thoughts about true fashion

for those who know me beyond The Online Editor and as a real human being, you would know that i have been on a break for the last couple of weeks. no work, just time to read, hit the gym and really sit down and think through my life. for those who just know my virtual persona, i have, well, been silent. for the second half of 2013, i have set myself on a journey of pursuing wisdom. the motto that i adopted: gathering information is the act of knowledge, learning what to do with it is wisdom. it's an extension of the idea of hearing versus listening.

anyway, in the last month that gone by, much happened in my personal life and those i hold dear. all the events led to this post. what exactly is true fashion? what does it take to be a true fashionista? here are just a couple of thoughts and a glimpse into the space i call, my mind.

1) true fashion does not hurt: just think back the time when you wore a pair of jeans that were two inches tighter or looser. how did you feel? i don't know about you but the last time i walked out of the house with a pair of sneakers a size smaller, i had blisters all over my feet. granted that they were the most fashionable of the season but forcing a fit has pain written all over it. if the shoe does not fit, change it!

2) true fashion know you're flawed: have a short torso? wear vertical stripes to elongate the body. unhappy with the shape of your face, have a haircut that brings out the best of features. all these 'corrections' that fashion makes is because it knows that no one is perfect yet it does its best to help you conceal your flaws when you are out in the public. true fashion makes you look good and presentable when you face the masses but it does not make your flaws disappear. thus, never forget to thank that outfit which made you stand out from the crowd and made you feel like a million dollars. you can lie to the entire world but you cannot lie to the stripes that elongated your torso.

3) true fashion never fade: think couture! you can wear it from day one to day 837489234 and it will still be a remarkable piece of garment. yes there are always seasons in fashion and heidi klum's all-too-familiar 'in fashion, one day you're in and next day, you're out'. however, i think true fashion never goes out of style, it never fades. it is always there to support you even through your darkest and toughest outfit choices. there will always be THAT ONE fashion item we run to that affirms our style status. if you have an entire couture collection, you are truly a rich person.

4) true fashion is unique: we often try to dress like someone else or copy the style of an icon but does the other party have the same fashion issues as we do (see point two)? we often try so hard to fit in others or blend in with the crowd that we forget to be individuals in our dressing. we no longer pick clothes that are signature to our personality and character. maybe what works for everyone else does not really work for you. why try so hard to fit in? are you really that afraid to explore your brand of fashion? it exhausts me to dress alike. i'm really much better off with my unique style. if you are really meant to be a copy of another, you would not be given your own set of fingerprints.

finally, as this week draws to a close, i wish that each one of you will discover the joys and beauty of true fashion!

fas'on... BAM!

hot, hairy, WOMEN!

one thing i enjoy about The Online Edition is the space that it allows me to explore the theme. sometimes, thirteen posts are a little too much, at other moments, it's too little. i think, for this week, it would be just nice. for this vintage week, i'll be doing head-to-toe coverage, starting with our crown of glory. so what's hot and contemporary yet a fad from the past for ladies' hairstyles? here are five for reference.

1) finger waves

finger waves are alternating waves which give you the authentic 1920’s flapper look. the trick to a good finger wave is to wash the hair. while the hair is still wet apply throughout the hair a good wet setting or stronghold gel. then part the hair for the look you want. the traditional side part is either on your left or your right side. 

on the side of the part, you put two fingers down with the palm resting on the back of the head (the crown). you then get the comb and line it up to your fingers, and push forward with the comb and start alternating the waves by going back on forth with the comb on the side of the head.

2) pin curls

Christina Aguilera

pin curls are the same thing as a finger wave. however, instead of waving with gel, you grab the hair with your two fingers and wrap your hair around your finger as if it were a ribbon. then when your hair is close to your scalp you clip it with a small hair clip, or bobby pin. then you alternate the pattern clockwise and counter-clockwise around your head.

3) wet sets

vintage wet set

back in the day people took their time to look good and took pride in taking their time. now with today’s modern lifestyles wet sets really almost disappeared. a wetset will last until you wash your hair. wetsets are important because it is a building block to a lot of vintage retro style. the key to a good wetset is shampoo your hair and distribute setting lotion through-out the hair. you then get the size of roller that you want to use. the size depends on the look you want to go far. the smaller the roller the more volume and curl and the larger the roller the less volume and less curl. 

set your hair with the rollers and go underneath a hooded dryer until hair is thoroughly dry then you take down the hair and style as desired. the reason why this lasts so long is because when you wet your hair you are breaking down hydrogen bonds and you are now reforming them with heat which your style last longer.

4) blow-dry sets

blow-dry sets

the blow dry set is the same as a wetset but you use a blow dryer, a round brush and hair clips. instead of using rollers you wrap your hair around the round brush to blow dry your hair. a blow dry set will give a nice retro look but its temporary. if you just want a quick style this will be your best option. a blow dry set will give you big sexy glamorous hair.

5) victory rolls

Scarlett Johansson

a victory roll was really popular in the late 1930’s and in the 1940’s. the trick to a good victory roll is to part your hair in the middle, then you diagonally part your hair from your ear to the middle of your center part. take that hair and back comb towards your scalp (backcombing is key to firm roll) then you are going to take your brush and smooth the front of the piece of hair. then, take that piece of hair and roll it inwards towards the scalp and pin it with a bobby pin.

have a blast going back to the past!

fash'on... BAM!

bother with bra-ther?

image from dangerous lee

so the earlier post was a bit of a comic relief, somewhat of an intermission for a rather 'heavy' week. in order to get you back (and myself) back into the mode of 'comfort women', i'm going to explore fashion that sometimes is overlooked. according to statistics, eighty percent women wear the wrong size bra. 

scary fact but true; you may be wondering 'so what!' well you should know that an ill fitting bra could cause unsuspecting health problems like headaches and back pain. hence if you have noticed these following points you are wearing the wrong bra:

image from your perfect fit

a) your bra strap is digging into your skin

b) your breasts are spilling out of the cup

c) the cup is away from the top of the bra

d) the underband rides up your back

e) the underwire does not sit on the breast bone

when you are ill-fitted, the problems that could arise include:

1) restricted breathing: if the bra is too tight or if the underwire does not fit perfectly on the breast bone, you will feel that you can’t breath properly. 

2) indigestion: a tight bra can cause indigestion; it can obstruct the flow of the digestive system.

3) back pain: if the bra does not fit correctly, and the underband chokes the back, it can increase the risk of back pain. same goes for shoulder blades, the bra should not restrict your movement.

4) poor posture: if you slouch or hunch over it could be that your bra is causing the tension.

5) abrasions: ill fitting bras can limit the circulation of blood and oxygen to certain parts of your body. the friction of a tight bra can also cause scratches. 

6) breast pain: limited circulation in your breast can make you uneasy. this can lead to the next problem. 

7) breast cancer: ill fitting bras restrict the lymph flow to the breasts; this increases the toxins in your breast, which may cause cancer.

8) headaches: tight fit plus restricted flow plus lack of oxygen can lead to headaches.

the best advice i can give you ladies: go to an established lingerie store and get them to fit you well. also note that your sizes do change, thus once you feel your bra seems a tad out of place or odd, it's time for a visit to the store.

Victoria's Secret models

fash'on... BAM!