It is no secret that we are going through one of the toughest recessions that the U.S. has seen in a long time. With that in mind, great fashion can still be attained. You are responsible and can create your own fashion. The summer trends of 09′ are full of lively color. The mood of the country is reflecting progression and looking towards a brighter future. It is amazing, to me, just how impactful fashion can be on a society. Another aspect of the year is comfortability, yet still being stylish. Below you will see a list of the summer’s 5 fashion must haves:

1) Gold accessories.
Gold is back. Over the last few years, wearing gold accessories had been replaced by silver and platinum accessories. Now we are making this shift back to gold and the importance of gold and how it can accentuate what you wear. Everything from gold earrings, chains and ankle bracelets are being seen now. Now that the color yellow is the hot color of the season, adding some great gold accessories would be a sure-fire way to get your fashion mojo going.

2) Long printed dress.
If you haven’t noticed, just about everyone is wearing beautiful, colorful, long-printed dresses. Not only are they comfortable, and all the rage of the season, but they can add a sense of sophistication to any girl. Just about every fashion retail store has some style of this type dress. Some are strapless and flare out at the ends, while others can be monotone, yet form-fitting. It should be an easy find and at an affordable price.

3) One piece bathing suit.
The one piece bathing suit is more popular than ever now. You don’t have to be in a bikini or a size 0 to get the attention this summer. If you notice, one piece bikini’s are becoming more and more sexier, yet still leaving something to the imagination. Nowadays, bathing suits are more about style and fashion than for their original function. Go to a local retail store and you should be able to find a one-piece to accentuate your curves.

4) The White Pants.
You may think to yourself that you are not good with white. Neither am I, but white pants are great for picnics and they go with every color. Yes, they can get dirty easily, but they make for a great fashion forward statement for this summer. Wearing this with a ruffled top, which is hot this season, is a great way to get your summer day going.

5)Gladiator Sandals.
Yes! That is right. Gladiator sandals are popular this summer. Not only are they comfortable, but they can go with just about any outfit and you can get them in different colors. They have an adjustable, ankle strap and go with skirts, shorts, and mini-dresses.

If you have these 5 must haves of this summer season, you will be set for the summer. There will be no stopping your fashion style, and you can make it uniquely your own. Fashion trends are created and it is easy to keep up with by watching television, paying attention to what is being sold in stores, or following a great blog or fashion newsletter.

By: Angie Michelle

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We all love to feel good with ourselves. Summer is here and its important to dress for the weather.

It is paramount that we feel comfortable but look great with personal style. Why not have a read through just three of the styling personalities that we have highlighted below.

Follow the Sex and the City girls with city chic styling.

These girls always look immaculate and accessorize to the max. The designer bag, immaculate hair and nails, all in line with the current catwalk fashion. This season lower heels are all the rage.

If your typical look is timeless and formal then you may have some elegant outfits in your wardrobe already. Compliment your existing timeless pieces with a shift dress. If you have researched colors or had your color analysis done then find an amazing color that suits you and makes you feel great.

If you are a more natural lady then you most likely feel best in simple and comfortable clothes. This does not mean you cannot look stylish.

If you wear comfy pumps then why not find a pretty ballet shoe. The high street has so much choice right now with the warm sunny days. Another idea is to buy some comfortable sandals and paint your toe nails a complimentary color.

If you tend to wear natural colors such as beige and brown neutral tones its easy to jazz up your style with some brightly colored glass beads.

Once you have a few new additions to the wardrobe and maybe some new accessories and shoes, its time to ensure that our skin is looking good.

Pay extra attention to your skin in the warm weather. Ensure that regular exfoliation and moisturizing is part of your skincare routing.

If you have applied the same colors and types of make up for years then why not visit a makeover expert or visit your local cosmetics counter at the department stores. A new makeup regime can make all the difference and take a good few years of the age that you look.

Finally a new hair do can completely change your appearance. Lighter shades as you get older tend to keep us looking younger. However it is not always the case. Try a new stylist and ask for their opinion.

Enjoy your summer styling, and remember its all about you feeling fabulous that counts. Remember you do not need spend a fortune. Simply a few treats can compliment your styling.

By: Ben Whitlow

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In the world we live in today where everything appears to be automated and done for us, there’s very little natural exercise in our daily lives. Couple this with the fact that as we appear to be busier than any of our ancestors, some find it difficult to fit in time to cook and prepare healthy meals, only adding to unavoidable weight gain.

If you’ve seen some of the latest spring and summer trends for 2010 but feel that you’re currently carrying a little extra weight that you’d like to get rid of so that you would feel more comfortable in the clothing, then take a look at these helpful tips to aid with your weight loss before the summer.

1. Firstly, don’t starve yourself. If you wear plus size clothing and think that by not eating you will instantly lose weight, this is a common misconception of weight loss. When you stop eating, your body goes into a sort of preservation mode, thinking that after the next meal it gets, it’s going to have to wait another long time before the following meal. Due to this, the body stores as much of the food as possible as fat, to allow you to live as long as possible, something which although useful if you were stranded in a desert, is not good for losing weight

2. Drinking lots of water is particularly important in any weight loss campaign. Not only does drinking water with food make you feel fuller, but by drinking 4 pints of water every day, your metabolism is sped up, increasing the rate at which your body digests and converts food from fats to energy

3. You’ll have heard it time and time again from TV, radio and newspaper adverts from the government, but eating 5 portions of fruit or vegetables a day is extremely helpful when trying to lose weight. Chances are you already eat 2 or 3 portions and by simply adding an extra helping of peas with your dinner or having a banana for a snack in between meals, you’ve met the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables for the day

4. One of the problems that a lot of people have when losing weight is portion control. Whilst some diet plans may tell you that you can have as much potato as you want if you don’t mix it with lots of protein or vice versa, the truth is that a well balanced diet with proper sized portions is the easiest way to go for weight loss.

If you’re struggling with portion sizes, try and measure everything in hands. For example, a jacket potato that is roughly the size of your fist is a good size and a handful of rice is approximately the recommended serving per person.

5. You should always make sure that not only do you have five separate meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism rate high, but that you have a variety of carbohydrates, protein and fats.

Not all meals need to have a combination of all three, but you should try and make two of them have a good mixture, with the other three acting as smaller meals or large snacks, such as a bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit.

By: Claire Armstrong

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