Even a plus size model is typically a size 8, which is not actually plus size; they are just healthier looking than waif models who are a size 0.  (Plus sizes don’t usually begin until size 14 or 16.)

While designers argue that they need rail thin models so the clothes hang right from the model’s frame, perhaps what we actually need are designers who make clothes that fit real women with real curves.  That hasn’t happened yet, but there are signs that the industry is changing.

1.  Dove campaigns.  Dove recently launched a campaign to show real women with real curves and a little extra on their frames.  This is  a good start to acceptance.  Kudos for Dove for being brave enough to run this campaign.

2.  YouTube’s Real Women Have Curves campaign.  Look up “real women have curves” on YouTube and you will find several different clips showing curvy women such as America Ferrara of Ugly Betty fame and a model who appeared on Marie Claire’s magazine cover.  While these women would not be classified as overweight, they do represent a definite change from waif models.

3.  Gabourey Sidibe’s success.  Gabourey Sidibe is the main actress in the movie, Precious, and if you haven’t seen it, she is morbidly obese.  The fact that she could have a career as a leading lady says that the industry standards are starting to change.

4.  Designers creating plus size clothing.  Some designers, such as those behind the Baby Phat line, are branching out and creating plus size clothing as well as their line of standard size clothing.

Healthy weight role models are few and far between, but we are starting to see improvements in recent years.  The best role model a young girl can see is a healthy, active woman, not a waif.

Photo by MAX CHERNITSOV

Getting ready for fall can involve a lot of changes both inside and outside the house.  As the weather gets cooler and wetter, you need to make sure that you are prepared for the season ahead.  And if you live in a very cold climate, you need to really make sure that you are winterized already.

Outside The House

You should probably start outside the house when it comes to getting ready for fall.  It is nicer to fix things now when it is still warm, rather than when it really gets cold and wet.  You should look at things like your roof to make sure that all your tiles are in good condition, and check your gutters to make sure that fall leaves didn’t jam them up.  Also, check out around the windows and doors for cracks in the caulking that could keep your home weather proof.

Inside The House

On the inside of your home, you probably want to make sure that your heater is working now, rather than waiting for the first snowstorm only to find out it doesn’t work.  Many local utilities will check gas furnaces for free, and some furnace companies also offer free annual checkups.

Also inside, you want to make sure that you have a good stash of stuff for emergencies, including canned food and water.  If you live in an area that is prone to snow, you never know if you’ll be snowed in for a few days and not be able to get to the store.  Always make sure you have enough supplies on hand to make it through.

On The Go

Finally, if you’re on the go, you need to make sure that you are weather-right.  This probably means updating your menswear to include winter coats and sweaters to keep you warm.  You also will want to find your snowshoes and anything else you wear for the cold weather.

For your car, make sure that you tires are in good condition for the snow, and find your snow chains if needed.

Reflecting the variety in womens fashion wear this year, shoes have also gone for more adventurous designs and colours.  There’s a great opportunity to equip yourself for all the demands that a busy modern life might throw at you – from the ultra-casual trainer to formal evening sandals – without having to seek far and wide, and without having to break the bank!  The range of womens shoes at Next UK are an example of the exciting designs that are currently on the market.

The looks to go for –

Cool dude, teaming men’s tasseled loafers, two-toned brogues or pointy lace-up patent leather shoes with cut-off jeans, or narrow-cut rousers in one of this season’s fashionable pastel shades.  Choose laces to match the colour of your trousers for a neat matching style.  To create a more feminine look, choose to go glitzy in silver or gold, with detailed bows or side buttons.

Comfort and glamour, combining the comfort of a flat shoe with glamorous designs and materials.  Ballerinas are all the rage this season, some in demure greys and browns or plain black, some going Fifties glam, with sequined toes, and striped in pastel colours.  Detailing is all, with flat bows or side buttons, swirly tapestry patterns on simple shapes on display – all look great with simply tailored suits or skirts.  If you want your feet to look eye-catching, don’t distract from the overall effect by adding too much detail on your dress or skirt.

Boot up for the autumn, with Cossack boots and faux fur tops remaining popular, and contrasting coloured leather laces threading through the eyelets of front-laced knee boots. Davina McCall has some stylish leopard-skin pattern trouser boots in her range, and knee-length boots with black padded uppers; both offering a cushioned mid-sole that makes them a pleasure to wear all day, with no tired feet in the evening.  Ankle boot wedges look as though they will set a trend for the autumn and winter, with jungle prints much on show, and decorative studded high heels or multiple buckles decorating side openings almost reverting to that Punk look of the Seventies.   And if you want to really prepare for the weather ahead, why not go for one of the whacky welly styles on the market, patterned in stripes, floral swirls or even a cornucopia of fruit?

For the lady who would like a lovely long and bouncy ponytail this is just as easily accomplished as for the woman who would like a soft and wavy look. And for those days when she chooses not to wear her hair up in a ponytail there is an assortment of other Hershesons hair accessories such as Winges and clip in hair extensions. Anyone who hasn’t heard of Winges will be delighted to know that these are simply clip on fringe bangs for the lady who would like her hair to be all one length but would also like to wear fringy bangs on occasion.

Because prices are so affordable at www.hershesons.com there is no reason not to be able to change your hairstyle day after day. Perhaps one day you can wear a clip in ponytail hair extension with Winges in the next day long and sassy hair extensions creating that oh so chic rocker look. Whatever mood strikes you, you can have the liberty of changing your hair to go along with your mood. Simply learn to put in the extensions quickly, paint your face, powder your nose and your ready to face the world as a whole new woman. It’s fun and exciting to keep them guessing who you will be day after day.

Getting back to the news however is the fact that in the signing of Robert Griffin III to the Washington Redskins (American Football Team), socks designed especially for him from Adidas were showcased with his favourite saying and of course the ever trendy Adidas logo. Griffin’s motto has been “Go Catch Your Dream” and as the Heisman Trophy winner from the 2011 college season, this is a dream that he surely realised. Now as pick number two on draft night 2012, signed by the Redskins, that dream has become a reality.

Elsewhere in the ‘news,’ the fashion industry has been turned topsy turvy because this spring/summer collection has women wearing socks of all sorts with their sandals, platform shoes and even with high heels. Whilst a high percentage of those are simple earthy tones, some are bringing back the bright, bold colours reminiscent of Pippi Longstocking of generations past.

Some are fashioned like the slouch socks of 80’s and others are tight fitting knee high sports socks seen on football fields across much of the world. In fact, bright and bold socks certainly are trending this year whether ankle, calf or knee high lengths. Teams are having fun creating their own wacky designs whilst the younger crowd is going in for the brightest colours they can find. Socks are in the news, but with a whole new slant that is setting the world of fashion abuzz.

Bio: WackySox specialises in a full range of colourful sports socks in ankle, calf and knee lengths. For totally bespoke socks with Coolmax® foot comfort, this is the site to shop for a high quality product made in the UK.

There are many sunglasses out there that say they can protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays but in all reality they don’t. Quality sunglasses will be labelled with what type of lenses they have.

Inspect your sunglass lenses to see if they are 99 to 100 percent capable of blocking dangerous rays. With each type of lenses you will find that they have unique capabilities and functionality. Such as blue-blocking lenses offer great protection but can make the hues of colour look tinted. You can also find great protection with is the polycarbonate lenses that are durable for the more athletic person.

There is a plethora of options by Ray-Ban who design lenses that can offer the adequate amount of protection. It all started with the original Wayfarer Sunglasses. They are known for their lenses that can safeguard your eyes from the sun. The original Wayfarer Sunglasses have come a long way from plastic to the durable metal ones of today. Recognises the importance of the eyes well being Sunglasses UK has a selection that is sure to give you the best sunglasses to shield your eyes from the summertime sun. Take that extra step in protecting your eyes future with the right sunglasses.

• Diamond wedding bands suit everyone. They are not just for the rich and famous and they are not just for women. Men can wear wedding bands that are accented with diamonds just as well as women. Platinum diamond bands are popular because they are a bit unique. Not everyone can afford or wear platinum. If you are looking for a wedding band that offers timeless charm but a bit of an updated look as well, platinum bands with diamond accents are the perfect choice.
• Diamonds really are a girl’s best friend. If you want your wedding band to serve as a reminder of that special day, the day that you were a princess, diamonds are a good choice. You will forever have that beautiful stone as a reminder of your special day.
• Diamonds come in all shapes and sizes. You can literally purchase diamonds in just about any size, shape or form that you want. This keeps them a popular choice for wedding bands because you can create a band that is completely unique. You can have something to remind you of your special day that no one else has.

Whether you are looking for a more conservative band or you want something flashy, diamonds are the right choice for any preference. They are beautiful and timeless. Diamond wedding bands have been around forever and they have only improved with age. When it comes time to choose those wedding bands, think about the timeless elegance of a diamond and just why they are still as popular today as they were many years ago.

This article was written by The Beautiful Company, online jewelry retailers since 2003. We provide high quality platinum wedding rings, diamond wedding rings and other quality jewelry at internet prices.

Now fashion is an industry usually dominated by the majority opinion, and as we know its an industry that changes often. Where tattoos fit into this is still somewhat of an unknown although I have my hunches. Because the tattoo is permanent, unwavering and a reflection of a single point of time, I believe they will always be a fringe element of fashion design. Designers will incorporate tattoos to reflect or add to their designs but will never use the tattoo as a focus of the design.

What concerns me more broadly is the number of people getting tattoos and the lack of thought that goes into their designs. I have seen enough old sailors, and been in the fashion and beauty industries long enough to know that taste change and so does your skin. My hunch is that there popularity will somewhat diminish as the effects of the tattoo generation become clearer in the years to come and that the laser tattoo removal procedure will become very popular.

On a design point of view however, tattoos are an excellent source of inspiration. My particular favorite inspiration comes from the traditional warrior tattoos, which create beautiful shapes and patterns. I also recommend using temporary tattoos in your showcase, portfolio or show, as a unique accessory to your designs, particularly if your into the art and grunge fashion.

A brachytherapy dermatologist is a trained medical professional who will minituarized x-ray source to deliver extremely conformal and accurate high-dose radiation to the skin cancer. This accuracy means that the normal tissue around the cancer suffers no damage.

The practise has been heavily tested with one test showing 100% success rates. In the test 53 patients were treated and results were as follows:

In all treated cases, an apparent clinical remission occurred in approximately 3 months, and complete healing was obtained in 100% of the treated patients; in 82% of the cases, this occurred after a single application. No disfiguring scars or any side-effects were seen. After a follow-up of 20–72 months (mean 51 months), no clinical relapses were observed in the treated patients. Histological examination confirmed complete tumour regression.

Its amazing how much modern medicine has advanced and in partucluar the beauty industry. This post was a little off topic I know, but fascinating none the less.

Now we all know how important and how beautiful naturally smooth and clear skin is. But its suprising how few of us turn to the medical profession for help, we seem to be captivated by the self-help, tv deal type of skin treatment. My friends visit to the dermotologist proved fruitful, mainly in identifying the skin issues as not being related to acne and hormones.

After a couple of months my friends skin cleared up due to a personalized skincare ritual. The dermotologist was able to identify the cause and subsequently the cure. As Dermotologist Dr Brandt says “Dematology is a well credentialed medical field, and your skin is an organ that may need specialist care like any other”. Dr brandt is a dermotologist for the stars who has been lecturing on the subject for over 20 years. He says that in most cases non-invasive surgery and treatments are able to cure most skin problems, but that people are too inclined to go the cheap or easy option in terms of skin care.