"Bumble and Bumble Styling Cream"

This versatile styling cream offers the same support and hold as gel, “but it doesn’t leave hair crunchy,” says N.Y.C. stylist Wesley O'Meara. This styling cream is very versatile. It can be used as a root lifter, curl definer, or to simply create a polished ponytail. It can be worked through wet or dry hair, and gives the hair a nice sheen, without leaving the hair greasy. An 8 oz bottle is $23 dollars, and can be purchased at

"Body Bling"

"It leaves a sparkle and shine on the skin that gives it an extra allure," says L.A. makeup artist Chantal Moore. This new lotion by Scott Barnes’ is one of the most raved about new beauty products in the industry. When applied to the skin it gives a luminous glow, and makes the skin look and feel very smooth. The lotion gives the body a sparkle, but without giving you the look of having a heavy glitter substance on the skin. Creator Scott Barnes’ is a make- up artist, who has been in the industry for years, has a very impressive resume. He has used Body Bling on Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lucy Liu, and many others. The product is $48 dollars, and can be purchased on /www.scottbarnes.com

"Purple People Eaters"

This fall the must have color is purple, in all shades. From plum to lavender all ladies should be looking for purple pieces to mix in with last fall's wardrobe. Anything goes from purple suede slingbacks, to purple patent leather clutches. Even purple shades of lipgloss, and eyeshadow are must haves. For work, ladies can sport the trend, yet still look professional, by adding a purple camisole under grey or black blazers, paired with pencil skirts. For a night out on the town, wearing purple maxi dresses paired with wedges or platforms, or a corset paired with skinny jeans, and slingbacks, will have all eyes on you.

Sagging: A History

Many trends have come and gone, but most people are not aware of where the trend began or how long they will last. Most trends tend not to have long staying power. One trend that has had more than 10 years of popularity is sagging pants. Sagging pants is the art of wearing ones pants below the waist, usually hanging low enough to show underwear. There is some controversy as to where it started. So has the trend been popularized from behind prison walls? Or is it the influence of hip-hop?

One theory of how sagging pants originated is from prison in the 1990s. Prisoners are given oversized uniforms without belts. Belts are a popular way to commit suicide; by hanging oneself, to hang others, or to be used as a weapon in fights. Other reason is that when they wear their pants below the waist is that it is sign that says that they are homosexual.


Sagging pants were not meant to be trend for the males. The other reason was that wearing your pants below your waist states that you were another inmate’s property. The inmate who related the story was an elderly black gentleman who had been sentenced to life in prison and had been there for over fifty years. He marveled how such a mark of shame has become a fashion statement. He says “that younger inmates don't believe him when he tells them, but swears it's the truth”.

The trend has been contributed to the influence of the music industry. Many artists, in the hip-hop genre, were known for letting their pants sag. It became more common to see rappers, like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog and Lil Wayne, in a video with their pants sagging to right at below their hips. It became even more popular as these same rappers began their own clothing labels. Clothing labels, like Phat Farm, Ecko and FUBU, are known for not even offering a small sized men’s shirt. Since the early 90’s with LL Cool J, until today with Kanye West, the sagging pants trend has transcended from jailhouses to fashion houses across the world. The sagging pants trend is just that in the hip-hop community, a trend. Nothing more nothing less. Moguls such as Russell Simmons’ Phat Farm empire, to Jay-Z’s Roca Wear line, hip-hop artist have found a way to turn a negative stereotype, into multi-million dollar investments. Sagging pants is an element of the hip-hop lifestyle. It’s a part of their “swagger.” Not only is the trend sported by African Americans, but by men of many races. Like the music itself, the sagging pants trend has snuck its way into the mainstream homes of America.

The characteristic of the low-slung look became mainstream and took off during the early 1990's when Calvin Klein used rapper Marky Mark in their advertising campaign for underwear. This advertising campaign was the first glimpse of men showing their underwear in a sexy way.

The sagging pants trend made way to skateboarders in the suburbs and high school hallways. Work wear brands such as Dickies and Ben Davies designed baggy clothing that became popular with skateboarders.

As the trend grew, it began to influence the styles of jeans. Low-rise jeans are intended to sit low on, or below, the hips. More men and women began to wear underwear to function with their low-rise jeans. However, the look has been predominantly male and the recent trend for women to reveal their G-string underwear. Low-rise jeans may be worn to display more skin at the waist, torso, and hips. Low-rise jeans may also partially reveal the buttocks when the wearer sits down or bends over. Cleavage becomes visible.

"Charlotte Fashion Week"

Starting on September 18th- September 20th Charlotte, NC will be bombarded with the hottest designers the east coast has to offer, for the very first Charlotte fashion week. The designers will showcase their designs at the Blake Hotel, downtown in the heart of the queen city. As a fashion student at the Art Institute of Charlotte, I am so excited to see all that fashion week has to offer. The clothes, the designers, the models, the parties, I can’t wait. I look forward to being a spectator, and just soaking up all the positive energy from the designers. I am most excited to see Tara Davis, debut her collection. Tara is a family friend, and was the head of the admissions department at the Art Institute of Charlotte. I could not be more proud of all that she has accomplished, in such a short period of time. Charlotte isn’t known yet as a fashion capital, but with the help of Tara Davis, the Art Institute of Charlotte, and all the designers showing their collections, we will become the south’s best kept fashion secret.

Designers

Stereotypes

Laws

Are you dandy? Do you believe that your man is a dandy? Do you even know what a dandy is?

Before one can known whether or not they are dandy or their man is dandy, dandy must be defined and looked at from a historical perspective. A dandy is considered a man who takes pride in their physical appearance. They take time to prefect everything about themselves. They are known for their refined language, leisurely hobbies and for looking to advance their social standings.

The first mentions of dandy is associated with George Bryan Brummell, but the word can be traced back as early as the 1770s with the song Yankee Doodle Dandy. The song was written to describe what the American troops looked during the French and Indian War. During the War, a Yankee Doodle Dandy was hodgepodge brigade. The troops were dressed in the clothes that they wore when the left their homes. There were no uniforms.

The word made its way to English history because of the separation of classes. The royal class appreciated the dandy because of the attention paid to appearance and to nothing else.

Anatomy of a dandy

If you added 2 cups of charm, a half a cup of smooth, and a quarter cup of suave, you would have yourself a dandy. Dandy is a term used by many to describe a man who oozes style, and grace. He has the “it” factor. You can’t describe what “it” is, but you know “it” when you see it. Dandies are tall, thin, handsome men who are so smooth they seem to glide when they walk. They never have a hair out of place, their faces are cleanly shaven, the placket of ruffles on their shirts cascade down to finely starched linen pants, which leads your eye to a pair of silk stockings, which are guarded by freshly polished shoes, accompanied by nothing other than large gold buckles. They are financially independent, in the sense that they feel they do not have to work. Not only are they handsome, but they have the wit and the brains to match. Their charm can’t be ignored, nor can their cynical and nonchalant attitudes. They are the men that we hate to love, and the ones men unlike their kind love to hate.

Historical Dandies

The very model of the dandy in British society was George Bryan "Beau" Brummell. Even though born to middle-class, he was attracted to the lifestyle of the upper class. While in school, he became friends with the Prince of Wales, the future George IV. Because of this relationship and his dress, he began to regard in the circles around the Prince as a virtual oracle on matters related to dress and etiquette virtually a court fashion arbiter

Dandies were no prissy class of gentlemen, or mincing walkers as their elegant forebears, the Macaroni's, had been. They were the well dressed, witty and elegant men of a new generation. Brummell abandoned a wig and cut his hair in a Roman fashion. Brummell also led the move from breeches to snugly-tailored dark "pantaloons," which led directly to the trousers that have been mainstay of men's wear in the Western world for two centuries. George "Beau" Brummell invented what was to become the modern necktie. The feminist Germaine Greer once declaimed that it was foolishness to allow men to rule the world when they begin the day by tying a rope around their necks. Ironically, today he would be called a "metrosexual".

Brummell took great strides to make sure that his clothing was cleaned. If clothes were clean, he reasoned, the body under them must also be. Unlike other males who drenched themselves in perfume to hide body odors, he washed his entire body with hot water every day. As with everything else he did, this too became a fad.

Another well-known dandy is Prince Albert. Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was born on August 26, 1819 at Schloss Rosenau, in Bavaria, the younger son of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. When he was seven, his father divorced his mother on grounds of adultery, and she was sent to live in Switzerland and forbidden to see her children. Albert was educated at Bonn University. In 1840, he married his cousin, Queen Victoria. The marriage was unpopular in some quarters, and parliament resisted granting Albert what his wife regarded as a suitable allowance. Prince Albert was also known for designing his wife wedding dress, and now days designers still look up to Prince Albert and design their bridal wear of his creations.

Modern Dandies

Dandy is not a word that is commonly used in today fashion industry, but many designers and fashion leaders are influenced by the 19th century look. One such designer is Alexis Mabille. Mabille is a self-taught couturier. The Spring 2009 collection presented "an imaginary mixed school, a fun, unconventional gang of students, teacher and parents”. He takes influences from college, military uniforms and formal attire. The silhouette is narrow, tight with short and fitted jackets and coats worn with wide-leg pants or slim-fitting trousers.
This style of dress has already been adopted by celebrities, such as: Andre 3000.
To know for sure if you are dandy or your man is dandy, take the quiz. The quiz is called How Dandy are You? The quiz is comprised of 40 questions to determine your level of dandy. Or become a dandy by checking out Modern Dandies. It provides extensive information on everything a modern dandy needs from clothing tips to the books to read.