Think Pink

My general thoughts on lipstick is that in spring and summer I wear softer, fresh and natural looking makeup and in fall and winter go more dramatic with makeup. Usually when fall rolls around I wear dark red or plum lipstick. This fall though, there is a definite throwback to the lady like sixties. Think about the Dennis Basso collection at New York Fashion Week this year and that sums up the vibe of fall. And when you're thinking sixties you're thinking pink. What's in now in lipstick is all things pink from ice pink to warm rose. Here are some examples:

Jean Oliveira Baptista the creative director for Lacoste hits a home run with this collection for Lacoste that infuses the brand's preppy identity with a power shot of modern prints and a really cool effortlessly chic sensibility.

Bug bites, sunburns, peeling skin -- summer means a whole host of different skin hangups than we're used to combatting in cooler temps.

By now you probably know some of the basics, like that you need to protect your skin from that scorching sun, but many people are still falling into some common skin care traps.

Here some of the most frequently-made summertime skin mistakes and easy solutions.

The fashion industry can be a really unfriendly place to emerging designers. It's difficult enough for established designers to stay in the game but for emerging designers trying to launch, there are a lot of challenges.  So the innovative people at Hype Productions- France, came up with a cool concept a fashion design competition, held in Paris with emerging designers from all around the world.

This summer, HYPE Fashion Show Production and Marketing, an independent boutique style company based in the South of France, is teaming up with US based, SYNERGY Events, to give unknown designers the opportunity of their lives, in the fashion capital of the world in Paris, France.

The competition will have three very talented and experienced judges, Artem Balawv, Barry Laden, and Julissa Matrich. Artem Balaev is the co-Founder and General Producer of Aurora Fashion Week in Russia. He has organized and put on numerous catwalk shows for top of the line designers in Russia and Saint Petersburg. Barry Laden is a British fashion entrepreneur, who is most widely known for his creation of The Laden Showroom. This is the UK’s largest independent showroom and retail space for the promotion of budding designers. The British royal family awarded him the MBE medal for his great service in the industry of fashion. Julissa Matrich has produced shows in New York Fashion Week, Amsterdam Fashion Week, and is in the process of executive producing “Curacao Fashion Week,” which is one of the biggest fashion weeks in the Caribbean.

“This is a very exciting partnership and natural next step in the development of HYPE Fashions. When it comes to fashion events, Paris is the place to be and the Emerging Trends event is a great opportunity for emerging designers to showcase their work in one of the world’s fashion capitals.” -Sarah Oosten, HYPE Fashions.

The winning designer will receive a prize worth over $10,000, including $5,000 cash, complimentary participation at Cannes Love fashion 2013 or Emerging Trends 2012 during Boston Fashion Week (a $2500 value) and major European press coverage (over $2500 value).

About The SYNERGY Events: The SYNERGY Events has created various high-end events in Boston, DC and New York, bringing together young professionals, fashion designers, performers, and artists to network, mingle, and gain the opportunity to be a part of unique affairs. These exclusive events attract an ideal market in a luxurious atmosphere.

About HYPE Fashions: HYPE Fashions is a fashion show production and marketing company based in Southern France that offers its clients unprecedented fashion show production, photo shoot production, fashion event production, talent casting, consulting services, marketing and PR.

Event website : http://paris.theemergingtrends.com/

July 7th 7pm, Espace Saint-Martin

Men's fashion is getting fun and outgoing for summer. Flashy is in. Check out some of our favorite mens trends for summer.

Giuseppe Zanotti will debut a men’s footwear collection at Pitti Uomo next week in Florence. The new collection, Giuseppe Homme, is pure Zanotti: rhinestones, suede, silk velvet, gros grain trims, metal plates and Swarovski crystals. This is not a collection of classic men’s footwear but the velvet and patent leather sneakers are sure to be a hit.

Masterpiece is a hip and trendy brand that's considered nerdy street wear (think Pharel). Anyway they have some hot leopard print shorts that are sure to catch people's attention. 

Check out Complex for more info on this brand.

Bring Out Your Spirit Animal With These Dope Leopard Print Masterpiece Shorts

Maiden Noir has six styles of 5-panels and a tiger camo 6-panel available in the newest drop. The hats are made in the USA with uniquely printed twill fabrics imported straight from Japan.

Bally Moccasins (Boat Shoes)
We love this fun colorful preppy statement brand.

No matter what musical genre you prefer, it is hard to deny that there are some mega catchy tunes out there this summer. Even non-country lovers find it difficult to not cheerfully –albeit drunkenly- sing along to Toby Keiths “Red Solo Cup”. And who can forget that this summer, “We are young” with FUN and The Wanted is “Glad we came”? It seems there is no end to the memory making music already incessantly stuck in our heads for the rest of the summer, but are there any songs we HAVEN’T already had our fill of? Surprisingly, yes! These songs have been slowly creeping their way up the charts for the past few weeks and are sure to make a splash this summer.

Pop Lovers
Remember last summer when Neon Trees debuted with the pure awesomeness that was Animal? A song about besties wanting to take things to the next level put Neon Trees on everyone’s radar and now they are back this summer with yet another up and coming hit, “Everybody Talks”. Sure to give meaning to even the most menial summer fling, turn up “Everybody Talks” and make some memories this summer. In true Pitbull fashion, the Cuban rap artist is back again with another chart topping hit, “Back in Time”. The airwaves have just started picking up this club-worthy pop tune and it will only get more infectious as the heat rises this summer. He’s never gone for more than a season but Pitbull came back this year with a bang. Dance your summer away with Pitbulls ode to the new Men in Black movie and maybe it will prompt you to see the new box office hit?

Indie Chill
This spring was an intense ride for Belgian-Australian singer-songwriter Gotye, when his hit “Somebody That I Used to Know” took the world by storm. He’s back just a short season later with another song from his album “Making Mirrors” with “Giving Me a Chance”. This album is a summer must. Don’t forget that only listening to one song off a popular album is like reading only one chapter of an awesome book.
Of Monsters and Men is an up and coming Indie Rock band that is sure to keep you relaxed and joyful on even the hottest of days. “Little Talks” is starting to get some airtime and is definitely going to be a contender this summer.

Country Craze
On this season of The Bachelorette, one of the contestants took Emily on a romantic date that included slow dancing to a live performance from one of her favorite bands, “Gloriana”. They serenaded the couple with their popular song, “Kissed You Goodnight”. This song is as melodic and beautiful as it is swoon-worthy. Put this on your summer soundtrack and see if you aren’t feeling more romantic and free spirited.
Country sweethearts, Love and Theft have just debuted their summer crooner “Angel Eyes”. Put on those daisy dukes and grab your strawberry wine because this song will take you right back to your first summer crush at the county fair.

A blanket, a 6-pack and some portable speakers are all you need to make this summer one to remember with this playlist as these songs are sure to blow up in the next few months.

Latoya Taylor writes about entertainment, fashion & more at travelinsurance.org