Lindsay Price looks absolutely fabulous in this lovely denim mini skirt by Abercrombie & Fitch. Lindsay currently stars in the ABC drama, Eastwick, where she plays a witch. She keeps her figure in tiptop condition by working out lots, and judging by these pictures it certainly works.

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We all have the problem with buying jeans and finding out after a few wears they have stretched out to be saggy in the butt. Sometimes you have to buy them super tight and wear them around the house for a while to stretch them out to the perfect fit… All of this can be super frustrating and a problem we have to go through with denim. If you are obsessed with having the perfect fit and conscious of how your jeans look just like I am then I hope this can help you in some way. I’ve put together some information on how I have found different fabric blends fit over the years.

Unfortunately with denim it’s a fabric that will ALWAYS stretch out no matter what you do, it’s that material that is just notorious for stretching because of how it’s made. 100% cotton jeans are the worst for stretching out and losing their shape because once they stretch they don’t go back in shape, they remain stretched out due to the lack of elasticity. Jeans with elastane/lycra do stretch out a bit but not as bad as rigid denim. They tend to shrink a little bit when you don’t wear them and go back into shape. When you wash or dry your jeans on a high heat to shrink them back to their original size you can actually damage the elasticity of the jean, so when it stretches it will not go back properly into shape as the elasticity is not as good as it was before, that’s why they recommend putting them on cooler washes and tumble drying on low to keep them in best condition. So the more you attempt to shrink your jeans the worse they will become over time. Sometimes there is nothing you can do but to wash and dry them on high, I am guilty of doing this to my stretch jeans and after a while they don’t fit or feel as good. Jeans I find that don’t stretch out much, if any at all, are cotton/poly blends, the poly in the blend makes them a little more stiff and non stretchy, these are not the most comfiest of jeans and they do tend to run small because of the non stretch factor but they don’t stretch out really badly, they hold their shape and size with a lot of wear. Rock & Republic do a lot of poly/cotton blend jeans, the only problem I find with this blend is they run quite big in the waist and you get a little gap.

DL1961 have released their jeans in a 4 way stretch material, meaning the jeans won’t sag or lose their shape. I own a few pairs of their jeans and they are wonderful, the denim is super soft and stretchy just like a legging but the material is thicker so they are flattering like jeans. Not only are they great material but the pocket placement is wonderful, perfectly placed for the pert bottom look. I love them! Again they are a poly/cotton blend so they are perfect if you are tired of baggy bottoms and want to keep your tush tight! But unlike other poly/cotton blends they are super comfortable! I definitely recommend them! Another specific jean I have found to be great and doesn’t stretch out is Diesel Matic, I own a lot of Matics and they seem to keep their shape really well, I think it’s because of the thickness and strength of the denim, they do stretch out but they do not lose their shape. I find them to be great. Don’t buy the 100% cotton ones, buy the the poly/cotton blend or the cotton/elastane blend.

My best advice to you if you hate your jeans sagging in the butt is to buy them tight and stretch them out, you can wet stretch them by dampening the tight areas and wearing them until they fit perfectly or you can try the cotton/poly blend as it should fit right away and stay that way just like the DL1961 4 way stretch jeans. Sometimes there is nothing else you can do but stretch your jeans out if you have fallen in love with a specific pair you know will be loose after wear, just take a size down if you know it will stretch out and wet stretch them, I know it’s hassle but if you are a denim lover and you can’t resist the jeans it’s the only way!

This post was inspired by an email I received asking for advice on this issue.

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Karmel & Alden premium denim have released their new fall 09 collection. The Los Angeles-based Karmel & Alden’s new collection ticks all the boxes for current fashion trends. This season sees updates on classics, such as the celebrity favorite, ‘Virginia’ style, as well as the introduction of more directional styles which are right up there with fashion’s continuing obsession with denim cool. In keeping with this idea, Karmel & Alden traveled to the capital of street style, London, to shoot its latest lookbook and PR imagery, bringing together the best of British cool and L.A.’s laidback style. Referencing English artist, David Hockney’s photocollage work (specifically Pearblossom Highway #2) and Karmel & Alden’s L.A. roots, the result is a vintage-inspired shoot by fashion photographer, Julia Kennedy and art di- rected by Lucy Spink. Key looks include a new, super-fitted denim legging style available in deep navy blue and pale blue. The ‘Brooke’ jean has a white lightning wash and is a sure-fire bestseller, along with the lightweight ‘Gabrielle’ skinny jean in a pale blue, tie-dye wash. Everyone’s favourite boyfriend jean, the ‘Caitlin’, is now available in a washed down, destructed finish and this season look out for the ‘Scarlett’ boyfriend short! For a more retro look, the ‘Monica’ has the ideal-sized flare in lightweight, butter-soft denim- perfect with a pair of platforms to complete the 70s look. Other styles include the best-selling ‘Virginia’, available in various washes and the straight-leg ‘Bridget’ jean in deep indigo blue. Founded in 2006, Karmel & Alden is dedicated to continuing the American love of denim which has existed since the fabric was first introduced to the USA in the mid-19th century. Karmel & Alden quickly established itself as a premium denim label whose collections pay homage to the vintage denim styles and washes that have been worn by all sectors of American society- from the gold miners of the 1860s and the farm workers and cowboys of the early 20th century American West, to the teenage greasers and rockabillies of the 1950s and hippies of the 1960s. Designed and manufactured entirely in Los Angeles, Karmel & Alden uses only the best fabrics to achieve what has become a denim line known for its perfect fit, excellent styling, unparalleled workmanship and attention to detail, culminating in an impeccable end product. Karmel & Alden is stocked in over 90 independent and online stores across the USA and is worn by celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Audrina Partridge, Brody Jenner and Robert Knepper.

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Lindsay Lohan and Ashley Tisdale are just a couple celebs that have been seen out in studded denim vests. The Sleeveless snap jacket from Current/Elliott is sure to be hot seller this season. The price tag might be a bit daunting, especially for such a trendy item. I stumbled upon this article on how to make your own denim vest and I thought I’d share!

Materials:

Denim jacket (A thrifted or older version works perfectly. Look at the children’s section, if you want a snugger fit)

Rubber bands

Rubber Gloves

Plastic Bucket

Bleach

Studs (these can be found at a craft store or ordered online)

Step 1:

Remove the sleeves of the jacket at the seam.

Step 2:

Tie rubber bands on the jacket, in sections (like you tie-dye a t-shirt) the more bands you use and the thicker you make them, the more distinguished the bleaching is going to be. After you have tied the bands on the denim, place it into the bucket with a diluted bleach water mixture (ratio should be 1:4, bleach:water). The color of your vest will vary dependent on the time you leave it in the bleach.

Step 3:

After the jacket has dried, add studs!

Viola!

Images and article from Lmagazine and can be accessed here.

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Claire Danes looked super sexy as she covered BlackBook’s September Fall Fashion Issue. She wore a pair of Ksubi Tie-Dye Jeans for the shoot which was shot at the penthouse of Manhattan’s Cooper Square Hotel. As you know Tie-Dye is very popular right now so it makes a great choice of jean. Claire’s next movie to hit the big screen soon is Me and Orson Welles, starring alongside Zac Efron. Check out the gallery for more photoshoot images of Claire.

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Packing for a trip to London, England can be challenging. Correction: Packing for a trip to London with a baggage limit of 20 kilos is certainly challenging.

Scanning my closet, the question that bounced around in my head was of course “W.W.K.M.D?” (What would Kate Moss do?) Well, first off, Kate would probably just pay the surcharge for the excess baggage…but that’s beside the point.

After packing the required Soho garments–Gladiator sandals? Check. Skinny jeans? Check. Black riding boots? Check. Tailored vest, or rather waistcoat? Check–I still couldn’t help but think that there was something missing.

I headed downtown to Little 5ifth (32 Quebec St., 519 837 5505, little5th.com), an independently owned boutique that has nailed the “London look.” Owner Kristy Ouellette outfits the store with funky waistcoats from Religion, cute red cardigans from Miss Sixty, Amsterdam’s luxury denim line Blue Blood, and Brazil’s Melissa Plastic Dreams, which offers shoes made from recycled plastic. I left the boutique with a Misfits T-shirt dress by House of the Gods. Sure, it’s not The Clash, but the overall effect is appropriate.

Of course, packing for London requires not only planning, but also discipline–room must be left in your baggage for a few treasures from Topshop’s flagship store on Oxford. I think that Ms. Moss would agree.

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It seems a bit silly, perhaps, to be talking about a product called Beach Prep when we’re halfway through August. But then, in Ontario anyway, it’s hardly been beach weather until very, very recently. So if you are finally headed for the sand you could do worse than this body polish ($35, at select Holt Renfrew stores) from Elemental Herbology–a British company that uses responsibly harvested botanicals to create their line of synthetic fragrance- and sulphate-free skin care.

First off: It smells a bit like Terry’s Chocolate Orange, which is an easy way to our hearts. Second: Founder Kristy Goodger smartly packaged the scrub in a tube, rather than a leaky jar, so it’s easy to pack for a weekend away. Third, and most important: The scrub uses fruit enzymes, such as papaya juice, and a healthy dose of sea salt to get rid of the flakies. It’s all packed into super-rich macadamia and buriti oils, which will nourish that freshly buffed skin and help prevent the return of scaly skin, which last time we checked was an all-year-long battle.

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And in thinking seriously about that, I knew that I wanted to combine some of the things I loved, and was ready to take risks and to put myself ‘out there’. As a friend said, it was time to exercise my ’savoir faire’. Also I was increasingly disappointed with what the perfume world was putting on the market. I felt that there was an audience for more inspired, exquisite perfumes. It was almost 2001, and the niche market was just starting to get attention. So the timing seemed right.

MC: What distinguishes Parfums DelRae from the hundreds of new niche lines? What is truly different about the brand and the perfumes?

DR: I think Parfums DelRae is distinguished in the niche market by the complexity and originality of the fragrances. My vision is of rich, complex perfume, with a classical construction, using wonderful materials. The concentration is at 17%—20%, I don’t use any colorings or preservatives— the quality is paramount.
MC: With the niche market so crowded, what are your thoughts about these hundreds of fragrances claiming to be niche?  And, in your opinion, what qualifies a scent as a niche perfume?

DR: The niche market has really exploded, as the industry is really looking to niche to see where to go. It’s where the real risks are taken. To me, a niche brand represents genuine quality and exclusivity. And, perhaps most importantly, these brands have a vision, a real point of view. Because of this focus, these brands tend to be smaller and have a creative visionary directing development. My experience suggests that if you are trying to satisfy everyone, it is not possible to be innovative and qualitative.

MC: All your five fragrances were formulated by Michel Roudnitska, one of the greatest contemporary perfumers in the world. How did you meet? What is the secret of your ongoing collaborative relationship?

DR: I had the concepts for my first three perfumes fairly well developed. I began ordering oils from France and mixing and so on. But I realized early on that I needed to work with someone who had the training in fine perfumery to assist me. I had the ideas, the creative direction, but not the formal training. And I didn’t want to go back to school!  So, I contacted Michel, introduced myself, explained my situation and my ideas, and asked if he was open to working this way. It was quite straightforward, but also very unusual at the time, as I was American, a woman, and not from this ‘world”. I went to the south of France and Michel and I began working.

I think the success of our collaboration is, as in all satisfying collaborative efforts, that we respect each other. We each bring something to the table, as it is my company, I bring the creative concept, the name of the perfume and direct the development of the perfume until it is at the point where I am very pleased and feel it reflects my intention. With that of couse, as it is my company, I also assume all the risk.

Michel has the technical background, and great passion for the art form, and he appreciates this very wonderful creative opportunity. Collaborations can be difficult and complicated. As a designer I am very much use to this kind of creative process, and I find that if a person is  talented and secure, they will often be open, appreciative and generous. To create something at this intimate level, freely, collaboratively, it’s a very great luxury.
MC: With you in San Francisco and Michel in Paris, how do you achieve such amazing scent synergy?

DR: I always meet first with whomever I work with, because I need to explain the idea, and to see their reaction. I want to be sure that the concept excites them. With Michel, because the first three perfumes were so influenced by San Francisco, he also came here and we talked and walked. I showed him some of the places I love, so he could really understand. Along with my trips to France, FedEx and email it all works very well.

MC: The names of your fragrances seem to be spot on to each scent. Which comes first the ‘emotion/fragrance name ‘ or the fragrance itself?
DR: I name all of my children! It is very important to me that the name reflect the personality of the perfume and help tell the story. I decide on the name for the perfume at the very beginning when I am conceptualizing the fragrance.

MC: Parfums DelRae is best known for Bois de Paradis.  Did you have any idea when you approved the last lab sample it would be such a critical and commercial success?

DR: Well, you never know what will happen. Bois was difficult to fine-tune. It took quite a while until I felt the balance - rose, wood, spice, gourmand - was right.  I was particularly focused that it not be too sweet, not too woody. Bois de Paradis has a very sensual personality, and so it “shows” very well. I am thrilled so many people love it.

MC: Your latest fragrance ‘Emotionnelle’ is so very different from anything you have created. Already the blogs are hypothesizing and guessing why ‘melon’ was chosen as a central ingredient. Why melon? Tell us the story of Emotionnelle and the woman you created this scent for.
DR: I was going through an old journal that I had kept while staying in Paris and noted many of the things I enjoyed eating, smelling. This was an important trip for me, I was a bit adrift and that’s when I fell in love with Paris, and began to feel at home. It was an emotional trip, and represented a big shift for me personally. I began to wonder if I could make a perfume reflecting this feeling of possibility, expansiveness. What would that smell like?

And so I proposed this idea to Michel, together with the name, my list of ingredients and the olfactive profile. The melon note was added towards the end of the development. I very much wanted to create something unusual and beautiful. I love Charentais melons (with port poured in the center it is divine!), so the melon note was quite interesting to me. The melon adds transparency, freshness, and a certain mouthwatering quality, plus it enhances some of the other notes, especially the violet. I don’t think of it as the center of the perfume, but it does introduce the “cast of characters” in a very compelling and interesting way. I think this perfume will appeal to women who are sensual, creative and sophisticated.

MC: Michel, thank you very much for joining us for this interview. Can you give our readers your perspective and tell us more about the composition of Emotionelle?

Michel Roudnitska:  Emotionelle was the result of a close collaboration between DelRae and me. She had quite a precise idea of what she wanted to express through this fragrance, it was related to memories of her trip to Paris 25 years ago. A very emotional trip which changed her life, as it is for many people.  Paris became my “idealized” place, where the drama and poignant beauty of life seemed filled with endless possibilities. Dreams seemed to be within reach, and everyday was filled with excitement and revelations.

After DelRae mentioned some ingredients she would like to be in this fragrance as bergamot, cardamoms, plum, violet, jasmin, angelic, amber, vanilla, tonka beans, musk, I began working on this new concept with no preconceived idea, just starting from zero. After a few months and several tests, the fragrance was well balanced but lacking of personality, so I proposed to add some new notes on which I have been working for 20 years and that could fit with this accord. It was a personal composition based on melon, violet leaf and some spicy leather notes.

DelRae liked this new approach and even encouraged me to increase this specific melon note combined with the jasmine note. This gave to the fragrance a more sparkling, “gourmand” and addictive aspect that was in complete harmony with my own taste.

I really love this fragrance: it’s the fusion of DelRae’s dream and mine, an “accord” quite difficult to achieve because of the violent and unusual aspects of some green top notes, but when you have accepted to go through this first reaction, you become completely addicted to this fragrance.

- Michelyn Camen

Camen is the New York City based global fragrance expert and the owner of FifthSense N.Y.C. where she consults for luxury perfumers and fragrance companies, and provides personalized fragrance consultations based on body chemistry, psychology, fashion, and lifestyle.  She is a Senior Contributor for http://Fragrantica.com  In addition, she is the Fragrance Columnist for http://www.uptownsocial.net, the former Senior Contributing Writer for Sniffapalooza Magazine, New in Niche Columnist for Basenotes and Editorial Director/Fragrance Editor for Beauty News NYC & LA. Email her at Michelyn AT Fashiontribes DOT com.

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Each of the five pocket-sized, ultra-light “pebbles” contains a fave Kenzo scent, three for her (FlowerbyKenzo, KenzoAmour, L’eauparKenzo) and two for him (L’eauparKenzo & Kenzo Homme).  Designed by Karim Rashid to fit ergonomically into the palm of the hand, they make it easy to live up to their name - Ryoko, Japanese for travel. Available at KenzoUSA.com.

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Through December, the East Hampton outpost of the fash-insider fave label will function like a mini replica of the New York, Los Angeles, and London stores, complete with signature French antiques, crystal chandeliers, Temperley for The Rug Company rugs, and in-house designed Temperley London fabrics.  The temporary shop (located at 53 The Circle) will carry selections from Cruise 2008, Spring/Summer 2009, and Pre-Fall 2009, with a focus on chic cocktail dresses, kaftans, and beach cover ups - along with items from the Black Label and Accessories collections.   To celebrate the opening, every 50th shopper will receive a $250 gift voucher through December. “We feel the Hamptons are a great location for Temperley London in particular as the products stocked in the shop cover the whole range of day and night time activities,” notes Lars von Bennigsen, CEO and founding partner. “All the way from the beach or a leisurely lunch to the most glamorous of occasions.”

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