The Key Fall' 09 Pieces

FALL IS HERE. Check out fabulous Fall trends you need on your style radar - the key pieces you can't live without.
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Cozy knits, biker jackets, 80s get ready for fall with these fashion must-haves.

Cardigans

A timeless piece that will always be chic and classic sauntered on down - Cardigan. Cardigans have been around for ages, and they will no doubt be around for several more. This classy and one of the most versatile garments is this Fall's key trend. Credit it to Coco Chanel (launch of movie Coco Before Chanel) or First Lady Michelle Obama (its more of First Lady's contribution as she sports one at almost every occassion), cardigan's have become a rage.
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Michelle Obama wearing cardigan

Fall and Autumn/Winter 2009 runways were flooded with this staple in every colour and style. From the trendiest to the most sophiticated label, everyone had their version of the Cardigan - Etro, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel, Etro, Dolce and Gabbana, Blumarine, Moschino.
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This seson's cardigans are not just in basic blacks and greys, they are hued in all shades bright, brightened with embellishments and given detailings like sharp shoulders, ruffles, gatherings, military style.

Dolce and Gabbana and Limi Leu Fall 2009 Collection

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Etro (left) and Twenty8Twelve (right) Fall 2009 Collection

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How to wear it?

Its versatality allows you to slip it over/under everything - wear it over a dress, under a jacket, with a tee. Wear it effortlessly as much with casuals as with formals (like Michelle Obama, Julia Roberts and Jessica Alba). Just play around with it as much as you can.
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A partially buttoned cardigan combined with equally soft pieces can look effortlessly casual. Leave it open like Julia Roberts or accessorise it with a cinch belt (like Etro), any way you wear it, this stylish sweater will go well with every ensemble and style.

Wear it long or wear it short. It's a great way to add a layer to a shift dress to keep you warm, and it goes well with tights, denim, boots, flats and even heels.

They are my wardrobe staple and can't just ever have them enough.


Biker Jackets
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Stella McCartney and Staerk

Vena Cava and Ohne Titel

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Runways were packed with biker jackets - the season's quintessential jacket. This is the season's top must have, and also the designers favourite. Seen on the runways of Stella McCartney, Gucci, Balmain, Jean Paul Gaultier, Blumarine, Chloe, Alexander Wang, Phi and many more.

This trend has had its comeback so many times already, they were huge hit last year, but this season's biker jacket is slightly edgier.

This key piece is easy to update any look. A white t-shirt, black skinny jeans and that rugged biker jacket would do the trick!

How to wear it?

Keep it short or replace your regular winter coat with tough chic style. The runways featured them with everything from leggings to gowns.

This season's new twist to your jacket is giving them armholes that are cut high. So you may want to simply toss it over that drapey cocktail dress like a stole.

Accentuate your femininity by playing with traditionally masculine styles. Put on a biker jacket over a feminine, flirty dress and team it with knee-high boots for a rock chic style.

The easiest and smartest way to wear them is over a shirt and a tank. The black military jacket gives your denim a lot of attitude, but for the 9 to 5 wear it with white trousers to give it a feminine feel.
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1. Warehouse Stitch Detal Denim Biker Jacket for �60, click here to buy
2. Firetrap Biker Jacket Dress for �75, click here to buy
3. Oscar De La Renta Boucl� motocycle jacket for $1,990, click here to buy
(also available on net-a-porter UK site)

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Shoe Spotting: olsen Haus

Why do vegan shoes have to be shapeless, boring and Birkenstock-ish? No more. olsen Haus, a chic and cruelty-free brand, launched leather-free shoes that speaks of style and luxury.

olsen Haus is an American brand started by Elizabeth Olsen who has worked with the likes of Calvin Klein, Bulga, Nine West, Jodi Arnold, MINT and many others. Elizabeth Olsen herself is a vegan of two years, vegetarian since nineteen years and an animal-rights advocate for over twenty.
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Like Stella McCartney, Ms Olsen also believes in creating chic vegan-friendly line. Her cruelty-free, vegan friendly shoes are hip and modern and come in sassy colours and style. Each shoe is tailored with luxury and style. Her designs are completely delectable and a blessing for all the animal friendly fashionistas.
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Cameron Diaz wearing olsen Haus shoes in May 2009 Vogue issue, Source

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olsen Haus shoes have become popular with many celebrities like Emily Deschanel, Alicia Silverstone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Amy Sedaris and Cameron Diaz and have been featured in various magazines like Vogue, Marie Claire, O - Oprah Winfrey's Magazine and Star. Cameron voted olsen Haus shoes as one of her favourite accessories. In the picture (above), Diaz is wearing one of their shoes in an issue of Vogue magazine.
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olsen Haus incorporates bright colors and materials such as cork, linen and ultra-suede to their designs, that are made of non-animal materials, in sample rooms and factories that adheres to ethical practices. Her shoes are priced at an average of $140-$250, not cheap, but definitely worth the luxury every pair emanates.

With these stylish and cruelty-free shoes, you can step in guilt-free splendour at all times without forsaking luxury and style.

olsen Haus soon plans to expand into handbags, so stay tuned.

For more information on olsen Haus line, click here


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Shilpa Shetty Launches 'Shilpa's Gourmet Creations'

With the new acquired business acumen, Shilpa ventures into another new area, with the launch of her new product called 'Shilpa's Gourmet Creations' at The Tiffinbites Restaurant in London.

Shilpa Shetty wearing Donna Karan at a photocall of her product launch in London

Shilpa Shetty along with her enterpreneur boyfriend Raj Kundra took a 33% business stake in a British firm called V8 Gourmet. Checkout her pictures at the photocall in London.

Shilpa Shetty at the launch of her new product 'Shilpa's Gourmet Creations'

Shilpa Shetty with Boyfriend Raj Kundra (left)

Shilpa Shetty wearing a gold Rolex

Shilpa is wearing Donna Karan's silk dupioni wrap jacket with a matching skirt, in blue, from their Spring 2009 Modern Icons Collection. She is flaunting her favourite gold Rolex studded with diamonds. So flamboyant, so very Shilpa Shetty.

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Smart Dressing: Fashion Fixes

1. Get rid of Back Bulges
How often do we see that our snug top or tee reflects back bulges, flesh that pops out above and below the back of the bra, that looks hideous? No more.

Unbelievabra is targeted to control problem areas and will get you rid of your back bulges leaving your back looking smooth and shapely a Eva Longoria Parker, below. This bra-and-camisole-in-one provides support for sizes A-E. You can also get Marks and Spencer's Magic Firm Control available from DD-G.

Unbelievabra, from Shapeez, priced at $85. Click to buy shapeez.com
Marks and Spencer's Magic Firm Control, for �39.50, click here to buy

2. Put an end to Falling Bra Straps
Falling bra straps can be really annoying and embarassing. Bra strap holder or bra clips are your saviour to fix the falling bra straps. Bra strap holder are attached at the back and pull the two back straps together, creating a racerback style, preventing bra straps from falling or peeking. Always use it or keep it handy. Double-sided tape or duct tape can fix that problem in an emergency.

Magic Clip, from Baraza, prized at $5.5, click here to buy

3. Shorten Pant Length to change from Heels to Flats
What do you do to shorten your pants to wear with flats for the day, but elongate it to change into heels for the evening? Here's the solution.

Roll your pants up to their desired length and put Zakkerz fabric strips with magnets around the cuff. The come in various colour options ad go unnoticeable. This way you can wear them with the flats without dragging them on the streets and can also wear long with heels.

zakSet Fabric Strips, from Zakkerz, is priced between $27-30 per set; buy it from zakkerz.com

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4. Prevent Heels from Slipping

How often the heels that perfectly fit at the store, start slipping out when you actually start wearing them? Thankfully, there's an easy fix that�ll help you wear your fabulous shoes back without slipping-off and have you perfectly poised.

Hug My Heels gel pad sticks to the inside heel of your shoes and snuggly holds them in place, unlike the shoe soles that cause problems in heeled shoes.

Hug My Heels, by Airplus for Her, are a great rescue at $5. You can buy them from walgreens.com

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Best Vegetarian Beauty and Cosmetic Brands

Often we do not realise that the make-up or beauty products that we are using comes by killing a poor animal. It is really cruel to apply moisturisers or lipsticks or any other product that is made by taking an animal's life.
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Just by being a little thoughtful it is possible to live a compassionate lifestyle without forsaking a few little luxuries along the way.

Many big brands either test on animals or use animal derivatives in their products. Either ways the animal is either killed or suffers just because the companies want to make money. Due to increaed awareness and protest by animal lovers, many companies have stopped testing their products on animals. However, just because a company does not test its products on animals does not necessarily means it is cruelty-free. This is because, they may still use animal byproducts or animal derivatives to make their products. Like MAC cosmetics. They do not test on animals, but use animal byproducts like carmine in their products.

Thus you must ensure that the beauty and make-up products you are buying are not only not-tested on animals, but also vegetarian and/or vegan.


Top Animal-friendly Companies

Below is a list of premium brands that make cruelty-free beauty products:

1. Bio�thique - Bio�thique is a premium skin and body care brand that is absolutely cruelty-free and eco-friendly. All of their products are made in France, are Third Party Certified Organic (they have created the world's first and only lines of Third Party Certified Organic skin and body care products), natural & plant-based, cruelty-free & vegan. As they say, 'Our skin and body care is carefully crafted in small batches in the heart of Provence, France where we marry the region's rich traditions with modern-day science.' Completely pure and 100% natural their finest quality products are an absolute delight and must have for a healthy and brighter looking skin, right from the nature.

2. Chantecaille - Chantecaille is a preeminent luxury brand for serious skincare and beautifying cosmetics known for its uniquely high concentration of natural botanicals. They are an animal-friendly company and do not test on animals nor use any ingredients derived from animals. Though on an expensive side, their beauty and make-up products make your skin look and feel wonderful.

3. Chritopher Drummond - Drummond is a luxury line of vegan makeup brand made from 100% natural, organic ingredients. With over 15 years of experience in the cosmetic industry, Drummond knows exactly what women want when it comes to their makeup. The ingredients used in each product contain soothing and healing properties, natural sunscreen and potent antioxidants. Christopher Drummond's client list includes Jennifer Lopez, Paula Patton, January Jones. Their makeup products are regularly featured in Vogue, InStyle, O Magazine.

4. Clarins - This premium beauty and makeup brand derives all its ingredients from plants. It does not test any of its products on animals. The company aims to create highly effective products containing the highest quality ingredients, while respecting the environment and preserving the planet�s natural resources. Clarins offers a great selection of beauty, fragrance, makeup and skincare and bodycare products that are vegetarian an cruelty-free. The carmine used in their makeup is synthetic based*. It's hard to find good vegetarian make-up, but Clarins is just amazing. They have superb foundations and powders, very good powder blush, an ideal brow pencil, wonderfully creamy lipsticks, delicious and long lasting lip gloss and coloured lip balms, great lip liner and mascaras.
(*I personally checked with the company and they responded that carmine used in their products are synthetic sourced)

5. DermaQuest's DermaBrush - DermaBrush collection offers naturally antimicrobial, environmentally friendly and vegan luxury makeup brushes. They are created by a panel of top makeup artists. The entire line is made of high-quality, synthetic fibers. The non-shedding brush styles include: kabuki, foundation, concealer, pro multi-task face, pro multi-task eye, tapered contour eye, dual define eye, precision angle eye and precision lip brush. Their Dual Define Eye Brush ($24) is epecially great, it is double sided so you can apply your eyeshadow and liner with a single brush, and its very soft and easy on application.
Note: DermaBrush is a vegan line, however not all products of DermaQuest are vegan, so check their website before buying.

6. Green and Spring - Green & Spring offers bath and body range of products which captures the spirit of the British countryside by blending herbs, flowers and plants native to the British Isles. The Company is 100% vegetarian and uses 100% natural botanical materials. All herbal extracts are sourced from the UK and all essential oils are ethically sourced and of the highest quality. All their ingredients are botanical based and contain no animal products. The only product containing animal products is the Lip Balm and Candles which both contain ethically sourced beeswax. And their products are not tested on animals either. You can buy their products online from Liberty.co.uk or Asos.com (asos ships worldwide). A list of their other stockists is also available on their website.

7. Lush - Lush is well-known for using fresh, natural ingredients in all of their products. The company does not use any animal byproduct or ingredients in their products. They also believe in only buying their supplies from companies that test for safety without the involvement of animals. Lush tests all of its own products on humans, rather than animals.

8. Naturacare - Natracare has feminine hygiene products for all the vegan ladies. They manufacture organic cotton tampons, wipes, pads, liners, incontinence pads, maternity products, toiletries and baby wipes. The comfort of certified organic, 100% cotton next to the skin together with the totally chlorine-free, plastic free biodegradable materials, means that Natracare is not only cruelty-free female hygience brand but is also good to your skin, unlike the other harsh products.

9. Original Bombshell - It has hand and body moisturizers, lip gloss, body scrubs that are vegan, paraben and cruelty-free. Celebrities like Joss Stone Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera, and Melanie Griffith love their products.

10. CARE by Stella McCartney - Stella is one of the world's most famous designers and is best known as the staunch vegan or as Paul McCartney's daughter. Her luxury brand named Stella McCartney does not use any animal derivative in any of her designs or beauty line. Nor does she test any of her products on animals. Her luxury beauty line CARE by Stella McCartney is completely organic and vegan. Even her fragrances are vegan.

11. Suki - Suki, the luxury make-up and beauty brand, boasts 100% pure, organic products that are integrated with cutting-edge scientific actives in innovative safe & effective authentic treatments. You will love their vegetarian, cruelty-free. Celebs like Eva Longoria Parker, Julia Roberts, Katherine Heigl, Jennifer Garner love Suki's products.

12. Urban Decay - Popular make-up company Urban Decay has always been strongly opposed to animal testing. They are famous for their mineral make-up and cruelty-free products. This company also won an award from PETA recently for "best cruelty-free cosmetic line. Although they are not a 100% vegan brand, since they use some animal by-products lik beewax in their products, they do have a vegan line of makeup. A lit of Urban Decay's vegan makeup is available online, click here to view.

13. Weleda - Vegan skin care brand.

14. Zoya - Vegan nail polish brand Zoya is the brainchild of Zoya Reyzis who, as a pregnant aesthetician and salon owner in 1984, realized the need for a healthier and more durable solution. Today, Zoya Nail Polish is available at the finest salons and spa's worldwide. Nail Polish by Zoya offers over 300 gorgeous nail polish colors to choose from, plus 4 seasonal collections of nail polish every year, so you are not limitd by choice. These nail paints are free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor. Zoya is the Winner of 'Longest Wearing Nail Polish' (Woman�s Health Magazine). US customers, click here to buy and UK customers, click here to buy.
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Another cruelty-free brand is Intelligent Nutrients. All the ingredients in their products are certified organic and as the name suggests natural, harm-free.

Companies like The Body Shop, which many people confuse with being cruelty-free company, actually use many animal byproducts and ingredients in their products. In fact, you must know that companies labelling 'Against Animal Testing' does not mean that they don't test their products on animals at all, like The Body Shop does.

Moreover, even though a particular brand of a company is cruelty-free, other items or brands from the same maker could have still been experimented on animals or may be using animal ingredients.

So be careful, your desired cosmetic may not be as animal-friendly as you would hope.

And keep reading this post as it is updated regularly with new vegan and vegetarian brands and products.

Common Animal Ingredients found in Beauty Products

- Carmine or cochineal- coloring made from boiling and crushing insect
(Carmine is a striking red dye; many MAC blushers and lipsticks contain carmine)
- Lanolin- moisturizing agent derived from sheep. Often found in skincare products like moisturisers, body butter (The Body Shop's body butters contain lanolin), soaps
- Beeswax/pollen/bee products - often found in lipsticks, lip balms.
- Lard
- Tallow
- Lactose or Lactalbumin
- Silk derivative
- Propolis
- Elastin (from cows)
- Hyaluronic Acid

You can check if your beauty products contain any of the above ingredients and avoid them to save an animl's life or to save them from cruelty they undergo.

Take a step towards ethical living, you will look and feel better using cruelty-free products. Why bother using harsh chemicals and why kill an animal when you can get luxury beauty with ingredients your skin will love?

Stay gorgeous, cruelty-free way.

Beautify welcomes your comments for feedback and details of other vegan/vegetarian brands and their reviews. Keep reading!!!!


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Trend Watch - Summer Booties

When the temperature soars, even the most style conscious ladies prefer their flip flops and sandals, but not this season. Summer 2009 has the all new and stylish 'Summer Booties'.

Booties in various forms are popular this Summer/Spring - from sandal booties, peed-toe booties to studded and zipped ones. Their vesatility allows them to be worn from casual to dressy events. And their ubiquity is apparent with the celebs wearing them just about everywhere whether it is the red carpet or on the streets.

Come Fall, these become Fall booties and so they are not going out of style. And the ankle booties are even going to be in style during this winter, looking at their popularity on the runways.

So grab your pair today!!!

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Rihanna in black ankle booties (left) and Cassie in Christian Louboutin Booties (right)

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Blake Lively in Marc Jacobs grey booties and Kim Kardashian in flat sandal booties
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Celebrity Bootie Spotting

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Christian Louboutin Robot 120 Boots: Doing the
rounds

These Golden Christian Louboutin Robot 120 Ankle Boots have become quite popular with celebrities. Seen on Megan Fox, Lady Gaga, Nicole Richie and Cassie. These gold patent booties with Louboutin's famous red sole are 4.5 inch high and are definitely a bold choice.

They surely suit Lady Gaga's jazzy taste. You like?
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Christian Louboutin Robot 120 Ankle Boots for �804

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Blake Lively is loving the Booties

Booties have becme an obsession with Blake Lively. From Chloe to Marc Jacobs to Christian Louboutins, she has a pair to flaunt.

Blake Lively in Chloe Suede Booties (left)

and Marc by Marc Jacobs Peep Toe Ankle Bootie (right), click here to buy

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Blake Lively in Christian Louboutin Armadillo Pleated Ankle Booties

available in sale for $520, click here to buy

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How to wear them?
Booties are tough to wear, as they visually shorten your legs. So its best suited for women with long, lean legs. If you really want to wear booties, pair them with a short skirt or shorts to elongate your legs as much as possible.

For the summer, sandal bootie would work best as they are perfect to show off your toes while still wearing the boot style. As the name suggests, a sandal bootie is a hybrid between an ankle boot and a sandal. This style allows your toes to breathe in the soaring temperature and is also a great transition piece for the fall.

On the lright is Givenchy's Lace open toe Sandal Bootie, available at 50% discount, click here to buy.

Pair slightly tough, open-toe booties with a floral or mini dress to get a modern yet feminine look. Black Booties gives a tough look while neutrals and metallics would lend a lighter touch. Greys have become quite popular.

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Coco Before Chanel - get Chanel Chic

With the release of the movie Coco Beore Chanel, Coco Chanel's iconic style is back on the fashion radar. Coco Chanel�s fashion-style is a symbol of traditional elegance. Her designs are classics and emanate minimilistic chic - timeless and tasteful is what her style is.
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She was the one who gave birth to the most stylist and versatile 'Little Black Dress' and she is supposed to be the inventor of fashion jewellery. She liked to mix imitation jewels with real jewels and often combined massive amounts with sportswear. She never overloaded her clothes with useless details.

To get her covetable style think LBD, quilted bags, classic jacket, cardigan, pearls.

Look 1 - Little Black Dress

- Black Pleat Dress for �120 from Austin Reed
- Chanel Crystal Rose Necklace for $284
- Quilted Cream Clutch for �18 from Miss Selfridge

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Look 2 - Cardigan

You can exude Chanel's style by wearing a cardigan with contrasting trims or a smart tweed cardi. You can wear it with a string of pearls and a pair of heels for a sophisticated look, or pair with jeans to smarten up a causal look.

1. Contrast cardigan for �29 from Mango
2. Tweed Jacket for �49 from Promod
3. Highgate Cardigan for �65 by Elizabeth Lau from koodos
4. Black and White Cardigan for �29.5 from Marks and Spencer
5. Navy and Cream Cardigan for �35 from Miss Selfridge


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Michelle Obama's Yellow Fever

With her unique style, Michele Obama has created quite a stir in the fashion world. Ms Obama is not afraid of experimenting and her love for colours is evident. Unlike other First Ladies, who stay in the safe zone of blacks, blues, whites and nudes, Ms Obama loves to play with colours and the sunny yellow seems to be one of her favourite choices.
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First Lady at the National Design Awards
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Michelle Obama wears a yellow Michael Kors suit at the luncheon she hosted for the National Design Awards, which she accessorised with gold bangles.
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Michelle Obama Arriving in Rome for G8 Summit

Michelle Obama arrives in Rome, Italy with President Barack Obama wearing this yellow Jason Wu sheath with a bright green flower brooch. Like her dress, and the nude pumps she is wearing.

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Michelle Obama at the Palazzo del Governo of L�Aquila, Italy
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While visiting the Palazzo del Governo in L'Aquila, Italy, Michelle wore a sunny yellow J. Crew skirt, a floral print cardigan from Liz Claiborne. She completed the look with her signature accessory, a brooch, from Moschino.

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Michelle Obama at McNair Fitness Center in Washington

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Michelle Obama wears a yellow cardigan over her dress during the United We Serve volunteer event in June at the Fort McNair fitness center in Washington, DC.

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Michelle Obama arriving in London

Michelle Obama wore a Jason Wu dress while arriving at London's Stansted International Airport that she accesorised with a black belt and black shoes. Love the colour of her dress, its fresh and soothing.
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Celeb Peek - Freida Pinto

Its been a while that we spotted Freida making an appearance, and when she did, she did it with style, keeping her style status upbeat.

She was spotted with beau Dev Patel at Film4 Summer Screen of 'Slumdog Millionaire' at London's Somerset House in a chic Stella McCartney (Resort 2010) LBD and Jimmy Choo gold stappy sandal. In the accessories department, she wore a chunky gold cuff and carried a lovely colourful beaded clutch. Though she could have done better in hair department, her hair didn't do justice to overall look.

The girl sure knows well how to keep up with the trend and carry it well too. Following the release of the movie Coco Avant Chanel, Coco Chanel's chic style has hit the fashion radar and Freida re-emphasised it with the LBD she wore. To keep up with the modern twist of LBD she chose one with mesh, which added an edge to her dress.
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Freida Pinto at Somerset House in London

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Like her shoes?

She is wearing Jimmy Choo 'Freya' Metallic Gold Sandals.

Click here to buy for �479

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