Men's fashion: would you wear high-waisted jeans?

In my recent roundup from London's menswear collections I mentioned denim was a key theme, especially bleach-splattered, shredded and otherwise abused variations on the material, as well as the emergence of a boxier, oversized shape for the denim jacket. But there is another story to be told about denim and it concerns the cut of your jeans or, more precisely, the height of your waistband.

If at Saint Laurent in Paris, Hedi Slimane's high-waisted styles were typically slim-fitting and restrictive, those shown by London menswear designers Sibling a few weeks earlier had a bit more swing in the leg, reminiscent of a 1950s silhouette. In a collection inspired by West Side Story, with its pace-setting titles and choreographed gang warfare, Sibling's denims were true to the era that film portrayed, despite being paired with the designers' anything-but-conventional contemporary knitwear. When blue denim became part of youth culture for the first time the shape of jeans still retained an element of their workwear origins as well as demonstrating the relative modesty of the times.

There's something relentlessly optimistic and summery about 1950s-inspired styles. I can see the looser, high-waisted jeans shape, as demonstrated by Sibling, worn with a simple T-shirt and canvas pumps, being a great option for next summer.

I won't pronounce this as the end of skinny jeans for men, though it does offer an alternative to the slimmer, on-the-hip cuts popular for the last decade. Out of the spotlight for a while, perhaps due to a shift in fashion interest in all things "sartorial", Selfridges' new denim studio and APC's relocation of their E2 store to within inches of Shoreditch House's main entrance, are evidence that selling jeans will never be entirely out of focus when it comes to menswear.

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Home Remedies for Whiteheads

Natural cures for whiteheads can help you get rid of them just as quickly and efficiently as medications on many occasions. Try some of the best home remedies for whiteheads and blackheads that truly work.

Cleansing your face correctly, exfoliating and protecting your skin from the sun are ways to prevent whiteheads, but they don't always work since there are also hormonal changes responsible for these closed comedones. Start using noncomedogenic cosmetics right away and try the best home remedies for whiteheads on your face.

Facial Steaming

Boiling water and keeping your face above the pot for up to 10 minutes really works in opening up your pores. Try this method with a towel over your head after you've removed the pot from the stove. Warm compresses work the same way, but they should be applied longer, for up to 15 minutes, before trying to manually clean your pores.

Liquid Antibacterial Soap and Salt

One of the best home remedies for whiteheads is basically a scrub, made from liquid soap with antibacterial properties and salt. Use one teaspoon of salt and mix it with one teaspoon of soap and massage the mixture over the area for a few minutes. Gently wash your face and try again if the skin still isn't soft enough to allow you to get rid of the whiteheads.

Honey

A honey facial is one of the most natural and easy to use home remedies for whiteheads and blackheads. Its antibacterial and antiseptic properties will help you out big time. Simply dab a bit of honey on the whiteheads and let it sit for 10 minutes, before washing your face with lukewarm water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Another top choice from the natural cures for whiteheads, apple cider vinegar should be diluted based on how sensitive your skin is. It can irritate your skin in its pure form, so feel free to water it down to a proportion of up to 8 parts water for one part apple cider vinegar.

Milk and Lemon Juice

An excellent choice when it comes to home remedies for whiteheads on your forehead or nose, this milk and lemon scrub acts quickly. Mix 2 tablespoons of milk with 1 lemon juice and 1 salt and rub it on the problem areas.

Sandal Wood Powder and Rose Water

A paste made from sandal wood powder and rose water is one of the less known home remedies for whiteheads and pimples, but it's very potent. Use a little of both to make a paste and let it sit on the problem areas for up to 20 minutes. It's one of the home remedies for whiteheads on your chin or nose that doesn't irritate even the most sensitive skin.

The Best Multitasking Hair Products for Summer

I've never been a summer complainer—one of those people kvetching about the heat, the humidity, the yadda yadda yadda. But if my hair could talk, it'd sound something like Larry David, whingeing about how the sun, the ocean, the pool are turning it into cranky, uncooperative straw. Until recently, that is. I discovered products that can refresh, protect, and soften my disenchanted strands—and chatted with Allure Product Finder Expert Kerrie Urban for tips on how to use them.

Sally Hershberger Hyper Hydration Keratin Spray. Its keratin and silk extracts repair and protect from future damage. “The formula provides your hair with strength as well as moisture,” says Urban. It also seals split ends, keeps frizz at bay, and leaves hair feeling smoother in seconds.

Oribe Soft Dry Conditioner Spray. Yes, you read that right: dry conditioner. It softens coarse, salt-dried strands with zero greasiness. The unique solution boasts hydrolyzed silk and wheat proteins that bolster strands and deliver thermal protection, too, “so it’s great to use before blow-drying,” says Urban.

Verb Leave-In Mist. This liquid has antioxidants that protect your hair and scalp from free-radical damage and bamboo extract to strengthen strands and help them retain moisture.

Rahua Voluminous Spray. Spritzed on before blow-drying, this 100 percent natural mist leaves hair feeling noticeably thicker. You can also use it to give dry hair a boost: “Spray this volumizer at the roots and then blow-dry to revive hair that has fallen flat,” suggests Urban.

Pureology Sea-Kissed Texturizer Spray. Try this salt-free spray if you color your hair: It adds texture without stickiness, and the non-stripping formula won't affect your highlights. Plus, we love its summery tropical fruit scent.

L'Oréal Mythic Oil Milk Reinforcing Mist. This mist does everything but style your hair for you. It smooths flyaways and frizz, gives ponytails a glossy finish, keeps ends hydrated, and protects from heat styling. "And I'd suggest using it before swimming," says Urban. "Hair is like a sponge—if it’s already saturated with this conditioning mist, it won’t take in the drying chlorine.”

Michelle Obama Picks Another Dress From Ghanaian Designer

In May 2012, American First Lady, Michelle Obama wore American-Ghanaian fashion designer, Mimi Plange’s skirt when she paid a visit to ‘The View’ on ABC to discuss her new book – ‘American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America’. On June 29, 2013, the First Lady again wore Osei-Duro’s Strata Panel Skirt in Green Rubics manufactured by Cadling Fashions of Ghana at the Sci Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

She styled the skirt with a studded belt and chiffon blouse from a Nigerian label, Maki Oh. The skirt is hand-dyed rayon, made in Ghana, and a part of Osei Duro’s SS 2013 collection. Don’t miss the dress on MTV Base Meets Michelle Obama premiering to 52 territories across sub-Saharan African on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) on Friday 19 July @ 17.00 CAT.

Mrs. Linda Ampah, Chief Executive of Cadling Fashion says, “This is a wonderful opportunity and we are delighted and honoured to have caught the eye of Michelle Obama. High standards are required to enter and survive on the international fashion market. We are determined to maintain these standards”.

The panel on education and technology was held through a Google+ hangout, connecting young students from South Africa, New York City, Houston, Kansas City, and Los Angeles. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were in Africa for one week, visiting the countries of Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. The First Lady’s official agenda for travel includes the promotion of the power of education.

“Maryanne Mathias of Osei Duro says ‘The distinctive designs and high quality fashion products of Cadling Fashions have made it to the US market thus helping to put Ghana on American fashion platform. We are proud to be associated with this achievement of Cadling Fashions” and we are delighted that we made it to Michelle Obama’s wardrobe”.

Cadling Fashions is a well known name in the Ghanaian fashion industry. In Ghana, Cadling Fashions produces for individuals, companies and education institutions. Cadling also has a dedicated fashion line for children known as Anjanique’s by Cadling.

Osei Duro is a US-based company that encourages international and intercultural cooperation through small scale sustainable business initiatives in emerging markets like Ghana.

Coby Alcántar Keeps Chopping at Little Axe

The hair behemoth that is Bumble and Bumble has, over the years, served as a training ground for many gifted stylists—some have remained and many have graduated to other salons. Just this year, Bumble-ite Michelle Snyder (a.k.a., Michelle Fiona) opened Barrow Salon in San Francisco, and as of last week, Coby Alcántar also branched out on her own, with the unveiling of Little Axe in Williamsburg (both logged time at West Village editorial darling Whittemore House, started by Bumble’s Victoria Hunter and Larry Raspanti, before going solo). Alcántar, who briefly (very briefly; six weeks total) left New York for the Bay Area (and a gig at Harper Paige) last year before circling her wagons back to the East Coast, had been dividing her time between working as an educator with Oribe and styling at Marie Robinson, an old friend since the Bumble days. But she found herself longing for a small-salon environment à la Whittemore, and when a space in Williamsburg came to her serendipitously through a close friend, the idea for Little Axe was quickly birthed.

Much like Alcántar herself, the shoebox-size space is chilled out and inviting.”I want to keep it simple and functional, with a few special touches, like a collection of old teacups and saucers that my mom and dad found at thrift shops,” she says. Besides Alcántar, there is Haley Ozell, the resident full-time colorist, and Paris-based stylist (and friend) Rubi Jones, who will be using the space to attend to the locks of her New York clients when she’s in town. The salon’s quirky name came courtesy of Alcántar’s husband, Cesar. “I really liked how the word little looks, so over a few nights of Cesar driving me crazy suggesting ‘little’ everything, Little Axe came out, and I said, ‘That’s it!’ And I love that my friend who designed our Web site also came up with the hashtag #ijustgotaxed. Ha!” Anyone who has had the good fortune to be on the receiving end of an Alcántar cut knows that her forte is tweaking classic styles (a bob, a crop, et cetera) in unexpected and inventive ways. “Recycling a classic is always good; it’s how you modify them that really makes you stand out,” she says. “But, really, I just want people to look good and like how they look.”

Katy Perry: Killer Queen; Gwyneth Paltrow Worships the Sun; Laser Hair Removal Red Flags; and More

Katy Perry opened up to WWD about her new fragrance, Killer Queen (named after the song), due out in August. “Freddie Mercury painted the lyrics of this woman who I wanted to be. She seemed very powerful, and she captivated a room when she walked in,” Perry said. She went on to jokingly call her new business partner, Coty, “Daddy Warbucks” and touched on the possibility of starting a fashion line one day. “I’m not saying I’ll be good at all of it, but I’m going to swing.”

Helen Mirren’s still got it. The 67-year-old actress has a better bikini bod than many women half her age and still likes to have fun with her beauty routine. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Jay Leno showed Mirren a recent picture of herself with pink hair. She explained her color change was inspired by a contestant on America’s Next Top Model who kept switching her hair between blonde and pink. “Obviously, I got the idea that it washes out very easily, so I thought it would be fun to have pink hair.” Rock on, Helen.

Readers were taken aback when Gwyneth Paltrow, seemingly the healthiest person on the planet, disagreed with doctors and endorsed (gasp) tanning in a recent British Cosmopolitan interview. “We’re human beings, and the sun is the sun—how can it be bad for you? I think we should all get sun and fresh air,” Paltrow said. “I don’t think anything that is natural can be bad for you—it’s really good to have at least fifteen minutes of sun a day.”

A study in Boston found that the smoke given off during laser-hair-removal procedures contains harmful toxins and chemicals that could put both humans and animals in danger. Dr. Gary S. Chuang looked into the problem after noticing a “foul,” sulfuric odor the smoke emitted each time he performed laser hair removal. The potentially game-changing results of his research will be published in a medical journal shortly. Until then, it’s not-so-smooth sailing for spas and salons offering the service.

Different skin treatments for younger skin

The skin starts showing signs of ageing from 25-30 years. These changes get more pronounced after 30-35 years of age. The first sign of ageing is change in texture and hydration level of the skin. The skin gets drier, patchy and the skin radiance reduces. We feel that we are looking dull, darker and are not glowing the way we used to! By 35 years of age fine lines start developing around the eyes called crow's feet.

Different skin treatments for younger skin

By 40 frown lines, forehead wrinkles set in. By 50-60 years the laugh lines get deeper and neck wrinkles appear and skin laxity sets in. Some people develop age spots patchy skin and pigmentation. Due to drop in metabolism and hormonal imbalances there is gain in weight which is hard to lose. The areas like abdomen, upper arms, thighs also sag and lose there tone. Cellulite and worsening of stretch marks are also common issues of ageing women. I am sure by the time you finish reading this paragraph many of you would have entered throes of depression. Please do not despair because the good news is that ageing can be retarded, prevented and reversed.

There are variety of anti-ageing face and body therapies. As per the grade of skin laxity, wrinkles and other indications the right therapies are chosen. A right choice and combination of modalities like Lasers and other new world technologies help to deliver extremely gratifying results to the patients. Following are few therapies suggested for anti-ageing:

Upper body

Common concerns:

Pigmentory disorders, fine lines and wrinkles on face, sagging jawline, loss of cheek volume, marionette lines, drooping eyelids and deepening of nasolabial folds.

Solutions:

Affirm fractional laser, Thermage, Scarlet, Vampire's face lift or Platelet rich plasma therapy, Botox and Fillers.

Affirm fractional multiplex laser:

Affirm Laser is an advanced fractional laser which uses two wave lengths- 1440nm and 1320nm to achieve skin lifting. We use it for photo ageing, wrinkles, lifting of face, jaw and neck and also for retexturing of the skin. Helps in skin tightening, toning and rejuvenation.

Thermage:

Thermage is one of the latest and effective treatments available for skin lift up and skin tightening. Thermage is a safe, non-invasive, no downtime, single treatment, cosmetic procedure that is clinically proven to tighten, contour and rejuvenate facial skin to help naturally restore a more youthful appearance. It is FDA cleared immediate results are visible and continue to improve for up to six months. It removes wrinkles from the face with ease and comfort. It tightens the upper and lower eyelids with ease and comfort.

Scarlet:

It is radiofrequency treatment with micro needling for skin lifting, tightening and wrinkle reduction. It induces re-modeling of collagen and elastin. It delivers very promising results in tightening Loose abdomen, arms, thighs and hips and also treating stretch marks.

Vampire's face lift or platelet rich plasma therapy:

Blood is made of RBC (Red Blood Cells), WBC (White Blood Cells), Plasma, and Platelets.

Antiageing mesotherapy:

In this technique a special caviar cocktail is penetrated into the skin with different meso techniques as per the skin type with active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, retinols and peptides which help boost the collagen and elastin. It helps in skin rejuvenation, softening fine lines and wrinkles and restores youthful appearance.

Botox:

It is an injection treatment which relaxes the muscles that create wrinkles thereby lessening the appearance of frown lines and crow's feet. It is used for other indications like face contouring, lifting of eye brow, jawline and drooping lips. A small amount of Botox is injected right into the muscles that are responsible for creating wrinkles.

Fillers:

Fillers such as Restylane Perlane and Juvederm are used to fill up wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes, mouth lines and neck lines. They are also used to create pouty lips and to enlarge thin, wrinkled lips to give a fuller and younger appearance. Fillers also help in volumising the sunken areas of the face. Down turned dropping lips can be converted into upturned smiling lips through this procedure.

Mid body

Concerns:

Excess fat and laxity breasts, upper back, arms, abdomen, flanks, stretch marks on the same areas and crinkling of skin of hands

Solutions:

Ilipo, smooth shapes, prowaveice, affirm fractional laser, thermage, scarlet, platelet rich plasma therapy, mesotherapy, fillers

I-lipo:

I-lipo Ultra is the latest in laser lipolysis and it is a non-invasive, pain free fat loss treatment that targets stubborn fat areas and delivers immediate results .This is a new safe and easy way to mobilise fat from stubborn hard to shift areas like Tummy, thighs, love handles, lower back, arms, chins, even ankles.

Smooth shapes:

Cellulite appears when fat cells just under the skin swell or enlarge and the once flexible collagen bands become brittle

For hands

Affirm fractional laser:

-For anti-ageing and rejuvenation of hands

-Platelet rich plasma therapy

-Back of hands and arms and also chest and decolletage

Fillers:

Back of hands of hands rejuvenation and anti-ageing

Lower body

Concerns:

Excess fat, laxity, stretch marks and cellulite on hips, thighs and calves.

Solutions:

Ilipo, smooth shapes, prowaveice, affirm fractional laser, thermage, scarlet, platelet rich plasma therapy and mesotherapy.