Penumbra Friends,
Archives for August 2010
The Florida Resident Pass is On Sale Now!
The Florida Resident Pass is On Sale Now!
Passes are $125
($75 Savings Off Tickets Purchased Individually)
Includes admission to the White Party and Muscle Beach
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Presented by Tequila Herradura
for additional information visit www.whiteparty.org
The Right way to Do Your Nails
Finishing touches are often the things that make or break an outfit. These little touches, such as having one’s nails finished or having polished shoes are often the signs that people look for when deciding if a person is as put together as they are attempting to appear or not. This is because an outfit can be put on and left as is and still look good. The small details have to be kept up. Nails in particular require upkeep. Applying the nail color correctly can help to decrease the amount of work needed to keep the nails looking good though.
Shaping
When doing your nails, first you should consider shaping your nails. There are 2 shapes that most people use when shaping their nails. There is the pointed nail, which is a soft point or rounded edge and there is the square nail shape. The rounded edge nail is great for those people who do not do a lot of typing and have non-physically demanding jobs. The square shaped nail is great for typing and more athletic or active workers. Do not cut the nails into the shape you want, but instead file them into the shape using a nail file.
Cuticles
Cuticles are the thin skin that covers the nail closest to the moon and the rest of the skin. This skin works to protect the nail bed from infections and contaminants. However, this skin is also creates an uneven nail polish finish. In order to achieve the ideal look for your nails, gently press the cuticle back. Do not cut the cuticle back as this can cause the cuticle to bleed and open the finger up to infection. Cut only the skin that has lifted off the nail itself.
Polish
When picking the nail polish to use, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost is what the properties of the nail polish are. Use nail polishes that promise to strengthen the nail. Also pick up a top coat and a base coat. This will help to maintain the beauty of the nail polish and prevent the polish from chipping off. The base coat should also be one that strengthens the nail and helps it to grow properly.
Application
Before applying the nail polish, wash your hands thoroughly. This will help to remove any oils from your nails that will hinder the nail polish. Once your nails are completely dry, place a coat of base polish on your nails and allow this to dry completely. Then apply 3 coats of color, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next coat. Do not apply heavy coats of color, but rather thin coats as this will allow the polish to dry faster and will provide a more even covering on the nail. Once the color is dry, apply the top coat and allow this to dry completely. Apply a second coat of top coat if necessary.
Tips
Doing one’s nails is not rocket science, but it is not easy either. This is why there are so many nail parlors open. When you are going to do your own nails, make sure you give yourself plenty of time. Do not plan on doing anything for at least an hour. Be sure to have nail polish remover on hand and q-tips to wipe away any stray polish from the sides of your fingers. Try to apply the nail polish on a non-humid day as this will help to speed up the drying process. If possible, allow the nails to dry in the sun or under a warm light.
Rules for Leggings
Leggings are an interesting fashion statement that just doesn’t seem to go away. They are a great idea gone terribly wrong. The leggings were originally used as a thicker nylon to ensure proper coverage when wearing a short skirt. They have now become a replacement for pants! And it’s no longer just the preteens and teenagers wearing them, but women into their 40’s! Let’s go over the rules for wearing leggings, just so everyone is strait with them.
Age Appropriate Please
Leggings are not appropriate for women who are older than 30. They simply show too much and act as a second skin. For most people, this is not a flattering look. Even for those who have lean and long legs, the leggings are simply not as flattering as a good pair of structured jeans or khaki’s are. People under 30 can get away with it as being something that the young wear. Remember, wearing things that are not age appropriate will only cause you to look older than you actually are.
Not Appropriate Substitute for Pants
Leggings are like tights. They are made of a thicker nylon material that stretch over the legs and butt, hugging curves that they are meant to cover. This makes it possible to see every feature of the body. While this is not typically a problem when wearing the leggings with a skirt, when using them as pants, everything is exposed. It is possible to tell what kind of underwear you are wearing and if you are skipping underwear completely. Put something over the leggings, please.
Skirts not Shorts
When putting something over the leggings think about it first. Would you pair that piece with a pair of nylons? Most people do not wear nylons with shorts, even short shorts. So then why would a person pair short shorts with leggings. Short jean skirts are appropriate to wear over leggings, but not shorts. Especially not boxer shorts. Nothing works with boxer shorts, girls. Remember, no mini skirts over 30 either.
Mini Dresses
Mini dresses are very revealing and need additional pieces to them in order to keep them legal. Please, do wear leggings when stepping out in a mini dress. Just make sure that the leggings go well with the dress. There are so many different styles of leggings, it should be a cinch to find the right leggings for the mini dress. A pair of strappy heels will help to make the leggings and mini dress really pop.
Classy vs Trashy
Leggings can look classy if care is taken when picking them out. Pick leggings that are solid in color and made of a good material. Having a variety of leggings to match your outfits is a great idea. This includes pops of color and neutrals to allow the outfit to shine. If the leggings begin to get runs, ditch them. Do not continue to wear worn out leggings simply because they do not have massive holes in them. Instead, stick to the classy look to avoid looking trashy with the leggings.
Exercising to Fit into Skinny Jeans
When the skinny jean first came out, I was horrified. It was like the EMO lifestyle took over the mainstream. Now, a couple years after the first skinny jean showed up on the runway, they are still hot. Over those couple years, I have decided that they are not as bad as I first thought. Matter of fact, on the right person, they can be outright sexy and flattering. That is, if the right person with the right toned and sexy legs are wearing the skinny jeans.
Not everyone was born with skinny legs. Most people have to work at being skinny. That includes me. I have to consistently workout in order to fit into those skinny jeans and I’m going to share my workout routine with you so that more people can have those shapely legs that look so good in skinny jeans. After all, it is not enough to have skinny legs to look good in skinny jeans; you have to have lean, toned legs in order for the look to be pulled off correctly. Skinny legs alone simply make the jeans look like you have kid legs on an adult body instead of a woman’s legs and hips on a woman’s figure.
Squats
Never under estimate the power of the squat. Even squats with no weight can drastically reshape and strengthen your legs. In order to these fantastic exercises simply sit back as though you are going to sit in a chair and then stand back up. The further down you go, the better the workout. Try 3 sets of 10 squats with your legs together and then another round with your legs at shoulder distance apart. You will feel this burn quickly, making for it one of the most efficient exercises you can do. You will feel this all through your legs and butt.
Lunges
The lung is another exercise that is super effective even without any equipment. To do a lung, step out with one leg while keeping the back leg in place. Your body should remain strait up and down. Sink down into the front leg, bringing the back leg as close to the floor as possible. Walk the lung from wall to wall, alternating between your legs. This will work your quads, butt and abdominals. Just a few paces from wall to wall is enough to cause that tired feeling in your legs, shaping them into long, lean jean fitting legs.
Leg Raises
There are a lot of leg raises that a person can do. While sitting in the chair, lift the shins and feet so that they are even with the thighs. Do this in 3 sets of 12 reps. Other types of leg raises can be done while standing up. The back raises can be done with both hands on the wall, pressing the leg behind you and up. This will help strengthen your butt and hamstrings. Turning to your left side, raise your left leg in a strait and smooth manner. This will exercise your left hip and the outside of your thigh. Repeat this on the right side. The same can be done while laying down for a more intense workout.
Cardio
Cardio is a series of fast exercises that are done to burn a lot of calories fast. These exercises used to be the bread and butter of a woman’s exercise routine. It is now used as a supplement or part of an effective workout. When doing cardio for fat loss, it is important to remain in the lower heart rate level. Pushing the heart rate too high will cause the body to save the fat as an energy source and burn sugars instead. Use cardio either before or after an exercise routine. Changing the frequency of cardio and the time that it used can help to confuse the body and keep the exercise effective.
Structured Jackets
There are very few pieces of wardrobe that are more forgiving and more useful than the structured jacket. The structured jacket provides lines and movements that help to draw attention away from a trouble area and towards a more flattering area of the body. The structured jacket can help make a casual outfit appear more formal. They often have convenient pockets for those outfits without pockets. They help people a person warm. They provide a canvas for pins and broaches, allowing for a little extra pizzazz to be added to an outfit.
The structured jacket is different than other types of jackets. This jacket has darting and hugs the body. This jacket creates lines, while a regular jacket typically just hangs on the body. The structured jacket is not a thick jacket, but more likely to be worn indoors rather than outdoors. This jacket is more associated with a business casual to formal look rather than the sheer casual look.
When picking out a structured jacket, it is important that the jacket fits properly. The buttons should be able to close comfortably on the jacket. The sleeves should hit at the first knuckle of the thumb when your hands are strait down. A full range of movement may not be possible with the jacket, but some movement should be. If the jacket is pinching or is too tight in the arms, pick up a large size jacket. If the jacket simply will not fit, then move on to a different style jacket or resign yourself to seeing a seamstress after your shopping trip.
Color is important when picking structured jackets. The jacket is not an every day piece and cannot necessarily be thrown in the wash like the rest of the clothing. Pick a jacket that works well with various outfits and styles. The jacket can either be the pop of color or it can be a base/ neutral color. It all depends upon what your wardrobe has more of. The jacket can also help to tie in a different color into the outfit. Avoid jackets that excessively bright or have too much of a pattern. These are big pieces of an outfit and can easily become overwhelming.
Style is also very important. A classic structured jacket will see much more use than a trendy jacket. Avoid buying structured jackets that are ripped or torn, feature large collars or other trendy looks. Instead, buy classic pieces that have a touch of a feminine flair. Do not go overboard with this feminine flair and pick a structured jacket with fake jewels and sequins on it. Pick one with a small flower or a feminine cut that is flattering to the female body and your body in particular.
Once the jacket has been picked, it is easy to pick an outfit to wear with it. Most outfits look great with a structured jacket. A dress can be paired with a structured jacket to make it work appropriate. A pair of jeans can be paired with the structured jacket to make it dressier. This really is a wonderful piece of wardrobe that everyone should own and look into.