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Posts from the ‘FASHION’ Category

Is Bigger Better?

You know you’ve thought about it.  When  it comes to breasts…Is Bigger Better?

THE 24-HOUR BOOB JOB

If you could try out life with bigger breasts for a day, would you do it? Liz Krieger checks out the controversial new lunchtime lift.

By Liz Krieger

THE 24-HOUR BOOB JOB

Cinderella’s fairy godmother turned a tattered dress and a pumpkin into a shimmering gown and a lavish ride. Remember, though, there was one catch: The makeover lasted only until midnight. With his InstaBreast technique, Norman Rowe, a New York plastic surgeon, is playing fairy godmother to women temporarily seeking larger, fuller breasts, but his handiwork also lasts for only one night. In about 20 minutes, you can go from flat-chested to cleavage-proud.

Rowe’s method is remarkably simple: He designates a site at the edge of each nipple, and after the area is anesthetized, he injects about a half-liter of sterile saline solution—essentially salt water—into the patient’s breast tissue. He maneuvers the needle at various angles to different areas, expanding each breast until it reaches the desired fullness. The saline is gradually absorbed into the bloodstream, with the full effect lasting about 24 hours. (Rowe says that saline is considered perfectly safe; it’s the same stuff you would get in an IV if you were dehydrated.)

While some doctors suggest that instant breast augmentation is just a fad, it’s hard to ignore its potential (consider the hundreds of thousands of women who don’t hesitate to have volumizers injected their face). And the desire for bigger breasts is as popular as ever: According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 313,327 breast augmentations and 137,233 breast lifts were performed in the U.S. in 2013. “Women want cleavage,” Rowe says matter-of-factly. “And this is fast.”

Fast results were just what Shavon Jovi, 28, a model and aspiring actress, was hoping for when she underwent the procedure with Rowe several months ago. After a few pricks of an anesthetic into the skin surrounding the nipples, Rowe injected anesthetic-laced saline solution into her 32A breasts, one syringe at a time. The effect was an instant fullness that brought her chest to a C cup. “For the longest time I’ve wanted to get a breast augmentation,” says Jovi. “I was sort of shocked when I saw them, but I loved it immediately.” Within two days she was back to her natural size (how long it takes depends on how your body metabolizes the fluid). So why have the now-you-see-’em, now-you-don’t procedure? Like many of Rowe’s patients, Jovi wanted to “try on” implants in a way that computer imaging just can’t mimic, says Rowe, adding that some of his patients go for the temporary inflation for special occasions, such as a wedding, a big birthday, or a beach vacation.

Nicole, a 30-year-old mother of two, spent a day walking around with saline-inflated breasts, and a few months later went under the knife for implants. “It was amazing to see what my breasts would be like,” she recalls. As for how it felt? “I’ve had Botox and fillers, and it’s similar.” About 75 percent of Rowe’s patients who opt for the $2,500 procedure go on to get implants. However, it isn’t a helpful test-drive for every woman. “If you need bother a lift and an augmentation, the saline won’t give you a realistic approximation,” explains Rowe.

Not everyone is singing the praises of the short-lived boob job, and there are limitations and risks to it. Since the skin of both breasts is pierced by the needle, bruising can occur. And like any procedure that penetrates the skin, infection is possible. Some doctors see other downsides as well, cautioning that undergoing the procedure repeatedly could cause the skin to stretch—”like a Slinky that you stretch out past the point of no return,” says Adam Kolker, a plastic surgeon in New York. Rowe counters that this is highly unlikely. “The skin has to be stretched for a much longer and continuous time period for it to display permanent stretching,” he says. Heidi Waldorf, a New York dermatologist, agrees, noting that having the procedure once is “probably okay. As long as it’s short-lived, the area should return to its normal contour,” says Waldorf, but she has concerns about stretching for those who return for more.

For her part, Jovi wanted to capture the results before they faded away. “I definitely posted a few #InstaBoob selfies that day,” she says. In the spirit of the procedure, though, perhaps she should have used Snapchat.

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health/a4380/24-hour-boob-job-1215/

Pills or tablets can’t make your breasts grow, although eating fish has been known to increase the hormones which may encourage your breasts to grow.

What you wear and how you wear it does make a difference.  Shapewear that improves posture and slightly re-positions your curves is a viable answer that has reliable results.

Contemporary Design Inc. Breast Enhancing Shapewear

Contemporary Design Inc.’s Breast Enhancing Everyday Shapewear

The Power Brow

the power brow

Cara Delevingne – the epitome of the Power Brow

Cara Delevingne – the epitome of the Power Brow

No longer plucked and diminished, the full strong brow is THE beauty trend.  Prescription lash growth serum and other products and services for lash, brow-sculpting for men and women and eyelash extensions are the focus of the derma-cosmetic industry.  Estheticians scramble to attend eyelash extension training workshops.  Spas add Eye and Brow Services to the professional salon environment.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons offer the ultimate solution: the brow lift or forehead lift reverses the effects of gravity and tightens the soft tissues of the forehead to restore a more youthful contour to your forehead skin, upper eyelids and eyebrows.

UCO-120 Facial and Otoplasty Band

UCO-120 Facial and Otoplasty Band

Post Surgery, Contemporary Design Inc. offers the UCO-120 Facial and Otoplasty Band.  Ideal for multiple applications. Depending on use, can provide firm support to the forehead and ear area or under the chin.  This 3” wide soft elastic band a brushed finish for enhanced patient comfort.  The band is easy to apply and has Velcro® closure for adjustability.  Also available with additional securing straps.  Call for details.

Caring for your Compression Wear

 

Hand wash your Compression Wear

Hand wash your Compression Wear

CDI Compression Wear is constructed with technical fabrics designed to feel good while aiding in recovery and offering support and shaping.  Be sure to follow the care instructions to ensure you get the most from your purchase.

What is the best way to launder my CDI Compression Wear?
The least damaging way to care for your Compression wear is to hand wash. We recommend that you hand wash your compression garment in lukewarm water with a mild detergent, and then air dry. Please do not dry your garment in a gas or electric dryer, for it may ruin the garment. Drip dry, do not wring out. Delicate or synthetic fabrics tend to dry quite quickly.  To remove bloodstains, simply soak your garment in a basin of cool water mixed with a ¼ cup of peroxide.

Can I machine wash?

NO!  CDI recommend that you hand wash to extend the life of your garment to avoid damage such as straps becoming tangled by the agitator.

Can my Compression Wear be tumble dried?


Tumble drying is never recommended. Even a low heat setting damages the stretch properties of your garment and dramatically reduces the lifespan.

Historic Moments in the Development of Shapewear

OldDesignShop_FrenchCorset1895-220x300Segregating the classes – Corsets (with boning made of whale bone, horn, or metal) elongated the torso, trimmed the silhouette, and improved the posture of regal 16th century aristocrats.

With revolution in the air during the late 18th century, royals set aside their corsets and panniers (false hips up to six feet wide!  The goal – to reconnect with the peasants in their simple attire.

1828 saw the invention of the metal eyelet, enabling corsets to be laced even tighter, again the wisp waste was in fashion.  Unfortunately the corset’s constriction of the torso brought on ailments ranging from shortness of breath to liver damage and tuberculosis.

The Edwardian Gibson Girls of the early 1900s favored the “health corset”.  Designed to avoid constriction of the lungs, the garment drew a nipped waist but threw the spin forward, into an unnatural S- shape with a memorable behind.

The roaring 20’s slim silhouette and shorter hemline introduced a bust to thigh pull on girdle made of rubber or elastic.

Dior ushered in “The New Look” (my favorite!) in 1947. A strapless garment with paneled construction and garters was a must to creating the wasp-wasted image popular through the next decade.

The 1960s brought panty hose, freedom, and the women’s revolution.

1998 Sara Blakely and SPANX introduced shapewear as smooth as a second skin.

Today stretch rules!  Shapewear that pinches, pokes, and digs into the skin are all in the past; thanks to BodyScan technology and 21st century fabrics and construction.

What if Barbie had Real-Woman Proportions and Represented Everyday Wellness?

real barbie - everyday wellness

“Normal Barbie” a reflection of a Healthy Lifestyle and Everyday Wellness

What if Fashion Dolls Were Made Using Standard Human Body Proportions?

Wouldn’t that be a better representation of beauty? Wouldn’t it support a healthy  body image for the  girls who play with them?

Here comes Lammily, the fashion doll with the tagline “Average Is Beautiful.”

Nickolay Lamm, a graphic designer  rendered a 3-D model of “Normal Barbie” using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s measurements of the average 19-year-old American woman. With the backing of 13,621 individuals he has been able to successfully fund this dream and Lammily will be available in November!

What a Healthy Change!

Check this out!  Be a part of history!  This proportional doll will now be available to consumers.

I’ll take real over plastic any day!  And a realistic body image is what every woman needs, not unreachable goals.  Positive thinking and a little support make being your best a pleasure!

Sculptures Compression Everyday Wear supports healthy change …

Get Ready for a Personal Transformation!  The Everyday Wear lifestyle is a procedure free, non surgical way to sculpt your body and feel in control.  Sculptures introduce shapewear that works!

Sculptures Shapewear with comfortable invisible control gives you the look of a flattened stomach, slimmer thighs, and curvier curves.  You look better which makes you feel better!  The supportive control seems to improve posture and attitude, use this as motivation to develop a healthier lifestyle with good eating and exercise.

Mannequin Make-over………..Venezuelan Mannequins Reflect National “Normal”

Eliezer Álvarez’s  mannequin factory in Valencia, Venezuela, where the voluptuous models are the standard

Eliezer Álvarez’s mannequin factory in Valencia, Venezuela, where the voluptuous models are the standard

Venezuela is known for its oil and its beautiful women.  Fueled by Venezuela beauty queens being crowned Miss Universe three times in the late 1970’s and 80’s, the country is obsessed with women’s beauty and inflated proportions.  A culture of increasingly enhanced physiques, cosmetic surgery is common practice through out Venezuela.  Breast augmentation, Butt Enhancements, and Liposuction have all contributed to the Venezuelan National “Normal”.  Yet store fronts and window displays have always used a more traditional mannequin silhouette to display clothing. That was until Eliezer Álvarez’s made voluptuous models the standard in his mannequin factory in Valencia, Venezuela.  Now his best seller,the augmented forms can be found in store presentations through out the country echoing the Venezuelan physique.

Enhancing your female form?  Cosmetic surgery can allow you to sculpt a body that reflects your desires.  The breasts, abdominals, thighs, hips, buttocks, flanks and upper back can all be enhanced by today’s modern procedures.  Designed to address the specific aesthetic or reconstructive procedure, each Contemporary Design Compression Garment is an integral element in the surgical process. To ensure the results of your procedure, each garment is designed to hold skin firmly in place, aiding in proper skin retraction and intended body contouring.  Wearing a compression garment designed for your particular procedure will minimize bruising and swelling, increase blood circulation and aid in flushing fluids and toxins at the incision site.

CDI Above the Knee Body Shaper

Post surgery, the use of a supportive compression garment is an integral element in the healing process.

 

Office Party? Holiday Dinner Plans? Open House? –Get ready for the Holiday Season and feel confident that you’re looking your best!

Everyday1

So you’ve found the perfect little party dress…now comes the hard part.  What do you wear underneath?  Panty lines, bra bulge, your own signature lumps and bumps stand between “stunning” and the OMG Instagram photo that got posted.

Ever wonder why some women (regardless of body-type) always look so “put-together”? It’s shapewear.  Often subtle, but the right shapewear, Sculpture’s Everyday Shapewear , can make a BIG difference. Sculpture’s Everyday Shapewear is not so much about looking thinner, as it is about comfortable shapewear with invisible control.

Under shorter hemlines the Everyday Bodysuit pulls it all together.  The open bust design allows you to wear your favorite bra, while slimming from the bra line to bottom.  Ttroublesome “bra fat” areas and panty lines are all diminished with the  Everyday Bodysuit…so their eyes are on assets only. ew-75

Wear those swoon-worthy thigh high boots, the Everyday Thigh Shaper has got you covered.   EW-710 targets inner and outer thigh “saddle bags” while creating a smooth line from above the waist to mid-thigh.ew-710everydaywear

Cut a curvy silhouette with the Everyday Wear High Waisted Brief: full coverage panty that creates a sleek, smooth line while providing firm control to both the tummy and the backside.highwaistew

Accentuate that cinched waist, Sculptures Everyday Wear Above the Knee BodySuit works great with dresses, pants, and every outfit in your wardrobe. The crossover cotton “vanishing crotch” allows for convenient, continuous wear throughout the day. Plus-size available.EW-750 color

Size Calculator

We’ve all done it….You’ve lugged armfuls of dresses to the fitting room, only to find the size that fit you in the last store you were in, doesn’t even make it over your hips. Vanity sizing or not, finding the right size isn’t as easy as it seems.  History, fashion trend, pride, and yes, vanity have all played a part in this confusion. 

Finding the correct size effects appearance and morale as well as, product longevity.  When finding the correct post surgical compression wear, sizing may also affect your health.  Follow the easy steps below to calculate your size “starting point”.   Height and weight, as well as, dress size are all factors in determining the proper fit.

 

When taking these measurements, use a cloth tape measure, not a metal one. Make sure that, when you circle your chest, waist, or hips, the tape is level and neither too tight nor too loose. Also measure yourself on your bare skin, not over clothes. And this may sound silly, but don’t trust your memory — be sure to write the measurements down!   

Not sure about all this?  It may seem impossible to take them yourself and get an accurate read, so find someone you trust, swear them to secrecy, and start measuring.

  • Waist: Measure the circumference of your waist. Use the tape to circle your waist (sort of like a belt would) at   your natural waistline, which is located above your belly button and below your rib cage. (If you bend to the side, the crease that forms is your natural waistline.) Don’t suck in your stomach, or you’ll get a false measurement.

Tip:  Not really sure where your natural waist is …or went?   (It does change with age, etc..)  Dress in your underwear or a leotard, and tie a narrow ribbon or a piece of elastic around your waist, but not too tight. Move around a little bit until the elastic or ribbon finds your natural waistline. This may not be where you wear the waistband of your jeans or favorite pair of slacks.

Your recommended bra size is Don’t be alarmed if this size is different from what you are used to, most women are wearing the wrong size bra! Your recommended bra size is a great starting point to finding bras that will fit you perfectly. The best size for you may vary based on the bra brand, style or other factors.

  • Hips: Measure the circumference of your hips. Start at one hip and wrap the tape measure around your rear, around the other hip, and back to where you started. Make sure the tape is over the largest part of your buttocks, (usually approximately 7 inches below the natural waistline). Because making sure the tape is level in the back can be hard, do it in front of a mirror; or again get someone else to take your measurements.
  • Bicep Circumference: Measure the circumference of your arm. Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your upper arm from front to back and around to the start point.
 

Wearing the right bra does wonders for your figure, makes you feel more confident and comfortable, and is best for your breast health.  Determining the correct size, again, has baffled us all.

  • Bra Band Size: With your bra on, measure firmly around your rib cage, directly underneath your breasts. The tape measure should be horizontal around your body and should not drop in the back. This is your underbust or band measurement. Example: 38″
  • Cup Size: Measure the circumference of your chest. Place one end of the tape measure at the fullest part of your bust, wrap it around (under your armpits, around your shoulder blades, and back to the front) to get the measurement. This is your cup size measurement. Example: 41″

Subtract the band size from the bust size. Example:41″-38″=3″  Use that number to get your cup sizeExample: 3″= C cup

2″ = B cup, 6″ = DDD cup
3″ = C cup 7″ = F cup
4″ = D cup 8″ = G cup
5″ = DD cup 9″ = H cup
  • Your bra size is your band size plus your cup size. Example: 38C

Knowing how to measure yourself correctly and getting the right size for your garment is the most crucial step of selecting a post surgical compression garment.

How a Garment should feel.

Working with your doctor, personal preference, and type of procedures your compression garment specialist will ensure your compression garment is the correct size and will meet expectations.

Snug on the body, feeling like it is compressing the dermal layer into the muscle wall.

Although snug, the fit should be comfortable enough not to impede normal breathing or restrict the patient’s movement.  In addition, the patient’s body type can be accommodated.  A patient with a full thigh might find a garment with a longer leg more comfortable than a mid-thigh version.

Note:  athletic wear, shapewear yoga wear or lingerie will not offer the proper level of compression needed after a surgical procedure.

Contemporary Design, Inc. introduces the foundation to your 2012-13 Fall / Winter wardrobe

                                                                                                                                                                       Contemporary Design, Inc. introduces the foundation to your Fall / Winter wardrobe.                                                                                   

………..Elegance and luxury are mixed

Extravagant mixture of plain and luxurious aspects. Silhouettes are based on reduced styles, materials’ mix, beautiful finishing details and perfect styling. Understatement

 

Colors

An unexpected mix of Darks and Neutrals:

Beige, camel, French roast brown, flannel, OXBLOOD, muted warm or cool browns to foggy grayed greens, as well as black and blue, navy and slate blue. finishing with a dark chocolate and graphite Slate gray and mauve shades,

A continuation of the influence of Orange: Gold, copper, heather, hay and olive.

Fabrics

leather in Oxblood, cognac and brown shades, fur and feathers, sheepskin, embroideries, mixed textures, color blocking,

Every Contemporary Design Inc.’s Sculptures garment is designed to slim and tone every woman’s body, making her look slimmer and feel sexier, eliminating panty lines, bumps or any other imperfection; hence Sculptures Compression Wear is an essential wardrobe basics every woman should own!  Designed to be worn each and every day as a foundation to their Fashion, the effects of Sculptures Compression Wear are dramatic for the user, both physically and mentally. Sculptures gives you a boost of confidence and still allows the body to bend and move, no pitching or riding.

There are many types of Sculptures garments to choose from. We have styles that work great with dresses, pants, and every outfit in your wardrobe.

  DARK ROMANCE Black is no longer alone. Dark themes continue, particularly black and Blue, with feathers, mixed materials, heavily oiled leathers, and race-car lines.  Enter the Subversive Romantic.

  The perfect underlayment, Sculptures sleek black bodyshaper with legs.

Classic, curvy and waist defining – Hour Glass figures are having a moment. Synched waists, Peplums and exaggerated hips and shoulders all play to everything feminine.     

 The hour glass silhouette remains key for Fall and Winter, the waist has returned! Whether on a belted swing coat, a curvy dress or pencil skirt, the emphasis is on the waist. The dresses for fall/winter of 2012/2013 are sexier and edgier and well fitted, but not skin tight — dresses will remain comfortable. The hem line is mid knee to well below the knee.

               

Cropped Pant Suit with Layers and Print..

The print pant suit continues into Fall as a dominate trend.A new proportion to the three piece suit…pant then skirt then jacket appears, looking long and lean.

Heals add height and elongate the look.  Not your Mom’s matchy-matchy outfit; Chanel featured Black and Blue combinations taking the trend to the dark side. 

                                                                                                         

 

Oversized Coat –( )…the convex silhouette

2012/2013 is a season more about shape, structure, and silhouette, rather than exploitation of one hot color, designer, or accessory.  The Oversized coat, a statement maker, falls into that category.  Unique shape, often a cocoon back, exaggerated shoulder, extended very wide arms, rounded shoulders or big face framing collar give a sculptural treatment to keeping warm.

http://fashioninourhearts.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/style-trend-alert-oversize-coat/

 Nothing is more elegant than an oversized coat.

 

Shakespeare’s England-   Brocade is the gold thread running through the season.  Coupled with placed fur trim Fall gets the Royal Treatment.

 

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