Mini Diaper Bags - Big Convenience
http://home-and-family-practice.blogspot.com/2008/09/mini-diaper-bags-big-convenience.html
There are times when a large bag of diapers or every day is simply too much and you need a smaller version to handle some necessary items. The mini diaper bag is just the thing for you. Smaller versions of newspapers, every day diaper bags, diapers mini bags hold only enough elements for a short trip outside the bags home.Mini see diapers as well as newspapers, bags of diapers every day, some of them with built-in changing pad and pockets for creams and powders, however, that only have a 1/4th of what the larger diaper bags hold. This option is ideal for quick trips to the store or the library when you're going to be away from home for a short time, but there is a possibility that might need a quick change diapers or a bottle of formula or juice.Mini bags of diapers can be used for newborns and premature babies because their diapers are much smaller than regular diapers. And usually, newborns and babies preemie sleep much so a quick trip to the store or somewhere where they know there is a good opportunity not wake up or you need to change, is a good idea to put the diaper mini verses bag large, regular, daily diaper bag to take less to operate during its day.Mini diaper bags can also be used for the older child who is almost potty trained but could have an accident. Bring a mini diaper bag with a pair of underpants, a package of wipes and a pair of cleaning or shorts and ready to go. This works well especially if they are not carrying a large bag to put on these issues. A mini diaper bag can save room and a lot of problems with just the right amount of room and only the quantity of items for either a baby or babies child.Most only need one or two diapers, a change of clothes only one encasode accidental overflow diapers, wipes, powder and / or cream and a toy or two. All this fits very well in a mini diaper bag and is easily stored in a stroller bottom basket or being carried around your shoulder without too weight.Mini diaper bags and work with the umbrella strollers because they are compact. Umbrella strollers are used for short trips and so are the mini bags of diapers. They make a perfect pair.Some parents who both bigger every day bag of diapers and mini-bag of diapers if you have several stops to make. And when they reach where they are, mini diaper bag filled with what they need from the biggest bag of diapers. This is not saddled with a large amount of supplies each time the run in a shop or a friend's house, but they have everything they need in the car in case of unforeseen issues.Mini diaper bags can also work as purses when mom was leaving a party where they invited babies. There are some stylish mini diaper bags with enough space for the keys to mom, lipstick and cell phone - all small items - in addition to the baby's diapers, bottles and cream or powder. No need to lug around a purse and a diaper bag.Mini diaper bags are ideal for quick and short trips and trips are a great addition to your baby.
Synthesis: There are many new innovative ideas being created for baby bags. Some of the ideas are created for a new generation of mothers who want an "on-the-go" bag. New ideas help these mothers to have a bag that is stylish but still has the necessary pockets and compartments to fit the needs of the baby and the mother.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
2008: year of the rug rat; No pregnant pause for our favourite stars as they share their joy in the spotlight.
Christine Sams
Entertainment Reporter
IT IS a celebrity baby boom that has gossip magazines in a lather. Some of the world's best-known celebrities are leading the trend of being happily pregnant and proud of it - with two of the biggest names, Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie, reportedly giving birth in the same Los Angeles hospital yesterday.
Richie and partner Joel Madden had a girl, Harlow Winter Kate Madden, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Aguilera and partner Jordan Bratman are believed to have had a son, as yet unnamed.
Unlike women who can focus on a healthy pregnancy and birth out of the limelight, the world-famous mums-to-be have to deal with media attention and bidding wars over photos of their offspring.
"It is no longer career death [in Hollywood] to have a baby ... the biggest stars are now proving that it's possible - they can have lives and schedule their films around it," said Michelle Endacott, editor of New Idea. "It is such an exciting time."
Enhanced Coverage Linking
Nicole Kidman who last week announced she was having a baby with her husband Keith Urban, is just one of the Oscar winners expecting in 2008. Cate Blanchett is due to have her third child, while American star Halle Berry is also pregnant.
The list of celebrity pregnancies doesn't stop there: Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lopez, UK singer Lily Allen, Britney Spears's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears and Australian actor Sarah Wynter are also expecting.
As if having a celebrity mum wasn't advantage enough, children born from next month onwards come under the Chinese year of the rat. Being the first sign of the zodiac, "rats" are supposed to have an above average chance of becoming wealthy and successful.
Kidman plans to stay in Australia for her pregnancy, but insiders say she might return to the US if the paparazzi become problematic.
"If the paparazzi go stupid, obviously she'll have to go overseas ... which would be a shame. But obviously the safety of her baby comes first," said a source close to Kidman.
"This is quintessentially an Australian baby - conceived in Australia, while she was working on Australia - so she would like to stay here. Of course they [Urban and Kidman] would like it to have an Australian passport and be born here."
At this stage, Kidman appears likely to give birth in Sydney. "It is unusual for a big star to come back down here to give birth, but in Nicole's case she's very close to her mum and dad and she's very close to her sister Antonia," Endacott said.
Friends of Kidman said she was thrilled by the good wishes she received after announcing her pregnancy. She has been inundated with congratulations and flowers.
"It was a happy announcement for me," said Wendy Day, Kidman's long-time publicist. "I'm very thrilled for Nicole and Keith."
Last week, actor Toni Collette gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Sage Florence Galafassi.
The celebrity pregnancy boom has prompted renewed interest in celebrity baby names.
"I think the biggest feedback we ever had was when Gwyneth Paltrow called her baby Apple," said Endacott. "But there have been a lot of traditional names of late - we're really tipping Nicole will go for a traditional name for her baby. I don't think it'll be a Suri or a Shiloh."
Blanchett, who already has two young sons, Dashiell and Roman, is working with her husband Andrew Upton as the co-director of the Sydney Theatre Company in 2008.
She is expecting her third child in April and will remain in Australia for the birth. (Her boys were born in London).
In the US, the spotlight is on Jennifer Lopez, who is believed to be expecting twins next month, Halle Berry, who is seven months pregnant, and Jessica Alba, who announced her surprise pregnancy with boyfriend Cash Warren. Australian actor Sarah Wynter is expecting a baby any day.
Synthesis: In todays society celebrities have a huge impact on how new mothers want to be percieved. People want to look cool with their new borns a change from past generations. This new style is a huge positive for the baby market who has a larger target market to work with.
Christine Sams
Entertainment Reporter
IT IS a celebrity baby boom that has gossip magazines in a lather. Some of the world's best-known celebrities are leading the trend of being happily pregnant and proud of it - with two of the biggest names, Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie, reportedly giving birth in the same Los Angeles hospital yesterday.
Richie and partner Joel Madden had a girl, Harlow Winter Kate Madden, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Aguilera and partner Jordan Bratman are believed to have had a son, as yet unnamed.
Unlike women who can focus on a healthy pregnancy and birth out of the limelight, the world-famous mums-to-be have to deal with media attention and bidding wars over photos of their offspring.
"It is no longer career death [in Hollywood] to have a baby ... the biggest stars are now proving that it's possible - they can have lives and schedule their films around it," said Michelle Endacott, editor of New Idea. "It is such an exciting time."
Enhanced Coverage Linking
Nicole Kidman who last week announced she was having a baby with her husband Keith Urban, is just one of the Oscar winners expecting in 2008. Cate Blanchett is due to have her third child, while American star Halle Berry is also pregnant.
The list of celebrity pregnancies doesn't stop there: Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lopez, UK singer Lily Allen, Britney Spears's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears and Australian actor Sarah Wynter are also expecting.
As if having a celebrity mum wasn't advantage enough, children born from next month onwards come under the Chinese year of the rat. Being the first sign of the zodiac, "rats" are supposed to have an above average chance of becoming wealthy and successful.
Kidman plans to stay in Australia for her pregnancy, but insiders say she might return to the US if the paparazzi become problematic.
"If the paparazzi go stupid, obviously she'll have to go overseas ... which would be a shame. But obviously the safety of her baby comes first," said a source close to Kidman.
"This is quintessentially an Australian baby - conceived in Australia, while she was working on Australia - so she would like to stay here. Of course they [Urban and Kidman] would like it to have an Australian passport and be born here."
At this stage, Kidman appears likely to give birth in Sydney. "It is unusual for a big star to come back down here to give birth, but in Nicole's case she's very close to her mum and dad and she's very close to her sister Antonia," Endacott said.
Friends of Kidman said she was thrilled by the good wishes she received after announcing her pregnancy. She has been inundated with congratulations and flowers.
"It was a happy announcement for me," said Wendy Day, Kidman's long-time publicist. "I'm very thrilled for Nicole and Keith."
Last week, actor Toni Collette gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Sage Florence Galafassi.
The celebrity pregnancy boom has prompted renewed interest in celebrity baby names.
"I think the biggest feedback we ever had was when Gwyneth Paltrow called her baby Apple," said Endacott. "But there have been a lot of traditional names of late - we're really tipping Nicole will go for a traditional name for her baby. I don't think it'll be a Suri or a Shiloh."
Blanchett, who already has two young sons, Dashiell and Roman, is working with her husband Andrew Upton as the co-director of the Sydney Theatre Company in 2008.
She is expecting her third child in April and will remain in Australia for the birth. (Her boys were born in London).
In the US, the spotlight is on Jennifer Lopez, who is believed to be expecting twins next month, Halle Berry, who is seven months pregnant, and Jessica Alba, who announced her surprise pregnancy with boyfriend Cash Warren. Australian actor Sarah Wynter is expecting a baby any day.
Synthesis: In todays society celebrities have a huge impact on how new mothers want to be percieved. People want to look cool with their new borns a change from past generations. This new style is a huge positive for the baby market who has a larger target market to work with.
THEIR SUCCESS IS IN THE BAG.
Baby's dirty diapers inspire couple to deliver fast-growing product line; ' It's not going to be a hobby '
The Daily News
PHYLLIS FURMAN
When Ellen Diamant couldn't find a practical diaper bag for her son, she looked past her frustration - and saw a business opportunity.
After her son Spencer was born, the Upper West Side art director went hunting for a bag that fit her urban style. The best she could find was a quilted navy sack that looked ugly hanging from Spencer's stroller.
Diamant was sure she could do better. She told her husband, ex-Internet exec Michael Diamant, they should design their own sleek, unisex, messenger-style bag that would move easily from stroller to shoulder.
"I wanted to do it and sell it to my friends," Ellen Diamant, 42, recalled. "Michael said, 'If we're going to do it, it's not going to be a hobby, it's going to be a business.' "
The couple not only made the bag, they launched a product line that's bringing baby chic to style-starved parents.
Launched in 2003, their company, Skip Hop, is growing faster than a toddler can smear chocolate across his face, taking in $10 million last year, double the total of 2006, and expanding its payroll to 22 people out of its W. 29th St. offices.
Skipping far beyond their original cool bag, dubbed the Skip Hop Duo, the Diamants now sell an array of streamlined items for parents and their babies, such as striped bottle bags, denim diaper changers and an industrial-looking plastic bottle drying rack created by award-winning product designer Scott Henderson.
There's not a tacky pink bunny or clown face in the bunch.
The line can be found at large chains like Buy Buy Baby and Babies "R" Us, and in smaller upscale specialty stores like Giggle. The preschool-aged company even scored a deal with Target, which sells a lower-priced, scaled-down line of Skip Hop products called Spark.
"There's a real change in what parents expect," said Michael Diamant, 40. "Demand for that today is being picked up by companies like Skip Hop."
Just five years ago, the couple knew nothing about the baby business. But Michael Diamant, who has an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, had experience building companies from scratch.
An entrepreneur during the go-go Internet era of the late '90s, he pocketed several million dollars from the sale of T3 Media, a Web design company. But his next Internet venture, a YouTube precursor called iClips, went bust in 2002.
"For eight to nine months, I was floundering around," he said. "The babysitter thought I was a bum."
He got busy again pursuing his wife's diaper bag idea. The couple paid a designer $5,000 to create a prototype, then asked friends to test drive the bag on their strollers.
After getting multiple thumbs up, they found a manufacturer in El Salvador to make a first run, spending more than $10,000 to produce about 400 bags. They set the retail price for the Duo at $50, wedging it into the market in between designer and mass market bags.
Skip Hop debuted at a trade show in 2003. Soon after, orders from retailers starting flowing in. First year sales hit $1.2 million.
"You can't go past a stroller without seeing a Skip Hop stroller bag," said Upper East Side mom-to-be Nicole Arslanian, who owns accessories company Talene Reilly.
The Diamants said they've put little of their own money - less than $100,000 - into the business. Early on, they secured a $200,000 loan from Citibank and favorable credit terms from suppliers.
Last year, Skip Hop raised $1.6 million from investors, including showbiz exec David Friedensohn. The Diamants still own 70% of the company.
The new money, which they are investing in top-of-the-line manufacturing equipment, will allow the Diamants to keep adding new twists to old-line baby products. A recent example is a foam play mat with removable geometric shapes, rather than letters of the alphabet.
"Nobody had innovated them for years," Giggle founder Ali Wing said. "They said, 'Let's make it cool and make it more aesthetically pleasing.' "
The Diamants don't always have the magic touch - the company has turned out some clunkers, too.
One idea that didn't work was a sippy cup designed to be attached to strollers. But the cup kept slipping off, and the project was scrapped.
Will they try again? Probably not, Ellen Diamant said.
Synthesis: In todays society mom's want to look "chic" due to a fast growing generation of celebrity mothers and high fashion leaders. Due to this an outgrowth of new products and innovative ideas are being created to help deal with this new growth.
Baby's dirty diapers inspire couple to deliver fast-growing product line; ' It's not going to be a hobby '
The Daily News
PHYLLIS FURMAN
When Ellen Diamant couldn't find a practical diaper bag for her son, she looked past her frustration - and saw a business opportunity.
After her son Spencer was born, the Upper West Side art director went hunting for a bag that fit her urban style. The best she could find was a quilted navy sack that looked ugly hanging from Spencer's stroller.
Diamant was sure she could do better. She told her husband, ex-Internet exec Michael Diamant, they should design their own sleek, unisex, messenger-style bag that would move easily from stroller to shoulder.
"I wanted to do it and sell it to my friends," Ellen Diamant, 42, recalled. "Michael said, 'If we're going to do it, it's not going to be a hobby, it's going to be a business.' "
The couple not only made the bag, they launched a product line that's bringing baby chic to style-starved parents.
Launched in 2003, their company, Skip Hop, is growing faster than a toddler can smear chocolate across his face, taking in $10 million last year, double the total of 2006, and expanding its payroll to 22 people out of its W. 29th St. offices.
Skipping far beyond their original cool bag, dubbed the Skip Hop Duo, the Diamants now sell an array of streamlined items for parents and their babies, such as striped bottle bags, denim diaper changers and an industrial-looking plastic bottle drying rack created by award-winning product designer Scott Henderson.
There's not a tacky pink bunny or clown face in the bunch.
The line can be found at large chains like Buy Buy Baby and Babies "R" Us, and in smaller upscale specialty stores like Giggle. The preschool-aged company even scored a deal with Target, which sells a lower-priced, scaled-down line of Skip Hop products called Spark.
"There's a real change in what parents expect," said Michael Diamant, 40. "Demand for that today is being picked up by companies like Skip Hop."
Just five years ago, the couple knew nothing about the baby business. But Michael Diamant, who has an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, had experience building companies from scratch.
An entrepreneur during the go-go Internet era of the late '90s, he pocketed several million dollars from the sale of T3 Media, a Web design company. But his next Internet venture, a YouTube precursor called iClips, went bust in 2002.
"For eight to nine months, I was floundering around," he said. "The babysitter thought I was a bum."
He got busy again pursuing his wife's diaper bag idea. The couple paid a designer $5,000 to create a prototype, then asked friends to test drive the bag on their strollers.
After getting multiple thumbs up, they found a manufacturer in El Salvador to make a first run, spending more than $10,000 to produce about 400 bags. They set the retail price for the Duo at $50, wedging it into the market in between designer and mass market bags.
Skip Hop debuted at a trade show in 2003. Soon after, orders from retailers starting flowing in. First year sales hit $1.2 million.
"You can't go past a stroller without seeing a Skip Hop stroller bag," said Upper East Side mom-to-be Nicole Arslanian, who owns accessories company Talene Reilly.
The Diamants said they've put little of their own money - less than $100,000 - into the business. Early on, they secured a $200,000 loan from Citibank and favorable credit terms from suppliers.
Last year, Skip Hop raised $1.6 million from investors, including showbiz exec David Friedensohn. The Diamants still own 70% of the company.
The new money, which they are investing in top-of-the-line manufacturing equipment, will allow the Diamants to keep adding new twists to old-line baby products. A recent example is a foam play mat with removable geometric shapes, rather than letters of the alphabet.
"Nobody had innovated them for years," Giggle founder Ali Wing said. "They said, 'Let's make it cool and make it more aesthetically pleasing.' "
The Diamants don't always have the magic touch - the company has turned out some clunkers, too.
One idea that didn't work was a sippy cup designed to be attached to strollers. But the cup kept slipping off, and the project was scrapped.
Will they try again? Probably not, Ellen Diamant said.
Synthesis: In todays society mom's want to look "chic" due to a fast growing generation of celebrity mothers and high fashion leaders. Due to this an outgrowth of new products and innovative ideas are being created to help deal with this new growth.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Materials
Categories for 2008
Irradiate:
· Luster
· Holographic
· Mirrored
· Glow
Thermal:
· Molten
· Charred
· Melt
· Blistered
· Waxy
Anatomical:
· Skin
· Hair
· Viscera
Transitory:
Irradiate:
· Luster
· Holographic
· Mirrored
· Glow
Thermal:
· Molten
· Charred
· Melt
· Blistered
· Waxy
Anatomical:
· Skin
· Hair
· Viscera
Transitory:
· Barely There
· Temporary
· Blurred
· Dust
Contoured:
· Ordered
· Random
· Crumpled Sheared
· Temporary
· Blurred
· Dust
Contoured:
· Ordered
· Random
· Crumpled Sheared
Pictures: (Top to bottom): Luster, Blistered, Viscera, Random, Ordered, and Barely There
2008 Spring Summer color vs. 2009 Spring Summer color
Working closely with the WGSN ThinkTank colour palette (early inspirational colour analysis for all design-related industries), this palette has been compiled to reflect the most important colours for the spring/summer 2009 season for the accessories industry.
We have updated the way we work for the spring/summer 2009 season and arranged the palette by colour levels.
Neutral
Neutral tones take on a more warmly shaded, yellow-tinged caste this season.
Orange/red
A newly emerging level developed from autumn/winter 2008/09. Creamy vanilla- and apricot-influenced pastels through to more exotic coral and tomato reds are imbued with an orange-red glow.
Pink
Pink shades take on a natural, powdery complexion or alternatively are deliciously fresh, sugary and edible, in the form of tangy sorbet and jelly through to candied artificiality.
Brown
Browns take on mellow, sun-ripened amber and golden castes, from tannin-infused biscuit and tea shades through to more rich and aromatic coffee tones.
Blue
A concise level of purple-influenced blues evolve from autumn/winter 2008/09 with a cool ultraviolet intensity.
Blue/grey
Crisp blue shades are permeated by cool grey for a chilled aqua caste, from the palest misty tones through to the deepest slate, indigo and pitchy darks.
Yellow/green
Yellow-influenced green shades continue from autumn/winter 2008/09, becoming more fresh and verdant or bright and acidic in tone. Yellow infuses the palette rather than making a standalone colour statement.
Neutral tones take on a more warmly shaded, yellow-tinged caste this season.
Orange/red
A newly emerging level developed from autumn/winter 2008/09. Creamy vanilla- and apricot-influenced pastels through to more exotic coral and tomato reds are imbued with an orange-red glow.
Pink
Pink shades take on a natural, powdery complexion or alternatively are deliciously fresh, sugary and edible, in the form of tangy sorbet and jelly through to candied artificiality.
Brown
Browns take on mellow, sun-ripened amber and golden castes, from tannin-infused biscuit and tea shades through to more rich and aromatic coffee tones.
Blue
A concise level of purple-influenced blues evolve from autumn/winter 2008/09 with a cool ultraviolet intensity.
Blue/grey
Crisp blue shades are permeated by cool grey for a chilled aqua caste, from the palest misty tones through to the deepest slate, indigo and pitchy darks.
Yellow/green
Yellow-influenced green shades continue from autumn/winter 2008/09, becoming more fresh and verdant or bright and acidic in tone. Yellow infuses the palette rather than making a standalone colour statement.
• The fundamental neutral palette underpins this season’s colours.• Grey is diffused throughout the palette and also appears as an influential tonal group with a warm cast.• Rich and deep, succulent, dark summer colours are trans-seasonal and practical or delicate and luscious. Important are Treacle, Lapis and Marron to replace black.• A return to soft purple and violet levels.• Yellows are sunny, buttery and warm.• Pinks are less synthetic with a more natural, realistic flavour.• Sea blues have mood and depth, while briny, kelpy greens suggest underwater plant life.
Analysis: There are subtle changes within a year for color. The neutrals are remaining close to the same in color. The reds seem to be a little subdued in 2009 compared to 2008. The blue colors seem to intensify from 2008 to 2009. Overall the colors don't change much, a slight change in the tint or shade is noticeable. The main difference is the name. For example Oxblood of 2008 is very similar to Plum of 2009. Other colors that are similar are Wasabi-2008 and Lemongrass-2009 as well as Verdigris-2008 compared to Absinthe2009.
Information found at WGSN-EDU.com
Forecasting Automobile Colors
Spirit-of-time-teams forecast individual and vibrant shades for the future
“The new DuPont OEM Coatings Color Show, “Winning with Color”, joins trend-setting
ideas with innovative development of worldwide OEM colors. Six teams with substantial
trend potential are entering the race: Classic, Adventure, Racing, Esprit, Vogue and Eco
are representative of current driving forces as well as consumer needs.
Multicolor iridescent variants, sparkling mica particles and unusual effect combinations
are among the stylish innovations to open up the conventional color concepts. The result
comprises mixed hybrid colors and shades that fulfill the demand for purity and
individuality. The triumph of colorful but also subtle shades is clearly crystallized in this
case. Colors are interpreted individually depending on the team orientation and thus
personalized for tomorrow’s market.
Tomorrow’s automobile colors must attract attention but should not be obtrusive; they
should be sophisticated and elegant. The important point here is to use the great range of
effect possibilities confidently and harmoniously. This color concept actively addresses
the future language of automobile shapes. The industry is deliberately playing with
accents and clearly defined edges internationally. Round shapes contrast with austere
lines. Tomorrow’s automobiles gain excitement, originality and modern charisma when
combined with the right color outfit.”
Information found at: http://www.dupontrefinish.eu/dupontrefinish/com/en/PDF/Color_Popularity_2007_MR.pdf
“The new DuPont OEM Coatings Color Show, “Winning with Color”, joins trend-setting
ideas with innovative development of worldwide OEM colors. Six teams with substantial
trend potential are entering the race: Classic, Adventure, Racing, Esprit, Vogue and Eco
are representative of current driving forces as well as consumer needs.
Multicolor iridescent variants, sparkling mica particles and unusual effect combinations
are among the stylish innovations to open up the conventional color concepts. The result
comprises mixed hybrid colors and shades that fulfill the demand for purity and
individuality. The triumph of colorful but also subtle shades is clearly crystallized in this
case. Colors are interpreted individually depending on the team orientation and thus
personalized for tomorrow’s market.
Tomorrow’s automobile colors must attract attention but should not be obtrusive; they
should be sophisticated and elegant. The important point here is to use the great range of
effect possibilities confidently and harmoniously. This color concept actively addresses
the future language of automobile shapes. The industry is deliberately playing with
accents and clearly defined edges internationally. Round shapes contrast with austere
lines. Tomorrow’s automobiles gain excitement, originality and modern charisma when
combined with the right color outfit.”
Information found at: http://www.dupontrefinish.eu/dupontrefinish/com/en/PDF/Color_Popularity_2007_MR.pdf
PPG consists of a group of experts who have forecasted the North American color automobile trends for 2009-2010:
"Blue: The color blue will increase in popularity, with updated rich classic blues featuring sparkle effects for a unique iridescence and some shades featuring green and red casts. Medium-valued blues with silver highlights also add new dimension to the palette.
"Blue: The color blue will increase in popularity, with updated rich classic blues featuring sparkle effects for a unique iridescence and some shades featuring green and red casts. Medium-valued blues with silver highlights also add new dimension to the palette.
Green: Nature-inspired textures and patterns will expand the range of greens, especially with continued consumer interest in the environment and “green” products. The color will be enhanced with a light, almost translucent hue on one end of the spectrum, while a combination of green with brown will create a new dark khaki on the other.
Naturals: The metallic looks seen in fashion, packaging and product design are strong influences on the natural color family. Medium values will showcase subtle tones of copper and bronze, while special-effect pigments will help create contemporary and luxurious browns influenced by wood and leather products.
Red: This classic color palette will be highly influenced by interior design, resulting in deep burgundies and bright, saturated reds. With new effect pigments, the depth and brilliance of red can be expanded.
Neutrals: Comprised of silvers, blacks and whites, the neutral family has strong ties to fashion. Blacks with metallic effects will be the new focus. Tonal whites and pearl colors will continue to become established. Silvers will continue to develop with the addition of metallic flake and effect pigments, while a move to darker graphite colors with slight tints of brown and green will add new interest."
Information straight from the website: http://www.pcimag.com/Articles/Industry_News/faa17b36eddbe010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____
The CNW Marketing Research Company links car color and personality
Emerald Green Car – calming and refreshing (positive outlook drivers)
Red – most intense color (drivers tend to be aggressive)
Black – sign of power and elegance (submissive/downbeat drivers)
White – A light and neutral color
Blue – creates a calming effect
Information found at: http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2008/06/what-your-car-color-may-say-about-your-psyche-mood-outlook.html
According to the Dupont Car Color report and Forbes Auto…
- Automobile color experts derive inspiration anywhere from street wear fashion to cell phones
- White, silver, and black dominate the automobile industry globally
- The most popular color on the market is silver
- Car enthusiasts worldwide are beginning to look toward more blue treatments
- 2009 Dodge Ram will be offered in new and inventive colors including
- Deep Water Blue Pearl
- Austin Tan Pearl
- Finishes will be more liquid, metal like and shift towards metallic
- Violet blues will begin to emerge
- Gold and green are predicted to reemerge as popular automobile colors
- Luxury colors will reach towards neutrals such as brown and grey
- 2008 - Uncertainty in economics has led North Americans to seek more traditional/conservative colors such as red and white
- Some believe that consumers will seek an olive green color for the automobile in the future
Information found at: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS162529+10-Jun-2008+PRN20080610 and http://www.forbesautos.com/news/features/2007/car-color-trends.html
*Making the decision on what car color to buy can be a long term investment as well as a way to express your personality. Car colors, much like colors in apparel and accessories shift according to a variety of factors including economics, environment, and trends. Ultimately from the research I have done regarding automobile color, the future trend seems to be breaking away from the traditional popular color of silver, and leaning toward blues and greens. The finish will change as well to more of a metallic, metal like finish.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
History Repeating: Accessories At Lakme Fashion Week
"When it comes to Indian accessories, everything old is new again. Two designers who presented collections as part of a special accessories showcase at LFW are turning tradition on its head with bold statement pieces that utilize antique techniques and textiles. Little Shilpa designed by Shilpa Chavan, has been on the Indian style scene for years and Chavan has apprenticed with Philip Treacy. This season she sent out a series of necklaces that encase gold-and silver threaded brocade sari pieces in Plexiglas, along with a host of inventive headgear. Malaga, designed by Malini Agarwalla, recreates splendor of Mughal-era handicraft with stunning pieces that incorporate rubies and emeralds, along with semiprecious stones like turquoise, into exquiste evening bags that Leiber fans will be dying to get their hands on. "
-Sameer Reddy
Recession Spending
1. Ann Demeulemeester: 'Bold shots of color, glittery crystal embroideries, and bunched and wrapped toga dresses, as well as cool, drapey jackets and waistcoasts for her rock 'n' roll fans."
2. Balenciaga: "Nicolas Ghesquiere pushed fashion further into the future with a collection that explored Balenciaga codes via matte and shiny textures. His tissue-fine metallic pleated jackets worn with covetable motocross pants looked like sci-fi armor for a twenty-first-century style-bot."
3. Chanel: "In uncertain times, a name like Chanel is something you believe in. Karl Lagerfield rolled out all of the house signatures and then some, including tweed, done for Spring in a painterly blown-out check. Result: Fashion that's 100 % impervious to a shaky economy."
4. Dolce and Gabbana: "Leave the S&M and bondage to the amateurs. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana avowed experts in the subject, abandoned their trademark corsetry to make the season's most convincing argument for languid, louche pajama dressing."
5. Dries Van Noten: "Fashion's most artful realist had another hit on his hands with a mostly black and white collection of shifts, suiting pieces, and one fabulous gold Lurex skirt that was less exuberant than his last two efforts, but never, ever boring."
6. Givenchy: Riccardo Tisci knows his fan base. This season, he gave them plenty of the drop-dead sexy fare they've come to love: expertly cut yet utterly feminine suits, bondage detailing, and Spring's must-have nudes."
7. Lanvin: From beginning to end, love-at-first-sight clothes that truly have it all: gorgeous color, voluptuously sexy volumes, and, best of all, an easy, no-corset-necessary construction that makes them a joy to wear."
8. Louis Vuitton: If Marc Jacobs has it right -and when has he not?- the sagging economy will leave women hungrier than ever for that special piece. Louis Vuitton had them in spades, from tres parisienne forties shoulder jackets and 'spangly' sweaters to feather minis, and don't forget the eye-catching bags and tribal-art jewelry."
9. Marc Jacobs: He may call Paris home, but the good old U.S.A. is Marc Jacobs' first love,a nd his ode to Americana, complete with bustled prairie skirts, glam motorcycle jackets, a nod to his own grunge movement, and much, much more, just might be his most genius collection ever."
10. Ralph Lauren: "Harem pants at Ralph Lauren? Believe it. With North Africa as inspiration, the designer produced a savvy, beautiful collection that delivered the trends - there were also camp shirts and safari jackets - without jeopardizing the polish and pragmatism that are the hallmarks of his American style."
New Designers & Trends
William Rast is the New L.A.M.B."Most stage-to-street trends are regrettable: Hammer pants come to mind. But sometimes a savvy pop start manages to capitalize on his or her look with a legit fashion line. Take Gwen Stefani, whose rock/rasta mash-up, L.A.M.B., grosses close to 100 million annually. Now, Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala, who were childhood pals in Tennesse, are hoping for similar success with William Rast, a denim collection that's been expanded to include men's and women's ranges designed by Johan and Marcella Lindeberg. Expect Southern staples with a Hollywood edge."
Nicholas Kirkwood is the New Christian Louboutin
"What makes us think Nicholas Kirkwood is ready to step into the maestro's shoes? For one, the Rodarte sisters have chosen the London cobbler to craft their Spring footwear. And for another, he's landed a gig making shoes for Pollini, where the appointment of Jonathan Saunders as ready-to-wear director has made it one of Milan's must-see shows. Then there's all the front-row types- Leigh Lezark, Daisy Lowe, Selma Blair - who've been spotted in his high-and-mighty architectural stilettos and cantilevered platform heels."
Goth is the New Grunge
"Starting on September 5, the Fashion Institute of Technology will present Gothic: Dark Glamour, an exhibit exploring the aesthetic from the perspective of both the catwalk and the streets. This, clearly, is a trend that won't be going away anytime soon."
-Designers such as Ann Demeulemeester, Rick Owens, Alexander Wang, and Rodarte have been a few designers to already reveal somewhat gothic pieces
-From Style
Best Collections Deemed by In Style:
* Proenza Schouler: In colors like deep violet, emerald, and bronze. The collection is sporty and sensual. Coats with dramatically draped backs, slouchy wide pants, and sequins, sequins, sequins.
*Narciso Rodriguez: The convincing case for neo-minimalist simplicity, with super-shapely jackets and skinny pants.
*Rodarte: Tulle ballerina dresses speak of sweet fairy tales, but those mohair knits, not to mention the tough girl shoes, give this collection a razor-sharp edge.
*Prada: The leaner, longer silhouette leads to grown-up glamour, yet the look enters a new realm with couture like, bourgeois-with-an-erotic-twist Swiss lace.
*Marni: The three step method for the perfect fall: Forgo sleeves, color-block in delicious, imaginative combinations; and belt boxy coats and jackets over neat skirts.
*Balenciaga: Luxury worthy of the cyber era, with superherolike seamed jackets, intricately paneled pants, draped velvet tops, magnificent costume jewels, and embroidered rubber.
Trends:
*Long and lean
*Velvet
* Evening Shimmer
*Bold Jewelry
* Sculptural Accessories
* Boots 24/7
* Embellishment
More Trends From Fall:
*Bell Curves
*Country Life
*Minimalist Tendency
* Superhero Worship
Jewelry:
* Big, Bold, and "Costumey"
* Inspired by nature, "Earthy Delights"
Technology:
*Apple
* I-phone
* Blackberry
* Blue-tooths
Runway Eye Catchers - Handbags & Accessories
Eye Catchers From the Shows:Hit List From Paris:
* Space Age Wristlet
* Stripped Pep Toe Wedge
* The Logo Bag
* The Ruffle Front Shoe
* The Simple Sandal
* The New Platform Pump
* The Mirrored Sandal
* The Western Bag
* The Artful Mix
* The Slouchy Tribal Bag
* The Edgy Heel
* The Neon Accent
* The Price Conscious Shopper
* The Patchwork Shoulder Bag
* The Punk Pearl Necklace
* The Oversized Shades
* The Chain Mail Wristlet
Hit List From Milan:
*The Drum-Shaped Wristlet
* The Jewelry-Like Handbag
* The Canvas Tote
*The New Exotic
* The Pastel Shoe
* The Heritage Bag
* The Detailed Shoe
* The Platform Pump
*The Graphic Heel
* The Waterproof Bag
* The Metallic Leather Clutch
Recent Movies About Pregnancy
Each movie has a positive tone about pregnancy. These humorous and lighthearted movies attract moms and dads to be and show viewers all the trials of pregnancy but in an upbeat way making it very appealing and almost seem easy.
Pregnant Celebrities
Mom and Dads to be
• Louise Redknapp
• Ashlee Simpson
• Emma (Mark Owen’s partner)
• Michelle Monaghan
• Dawn Barlow (Gary Barlow’s wife)
• Natasha Shishmanian (Chris Evans‘ wife)
• Jennifer Garner
• Melanie Chisholm
• Dolores Fonzi (Gael García Bernal’s partner)
• Alison King
• Jenna Jameson
• Tameka Foster (Usher’s wife)
• Brooke Mueller (Charlie Sheen’s wife)
• Jools Oliver (Jamie Oliver’s wife)
• Alyson Hannigan
• Jordyn Grohl (Dave Grohl’s wife)
• Christine Baumgartner (Kevin Costner’s wife)
• Holly Willoughby
Recently Gave Birth
• Samantha Morton
• Stella McCartney
• Toni Collette
• Nicole Richie
• Christina Aguilera
• Jennifer Lopez
• Javine Hylton
• Halle Berry
• Kerry Katona
• Cate Blanchett
• Kate Thornton
• Tanya Haden (Jack Black’s wife)
• Jessica Alba
• Ulrika Jonsson
• Tori Spelling
• Edith Bowman
• Jamie Lynn Spears
• Tamzin Outhwaite
• Nicole Kidman
• Camila Alves (Matthew McConaughey’s girlfriend)
• Angelina Jolie
• Ryan Shawhughes (Ethan Hawke’s wife)
• Ceren Alkac (Jason Lee’s girlfriend)
• Luciana Damon (Matt Damon’s wife)
• Gwen Stefani
• Kirstie Allsopp
• Minnie Driver
• Rhea Durham (Mark Wahlberg’s partner)
• Lisa Marie Presley
• Gillian Anderson
• Billie Piper
• Amy Poehler
• Tina O’Brien
• Jo Whiley
It seems today celebrities are constantly becoming pregnant. With so much publicity these celebs are being tracked through each stage. There are websites dedicated to pregnant celebrity watching. Since there seems to be such a mass media coverage of pregnancies and celebrity babies one might think our culture in America is becoming obsessed with the creation of life and that a future baby boom may arise.
Aquired Soucre: http://celebritypregnancy.com/
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Job Loss Lasting Into 09
As automakers dropped their latest batch of awful sales numbers on the market on Tuesday, reinforcing the gloom spreading across the economy, the troubles confronting American workers seemed to intensify.
The New York Times
Plummeting home prices have in recent months eliminated jobs for hundreds of thousands of people, from bankers and real estate agents to construction workers and furniture manufacturers. Tighter lending standards imposed by banks in the wake of huge mortgage losses have made it hard for many Americans to secure credit — the lifeblood of expansion in recent years — crimping the appetite of consumers, whose spending amounts to 70 percent of the economy.
Joblessness has accelerated, and employers have slashed working hours even for those on their payrolls, shrinking the size of paychecks just as workers need them the most.
Now, add to that unsavory mix the word from automakers that sales plunged in June — by 28 percent for Ford, 21 percent for Toyota and 18 percent for General Motors — a sharp sign that consumers are pulling back, making manufacturers more likely to cut production and impose more layoffs. Until recently, the weak labor market has been marked more by the reluctance of employers to create new jobs than by mass layoffs.
Among economists, the sense is broadening that the troubles dogging the economy will be stubborn, leaving in place an uncomfortable combination of tight credit and scant job opportunities perhaps well into next year.
“It’s a slow-motion recession,” said Ethan Harris, chief United States economist for Lehman Brothers. “In a normal recession, things kind of collapse and get so weak that you have nowhere to go but up. But we’re not getting the classic two or three negative quarters. Instead, we’re expecting two years of sub-par growth. Growth that’s not enough to generate jobs. It’s kind of a chronic rather than an acute pain.”
Mr. Harris expects tepid economic growth and a shrinking labor market to persist through the fall of 2009.
The national unemployment rate climbed a full percentage point over the last year to 5.5 percent in May, according to the Labor Department. That does not include people who are jobless and have given up looking for work, or people who have been bumped to part-time jobs from full-time. Add in those people and the so-called underemployment rate rises to 9.7 percent, up from 8.3 percent in May 2007, according to the Labor Department.
Goldman Sachs forecasts that the unemployment rate will peak at 6.4 percent late in 2009 before the picture improves, meaning that the painful process of shedding jobs may be only half-way complete.
“The labor market is clearly deteriorating, and it’s highly likely to keep deteriorating,” said Andrew Tilton, an economist at Goldman Sachs. “It’s clear that the housing downturn and credit crunch are still very much under way. Clearly, there are more jobs to be lost in housing, finance and construction — hundreds of thousands of more jobs to be lost collectively.”
On Thursday, the Labor Department will release its snapshot of the job market for June. Economists generally expect the report to show 60,000 more jobs lost, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline.
But many anticipate the unemployment rate will nudge down a little bit, swinging back from an abrupt climb that could have been exaggerated by survey glitches in the previous month, when the rate jumped by half a percentage point — the sharpest one-month spike in 22 years.
If the unemployment rate were to hold steady or rise, that would likely spook markets, underscoring the impact of the economic slowdown.
“Slowing wage growth and falling employment is absolutely toxic if your business is selling anything to consumers,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief United States economist for High Frequency Economics.
Recent indications lend credence to the view that the job market is in the grip of a sustained downturn. Three weeks in a row, new unemployment claims have exceeded 380,000, a level generally associated with recession. Construction spending fell in May. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey, which tracks attitudes about business and personal finance, has dropped to a depth last seen in 1980.
On the factory floor, a weak dollar has been fanning export sales. The I.S.M. Manufacturing Index — a widely watched gauge of factory activity — nudged up in June to 50.2 from 49.6 in May, entering barely positive territory, which indicates a slight expansion.
But that mostly reflected a buildup of inventories and higher prices for raw materials, and not an improvement in orders for factory goods, said Stuart G. Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Service Group in a note to clients. If business stays weak and orders do not materialize, factory layoffs could accelerate. Indeed, the employment component of the index declined to its lowest level in five years.
The slide in the labor market has become both symptom and cause of a weak economy, pulling many families into a downward spiral. Back when housing prices were still rising, Americans borrowed exuberantly against the value of their homes to finance renovations, vacations and shopping sprees. But that artery of finance has constricted considerably along with access to credit cards, forcing a reversion to the traditional limits of household finance. Millions of American families must now confine their spending to what they can bring home from work.
With job losses growing and working hours shrinking, many paychecks are eroding, prompting millions of families to cut their spending. Soaring prices for food and gasoline are overwhelming modest wage gains for most workers, leaving households with even less money to spend. All of which deprives struggling businesses of sales, prompting them to shed more workers, sending the cycle down another turn. Starbucks announced on Tuesday that it would close stores and eliminate up to 12,000 jobs, about 7 percent of its work force.
The fear of a downward spiral prompted the Bush administration to unleash $100 billion worth of tax rebates in the hopes that recipients would spend money and spur sales. The Treasury has already dispensed more than $78 billion, and the money appears to be finding its way into cash registers, with consumer spending climbing by 0.8 percent in May, according to the Commerce Department.
Economists expect the rebates will continue to help retail sales through the summer, fueling modest economic growth that spares some jobs and prevents an outright contraction.
But few expect these rebate-laced sales to expand the job market, because businesses understand that the one-time surge of money will wear off later this summer.
Many experts expect the economy to then be pulled back into the weeds by the same forces that have led the downturn — declining home prices, tighter credit and leaner paychecks.
“It’s going to be very hard to overcome those headwinds,” said Mr. Harris, the Lehman economist.
Synthesis: This large slash in jobs means less money for consumers to spend. Since the housing market is so low Americans can’t borrow money against their house for large shopping sprees, meaning they cut unnecessary spending. If consumers are spending their money conspicuous then what will they splurge to spend on? How can we create a bag that people out of work would still feel the need to buy? How can Butler Bag provide the only purse a consumer will need for a season?
The New York Times
Plummeting home prices have in recent months eliminated jobs for hundreds of thousands of people, from bankers and real estate agents to construction workers and furniture manufacturers. Tighter lending standards imposed by banks in the wake of huge mortgage losses have made it hard for many Americans to secure credit — the lifeblood of expansion in recent years — crimping the appetite of consumers, whose spending amounts to 70 percent of the economy.
Joblessness has accelerated, and employers have slashed working hours even for those on their payrolls, shrinking the size of paychecks just as workers need them the most.
Now, add to that unsavory mix the word from automakers that sales plunged in June — by 28 percent for Ford, 21 percent for Toyota and 18 percent for General Motors — a sharp sign that consumers are pulling back, making manufacturers more likely to cut production and impose more layoffs. Until recently, the weak labor market has been marked more by the reluctance of employers to create new jobs than by mass layoffs.
Among economists, the sense is broadening that the troubles dogging the economy will be stubborn, leaving in place an uncomfortable combination of tight credit and scant job opportunities perhaps well into next year.
“It’s a slow-motion recession,” said Ethan Harris, chief United States economist for Lehman Brothers. “In a normal recession, things kind of collapse and get so weak that you have nowhere to go but up. But we’re not getting the classic two or three negative quarters. Instead, we’re expecting two years of sub-par growth. Growth that’s not enough to generate jobs. It’s kind of a chronic rather than an acute pain.”
Mr. Harris expects tepid economic growth and a shrinking labor market to persist through the fall of 2009.
The national unemployment rate climbed a full percentage point over the last year to 5.5 percent in May, according to the Labor Department. That does not include people who are jobless and have given up looking for work, or people who have been bumped to part-time jobs from full-time. Add in those people and the so-called underemployment rate rises to 9.7 percent, up from 8.3 percent in May 2007, according to the Labor Department.
Goldman Sachs forecasts that the unemployment rate will peak at 6.4 percent late in 2009 before the picture improves, meaning that the painful process of shedding jobs may be only half-way complete.
“The labor market is clearly deteriorating, and it’s highly likely to keep deteriorating,” said Andrew Tilton, an economist at Goldman Sachs. “It’s clear that the housing downturn and credit crunch are still very much under way. Clearly, there are more jobs to be lost in housing, finance and construction — hundreds of thousands of more jobs to be lost collectively.”
On Thursday, the Labor Department will release its snapshot of the job market for June. Economists generally expect the report to show 60,000 more jobs lost, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline.
But many anticipate the unemployment rate will nudge down a little bit, swinging back from an abrupt climb that could have been exaggerated by survey glitches in the previous month, when the rate jumped by half a percentage point — the sharpest one-month spike in 22 years.
If the unemployment rate were to hold steady or rise, that would likely spook markets, underscoring the impact of the economic slowdown.
“Slowing wage growth and falling employment is absolutely toxic if your business is selling anything to consumers,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief United States economist for High Frequency Economics.
Recent indications lend credence to the view that the job market is in the grip of a sustained downturn. Three weeks in a row, new unemployment claims have exceeded 380,000, a level generally associated with recession. Construction spending fell in May. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey, which tracks attitudes about business and personal finance, has dropped to a depth last seen in 1980.
On the factory floor, a weak dollar has been fanning export sales. The I.S.M. Manufacturing Index — a widely watched gauge of factory activity — nudged up in June to 50.2 from 49.6 in May, entering barely positive territory, which indicates a slight expansion.
But that mostly reflected a buildup of inventories and higher prices for raw materials, and not an improvement in orders for factory goods, said Stuart G. Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Service Group in a note to clients. If business stays weak and orders do not materialize, factory layoffs could accelerate. Indeed, the employment component of the index declined to its lowest level in five years.
The slide in the labor market has become both symptom and cause of a weak economy, pulling many families into a downward spiral. Back when housing prices were still rising, Americans borrowed exuberantly against the value of their homes to finance renovations, vacations and shopping sprees. But that artery of finance has constricted considerably along with access to credit cards, forcing a reversion to the traditional limits of household finance. Millions of American families must now confine their spending to what they can bring home from work.
With job losses growing and working hours shrinking, many paychecks are eroding, prompting millions of families to cut their spending. Soaring prices for food and gasoline are overwhelming modest wage gains for most workers, leaving households with even less money to spend. All of which deprives struggling businesses of sales, prompting them to shed more workers, sending the cycle down another turn. Starbucks announced on Tuesday that it would close stores and eliminate up to 12,000 jobs, about 7 percent of its work force.
The fear of a downward spiral prompted the Bush administration to unleash $100 billion worth of tax rebates in the hopes that recipients would spend money and spur sales. The Treasury has already dispensed more than $78 billion, and the money appears to be finding its way into cash registers, with consumer spending climbing by 0.8 percent in May, according to the Commerce Department.
Economists expect the rebates will continue to help retail sales through the summer, fueling modest economic growth that spares some jobs and prevents an outright contraction.
But few expect these rebate-laced sales to expand the job market, because businesses understand that the one-time surge of money will wear off later this summer.
Many experts expect the economy to then be pulled back into the weeds by the same forces that have led the downturn — declining home prices, tighter credit and leaner paychecks.
“It’s going to be very hard to overcome those headwinds,” said Mr. Harris, the Lehman economist.
Synthesis: This large slash in jobs means less money for consumers to spend. Since the housing market is so low Americans can’t borrow money against their house for large shopping sprees, meaning they cut unnecessary spending. If consumers are spending their money conspicuous then what will they splurge to spend on? How can we create a bag that people out of work would still feel the need to buy? How can Butler Bag provide the only purse a consumer will need for a season?
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