It was Tanvi Geetha Ravishankar’s first time on the ramp. The Mumbai-based stylist, voice-over artist and choreographer was always interested in fashion, and found herself auditioning for Lakmé Fashion Week’s first-ever fashion show featuring 10 plus-size models, after spotting a Facebook post.

“I never expected to see so many people, but it was also amazing to be in that environment where everybody was comfortable and happy with their bodies,” the 28-year-old said afterwards. “It felt really empowering to walk on the ramp.”

Ravishankar was one of the ten people who modelled at Lakmé Fashion Week’s first-ever plus-size fashion show, dressed in athletic wear styled by designer Shilpa Chavan or Little Shilpa. For many, it was an important step in making designs on the ramp more accessible and in accepting different body shapes and sizes.

“The sole intention was to let people know that curvy is gorgeous as well,” 33-year-old celebrity manager Amber Qureshi, another finalist, said. “I hope it helps the focus shift from to curvy women, especially because so much of our population is curvy.”

Ravishankar and Qureshi auditioned along with 160 other aspirants for the show, which was held in partnership with aLL, India’s first plus-size brand. In comparison, a regular audition draws around 100 people. The only entry requirement for participants was a minimum 34 inch waist for women and a 40 inch waist for men.

LAKME FASHION WEEK

Many of the finalists had come to the event after being subjected to body shaming or pressurised to conforming to certain fashion rules. “Plus-size women are made to conform to a certain way of dressing,” Ravishankar said. “If you look up local brands that sell plus-size clothing, then you’ll find that they only have kurtas and leggings. Yet, I have never stopped myself from wearing something. I think if as long as something looks good on you, it doesn’t matter.”

Ravishankar originally wanted to be a dancer but says that she eventually had to give up her dream. “A plus-size dancer is not accepted,” she said. “I had to accept that no matter how much weight I lost I couldn’t keep up with it. I couldn’t do it for the rest of my life.”

Fellow participant Rajiv Bhasin talked of plus-size actors like him being restricted to the roles of side comedians and of having his uncles scoff at him at family events because of his size. “Perceptions will take time to change but I term this as a walk of hope,” the 26-year-old TV actor said. “Everyone was so shy in the beginning, but when they walked the ramp, half the job was done.”

LAKME FASHION WEEK

Several participants also spoke of being restricted by the limited number of styles offered by Indian brands for plus-size customers. Ravishankar said that she followed the latest trends but found it difficult to get her size in most apparel brands, instead opting to design and stitch her clothes or get them shipped from abroad. “We have been revolutionary in starting a brand dedicated to plus-size fashion, but only a handful of existing brands have plus-size categories,” Ravishankar said. “Even international brands like Zara and Forever 21 haven’t got their plus-size lines to India, though these are available globally.”

While no other brands apart from aLL have plans of working on plus-size fashion for now, the participants are hoping that this will change after the show. Some also argue that instead of a separate plus-size brand, it is more inclusive for brands to have bigger sizes in their existing lines.

“Everyone makes sizes from XS to XL. Yet XL is where the plus-size starts. Why not extend it?” Ravishankar asked. “I hope the show motivates other brands to start plus-size fashion lines or just make larger sizes in the clothes they already have.”

This spirit of inclusiveness needs to extend to fashion shows as well. “It is important to have plus-size fashion shows for the first few times, but it’ll be great if eventually shows have people of all shapes and sizes,” Qureshi said,” because in the real world, there are people of all shapes and sizes.”

The post Walking The Ramp For LFW Helped These Plus-Size Indian Models Break A Bunch Of Stereotypes appeared first on Grobista.

Since last July, Mumbai-based photographer Anusha Yadav has been shooting a series of portraits of queer and transgender people in the city who blur traditional gender boundaries by transforming themselves through makeup, clothes and accessories. Titled “Transfixed”, the photographic project explores ideas of gender fluidity through the lens of beauty and fashion.

Yadav was inspired by the people she met, who were born male and yet explored their ideas of femininity for different reasons. “I remember watching the film Kinky Boots and the way drag queens dress up,” Yadav told HuffPost India. “I had also met some of the people in the photographs and seen them dress up. It is something that stays in your brain.”

ANUSHA YADAV

Each photograph has a distinct aesthetic, because Yadav gave her subjects the freedom to present themselves in any way they wished to. Later, she added a background wallpaper to the image, as an extension of their chosen persona. “My intention is not to save or certify anyone but to celebrate them,” Yadav added. “It was superb to see that joy and the complete ownership of who they are. Every person who came, surprised me with a new idea of themselves.”

The photographs focus on the faces, rather than the subject’s entire bodies, to highlight their transformation. Yadav also requested them to look straight at the camera to add a confrontational quality to the image “so that people can’t look away”. “The faces match up to their ideals and ideas of beauty, and who they are,” she said. “That is why I focused on the flamboyance and subtlety of it all; the drama and the vulnerability on the face.”

ANUSHA YADAV

This was the first time that Yadav, who works as a documentary photographer, shot inside the studio. Some of the subjects were people Yadav knew, and she found out about others by sheer coincidence. She also reached out to Humsafar Trust, a Mumbai-based NGO which works on LGTBQ rights, to connect with interested participants.

“Expressions of gender other than binary are immediately cast as odd or weird, but the expectation that the act of beautification lies only in the domain of natural-born women is to me, extremely conservative, unequal and reductive,” Yadav said.

ANUSHA YADAV

She has taken 17 portraits so far, and hopes to shoot 13 more to complete the series. Her biggest challenges have lain in finding participants and in finding the right language to articulate the concerns of the project. “I am an LGBT ally but when you dig deeper, you realise that it is hard for them. They face struggles that a heterosexual person won’t,” Yadav said. “It is great to be a messenger and take the idea of a community who we don’t share the same struggle with to people who have no idea or are wary. Through this series, I hope to change people’s opinions or preconceived fears.”

ANUSHA YADAV

You can follow the photo series here.

MORE: Androgynous Androgyny Beauty Fashion Fashion Photography India LgbtLgbtq Lifestyle Mumbai Photographs Photography Style

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NEW DELHI: A Moroccan state TV programme which aired a tutorial on how women could use makeup to cover up evidence of domestic violencehas sparked a furore online.

The segment on the daily programme ‘Sabahiyat’ instructed viewers on using beauty products to “camouflage the traces of violence against women.”
“Makeup,” said the host, “allows women to continue to live normally while waiting for justice.”

She demonstrated useful tricks with foundation and concealer on a model whose face was made to appear swollen and covered with fake black and blue bruises.

“We hope that these beauty tips help you carry on with your normal life,” said the host, smiling, at the end of the segment.

Ironically, it was aired two days before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The video spurred widespread outrage on social media, with thousands from across the world taking expressing their shock and horror.

[source;TOI]

The post Covering it up: Moroccan TV show offers makeup tips to hide signs of domestic violence appeared first on Grobista.

[source;ladership]

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Phone numbers of girls are on sale at recharge shops in Uttar Pradesh with prices starting at as low as Rs 50. The racket is run by majority of rechargers in the state who make money by selling phone numbers of girls who come at their shops for recharges.

The crime came in to light when the 24 hour government helpline number to check unwanted calls was swarmed in by hundred of complains from women who are harassed by such unwanted calls. A detailed report by HT on the incident reveals that the prices of the phone numbers are based on the girl’s  looks. The mobile number of a girl considered as ‘beautiful’ is priced as much as Rs 500 while the number of a girl labeled as ‘ordinary looking’ procures Rs 50.

Also Read: Shaadi dot gov: Govt-run matrimonial site leaks mobile numbers of unmarried teachers

Though there’s no such law that can cause arrest for selling phone numbers but UP Police has found an alternative to it. They are now keeping an hawk eye on rechargers and book those who help purchase the SIM cards using fake identity. “We have booked three recharge guys so far under Section 467 for dealing in false documents,” IG Sekera told HT.

This is a second serious security-breach incident reported in less than a week. Only two days ago, India Today Tech had reported how Kendriya Vidyalaya which is a Union government organisation is running  matrimonial services for its ‘unmarried’ employee and giving out personal details like phone numbers, location and email ID of its employees online. It is worrying to realise that India lacks stringent laws and policies to safeguard privacy. While in the case of Uttar Pradesh, the police itself has confessed that buying or selling women’s phone numbers has not landed anyone in jail so far, the KV incident is a case where the creator of the site just doesn’t realise the there is anything called privacy.We need better laws to deal with such issues as these details can be easily misused and lead to crimes.

[source;intoday]

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Couture, the US’s noted international fine jewellery and watch fair at the Wynn, Las Vegas, celebrated its twenty-first year at the start of summer. International powerhouse brands aside, Couture has always sought to support the new breed of designers who might struggle to stand out at bigger international shows. As such, the Couture Design Atelier section is a choice pick of widely known names and offbeat brands. There’s an impressive show of specialist collectives, too – Muse Showroom, Rainbowwave and Stephen Webster’s Rock Vault among them. Overall the annual Las Vegas event is boosting its position as the go-to global platform for an international independent designer jewellery edit. Not only does it present a well-considered mix of new design thinking, it marks out those savvy designers aiming to take their brands beyond the maker’s studio and onto the world stage. Here’s a taste of what we saw…

Carole Le Bris Perez: She studied sculpture in New York in the 1990s and as the wife of sculptor and painter Enoc Perez, both the city and her favourite artists are creative fuel for Carole Le Bris Perez. Her witty jewellery designs are as nicely crafted as you’d expect of precious pieces and her Picasso earrings and Basquiat rings don’t take their eponymous inspirations too seriously. Nor do they seek to imbue them with empty academic meaning. Hence they work exactly as they should – as brilliant little jewels, not art

Raphaele Canot: Her previous design roles at two major houses – Cartier and de Beers – set Canot on the right road to creating her eponymous brand. Her respect for and understanding of precious materials and classic design codes is evident: she admits to a perennial love-affair with diamonds and there’s a Cartier-esque Deco feel in her approach. But, free from the constraints of megabrand expectations, Canot’s dainty wit reigns supreme in her ever-stylish eponymous designs

Deborah Pagani: American society hostesses did as much as Hollywood stars to promote fine and high jewellery as everyday wear. And this year Deborah Pagani pays homage with her ‘Americana’ collection, in which she seeks to highlight the ‘American style of timeless quality’ in blue sapphires and white gold. As such she cites the casual glamour of elegant Americans such as Nan Kempner, Lee Radziwill and Babe Paley as inspiration. The collection is billed as ‘contemporary classic’, an often misappropriated and clichéd phrase in design terms but Pagani’s clean, classic take and healthy disregard for fashion trends renders her beautiful take exactly that

Arman Sarkisyan: There’s a distinct Los Angeles vibe to Arman Sarkisyan’s baroque style but more so, it is defined by the Eastern European jewellery handcrafted traditions that he inherited from his father, a master jeweller working in Armenia and Russia, and whom he still consults today. These include exceptional metalwork, precious and semi-precious material mixes, clashing cultural references and a joyfully complex spirit. And that’s just for starters

[“source-wallpaper.com”]

The post Desert gold: how the rising stars of fine jewellery design make their mark in Las Vegas appeared first on Grobista.

Perricone MD’s No Makeup Skincare transforms the appearance of ageing skin, bestowing it with a healthy radiance

[“source-wallpaper.com”]

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Burberry has opened up Makers House to visitors, offering them the chance to explore its brand new collection and an array of the Henry Moore artworks that inspired it

In the 20th century, Henry Moore attempted to define the body more than any other artist, visualising its form in magnificent bronze sculptures, shapes that are now synonymous with modern British culture. Moore’s vision was distinctive: feminine forms that were both classic and modern, larger-than-life, and characterised by their complex, concave surfaces with sensuously scooped-out voids.

Now, the work of the foremost sculptor of the British body is the inspiration for clothing made to hang on it, serving as the springboard for Burberry’s freshly launched collection. The process, design references, and final pieces from the collection, shown earlier this week during London Fashion Week, are now on view at Makers House as part of the fashion house’s exhibition, ‘Henry Moore: Inspiration & Process’, alongside more than 40 sculptures by Moore, including Mother and Child: Block Seat (1983–84), Draped Reclining Mother and Baby (1983).

Installation view of ‘Henry Moore: Inspiration & Process’ at Makers House

For Moore, imagining the body was about more than addressing the human form – it also absorbed the British landscape. Moore’s sculptures share a serendipitous connection with Burberry: Yorkshire. It’s often pointed out that the artist’s curvaceous, undulating lines relate to the hills in the county. This is also the manufacturing home of Burberry’s iconic trench coat, and the birthplace of chief creative and chief executive officer Christopher Bailey, who has long been fascinated by Moore’s creations.

 

‘We are delighted to be returning to Makers House this month,’ Bailey explains. ‘This time, we are incredibly privileged to be working alongside the Henry Moore Foundation to bring our collection and exhibition of Moore’s work to life.’ The results of Burberry’s extensive collaboration with the foundation – which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year – are reflected in the silhouettes and fabrications of its February 2017 collection, and emphasised in Burberry’s new campaign, shot in the gardens of Moore’s former home and studio in Perry Green, Hertfordshire.

Selection of materials and sketches with examples of Moore’s graphic works. Courtesy of the Henry Moore Foundation

Bailey’s translation of Moore’s asymmetric forms, for example, his Torso with Point (1967), is seen in the hemlines of dresses and sweaters, while his series of intricately formed made-to-order capes in monochromatic white tones, reflect the sculptor’s studies of soft, sweeping shoulder lines. A chunky, cable-knit jumper with a funnel-neck, recalls Moore’s Seated Woman: Thin Neck (1961), while a nude dress with cut-outs at the waist and shoulder echoes the artist’s presentation of hollowed out silhouettes.

Just as Moore experimented with oversized forms in clay, wood, bronze and plaster on different scales, texture and materials remain consistently important to Bailey’s vision for Burberry. The see-now-buy-now collection features undulating ruffles, billowing silks and crisp cottons, and a new tropical gabardine, a lighter version of the brand’s signature fabrication.

Burberry’s February 2017 collection campaign. Courtesy of Burberry. Photography: Josh Olins

The juxtaposition of Burberry’s designs with Moore, of course, is intended to place the brand in a lineage of British culture, and this is a place that it deserves. Outfitting explorers and the military with its revolutionary protective styles, the brand has shaped the British body since the mid-19th century.

‘I feel sure that Henry Moore would have been fascinated to see his work inspiring such outstanding designs,’ says Henry Moore Foundation director Godfrey Worsdale. ‘We hope this collection will encourage new audiences to discover and appreciate his remarkable work and the studios he created them in.’

[“source-wallpaper.com”]

The post Burberry explores Henry Moore’s vision of the body at Makers House appeared first on Grobista.

Every queen needs a crown — and when it comes to ruling over California’s hippest music festival, not just any crown will do.

LOWELL HERB CO.

Luckily, organic cannabis farm Lowell Herb Co. has come up with the perfect option just in time for Coachella: a simple floral crown adorned with buds of smokeable weed. Featuring the farm’s “Coachella Blend,” the crowns are available to anyone who pre-orders the Lowell Farms Coachella pack from Palm Springs Safe Access. (Yes, you’ll need a prescription to get it.)

LOWELL HERB CO.

On top of the fact that this budding crown will make you the star of any music festival, it’s also a steal: According to Buzzfeed, the Coachella packs retail for $55, and the crown alone is worth $60. And even if you don’t smoke, you have to admit that these floral crowns are pretty Instagrammable.

LOWELL HERB CO.

Check out a few more photos of Lowell Herb Co.’s cannabis crowns below, and, if you have a medical marijuana card, you can pre-order one for yourself from Palm Springs Safe Access right here.

LOWELL HERB CO.

 LOWELL HERB CO.

LOWELL HERB CO.

LOWELL HERB CO.

 LOWELL HERB CO.

[“source-cosmopolitan”]

The post Get Ready to Be the Queen of Coachella, Because Weed Floral Crowns Are Here appeared first on Grobista.

Ready for the next Too Faced launch that OG beauty boy (and CEO) Jerrod Blandino promises you’ll lose your mind over? Behold: the beauty giant’s Melted Latex Liquified High Shine Lipstick, $21, set to come out in June in 16 glamorous shades from nudes to bolds — not to mention, a hue called “Unicorn Tears” that I’m almost certain will live up to its lipstick predecessor.

Curious to see all 16 cruelty-free colors?

Unicorn Tears

TOO FACED

I’m Bossy

TOO FACED

Bite Me

TOO FACED

But First, Lipstick

TOO FACED

TOO FACED

Love You Long Time

TOO FACED

Can’t Touch This

TOO FACED

Hopeless Romantic

TOO FACED

Love You, Mean It

TOO FACED

Hot Mess

TOO FACED

Peekaboo

TOO FACED

Safe Word

TOO FACED

Strange Love

TOO FACED

Twilight Zone

[“source-cosmopolitan”]

The post Here Are All 16 Shades of Too Faced’s New Melted Latex Liquid Lipstick Collection appeared first on Grobista.

The scope of the e-commerce definition as given in the goods and services dispensation has been left so wide that it could go well beyond Amazon or Flipkart marketplace platforms and may even cover the commodity exchanges, ASSOCHAM has said. The body seeks clarity from the government to remove uncertainty among businesses, as the GST is set for a roll out.

“The scope of the terms ‘electronic commerce’ is very wide and does not restrict itself to cover electronic marketplace service providers like Amazon and Flipkart. It covers all businesses where the supply of goods/services is through a digital or electronic network,” the ASSOCHAM said in communications to different concerned ministries.

The association said since the term ‘e-commerce’ covers all businesses where the supply of goods/services is through a digital or electronic network, there is a possibility of ‘unwarranted interpretations’ which may lead to future and commodity exchanges being treated as an electronic commerce operator in respect of commodity derivatives which result in actual delivery of the goods.

“In our opinion such an interpretation will not be in consonance with the object and intent of special provisions for the electronic commerce business. There are distinguishing legal and operational factors between e-commerce operators and commodity exchanges. The commodities exchanges cannot be treated as electronic commerce operator in their legal capacity as well as in common parlance,” the chamber pointed out.

“The ASSOCHAM would like a seamless and flawless roll out of the GST to infuse a sense of confidence among the consumers, trade and industry. Eventually, the GST should become a showpiece of our reforms,” said DS Rawat, secretary general, ASSOCHAM.

Rawat said the chamber, is doing its bit to reach out to the stakeholders and holding a large number of workshops and training seminars for the industry and trade in different parts of the country.

[Source:- Fiber2fashion]

The post Scope of e-commerce very wide in GST ASSOCHAM appeared first on Grobista.

Not only is it important to celebrate Earth Day, but the beauty this planet has given us as human beings. Just how it’s crucial to take care of the planet, treating our mind and body like our own temple can really make a difference in the way we treat others, ourselves, and most importantly, Mother Nature. The Earth’s future depends on even the smallest of decisions we make in our daily lives, even when getting ready at our vanity in the morning with cosmetics.

“Essentially, every clean product that is sold is a move toward sustainability,” says Shawn Towne, global educator and professional makeup artist of Jane Iredale.  “If our products are created and manufactured correctly, then we are doing our part to ensure that animals are not harmed, resources are not depleted, pollution is not released into the environment and consumers are never exposed to harmful ingredients. This is not an unrealistic goal. It’s quite possible if we act responsibly.”

The switch to vegan brand cosmetics has been a trend lately, but there’s a company that’s been changing the game in both the makeup and skincare world, Jane Iredale “The Skin Care Makeup.” Each product is made hypoallergenic and cruelty free, meaning every application is healthy for both our planet and our skin. Ingredients are derived from natural plant extracts and vitamins and minerals that nourish and protect the skin from everyday environmental aggressors and long term aging.

“Well if you’ve ever heard the slogan ‘think globally, act locally’ you understand our philosophy. And Jane lives it in every decision she makes,” Towne says. “From the manufacturing of our products, to the building of our new environmentally friendly corporate headquarters in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Our goal is not just to create healthy products. Our goal is influence the world to act lovingly and responsibly towards our bodies, our environment and hopefully each other.”

Achieve a “Bronzed Goddess” look this spring and summer

Complexion:

On a clean, moisturized face, apply Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener according to skin type. Then follow with desired foundation, tinted moisturizer, or powder to achieve desired coverage. Then taking a fluffy powder brush, swirl in the new Peaches and Cream Bronzer and generously sweep all over cheeks, forehead and jawline to achieve a warm, bronzy complexion. This trick will give the face dimension, color and subtle glow.

Eyes:

Taking the PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple in the New Pink Quartz palette, pick up the shimmery soft pink shade and using either a flat brush or ring finger, press pigment all over the lids. Blend out any harsh lines with a fluffy brush if needed.

For a night time, sultry look, pick up the PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple in the New Soft Kiss palette. With a fluffy crease brush, pick up the matte warm mauve shade and using a windshield wiper motion, rock this shade in your crease till desired intensity. Then pick up the shimmery port wine shade with a flat shader brush or ring finger and press pigment all over lid till desired intensity. Pick up same fluffy brush from previous shade and use to blend out any harsh edges.

Follow with eyeliner and mascara.

Lips:

Apply the new PureMoist Lipstick in the shade Lisa or Susan to achieve a soft, nude lip. Apply till desired intensity. Use with or without lip liner.

Misconceptions about Mineral Makeup

Mineral powder dries out my skin! Mineral foundations clog my pores!

These complaints might sound familiar when it comes to the world of mineral makeup. Whether we believe either, it all comes down to the ingredient list we all seem to pass by when picking up a product in store. Just how we analyze ingredient lists when grocery shopping, it works the same way when we consume makeup and skincare products for our skin, the largest organ of our bodies.

“Although this concern makes sense when you think about traditional powders, we must realize that good mineral makeup has a completely different kind of formulation,” Towne says. “Every [Jane Iredale] product that we make has some kind of skincare benefit. Whether it be antioxidant, hydration or SPF protection, all of our products are literally good for the skin.”

Ingredients like talc, which dries out the skin, along with petroleum, synthetic preservatives, and artificial fragrances are worth avoiding  when picking out a brand. Think about it, the average woman eats two full tubes of lipstick per year, why would we want these harmful contents into our internal organs? Most skincare and makeup products aren’t as pretty as they may seem.

“The long term effect on our skin is that we don’t get the full benefits of any skincare we ever use because our skin is in a constant state of irritation,” Towne says. “For example, moisture doesn’t absorb efficiently if our pores are clogged. If our skin is red and irritated from using Artificial Fragrances, we end up having to wear more makeup to cover the redness.  This really defeats the purpose of what we’re doing.”

 
[“source-ndtv”]

The post Get a Touch of Spring Color With Jane Iredale’s New Makeup Collection appeared first on Grobista.

If eyes are considered the window to the soul, then mascara is basically a set of boudoir-esque lace curtains. A few swipes over your lashes impart a similar effect—sexy and seductive, without being overdone. After spending the better part of the year testing mascaras and surveying pro makeup artists on their faves, we compiled our 2017 Best Beauty Buys list, which includes 171 of the best makeup, skincare, and hair products of the year. From those 171 products, four mascaras reigned supreme. Scroll down to shop each one now.

1. TOO FACED BETTER THAN SEX MASCARA

The post These Are the 4 Best Mascaras of 2017 appeared first on Grobista.

Left, suit, €399; shirt, €99, both by Joop! Shoes (worn throughout), £500, by Boss. Socks (worn throughout), £12, by Falke. ‘Conference-X’ table, £2,443, by EOOS, for Walter Knoll. Perforated desk tray, £37, from Present & Correct. Calculator, £30, by Braun; scissors, £25, by Tools To Live By; concrete pencil holder, £50 for set by Areaware, all from Goodhood. Safari pen, €18, by Lamy. ‘Leadchair Executive’ chair, £2,634, by EOOS, for Walter Knoll.  Right, jacket, €918; trousers, €370, both by 22/4 Hommes. Shirt, £109, by Boss.‘Titan 10’ chair, £850, by Wagner Living.

Left, coat; shirt, prices on request, both by Stephan Schneider. Suit, £370, by Marc O’Polo ‘Leadchair Executive’ chair; ‘Conference-X’ table, both as before. LX pen, €49, by Lamy. Right, suit, £500; shirt, £109, both by Boss. ‘E1027’ side table, £579, by Eileen Gray, for ClassiCon, from Aram. Hexagonal pot, £32, by Ferm Living, from Goodhood. Notebook, £10, from Present & Correct. Dialog 3 Piano Black pen, €290, by Lamy. ‘Linea’ armchair, £2,435, by Cuno Frommherz, for Rolf Benz, from Chaplins

Left, suit, £1,162; shirt, £313, both by Philipp Plein. ‘Leadchair Executive chair (back left); ‘Conference-X’ table; ‘Titan 10’ chair, all as before. ‘John’ lamp, €448, by Tobias Grau. AL-star pen, €24; LX pen, €49; Dialog 3 pen, €19, all by Lamy. Right, jacket, €699; shirt, €150; trousers, €170, all by Windsor. ‘Conseta’ sofa, £4,256, by FW Möller, for COR, from Aram

[“source-wallpaper.com”]

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Skinny fashion dummies have been blasted for promoting dangerous body ideals

The fashion mannequins have been blasted for being too skinny and for promoting dangerous body ideals.

Researchers measured male and female dummies at fashion chains in two cities.

All the  female ones resembled underweight bodies  and were “ultra-thin” on average, according to the  study published in The Journal of  Eating Disorders.

Only eight per cent of   male mannequins represented an underweight body size, the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Psychology, Health and Society found.

The researchers concluded  the body size of mannequins  advertising female fashion would be considered “medically unhealthy” in humans.

Dr Eric Robinson  led the study after shoppers  noticed  some mannequins  were  “disturbingly thin”.

He said: “We of course are not saying that altering the size of high street fashion mannequins will on its own ‘solve’ body image problems.

“What we are instead saying is that presentation of ultra-thin female bodies is likely to reinforce inappropriate and unobtainable body ideals, so as a society we should be  taking measures to stop this type of reinforcement.”

[“source-ndtv”]

The post Tummies dummies Female fashion dummies blasted for being the size of severely under-weight women appeared first on Grobista.

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who want to know what the back of their hair looks like, and those who firmly do not.

That first group is likely to be thrilled by Echo Look, the “style assistant” Amazon announced last week. It’s basically an Echo combined with a hands-free camera controlled by your voice (“Alexa, take a picture”), and it’s being marketed — at least to start — as a way to capture outfit photos. The Look can also record video, so users can see what they look like from every angle, which is either a godsend or horrifying, depending on which side of the aisle you sit.

Amazon’s language around the Look makes Alexa sound like a fashion-savvy buddy. “Alexa helps with thousands of things, and now she can help you look your best,” declares the promo video accompanying the Look’s announcement. But it’s not hard to imagine an ulterior motive. After all, who has more to gain from well-lensed, head-to-toe outfit photos — you or Amazon? Fashion is one of the company’s fastest-growing categories; what could be more useful than a vast bank of user-submitted photos to learn the tastes and existing wardrobes of its customers, and where there might be holes to fill?

Just weeks ago, the company was granted US government approval on a manufacturing patent for a fully machine-operated apparel factory with the capability to produce clothing “on demand.” If built, the factory could feed Amazon’s private label brands, a significant focus for the company. There are currently 40 jobs open for its private label business, indicating expansion across activewear, men’s, and kids’ clothing.

Despite the possible gains for the company’s apparel-slinging business and valid privacy concerns, there is some value Amazon can bring to the process of getting dressed. Echo Look comes with a feature called Style Check, which can offer “a second opinion” on your outfit. To use it, you submit two of your own outfit photos — captured with or without the Look — using a corresponding app. Style Check then spits back an opinion on which is “better” (subjective!) based on “current trends and what flatters you,” the company explains, as determined by “machine learning algorithms with advice from fashion specialists.”

Style Check is not dissimilar to Amazon’s existing Outfit Compare feature, which Prime members will find nestled under programs and features within the iOS app. The big difference between the two is the amount of human input. “The responses in Style Check are a hybrid of machine learning and fashion specialists, while Outfit Compare provides the opinion of a single fashion specialist,” Michelle Taylerson, senior PR manager for Amazon Devices, tells The Verge. “Style Check responses are provided as a percentage, offering a detailed look at how much the selected outfit is preferred, as opposed to the three levels of differentiation in Outfit Compare (It was a close call! / We like this better! / Definitely pick this one!).”

The concept — make getting dressed easier with the help of a digital authority — isn’t new. In 1995’s Clueless, Cher Horowitz’s expansive closet is digitally cataloged so she can flip through tops and bottoms on a touchscreen desktop computer (in 1995!) to create her own looks. If the outfit doesn’t work, the computer then declares it a “MIS-MATCH!”; if it works, the computer shows how it would look on a perfectly modeled image of Cher. Twenty-two years later, why we don’t have this is beyond me.

Various tech and fashion companies have taken stabs at similar concepts over the years, but they’ve all fallen short, offering just part of the experience: wardrobe cataloging, outfit suggestions, or 3D modeling.

Gap announced a try-on app called the DressingRoom at CES this year, currently only available on Google Tango-enabled devices. Users can only pick one of five body types to try on Gap clothes, so it’s pretty limiting. H&M did something similar way back in 2008, which it has since abandoned. Closet-organizing apps are a whole other, equally imperfect beast. Stylebook is an app that works with your existing closet to plan and save outfits, but there is no feature that weighs in on your looks. GlamOutfit does the same, as do many, many others. Then there’s My Virtual Model, which has been kicking around since 2011 and can create a pretty convincing digital avatar of yourself. With MVM, you can try on generic clothes (like a red tank top or wide-leg trousers) as well as clothes from selected partner retailers, but there is no way to integrate your existing wardrobe or get feedback on your looks.

The best existing style AI advice comes from Epytom, a stylist bot that lives on Facebook Messenger, boasting 550,000 daily users. Based on a capsule wardrobe of 40 common clothing items, the bot shoots out daily outfit ideas for users, taking into account gender, age, current weather conditions, and a user-selected style profile. For example, a recent suggestion for me (female, 28 years old, 90026, “artsy”): “It is sky is clear, a high of 76F and a low of 58F, and this Friday is looking great on you! Let’s ease into the awesomeness with Little Black Dress and Crew-Neck Tee! ” The bones of my outfit are determined, and a follow-up message provides further detail: “Strappy slip dress and a white tee are the best for this bold combo — you’ll make a loud statement with the contrast! For the best proportions, choose a chic midi dress hit mid-shin and pair it with flats,” followed by three photo examples of the outfit, sourced from style bloggers.

You can’t submit photos of your own outfits, and the language is clunky, but it does tell you what to wear. “Even among all the variability in fashion, there are style formulas that simply work,” Epytom content editor-in-chief Marianna Milkis-Edwards tells The Verge. She explains that Epytom has analyzed outfits from style icons of the past, like Audrey Hepburn, as well as today’s top tastemakers. “I believe the Echo Look was born out of popular requests; ‘What should I wear today?’ definitely being one of them,” she says. “Right now, Echo is gathering user data and helps you choose a better option. Epytom works a step prior, helping you put together an outfit to show off to Alexa.”

Amazon’s existing Outfit Compare is the cleanest, most streamlined, and personalized “stylist” on the market, but its judgement relies entirely on old-fashioned human input. And why should you trust an Amazon employee’s opinion of your look? The company explains that its fashion specialists are well qualified, with “backgrounds in the fashion retail, editorial, styling, and creative fields,” who have “honed their expertise through ongoing training focusing on personal style, seasonal trends, and more.” But that doesn’t change the fact that taste is subjective. And adding an algorithm to the mix, like Look does, probably won’t help matters.

At their best, these digital style companions offer little more than a jumping-off point when it comes to getting dressed or developing personal style. At their worst, these “style assistants” perpetuate a dated binary of a “right” and “wrong” way to dress. The reality is that the slow-to-change fashion industry is finally beginning to embrace diversity across race, size, and gender. The big message is “be unapologetically yourself” (finally!), with decreasing emphasis on seasonal trends and a complete abolishment of “the rules.”

No doubt, for many people, getting dressed is a stressful and confusing time-suck. “We love to think about fashion as an unbounded self-expression, but you’ll be surprised at how many people just want an outfit that a) suits them, b) is coordinated and not boring, and c) doesn’t require them to spend hours in front of the mirror,” Milkis-Edwards says. The promise of an authority is attractive: I don’t care about fashion, but I need to wear clothes in public, and I’d prefer not to look like a damn fool.

For this sect, perhaps Style Check or Outfit Compare will be an on-ramp to developing personal style, or at least inspiring the confidence to get dressed without it being This Whole Thing. Say what you will about the frivolity of clothes, but your outward appearance has gravity, communicating who you are — or aren’t — before you have a chance to open your mouth. Clothes, accessories, hair style, and makeup can be powerful tools. Outside of nudist colonies, everyone has to fuss with these elements (despite their interest level), so you might as well use them to your advantage. If Amazon’s new tools are what helps you get there, cool. But you could always text a mirror pic to a trustworthy friend and ask what they think.

[“Source-theverge”]

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