Fluffy Shows Look So Comfortable

Fluff around the edges.  So comfy looking.

Treat your feet to the decadent comfort of the newest slippers from Ugg Australia.  Check out the following styles at the UGG website.

• Aira: A unique foxing stitch detail lends a homespun look to the Aira, enhancing the coziness of the soft suede and plush sheepskin collar. The natural wool interior provides breathable warmth, while a rubber outsole lets this slipper go beyond the house.
  
• Wrin: The Wrin gets an artisanal finish from unique foxing stitch detailing and a luxe sheepskin collar. Crafted from water-resistant suede, lined with natural wool, and affixed to a rubber outsole, this slipper can lounge at home or wander outdoors with ease.
  
• Moraene: The Moraene exudes warmth and comfort with its water-resistant suede upper and plush sheepskin collar. Lined with natural wool, this slipper also features a rubber outsole that works around the house or out and about.
  
• Chickaree: Part moccasin, part boot, and part slipper, the Chickaree is a triple threat when it comes to comfortable style. Artfully detailed with a Tasman braid pull tab, this suede slipper is affixed to a molded rubber outsole for indoor and outdoor versatility.

Since 1978, UGG has employed the finest standards of craftsmanship in the world, utilizing a variety of premium materials that feel like nothing else. From grade-A Twinface Sheepskin to luxuriously soft UGGpure™ wool, all of their exceptionally high-quality materials are carefully selected, refined and handcrafted to deliver a truly unparalleled experience.

Chamilia Hope Bracelet

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Chamilia, a Swarovski Group brand, announced that it again will donate a portion of each purchase from its “Give Back: Breast Cancer” gift set to the American Cancer Society in support of its efforts in making strides against breast cancer. The set combines the brand’s new pink braided leather cord with easy-to-use clam-shell closure and its “Hope” charm from the “Her Gifts to the World” collection as a special release for the occasion.

“Chamilia is a brand that has always supported women in the important stages of their lives,” said Chamilia Vice President, Global Merchandising and Marketing Catherine Ottaviano. “During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the women who have battled this disease are honored. Of course, we choose to support their journey.”

There are more than 400 exclusive charms available from the Chamilia brand. The line is made from sterling silver or 14 karat gold and features genuine Swarovski Crystals, Swarovski Zirconia, or Murano glass. The brand follows strict Swarovski guidelines for quality and aesthetic standards.

THE GIVE BACK BREAST CANCER GIFT SET – Includes a bright pink leather bracelet with easy-to-use branded sterling silver clam-shell closure and extender chain and the Chamilia “Hope” charm; retail price: $75. The set will be available at the brand’s more than 2,000 retail partners worldwide and on the Chamilia website, www.chamilia.com.
  
About Chamilia

Based in Cranston, RI, Chamilia is an American company that was established in 2002. Since its purchase in 2013, it has been a member of the Swarovski Group, a world leader in quality and innovation. Each of the more than 400 exclusive charms available from the brand are made from .925 sterling silver or 14 karat gold and feature genuine Swarovski Crystals or Zirconia, or Italian Murano Glass. The brand follows strict Swarovski Group guidelines for quality and aesthetic excellence. For more information, please go to www.chamilia.com.

About Swarovski

Swarovski delivers a diverse product portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, Swarovski Crystal Business designs, manufactures and markets crystals, natural and created gemstones, finished products such as jewelry, accessories and lighting. The company’s film division, Swarovski Entertainment, produces artistically accomplished feature films with global box-office appeal. The Swarovski Foundation was set up to honor the philanthropic spirit of the company by supporting creativity and culture, promoting wellbeing and conserving natural resources. Now run by the fifth generation of family members, Swarovski Crystal Business has a global reach, with over 2,350 stores in about 170 countries and more than 25,000 employees, www.swarovskigroup.com. 

See more of the Chamilia 2015 Charm Collection from our previous style report.

Thank you for taking the time to read our jewelry & hope blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

FineLine Technologies Aquires Source ID

FineLine Technologies, Inc., the worldwide ticketing business known for its same-day rush order shipping and standard 48-hour turnaround time, has acquired Montreal-based Source ID, providers of product identification systems and service bureau solutions to Canadian retailers and brands. The announcement was made jointly by FineLine Technologies CEO George Hoffman and Source ID Partner Michael Lands.

“FineLine Technologies’ global presence will benefit Source ID’s Canadian customer base,” says Lands. “As part of FineLine, we now have the infrastructure to provide web-based price ticketing solutions to the Canadian marketplace that satisfy vendor requirements anywhere in the world.”

FineLine’s Hoffman notes a productive synergy between his company and Source ID. “We share a strong customer focus,” Hoffman says, “and we are both expert in meeting challenging shipping time requirements. Our acquisition expands FineLine’s offering in Canada by combining our global service bureau capabilities and Source ID’s 40 years of local industry expertise. Together, we can meet Canadian retailers’ most complex, and highest volume, worldwide price ticketing requirements.”

The Source ID name and team will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of FineLine Technologies Inc. 

About FineLine Technologies

FineLine Technologies provides variable data ticketing and mobile solutions for retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers throughout the world, with products ranging from barcoded tags to RFID, RF and NFC integrated ticketing and labeling applications. With headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the company owns and operates facilities in the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China.

Learn more about RFID for the Fashion Industry here on Apparel Search in our technology section.

Thank you for taking the time to read our apparel industry news blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

Iggy Azalea Wearing Ice Twister Ring at VMA

Iggy Azalea was photographed wearing BaubleBar jewelry last night to the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at the Orpheum Theater in LA! 

The singer accessorized her all white look with BaubleBar's Ice Twister Ring during her performance with Demi Lovato ($42).

Image: Instagram

Learn more about BaubleBar jewelry.

Learn more about the Video Music Awards here on Apparel Search.

Robert Cavalli 2015

Norwegian-American fashion designer Peter Dundas previously departed from Emilio Pucci and had landed with the fashion print house set up by Roberto Cavalli.

According to a recent article at Vogue.com, “Cavalli is synonymous with freedom for me. I want the brand to have an independence in fashion, both in what it is and who represents it,” he offers. “I don’t want the Cavalli girl to be just one kind of woman.”  Peter Dundas has chosen Kim Kardashian as his muse for the brand (one muse of possibly many).

The Peter Dundas move from Emilio Pucci to Roberto Cavalli is more of a return than a new beginning for Dundas, who served as Cavalli’s head designer from 2002 to 2005.

As reported in the New York Times on March 19, 2015, the Norwegian born fashion designer Peter Dundas was to become the director of Roberto Cavalli.

At Roberto Cavalli, Mr. Dundas will be responsible for women’s wear, men’s wear and accessories, in addition to overseeing its licenses, marketing and communications. According to a company statement, these roles would “enable a repositioning of the house established by Roberto Cavalli in the early 1970s.”

See more about Roberto Cavalli on Instagram.

Learn more about Roberto Cavalli.

Learn more about fashion designers here on Apparel Search.

Splendid Lakota Bootie

Are you looking for the Splendid Lakota Bootie?  You would not be the only one.

The Lakota is unfortunately becoming difficult to find.  Sure, they are still available, but getting more challenging to locate.  Possibly the Holy Grail of most awesome booties for Fall/Winter 2015.

Splendid has additional boots with luxe suede, stacked heel, and rounded toe, but it is just NOT the same as the Splendid Lakota Bootie.

For example, the Murietta Boot is a fine example of footwear, but it is simply not a Lakota.

The Rodeo is another fine bootie option, but again, simply not the Lakota bootie.

Good luck with your search for the Splendid Lakota Bootie in the the color and size of your choosing.

By the way, if you enjoy a similar but a bit more western style bootie, you may want to also check out the Asher Bootie.  It has a western inspired embroidery and a pull-on zipper closure at the back.  This shoe is pointed toe, unlike the Lakota.

Founded in 2002, the Splendid® brand is the culmination of a ten year quest to create the ultimate t-shirt. The success in designing such a soft material resulted in what is now a complete lifestyle collection of ultra-comfortable, effortlessly chic styles for the entire family. Splendid can be found at its numerous retail locations as well as high-end department and specialty stores nationwide and online. To shop online or for additional information visit Splendid.com.



By the way, if you can not find the allusive Lakota Bootie, you may want to also investigate the Charlotte Snake Boot from Ugg Australia pictured below.

The above Ugg bootie is Genuine calf hair with snake embossed detail with a back zip closure.  Round toe with a stacked heel.  The Charlotte Snake Boot is currently available at Nordstrom Rack.

FYI: My wife believes that the Lakota Bootie from Splendid brand is the absolute "Must Have" bootie this year.  Their is NO substitute for this fine bootie.

We are not sure for how much longer, but you can currently find the Lakota Bootie at Bloomingdales.

Bloomindales has the high heel booties in Cranberry color (pictured above) and Moss color. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our fashion blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

The Willow Scarf at Nasty Gal

Clad in plaid and lookin' real good. The Willow Scarf features a multicolored plaid print, frayed edges, and oversized silhouette. Looks great with a classic trench, skinnies, and sleek black booties.

Nasty Gal is a global online destination for fashion-forward, free-thinking girls. In 2006, founder Sophia Amoruso started an eBay store selling a highly curated selection of vintage pieces. The shop has grown to become an international style source offering both new and vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories. The name was inspired by the song and album “Nasty Gal.” Betty Davis, the patron saint of badass women, was known for her unapologetically sexy funk music which comprises our vision of femininity—complete with lamé platform thigh-high boots.

Ashley Stewart Embracing Confidence

Ashley Stewart knows that it all starts with one ingredient: confidence. Pair it with hot fashion, innovation and a fiercely loyal community and you have the recipe for a global success story. A force to be reckoned with, this plus-size fashion brand has been celebrating curvaceous women for over 23 years. Ashley Stewart is all about the empowerment of women and the sisterhood created in the communities of its 89 stores.

Ashley Stewart is your neighborhood brand gone global with…

• Ecommerce sales growth of 80%+
• Mobile demand growth of 200%+
• A Facebook page ranked in the top 10 for engagement worldwide for retailers

Learn more about the movement Ashley Stewart is creating via the brand book:

Ashley Madison Brand Book 2015

Thank you for taking the time to read our women's fashion blog post.  If you have comments or questions about this fine retailer, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

Alexandre Birman Melody Shoe Pre-Fall 2015

Meet Melody.

Melody is from the pre-fall Alexandre Birman footwear collection.

Alexandre Birman was destined to create beautiful, handcrafted shoes. A native of Brazil, Birman was born into a family that has dominated the South American footwear market since the 1970’s. “I was raised in a shoe factory — and that’s not marketing, that’s the true story of my life,” he often says of his upbringing. He designed his first shoe at the age of 12, which was the very beginning of an illustrious career in the family business for Alexandre. In the spring of 2008, Birman launched his namesake Alexandre Birman collection, which focused on luxury, femininity, and sophistication.The collection was entirely created by hand from luxurious, imported raw materials and exotic reptile skins reminiscent of his Brazilian roots. The beautiful handcrafted designs quickly landed him a designer profile in VOGUE and after a successful season of design recognition and sales expansion in the major department stores in America, top industry publication Footwear News honored Alexandre with the prestigious Vivian Infantino Emerging Talent Award of 2009. Birman was also named a “Top 10 Designer to watch in 2012” by Footwear News and his designs were recently featured in the Museum at FIT’s “Shoe Obsession” exhibit in New York. Alexandre Birman was newly inducted as a new member of the CFDA – Council of Fashion Designers of America in June of 2013. 

Celebrity fans of the Alexandre Birman brand include Hollywood starlets Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, Demi Moore, Blake Lively, Jessica Alba, Gisele Bundchen, Zoe Saldana, Alessandra Ambrosio, Ashley Greene, Amanda Seyfried, Olivia Palermo, Leighton Meester, among others.

This popular designer brand is sold internationally.  If you are looking for a store, visit their site and check the where to buy link.

Thank you for taking the time to read our women's shoe brand blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

Love Goodly Beauty Product & Lifestyle Shopping

LOVE GOODLY has just launched.

LOVE GOODLY was created by two eco-lifestyle experts, Katie Bogue Miller and Justine Lassoff, who are putting a new twist on the business of “feeling good” by combining lifestyle subscription boxes and social consciousness.

“Katie and I developed our second project, LOVE GOODLY, with a simple idea — you can vote with your wallet for more conscious brands. As advocates of healthy lifestyles and giving back, we created LOVE GOODLY — putting a twist on the business of ‘feeling good’ by combining lifestyle subscription boxes and social consciousness,” said cofounder Justine Lassoff.

The subscription box service, Web and mobile shopping site for discovering trusted, healthy, eco products has a simple mission — to help women discover the best lifestyle products with its carefully sourced brands while giving back to good causes such as Farm Sanctuary and FCancer.

And the best bit is every purchase is delivered to your doorstep, so healthier and stylish living is made easy.

Customers can buy their favorite full-sized products online or sign up for monthly subscription boxes to discover the best new products every other month.

Each LOVE GOODLY box includes five to seven carefully sourced products from companies including Go Raw, LVX, SW Basics, Hurraw!, RMS Beauty, Dogeared Jewelry and ALOHA.

Subscription options include:

• Bi-monthly box -- $35 paid and delivered every other month 
• Six-month subscription -- $90 up front for three bi-monthly deliveries, with auto-renewal (but you can cancel after six months) 
• Six-month (no subscription) -- $99 for three bi-monthly boxes, no auto-renewal 
• 12-month subscription -- $180 up front for six bi-monthly deliveries, with auto-renewal (but you can cancel after 12 months) 

LOVE GOODLY carefully selects brands and labels them with 12 value icons, such as gluten-free and organic, so it's easy to shop by need. Skincare and beauty products are vegan and cruelty-free and all are reviewed to ensure they are toxin-free too. And, the company selects style accessories and home products with a range of attributes, from fair trade made by workers and artisans around the world by supporting fair wages to companies using more natural, organic or recycled materials.

LOVE GOODLY — a Web and mobile shopping platform for discovering trusted healthy, eco products that give back to good causes. The company is funded by influential investor and Machinima Chairman Allen DeBevoise and will sell subscription boxes of nontoxic beauty and skincare products, wellness, healthy snacks and eco style accessories.  Are you ready to give it a try?

Fashion & Beauty Product Advertising

Fashion & beauty product advertising must be so much easier now than it was a decade or two ago.  For example, here is an advertisement for Natura Magica from Aldo Coppola.


In a matter of moments, I took the image from above into an app on my desktop and created the following three images.  I am neither an illustrator or designer, yet I think I created rather compelling pieces of work.  Well, it was not too difficult considering anything done with the face of this model is almost guaranteed to turn out well.

By the way, I found the original advertisement in the Wonderful Italy Illustrated digital magazine that can be found from theMICAM blog post.

Walk in Italian Shoes

theMICAM
Wonderful Italy Illustrated, a journey through Italy's fashion and accessories.

The MICAM is where the world meets footwear.

theMICAM is the leading international footwear fair, promoted by ASSOCALZATURIFICI ITALIANI the Association of Italian Footwear Manufacturers.

The event is held twice a year in Milan, the fashion capital, in the modern and functional fair grounds of Rho Fiera.  In March and September, a sneak-preview of the autumn/winter collections and those for spring/summer of the following year are presented. The result is a complete and wide range of goods featuring quality, design and innovation, a unique platform that successfully combines business, glamour and communication. 

The fair occupies an exhibition area of  70,000 square metres and plays host to around 1,600 companies, of which 1,000 are Italian and 600 foreign. Together they represent over 30 different countries.

Given the attendance figures of around 40,000 visitors, of which 20,000 come from abroad, theMICAM confirms its role as a privileged showcase for promoting new collections. At the same time, it is also a decisive opportunity to do business and establish tangible commercial contacts. 


An appointment buyers cannot miss, and one where they will be able to witness all the latest developments in Italian and international footwear fashions.

Learn more about the fashion and footwear industry of Italy here on Apparel Search in our international apparel industry section.

Frost + Dutch Jewelry Design

Jewellery and accessories company Frost + Dutch has launched a new line of products following a sell-out success earlier this year.

The mother daughter team has introduced the 20-piece range, which features semi-precious stones and metals, after the boutique’s established collection became particularly popular with trend bloggers and style lovers.

Inspired by the earth’s natural elements, the collection includes brightly coloured bead bracelets crafted from semi-precious materials such as opal and aqua jade and layered crystal necklaces edged in gold or silver.

Saskia Frost, Managing Director and Designer at Dutch + Frost, said: “We wanted to bring something different to our customers and draw inspiration from the world’s fantastic selection of jewellery. The new range offers something for everyone and with our great selection of gemstones, there is plenty to choose from. We are also letting our customers choose from a choice of chain styles and lengths as we can appreciate that everyone likes something a little different.

“We received great feedback from customers who love the individual personalities of the pieces and we are sure that the new collection will be just as well received.”

Each Frost + Dutch item is carefully handcrafted by blending both traditional and modern techniques.

The highest quality semi-precious stones are sourced from across the world and then edged in gold or silver before being shaped to suit a variety of bracelet and necklace items. Customers can then choose their own unique colour of stone, style and length of chain.

The new Frost + Dutch collection is available purchase exclusively from the company’s website. For more information about the range visit www.frostanddutch.co.uk or follow @frostanddutch on Instagram. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our jewelry blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

Sport Obermeyer Winter Sports Apparel

Let's take a moment to learn a little more about Sport Obermeyer and the companies founder.

Klaus Obermeyer is the company’s inspiration to innovate and live a well-balanced life.  When he founded their company over 60 years ago, it was his entrepreneurial spirit that drove him to combine his engineering background with his love of snowsports to create technically responsible winter clothing that would enhance the experiences of his customers.  It's that same spirit that inspires the Sport Obermeyer company today.  As a family-run, privately held company based in Aspen, Colorado, they are actively pursuing their goal of designing and producing more sustainable, earth-friendly products.  By bringing together forward-thinking people, they are embracing new technologies and innovative ideas.  With eyes on the future, they can afford the patience to make smart choices that will affect the planet in a positive way.

Klaus Obermeyer's enthusiasm is contagious, his energy seemingly endless, his optimism without bounds.  To hear him yodel is to experience the depth of his spirit.  To watch him ski is to witness his true love of the sport.  It all began in 1919, in Oberstaufen, Germany, the small Bavarian alpine village in which Klaus was born.  He was an avid rock climber, as well as a ski mountaineer, racer and jumper.  In 1947, Klaus arrived in Aspen, Colorado, where Friedl Pfeiffer had opened the Aspen Ski School.  At night, he followed his entrepreneurial spirit. Sensing that people would spend more time on the slopes if they were warm and comfortable he founded Sport Obermeyer - in the attic of his home.  There, one of the first of many innovations was born in the form of a down ski parka stitched together from his goose down comforter.  Soon after came high-altitude suntan lotion, turtlenecks, nylon windshirts, mirrored sunglasses and more.  

In 1961, the first Sport Obermeyer factory warehouse opened in Aspen, and the innovations continued with “soft-shell” jackets, double lens goggles, the first waterproof-breathable fabrics.

If you enjoy winter sports apparel, you may have interest in learning more about ski jackets. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our cold weather fashion blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

Levi's 300 Shaping Series

The 300 Shaping Series is a new women's denim collection from Levi's.  Jeans that help slim your tummy, lift your seat, and lengthen your legs.  It is time to own what you got, but wear jeans that help what you got look good.

311 Shaping Skinny Jeans
312 Shaping Slim Jeans
314 Shaping Strait Jeans
315 Shaping Boot Cut Jeans

OK, what happened to 313?  Does Levi's have a 313 in the series?  If you know the answer, please share your thoughts in the comment section of this blog post.  Did they skip that number, or did we miss something in the new series release.  Possibly, they are adding that number in the future.

Here is a bit more information about the styles that we have learned about thus far.

311 Shaping Skinny Jeans: Designed to smooth and enhance, their new shaping jeans help slim your tummy, lift your seat and lengthen legs.  These skinny shaping jeans shape through the hip and thigh with a skinny leg, and feature a flattering mid rise and tummy-slimming technology.

312 Shaping Slim Jeans

314 Shaping Straight Jeans

315 Shaping Boot Cut Jeans

The 300 Shaping Series is also offered in special sizes for beautiful women.

If you are interested, it may be a good idea to also learn about the new Levi's 700 Series Jeans collection.

Nicki Minaj Waist Training

Nicki Minaj became the latest celebrity to joing the waist training trend posting an Instagram photo in a bright blue trainer. 

https://instagram.com/p/6yDB4vr8VL/?taken-by=nickiminaj

"One of the most popular trends we see thanks to celebrities is workout waist training. In fact, when many of our customers share their shapewear transformations on social media, workout bands are what we see the most," explains Ruben Soto, CEO of HourglassAngel.com.

Similar to the Active Band Waist Trainer by Amia ($54), a workout waist trainer can instantly slim your midsection while increasing perspiration at the same time. Designed to be worn while you work out, the garment comfortably slims 1-3 inches from your waist while you wear it, ensuring you always look your best at the gym. It helps to keep you motivated and on-track to your long-term fitness goals.

"The Active Band Waist Trainer embodies everything that Amia is known for: innovative approach to design and an unwavering attention to quality," says Soto. "It's made with a durable latex core that's specially designed to increase thermal activity and stimulate perspiration in your midsection, making it the perfect complement to your workout wardrobe." You can also wear the Active Band like a corset underneath other clothing for work or weekend-wear.

RESULTS & FEATURES

Instantly slims 1-3 inches from the midsection 

Designed to wear while working out or underneath clothing 

Increased thermal activity stimulates perspiration in the midsection 

Latex core for firm, comfortable support 

Cotton inner lining 

Hook-and-eye closures 

Flexi-boning 

Firm compression 

Price: $54 each from HourglassAngel.com

Colors: Blue or Black

Sizes: XXS-3XL

Note: the waist trainer Nicki was wearing may be a different brand.  The above waist trainer from HourglassAngel.com might be different but similar.

Haylie Duff and Jessica Szhor with Avellino Crossbody

Haylie Duff was spotted carrying a Patricia Nash crossbody bag earlier this week in Los Angeles, California.  The Real Girl's Kitchen host certainly looked happy as she arrived to dinner carrying her Patricia Nash Avellino Crossbody ($169; www.patricianashdesigns.com).

Haylie Duff is an actress and producer, known for Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Material Girls (2006) and The Real Girl's Kitchen (2014). 

Did you know that Jessica Szhor was also spotted with the trendy Patricia Nash Avellino Crossbody recently?  Well, it is true.  Proof below.

Latest Ugg Luxury for Fall 2015

World famous UGG® comfort has been given a street style makeover.

You may like the limited edition women's Abree Short for fall 2015.  If you are interested it is model # 1009250 and comes in several color options.

Handcrafted from velvety soft suede and lined with Spanish Merino sheepskin, the Abree Short offers the comfort and versatility of our most iconic boot in a streamlined silhouette. Meticulous Italian craftsmanship shows through the asymmetrical topline and tailored construction.

The sueded side of Twinface sheepskin is susceptible to staining and discoloration if worn in snow or rain. To ensure longevity, please handle with care.  This product contains real fur from Sheep or Lamb Fur Origin: Spain
Real Fur has been artificially dyed and treated By UGG® Australia; RN# 88276

This product is made in Italy

You can consult with UGG Australia if you have questions about this fine boot.

You may also want to view the Ugg Boot Style Guide 2015 post.

Avenue Tweed by Chinese Laundry

Find this shoe and many others at the Chinese Laundry website.

Cels Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1971 by Robert and Carol Goldman, is a privately held woman's footwear company with headquarters in Los Angeles, California. From its beginnings as a shoe manufacturer selling to mass merchants, Cels Enterprises, Inc. has steadily expanded its influence in the fashion footwear industry. Consumer research and creative insight have led to the development of seven branded divisions within the Chinese Laundry family.  You can learn about the various branded divisions at their website.

Meleesa Full Moon Hair Club

Familiar with the widely-held belief that cutting your hair during the full moon contributes to its vitality and growth? 

The creative team at Huntington Beach's Meleesa the Salon recently announced their newest concept, the Full Moon Hair Club. A convenient and timely way for clients to indulge in the fortifying treatments created specifically for their hair needs, the Full Moon Hair Club assists in helping grow out hair and maintain hair's overall strength and vitality. 

Each visit includes a scalp massage, a scalp exfoliation and most importantly a specific treatment tailored to client's hair needs, such as hydrating moisture masques and invigorating treatments to stimulate the hair's follicles. A light dry trim ("dusting" of the hair) completes the visit.

The joining fee of $150 includes the first and last visit, with each Full Moon visit in between for just $75; clients can cancel at any time.  As a bonus for joining, clients will receive 20% off all retail on the first visit and 15% during every Full Moon appointment. 

Early reviews indicate that the effect of the Full Moon does indeed help with hair growth and vibrancy. One client told Meleesa "My hair already feels thicker and healthier." Another client stated "My hair seems to have grown twice as fast since my treatment." 

It doesn't have to be dark out to reap the benefits of the Full Moon's power - the next Full Moon will be in effect on August 29th, 2015 at 11:35am.  Please contact them to book your complimentary hair care service with owner Meleesa Miller. There is no better way than to discover this intimate, artistic, innovative salon in downtown Huntington Beach than by experiencing Meleesa the Salon for yourself.  Visit meleesathesalon.com for more details.

Ultimate Miracle Worker Skincare Philosophy

As summer comes to a close and your skin recovers from all the fun in the sun at the beach. Philosophy has created the solution to rejuvenate, hydrate, and protect your skin from pre-mature aging with the new ultimate miracle worker. The dermatologically proven ingredients are optimal to providing natural rejuvenation for the skin, which has been proven effective on 100% of women in 4 weeks.

The exclusive full-light spectrum technology defends and targets against UVA, UVB, infrared and visible light. philosophy’s high performance bi-retinoid and anti-aging active plant cells from the iris flower work to stimulate natural cell renewal and epidermal repair rebuilding the skin’s natural collagen layer by layer.

The ultimate miracle worker multi-rejuvenating cream broad spectrum SPF 30 is available for purchase for ($75/02 oz.) Additional miracle worker product include the ultimate miracle worker eye cream ($70/0.5 oz), both are available for purchase at philosophy.com and in all philosophy retailers.

  

Stretchable Inks for Wearable Electronics

New and improved methods to intertwine electronics and apparel is on the rise.

According to a recent Printed Electronics World article, “A new world of flexible, bendable, even stretchable electronics is emerging from research labs to address a wide range of potentially game-changing uses. The common, rigid printed circuit board is slowly being replaced by a thin ribbon of resilient, high-performance electronics.

This research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society last week. "Basically, we are using a hybrid technology that mixes traditional electronics with flexible, high-performance electronics and new 3-D printing technologies," says Benjamin J. Leever, Ph.D., who is at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. "In some cases, we incorporate 'inks,' which are based on metals, polymers and organic materials, to tie the system together electronically. With our technology, we can take a razor-thin silicon integrated circuit, a few hundred nanometers thick, and place it on a flexible, bendable or even foldable, plastic-like substrate material," he says. To allow electronics to be bendable or stretchable or even change their configuration after fabrication, the Wright-Patterson team has turned to liquid gallium alloys as an electrical interconnect material, Leever says.  Read more.

The above mentioned tech, may or may not be currently suitable for clothing.  However, there is most definitely significant progress in regard to utilizing stretchable inks on apparel and fashion accessories.

Back in December 2014. DuPont Microcircuit Materials (DuPont) introduced a suite of stretchable electronic ink materials for use in smart clothing applications and other wearable electronics.  The materials provide an elegant, manufacturing-ready alternative to many traditional methods of embedding electronics in clothing.  The DuPont materials have been used to create thin, form-fitting circuits that can be seamlessly bonded with many standard fabrics, allowing for comfort and freedom in wearable electronic design.  A working model of a biometric shirt that incorporates DuPont electronic inks was on display for the first time during Printed Electronics USA 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif.

DuPont stretchable electronic inks deliver stable performance despite repeated elongation.  A third party evaluation of fabrics that incorporate these DuPont materials to create thin electronic circuits have shown them to be washable, durable, and capable of withstanding up to 100 wash cycles.  These DuPont materials can be used in many common manufacturing processes to produce smart clothing, including fitness and outerwear, without significant investment.

DuPont plans to offer a full material suite of conductors, encapsulants, and sensors for use in wearable electronics applications, including:

• DuPont PE872 stretchable conductor, which is washable with encapsulation.
• DuPont PE772 stretchable, washable dielectric encapsulant

DuPont had previously exhibited smart clothing prototypes that incorporate its stretchable electronic ink materials during Printed Electronics USA 2014, in November 2014 in Santa Clara, Calif.  DuPont also delivered a key technical presentation titled, “Printed Wearables: Functional Inks for the Wearable World,” as well as taught a master class session titled, “Conductive Inks, Film and Transparent Conductive Film.”

DuPont Microcircuit Materials (MCM) is a leading innovator and high-volume supplier of electronic inks and pastes that offers a broad range of printed electronic materials commercially available today. The growing portfolio of DuPont MCM electronic inks is used in many applications, including forming conductive traces, capacitor and resistor elements, and dielectric and encapsulating layers that are compatible with many substrate surfaces including polymer, glass and ceramic.

MCM has over 40 years of experience in the development, manufacture, sale and support of specialized thick film compositions for a variety of electronic applications in the consumer electronics, automotive, photovoltaic, biomedical, military and telecommunications markets.  For more information on DuPont Microcircuit Materials, visit http://mcm.dupont.com.

Learn more about wearable technology here on Apparel Search.

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COURAGE b Introduces Fall Fashion Must Haves

Some great new items for fall are now in. We have scoured them all to find the absolute greatest items to put on a must have list for you to review.  Here are our picks that can be found at COURAGE B:

The Long Sleeved Cashmere T-Shirt

This fall, it doesn't get any better than this. We are so excited to have this in our fall line-up. This T-shirt is absolutely to die for. Made from a mix of luxurious silk, wool and cashmere, this long sleeved T-shirt comes in five different artistic designs each with a distinct colorway. 

This design is both amazingly comfortable and the statement piece of the season. You can pair it with jeans to look like a million bucks while feeling crazy comfortable or toss in over a leather skirt to look drop dead gorgeous while staying toasty warm. You could not ask for a more perfect fall fashion item. This is the piece that will make everyone at every party turn, stare and wonder when you hit it big. 

The shape is so simple, but the artistic design so bold. You will feel like a walking work of art. This is the item you can get creative with while still feeling completely at ease. It will be your guilty little secret that you can look so good while still being so comfortable.

The Cashmere Stole

Half silk and half cashmere, this lovely accessory item comes in the same five artistic designs and distinct colorways as the coordinating long sleeved cashmere T-shirt above. Pair them together for a conservative, upscale look or use this item on its own, separate from the T-shirt, to help keep you warm while raising the bar for your style quotient.

It is a great versatile size that can be slung over one shoulder and belted for warmth, used to fill in an empty coat neckline to keep you fashionably toasty or draped to keep your hair under control in the blustery fall weather. With five different great designs, we can't imagine how you will choose just one. They each make such a great statement. This is what designer clothes for women is all about.

Basic Marcus Pants

This is the "skinny little black pants" of the season. It doesn't just come in black. It comes in several conservative tones and one great geometric pattern. You need at least one of these pants to toss into your Weekender bag. This is one of those staple items. You won't know how you lived without it after you add one to your wardrobe. 

Juliette Skirt

Everyone needs a simple black skirt in their closet and this is the one to buy this fall. A clean lined little skirt is hard to come by. This is a wardrobe basic to take on all your travels. This is the versatile piece that you can dress up or down and can pair with anything from a camisole to a cashmere sweater to adjust for the weather. This is exactly the kind of versatile simplicity you need to make it easy to look great on the go. Whether you are climbing the corporate ladder or just social climbing, you will love this great skirt. It is 5% elastane, making it one of the most comfortable straight skirts you can imagine having while looking great.

Women's Duster

Of course, fall means cooler weather, so this article wouldn't be complete without at least one jacket. Like so many items on our must have list, this elegant, feminine piece is also incredibly comfortable. It's wonderfully simple lines and great choice of colors will make it hard to pick just one. This will go wonderfully well over some of the simple, clean-lined tops and bottoms recommended above or add to your current wardrobe to bring it up a notch while staying warm, comfortable and on the cutting edge of fashion all at the same time. Like with the cashmere T-shirt, we are just really excited to have this piece in our fall lineup. A great, elegant jacket is always a treasured find. Don't miss out on this one.

That's our list of fall fashion must haves. We tried to find items that are not only drop-dead gorgeous, but almost as comfortable as your favorite pair of pajamas. This fall when everyone else is miserable from the weather and looking a little worse for the wear, we hope you shine and wear it well with these great fashion finds.

You can find the items pictured above from the following links:

http://www.courageb.com/collections/this-just-in/products/new-cashmere-t-shirt 

http://www.courageb.com/collections/this-just-in/products/new-cashmere-stole

http://www.courageb.com/collections/this-just-in/products/basic-marcus-pants

http://www.courageb.com/collections/this-just-in/products/the-duster

COURAGE b is a high-end women’s fashion brand founded in 2009 by siblings Stephanie Menkin and Nicolas Goureau, which designs and retails elegant clothing and accessories. With over 40 years of designer and stylist experience, their mother, Noemie Goureau, designs COURAGE b’s French-inspired line of clothing and accessories, suitable for women of all ages and silhouettes.

Thank you for taking the time to read our fashion blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.