Sick of Your Same Old Highlights

You know that hair colour that looks so gorgeous, so flawless, it's easy to forget that it was created at the hands of a colourist and not God himself? That's colour melting. Different from balayage and ombré, the colour cascades flawlessly down the hair shaft from roots to ends, creating the perfect range of colour without any signs of demarcation. It's technically a form of highlighting, but instead the shades are placed in order to blend together instead of pop.
Celebrity colourist and Olaplex ambassador Chad Kenyon, who has coloured hair for the likes of Ashley Tisdale and Abigail Spencer, suggested this look for cosy weather. "Most, if not all, of my clients go brighter during the Summer months, and many of them don't want to do balayage right away," he said. "They want to tame the regrowth but keep a softer look. A colour melt is what I prescribe in these cases."
Colourist Brooke Benton elaborated: "Colour melting is the fluid and seamless blending of any colour combination imaginable, unlike traditional ombré techniques."
Colour melting works on a variety of shades, from rich brunettes, baby blonds, and dimensional reds to rainbow hues. It really depends on the colour you're looking to achieve.
The process is similar to balayage in that it's usually a demipermanent colour process done on top of balayage. "What I'll usually do is a balayage of the whole head, and then I'll go in and choose a tone between the root colour and the balayage to marry the two," said Kenyon. "It doesn't look as stark. It also adds depth and makes you look fresher, younger."
Keep reading to get inspiration for your next Spring hair colour.

WEDDING: Inouye – Law

Harriett English Law and David Iseri Inouye, both of Austin, Texas, were married at Zilker Park in Austin on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliott Law of Aiken. She is a granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Donald McDonald Law and of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Justin Donovan, Jr.
The bridegroom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Hayashi Mark Inouye of Evans, Ga. He is a grandson of Dr. Kazuo Denis Inouye of Pompano Beach, Fla., and the late Mrs. Kazuo Denis Inouye, and of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rauch of Tallahassee, Fla.
Maids of honor were Hilary Kitchen of Carol Stream, Ill., and Abby Williams of St. Louis, Mo. Rosemarie Johnston of Baggs, Wyo., and Caroline Dolman of Austin served as bridesmaids.
The groom’s brother, Joshua Inouye of Maple Grove, Minn., was best man. Other groomsmen were Benjamin Field of Los Angeles, Calif., Joshua Ehle of Springfield, Mass., Richard Davis of Austin and Robert O’Dell of Austin.
The bride was given in marriage by her father. The Rev. Frank Costenbader officiated.
The bride wore an elegant tulle ball gown with beaded floral motifs, an illusion bodice and cap sleeves, with a chapel-length train.
Her maids of honor and bridesmaids wore mint, sleeveless cocktail-length lace dresses with a sweetheart neckline and a scalloped hem.
The bride is a 2009 graduate of George Washington Academy in Casablanca, Morocco, and a 2013 graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., where she earned a B.S. in mathematics. She is pursuing an M.A. in teaching at the Wheaton College Graduate School and is employed at Austin Sports Medicine.
The bridegroom is a 2007 graduate of Greenbrier High School in Evans, Ga. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Texas, Austin, where he is currently employed. He completed a B.A. in natural sciences at Covenant College in 2011, a B.S. in electrical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in 2012, and an M.S. in computer science at the University of Texas, Austin, in 2015.

An inspiring wedding: Robby Li-jaja Elises nuptials

THEY met at the review center preparing for the Architectural board exams. Robby Li from Manila and Jaja Elises, the charming Dabawenyo.
They were attracted to each other and their love story mettle tested and spanning from their hometowns to Singapore.
They saved happily for a beautiful wedding and their parents -- Mr. Odello and Mrs. Nelly N. Elises of the bride and Mrs. Norieta V, Li -- are proud for the achievements of these hardworking and efficient couple.
Last August 8 was the Big Day, an auspicious day which is one of the most sought after dates to settle down.
They had their memorable day at the St. Paul Parish, solemnly officiated by Bishop Guillermo Afable and co-celebrated by Rev. Fr. Rodney Mondido.
Tears of joy were shed as the bride marched her way through the aisle with the groom bursting in tears waiting at the altar. Finally, his hard paid off -- he got his beautiful bride.
Reception followed at the coolest place ever, The View, with the great photography of Simply Gray.
Standing as the couple's principal sponsors are: Arch. Marietta Ara¤as, Delma Q. Elises, Christina B. Ramos, Gloria Maria D. Coronel, Camila S. Maligalig, Elma G. de Guzman, Dr. Eleonor B. Palabyab, Delia P. Solis, Amy D. Grabato, Valentina D. Ciudadano, Fely L. Aquino, Trinidad M. Amoguis, Alice A. Banta, Arch. Jaime P. Ansaldo, Engr. Joe M. Bagais Engr. Renato V. Maligalig, Engr. Victor T. de Guzman Dr. Nelson C. Villano, Enrico U. Solis and Frem D. Grabato.
The day was made possible by the excellent and professional services of the wedding team of Mel Orlina Couture of Manila, groom's suit by Egay Ayag, cake by Osvaldo's, entourage by Jun Artajo, make-up by Otoi Mercado, flower arrangement by noted florist Wendell Gartes of Floral Pink Designs, cocktails and catering by Aor's A Home Kitchen, invitation by Prinsonalities, mobile bar by Cocktails & Dreams Davao, photobooth by Fun in the Box.
The master of ceremonies was lawyer Alexis Lumbatan.

IN HER SHOES: ZENDAYA BREAKS DOWN HER DESIGN PROCESS

Zendaya Coleman, author, actress and recording artist, has been making a serious imprint on the red carpet with her unique style. From Michael Kors plaid skirt sets to Vivienne Westwood jumpsuits and custom Fausto Puglisi, she manages to hit the mark every time in a youthful, fun and fresh way — and the fashion world has taken notice.
Publications from Teen Vogue to WWD regularly rank her as one of the top 10 red-carpet influencers, and now she is taking that prowess to her first fashion foray — a shoe collection. Designing the line with Law Roach, her stylist, the first shoes will hit stores in spring 2016 and will bear her nickname, Daya. She’s been holding the designs close to her vest but if you are lucky enough to score an invite to her reveal event at FFANY or FNPlatform (the two footwear trade shows in August), you’ll get to see them up close.
For now, she sat down to talk with us a little about her first pair of Louboutin’s, why shoes are so amazing and how recording her music in socks is best.
What are your favorite pair of shoes of all time?
I would say the "So Kate" Louboutins, patent leather black, because me and Law, we are just so impressed with them, and they work with everything. They look good with anything, and plus my foot has molded to them now, so they’re not uncomfortable anymore. They’re actually the most comfortable shoes I own. I wear them everywhere — like literally everywhere — to the point where I had to get the heel fixed, because it was destroyed, because I wore them so much. We definitely have our own version of that go-to shoe [in the line].
What shoes did you wear on Dancing With the Stars?
I wore dance shoes usually. They’re just nude. They’re not the cutest shoes in the world, but they’re made for ballroom dancers. A couple of times, I got to wear Chucks, because I was cute and adorable, and they allowed me to do that, because I was 16. They were white, and then they bedazzled them. They bedazzle everything over there.
Why did you want to do a shoe line?
I love shoes, so there’s that. Honestly, I was really inspired kind of by my family. I have a lot of sisters and nieces, and one of my nieces is in college right now. I have a sister who is a dancer. These are women that are either just now starting to get a job, or kind of come into their own and become what they’re supposed to become. At that time, you don’t have a lot of money to pay for the shoes that you see on all your favorite celebrities — the shoes that you really, really want — it’s just unreasonable. So it’s about still having quality, and not losing the quality of the shoes, but making something that that girl can still feel cute in, and not feel like she has a knock-off.
Why are shoes so special to you?
Because they’re amazing. I’m a girl. I feel like I went through a phase where, when my feet finally started growing, and my body continues to change. But my feet have completely stopped, and now I can just have a collection of shoes. It’s like you document your life through shoes. Clothes kind of come and go, but shoes stay. They kind of say where you were, what you did and what was happening.
What inspires you when you design your shoe line?
I think what inspires us is our personal taste. What would we like? I’m not going to make any shoes that I’m not going to feel comfortable going out in. I’m not going to do it. We’re really obsessed with every detail of every shoe and everything that goes into it, even down to like the strap or the color of the metallic on the clasp — all kinds of stuff. Me and Law have now become really attentive to people’s shoes when we’re outside. We’re walking, and we’ll just stop people for their shoes. We notice "I’m seeing a lot of wedges," or "I’m seeing a lot of this, I’m seeing a lot of that." We just kind of collect our data, and that’s it.
What can we expect to see in your line?
We kind of wanted to touch a little bit of everything. We have a lot of nudes. I feel like almost every shoe we have comes in a nude, because I feel like that is so important, I think, especially for the working woman, you can’t go wrong with nude. It works, every time. Know what I mean?
What’s your favorite shoe in the collection, so far?
Oh, that’s tough. I personally am obsessed with some of the flat-type options that we have, the platform — and there’s slip-ons because they’re comfortable, but they’re so freaking cute.
What shoes do you like to wear when you record music?
I like no shoes. I usually do it in my socks. I’m usually looking a hot mess! Usually, they’re like cozy socks with some kind of pattern on them; something cool like that, or mismatched. Honestly, whatever I can get out of my drawer that day will go on my feet.
What size shoe are you?
I’m a 9.
What kind of shoes do you like to see on guys?
Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I think for me, it’s really about the outfit as a whole. I’m definitely a sneaker person, but I also love seeing a good dress shoe.
What’s your favorite part of designing your shoe collection?
Honestly, that we can be creative and just have fun. It’s really fun to be a part of. It’s like free choice school project, you can do it about whatever you want. And it gets to be about shoes. They’re my favorite thing, ever.

Beautiful Wedding Decor Also Needs to Actually Work for the Event

I'm a wedding planner and I have to admit that when I scroll through Instagram or troll Pinterest, I'm always seeing amazing décor that makes me shiver. Lighting I could never recreate in some of the more remote destinations where I plan makes me jealous. Tents you can only rent in more densely-populated areas that have crazy chandeliers make me swoon. Even though I do this for a living, I'm easily impressed by beautiful wedding décor.
With that said, I'm not an advocate of stupid wedding décor.
Let me give you a very good example. Just the other day I saw an absolutely, positively gorgeous table runner made entirely of live flowers featured on an Instagram account I follow of another wedding vendor. It was so pretty that I wanted to recreate it so I looked closer. And closer.
For anybody who is paying attention to the picture, the table runner is INCREDIBLE but it's so damned big that I could barely see the place settings. Time to zoom in. Alrighty now, you cannot see the place settings because it's a fully "staged" picture (as in, not a real wedding) and there's not enough room on the table for dinner plates, place settings, wine glasses, etc. God forbid you're using placecards! That table runner of flowers was fully two-thirds the width of the entire table.
So I messaged the vendor who posted the picture and said "I don't get it. Where do the plates go?"
Their response - I swear to God - was this: "We love ideas that are dramatic and different. Maybe not for everyone, but we would totally take a little less space for place settings to create a showstopper like this!"
Yep, that's a showstopper alright. As in, the perfectly-executed wedding will come to a grinding halt when the guests try to get seated for dinner and have zero space in front of them to put down their drinks. And can you even imagine what a disaster the service will be? OMG. Clearly this vendor isn't the wedding planner or the caterer or they would understand why a giant floral table runner is an absolutely RIDICULOUS idea unless the table is wide enough to hold both the runner and the place settings!!!
I probably look at it from a different perspective because, while I do the flowers for most of my destination weddings because there isn't another florist to be had, I don't sell my clients ridiculously expensive arrangements that don't fit their tables just so I can make an extra buck.
Gorgeous floral displays, centerpieces and other décor can be the highlight of your wedding event, but you want to try to avoid the totally impractical. I get requests for "Italian lights" all the time - those are the strands of lights with bare bulbs hanging off of them that you see featured so frequently in garden wedding pictures. We have them and we put them up in tents all the time, but you can't use them when you're trying to light concrete columns at a venue.
Many private homes, villas and historic buildings were not designed to be wedding venues and when you're decorating, you have to find a way to hang things (safely) that doesn't compromise the actual structure. You cannot drill into walls to put in hooks. You have to work with what's available. If you're trying to light concrete or stone columns on a porch, you can't use "Italian lights" or anything else that's meant to dangle. You're stuck with using "fairy lights" (Christmas lights on white electrical cords) or rope LED lights. You can also have uplighting done from the base of the columns if it won't create a trip hazard for your guests, and if it will give off enough light to actually let people see where they're going and what they're eating.
Pinterest has become an amazing channel to market my own services, and Instagram is a hoot because you see the good, bad, and the truly ugly from other weddings all posted by wedding guests. But what's important for brides and grooms to realize is that not everything that looks pretty is functional. Much of it is not affordable. And a good bit of it (unless you're only looking at pictures on my social media pages) was created solely for a professionally-staged shoot and was never intended to actually work at a wedding. Most of what you see in glossy bridal magazines could never be executed the same way at a wedding actually attended by real people.
Massive, top-heavy centerpieces on your dinner tables, dripping crystals in the faces of your guests, may be the look you really want, but what will happen when your guests get frustrated because they can't see each other through the bling and try to move them a little? They flip ass-over-teakettle almost every time. I've seen it happen as both a planner and a wedding guest. And don't pretend guests are too well-mannered to move centerpieces. They do, and they will. After six cocktails, it's all about keeping themselves happy. To hell with what the bride and groom wanted to see in their wedding pictures.
I know some couples are all about "go big or go home," but at the same time, not everything that is big and fancy is actually practical and reasonable for your wedding and your venue. Sometimes you have to adjust your expectations in order to actually execute a flawlessly beautiful wedding. I have never heard a wedding guest complain that there wasn't enough table décor. But I have listened to many people bitch and moan about how tightly packed it all was. Cuz let's not pretend the bride and groom are going to spend money on two more tables and associated arrangements to compensate for the space being lost to the décor. They're still going to jam in 10 guests at a table meant for that many, even if the space the centerpiece takes up is akin to having a dead body in the center of the table.
Be smart. Look at wedding pictures you like and then modify them to fit your taste, style and the scale of your wedding venue. If you're working with a planner or vendors who say something can't be done, listen to them. If you do it, they make money so they have no motive to lie to you about this. They're trying to prevent the inevitable problems that will ensue if they give you EXACTLY what you're asking for.
You don't have to "keep it simple," but you do need to keep it REAL when you plan your wedding décor. Otherwise, people are more likely to remember that they struggled around your flowers than how beautiful they were in the grand scheme of things. And you'll spend a lot of money for something your guests will not enjoy.

Staying stylish during holy month

To observe Ramadhan, many women tend to dress more appropriately by covering most parts of their bodies. The beauty of this is that you can still be stylish. One thing is for sure, the clothing should not be too tight or transparent.
Throughout this month, many stores and shopping venues, including Ramadhan-themed bazaars, are offering great bargains.
This is a good time to shop for clothes or accessories as they are likely to be priced much lower than normal.
Not only women, but men and kids alike also want to dress differently while observing the holy month, and especially at Idul Fitri.
To observe Ramadhan, there are some fashion choices that can be applied and that help protect your skin and prevent dehydration at the same time. What are they?
Women’s Ramadhan fashion
The number one choice is gamis (long, shirt-like dress) or a kaftan-like dress. Both dresses are mainly worn by Muslims in the Middle East, but they are also worn in many other countries. The kaftan can be likened to a robe or a tunic.
In the world of entertainment, many local celebrities and ustadzah (woman teachers) wear gamis and kaftans. Their fashion style often becomes a source of inspiration.
To better convince you that this kind of dress never goes out of style, even international celebrities like Rihanna, Jenifer Lopez and the Kardashians are occasionally spotted wearing kaftans.
When looking for gamis, ask for one that is suitable for this occasion that is gamis syar’i. This type of dress is designed according to sharia dress code. Compared to a kaftan, a gamis can usually be worn daily as the long sleeves are not as loose as those of a kaftan and the lower half, which is loose, is comfortable to walk in.
Although only a couple of weeks of the fasting month remain, these types of dresses also protect your skin against the sun. Inspired from the Middle East, you will understand the benefit of the longer dress when the weather is hot.
If you wear a hijab, you can accessorize it with a brooch or some other ornament. If not, you can mix and match the dress with kerudung (cape) or chiffon-based pashmina-styled scarf or shawl.
Loafers or sandals best suit a long dress. Don’t ever think of wearing wedges or heels, since they just make it difficult to walk.
JP/ P.J.Leo
Men’s Ramadhan fashion
For men, wearing a baju koko (long-sleeve collarless shirt) seems to be fashionable. But for daily routine, the choice of baju koko is often out of context.
Nowadays, there are many styles of baju koko, such as those tailored in ethnic inspired patterns.
For a more stylish model, get one with an asymmetrical design with various colors. And while most baju koko are long-sleeved, more casual types are also available. But for couples or family members, sarimbit (matching batik wear for couples) is also trendy. Wearing sarimbit is often synonymous with showcasing a family’s or couple’s harmony. Sarimbit are suitable for gatherings or parties.
For shoes, avoid wearing boots or sneakers as they would be troublesome for praying. Formal shoes or the slip-on kind are appropriate, and comfortable.
Children’s Ramadhan fashion
Without a doubt, kids are eager to wear new and nice clothes, especially at Idul Fitri. And this month is the best time for them to wear different clothes.
Just like men and women, the choice in clothing for this month should be similar for kids. But remember, don’t get them anything too complicated to wear. The most important thing to remember is that the fabric should be comfortable.
Do not be fooled by low prices or bright colors, since sometimes the materials used are not suitable for children.
Their daily activities will be conducted mostly at home, at a relative’s place or at a mosque for tarawih (extra prayer service during Ramadhan). So, a pair of new sandals and sarong are great gifts for the fasting month.

International fashion & style; Valentino .. resort 2016

Here is a list of what came to mind after seeing this expansive collection that reeks of hubris, excess, money, ethnicity and well, a lot of subpar looking clothes, no matter the price, the quality or the brand. We have every kind of Indian known to man, we have every part of the east… from middle to far to near, enough folkloric florals to fill a flower district and then there were those hideous patchworks which reminded me of cheap mistakes from times gone by.
What was shown today, IMHO, is at least 3 collections all clumped up to be shown as one bloated repetitive collection that reminds us who has this look covered more than anyone and with more craftsmanship than anyone. One would think that with all that was shown … the standout piece would have been something other than a full length camo anorak/field jacket with an embroidered fire breathing dragon on the back. A collection of this enormity is ennui inducing on so many levels but what MUST be kept in mind that this is a collection that requires dissection. There are so many “parts” to the puzzle but the real gems are to be extracted from the total looks that were presented.
One would think that a brand with this kind of power would refrain and not succumb to the trite and silly styling which included bad shoes, “Frida” hair, hippie earrings and braids; such gimmicks are like pandering which is beneath the brand’s reputation. You would think that Maria Grazia Chiuri andPierpaolo Piccioli might have exercised a bit of restraint pertaining to the powers of editing. Yes, editorially speaking, these clothes are an open and shut case of extravagance but one realizes that these clothes are far beyond the reach of more than 99% of the population which in a way renders them “useless” unless of course they are loaned, given or appear on a printed page, to say that the clothes for the most part are prohibitively expensive is like saying a Maserati is just a good family car. This all reminds me of “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should!”
Anyone who reads me knows that the brand in its current over embroidered, over embellished, overly prissy but impeccably made incarnation evades me for the most part. Where are the spectacularly beautiful day and evening clothes that women of a fashion aristocracy can wear to suit their needs? Which also brings up where are the exquisitely tailored suits of times gone by?