, and my partner was afraid that he would pull it off when he touched my back or my stomach. We both got over this issue pretty darn quickly, and now, since my bloodsugars are under such amazing control, we don't have to worry about low bloodsugars or high bloodsugars affecting our sex life, which has only made things better between the sheets.
You're going to feel emotionally better on the pump. With tighter bloodsugar control, you'll be less likely to feel disoriented, woozy, or sleepy due to fluctuating sugar levels. This in turn has made my entire life better, including my moods, which used to dip and spike with my bloodsugars.
You may be more motivated to get active. While I've always been active, my pump has encouraged me to exercise even more. I love that I can dial down my basal rate (the tiny amount of insulin delivered hourly to maintain my bloodsugar level) to account for my increased activity level.

On Our Radar: StyleCaster Melds Fashion and Film

FabSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:00:22 -0800

Starting Nov. 13, sign up for StyleCaster to see the first installment of an ongoing series of style-centric short films that showcase talent from the fashion industry. The works of designers, stylists, models, hair and makeup artists are showcased in the short films, which are produced, written, and edited in-house. The films focus on daily lives of women, from getting dressed for work to going on dates. In Girls Night Out (below), designer Abigail Lorick, editor Gillian Hearst-Shaw, and founder of Virtual Etail Group LLC Annie Churchill play a group of stylish women meeting for an evening on the town. Also check out the pre-launch blog. Fun!

Paris Fashion Week, Spring '09: Viktor & Rolf

FabSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:00:22 -0700

Watching Viktor & Rolf's virtual fashion show makes me wonder why more designers don't go this route. I smell a new trend. Old-school model Shalom Harlow is the only one on catwalk. Or, shall I say, only ones. It's all good though; it makes me focus more on the clothes and less on the models. Wait until you see how up close and personal the camera takes you. It's better than being in the front row! Per usual, these men know how to entertain. The oversize jewels and funky shoes are especially fun. And wait for the finale - a metallic Spirograph dress followed by multiple Shaloms applauding, and . . . well, watch for yourself.

Exclusive Few Fab Words With Bay Garnett

FabSugarUK — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:00:31 -0700

When we meet, Bay Garnett had only given birth 7 days before. She is truly dedicated meeting me with her baby daughter sleeping silently on the sofa next to us. She is working to promote Shop Style UK where she has already created many looks using her style icons as inspiration. She describes the style books as a virtual 'mood board' or a dressing up box which is great because "going shopping is a bit of a nightmare."

Bay made her name as a stylist working on publications such as Vogue and with design houses Chloe (the Bay handbag is named after her), Louis Vuitton and Matthew Williamson. She went on to launch the Cheap Date magazine with Kira Jolliffe before together writing The Cheap Date Guide to Style.

We caught up with her to find out if she was still passionate about thrifting, how motherhood had changed her and her top shopping tips. To see the interview read more

You have previously been described as a 'Thrift Pioneer', do you still consider yourself to be?

Not really actually. Because I think that thrifting is something you do when you’ve got time on your hands, it’s a leisurely pursuit. You go to so many thrift stores and there’s a lot that you don’t find stuff in. You have to be going quite a lot, and keeping up because that’s the great thing about them you don’t know what you're going to find and where. So if you go to one a week you might find something great, you might not. I think that I did do it really passionately and I think that I did it quite well. I found really good pieces that weren’t necessarily expensive labels but I would never call myself a pioneer at anything. I still love charity shops but I don’t do it so much anymore.
Has being a Mother changed you?

Definitely! It changes your priorities, you know? I’d rather be with my children than running round finding clothes. I don’t have the time to do that kind of thing anymore. And I don’t have the want. I don’t have that same relationship with clothes.
What impact has the eco fashion movement had on thrift shopping?

I don’t think it’s had much of an impact personally. I’m all for it but I think it’s quite a separate thing. I think that if you’re in to second hand clothes its sort of in your blood. You sort of like the thrill of the hunt. I was never in to ecology clothes, I was always in to thrifting. So I never sort of explored that. I was never interested in that side of things really. Although I like the idea of it, it's great rather than clothes for £2, I don’t like that.
Do you shop thrift stores online?

No, not so much. Because for me it’s the thrill of the chase. I like being in the shop, especially in America. Because you go to the Salvation Army in Queens or somewhere like that and you have the radio on and you’d hear Sam Cooke. It was a real experience. It was one extreme and to keep doing it on the internet is just too cut off for me. If I’m going thrifting I’m going thrifting. I’m going to go and have a rustle round and look at the bric-a-brac, look at the toys for kids. It’s a whole thing and its about the shop. Its not as sterile, it's much more sensory than that for me.
Any must have items to look out for this season?

Black patent jackets, pumps, velvet jackets by Yves Saint Laurent or Dolce and Gabbana. The High Street is doing that too. Lace is always really nice, but do it your own way. Lace is always lovely, isn’t it? Maybe more antiquey rather than High Street . Like an antique bolero, the markets are good for that.

Bay's top London thrifting hot spots:

Red Cross, 67 Old Church Street, Chelsea,
Oxfam, 144 Notting Hill Gate, London,
Red Cross, 85 Ebury St, Westminster,
Traid, 119 King Street, Hammersmith,
Portobello Market, Notting Hill.

Enter our competition for your chance to win a signed copy of The Cheap Date Guide to Style.

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