"Dear god, please make me beautiful"

So, you want to buy lots and lots of beauty products for yourself, but have a conscience at the same time. Well this is the perfect solution.

Shop to Benefit is a brand new website where you can buy beauty products and perfumes for many top brands. ‘What’s so great about that?’ I imagine you’re hollering. Well, let me explain.

For every item you buy online, 5% of the total will go to a charity of your choosing from either cancer care, environment, children’s health and community support sectors. This 5% is included in the total, so you pay no extra. But you will get that little warm glowy feeling inside. And look good at the same time. Honestly, everyone’s a winner.

Shoptobenefit also has a number of charity specific products, which give even more money to good causes. So if you want the Pretty in Pink limited edition GHDs, then this is the place. Or Paul Mitchell Tea Tree products, which fund American Forests’ Global ReLeaf and Wildfire ReLeaf programmes to preserve natural resources throughout the world, then look no further.

The woman who you have to thank for this lovely, lovely website is Leanne Abraham. She decided that enough was enough. Women spend a ridiculous amount of money on themselves. £385 on beauty products each year to be precise. And if those products were purchased at Shoptobenefit, this average woman would have given £19.25 to charity.

So what are you waiting for? With brands like Elizabeth Arden, Burberry and Dermalogica on offer, you don’t ever have to feel bad about spending money on beauty products for yourself again.

I teased the images from this shoot a few weeks ago with shots from the make-up tests. I’ve been working on these for a couple of weeks now between other work I’ve been doing, so I thought I would share one of the finished images.  Check back as I’ll add one or two more as I get them finalized.

The two designers represented in this shoot are Amanda Valentine and Shannon Lea. Both are independent and based out of Nashville, TN.  Definitely check out their work if you get a chance as they are both doing some good and interesting work.

Let me know what you think and of course, enjoy!

Sarah (Shannon Lea) vs. Diana (Amanda Valentine)

Christina (Amanda Valentine) vs. Nikia (Shannon Lea)

Fashion design may appear to be a glamorous profession with branded clothing and accessories. However, a lot of hard work goes into the creation of a designer item. Creation of a design involves a multi-step process. The designer has to keep in the mind not only the theme of the design but also how to create that design. This requires a proper selection of fashion supplies.

The designer has information of all the work aids. These include pattern masters, rulers, French curves and setsquares with engraved markings. A Pattern master comes in different sizes for cutting patterns, while a flexi curve draws the design along it. A metric vary form curve helps in the creation of flowing lines.

The colorings of designs require color pastel and high quality charcoal sticks.

The designers also need a hem maker for making chalk lines at the hem length of the cloth.

Other supplies include the grader ruler, which is used for measuring curves. The designers also use the fashion scale, which contains curves for making armholes, necklines and sleeves.

Another item that helps in the process of style planning is the fashion tape. It is used for fixing up the designed outfit on the dress stand.

Both amateur and the professional artists use non water-soluble pencils in the process of designing the outfits. In addition to these supplies, there are the pin holders used for pinning the fabric.

The other essential supplies are the dressmaking dummies and the tailors bust forms that assist in cutting of the patterns and making samples.

The fashion designers need carrying cases for carrying their sketches, patterns, fabric or incomplete garments from one place to another. The wallets are also used by the designers to carry their fashion portfolios.

All these supplies put together help a fashion designer complete his job in the best possible manner. From the first sketch to the final outfit, these fashion supplies are almost indispensable.

Presentata dalla modella australiana Nicole Trunfio, la nuova pochette Chanel è un modello superlusso creata  per l’inaugurazione della nuova boutique Chanel a Melbourne.

Occasionally, I see an item for the blog that elicits a WOW!!! The Popeye Minaudiere from Sylvia Toledano is definitely wow-worthy. Scroll through the polychromatic gallery for more inspiration. For more wonderful items from Sylvia Toledano go to vivre.com and check out the handbags. There may be a few WOWS in your day.

I may try a cane with the colors and elements in this purse!

if you guys haven’t guessed yet, i’m in taiwan.

i. hate. the  ”fashion” here. if you can call it that. most of it is horrible and hate is a strong word, but most of the youngsters who think they’re hip are just… a mess. expect candids of ppl here and comments on their fashion (good and bad) and expect lots of updates on the munches page on the foodage.

i’ve already raided one of the sogos near me and picked up some items from a japanese designer (loves!) i hate the word but it’s the only way to describe it… very girly and “kawaii” (i just puked a little using it)

pics pics pics to come!

trips to hk & japan are in the works :]

<3

ps. hair here is so fail. i hate that every girl overdoes it on the whole leggings (torn/lace, FUGprint) trend, orange hair = not cool, guys are disgusting here, the end.

Go check out the awesome Emerging Fervour blog. They on-it-like-Sonic with all things fashion. They also have a new feature that explores the delights inside people’s wardrobes. They had a peek into mine…go look!