Walmart new “GeoGirl” Beauty line

Walmart is launching a new all natural anti-aging cosmetic line and much to the dismay of many it is aimed at the “tween” market of 8-12 year olds. The new “GeoGirl beauty produce line includes blushers, mascara, face shimmer, eye shadows, lipsticks and even an exfoliator. The line will not be the first cosmetic product marketed for adolescents and has been developed to replace Mary Kat and Ashley’s Cosmetic line which was removed from Walmart shelves after being discontinued. 

GeoGirls is slated to hit Walmart stores countrywide by February 21st. The prices will range from $3.99 to $5.99 and will include a “how to” instructional video. The products are all titled using acronyms like SWAK (sealed with a kiss) a lip treatment or T2G (time to go) a cleanser.

There has been outrage about the launch of the new line, which is interested considering this is not the first cosmetic line aimed at tiny-boppers. Currently, Walmart offers make-up for kids from brands like Disney Princesses, Lotta Luv, FAB Beauty and Lip Smackers amongst others. 

"We are raising another generation of girls who kind of measure their self-worth based on what's on the outside," Dr. Logan Levkoff, author of 'Third Base Ain't What it Used to Be' explained on ‘Good Morning America’. Are we encouraging our children to be vain and placing too much importance on outer appearances? Should we be spending that money on a book and towards violin lessons? Yes, I am making reference to the infamous Amy “Tiger Mom” Chua who said that she is “shocked and horrified by…how much time Westerners allow their kids to waste…and in some ways, how poorly they prepare them for the future.”

Again, what values are we instilling in our children by teaching them consumerism and vanity before puberty? Walmart is heavy marketing to this group of consumers, which is estimated to be worth 2 billion dollars of buying power. I guess the almighty dollar is more important than the values we are inculcating our future. In addition, does wearing make-up at the tender age of eight advocate premature sexuality in young adults? I think its time we take look at our morals under a microscope and be more cognitive of what we validate to the impressionable.

Please share your thoughts.

Paris Fashion Week: Junya Watanabe Fall 2011/2012 Menswear

Japenese fashion designer Junya Watanabe presented his Fall 2011/2012 collection during this years Paris fashion week. Junya is known for designing innovative and distinctive clothing. He's also well-known for incorporating synthetic and technologically advanced fabrics and textiles like using waterproof fabric and glow-in the dark fiber in his well-tailored blazers and suits. In April 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama wore a blue-patterned cardigan designed by Watanabe on a visit to the Royal Opera House during her and President Barack Obama's trip to London.

Junya Watanabe’s collection Fall/Winter 2011/2012 menswear collection featured tailored blazers, tweed pants and lumberjack themed winter jackets. I can see the Williamsburg’s hipsters already styled head to toe in his warm separates. Junya has slightly refined American rugged style; this is 2011 Hipster at his best. 

Stand out pieces included tailored fair isle sweater blazers with fitted rolled up jeans or tweed pants; hooded patched wool jackets, a black leather buttoned down jacket with suede patches, duffle leather jackets and cotton sailor jacket with fair isle prints. For the urbane man who likes a touch of edge in his closet, I highly suggest checking out Junya Watanabe’s Fall 2011 collection. 

 

Best online shopping site: ASOS

Since its conception in 2000, online fashion shopping site ASOS has offered consumers massive selections of clothing, accessories and beauty products. ASOS offers more than 35,000 brands including their own label featuring affordable chicest and trendy apparel. Every week over 1500 new items are added to the site. With these volumes, plus excellent customer service, ASOS dominates the online shopping scene. Earlier last year, ASOS launched its first US site, offering free shipping across the country. And now the site offers free shipping on both purchases and returns worldwide. The site is on every fashionistas and fashionistos top list of favorite online clothing site. 

Here’s a list of my top 10 ASOS brand items (check photo gallery for images):

-ASOS Stripe Burnout Prom Dress $77.58

Prom dress, featuring a stripe burn-out design, A-line flared skirt, oversized bow to front with a fitted waist, cut-away neckline and concealed zip closure to reverse

-ASOS Pique Chelsea Scalloped Shift Dress $77.58

Cotton pique dress, featuring scalloped edging and a Peter Pan collar with a cropped bodice and button trim front, a split open back and zip fastening to the reverse.

-ASOS Premium Embellished Crop Top $103.44

Loose cut crop top by ASOS PREMIUM. Featuring sequin and faceted stone embellishment, with exposed zip fastening to the back, round neckline and short sleeve styling.

-ASOS Arthur Canvas Lace Up Ankle Boot $77.58

Canvas lace up ankle boot. Featuring canvas main with leather like accents, classic loafer styling lace up front, eyelets to the side, and low stacked heel.

-Cooper & Stollbrand For ASOS Contrast Trim Trench$327.56

Soft lightweight mac; Tie fastening with contrast trim and frill to back; High quality garment manufactured in England

-ASOS Spot Frill Hem Skort $51.72

Frill hem skort. Featuring oversize spot detail, multiple chiffon tiers and contrast binding to the outer edges.

-ASOS Ink Block Playsuit $68.96

Printed playsuit. Featuring a monochrome ink block design, with gathered waist, plunging wrap over V-neckline, long blouson sleeves and cut out detail to the back.

-ASOS BLACK Crinkle Gathered Hip Dress $103.44

Mini dress by ASOS BLACK. Featuring a crinkled finish and gathered skirt, with a metallic effect, round neckline, sleeveless styling and zip fastening to the back.

-ASOS BLACK Pleated Tiered Mini Skirt $32.76

Pleated satin mini skirt by ASOS BLACK. Featuring tiered layers and a concealed zip fastening to the side. 

-ASOS Pattern Wrap Blanket Cardigan $77.58

Drape cardigan, featuring all over contrast Nordic style knitted print, fold back drape shawl collar and long sleeves. 

New Resort 2011 Trends

Having the winter blues? Well if you’re like most people and sick of the constant miserable cold days, let’s take a moment to fantasy about spring and summer. Better yet, for the lucky few that can take a juvenating mid-winter vacation to somewhere warm surrounded by soothing clement ocean water, I give you resort wear 2011.

Valentino’s resort 2011 is the ladylike destination for spring. I love the lace and bow assets throughout the collection and the mixture of light leather. The yellow soft chiffon dress is the perfect day summer event outfit and my favorite piece of the collection.  

Another top choice would be Chanel’s collection which features light weight flowing materials, vibrate mini dresses and floral prints. Of course it wouldn’t be Chanel without the classic tweed, which includes a chic mini tweed dress with matching blazer. I would wear Chloe’s skinny leather pants with silk tie-bow blouse now paired with booties. It’s a perfect winter to spring outfit.

For the perfect, afternoon spring date in the park encompassing a picnic lunch with wine, I highly suggest YSL ladylike dress; you’ll bland perfectly with the freshly blossomed flowers.  I’m not an all day heels kinda gal. I need to move fast and comfortably while being stylist so the perfect daily uniform for me would have to be Akris relax boyfriend cut slacks paired w/ converses and white cotton peacoat. For the beach, it has to be Vena Cava’s black and white silk suspenders short jumpsuit and Alice & Olivia’s polka dot bikini. Keeping with the current spring trend, Celine as a super chic versatile mini color-block dress with vibrate yellow, green and red.

Last but not least, Balenciaga’s retro collection featuring pieces reminiscence of the 70s. Polyester pantsuits, busy prints and boy shorts suits haven’t been more stylist and modern. I love the colors and print. My fav would have to be the mixed printed skirt and top with yellow trimming.

I don’t know about you, but all of these clothes are making me hanker for warmer days. Check out the photo gallery for images and send me an email for details on special discounts on top designers resort 2011 collection.  

Balenciaga

Balenciaga

Akris

Alice & Olivia

Vena Cava 

Chanel 

Chanel 

Chanel 

Celine

Valentino

Valentino

Valentino

Valentino 

Valentino 

 YSL 

 Chloe

H&M to launch Online Shopping Site

Swedish fast fashion chain H&M is finally ready to grace its many USA avid shoppers with an online shopping site. Announced this week via tweeter, H&M will offer customers their trendy and super affordable flocks online at the end of 2011/ beginning of 2012. After reviewing last years sales numbers and seeing a 15% increase, H&M has decided to open 250 more stores and expand their digital market.

<In 2011, we plan to open around 250 stores net in new and existing markets. We will open in five new markets. At the same time we are expanding our online and catalogue sales. At the start of 2011, we are launching the new H&M Shop Online in the markets where we offer online and catalogue sales already. Shopping experience and functionality have been improved. Around year-end we plan to start online sales in USA, the world’s largest online market.>

I can already hear the sounds of excitement from all the economically conscious stylistas out there as you ponder the convenience of shopping the brand without leaving your home or work desk especially in cities across the US where there are no local stores. Still to be determined is whether or not H&M designer collaborations like Lanvin and Roberto Cavalli will be offered for sale online. I highly doubt the sell of designer collaboration items since they are not current proffered on the European shopping sites.  For sometime now, H&M has had an ecommerce site for their UK clientele. For an idea of what H&M’s online shopping site would look like, refer here.